Jones County Texas Archives - History of Nugent - 1927 *********************************************************** Submitted by: Dorman Holub Date: 19 January 2020 Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/jones/jonestoc.htm *********************************************************** The Stamford AmericanThursday, June 30, 1927Town of Nugent, Located on Clear Fork, has Interesting History; Has Three Churches and Brick School Buildingby Dollie GroomNugent was named for Mr. Nugent who was running for Governor of Texas but died beforeelection. He was running on the Populist ticket. Nugent is located 19 miles southeastof Anson on the Clear Fork of the Brazos River.Nugent was built on Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Roberts ranch. The first family in Nugent wasMr. and Mrs. R.D. Jefferies. They bought the land from Mr. and Mrs. J.A. Roberts. Thefirst store was owned by Mr. and Mrs. R.D. Jefferies. It was also used for a postoffice. The lumber was hauled from Fort Worth.Mr. Jeffries was the first postmaster. The mail first reached Nugent by way of starroute from Abilene, coming first to Rising Sun, then to Nugent, Ebb Reynolds beingthe carrier. F.M. Arnold was the next postmaster and merchant after Mr. Jeffriesmoved away. The post office was next in the hands of T.J. Carr. Mr. Carr moved to BigSprings and Miss Winnie Blackwell took the post office. Miss Blackwell and MinterSetser married and moved out in the country, as the town was progressing. The postoffice and store were then in charge of B.C. Karnes. Mr. Karnes later moved toAbilene. He left the post office in the hands of Ira Munro. The post office, groceryand dry goods store were all together. Mr. Munro sold out to George Branch, after hehad been post master for 7-8 years. Mr. Branch was post master and merchant aboutseven months. The building burned destroying the post office and the merchandise. Thenext post office was in J.C. HarberŐs store. Mr. Harber is the present postmaster.The physician and druggist was Dr. F.H. Godwin.In 1923 a fire swept the post office, drug store and dry goods and grocery store. Thedry goods and grocery was in the first floor of the Woodman Hall.We have only two stores in Nugent at the present time. The grocery and dry goodsstore owned by D.G. Benchaff and the post office and grocery store owned by J.C.Harbor. The barber at the present time is Randolph Moorehead. His Barber Shop is alsoin J.C. HarborŐs store.The first telephone office was owned by Mr. and Mrs. W. Groom. It was located attheir residence. The first person to talk over the first telephone at Nugent was Mrs.F.M. Arnold.The first school in this district was taught at Green Valley in a one-room building.About three-fourths miles from Nugent. A few years later it was consolidated withRising Sun. The Green Valley school house was sold to the Baptist people for a churchhouse.Another building was erected about three-fourths mile south of Green Valley, and thesouth side of Nugent. It was a two-room house. It was sold to the Church of Christ.The next school house was a two-story building. It was built about 20 feet from thepresent building. In February, 1922, the school building was burned. The schoolteachers at that time were A.K. Brannon, Miss Gladys Brannon, Frank Rogers and MissBessie Mae Sides. In a short time, a brick building was erected. It is the presentbuilding.There are three churches in Nugent, the Baptist, Christian and Methodist Churches.The Baptists bought the Green Valley school building and moved it a few feet north ofthe Nugent bridge. The first revival meeting was held by Rev. J.H. Edmonds. Thechurch later broke up and was several years without a Sunday School. They reorganizedand sold the building to Will Claxton. They built a larger structure northeast ofNugent, which is the present building. About one year ago the Baptist installed alight plant. They have services every Sunday.The Christian church people bought a school building for a church moved the houseabout two blocks north and held services in it for several years. About three or fouryears ago they tore it down and rebuilt. They have services every Sunday.The Methodist Church purchased their land from J.A. Roberts. The first MethodistChurch in Nugent was erected in 1901. It was torn down several years later and alarger one built. Over a year ago they installed a light plant. They have servicesevery Sunday.R.D. Jefferes was the first road commissioner and Justice of Peace. He had the NugentBridge built across the Clear Fork.T.J. Carr was the first blacksmith. W. Groom was the second blacksmith and firstmachinist in Nugent. Mr. Groom served Nugent as a machinist and black smith forseveral years. In 1912 his blacksmith shop was destroyed by fire. He later built agarage and is still in business.Nugent has one garage, one blacksmith shop, one general merchandise store, a postoffice and three churches. Nugent has a population of 71.Some advantages of Nugent are that we have plenty of water, as Nugent is located onthe Clear Fork of the Brazos River; Nugent has good, rich soil for farming, gardeningand also fruit. There is plenty of fruit raised near Nugent. There are plenty of goodcamping places on the Clear Fork River, and plenty of good places to fish and a goodpoultry farm near Nugent owned by Otto Roberts.