Description: Though the story of the land runs far back in time, Haskell County was first platted on the map of Texas on February 1, 1858. Its name honors Texas revolutionary soldier Charles Ready Haskell, who was martyred at Goliad. Cradled by two forks of the Brazos River, the county's open prairies were a favorite American Indian hunting ground. Stories of Spanish treasure buried along the river still linger. Gold seekers following Capt. Randolph Marcy's 1849 expeditionary trail camped on what came to be called California Creek, and Col. Ranald Mackenzie's trail through southern Haskell County was a key supply route for cavalry engaged in the Red River War. By the late 1870s, cattle replaced herds of buffalo, and ranching became the cornerstone of the economy. As news of this promising country traveled east, settlers arrived and established farms. In the words of historian R. E. Sherrill, "There was something about this country fresh from the hand of the Creator . . . a kind of drawing power that was irresistible." Today, as a modern agricultural region, Haskell County continues to capture the heart of its people.
Review Quotes: Title: TEXAS READS: Publisher focuses on local pictorial
Author: Glenn Dromgoole Publisher: Standard-Times Date: 4/1/2010Haskell County, north of Abilene, was named for Texas revolutionary soldier Charles Ready Haskell, one of the martyrs at Goliad in 1836.
Now the Haskell County Historical and Genealogical Society has put together a pictorial history of its county through Arcadia Publishing's Images of America series. Titled simply "Haskell County," the 128-page paperback book of historic black and white photos is available for $21.95 from the society or by contacting Susan Turner at (940) 742-3347 or by e-mail at S57_turner@hotmail.com.
The pictures and captions are divided into eight chapters, beginning with some of the county's earliest white settlers and including buildings, churches and houses no longer standing, old football, baseball and town activity photos, and concluding with a two-page spread of the USS Haskell, a World War II ship named for Haskell County, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas.
Arcadia Publishing, a national publishing house based in South Carolina, has produced hundreds of local histories like this one, including a growing number for Texas communities, with more in the works. For more information, see the company's Web site, arcadiapublishing.com.