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Dallas History Timeline: The 1850s Early Dallas Settlers A large majority of the pioneers who settled in Dallas during the 1850's were from Kentucky and Tennessee. Dallas looked appealing to these settlers since its terrain and soil allowed them to continue their livelihood of growing wheat and other food crops. Pioneer Professionals Unlike most frontier towns, Dallas had many professionals. By 1860, Dallas could boast of at least twelve physicians. Some of the better-known doctors in town included Dr. Samuel B. Pryor, the town's first mayor in 1856, and his brother, Dr. Charles Pryor, the editor of the town's newspaper, the Dallas Herald. In addition to doctors, the town had several attorneys, many of which held prominent positions in town. For instance, both John M. Crockett and Isaac Naylor served as mayor. John M. Crockett went on to become the Confederate Lieutenant Governor of Texas during the American Civil War.Pioneers Promotes Education Compared to most pioneer communities, Dallas had a number of school available to it residents in the 1850's. According to the 1850 Census, 438 students were attending school in Dallas County. Only twelve out of the eighty counties surveyed in the 1850 Census had higher school attendance than Dallas. 1851 - Rev. James Smith builds the first cotton gin. 1852 - French immigrant Maxime Guillot opens the first manufacturing company, a wagon and carriage factory. Alexander Cockrell purchases Dallas and the ferry license from Bryan for $7,000. 1855 - Immigrants from France, Belgium, and Switzerland settle west of Dallas to organize a Fourierist utopian community, La Reunion. Alexander Cockrell erects a covered wooden toll bridge across the Trinity. 1856 - Texas Legislature incorporates Dallas as a town; Dr. Samuel B. Pryor elected first mayor. Masonic Hall houses regular schools and weekly religious services. 1857 - La Reunion begins to disband, some colonists settle in Dallas. 1858 - A circus visits Dallas in September. |
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