COLEMAN COUN1Y , TEXAS

Featherston School

by Irene Durham

Formerly a part of the Trickham School District, Featherston was created in 1902, on five acres of land donated by W.A. "Ben" Featherston, to enable pupils to attend school nearer to their home than the Trickham school allowed. There were about 40 children in the area of about 10 families, and the men of the community raised the money and built the school house. In 1911, it became Common School District *3. The school served also as the community centre, and was nicknamed "DonkeyvilIe, " some say by Fred McCormick and others say George B. Ford, due to a farmer about a mile west of the shcool who raised donkeys and mules, and their braying could be heard for a long distance, thus the nickname. The first teacher was Miss Anna Martin, followed by Ida Boatright, Miss Donald Oldfield, Carey Copeland, Vesta Lewis, Miss Martin, A.E. Goram, Nellie Weir, Ethel Limroth, Mrs. Robinett, Ellen Neal, Belle Henderson, Mae Featherston, Lou Featherston, Agnes McCain, Mary Guice, Viola Avants, Opal Philer, Elzada Deere, Ethel May McNutt, Zora Wilson, and Mrs. George (Irene) Bobo; who taught the last five years that school was held, ending in 1935. Pupils began going to other schools, which ended the one teacher school of Featherston. Officially, the school was considered to be dormant and was consolidated with Trickham in 1949.

note by editor: Caption below picture of Featherston School students- 1904 includes the following Featherston names: Jim Featherston, John Featherston, Gus Featherston, Ethel Featherston, Bob Featherston, and Irene Featherston

Caption below picture of Featherston School students about 1934 includes:

Lorene Featherston and Keith Featherston

BIRTHS, DEATHS, & MARRIAGES FROM EL PASO NEWSPAPERS THROUGH 1885

for Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Indian Territory Published for El Paso's Quadricentennial Celebration 1581-1981

by the El Paso Genealogical Society

p. 54

Featherston, Mrs. Mary A. -b. Washington Co., Ark.; hus. and 8 ch. of Socorro, N.M.
Paper & date: BU July 1, 1883
Date & place of death: May 20, 1883, San Marcial, N.M.

submitted by: C.R. "Ron" Featherston

Note by editor -JFH: It has been recorded in various sources that Edward A. Featherston, son of Charles Henry Featherston and Elizabeth Short Thornton, died 1 Sept 1853. This date was also transcribed into FEATHERSTON FINDINGS, Volume 4, page 20. On the 1860 Amelia Co., VA Census appears the following family: