The Dirden Farm History

Taylor Dirden (born 1848; died 1910) was born into slavery in Pike County, Alabama. His parents’ names are unknown, but our research indicates they originally came from Georgia and eventually made their way to Alabama. From family stories handed down, we learned Taylor wanted to leave Alabama for Texas after emancipation in 1863.

As a teenager, Taylor, and all slaves, experienced the enactment of the Emancipation Proclamation, which Abraham Lincoln passed in 1863, freeing all slaves in Alabama and Georgia. Other states were not freed until Union soldiers advanced throughout the country and liberated slaves. The soldiers announced the Civil War had ended and slavery had been abolished in all Union states, including Texas.

Taylor completed his goal of moving to Texas in the early 1870s. The town of Jacksonville was established in 1847, originally named Gum Creek, and a postal office was established in 1848, the year of Taylor’s birth. At that time, slave ownership was prevalent throughout East Texas. Thankfully, Taylor entered as a freed man. By 1872, most of the original town had moved two miles east. The current welcome sign reflects that date.

Taylor followed the general path of most former slaves and began working as a farmer. He met Joseph Turney and began working his property near the downtown center of Jacksonville. Mr. Turney was a former slave owner who also owned several acres of property throughout East Texas.

Taylor met his wife, Lucy Grimes Dirden, (born 1856; died 1935) shortly after his arrival to Jacksonville. Lucy was also born into slavery in Cherokee County, Texas. Lucy’s family welcomed her union with Taylor, and they were married on August 21, 1875. You can see Lucy and Taylor's Marriage Record here.

As a newly married couple, Taylor and Lucy were able to save money from their years of sharecropping working for Mr. Turney, and purchased a 22.8-acre parcel of land, which included a small home, on May 7, 1880. The handwritten deed for their land purchase is recorded in Volume M-2, Page 407, of the deed records of Cherokee County, Texas.

The fields closest to the home were farming areas for all types of fruits and vegetable crops including tomatoes, peas, corn, okra, peaches, and watermelons. These crops were sold at local farmers markets to earn monies for their household. The farm had animals, including cows and horses, and timber from their property was also sold. Lucy and daughter, Beulah, are pictured on the farm.

Taylor, Lucy, and their children became lifelong members of the Old Sweet Union Baptist Church, one of the oldest Baptist congregations for African Americans in Jacksonville. Neither had a leadership role within the church administration due to their lack of education but they participated in other capacities within the church to help and contribute to their community.

The family also experienced tragedy as their son, John (born 1895; died 1919) passed shortly after serving his country as an Army soldier in World War I, in Brest, France. According to this Dallas Express news clipping, John Bill was working on the truck carrying ammunition to the front during the war and was gased, leading to his death on June 3. Mustard gas was extensively used on the Western Front, including areas near Brest. He never married nor did he have children. John received recognition for his service as his headstone was provided by the United States Army. George Elisha, also served during this time with Company “A” 327th Labor Battalion.

Mary Netta (born 1892; died 1929) passed away at age 37. She had four children who were raised by their father, M.L. Arnwine, and grandmother Lucy, in Jacksonville. Will (born 1882; died 1954) and Beulah (born 1896; died 1978), did not have any children and lived on the farm until their deaths. Beulah lived a long life and even alone on the farm, which did not have running water, electricity, or phone access.

The Dirden farm has remained in the family for 144 years and counting. This significant location has the distinctive designation of being among the oldest properties in the state of Texas that is owned by the original family since they, as former slaves, purchased the property in 1880. In July 2023, the Texas Historical Commission approved The Dirden Farm as an offical Texas Historical Site. The property was honored with an official State Historical Marker on Saturday, April 19, 2025.