One of those papers was the Texas Freeman, a paper that had its beginning in 1893, according to the Handbook of Texas Online.
It was a paper for the African American readership. The paper merged with the Houston Informer in 1931 to form the Houston Informer and Texas Freeman.
The paper expanded as a chain in Texas, Louisiana and Alabama. It had circulation in a number of small Texas towns, and was the parent company of papers in others.
Marlin was the home of The Falls County Freeman, a paper that, according to the Falls County TXGenWeb project, was “a colored paper for the 8,000 colored people of Falls County” about the same time as the Texas Freeman formed.
It was a four-column paper with a circulation of about 700 “devoted to colored interests of all kinds,” according to the TXGen Web site.
Trudy Asbury, of the Marlin Historical Society, said the Texas Freeman was the Marlin paper’s parent publication.
Excerpts of the Houston Informer and Texas Freeman, found on the TXGen Web site, give a glimpse of life for African Americans in Falls County in the early 1900s.
A January 1932 paper excerpt from the Informer was Farm News and Hints by C.H. Waller, state leader of Negro Extension Workers.
“Falls County Negro extension workers, J. W. Smith and Mrs. Lessie G. Smith, had a most successful and instructive short course. December 4, at the Marlin Baptist Church, a most enthusiastic group of men and women met to spend a day of intensive training.
“J.H. Williams, Negro county agent from McLennan County, gave demonstrations in treating trees for borers and lice. Other demonstrations were given in scrapple making by Mrs. M.J. Campbell, Negro county home demonstration agent of Mexia; castration and diseases of live stock by Dr. E.B. Evans, veterinarian at Prairie View College, and J. H. Williams, county agent of Cameron.”
Scrapple is a mush of pork scraps and trimmings combined with cornmeal and flour.
A March 1932 excerpt addressed services at Marlin Baptist Church and the death of a member.
“Services at Marlin Baptist Church were generally good throughout the day,” the News From Texas Towns section of the paper read. “The funeral of Mrs. K.J. Payne, who departed this life Thursday, was conducted at the afternoon service, Pastor L.J. Jackson officiating … Services were well attended at all churches Sunday. Mrs. R.E. Harper is on the sick list. Mr. and Mrs. Adolphus Lynch are the proud parents of a baby girl.”
In another church story from February 1932, the Freeman said, “The services were extremely good at all churches Sunday. Sunday school was well attended at Providence with Supt. Mathews and his staff of teachers at their post. The old maids auction sale was a success at Providence Thursday night.”
On January 9, 1932, the paper recounted, in another church story, the beginning of the New Year.
“Marlin received the New Year with lots of resolutions hoping it will bring happy days. The weather was bad Sunday, however, services were well attended. The watch meetings were well attended New Year’s Eve night and enjoyed by all. Prof. and Mrs. Hall are the proud parents of a baby girl. School opened and everybody is ready to settle down after the holidays.”
Not everything in the news was church and farming, though. On Dec. 5, 1931, the Freeman reported a football game pitting Marlin against Calvert.
“The Marlin High undefeated Wildcats added one more victory to their club when they defeated the Calvert High Tigers in a fast game on Thanksgiving Day, the score was 13-6,” the report said. “Little Bertram Graves, the famous quarterback of the Marlin team was indeed too fast for Calvert High.”
