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Era, Texas History, Genealogy and Trivia

Era, Texas is on Highway 51 twelve miles from Gainesville in southwestern Cooke County. It was named after Era Hargroves, the daughter of an early settler. Judge J. M. Lindsay's donation of six acres for a school in 1878 marked the beginning of the town, although settlers had been in the area since the early 1850s. The most notable person to be born in Era was Robert Ewing Thomason, speaker of the Texas House of Representatives, mayor of El Paso, member of Congress, and federal judge. In 1990 Era had 200 residents, several businesses and churches, a post office, its own schools, and a Masonic lodge.

Located in a fertile farming region, Era, Texas was settled in the 1870s. Merchant N.J. Gist (1827- 1893) platted the townsite. The post office was opened in 1881 and named for Era Hargroves (1875-1880), daughter of an elderly resident. The village soon had a blacksmith shop, cotton gin, hotel, several stores, and three churches. Era Institute was chartered in 1897 with primary through college level classes. Among the town's prominent citizens was Robert E. Thomason (1879-1973), U.S. Congressman and Federal Judge. Era won first place in the Texas Community Improvement Program in 1973.

The Thomason-Scott House was erected in 1894, this structure was the home and office of Dr. Benjamin Richard Thomason (d. 1909), one of Era's first physicians. Dr. Thomason's Son Robert Ewing (1879-1973) hauled lumber from Gainesville for the construction. Later he had a long public career, serving as a U.S. Congressman and Federal District Judge. The frame house has Victorian porch detailing and elegant interior woodwork. In 1948 the residence was acquired by the L.A. Scott family.

Era is located in Cooke County, twelve miles southwest of Gainesville, in the center of a fine agricultural area, with a high rolling prairie and rich black heavy lime and clay subsoil. The town was on the popularly traveled road from Valley View to Rosston to Montague. In 1878, a group of pioneers were trying to find a name for this new community and grasped the idea suggested by the postmaster's daughter, Era Hargroves. She tugged at her daddy's trouser leg, and upon getting attention asked, "Why not name the post office for me?" The group, charmed with little Era's childish suggestion, named the settlement "Era."

Points to be proud of:
Both the Butterfield Stage Line (1858-1861) and the John Chism Cattle Trail passed within four to five miles southwest of Era. Children of early settlers looked forward to the cattle drives.
Sam Bass, a legendary outlaw, who "made his headquarters in Coe Hollow west of Era," in what is now known as Sam Bass Cave, left his mark on the community. Each year, the neighboring town of Rosston attracts many history buffs and others interested in folklore, at the Sam Bass Festival.
Era, an active community, now has three churches and a functioning Community Club. Era has competed every year since 1962-1963 in the Texas Community Improvement Program, and it has received the award as the "Number One Community in Texas" in 1972-1973. - Site Visitor


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