Visitor since 30 October 1997
The Brazos River nearly cuts Hood County in half as it travels three land miles far each air mile. Early settlers had to learn where they could cross the river and identify those crossings.
Settlers in the southern part of the county, especially before part of Hood County was divided into Somervell County had to cross the river to get to Granbury to take care of their business.
Crossing the river could be a problem for settlers. They had to learn where the water would be low enough to cross on horseback or in wagons. And, as the river was always changing its course, where crossing would be the safest.
The bends in the river were usually identified by the name of the first settlers in the territory. We know of Cox, Tankersley (later known as Mitchell), Abbey, deCordova, Carmichael, Chicken Bristle, Waiters, Brown Valley, Jackson, Leitch, Whitehead, Stockton, Peavler Valley and Horseshoe.
In most cases, crossing places were named for the landowner on the east side of the river.
We know that people in the southern part of the county in George's Creek and Fort Spunky crossed at the Craig or Marlin Crossing. Settlers in Cox Bend crossed at the English Crossing. Those who lived nearer Granbury on the east side of the river in Abbey Bend would cross at Sheep Ford or the Pinson Crossing. The crossing from deCordova Bend that took settlers to Acton was referred to by some as the Low Water Crossing.
In the northeastern part of the county: was a crossing in Stockton Bend Abe's Landing in the Fairview community. In addition, there was Carmichael and Runnels Crossings well as a crossing in the Herring-Hightower community.
People traveling to Granbury from the east, could take a ferry that ran from the southeast side of the river: across to where the marina is today.
If you can identify some of the bends, crossings, communities and schools, send e-mail to granbury@emcee.com.
Addendum
6 February 1999
Mitchell Bend Crossing - it is correct that should be called the Craig Crossing. Mitchell Bend Crossing is something it has gotten tagged within probably the last 20 - 30 years and is not historically correct. It never was known as the Marling Crossing which was about 1 mile upstream on the same side of the bend.
Vircy Macatee
Visitor since 30 October 1997