Browse Items (719 total)

Samuel Cody, for reasons unknown, erroneously listed his birthplace as Birdville. He also fabricated a story of a Native American attack on the family farm, allegedly resulting the separation from his parents for some years after that. However, He…

Perry Booth played baseball for Birdville in 1920.

Benjamin Franklin Andrews (1826-1894), a farmer, moved to the area between present-day Onyx Drive South and Glenview Drive in the 1850s. He grew cotton, oats, and corn on his land. He was married to Mary Ray Andrews until her death (1845-1868). In…

Calvin Luper with K.H. Hudiburg, breaking ground for the Hudiburg Chevrolet Dealership, now AutoNation Chevrolet. The dealership was built on land once owned by Guy and Willie Reeves; located at the intersection of Davis Boulevard, Grapevine Highway,…

The waters of Big Fossil Creek spilling over their banks and making Glenview Drive impassible. This same flood nearly destroyed Iron Horse golf course.

Hattie Arwine Anderson (1868-1960) can be seen here sharpening a plow blade at the grindstone. The Arwines were a very prominent family in the Hurst area. Hattie married James Mordecai Anderson (1860-1936) who migrated to Texas from Indiana in 1883.…

Catherine (Kate) Calloway (1876-1951), seated on the porch of her family home. She and her husband Marsh Calloway (1869-1945) owned 2,100 acres of farmland that stretched from the railroad tracks near what is now Iron Horse Boulevard where they…

S.J.D. Sansom Jr. (1861-1913); First Master of the Grand Prairie Lodge (named for the grand prairie region - not the city) and a Smithfield merchant. Son of Reverend Sam Durell Sansom (1816-1894) and Sarah King Sansom (1824-1861). In addition to…

Alfred Madison Hightower (1825-1897) and Pernelis Hightower (second wife) were early Tarrant County settlers in 1858 they also entered the cattle business. They permanently settled in the Smithfield area (called Zion at the time) in 1880 where he…

Haly Parchman and son Stanley Parchman and built the Rapid Mart on family land around 1955. The grocery store was located at 6969 Grapevine Highway. The store was officially owned by Tully Angle and Stanley Parchman. The store was best known for…