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Lumber and grist mills were located in and around Daingerfield during the 1840's. Hussey and Logan, Manufacturers of cotton gins and corn mills located here in 1855. (The father of Governor O.B. Colquitt was later associated with this firm) and shipped mills to all parts of Texas. Groceries, distilleries, manufacturers of shoes, saddles, bridles, and other leather goods were located here, both before and after the Civil War.
During the Civil War, the incomplete Reece Hughes blast furnace (Southeast of Daingerfield) was taken over by the States of Texas and operated for the benefit of the Confederate States of America. Part of the furnace is now located at the plant of The Lone Star Steel Company.
In 1880 a company was formed to mine and smelt iron ore and in 1900, another company to explore for lead and minerals, other than iron ore in the Western edge of the town of Daingerfield. Due to financial reverses, the se companies did not operate and the first commercial production of iron is to the attributed to the Lone Star Steel Company plant which was built about nine miles South of Daingerfield during World War II. To date, there has been no production of lead.
Morris County was created from Titus County in 1875 and Daingerfield was selected as the County Seat. The first courthouse was the first floor of the Odd Fellow Building located at the corner of Broadnax and King Streets just North of the original "Town Square". The East Line and Red River Railroad crossed the Southern part of the College Plat Addition to Daingerfield in 1877. In 1881, a grout of citizens purchased the present site of the courthouse and presented the lot to Morris County. Within a few years all of the businesses moved from the "Old Town" to the Southeast corner of the College Plat and the adjoining Hinnant Addition. Daingerfield was authorized to incorporate by an act of the state egislature in 1871. An election for incorporation was held in the 1913 with a vote of 75 for incorporation and 64 against. Results of the 1913 election show 66 votes cast for Mayor F.L. McGee and Alderman W.O. Irving, J.B. Traylor, J.L. Williams, E.T. Flenister and G.W. Harrison and 64 votes for City Marshall R.B. Nelsoon. Surveyor's Field notes for the City of Daingerfield as incorporated in 1913, records corners such as "a stake in front of the __________'s in the Railroad Cut Bank, the line hits the inside corner of the house in the hall of the __________'s house (tenant house) on Hughes Springs Road and the rear of the ________'s buggy house.
Many of the landmarks of Daingerfield have been destroyed by fire. There was at least one fire in "Old Town" before the Civil War and another in the late 1870's. The present business district was struck by fire in 1928 and again in 1953. There was also a disastrous "Livery Stable" fire about 1890. Among the older buildings remaining in Daingerfield, are the Peacock or Colquitt house, the Orange and W.T. Connor homes just North of town and the "Law Offices" of United States Representative John L. Sheppard (father of Senator Morris Sheppard), State Senator John M. Henderson, and State Land Commissioner, J.T. Robinson.
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