Gateway  to  Texas

History of

Red River County

Martha Sue Stroud

    The colorful history of Red River county in Northeast Tesas has been greatly neglected in the past by historians.  No other county in the State of Texas can boast of such a beginning, and "Gateway to Texas - History of Red River County" by Martha Sue Stroud was written to enable readers to be informed of this.

    This book will be of interest to anyone who loves history and not just to those from this area.  The nineteen chapters begin in 1684 with LaSalle's exploration and cover a period up to the 1940's.  Texas under six flags, the Red River, the Native Americans who were here first, pioneer families, the County Seat, the Civil War and its effects on Texas, early medicine, education and dwellings, cemeteries, and the Orphan Train stopping in Clarksville are discussed.  The last chapter contains interviews between the author and twenty-four men and women of Red River County, advanced in age, who recall experiences from the past in their various walks of life.

   The author, Martha Sue Stroud, is a native of Clarksville and grew up around the historic Red River County courthouse where her father, Jim Claiborne, served as Justice of the Peace for fourteen years.  She credits her love of Texas history to this time in her life.

   The book, "Gateway to Texas - History of Red River County", by Martha Sue Stroud may be obtained by ordering from:

Martha Sue Stroud        514 Baylor Drive           Greenville, TX 75402

Be sure and remit $ 36.42. (Cost of book $ 29.95  tax  $ 2.47 and  shipping  $ 4.00)

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Last updated January 20, 2006