GOD & TEXAS: Poor Farms

Over the hill to the poor-house--my chil'rn dear, good-bye! 

     Many a night I've watched you when only God was nigh; 

And God 'll judge between us; but I will al'ays pray,

     That you shall never suffer the half I do to-day.

This is part of a poem written by Will Carleton in 1872. It captures the dread that many people felt in the late 19th Century when their finances were depleted, and friends and family could not come to their aid. When all else failed, they were consigned to the county poor house or farm to live out their days. 

The Texas State Constitution of 1869 directed each county to provide a manual labor poor house for taking care of, managing, employing, and supplying the wants of its indigent inhabitants, including those convicted of petty offenses. Some counties were more dutiful than others, but most neglected to properly address the growing impoverished population. 

One of the more competent institutes was The County Farm of Grayson County near Sherman. From 1877 to 1963, the Farm provided care for abandoned elderly citizens, orphans, widows with children, and those struggling with various forms of mental illness. Each resident was given work assignments and were supervised by a superintendent and small staff. 

Over the years, various noteworthy people were residents of the Farm. However, the Farm achieved dubious awareness when the February 15, 1916, edition of The Daily Bulletin newspaper of Brownwood, Texas, headlined, “Davy Crockett’s Niece Leaves Grayson County’s Poor Farm; Has A Home.”

One of the contributing factors to the new home that Mary (Crockett) Matney received, was due to the involvement of famed child advocate Edna Browning Gladney. Moving to Sherman in 1913, Gladney’s husband Sam opened the Gladney Milling Company. Edna became active in the Methodist church, local societies, and in advocating for the rescue of abused and abandoned children.

Fortunately, Edna visited the Farm and was disheartened at the squalor in which the residents lived. She raised community awareness and funds to refurbish the buildings. Edna and other caring people helped some of the residents to find new homes and relocated the children to better childcare organizations. In the process, Edna received national acclaim as a pioneer in modern adoption practices and as a lobbyist for children’s protection.

In 1936, Edna Gladney endorsed the Texas “birth certificate law” which removed the word “illegitimate” from birth certificates of children born out of wedlock. Many have attributed to Edna the phrase, “There are no illegitimate children, only illegitimate parents.” Reports indicate that Edna personally administered over 10,000 adoptions through her Texas Children’s Home.

The County Farm of Grayson County is now a footnote in history. But Edna and the good people of Sherman made a positive impact in the lives of many people. In numerous ways they fulfilled James 1:27 ESV, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”

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