TXBELL-L Archives

Archiver > TXBELL > 2001-07 > 0995304825


From: "Jody Dillard" <>
Subject: [TXBELL] re: Rogers gins
Date: Mon, 16 Jul 2001 12:33:45 -0500


Down through the years there have been six gins in the community of Rogers. They served the entire southeast portion of Bell County; but none are operational today.

The Tom Ashcraft Gin, the W.A. Ashcraft Gin, the Wes Ashcraft Gin, the J.E. Clary Gin, the Doc Whittington Gin, and the Frank Leheay Gin were all built within three of four years of the turn of the century.

During the early 1900's, the area was planted exclusively in cotton. "Everything was in cotton", said Wray Durnall in an interview. "We needed that many gins to take care of the cotton harvest."

Leheay Gin was the last one in operation. It was owned by Frank Matyastik of Cameron when it shut down in the early 1970's.

Taken from "The Story Of Bell County" Volume 1 page 275. Lots of pictures of gins but none from Rogers.


This thread: