To properly record the history of Roosevelt, it is important to include the early history of this part of Kimble County by reflecting on the 1852 route of the Fort McKavett to Fort Clark Military Road, variably known as the Mackenzie Trail.  The route was located near the present site of the Roosevelt post office, and the historical marker located nearby states: “The location was selected mainly because it had water available.  It served as a route for freight and mail, 1868.  When forts were reactivated, over it went troops, supplies, a few immigrants, and pioneer ranchers.  It was noted also  for the passage of forays of Col. R. Mackenzie against hostile Indians to the Northwest.  After forts were abandoned in 1883, ranchers drove cattle to market over parts of the road.” 

Within the area of Roosevelt was the military road known as the San Antonio to Fort Terrett 1852-1854.  An historical marker erected in 1966 relates “In the 1850’s, two-thirds of Texas was held by Comanches or threatened by raids.  Posts such as Fort Terrett stood from the Red River to the Rio Grande for protection..The army closed Fort Terrett in 1854, but settlers used the route as their main road.”

A previous post office in the near vicinity preceded Roosevelt.  John McNicol, a native of Scotland and a frontier surveyor, established Nicolia eighteen miles west of Junction City.   The site was 200 yards south of the North Llano River on the east side of Maynard Creek.  The application was dated March 30, 1881, but we are unable to locate any info on the length of time the post office was active.

Large ranches were being established in the area creating the need for local post offices.  John F. Gardner homesteaded near the head springs of Maynard Creek in 1879, later selling the holdings to James Paterson in the 1880’s.  Mr. Gardener then founded another ranch downstream on Maynard Creek.  During his lifetime, he was to accumulate some thirteen sections of land.

On May 2, 1905, shortly before a brief closure of the Roosevelt post office, Moritz deCloudt bought one-half acre of land from W.B. Waggoner.  Mr. deCloudt received his appointment as Postmaster on November 20, 1905, and the post office has been continuously active for well over one hundred years.  Moritz deCloudt, whose nickname was “Joe” was born in 1859 and died in 1926.  His wife Celia died in 1932; both are buried in the Copperas cemetery.

In 1907 Edward B. Landrum, a Civil War veteran, became postmaster.  He died in 1914 while operating the Roosevelt store and post office.  He also is buried in the Copperas cemetery..  The late C.C. Watkins, who was born in 1905, recalled the Landrum store was housed in a box-type wooden building, and that mail came by horseback.  The store kept candy in barrels; in fact, everything was shipped in barrels and had to be weighed on scales.  All goods had to be freighted overland to Roosevelt.  The water supply for the community came from a nearby spring.  The Watkins family lived four miles west of the town, and transportation was by burro or horse.  Mr. Watkins related in a 1987 interview memories of barbecues, picnics, the Gardner-Holland-Adams goat ropings, baseball games and Christmas parties in the community.  He also recalled box suppers to raise money for the school and also remembered a bounty was paid for rabbit ears. The one room school was taught by a Mr. Cottingham.

Next week more on the Roosevelt schools.