This information regarding fox hunting in Shelby County was published in the Light & Champion date unknown. It was written by Hinkle Schillings.

My father Isiaiah Schillings was born in 1861 in Washington Parish, Louisiana near Osyka, Mississippi. He moved his family to Texas in 1875 and settled on the John Sinclair place near Neuville.

My mother Sallie Jackson Schillings was born in 1866 where the Jackson Church now stands. Her father Silas Jackson moved there from Louisiana, settled in this place and that is where Jackson Church got its name. He was the first justice of the peace at Joaquin.

My parents raised nine boys to be grown and have families. There were two girls and two boys who died at a young age. The boys from this marriage from the oldest down were Monroe, Lum, Walter, A.E (Eck), Jewel, Hardy, Hinkle (born 1902 – died 2000), Johnie and Bill.

I was born a hunter and I also loved fishing and hunting of all kinds. Uncle Joe Schillings owned Blue Hounds and he was a neighbor to Bill Lawson, the father of Hobson Lawson who also owned hounds. About 1905 Bill Lawson ordered a pair of hounds from T.B. Hudspeth of Silsbee, Missouri. There were called English hounds and were white with just a few spots. He named them Polk and Queen.

At about that time Enos Hughes, my wife’s grandfather had hounds and he bred his Fly Matron to Bill Lawson’s Polk. And from this mating came a good liter of hounds.

I remember Bob Hughes, son of Eros Hughes, had sixty hounds. Cricket and Thomas Hughes who now live near Paxton had a pair of that were better than the average hounds in these parts. These hounds were the first hounds that I ever heard run fox and fox were scarce in those days.

In those days, the hunters delighted in bringing in a fox tied to their saddle. I remember the many wild hogs and long horn cattle that roamed the woods. Also, I remember the good neighbors we had at Sardis.

On December 6, 1911, we moved to Good Hope, three miles from Center where Bill McNeece now lives. Soon after we moved that same day about noon, Dr. John Rushing passed by driving a one-seat Ford car. This was the last car that passed ‘til up in the next spring as the roads were almost impassable.

I remember the long lines of cattle driven up the road to Center. Some of the ones in this business included Ney Runnels and his two sons, Leon, and Little Ney. Then there were George Brittain and his two sons, Clifton, and Zack. Rob McWilliams, Tine Carroll, Norman Ross, and Mize Ross. I recall Jeff Owens and how he would round up cattle. Also, he would drive wild hogs up the road to Center and they had good dogs to do this with. During this time, I was coon hunting and fishing every chance I could get.

For several years my father gave two-day longrollings and we boys would go into the swamps with our dad to get the right sticks, poles, and shape them and season them for the lifting of the logs.

The last log rolling I was at was at the home of Calvin Enmons in 1919. My brother, Hardy, teamed up with me; George teamed up with his brother Everett. The competition was keen, and we formed a lasting friendship.

Monroe, my brother, loved to hunt and fish and he told me on Tuesday night that Pearl Walker and his friends would turn loose their hounds at the old Kelly Field one mile north of his place and run fox all night.

This was my first fox race to hear. I was up all-night listening to the pack of hounds. The race ended next morning in a field on Miss Creek.

In the fall of this same year a hunt was planned at Big Ditch, near Crockett and Kelly Old Field. The group that hunted at this race included Norman Ross with his hounds Buck and Jack, Jesse Harris with his hound Red Queen; Bryan McCallum with his hound Joe, and Joe Howard with his hound Ben that he got from Henry Cannon. That was the one of the best coon and fox hounds I eversaw, and Joe Howard was a good rider and judge the fox hounds.

From that time ‘til now I have not missed many weeks that I didn’t go fox hunting. A pack of hounds consists of three or more and I will try to mention just the hunters who I knew before 1940 and I am sorry if I fail to mention everyone.

First, we will start from Center to Huxley Bay. The late Johnie T. Howard who was a neighbor in the Good Hope community, my father-in-law Luke Hughes, Charles Squyres, Hider Collins, and Jud Hughes and myself. All had good packs of hounds and we were the closest of friends.

At Shelbyville there were Rob McWilliams, Henry Cannon, Sid Ellington, Bob Arnold, B. Sharp, Frank Morrison, Munson Williams, VessieGreen, and Lawrence Greer.

Vessie’s hound Raymond was a tough hound. Other hunters in that area included Fred Kay, Garland Bailey, who owned a hound named Sally that won second in 56 Texas Open Hunts.

At Joaquin there were Joe Irish, Fonzo Swan, Tom Strong who owned Cornet that won the 1929 East Texas Hunt at Boles Field. Jud Oates who owned Topsy; and Clim Grant who owned an outstanding dog named Pearl.

Clim and I arranged a contest race between Peal and my Hub Dawson (1933-1941) to be run in daylight on Hill Top near Ashton. There were lots of spectators and the race was good.  It was called a tie.

Now on to Campti, here we found Bobbie Hughes who owned Josh that was by Pathfinder, owned by Brother B.B. Crim. Josh was a very fine hound. Other hunters included Math Hughes, John Broadway, Jesse Jackson, Dock Willoughby, Riley Clark, Frank Wilburn, Norman Ross, Jesse Harris, Ona Samford and Neugin Samford.

Now we go to Tenaha where there were and still are lots of good hunters and good hounds. The hunters included Bill and Hunter Parker, Will Hooker, Claude Fallin, Dock Hendricks, Howard Jolley, Luther Perkins, Joe, and Eric Christian who owned old Night Roudy that was a noted stud hound. At the hunts you would most always see Dr. Deberry and Richard Johnson out on the field with the other Tenaha hunters. Then there were Fletcher and Claude Lane, who owned Belcher that he had bought from Pearl Walker.

Also, Tom Todd who live north of Timpson who raised thousands of fighting cocks and many noted hounds that he brought to this county from Kentucky. Then there were C.C. Askins, Allen Smith, Carlos Hancock, Riley Johnson, and George Goodwin.

On to Stockman to find the Crump brother.  Also, Joe Forrest, Neutie and Heber Williams, who recently won the Texas Open with his Flying Red; Perkin Wilson, Carl Neal, Claude Nicks, J.P. Ramsey, Furman and Tom Franks, Elmer Hancock, Will Shade and V.V. Pate.

There were Little Ney Runnels, George Davis, Jewel Jetton, Dick Middleton who was a good promoter and did a lot for hunting in East Texas. Calhoun Perkins owned old One Eye Bob who took so much punishment. Others included Jud Hughes, Jim Tindol, Binson Martin, Charles Barbee, Compton Baileyand Pete Dellinger who owned the tough John Dillinger hound.

Then there were Bob Jones, the Hagler brothers, Bib Oliver, Roy Dry, Ben Lout, W.I. (Will) Monroe, O.L. Parker, Jimro and CisroRisinger and their sons, Willie, Johnie, Ross, and Buren who are hunters, Otis Parker, Reese and Buck Wilburn, Bunk Wilburn, Wayne and Lenard Armstreet, Lige Parker and Bill Shull who owned old Jack. Frank Wallace was a great hunter.

My life has been blessed with good hunting and I knew those hunters back in horse and buggy days when there was little danger of losing your hound and everyone was your neighbor. I could call all those hounds by names, and I remember so well the hunts we had together.

The Hall of Fame Cemetery for noted fox hounds at Boles Fields is the only one of its kind in the nation. People from all over the universe come to Boles Field and this has meant a lot to our county.(Note: A large memorial erected in memory of Dawson Stride, a fox hound owned by Hinkle Schillings of Center, was the beginning of this cemetery in 1941. Dawson Stride was considered as one of the greatest of fox hounds and the memorial was erected as a tribute to him from many friends among fox hunters of the United States.

Since 1941, 21 smaller markers have been added in appreciation of other noted fox hounds. There is a total of twenty-seven dogs buried in the cemetery.  Owners of these hounds are from 11 states and each marker carries a brief history of the hound. This cemetery is unusual, attractive, and well-kept. This may be the only National Fox Hound Cemetery you will ever visit.

Most markers are simple pillow stones engraved with the name of the dog, his or her registration number, date whelped, and date died, and the owners.  Most also include the dog's home state; one marker even includes a metal photocopy of the dog's registration papers (complete with photo).  Still, most are simple pillow stones.

I grew up not far from this "dog cemetery" and remember the annual National Fox Hunts held below Shelbyville. The hunt would usually last 3 days with hundreds and hundreds of people in attendance. During the hunt there would be lots of food to be found and at least one night there would be entertainment with bands and singing groups. The museum has several large prints showing these national fox hunts for sale.)

I have learned a lot out under the stars while hunting, listening to a favorite hound drive a red fox and the hounds go out of hearing. Then you hear a house dog and you know that the hounds are coming back.

I can hear Dawson Stride coming from Boles Field toward the Sample graveyard leading the pack for the kill. Then, I hear the lady calling old jersey. Then the man calling the hogs. The cow bells ring and then daylight come, and the race is over. I am so thrilled I almost burst my good horn blowing the hounds in. I go home tired but happy and Modie asks, “Did you get all the hounds?” and I say “yes”. It’s time to get a good breakfast and go to work.

I know what I want to find in Heaven. And far be it from me telling my Master how to run His business- but if He wouldn’t mind, I would like to make a suggestion. I would like to wake up in Heaven with all my friends and hear Dawson Stride leading the pack running red fox at Boles Field.

Happy Hunting dear friends forever!  Signed Hinkle.

NOTE: If you haven’t renewed your subscription to be a member of the Shelby County Historical Society, please do so now. These subscriptions are our main source of income and inflation has HIT us as well as everyone else. The museum does not receive any other type of funding. Currently, we need to update our library for the use of future generations.  Be sure to tell your family, friends, and neighbors we need your help.