Mansfiled Historical Society in Texas preserves and displays the historical archives of the North Texas town of Mansfield. Mansfiled in located in Tarrant County, near Fort Worth in zip code 76063.
Julian T. Feild
Julian T. Feild was born on August 14, 1825 in Meckelemburg County, Virginia to Robert and Frances Ann Feild. Julian and his brothers, Robert William and Alexander Shaw, were orphaned in 1840, and sent to Fayette County, Tennessee to live with relatives. Julian soon found himself in Virginia where he met and married Henrietta Roberta Boisseau on November 29, 1842. Feild brought his family to Harrison County, Texas and soon befriended a man named Ralph Man. The two became great friends and business partners. With Man, Feild brought his family to Fort Worth in 1854.
Julian Feild brought many first to Fort Worth, Mansfield and Tarrant County in general. With the partnership of a Methodist preacher, W.J. Masten, he set up the first general store in an abandoned army cabin. Feild was also the first postmaster of Fort Worth. In April of 1854, Feild and nine other Masons met in his store and organized the first Blue Lodge. This was Lodge No. 148, and the first stated meeting was on April 21, 1854. Feild was the first Worshipful Master. In 1857, the first Masonic Hall was built at East Belknap and Grove. The Masons met upstairs and the lower floor was used for school and church. Julian Feild was one of the leading campaigners in 1856 to move the county seat of Tarrant County to Fort Worth. An election was held in November of 1856, and although Fort Worth received thirteen more votes than Birdville, Birdville remained the county seat until 1860.
With the partnership of Man and Mock, Feild helped finance the building of the first grist mill in Fort Worth. As stated earlier years of drought brought failure to the water powered grist mill. The mill was abandoned. Around 1860 Feild and Man came to the area known as Walnut Creek and Cross Timbers. Together, the two men hired local help and built the first steam powered grist mill in Texas. A great abundance of business came to them for several years. The mill filled large government orders, and wagons came from as far as the Rio Grande. Captain Feild and Man were exempt from service because they needed to keep their flour mill grinding wheat for the soldiers.
Across Broad Street, from the mill, where the McKnight building presently stands, was the Feild and Man Mercantile Store. It was the first store of its kind in Mansfield. Julian's wife, Henrietta, was in charge of Mansfield's first and, for many years, only inn. Their home and inn faced south in the block formed by West Broad Street and First Avenue.
Captain Feild was physically big, decidedly optimistic, and liked to take an active part in organization and secret orders. Feild operated wagon trains after the Civil War, but there is little knowledge of his activities. The "Feild's Freighters" operated in West Texas as far as Fort Belknap and Fort Griffin. They also went into Indian Reservations in Indian Territory in Oklahoma and New Mexico Territory.
No one is certain of the time of Feild's departure from Mansfield, but it is said that he was drawn back to the "elegant functions" and society of Fort Worth in the late 1870s. Records show that he served on the Fort Worth Board of Aldermen in 1884 and 1885. He served as Fort Worth postmaster once again in 1885 and he was also one of the signers of the 1890 plat of Mansfield.
Julian and Henrietta Feild had twelve children, Robert Tingnal, Dr. Julian Theodore, Julia Frances, Charles Edward, Attorney William Henry, Henrietta Emma, Dr. Richard Alexander, Joseph Boisseau, Henrietta Betty, Jefferson Davis, Rosco Miles and Mary Etta.
Henrietta passed away in January of 1883 and is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery. Julian Feild left Texas for California around 1890. He married Ida Adelaid Major in March of 1885. The couple had three children, Major Coke, George Major, and Florance Major. Julian T. Feild died September 7, 1897. He and Ida are buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery in San Diego, California.
Julian Feild brought many first to Fort Worth, Mansfield and Tarrant County in general. With the partnership of a Methodist preacher, W.J. Masten, he set up the first general store in an abandoned army cabin. Feild was also the first postmaster of Fort Worth. In April of 1854, Feild and nine other Masons met in his store and organized the first Blue Lodge. This was Lodge No. 148, and the first stated meeting was on April 21, 1854. Feild was the first Worshipful Master. In 1857, the first Masonic Hall was built at East Belknap and Grove. The Masons met upstairs and the lower floor was used for school and church. Julian Feild was one of the leading campaigners in 1856 to move the county seat of Tarrant County to Fort Worth. An election was held in November of 1856, and although Fort Worth received thirteen more votes than Birdville, Birdville remained the county seat until 1860.
With the partnership of Man and Mock, Feild helped finance the building of the first grist mill in Fort Worth. As stated earlier years of drought brought failure to the water powered grist mill. The mill was abandoned. Around 1860 Feild and Man came to the area known as Walnut Creek and Cross Timbers. Together, the two men hired local help and built the first steam powered grist mill in Texas. A great abundance of business came to them for several years. The mill filled large government orders, and wagons came from as far as the Rio Grande. Captain Feild and Man were exempt from service because they needed to keep their flour mill grinding wheat for the soldiers.
Across Broad Street, from the mill, where the McKnight building presently stands, was the Feild and Man Mercantile Store. It was the first store of its kind in Mansfield. Julian's wife, Henrietta, was in charge of Mansfield's first and, for many years, only inn. Their home and inn faced south in the block formed by West Broad Street and First Avenue.
Captain Feild was physically big, decidedly optimistic, and liked to take an active part in organization and secret orders. Feild operated wagon trains after the Civil War, but there is little knowledge of his activities. The "Feild's Freighters" operated in West Texas as far as Fort Belknap and Fort Griffin. They also went into Indian Reservations in Indian Territory in Oklahoma and New Mexico Territory.
No one is certain of the time of Feild's departure from Mansfield, but it is said that he was drawn back to the "elegant functions" and society of Fort Worth in the late 1870s. Records show that he served on the Fort Worth Board of Aldermen in 1884 and 1885. He served as Fort Worth postmaster once again in 1885 and he was also one of the signers of the 1890 plat of Mansfield.
Julian and Henrietta Feild had twelve children, Robert Tingnal, Dr. Julian Theodore, Julia Frances, Charles Edward, Attorney William Henry, Henrietta Emma, Dr. Richard Alexander, Joseph Boisseau, Henrietta Betty, Jefferson Davis, Rosco Miles and Mary Etta.
Henrietta passed away in January of 1883 and is buried in the Oakwood Cemetery. Julian Feild left Texas for California around 1890. He married Ida Adelaid Major in March of 1885. The couple had three children, Major Coke, George Major, and Florance Major. Julian T. Feild died September 7, 1897. He and Ida are buried in the Mount Hope Cemetery in San Diego, California.
