Harmony Pirtle (New Pirtle)

Rusk County, TX

Status: Located

Year Established: Unknown

Council of Governments: ETCOG

Public History: There are no current descriptions related to Harmony Pirtle in the public record. If you are aware of any sources that we may have missed please share them with us.

Community History: Mingo Kennedy, Born 1844, was a Black pioneer & one of the original settlers of East Texas. Dink Kennedy was the son of Mingo. Major Kennedy was the Son of Dink & Betty Kennedy. Major Kennedy, his wife Betty, sister Savannah and brother-in-law Levi Butts helped to co-found the Pirtle Freedom Colony. Savannah Kennedy-Butts and Levi Butts opened the school, church and cemetery in New Pirtle. The story of Major Kennedy appeared in Ebony Magazine in its early years, as he was d\ubbed one of “Negro Millionaires of Texas”, gained thru his oil wealth. Major was a successful businessman and philanthropist. See attached for more info. Mary Ann Butts-Hayward, the daughter of Savannah and Levi, the Bradford family, the Harvey family, and others have helped to build and sustain the colony.

Cemetery: Butts-Kennedy Cemetery