An extremely popular sporting and social activity in Polk County in the late 1800s, predating even baseball, was the equestrian sport called The Tournament. Often called a ring tournament, or Tilting at the Ring, this sport had its origins in Europe and was inspired by Walter Scott’s novel, Ivanhoe. Written in 1819, it was one of the most popular books of the 19th century.
The romanticized sport was first brought into the United States to Virginia and Maryland. After the Civil War, it reigned supreme in the Old South as the unquestioned favorite pastime and the term “tournament” originally referred only to this sport.
The first reference to the sport in Texas was when Dallas hosted its first Tournament in 1858. The Jasper Newsboy mentioned a grand Tournament to be held at their county fair in 1871. A Tournament to be held in Moscow was announced in the Galveston Daily News of November 28, 1872. The first mention of a Livingston Tournament was found in the Galveston Daily News of August 1, 1889 where it reported, briefly, that the supper, ball and tournament was an entire success.
Based on the medieval sport of jousting, the local young men and women donned costumes from this time. The “knights” would mount their horses and gallop down a straightaway track of 80 yards. The first rings were suspended from an arch at 20 yards, the second and third were 30 yards apart.
With the use of a lance, the rider attempted to collect small cord-wrapped rings that were suspended from the arches that were built along the track. In the event of a tie, the contest would continue until such tie was broken. It was required that the riders go at full speed and if deemed by the judges to be not making speed they could be disqualified.
The gentleman taking the greatest number of rings would be entitled to a crown to be awarded to his favorite lady, who would then be declared the “Queen of Love and Beauty.” The second and third place winners were awarded wreaths which were then bestowed upon their favorite ladies, the first and second “Maids of Honor.”
Large crowds attended these annual events, which were always complimented with a large barbecue and of course, speeches by political leaders. At the end of the day a grand “Queen’s Ball” was held. These balls were initially held in the courthouse and then later were held at the Opera House.
The winners of the 1895 edition, as reported in the October 26, 1895 issue of the Galveston Dailey News were E.B. “Eddie” Andress, who presented the crown to Miss E. Heatherwick. S.H. “Sam” Smith bestowed his first wreath upon Miss Olive Willis (daughter of W.D. Willis, she later married Smith and they were the grandparents of Sidney R. Smith) and Dave Green presented the second wreath to Miss Mary “Nelie” Cochran of Colita, (sister of J.W. Cochran, the Cochran family moved to Livingston from Colita in 1895, Mary later married Eugen Henslee). There was a grand ball at the academy (likely the school on Jackson Avenue) and many were present from Lufkin, Corrigan, Moscow and Coldspring.
In 1896, a committee of E.J. Manry, J.W. Cochran and T.F. Meece was made to secure special train service and the crowd was estimated to be up to 3,000. The event was declared “successful beyond anticipation”. The orators, popular statesmen of the day, W.M. Imboden of Cherokee County and S.B. Cooper, from Tyler County, each spoke for two hours at the courthouse concerning political topics of the day. They both championed for William Jennings Bryan, democracy, and against populism. Afterwards, the dinner was “abundant and of the very best.”
The winning knight, M.S. “Marion” Tew awarded the crown to Miss Roxie Feagin (daughter of Judge J.C. Feagin and later she married Tew), Eddie Andress awarded the first wreath to Miss Daisy Watts (Andress, son of S.J. Andress and this couple later married) and James E. Hill Jr. the second wreath to Miss Ruth Standley (daughter of Sheriff W.G. Standly and she later married Hill). D.G. Green was also a winner for the day. The festivities closed, once again, with a grand ball at the courthouse.
The 1897 edition was held under the auspices of the Young Men’s Club. The attendance was estimated at 500 or more. The Houston Post acknowledged their invitation to the gala affair.
Eli Copeland, Albert Watts Jr. and James E. Hill Jr. were the winning knights. The lucky ladies were Miss May Watts, Queen, and Annie Manning and Ruth Standley first and second Maids of Honor. Once again, Wiley Mangum Imboden served as orator of the day, having been introduced by J.C. Feagin, Esquire. The ball at the courthouse was largely attended.
In what was surely the event of the year 1901, the presentation of the Ike Turner Confederate Camp marker on the courthouse square was held on October 10, 1901. The Livingston Local newspaper of October 17, 1901 reported that the event attracted an estimated 2,000 to 3,000 people from the country and adjacent towns. The program began at 10 a.m. with the unveiling of the monument by Miss Rowena Green and was marked with an extended speech by Judge J.M. Crosson. Afterwards was held a huge barbeque for which Livingston was so famous. In the afternoon a tournament was held by the young men on the track near town, in which several participants strove with varying success for the crowns to place on their lady loves. The exercises were concluded with a grand ball at the courthouse at night, in which the young people of the city and country “tripped the light fantastic” until a late hour.
The 1904 version, as reported by the Houston Post, had Lewis Alexander adorning Miss Sydnor Woodward with the crown (they later married), Kirk Drew presenting to Miss May Green and Dr. R.B. Love awarding Miss Ola Greer (daughter of W.W. Greer and she later married Dr. Love, parents of Ola Bergman). Another participant mentioned was Eugene Garvey (grandfather of Norma Coates Slater). Cade Bethea Jr., a local attorney, gave a “brief but appropriate address.”
Beginning in 1909, the business-minded people of town, led by the energetic newspaperman, W.L. West, publisher of the Polk County Enterprise, began to hold annual county fairs. These huge events were held from Wednesday through Friday and would attract thousands of people to town each year.
In the first mention of a Tournament in the Enterprise, the October 5, 1911 issue stated “the young men of the town are arranging for a tournament, which will be had in the afternoon of the second day. They are making arrangements and many are expected to run.”
The 1911 County Fair featured the event and according to the Enterprise, it was to be held at 1:55 p.m. on Thursday, October 19 at the grounds located east of S.C. Chapman’s residence. This placed them in the Choate’s Creek valley south of DeLaMorton Street and east of Hwy 146. Chapman, who had served as Polk County Sheriff, was the Chief Marshall for the fair. His wife, Vera Freeman Chapman, was manager of the ladies exhibits inside the Opera House. Sadly, Mr. Chapman was murdered the following month at his Trinity River farm west of town when there was a disagreement between him and some of his tenant farmers.
The Post of October 22, 1911 ran an extensive story about the fair. In these days, articles were submitted to the large “city” papers by local correspondents and they seemed to perhaps inflate the “news.” According to this article, 5,000 people were in attendance for the fair. The winner of the event, as reported by the Post, was Duncan Victery. He presented the crown to Miss Carrie Campbell (daughter of Fox Campbell, she later married R.D. Willis). Second prize went to Earl Manning and he in turn gave the wreath to Miss Hazel Waller. Jett Smith was another winner.
The next mention of it was found in the Houston Post of October 22, 1922 where it was simply reported that a great crowd was present. One final reference of the Livingston Tournament is found in the October 13, 1938 Historical, Anniversary and Fair issue of The Polk County Enterprise. A.E. Gerlach, who was the coach of the first LHS football team in 1916, recalled “there was no more fascinating and thrilling contest than that ancient game called “The Tournament,” where gaily bedecked young men, mounted upon fast charging ponies, dashed down a straightaway race track, billiard cues in one hand, trying to spear a little ring from its perch suspended above the track. Yes, this was a sport. From miles around came the debonair men and beautiful ladies, gathering together each year in Livingston for the running of the tournament. The lucky winner of this game became the proud possessor of the glittering “crown” and with it the privilege of placing it upon the head of his lady love, who then was acclaimed the “Queen” of the tournament.”
