Bleakwood, Newton County
Before Seth Swift (1789-1869) founded the settlement of Salem, he and his partner, Paul Gardner, operated a whaling business in Massachusetts. After Gardner's death in 1835, Swift, his wife Lydia, and five children immigrated to Texas. They brought household goods and material for a frame house up the Sabine River to this location on the Big Cow Creek. The road to Opelousas, Louisiana, over which cattle were driven to New Orleans, crossed here. Swift named the trading post for Salem, Massachusetts. Swift owned a ferry which was a point of entry into Texas and continued to operate for 100 years. Riverboats unloaded lumber, cotton, and other goods. Although there were no churches, circuit riders came here. There was no schoolhouse, but Swift brought Martha Percival to instruct the children. Swift ran the post office that started here during the Republic of Texas. He was buried near his home in the pink marble casket he brought from Massachusetts. In 1892 Cow Creek Tram Co. established a logging camp (2 mi. S) which became known as "Old Salem". Salem Post Office moved to the new location. Never incorporated, Salem disappeared after transportation improved and settlements moved inland.