DUANE
Duane's take
Here's what the official marker has to say about Trickham, and I'm going to enjoy every word of it. Somewhere out in Coleman County, there's a little place with a name that tells you just about everything you need to know before you even step out of the truck. The town of Trickham.
The oldest town in the county. And friend, it earned that name. Founded about 1855, Trickham started life as a cowboy trading post, built up around the ranching activities of cattle baron John Chisum.
You're talking about a crossroads that mattered — during the years 1860 to 1890, this was a boisterous community where cattle trails met and cowboys came through with money in their pockets and time on their hands. Now picture that scene: a general store at the center of it all, dusty boots on the floorboards, men waiting, maybe a little bored, maybe a little ornery. And someone — the marker doesn't name the guilty party, which is probably wise — someone starts pulling notorious jokes on folks right there in that store.
Not just one prank. Not just two. Notorious jokes, plural.
The kind of reputation that spreads. The kind that sticks. So when it came time to give this place a proper post office name, somebody offered up a suggestion that I think we can all appreciate for its honesty: call it Trick'em.
And Trick'em became Trickham. The oldest town in Coleman County, founded in jest, or at least named in it.
What the marker says
Oldest town in county; founded about 1855 as a cowboy trading post for ranching activities of cattle baron John Chisum. During 1860-1890, it was a boisterous community at a crossroads of cattle trails. Because of notorious jokes played at local general store, "Trick'em" was suggested for name of post office here. (1969)