Editing Corsicana, Texas (section)

==History==
[[File:Pioneer Village in Corsicana, TX IMG 0644.JPG|left|thumb|Pioneer Village in [[Beauford H. Jester]] Park in Corsicana]]
Founded in 1848, Corsicana was named by [[José Antonio Navarro]] after the [[Mediterranean]] island of [[Corsica]], the birthplace of his father. He had died when Navarro and his many siblings were young.<ref>''Defending Mexican Valor in Texas: Jose Antonio Navarro's Historical Writings, 1853–1857'', by Jose Antonio Navarro, David R. McDonald, Timothy M. Matovina Pric, State House Press, October 1995, {{ISBN|978-1-880510-31-5}}, p. 1. Navarro's mother was a native of San Antonio, then a part of New Spain.</ref><ref>''Jose Antonio Navarro, co-creator of Texas'', Baylor University Press, 1969, 127 pages, ASIN: B0006CAIBS</ref>  The first school opened shortly afterwards in 1849.<ref>{{cite book|title=A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas|date=1893|publisher=Lewis Publishing Company|page=173|url=http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth46827/m1/181/sizes/l/|access-date=28 September 2014}}</ref>

Women's groups have had a strong role throughout the history of the city. They established the Corsicana Female Literary Institute, a school that operated from 1857 through 1870. The first public library in Corsicana opened in 1901 by effort of the women's clubs of the city. A 1905 library matching gift by [[Andrew Carnegie]] gave the library a permanent home and its first full-time, professionally trained librarian. The library today is housed in a dedicated building downtown and boasts more than 52,283 books, 6,306 audio materials, 783 video materials, and 122 serial subscriptions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cityofcorsicana.com/|title=Corsicana, TX - Official Website &#124; Official Website|website=www.cityofcorsicana.com}}</ref>

The Corsicana [[YMCA]] was founded in 1884,<ref>Anon. [http://www.corsicanaymca.org/html/history.html "Corsicana YMCA History"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002214505/http://www.corsicanaymca.org/html/history.html |date=October 2, 2007 }}</ref> and has grown with patron funding. In its earliest days, it was supported by [[George Taylor Jester]] (1847–1922), a wealthy dry-goods and cotton distributor, banker, and politician. He served as [[lieutenant governor of Texas]] (1895–1899), and his son [[Beauford H. Jester]] served as governor (1947–1949).<ref>Anon. [http://www.txgenweb6.org/txnavarro/biographies/j/jester_george_t.htm "George Taylor Jester Biography"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205142837/http://www.txgenweb6.org/txnavarro/biographies/j/jester_george_t.htm |date=February 5, 2015 }}, Texas GenWeb</ref>

Oil was accidentally discovered in June, 1894, by the American Well and Prospecting Company, hired by the Corsicana Water Development Company, when oil seeped into an [[artesian well]] being drilled within the city limits.  In October 1895, the first commercial oil well was drilled by the Corsicana Oil Development Company, founded by Ralph Beaton, H.G. Damon, and John Davidson. It was the first commercially significant oilfield find in Texas. A refinery was in operation by January 1899, through the efforts of [[Joseph S. Cullinan]].  The [[Powell oil field]] was discovered in 1900, a few miles east of Corsicana. [[Drilling rig|Rotary]] drilling, used to drill water wells, was introduced to the oil industry by M.C. Baker and C.E. Baker, with tools manufactured by the American Well and Prospecting machine shop, owned by N.G. Johnson, E.H. Akin, and Charles Rittersbacker.<ref>Dick Platt [http://corsicanadailysun.com/opinion/x1561287398/And-so-spake-The-Little-Woman "And so spake The Little Woman... "], ''Corsicana Daily Sun''</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Olien |first1=Diana |last2=Olien |first2=Roger |title=Oil in Texas, The Gusher Age, 1895-1945 |date=2002 |publisher=University of Texas Press |location=Austin |isbn=0292760566 |pages=4–9}}</ref><ref name=dy>{{cite book |last1=Yergin |first1=Daniel |title=The Prize, The Epic Quest for Oil, Money & Power |date=1991 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |location=New York |isbn=9780671799328 |pages=83}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=MATSON |first1=GEORGE |last2=HOPKINS. |first2=OLIVER |title=THE CORSICANA OIL AND GAS FIELD, TEXAS, CONTRIBUTIONS TO ECONOMIC GEOLOGY, 1917, PART II, USGS Bulletin 661f |url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/0661f/report.pdf |publisher=USGS |access-date=2 August 2020 |page=213 |date=1917}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Linsley |first1=Judith |last2=Rienstrad |first2=Ellen |last3=Stiles |first3=Jo |title=Giant Under the Hill, A History of the Spindletop Oil Discovery at Beaumont, Texas in 1901 |date=2002 |publisher=Texas State Historical Association |location=Austin |isbn=9780876112366 |pages=20–22}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], an airman flying school called Corsicana Air Field trained thousands of pilots.<ref>William, Edward L. [http://www.txgenweb6.org/txnavarro/war/corsicana_air_field/corsicana_air_field_photos.htm "Corsicana Air Field Photographs – 1941"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205195537/http://www.txgenweb6.org/txnavarro/war/corsicana_air_field/corsicana_air_field_photos.htm |date=February 5, 2015 }}, Texas GenWeb</ref>