Our History

The western fringe of the Eastern Cross Timbers in northeast Tarrant County comprised part of the frontier of the Peters Colony settlers of the 1840’s. In about 1845, the area was first settled by a group of families from Missouri. Led by a widow named Permelia Allen, they homesteaded near the head-waters of Big Bear Creek. Other families that settled in the area included Daniel Bancroft, Ireneous Neace, Richard Allen, J.J. Roberts and Aurelius Delphus Bourland.

​The area became known as ‘Double Springs’ for the two large springs in the rolling wooded countryside. The spring site is approximately ½ mile north of the first church started in Tarrant County in 1850, known as the Lonesome Dove Baptist Church. The church building was burned down by Native Americans, possibly because these new settlers had taken over their land and water source. In 1883 the church was rebuilt at the site and renamed Mt. Gilead Baptist Church.

The community of Double Springs was a thriving community and by the early 1870’s which consisted of a post office, cotton gin, grist mill, blacksmith shop, and several other stores. In late 1870s, word got around about a railroad in a small community called Athol, located 3 miles southwest of Double Springs. The people were working hard to get the railroad to come through their community, even though there was nothing that faintly resembled a town.

A construction boss working for the railroad named John C. Keller saw how hard these men were working and told them if they would rename the town after him, he would make sure the train depot would be located there. When it was decided that the railroad was going to come through Athol, or what is now known as Keller, there began in immediate exodus from Double Springs. One room log houses and businesses were moved by wagon and the post office was relocated to Keller in the early 1880s.

​As the relocation process took place, and after Keller drilled an artesian well in 1896, the demand for water lessened. The townspeople of Double Springs had placed barrels, opened at both ends, over the springs to insure the availability of fresh spring water. Leaving the springs behind, over time they filled with sand and eventually were plugged and lost for many years.
​
Samantha Springs is considered one of the best providers of spring water in Texas. The Spring provides more than 200,000 gallons of natural fresh spring water per day, to thousands of Texans.