Metheglin Creek of Bell County is the only creek, so far as I can
learn, in the United States bearing its name. The account of how it got
its unique name I have derived from old-timers familiar with the
naming, and just this year the facts as given below were confirmed to
me by the son of the pioneer Morrison.
One of the oldest pioneer settlers of Bell County was a ranchman named
Morrison. He settled in the extreme northwest part of Bell County, and
his land extended into Coryell County. His home was close to an unnamed
creek. Like many other pioneers of unexceptionable character, he was
inclined to imbibe too freely at times. His wife never called him by
any other name than “Honey,” a fact well known to the neighbors. One
day his wife asked “Honey” to fetch her a bucket of water from the
creek. He was pretty well “shot” when he leaned over to fill the
bucket, and fell into the creek. A waggish neighbor who witnessed the
accident instantly christened the creek “Metheglin”—a mixture of honey
and water. And Metheglin Creek has been the name ever since.
Metheglin was a favorite improvised drink of Texas pioneers. It was a
mixture of honey and water, boiled, fermented, and then spiced to suit.