In eighteen hundred ninety-nine
The railroad sought to build a line
That would link old Kemp to Athens town
And help keep the settlers´ expenses down.

Two villages stood on the county line,
Alive and flourishing at that time;
One was called Goshen, the Promised Land,
The other, Lawndale, a mercantile stand

Each hoped to become the new railway center,
New trade, new settlers, new fortunes to enter,
For railroads are rightfully known to be,
The maker or breaker of a town´s destiny.

But across the line, on Twelve- Mile Prairie,
Lived two young ranchers, bold and wary,
Who needed the freight cars that could carry
Steers to market without needless tarry.

Mason and Eubank was each rancher´s name,
They wanted expediency rather that fame,
But the offer they made to the railroad men
Made them more famous than they would have been.

“Run the rails through our ranch´s vast land,
And we will give you a helping hand
To build a new town with a depot fair
That will your expenses greatly pare.”

The railroad builders chortled with glee
And accepted the offer with much alacrity.
When the town site was carved from the ranch,
Its name was coined—not left to chance.

“Take the MA-from Mason,” the men all said,
And-BANK form Eubank to make MABANK instead.”
And thus by two rancher´s generous bounty
Was Mabank born in Kaufman County.