USA > Texas > Johnson County > A memorial and biographical history of Johnson and Hill counties, Texas : containing the early history of this important section of the great state of Texas together with glimpses of its future prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens of the present time, and full-page portraits of some of the most eminent men of this section > Part 1
USA > Texas > Hill County > A memorial and biographical history of Johnson and Hill counties, Texas : containing the early history of this important section of the great state of Texas together with glimpses of its future prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens of the present time, and full-page portraits of some of the most eminent men of this section > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
-
Gc 976.401 J63 pt.1 1936835
M. L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
1
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02290 3436
598
12.50
A Memorial
&AND
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
->>>>> OF ~~~~
Johnson and Hill Counties,
TEXAS.
+F
Ft.1
.. ILLUSTRATED. ...
Containing the Early History of this Important Section of the great State of Texas, together with Glimpses of its Future Prospects: also. Biographical Mention of Many of the Pioneers and Prominent Citizens of the Present Time, and Full-page Portraits of some of the most . Eminent Men of this Section.
"A people that take no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants." -- Macaulay
134665 I-73
CHICAGO:
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
. 1892.
1936835
R976.4524 M533 Memorial and biographical history of Johnson and Hill Co. (Texas)
Dallas
1892
1
1
1
1
Bound by TEXAS BOOK BINDERY, Inc., DALLAS, TEXAS Date.
11 120
EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Indians and Earliest Explorers. 0
Boundary 10
Physical l'eatures 11
Districts. 12
Llano Estacado . 13
Rivers .. 13
Ele vations
14
Minerals. . 15
Early Expeditions 16.
Cessions 19
Missions ... 19
Colonization 20,
22
Skirmishes 20 Population. . 24
Taxation 2.1
The Revolution 27
Settled Government 43
Mexican War, etc. 45
JOHNSON AND HILL. COUNTIES.
NATURAL FEATURES:
Topography 47
Geology
50
Climate
55
Prairie Fires 62.
Wild Animals, etc 62
INDIANS
JOHNSON COUNTY.
IN GENERAL:
Early Settlement 08
Sketch of Major E. M 11eath 70
Organization ... 78
Origin of the Name of Johnson County ... 83
-- Sketch of M. T. Johnson 83
Early Surveyors .. 85
Sketch of B. J. Chambers 86
Public Records. 88
Probate Court. 89
County Conrt 90
District Court
Courthouses Jail
Poor Farm
-Political.
Election Returns
A Reflection
The Bar
Sketch of G. H. Maxey.
1
CRIMES. . 11
THE LAST WAR , 116
Parsons' Brigade.
117, 259
Decoration Day. 122
122
124
Cotton
126
Fruit 126
Live.Stock 127
l'he Proposed Fence Law.
128 129
Population ..
130
Locust Plagues.
130
Agricultural Fairs.
182
Farmers' Organizations. ...
133
EDUCATIONAL 136
CLEBURNE 138
Naming the Town 139
Sketch of "Pat." Cleburno 139
Beginnings . 142
The Cleburne of To-day 143
Banks .. 145
Other Institutions 147
Private Schools
148
Public Schools 149
Sketch of Prof. Marrs. 152
Newspapers 155
Physicians .100
Societies
161
Churches
163
170
ALVARADO 173
The Bulletin 177
Sketch of G. C. Fahm 177
Sketch of L. B. Trulove
180
The Corporation. 181
Schools 181
Societies. 182
124
RAILROADS . ..
AGRICULTURAL, ETC. The Soil
Wealth of the County
Sketch of Benjamin Barnes 135
Cleburne Corporation
1976.4524 M533
ENTS !!
:
CONTENTS.
-
183
.lill
185
187 CRIMINAL 269
Good Character of the People 272
MISCELLANEOUS :
.192 County Poor Farm. 274
Reavis' History of Hill County 274
Remarkable Prevision 274
Paternal Joy. .. 275
Singularly Unfortunate .276
A llero. . 276
The " Loyal Sons and Daughters of the South".276
.277
Pioneers Going
.277
IHILLSBORO ...
278
Steiner's Deed.
278
Progress of the Town
279
Present Business.
.282
Banks 284
Other Business .286
Post Office. 287
Improvement in Values 287
Population of the City 289
Newspapers 289
Sketch of llon. A. Fields 291
Schools. 293
Attorneys. 295
Fires .
298
City Corporation
.298
Fire Company
300
Miscellaneous
.301
Jeff. Davis Monument. .301
Fourth of July Celebrations .302
235 ITASCA . .305
HUBBARD.
.314
WHITNEY. 319
.237 ABBOTT 32G
OTHER POINTS:
Fort Graham 328
Peoria. . .328
Aquilla. .328
Brandon. .329
Woodbury. .329
Blum. .330
Derden .331
Covington .331
Osceola. .331
Files' Valley .331
Bois d'Arc
331
Mount Calm 332
Irene. .832
Massey . .333
Towash. 834
Prairie Valley 334
Blautou
344
- Confederate Camp .261
Dea's Brigade 268
Hillsboro Guards. 268
190 191 0 199
194 nes 194
195 198 s. 203
al and Other Fourths of July 203
.ems.
.205
ILILL COUNTY.
FEATURES :
ography .207
mber. .210
. ater.
210
easons
211
Climate and Health
. COUNTY ORGANIZED
.213
County Boundaries.
213
County Seat
216
Courthouses .217
Jail .219
'LECTION RETURNS 219
Miscellaneous Notes
224
Sketch of lIon. Jo. Abbott.
225
THE COURTS . . .227
.927
Their Acts During the War.
Probate Court
District Court.
.237
AGRICULTURAL. .237
Resources
Productions
238
Does Farming Pay in llill County ?
.239
Grain and Cotton.
.242
Corn and Other Products 243 Live-Stock. .244
Farmers' Organizations. .2.15
POPULATION OF THE COUNTY.
Post OFFICES. . 2.16
THE COUNTY'S WEALTH .216
Tax Values 246
Financial. .247 Land Values 248.
RAILROADS ... .249
EDUCATIONAL 252
MILITARY .254
Company A, Twelfth Cavalry .... .255
Company B, Nineteenth Cavalry 257
Parsons' Brigade, 259
C
Physicians 297
County Commissioners' Court. .233 The Poet 304
212
Killed by Lightning
V
CONTENTS.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
A
Abbott, Jo. 225
Abney, J. G .342
Adams, F. E. .897
Adams, W. J
476
Arnold, O. P
.647
B
Baillio, F. B 159
Bain, M. V ... .727
Iales. Mrs. II. A. 512
Ball, R. E ..
379
Ballard, B. W
.534
Ballard, J. T.
.695
Bareley, II. W .672
Barnes, Benj
.135
Barnes, J. P.
545
Barnes, Moses.
550
Barr, James. .582
Bennett, G. R. . 630
Berry, C. W. 469
Bishop, W. B.
496
Blanton, J. II. 612.
Boatwright, C .. 684
Boatwright, D. J. 493
Boatwright, W. C. 394
Boesch, Edward. .396
Boggs, Thomas S. .513
Bonner, R. M. 705
Boone, J. M .. .
404
Davis, J. R.
405
Bounds, W. R.
.601
Boyd, John H.
.628
Boyd, S. R. .336
Bradley, Jackson .409
Bradley, J. B. 381
Bradley, S. D).
409
Branch, A. F. 339 Douglass, A. M. .638
Branunn, W. F. 4-19
Bransom, G. W. 522
Bransom, J. W 528
Brooks, L. W.
581
Brown, E. N 403
Brown, E. Y .384
Ilrown, J. M. 458 Brown, II. P. 391
Brown, Owen .672
Brown, R. B.
.661
Buck, J. G, H .434
Buckley, M. M.
.558
Bugbee, A.
.698
Burgess, J. L. .500
C
Calfee, C. J. .397
Carlisle, T. C.
.491
Carlow, O. S.
452
Exell, John ..
.182
Carmichael, G ..
.545
Cartwright, R. L 346
Cassady, J.
. 653
Causler, T.G ..
644
Chambers, B. J.
86
Chance, W. R ..
670
Chorn, J. B.
511
Clardy, N. L. .427
Clark, Mrs. M. M. 447
Clarke, II.
.594
Clarke, J. R ..
669
Cleveland, J. L.
468
Cline, W. J
565
Coats, M. T. 607 .
Coflin, R. W. .723
Colville, M. D. .348
Cook, Mrs. H. M. C.
.586
Cook, J. C
677
Cox, J. F. 715
Cox, J. P. 356
Cox, M. V 715
Crane, M. M 382
Criggs, II. L. 358
Crumley, E. S. .567
Dabney, J. F 366
Daniel, J. T.
.. 598
Davis, B. F.
624
Davis, J. L.
495
Davis, S. K.
935
Davis, W. G. .344
Deason, E. R .655 Gilliam, J. T. 569
Denton, T. II ..
.516
Glenn, F. M.
711
Derden, David
.506
Bradley, J. II
441
Dickson, C ..
609
Gordon, C. M.
530
Dodson, W. J
.525
Graham, M
597
Graham, S G.
643
Graham, W. J.
610
Grant, J. A.
. 663
Gray, W. J. .558
Green, G. D.
689
Griffin, J. I1. 655
Griffin, J. M. 513
Griffin, T. H. C.
374
Guest, C. J 681
H
Hale, N. M.
605
Haley, K. II.
.402
Hall, J. M.
376
Hammer, M. D.
Hancock, D. L.
.686
ITardesty, E. R.
522
Ilarlin, S. S.
.508
Harper, M. M 470
Ilarrell, J. A
#62
Harriss, J. T
F
Fahm, G. C ... 177
Fancher, A. R.
724
Fewell, J. W.
679
Fields, Wm. A.
291
Files, D. S.
583
Files, F. M .568
Files, J. L. 570
Files, J. O 587
Files, T. J. 589
Floore, J. W
392
Flow, T. C ..
.707
Floyd, J.
683
Ford, II. C.
359
Foster, Jacob.
551
Fountain, W. D ... .. 414
Fox, J. A .. 696
Frasier, W. E .. 445
Frazier, Jolın T. .408
Frazier, R. C ... 408
Frazier, R. T.
411
Freeland, G. W
564
Freeman, J. C.
459
Freeman, S. E.
710
Friou, J. II 622
G
Gathings, E. W
465
Gathings, J. J .. 463
Gathings, Philip. 457
Gathings, W. C .-
893
Gebhard, L. II
.502
Goodloe, P. H. 682
Downey, John. .407
Drennan, J. A. 413
Dudley, II. W.
657
Duncan, J. M
695
Duncan, W. G.
.367
E
Eagleston, James
394
Easter, M. G.
.361
Easter, R. M. .361
Easter, W. F.
.371
Edmonds, A. N
412
Edrington, R. P
.311
Elam, Joel 416
Elder, R M. 375
Ellington, W. I
399
Elliott, J. J ..
.701
Callaway, T .. .380 English, J. N .497
Ewing, W. M
.346
577
600
vi
CONTENTS.
Hart, Miles. 619
Knox, M. D .431
N
Naugle Wm. B 420
Norman, L. 500
Norton, W. F. .687
Norwood, P. J.
338
O
Odom, J. E.
718
Orand, J. W. 389
Orenbaum, J. L
.499
Orenbaum, T. R.
442
Osborn, T. II
518
P
Parrott, II. Z.
732
Paschal, W. M. 523
Patterson Jane M 547
Patterson, W. A
426
Patten, G. W.
678
Patton, 1. A ..
.574
Peterson, J. C. 697
Pettit, J. T .. .626
Pickett, James 368
Pittman, T. E 464
Pitts, F. M.
642
477
Pogue, J. M
527
Poindexter, Wm. 429
Pool, F. M 448
Pratt, J. M. 652
Prestridge, B. 454
Prestridge, W. A
458
Prewitt, S. II. 540
Ramsey, J. J
733
Ramsey, S. S. . 372
Ramsey, W. F 351
Rawls, J. W
Ray, B. B.
618
Reavis, W. 662
Renfro, E. D
.386
Richards, D. W 590
Richardson. R. D 588
Roberts, A 620
Robey, G. D. 438
Robinson, S. 720
Rogers, J. I 490
Rogers, J. M 637
Rose, A. T
592
1
Russell C. E 400
S
Sanderson, D. D. 353
Sanderson, E. W. 537
Satterfield, W. I. 348
Saunders, T. M.
.460
Sawyers, J. B.
677
Sawyers, J. C. 721
Scofield, J. S 489
Scott, P. G .. 491
Scurlock, A. C. 156
Senter, W. C .. 421
Sessions, E. L. 39G
Shepard, A. K.
615
Shepard, W. W 417
Knox, Benson 100 Myers, J W .535
Kyle, C. C.
708
L
Lambert, W. T.
697
Landers, J. A.
450.
Larramore, C.
.555
Latimer, W. II.
566
Lawrence. Thomas
488
Lawson, T. N
48-4
Lee, C. E ..
.691
Lewellen, T. 66-4
Lindgren, J. A 524
Long, W. S .. 714
Lorance, T. D. 615
Loveless, J. M .676
Loveless, W. A 415
Lowder, J. L D.
467
Lunpkin, R. S. 466
M
Maner, F. B. 482
Marrs, S. M. N 152
Marsh, A.
728
Martin, C. L
651
Martin, G. W
Mason,
Mastin, T. F.
599
Maison, J. V.
593
Matthews, D. M. 641
Mayes, J. T.
525
McClain, J. M
#83
McClung, J. W
Ingle, J. O.
.602
Irving, Peyton .563
lack, William 498
Jackson, B, F .369
Jackson, D. R. .511
Jarrard, B. C. 539
Jay, R. M .. .693
Johnson, J. B .704
Johnson, J. M 585
Johnson, J. M. .679 Me Neese, G. W.
Johnson, T. R
.665
Johnston, R
Jones, A. E 154
Jones, A. G. .378
Jones, M. 11. .702
Jones, W. R. B. .352
Jorden G. 1 349
K
Keithı, J. II. 147
Kennard, M. L. .659
Kennedy, J 1) .507
Kennedy, N. B 0 364
Kiliongh, S. B. .463
King, Andrew 579
King, J. S
.526
King, N. J. 418
Kirby, T. T. 608
Myers, C. V.
Myers, D. R.
559
471
Miller, T. K. .654
Mills, W. S. 538
Mobley, S. D. 688
Montgomery, L. D .549
Moore, A. A 351
Moore, J. A 704
Moore, R. W 439
Moorman, Clifford.
673
Morgan, T. C. 470
Morrison, J. W. .561
Moss, J. S .717
Moss, S. E 342
Murray, A. G. . .521
Kirk patrick, W. A 499
-103
Heath, E. M
72
Ilecock, A. T
718
Heeth, Mrs. M. T. 457
Herbert, J. II
.398
llerod, J. F.
533
llerrell, G. A.
480
Ilickman, W. D.
471
Ilicks, R. V. 654
IIIII, B. F.
.580
IIill, J. M.
185
IIiII, L. II. .
.601
Ilix, Howard.
511
Ilodge, N. G.
.502
Holland, M. S.
.420
Ilolland, O. 666
Hollingsworth, T. W 700
Hooker, T. J.
556
Horne, M. G
413
Hloucbin, W. A.
345
Hudson, C. P.
.627
Hudson, J G
.552
Hunt, David. .675
iunter, John .437
lu. Joy, Wm. .719
Hurst, Crack .481
Hutcheson. C. L. 637
Hutton, J. P. . . .. 699
I
Ince, C. W .5.14
McClure, J. S
671
McCowan, J. W
712
McCreight, J ... .674 McGowan, J. A. 357
Mckenzie, J. F.
.665
Mckinney, J. M.
479
Mckinnon, A. P.
363
McKee, T. N.
407
McKey, Elias, 414
MeKoy, W. D.
726
Mc Millan, F. C ...
557
McMurry, Wm. A
390
317
MeQuatters, J. E. .855
Mead, L. P. 641
Mertz, C. W. 370
Metze, Josep]
.514
Milam, J. M.
IIawpe, J. R 489
Heard, W. F .519
Ileath, A. T
151
Heath, C. L.
.341
.598
Poindexter, T. C.
428
597
vii
CONTENTS.
Shine, II. T. 693
Shropshire, D. N. 4.16
Shropshire, J. W .- 111
Simpson, R. II. .452
Sims, W. F.
.515
Smith, A. L.
709
Smith, Gip. 529
Smith, J. W.
Smith, T. B.
611
Smith, T. S
492
Smyth, D. I.
.614
Smyth, J. C.
Smyth, J. J.
Smyth, T. V 619
Sorrells, C. J
Southern, C. A. & II. F .694
Spivey, Jay
.548
Spooner, G. W
565
Stanley, M. F.
578
Stevens, J. A. 505
Stevens, J. W
63:1
Stout, J. M. .554
Stringer, P. P
.433
Strond, N
337
Sturgis, George F. 284
Sturgis, W. W 472
Sumner, II. B.
.456
Sumner, J. B
.515
T
Tarlion, B. D
725
Thomas, C F.
443
Thomas, Mark.
.5.16
Thompson, A. R.
432
Thompson, D).
435
Thompson, J. R.
706
Tipton, R. T
.668
Tipton, W. II.
485
Tomlinson, T. E
.549
Townes, J. M.
707
Trulove, J. R 645
Trulove, L. B.
150
Turner, I. E 423
U
Upshaw, S. C.
473
V
Vanghan, B. II.
495
Vaughan, J. W 400
Vickers, Isaac
.580
Vickers, R. B.
495
Vinson, J. M.
543
W
Wagley, W. II .656
Walker, A. M
729
Walker, Philip
197
Walling, J. 1) .623
Walraven, A .186
Ware, R. J .570
Watts, N. F.
Weatherred, .F. M.
.503
Weaver, C. C .685
Weaver, J. C .509
Webb, W. 11 .531
Welborn, 'T W .532
West. W. L .591
Westbrook, T. M.
7:0
White, G. G
617
White, J. L.
White, Win. A .590
Whorton, T. B. .887
Wier, R. R.
Wilbanks, A. N GSS
Wilbanks, II. 11. 475
Wille, T. W.
115
Williamis, Coon 539
Williams, J. L. B. 692
Williams, J.
.581
Williams, W. M.
.667
Williamson, B. II.
.561
Wilson, J. M. C.
360
Wombwell, J. II.
.6-40
Wood, D. C.
571
Wood, E. B
521
Wrigley, James
572
Yeager, A. II
339
Yerby, B. F .504
Young, J. II .625
Young, O. HI
Young, 11. W
Zollicolfer, E. C.
...
3:12
PORTRAITS.
Abbott, lo .
225
B
Barnes, Benj
135
Bounds, W. R.
601
Bradley, Jackson
409
Bradley, J. B
381
Bradley, J. II .. 441
C
Chambers, B J
86
Cox, J. P
356
D
Davis, S. K
335
Davis, W. G
344
Dickson, C.
.609
E
Edrington, R. P.
.811
F
Fields, Wm. A.
201
Gathings, Philip.
457
Gathings, W. C. 893
Gilliam. J. T. .560
Gray, W. J.
553
Guest, .I. C. 681
11
Heath, E. M.
Ilill, Jesse M
185
Johnson, J. M
585
Marrs, S. M. N
152
Matson, T. V.
593
Matthews, D. M .641
Mc Kinnon, A. P
363
McNeese, G. W
317
S
Saunderson, E. W
.537
Scofield, I. S
489
Scurlock, A. C. 150
Smyth, T. V.
649
Stevens, J. A
505
Stevens, J. W
633
Sturgis, Geo. F
284
Trulove, L. B
180
U
Upshaw, S. C.
433
V,
Vaughan, B. II
425
W
Walker, Philip
197
White, G. G. ..
617
Wood, E. B
521
Y
Young, J. 1I
625
2
Zollicoffer, E. C.
332
HISTORY OF
JOHNSON AND HILL COUNTIES,
TEXAS.
EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
S preliminary to the history of any sec- tion of a State it seeins necessary to give an outline sketch of the State it- self. There have been no less than ninety to 100 volumes, large and small, published strictly upon Texas matters, issued from time time since the days of Texan independence, -- the days when her heroic citizens were strng- gling with Mexico for local self-government, and in this remark we refer to all classes of subjects,-railroads, immigration, agricul- . ture, trade, political matters, etc. Besides the volumes referred, there have been hun- dreds of pamphlets, en scores of topics; and it is from the more substantial volumes that we glean the facts compiled in the following account. The compiler will endeavor to leave nothing untenched that is of genuine interest to those not possessing the large histories, 1
whilst he shall condense freely,-give the kernel, net the hull, of the nut.
INDIANS AND EARLIEST EXPLORERS.
When the Spaniards arrived in Mexico, and in fact, for nearly three centuries thereafter, numerous tribes of Indians inhabited the country, in addition to the semi-civilized Aztecs, or those peopling the more southern portions of the vast territory stretching from what is now the upper boundary of Texas to the gulf. In the upper, or rather eastern, section of this New Spain -- in short, Texas -a very powerful tribe of Indians whe called themselves Tehas lived and roamed. They were members of the great Caddo family. and from the name, Tehas, comes Texas. The country, however, has been known by various names. The northern portion at one time
10
EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
boro the title of New Phillipines, while to the westward on the old maps it was called Estremadura or Coahuila. The Spaniard, De Narvaez, traversed the country from the Rio Grande to Mobile in 1522, and in 1537 De Nisa, another Spaniard, visited the village of Isleta. Three years later, 1540, Coronado took formal possession of the village in the name of the Spanish crown. Missionaries accompanied these conquerors, and after they subdued their almost defenseless victims ad- ministered to them the rites of religion, thereby stilling their consciences for the bar- barities practiced. Espejo, at the head of a force, also having in his train a number of missionaries, took possession of Santa Fé and El Paso. One hundred years later, 1685, the French laid claim to a large portion of Texas, basing it upon the faet of La Salle and his eolony having landed upon the coast. The old French maps give it as a portion of Louisiana. The Spanish put it down as a part of New Spain, and very justly, taking into consideration the faet of the conquest by Cortez. These rival claims were unsettled for many years after the last date mentioned. In the meantime a small but powerful young giant had been born, who began stretching out his arms at quite an infantile age. In 1803 France sold Louisiana to the United States; but this young Hercules also wanted Florida and Texas. Spain, however, did not want to part with either, but in 1819 she was induced to surrender Florida, in consideration of which the United States gave up all elaim on Texas; but just when she had obtained any claim on Mexican territory history fails
to state. Yet Uncle Sam was only following in the footprints of much older States, and he may, possibly, some day perform a few more imitations.
BOUNDARY.
The boundary of Texas on the north up to the period of the Revolution was still unset- tled, several large settlements on the south side of Red river being claimed by both Texas and Arkansas, and not until 1849 was the matter definitely adjusted. Richard Ellis, for whom Ellis county was named, lived in one of the disputed settlements in the Red river country. He was a prominent citizen and represented his municipality in the Con- vention of 1836, being president of that body. The doubt existing, as stated, as to which government this section of country belonged, to hu, certain of representation, his son, who lived in the same house with him, was elected to the Legislature of Arkansas as a citizen of Miller county, of the State named. The elder Ellis died in 1849. In 1850 Texas sold Santa Fe, now known as New Mexico, thus parting with 98,360 square miles of territory, equaling an aereage of 56,240,640. According to the treaty map, published in 1850, Texas had left after the sale 237,321 square miles, equal to 151,885,440 aeres; but estimates from our own land office give the State 268,684 square miles of territory, ex- clusive of Greer county. The State is nearly 1,000 miles from north to south in its great- est extent, and very little less from east to west.
11
EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
PHYSICAL FEATURES.
The geographical situation of this vast em- pire, stretching as it does from the Gulf of Mexico half way to the Pacific ocean, and presenting a variety of climate unequaled on the face of the globe, is something that the ordinary thinker fails to grasp at first thought. In those portions of the State devoted to agriculture a large proportion of the land is susceptible of cultivation, and immense bodies are as rich and fertile as can be found on the continent. This is true, not only of the al- luvial bottoms, but also of a considerable pro- portion of the prairie lands in the interior. l'ersons are apt to speak of sections of Texas as being especially adapted to certain prod- ucts. They say the " stock region," the "sugar belt," the " cotton belt," the " wheat region," etc., seemingly thereby to imply that the sections named are only fitted for those certain products. But such is not the case, as every kind of stock can be raised anywhere in the State with proper attention, and every arable acre of land in the State will produce cotton, corn, sorghum, potatoes, peaches, grapes, etc. Sugar from the ribbon cane inay be profitably cultivated everywhere south of the thirtieth parallel of north lati- tude, and wheat, rye, oats, apples, etc., any- where north of the latitude indicated. In a number of counties cotton, wheat and corn can be raised alnost in the same field. For a distanco of fifty to one hundred miles in- teriorly from the coast, the country is quite level, but beyond this it is rolling, with gradual elevations and corresponding depres-
sions, continuing to become more and more elevated till it finally becomes hilly and then mountainous from the northwestern limits to the gulf, into which by way of its thousand streams it empties all its waters. Persons who have never been in Texas are under the impression that it is very unhealthful; that the heat is violently excessive, and that those who are unused to the climate run great risk in coming here. This is very far from the truth. The temperature of Texas in the hot- test days of summer is usually several de- grees less than the greatest heat of the north- ern cities; and whilst sunstroke is common in those cities, there is not a single. well- authenticated case of death from that cause on record or otherwise in the whole of Texas. In winter the difference in temperature is still more apparent, the cold being many degrees greater in the northern cities than here. Texas has the most nnix,rmn, equable and mild climate of all States in the Union, and is, therefore, the most healthful. As an evidence of the truthfulness of this assertion, one has but to look upon the citizens of the big State of Texas, and he will see people in proportion to the size of the grand empire wherein he is living,-great big men and women, strong and active, riding or walking in the flaming sun as unconcerned about the heat as though no such thing existed. Kentucky has popu- larly been supposed to produce the largest men, and well has she sustained her reputa- tion in that regard; but it is the opinion of the writer that if a new measurement were taken, Kentucky would have to take second place, or hold her own by an inappreciable
12
EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
difference. Western Texas is fast gaining a reputation for its health-imparting breezes, and annually thousands of invalids visit those regions, many of them coming away entirely cured at the end of the season.
DISTRICTS.
A State as vast as Texas must, for con- venience alone, be subdivided into districts, and in this case these districts are each large enough to form one or more States equal to any in the Union. What is known as North- ern Texas includes within its area a double or triple tier of counties on the south side of Red river, as far west as the counties of Wise, Montague, Erath, and others, thirty or more. But this subdivision must again be divided, and about twelve counties should properly be attached to East Texas, as the character of the country on the east differs widely from that on the west. The first is heavily timbered and the other is prairie land, rolling and very fertile. The timber of this region is valu- able, especiallythe pine, extensive sawmills being found throughout the country. Besides the pine there is post oak, black jack and some hickory. Water is abundant, generally good-invariably freestone. West of this timbered section commences the great prairie region. In the western portion of this sub- division commences the "mountains," so called, and although they do not possess the altitude of the Rockies, the Alleghanies, or the Blue Ridge, yet they are true mountains, with roeky ledges, spurs, precipices, etc. Many of those elevations are isolated cones, rising from the table lands; to the southward
some of them are covered with eedar, valu- able for fencing. East Texas includes about twenty counties, lying between the Trinity river and the State line off the east, and ex- tends from the Gulf of Mexico to the south- ern boundary of Northern Texas. Much of this division is flat, and a considerable por- tion is covered with valuable timber. Nu- merous rivers and creeks traverse all portions of it, many of the streams being navigable. Middle Texas lies below Northern Texas and embraces all the territory from its upper boundary to the gulf between the Trinity and Colorado rivers. The bottom lands of the Brazos, which of course is included in this seetion, is extremely fertile. These alluvial lands have been aptly compared to the delta of the Nile. Within the bounds indicated are the cities of Austin, Galveston and Hous- ton, and a number of other growing towns and thickly popular d counties. Ordinarily considered, West Texas includes all of the country west of the Colorado river, but the country between the Colorado at Austin on the northeast, and Bexar county on the south- west, and the Colorado and San Antonio rivers to the gulf, must also be included. About forty counties lying north of Bexar, and extending to the western line of Kimble county and thence to the Red river, including Greer, and all eastward to North Texas, is what forms that portion of the State known as Northwest Texas. The character of the country is similar to that of Northern Texas. To a large extent, it is as yet undeveloped. It is supposed to be incxhanstible in mineral wealth and for agricultural purposes. South-
13
EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
west Texas includes all the country south of Crockett county, between the San Antonio and Rio Grande rivers. It is an extremely rich section of the State, and was visited and purtially settled at a very early date. This upplies to a small portion of it, but the entire region is well adapted to the raising of eattle. What is known as the mineral region com- prises a large scope of country composed of the counties of Crockett, Tom Green, l'ecos, Presidio, and El Paso. Its mineral resources, however, have only been partially developed, but the region gives great promise of future wealth. The character of the country is very similar to the Pan Handle or Staked I'mins region, and a description of one would answer for the other.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.