A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 1

Author:
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 954


USA > Texas > Henderson County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 1
USA > Texas > Freestone County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 1
USA > Texas > Leon County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 1
USA > Texas > Anderson County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 1
USA > Texas > Limestone County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 1
USA > Texas > Navarro County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > 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 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112



Gc 976.4 M51me 1437098


GENEALOGY COLLECTION


ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02289 9659


Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016


https://archive.org/details/memorialbiograph00unse_0


~~ >A ~~


MEMORIAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY


OF


TEXAS.


ILLUSTRATEIK


Containing a History of this Important Section of the Great State of Texas, from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with Glimpses ' of its 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 takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants."- Macaulay.


CHICAGO : THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY. 1893.


-


Ex8h .. . PEES AMP 15


1437098


OUTLINE HISTORY OF TEXAS:


Indians and Earliest Explorers 9


Boundary


10


Physical Features


11


Districts


12


Llano Estacado


13


Rivers


13


Elevations


14


Minerals


15


Early Expeditions


15


Cessions


18


Missions


18


Colonization 19, 21


Skirmishes


20


Population


23


Taxation


24


The Revolution


26


Transitional


41


Settled Government. 49


Civil War


48


Reconstruction 60


Later History. . 71


The Present


75


Presidents and Governors of Texas


75


NAVARRO COUNTY:


Geology


77


Major Burton's Geological Collection .. 81 Settlement. 82 Experiences of a Surveying Party 84


Fight at Battle Creek 89


Further Indian Depredations


93


The Mercer Colony


94


Captain Stokes' Reminiscences


98


Items from Colonel Wm. Croft.


101


Settlement, continued


104


Customs and Inner Life


.106


The County Organized


112


Sketch of Antonio Navarro


114


Early Records.


116


The Courts.


123


The Civil War


138


Navarro County After the War


141


Towns and Thoroughfares


142


Corsicana.


148


Dawson


.172


Blooming Grove


172


Educational


.172


Churches.


178


Miscellany


185


HENDERSON COUNTY :


Geology


189


Settlement. 195


The County as Organized 200


The Courts


.203


The Civil War


.204


Towns, etc.


206


Schools.


208


Churches.


.209


Miscellany


,210


ANDERSON COUNTY :


Topography .216


Geology .


217


Settlement


227


The County Organized


.249


The Courts


.254


The Late War.


.258


Towns and Railroads :


Palestine .261


Elkhart


.287


Nechesville .287


Tucker


.290


Tennessee Colony.


292


Bradford


.995


Population 296


Schools 297


Churches


299


Statistical.


301


LIMESTONE COUNTY:


Geology


.304


Indians.


.307


iv


CONTENTS.


Settlement by the Whites 312


Organic History. 346


The Courts 349


The Great War. 353


Towns. .354


Mexia 358


Groesbeck 366


Kosse


376


Thornton .378


Tehuacana


.379


Schools.


381


Churches


386


Statistical. 388


FREESTONE COUNTY:


Physical Features .391


Settlement. .394


Organization, etc. 409


Judicial


411


The Late Civil War 416


Towns and Railroads


418


Fairfield 418


Wortham 423


Bonner 431


Educational. 433


Religious


435


Census Items. 437


LEON COUNTY :


Natural Features. 439


The Indians and Pioneer Times 440


The County as Organized 451


Judicial


.455


The Cruel War. 458


Town 460


Centreville .463


Jewett. 465


Oakwood


.468


Marquez 470


Population 482


Educational


483


Religious.


484


From the Census


485


V


CONTENTS.


BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.


A


Adams, P. G. 648


Adkisson, William . .716


Ainsworth. W. G.


.553


Akin, D. A .. . .


831


Alderman, J. W. . .


749


Allen, J.


744


Allison, A. B.


.541


Allyn, C. H. 699


Amos, F. M. 473


Anders, P. L. 730


Anderson, A. G 412


Anderson, J. E


.466


Anderson, J. P. .551


Anderson, William .405


Anglin, J. C. 674


Anglin, John. .675


Armour, James


.489


Arvin, J. A. 362


Askew, J. W


722


Avant, M. S. .292


B


Bailey, J. A. S. .804


Baldwin, J. C. .733


Barron, J. E. .378


Barry, A.


.341


Bassett, H ..


. 364


Bateman, E. E. 822


Bates, C. S.


726


Beall, E. G. .802


Beasley, Mat. .615


Beaton, Alex. .131


Beaty, J. F. 757


Beene, G. K .838


Beene, J


.780


Bell, C. R .. 287


Bennett, James. .628


Bennett, J. W


.781


Black, G. W. 874


Blackmon, W. J


493


Blain, W. G ..


734


Blankinship, J. S


888


Boggs, A. D. 470


Bogy, S. W 680


Bond, S. F


866


Cooper, James 427


Cox, J. L. 538


Crawford, G. A .. 857


Crawford, W. J 566


Croft, William 102


Cubley, R. Il.


492


Bounds, J. H. 883 Curry, T. L .376


D


Damon, H. G.


.578


Daniel, T. S .. .728


Davidson, W. Y. .765


Dawson, B.


.711


Day, Zachary 810


De la Fosee, C. II 495


Dennis, T. H. .748


Denton, J.' 855


Dickerson, D. M. 837


Douglas, J. W. 814


Doyle, W. E 487


Drake, M. M .636


Drane, N .164


Drinkard, A. M. .520


Driskill, T. F. & M. L .539


Dunagan, L. A. .753


Dunn, E. E


798


Dunn, T. R. 702


Duren, Alex .506


Durham, B. F .253


Durst, B.


449


Durst, H. .450


E


Edens, J. W 692


Eliot, G. W .. 818


Emerson, J. M 661


Estes, J. F.


853.


Everett, G. W


.806


Ewing, J. W. .260


Ezell, T. A .. 830


Ezell, P. W.


283


F


Farmer, P. E.


657


Farrar, L. J ... 368


Fitzgerald, J. T. S. 527


Flannigan, J. D. 627


Floyd, J. T. 816


Forbes, E. G 509


Foscue, W. J 872


Foster, W. C. .. 740


Fouty, Clinton 94


Freeman, B. F 754


Freeman, R. W 289


Frost, S. R. . 137


Fullwood, J. A. .563


G


Gallemore, Mrs. M. E. .669


Gardner, B. HI


255


Botter, A. W.


.825


Bounds, T. A. & Bro. 428


Bower, C. F. .889


Bowers. A. L. .835


Boyd, H. A. 344


Boyd, John.


.344


Bradford, P. L


295


Bradley, L. D


.632


Bragg, J. T 521


Brim, L. R. 536


Brooks, C. N .612


Brown, A. N


809


Brown, W. M


.663


Brown, W. P


373


Broyles, B. F. 841


Bryant, J. T. 709


Buckingham, J. A 783


Burleson, A. L


763


Burleson, John. 407


Byers, A. M.


760


Byers, J. E. 760


C


Caldwell, E. W. 557


Calhoun, R. W. .556


Carrington, D. W. .472


Carroll, B. F


Cely, B. C ..


878


Cely, J. F .. 891


Chambers, W. R


.677


Chamblee, J. B.


Chandler, A .. H.


Cherry, W. C ..


498


Childress, O.


Clark, M. S


755


Cobb, W. A. 415


Cogdell, J. L. .668


Cole, R. M .. 476


Coleman, Ansel 725


Colley, J.


.640


Colley, Thomas .277


Collins, R. M. .513


Coltharp, W. H. 771


Compton, D. K


867


Conner, E. P.


517


Conrad, J. M 667


Cook, J. J. 693


Bond, T. W 600 Bonham, M. L. 567


Bonner, J. I .. 892


Bonner, W. E. 431


Bonner, Wm. .549


.649


422


574


742


Garrity, James


157


CONTENTS.


Germany, J. W. 804


J


McConnico, C. J. 778


McDaniel, A. G. 708


Gilbert, D. J .496


McDaniel, A. W .. .377


Gilbert, J. S 609


Jackson, R. M .. .854


McDaniel, Jerry


463


Jameson, W. G. 782


McDaniel, J. II


446


Jayne, A. A. .. .664


McDonald, D. L. 888


Gill, Wm. H. .565


Jester, G. T .. 153


McFadden, Thomas S.


785


McGarity, J. A.


505


Grant, J. H.


828


Jolinson, S. J. T. 633


McGee, J. .


617


Grayson, II. A.


474


Johnston, D. J. .501


McGilvary. J. C.


813


Grayson, T. B.


.833


Johnston, R. B. 562


McKie, B. G.


.631


Green, Ben 576


212


Jones, W. B ..


500


Mckinney, H. C


863


Greenlee, R. .


746


McKnight, J. B


.534


Gresham, J. B.


768


Griflis, J. L. ..


658


Grizzard, C. P


759


Gulick, J. W


.169


HI


Kemp, M. W .. 360


Milam, B. Y.


290


Haden, J. HI. 572


Hail, J. J. .789


Hall. T. II. 787


Hallum, J. M. 558


Hamilton, C. C. .779


569


Hanks, J. S.


287


Hardy, James 697


Harris, C. T. .737


Harrison, J. A. 590


Harriss, M. II. 432


Hart, C. HI .. .623


Hartzell, B. F. .875


Hawkins, P. .553


Haynie, W. D. .533


L


Ilaynie, Wm. 477


Headlee, Emmet 529


Hearne, J. R. .. 280


Lacy. W. Y .. .242


Lamb, Sam . 583


Henry, J. R. .653


Latimer, G. W. 555


Lauderdale, E. J. 561


Lea, P. M ..


.699


Newman, T. B. 849


Norris, J. J. 542


Norvell, E. 608


O


Oliver, A. J .620


Oliver, F. C. 372


Oliver, J. II .480


Oliver, John .740


Oliver, R. .660


Otts, J. F. 610


Owen, Preston .62


Ozment, J. W


271


Howard, A. R. 800


Howard, Jasper 824


Howard, Mike 177


Hudson, G. W 294


Huey, Joseph 776


Hunter, II. J. 593


I


Irwin, N. C


535


NI


P


Parker, J. P., Jr. 478


Pells, J. F. 886


Person, L. R. .343


Petty, John N. 766


Petty, W. M ..


.761


McCallon, H. T. .564 Philpott, B. A 592


N


Henry, Wm. 653


Herren, R. W


868


Herring, E .. .881


Herring, E. R. 619


Herring, M. 361


Herring, W. H.


843


Hightower, C. B


671


Link, H. H


277


Hill, Larkin .. 884


Hill, Wm. B. 588


Holleman, M. P. .450


Ilolleman, R ..


560


Loop, W. W


.630


Holleman, T. Y 450


Lotspeich,


.680


Holmes, Wm. 707


Hood, W. F. 687


Lumpkin, J. R. 703


Lynch, A. 710


Marsh, R, B. 673


Martin, G. M. 615


Martin, Marion. .797


Matthews, R. II . .681


Mays, R. J .. .729


McSpadden. L. O. .899


Merrill, R. P. .844


Karner, Jolın 601


Michaux, Narcissa 286


Kendall, W. C. 285


Miller, A. M.


421


Kendrick, J. R. 293


Miller, J. A


.877


Kennedy, G. B. .873


Kerley, J. W. 898


Miller, T. A.


.512


Kerr, James, Sr 524


Milligan, A. M 706


Mistrot, J. J. .685


Kerr, W. J. W


698


Kincaid, W. A.


.666


Mitchell, R. A .. .839


King, Lamartine .637


793


Moody, J. I 894


Kirven, O. C.


.904


Moore, Alvin 859


Kirven, T. C .. 897


Moore, B. L .694


Moore, F. B 718


Morgan, W. Ix. 752


Morris, G. W . . 701


Munger, II. M.


626


Murphy, David. .


646


Murphy, William L. 647


Nash, H. C. .644


Lewis, G. W


774


Lewis, J. F. .543


Light, The.


.543


Link, E. W.


.277


Long, D. R. .817


Longbotham, T .423


Looney, F. B.


469


McKie, B. D.


.547


Green, J. Y


Jones, William C. .641


Joyce, J. II. 907


McMeans, J. L. 244


McMeans, S. A. 246


K


Jennings, W. W. .589


McDonald, M. L .. 363


Goodman, R. P. 847


Graham, J. A 559


Johnson, J. A. 737


Jones, S. M. .758


Miller, M. N. 793


Mitcham, J. M. 745


Montgomery, P. K 819


Kinnebrew, A. B.


Kirven, William .850


Knox, W. D. 812


Lackey, J. A. 526


Helm, Cyrus. .823


Kerr, S. H. .795


Hancock, B. J


Germany, T. A. .552


Jackson, N. H .660


Gill, A. S. 573


Gill, W. H. 257


Love, R. M. 351


Houston, B. F 529


vii


CONTENTS.


Pickett, John 704


Sloan, Hugh .503


Waltman, J. W 467


Pierce, William J. .281


Smith, A. J


.717


Walton, J. L. 488


Pipkin, J. F.


727


Smith, J. J. .878


Walton, R. W 683


Pope, J. W. .606


Smith, M. B. .605


Ward, R. P. .690


Washburn, G. R .. 834


Watkins, W. B. W. 752


Watkins, J. R. 751


Watson, W. A. 769


Weaver, J. M. 550


Welborn, M. B 251


South worth, J. A.


.504


Wells, J. C .. 895


Sowders, B. V.


.885


Westmoreland, W. T 761


Wheeler, L. T .. 805


Whitcomb, J. D .371


Wiley, O .. .850


Steele, A. M. .827


Steele, Hampton 784


Steele, R. E. .531


Stell, J. D .. 464


.502


Wilson, W. T .. .670


Ransom, J. R. 686


Ratliff, C. C .. 611


Rawls, W. B. .842


Reid, D. S. .896 Sterne, C. A 248


Reilly, J. B. 545


Rice, J. H. .587


Steward, J. T.


.510


Wood, I. E. 643


Wood, Joshua. 689


Woodard, J. H. .546


Wright, G. A. 274


Wright, J. A. 815


Wright, William .902


Y


Yarbrough, W. M


.. 777


Z


Zadek, Adolph.


713


ILLUSTRATIONS.


Armour, James 489


Armour, Mrs. .489


Beaton, Alex. 131


Thetford, J. H. .721 Boyd, John .344


Drane, Meritt. 164


Hancock, B. J 569


Hardy, James. .697


Jester, George T 153


Johnson, S. J. T 633


Karner, John 601


Longbotham, Thomas 423


Longbotham, Mary J 423


Prendergast, D. M .364


Sloan, A. C. 665


Smith, Robert. .537


Sims, J. F. 771


Slade, J. B. 532


Sloan, A. C. 665


T


S


Sanders, J. C. .808


Sanders, R. J. 497


Sawyers, O. B. .604


Scott, S. J. 719


Selman, J. T. .852


Sessions, E. G. 585


Sessions, G A. 403


Sharp, Mrs. S. A .651


Sharp, Z. T. .642


Siddons, W. P. 900


Simpson, L. D. 631


Simkins, E. J. 491


Vickers, J. H


.859


W


Wade, T. W.


380


Wade, T. W.


380


Winkler, C. M 118


Q


Quarles, C. M.


821


R


Rakestraw, G. A. .596


Ramsey, J. H. 582


Rankin, J. D. 374


Stephens, C. T.


Stephens, J. W.


842


Winkler, Mrs. A. V. 162


Winkler, C. M .. 118


Witherspoon, A. N. 518


Womack, J 845


Wood, A. F. 897


Rice, T. B .. .570


St. John, W. P.


.454


Richardson, J. 871


Robbins, A. S.


.832 Storey, W. F .723


Roberts, H. G .691


Stroud, A. L


.689


Roberts, W. S. 732


Stroud, T. K.


.729


Robertson, W. W 622


Stroud, I


. 639


Robinson, James. 786


Stubbs, J. J.


430


Robinson, J. B.


.624


Robinson, S. W. 836


Rogers, A. J. 794


Rogers, G. L. 712


Rogers, W. L.


715


Swain, R. W. .768


Roland, W. T. .599


Swanson, H. C. .528


Swink, H. A


.515


Talbot, H. C .. .487


Teague, John F. .679


Thomas, J. M. .511


Thomason, G. W. 799


Thornton, A. P. .811


Tid well, J. C. 735


Tucker, J. L. 743


Tulles, J. A. .595


Tyus, J. B. .638


V


.585


Prendergast, D. M. 364


Smyth, E. B.


Prendergast, L. B. .613


Sneed, A. W.


Price, D. J. 621


Pruitt, H. B. 656


Smith, Robert. .537


Posey, T. B. 865


Smith, S. H. 882


Powell, J. W. 457


Smith, Stephen


: 672


869


Sneed, W. N


.739


Spear, A. J. 214


Speed, G. W. 796


Spillers, W. H .654


Willard, J. A .. 848


Williams, P. E. A 764


Wilson, J. J .. . 522


Wilson, Robert. 571


Stephens, W. M 791


Sterne, Adolphus. 246


Stevens, R. W 453


Stubbs, P. L


880


Stubenrauch Brothers .644


Suttle, J. T. .890


Swaim, R. H. .684


Royall, N. R. 282


Rucker, W. G. 861


Posey, J. M. 866


Simmons, J. W. 507


Trinity University 382


Walker, S. S


.369


Stokes, T'homas .516


HISTORY OF


TEXAS.


OUTLINE HISTORY OF TEXAS.


&S preliminary to the history of any section of a State it seems necessary to give an outline sketch of the State itself. There have been no less than ninety to 100 volumes, large and small, published strictly upon Texas matters, issued from time to time since the days of Texan in- dependence, -- the days when her heroic citizens were struggling with Mexico for local self-government; and in this remark we refer to all classes of subjects, -- rail- roads, immigration, agriculture, trade, po- litical matters, etc. Besides the volumes referred to, there have been hundreds of pamphlets, on scores of topics; and it is from the more substantial volumes that we glean the facts compiled in the follow-


ing account. The compiler will endeavor to leave nothing untonched that is of genuine interest to those not possessing the large histories, whilst he shall condense freely,-give the kernel, not the hull, of the nut.


INDIANS AND EARLIEST EXPLORERS.


When the Spaniards arrived in Mexico, and in fact for nearly three centuries there- after, numerous tribes of Indians inhab- ited the country, in addition to the semi- civilized' Aztecs, or those peopling the more southern portions of the vast terri- tory stretching from what is now the upper boundary of Texas to the gulf. In the upper, or rather eastern, section of this


1


10


HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,


New Spain-in short, Texas-a very power- ful tribe of Indians, who called themselves Tehas, lived and roamed. They were mem- bers of the great Caddo family, and from the name Tehas comes Texas. The con- try, however, has been known by various names. The northern portion at one time bore 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, administered to them the rites of religion, thereby stilling their consciences for the barbarities prac- ticed. Espejo, at the head of a force, also having in his train a number of mission- aries, 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 fact of La Salle and his colony 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 fact of the conquest by Cortez. Those 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 slie was induced to surrender Florida, in consider- ation of which the United States gave up all claini 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 unsettled, 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 settle- ments in the Red river country. He was a prominent citizen and represented his municipality in the convention of 1836, being president of that body. The doubt existing, as stated, as to which government this section of country belonged, to be cer- tain 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 Fé, now known as New Mexico, thus parting with 98,360 square miles of territory, equaling an acreage 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 acres; but estimates from our owil land office give the State 268,684 square miles of territory, exclusive of


11


LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.


Greer county. The State is nearly 1,000 miles from north to south in its greatest extent, and very little less from east to west.


PHYSICAL FEATURES.


The geographical situation of this vast empire, 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 por- tions 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 alluvial bottoms, but also of a considerable proportion of the prairie lands in the in- terior. Persons are apt to speak of sec- tions of Texas as being especially adapted to certain products. They say the "stock region," the "sugar belt," the "cotton belt," the "wheat region," et ... , seemingly thereby to imply that the sections named are fitted only 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 may be profitably cultivated everywhere south of the thirtieth parallel of north latitude, and wheat, rye, oats, apples, etc., anywhere north of the latitnde indicated. In a number of counties cotton, wheat and corn can be raised almost in the same field. For a distance of fifty to 100 miles in-


teriorly from the coast the country is quite level, but beyond this it is rolling, with gradual elevations and corresponding de- pressions, continuing to become more and more elevated till it finally becomes hilly and then mountainous in the north- western counties. Texas is an inclined plane, stretching from its 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 vio- lently excessive, and that those who are unnsed to the climate run great risk in coming here. This is very far from the truth. The temperature of Texas in the hottest days of summer is usually several degrees less than the greatest heat of the northern cities; and whilst sunstroke is common in those cities, there is not a sin- gle well-authenticated case of death from that canse 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 uniform, 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 propor- tion to the size of the grand empire where- in he is living, -- large men and women, strong and active, riding and walking in the flaming sun as unconcerned about the heat as though no such thing existed. Kentucky has popularly been supposed to produce the largest inen, and well has she


12


HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,


sustained her reputation 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 difference. Western Texas is fast gaining a reputa- tion for its health-imparting breezes, and annually thousands of invalids visit those regions, many of them coming away en- tirely cured at the end of the season.


DISTRICTS.


A State as vast as Texas mnst, for con- venience alone, be subdivided into dis- tricts, and in this case tliese districts are each large enough to form one or more States equal to any in the Union. What is known as Northern 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, Monta- gue, Erath, and others,-thirty or more. But this subdivision must again be di- vided, and about twelve counties should properly be attached to East Texas, as the character of the country on the east dif- fers 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 valuable, especially the 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 timbercd section commences the great prairie region. In the western portiou of this subdivision commence the "mount- ains," so called, and although they do not possess the altitude of the Rockies, the


Alleghanies, or the Blue Ridge, yet tlicy are true mountains, with rocky ledges, spurs, precipices, etc. Many of these ele- vations are isolated cones, rising from the table lands; to the southward some of them are covered with cedar, valnable for fencing. East Texas includes about twenty conntics, lying between the Trinity river and the State line on the east, and extends from the Gulf of Mexico to the southern boundary of Northern Texas. Much of thuis division is flat, and a considerable portion is covered with valuable timber. Numerous rivers and creeks traverse all portions of it, many of the streams being navigable. Middle Texas lies below North- ern Texas and embraces all the territory from its upper boundary to the gulf be- tween the Trinity and Colorado rivers. The bottom lands of the Brazos, which of course is included in this section, is ex- tremely 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 Houston, and a number of other growing towns and thickly populated counties. Ordinarily considered, West Texas includes all of the country west of the Colorado river, but the country between the Colorado and Austin on the northeast, and Bexar county on the southwest, and the Colorado and San Antonio rivers to the gulf, must also be included. About forty connties lying north of Bexar, and extending to the western line of Kimball 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


13


LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.


country is similar to that of Northern Texas. To a large extent, it is as yet un- developed. It is supposed to be inex- haustible in mineral wealth and for agricultural purposes. Southwest 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 partially settled at a very early date. This applies to a small portion of it, but the en- tire region is well adapted to the raising of cattle. What is known as the mineral re- gion comprises a large scope of country composed of the counties of Crockett, Tom Green, Pecos, 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 Plains region, and a description of one would answer for the other.


LLANO ESTACADO.


In regard to the famous name, Staked Plains, the best explanation of the matter is in this wise: A number of stakes driven into the soil were discovered by the early explorers of the country, some of which had upon their tops skeleton heads of buffalo; but it has been conjectured that, when the Fathers in 1734 traversed the country from Santa Fé to San Saba to es- tablish a fort and mission, they set up these stakes and placed buffalo heads upon them in order that others who might follow them could the better find their way across the trackless wilderness. Thus came the Spanish Llano Estacado. This region is


described, in connection with a map, in Yoakum's History of Texas, published in 1856, as follows: "From the head waters of the Red, Brazos and Colorado rivers the Rio Pecos is a desolate and sterile plain from 100 to 200 miles in width, ele- vated about 4,500 feet above the Gulf of Mexico, without water or timber and with a scanty vegetation. But the facts, as since ascertained, are different. All the great rivers, from the Canadian on the north to the Pecos and Rio Grande on the south, have their sources in springs found in cañons penetrating this plateau, or from underground streams, from the same source, issuing out at the surface, as at San An- tonio, San Marcos and other points. Col- onel Shafter, of the United States army, made a thorough reconnoissance of this region in 1875, and he reported that large portions of it were adapted to grazing, having sufficient timber for all necessary purposes, with good running water along nearly the whole route he passed over. He started from Fort Concho, in Tom Green county, about 215 miles northwest of San Antonio. He says there are nu- merous springs in the ravines and canons.




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