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.
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.