USA > Texas > Williamson County > Taylor > Early history of Texas. Early history of Williamson County. The Webster massacre. Williamson County Court House sketches. Sketches of early days in Taylor > 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.
Gc 976.401 W67e 1791024
M. Lde
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
J ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
L 3 1833 02290 5100
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/earlyhistoryofte00city
Tarly History of Texas
Early History of Williamson County
The Webster Massacre
Williamson County Court House Sketches
Sketches of Early Days in Taylor J. H. GRIFFITH
257575252"
252525
Compliments of City National Bank Taylor, Texas
5335750
1
----------
1791024
F 87797 . 252
EARLY history of Texas. Early history of Wil- liamson County. The Webster massacre. Wil- liamson County court house sketches. Sketches
of early days in Taylor, by J. H. Griffith. Taylor, Tex., City National Bank[ 1923?] 19p. 24cm.
Cover title.
58.1384
ICN 58-4112
--
INTRODUCTORY
Early History of Texas
In 1685 LaSalle located a colony in Texas in the name of the King of France. The colony was located on the Garcitas river a few miles above where it empties into Matagorda bay. This is supposed to be the first attempt at permanent European settlement in Texas Mexico at that time was subject to Spain, whose territorial claims included the present state of Texas.
In the 18th century the Spanish built several missions in Texas as part of their plan to colonize the territory, but H'ttle head. way was made until 1821 when Moses Austin secured from the Spanish government a large grant of land for the purpose of colon- izing actual settlers. Moses Austin lived only a short time after securing the land grant and was succeeded by his son, Stephen F. Austin, who very ably carried forward the plan of locating American settlers in Texas.
Texas at this time was under Mexican rule and attached to the state of Coahuila and the meager legal codes were administered by alcaldes appointed by the central government.
In 1824, Mexico gained independence from Spain. Early dis- agreements arose between the Mexican government and the Stephen F. Austin colony. This condition of affairs finally led to a declara- tion of war on October 2, 1835, under the leadership of Stephen F. Austin. General Cos was sent from Mexico with a small army ex- pecting to conquer the Texans in a very short time. The effort failed and General Cos with his army was forced to surrender but was permitted to return to Mexico in December, 1835. Soon there- after, Santa Anna, president of Mexico and commander of the army, mobilized a large army to invade Texas. The army reached San Antonio on February 23, 1836, and attacked the Texas forces which were fortified in the Alamo. The Alamo fell under vastly superior numbers on March 6, 1836, and this was followed on March 27th by the fall of Goliad. The Mexicans pushed the campaign eastward hoping to completely destroy the entire military organization of the Texans.
April 21, 1836, the Texas army under General Sam Houston met the Mexican army on the San Jacinto battlefield where the Mexicans were ingloriously defeated and their commander-in-chief was made prisoner of war, and peace was restored to the republic.
-------
----.
1
EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS
EARLY SETTLEMENTS
Before the arrival of the Austin colonists the Mexicans established a few 'towns, mostly for military headquarters, foremost of these was San Antonio, established about 1720. San Felipe on the Brazos was laid out in 1823 for the capitol of the Stephen F. Austin colony, and the general conventions of colonists in 1832-1835 were held here. The first appearance of Sam Houston in Texas affairs was at the con- vention of 1833 at San Felipe as a delegate from San Augustine. At the last meeting of the general convention held at San Felipe in 1835, officers of a provisional government and members of a general council were selected. This organization was instructed to meet at Washington on the Brazos, on March 1, 1836. At this meeting on March 2, 1836, Texas independence of Mexico was declared and a republic was established, which continued until the state was ad- mitted into the Union in 1845.
CAPITOLS OF TEXAS
The disturbed condition of the country made it necessary to hold meetings of the General Council and Congress at the most acces- sible points. These assemblies convened accordingly at San Felipe, Washington, Velasco, Columbia and Houston.
Under the administration of President Lamar, congress in session at Houston in January, 1839, appointed five commissioners to select a site for a capitol. The city of Austin was selected and a building containing a room each for the Senate and House was in readiness for the meeting of Congress in November, 1839.
The present capitol building, erected in 1882-1886, is the third capitol building erected in Austin.
The governor's mansion was built in 1853 and first occupied by Governor Pease.
The first congress of the republic and subsequent legislatures pro- vided well for an educational program for Texas. The State Univer- sity at Austin opened for students in 1883 and the Medical College at Galveston opened in 1891. The A. and M. College opened in 1876 and Sam Houston Normal, Huntsville, the oldest of the state normals was established by act of the legislature in 1879.
2
1
Early History of Williamson County
Before the advent of permanent settlers there were two defense outposts established in the territory now known as Williamson County.
Indians at this time infested the country and made frequent raids on the settlers. The government of the republic built a blockhouse fort in 1838 near what is now Cedar Park on the headwaters of Brushy Creek. This fort was garrisoned by rangers, but it was not long before it was destroyed by the Indians and never rebuilt.
Kenney's Fort was perhaps built a little later and was located on the south side of Brushy, opposite Palm Valley. It consisted of two or three log houses surrounded by a stockade. It was from Kenney's Fort that the illfated Santa Fe Expedition started on the perilous mission to Santa Fe, New Mexico, in 1841.
Among the important Indian battles fought in the county was the Battle of Brushy which occurred on Cottonwood Creek, five miles south of Taylor, in 1839. The Indians had raided the homes of the settlers on the Colorado river and in pursuit were overtaken here. Some of the best known men of the colony lost their lives in this battle.
In the western part of the county on the North Gabriel, in 1839, Manuel Flores was killed and his forces captured. Flores was a secret agent of the Mexican government and was carrying a large supply of powder and lead to the Indians to be used in warfare against the white settlers, to destroy their homes or force them back into the interior. The ranger forces under Lieutenant James O. Rice made this important capture.
The documents taken in the capture of Flores revealed the plan of insurrection of the Mexican government. Wilbarger, the historian, sta'tes that the capture of Flores' baggage and correspondence and breaking up of the expedition "was second only in importance to the Battle of San Jacinto."
The early settlers in Texas located mostly along the Brazos and Colorado rivers. The first settlers in Williamson County located principally along the San Gabriel and Brushy. The pioneer had al- ready established homes at Webberville and Hornsby's Bend on the Colorado and at Port Sullivan and Nashville on the Brazos. These were the nearest settlements to Williamson County and many settlers came into the new country from these locations.
The pioneer fenced the fields with split rails and rock fences, therefore the wooded areas along the streams and in the western
3
--
EARLY HISTORY OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY
portion of the county were first settled.
From 1839 the country settled with comparative rapidity and the county was organized in 1848. It was named for Robert M. William- son, a well known jurist, soldier and statesman of the republic.
The new country attracted many families of excellent type from the older states, they came hither to make their homes and to estab- lish the best institutions and conditions in their midst. Roads were laid out to connect the settlements and schools and churches were built. The facilities were limited but the hardy pioneer made the best of his opportunitiy to lay the foundaton for an orderly govern- ment and social life.
The first s'tore owned by Josiah Taylor, was opened in 1848, at Shiloh, on Brushy, about three miles southeast of Hutto. The stock carried was very limited.
The first mills for grinding corn were located at Berry's Creek, Wilson Springs and Gabriel Mills, built about 1848-1850.
In this sketch it is only intended to give a brief historical back- ground to the other subjects which follow in the series.
The Webster Massacre
*The following sketch is based on an interview with John W. Darlington, in 1904.
Jolin Webster, a prosperous farmer of Harrison County, Virginia, immigrated to Texas in 1838, with the Hughes and Thompson families and a number of other young men, in all a party of about thirty persons. John W. Darlington, one of the young men of this party, resided in Taylor for several years. Their route to Texas was by boat down the Olio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans, thence to Matagorda, Texas, where they arrived January 14, 1838.
While in Matagorda, Webster niet Albert C. Horton from whom he bought a certificate for a league and labor of land. According to Mexican custom the league of land was intended for grazing purposes and 'the labor for cultivation. This land was afterwards found to be located in what is now Burnet County. At Matagorda Webster's party bought a wagon and team and hired another with which they started on their way into the interior.
There were no roads through the low flat marshy country and traveling was slow. At Peach Creek, about sixty miles from Mata- gorda, they left one of the wagons and part of the household goods in charge of Jno. W. Darlington. The party then proceeded to Gilli- lands creek, near the Colorado river in Travis County. At this place they rented land and planted a corn crop.
About the first of May a white man and a negro boy were sent to Peach creek for Darlington and the household goods left behind. During the fall of 1838 the Webster party moved to Hornsby's bend on the Colorado river about ten miles below Austin. During the following year at this place a second crop of corn was planted. The purpose of Webster was to ultimately establish a settlement on the land owned by him in Burnet County. He accordingly made up a party consisting of his family (wife and two children), John Stilwell, Flescher, two Reese brothers, Milton Hicks, Albert Silsbee, four other white men, a negro, Nelson, and a Mexican named Antonio. Their effects consisted of two wagons, each drawn by three yoke of oxen, loaded with household goods and supplies. A small drove of horses was taken along. The trip westward was made without special incident until within a few miles of what is now known as Strickling, Burne't County, the objective points of the expedition. Here they were met by a band of about two hundred hostile Indians. The Webster party hastily concealed themselves in a ravine, where they were attacked by the Indians. In this encounter Albert Silsbee was
------
5
THE WEBSTER MASSACRE
severely wounded. The Indians withdrew for a time and the Webster party retraced their steps in the direction of the Colorado river settlement. When they reached the South Gabriel between the present locations of Liberty Hill and Leander a consultation was held and some of the party advised making a stand against the Indians at this place where they had the protection of a high bluff. Webster contended that they would lose their live s'tock if they remained and advised traveling by night in order to reach the settlement before a second attack was made. The travel by night was slow, as the country over which they went was very rough. They succeeded in making only about five miles during the night. At sunrise next morning they emerged from the timber into an open prairie about two miles below the present town of Leander. At this point 'they discovered the Indians following in their trail. The party was quickly surrounded. They hastily unhitched the oxen and placed the wagons in a position side by side with space of about ten feet between and here the party made their final defense. Against such overwhelming odds the battle was quickly over. The ten white men were found dead between the wagons and tlie negro and Mexican were found some distance from the others. It is supposed that they were killed while trying to make their escape. Albert Silsbee who was wounded in the previous skirmish, was lying in one of the wagons during the battle and was afterwards horribly mutilated by the Indians. Mrs. Webster and her two children who were in the other wagon, were taken captive together with such household goods as could be used by the Indians. With these they returned to their camp in the San Saba country. Shortly after the massacre some of the stock belonging to the Webster party came into the Hornsby settlement with Indian arrows sticking in their bodies. This alarmed the settlers and they immediately sent out a rescuing party to in- vestigate the cause of this condition of the live stock. The rescuers found the bodies lying as described and they were all buried in one grave near the place of the massacre. After about four months of captivity during which the most inhuman treatment was endured, Mrs. Webster with her two children made their escape. Living on berries and pecans enroute they followed the cow-trail from the mouth of the San Saba river, passing through the wild untraveled country they reached Pilot Knob about two miles south of Round Rock, a distance of about eighty miles. While resting here feeling that they were nearing civilizaton, Mrs. Webster discovered in the distance a party of men on horseback dressed in the garb of civilized man. She supposed these to be white men and came into view that she might be seen and protected. To her surprise and horror the men proved to be Kiowa Indians, who immediately took Mrs. Webster and the two children on their horses with them and proceeded to their western haunts. When nearing their camps they were met by
6
1
1
THE WEBSTER MASSACRE
a band of Commanche Indians who claimed the prisoners. A com- promise was agreed on, the Commanches giving in exchange two ponies for Mrs. Webster and the little girl and a mule for the boy. The mother and girl were sent to one camp and the boy to another where they were held in captivity until a final treaty was made between the Indians and the Texas government. While a peace council was being held in San Antonio and not waiting for a general release of prisoners Mrs. Webster found it an easy matter to escape since the warriors were absent attending the Council and only the old men and the squaws of the tribe were left behind. She followed the trail left by the warriors attending the Peace Council. In the course of several days she reached San Antonio almost destitute of clothes and strength. A short time afterwards the boy was re- leased from captivity under the treaty agreement. The mother, son and daughter were reunited in San Antonio, and proceeded to the settlement on Gilliland creek where for a short time they visited with friends, then returned to the home of her childhood in Virginia. She lived only a short time afterwards as the frightful experiences had undermined her strong constitution.
The son, Booker Webster, grew to manhood in Virginia, joined a Virginia company with General Winfield's Scotts' army in Mexico. He was engaged in several battles in Mexico and died of yellow fever in Vera Cruz while enroute home.
The daughter, Patsy Webster, remained in Virginia with relatives until 1851, when she returned to Texas and lived with an uncle near Manor.
She afterwards married Marmaduke Strickling and in 1854-1855 settled at Strickling, Burnet County, on the land which was the ob- jective point of the illfated Webster expedition and owned by John Webster.
7
Williamson County Court House Sketches
Several years ago Col. W. K. Makemson of Georgetown published an interesting historical pamphlet entitled "First Settlement and Organization of Williamson County." He has long been recognized as the best authority on 'the early history of the county.
I wrote the Colonel in the spring of 1914 for information relative to the first court houses of Williamson County and followed this with an examination of the court house records at Georgetown. In addition to this source of information I interviewed Ed R. Anderson son of one of the first county commissioners, Dr. W. I. Anderson, who was familiar with practically all of the first officials as well as the incidents mentioned in 'the early records of the county. Ed R. An- derson was born on a farm below Round Rock March 5, 1848, and was the first male white child born in the territory embracing Wil- liamson County. Dr. Anderson, the father of Ed R. Anderson, moved with his family to Georgetown in 1853.
For several years I have had in my possession two oak sills taken from the old dilapidated building which stood for years on the south bank of the little branch at Jonah. This building was part of the first court house owned by Williamson County. It was bought in 1863 by J. M. Mileham under an order of sale of the commissioners court and moved to Jonah where it stood until torn down about 1913.
In following the proceedings of the county and commissioners courts from 1849 to 1877 in search of data relative to the court houses I ran across some interesting transactions which will furnish a striking comparison with the more extensive court business of 'today.
It should be remembered that there were but very few settlers in the county in 1848 the year of its organization. The few settlers located near the streams convenient to wood and water. It was less than ten years before the county was organized that Dr. Kenney in 1839 built a fort and stockade on the south side of Brushy Creek, near Palm Valley, which is generally accepted as the first permanent settlement of Williamson County.
J. H. GRIFFITH.
ORGANIZATION OF WILLIAMSON COUNTY
"By an act of the Legislature approved by Governor Wood, March 13, 1848 ,the county was created. It was named in honor of Judge
8
WILLIAMSON COUNTY COURT HOUSE SKETCHES
Robt. M. Willianison. In the act creating the county, John Berry, Sr., W. C. Dalrymple, D. C. Cowan, Washington Anderson and James O. Rice were named commissioners to locate the county site." The commissioners met under a live oak tree then standing where Locust and Church Streets now intersect. They accepted the proposition of George W. Glasscock, Sr., to give the county 173 acres of land and the county site to be located thereon. In honor of the donor, George W. Glasscock the town was named Georgetown. Soon after the town was located, the surveyors, Matthias Wilbarger and D. C Cowan, laid off the tract in blocks and lots. On July 4, 1848, the lots were sold at public sale for the benefit of the county."
The election of county officers followed a few months later, ap- parently very little was done in 1849 but in 1850 the records show a considerable amount of preliminary work was accomplished. Greenlief Fisk was the county judge then known as chief justice, the county commissioners were Jacob A. Harrell, Richard Tankersly, D. H. McFaden and W. I. Anderson.
The first meetings of the court in 1849 and 1850 were held in a log-house located on the east side of the square on or near the loca- tion of the Williamson County Sun office. The log-house was about fourteen feet square and was probably rented temporarily.
The commissioners court at the March term, 1850, had up for consideration the subject of building a court house but "not being in possession of a proper draft suitable for the erection of said build- ing" the matter was deferred until the following Monday. At the later meeting the court met according to adjournment and took under advisement the erection of a court house in the center of the square in the town of Georgetown, and having considered 'the propriety of appropriating public means to the best advantage, having regard for durability as well as public convenience, the court therefore decreed that the said house should be built of rock."
The dimension of the proposed court house is given as fifty feet square, with wall nineteen feet high-the lower story ten feet and the upper story nine feet high. There were four rooms in the lower story. A hallway extended through the center from eas't to west and another from northi to south. The stairway was in the east hall and extended to the one court room in the upper story-two chimneys were built in the walls with two fire places below and two above-the lower floor was of sawed limestone slabs-the upper floor of wood.
Work was not started on this building un'til 1854-John Dunlop was awarded the contract for its erection. The plans and specifications were drafted by Jas. S. Williams for which service he was paid $5.00 -the State Gazette, published at Austin, carried the advertisement calling for sealed bids to be received March 21, 1854. W. I. Anderson was appointed by the court to superintend the work.
9
WILLIAMSON COUNTY COURT HOUSE SKETCHES
It appears that work on the building dragged along for some 'time, perhaps financial difficulties as well as other matters arose to delay the work. A meeting of the commissioners court was held on the third Monday in October, 1855, to consider the advisability of issuing unconditional land certficates to any persons that may have claims against the county in connection with the court house building. Ed H. Vontress and E. B. Turner represented the county in adjusting these matters and were allowed a fee of $20.00 for their services. Evan Williams in the meantime had taken over the contract and carried same on to completion.
The building was received from the contractor at 'the March term, 1857.
TEMPORARY COURT HOUSE PURCHASED
It has already been explained that the first building used as a court house was not owned by the county, therefore at a special term of the court held in March, 1851, with Greenlief Fisk, presiding, D. H. McFaden, Neal McGaffey, commissioner; Allen Stroud, sheriff, and B. Gooch, clerk, attending, it was ordered that a certain house located on what is now the lot adjoining the south side of the Masonic building, be purchased from Wm. Patterson for a consider- ation of $390.00 for a court house.
This was a frame building about 14 by 30 feet, weatherboarded but not ceiled inside. The side of the building fronted the square with one door on each side of the building and it had four windows. This court house was ordered put in repair at the May term 1851 and also provide suitable furniture for the accommodation of the courts. Sheriff Joab B. Harrell was instructed to employ a mechanic and among other things a suitable railing was to be built across the house for a bar. The commissioners in session in May, 1853, decided that this building was not large enough to accommodate the District Court soon to convene in Georgetown and accordingly ren'ted from Evan Williams "both rooms of his large 'two story building at $2.50 per day for the term of the District Court."
THE FIRST COUNTY JAIL
The county acquired the temporary court house in March, 1851, and at the following May term the commissioners issued an order to pay N. B. Johnson for building a jail for the county. The jail was located immediately east of the court house on the same block. It was constructed of hewn logs. There was a double wall of the hewn logs with space between the walls. This space was filled with hard stones to prevent inmates from sawing out or likewise being liberated from the outside. The overhead of the cell was constructed of logs and the only entrance to the jail was a trap door in the top. The outer wall extended about 6 feet above the top of the cell and this
10
WILLIAMSON COUNTY COURT HOUSE SKETCHES
second story was covered with shingles. There were two grates in the wall to admit sunlight and air. The jail was about 18 feet square.
EXTRACTS FROM COURT RECORDS
The records show that certain bills were ordered paid March 25, 1850.
"On motion a claim against 'the county in favor of Johnson and Moore for a large trunk furnished the county for the safekeeping of the county records, documents, etc., amounting to $4.50, was present- ed to the court. The court being satisfied under present circum- stances of the propriety of such a purchase ordered the same al- lowed."
A bill for $1.75 of B. Gooch, clerk, for money paid out by him for hinges, fasteners, etc., for window shutters of the clerk's office was ordered paid and another bill was presented for guarding a prisoner four and one-half days at $1.50 per day and night was taken under advisement until the next term of court.
In November, 1856, the court rented A. S. Walker the lower room in the northwest corner of the stone court house for $6.00 per month.
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.