USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 1
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 1
USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 1
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 1
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 1
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > 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
REYNOLDS MUR.CAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY
L' 3 1833 02282 4350
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/historyoftexasto01unse
HISTORY OF TEXAS
TOGETHER WITH A
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY -
Milam, Williamson, Bastrop,
Travis, Lee AND Burleson
Counties.
Containing a Concise History of the State, with Portraits and Biographies of Prominent Citizens of the above named Counties, and Personal Histories of Many of the Early Settlers and Leading Families.
"Biography is the only true history." -- Emerson.
Pt. 1 CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY.
C
C
Allen County Public Library Ft. Wayne, Indiana
1.49
6
2260380
THE STATE OF TEXAS.
GENERAL POLITICAL HISTORY:
The Name " Texas " 9
Topography
Current of Events. 83
The " Cart War ".
86
Political Parties.
86
Signs of the Coming Storm 87
91
Philip Nolan. 18
Political Changes 21
The " Pirate of the Gulf" 25
Political Changes, continued. 26
The Austins ..
29
Austin's Colony 31
The Empresario System. 34
Influence of the New Immigration 35
The Labor System ..
36
1 Political and Religious Intolerance. 37
Education
37
Religion
38
Final Revolution. 38
Separation of Texas from Coahuila 43
Battle of San Antonio. 48
The Alamo 50
The Goliad Massacre. 53
San Jacinto 55
The Independence Convention. 59
The Declaration of Independence 60
Flag of the Lone Star
63
Foreign Relations ..
63
Early Legislation
64
A Rebellion
69
Iulians 70
Santa Fe Expedition 71
Location of the Capital. 71
Recognition of Texas by Foreign Powers.
Lamar's and Houston's Administrations. 73
Mexican War .. 74
" Moderators " and " Regulators " 75
The War Cloud ..
76
Texas Annexed to the United States
78
To Arms
78
Events after the War 81
Indian Colonization .. 83
1
Discovery 13
Texas Unknown Until Recently.
13
Catholic Missions
17
New Civilization
18
The Storm Begun.
After the War. 94
Reconstruction Period ... 95
New Constitutions, etc
102
Greer County
103
General Reflections 104
Governors of Texas. 105
Biographical Notices 106
EDUCATION
129
OTHER STATE INSTITUTIONS. 142
RELIGION.
146
THE PRESS.
14℃
RAILROADS. 147
MINERAL RESOURCES. 149
AGRICULTURE
.187
CLIMATE.
199
PUBLIC LANDS.
201
THE COUNTIES
206
CITIES AND PRINCIPAL TOWNS
.210
MISCELLANEOUS.
" " Indian Depredations in Texas "- Wilbarger's
Book
.222
The Fort Parker Massacre. .322
Cynthia Ann Parker .231
A Comanche Princess. 238
Game Animals .. .
.241
Fearful Encounter with a Bear 241
Yellow Fever
.242
Dawson and Sims
.242
Texas Veteran Association
.243
Suffrage 243
Exemptions from Taxation.
242
Exemptions from Forced Sale.
44
Texas at the World's Fair.
vý
iv
CONTENTS
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
A
Adkins, Thomas. .744
Aldridge, F. M. .517
Alexander, M. F. 750
Allday, David.
.630
Alley, Mrs. Martha
589
Allison, J. F. 287
Anderson, A. 495
Anderson, E. R.
780
Anderson, W.
471
Antony, E. L.
384
Arnold, B. I 169
Askew, W. II. 401
Atkinson, J. F
747
Atkinson, J. W.
574
Avery, V. R. C. .604
Avery, Willis.
802
Aycock, T. W. 805
B
Baine, II. E 548
Barnett, J. C. 570
Barker, E. B. 717
Barton, II. .. 815
Bates, W. B
795
Bean, E M
490
Beard, W. C 251
Bell, Calvin .. 538
Berry, E. S. .329
Bickett, J. H .478
Bird, Thomas. 322
Bird, Wmn. P 434
Bitting, J. W.
415
Black, J. T.
521
Bond, E. C .. 701
Bouchelle, W. E. 640
Boyce, A. F. & Wm. 419
Bozarth, S. .800
Bozeman, W. E. 457
Branch, J. W. 598
Branch, W. P
466
Brewer, W. J
498
Brittain, J. L.
787
.545ª
Dean, J. L. 497
Deats, Mrs. E. II 306
De Gress, J. C. .421
Dennis, B. T .592
Denson, J. M .562
Dever, W. P 760
Dillingham, J .295
Doak, A. V. . . 263
Douglass, T .. S 747
Duey, C. I. 708
Dunn. A. W. 485
Danson, Wm. M. 379
Durant, A. J 265
Burleson, E. B. 653 Duval, B. C. 768
E
Eagleston, Z. P.
.68-
Easley, S. A. 47!
Ederington, B. C.
.39;
Edwards, Win. D .38.
Eidme S. O
Eilers, A. J.
27:
Eilers, Louis .97:
Elliott, James
Elliott, J. C. est
Ellison, W. i 324
Elzner, P. O
Eppright, D
Evans, W. T
399
F
Faubion, J. H.
575
Faubion, John
788
Faubion, J. R. 789
Faubion, Wm ..
Fawcett, John.
.. 590
Felton, T. W. 811
Flanniken, R. IJ 527
Fleager, Wm.
745
Fleming, M. II .. .289
Fleming, Wm. P
543
Flinn, J. E .. 350
Fowler, D. D. 794
Fowler, M. T .35℃
Fowler, T. F
555
Frink, J. O
.365
Fulmore, Z. T.
.649
G
Gannaway, A. G 600
Garrett, Harry . 718
Gassaway, T. J .637
Ganse, W. J.
431
Gay, G. E.
742
Gentry, W. J 703
Giles, Val. C. 622
Giles, W. L. 347
Gill, P. J ..
679
Gill, W. M 377
755
Gilley, T. F.
594
Glenn, S. B.
516
Goodman, W. T 774
Goodwin, B. A.
447
Goodwin, Hugh 318
Gordon, J. G 289
Grant, D. V. 748
Graves, F. A
566
Bry son, J. T. 799
Burleson, Aaron .297
Burleson, Edward. .
.300
Burleson, J. W. 300
Burleson, Murray
Burleson, R. C .. 300
Burns, J. P
.786
Burris, J. M.
.291
C
Campbell, J. E .437
Casey, Ilugh
806
Caskey, J. C.
603
Carpenter, A. W 615
Carter, A. II.
610
Chambers, Margaret.
725
Chessher, D. S USS
Chiles, L. L.
585
Clamp, C. A. D
.565
Clark, J. W.
667
Clement, Frank
Cobb, J. F. 480
Coffield, C. HI
824
Coffman, W. IJ.
453
Copeland, W. E
707
Cooper, JJ. E.
Coupland, T. V
823
Cox, D. O 524
Craft, J. II .. .526
Crawford & Crawford. 443
Croslin, S. P. 290
Crunk, J. C ..
.541
Culverwell, T.
553
D
Dalrymple, W. C. .698
Daniel, J. T .. 792
Darlington, J. B. 276
Darlington, J. W. 663
Darr, HI. H
.697
Davidson, W. 738
Davis, G. R . 754
Davis, J. J. 303
Dawson, Nicholas .. .316
Day, II. T 735
Brizendine, J. R.
Brookshire, W. S
797
Browder, F. M
454
Brown, J. G. 455
Brown, J. S. 371
Brown, Kate C .820
Brown, S. K. .732
Brown, W. T 392
Bruce, I. J 803
Pouce, Thomas . 433
Bry . her, Wm. .767
Graves, G. S 579
Graves, R. S.
413
Graves, T. H. .996
Gilley, H. H.
78.
CONTENTS.
Greenlees, I. P
Jones, David
MeFadia. I. A
Mc Fadin. J. N NOT
Gresteun, B. J.
Groce. J. R. .514
Jones, G. W. 6.89
Jones, J. M. .411
Joues, J. R.
MeLean. J. II.
Me Lerran, Jack -on 860
Hamblen, J. W
Hamilton, .V 645
Hanna, Robert .553
Harrell, T. W 452
Harris. desse
Harvey. W. W. 170
K
Hefley, J. M .
Helley. I.S.
Holley, W. V
Hleinatz. J. F 791
Hleinatz, Emilie 791
Hemphint, C. W
526
Henderson, J. W
662
Henry, W. I.
.558
Hester. N .474
Hicks, R. HI .568
Higgins, J. ( . 686
HIHI, A. E. .532
HI, D. O.
675
Hill, J. W
.715
Hill, L. D .. .994
Hill, T. A. M. .700
Hine, W .. .623
Ilodges, J. W.
779
Holler, E. W. 296
Lee, L. L.
338
Ilolman, O. H. .781
Holt, C. R .. 493
Holtzclaw, J. II.
463
Hooker, J. D.
.292
. Hooper, C. C.
Horne, A. O. 284
Houghton, T. M. 546
Howell, W. A. B.
426
Hubbard, C. J ..
730
Hubert, F. W. R. .081
Iludgins, B. F. .714
M
Pace, D. C. 721
Page, J. W.
.599
Park, M. S. 619
Parkbill. T. W 561
Patrick, W .711
Patton, ... . 1 724
Pearce, T. R .. .301
Pedigo, W. M
704
Peel, J. A.
394
Peeler, James
.327
Isaacs, A. (.'
.759
Israelson, J. .822
J
Jackson, C. J .. .533
Mayes, R. B.
Donkey, J. E 737
Ponkey, W. A
737
McCord, A. P. 418
Pool. I. M
074
Pope. T. A.
.476
McCulloch, R. 659
Porter, B. A
451
Mccutcheon, John
Porter, J. W
402
Jenkins, W. A. J 726
Mccutcheon, J. A
896
Porter, R. S.
439
Jenkins, W. HI. 572
McC'utcheon, J. T 487
Porter, R. L'
535
Jennings, M. 723
Mc Donald, S. II . 727 Powell, I. I. E 468
McDonald. H. K. 766
Price, Henry
.488
McFadin, D H
Price. R. J
551
Morris, A. T 739
Morris, J. L. .. 507
Morris, W. W 764
Morrow, J. C. S 772
Kolb, P. M ..
Muldrow, J. B .361
Koontz. P. D.
.461
Munro, John . .576
Murchison. K 752
Murray, A. C. 706
L.
Lackey, W. S 509
Lame, S. B .205
Lawhon, W. C. .629
Nichols, R. L. .564
Nolen, T. W. 310
Norman, M. B. .359
()
Oliver, J. P' 580
Owens, W .816
Oxsheer, W. W
255
P
IIndgins, J. T.
Iludson, J. W .315
Hoffman, J. A 428
Hughes, T. P 812
ITutto, R. B. 430
1
Martin, Ed. A
362
Massengale, W. T
Mason, A. S. .63
Mason, C. C .. 763
Perry, A. P
283
Matthews, E. S 373
Perry, J. S. .343
Matthews, .I. (; .281
Perry, J. W .531
May, A. G. .651
Peterson, Joh 438
Phegley, Mrs, M. I 749
Jackson, G. T. 790
Jackson, .I. A. 792
Jackson, James 337
MeCown, J. W .451
Jackson, S. K. P
John, R. A. 696
Johnson, A. C. 569
Jone-, G. II. .611
Jones. G. W 6.1
Melutyre, W. G
MeKinney, J. M
Mclaren R. C .339
Jones, Mark .650
Jones, R. F. .250
Mc Rae. Mrs. Alex
Mesloan, D. 269
Malaskey, Joseph 430
Miller, M. I'.
Miller. W. D
Miller, W. G
Mitchell.1 1.
Kemp, J. B ..
Monente. J. J .596
Kennard, W. R 140
Kennerly, .1. 11 819
Kimbro, E. U 285
King, C. A. .618
King, G. 467
Klein, A ..
Knight, James $18
Kraitcher, T 470
Krepek, .l. II. 741
Lewis, G. A
.500
Lewis, Irene .511
Little, J. M. .497
Litton, F. M. .048
Lloyd, John 539
Lock wood, Henry 305
Loewenstein, B. & Bro. 345
Longmoor, J. E. 641
Magee, M. F .GOT
Magill, J. P.
.602
Makemson, W. K. .802
Malone, G. W .407
Martin, A. F 288
Insall, R. W. .449
Irvinc, George. .500
Nelson, A. . .751
Newson, John .510
Lewis, A. J
Moore, L .. .. 552
Moore, R. J. .319
Moore, T. W. 268
Jourdan. %. P'
Joyner, Solon 421
Juvenal. W 505
May, W. E. .518
McClanahan, J. M 554
Jackson. W. B 386
Gregg, Henry
501
425
vi
CONTENTS.
Primm, Wm.
503
Stiles, F. N.
White, C. C. 350
Proctor. D. W
Stiles, J. E. .
351
White, 11. C.
Puckett, ('.
784
Stoddard, C. B.
721
Whittenburg. J. L 3-9
Purcell, S. B.
Storrs, A. W
250
Whitton, .I. M. 710
Stribling. J. Il.
651
Wierman, T. A. 621
Stubblefield. S P
Sturgis, J. P
:05
Wilkins. R. T .520
Summers, A B.
.593
Williams, I. M
Suttles, .I. G.
761
Williams. 1 11
195
Swenson. A.
261
Williams, Thomas
.505
Ragsdale, J. W. .515
Ragsdale, M. M. 549
Randle. J. T. 405
Rector, J. B. 670
820
Reed, V. E. IL ..
409
Reese, J. C.
.508
Reeves, E 519
~Reynolds, A. B.
.666
Reynolds, Martha A .665
Ricks, J. T.
744
Ritchey, S. P.
.563
Robertson, J. W
769
Robertson, W. F
547
Root, J. I . . .
269
Rowland, J. R.
303
Rowland, J. C ..
.604
Rudasill, J. W
254
Rumsey, J. A
.567
S
Sams, Calhoon 412
Sanders, J. B .577
Sanders, S. F. 691
Saunders, E. L. .331
Scarbrough, E. M 636
Scott, John 264
Scott, Jobn
.590
Scott, S. A ..
252
Seiders, Edward. 308
· Seiders, H. B .3224
Seymour, Aaron .450
Vance, C. P. 727
Vandivere, A. M 635
Darlington, Mr -. E J
663
Darlington, J. W.
Davis, J. J 303
Dillingham, John.
Dillingham, Lucy E 295
Doak. A. V 263
Easley. S .1. 479
Evans. W. T.
Smith, J P
512
Smith, J. P
Walker. J. E.
Fleager, Mis. M .! 743
Fleming. Wm. l'
Cian+. W. .. 431
Goodwin. B. ..
1.17
Snively, Mrs. E. N
.310
Walker. Mr- S. 1
Grundwin, .1. 1
417
Snow, C. A. W
472
Wallace. W D
Hamblen .J. W
Sparkman, J. 11.
Washington. Stark
Hematz. Emilie Il-inalz. / F
:91
Spencer, W. O 740
534
Weir. Calvin
Holtzelaw. J Il
Starnes, W. T
769 Well -. W. F.
london, sam
Steele, Jack.
718Wells. W. T
Well -. J .M
Kolb. P.M
Wilson, W. N 551
Taylor. A. B ...
661
Wilson, W. S. G
335
Wingo, J. F.
.374
Witcher, 11. L.
891
Teague. M. M
.699
Templeton, B. P'
.612
Terral, E. I. .
.400
Terry, A. D) ..
.376
Thaxton, W. II
250
Thompson, E. T
.353
Thompson, JJ. . A
713
Wood, James .318
Woodall J. R
344
Woody, W. B
Worley, .A. J. .756
Todd, Robert 404
Tracy, N. H . . 643
Turner, C. W
601
'Turner, L. J.
309
Young. B. Il
Young, W. A
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Allison, .I. F 987
Austin, Stephen Fuller. 29
Bitting, J. W 415
Brown, .I. G .. 455
Capitol. :1
Carpenter, A. W 615
Shaw, J. II. . 267
Sheppard, II. B .745
Vogelsang, E.
376
Simcock, W. R. 542
Simons, J. A. .332
Sims, J. R. 798
11
Smilie. Henry
Smith, C. R.
Smith, J. A. 890 1 Walden, L. R 504
Wales, B. M
Waiker. V. (. 506
Smith, J. S
Smith, F. E
Smith, W. A. 478
Sneed, W. J.
Spark-, 1. 11
Waters. R 11
Watson, 11 11
Spradly. J. T.
Stidham, B. F
Talbot, E. W. . 712
Wilson, J. C 307
Taylor, Emzy
Taylor, J. Il
446
Taylor, Josiah
614
Taylor, W. M
428
Wohlleb. S
.501
Wolf, J. B
.348
Wolt, John-
275
Womack. J. W
620
Womble, J. ('.
.578
Wood, G. W
783
Wood, J. A .608
Thomson, D. D.
.550
Threadgill, J. .462
Todd, D. A. .250
Todd, J. E. .398
Tyson, M. V 672
Tyson, W. W. S.
:55
Upchurch, II. 734
Upchurch, J 235
Shannon, R. S .314
Vickers, Silas .609
Vogelsang, F.
Wahrenberger, .J. 274
Fianniken. R 11 .527 Pleager. Wn ..
Walker, .I. W 199
Walker, L. E 159
Walker. R. S. 115
Williams, T. II. 311
Swenson, Carl.
Willson, II. E
T
Willson, P. O 492
Wilson, C B .30
Rector, T. M
Willcox, N. M.
Quinn, J. K.
1
.
Yoe. C. HI. 459
Robbins, A. R.
CONTENTS
Lewis, Irene
511
Malone. G. W
407
Oxsheet, WI 11
Stribling. J il
631
Mases, R. B ..
271
Page. . ) \\
.599
Taylor. Emzy. .
647
Mccutcheon, Mrs. E. A
279
Peeler, James
Well -. Mary E
Mccutcheon, Wm
979
Perry. J S
$43
Mccutcheon, .I T
457
Porter. R. S
189
Williams. T. 11.
811
McFadin, D. 11.
Porter, K I
Williams. John 11
195
McFadin, derusha.
247
Primm. St John
.503
Wilson, Lizzie B
McFadin, Mollie I.
SO7
Rum-Py. J A
Witcher. Hugh I.
;91
Moore, Mary 1)
Santa Anna before General
Norman, M. B.
Houston
Nelson. A 1.
751
Stiles, F. N
Mc Fadin, John N
Reeves, Edward
519
Wilson. WS G
1
HISTORY OF TEXAS -
J HES State of Texas has had a carcer so remarkable that its study enchants the reader like the bewitching stories and legends of England, or of any great European country. It is with pleasure, there- fore, that the author compiles the following brief account, giving the substance of the best passages in the history of the Lone Star State:
THE NAME "TEXAS."
According to the varions authorities, there are several origins to the name Texas. 1, Spanish, tejas (roof-tiles), because the inhab- itants had roofed houses; 2, old Spanish or Celtiberian, denoting a plain; 3, an Indian word signifying friend; 4, another Indian word meaning paradise, or a beautiful land; 5, a common termination of several tribal names in Indian, as Tlaxcaltecas, Chlolutecas, Cuitlaclitecas, Zacatecas, etc.
TOPOGRAPHY.
Texas has an area of 271,856 square miles of land, and 2,510 square miles of water sur- face, the latter consisting of lakes and bays, making a total of 274,366 square miles, equal to about 8.7 per cent. of the entire area of the United States and Territories. It is much the largest State in the Union, being six times larger than New York and seven times as large as Ohio, and 100,000 square miles larger than all the Eastern and Middle States, including Delaware and Maryland. Compared to the
countries of Europe, it has 34,000 square miles more than the Austrian Empire, 62,000 more than the German Empire, and nearly 70,000 square miles more than France.
It is located in the extreme southern part of the United States, between the 26th and 36th parallels of north latitude and the 94th and 106th meridians of longitude. The distance between the extreme northern and southern points is nearly 750 miles, and abont 800 miles from east to west. It is bounded ou the east by the State of Lonisi- ana, west by the Republic of Mexico and the Territory of New Mexico, north by the States of Colorado and Arkansas and the Indian Territory, and on the south by the Gulf of Mexico. General custom has divided the State geographically into five parts, namely: Central, northern, southern, castern and west- ern Texas, though the dividing lines are not well defined.
The topography, like many other charac- teristics of the State, is but little understood, except in a general way.
The country lying east of the 96tli degree of longitude and north of the 30tlı parallel of latitude, and known as " East Texas," is characterized by a long range of hills running in an irregular line from northeast to south- west, and containing large deposits of brown hematite iron ore. It is also marked by a heavy growth of timber, consisting princi- pally of forests of pine, oak and hickory.
.
.
10
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
The Gulf Coast is thus described by Prof. Loughridge, of the United States Census Bureau :
"The coast of Texas presents features dif- ferent from those of any other State, for while in many other States the mainland coast is greatly ent up into large bays, extending many miles inland. it is here bordered by an almost eontinnous chain of islands and pen- insulas (the latter having the same trend as the islands). The Gulf border of this chain is a very regular line southwest from the mouth of the Sabine river or lake to near Cor- pus Christi, which oecnpies the highest point on the entire coast, and thence turns with a regular eurve south and slightly southeast to Mexico."
The territory east of the timber region and north of the Gulf Coast, as above outlined, is a vast open plain composed of gently rohing prairies and gradual elevations. It is eov- ered with a luxuriant growth of native grasses and dotted by an occasional mott of timber, and extends to the Red river on the north and the mountain ranges of the west and northwest. The water-courses and ravines are usually fringed with a growth of haek- berry, ash, elm, cottonwood, pecan, welnut and the various oaks.
West and northwest lie the hills and moun- tain ranges of the State, which are eontimma- tions of the mountains of Mexico, New Mexico and Colorado. In the extreme northwest, bordering Kansas on the south and New Mexico on the west, is the elevated table land formerly known as the Llano Es- tacado, or Staked Plains. It is now desig- nated as the Panhandle of Texas, and is destined to be one of the best agricultural and stoek-raising seetions of the State. On a line north of Anstin and San Antonio, and running in a southwesterly direction, there is
a low range of hills that mark a change in the topography of the country. Westward it is more broken and the elevations more abrupt. The valleys are broad and the lands very fertile.
The water surface of Texas is estimated at 2,510 square miles. Of this number, 800 square miles are accredited to the rivers and smaller streams which drain the State. The balanee consists of bays which lie along the eoast of the Gulf of Mexico, and small inland lakes.
Chief among the rivers of the State is the Brazos, which drains an area of about 35,000 square miles, and is navigable as far up as Columbia (about forty miles) at all times. It has its souree in the northwestern part of the State, at the foot of the Staked Plains, and flows in an easterly direction to Baylor county, thenee southeasterly to Brazoria county, where it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Follow- ing its bends it is about 900 miles long. The Navasota river, which has its sonree in Lime- stone county, is its prineipal tributary, and drains portions of Leon, Robertson, Madison, Brazos and Grimes eonnties.
The westernmost branch of the Brazos has its source in an extensive salt region,-not Mr. Jefferson's "Salt mountain," of which so much was said and sung at the time of the Lonisiana purehase,-but a vast plain of 100 or 200 miles in extent, charged with mineral salt and covered in patehes with uitre .. The salt is washed out of this basin only by fresh- ets, through Salt braneh, into the Brazos.
The shores of the Brazos are not flat, though never bold, but undulating and grace- ful. The trees of larger growth are some- times covered with Spanish moss, as on the shores of the Mississippi; but these bearded nondeseripts are not so frequent as to give the sensation of gloom; nor is there any cypress
-
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
11
to increase that effect on the mind. Where the land is of comparatively recent formation, the growth is of willow and cottonwood, with occasional sycamores.
The Brazos never overflows its banks. The water in primeval times was slightly redder than was that of the Upper Mississippi, re- sembling that of Red river. From the cen- ter both shores show to advantage. There is no caving-in or cut-off's, and in early days no dead timber -- scarcely a snag. The surface of the gently-flowing water is generally calm and beantiful, but in floods it is of course violent and darkened with mnd.
The Red river is next in importance and forms the bonndary line between Texas and the Indian Territory and Arkansas. It has its source in the Panhandle of Texas, formerly known as the Llano Estacado, and flows east- ward throngh Arkansas and Louisiana, empty- ing into the Mississippi river. It drains about 29,000 square miles in Texas. The Big and Little Wichita rivers are among its principal tributaries on the Texas side.
The Colorado river rises in Dawson county, the highest point reached by any of its prongs, and flows in a southeasterly direction, emptying into Matagorda Bay, on the Gulf of Mexico. The Concho, San Saba, and Llano rivers form its tributaries. It is over 900 miles long and drains a territory estimated at 25.000 square miles.
The Trinity river has its source in Archer and Denton counties, the two forks converg- ing in Dallas county and flowing in a south- easterly direction to Trinity bay, in Cham- bers county. It is about 550 miles long and drains an area of abont 17,000 square miles.
The Sabine river forms the eastern bonn- dary of the State from the thirty-second parallel of latitude to the Gulf of Mexico, and is navigable for abont 300 miles. It has
its source in Hunt county, in the northeast- ern part of the State, and drains about 17,000 square miles in Texas, emptying into Sabine lake near the Gulf of Mexico.
The Nneces river has its starting point in Edwards county and flows southeasterly into La Salle county, thence east into Live Oak county, and from thence sonth, emptying into Corpus Christi bay on the Gulf of Mexico. Together with its tributaries, the Leona, Frio, and Atascosa rivers, it drains an area estimated at about 16,000 square miles.
The San Antonio river has its source in Bexar county and flows sontheasterly to Re- fngio county, where it unites with the Gna- dalpe river about twelve miles north of San Antonio bay, into which it empties. Its principal tributaries are the Medina and Salado rivers, in Bexar county, and the Ci- bolo river, in Karnes county.
The Guadalupe river rises in Kerr county and flows in an easterly direction to Gonza'es connty, thence in a sontheasterly direction to the point of junetion with the San Antonio river, about twelve miles from its month on San Antonio bay. The San Marcos river. which has its source near San Marcos, in Hays county. forms its principal tributary.
The Rio Grande forms the western bonn- dary line of Texas and also the boundary line between the United States and Mexico. It has its source in the southwestern part of Colorado and flows generally in a sontheast- erly direction to Clarksville, in Cameron county, where it empties into the Gulf of Mexico. It is navigable for small steamers for abont 150 miles from the Gulf, and drains an arca on the Texas side estimated at abont 18,000 square miles. During the greater part of the year it is fordable above the in- Anence of tide water.
£
12
HISTORY OF TEX.IS.
The l'ecos river rises in New Mexico, on the east slope of the Rocky mountains, flows throngh Texas in a sonthicasterly direction to a point near Painted Cave Spring, in Crockett county, where it empties into the Rio Grande. It drains an area of about 6,000 square miles.
The Neches river has its source in Van Zandt county and runs in a southeasterly di- rection parallel with the Trinity river, empty- ing into Sabine lake on the Gulf of Mexico. The Angelina river, which rises in Rusk county, forms its principal tributary, and, to- getlier with the Neches, drains a large scope of country between the Trinity and Sabine rivers.
The Sulphur Fork runs nearly parallel with Red river in an easterly direction, passing ont of the State at Sulphur Station and empty- ing into the Red river at Dempsy, Louisiana. It drains a large part of the northeastern counties of the State.
On Caney creek there was originally an immense cane-brake one to three miles wide and seventy miles long. It was on both sides of the creek, extending from near its source to within twelve miles of its month, and scarcely a tree was to be found within that ocean of cane. It was called the Great Prai- rie Canebrake, and the stream originally Canebrake creek.
There are many nnequivocal evidences that this creek was once a branch of the Colorado, constituting another mouth for that stream. The bed of the creek is of equal depth and width with the river, and the appearance of the banks, the nature of the adjacent soil, etc., are the same in both. A strongly con- firmatory evidence is the abrupt termination of the deep, wide bed of the Caney within less than 200 yards of the river, in an allu- vial bottom nearly ten miles in width. Thus was an island formed with a coast line of
twenty-five miles. It is now called Bay prairie.
There are a large number of small inland lakes scattered throughont the State. Sabine lake, lying between Texas and Lonisiana, is the largest of these and is abont eighteen miles long by nine broad. It.is fed by the Neches and Sabine rivers and discharges into the Gulf of Mexico.
All of the principal rivers of the State flow in a sontheasterly direction and empty into the (inlf of Mexico, except the Red river, which flows east into the Mississippi river.
As a general rule the streams east of the Brazos river are sluggish and muddy; those on the west side clear and swift running. Many of the streams in western and north- ern Texas contain pure, clear water suitable for domestic purposes, and abounding in fine fish. Some of the streams. however, are de- ceptive. The water is inviting to the eye, but is strongly impregnated with minerals and brackish to the taste.
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.