USA > Texas > Harris County > Houston > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 1
USA > Texas > Galveston County > Galveston > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 1
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Gc 976.4 H615 1936916
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02282 4467
L
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/historyoftexasto00unse 0
HISTORY OF TEXAS
TOGETHER WITH A
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY
... OF THE CITIES OF ...
HOUSTON AND GALVESTON
CONTAINING A CONCISE HISTORY OF THE STATE, WITH PORTRAITS AND BIOGRAPHIES OF PROMINENT CITIZENS OF THE ABOVE NAMED CITIES, AND PERSONAL HISTORIES OF MANY OF THE EARLY SETTLERS AND LEADING FAMILIES
Public Library
" Biography is the only true history."- EMERSON.
DEC 1 1 1948 Dallas, Texas
CHICAGO: THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY,
1895.
R976.4 H History of Texas. Biographical history of Houston and Galveston.
Dallas
1895
1936916
KAS BOOK BINDERY, Inc., DALLAS, TEXAS Date.
R476.4
CONTENTS.
THE STATE OF TEXAS.
FUNERAL POLITICAL, HISTORY:
'The Name " Texas "
Topography:
Discovery. 1.3
Texas Unknown Until Recently
13
Political Parties 86
Signs of the Coming Storm 87
The Storm Begin 91
After the War .. .. 94
Reconstruction Period. 95
New Constitutions, Etc. 102
Greer County. 103
General Reflections. 104
Governors of Texas, List 105
Biographical Notices 106
EDUCATION.
.129
OTHER STATE INSTITUTIONS. 142
RELIGION. 146
THE PRESS 147
RAILROADS.
147
MINERAL RESOURCES 149
AGRICULTURE 187
CLIMATE. 199
PUBLIC LANDS 201
THE COUNTIES. 206
CITIES AND PRINCIPMI, TOWNS 210
MISCELLANEOUS.
222
" Indian Depredations in Texas" -- Wilbar- ger's Book. 222
The Fort Parker Massacre. 222
Cynthia Ann Parker. 231
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. 24.3
Exemptions from Forced Sale. .244
Texas at the World's Fair ..
244
Texas Annexed to the United States .. 78 To Arms
Events after the War 81
Indian Colonization .. 8.3
Current of Events. 85
The " Cart War 86
Catholic Missions
17
New Civilization. 18
Philip Nolan. 18
Political Changes. 21
The " Pirate of the Gulf". 25
Political Changes, continued 20
1 The Au-tins. 20
Austin's Colony. 31
The Empresario System. 34
Influence of the New Immigration. 35
1 The Labor System. 36
Political and Religious Intolerance 37
Educatie
37
1 I Religion. 38
l'inal Revolution 38
Separation of Texas from Coahuila. 43
Battle of San Antonio. 48
The Alamo 50
The Goliad Massacre. 53
San Jaciu
The Independence Convention .. .50
The Declaration of Independence 60
Flag of the Lone Star 63
Foreign Relations 63
Early Legislation
64
A Rebellion
69
Indians 70
Santa Fe Expedition. 71
Location of the Capital 71
73
Recognition of Texas by Foreign Powers ..
7.3
Lamar's and Houston's Administrations. . Mexican War 74
"Moderators" and " Regulators' 75
The War Cloud. 76
22:871 06
CONTENTS.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
1
Bochl, George ... 683
Bollfrass, Christian .396
Bolton, J. H .699
Borden Family, The 699
Bostick, Levi.
.533
Bothman, August
483
Boyles, J. M
585
Boyles, T. J 375
Brady, J. T. .377
Branch, Win. B
Brashear, I. W
470
Eckhardt, Win. R 500
Edgar, T. H
.619
Ellis, G. W.
.582
Elmers, Henry
608
Elsbury, T. E
455
F
Falkenhagen, J. .606
Fields, L. W.
665
Finlay, G. P 350
Fisher, II. F.
.303
Flake, Ferdinand 416
Floeek, Peter P. 521
Fly, A. W. 273
Fontaine, S. T . 352
Forester, John. 429
Fordtran, Charles .. .712
Forsgard, G. A
335
Foster, J. E'
447
Fowler, Charles 502
Fox, Henry S .. .365
Frederick, W. J
.528
Freund, Henry .572
Fulton, R. L.
538
Funk, George
.557
G
Gabel, Peter
.356
Gengler, Peter
537
Gibbert, Frederick
607
Gilbert, T. D)
411
Gillespie, J. J.
506
Gohlman, S. L. 478
Collins, Thomas .305 Gray, Peter W. .599
Colman, Isaac.
482
Converse, James.
.396
Cushman, J. A., Se
373
Daniel, J. W 349
Davidson, J. H .610
Davie, J. P
489
De Chaumes, IL. M.
51.5
Denson, W. B.
.685
Derrick, J .614
Dickey, George E. .509
Dirks, Albert.
630
Dirks, Henry
.631
Bleike, Frederick
275
Dirks Family, The.
631
Doll, G. W. 400
Dolson, Benj. .605
Dooley, H. H. .518
Drew, Edmund ..
681
Drouet, Adolph
421
Drouet, Sebastian
.692
Duinble, George.
322
Durr, Leon.
414
Allen, J. K 260
Allen, Sam 639
Allen, S. L. .297
Allen, W. T .691
AHlens, of Houston. .. 638
Allien, L. F
455
Alltmont, Nathan. .559
Angle, D. M. 531
Ansell, W. C. 407
Archer, J. E 529
Arends, J. F
286
Ashe, S. S .. 379
Atehison, D. D 716
Atkins, Joseph
701
Atkins, Joe .. .654
Ayers, David
.628
Ayers, D. T.
.629
B
Bagby, T. M 469
Baker, George F 443
Baker, Win. R
423
Baldinger, Andrew
320
Baldinger, Il. A.
312
Baldinger. W. Il
288
Baldwin, J. C
516
Ball, Albert 334
Ball, George ..
354
Ballew, Mary A 673
Barnes, B. F
721
Barr, M. A .729
Barziza Family, The .347
Baumann, Peter .398
Beissner, C. I. .650
Beissner, Henry
.609
Bender, C., Sr.
.563
Benn, Thos .645
Bennison, Walter
618
Bente, Charles.
.573
Bentinck, H. W.
710
Berger, Henry
.672
Bergstrom, H. O.
615
Bertallot, Mrs. Emilie. .519
Bichler, C. L.
420
Binz. Jacob. . .380 Blagge, Benj 311
Blagge, Hamilton
308
Blagge, Il. W.
309
Blake, Family, The
450
Blake, J. H. 450
Blake, T. W.
450
Blan, Angust.
.549
(
Cahill, Michael 708
Calvit, Ale
284
Campbell, Clark.
728
Carville, P. H.
327
Chimene, E. J
533
Clubb, John.
325
Chubb, Thomas
331
Clifford, C. G
662
653
Collins, F. M.
586
Collins, Peter.
616
Collins, T. J .. 497
Gwyn, Charles L
.477
H
Ilakenjos, C. .664
Hamilton, B. O 293
Hammer, M. .643
Hanscom, S. S.
.664
Hansen, H. F.
.640
Harrington, J. A.
,620
Harris, Jonathan .578
Harris, J. R. . 452
Hasselmeyer, C. F
326
Heard, T. J ..
.277
Heiman, A
626
·
Adams, C. B .032
Aiken, Joe. .687
Albrecht, C. .512
Alexander, W. D. 511
Allen, Alexander
.687
Allen, A. C.
.257
Brewster, Robert .577
Bright, J. H. .527
Bringhurst, G. H 567
Brinkhoff, Carl 622
Briseoe, Andrew 368
Bristol, Win. H 673
Brock, F. A 670
Brown, A. B 409
Browne, J. T.
384
Bryan, John L
558
Bryan, L. A.
272
Burke, A. J
387
Burke, F. S.
569
Burnett, J. H. 613
Burnett, Win. 479
Burroughs, J. J 603
Burton, Charles A 268
Butler, G. W
679
Buttelmann, Henry
659
Cliff, P. P
Gregory, Win. E.
697
E
317
CONTENT'S.
Heiman, J. J. 626
Heiman, Ottelia 626
Heitmann, F. W. 561
Helmer, J E. 646
Henck, Henry 400
Hermann, G. H 390
Herndon, A. C.
617
Marchand, Ferdinand 32%
Martin, Thos .594
Railton, Robert 413
Ray, Edward. 689
Read, R. II 719
Reybaad, Editha. .319
Reyder, George .1 402
Rich, I. M .. 391
Richardson, A. S. 523
Richardson, Stephen 523
Richardson, W. R. 523
Richardsons, The. 523
Riesel, H. W. 720
Riesner, B. A 389
Rigg, John. . 403
Roberts, Charles 408
Rodefeld, Henry 422
Roemer, C. G
623
Rohde, Fritz 588
Rosenberg, Henry
287
S
Sam, Samel 359
Schadt, William 655
Schmidt, Christopher. 679
Schmidt, F. D 428
Schmidt, F. W 676
Schmidt, Henry 526
Schmidt. Louis .678
Schmidt, O. B 666
Schneider, George .624
Schneider, Henry 683
Schwander, F, I. 520
Sealy, John 713
Seixas, E. E. 692
Selkirk, Willam. .656
Settegast, Wi. J. & J. J. 564
Senrean, Andre .508
Shannon, A. M. 498
Shearn, Charles 345
Shepherd, B. A 342
Sherman, Sidney 245
Sherwood, C. L. 487
Sherwood. J. P.
485
Sieling, E. H. 307
Simpson, B. C 464
Smalley. B. A. 695
Smith, D. C. 589
Smith, F. W 361
Sneed, J. Il. .647
Southwick, S. B. 676
Southwick, Stephen 677
Larrabee, R. 413
Pierson, A. L 598
--
Sprong. C. H 207
Latham. L. J 570
Pillot, Engene .505
Polk, W. A $53
Stewart, Amasa .698
Le Clere, I. S. 674
Pool, William .292
Poueigh, T. A. .715
Stewart. W. H. 282
Lobenstein, J 428
Prendergast, Patrick .706
Street, G. C. 514
Lordan, Jerry 401
Price, J. S .. 501
Stuart, D. F 367
Lucas, James S 556
Priest, August. . .530
Prnett, J. 11
591
Onick, Edmund. 711
Quick, John
399
Herndon, J. II. 601
Hershberger, I. C. 291
Hewes, S. D $71
Heyen, Henry 642
Ilicks, T. B.
576
Hinrichsen, G. E 484
Hitchcock, L. M 494
Ilolmes, C. D 681
House, T. W 313
550
Hudson, P. W 584
Hughes, S. F 406
625
Menard, M. B. 281
Menard, Medard .673
Mentzel, A
.659
Metzger, Jacob .494
Meyer, G. A
64 1
Moore, W. J
714
Jackson, T. W.
661
Jennett, R. C 622
Johnson, A. . ]
694
Johnson, R. D. 651
Jones, Anson 249
Jones, Mrs. Anson 633
Jones, W. J 722
Jordan, Christian 344
Jordan, M. M 047
Juneman, F. L. .493
Junemann, C. 696
K
Kahla, William 702
Kankel, Henry. 684
Kendall, Win. ES
457
Kennedy, D. E. 444
Kennedy, John 444
Kiam, Ed. 278
Kindley, Michael 321
Kirkland, Stephen 304
Kleinecke, H. F. 6,49
Kleinecke, Theodore. 3312
Koch, Joseph. 513
Kuhlman, John .508
Kuhnel, Robert 416
Oldenburg, Win 290
Ott, Charles S. 404
P
Labadie, N. D) 338
Lafitte Grove 729
Peetz, J. J .705
Perl, M. 376
Lang, J. H 593
Larkin, E. P 270
Pichard, A. V 355
Stabe, Henry 285
Leask, Henry 398
Nolile Family, The 491
Nuse, Lawrence 422
N
Napier. W. S 571
Nelson, John .600
Nichols, E. B 668
Nichols, E. B. McK. .669
Nichols, F. MeC. 667
Nichols, J. C .552
Nitze, E. II 567
Noble, C. W 491
Noble, J. B 491
510
Morley, David
684
Morris, J. R.
393
Morwitz, Herman 419
Moser, John H .330
Moser, P. Il .. .309
Muller, Antone. 427
Murray, R. G 671
Meier, John 420
Mellor, Robert 660
Menard, J. M. O. .675
Hurd, James G.
Hutchings, J. H 301
Hutchins, Win. J 276
J
Luth, Lawson .597
Macatee, W. I. .457
Mally, F. W. .596
Marchand, F. A 607
Masterson, J. R 425
Matthews, H. F 264
McAlpine, W. K. 323
Me Ashan, S. M +74)
MeGowen, A
Mc Kinney. A. W 581
Mealy, Jofin 404
Megson, Wm .621
Howe, M. G
Morin, A. C.
()
O'Brien, John 290
1.
Leonard, C. HI 294
Stewart, Charles 449
Stuart, Hamilton 703
Infkin, A. P 47.3 Priester, Simon ,501 Stubenranch, Mas .555
.
ـة
-
Stude, Henry . 472
Weiss, J. F 522
Austin, Stephen F 29
Baker, George W 443
Brady, John T 377
Brown, A. B. 409
Church of Alamo 50
Church of the Concepcion 17
Church of San Juan. 17
Davie, J. P 489
Floeck, Peter P 5>1
Gengler. Peter 537
Herndon, A. C. 601
Herndon, J. B. 601
Herndon, J. H .601
Honse. T. W. 313
Houston, Sam. 55
Jones, Anson 249
Kendall, W. E. 4.57
Lufkin. A. P. 473
Masterson, J. R 425
Menard, Michel B .. 281
Morris, J. R .393
Piliot, Eugene
505
Ruins near San Jose. etc 17
Santa Anna before General Houston. 58
Shearn, Charles. 345
Sherman, Sidney 245
Smith, F. W. 361
State Capitol.
71
Williams, S. M
329
Westerlage, J. H. 709
Westheimer, Sid .548
CONTENTS.
Weyer, J. H 690
Sweeney, C. C.
318
Sweeney, G. W
.318
Weiss, J. J. 598
White, J. W .466
Williams, S. M 329
Wilson, George 405
Wilson, J. N 659
Tacquard. Jacques
Taylor, Il. D .. 474
Tellefson, O. C 271
Thompson, J. W 6,56
Tiernan, B. . 407
Ti leback, Charles 082
Treaccar. F. W 269
Tryon, W. . A .592
Tryon, W. M .592
Wortham, J. ( 649
Wren, P. S. 643
Y
Yard, George N 720
Yard, N. B 610
Young, Gustav 310
Young. H. P 279
=
Wagley, W. C. 554
Waties. J. R 476
Want, T.N 265
Weber, David 605
Werner, Geo. P .718
Werner, Win.
.296
Allen, A. C. 257
Allen, Mrs. C. M 257
Allen, J. K
260
Allen, S. 297
Wilson, J. S. 504
Wilson, J. T. D 381
Wilson, Robert +37
Winkler, C. F. 580
Wittig, Ernest. 402
Woessner, Charles 560
Wood, Jas. W 648
Woollam, Charle- +96,
Van Liew, J. M. 718
Van Liew, J. R
Vordenbaumen, Wi 350
Vowinkle, Win 2-3
Zabel, W'm 547
ILLUSTRATIONS.
Sweeney, T. H 318
1
O.K. 9
HISTORY OF TEXAS
丁 HE State of Texas has had a career 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 anthorities, there are several origins to the name Texas. 1, Spanish, tejas (roof-tiles), because the inhab- itants had roofed honses; 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, Chlolntecas, Cnitlachtecas, Zacatecas, etc.
TOPOGRAPHY.
Texas has an area of 271,856 square miles of land, and 2,510 square miles of water sur- fare, 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 us Chio, and 100,000 square miles larger than all the Eastern and Middle States, including Delaware and Maryland. Coinparod to the
conutries 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 sonthern 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 about 800 miles from east to west. It is bounded on the east by the State of Louisi- 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- teristies of the State, is but little understood, except in a general way.
The country lying east of the 96th degree of longitude and north of the 30th 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 homatite iron ore. It is also marked by a heavy growth of timber, consisting princi. pally of forests of piue, oak aud hickory.
10
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
The Gulf Coast is thus described by Prof. Longhridge, 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 cnt up into large bays, extending many miles inland, it is here bordered by an almost continnous 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 ocenpies the highest point on the entire coast, and thence turns with a regular curve south and slightly southeast to Mexico."
The territory east of the timber region and north of the Gulf Coast, as above ontlined, is a vast open plain composed of gently rolling prairies and gradual elevations. It is cov- 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, walnut and the various oaks.
West and northwest lie the hills and moun- tain ranges of the State, which are continna- tions of the mountains of Mexico, New Mexico and Colorado. In the extreme northwest, bordering Kansas on the southi 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 stock-raising sections 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 balance consists of bays which lie along the coast 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 mp as Colombia (about forty miles) at all times. It has its source in the northwestern part of the State, at the foot of the Staked Plains, and flows in an easterly direction to Baylor county, thence sontheasterly 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 conree in Lime- stone county, is its principal tributary, and drains portions of Leon, Robertson, Madison, Brazos and Grimes counties.
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 Louisiana purchase, -but a vast plain of 100 or 200 miles in extent, charged with mineral salt and covered in patches with nitre. The salt is washed out of this basin only by fresh - ets, through Salt branch, 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 nondescripts are not so frequent as to give the sensation of gloom; nor is there any cypress
.
11
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
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 ent-offs, and in early days no dead timber-scarcely a snag. The surface of the gently-flowing water is generally calin and beautiful, but in floods it is of course violent and darkened with mud.
The Red river is next in importance and forms the boundary 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 cast- ward through 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.
1
The Trinity river has its source in Archer and Denton counties, the two forks converg- ing in Dallas county and flowing in a south- casterly 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 boun- dary of the State from the thirty-second parallel of latitude to the Gulf of Mexico, and is navigable for about 300 miles. It has
its source iu IInnt 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 Nueces river has its starting point in Edwards county and flows southeasterly into La Salle county, thence east into Live Oak county, and from thence south, 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 abont 16,000 square miles.
The San. Antonio river has its source in Bexar county and flows sontheasterly to Re- fugio county, where it unites with the Gna- dalupe river about twelve miles north of San Antonio bay, into which it emptics. 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 Gouzales county, thence in a sontheasterly direction to the point of junction with the San Antonio river, about twelve miles from its mouth on San Antonio bay. The San Marcos river, which has its source near San Marcos, in Ilays 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 southeast- erly direction to Clarksville, in Cameron county, where it ompties into the Gulf of Mexico. It is navigable for small steamers for about 450 miles from the Gulf, and drains an area on the Texas side estimated at abont 18,000 square miles. During the greater part of the year it is fordable above the in- ¡ fluence of tide water.
12
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
The Pecos river rises in New Mexico, on the east slope of the Rocky monntains, flows through Texas in a southeasterly 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 Vau 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- gether 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 out of the State at Sulphur Station and empty- ing iuto the Red river at Dempsy, Louisiana. It drains a large part of the northeastern counties of the State.
On Cauey creek there was originally an inmense 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 unequivocal evidences that this ereek was onee 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. This 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 throughout the State. Sabine lake, lying between Texas and Louisiana, 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 Gulf of Mexico, except the Red river, which flows east into the Mississippi river.
As a general rule the streamns 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 tine fish. Some of the streamns, however, are de- ceptive. The water is inviting to the eye, but is strongly impregnated with minerals and brackish to the taste.
The streams in eastern Texas also contain large numbers of fish of the varieties com- mon to sluggish waters. Some of the smaller streams in that section, however, are fed from the springs and lakes of pure, clear water found among the sand hills.
The bays along and near the Gulf coast are: Trinity, Lavaca, Matagorda, San Anto- nio, Espiritu Sinto, Copano, Aransas, Nue- ces, Corpus Christi, Alazan, and Laguna del Madre.
The soil of Texas and its products, timber growth, mineral resources, etc., are treated on subsequent pages.
The figures in the following table denote the elevation above sea level, in feet, of points namned:
Galveston 40
Indianola 26
Brownsville 43
13
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Palestine 495
Corsican 448
Donison
767
Austin.
513
San Antonio.
676
Fort Ewell.
200
Fort Chadbourne.
2 120
Jacksboro.
1,133
Henrietta. 915
Fort Concho
1,888
Fort Stockton 3,050
El Paro 3,370
Fort Davis. 4,918
Eagle Pa-s. 800
Fort Elliott 2,500
Silver Falls
3,800
Midland.
2,779
DISCOVERY OF THE REGION.
Robert Cavalier de la Salle, the noted French explorer of the Mississippi valley, ete., came down the Mississippi river in 1683, and returned to France. In 1685, hav- ing obtained royal letters patent, and pro- vided with four vessels, he set sail to discover the month of the great Father of Waters, but, drifting too far west, he landed in Texas, supposing Matagorda bay to be the point he was looking for. After exploring the country he conceived the bold projeet of traversing the country northward to the Illinois river, a distance of 2,000 miles. Selecting a few of his friends, ho started, but on March 20, 1687, fell a victim to the treachery of his own men. lle was slain by a musket ball fired by Duhant, who had become jealons and dissatisfied with him and others in the party. This nujustifiable deed was com- mitted somewhere in the region of the Bra- zos river: it is impossible to identify the ex- act point. It "was several days' journey
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