USA > Texas > Johnson County > A memorial and biographical history of Johnson and Hill counties, Texas : containing the early history of this important section of the great state of Texas together with glimpses of its future 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 > Part 2
USA > Texas > Hill County > A memorial and biographical history of Johnson and Hill counties, Texas : containing the early history of this important section of the great state of Texas together with glimpses of its future 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 > Part 2
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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; and it has been conjectured that when the Fathers in 1781 travereod the country from Santa Fe to Sun Suba to establish 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 then trackless wilderness. Thus came the Spanish Llano Estacado. This re- gion is described, in connection with a map, in Yoakumn's Ilistory of Texas, published in 1856, as follows: " From the head waters of the Red, Brazos and Colorado rivers to the
Rio Pecos is a desolate and sterile plain fromn 100 to 200 miles in width, elevated 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 differ- ent. All the great rivers, from the Canadian on the north to the Pecos and Rio Grande on the south, have their sourees in springs found in canons penetrating this plateau, or from underground streams, from the same source, issuing out at the surface, as at San Antonio, San Marcos and other points. Colonel Shaf- ter, of the United States army, made a thor- ough 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. Ile started from Fort Concho, in Tom Green county, abont 21c' miles northwest of San Antonio. Ile says there are numerous ยท springs In the ravines and canons.
RIVERS. -
The rivers of Texas are numerous, and many of them are navigable. In the north- eastern seetion are the Red river, Big Cypress and Lake Soda, which are naivgable during the rainy seasons, and considerable trade is carried on with New Orleans by means of them. The Red river on the old Spanish maps is called Naugdoches, after an Indian tribe that formerly lived along that stream. The Sabine is the eastern boundary of the State from the thirty-third parallel of latitude to the Gulf of Mexico. The Spaniards called it Adnes, but in 1718 De Alarconne called it
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EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Rio de San Francisco de Sabinas. The An- gelina and Nueces rivers enter Sabine lake. Trinity river has been variously ealled. The Indians were Arkokisa and La Salle called it River of Canoes, because he had to procure canoes to cross it. The San Jacinto empties into Galveston bay, after forming a junction with Buffalo Bayou. The Brazos has been as- eended in boats 600 miles, to the falls near Marlin. The Spaniards are said to have given the name Colorado to the Brazos, but by some means the names were interehanged. The San Bernard and Caney creeks have been navigated, the first for about twenty miles and the latter about seventy. In 1847 a small steamboat, built above the obstruetions at the month of the Colorado river, ascended that stream to the falls above Austin, 600 miles. The Indian name for this stream was Pashohono, and tradition has it that a party of Spanish explorers, after nearly famishing for water, suddenly came upon this river and reverently kneeling called it Brazos de Dios -" Arm of God." The Navidad and its confluent is navigable thirty miles, to Texana, and the Guadalupe has been navigated seventy miles, to Victoria. Its principal western branch is the San Antonio, which is some- times called the Medina. The Nueces river is navigable for small vessels up to the vi- cinity of San Patricio. The Rio Grande, so prominent in the annals of Texas and her struggles with Mexico, and forming the boundary between the two, is navigable for 500 miles, to Comargo. The stream bears three names. At Santa Fe it is called Rio del Norte; at Reinosa it is the Rio Bravo.
ELEVATIONS.
The elevations in Texas shown on the old maps, at a time when guessing as to what the character of a country, was, what the map- maker never had seen, were largely the result of imagination or from highly-colored deserip- tions given by persons who had seen these " mountains " from a long distance. While some of them are mountains, as stated previ- ously, yet if they were in a mountainous re- gion they would be called hills. The early maps had the Tehuacana mountains in Lime- stone county; Colorado mountains, above Austin; Guadalupe mountains in Kerr county ; Pack Saddle and other peaks in Llano county. Later maps have Double mountain at the northwest corner of Jones county; White Sand Hills in Tom Green county; Chenate, and other peaks in Presidio county; and Eagle mountains in El Paso connty. One of the highest points in the State, the top of one of the spurs of what is called the Guadalupe range, is 5,000 feet above the sea level, but it must not be understood that these spurs are anywhere near that figure from their bases. They are very modest and do not hold their heads very high. Red river, at the month of the Big Wichita, has an elevation of about 900 feet; San Antonio, 600; Austin, 600; Castroville, 767; Fort Duncan, 800; Fort Lincoln, 900; Fort- Inge, 845; Fort Clark, 1,000; Round Rock, 1,145; Fort Chadburn, 2,120; Phantom Hill, 2,300; Fredericksburg, 1,500; Valley of the Pecos, 2,350; Jacksboro, 2,000; El Paso, 3,750; highest point on the San Antonio and El Paso road, 5,765; Llano
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EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Rio de San Francisco de Sabinas. The An- gelina and Nueces rivers enter Sabine lake. Trinity river has been varionsly ealled. The Indians were Arkokisa and La Salle called it River of Canoes, because he had to procure eanoes to eross it. The San Jacinto einpties into Galveston bay, after forming a junetion with Buffalo Bayou. The Brazos has been as- eended in boats 600 miles, to the falls near Marlin. The Spaniards are said to have given the name Colorado to the Brazos, but by some means the names were interchanged. The San Bernard and Caney ereeks have been navigated, the first for about twenty miles and the latter about seventy. In 1847 a small steamboat, built above the obstruetions at the month of the Colorado river, ascended that stream to the falls above Anstin, 600 miles. The Indian name for this stream was Pashohono, and tradition has it that a party of Spanish explorers, after nearly famishing for water, suddenly came upon this river and reverently kneeling called it Brazos de Dios -" Arm of God." The Navidad and its confluent is navigable thirty miles, to Texana, and the Gnadahipe has been navigated seventy iniles, to Victoria. Its principal western brunch is the San Antonio, which is some- times ealled the Medina. The Nueces river is navigable for small vessels up to the vi- einity of San Patricio. The Rio Grande, 80 prominent in the annals of Texas and her struggles with Mexico, and forming the boundary between the two, is navigable for 500 miles, to Comargo. The stream bears three names. At Santa Fe it is ealled Rio del Norte; at Reinosa it is the Rio Bravo.
ELEVATIONS.
The elevations in Texas shown on the old maps, at a time when guessing as to what the character of a country, was, what the map- maker never had seen, were largely the result of imagination or from highly-colored descrip- tions given by persons who had seen these " mountains " from a long distance. While some of them are mountains, as stated previ- onsly, yet if they were in a mountainous re- gion they would be called hills. The early maps had the Tehnacana mountains in Lime- stone county; Colorado mountains, above Austin; Guadalupe mountains in Kerr county ; Pack Saddle and other peaks in Llano county. Later maps have Double mnouutain at the northwest corner of Jones county; White Sand Hills in Tom Green county; Chenate, and other peaks in Presidio county; and Eagle mountains in El Paso county. One of the highest points in the State, the top of one of the spurs of what is called the Guadalupe range, is 5,000 feet above the sea level, but it must not be understood that these spurs are anywhere near that figure from their bases. They are very modest and do not hold their heads very high. Red river, at the month of the Big Wichita, has an elevation of about 900 feet; San Antonio, 600; Austin, 600; Castroville, 767; Fort Duncan, 800; Fort Lincoln, 900; Fort Inge, 845; Fort Clark, 1,000; Round Rock, 1,145; Fort Chadburn, 2,120; Phantom Ilill, 2,300; Fredericksburg, 1,500; Valley of the Pecos, 2,350; Jacksboro, 2,000; El Paso, 3,750; highest point on the San Antonio and El Paso road, 5,765; Llano
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EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Estacado, about 2,400; Fort North, 629; Dallas, 481.
MINERALS.
Minerals, especially copper, exist in large quantities, said to be inexhaustible in several counties of the State, especially in Archier, Wichita, Clay, Haskell, territory of Bexar, and counties of Pecos and Presidio. Immense hills of copper, extending to the Rio Grande in the district indicated, are known to exist, some of the ore yielding 55.44 per cent. of pure metal. Tests have even shown a higher percentage than the figures given. The ore contains, also, some silver and one oxide of iron. Manganese, cobalt, nickel, lead, and silver are also found. Lead and silver are always associated together in the deposits in Texas. A sample of the combination from a vein in Llano county gave 286 ounces of silver and 74.45 per cent. lead. There are shafts in the section mentioned that were un- doubtedly worked by theSpaniards, as at fifty
feet from the surface drill and chisel marks were found. The most remarkable deposits of iron exist in northwestern Texas, consid- ered by experts to fully equal in extent and ricliness the deposits of Sweden, Missouri, New York and New Jersey. They comprise almost every variety, exhibiting magnetic, specular, spathic and hematite ores. Loose masses of ore lie scattered over the surface of the ground in Llano, Mason and other more western counties. Analysis has given 96.890 per cent. of peroxide of iron, with 2.818 per cent. of insoluble silicious substances, prov- ing it to be a magnetic oxide, which will yield 74.93 pounds of metallic iron to 100 pounds of ore. Coal, not only bituminous, and of the class of the best western grades, but anthracite equaling the best Pennsylvania, is found, whilst deposits of asphaltum, gyp- sum and guano are abundant. Many salt springs are also found, as well as springs . impregnated with petroleum.
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EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
EARLY EXPEDITIONS.
HERE is little doubt that the Spanish claim to Mexico, when taking into eon- sideration all the facts, was a just and equitableone, at least over the claims of France. Spanish explorers from the Mexican territory proper had traversed Texas as early as the latter part of the sixteenth century and the be- ginning of the seventeenth. Being in Texas, they, according to the usages then in vogue, no doubt took formal possession in the name of their sovereign, or, not considering it a separate territory, waived the ceremony, looking npon it as a matter of course that it belonged to the Spanish erown. But, not- withstanding these facts, historians usually begin the history of Texas with the landing of La Salle on its soil in 1685.
After crossing from the lakes and de- scending the Mississippi river, and having planted the standard of France at its mouth, La Salle returned to France to obtain means and men to plant a colony at the month of the great stream in order that a new route be opened for commerce between France and her Canadian colonies. The "grand monarch" granted all that his loyal and enterprising subjects desired. . Louis XIV gave him a commission to establish colonies and placed at his command four finely equipped vessels: the Joil, a frigate of thirty-six guns; the Belle, carrying six guns, a personal present from the king to La Salle; the Amiable, a ship of some 200 tons' burden; and a small
vessel, the St. Francis, a supply boat. A naval officer of distinction, Beaujean, who was in the command of the frigate, also was in command as sailing master of all the vessels, but under the direction of La Salle, except as to the navigation of the fleet, IIn- til they should arrive in America. Seven missionaries, 100 soldiers, thirty volunteers, together with mechanics, girls, ete., accomn- panied the expedition, in all about 300 sonls, among whom were two nephews of La Salle.
The expedition started from Rochelle, but during the voyage, a long and tedious one, disputes arose between La Salle and his naval commander: The Spaniards captured the St. Francis.
On December 26, land was discovered, which was supposed to be the coast of Flor- ida. They were mistaken and driven far to the westward by winds. A landing was final- ly made near Corpus Christi early in Jan- mary, 1685, says Joutel, the historian of the party. They finally reached their destina- tion after many hardships and the loss of the Amiable; and to still add to their sad condition they got into trouble with the Indians, who killed two of their principal men, Ory and Des Loges, besides which the naval com- mander got angry with La Salle and sailed away to France with one of the two remain- ing vessels, taking the crew and a consider-
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EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
able portion of the ammunition and supplies. La Salle was still anxious to get to the Mis- sissippi river. . Leaving Jontel in charge of the littlo fort which had been erected, the great explorer started on a hunt for the mighty current. Ile passed too far to the westward, having reached the Brazos; so he returned to the fort. Ile had ordered a faithful friend in Canada, De Tonti, to de- scend the Mississippi until he reach the mouth of the Arkansas, where he was to erect a fort and gather supplies for the colony he was to bring to America. He started to discover the point where he believed De Touti would be, but disaster again met La Salle, and he once more returned to his base of operations. Ile had started with twenty men, and only eight remained of that number. At the fort he found the numbers so decreased that he bad only thirty-four persons left to him out of the original 300. With seventeen com- panions, on January 12, 1687, La Salle started for the northwest, taking with him Joutel and leaving the fort in charge of Sienr Barber, who had married one of the maidens brought out from France. This expedition was fatal to La Salle, as not only his nephew, Moragnet, and two of his most faithful men were slain by five discontents of his party, but the distinguished explorer also lost his life at the hands of Duhant, who in turn was shot by Heins. Jontel succeeded to the command, and pursning their journey across Red river they were gratified on reaching the month of the Arkansas river, to see the French flag floating over the fort erected by the loyal De Tonti. As soon as this expedi-
tion into Texas became known in Mexico measures were taken to dislodge the French, and the Count of Monclova, who became viceroy in November, 1686, made this dis- lodgment one of the first acts of his adminis- tration. A military post was established in the interior, and Captain De Leon inade governor of Coahuila. The governor from his post sent out a party to oust the French from their post on the Lavacca river. This Spanish captain or governor was a very hu- inane man. He recovered, not to say cap- . tured, a few of the followers of La Salle and kindly sent them back to their own country. Also learning of the brutal murder of La Salle, Captain De Leon sought ont two of the conspirators, who were among the In- dians, and after a trial sent them to the mines for life. He founded the mission of San Juan Bautista, on the Rio Grande, at Pre- sidio. De Leon was succeeded in 1691 by Domingo Teran, who became much interested in Texas, and penetrated the country as far as the Red river. In 1712 Louis XIV of France granted to Authony Orozat, a mer- chant of the Louisiana country, and a trading expedition was sent out to the Rio Grande by him. In 1718 war was declared between France and Spain, and in 1719 St. Denis and La Harpe, two French captains, collected a small force and invaded Texas, but they were repulsed by the Spaniards. Don Martin D'Alarconne, at that time having become governor of Texas, backed by a considerable force, proceeded to dislodge the few remain- ing French who had not left the country. La Harpe, in fact, had not left, but had taken
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EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
refuge with some friendly Indians. As show- ing the courtesy existing between military commanders of that day the following cor- respondence is given:
Monsieur: I am very sensible of the politeness that M. De Bienville and yourself had the goodness to show to me. The or- ders that I have received from the King, my master, are to maintain a good understanding with the French of Louisiana. My own in- clinations lead me to afford them all equally the services that depend upon me.
But I am compelled to say that your ar- rival at the Nassonite village surprises me much. Your governor could not be ignorant that the post you occupy belongs to my government, and that all the lands west of the Nassonites depend upon New Mexico. I counsel you to advise M. De Bienville of this, or you will force me to oblige you to abandon lands that the French have no right to occupy.
I have the honor to be, etc.,
D'ALARCONNE. Trinity River, May 20, 1719.
To this polite epistle the French com- under replied:
Monsieur: The order from his Catholic Majesty to maintain a good understanding with the French of Louisiana, and the kind intentions you have yourself expressed toward them, accord but little with your proceed- ings. Permit me to inform you that M. De Bienville is perfectly informed as to the limits of his government, and is very certain that the post of the Nassonites depends not upon the dominions of his Catholic Majesty.
He knows also that the province of Las Tekas (Texas), of which you say you are governor, is a part of Louisiana. M. De La Salle took possession in 1685, in the name of his Most Christian Majesty; and since then possession has been renewed from time to time.
Respecting the post of the Nassonites, I cannot comprehend by what right you pre- tend that it forms a part of New Mexico. I beg leave to represent to you that Don Anto- nio de Miner, who discovered New Mexico in' 1683, never penetrated east of the province, or the Rio Bravo. It was the French who first made alliance with the savage tribes in this region; and it is natural to conclude that a river that flows into the Mississippi, and the land it waters, belong to the King, my mas- ter. If you will do me the pleasure to come into this quarter, I will convince you that I hold a post that I know how to defend.
I have the honor to be, etc. DE LA HARPE.
Nassonite, July 8, 1719.
Immediate hostilities between these two Chesterfieldian commanders seemed certainly imminent, but, fortunately for the French, D'Alarconne, not being reinforced, as he had requested and had been promised, resigned his position and returned to Mexico, thus leaving the French undisturbed in East Texas.
About the same time another French force came to Texas, under M. Belisle, who formed an alliance with some of the inore civilized tribes, but after a feeble effort to maintain a settlement the project of colonization was
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EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
abandoned, and with the failure also fell all claim of the French on Texas.
CESSIONS.
In 1768 France transferred her Louisiana possessions to Spain, but in 1800 Spain gave it back to France, being induced to this conrse through European complications. In 1803 the Emperor Bonaparte sold Louisiana to the United States. Disputes then arose as to the ownership of a portion of Texas, and the claim was based upon the former occu- pancy by La Salle.
During the discussion of these matters a more serious one was hatching. The numer- ous and powerful tribe of Natchez Indians, and a number of other " hostiles," as we call them now, formed a league for the purpose of exterminating or driving from the country the French in Louisiana and the Spaniards in Texas. The plans of these red warriors were well laid, and numbers were not lacking to carry out their designs; for the Natchez, the Comanches and Apaches could put into the field possibly as many as 40,000 braves. Fortunatoly, the French commander, St. Denis, had been informed by some of his friends among the Indians of the plot, where- upon he took a force and entered the Natchez country and administered such a telling chastisement to that tribe that it put them out of the notion of going to war at that period. At San Antonio, also, there were troubles with the Indians, but Governor Bustillos organized an expedition and settled the redskins for the time being.
MISSIONS.
From the time of the occupation of Texas by the Spaniards till 1820, a number of " missions " (Catholic) were established. The first one was founded in 1690, by Alonzo De Leon, on the Rio Grande, the first mass be- ing celebrated May 25 that year. These missions were conducted by monks of the order of St. Francis. Desirable locations were always selected when obtainable. Large tracts of land were donated to the Fathers in charge, and as soon as practicable substantial stone buildings were erected. A chapel for worship was first built, and generally so con- structed that it could be used as a fortress in case of an attack. As large a space as con- venient surrounding the building was inclosed by a heavy stone wall. Buildings for the accommodation of the priests, soldiers and domestics were also erected. The most im- portant, as well as the most famous of these missions, is the Alamo. The name and loca- tion of this ever-to-be-remembered mission changed several times from its first establish- ment. There was a time when the name of " Alamo" involuntarily sent the hand of every patriotic Texan to his pistol belt or the handle of his bowie. The mission was com- menced in 1700, on the Rio Grande, under the name of San Francisco Solano; in 1703 it was removed to a place called San Ilde- phonso; in 1710 it was moved back to the Rio Grande; about the year 1716 or 1717 it was removed to San Antonio, under the name of San Antonio de Valero; in 1732 it was re- moved to the military plaza in the city, and in 1744 transferred across the river to its
..
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EARLY HISTORY OF TEXAS.
present location, taking the name of Alamo, -Poplar Church. The corner-stone of the building was laid May 8, 1744, and a slab in the front wall has the date 1757. In 1793 it ceased to be used as a parish church.
COLONIZATION.
An attempt was made by the Mexican government during the administration of Marquis de Casa Fuerta as viceroy, to intro- duce colonies into Texas. The official named had visited this portion of the dominions of the Spanish crown, and was very favorably impressed with the country. IIe induced the king to defray the expense of bringing fami- lies from abroad, and it is said that about $70,000 was expended in bringing from the Canary Islands sixteen families. The new settlement was on the San Antonio river, and the village named San Fernandez. The Fran- ciscan fathers were also working to make citizens ont of the Indians, but it was a terri- bly np-hill task. The red Indian was then just what he is now,-an Indian, and nothing more or less, as he possibly always has been and always will be. At one of the principal missions, San Saba, after the kind and con- siderate treatment given them by the fathers, the Apaches rose up one day and butchered every one at the mission, not even sparing a servant, either man or woman.
At the beginning of the present century, after a lapse of over a century, very few mis- sions had any population to speak of, and Texas was comparatively an uninhabited wilderness. San Antonio contained a popula- tion of about 3,000, and the only commerce
was mostly carried on by buccaneers. There were possibly 140,000 cattle and horses. Very few Americans had then come into the country. Philip Nolan, an Irishman, in 1797 entered Texas for the purpose of procuring a supply of cavalry horses for the army of General Wilkinson, then in Mississippi Ter- ritory, with the consent of the Spanish anthorities; and having a letter from Baron Carondelet, Governor of Louisiana, he had no difficulty in procuring what he desired. He (Nolan) drew an accurate map of the country through which he had passed, and took notes and observations generally.
SKIRMISHLES.
Again visiting Texas, ostensibly for the same purpose as previously, he was suspected of plotting against the interests of Spain, and was finally forbidden to enter the prov- ince. IIe managed to elude the vigilance of the Mexicans and made his way into the country as far as the Tehuacana hills in what is now Limestone county. Here, with four- teen Americans, five Spaniards and a negro, he took a position and built a blockhouse, in- tending to capture mustangs. Ilo was pur- sued by Musquis, the commander at Nacog- doches, who, with sixty-eight regular sol- diers and thirty-two volunteers attacked the blockhouse with a small cannon, killing Nolan on the first discharge. The fight was kept up by the rest of Nolan's band, under Bean, for several hours, and they finally sur- rendered under promise of being sent to the United States. The promise was broken, however, as they were put in irons and sent
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