USA > Texas > Early pioneer days in Texas > Part 5
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
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
68
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
and gratitude to their host for the royal style of entertainment which they never forgot to their dying day. Father said that was the first time in his life he ever ate buffalo, bear and venison cooked in royal Indian style; and they, being very hungry, surely did justice to the occasion. After a hearty meal Big Chief Shawnee Bill pointed to one of his brave warriors, who brought a large rock pipe with cane stem, filled with some of their kind of smoking herbs, each one taking a whiff and passing it on around until Indian warriors and whites had all smoked, which was a sure and in- variable token of peace and friendship; "white man no smoke with big, brave Indian, big Indian heap kill him." Covenants and agreement con- tracts were then entered into between redskins and whites; "white man help Shawnee, Shawnee help white man follow, fight and whip wild Indians and bring back horses, cattle or hogs when they had stolen same from Shawnee or white man." They ever proved faithful and true to said treaty contract, for often when father or boys had horses, cattle or hogs stolen by wild tribes, by letting Shawnee Bill and warriors know, they came at once and proceeded on the trail, even by starlight, when the white man could only follow same slow- ly. After coming upon the wild tribe with stolen stock a desperate battle ensued, generally result- ing in Shawnee and white man getting their stock back; but sometimes the wild tribe was too nu- merous, going their way with the captured, stolen prize. Father said to Big Chief Shawnee Bill one day: "Bill, why is it that Indian takes white men's, women's and children's scalps ?" Bill shook
69
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
his head, saying: "Me no tell brave white man; come so many moons," telling father the exact time and he would show him why they take scalps. So when the time came, father with his picked, brave fighters, was on hand. Shawnee Bill, after welcoming him and the picked fighters, chose some of his bravest warriors and they at once proceeded on their perilous expedition. Coming to a deep ravine, having an immense tangle of grass, weeds, vines and briars, they could only progress slowly afoot. Soon they heard an indescribable yelling and weird Indian songs, which proved to be a wild Indian war whoop dance around white men, wom- en and children scalps, which was their custom certain times each moon. Their music consisted of beating on dried buffalo and beef hides, and every time they came to a certain Indian warrior as they were dancing, screaming, yelling and jumping high, around and around, they would hold their hands enchantingly over his head, constant- ly going through weird ceremonies. Father whis- pered, "Bill, why do they practice such strange maneuvers over the head of a certain Indian all the time ?" "We are now where I show you why they take white men, women and children's scalps ; he having most scalps on his belt will be their big chief next moon. They do not take their word for how many they have killed and scalped, but having the scalps they know for sure and reward accordingly."
Winding their way cautiously to keep from be- ing discovered by their enemies, they finally ar- rived safely and sound in camp, feeling a great
70
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
deal safer and wiser men. After two weeks' pros- pecting tour, exploring the beautiful country, they returned to Uncle Jesse Shelton's and found them all well, safe and sound and enjoying life. The half has never been told of the magnificent scenery that extended far out in panoramic view on every side, as the early heroes, pioneers, first settlers of our Texas homeland, journeyed day by day. Neither will the half ever be told of their many privations, inconveniences, hardships and dangers endured by our pioneer fathers and mothers in blazing out and opening up the way for all that follow until time shall be no more. We should ever reverence their memory and duly appreciate our opportunities, privileges and circumstances.
For many years before the war between the North and South father was government contrac- tor, driving beef cattle through on the range to Omaha, Nebraska, and many other noted points, and distributed a great deal of money throughout this country among cattle raisers, for he always bought up a great many and drove them through with his own, being gone on said trips for months from home, never sleeping in a house. He was really inured to hardships and exposure; had a robust constitution, adapted to all kinds of rough and tumble life, under all conditions and surround- ing circumstances, adapting himself therto cheer- fully, courageously and perseveringly. But when the great Civil War was declared, he having great faith in the cause of the Confederacy to retain their slaves, which they had honestly bought with their own hard-earned money, he exchanged many
71
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
thousands of dollars for Confederate bonds, which, of course, was a clear loss, as ours proved a lost cause. Many years before the war father paid four thousand ($4,000.00) dollars in gold for ne- groes at the noted Jason Petigrew sale, which proved a loss, as they were all freed a few years after his purchase; he also lost eight hundred dol- lars in gold stock in the first charter grant to a railroad to extend from Memphis, Tennessee, to El Paso, Texas, thence on to the Pacific, which, of course, forfeited its charter as a road could not be built on account of the Civil War. Of course, he always believed, as do I, that the present T. & P. Railroad is the same with the charter renewed and extended.
Father enlisted in the war at the outset and served as first lieutenant in Captain A. J. Nichol- son's company, Colonel Young's regiment, 11th Texas. He served faithfully and true to the cause he honestly believed to be just and right in many a hard-fought battle, through prolonged dangers, sickness and hardships incident to a heroic, patri- otic soldier's life. He received a furlough at Cor- inth, Mississippi, on account of a breakdown in health. A short time after his arrival home the war was declared ended. Our cause lost, leaving an almost wrecked and ruined Southland, but our brave patriotic boys, who were fortunate enough to get through that bloody destructive war, at once on their arrival home set about rebuilding our country and shattered fortunes.
Mother died the first year of the war. Two thousand head of cattle dwindled down to four
72
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
hundred head and over sixty head of horses to twenty ; four hundred head of hogs to forty, and one hundred head of sheep to fifteen, and as father had sold the most of his once-possessed thousands of acres from 25 cents up to $1.00 per acre, our personal effects and real estate had nearly all passed away like a dream, a shadow or a vapor. Truly, we are made to exclaim, "vanity, vanity, all is vanity," and perish with their using and it cut down like the flower and the grass and man
goeth to his long home from whence no traveler ever returneth, and the mourners goeth about the streets; but such is life, we are in the midst of death, subject alike to joys, cares, bereavements, sin, sickness, temptation, misfortunes and sor- rows; but with renewed faith, hope, fortitude and courage we look up, pressing upward and onward, ever realizing that to each dark cloud there is a silver lining, and that beyond the clouds the bright, golden, brilliant sun is gloriously and vigor- ously shining, reminding us that we shall meet again to part no more, where God's love and spirit is ever shining.
73
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
CHAPTER VI.
JOHN TAYLOR ALLEN.
The author and compiler of this book was born October 29th, 1840, at the homestead of his father, which was located six miles northwest of Honey Grove, in Fannin County, and on which homestead his father settled in 1838. School advantages in his boyhood were limited, and he grew up in a part of the world where there was not much ac- tivity. Being extremely sensitive as a youth, and conscious of his lack of education, he indulged in such education as close application and study of books and papers within his ability and grasp af- forded. Occasionally it was his privilege to attend the old hewed log school house, Allen's chapel, with its adobe chimney made of dirt and sticks, where he sat on seats made of logs split in the middle and in which large auger holes were bored for legs. There were no backs to the seats, and it was here that the major part of his early educa- tion was obtained, augmented at night by brush or tallow candle light in so far as he was able to get the opportunity from the demands on him for work about the home. It was not an easy matter then, nor were opportunities for information as easy to obtain what is now every child's privilege to get an education, but he had a thirst for knowl- edge and applied himself energetically, persever- ingly to the task before him, and made advance- ment as rapidly as he possibly could under the cir- cumstances. His father and mother encouraged
.
74
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
him in his ambitions all they could and bought him such useful and helpful books as they were able to get. Mr. Allen did not get much chance to study ancient lore or the dead languages, but his
JOHN TAYLOR ALLEN
words are the words of a living language, and he learned this living language under strenuous con- ditions ; conditions that tested the metal of a man, and by the results of the energies and industry of these men, made possible the freedom of speech and homes of happy families that we now enjoy.
75
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
Mr. Allen was not a book worm, even though he devoted so much of his time to study and took delight in sports and hunting. The abundance of game abounding about him gave excellent oppor- tunities for his love of the chase after wild horses and deer. When but a mere child he was sent on errands, for he could ride a horse at an early age. It was a part of his duties as a lad to go to mill, the first one built by Uncle Dad Johnson, an ox mill in 1857; Mr. J. M. Williamson was then the mill hand. The home of his boyhood was a hewed log cabin of the primitive kind, among the first built in Fannin County. It's hard to realize it now, but there were no conveniences; the lights were made by candles or pine knots, the fireplaces and chimneys were not built of handsome fire- brick and tile, but folks in those days were happy with hearths of timber and chimneys made of mud and held together with sticks, covering up the cracks and openings with plaster made of clay and pieces of wood pinned on with wooden pegs and heavy weight poles held the boards of the roof in place. The windows and doors were made of clap- boards and floors were made with boards sawed out by hand with a whip saw; in most cases there were puncheon floors in the homes. They did not rest their heads in downy pillows, nor their bodies on feather beds, nor were there cosy rockers and sofas as we have them now. They had to get along with chairs and stools and benches made of rough lumber and rawhide strips; beds were made by placing one side of the bed on the logs in the wall and a round hole with upright posts set in auger holes on the other side, and laced with rawhide
76
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
strips to make the place where could lay buffalo hides and straw to lie upon. But they slept as well and enjoyed their slumber as much and dreamt sweet, happy dreams of contentment as on any bed of luxury we now enjoy. The bedding and covers were all home-made, home-spun and corded and woven blankets, quilts and bed ticking was all made by industrious hands in their own homes. There were no gas stoves then either, not even the good old family range that the cooks today make such appetizing dishes on. In those days the cooks had to get along with a frying pan or skillet and coffee pots, and it was some time be- fore they could make suitable ovens to bake in, but the roasts of beef, pork, venison, bear and buffalo meat, not to overlook the fat turkey, quail and prairie chicken don't taste so good, nor do the fried squirrel and fish taste so good as they did when the youthful days of the pioneers were roughing it.
Twice a year the sheep were sheared and then the folks would sit up late at night picking out the burrs and trash from the wool, then wash and card it and spin and weave it into cloth, from which clothing and bedding was made. The moth- er of the family, assisted by the negro servants, did this work, and it was good and durable, all wool and no shoddy entered into the manufacture in those days.
They tanned the hides of the cattle at the far- rier, Medlin and Green's red oak bark ooze tan yard. The upper and sole leather was used to make shoes, bridles and harness. The author of this book and his father, mother and brothers
77
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
used to sit about the fireplace cobbling shoes and making straps and halters and other things, at the same time rehearsing experiences and adven- tures that they had gone through during their hunting expeditions.
The table was always well provided with game of all kinds, and the delicious breakfasts that was spread before the family when they arose in the early morning hours with nice hot biscuits and fine wild honey in abundance to spread upon them. As many as a dozen bee trees were known to the author of this book, and what delight it was to cut these trees and extract the honey to spread on good buttered bread. Honey was very plentiful and was available the whole year round, ready for every festive or family need.
There was plenty of rich, nutritious grass for the stock, and they kept fat and fine in summer and spring, and in winter they would be so fat that a tub of tallow was taken from a beef and it was not unusual, either.
The cane breaks in the bottoms grew about as . high and thick as a jungle, and it was impossible to detect thirty feet away, when the cane was shaking, whether the cause of the shaking was an Indian, an animal or a man, and white men used to have their guns cocked and ready for any emergency, prepared to triumph over whatever adversary may come out upon them. Hogs kept fat the year round on the wild grass most and needed no other feed; even the horses and riding stock were turned loose or lariated, and were strengthened and satisfied with the food that nature provided. The stock was turned loose with
78
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
a bell on the leader to roam at will over night, and in the morning would be rounded up, harnessed, and put to work till 11. Then about 1 or 2 o'clock would resume the work of the day, preparing the ground or harvesting the crop that made possible the development of our farms of today.
The beautiful wild flowers with their exquisite fragrance gave such a pleasant sense of admira- tion-emblematic of cheerfulness, peace and good will. May they ever be lavishly strewn along our path and may we rightly appreciate them for their angelic message to us as we hasten on our journey to the Great Beyond, where our loved ones and friends are waiting at the beautiful gate to wel- come us to our eternal home, where the trees of life are ever blooming and where the river of life flows freely, giving healing and joy and delight wherever it goes. Where the sun never sets, nor the leaves never fade, in that beautiful city whose pavements are of gold. Where no night, no sick- ness or distress can exist, but where peace, hap- · piness, love and joy abound. No wilted boquets there, but beautiful blooms, fair and pure.
Close to the flower is the honey bee, and no words can portray fittingly the ever-industrious bee. It flits from flower to flower, sips here a little and there a little, taking a little of the sweet from one and a little from another until it has succeeded in gathering its winter's store. What a lesson it gives to us all in patient industry, in economy, in persistency.
As we judge the future by the past, and since coming events cast their shadows before them, and realizing that from the sweat of our face must
79
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
we eat bread, let us apply ourselves to industry and labor, for labor will promote health and give us a long and happy life. It is too true that idle- ness is the devil's workshop and no one is wise who spends the hours with idle hands. If we would be contented and happy, let us be obedient to the call of Him who has honored labor and work.
It was during the first year of the war-1861- that the author, on the 15th day of April, was called on to witness his mother's deathbed; no, not her deathbed, it was her transitory bed. There is no death; what seems so is transition. She talked freely of her readiness to go to God in peace; not a cloud intervened between her God and the home He had prepared for her. Her only sorrow was to leave her little children, four of the seven were quite small, in this world so full of trials, temptations and pitfalls. She knew well the tendency and proness to err of the unguided mind and the ease with which temptation carries off the unwary, but her confidence in God was so great she committed them all to His keeping, pray- ing that He would prove a father to her orphans and finally bring them to himself. She fell sweet- ly asleep in Jesus; she had found the pearl of great price and entered into that glorious rest pre- pared and waiting for the children of God.
The author is now living in the house in which he was born, which is a frame building, built in the year 1846, the framing of which was sawed out with a whip-saw. My three oldest brothers were born in the old pioneer log cabinet built in the year 1837.
80
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
The others have gone, too, now, and father's words: "Taylor, my son, you can be useful; do away with enmity. I have no enmity in my heart against anyone," and after singing "Home, sweet home, my long-sought home," he passed over the river to be with Him who liveth and abideth for- ever. We cannot measure these ceaseless cycles of eternity; 'twould be easier to count the grains of sand carried by a bird to the outermost planet one at a time, but we can rejoice that God has so loved us as to prepare for us a home there where there is no limit to life. My father came to Texas from Tennessee in the spring of 1836. He was born August 1st, 1816, in Edgefield District, South Carolina. He went to Tennessee when he was just a mere lad of eight. When he was older he heard of the efforts of Texas to rid themselves of Span- ish yolk, and being of a patriotic turn of mind, cast his lot with the Lone Star State in company with Dr. Boyce and Everitt Harris. He expected to enlist with Sam Houston, but when he got here he found peace had been declared and Texas had gained her independence. He located on a 640- acre grant, which he proved up, and accumulated several thousand acres more; married Martha P. Nicholson in 1839, from which union nine children were born; three of them still live, myself and two sisters, one of whom lives at Crowell, Texas, who married Mr. Bart Fox; the other at Newport, Oklahoma.
The camp meetings we used to have in the brush arbor at the end of Allen's chapel-a hewed log church and school house-linger with me in de- lightful memories with scenes of joy and thanks-
81
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
giving. How the arbor used to ring with. rever- berating sounds of shouts and songs, echo answer- ing echo, till the mighty sound of voices seem to cover all the regions round about. The people used to congregate from twenty to thirty miles away, coming in their ox wagons and on horseback and some afoot, to hear the welcome tidings of good cheer. Everyone was sociable and dressed in their home-spun garments in delightful simplicity and rustic honesty. The meetings would continue for . weeks at a time and lasted till midnight usually. Many a soul found peace and rest at these meet- ings, and most of them are answering roll call now in the presence of Him who made it possible for us to have eternal joy.
At these protracted meetings the fatted calf and beef were killed, and hogs, deer, bear and lib- eral feasts of plenty abounded, each vieing with each other to scatter liberally of their hospitality. No price was charged, no money asked; everybody was welcome to partake freely both of the feast of the gospel and the feast of the table of food. As many as forty or fifty have been present at my father and mother's home, where we spread buffalo robes and home-spun cloth over the ground, and there they slept and enjoyed their slumber and undisturbed peace in enjoying the luxuries of spiritual fulness and physical fulness as well.
J. T. Allen, the author of this book, and Miss Mary E. Hinch, were united in the holy bond of wedlock the 31st of March, in the year A. D. 1878. Unto this union were born seven children-four boys and three girls-all of whom are living except two-one son, Isaac Franklin, died November 8,
82
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
1885, aged 1 year 11 months 1 days, and one daughter, Docia B. Allen, died April 13, 1886, aged 5 months and 16 days. Sleep on, dear precious darlings, until the resurrection; oh, then, we shall meet again, never to part again. Three sons and two daughters are still living ; the oldest daughter, who married J. S. Graham, have one child, a daugh- ter, now nearly grown; they are living at Kiefer, Oklahoma. Also two married sons, M. L. and J. C., and their families are living at Kiefer, Okla- homa. Our youngest son, W. I. Allen, aged 17 years, still single, is living with us in the old home, a great help to his parents in their old, declining, afflicted years. One daughter, Bertha May, mar- ried Walter J. Shawhart, will soon be living at Kiefer, Oklahoma. They had one son and two daughters born unto them; one daughter died in infancy.
May all the boys and girls of Texas appreciate their opportunities, privileges and conveniences, and realize that it was through the daring and adventures of these heroic men and women that the way was made for peaceful happy homes for the children of today. To those who so faithfully and sincerely performed their duty too high a tribute of respect cannot be paid. To Him who loved us and gave us the pearl of great price, to Him be praise for the lavish bestowal of such mag- nificence as we now have. We are hastily and rapidly passing to the end of our journey here; soon the race will be over, and may we meet in the brighter, happier home and have a great and grand reunion of the early settlers with the hosts that have followed after.
83
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
CHAPTER VII.
LEM RAMSEY.
Lem Ramsey was born in old Virginia August 24, 1834. He remained in that country until he was eighteen and came with his father and family to Texas; they settled in Fannin County, near Al-
BETTIE RAMSEY LEMUEL RAMSEY
ien's Chapel. He professed religion in 1854 or '55 and joined the M. E. Church at Allen's Chapel on March 16, 1862; he married Bettie Saunders, of Grayson County, Texas; they were playmates and schoolmates when they were children in Virginia. Soon after they married he joined the Confederate army, Sixteenth Texas Cavalry, Captain Wood's company, made up at Sherman, Texas. He made a good soldier, was in many hard-fought battles; he went through many hardships of cold, sleet,
84
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
snow and rain; slept on the cold ground many nights with one blanket under and one over him · many times he was thinly clothed. Sometimes they would have to march for days and nights with but little to eat and hardly any sleep. Lem was taken prisoner in one battle and kept eleven days. The news came to his wife that he was killed, and she mourned his death during that time, but the eleventh day she received a letter written by him. You can only imagine the joy of that woman's heart when she got that letter. She felt like the dead was alive and the lost was found.
In 1865 the war closed and Lem came home, sound and well. Times were hard then, and there was hardly any money in the country. He had forty acres of land with a log cabin, it having just one room with stick and dirt chimney. He took a saw and drawing knife and a few nails and made three chairs and a bedstead; they borrowed a fry- ing pan, skillet and lid, with which they went to housekeeping in the little log cabin. I have heard them say they spent the happiest days of their lives in that cabin, as they were both strong and well and trying to live as Christians. They went to work and soon got a little start; in a few years they built a new house, and lived there until his father's and mother's deaths. Then he got posses- sion of his father's old home, where they lived the remainder of his life. During this time they raised ten children, six boys and four girls. Jen- nie married Tom Johnson; they live near Roxton, Lamar County ; have five children, all grown. Ella married Lige Cravens; she died, leaving two chil- dren, Overton and Edith, who were raised by
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.