USA > Texas > Early pioneer days in Texas > Part 8
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
126
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
nated in his home one night, and when his mur- derer was discovered and had confessed he was also hung.
It would be a good and sufficient cause for com- motion to go to church Sunday morning and find the men all armed with shotguns, expecting at any minute to be called on to use them in self-defense, and yet that is exactly what did happen in those days when we had our camp meetings. At one of these camp meetings, conducted by a Methodist minister by the name of Orr, where Roxton is now located, while the meeting was in progress, the Indians crawled up and stole the finest race horse in the community and rode him away, but the spirited animal, by some means, managed to escape from them and returned with a rope dangling from his neck.
One of the first physicians that located in the community was Dr. Mittower. He was a very able and efficient physician and practiced in a very large territory. The blessings to humanity, ad- ministered by his hands, have never been fully repaid, but many a patient suffering from the ills to which flesh is heir, bless the good doctor's name for his generous administration.
In those good old days the circuit preachers were a helpful gift to our needs. The Rev. J. W. P. Mc- Kenzie and the Rev. John Graham were our first circuit preachers, and they were obliged to take long and dangerous journeys to reach their sev- eral stations over lonely trails and across vast and untenanted prairies. Every once in a while there would be big camp meetings and a regular pente- costal awakening that would last for weeks and
.
127
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
many souls be converted. Rev. John Newton as- sisted at one of these meetings and frequently the meetings would last till after midnight in the brush arbors, and there would be stirring scenes of men and women giving their souls to God's keeping. Many of those who were born into the Kingdom of God are now answering the roll call on the other side of the river now.
For seventy years Capt. Shelton has been a member of the Methodist Church, having joined under Rev. Mckenzie when he was only eighteen years of age, and for sixty-five years he has been steward. The captain married Martha Elizabeth Yates, daughter of Thomas Yates and Avis Yates, who came to Texas in 1842. Capt. Shelton's wife died in May, 1911; they had lived happily for sixty-five years. She was a faithful wife and a devoted mother, blessed with all the good qualities of a Christian wife and mother.
For over fifty years he has been a Mason and was always actively engaged in the work of the order until his eyesight dimmed and his hearing was partially suspended. He was worshipful mas- ter of Roxton Lodge until disqualified because of his physical disabilities. In politics a staunch Democrat; served regular sessions and two called sessions in the State Legislature. Over half his life was devoted to the interests of the State and church, not because of political ambition, but to serve his people.
On the occasion of his dear wife's death, the following was dedicated by Rev. John D. Major, his pastor :
128
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
THE PARTING.
To Brother E. J. Shelton, of High, Texas, on the loss of his devoted wife, after sixty-five years of happy wedded life :
They stood beside the crossing as the evening shadows grew,
And he took her slender hand in his as was often wont to do; So she received his fond caress and felt it was her due,
The homage of a knightly soul, so loving, faith- ful, true.
They heard the oarsman coming to bear her life away,
Though she clung more closely to him at the clos- ing of the day;
While she whispered to him softly, in words of love complete,
We have walked so far together and the way has been so sweet.
I wouldn't mind the crossing if you could only go. I grieve to leave you, darling, in this cold world below.
He stooped and kissed her furrowed brow, now crowned with silver gray,
As they stood beside the crossing at the parting of the way.
129
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
He saw the bloom of maidenhood and the charm- ing bride so fair,
The lovely bloom of motherhood and the lines of mother's care ;
And as the tears bedimmed his eyes, the oarsman gently bore her away
To where love's sweetest flowers bloom in the fields of endless day.
By her pastor,
JOHN D. MAJOR.
Brookston, Texas.
ADVENTURES OF CAPT. SHELTON.
I and my brother were sitting on the porch when we heard the cattle bellowing, and on look- ing to find the cause of the noise, we found them chasing a bear across the prairie towards a creek. We had two rifles and a shot pouch, and each of us grabbed a rifle and went to intercept the bear. He ran across the creek into a grove and I started up a cow path by the creek. I saw the bear com- ing toward me. Being small at the time and young, I could not hold the rifle out in my hands, so I rested my gun on a tree and made a bad shot, but I hit him, though it was not a fatal wound. My brother, hearing the shot, came to me. The bear, in the meantime, ran after my dog. I took my brother's gun and gave chase after the bear, who had run towards a big thicket, but I headed him off. A tree had been blown down and I crawled up into it waiting for him. Pretty soon
130
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
he came, and looked as though he was coming to join me, so I decided there wasn't room enough for both of us, so I hurried to get out. Just then the bear turned to pass and I let him have the contents of the gun and it hit him in a vital spot. My brother came rushing in on the scene just then. I was already on the bear and yelled to brother not to shoot, that I had him and claimed the honor and credit of being a bear hunter. The bear was a big fellow and so old he was gray. My father was amused when I told him of my skill, and after he had examined the bear, praised me for having done so well. He said it was one of the largest he had ever seen and that I deserved credit for it.
At another time my wife's brother tackled a bear up in the snow. We tried to keep our dogs in the rear, but they took after the bear ahead of us. The bear went around in a circle and finally came back near where we were. My brother-in- law shot at him and missed; my shot hit him on the thigh and broke it; the two dogs came up and I advanced toward the bear, my gun in hand. The bear sprang away from the dogs at me. I thrust my gun in his face and he grabbed it with his mouth. I shoved the gun in his mouth so he couldn't bite me. He took a good hold of the gun and broke one of his teeth in his attempt to bite the barrel and jerked the gun out of my hand. The dogs were harassing him and they partially drew his attention from me. Finally he sprang from the dogs again and tried to get me with his claws and hug me with his huge paws, but I got behind a tree. He tried to get me behind the tree
131
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
and made several attempts to bite me, but I finally got my knife out, and as he tried to reach me on the one side I thrust my knife into his side and kept myself in readiness to fight him to a finish. I finally succeeded in landing a fatal blow and we had bear meat for food for several days.
On another occasion we had a Christmas frolic down on Sulphur. The evening before we had killed a small bear and the next morning there was a misty rain which made the cane very wet -our camp had been made in this cane-so wet that it threatened to spoil our powder. All of the others had the old flint lock-guns but myself and another of my comrades, and ours used percussion caps. We tried to keep our caps and powder dry by covering it with tallow. We hadn't started
very far when we discovered a large bear.
The
hunters and dogs gave chase to the bear except myself, but I, seeing a large cane break, felt sure he would try to make that, so went to head him off. As soon as I got to the place I expected he would go I found the bear and dogs came together and the dogs caught him close to where I was. There wasn't any chance to shoot him in a vital spot until he fell and rolled over with his head towards me, his mouth wide open. I fired into his mouth, but the ball did not go far enough back to kill him. In a short time he was up on his feet again, the dogs having hold of him. I dropped my gun, pulled out my knife, and stabbed him on the opposite side, knowing that if I stabbed him on the side next to me he would bite me. I had to cut him three times before I finally killed him,
132
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
and in one of the lunges I made he grabbed my arm and tore the cuff off my coat.
On still another occasion we found a bear in his den ; he had scraped up the leaves from all around and made himself a bed. As I looked in I saw him raise his head. I thought he was coming out, so I called to the rest of the party and the dogs. The dogs charged him, but they came back with a rush and we expected the bear to follow the dogs, but he didn't. It was so dark we could see him well, so when we fired at him we only wounded him. The dogs went in again, but came back in a hurry and one of the hunters took another shot at him. I crouched down so the light could come over my back, so I could see better, and as he crossed the light hole I fired and killed him. Hastily whipping out my knife, I trimmed a hickory pole, twisted the top and made a noose, which I fastened around the bear's foot by crawling in the hole, and the boys caught me by the heels and pulled me and the bear out. That was next to the last bear I killed, and the last one was not at all exciting.
I have personally helped to kill as many as six bears in a day and I could fill a book with my en- counters, but those days are over and the hard- fought battles with Indians and bears are over and all we can do is to live them over in memory. I still have my old bear knife, a reminder of the thrilling experiences of the days when our country was not so secure and peaceful as now. But it is gratifying to know that the security and peace we now possess is at the cost of the sacrifices and perseverance of the early pioneers.
133
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
CHAPTER XV.
C. C. YOAKUM.
This noble pioneer was born in Hardy County, West Virginia, near the Allegheny mountains, and
C. C. YOAKUM, Honey Grove, Texas
spent his youth in that interesting community, but cast his lot with Texas pioneers in 1839. He has a vigorous body and enjoyed life abundantly.
134
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
It was his duty to tend his father's stock, which he ranged in the excellent grass of the prairies so abundant as to reach the animals' sides. It was great sport to him to give chase to them as they were attempting to get away from control on fleet-footed horses racing as if they were racing for life. Fond as he was of the hunt, and being of a jovial nature, he had many friends among the young men who spent a great deal of time hunt- ing. A real royal time they had with their dogs and guns in pursuit endeavoring to keep up with the hounds and kill the wild game and carniverous animals. How he delighted to tell of the enjoy- ment he got out of the delightful mountain springs with their abundance of flowing, cool, clear water. How he used to enjoy the scenery of the moun- tains and tell of the view away out in the distance seemingly a hundred miles away, and with what awe he was inspired as he looked at the variety of colors in nature's paint shop among the trees and cliffs and mountains as peak stood up above peak, seemingly trying to outreach one another in the attempt to reach a higher plane and endeavor ap- parently to reach heaven and seemed to be trying to get in touch with the infinite. The mountain seems to be the place of God's revelation to men in all ages. He gave Moses the law on a tablet of stone in the mountain. Moses had his last view on earth at the promised land somewhere in the mountain. And in the mountains, where Moses was either translated or buried, Satan contended with the angel for his body.
In those Virginia mountains, where our subject spent his boyhood days, it was an ideal home to
135
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
him, but the temptations of the call of Texas brought him here in '49. He landed at Shreveport, at which place he bought an ox team, and came overland in a wagon and located at his old home place, six miles northwest of Honey Grove. This place he calls home-home, sweet home-the place he so much loved and labored so many years dur- ing his manhood days in improving and building.
C. C. Yoakum and his good wife. Mary, were very industrious, hard-working people and accum- ulated an independence with good property and a . good quantity of stock. They had two sons and two daughters, all of them now living-Bettie, the oldest, married Mr. Dock Gober, and after his death married Mr. Bud Stallings, and live at Eulia, Swisher County ; Ed., the oldest son, married Miss Lee Nicholson, and they live in the old Capt. Nicholson home; they have two children, a boy, Willie, and a daughter named Ethlyn. Miss Mollie Yoakum, the younger daughter of C. C. Yoakum, married P. B. Johnson, and have five sons-Henry, Mort, Carl, Ivan and Willie. Mr. Johnson is a pros- perous farmer, and his boys are equally indus- trious and are good business men. Mr. Mortimer Yoakum married Miss Laura Erwin, and they were parents of four boys and four grils. They live in the old homestead and are all doing well.
C. C. Yoakum died in 1909 and his wife preceded him in 1887. Their labors are over and have passed to the home prepared from before the foundation of the earth, for that is the promise to those who are redeemed of the Lord, and they were certainly good, Christian people.
136
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
CHAPTER XVI.
CAPT. W. UNDERWOOD.
Capt. W. Underwood, a retired merchant of Honey Grove, Texas, is a native of Sumner Coun- ty, Tennessee, where he was born February 17th, 1828. He is the son of Nathan and Judith (Mar- tin) Underwood. His father, who was a tailor by trade, was born in North Carolina and died in Wil- son County, Tennessee, in 1842. His mother was born in Robinson County, Tennessee, and died there in 186 -.
Capt. Underwood was the youngest of five chil- dren-all deceased except himself-the others being Minerva, Albert, John and Frank. Capt. Underwood settled in Texas in 1855 and was a clerk in the store of B. S. Walcott until the break- ing out of the war, in which he took an active part until the close. After the struggle was over he returned to Texas, engaged in business, and has been ever since until about 1900. He retired from active work, and since then has lived quietly in Honey Grove. In 1868 he was married to Miss Martha Bagby, of Clarksville, Texas, who died January 9th, 1915. They had two sons-John Arthur and Frank W. They have been associated with their father in business several years.
Capt. Underwood is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
137
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
CHAPTER XVII.
PIONEER JAMES BAKER.
Naturally I feel that great credit is due my father, who emigrated to this country in 1837 with his family, as being one of the first pioneer Texans. He certainly had all the hardships and dangers that went with that worthy title and was useful in his way toward the building of this great commonwealth. He was a civil engineer by occu- pation and often, while in the performance of his duties with my oldest brother, Thomas C. Baker, were surprised, while carrying the chains, by ap- proaching Indians, who harassed them in their work. He generally was able to make friends with the Indians, but it was trying on my mother, who looked upon the times and conditions as being times of peril. As I sit now, writing this little reminiscence of my life, I do not seem to be able to make my pen write the words that best express the conditions as they then existed. In fact, I do not think that pen is capable of depicting the hard- ships and dangers that attended the trials of the early pioneer.
I was born in 1838, and was only a child when my father was having the experiences which most try a men of metal, but I well remember the opin- ion of some of his comrades who lived neighbors to him for years. There was in old Red River and Lamar Counties old Uncle Sam Orton, Uncle Davy Lome, Mr. Harmon, Mr. Chisholm, old Father Mc- Kenzie, and many others who were lifelong friends
1
138
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
of my father. From my earliest recollections I remember Brother James Graham; he preached all over the country, not having a specified station, but going from place to place, wherever he could accomplish the most good. We did not have fine churches with upholstered pews and were content to hear the Word of God from the lips of those men who were willing to endure the storms and perils of the circuit to preach in hewed log cabins in which were placed hewed log benches for seats ; satisfied to hear the words of redeeming love re- vealed through Christ to a fallen world and enjoy- ing the consciousness of his fellowship.
In those days we were building from the bottom up, little by little, those stout old Democrats who laid the foundation which has stood the test of time and adversity as well as enjoyed the advan- tage of success.
My father was a Democrat, a soldier in the War of the Revolution, was in the Battle of New Orleans on the 8th of January, 1812, and served with my eldest brother in the Florida war. My two brothers, William and Robert, were also en- listed in the war with Mexico, and my brother Robert in the Civil War, so I feel as though we should be enrolled as pioneers, not only as home builders, but as home defenders as well.
My father went to glory in 1871, on Christmas day; he was then eighty-four years of age. He died at his home, six miles south of Bonham. He had been preceded by mother several years before, who passed to the world triumphant on the 21st of October, 1858.
A brighter and more perfect example of true
139
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
Christian character was never left as a legacy to children than was that of him who left the example of those I am writing of to the child who is pen- ning these lines. There were ten children born to my mother; six have gone on before and we four are remaining, awaiting the summons to the grand reunion, as I pray God we shall meet to- gether in glory around the Father's throne a united family.
These words are penned and these reminiscences recited by the youngest child of one of the noble pioneers, and may these men linger long in the memory of those who appreciate the worth of those who gave their lives for the good of our native land is the wish of
VIRGINIA C. SPENCE.
140
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
CHAPTER XVIII.
TRIBUTE AND EULOGY TO UNCLE JOHN JONES.
(By J. Taylor Allen.)
Honey Grove, Texas.
Words fail us to fully express our tribute of love and respect for our kind, good friend, J. W. Jones, Sr., with whom it was our happy, pleasant lot to be associated in my youthful boyhood days, herding horses on the luxuriant, nutritious grass and boarding with him in the long ago, when our memory with retrospective view, turns and lingers with those indescribable happy times. We can testify that surely Uncle John Jones complied with the edict of God in the beginning, "In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread all the days of thy life." For he labored diligently and contin- uous, and acquired a competency of the necessar- ies of this life. Though at times misfortune by fire bore heavily upon him, he persevered courage- ously, patiently and faithfully ever trusting in God, who comforted and sustained him, now in old age, longer than the usual time limit allotted to man. He is still with us. Oh, may God's richest bless- ings rest and abide with him, and may his last days be the most joyous, happy and peacable, and as the shadows of time grow less, oh, may he triumphantly realize that God is with him, and that his friends and loved ones are beckoning him home to the other shore, into the house of many mansions, where he shall ever be free from care,
141
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
sorrow and pain. And, oh, may the same hope and blessed assurance be with all the weary, care- worn pilgrims, our early settlers and pioneers, both mothers and fathers, is the sincere desire of the author and compiler of this book.
J. TAYLOR ALLEN.
NINETY AND ONE.
Monday of this week Honey Grove's oldest citi- zen passed another milestone in the grand march of life to eternity's shore. So far as our knowl- edge extends, J. W. Jones has had a longer stay on earth than any person within the bounds of what we term the Honey Grove country. The subject of this little sketch was born in North Bend, Ohio, March 18th, 1827, and is now entering his ninety-second year. The village in which Mr. Jones was born is now a part of the great city of Cincinnati.
It was in 1846 that Mr. Jones turned his face westward to make his home in a new and unde- veloped country. With his parents he journeyed down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers by boat to New Orleans, and thence up Red river to Shreve- port. From the latter place the family traveled by wagon to a point one mile north of the spot on which the present village of Selfs now stands. About five months intervened between the time of starting and the day the family, finally drove stakes on the spot which was to be their home. In 1857 Mr. Jones purchased 300 acres of land, which included the present location of Selfs, pay- ing 25 cents per acre therefor.
142
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
When the bugle call summoned the sons of the Southland to the defense of their country, Mr. Jones was one of the first to enlist, and he served until peace was declared in Settle's battalion, which did State guard duty. After the war he built a mill at Selfs, which for many years ground corn for all the people of this section.
Our country has had no more useful man than John W. Jones, and no country ever had a better man. This writer has known the man thirty-two years, lived under his hospitable roof for more than two years, and can say, in all sincerity, that John W. Jones is one of the grandest characters it has been his lot to know. Never did we hear him speak against any many, and never did we know him to say a foolish or an unkind word. One of the finest pictures we see is this fine old gentle- man passing his declining days so peacefully, so contentedly, so hopefully, and so happily. He at- tends church regularly, reads the news of the day with a deep interest, discusses issues with his neighbors, tells jokes, and enjoys life to the utter- most. He has well earned a rich reward in heaven, but the Lord he has served so well has granted unto him a rich foretaste of the glories of the world to come even while he tabernacles in the flesh.
143
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
CHAPTER XIX.
MRS. N. C. JONES.
I was born in Franklin County, Georgia, in 1838. My father, Armstad W. Ramsey, came to Texas in 1851 in a four-horse wagon, starting on the 6th of October and landing at T. R. Williams the week before Christmas. T. R. Williams lived about one mile above Bois d'Arc Springs and had a water mill there. The 4th of the next July we were all taken down sick. We moved out to the prairie in a log hut on Tolbert Myers' place, the place where Bettie Ramsey now lives, and from there we moved to a log hut on Wilson Allen's place. The next Jan- uary father died, and was the first one to be buried at Vineyard Grove. That old church was just be- ing built at that time. A Baptist preacher by the name of Brisco put up the house. While we lived on the Allen place we went to school at the chapel in an old log house. A man by the name of Stovall taught the school. That was the only school house within ten miles or more, and the ones that lived off a distance came on horseback, three on a horse. I don't know of but six who are living that went to school there. With us there are Peyton Wheel- er and his wife, Clem Wheeler, George Carpenter, my sister, Lucindy Johnson, and myself. Mother was ninety years old when she died. She raised six children and had never lost a child, all of whom were living when she died, but all of them are dead now excepting Philander Jones. My husband is eighty-two years old, the oldest of eight chil-
144
EARLY PIONEER DAYS IN TEXAS
dren, who are all dead but him. We never had but one child and he died last June in his fifty- ninth year. We are almost alone, having two grand children and four great-grandchildren. Had a sister die about a month ago, Mrs. M. E. Buie. When we came to Texas it was very thinly settled, just a log cabin now and. then, with one room to cook , eat and sleep in, and a puncheon floor with the roof nailed on with logs ; one door, the shutter made out of boards, and generally opened on the outside to save room. They were so low that there was but one log above the door for the door to shut against. We had no cook stoves, cooking on the fireplace, and had stick and dirt chimneys. If there was a plank house anywhere in this country I don't recollect it, or an oak plank or pine plank, as none had ever come this country then. There were lots of wild animals here. I came very near being eat up twice, once by a bear and once by a wildcat, but I was pretty swift on foot in them days and I outrun them. These bottoms were full of wild hogs at this time and they were sure bad ; the only way you had to get away from them was by climbing a tree or getting up on a high stump and staying there until they had left. But I tell you one did not enjoy waiting for them to leave very much. I forgot to mention old man McCart. He came to Texas in the fall of 1852. I think he came from Missouri. He came in an old wagon and settled just north of the Nicholson place, a short distance. I don't know whether any of them are living or not. And then there was old Jerry Word, Ely Prickett, Mark Dalton, Adam and Co- lumbus Yoakum, old man Lewis Stephens and
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.