USA > Texas > Tarrant County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Tarrant and Parker counties; containing a concise history of the state, with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named counties, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 14
USA > Texas > Parker County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Tarrant and Parker counties; containing a concise history of the state, with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named counties, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 14
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One James Gathings and " Slol " Nichol- son killed a negro man and woman in Bosque county, and fled, it was supposed, to Ilill county. Soon afterward, one morning before sunrise, Lieutenant Pritchett and two other officers and four negroes, under the special anthority of Governor Davis, went to the ro- sidence of Colonel J. J. Gathings in Ilill county, and demanded opportunity to search his house for " little Jim " Gathings. The colonel met them at the door and told them he was not thero. They insisted, and he
asked them for their anthority, and they said they had it. He demanded that it be shown him. They then replied that they had left it in Waco; and he then told them that they could not search his house except by force of arms. Two of the men then drew out their pistols and said that they intended to do that very thing. Next, Pritchett told the negroes to go in and search. Gathings then seized a shotgun and declared that he would shoot the first negro that came in: a white man could go in, said he, but no " nigger;" and he cursed them in the severest terms imagin- able. The search was made, but no boy found.
The officers and negroes then started toward Covington, a village near by. Gathings had them arrested before night, for searching his house without legal authority. They gave bonds for their appearance at court, but sent word that they were going to mob Gathings, and the citizens stood guard at his house for eight nights. The mob, however, did not appear; nor did they appear at court, although Gathings and his friends were on hand.
In the meantime Governor Davis issued writs for the arrest of Gathings and his friends, to be served by Sheriff Grace; bnt when the matter came up again the author- ities said they wanted ouly an amicable ad- justment, and proposed to release Gathings and his friends if he would pay the cost of the proceedings thus far, which amounted to nearly $3,000, and which was readily fur. nished. Afterward when Richard Coke was governor the State reimbursed Gathings.
During Davis' administration as governor, the State treasurer, Davidson, embezzled $50,000 or over and ran away, and was never caught, although Davis seemed to make all possible effort to capture him. The bonds- men were sued.
101
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
In November, as shown by the general election, the Democrat - came ont in full force and elected a full ret of State officers, a ma- jority of the State legislature, and the full Congressional delegation. At the same elec- tion Austin was chosen as the permanent seat of the State government, by a large major- ity. The new legislature met January 14, 1873, and the Democrats at one proceeded to repeal all obnoxious laws; the militia bill passed by the preceding legislature was so modified as to deprive the governor of the power to declare martial law; the objectionable State police force was disbanded, and material changes were effected in the election laws.
Now for a coup d'etat. The Democrats, after reforming the law, determined next to reform the personnel of the government, and this had to be done by stratagem. The gov- ernor was a stanch Republican, and the senate still contained a Republican majority. Seeing that a scheme of obstruction would imme- diately stop the wheels of the goverment, the Democrats voted no appropriations with which to carry on the government until they could have a new election. So, being confi- dent that at the polls they would be sus- tained, they boldly ordered a new election of State officers, members of the legislature, etc. Their party, of course, was triumphant, but, the election being unconstitutional, as de- cided by the supreme court, Davis officially annonneed the fact, and prohibited the new legislature from assembling. The new legis- lature met, however, in the upper story of the capitol, while the old Republican body met in the lower story, guarded by negroes. The immediate outlook appeared frightful. President Grant was appealed to, but refused to sustain Davis, and this was the cause of the moderation, which finally resulted favorably.
Richard Coke was elected governor, and !
Richard B. Hubbard lieutenant governor, they being elected by a majority of 50,000. On the 19th of January, Governor Davis vacated the executive chair without a formal surrender. This was an exceedingly narrow escape from bloodshed. In a public speech, in 1880, Davis referred to this affair, and said the Democrats seized the State govern- ment; but Governor Coke, in his message, referred to the matter in the following terms: " Forebodings of danger to, popular liberty and representative goverment caused the stontest and most patriotic among us to tremble for the result. A conspiracy, bolder and more wicked than that of Cataline against the liberties of Rome, had planned to over- throw of free government in Texas. The capitol and its purliens were held by armed men under command of the conspirators, and the treasury and department offices, with all the archives of the government, were in their possession. Your right to assemble in the . capitol as chosen representatives of the people was denied, and the will of the peo, le of Texas was scoffel at and detied * * * The president of the United States was being implored to send troops to aid in overthrow- ing the government of Texas, chosen by her people by a majority of 50,000. The local and municipal officers throughout the State, in sympathy with the infamous designs of these desperate and unscrupulous revolution- ists, taking courage from the boldness of the leaders at the capital, were refusing to deliver over to their lawfully elected successors the offices in their possession. A universal con- fliet of jurisdiction and authority, extending through all the departments of the govern- ment, embracing in its sweep all the territory and inhabitants of the State, and every ques- tion upon which legitimate government is called to act, was imminent and impending."
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
NEW CONSTITUTIONS AND THE ADMINISTRATIONS.
Now, in January, 1875, all the most irri- tating partisan questions being out of the way and the minds of the people in comparative rest, Governor Coke recommended the adop- tion of a new State constitution, as many clanses in the one then existing were cum- bersome or obstructive, and becoming more so with the advance of events. In his mes- sage to the legislature meeting that winter, which was a long document of ninety-two octavo pages, he recounts in detail all the emall necessities and desired improvements in the government, as well as the large ones, discussing' them at length. Among many other statements was one to the effect that Mexican marauders were doing more mischief on this side of the Rio Grande than they had done before for a number of years. Federal aid was asked for protection against them.
By an act of August 13, 1870, veterans of the revolution which separated Texas from Mexico, including the Mier prisoners, were to receive pensions. Comptroller Bledsoe, by mistake, extended the provisions of this law to persons not properly entitled to the benefit of it. At any rate this was the rea- son given by Governor Davis on the occasion of his vetoing two items of appropriation to pay claims of veterans. By this act the gov- ernor exposed himself to the attack of his Democratie enemies, who charged him with entertaining hostile feelings toward the vet- erans. By a. subsequent act of the legisla- ture, however, the list of pensioners was increased, and by the end of the year the gov- ernor became alarmed at the rapidly inereas- ing number of claims. He said that Darden and Coke, in the course of a year or so, issued $1,115,000 worth of bonds in pension. About
1,100 persons came up as " veterans " in struggles between Texas and Mexico. The law was soon repealed.
In March, 1875, another constitutional convention was provided for. August 2d the people cast 69,583 votes for the convention, electing delegates, and 30,549 against it. The convention assembled at Austin, Sep- tember 6, following, and completed its labors November 24. The new constitution was ratified by the popular vote February 17, 1876, when 136,606 votes were cast in its favor and 56,652 against it. On the same day a general election was held, when the regular Democratic State ticket prevailed. Coke was re-elected governor, by a majority of over 102,000 votes, over William Cham- bers, who received 47,719 votes.
In this new constitution the following are some of the more noticeable features: In the bill of rights the provisions of the constitu- tion of 1869, which declared secession a her- esy, and the constitution and laws of the United States the supreme law of the land, are omitted. Provision was made to increase the number of members of the house of rep- resentatives to 150, at the rate of one addi- tional member for each 15,000 inhabitants at each fresh apportionment. The number of senators was permanently fixed at thirty-one. The legislature was to meet every two years, the governor's term of office reduced to two years, and his salary from $5,000 to $4,000. The article of the old constitution respecting suffrage was so changed as to make no refer- ence to "race, color or former condition." Foreign immigration was discountenanced.
As soon as the legislature met, the gover- nor pointed out defects in the constitution, recommending amendments, especially with reference to the judicial system. The gov- ernor also stated, in his message to the legis-
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
lature, that while Indian tronbles were less, the Mexican border troubles continued un- abated.
Ou May 5, this year, Governor Coke was elected United States Senator, but continued to exercise the functions of executive until December 1, when he resigned, and Lieuten- ant Governor Hubbard succeeded to the of- tice.
During Governor Hubbard's administra- tion a serious trouble arose between Texan and Mexican citizens in El Paso county, which resulted in some bloodshed among the bad characters, and probably even among some of the good people. It originated in a personal quarrel between Charles HI. Iloward and Louis Cardis, concerning some salt de- posits. The United States military was called into requisition before the fracas was finally quelled.
Oran M. Roberts was governor of Texas during the years 1879-'80, during which period nothing very exciting ocenrred.
By this time it seems that the famons old Indian question was about out of the way. The reds were nearly all gone. The Co- manches and Kickapoos had proved to be the most troublesome, the former claiming the country as their own, while the latter pro- claimed that they were at war only with Texas, and not with the United States. In 1870 there were only 500 Tonkawas and Lipans, and a few years later Texas was re- lieved from the hostile incursions of the Kickapoos, who were removed to a reserva- tion in the Indian Territory, and since that time all hostile Indians have been subdued. By 1882 the remuant of harmless natives within the borders of the State have been re- duced to 108 souls, and these were located in the vicinity of Fort Griffin, in Shackelford county. They had no reservation, and were
dependent to a great extent upon the whims of their white neighbors. They had no live stock, and lived in brush houses and tepees. They had all been friendly to the whites and were well contented. An insufficient appro- priation for their support was annually made by the Government, and the citizens of Texas assisted them from time to time.
A little further on will be given a list of all the governors of Texas to date. As this work goes to press J. S. Hogg is re-elected governor, after an exciting contest occasioned by his antagonism to certain classes of mo- nopolistic corporations, etc.
GREER COUNTY.
" Under the terms of the annexation treaty of 1845 Texas retained possession of all vacant and unappropriated lands within her boundaries; but from that time to the pres- ent the boundary has not been definitely set- tled. A dispute has occurred, arising out of the old treaty with Spain of February 22, 1819, in which the Red river is made the boundary between the 94th and 100th degree west longitude from Greenwich. At the date when this treaty was made but little infor- mation had been obtained respecting the region extending along the upper portion of Red river, nor was it known that the river was divided into two branches- now called the north and west forks -- between the 99th and 100thi meridians. As late as 1848 all maps described Red river as a continuous stream, the north fork not being laid down upon thein. By an exploration, however, made in 1852, by Captains Marcy and Mc- Clellan, under the direction of the War De- partment, it was discovered that there were two main branches to the river proper; but, probably owing to the inaccuracy of their
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
instruments, the explorers located the 100th meridian below the junction. In 1857 the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, who wished to know the boundary between the Choctaw and Chickasaw countries, caused an astro- nomical survey to be made for the purpose of ascertaining the true meridian, which was found to be eighty miles west of the junction of the two forks, the surveyors designating the south fork-" Prairie Dog Fork " -- as the main branch.
" Texas at once questioned this designa- tion, and Congress passed an act, approved June 5, 1858, authorizing the president, in conjunction with the State of Texas, to mark out the boundary line. Commissioners on both sides were appointed, who proceeded to do their work in 1860. No agreement, how- ever, could be arrived at, and Texas, adopt- ing the report of her commissioner, estab- lished the Territory in dispnte-about 2,000 square miles in area-as a county under the name of Greer. In an act of Congress of February 24, 1879, to create the Northern Judicial District of Texas, etc., Greer county is included in the district.
" In 1882 a bill was before Congress seek- ing to establish the north fork as the true boundary, but hitherto no settlement of the question has been attained. Meantime com- plications have arisen, through persons claim- ing to exercise rights on the disputed land under the jurisdiction of Texas, conflicts have taken place and blood has been shed, owing to procrastination in the adjustment of the disputed claim."-II. II. Bancroft, History of the Pacific States.
GENERAL REFLECTIONS.
In the language of Mr. IJ. H. Bancroft: " No State in the Union has passed through more political vicissitudes than Texas. Dur-
ing the present century her people have fought and bled under no less than five dif ferent national flags, representing as many different governments. First we find he with a sparse population, among which might be found some few individuals of the Anglo- American race, under the royal standard of Spain, ruled by monarchial laws; next, the eagle of the Mexican republic dictates the form of government and exasperates by op pression the free-spirited settlers from the United States; then follow revolt and a shor but sanguinary struggle for independence terminating in the establishment of the Texan republic, with its emblematic lone- star flag. After a brief existence, however as a sovereign nation, Texas was content to repose beneath the standard of the stars and stripes, which in turn she threw aside to fight under the Confederate banner. The land which was once the abode of savages has been converted into a civilized country which will prove a center of human develop- ment.
" Short as has been her life, the common- wealth of Texas has had a varied experience -first as the borderland of contending col onies, then a lone republic, as a member of the great federation, member of the Southern Confederacy, and finally reinstated as one of the still unbroken Union. The annals of her past career, as we have seen, are replete with stories of romantic events, and persevering struggles to shake off the leaden weight of impeding influences and elevate herself to the proud level of advancing civilization. HIer future is bright; she has entered the broad highway of universal progress, and henceforth her march will be one of unprec- edented prosperity. A marvelous rapidity lias already marked her onward course to wealth and happiness. Probably there never
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
was a country which entered upon the long and brilliant career of progress that we may look forward to in this instance, under more favorable auspices than this State. Although older than any of the more northern Pacific States, it has developed more slowly, and has avoided many of their mistakes. The great enrse of California is not here entailed. The people are still freemen, and the law-makers and the public officials are their servants. There is little or no public debt; their pub- lic lands are their own, and they have not all fallen into the hands of sharpers and specu- tors; they rule the railroad companies in- stead of being ruled by them; unjust and oppressive monopolies are not permitted. Here are the seeds of life instead of the ele- ments of disease and death. With her vast area of tillable and grazing lands, a people rapidly increasing in numbers, wealth and refinement; with young and healthy institu- tions resting on honest republican founda- tions; with a determination on the part of the people to admit within their borders no species of despotism, no form of tyranny, there is no height of grandeur to which this commonwealth may not reasonably aspire.
" Indian depredations on the frontier have ceased, and cattle-raiding on the Rio Grande borderland will soon be a trouble of the past; lawlessness and crime are yielding to fearless administration of justice and application of the laws, and order is sweeping from her path the refuse that for decades obstructed the progress of large portions of the State. The advancing strides made by Texas since the civil war toward the goal where lofty aspirations will win the prize of unalloyed prosperity, are strikingly exhibited by offi- cial statistics on population, agriculture, commerce, industries and developing enter- prises."
Indeed, many men who have no pecuniary interests in Texas have been heard to say that that State is destined to be the greatest in the Union.
In their social character the people of Texas are still hospitable, with better oppor- tunities than ever to exhibit that pleasurable trait. General intelligence, and its concom- itant, the establishment of educational insti- tutions, also characterize the sons of the South who emigrated to that great, free State in the first place for greater opportu- nity for education, hospitality and comfort- able homes in a comfortable climate.
CHIEF EXECUTIVES OF TEXAS FROM 1691 TO 1891-200 YEARS.
SPANISH-1691 ro 1822-131 YEARS.
Domingo Teran.
Don Gaspardo de Anaya. Don Martin de Alarconne. Marquis de Agnayo.
Fernando de Almazan. Melchoir de Madiavilia.
Juan Antonia Bustillos. Manuel de Sandoval.
Carlos de Franquis.
Prudencia Basterra. Justo Bonco. Jacinto de Barrios.
Antonio de Martos.
Juan Maria, Baron de Riperda. Domingo Cabello.
Rafael Pacheco. Manuel Muñoz.
Juan Bantista el Guazabel. Antonio Cordero. Manuel de Salcedo.
Christoval Dominguez. Antonio Martinez.
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
MEXICAN-1822 TO 1835-13 YEARS.
Trespaiacios . 1822
Don Luciana le Garcia . 1823 Rafael Gonzales (Coahuila and Texas) . . 1825 Victor Blanco 1826
Jose Maria Viesca
1828
Jose Maria Letona.
1831
Francisco Vidauri
1834
TEXAN-1835 TO 1846-11 YEARS.
Henry Smith, Provisional Governor. 1835-'36 David G. Burnett, President ad interim . 1836 Sam Houston, Constitutional President. 1836
Mirabeau B. Lamar, President 1838
Sam Houston, President 1841
Anson Jones, President. 1844
STATE GOVERNMENT SINOE ANNEXATION-1846 .ro 1893-47 YEARS.
J. Pinckney Henderson 1846
George T. Wood 1847
P. II. Bell 1849-'51
P. Il. Bell
1851-'53
E. M. Pease
.1853-'55
E. M. Pease 1855-'57
H. R. Runels
1857-'59
Sam Houston
1859-'61
Edward Clark 1861
F. R. Lubbock 1861-'63
Pendleton Murrah 1863-'65
A. J. Hamilton (provisional)
1865-'66
James W. Throckmorton
1866-'67
E. M. Pease (provisional) 1867-'70
E. J. Davis 1870-'74 Richard Coke 1874-'76 R. B. Hubbard 1876-'79
O. M. Roberts
1879-83
John Ireland
1883-'87
L. S. Ross 1887-'91
J. S. Hogg 1891-'93
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES.
Some of the more prominent characters in the early history of Texas are further sketched in the following list:
ELLIS P. BEAN, the successor of Philip No- lan, in the command of his company, was a marked character. In 1800, when he was but eighteen years of age and possessing a spirit of adventure, he left his father's home at Bean's Station, Tennessee, went to Natchez and enlisted in Nolan's trading company, then consisting of twenty-two men. Reach- ing Texas, and while at a point between the Trinity and Brazos rivers, they were attacked and beaten by a body of Spanish troops. Bean, with eight others, was taken as a pris- oner to San Antonio, and thence to Chiha- hna, being kept at the latter place three years, when they began to be allowed some liberty and to labor for themselves. Bean had learned the hatting business, and he followed it for a year in Chihuahua, when his longing to see his native land induced him, with two com- rades, to run away and endeavor to reach the United States. The three were arrested near El Paso, severely lashed, and again ironed and imprisoned.
Bean's many friends in Chihuahua soon obtained for him again the freedom of the city, and he made a second effort to escape, but was again taken. Ile was this time sent under a strong guard to the south of the city of Mexico. On their way they came to the city of Guanajuato, where they remained several days; and while there, Bean's noble and manly bearing won the heart of a beautiful Mexican señorita of rank, who wrote a letter to him avowing her passion, and promising her influence to ob- tain his liberation, when she would marry him; but he was hurried away and never per-
:
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
mitted again to see her. Poor Bean was next conveyed to Acapulco, one of the most sickly places on the Pacific, and thrown into a filthy dungcon, where no ray of the light of heaven penetrated, and tho only air admitted was through an aperture in the base of the mas- sive wall, which was six feet thick! In this foul abode his body was covered with vermin; no one was allowed to see him, and his food was of the coarsest and most unhealthy kind. In his confinement his only companion was a white lizard, which he succeeded in taming, and which became very fond of him. The only air hole had to be closed at night, to prevent ingress of serpents. One night, having neglected to close it, he was awakened by the crawling of a monstrous serpent over his body. His presence of mind enabled him to lie perfectly still, until, getting hold of a pocket-knife which he had been able to keep concealed upon his person, he pierced the monster in the head and escaped his fangs. This exploit so astonished the keeper of the prison that by his influence a petition was sent to the governor for a mitigation of his confinement; and that dignitary graciously docreed that he might work in chains, and under a guard of soldiers. Even this was a relief.
While thus engaged his desire for freedom again overcame his prudence. Ile succeeded in freeing himself from his shackles, and with a piece of iron killed three of the guard and fled to the mountains. Again he was hunted down and recaptured, nearly starved. Ilis cell now became his only abode, and flogging and other indignities were heaped upon him. Another year passed and he was again al- lowed the liberty of the prison yard, under strict surveillance.
Once more he made a desperate attempt to escape, killing several soldiers and taking the
road to California. This time he had traveled 300 miles, when he was once more recaptured and carried back. He was now confined upon his back, and for weeks was almost devoured by vermin! Ilis appeals for merey were treated with mockery. But his freedom drew nigh. The Mexican revolution of 1810 broke out. The royalists became alarmed. They had learned to look upon Bean as a chained lion, and now, in the hour of their trouble, they offered him liberty if he would join their standard. He promised, secretly determin- ing that he would desert the first opportunity. In a few days he was sent out with a scout to reconnoitre the position of General More- los, the chief of the republicans. When near the camp of that officer, Bean proposed to his comrades that they should all join the pa- triots. His persuavive eloquence was so successful that they all agreed, and at once reported to Morelos.
Upon the information Bean was able to give, an attack was planned and executed against the royalists, resulting in a complete victory. For this Bean received a captain's commission, and his fame spread like a prairie fire throughout Mexico. For three years he was the chief reliance of Morelos, and when he fought victory followed. He was soon conducted, with flying banners, into the town of Acapulco, the scene of his sufferings. The wretches who had persecuted him now on bended knees begged for mercy, expecting nothing but instant death. But Bean scorned to avenge his wrongs upon them, and dis- missed them with warnings as to their future conduct.
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