History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families, Part 16

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895
Number of Pages: 1532

USA > Texas > Harris County > Houston > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 16
USA > Texas > Galveston County > Galveston > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of the cities of Houston and Galveston; containing a concise history of the state, with protraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named cities, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 16

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RICHARD B. ELLIS, after whom Ellis county is namned, lived in one of the dispnted set- tlements in the Red river country. He was a prominent citizen and represented his municipality in the convention of 1836, being president of that body. He died in 1840. Doubt existing as to which government his seetion belonged, to be certain of representa- tion somewhere, his son, who lived in the same house with him, was elected to the leg- islature of Arkansas as a citizen of Miller county, of that State, and accepted.

JAMES BOWIE, brother of the gentleman who invented . the " bowie knife, " was a na-

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tive of Georgia. While Lafitte occupiod Galveston, the three brothers, James, Rezin P. and John, engaged in buying negroes of Lafitte's men, conducting them through the swamps of Louisiana for sale. They are said to have made $05,000 by this traffic. James Bowie was connected with Long's expedition in 1819. In October, 1830, he became a naturalized eitizen of Saltillo, and soon after married a daughter of Vice Governor Vera- mendi, of San Antonio de Bejar. November 2, 1831, he fought a remarkable battle with Indians on the San Saba river, in which, with his brother Rezin, nine other Americans and two negroes, he defeated 164 Tehuacanas and Caddoes, the Indians losing nearly half their number, while the Anglo-Texans had only one man killed and three wounded! When hostilities broke ont he attached himself to the Texan cause. A county in this State is named in his honor.

REZIN (or RAZIN) P. Bowie, first inade a new stylo of knife, which was used in com- bat by his brother, Colonel Jamos Bowie, and it has since been improved upon from time to time by entiers and dealers.

STEPHEN M. BLOUNT, who was in 1888 the oldest living survivor of the signers of the declaration of Texan independence, wasa na. tive of Georgia, born February 13, 1808, and moved to Texas in July. 1835, settling at San Angustine. In 1836 he was electod a member of the convention that deelared the independence of Texas, and nominat d Gen- eral Honston for commander-in-chief of the Texan forces. Blount was a close personal friend of Houston, whom he always after- ward regarded as a grand man. In 1837 Blount was elected clerk of San Angustine county, and held that position four years. His whole life has been one of activity. Prior to his emigration to Texas he served in I

several official capacities in his native State. IIe was colonel of the Eighth Regiment of Georgia militia, and was aide-de-camp to military generals in 1832-'34.

COLONEL JAMES W. FANNIN participated in the battle of Conception in October, 1835; was stationed in command at Velasco directly afterward; appointed military agent early in 1846 to raise and concentrate all volunteers who were willing to take part in an expedi- tion against Matamoras; assisted in the de- fence of Goliad early in 1837, but made a fatal mistake and was defeated. IIe was a brave and intrepid officer, but somewhat deficient in cantion. Ile was inclined to underestimate the force of the Mexicans, was with his men taken prisoners, and as such massacred, with over 300 others!

MIRABEAU B. LAMAR was appointed secre- tary of war in 1836 for the new republic, and as such was strongly opposed to entering . into negotiations with Santa Anna; was ap- pointed major general of the Texan army, in 1836, but his hasty advice caused him to be". unpopular among his men, and he was in- duced to retire; was the same year elected vice president of the republic; was left in command of the general government by President Houston, who left the executive office for the seat of war; elected president in 1838; advised in his inaugural address "extermination or extinction" of the Indians; encouraged the Santa Fe expedition, which proved so disastrous; and on the whole he was a rather unfortunate "statesman." Ilis ad- ministration as governor, ete., was extrav- agant financially, and many of his measures demoralizing.

JOSE ANTONIO NAVARRO, in whose honor Navarro county was named, was born in San Antonio de Bejar, February 27, 1795, his father being a native of Corsica and an offi-

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cer in the Spanish army. Ile was a stanch Federalist and a foe to military depotismn. In 1834-'35 Navarro was a land commissioner for Bejar district; a member of the conven- tion in 1836; and n me uber of the congress in 1838-'39. lle was condemned by Santa Anna to imprisonment for life, though during his captivity he was several times offered pardon, liberty and high office if he would abjure his native country, Texas, forover. These propositions were rejected with scorn.

In December, 1844, just before the full of Santa Anna, he was remove 1 from San Juan de Ulus and allowe I to remain a prisoner at large in Vera Cruz, whence he escaped Janu- ary 2, arriving at Galveston February 3, 1845, after an absence of more than three years and a half. On his return he was elected delegate to the convention hold that year to decide upon the question of annexation, and was afterward senator from Bejar district in the State congress. He died in his native city in 1870.

GENERAL T. J. RUSK was born Decomber 5, 1808, in South Carolina, his father being an immigrant from Ireland and a stone mason by occupation. Through the influence of John C. Calhoun, on whose land the family lived, young Rusk was placed in the office of William Grisham, clerk for Pendleton dis- triet, where he made himself familiar with the law, and was soon admitted to the bar. Heafterward removed to Clarksville, Georgia, where he married the daughter of General Cleveland. At that place he acquired a luerative practice, but unfortunately engaged in mining speenlations and was swindled ont of nearly all his earnings. Ho pursued some of the rascals to Texas, and found them in this State, but they had spent or concealed all his money. Going to Nacog loches, he located himself, and was afterward conspienous

as a Texan patriot. He distinguished himself in the war of independence, and subsequently commanded varions expeditions against the In- diane. In 1839 he was appointed chief justice of the Republic, but soon resigned and retired into law practice at Nacogdoches. In 1845, he was president of the annexation conven. tion, and was one of the first two senators to the United States Congress, and this position he held until his death in 1857, brought about by his own hand, probably in a fit of mental aborration induced by a maliguant disease and the loss of his wife. Ile was a man of rare qualities, and is held in the high- est esteem by all who knew him. On account of his death Congress wore the usual badge of mourning for thirty days.

ELISHIA ANGLIN, a prominent early settler of central Texas, was born in Powell Valley, Virginia, where he was raised and married; moved thence to Kentucky, afterward to Clay, Edgar and Cole counties, Illinois, and finally, in 1833, to Texas. He reached what is now Grimes Prairie, Grimes county, in the fall of 1833, where Austin's colony still remained. In the summer of 1834, in company with James and Silas Parker, he visited Limestone county in Robertson's colony, and located a claim where the present town of Groesbeck is situated. Silas Parker located his elaim north of Anglin's, and James Parker went still further north. They then returned to Grimes Prairie, each buying a load of corn prepara- tory to bringing their families, which they did in the summer of 1834. Mr. Anglin set- tleil on his claim February 1, 1835, and Fort Parker was built in the summer of the same year.

When the Parkers and Mr. Anglin settled in the county the Indians were friendly and peaceable, those then in the locality being the Tehuacanas, at Tehnneann Ilills; the Kee-

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chies, on Keechie creek, and the Wacoes, who were then occupying their village at Waco. The first trouble was brought about by raids being made on them by bands of white inen. Tho raids were made in the summer of 1835, and the following spring news reached the fort of the advance of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. Mr. Anglin, believing that the fort and all the inmates would fall victims to . Mexican foes and hostile Indians, tried to in- duce the Parkers to abandon it and retire to the settlements beyond the Trinity. But this they refused to do. Taking his family, Mr. Anglin, in company with Mr. Faulkenberry and family and Mr. Bates and family, sought safety at old Fort Houston, near Palestine. He did not return to Limestone county until the spring of 1838, when Springfield, after- ward the county seat, was laid out, he being present and assisting in this labor. For four or five years following this date he resided principally in the settements in Grimes conn. ty, but in Jannary, 1844, took up his perma- ment residence on his claim, where he lived until his last marriage, and until his death, near Mount Calin, in January, 1874, aged seventy-six years. Ile assisted in the organi- zation of the county, held a number of minor local positions at an earlier day, was an un- lottered man, but possessed considerable force of character, the elements of the pioneer strongly predominating.

Mr. Anglin was five times married, and the father of a number of children. Ilis first wife was Rachel Wilson, a native of Virginia, who died in Edgar county, Illinois, leaving five children: Abram; William; John; Mary, afterward the wife of Silas II. Bates; and Margaret, now Mrs. John Moody. He was then married, in Coles connty, Illinois, to Catherine Duty, who bore him three children, only one of whom reached maturity: Rebecca

Catherine, now the wife of Franklin Coates, of Utah Territory. His second wife died at old Fort Honston, near Palestine, this State, and he married the third time, at Tinnan's Fort, Robertson county, Mrs. Orpha James. They had eight children, only one of whom is now living: Adeline, wife of Daniel Par- ker, of Anderson county, Texas. His fourth marriage occurred in Limestone county, to Mrs. Nancy Faulkenberry, widow of David Faulkenberry. His fifth wife was Mrs. Sarah Chaffin, nee Crist, but by the last two unions there were no children.

NEILL MCLENNAN, in honor of whom Mc- Lennan county is named, was born in the highlands of Scotland, in 1777, and emigrated with two brothers and other relatives to the State of North Carolina in 1801, where he resided as a farmer until 1816. With a brave and adventurous spirit, and with one com- panion, he explored the wilds of Florida, and, ' becoming satisfied with the country, remained there until 1834. IIe had heard of Texas, and with his two brothers and a few other friends purcha-od a schooner at Pensacola, loaded her with their goods and fain- ilies, navigated her themselves, and landed safely at the month of the Brazos river early in 1835. They proceeded up the river and settled on Pond creek, near its mouth, in, what is now Falls county. While there his two brothers were killed by the In- dians, Laughlin, one of the brothers, being shot full of arrows. The family of the lat- ter, consisting of a wife and three small boys, were captured and taken away. The mother, who was living with him, was also killed, the house was burned, and the wife and youngest child died in captivity. The next boy was bought, and the eldest remained with the Indians nntil grown, when, by a treaty, his unele, Neil (not Neill) McLennan, brought

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him to McLennan connty. It was difficult to reconcile him to staying away from his tribe. lle finally married and raised six children. His death ocenrred in 1866. John, the other brother, was ambushed and shot near Nashville.

During the winter of 1839 and spring of 1840 Neill McLennan accompanied Captain George B. Erath on a surveying tour to the Bosque country, and being impressed. with the advantages there for farming and grazing, determined to locate there. Accordingly he commenced improvements there in 1845, and nde it his home during the remainder of his life. At the old homestend still stands the old double log house, where many a way- furing man has received refreshments and rest without money or charge.

Mr. McLennan had six children, namely: Jolin, who died in Milam county, in 1887; Christina, wife of Eli Jones, of MeLennan county; Catherine, wife of L. E. R. Davis; Noil (one 1), a resident of McLennan county; Duncan, also of MeLennan county; Langhlin, deceased in 1860. Mr. McLennan died in the month of November, 1867, aged eighty- one years.

COLONEL STERLING C. ROBERSTON, em- prosario of Robertson's colony, was born in Nashville, Tennessee, about 1785. He served ns major of the Tennessee troops in the war of 1812, roccived a good education, and was trained up as a planter, and engaged in agri- cultural pursnits in Giles county, that State. Enterprising and advonturons, and having considerable means, ho formed a company in Nashville, in 1823, to explore the wild "province" of Texas. Coming as far as the Brazos, he formed a permanent camp at the month of Little river. All the party re- turned to Tonnessee, however, excopt Robert. sou. He visited the settlements that had 1

been made, and while there conceived the idea of planting a colony in Texas. Filled with enthusiasm over this plan, he went to his home in Tennessee, where he purchased n contract which the Mexican government had made with Robert Leftwiek for the settle- ment of 800 families. The colony embraced a large tract of land, and Robertson was to receive forty leagues and forty labors for his services.

In 1829, at his own expense, he introduced 100 families, who were driven out by the military in consequence of false representa- tions made to the government. The matter was finally adjusted, and in the spring of 1834 the colony was restorod. In the sum- mer of the same yoar he laid out the town of Sarahville de Viesca. A land office was opened about October 1, and the settlements were rapidly made. In the summer of 1835 he made a tonr of Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisi- . ana and Kentucky, making known the induce- ments to immigration. He had been anthorized by the Mexican government to offer to settlers who were heads of families one leagne and one labor of land, and lesser proportions to others.

Colonel Robertson was a delegate to the general convention of 1836, was one of the signers of the declaration of independence und of the constitution of the Republic of Toxas. In the spring of 1836 he commanded a military company, and received therefor a donation of 640 acres of land, having partici- pated in the battle of San Jacinto. He was a member of the Senato of the first congress of the Republic of Texas.

Ile died in Robertson connty, March 4, 1842, in the fifty-seventh year of his age. Bold, daring and patriotic, he had many op- portunities for the exhibition of these traits. From the campaigns of the war of 1812 down

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to 1842, he was a participant in every struggle of his eonntrymen. When the revolution broke ont in 1835, he had introduced more thin 600 families into the colonies, fully one- half of the whole nminber nt his own expense.

DAVID G. BURNETT, according to the fore- going history of Texas, is first known in this State as an "empresario," who, December 22, 1826, contracted to colonize 300 families in Texas. After the annulment of Edwards' contract, his grant was divided between Bur- nett and Joseph Veblein. IIe was a mem- ber of the second State convention, which inet April 1, 1833, at San Felipe; was elected the first President of the Republic of Texas in 1836; had a stormy time during an en- gagement with the Mexicans, being accused of treason; resigned his presidency October 22, 1836; was elected vice-president in 1838, but in 1841, as a candidate for the presi- dency, was defeated by General Houston.

MAJOR GEORGE B. ERATH, after whom Erath county is named, was born at Vienna, Austria, January 1, 1813. His mother was supposed to be of Greek origin. At Santa Anna College, Vienna, he studied Spanish:, French, Italian and English, besides other branches. Ho also spent two years at a poly- technic institute. When fifteen years of age his father died, and he was taken in charge by relatives in Germany, who, at the request of his mother, managed, by a ruse, to keep him from conseription by the Austrian gov- ernment. By the connivance of the German and French governments he managed to get a start to America, and in due time landed at New Orleans with no money. After traveling and working his way along to sev- oral points, he came to Texas in 1833, hirst stopping at Brazoria. He visited several points in the southern central portion of the

State, and at length engaged in war with the Indians, in which he distinguished himself for bravery and fidelity. He also was in Captain Billingsley's company at the battle of San Jacinto. Moreover, he at several times engaged as an assistant in land survey- ing.

In 1839 he was a member of a company of rangers, by which he was elected captain, and again he was active in repelling Indian inva- sions. Ile was also in the noted " Mier ex- pedition," but, not crossing the Rio Grande with the headlong faction, he escaped the horrible experiences of the Mier prisoners.

From 1843-'46 he was a member of the Texas congress, and in the latter year he was elected a member of the legislature of the State of Texas. In 1848 he was elected by an overwhelming majority to the State sen- ate, from the district of McLennan county, his home; and in 1861 he was again elected to the same body, and after the legislature adjourned raised a company of infantry and fought under the command of Colonel Speight. Ill health not permitting him to remain in the service, he returned home, but was appointed major of the frontier forces of Texas, in which capacity he won the grati- tnde of the State.

After the war he settled down upon his farm on tho South Bosque, eight miles from Waco, and endeavored to confine himself to the quiet pursuits of agriculture; but his ex- tended knowledge of land and surveying in that part of Texas led others to persuade him to engage again as a surveyor. He was called the " walking dictionary of the land office." In 1873 he was again elected to the State senate, and was an inấnential member of that body. Il is intelligence and integrity were so great that in many instances he was se- lected as sole arbitrator in preference to a

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suit nt law. Ile died in Waco, May 13, 1591, and his wife five months afterward. lle lost one son in the last war, and died leaving one son and three danghters.

GENERAL JAMES HAMILTON was a native of South Carolina, of which Stato he was gov- ernor. Coming to Texas he boldly advo- cated her independence, and contributed both time and means to the cause. Even in South Carolina, as a member of her senate, he up- hold in eloquent phase the purity of the motives of the revolutionists of Texas, and tively devoted himself to the interests of the new republic. He secured the treaty with Great Britain, and negotiated one with the kingdom of the Netherlands. Ju recog- nition of his services he was invested with the rights of Texas citizenship by a special aet of its congress. But while he was a dip- lomntie agent for Texas in Europe he became involved in embarrassments which eventually ruined him. In 1857 he sailed from New Orleans for Galveston in the steamship Ope- lineas, with the hope of obtaining an indem- mification for his losses and of retrieving his fortune in the com.try for which he had done so much. The vessel was wrecked on her passage by a collision with the stemmer Gal- veston, and Hamilton was one of the victims of the disaster. The State congress went into monruing out of respect to his memory.

JAMES W. THROCKMORTON, governor of Texas in 1866-'67, was born in Tennessee in 1825, and began life as a physician, in which calling he won a high reputation until he decided to adopt the profession of law. Removing to what is now Collin county, Texas, in 1841, he was elected ten years later to the State legislature, and was re-elected in 1853 and 1835, and in 1857 he was chosen State senator. During all these years the legislation of the State bears the impress of

his tireless efforts, and to no one else ure the people more indebted for the development of their resources. Though a Democrat in polities, he was opposed to secession, and as a member of the first secession convention he voted against secession; bnt, being trne to his State, after the Confederate movement was fully inaugurated he raised a company of soldiers and joined the Southern cause, and remained till the close of the struggle, though at intervals he was disabled from active service by sickness. Among the en- gngements in which ho participated was the battle of Elkhorn. Afterward he served under General Dick Taylor. In 1864 Gov- ernor Murrah assigned him the command of the northern frontier, with the rank of briga- dier general. In 1865 General Kirby Smith appointed him general Indian agent, and he made treaties with numerons Indian tribes favorable to Texas. In 1866 he was elected a member of the first reconstruction conven- tion, and was chosen president of that body: the same year he was elected governor, under the new constitution, by a vote of nearly four to one; but, though his administration was most satisfactory to the people of the State, he was deposed in the following year, under reconstruction measures executed by " Radi- calo." In 1874, and again in 1876, he was chosen for Congress, where he served with distinction until March, 1879, when he re- tired to private life.

Early in his professional career he was married to Miss Ann Ratten, a native of Illi- nois, and of their nine children seven still survive.

GENERAL THOMAS NEVILLE WAUL, whose ancestors on both sides took part in the Revolutionary struggle, was born in South Carolina, in 1813. After receiving his edu. cation at one of the best colleges in that

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State, he studied law at Vicksburg, Missis- sippi, and was admitted to practice in the supreme court of that State in 1835, and was soon afterward appointed district attorney. Removing later to New Orleans, he took an active part in politics, being a thorough Democrat of the State-rights school, and he won a high reputation. After the war broke out he organized what was known as Waul's Legion, which he commanded ir many hotly contested engagements. At its close he set- tled in Galveston, where he resnmed his pro- fession, and was elected president of the bar association.

In 1837 the General married Miss Mary Simmons, a native of Georgia, and in No- vember, 1887, celebrated his golden wedding.

BEN MCCULLOUGH, prominent in the last war, was a native of Tennessee, came to Texas during revolutionary times, and commanded a cannon in the battle of San Jacinto. After the independence of Texas he was captain of a company of rangers. During the last war he was appointed brigadier general in the Confederate army, and was killed in the soeond duy's fight at Poa Ridge, Arkansas, March 24, 1862.

GENERAL HENRY EUSTACE MCCULLOCH was born in Rutherford county, Tennessee, De- cember 6, 1816, and first came to Toxas in the autumn of 1835, accompanied by his brother, Ben McCulloch, five years oldler. Arriving at Nacogdoches, they had an ar- gument as to the propriety of Henry's coming on. Ben tried ahnost every way to persuade him to return home, but in vain, until he hit upon the argument that he should take care of his parents in their old age. Selling their horses, fine saddle animals, they separated, starting off on foot, one cast and the other west.

In the fall of 1837 Henry came again to Texas and stopped at Washington, then the capital of the State, and passed the winter there howing house logs, splitting red-oak boards and building board houses. In the spring he joined a party in the exploration of the upper Brazos. While out hunting one day, in company with another member of the party, they chanced upon a company of five Indians, whom they attacked, killed two and chased the other three away! In the summer of 1838 he joined his brother, Ben, at Gon- zales and formed a partnership with him in surveying and locating lands, and this partnership lasted until the death of the brother in 1862.

During pioneer times both the brothers engaged in much ranger service, with skill and good fortune, the particulars of which we have not space for here.

During a battle with the Comanches in . 1840, Henry saved the life of Dr. Sweitzer, a bitter enemy of his brother, by driving away the Indians who where about to take the life of the doctor. Henry had dismounted and taken his position behind a small sapling in advance of the main Texan force and was pouring hot shot into the ranks of the enemy, who, in return, had completely scaled the bark of the little tree behind which he stood. Arch. Gipson and Alscy Miller had come up and were sitting on their horses near IIenry, who was standing on the ground beside his horse, when suddenly Gipson or Miller cried ont, "They'll catch him; they'll catch him!" McOnlloch asked, "Catch who?" The reply was, "Sweitzer."

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Author: Publication date: 1895 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895 Number of Pages: 1532

Author:
Publication date: 1895
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing co., 1895
Number of Pages: 1532