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 59

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 59
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 59

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3 ULIUS LOBENSTEIN .-- This hon- est and frugal German has been a resident of the Lone Star State for many years, having come hither as a member of the Noble colony, which first located in the vicinity of New Braunfels. He was born in Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Ger- many, "three hours from Alvord," October 25, 1828, a son of Godda-help Lobenstein, who was a gardener by occupation. Upon his removal from the land of his birth, with the Noble colony, to this country, he was accompanied by his only son, Julius. After a time they left the colony and made their way to Galveston; Julius being at that time about eighteen years of age. He

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joined his father in the purchase of a piece of land, amounting to fourteen acres, on Galveston island, near where the Orphans' Home now stands, and they at once began market gardening, and finding this occupa- tion reasonably remunerative, they contin- ued it for some two years. However, as young Julius was ambitious and energetic, he determined to seek fresh fields of labor, and, accordingly, entered the employ of Gil- bert Winnie, receiving, at first, $15 per month for his services as stable hand and inail carrier, which sum was afterward in- creased to $30. He remained with Mr. Win- nie about eleven years, or until the opening of the great civil war, being engaged in carry- rying the United States mail between Gal- veston, St. Louis, Texas, and Matagorda. While the civil war was in progress, he worked for the Confederacy in the same ca- pacity, and was also ferryman at St. Louis, Texas. When hostilities ceased, he once more turned his attention to agricultural pursuits on Galveston Island, about twenty- six miles west of the city, but later changed his location to within sixteen miles of town, taking up his residence on what is known as the old Delesdernier place, one of the oldest stations on the island. In 1881 he disposed of all his farming interests, re- moved to the city of Galveston, where he has since resided, in the enjoyment of a very comfortable and pleasant home. In 1852, he led to the altar Miss Pauline Wer- ner, of Galveston. She was born in Silicia, Germany, February 13, 1830, but came to America with friends in 1848. She proved a true helpmate, in every sense of the word, to Mr. Lobenstein, and a faithful and af- fectionate mother to the following chiklren, which she bore her husband: Louis; Jules; Fritz; Berthia, wife of Morris Bautsch; Julia,

wife of Charles G. Schmidt; Wilhelmina, wife of William Bauhens, and Pauline. The life of Mr. Lobenstein has been charac- terized by the strictest integrity, well known German industry, and the result has been the accumulation of a competency, and the acquiring of a comfortable home in Galves- ton.

J OHN FORESTER, the subject of this sketch, has lived on Texas soil for fifty-seven years. He has taken part in five Indian campaigns, and has served in both the regular and volunteer armies against Mexico. He knows what it is to submit to the insolence of Mexican soldiery, and has languished in Mexican prisons. Technically, therefore, his case meets all the conditions necessary to entitle him to the designation of a Texas veteran of the first rank, while in actual services and sacrifices, few have done more, or suf- fered more, than he has. Mr. Forester is really one of the " old-timers," who has seen much of Texas, and has taken part in the making of much of its history. He has never souglit notoriety, and is, perhaps, as little known as any man in the State who has lived here as long as he has, and who has taken the part he has in its history. He has reached that age when no suspicion of self-seeking can possibly attach to his giving a narrative of his early life, and the follow- ing brief account of the circumstances at- tending his coming to Texas, and of some of his experiences here in an early day, is therefore submitted, almost in the language in which he spoke to the writer:

"I was born in Warren county, Tennes- see, on the 16th day of April, 1816," said Mr. Forester, when asked as to his nativity.

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"My parents were William and Mary For- ester, who died when I was young. I grew up in my native county to the age of seven- teen or eighteen, making my home most of the time with an older brother. While at my brother's, about the year 1835, two stroll- ing Yankee mechanics came along one day on their way to Mississippi, and induced me to join them to go to the lower country, where they said work was plentiful and wages good. I consented, and the three of us drifted along down to the vicinity of Vicks- burg, then the principal town in that part of the country. By the time we reached this place our money was all gone and I found it necessary to look up a job. I went to work on a plantation, picking cotton, and in a short time had the good fortune to be promoted to the position of overseer. One of my Yankee friends also got work at his trade, -that of a carpenter, -in the same lo- cality, and I remained there, working as an overseer, and later, with him at the carpen- ter's business, for some months. While here I was taken with the fever, and being conveyed to Monroe, Louisiana, I lay sick at that place for several weeks, not being ex- pected to live. Recovering, however, suffi- ciently to travel, I drifted down to New Or- leans, and here I began to hear a great deal about Texas. I had been in New Orleans some two or three weeks when, walking along the streets one day beliind two sol- diers, I heard one ask the other, 'What sort of a country is Texas, anyway?' The other answered, 'One of the finest coun- tries you ever saw; but is overrun with loaf- ers and worthless characters.' I then quick- ened my gait, and, catching up with the sol- diers, told them that I had been thinking of going to Texas, and asked them if they could tell me how to get there. They kindly

offered their services, and, taking me around to where a lot of soldiers were camped, in- troduced me to an officer who seemed to be in command, and told him I wanted to go to Texas. I was enlisted in Captain Veal's company, and instructed to wait about camp until a vessel arrived.

" I remained some two or three weeks, waiting for transportation, and finally, after waiting for the organization of another company,-that of Captain Hall, -which was made up in the meantime, I sailed for this country. We reached the coast near Dimmitt's during the last day of February or the ist of March, 1837, and came ashore. In a day or so we joined the main army, then camped on the Lavaca, my company becoming part of the Second Regiment of Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Wiggin- ton. We spent the spring and summer of 1837 at Red Bluff, on the Navidad. . There was a general lull in hostilities that sumnier, and the more adventurous spirits in the army, becoming impatient, secured furloughs and went away. My company was made into one of artillery and moved to Texana, to occupy that place, while the main body of the army was continued on the Lavaca. By September more than half of my com- pany had died from disease of one kind and another, and from insufficient food and medi- cal attention; many of the officers had got furloughs and gone away, so that we were reduced to only a handful, and these, chiefly such as could not get away, or who did not know where to go if they could.

"During the fall of 1837 we camped on the Colorado, -sometimes east of it and sometimes west, -and finally we were stationed for some time at a place called "Mercer's," on the Colorado, whence we went to West Menard. While camped

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here, being of those who had not succumbed to disease, I was selected by the command- ing officer to go with a team of mules and wagon to Houston for supplies. I made the trip, and then, for the first time (I think it was in October or November, 1837) I saw this place. I was told that the town had been laid out the year before, and it certain- · ly had every appearance of a new place. Most of the population was living in tents, what houses there were, being sinall one- story cabins constructed of poles or split timbers,

"The country west of the town, along the road I came in on, was covered with grass as high as a man's head, and this ex- tended up even to the tents and houses, except where it had been cut or burnt. The State-house was then being finished on Capitol Square, and was the only structure of any consequence in the town, it being nothing to speak of. Main and Travis streets had not yet been cleared of the stumps and undergrowth, and there were large pine trees still standing in both thor- oughfares. The market square had never been touched with an ax, being covered with a dense growth of bushes and small pines, running back to the bayou. The town was full of all sorts and conditions of people, bent on various schemes, including a large sprinkling who did not seem to know ex- actly what they were here for.

"I got the supplies for which I came, and slowly toiled back over the bad roads to camp. Soon after my return I was taken with the fever. In less than a month I was reduced to skin and bones, and there being no prospect of my recovering in camp, I was furloughed, and started for Houston. I was ahnost destitute of clothing, and was absolutely barefooted. In this condition, and

weak from the ravages of disease, the fever still on me, I took the road leading to Hous- . ton. The country was then practically un- settled, and what few settlers were there were, unfortunately, in no condition to help the sick and destitute. I was overtaken on the road the first day by a man carrying the mail, who took ine up behind him on his horse, and helped ine along a considerable distance, being put down, at my own re- quest, some six or eight miles west of Rich- mond, at a big water hole, where freighters and movers were accustomed to stop. I spent the night at that place, and it was a night of fearful suffering.

"I rose the next morning and resumed my journey. I did not reach Richmond till late in the evening of that day, having spent most of the day in the timber, being too weak, and my fever too high to allow me to travel. When I got to Richmond I. lay down by a trail leading through the place, and in a short time a man named Warren, who had belonged to my company, came along and, recognizing me, told mne he had a job as a cook in a tavern, and said he would bring me something to eat. He brought me two biscuits, and, being refreshed with these and a night's rest, I took up the line of travel next morning for Houston. I made several stops that day and sought assistance once or twice from parties whom I chanced to see, but this was denied me until I reached the house of Dr. Johnson Hunter. This gentleman proved the good Samari- tan, though I found him, instead of his find- ing me. He gave me medicine and food, and invited me to stay over night, which I did. I started early the next morning, and my fever came on about ten o'clock as usual; and I sought a mot of timber, where I was lying, on the roadside, when two

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wagons loaded with corn came along going to Houston. The teamsters refused at first to let me ride, but one of them finally consented to let me put my blanket on his wagon, while I walked behind and held on, so as to keep from falling, for I was then too weak to keep on my feet very long without assis- tance. After awhile I got on the wagon, and by walking some and riding somne, I finally got to Houston. On reaching this place I slept the first night under a tree. The next day, while wandering around the town, I met two men who had formerly be- longed to my company, and by them I was told where the hospital was. I went out to it and found it a rude log affair, located not far from where the old cemetery now is, on San Felipe street. It was in charge of Dr. Ashbel Smith, and I was taken in and cared for as well as could be expected with the limited means then at the command of this branch of the public service, for it must be remembered that the Republic of Texas at that time was very poor in purse. I mention the circumstances of this, my. first hard experience in Texas, with considerable minuteness, because, although I have seen and suffered much for Texas, I cannot say that I ever endured more real physical pain or mental anguish, than during those fall and winter months of 1837 and 1838, and especially during the time here referred to. "After I recovered I left the hospital, and, getting my discharge from the army, I went out on the frontier to locate my claims, and pick up a livlihood at whatever I could find to do. But there was very little going on, and I spent the time, for several months, running around in company with young fel- lows, who, like myself, were in Texas wait- ing for something to turn up. I worked some on ranches, and was in the ranging

service, volunteering to help repel five dif- ferent Indian invasions.

"In the summer of 1842, I found myself again in Houston, and, mentioning one day to a friend, who had been on the Southwestern frontier a great deal, that I could have no health in this part of the country, he ad- vised me to go out about San Antonio, and join the rangers. There happened to be a demand just at that time for soldiers to help repel an anticipated attack on the part of the Mexicans, and the idea of entering the service again took hold of me. Going to San Antonio, I enlisted in Captain Jack Hays' company, then operating in that vicinity. I had seen a good deal of the primitive ways of Texas in the three or four previous years spent in the country, but the sight of Hays' company of rangers was still something new. The men were, in physical inake-up, as fine a body of men as I ever saw, but the uniform was altogether new, unique and picturesque. Most of them were dressed in skins, some wearing parts of buf- falo robes, deer skins and bear skins, and some entirely naked to the waist, but hav- ing heavy leggings and necessary breech- clouts. All were well armed and well mounted. I understood, and learned for a certainty afterward, that they subsisted mostly on buffalo meat and venison, rarely ever using bread, and still more rarely ever getting any coffee. I had scarcely entered the command, when San Antonio was marched on and captured by General Woll, and, being part of my company left in the town, while our commander, with a few of his men, were out reconnoitering, I was taken in charge by the Mexicans. This is the occasion on which the judges of the court, lawyers and civil officials were captured, of which most people have read. The judges

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and lawyers were released in a few days, and the soldiers entertained some hopes of being turned loose also, but in this we were mistaken. After Woll had made such dem- onstrations in the vicinity of San Antonio, as he designed to, he suddenly gathered up his traps, and, taking some sixty or seventy of us soldiers, whom he had captured, he started back to Mexico. We were conveyed to the town of Perote, and were there held for about eleven months, during which time we met with the usual treatment accorded Texas prisoners. How long I would have been kept, if I had not, fortunately, made my escape, I have no idea. Some of us had been ineditating an escape, for some time, when, finally, we got access to a lot of tools, and then began work in earnest. We were six weeks picking through the walls of our prison, during which time the utmost secrecy as to our purposes and movements was maintained. Exactly how many were in the plot, I do not know, but, I think, some sixteen or eighteen. Most of us saved a part of our rations each day for about thirty days before we finally got out, so as to have something to go on.

"When we at last secured our liberty we divided, going in pairs and by threes, so as to better escape detection. Tom Hancock, who had been a member of the Santa Fe expedition, and Captain E. C. Ogden, who was for some years afterward a resident of Houston, and myself, made up the party with whom I undertook to get away. We directed our course from the prison iminedi- ately to the mountains overlooking the town of Perote. We then started to the town of Jalapa, traveling by night and lying up dur- ing the day. We were frequently in hear- ing distance of the Mexicans, but managed to keep from being seen by them. Finally,

our provisions having run out, Ogden and Hancock, both failing to provide themselves with more than a few days' supply, we found that heroic measures had to be adopted to prevent our starving. One morning, after having slept all night close to a Mexican village, I gave Hancock $2 in money, being half I had, and one of my blankets and my hat, to go into the the village and procure something to eat. It was an unfortunate venture; for Hancock was captured, and with him went nearly all our earthly possessions having any purchas- ing power.

"After satisfying ourselves that Hancock had been taken, Ogden and I pushed on as well as we could, hoping that a favorable turn of fortune would deliver us from what seemed certain death from starvation, or, worse than death, in a Mexican prison. We traveled all day through the mountains, and came to a creek, in the early part of the night, which, however, we could not see, but could hear. It became a problem how we were to get across this stream, as it ran through a wild, precipitous canon, and was, as we supposed, quite deep. Crawling along the mountain sides, and letting our- selves down from place to place by holding ing on to the bushes and sprigs of vegeta- tion, we finally came to a place where there was no undergrowth, but where all around were rocks and crags. It was pitch dark; I could hear the stream roaring below, but how far I had no idea. To get back was impossible, for I had gone too far to retreat. At last, in desperation, I decided to give a leap, in hopes of falling in the stream where it would be deep enough to protect me from boulders, and then take my chances on swimming out. The canon was somewhat slanting, and instead of jumping, I rolled

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down the side of the mountain, -how far I never knew, but I have always believed a hundred feet or more, and lit on my feet in the water, between two projecting rocks. The water was not deep, and I soon secured a solid footing. I called to Ogden, but could get no answer, the water making so much noise falling over the rocks in the bed of the stream, that one could scarcely have heard a gunshot a few feet away. The water was dreadfully cold, coming from the melted snows in the mountain, and I knew I must soon get out of it or perish. I could see no way out, but started up the stream. After wading some distance I finally found a place where I could crawl out on the side opposite that on which I had entered. Scrambling up, I found myself again on dry land, but had lost my other companion, my hat, and my last blanket! It was a solemn moment for me. I knew it was a turning point, and, after standing for a few minutes, I saw a light in the distance, and I at once made up my mind to go to it, whether it be- longed to friend or foe. I found that the light was in a jackal, and around it were two Mexican men and two or three Mexican women. After some conversation with them, I became satisfied that they had lieard nothing of the escape of the prisoners from Perote, and as they showed a friendly dis- position, my prospects began to brighten.

"Being there, so far from any settlement, and in the half naked condition I was, in order to allay any suspicion they might have as to who I was, it became necesssary for nie to manufacture a story. I told them that I was a spinner, and belonged at Jalapa, where the big English cotton mills were; that I had got on a 'spree' and wandered away on a hunt, and had lost my hat and clothes, and nearly everything else except about

two dollars in money. I offered them this to take nie to Jalapa, and urged them to take me at one, but they refused, saying, how- ever, that they would take ine in the morn- ing. I remained with them that night, and set out early the next morning afoot, with one of the Mexicans, as my guide. We traveled all day and in the evening reached one of the factories, some four miles from Jalapa. I made a pretense to my guide that I did not want to appear among my fellow workmen in the condition I was in, more than half naked, and sent him ahead to the factory, to bring the foreman out to where I was. The foreman came and I found him to be a Portuguese. I made known my condition to him as well as I could and asked his assistance, which he kind- ly gave. Paying my guide, I dismissed him, and I went with the Portuguese to his house. I was given a bath, and he assisted me to cut my hair and shave off my beard, after which he gave me a linen round-about, a pair of shoes and a cap. He then took me to another factory, run by some Scotchmen, and introduced me to them.

"I accompanied a party of them to Jalapa that day, and on the streets of that place I saw several Mexicans who had guarded me at one time or another during my imprison- ment, but they did not recognize me. I went with my Scotch friends to the princi- pal hotel in the place, run by an American, and they told him in a few words who I was. The communication seemed to half frighten the wits out of my countryman; for he immedi- ately asked me not to speak and, taking me by the arm, he led me to the rear into a dark alley, where a few words were exchanged, he cautioning me to keep quiet and keep out of the way of the Mexicans as much as possible. I took dinner at the hotel that day; saw

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several Mexican officers who were stopping at the same hotel, but I was not molested by them, and did not, so far as I know, ex- cite any suspicion. In the evening a num- ber of Englishmen from another factory, near Jalapa, came into town, and I was in- troduced to them by the landlord, who ac- quainted them with my recent experience. American citizenship being below par in Mexico at that tinie, the Englishmen agreed to adopt ine as one of their number and ex- tended to me, figuratively speaking, the pro- tection of the British lion. I will remark, in passing, that I have never been ashamed of being an American, but I will confess that on that particular occasion I was not at all reluctant to scraping up a sort of kinship with my English cousins, and I gladly ac- cepted their proffered protection. I accom- panied these Englishmen home that night and was treated most royally by them. They had plenty to eat, and, not having had a square ineal for more than a year, and, since my escape, having had little or nothing to eat, I was in prime condition to enjoy all the substantials they put before me. I remained with them a week; and while there Captain Ogden, my comrade, whom I had lost the night I had fallen into the stream, was brought into Jalapa a prisoner, having been captured by the Indians. My English friends went to see him, and told him that I was at their place, safe and all right. In the mean- time two other prisoners, who had escaped from Perote when I did, made their way into Jalapa, and were found by my English friends. It was fixed up that these two and myself, should be sent Vera Cruz, where we would probably catch a boat coming home. The Englishumen employed a Mexican bandit to pilot us to Vera Cruz, and he took us about half way, when he turned us

over. to an American stage driver, .who agreed to see us safely deposited at our des- tination. One of the Englishimen gave me a pass, and as it was made out in his name and duly attested by the English authorities, I made the trip with a feeling of consider- able more security.

"When we reached Vera Cruz I saw that the three of us going about the streets together was attracting some attention, and suggested that we separate. I went away, and, strolling into the market place, was standing there watching the crowd, when I' caught sight of a large, well-formed man whoni I at once took to be an American. I think he saw me about the same time; for when I started toward him he began to make his way out of the crowd. The faster I pushed on the more he quickened his pace to get away. When I got in speaking dis- tance I called to him, 'You are an Ameri- can.' He did not say he was, or was not, but simply answered, 'The American Consul lives up there,' pointing to a house at some distance. I gave up the chase after him and turned my steps toward the residence of the American Consul. Reaching the place I hesitated a good while before knocking, but finally made my presence known. My rap at the door was answered by the Consul himself, and, introducing myself to him, I briefly told him my story. He did not say much, but, excusing himself for a minute or two, soon reappeared, dressed for the street, and, telling me to follow him, we went to an English boarding-house. Here I was joined by three or four Englishmen, who at once took an interest in me, and we all went out and had dinner together. The American Con- sul did not seem able to do much for me, but his services were not needed after I got in with the Englishmen. It was fixed up that

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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