USA > Texas > Prominent women of Texas > Part 5
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Miss Foster, when quite youthful, attracted the attention of the young staff officer, Lieut. R. A. Scurry, of Gen. Sam Houston's army, when she with her parents and three hun- dred families were encamped on the banks of the Trinity
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River, at the village of Cahuta, where the army of General Houston passed them. This event, so well known in Texas history as the "Runaway Scrape," was always spoken of by Mrs. Scurry as "the first historical event of her life." It was so considered by her, probably, because it was a verification of "Love in the tempest most alive will ever deem that pearl the best he finds beneath the stormiest water." But it was not until after the battle of San Jacinto was fought and the independence of Texas gained that Mr. Scurry again met and recognized in Miss Foster, now a young lady, the little girl that he had seen as one of the horseback riders in "The Runaway Scrape," on the banks of the Trinity River. It was in Wash- ington when Miss Foster, under the chaperonage of Mrs. Sarah Wharton, visited that city, that she met a second time Mr. Scurry. He was then a member of Congress and speaker of the House of Representatives. Later he became the law partner of General Rusk, and afterwards of Pinckney Henderson. Previously he had been the first district judge of the new State, and while holding this position was elected to Congress from the Eastern District, when Texas had only two congressional districts. In 1853 Mrs. Scurry accom- panied her husband to Washington. Previously she had resided in Clarkesville and Houston. Her recent, much la- mented demise occurred in Dallas, where she had lived many years with her talented daughter, Mrs. Kate Scurry Terrell.
Among the prominent women of Texas Mrs. Scurry's name demands a conspicuous place, not only for the exalted posi- tion socially which she filled and adorned, but also because of her long residence in this State, first, when it was under the rule of Mexico, then as an independent Republic, after- wards as the Lone Star State when it was annexed to our Federal Union, during the stormy days of the Confederate States, during the still more perilous period of reconstruc- tion and again under the United States Government.
MRS. SOPHRONIA ELLIS CONE .- Prominent among the early settlers of the city of Houston, Texas, was Mrs. So- phronia Ellis Cone, the daughter of the Rev. William Ellis,
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a well-known and highly esteemed Baptist clergyman, who removed from Virginia to Georgia in 1812. He resided near Milledgeville, his daughter being then about five years of age.
In 1823 she was married to Mr. William Orrington Work. By a second matrimonial alliance in 1827, she became the wife of Dr. Henry Hale Cone, of Bolton, Connecticut, a phy- sician, and a graduate of medical colleges in New Haven and Charleston, South Carolina. Her husband, Doctor Cone, par- ticipated in the siege and capture of San Antonio, and after- wards returned to Georgia. In 1839 he brought his family to the Republic of Texas and located at Houston, purchasing a residence on Rusk Street, which Mrs. Cone continuously occu- pied for more than half a century.
For many years her home was literally the headquarters for all Presbyterian ministers who came to the city, and also for those of other denominations. She was one of the earliest communicants of the First Presbyterian Church of Houston, her membership dating from December, 1839.
A prominent and active member, a leader in measures in- tended to advance the prosperity of the church, she was ever ready to encourage and assist the needy, and those who were in affliction or distress. Among the early residents of Hous- ton, there are those who will recall the untiring zeal with which Mrs. Cone sought out those to whom she could bring relief or administer comfort. Often she has been seen in the remote portions and suburbs of the then young and scat- tered village, going alone on errands of mercy, providing food and nourishment to the poor and suffering, giving Chris- tian encouragement, and distributing religious literature. Mrs. Cone was emphatically a Home Missionary in its broad- est sense; prominent and active in ladies' benevolent societies, a great reader, a student of the Bible and thoroughly con- versant with its contents. She was a fine vocalist, and leader in the church choir services, and active at all times in Sunday School work, mothers' society and other Christian meetings.
Mrs. Cone was prepossessing in appearance, possessed great force of character, much personal magnetism, an
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amiable disposition, and rare intelligence. In 1895 her spirit passed calmly and peacefully to its reward. She had re- mained a widow since 1858. Two of the four children consti- tuting the family when they came to Texas died some years ago, one in Texas, and one at Yale College, New Haven, Con- necticut. Two daughters survive her, Mrs. James T. D. Wil- son, with whom Mrs. Cone resided at the time of her demise, and Mrs. Wm. Harvey Sellers.
MRS. S. L. WEATHERFORD .- Rev. John Turner was the moderator of the Baptist Association at the time of his death. He had taken an active part in the organization of the Baptist Church at Weatherford and remained its pastor for seven years. The Turner family were originally from Polk County, Tennessee, and lived near Weatherford previous to the location of the town site. In 1857 Rev. John Turner's daughter, Miss Margaret, married Mr. S. L. Weatherford and it was from a branch of this family that the town subse- quently received its name. At this period a vast wilderness stretched westward beyond the advancing march of civiliza- tion, and here on the border where military companies were formed as a defense against the depredations of the Indians, a fort was located. During the Civil War this fort was occu- pied by Mr. and Mrs. Weatherford and a number of other families. Mr. Weatherford enlisted in the frontier service and was often absent on long and dangerous scouting expe- ditions and his wife thus shared the scenes of western adven- ture. Though possessing a frail physique she was a fearless rider, and an excellent shot, while her calmness and presence of mind were of essential service during those trying situa- tions. She is the devoted mother of seven children. Her home is now in Weatherford.
MRS. G. B. CLEVELAND .- Among the early settlers mentioned by Maj. John Henry Brown in his "History of Dallas County " is Mr. Jacob Baccus, who came from Green County, Illinois, to Texas, in 1845. His daughter, Mrs. Cleveland came with her parents who located in Dallas
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ยท County. Her father's interests were agricultural, and the early years of her life were passed amid rural surroundings enliv- ened by the exciting scenes incident to frontier life. By her first marriage she became the wife of Mr. Garland A. Martin of Collin County. Her second husband, Mr. G. B. Cleveland, a Confederate veteran, is engaged in the mercantile business in Bowie, Texas, where they permanently reside. Mrs. Cleve- land is a member of the Baptist Church. 'She is well pre- served and recounts many interesting reminiscences of the early period.
CHAPTER VI.
MRS. CHARLES BRACHIS-MRS. MARGARET KERR BROWN -MRS. WM. JARVIS RUSSELL-MRS. M. A. BRYAN- MRS. A. J. DIGNOWITY.
MRS. CHARLES BRACHIS exercised much influence in the primitive society of the State. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John M. Ashby, and by her first marriage be- came the wife of Bartholomew A. McClure. They came to Texas in 1851, and located near the town of Gonzales. Mr. McClure became prominent in the affairs of that section of the country, and was a participant in the Texas revolution. He was in the Blanco Valley Indian fight and many other engagements. Upon the retreat of General Houston from Gonzales in 1836, he camped one night at the McClure home- stead, and in the morning made a speech to the people beneath a live oak tree that is still standing in front of the house. He warned the citizens of the danger of remain- ing in the locality, which resulted in the "run away " before the army of Santa Anna. Mrs. McClure made this journey accompanied by her two young sons and as they followed the army she heard the firing of the guns in the battle of San Jacinto, at a locality known as Gregby's Bluff. Mrs. McClure saw the site of Houston surveyed ; at that time it contained one house, a new hut, and a number of tents.
Mr. McClure's death occurred in 1841, and several years later his widow became the wife of Mr. Charles Brachis, who
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was prominent in the political affairs of the country. He was a man of fine mind. He represented Gonzales County in the legislature, was in the Mexican War, and died in 1889 after a useful and well-spent life.
Mr. and Mrs. Brachis have creditable representatives in their daughter, Mrs. H. H. Jones of Dilworth, and a grand- daughter, Mrs. Kennard of Gonzales. Mrs. Brachis had three sisters: Isabella became the wife of the late Gen. Henry E. McCulloch of Seguin; Fannie, wife of Maj. Rodorich Gillhorn of Bighill, Gonzales County; and Euphemia, wife of Maj. William King of Seguin. No one saw more of frontier life than Mrs. Brachis, and she became the chronicler of her own times. She inherited a number of slaves, and kept in a high state of cultivation several leagues of land and the farm on which she lived. She owned a comfortable home where she maintained a liberal hospitality. Faithful and warm in her friendships, kind and benevolent to the poor, she was a bright example of womanly virtues. Her superior mind and character commanded general respect and her practical knowledge of life fitted her for eminent usefulness. During her latter years she lived in rural seclusion and died at the age of eighty-three, October, 1894.
MRS. MARGARET KERR BROWN was born near Danville, Kentucky, March 26, 1783. Her father, Rev. James Kerr, and her mother, Patience Wells, of Maryland, were descended from ancestors who were patriots in the Revolutionary War. Mr. Kerr, who was a Baptist minister, owned large agricul- tural interests, and at his hospitable home his daughter, in her girlhood, was accustomed to meet, as guests of her father, the veteran Gov. Isaac Shelby, the celebrated George Nich- olas, and the then youthful lawyer of Kentucky, Henry Clay. Through life she preserved mementoes of each, and also of Felix Grundy, Gen. George Clark, Daniel Boone, and many other men of famous reputation. In 1795, Margaret Kerr was married to Richard Jones, from Maryland, and in the fall of 1808 the entire family moved to St. Charles County, Missouri, to take possession of a grant of land acquired
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from the Spanish government. There, in 1811, her father died, and the same year her husband was drowned in the Missouri River, leaving his young wife on a frontier exposed at any time to forays from Indians. She had with her three children : Maryland (afterwards Judge Maryland Jones, of Lavaca County, Texas); Sarah, who became the wife of Mr. John Jorden, and as his widow, lived many years in Lavaca County ; Mary, who married Mr. Clinton C. Draper, of Ash- ley, Missouri, and a nephew of her husband; and Richard Jones Hamilton, who became an eminent lawyer and one of the founders of Chicago.
In 1814, Mrs. Jones married Mr. Henry Stevenson Brown, of Madison County, Kentucky, both of whose grand- fathers, Col. Edward Brown and Col. Henry Stevenson, were officers in the Maryland line during the Revolutionary War of 1776. In the winter of 1819, Mr. and Mrs. Brown moved to Pike County, Missouri.
Mr. Henry S. Brown came to Texas in 1824. Later Mrs. Brown came, and after her husband's death, settled on Mus- tang Creek, in what is now Lavaca County. From that time she became identified with all the trials of the then frontier of southwest Texas, a position she was well qualified to fill. Her mind was one of unusual strength and clearness, and her memory was remarkable. She was a great reader, and was gifted by nature as a physician and surgeon, which talent she cultivated when opportunity offered. Many times when there were no physicians in that part of the country she per- formed difficult surgical operations. Skilled in the botany of the country, Mrs. Brown was enabled with little medicine to minister to the sick, often riding long distances on her missions of mercy, frequently taking the sick to her own home and nursing them back to health.
Born of patriotic parents, and identified with Texas from 1824, all Mrs. Brown's impulses were patriotic, as were those of her uncle, Dr. James Kerr, of Jackson County. Her farm lay on the only road that, in 1842, led from La Grange, on the Colorado, to Victoria, on the Guadalupe, so that in those exciting times, many of the volunteer soldiers passing
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her house on their way to the scenes of action were cheered by her hospitality.
Mrs. Brown was ever the friend of those in distress, ever took the part of the oppressed, and when, on April 30, 1861, she died, full of Christian assurance, she having been for years an earnest member of the Baptist Church, it is no wonder that the entire community mourned. No one can read this brief sketch of Mrs. Brown without realizing that many of her characteristics were transmitted to her distin- guished son, Hon. John Henry Brown, the historian.
MRS. WM. JARVIS RUSSELL bore an important part in the State's early history. She was the daughter of Hon. Stilwell Headley, who was for twenty-eight consecutive years a member of the legislature of Kentucky. The family moved to Brazoria, Texas, where Miss Headley was married in 1832 to Captain Russell, who was prominently identified with the struggles of Texas for independence.
It was soon after their marriage that the strife between the colonists and the Mexican authorities began at Anahuac, at the mouth of the Trinity. Captain Russell was among the first to volunteer, and his gentle bride moulded for her hus- band a quantity of bullets, one of which Captain Russell fired at a Mexican soldier on picket duty-the first bullet fired by an American colonist against the soldiery of Mexico. A few days later, June 26, 1832, the famed battle of Velasco was fought, in which the commanders were Capts. John Aus- tin, William J. Russell and Henry S. Brown. A remarkable victory was won and the fort and garrison captured. The ladies of Brazoria, including Mrs. Russell, Mrs. William H. Wharton, Mrs. Josiah H. Bell, and others, gave the victors a cordial reception.
Captain Russell was senator in the congress of the Repub- lic, first from their home in Brazoria, and after 1848, in Fa- yette County, where they had moved, and from which county he was sent to the legislature, and where he was elected chief justice of the county. They moved to Austin in 1871.
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The life of Mrs. Russell, with all its interesting incidents, abounding in acts of charity and evincing splendid woman- hood, would fill a volume. She died in Dallas, at the home of her son, Hon. Stilwell Russell, in 1890. She was at that time a member of the First Methodist Church of Dallas, and the pastor, referring to her death, wrote:
"Those hands so calmly folded Above that pulseless breast, Are the ones that fearless molded, In this far, distant West, The first fleet bullet that was sped, Texas and liberty to wed.
"And God has blessed His child; Blessed her with husband true
And children's loving smile; And as the years swift flew, Apart, the infant State she's seen Walk forth a radiant, peerless queen."
MRS. M. A. BRYAN, the daughter of D. T. Fichett, was originally from Montgomery, Alabama. The family came to Columbia, Texas, in 1836, and their home was the first two-story residence erected in the town. It became the resort of those prominent in intellectual and political influ- ence, and was the scene of a banquet given in honor of Stephen F. Austin, upon his return from Mexico. Mrs. Bryan recalls the incidents of the occasion and of a memorable visit made in company with a number of ladies who called to see Santa Anna. He was at the time a prisoner in the home of Judge McKinstrie. She was in the "runaway scrape."
Their party passed over the battle ground three days before the battle of San Jacinto. Later she was sent to Mobile, Alabama, where she entered the Springhill Seminary, an institution conducted by Madame George. Her early educational advantages resulted in the formation of a liter- ary taste, and in after years her superior culture added to the refining influences of her home, which is now in Houston. Mrs. Bryan contracted a youthful marriage and has long survived her husband, who was a dentist and a pioneer in
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his profession. Her daughters are prominent in educational circles and add to the pleasure of her declining years. She is still remarkable for her energy and progressive thought; is an active member of the Daughters of the Republic, who are at present engaged in improving the old battle ground of San Jacinto. This, it will be remembered, is the special work of the San Jacinto Chapter.
MRS. A. J. DIGNOWITY was born in Wythe County, Virginia, in 1820. She was the eldest daughter of Francis McCann, a native of County Tyrone, Ireland. Her mother was Sarah Cramer, a native of Lancaster County, Pennsyl- vania, and niece of Congressman Cramer. Mr. McCann, was nine years old when he came to America, with his uncle, and settled in Baltimore, Maryland. When a young man he joined the United States army under Capt. Hale Hamilton, fought through the year of 1812, and served as Lieutenant in the battle of New Orleans, under Andrew Jackson. He lived in Little Rock, Arkansas, until 1842, when he moved to the headright given him for his services to his adopted country. Mrs. Dignowity's parents were strict Catholics, and she was educated at the convent of Loretto in Louisville, Kentucky. In her childhood and girlhood she traveled ex- tensively through the wilds of Virginia, Pennsylvania, Mary- land, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Arkansas. She was greatly interested in the study of medicine, though women at that period were not allowed to practice. She studied under Dr. J. Coombs, of Mississippi, and removing to Little Rock, continued to study under Doctors Tucker and Prayther, of Arkansas. Meeting Dr. Wm. Byrd Powell, then president of the Medical College of New Orleans, afterwards State geologist of Arkansas, she studied two years under his tutelage, the reform practice of medicine, Eclectic, then almost in its infancy. In 1843, she was married to Dr. A. M. Dig- nowity, a partner and friend of Doctor Powell.
At the beginning of the Mexican War, 1846, Doctor Dig- nowity enlisted under Governor Yell, of Arkansas, as physi- cian, and came to San Antonio. Mrs. Dignowity remained in
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Little Rock with her parents until December, 1846, when she joined her husband, with masses offered by Archbishop Byrns, and the prayers of the congregation for her safety in that land of wars and desperadoes. When they arrived at the hotel in San Antonio, she found it was a jacal, with flat roof and dirt floors. All the houses were flat with tulle grass or mor- tar roofs, and grate windows. Her husband was on duty at Mission Concepcion, where sixteen companies of soldiers were encamped around the city. When he returned to the hotel for dinner there were over thirty persons present at the table, and seven different languages were spoken. Mrs. Dignowity was the only American lady present. She was introduced to the beautiful Mrs. Glanton, Prince Solms, Don Castro, and several of the United States officers. The next day, and many following, she rode with her husband to the different camps to visit the sick. During that year several of the ladies formed a Spanish class ; Doctor Winchell, who had been pro- fessor in Santa Anna's family, teaching them. The authoress, Augusta Evans, then quite a young girl, was a member of this class. Mrs. Dignowity applied herself studiously. She visited some of the Spanish ladies, joined them at the church during their festivals and fiestas, visited the Pastores, and was much interested, with many others, in watching their devotion, and great display to the honor of the Senora Guadalupe, their great patroness. Later, when German immigrants began pouring into the city, she found it neces- sary to study the German language.
There were frequent difficulties between the Mexicans and Indians, the latter coming to San Antonio to sell or barter their game, honey and bears' grease (the two latter being brought in hides on their Indian ponies). Dr. Dignowity was often called to attend to both adversaries at once; he was constantly occupied during the day and often at night. Many patients were brought into the house-wounded soldiers from the Rio Grande and much of Mrs. Dignowity's time was consumed in caring for the sick and afflicted. At one period when an epidemic threatened the soldiers and immigrants, being well acquainted with the United States officers and the
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Bishops who were there, many of them became her frequent guests ; General Kearney, Doubleday, President Sam. Hous- ton, Pease, Archbishop Lamy, Rev. Anthony Bole, Odin, and many of the officers of early days. Gov. Yell, of Arkan- sas, she knew well; also, Gov. Sam. Houston. In days of peace they visited the Missions ; often, after Concepcion was used as a stable, Mrs. Dignowity greatly deplored this dese- cration and afterwards the vandalism of tourists in breaking off and taking away the lovely decorative work in the old Missions, that should have been held sacred as works of art, for they were not at that time in a dilapidated condition. Every flower, leaf, fruit, figure and face were in perfect preser- vation. After 1862 many families made their homes in and around the Missions, the grand old relics that are rapidly going to ruin.
Dr. Dignowity was a strong Union man and at the begin- ning of the Civil War was exiled from San Antonio. The sons have always adhered to their father's principles.
Mrs. Dignowity attended the sick and afflicted, of both North and South during the Civil War. Going to and from neighboring ranches they had many narrow escapes from the Indians. She has passed through two wars, and two sieges of the cholera.
For the last twenty years, she has traveled extensively throughout the United States, and has found no State, or place, more desirable than Texas and San Antonio. She is surrounded by a large number of children and grandchildren and is happy in being useful to those she loves and who need her kindly offices. Though past the meridian of life, being seventy-five years of age, she attends to the business con- nected with her estate, and a few years ago when Mrs. Gen. D. S. Stanley entertained President Harrison at Fort Sam. Houston, Mrs. Dignowity was one of the reception commit- tee, adding grace and culture to the coterie of charming women assembled in honor of the occasion.
Mrs. Dignowity is noted for her artistic taste and talent. From the judges of the International State Fair, and the State Art Association, she has received two gold medals for
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art work and carving, one diploma, one honorable mention, and fifteen premiums from the different departments in San Antonio.
CHAPTER VII.
MRS. CHARLES FORDTRAN-MRS. SHAPLEY P. ROSS- MRS. JOHN J. LINN-MRS. JACOB C. DARST.
MRS. CHARLES FORDTRAN came from Detroit, Michigan, to Texas with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Brookfield, who were among the early pioneers of the State. Mrs. Brookfield, formerly Miss Laliet, the daughter of a French nobleman, was a lady of cultivation and accomplishments. Her intellectual gifts were transmitted to her daughter Almeida, whose mental faculties were developed in an atmos- phere of refined influences. She possessed a voice of excep- tional sweetness and it was her mother's care that it should be properly trained. Her marriage to Mr. Charles Fordtran occurred in 1834, and the remainder of her life, a period of fifty-three years, was passed in Austin County. Their home, near the town of Industry, was known as the Castle of Indolence, and at that time was considered an improved country seat. This abode was made charming by the cheer- ful disposition and genial kindness of its mistress, and here were entertained a continual succession of visitors. Among other guests were Prince Solms, Count Joseph Boos-Wal- deck, and other gentlemen, who were identified with the romantic and chivalrous era of New Braunfels. In early life Mrs. Fordtran was noted for her beauty, elegant manners and social qualities, which gave her a ruling influence. She acted a nobler part in life than that of minister to its fleeting pleasures, for she was charitable and freely gave to those in need, assistance and counsel. She enjoyed the solace of age to round out her experience and harmonize her char- acter. Her death occurred in 1887. Her husband, who has reached the age of ninety-five, survives her, and they have many descendants.
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