Presidents Message from OPHGR

This Newsletter #4 completes our first year of publications for our group. We hope you have enjoyed the stories and facts that were printed in these four issues as much as we enjoyed collecting and transcribing the data.

Please check out our new website and see all the changes we are making at www.ophgr.com The company that bought Ancestry is making a lot of changes and in the near future will be putting rootsweb's free web sites on their pay-for-view system. We made the decision to join Texas Gen Web and U S Gen Web by getting our own domain web site. Our purpose is to keep providing FREE research and information on the internet.

Please note that the articles in our Newsletters are taken from Newspapers, courthouse records and written by members of OPHGR. If you find words misspelled in these articles, please be advised that we transcribe each document as written. The articles are proofed twice before publication.

Bonham Daily Favorite
Bonham, Texas
10 Aug 1935

Copied from Newspaper Morgue on
25 February 2000
Obituary of William Carroll Finley son of William Thomas -great uncle of Patsy
Submitted by: Patsy Finley Vinson
Valuable Citizen Lost in Death of
Willie C. Finley

With the passing away of Willie C. Finley at his home, North Main street, at 1:30 o'clock this morning, Bonham loses one of her most valuable and useful citizens.

Mr Finley had been confined to his bed for several weeks and his death therefore was not unexpected. He maintained his optimistic and hopeful spirit until the very last hour.

Funeral rites will be held Sunday afternoon at 4 o'clock at the First Methodist church, with Rev. C. L. Bowen in charge, and burial will be at Willow Wild cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be: W. E. Newton, George Keene, W. F. Keeton, Arnold Englander, Deets Dorough and Charlie Jones. Honorary: A. A. Beasley, H. A. McDougal, Albert McDonald and members of Board of Stewards of First Methodist Church.

Mr. Finley was 54 years of age. He was born in Orangeville, Fannin county, and moved with his parents to Ravenna community where he lived until his election as county tax assessor in 1906, which position he filled very acceptably for four years. He was a high class Christian gentleman, and in every activity–religious, civic or business, he always sought to render the very highest type of service. He was a distinct optimist and always had a cheerful smile and a hearty handclasp for everyone. He enjoyed a joke, even at his own expense and very few of his friends ever got the best of him. This community is better for Willie having passed this way. His memory will long live as a refreshing spot in the lives of his friends and acquaintances.

Mr. Finley was a life-time member of the Methodist church. He gave liberally of his means and served the church as a member of the Board of Stewards of the First Methodist Church, superintendent of the Sunday School and in other capacities. He was secretary of the Odd Fellows' lodge for 15 years.
Mr. Finley was a successful business man and was identified with various enterprises. In addition to conducting a typewriter and office supply business, he was secretary of the Farmers Mutual Insurance Association for 15 years; secretary of Retail Merchants' Association for several years and assistant secretary-treasurer of National Farm Loan Association for some time. He was also a director of Fannin County Fair Association and Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Finley was the eldest of eleven children and in addition to his widow and father, W. T. Finley of Ravenna is survived by the following sisters: Mrs. J. R. Renfro of Dodd City, Mrs. Albert Barber of Oklahoma City, Mrs. Allie Christian of Purcell, Okla., Mrs. J. R. Horn of Ravennna and Mrs. L. E. Duckworth of Loving, Texas; also four brothers, Tilbert Finley of Bonham; Bud Finley of Stephenville, and George and Oscar Finley of Ravenna, besides other relatives.

Pioneer Women of Texas
by Annie Doom Pickrell
Published by E. L. Steck Company, Austin, TX 1929
Data contributed by:
Mrs. S.J. Smith, Austin, Texas.
Mrs. John LittonBorn
Sarah Standifer

Most things worthwhile in this world come from a tiny thing which we call a seed. When seeds are gathered together and down in a suitable soil, something worthwhile is almost sure to happen. When that something worthwhile has really happened, we are likely to look back proudly to that little bunch of seeds. If any human being connected in any little way with our own line of folks happens to possess just claim that he be numbered with any one bunch of seeds, we are likely to become a bit puffed up over the connection. Today, Texas, with her three million of people looks proudly back to the illustrious three hundred, and many of her people, following the instinct to puff up, state with pardonable pride that his or her forebears were among the people thus numbered. Now, some newcomers into the land may ask for particulars concerning this certain three hundred. Some few descendants of old-timers may need a little information on the subject. They were the three hundred men and women who came to Texas back yonder in 1824 with Stephen Fuller Austin and his first colony.

History, particularly any good history of Texas, will tell you all about the men in that first colony. Volumes concerned with the life of Stephen F. Austin are being written all over our state today. This writing entails much labor and much research, and no man or woman of today would disparage in any way the work of those thus interested in the intrepid colonizer. Spanish grants and ancient land titles, dating back a couple of centuries will show the gift of the league and labor of land to each man who came thus with Austin. Any lawyer, proficient in his business, can trace a land title back to the men among the three hundred who received it first. We are proud of those men, just as we are proud of Austin and his far reaching vision, but we want right now to turn all your attention to two women who started out to do that very same thing.

Elizabeth Standifer, a widow, came from Missouri with that first colony brought by Austin to Texas. Why she took this step, we cannot say. Were it a matter of financial troubles, or disappointment in social matters, it must ever remain a mystery. Moreover, her daughter, Sarah, a young woman, unmarried, elected to come with her, and the two women with five other children, no grown man in any way connected with them to act as a protector, undertook the long perilous journey to Texas in order that they might make for themselves a home in the wilderness.

But before our Sarah could reach Texas, before the young lady, in fact, had reached the number of years commonly ascribed to discretion, at some place in the wilderness, she fell in with John Litton. Said John, the son of Lem Litton and Anne Forrester Litton, had been born in South Carolina in 1812, had gone to Missouri with his parents, had run away from that Missouri home in 1830 to take up his home in Texas with an uncle named Leman Barker. Leman Barker later had married Elizabeth, the mother or our Sarah. One year later, our Sarah became the wife of this John Litton, lately decamped from old Missouri.

And that marriage, true in every way to the characteristics of the bride, had been an outstanding event, even in our day and time. Sarah was married five times, but each time, save the mark, to her own dear John. Neither was Sarah particular as to Protestant or Catholic form. In fact her trouble lay in the fact that neither form of church worship furnished right then in her locality the necessary man to administer the marriage sacrament. The laws of her country changed, too, with every one of its boasted six flags. Determined to obey those laws in every respect, Sarah, therefore, married her John many times. She jumped the broomstick with him, she took a lick of salt another time, and John, believing intensely in Sarah, did each time as he was bidden.

Some years after this marriage was celebrated, Sarah took part in the runaway scrape. Back of a trusty mule, perhaps, or then, perhaps again, in an ox-wagon, but this we do not know. During that hysterical flight from a mistaken sense of danger, Sarah's baby, the first of fourteen children, was born and died.

Along in 1841, on February 6, John Litton received a grant of land from the Republic of Texas, the papers being signed by David G. Burnet, and Thomas William Ward, Commissioner of the General Land Office. On this land, Sarah and her John finally took up their residence, the place being known far and wide as Hog-Eye.

This title is, to say the least, lacking in beauty, both as to sound and suggestion, but as time went on, that settlement became one of importance to the people in that vicinity, a place now known as Elgin. There is a legend connected with its name, true, maybe, false more than likely, but we are told that as time went by young people – and a few old ones - began to dance at this home, the music being furnished by a travelling fiddler, and he knew, alas! but one tune. He could play said tune on most any two strings of his little red fiddle, if so happen the others were missing. He might have, for all we know, ante-dated the famous violinist who delighted his vast audiences with his own composition played entirely on one string. It is pretty nearly certain now that the immortal tune that stimulated the young people in the frolic had been dubbed "Hog-Eye", and the home where the traveller first played it, soon took on the name of the tuneful bit of harmony.

On another spot of ground Litton found an ever-flowing spring. He found as well that deer abounded in the region, so Litton built a platform above the spring, and from this platform the venison was killed, there being many testimonials evan today as to the venison's tastiness. The place is today known as Litton Springs.

But the settlement at Hog-Eye, on the Brenham and Austin road, was a type far different from the lodge established at Litton Springs. A house had been built there, of logs, to be sure, but a woman presided over this place of habitation, and it was not slow to show the effect of such presiding. It was furnished as well as one might expect it to be in a new country, some few things therein reminding Sarah of the old home in Missouri. Slaves, brought from across the border, had multiplied, and had rendered their services. Wild lands had been turned into fields and gardens, furnishing both vegetables and flowers suitable for our Sarah's table. Being near the public highway between Houston and San Antonio, the place became after a time to be known as a "Stage Stand", as the traffic was becoming heavy as the dawn of Texas advances. There the stage horses were changed, there men and women came to wait the arrival of the stage, as little as one would wait the arrival of a railway train in our own day and time. They had there, too, what was known as a family grocery. This emporium was supplied with the necessities of life, all brought in by ox-teams, plying back and forth over that same road. One corner of the store held the bar, over which was dispensed without question the now widely tabooed liquor. And be it said in town a warning to him that would doubt the wisdom of the eighteenth amendment, no matter how earnestly Sarah might speak her woman's warning, many killings took place in that same family grocery, a pint or so of liquor clearly to blame. Before that same bar, Bowie and Crockett and Travis paused many times on their way about the new country, and there is little reason to believe that they failed to enjoy the libation provided for the asking. Bowie stopped there on his way to enter the Alamo, stopped and chatted with Sarah and her husband as men so often chat with no thought of the tragedy that may be lying in wait for them.

In the work incident to maintaining such an establishment, Sarah bore well her part. She managed the slaves that cared for the travellers' comfort. She gradually took entire charge of the fields and gardens. The cattle collected from year to year through her husband's efforts covered apparently the whole face of the earth. They brought the Standifer's gold, too, these cattle, and it was kept in its precious beauty by this thrifty Sarah in the secret locker in the big, old fireplace.

Through all this hard, stirring, active life, Sarah Standifer Litton gave birth to fourteen children. The black mammy was present to help of course, but the real burden of parenthood must always fall on the mother. If Sarah, and we know she recognized this duty, if she ever rebelled against this part of her life, it has been kept from the public eye and ear. We even believed that she went about the task joyfully, happy, contented wife that she was. Her children appreciated her efforts, unfolding like so many little blossoms, snuggling close to the parent stem.

Her love for her children brought Sarah one distressing experience. While she was yet a young woman, when her oldest boy had reached the proud estate of ten years of age, when they were still a little new to the Indian infested country, that oldest lad was stolen by the Indians. Sarah realizing the situation, raised the alarm, using clouds of smoke, blasts from a horn, and her husband in the fields and her friends and neighbors answered the call. All day they scoured the woods, the banks of the streams, keeping a sharp lookout over the prairie stretching in between. A thousand visions floated through that mother's mind. Mindful of tales of Indian atrocities and Indian outrages, those visions were visions of torture. That boy's face, usually bright and merry, wore in that mother's eyes the pinched white agony of suffering and the other children, crowded tearfully about her, were but ready to be carried off, in her tortured mind, when the brutes should appear on the morrow. And then with the sun sinking in its unfeeling glory, with aching eyes still scanting that prairie stretching in golden light before her, Sarah saw two Indians coming to her door, two of them, and in between them they bore her son. Tortured! Not a bit of it. His eyes alight with the spirit of adventure, his smile beaming upon her, his mother, he made his low bow before her, dressed, if you please, in a suit of deerskin, to all appearances made new for him in a day, and dotted before and behind with beads as only Indians know how to dot things! Friendly Indians, a whole tribe of them living near her, and Sarah had not known about it!

In 1857, John Litton was stricken with what is now commonly called appendicitis. The doctor called in proceeded after the manner of the day to bleed his patient, and the patient lost his life as the result. The blow fell heavily upon Sarah. She had come with her mother to Texas, had braved the trials of a new country along, but for twenty-eight years she had been the wife of a good man and true. She had learned the value of real companionship, and Sarah's heart rebelled at the thought of thus giving up with life still young for both of them. Distressed, well nigh broken hearted, Sarah but doubled her efforts for the sake of her family, and she, a lone woman in this still raw, unsettled country, raised all of her fourteen children.
The life of this rather remarkable woman may be summed up thus. She was a matter of fact, plain-spoken woman. Her education had been limited as many another woman's has been limited by the want of advantages in the environment in which life had placed her. She possessed, however, a keen mind, a quick mind. She took a matter as it was laid before her and studied it and sifted it until she reached conclusions satisfactory to herself. Through these conclusions she was able to gather about her no mean amount of property, and continued as long as she lived to manage this property and that acquired in connection with her husband. She escaped the snuff-stick, but she sat her down once a day and smoked her clay-pipe, deriving apparently, the same comfort therefrom that one sees today on the face of the lord of creation when similarly employed.

She knew little, perhaps, of the dainty ways of the women drifted hither from the cultured parts of old Virginia. Her life had never known the ease, the manner that follows the possession of wealth from generation unto generation. She had spent little time in the dance, in the frolic, in the gay, light-heartedness to which youth should be justly heir, but her stern integrity, her dauntless courage, her undying loyalty to her family and her country have left their enduring mark upon her children and her children's children.

Legal Term

Consanguinity--The relation of persons who descended from common ancestors; blood relationship; kinship

Texas Wesleyan Banner
Excerpts
1850

15 May 1850
Information Wanted:
Of Samuel Smith, a large land holder, who is supposed to have died in Texas in 1839 or 1840. Any information respecting such a person or his estate will be thankfully received by James Reid of Thompsonville, NC.

19 Jun 1850
An explosion on board the steamer "St. Louis" from New Orleans Crescent, on second trip from New Orleans to St. Louis while under quarantine near St Louis on 28 May. Those badly scalded were: Christian Hall, Jno. Williams, Peter Hacker, Harriet Smith, John Smith, Margaret Cerlus, Michael Carpenter, John Lease and wife, Mrs. Oberdine and child, Margaret Neal, Mrs. Rickman, D. Kiloummin and child and a slave owned by Mr. McClure.

17 Aug 1850
Information wanted of Rev. Jonathan Owens, Baptist preacher, formerly of Tennessee, late of Missouri. He married Elizabeth Knox, daughter of John and Elizabeth Knox of Ray County, Tennessee. He is about 48 years of age, and is supposed to live at this time, somewhere in the state of Texas. Any person knowing anything of him or his family, will do me a great favor to write to Dr. E. Know, Bath, Illinois. Signed by E. Knox.

24 Aug 1850
Lost
My headright certificate for one-third of a league of land, granted to me by the Board of Land Commissioners of Washington County, No. 34 and dated Feb. 1, 1838. If not found, I shall apply to the proper officers for a duplicate of the same. R. Crawford 24 August 1850

14 Sept 1850
Information Wanted
I have come to Texas in search of my brother, John C. Morrison, who emigrated here about 20 years since. He was born in Scotland, reared in North Carolina, Richmond County; and if alive, was 55 years old last February. I am now a lonely widow and would be ever grateful for the person who would give me any information in relation to my brother, addressed to me, to the care of T. B. J. Hadley, Esq., Houston, Texas September 7, 1850 Christian Smith

25 Jan 1851
Information Wanted

The undersigned is anxious to learn the residence of this sister, Mrs. Caroline Pungree, who lives somewhere in Texas. Any person who will inform the editor of the Texas Wesleyan Banner of her residence will confer a special favor. Signed: W. G. Ermul, Danville, Va. Dec. 31, 1805

Texas Wesleyan Banner
Deaths
1850
William Jones died 20 February 1850 on steamer "Jack Hays", Trinity River, Liberty, Texas in Anderson County. Buried in Palestine 24 March 1850.

Lucy Jane, daughter of Rev. H. S. And Amanda Thrall age 7 mo. died 21 April 1850 in Galveston, Texas of whooping cough.

Isaac C. Wade, postmaster in Houston died 20 April 1850 age 42 years of pulmonary infection.

Master John Dunn died 22 April 1850 of inflammatory rheumatism.

Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, Washington County, Texas died 17 July 1850, age 26 years.

Betty R. Durst, wife of Major James H. Durst of Linnwood, Cherokee County, formerly Miss Culp of Paris, Tennessee died 25 June 1850.

John A. Shelby, formerly of Dallas County, Texas died 6 July 1850 in Sacramento City, California of typhus fever.

Texas Wesleyan Banner
1850-1851
Marriages
10 April 1850
Harris County, Texas

Thomas W. Bundick to Clementine Schulze by Rev. C. Goldberg

28 April 1850
Jacksonville, Washington County, Texas
G. W. Girard to Mrs. Sarah Ann Jenkins by Rev. Rufus C. Burleson

9 May 1850 (Thursday)
Matagorda, Texas
Wm. B. Royall to Medora Youngblood, daughter of Mrs. Elizabeth Kennon.

27 May 1850
Houston, Texas
Chauncey B. Sabin to Mary A. Hamblin by Rev. John W. Phillips

25 April 1850
Ellis County, Texas
Marcellous T. Hawkins, Esq. to Amanda Newlon by Rev. D. W. Wright

2 Jun 1850
Upshur County, Texas
Dr. Napoleon B. Ellis to Sarah E. B. Fisher, daughter of Rev. O. Fisher of Washington County, Texas. They were married at residence of Rev. R. B. Wells in Washington County.

20 Jun 1850
Ellis County, Texas
David P. Fearis to Margaret E. Barker by Rev. D. W. Wright

18 Aug 1850
Double Wedding Ceremony
Harris County, Texas
Henry Vincent to Mrs. Mary S. Allen and
Edward J. Bonzano of Columbus, Texas to Mary E. Mason of Houston, Texas by Rev. John W. Phillips

12 Oct 1850
Leon County, Texas
Col. W. B. F. Gaines of Brazoria County to Miss E. G. Harris, Navarro County at the residence of Maj. John Durst by Rev. A. M. Addison.

31 October 1850
Washington County, Texas
Benjamin Reaville to Elizabeth Welch by Rev. L. D. Bragg at the residence of Wm. Chappel, Esq.

1 Jan 1851
Fort Bend County, Texas
James F. Dyer to Sarah C. Barnett by Rev. Samuel Johnson at the residence of T. M. Gray

15 Jan 1851
Houston, Texas
Osborn Thompson to Mrs. Caroline Purcell
by Rev. S. B. Camerson ........(to be cont')

More information about the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry and the Red River Campaign. These accounts are from different reports and vary in the number of men killed, missing or wounded.
++++++++

Battle of Poison Spring
14 miles West of Camden, Arkansas
Source: www.geocities.com/Pentagon/1117/poison.html
Transcribed and Submitted by:
Mary Ganey

Steele's army included some 13,000 men, 9,000 horses and mules, 800 wagons and 30 pieces of Artillery. Supplying this army was proving to be a major problem. Steele later wrote that his supplies were nearly exhausted and so was the country. With men on half-rations for almost 3 weeks, it was almost impossible to enforce the commander's orders against unauthorized foraging.

On April 17, 1864, a train of 198 wagons was sent westward along the upper Washington Road to collect corn and other foodstuffs. After loading the wagons with corn, they camped 18 miles west of Camden. At sunup they began the march to Camden. Soon, they received reinforcements bringing the total force to 875 infantry (including the First Kansas Colored). 90 cavalry troopers, and a four gun battery of artillery including two mountain howitzers, and two rifled cannons.

The Confederates, observing this movement, gathered some 3100 cavalry, and 8 cannon under Brigadier Generals Samuel B. Maxey and John S. Marmaduke. The enemy was met about 14 miles west of Camden at a place called Poison Spring. The Confederates under Maxey blocked the Union Advance and together he and Marmaduke attacked the front and south flanks of the long forage train.

Several times the Federals tried to make a stand, only to be pushed back beyond the stalled train. After a fierce battle, including a furious charge by a regiment of Confederate Choctaw Indians, the Federals broke in rout
and were pursued for about 2 miles. The train was stalled along present day Highway 79 on the south side of the state park. Fighting took place along both sides of the road.

The Confederates captured the four cannons, complete with limbers and caissons, 170 wagons (the others being burned) and teams, took over 100 prisoners, and buried 181 Federal troup. According to a Southern officer, the wagons contained:

....corn, bacon, stolen bed quilts, women's and children's clothing, hogs, geese and all the et ceteras of unscrupulous plunder.

301 Union soldiers were listed as killed or missing. Additionally, the loss created much indignation in the Union camp as well as aggravating the critical supply situation. Confederate losses were relatively small with 111 killed, wounded, or missing. The victory of Poison Spring, along with the arrival of General E. Kirby Smith with three infantry divisions, and the report of the defeat of Union General Banks in Louisiana, raised Confederate hopes that they could cut off the supply lines and capture the entire Union army.

More information about the battles that lead to the battle of Jenkins' Ferry and the Red River Campaign

Battle of Marks' Mills
Near Camden, Mount Elba
east of Fordyce, Arkansas
Transcribed and Submitted by:
Mary Ganey

On April 20, a Union supply train from Pine Bluff, Arkansas arrived with 10 days half-rations. On April 23, Confederate General Shelby crossed the Ouachita River to raid Union supply routes. The following day General Fagan learned that the Union supply train had left Camden under heavy guard, returning to Pine Bluff.

Fagan immediately selected a crack force of four brigades of cavalry and set off to intercept this prize. After a forced march of 52 miles, he crossed the Ouachita River at Moro Bay and headed north toward the junction of the Camden, Mount Elba and Pine Bluff roads (near the present junction of Highways 8 and 97 east of Fordyce, Arkansas). The Union wagon train included 240 government wagons and a number of private vehicles. It was guarded by three full regiments of infantry, 240 cavalry, and 4 pieces of artillery, in all some 1600 men, not including the First Iowa Cavalry which remained out of the battle.

Using tactics similar to those employed at Poison Spring, the Confederates blocked the Union advance, then, around 9:30 AM, attacked the flank of the wagon train. The battle lasted 5 hours with the main unit of Confederates entering the battle dismounted and in piece meal order, then the mounted Missourians charged from the north and mounted Arkansans from the South, sealing the fate of the Federal force. The Confederates successfully subdued the two lead Union regiments then the rear guard and finally scattered 500 veterans of the 1st Iowa who were marching a few miles behind the main column en-route on home furlough.

About 1600 Union troops were engaged in battle against 2500 Confederates. Union losses could not have been less than 1300, the majority being captured. Southern losses were fewer than 500 including those slightly wounded. The victors found themselves with the entire train, some 1500 horses and mules, private vehicles, ambulances, four guns, and valuable official reports concerning Steele's army.

More information about the battles that lead to the battle of Jenkins' Ferry and the Red River Campaign

The Battle of Jenkins' Ferry
as reported by both Confederate
and Union General

In Camden, General Steele had to decide what was to be done before his command was immobilized by a breakdown in transportation and the consumption of his few remaining supplies. There seemed to be but one alternative to starvation and capture-an immediate retreat to Little Rock.

Early on April 26, 1864, Steele slipped out of Camden toward Little Rock. He chose to follow the Camden Trail which crossed the Saline River at Jenkins' Ferry. The road was built before 1836 and served as one of the five main or "trunk roads" in Arkansas.

By 9 AM on April 27, upon learning that Steele had left Camden, the Confederate Army, under Generals E. Kirby Smith and Sterling Price, occupied the city and headed north after the Union column. If a Confederate force could get ahead of Steele and cut him off before he reached the Jenkin's Ferry on the Saline River, perhaps the entire army could be destroyed.

On April 29, 1864, after three days of forced marching through heavy rains, Steele arrived in Sandy Springs (now the community of Leola). Here he found formidable opposition, not from the approaching Confederates, but from the flooded river which lay in his path:

On either side of the Saline River was a low, marshy swamp covered in varying depths of water. Rain had been falling for several hours and the road which followed Cox Creek to the river was a sea of mud.

The river was rising rapidly and Cox Creek was bank full. On either side of the swamp, ridges of high ground provided a sense of security before plunging onto the muddy road below.

Colonel Aldoph Engleman, a Union brigade Commander, described the area in his diary:

The ground, with the exception of an open field near the road, was a majestic forest growing out of the swamp which was very difficult to pass through on horseback, the infantry being most of the time in the water up to their knees.

Confederate General Mosby M. Parsons wrote:

The road descended from the high lands to the valley of the Saline River. To the front was a plowed field about a quarter of a mile square which was flanked on the south and east by heavy timber. Still farther to the front and about a quarter of a mile was another field about the same dimension as the first, an intervening strip of woods separating the two. This field, as the first, was bounded on the south and east all the way to the river by heavy woods and wet marshes.

It was into this swamp that Steele's ill-fated wagon train was forced to enter. An India rubber pontoon bridge was set up at the ferry site and the army began to cross, one wagon at a time. Because of the heavy weight of the wagons and the poor condition of the road, the train bogged down in the mire stretching all the way from Sandy Springs to the river. Despite this difficulty, Steele managed to get his cavalry, artillery, and most of his wagons across the Saline River by 8 AM. It was at this point that the Confederates arrived on the scene.

Steele immediately sent his men back down the Camden Trail to the rear of the slowly moving train to engage the enemy. The Battle of Jenkins' Ferry had begun.

R. M. Rogers, a Confederate soldier who later became treasurer of Grant County, remembers his April 30th encounter with Steele's Federals:

Our army had reached a small house about two miles from Jenkins' Ferry. This is known as the Jiles Farm. We were ordered into a line of battle. This gave an opportunity for reflection. My thoughts went back to my childhood. When these thoughts passed through my mind I then thought of my present condition, a poor soldier worn out by fatigue of hard marching through heavy rain, mud and water without a moment's rest, suffering from hunger, now standing in battle rank waiting for orders to move into a dreadful battle. Tears came streaming down my cheeks. I could restrain my feelings no longer. Just as we were about to move forward I took a small piece of old bread for my breakfast and marched down into that dreadful conflict.

Steele's rear guard collided with Smith's Confederates in the Jiles' Field. The Confederates launched a series of violent but piecemeal attacks along the entire Federal line. As the train slowly moved across the pontoon bridge at Jenkins' Ferry, the battle moved from field to field along the Camden Trail toward the Saline River.

Lieutenant Colonel Aldoph Dingler of the 43rd Illinois reported the action:

We poured volley after volley into the thick masses of the enemy. After firing had lasted some half on (sic) hour, the smoke became so dense, waving like a thick fog between the dark trees over the swampy ground, that it was impossible to see anything at a distance of 20 yards.

Colonel John A. Garrett of the 40th Iowa Infantry described the battle on the part of the Union Army:

I moved my command forward against the advancing Confederates; the line now advancing, making short halts, then moving forward. After advancing a short distance we began to pass over the enemy dead. My men moved right on with a shout, pouring a well-directed fire on the retreating enemy. My men, out of cartridges, now resupplied themselves from boxes brought in on horseback which they opened with their boyonets(sic). The battle was fought in a swamp covered by a heavy forest. Mud and sheets of water were everywhere.

My men held their ground, firing from 60 to 200 rounds each. I may state that my men had drawn no bread for five days. They had a coffee supper on the night of the 29th and a coffee breakfast.

As Smith's Confederates continued to push down the Camden Trail through the muddy woods, they met stubborn resistance. A Confederate private with Walker's Texas Division related:

An incessant roar of musketry prevailed for about six hours. During this time the tide of battle ebbed and flowed, now advancing then retreating, but at no time did the ground fought over vary more than about 250 yards. Owing to the dense fog and dense clouds of smoke which hung in the thick woods, many times opposing lines could only be discovered by the flash of their muskets.

Had we received reinforcements we could have destroyed the entire train and perhaps have captured the entire army. The Federal troops fought well and were handled in a masterly manner.

It was in the Jiles, Cooper and Kelley fields that both sides sustained most of their casualties. Generals as well as privates fell on both sides. Confederate Brigadier General William R. Scurry fell on the field. Colonel and acting brigade commander Horace Randal, Colonel Hiram Lane Grinstead of the 33rd Arkansas Infantry, and Union General Samuel A. Rice were mortally wounded.

A Confederate private remembered the battlefield after the fighting ceased:

After the battle a detail of men were employed in burying the dead. Armed with shovel, pick ax, and spade they proceeded albng (sic) the road to complete this mournful task which the enemy was unable to accomplish.

The ground was thickly strewn with ghastly, mangled forms. It was almost too horrible for human endurance. No conception of the imagination, no power of human language could do justice to such a horrible scene.

The Union Army, by this time, had managed to cross the river at Jenkins' Ferry. Steele destroyed his India rubber pontoon bridge and floated it down the river. Unfortunately, the bottom on the north side of the river was worse and the train promptly bogged down again. The Confederates were unable to immediately cross the river giving Steele needed time for his retreat.

By abandoning those wagons stuck in the mud, the train managed to reach the security of the high ground north of the river. Moving hurriedly from the high ground toward Little Rock, Steele ordered all unnecessary baggage destroyed. Wagons, ammunition, clothing and other supplies were dumped along the road. Whenever a wagon was fired or struck, most all of its contents were thrown into the water and mud.

A veteran of the Jenkins Ferry battle remembered this phase of the expidition:(sic)

All along the road for miles were burning wagons, their contents thrown over a wide area. If all the cartridges that were sown that day should bear fruit, even sixty-fold, there would never be peace anymore.

Despite Confederate resistance and the poor conditions of the road, the Union Army arrived in Little Rock on May 3rd. General Steele was now out of danger, but he had paid a high price for the consolation. He had lost 635 wagons, 2,500 horses and mules, and 2,750 casualties in the campaign. He had employed about 4,000 men in the Battle of Jenkin's Ferry. Of those about 800 were killed or wounded.

The Red River Expidition (sic) was over. The Arkansas and Louisiana phases had been failures. Banks was pushed back into Louisiana and Steele was driven back in Arkansas. The Southwest region of Arkansas remained in Confederate hands until the end of the war.

 

 

Mason Memories
Ranch Roots Lie in Hill Country
By Jerry Lackey
Taken from "Mason County News"
Volume 133, Number 05
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Submitted by: Mary Ganey, OPHGR

2008 is the 150 year anniversary of Mason ,TexasReprinted by permission of author, and San Angelo Standard-Times.

Gottlieb Brandenberger, born in Canton Bern, Switzerland, first came to America by way of Indiana and decided to go west to California.

He had heard about the German settlements in the Texas Hill Country dating back to the mid-1840s, and he returned to Texas and bought 320 acres of land in 1856, two years before Mason County was created from Bexar.

In the ensuing years, Gottlieb would add more that 10,000 acres to his ranch in southern Mason County where he raised cattle, sheep, hogs and corn.

Herbert Loeffler's Panther Creek Ranch contains 355 acres of the original land Brandenberger purchased in 1882.

Standard-Times: How did your family get into ranching?

Herbert Loeffler: My great-great-grandfather, Gottlieb Brandenberger, acquired 320 acres of land in 1856. The land which I inherited from my parents, Lee Roy and Anna Louise Kidd Loeffler, was purchased in 1882.

What keeps you in the business?

My wife, Debi and I are enjoying the quiet lifestyle of the country. I retired from the Federal Land Bank after 34 years.

What's the most unique feature of the ranch?

The flat-top hill where we built our home when we retired to the ranch. We can see for miles. My mother and dad's house where my brother, Lee Roy Jr., and I grew up is down the way. We have converted it to a guest house, which our hunters use. Otherwise, the nearest house is five miles away. We sit on the porch during the summer and watch the deer.

How have you diversified the operation?

The ranch was leased out after my parents died and I was living in Brownwood working for the Land Bank. When I took over in 2000, I bought a bulldozer and tried to control the persimmon, catclaw, prickly pear, etc. I want to get the old grasses back on the range such as bluestem, switch grass and eastern grama grass.

I want to get quail back in production. The turkeys have come back and I don't think the deer ever left. There are plenty of deer.

What's the history of the family brand?

My brand is a joined H L. Each generation had their own brand, starting with Gottlieb Brandenberger, a backward C with a bar between a C: James Brandenberger, -7, and mother and dad, S1.

Gottlieb Brandenberger earned extra money by hauling freight for the government to various forts after buying his first land in the Hill Country in 1856. During the Civil War, he hauled cotton to the Mexican border and brought back ammunition and war supplies for the Confederacy. He served in the Second Frontier Defense Brigade during the Civil War.

In 1865, he donated land in the small community of Hilda for the construction of a church and school.

Brandenberger married Maria Bierschwale. They had six children: John, George, Frank, Milda, James and Sophia.

James Brandenberger married Martha Leifeste and they had five children: Ida, Walter, Milton, Myrtle and Viola.

Ida Brandenberger married Ed Loeffler. They had five children: Lee Roy, Melvin, Grace, Geneive and Blan. Lee Roy and wife, Anna Louise Kidd, had two sons, Lee Roy, Jr. and Herbert Wayne.

Herbert and Debi Loeffler have four children: Lisa Loeffler Cupps, Lee Burton Loeffler, Landon Arlis Loeffler and Ali Reeves. They have four granddaughters and two grandsons.

Other parcels of the Brandenberger homestead have been passed down through several generations during 100-plus years. All the different properties have been recognized in the Texas Department of Agriculture's Family Land Heritage Program.

Milton Brandenberger's descendents operate the original 320 acres acquired in 1856. It is 15 miles southeast of Mason on Ranch Road 783.

George's son, Charles Brandenberger, acquired the title in 1923 to 2,016 acres of land his grandfather Gottlieb had purchased in 1881. Charles' sister, Meta Brandenberger Brannies was the next owner. Today, the land, 13 miles southeast of Mason on Schep Creek Road, is owned by a great-great grandson of the founder, George Brannies.

George Brannies, chairman of the Mason Nation Bank board, raises Brangus cattle and Quarter horses on the original 1,392 acres that was passed down through his family.

 

Roane County, Tennessee
Chancery Records
Abstracted by Mrs. Ernest Hutcherson
Rockwood, Tennessee
Submitted by: Mary Ganey, OPHGR

Pages 65-71 June Term 1825:
John Walker VS Samuel Bennett.

John Walker made bond with Gideon Morgan his security, to prosecute his case, 24 Dec. 1822.

To the Honorable the Chancellor for the Second Judicial Circuit of the State of Tennessee setting in Knoxville...your Orator John Walker a citizen of McMinn County (Tenn.)...about Nov. 1819 he was in the city of Washington (D.C.)...fell in with a man by the name of Tennison...was induced to go to a gambling house kept by one Samuel Bennett...said Bennett and your Orator gambled together at a game called "fair play"...your Orator had but little knowledge of the game...(Bennett won all of his money and $100 he loaned Walker...executed a note dated 23 Nov. 1819, Bennett agreed to take property...has offered to pay in property which was refused...Bennett brought suit in county court of Knox County (Tenn.)...obtained judgment for $274.36...(levied on Walker's property and directed Sheriff of McMinn County to receive only gold and silver)...was a stranger in Washington at the time his money was swindled...knew no person by whom he could make proof...unacquainted with the Christian name of said Tennison...prays a subpoena commanding said Bennett to appear...Chancery Court to be held at Knoxville...
Exhibit "A" in the case was the note dated 23 Nov. 1819 for $234 signed
his
Major John X Walker
mark

Answer of Samuel Bennett filed in the Supreme Court at Knoxville...he supposed the note marked Exhibit "A" is a true copy of the note executed by said Walker...but that said note was executed at Calhoun in the State of Tennessee and was given for money loaned...at the City of Washington for the purpose of paying his tavern Bill and bearing his expenses home as said Walker told this Defendant he was without money...note not given for gambling consideration...Some time after he passed through this Country to attend the land sales in Alabama...called on said Walker at Calhoun and then settled with him and took an Indian Pony at sixty dollars...left balance of $234 for which he took said Walker's note...Respondent states he was not at the city of Washington in November 1819 nor for some months before nor has he been since..
Samuel Bennett swore to the above before James Park (JP) in Knox County, 21 Feb. 1824 and signed, Saml Bennett.

The decree handed down by the Honorable Jacob Peck, one of the Judges of the Supreme Courts & setting (sic) at Kingston, Tennessee...Complainant was drawn in by the defendant in a state of intoxication to gamble...won that and much more from him gambling unfairly..hereby perpetually enjoined and stayed from the collection of the judgment...said Samuel Bennett...pay costs of case...

Pages 72-78 June Term 1825:
John Goddard VS Matthew Russell

John Goddard made bond with Wm. Campbell and William Goddard his security, to prosecute his case, filed in the Supreme Court of Errors and Appeals for the Second Circuit Court held at Knoxville, 7 Nov. 1820.

...Orator John Goddard of the county of Knox, (Tenn.)...early in 1818 your Orator and a certain Jonathan Pickle descended the rivers Holston* and Tennessee to what is now the State of Alabama with a quantity of Indian corn...Pickle had been previously in that Country, and had promised a quantity of corn to a certain L. Vaughn who then resided and still resides there. (At Gunter's landing they found Matthew Russell)...of the county aforesaid who had likewise descended the river with corn. (Vaughn desirous of the corn for himself and a certain Martin Mead) who lived about thirty miles from the place...(Vaughn without funds to buy, they reluctantly agreed to sell on credit and he to be hauling away while they sold to any with ready money.)....(Russell, making his own decision, also decided to sell to Vaughn and Mead. Mead refused to sign the notes. While Pickle went to another place on other business they agreed to make the notes to him and divide later.) Orator...
afterwards to wit 18th of April 1818...being about to return to Alabama Country, Russell brought said notes to him...to endeavor to collect...(Russell was given a due bill for his part, $303.50, dated 18 April 1818)...unable to collect said monies...Matthew Russell has instituted an action of debt upon said due bill...

John Goddard swore to the above before Edw. Scott, Judge, 4 Nov. 1820.

Answer of Matthew Russell...that he did descend the river with a boat load of corn, that he was cribbing the same about 2000 bushels a little below Gunter's landing...Complainants arrived with corn...after staying their boats at Gunter's landing...Pickle went on with cidar (sic) and apples to Ditto's landing...there finding that from the Contractors to Jackson's Army then on their way to Florida, he could get a good price in cash for his corn, returned back and proposed to this Respondent to fill his agreement with Vaughn and Mead...the notes from Vaughn were put into his hands...(a due bill to be given later)...denied that it depended on any collection from Vaughn as Goddard claims...believes Vaughn and Complainant were about or had entered into some kind of partnership in merchandising...

Matthew Russell swore to the above, before Hugh Brown, clerk and master, 20 Nov. 1820.

The decree was given at Chancery Court in Roane County, 9 June 1825, before the Honorable Jacob Peck, Chancellor. Mathew Russell won the suit.

* The river was called Holston down to present Lenoir City, in Loudon County, the confluence with the Little Tennessee River.

Roane County, Tennessee,
Chancery Records

Pages 79-91 June Term 1825:
Samuel McConnell and Woody Jackson VS John McGhee and Charles McClung.

Samuel McConnell of McMinn County, Tenn. made bond with Thomas Brown of Roane County, Tenn. his security, to prosecute his suit, 9 Sept. 1823.

To the Honorable John Haywood, Robert White, William L. Brown and Jacob Peck esquires, Judges of the Supreme Court of Errors and Appeals for the State of Tennessee, or any one of them when sitting in a Court of Chancery for the Second Judicial Circuits of said State at Knoxville.

...Orator Samuel McConnell and Woody Jackson of the county of Oglethorp and State of Georgia, Merchants in Partnership trading...name of Jackson & McConnell... Samuel McConnell purchased of ...John McGhee of the county then of Blount and now of the county of Monroe (Tenn.) and ... Charles McClung of the county of Knox, (Tenn.) ... the following quarter sections of land... in Highwassee District...(descriptions in townships, etc., entries made and certificates obtained from the state of numbers 166, 167, 168,169, 171 each of 160 acres except one of 155 acres, all dated 11 Nov. 1820, a total of 795 acres. Much about price per acre and down payment, notes for part and a $1 profit per acre.)...Orators executed notes with Abraham Heard of McMinn County their security. (One section of land was owned jointly by John McGee, C. McClung, John Calloway and Joseph Calloway, the note for which was endorsed on the back to be divided between these men.)...all of said five pieces of land lies joining each other at and below the Couasaga creek and on the Hiwassee River and a large proportion of the same at and within the bounds of the land claimed by John Hildebrand as a reservation which was listed and entered with the Superintendent of Cherokee affairs on the 3rd day of Nov. 1818 in pursuance of the treaty of 1817 commonly called Jackson's treaty as a reservation....copy of which your Orator pray may be taken as part of this bill...and that the said John Hildebrand was at the time he entered for a reservation residing upon the place claimed...still resides upon it...John McGhee and Charles McClung at the time they purchased...well knew that Hildebrand claimed..reservation...in right of his children by a Cherokee woman...Hildebrand had brought an action of ejection against your Orators...pending in Circuit Court of Knox County...(McGhee and Mc Clung had taken action on the notes in County Court of McMinn County against Abraham Heard, their Security)...instituted and prosecuted their suits to judgment against Abraham Heard and his legal Representatives he having departed this life pending said suits...

Samuel McConnell swore to the above before Nath'l W. Williams, one of the Judges of the Courts of Law and Equity for Tennessee now presiding in the Seventh Circuit & in the County of Roane, 9 Sept. 1823.

Answer of John MCGhee filed 19 Oct. 1823...(Admitted that he and McClung did purchase several quarter sections, did sell to complainants, true that John Hildebrand does claim a reservation under Jackson's treaty.)...Complainants well knew...of the existence and nature of Hildebrand's claim. A company of which McConnell and probably Jackson, was one, had purchased at the land sale a fraction of land on the Hiwassee at the place where the town of Columbus now stands with a view to establishment of that town... Complainants ascertained that they could not lay off their town to any advantage without having at least part of the land purchased by McGhee and McClung... caused them to buy...suits brought against (Abraham) Heard solely for the sake of preventing delay...in as much as Jackson resides without McMinn County and indeed out of the state...

Answer of Charles McClung filed 15 Nov. 1823...(repeats much of the same)...that at the time John Hildebrand made the entry for the reversation for the use of his children, he was employed by the United States as a Miller to attend the Public Mill and resided on the 63 acre fraction of the land entered for a reservation. At the time of the survey of the reservation, and for a long time preceding either the survey or the sale, Samuel McConnell resided on the Fraction of 63 acres aforesaid purchased by him. ... Samuel McConnell, for himself and company...with Woody Jackson and William Young, who this respondent believes were with others parties in the purchase... examined for a town...(decided they needed the quarter of no. 169 in the reservation..
.
Charles McClung swore to the above before Hugh Brown, Clerk of Second Circuit, 15 Nov. 1823.

The decree was made before the Honorable Jacob Peck, Chancellor, Chancery Court held at Kingston, 9 June 1825. The bill was ordered dismissed and the complainants to pay the costs.

NOTE: The gist of the suit was probably lost in abstracting so many pages. McConnell and Jackson were trying to get out of paying for the part of land included in the reservation of John Hildebrand, who was suing for an ejectment against them and was likely to hold his land. Any native Indian, white man with children by an Indian or in right of an Indian wife could hold a reservation in the Jackson Purchase. This was a purchase from the Indians for much land in Tennessee and other states, the Hiwassee District, land on the south side of the Tennessee River, being only a small part of it. Many white persons ignored the Indian reservations and tried to prove them without right to them and there were cases in court for many years.



Pages 92-98 June Term 1825:
William Lindsay VS Howard Wiley.

 

William Lindsay made bond with Charles A.C. White his security to prosecute his case, 10 Nov. 1824.

...Orator William Lindsay a citizen of Knox county (Tenn.)...$233.53½...to be paid before 1 Oct 1824...Wiley executed to your Orator a mortgage deed for ...land, to wit.. 296 acres...in county of Anderson (Tenn.)...on the Clinch River beginning at the mouth of Muddy creek...was actuated by the kindest motives in making the loan...prays that your Honor will decree the said mortgage to be foreclosed...
C.A.C. White atto (sic) for Complainant
(s) Wm Lindsay.

Exhibit "A" was the mortgage copied in full stating that Howard Wiley was of Knox County, dated 27 Dec. 1823, and signed H. H. Wiley. Richard Oliver and William McKamy witnessed the mortgage deed.

Exhibit "B" was the note also signed H. H. Wiley.

Answer of Howard Wiley filed Jany 13th 1825...made answer...(admits making the note and mortgage deed)...humbly hopes that the Court will allow him a reasonable time to redeem and pay off the said mortgage...(s) H. H. Wiley

H. H. Wiley swore to the above answer in Roane County before John Purris a Justice of the peace.

On 9 June 1825, before the Honorable Jacob Peck, Chancellor...the court decreed that the mortgage be foreclosed.

Genevieve Myrdoch Letters
from Jim Wheat (jimwheat33@earthlink.net)

Transcribed by: Betty Miller
Genevieve Myrdoch, Owlet Green, Van Zandt Co., Tex.

I agree with you, Mr. Big Hat, in regard to Frank R. Stockton's works. I hardly know which I like better, Bret Harte's stories or those of Joel C. Harris. Among the works of women which I enjoy are Mrs. Burnett's and Mrs. Wilson's books. How many of you have read Ruth Ashmore's "Side Talks with Girls?" Don't you think it splendid? Can any of the cousins tell me of the book to read that will answer the following description? It must be by a southern author, a story of the days before the civil war. The heroine, a daughter of a well-to-do southern farmer. Some of the prominent characters must belong to the "Po' White Trash," as the negroes called those unable to own slaves, and some be northern people. Then the slaves must not be forgotten. I want the whole story to be a faithful portrayal of the manners and customs of these different classes. What do you think of "Uncle Tom's Cabin?" I have wanted to read it several times, but one of my uncles would persuade me not to. "Gene," he would say, "that is not a fit book for a southern girl to read." Girls, suppose you knew when you were growing up that you would have your living to make all through life, what business would you choose? I think I'd make a fine dry goods clerk or a splendid "newspaper man." What would you take for your job, Mr. Big Hat? What has become of our young editor - Neff? Write again and tell us the name of your paper. But enough of books and business. I must tell you of how my chum and I went"‘on a lark." You remember how it rained just before the holidays? Chum and I had been cooped in doors until we were half crazy, but we didn't dare get out of the house or it was, Girls, what are you wading in that mud for? You'll have your skirts ruined!" One evening we took a notion to go persimmon hunting. "We'll have some fun," said I, "we'll ruin our skirts," added Chum, mockingly. But a bright though (sic) came to our relief. Why couldn't we, for once play the "new woman?" True, we had no bloomer costumes, but "Where there's a will there's a way." Brother had a pair of base ball trousers, I knew, and a search through the closets, brought to light a pair of red calico bloomers that had done service at a masquerade party. One of the boys' last summer's coat fitted Chum to perfection, but to save my life I couldn't find anything for me to wear but one of my cousins' brown ducking hunting jackets. I got the advantage in headwear (sic) though, for while I sported a becoming blue cap, Chum wore an antiquated straw hat. Behold us, then, ready for your trip! Out of doors, the wind blew, steady and strong, and ‘twas very cloudy, but what cared we for wind or weather? Off we went in high spirits. Luckily we met no "bashful boy" on our way, so the trees were reached in safety. But the boys, the ‘possums or the somethings (sic) had got all the persimmons off the lower limbs and the only fruit to be found hung quite out of reach. Rocks and sticks thrown into the trees brought the ‘simmons (sic) down - yes, down right in the mud, so that we couldn't eat ‘em. There were two things we could do - go home with our hunger unabated or do the other. Well with some little difficulty we did the other. After eating our fill, we filled our coat pockets. We meant to fill our other pockets also, be (sic) we soon found that in such garments, pockets had evidently been considered superflous. Chum, offered to go home bareheaded, so we stuffed our handkerchiefs in the crown of her hat, piled that full and went our way in peace. I wish you could all enjoy with us the fine persimmon beer (a strictly temperance drink) we are having.
(9 February 1896, The Dallas Morning News, p. 14, col. 1-7)

Genevieve Myrdock, Owlet Green, Van Zandt Co., Tex.

Mr. Big Hat and little men and women: the year that I started to school we were living on a farm in one of our western counties, eight or ten miles from one of the larger cities and several miles from the nearest country postoffice. The regular school was out, but one lady in the community decided to help out her husband's bad crops by teaching during the months of May, June and July. Our schoolhouse, 8 x 16 feet perhaps, was the "shed room" of her home. Along one side of the room was nailed at the proper angle a plank, on which we laid our books and rested our elbows. A shelf underneath held our remaining books, and on a long, backless bench in front of it sat the six girls of our school. Two of these were "big girls" of 14 or 15, and it seemed to us little ones that they knew enough to quit school. The remaining pupils, eight small boys, ranging in age from 6 to 10, sat on three short benches arranged corsswise (sic) of the room. They had but one book the inevitable "blue back" speller. We had recess, with the accent on the first syllable, morning and evening and an hour for dinner. And such fun we did have! We waded barefooted in the little creek near by; we played "rap jacket" with switches cut from the peach trees, and we had many a merry race with Don, our teacher's pet dog. Often we children had picnic dinners - - that is, we spread napkins and newspapers in the shade of a tree and put all our dinners together. Two poor little fellows never brought anything but a kind of light bread filled with caraway seed. We never ate it and even Don would sniff at it and wag his tail for something else. On Friday evenings we had all speeches, not recitations. But the three months glided slowly but surely by. For the last day we all prepared extra long pieces and our teacher told us we might also have a candy pulling, and (hold your breath, cousins) for each of us to bring a bottle of molasses to make the candy! Most of us got there safely with our contribution; but one little fellow was unfortunate. His mother filled his bottle full and under the influence of the July sun it began to "boil" and "boiled" all over his hands and his trousers and was trickling in little streams down his bare legs when he reached school. After saying our speeches we proceeded to pull the candy - - that is, we pulled what we didn't smear on chairs, windows and floors. Then we kissed our teacher good-bye and "school was out." Marie Taylor, if we lived within visiting distance I think we'd neighbor back and forth right often. If we didn't ‘twould (sic) be your fault, not mine. Joe Farmer, you'll have to raise your offer. Several here have offered more than twice that amount to see me in my new woman costume. Joe Dawson, brother says if you call me little you wouldn't call anything big but the fat woman in Barnum's circus. I think perhaps he was just trying to flatter me, though, for he asked me soon after to brush his Sunday-go-to-meetin' (sic) coat and put it away. Mary West, give us a pen picture of our idea brother. I've a curiosity to see how near my "buds" are to models. Oh, yes! Joe Farmer, I've something to ask you. Are you the same Joe F ----- who used to be so popular in the Y. F. D. Of the Louisville Courier-Journal? If so, do you ever write to it now? Neil Morris, Kate Norton and Reba Smith, write again soon. Say, now cousins, have I ever said I climbed a tree? How many of you girls are tomboys? Cousin Jess says he doesn't know whether to call me a tomboy or a book worm. I am half crazy for a bicycle now. Some of you girls who have one write and tell me if you have much fun with it.
(3 May 1896, The Dallas Morning News, p. 14, col 3-7)
Note: 1918 Influenza Pandemic will continue in one of the 2008 issues of the Newsletter.

Building A Road to the River
By Wilma Pinola

King Charles of England was in a bit of a predicament in 1681. He owed the huge sum of 16,000 pounds to the family of a deceased admiral of his Royal Navy. Short on money but holding title to immense tracts of land the savvy monarch decided to kill two birds with one stone. He granted the heirs of the admiral 45,000 square miles of land in North America as payment. This not only would clear his debt but would get rid of a thorn in his side. The admiral's family was Quakers. The new colony would draw the bothersome sect out of England where they constantly challenged the state religion, the Church of England.

William Penn's Pennsylvania was founded on the principal of religious freedom. Penn's first immigrants were from Quakers from England and Germany. Soon other European religious sects that found themselves persecuted followed. These pious, industrious immigrants populated the far southeastern corner of the colony. Establishing thriving farms and businesses they had no desire to exploit the surrounding mountains or interact with the less friendly Indians there.

Geographically, the colony was divided by the ancient Appalachian Mountain range running from the northeast to the southwest. The mountains curved a swath across the state 100 to 300 miles wide. After 3 million years of erosion they were worn down to an average of 3,000 feet high. While not great in elevation the heights were uplifted into folds creating an endless series of ridges and valleys. Countless streams ran through the valleys joining into rivers that were impassable much of the year.

West of the Appalachians lay the Ohio country. Here at the western edge of modern day Pennsylvania the Allegheny, Monongahela, and Youghiogheny rivers converge into the Ohio River. This vital junction was known as The Forks. William Penn's royal grant had no definite western boundaries and England claimed the region.

A new type of immigrant began coming into the port of Philadelphia in 1717. These new arrivals were starkly different from the original settlers. The Scots-Irish shocked the staid colonists with their behavior, speech and dress. Their love of independence, fighting and drinking whiskey gave them a reputation of having more in common with native Indians than other European settlers. Irrepressible, the Scots-Irish pushed out of the settled confines westward. Rugged isolation, far from being a deterrent, seemed to attract them. If a territory was unexplored they explored it. If it belonged to the Indians by treaty they broke the treaty. If the land title was unclear they squatted on it. Along with these aggressive tendencies was a willingness to fight anyone who challenged them. By the late 1740's the Ohio country was feeling their presence.

France's dominion over the area rested on LaSalle's claim of the Mississippi River. Its drainage basin included the Ohio River. With just a few miles portage from Lake Erie to French Creek, which flows into the Allegheny River, one could travel from Quebec to New Orleans by boat. Intrepid French explorers and traders utilized these waterways and had no interest in improving land routes. Although they had been the first whites to enter the Ohio country their numbers remained minuscule.

French colonial policy toward the natives had changed by the late 1740's due to pressure from British traders, expeditions and fledging settlements. They no longer represented themselves as the kindly ‘father' figure bringing trade goods in return for furs and travel privileges. Military expeditions from Canada harassed local Indians for trading with the British and threatened punishment.

In 1752, French-Canadians and their native allies, Ojibwa and Ottawa attacked the Piankashaw Indian settlement and British trading post of Pickawillany in what is now the state of Ohio. The chief, Old Briton (he was known by several names) had opposed the French and lead a successful rebellion against them earlier. George Croghan was one of the British who owned the post there. The raid was lead by Charles Michel de Langlade whose father was French-Canadian and mother Ottawa. Langlade won the encounter killing 14 natives and capturing many. Langlade traded the women for one of the British traders. He and his Indian leaders, including the chief Pontiac dined on Old Briton and the trader. Croghan escaped being on the menu and fled to Pennsylvania. This was the first chapter of what would be known as the French and Indian War.

The British government wanted to diminish French influence in the area. Colonial land speculators wanted the country. It was imperative for them to get grantor surveys before squatters intruded. Among these gentlemen-speculators was Virginia Governor Dinwiddie and the young George Washington. What was needed was a road into the Ohio country. The only way for the British to enter the area was from the east by Indian foot paths.

To stir the pot even more, the colonies of Virginia and Pennsylvania claimed this back country along with France and the native tribes. Virginia merchants had invested heavily in the fur trade in the back country and stood to lose their money if the French drove the British out. Beating Pennsylvania, members of Virginia's first Ohio Company hired Christopher Gist and Thomas Cresap to explore the lands, survey and seek the best route for a road.

In 1749-1750, Cresap employed a Delaware Chief named Nemacolin to mark a path, which eventually followed an old Indian trail. Nemacolin's Path was roughly 60 miles long and ran from present day Cumberland, Maryland on the Potomac River to the vicinity of modern day Brownsville, Pennsylvania on the Monongahela River.

In 1752, Gist started a settlement for the Ohio Company along this route, southwest of present day Connellsville, naming it Gist's Plantation. This location was still well south of The Forks. He built his homestead and a fortified storehouse for Indian trade. A few families joined him there. It was a tenuous foothold deep in French and Indian Territory.

In 1753, a twenty-one year old inexperienced militia officer, Major George Washington was sent to one of the northernmost French fortifications, Fort Le Beouf. Virginia Governor Robert Dinwiddie would have him deliver an order for the French to leave as they were trespassing on British territory. The real motive, reconnaissance was obvious. His chief guide was Gist. French interpreter, Jacob Van Braam, four other frontiersmen and four Indians completed his party.

The party followed Nemacolin's Path to Gist's plantation and then the Indian paths to the north bank of the Ohio River. At the Indian community of Logstown, the men conferred with the natives. They met with several leaders, including one that particularly hated the French. His name was Tanacharisson (there are many different spellings.) He had already confronted the builders of Le Beouf the previous summer. The leader also claimed the French had eaten his father (not to be confused with the cannibalized Old Briton.) Tanacharisson and Guyasuta, another Mingo chief accompanied the men with a smart political show of strength for all. From Logstown, the men followed another Indian trail north, the Venango Path, which ultimately connected to Lake Erie.

The colonial Major was dismayed when his accompanying natives parlayed with the French at one of the Indian villages. There was a lot of smooth talking from the French officer as well as liquor. To the Indians it was probably just another political speech. Today it would be called an evening of weighing your options. After all, they had to pick a side that would keep its promises to them and win the inevitable war.

Jacques Legardeur de Sainte Pierre was the French-Canadian commander of Le Beouf and a veteran of the frontier. He politely received the governor's letter, dined with Washington and listened to the earnest young man. Captain Legardeur then replied, "As to the Summons you send me to retire, I do not think myself obliged to obey it."

Far from unknowing about European culture, the aborigines had been in contact with it since the early 1600's. Extensive trade of furs for goods had become a way of life. It was said that every man in Europe wanted a beaver hat and every Indian wanted a gun. A host of interpreters, guides, traders, emissaries, missionaries, soldiers and Indian agents were scattered among the natives at any one time.

Logstown, a hybrid Indian community was representative of the Ohio country during this period. Since their population was decimated by disease and warfare, remnants of several tribes would band together in self perseveration. Their commonality was the desire to keep the Ohio country for themselves. Pushed west by colonial settlement and land purchases there were four major tribes and at least twelve others living west of the Susquehanna River. Still, a 1748 count of warriors gave less than 800.

After the civilized rebuff from Captain Legardeur, it was back out into the dead of winter for the expedition. Gist saved Major Washington's life when he fell into an icy river. One of their Indian guides even turned out to be a French agent who shot at them.

That winter there were two other attempts to establish a permanent English presence in the region. A new trading post and fort, apparently under-manned, were quickly commandeered by French soldiers. The fort located at the strategic river confluence of the Ohio River became the foundation for Fort Duquesne.

In 1754 Washington was once again into the backcountry. He commanded a detachment of Virginia militia sent to build a road on what was becoming known as Gist's Trail. Governor Dinwiddie wanted troops and equipment to be able to move into the Ohio country. The major's would-be ally, Tanacharisson accompanied him.

Tanacharisson represented an Indian of the times. Probably born of the Catawba tribe in New York he was taken captive by the French, then adopted into the Seneca tribe, part of the Iroquois Confederacy. Indians of the Confederacy were known as Mingo(s) in the Ohio country. In 1747 he became the village leader of Logstown. He was known as Half King. Tradition says he was given the title by the Iroquois Grand Council. This granted him authorization as a diplomat and spokesman of the Confederacy. Whether Tanacharisson's title was officially granted or just a popular one, his actual authority extended no further than his village. Each affiliated tribe in the area was autonomous. However, he appeared to be the principal Indian supporter of the British at the time.

Like its European counterparts, the politically sophisticated Confederacy claimed dominion over the territory. They wanted to maintain their influence over the Ohio country where they had defeated and dispersed the other natives at one time. Traditionally, the Iroquois had supported the British. Since the late 1740's they had been vigorously protesting aggressive French military and English squatters in their territory. They felt the British were not keeping their treaties which promised no encroachment from English settlers and protection from the French on their land.

In May, Washington had completed the road to the area of Gist's Plantation. His troops began scouting the area for an encampment location. Meanwhile, the commandant of Fort Duquesne learned of the British force in the area and dispatched a force of about 30 to investigate and report back to him. The French were under strict orders to avoid hostilities.

Christopher Gist reported to Washington these troops had been to his plantation twice and had threatened to burn him out. Indian scouts located the French and Washington led a party to find them. The British and their Indian allies came upon the French encampment early in the morning of May 24th. A firefight ensued. Each side would later blame the other for starting the shooting.

The surprised French were routed. About a dozen were killed and the rest captured except one who escaped. Ensign Joseph Coulon de Villiers, Sieur De Jumonville, the French officer in charge, was wounded. As he protested the attack and tried to tell Washington he was sent to warn him off, not fight, Tanacharisson approached him. He asked Coulon de Villiers if he was English and he replied that he was French. Tanacharisson said in French, "Thou are not dead yet, my Father." Taking his tomahawk the Indian split his skull open then bathed his hands in the dead man's brains. Half King had declared his intentions. The other Indians finished any wounded troops off, killing and scalping them. Historians say the inexperienced Washington, who was badly shaken, did not intervene. The war had started in earnest.

Knowing there would be reprisal, the British commander had a crude palisade hastily erected which would serve as a defensive barrier. It was aptly named Fort Necessity. The military road continued to be extended on toward The Forks. Reinforcements arrived bringing the expeditionary force to about 400. During this time Washington was actively negotiating with the natives. Queen Alliquippa, an elderly Mingo leader who favored the British, and her people visited. The influential Half King sent his friend Scarouady to persuade other Ohio nations to support the British.

At this critical time the commander and Indians seemed to differ. Tanacharisson was said to have made fun of the crude fort calling it, "that little thing." Perhaps Washington would not listen to their advice. The Indians could see the colonials were poorly supplied and living off of venison. No doubt the misunderstandings were about more than Washington's unimpressive pile of logs. Both Queen Alliquippa and Tanacharisson left for central Pennsylvania not wanting to be directly involved in the war. Scarouady's support faded when his comrades left.
On July 3, 1754, the French attacked the British position. Captain Louis Coulon de Villiers, the brother of Joseph Coulon de Villiers, commanded 600 French and 100 Indians. Heavy rains swamped the fort during the battle. Gunpowder supplies were ruined making their firearms useless. The French force was running low on ammunition and rumors abounded that British reinforcements were on the way. As night fell, the British soldiers thinking it was their last night on earth broke into the brandy stores and drank it up. Coulon de Villiers decided on a ploy and sent a messenger over to ask the British to surrender. Seeing they could not hold their position, Washington surrendered to the French at what would be known as the Battle of Great Meadows. Under truce, the defeated men were allowed to withdraw.

Captain Coulon de Villiers held Washington personally responsible for his brother's death. The surrender document stated that Joseph's death was an assassination. Washington, not knowing French and depending on his interpreter, signed the surrender. Whatever his personal feelings, Coulon personified professional militarism. None of the defeated troops were molested in any way.In the aftermath of the battle, the French and Indians did burn Christopher Gist's post.

After learning of the defeat the powers of England decided to send British regulars under the command of an officer who could uproot the French properly. Superiors had mulled over poor maps of their remote colony, heard that the French were far outnumbered and deemed that the colonies would pay for the expedition. General Edward Braddock, a career soldier arrived in Virginia in February, 1755 with two incomplete regiments. The general would use the winter to gather supplies, see that the colonies financed his campaign as ordered and enlist more troops.

Immediately he was immersed in colonial politics and found the order from England to fund his expedition and getting the money were two different things. Under funding was just the beginning of his problems.

Indians from throughout eastern North America came to Virginia to see Braddock and what he was about. No doubt his force of 1,500 soldiers made an impression but the English general did not.

George Croghan brought a large contingent of Pennsylvania Indians. Not understanding their customs or economy, the commander ordered the men to send their women and children home. The next day all of the Pennsylvania natives were gone. Croghan decided to accompany Braddock anyway and was made Captain.

Chief of the Delaware, Shingas, asked General Braddock what would happen to the land the British would take. Braddock said, "No savage should inherit the land." Incredulous that the white father would have them fight, even die for nothing, all the Delaware left. Not one tribe would ally with the British for the march to the Ohio. They would wait and see who won this one.

In fact there were only eight Indian scouts who would accompany the force. Scarouady and his son were two of them. A Mingo leader,Scarouady had succeeded Tanacharisson as Half King after his death in October from pneumonia.

Christopher Gist would accompany the force as the Captain of the scouts. BenjaminFranklin, the postmaster of Pennsylvania, brought much needed aid by securing supplies, wagons and pack horses for Braddock's army. Mr. Franklin was trying to make up for the fact Pennsylvania would not furnish any money to the army.

Another bright spot in the general's preliminary operation was George Washington who volunteered to be his aide-de-camp. He was the only professional British officer who had been to the Ohio country.
Near Ft. Cumberland some of Braddock's men received hospitality at Thomas Cresap's homestead. He and his sons would serve the General by raising two companies of soldiers to fight.

Braddock's regiments were filled out with poorly trained colonial troops. Supplies were short and even the roads in Virginia and Maryland were terrible. He couldn't delay though, on May 20, 1755, the expedition was off from Ft. Cumberland, Maryland for the 110 mile march to Fort Duquesne. There were 1,500 regular and militia soldiers. Along with the military was a force of 1,000 civilians made up of laborers, teamsters, slaves, families and female camp followers. The female contingent was very much a part of any large army movement. The women cooked, washed and served as nurses.

Among the teamsters were Daniel Boone and Daniel Morgan. The officer corps contained several men who would be noted in history; Thomas Gage, Horatio Gates and Charles Lee. George Washington was ill for much of the way and rode in an ambulance wagon.

Scarouady's son was killed by panicked British troops when they mistook him for an enemy. Inconsolable, the Half King would later say, "(Braddock) was a bad man when he was alive; he looked upon us as dogs, and would never hear anything that was said to him. We often endeavored to advise him of the danger he was in with his Soldiers, but he never appeared pleased with us."

A forward work party protected by soldiers chopped down trees on the trail and blasted out stumps making a 12 foot wide road to accommodate the baggage train. The most important supply was the heavy cannon that would be used to bombard Fort Duquesne. Wagons had to follow long switch backs on each ridge and cross valley streams. Many of them were splintered to pieces. On a good day the supply train made four miles but often the rear caught up the front just as the front stopped for the day.

French and Indian raiding parties harassed the expedition but it moved slowly toward The Forks. Captain Claude-Pierre Pecundy, seigneur de Contrecous, Commandant of Fort Duquesne received reinforcements, but his total force of soldiers was only 250. Captain Pecundy was having a difficult time retaining native allies as they would not stay to fight a siege type battle. Although impressive for the Ohio country, the wooden fort could not withstand cannon fire.

As the British neared the fort, General Braddock separated his forces. He commanded 1,300 troops and some cannon that would move more quickly ahead and attack the French. Braddock was a commander who used classic European tactics where armies fought in linear lines, fired in formations and used cannon for siege. General Braddock seemed impervious to advice on wilderness fighting tactics. Disdainful of colonials he certainly didn't believe anything the ‘savages' said. Believing the colonial army was inept, earlier he saw no reason why his vastly superior force would not be victorious.

Terrain was not going to allow European strategy before arriving at Fort Duquesne. The pathway on the fort side of the Monongahela forced soldiers into thin columns. This would not allow for broad front column firing. Cannon would be of no use in dense forests if the enemy was scattered about. Supremely confident, Braddock believed the French would cower behind the walls. He failed to send scouts ahead of his strike force as it neared The Forks.

On July 9th Commandant Pecundy was seriously considering surrendering his fortification without a fight when Captain Daniel Hyacinthe-Marie de Beaujeu volunteered to lead an ambush. Captain Beaujeu skillfully rallied the Indians. Stripping to the waist, he painted himself for war then gave a stirring speech. Legend has passed down his war cry. "I am determined to go ahead and march. What would let your father go alone?" Rifles in hand the Canadian marines and Indians then ran toward the Monongahela River wanting to intercept the British at their most vulnerable, as they crossed the river.

After 42 days of hacking their way through the wilderness Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gage's strike force had crossed the final natural barrier to Fort Duquesne, the Monongahela River. Tradition has General Braddock waiting to cross until he finished lunch. Gage's advance unit was just 9 miles away from the fort and was rushing toward their final destination when the two sides literally collided.

A fierce fire fight followed. Captain Beaujeu was waving his tricorn hat trying to get his men to fan out when he was shot dead, one of the first killed. Captain Jean-Daniel Dumas took his place. Ensign Charles Michel de Langlade was among the French troops. His old ally, Pontiac may have been there also. Langlade is credited with telling Dumas to have the men fan out along the British flanks. (I wonder if George Croghan and Langlade saw each other?) French regulars which followed behind the leading party joined in the fight. Gage's men fell back just as Braddock'smain body of troops advanced toward them. Colliding together the troops were bottle-necked in the path and became disordered.

Greatly outnumbered, the 250 French-Canadians and 600 Indian allies kept moving and concealing themselves in the forest. From the cover of trees and running along ravines on the sides of the trail they fired into the massed ranks. Trained to shoot at officer uniforms, especially those on horseback they decimated the British officer ranks. The British regular's red coats stood out like targets for the enemy. Their chilling war cries caused the British to be even more disconcerted.

General Braddock, conspicuous on his horse, re-formed units into order time after time. Cannon was even fired but had no effect on the concealed, mobile enemy. Colonial militia fled or took cover and returned the enemy fire. Braddock thought the militia was cowards to use the trees as cover and beat at them with his sword. Even the British regulars fired upon their own militia mistaking them for the enemy. Braddock had several horses shot out from underneath him and after four hours of intense fighting he was mortally wounded.

British resistance collapsed with their commander shot down. Colonel Washington, still in poor health, and without official position in the army imposed some order. A rear guard was formed and the British began to retreat. Destroying cannon and supplies the defeated army fled back down the new road.

Casualties were high for the British. 1,000 troops were killed or wounded plus civilians that were at the engagement. Out of 86 commissioned officers 63 were killed or wounded. The French and Indians had not even dared to pursue them.

Colonists of the backcountry in Pennsylvania, Virginia and Carolina found themselves in the middle of a savage war without any British army protection.

Scarouady said of his people, "You can't live in the woods and not take sides." Natives who wanted to remain neutral were drawn into the conflict. It was kill or be killed. French-Canadians used their forts as bases of operation leading Indian war parties deep into colonial colonies. With Britain granting the colonies more money and soldiers, the balance of power turned in its favor and New France finally surrendered in 1760.

Braddock's Road wasn't practical for civilian use. The route was too rough on wagons so travelers came by foot or horse back. They didn't need to use all the long switch backs. Although the general route was used the road, itself fell into disuse.

In 1811 the Cumberland Road began running from Cumberland, Maryland to Wheeling, West Virginia. The road followed the old path from Cumberland to the Ohio River then veered westward. This became the National Road and today what started as an Indian trail is part of US Highway40.

Epilogue

Thomas Cresap-
Thomas Cresap was a leading instigator of the border war between Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania as well as surveyor, Indian trader, solider and land holder. His life is a book in itself. He had a large family and died at the age of 88 in Allegheny County, Maryland. His descendents number in the thousands and have an active genealogy society.

George Croghan-
The most influential British trader in the Ohio country, Croghan kept journals and was an active correspondent. His writings give a true picture of western America from 1745 thru 1775. He was at his best as an intermediary between the natives and colonists. In 1756 he was named an Indian agent in New York. Unfortunately he used his position to engage in land schemes claiming huge tracts of Indian lands. Perhaps he was too successful in working with the British for he was dogged by accusations of being a British Loyalist during the American Revolution. Penniless, he died at the age of 62 in obscurity.

Christopher Gist-
Christopher Gist was one of the leading explorers of the Ohio country as well as a naturalist, journalist, surveyor, soldier and Indian agent. This little known historical figure left a legacy in journals. Always on the move, he seems to have left his family on their own most of the time. He was sent to what is now the state of Tennessee as an Indian agent for the British during the French and Indian war. From there his trail fades. He is believed to have died in 1759 from smallpox.

Jean-Daniel Dumas-
Jean-Daniel Dumas spent his life in service to his country. He was promoted to Major General in the French and Indian War and fought under Montcalm. He returned to France and served in the government. He was then appointed governor of Isle de France, present day Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean. Dumas died in 1794.

Charles Michel de Langlade-
Langlade, from what is now Wisconsin, used his influence to his advantage as a trader and soldier. He and his Great Lake Indians ranged from Wisconsin to the Ohio country. He was at Quebec and fought at the Battle of Abraham. During the American Revolution he supported the British and was rewarded with an annuity, land grants (in Canada) and a job as Indian superintendent. A pioneer in the community of what is now Green Bay, Wisconsin he died in 1802.

Jacques Legardeur de Sainte Pierre-
A career officer, Legardeur continued to serve in the French colonial army. In 1755 he was in command of Mohawk fighters in an attack on Fort Edward, New York and was killed.

Louis Coulon de Villiers-
Victor over George Washington, Coulon de Villiers came from a prominent French Canadian family. His father and seven brothers were professional soldiers. Louis died of small pox in Quebec City in 1757.

Queen Alliquippa-
Seneca leader, Queen Alliquippa met William Penn as a young woman. He must have made quite an impression as she remained loyal to the British. She died in December 1754 shortly after her move to central Pennsylvania. Her age was estimated at 75.

Guyasuta-
Guyasuta was one of the most powerful Seneca chiefs of his time. Siding with the French during the French and Indian War he fought Braddock. He was a key leader in Pontiac's Rebellion against the British colonials. During the American Revolution he sided with the British. Despite being on the losing side so often he became one of the leaders in working with the new United States for peaceful relationships with the natives. Guyasuta died at the age of 74 in Mercer County, Pennsylvania.

Scarouady-
Scarouady continued to support the British after Braddock's defeat. He believed they would win the war and an alliance with them would be the native's best hope to keep the Ohio country. He died in 1758.

Shingas-
After meeting Braddock, Shingas was so disgusted he joined the French. He led such ferocious raids against the colonists a bounty of $350.00 was offered for his head. He believed the British when they promised to withdraw east of the Allegheny Mountains in the Treaty of Easton and became an ally. By his death in 1763 he could see that the promise was not being kept.

History Facts from the 1500s
Here are some interesting facts about the way things were in the 1500s:

Houses had thatched roofs-thick straw-piled high, with no wood underneath. It was the only place for animals to get warm, so all the dogs, cats and other small animals (mice, bugs) lived in the roof. When it rained it became slippery and sometimes the animals would slip and fall off the roof. Hence, the saying "It's raining cats and dogs."

There was nothing to stop things from falling into the house. This posed a real problem in the bedroom where bugs and other droppings could really mess up your nice clean bed. Hence, a bed with big posts and a sheet hung over the top afforded some protection. That's how canopy beds came into existence.

The floor was dirt. Only the wealthy had something other than dirt. Hence, the saying "dirt poor."

The wealthy had slate floors that would get slippery in the winter when wet, so they spread thresh (straw) on the floor to help keep their footing. As the winter wore on, they kept adding more thresh until when you opened the door it would all start slipping outside. A piece of wood was placed in the entranceway. Hence the saying a "thresh hold."

Sometimes they could obtain pork, which made them feel quite special. When visitors came over, they would hang up their bacon to show off. It was a sign of wealth that a man "could bring home the bacon." They would cut off a little to share with guests and would all sit around and "chew the fat."

England is old and small and the local folks started running out of places to bury people. So they would dig up coffins and would take the bones to a "bone-house" and reuse the grave. When reopening these coffins, 1 out of 25 coffins were found to have scratch marks on the inside and they realized they had been burying people alive. So they thought they would tie a string on the wrist of the corpse, lead it through the coffin and up through the ground and tie it to a bell. Someone would have to sit out in the graveyard all night (the "graveyard shift") to listen for the bell; thus, someone could be "saved by the bell" or was considered a "dead ringer."

Lead cups were used to drink ale or whisky. The combination would sometimes knock them out for a couple of days. Someone walking along the road would take them for dead and prepare them for burial. They were laid out on the kitchen table for a couple of days and the family would gather around and eat and drink and wait and see if they would wake up. Hence the custom of holding a "wake."

And that's the truth... Now, whoever said that History was boring ! ! ! ! !

WILLS POINT CHRONICLE, MAY 2, 1907
Extracted by: Patsy Vinson

PERSONAL: There has been two deaths among the colored population of this town the last few days, both being infants.

Miss Nadine Grinnan of Terrell and Miss Caroline James of Montelova New Mexico are guests of Miss Irma Bruce for several days.

Miss Lillie Pate has concluded her school near Crandall and returned to Wills Point. She goes this week to Commerce to visit friends.

Mrs. L. A. Fowler and children of Fort Worth and Miss Maye Boykin of Greenville are guests of Dr. W. C. Moughon and family this week.

Mrs. W. G. Young and children have returned from an extended trip visiting relatives and friends in Hill and Johnson counties.

D. K. Allison and wife of Austin have been guests of the former's sister, Mrs. Weaver, at the home of H. L. Bourland and family. Mr. and Mrs. Allison left Tuesday afternoon for Dallas to attend the marriage there yesterday of their son.

Mrs. A. Keller and Miss Selma Rose leave tomorrow for Bremen, Germany, to visit relatives. They will join a party from Dallas here, all bound for the same destinations. They will sail from New York on May 9th and Mrs. Keller expects return to America in Jully(sp) Miss Rose remaining in the old country for a year.

Dr. T. L. Wynne of Mineral Wells was here Monday night while en route to east Texas with a friend to purchase lumber. Miss Sybill Wynne accompanied him here and is visiting relatives. The Doctor stated that he would be here for the reunion this summer sure. He was kept busy while here shaking hands with old friends.

We are very sorry to make known the fact that little Lillian Fields, has again succumbed to fever, and is not doing nearly as well as she did for some weeks after being brought home from traveling in the interest of her health. She has been in delicate health now for a long while and it is to be hoped that she may soon be well again.

 

Memorial Service for Chief Bowles

Cherokee Battle of the Neches in Van Zandt County, Texas will be held 12 July 2008 at Redland, east of Canton off Hwy 64 at the battle site. Time: 5:30 p.m. Bring covered a dish if you wish to eat and a lawn chair.

For more information, please contact the American Indian Heritage Center of TX, P.O. Box 1884, DeSoto, TX 75123 or call 972 -228 8184
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Don't forget this is the last free copy that will be sent by email. Please fill out the membership form on the back of this Newsletter to continue receiving this newsletter.

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The following are taken from a book entitled "A Pinch of This and a Handful of That" compiled and published by The Daughters of the Republic of Texas, District VIII.
Submitted by Joan Pappa

 

CORN FRITTERS
1838 – Elizabeth James Standifer

1 qt. Cornmeal; 1 tbsp. of lard; 2 eggs; 1 tbsp. salt. Scald the meal with the lard in it with boiling water. Cool with a little milk, add the eggs (beaten light); beat very hard for 10 minutes. Make them thin enough with cold milk to drop off the spoon and retain their shape in boiling lard; have the lard boiling hot when you drop them in. Serve hot.

BROWN RABBIT SOUP
1840

Disjoint rabbit, roll in flour, and fry in brown butter. Put this in kettle and cover with 3 quarts of boiling water. Season with salt, pepper, and 1 minced onion. Boil 3 hours. Thicken with brown flour and send to the table with fried bread crusts.

WAGON TRAIN BAKED POTATOES
1830 -
Sarah Caufield Fullerton

Traveling to Texas and camping along the way, the pioneer woman waited until the fire turned to coals and ashes. She then placed potatoes deep in the warm ashes and went to bed. In the early morning, she had baked potatoes wagon train style.

TOMATO SOUP
1871 – Beulah Harding Hancock Hayes

Empty 1 cup cooked tomatoes into stew pan and heat to boiling and then add pinch of soda. Skim off resulting foam, add 3 cups milk; put in a lump of butter, ¼ teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper.

 

The minutes of the 7th Reunion of the
13th Tennessee Cavalry Association of Union soldiers held in 1902.
Transcription is exactly as written.
Submitted by Betty Teal Miller and transcribed by Patsy Vinson
Page 20

The Seventh Annel Reunion of the 13th Tenn Cavalry Association held at Stoney Creek Carter County Tenn. Wednesday and Thursday Sep 17-18' 1902

Wednesday
The association was called to order at 9 oclock a.m. by the President. The association was opened by song. Nearer My God to The and Prair was offerd by comrade: L.F. Hyder.

In the absence of J. J. Cole the address of welcom was made by comrade G. W. Lowe.

Responce by Comred J. G. Burchfield

Music by Quain. This is my Story

12 oclock M. Dinner on the ground

2 oclock P.M. Called to order by President on motion the President was instructed to appoint a committee on Resolutions and the following committed was appointed.

S. W. Scott
A. D. Frasier
G. D. Roberts

The President was also instructed to appoint a committee on officers for the inserving year and place of next meeting and the following comrades was appointed
Jessee Gamble
J. M. Wilcox
G W. Lowe
D. B. Baker
John Walker

Committee on officers and place of next meeting reported as follows
For President Jessee W. Gamble
" Vice " J. M. Wilcox
" Secretary S. E. McQueen

Place of meeting Maymed Johnson Co.
Adopted
(Signed by committee)

Page 21
The committee on Resolutions reported the following

To the officers and comrades of the 13. Tenn cav association

Your committe on Resolutions most respectfully submit the following

That whereas the following comrades have died since the last meeting of our association viz
Lieut. Col R. R. Butler
John Glover of Co. A
William Jenkins " " A
Fredrick Lewis " " B
Franklin Miller " " D
William Large 8th Tenn Cav

Resolved that we offer our tribute to these comrades as true and faithful soldiers and comrades and that we sincerley mourn there loss

Resolved that in the death of these comrades we are reminded that we two must soon answer the call of the great commander above

Be it resolved further
That we tender our thanks to the People of Stoney Creek for the kind and hospitable manner in which they have entertained the member of this association
}S W Scott}
adopted }G D Roberts} committee
}A D Frasir}

The following resolution was also offerd
Whereas the 13th Tenn Cav Association feeling a deep intrust in the welfare of such of its members as may accept the benefits of the Mountain Branch of the National Home for disabled Volunteer Soldiers now in cours of erection at Johnson City Tenn and whereas we believe this association is entitled to a Representative from amoung_its members among the promiment officers of this Branch of the Soldiers Home
Therefore
Resolve that we endorse our comrade (page 21 ends)

(Next is a list of Claims filed)

Claims filed under Act of General Assembly of the State of Tennessee
Date
1868 No. Name of Claimant Amount Town Witness
Jun 19 338 William L. Wilson 290.00 Taylorsville Marco Byron and Wilson
" " 339 Joseph A. Shown 160.00 " Alf Miller and Shown
" " 340 Jesse W Cole 35.00 " MW Berry J J Wright
" " 341 " " " 150.00 " " " " " " "
" 30 342 Richard H Donnelly 200.00 " Thos L Smyth
" 19 344 Andrew Shown 345.00 " Alf Miller J Shown
" 19 345 Andrew Shown 107.50 " " " " " Sarah E Shown
" 19 346 David M. Stout 130.00 " E Swift S E Wilson
" 19 347 David Stirup 160.00 " W G Tave Alex Snyder M Stirup A C Stirup
" 20 348 Martin Stirup 270.00 " W G Tave Alex Synder B E Stirup ACStirup
" 20 349 William G. Nave 130.00 " Martin Stirup " " AC Stirup
" 20 350 Elizabeth Snyder 140 " G G Nave " " L J Heck A E Heck
" 22 351 David W. Miller 110.00 " Sarah Cress Ellen Walker
" 22 352 " " " 60.00 " Saml Cress Sarah Cress
" 22 353 Samuel Cress 133.00 " E J Cress " "
" 22 354 William H Johnson 125.00 " " " " Ellen Walker
" 22 355 William L Cress 100.00 " " " " " "
" 22 356 " " " 200.00 " Mariah R Shape Ellen Walker
" 22 357 Matilda Davis 160.00 " J G Butler Thos S Smyth
" 22 358 Mary Stout 160.00 " J. N. Stout C E Henson
" 22 359 Andrew C. Wagner 206.00 " JC Jenks JB Vaught L Dunn ?
" 22 360 Rowling W. Jenkins 56.00 " Alf Wiaby " " " and Forrester NL Jenkins
" 22 361 James F Reece 125.000 " Mary Heck Matthis Lunsford
" 22 362 " " " 100.00 " " " Isaac Reece
" 22 363 John B. Vaught 29.00 " JC Jenkins Alf Wiaby RW Jenkins
" 22 364 " " " 290.00 " JC Jenkins A R Jenkins
" 22 365 " " " 291.50 " " " Alf Wiaby " " NL Jenkins
" 22 366 " " " 77.50 " " " " " " "
" 22 367 Daniel Stirup 15.25 " W G Nave E Davis
" 23 368 James D. Donnelly 250.00 " Adam Morfillar RDonnelly Wm Hall
" " 369 Alfred T. Donnelly 300.00 " " " A W Wagner
" " 370 John Stuffesteut 73.50 " WD Able LL Ray ME Stuffesteut

4979.25

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Grand Saline, Texas October 1947 - December 1955- $15.00 plus s/h

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$_________________(add $2.50 shipping/handling for each additional book)
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We appreciate any order you place and please send us your comments at the above email address.

Patsy Vinson, President

Coming Soon!! ....Wood County Unclaimed Marriages...Heirship Affidavits From
Rockwall County and much more....Format: Book or CD.

 

Index V1-#4
Able 35
Addison 8
Allen 8
Alliquippa 25, 30
Allison 32
Ashmore 19
Austin 2
Baker 34
Banks 9, 13
Barber 2
Barker 3, 7
Barnett 8
Barnum 21
Beasley 1
Bennett 15, 16
Bierschwale 14
Bonzano 8
Bourland 32
Bowie 4
Bowles 32
Boykin 32
Braddock 26-30
Bragg 8
Brandenberger 13, 14
Brannies 14, 15
Briton 22
Brown 17, 18
Bruce 32
Bundick 7
Burchfield 33
Burleson 7
Burnet 3
Burnett 19
Butler 34
Butler 35
Byron 35
Calloway 17
Camerson 8
Carpenter 6
Cerlus 6
Chappel 8
Christian 2
Cole 35
Cooper 12
Cox 10
Crawford 6
Cresap 23, 27, 29
Cress 35
Crockett 4
Croghan 23, 26, 28, 29
Culp 7
Cupps 14
Davis 35
Dawson 21
de Beaujeu 28
de Contrecous 27
De Jumonville 25
de Langlade 22, 28, 30
de Sainte Pierre 24, 30
de Villiers 25, 26, 30
Dingler 11
Dinwiddie 23, 24
Ditto 16
Dorough 1
Duckworth 2
Dumas 28, 30
Dunn 7
Dunn 35
Durst 7, 8
Dyer 8
Ellis 7
Englander 1
Engleman 10
Ermul 7
Fagan 9
Farmer 21
Fearis 7
Finley 1, 2
Fisher 7
Forreste 35
Forrester 3
Fowler 32
Franklin 27
Frasier 34
Frasir 34
Fullerton 33
Gage 27, 28
Gaines 8
Gamble 34
Ganey 8, 9, 13, 43
Garrett 11
Gates 27
Girard 7
Gist 23-25, 29
Glover 34
Goddard 16
Goldberg 7
Gray 8
Grinnan 31
Grinstead 12
Gunter 16
Guyasuta 23, 30
Hacker 6
Hadley 6
Hall 6, 35
Hamblin 7
Hancock 33
Harding 33
Harris 8, 19
Harte 19
Hawkins 7
Hayes 33
Hays 7
Haywood 17
Heard 17, 18
Heck 35
Henson 35
Hildebrand 17, 18
Horn 2
Hutcherson 15
Hyder 33
Jackson 16, 17, 18
Jacob Peck 17
James 31
Jenkin 10
Jenkins 7, 9-12, 34, 35
Jenks 35
Jiles 11, 12
Johnson 35
Johnson 8
Jones 1, 7
Keene 1
Keeton 1
Keller 32
Kelley 12
Kennon 7
Kiloummin 6
Know 6
Knox 6
Lackey 13
Langlade 22
Large 34
LaSalle 22
Lease 6
Lee 27
Legardeur 24
Leifeste 14
Lewis 34
Lindsay 18
Litton 2-5
Loeffler 13, 14
Lowe 34
Marmaduke 8
Mary Ganey 15
Mason 8
Maxey 8
McClung 17, 18
McClure 6
McConnel 17
McConnell 18
McDonald 1
McDougal 1
McGhee 17, 18
McKamy 19
McQueen 34
Mead 16
Miller 7, 34, 35
Miller 33
Morfillar 35
Morgan 15, 27
Morris 21
Morrison 6
Moughon 32
Myrdoch 19
Nave 35
Neal 6
Neff 19
Nemacolin 23
Newlon 7
Newton 1
Norton 21
Oberdine 6
Oliver 19
Owens 6
Pappa 33
Park 15
Parsons 10
Pate 32
Peck 16, 18, 19
Pecundy 27, 28
Penn 21, 22, 30
Phillips 7, 8
Pickle 16
Pickrell 2
Pinola 21
Price 10
Pungree 7
Purcell 8
Purris 19
Randal 12
Ray 35
Reaville 8
Reece 35
Reeves 14
Reid 6
Renfro 2
Rice 12
Rickman 6
Roberts 34
Rogers 11
Rose 32
Royall 7
Russell 16
Sabin 7
Scarouady 25-27, 29, 30
Schep 14
Schulze 7
Scott 16, 34
Scurry 12
Shelby 7, 9
Shingas 26, 30
Shown 35
Smith 2, 6, 9-12, 21
Smyth 35
Snyder 35
Standifer 2-4, 33
Steck 2
Steele 8, 10-13
Stirup 35
Stockton 19
Stout 35
Stuffesteut 35
Tanacharisson 23-26
Tave 35
Taylor 21
Tennison 15
Thompson 8
Thrall 7
Travis 4
Van Braam 23
Vaugh 35
Vaughn 16
Vincent 8
Vinson 1, 31, 33, 37
Wade 7
Wagner 35
Walker 12, 15, 34, 35
Ward 3
Washington 23-27, 29
Weaver 32
Welch 8
Wells 7
West 21
White 17-19
Wiaby 35
Wilcox 34
Wiley 19
Williams 6, 17
Wilson 19, 35
Wright 7, 35
Wynne 32
Young 18, 32
Youngblood 7

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