'i ] ■i i \ GEORGE JACKSON Sixty Years in Texas SECOND EDITION By George Jackson LIBRARY of CONGRESS Two Copies Received NOV 28 \dOQ Copyright Entry^ ^ CLASS a-'jixo ■ Xc. No, Copyright October 27. 190S BY George Jackson. WiLitiNSON Phinting Co., Publishers, Dallas, - Texas. ■3 i TO THE PIONEERS OF TEXAS AND THEIR DESCENDANTS THIS HISTORY IS REVERENTLY DEDICATED BY GEORGE JACKSON. ERRATA On page 72, sixth line, L. O. Smith should be L. P. Smith. On page 151, line 25, fild should be wild. On page 172, line 4, the word such is left out. On page 181, line 20, the word don't is left out. On page 213, line 19, the word was is left out. On page 215, line 20, Robert A. West should be Robert H. West. On pages 232 and 233, a part of the District Judges are l)rinted twice, and on page 233 it should be from 1846 to 1908. On page 236, line 12, John G. Wood should be John J. Good. On page 281, the first line of the poem to Frank Perry is left out and found on page 286, next to bottom line, and reads: "Dear Frank, do you remember?" The foot note on page 276 should have been on page 278, and the foot note on page 278 should have been on page 276. Picture of oxen running away with plow and boy should have been on page 55, instead of page 60. On page 50, line 14, Hewitt should be Hewett. On page 210, line 20, S. H. Force should be Kenneth Foree. On page 209, line 19, should read: "Then Barry Miller was elected and served two terms to 1900; then W. C. Mc- Kamy was elected and served three terms to 1906. On page 346, lines 8 and 9, should read: "James M. and Edward are married." On pages 362 and 363, the heading Clayton Rodgers oc- curs twice. PREFACE In writing the sketches of the old pioneers that are recorded in this book, and the hardships that my father and family endured, and the many difficulties that we finally overcame, I have tried to confine myself to the facts as they occurred, and I will also state as a fact that I am not an educated man. I never had an opportunity of securing a common edu- cation. I went to school five or six months in an old log cabin — the first built in the north part of the county. The school house was known as the Bark Log College, and the school was known as a Blab School. The teacher gave the scholars the privilege of studying their lessons out loud. I studied gram- mar for three weeks, and became far enough ad- vanced to know a noun from a pronoun, and tried to parse simple sentences the last week of the school. If the reader should find grammatical or other errors in sketch or poem, I will kindly ask you to pass the imperfection by; and on the other hand, if you find anything that you appreciate in sketch or poem, be good enough to speak a kind w^ord about it. It will cheer and gladden my heart, and I shall appreciate it very, very much. When I was growing up I determined to secure the means to educate myself. But when I reached my majority the war came on, and before the war closed I married, and after the war closed I found myself with wife and baby in a log cabin out on the bald prairie, and it was a hard, hard struggle for a living. We had four children born to us, and we determined if, by hard work and economy, we could save enough to give our children better school ad- vantages, we would do so, and we have done that much at least. CONTENTS Page Sketch of John and Mary Jackson and family 1 Lionel Simpson C5 J. H. Morgan G6 Joseph Morgan and family 71 The Warners T5 The Camp Meetings ?5 The Indians S6 Wm. Furneaux and wife 87 Mr. Vivian 92 A. W. Perry 93 John Henry Brown 94 John H. Cochran 97 Obadiah Knight 101 David Myers 103 James A. Smith 103 The Nobleman (Poemj 112 Thou God Seest Me (Poem) ; 113 Isaac Webb 114 Harrison Marsh and wife 115 James Kennedy 120 Judge Nat M. Burford 122 James M. Patterson 126 Lancaster 127 Farmers' Branch 129 Col. John C. McCoy 131 Capt. Wm. McKamy 139 Robt. J. West 140 Col. T. J. Nash 143 .John H. Cole , . 148 Happenings in Dallas Before the War 151 He dgecox War 155 Birth of Dallas 157 Murder of Clements and Whistler 158 Killing of Dr. Calder of Dallas 161 Murder of Jamison, Muncey and Wife 163 Grand Prairie Fight 165 Murder of Phelps and others 167 Texas Sixty Years Ago (Poem) 169 Texas at the Pi-esent Time (Poem) 172 V CONTENTS-- Con/wued. PAGE From John Henry Brown's History 173 Organization of Dallas County 174 Peters' Colony 175 When I Took the Gold Fever 177 The Legislature of Texas 205 County Clerks of Dallas County 207 State Senators 208 County Judges 209 Government of Dallas, 1856 to 1908 211 Census of Dallas and Dallas County, 1850 to 1900 231 District Judges of Dallas County 233 Criminal and Other Courts 234 Court Houses of Dallas 236 The Yellowstone Park 238 Yellowstone Park and Canon (Poem) 245 Baptist Church 247 Jehovah Reigns (Poem) 249 The Rise and Progress of the M. E. Church 250 From the Alamo to San Jacinto (Poem) 252 The Last Days of Pompeii (Poem) 254 To an Old Friend I Had Not Seen For Forty Years (poem) 256 The Old Man and His Dog (Poem) 257 The Natural Man on the Ocean of Life (Poem) 255 The Experience of a Man that Was Once Rich (Po?ra).. 259 Ancient Rome (Poem) 260 God Teaches His Children (Poem) 262 For the Coming Prohibition Election (Poem) 263 The Storm (Poero) 265 Ancient Greece (Poem ) 266 lii This Life Worth Living? (Poem) 267 Love and Kindness (Poem) 269 The Park at Colorado Springs (Poem) 271 Isaiah's Prophecy (Poem) 272 Midnight Dream (Poem) 273 Our Little Girl (Poem) 275 Scotland (Poem) 276 Ireland (Poem) 278 To Frank Perry (Poem) 282 The Neglected Boys of Dallas 284 Diary of Trip to England After an Absence of 56 Years. . 287 CONTENTS— Cow//w«^^. Pag!; England and Rome (poem) 322 First Pioneers of Dallas County, (alphabetically arranged) 324 Samuel B. Pryor, first Mayor of Dallas 354 J. M. Crockett, second Mayor of Dallas 355 Judge Wm. M. Hord 357 John Huffihines 35S Charles H. Durgin 350 John Thomas 361 Col. George Washington Record 361 Clayton Rodgers 362 William B. Miller 364 Rev. William Allen 365 B. A. Gracey 367 Captain Jefferson Peak , 369 The Military Road 370 The Sheriffs of Dallas County 371 District Clerks of Dallas County 372 The Public Schools of Dallas 373 The Texas State Fair 375 Dallas County Pioneer Association 377 Bird's Fort 378 Richardson 380 Carrollton 380 Garland 381 Cedar Hill 382 Piano 382 Mesquite 383 Sixty Years in Texas The Ancestors of My Father and Mother Nicholas Amery, of Bridford, England, was liv- ing in 1696. John Amery, son of Nicholas Amery, married Hounor, daughter of Richard Workeilake, of Devon- shire, England. He died in 1696. She died 1689. Thomas Amery, son of John Amery, in 1699, married Mary Worth, of Bridford, North Devon- shire, England, and died in 1711. She died 1760. John Amery, son of Thomas Amery, of Devon- shire, England, born in 1708; married Mary Puddi- combe in 1736. He died in 1778. She died in 1750. John Amery, son of the latter, married Mary Heyv>^ood, of Middle Coombe, Devonshire, England. John Amery, son of the latter, married Ann, daughter of Thomas Amery, of Barn Court, Devon- shire, England. George Jackson, of Wray Barton, Devonshire, England, my great grandfather, was born 1734 ; died 1804. His wife, Ann, born 1730, and died in 1814. George Jackson, my grandfather, son of the above, of Devonshire, England, was born in 1764, and died in 1853. John Jackson, my father, second son of the latter George Jackson, of Devonshire, England, was born in 1807, and married in 1832, to Mary, daughter of John and Ann Amery, of Devonshire, England. She, my mother, was born in 1808. They emigrated to Peters' Colony, Dallas County, Texas, 1848, with eight children. My father and two elder brothers were granted 960 acres of land, which shows on the map of Dallas County, patented in their names. My father died in 1866. My mother died 1894. 2 Sixty Years in Texas. The Experience of John and Mary Jackson, that emigrated from Devonshire, England, in the year 1848, to Texas. In the year 1847 the agents of Peters were throughout England, trying to induce people to emi- grate to Texas, said Peters having an agreement or contract with the State of Texas to furnish a certain number of families as settlers in said colony, Peters was given in said contract a certain time, and that time expiring July 4th, 1848. The agents represent- ed this to be a wonderful country, and said that those that got here first and made a good selection could secure for themselves an estate equal to the estates of the lords and noblemen of England. They represented this country as having a delightful cli- mate, no chilling winds or driving snows, but one continuous spring and summer, with all manner of fruits and wild game in abundance, clear and beau- tiful streams of water, with plenty of fish. My father, having a brge family and a very little of this world's goods, decided to emigrate to Texas to secure land for his boys, Stewardsville being the objective point, and represented by the agents as bein« the capital of Peters Colony, and headquarters of the land agents, and all information concerning the colony could be had at Stewardsville. Early in 1848 we took ship at Liverpool in the Gypsy Queen. The 1st of March we bade farewell to our dear friends, and left the shores of Merry England for the western wilds of a new world. My mother was a weak and frail little woman, with a large family, several small children and a baby in her arms, and JOHN JACKSON, SR. MRS. MARY AMERY JACKSON Sixty Years in Texas. 7 as the shores of old England faded away in the dis- tance we could see the tears in Mother's eyes, as she called her little group of children around her and asked the Lord to have mercy on us. No boy would ever run away from home that had a mother like mine. She was kind and loving, thoughtful and com- passionate, and her whole life seemed to be wrapped up in the welfare of her children. We were nine long weeks on the sea, sometimes violently tossed about on the bosom of the great deep, and at other times still and calm, with great fishes swimming about and around our ship. We landed safely at New Orleans; but before we reached there many of our passengers had almost given up all hope of ever seeing land again. We did not remain long in New Orleans, only a few days, and then took a steamboat for Shreveport, and in a few days we reached that place, and before we made the landing the negroes gathered around and stood up in a semi-circle and sang negro songs. That was very amusing to us. We landed and se- cured quarters, but it was here our troubles began. No railroads, no stage coaches, and there seemed to be no way for us to get to Stewardsville, and we could not find any one that had ever heard of the place. Some of the people tried to persuade my father to go to some of the Middle States. They told him this was a wild country, inhabited only with roving bands of wild Indians, and wild animals. But nothing discouraged him. He was determined to go to Stewardsville in some way. There was a man in Shreveport from Southwest Texas that was the hap- py owner of three yoke of long-horn Texas steers and a schooner wagon, and he made my father believe that they were the very thing for him to move to Texas with, and they soon made a bargain. The 8 Sixty Years in Texas. money was paid, and the team, wagon and whip were turned over to my father, and all of our earthly pos- sessions were dumped into the wagon. My father had never driven oxen. He could drive a quill; he could compose an article or write a deed equal to most of the lawyers of Dallas ; but he had never taken the lirst lesson in ox driving. But he said he could do what other people had done. I can see those oxen now, as they stood there then, headed towards the setting sun. Since that time I have handled thousands. I have driven them to Kansas, and driven them to Colorado. I have herded them on the plains, and chased them over the prairies of Texas for thirty long years. But very few of them that I should know now if I should meet them in the middle of the big road; but that three yoke of oxen are as plain before my vision now as they were on that eventful day more than sixty years ago. I can see their long, twisting horns. I see their exact color, and well do I remember their names. I was a lad then of ten summers, and can remember how my father looked trying to handle that whip. It had a long, tapering lash and gentle, yielding stock. It was such a whip as the expert ox driver loves to handle. My mother was invited to take a seat in the wagon, but she de- clined. After some persuasion she agreed to if the end gate vv^as removed, so she could have some means of escape if the team became unruly. Now, all ready. My father, with his long whip and tall hat, was ready to make the start. They do not talk to oxen in the Old Country as they do here. For "gee" there they say "wog," and for '"haw" it is "come hither." My father, with his long whip in hand, said, "Wog, Dick!" and off they start, and he gave his whip a grand flourish, and called out, "Come hither, Darb !" But the whip twisted around his tall 1 JT ^ ^ *i , ? ' ,^ Sixty Years in Texas. 11 hat, and the team went hilter and skilter, and soon hooked on to a tree, and my mother jumped out with the baby and pulled the other children after her, and exclaimed, "Good gracious ! We have survived all the dangers of the raging deep only to be landed in the wilderness to have all our bones broken. John, I am afraid we will never reach Stewardsville alive with that team; they are wild as buffaloes." And my father decided he would lay the whip away in the wagon, he said, to be used in the future, when he had reached a more advanced stage in the science of ox driving, and he prepared himself with a stick about ten feet long and about the size of a walking stick, and put a sharp piece of iron in one end, and filed it out as sharp as a tack. He called it a gad, and that was a word he would sometimes use, and he said, "I gad, I will touch them up a bit with that and see how they like it." My father armed my two older brothers with hickory clubs about four feet long, and put one in front and the other on the off side, and again in- vited Mother to take a seat in the wagon ; but Moth- er declined the invitation, Vv^hen Father assured her there was no danger. He said, "We have them sur- rounded and can certainly hold them in position." But Mother shook her head, and another start was made, and Father and the boys herded them along through the deep sand, and Mother followed, carry- ing the baby and two or three of the small children hanging to her skirts. But they were soon tired out. The team was stopped, and they again got in the wagon, and Father and the boys herded them along through the deep sand, and the first day we made about an eight-mile drive, and when night came we struck camp, and Father secured a room at a farm house for Mother and the children, but we did not 12 Sixty Years in Texas. know what to do with the oxen. We were afraid to take the yokes off, fearing that we would not get them properly adjusted in the morning; so we turned them loose with the yokes on, and camped out for the first time in our lives. Mother said she was afraid the people would think we were Gypsies. The morning came, but there were no oxen in sight. Father and the boys went out to search for them, and were out a long time, but late in the evening they returned to the camp and reported that they had been lost in the woods all day and found no oxen. Tired, weary and worn out, they laid down to rest until the next morning. They then took a new start, keeping near enough each other to hear one another hollow. About noon they found the oxen, and they were all together, but one pair had the yoke turned under their necks, and Father was very much surprised, and exclaimed, "How in the world did these oxen swap sides? Look, Dick is on the larboard side, and Darb has got over on the starboard side, and the yoke is completely upset. Some enemy must have done this. It is impossible for them to have done it themselves." They were driven to the camp and the yoke properly adjusted, and after some trouble they were hitched together and a new start made for the West, and day after day we herded them along through the deep sand and beneath an almost tropical sun, and its scorch- ing and blazing rays were too much for us. One by one we were stricken down with malarial fever and dumped into the schooner wagon. Svv^arms of mosquitoes would hover around us of nights, and with their poisonous bills suck our blood until our fair skin and rosy cheeks were distorted and swol- len. In this deplorable condition we reached Mount Pleasant, in Titus County, but none well enough to Sixty Years in Texas. 13 drive the oxen farther. They were turned adrift. Father secured an old, tumbled-down cabin, and Vv'e spread out such clothing and blankets as we had on the puncheon floor, none feeling able to wait on the others to hand them a drink of water to quench their thirst or cool their parched lips. We were a pitiful looking lot, and were detained at that place for over two months, and one of my little brothers died at that place, and my mother was almost broken-hearted, and as the cold clods fell upon his coffin the tears streamed down my mother's cheeks, as she said, "It is hard to give up my darling boy, and see him buried in a foreign land." Time rolled on, and we recovered from our sick- ness sufficiently to make another start; but the lit- tle money that we had was rapidly slipping away from us, and my mother became somewhat discour- aged, and I will say that if she ever had a fault it was this — she seemed sometimes to look on the dark side of things. But God bless my dear little frail and weakly mother. She was true and brave, and stood up under more trials and hardships and diffi- culties and troubles than many would that were physically stronger. She feared that her children that she loved so much would become the servants of other people, or slaves, and it pained her very much. In the Old Country when once a servant, al- ways a servant; at least, they seldom rose above that station in life. Before making another start for the West Mother hung out on the fence such cloth- ing as we had, to air them, and one of the neighbor- ing women came to her and inquired if she had any domestics for sale, and it seemed to hurt my moth- er's feelings as bad as if she had been stabbed in the heart, and the woman turned away, not knowing what she had done to offend my mother so. The •«■ 14 Sixty Years in Texas. word domestic in the Old Country is always applied to servants, and Mother supposed she wanted to buy some of her children. Neither Father nor Mother had any experience in frontier life. They knew nothing, in fact, about how to manage or what to do, and it was very hard for them to adapt themselves to the ways of the people and make a success as pioneers. Father offered a reward for the oxen, and they were soon found. Our bills were paid, the doctor bill being very large, and left us but little money. We had some friends at Mount Pleasant, but the shining gold sovereigns were sought after, and seemed to please them very much. The day arrived for our departure, and our long- horned team was hitched together and to the schooner wagon, and we again headed them towards the setting sun. Mount Pleasant is a beautiful name, but we cannot look back and think of that place without a shudder. It brings to us such painful recollections. It was there the live mosquitoes Their merry songs would sing. And the fleas would dance to music That had such a business ring. We had by this time become better acquainted with the oxen, and could handle the whip much better. Our next stop was at Bonham. Before reaching there we met several people with teams going to Shreveport for supplies, and the inquiry was, "Where are you from, and where are you moving to?" We would tell them we were moving to Stew- ardsville. The wagons were muddy, and on making inquiry about it one of them said : "When you get up on the high perrari in the black waxy land you Sixty Years In Texas. will strike mud, it has rained up thar a right smart chance of a sprinkle.." "Whar was it you said youans was moving to?" Father replied Stewardsville. "I never heren o' that place afore. Whar did you move frum?" Father replied, "Hingland." "Ah ! Youans is a right smart piece from home." Father replied, "Yes, it is quite a distance back to the old Country. "Say, mister, do you reckon ole John Bull will ever try to whoop us agin? Ha! ha! ha! Father replied that there was no talk of it when we left England. He replied: "I knowed youans was from over thar summers when I heren you talk. Kase you say 'Highland' fur 'England.' " "Your quick and keen perception is remarkable, that you can tell just where and what country a man was born and reared in on so short an acquaintance." "You bet I can tell 'em every time. Say, if youans goes very fur west you'll see Inguns. They say they can kill and skelp a man in the night afore he has time to wake up." "Is it possible? We will have to sleep with one eye open." We had a good team of oxen and one ox probably the largest Texas ox that was ever brought to Dallas County. "Say, mister, that's a mighty fine team o*f steers you is got. Ide like awful well to cheat you outen that bigen, ain't he a whale?" Sixty Years In Texas. Father replied he did not care to dispose of any of them. The loquacious gentleman then bade us goodbye with a broad smile on his face, and an air of self satisfaction to know that he had given us some valuable information on the right pronunciation of the English language. We were then in the edge of the prairie. Father and Mother did not like Easterr^ Texas. The piney woods and burning sands and blazing summer sun had rather discouraged them. But now we had reached a place we could look out and see the country and get our breath more freely, and we drove our team up on the high prairie and we were all not only pleased but we were delighted with the outlook. The broad and almost limitless prairie stretched away in the distance and seemed as bound- less as the mighty ocean, and we looked on with ad- miration and delight as the sun began to disappear in the west, and looked like burnished gold, as it cast its bright and glistening rays across the boundless prairie, and looked like sparkling diamonds upon the waving grass, and we were reminded of the many glorious sunset scenes that we had witnessed in crossing the broad seas, when the mighty monarch would go down behind the boundless ocean and seem to set in a sea of fire, and cast its bright and glisten- ing rays across the shimmering waters and multi- plied thousands of diamonds seem to sparkle and dazzle and dance with delight in every moving wave on the restless sea. As we looked over these boundless prairies that aeemed to be untouched by the finger of man we felt like we were a part of the advance guard that was Sixty Years In Texas. going out according to the command of God to help subdue the earth. It was getting late, and we turned our team out of the road and into a little glade near a clump of trees, and camped for the night, and we boys were told to get some wood and make a camp fire. We went down to the clump of trees, and they proved to be persimmon trees, and they were loaded with green persimmons, and we thought we had found an apple orchard, and we were soon in the tree tops trying to eat green persimmons. Our mouths began to draw and our lips were soon puckered, and the persimmons stuck in our throats as tight as the forbidden apple did in the throat of Adam, and we came down from the trees fearing the fruit might be poisonous. Then Mother appeared on the scene and saw the condition we were in, and said we were all poisoned, and no doctor to be had this side of Stew- ardsville, and Mother called to our father, "John, John, bring some water quick, the boys are poisoned, I believe they are all taking the lock jaw." The water was brought, and we were told to rinse our mouths, and Mother stripped her handkerchief to pieces and had us to wipe out our mouths, and there we were all standing up in line chewing the rag, and after the poison and persimmon excitement was over it was some time before supper was prepared, and by that time we were all right, ready and ravenous, and were able to do justice to pone pancake and porridge, and we then spread our blankets out upon the tall grass and were soon sleeping the sleep of the innocent. The next day we reached the black hogwallow land, and Father thought it must be very rich and Sixty Years In Texas. productive, and declared if we would only stick to it when dry, like it was sticking to us when wet, we would certainly make a glorious success in life. It stuck to everything it came in contact with, and our shoes became so heavily loaded we sometimes felt like Vv^e were rooted to the spot, and we often thought of the talkative man that spoke the English language so perfectly and said it had rained a right smart chance of a sprinkle. We again went into camp very early. We were all very tired, both man and beast. My oldest brother, John, then fourteen years old, was the chief cook and bottle washer. He decided to boil some rice for supper, and not being acquainted with the ex- pansive nature of the rice, he put too much in the large coffee pot, the only suitable vessel we had to boil it in, and it soon began to swell and expand and come out of the top of the pot, and he filled all the tin cups and then called for the water bucket ; but it still continued to come out of the pot like the widow's bar- rel of meal and the cruse of oil, we thought it would never fail, and John said, "Mother, don't you think we had better try to trade a part of this rice for something that won't swell up so much? We have enough to last us for a camping trip around the world, and it's still coming out of the top of the pot. I will call supper," said John, "and see if this bounti- ful supply can be reduced. Now, come around and give honor to the cook, and all eat rice. But if it still continues swelling there might be danger." We moved out of camp the next morning with enough cooked and half cooked rice to last us for the balance of the trip. The black mud still sticky in some places, and we again thought of the scholarly gentleman that spoke the English language so perfectly and said, "When you get up on the high perari in black waxie land you Sixty Years in Texas. 15 will strike mud ; it has rained up thar a right smart chance of a sprinkle." When we reached Fort Bon- hani there were squads of Indians camped around that place, and they looked like horrible creatures to us, and we wondered if they were the kind of neighbors we were going to have when we reached Stewardsville. We could hear nothing of that place at Bonham, and my father decided he had better leave the family at that place and go West in search of the lost city. He bought a nice white pony, and dressed him up with a red leather bridle and a jockey saddle that we brought from the Old Coun- try. He bade the family good-bye, mounted his white palfrey and headed for the West. There were no settlements, scarcely, between Bonham and the Three Forks of the Trinity, and the first night he could find no trace of anything human, and as it grew dark he would stop occasionally and listen for the bark of a dog, the lowing of a cow or the crow of a rooster, or anything that would indicate that a human being was living near. He finally gave it up, and lariated his horse out on the grass, and took his saddle for a pillow, and the starry canopy of heaven for a coverlid, and passed the night that way. He said it was very lonesome. Nothing could be heard but the howling of the wolves and an occasion- al screech of nn owl. At the dawn of the morning he arose, ate his breakfast that was prepared for him before he left Bonhart:. He saddled his horse and made another start, and that evening, as it grew late, he saw a lit- tle cabin on the edge of a wood on Spring Creek, in Collin County, and as he approached it he saw an old gentleman sitting in the shade smoking his cob pipe. The sides of his cabin were adorned with coon, deer and opossum skins. Father spoke to him and 16 Sixty Years in Texas. said, "I am very tired, and Vv^ould like to stay the night with you." He replied, ''Alight and lariat your horse." My father complied with his request, and soon was in earnest conversation with the old pio- neer, and from him he got some information about Ste .vardsville. He told him there was such a place over on the Elm Flats, but he did not think it was much of a place, but he had never seen it. In the morning my father inquired of him if he had any shaving tackle. He said he would like to slia\'e and brush up a little before he met the land agents of Stewards ville. The old pioneer replied that he had a razor that he might strap up, but said it had not been used for a long time. He got his razor and some soft soap in a gourd, and he had an old frying pan without a handle. He had no brush, but was equal to the occasion. He had an old sow in a pen near by, and he extracted some bristles from her back, tied a string around them, and in- vited my father to take a seat on a stump near the cabin door, and with that soft soap, lather and hog's bristle brush, and rusty blade, that knight of the razor began to play on my father's face, and after a half an hour of excruciating pain he turned him loose. Father saddled his horse, bade his host good- bye with a hearty good shake of the hand. He mounted and again headed for the West, in search of Stewardsville. It was a very hot day, the last of August. The deer and the antelope were making their way to the nearest shade earlier than usual, but Father pressed on through the tall grass, and about the middle of the day he espied a small cabin in the distance, and he made straight for it, and as he approached it he saw that it was occupied, and he called out, "Hello!" and a party came to the door and spoke to him, and my father inquired of him Sixty Years in Texas. 17 concerning Stewardsville, the way, and how far. The man looked a Httle surprised, and invited him to ahght, and said, "This is the place. You are right in the heart of the city." Father stayed with him until the next morning, and talked about land claims, and how he could se- cure a section of land, and the next day he came down into the Farmer's Branch Settlement, and the first stop he made was at David Myers', the father of the late Rev. J. M. Myers, and there met Lionel Simpson and eJoseph Hildreth, two gentlemen that crossed the sea with us in the same ship. They bought horses at Shreveport and left us there and came on to Dallas County. Lionel Simpson vv^as a live, energetic Scotchman, and made a fortune be- fore the War broke out. Hildreth was a different type of man. He was brought up in the city, and he dressed like a gentleman. He wore kid gloves, and always liked to have some one to wait on him. Father and Mr. Simpson frequently told him he was not suited for Texas, and would never set the world on fire. My father selected a section of land, and it can now be seen on the map of Dallas County, patented in the name of John Jackson. Father was very well pleased with the settlement, and soon became ac- quainted with the pioneers that had taken claims and built their cabins, the Marshes, Webbs, Keenans, Myers, Nixes, Perrys, Witts, Wests, and they were very intelligent, honest and kind. They were a class of people that would be an honor to any country, and most of them had the tact that adapted them to frontier life, and they all seemed to be happy and contented, and would meet the new comers with a hearty welcome, and would divide such as they had with them. Father returned to Bonham and brought 18 Sixty Years in Texas. out the family, and we secured a little cabin about 12x14 feet on what is now known as the Warner Place, about fifteen miles north of Dallas, and there we spent the first winter. Father had a little money left, and he and Mr, Simpson decided to go South and buy a few cattle, but before going they decided to split some rails to make a cow pen and fence a garden, and James Ken- nedy, a lad about sixteen years old, went with my father and the boj^s to show them some timber that no one claimed, and he pointed out to them some trees that he said would split easy. One of them was a wild china, and they pitched into it with their new axes, and finally got it down, and one length cut off, and then they tried to split it, but lightning never did split a wild china. They got the wedges all in up to the head, and were so tired out they sat down to rest, and looking towards our cabin, they saw a dense cloud of smoke. Hildreth, the gentleman, had heard Father and Mr. Simpson saying about the first thing to do was to clear off a place for a garden, and Mr. Hildreth thought he would burn off the grass. It was very dry, and the grass was tall. He took a clapboard and a few coals, and touched it off. The wind was blowing a stiff breeze from the south, and in a few minutes the fire was going almost as fast as a horse could run. Dense columns of smoke arose almost sky-high, and the flames would rise 100 or 150 feet high and bend over with the driving wind, and catch and go again. Pandemonium seemed to reign among the varmints of the prairie and birds of the air, and the sight was grand and terrible, and Mr. Hildreth, in amaze- ment and fright, was heard to exclaim, "I believe I have done just >vhat they have all been saying I never vv^ould do. I have set the world on fire, and Sixty Years in Texas. 19 I believe it will burn up if no preventing Provi- dence." We had some difficulty in keeping it from burning our cabin. Father and the boys came to our rescue, and the cabin was saved. That was the great- est prairie fire ever seen in North Texas, and if it stopped this side of Red River we never knew it. Our first day's experience, a very large garden spot burned off, with a very little hope of every get- ting it fenced. The wedges still in the china tree, and not a rail made. But the watchword was to never give up. Father and Mr. Simpson told Mr. Hildreth that it was a criminal offense to willfully set the prairie on fire, and a heavy penalty. Mr. Hil- dreth after a short time returned to England, and the last we heard of him he was at home quietly resting in the bosom of his family. The wedges were cut out of the china tree and other species of timber were tried v>^ith better suc- cess, and after a great deal of hard work enough rails were made to make a cow pen, and my father and Mr. Simpson went to South Texas and bought thirty cows and calves, giving $3.50 per head, or $7.00 for a cow and calf. My father bought eighteen and Mr. Simpson twelve, and the little money that we had Vv^as gone. The winter of 1848 was very se- vere. The sleet and snow lay on the ground for more than three weeks, and it was so bitter cold we had to turn the cattle adrift, and they scattered to the four winds, and we nine of us were huddled to- gether in the little log cabin about 12x14 feet, with our scanty bedclothing, and the sleet driving through the roof, and the north wind blowing a perfect gale. We thought of the agents that had represented this to be a delightful climate, with no chilling winds or driving snows, but one continuous spring and summer, and we were ready to say that 20 • Sixty Years in Texas. they were the worst Mars that ever came to England. During the severe winter we ground our corn with a hand mill, and would kill prairie chickens and rabbits, and occasionally a wild goose, and we Hved on cornbread and wild game, and after the hard spell of weather was over Father and the boys began to get out timbers to build a house, and when the spring came we went out to search for the cattle, and found all of them. We got them together, and it was not many years before we had a very fine herd of cattle. The investment proved to be a good one, and if it had not been for those cattle we would have suffered much more than we did. Time passed, and the rough work we had to do, such as splitting rails and hauling them out of the woods, building the fences and plowing the ground, began to tell on the good clothes we brought from the old country. We began to look very seedy, and the buttons came off, and they were patched all over. Mother and sister could not spin or weave, as the pioneer women could, and we had no money. I had a nice frock coat made out of rich navy blue, with four rows of buttons in front, and I wore it so long the neighbor boys would say when they met me, "That is the beatenest coat I ever seen. You had it on the first time I ever seen you." We attended the camp meetings in 1849 and 50. The people came from all quarters for forty or fifty miles, and the campers were very liberal, providing for them. The Webbs, Knights, Cochrans, Wests, and a number of others had camps on the ground. Our clothing was so bad in 1851 that we gave up all hopes of attending the meeting, but my father and mother wanted to go, and he said he would pro- vide a way for us boys to go. There was a little country store at Farmer's Branch, and he went Sixty Years in Texas. 21 down there and bought us each a pair of white can- vas pants. He and Mother said they would go first and stay a day or two, and we were to remain at home and hold the fort, milk the cows and wait for their return. We had a pair of nimble long horn steers. They were hitched to the cart and Father and Mother started for the camp meeting, telling us to be good boys, and they would return in a day or two, and then we could go. After they left we held a council and began to talk about our pants. We thought they were very common, and thought Vv^e were entitled to something better. But a happy thought struck one of my older brothers. He said he had seen Mrs. Meyers, one of our neighbors, dying cloth of this kind with green walnuts, and we had a very large kettle or wash pot, and we de- cided at once to dye the pants. Brother Bill said he would get the walnuts, if I and John would get the water hot. It v>^as about two miles to the walnut grove. We had an old white horse, and Bill mounted him. We were all so elated over the pro- posed dye works we were going to start, we were in high glee. I can see Bill now, as he v^as going in a fleet gallop, waving the sack over his head. To illustrate how he flew towards the walnut grove, I will tell a story. There was once upon a time a man that was driving three yoke of oxen hitched to a loaded Vv^agon, and one of his oxen sulked, or lay down and refused to go any further. The man whipped him and beat him with his whip stock, but all to no purpose. He would not budge. A doctor w^as riding by, and the man stopped him and asked him if he could help him any way, saying he was only eight miles from home. The doctor said he would try. He dismounted, took a small vial from his saddle bags and poured a little high life on the 22 Sixty Years in Texas. bruised places. The steer made a lunge, split the yoke, and was gone like a shot Avith his tail going in a circle. The man said in a moment, "Doctor, what is your bill?" the doctor said, "Oh, nothing." The man replied, "I know it is worth something." The doctor said, "Ten cents will do." "Here's your money. Now, give me fifteen cents worth quick and put it on me, I've got that steer to catch ;" and I will say that Bill went across the prairie to the walnut grove just like he had high life on him, and by the time John and I had the Vv'ater boiling Bill returned with about a bushel of green walnuts, and they were poured in the big pot. We stirred them around for a while, and then put our pants in the pot and began to stir then around among the walnuts, each of us with a stick about four feet long, going around and around the pot, with our long w^hite robes on, when all at once we lifted up our eyes to behold a finely dressed lady appearing on the scene. We not being dressed to receive com- pany, ran as fast as we could to a corn patch that was hard by, and occasionally we w^ould come to the end of a row and peep out. But she seemed to linger. It was said that she had her cap set for Mr. Simpson, vv^ho was living with us at that time. But she finally dismissed herself and walked slowly away, and when she got at a safe distance we came out from our hiding place. She would occasionally look back, and we could see from a distance that her cap was still setting for a live Scotchman. I will not mention her name, but I saw her brother at the, old Mexican Veterans' Meeting at Dallas, a very old man and a Mexican Veteran. After coming from our hiding place we rushed to the dye pot in an almost frantic manner ; but it was too late. The Rubicon was crossed, and the dye was cast, and our Sixty Years in Texas. 23 pants were of many different colors, a streak of white and yellow and then a streak of brown, and where the walnuts had rested on them there was a black spot about the size of a marble, and we could not do anything to change it for the better, so we hung them on the fence, and would step back and look at them, and all we could say was, "The leopard cannot change his spots, nor the Ethiopian the color of his skin, neither can we change the color of these pants." If Joseph of old had had a pair of them to match his coat of many colors it might have ex- cited the jealousy of his brethren to such a degree he may have fared much worse than he did. The evening we expected our parents to return Vv'e put them on, as it was all we had, and when they hove in sight we went out to meet them, keeping up a bold front and trying to make it appear that we had made a blooming success in the dye business, but expecting all the time a good whipping. But the meeting was so funny, and our appearance so comical, our parents laughed it off, but refused to let us go to camp meeting, and the good impres- sions we might have received were postponed for another twelve months. Time passed, and we continued to work very hard. Father and my older brothers would make rails, and with one yoke of oxen and the old wagon we had, would haul them to the edge of the prairie, and with two yoke and a sled I would haul them two miles to the place we were trying to enclose, and we never let up nor gave up until we had the largest farm fenced in the north part of Dallas County. Our cattle increased, and we had a lot of young steers that we broke to work, and we soon had oxen for sale. That was the only kind of cattle that there was much sale for, and we began to be in better 24 Sixty Years in Texas. circumstances, and were soon provided with re- spectable clothing. My older brothers were now getting to be almost young men, and there were new settlers coming in all the time, and my brothers and my oldest sister were beginning to want to become better acquainted with the young people, and they asked Father and Mother if they might have a quilt- ing bee. The boys told Father they had worked hard for a long time, and thought they ought to have a chance to get better acquainted with the young people and have some kind of amusement. Our parents consented, and the time was fixed. We did not send out any invitation cards, but Bill and John took turn about on our old Vv^hite horse, going in different directions, inviting the young people to come to the quilting. This was the first party in that part of the country or in Denton County, and the young people came from far and near. We had to invite all, as it would not do to slight any one. We had at that time two large rooms to our house, and three small ones. The time came at last, and the boys and girls came from every quarter, and the qaiits were sur- rounded, and the girls were busy until the middle of the evening. The quilts were completed and re- moved, and the rooms cleared, and the young people engaged in games and singing. But later a part of them wanted to dance, and a part objected. Some of them went to Father and asked him if they could dance, and he said he had no objections. They se- cured a fiddler, placed him in a corner on a raw hide chair, and he began to tune up, and some one said, "Get your partners for a cotillion." I was then nearly fifteen years old, but had never been to a dance, but I h'ad been casting sheep's eyes at a very beautiful little girl about thirteen years old, and I Sixty Years in Texas. 25 would have almost given my life to have got a chance to talk to her, and when they called for part- ners for the cotillion I thought now was my chance, and I advanced towards her to ask her to dance with me. But when I got in front of her I was paralyzed and speechless. My heart seemed to come up in my throat and got in my mouth. But I did have power to extend my right hand, and she savv^ distressing and painful condition I was in, and she must have had pitv on me. She gave me her hand, and we were the first couple on the floor. The set was soon made up, and the fiddle began to play, and some one said, "Who is going to prompt for us?" Well, I did not know what that meant, but present- ly a fellow called out in a loud voice, "Honor to your partners, lady on the left!" and they all began to bow. I must confess I did not make much of a Chesterfieldian bovs^, but I got as graceful a curve on me as I possibly could. Then the call was, "Join hands and circle to the left!" Well, that was easy. The next call came in a very loud and commanding tone, "Turn 'em loose, and every man to his puncheon, and balance all !" I am sure it would have provoked a hearty laugh from the soberest judge that ever Dallas County produced to have seen us facing those pretty girls and trying to keep time with that frisky fiddle, as the tall man in the corner kept playing fast and furious on the one old tune, on his three-string fiddle — "Chicken in the bread tray picking up the dough, Granny, will your dog bite? No, child, no." But the merry makers seemed to enjoy it, proba- bly better than the learned professor enjoys the classic music of to-day. The dancing was kept up all night, and the tall fiddler in the corner stuck to 26 Sixty Years in Texas. the old tune, and when the gray streaks of dawn began to appear in the east the revelers began to take their leave. Some Vv^ent in carts, some horse- back, with their girls behind them. Other girls had their own horse and saddle, and most of the girls in those days were good horseback riders. So the first party of Dallas County was over, past and gone into history, and the boys and girls had something to talk about for a long time. In the morning Father walked out around the farm, and in almost every fence corner a horse had been fed; and he said quiltings were rather expen- sive, and he would have to enlarge the farm before we had many more. In those early days Vv^e had to haul all our mer- chandise, groceries and supplies of every kind with ox teams from Houston or Jefferson, and it got to be quite a business, and those freighters made good money. They would get from three to three and a half dollars per hundredweight for hauling freight from these points. My father rigged up a team of five yoke of oxen and a big wagon. Two yoke of the oxen were wild, and he started me to Jefferson to haul a load of freight to McKinney. That was the first time that I had spent more than one night away from home. I shall never forget that trip. There was quite a train of us. We reached Jefferson all right, loaded our freight, between four and five thousand pounds on each wagon. Several barrels of whiskey made a part of the load. My brother William had two long teams and wagons, and he had a Yankee driving one of his teams, that was rather a rough fellow, but quite a genius, and if anything went wrong he was always ready to suggest a remedy, and if anything of importance was to be done the Yankee could be heard to say, "Hold, hold, let me suggest!" Sixty Years in Texas. 27 We moved slowly along with our heavy loads on our return trip. One of the oxen, a very heavy one, became very tenderfooted and got worse every day, and one morning before we had traveled far the ox laid down and refused to budge, and all of the long train was stopped. There were probably thirty yoke of oxen in the train. Those teamsters were rather rough, but they vv^ere true to one another. They would never desert a comrade that had fallen by the way. A valuable lesson might be learned from these boys by people that are now in such a scuffle trying to get ahead of their neighbors. "Well," said one of the boys, "it is no use. We might as well turn out our oxen for a few days and rest, and then try it again." And some of them began to unhitch, when the Yankee was heard to exclaim, "Hold, hold, let me suggest. Boys," he said, "Let us shoe this ox." Then one of the boys repHed, "We have got no leather nor anything else to shoe him with." The Yankee replied, "Let me suggest. We have a lot of sides of bacon. We can shoe him v/ith bacon rind." At once some of the sides of bacon were got out, and a piece larger than a dinner plate cut off for each shoe, and the experts went to work making shoes for that ox. They were made and placed upon the feet of the ox, a very good backwoods fit, and one of the boys told the driver to get his whip and make that ox get up. Before he had time to strike the Yankee was heard to exclaim again, "Hold, hold, let me suggest. Boys, let us give him a dram of whiskey," and several of the boys answered in chorus, "All right." The best barrel had been tapped, and the boys had been drinking it. They drew a quart bottle full of the very best brand, and one of the boys held him by the nose and horns, and another one poured the bottle of whiskey down his throat. The old ox 28 Sixty Years in Texas. licked out his tongue and smacked his Hps and got up, and for a while he was as frisky as a young colt with his new bacon rind slippers and morning dram. He tried to pull the whole load, and our long train again moved slowly on towards McKinney and we reached there in due time, and the freight was un- loaded. The barrel of best whiskey was a little light, and Mr, Newsome, the merchant, noticed it, and the boys told him they had been using it and expected to pay for it. But he said, "Never mind, boys. I ex- pect it was necessary for you to have your morning dram down in that malarial district." He paid us all in gold. I carried mine home, every cent of it, and gave it to my father. The family needed it very bad. I freighted several years hauling flour to the Indians, and lumber from the pine mills, and earned money to keep up the family. In regard to the boys drinking the whiskey on this trip I will say that I do not know of any bad results that followed. But will say that later in life I have seen so much of the bad effects arising from the use of whiskey that I hope the traffic may be suppressed altogether. When my two older brothers were seventeen and eighteen years old they thought they ought to have horses of their own to ride wherever they wanted to go. But neither they nor Father had any money to buy them with. There were many of the pioneers trying to open up their farms, and there was quite a demand for large teams to break up the prairie, and three dollars per acre was the price offered. My father rigged up a large team for the boys, and set them to v\^ork breaking prairie to earn money to buy their horses, and they soon had the money in hand. There was a large herd of Spanish ponies fresh from Mexico in the neighborhood, and the boys de- cided to buy a couple and break them to ride. They selected two very pretty looking ones, and the Mex- Sixty Years in Texas. 29 ican herders threw the lasso over their heads and threw them down and put halters on them, and the boys staked them out and kept them a few weeks and broke them to lead, and one Sunday morning they decided to ride them to meeting. The Mexican herd- ers were to help them to put the saddles and bridles on. The ponies were thrown down and blindfolded, and the bridles put on, and then saddled. John, my oldest brother, got on his first, and the blindfold was taken off, and the pony went like a shot, John hold- ing to the horn of the saddle. The pony circled John Jackson, Jr., Going to Meeting around a little and then took a straight shoot to- wards Dallas, passing the meeting house on Farmers Branch, and never stopped for services, but kept going like the wind, John still holding to the horn of the saddle like that was his only saviour. That was the only thing he had to hold to. The bridle reins were gone. He reached the place near where the suburbs of Dallas now stand, and then took a grand circle towards White Rock. John was still holding as tight as ever Mazeppa did, that was bound to the wild horse, passing people and every object on the road like the fleetest race horse, and about two o'clock in the afternoon they rounded up near Farm- ers Branch and the pony stopped among a bunch of 30 Sixty Years in Texas. gentle horses, and John dismounted, holding to a rope that was around the horse's neck, and he led him to a neighbor's and rested for a few hours, and borrowed a bridle and mounted him again and reach- ed home just before dark, and told us the round the WILLIAM JACKSON I can ride anything that ever looked through a bridle. pony had taken him, and said he was tired, but said his pony had good wind and the best bottom of any animal that ever came from Mexico. After John had left Bill was anxious to try his. The pony was thrown down and blindfolded, and the bridle put on. Bill had an old leather turtle-shell Sixty Years in Texas. 31 looking saddle that they girted on hard and fast, and some of them asked him if he could stick to him with that saddle, and he replied that he could ride anything that ever looked through a bridle. Bill mounted, and the blindfold was taken off, and away the pony went like a shot, but did not go far until he began to pitch and buck, and Bill and the pony parted company. Bill went up, up, and the pony went on. When Bill came down and pulled himself together he came back to where the crowd was stand- ing, and asked father if he didn't think he had better trade him for something gentle, which he afterwards did. The boys always had horses to ride after that. The Jacksons did some foolish things, but wher- ever a Jackson was found there was always some- thing doing. They would make a spoon or spoil a horn, as the old pioneers used to say. I will again go back to the year 1848, and say a few words in regard to the first crop we made in Texas. There was no land for rent. The farmers then were just making a beginning and opening up farms for themselves. None of them had enough in cultivation for themselves. But these old pioneers looked on one another as brethren, and felt in duty bound to help each other, and Mr. Marsh, the father of the late Thomas and Dave Marsh of this county, proposed to let my father have three acres to sow in wheat; and Mr. R. J. West, the father of the late Judge West and John West of this city, agreed to rent us six or eight acres for corn. These old people have long gone to their reward, but they remained our friends until the day of their death, and such friends were a blessing to all that knew them as we did. We made a very good crop of wheat and threshed the first out with a flail, and ground it with our hand-mill. That was the 32 Sixty Years in Texas. sweetest bread that I ever remember of eating. Our corn crop had to be cultivated. We broke up the land with oxen, and planted the corn. The rented land was situated about 314 miles from our cabin, and on Sunday evening we two or three of us boys would ride an old gentle ox that we had to the field to be ready early Monday morn- ing to begin plowing, and would camp there during .^r^ <:S=5^ Going to the Field Sunday Evening the v*^eek. I would lead the ox, and one of my brothers held the plow, and the other brother pull the weeds from around the corn. We would work that way during the week, and on Saturdey evening we would all go home to our cabin. We made a splendid crop of corn, and the corn and wheat we raised the first year put us in good shape with bread a plenty and to spare. The first load of corn we bought in '48 w^e had to haul from near Red River. In the year 1849 there was quite a number of fami- lies in Dallas, and we had twelve or fifteen good Sixty Years in Texas. 33 milk cows, and we proposed to furnish the town in all the butter they wanted; and on the other hand, they, the people of Dallas, or some of them, agreed to take all the good, fresh butter we could bring them, and pay a fair price for it ; and it was agreed that we three boys should take turn about deliver- ing the butter with the old white horse, the only one that we had, and everything looked promising for awhile. But it did not take us long to glut the market. We brought so much it became a drug on the market, and we gave the business up. I some- times now look at the crowded street of Dallas, the stately buildings, the finely dressed people, the met- ropolitan air and appearance, and I say to myself, what a change time has wrought! New York has its four hundred of the wealthy and select, and only a few can get within that inner circle. Dallas may not be able to boast of that large number, but the aristocratic and wealthy of Dallas are forming a circle slowly but surely where the common herd can never be admitted. I often look back to the early settlers of Dallas County, and I frequently count over the different families, and think of the good old days, when we were all free and equal, and seemed to be on the same footing. Although many of the old settlers of this county were educated and refined, yet it is equally true that some of them could not move with that ease and grace in fashionable society as some that came later on. But I will say that they had hearts, as true as steel. They were men and women that would be at your bed-side in the day and hour of sickness with a willing heart and a helping hand to admini" ter to your wants. They were men and women tha\ would weep with you in the day of your afflictioK and trouble, and would rejoice with you in the day of your good fortune and prosperity. These men 34 Sixty Years in Texas. with their ax in one hand blazed out the way for those that came later on, and with their trusty rifle in the other they protected their wives and lit- tle ones from the attacks of the wily savage, know- ing no fear save the fear of their God. Here in the wilderness in 1846 the first Baptist Church was or- ganized near Farmers' Branch, by Rev. David Myers, with only five members. They, a few of them, met together with their wives and children and in- vited the blessings of Almighty God down upon them, and placed themselves under His protection. These old people, may God bless them ! most of them have passed over the River. But I will say they are the kind of people that I like to meet with yet. I like to shake their hands when they come, the up and down motion, you can feel the whole weight of a great heart press down upon your hand. They are the kind of people I should like to have around my bed when I press my dying pillow. And when I cross over the River, if I am so fortunate as to reach that Heaven of rest, in which I have a living and abiding faith, I shall expect to meet them there, because I believe the virtuous, the true, the honest and brave will ne'er go unrewarded. In regard to the descendants of John and Mary Jackson — they are getting rather numerous. There is probably in all about 145. Those of Mr. Lionel Simpson are not near so numerous, and among them there are farmers, merchants, stockmen, a lawyer or two, a banker, and I do not know one among them but what is good for his promises, and will say I think there is not one of the descendants of either family that has not made a good citizen. It may not become me to say this, and I am sure I do not say it boastingly, but still, I am proud of it. I say it because fate seemed to be against us in the beginning, and our neighbor boys seemed to make Sixty Years in Texas. 35 sport of us in the beginning, because we did not have that tact and skill that qualified us for frontier life. But we had the grit and determination never to give up short of success. Many have died and others have dropped out of the old neighborhood, but the descendants of Lionel Simpson and John and Mary Jackson own the land for many miles. My father died in the spring of 1866, just after the close of the War between the States. He lived to see all of his sons return after that bloody con- flict, and we had a grand reunion, and a glorious time, that lasted for many days; and my dear old mother lived to a good old age, surrounded by her children and grand-children, with all the comforts of this life, loved by all who knew her. At the age of 87 years she crossed over the river and went to her reward. I admire and love the old pioneer women, and think them superior in many respects to the women of the present. But I would not think of making any unfavorable comments on the noble women of the present age. Many of them are in the forefront of every charitable and Christian enterprise, al- ways doing something for the betterment of others. They move gracefully about with a crown of flow- ers on their heads and dressed in a garb that seems to have been woven from the moonbeams of mid- summer. Their attractive appearance, and good works, will always be admired by good men. But let us turn to the old pioneers and look at the grand old women that stood by their husbands faithful and true. They endured the hardships, suffered the privations, braved the dangers, and overcame the difficulties that are incident to a new and a wild countrj^ without a murmur of complaint ; and when I think of my dear old mother, weak and frail in body, but strong in mind and spirit, how she worked 36 Sixty Years in Texas. almost night and day for her children — when I think of her that kissed away my tears in infancy and in youth, and counselled and rightly advised me in early manhood, my heart overflows, my eyes become moist, and my whole life of love goes out after her, and I admire and love and praise and revere her blessed name. Those old pioneers, both men and women, seemed to be possessed with the same spirit that controlled Bowie, Crockett and the heroes that gave their lives that Texas might be free. It was they that blazed out the way and laid the founda- tion in this country, that made it possible for those that came later on to enjoy the benefits and bless- ings of this glorious country. There have been many monuments raised that we may remember the heroes and great persons of past ages. We have monuments of our Confederate generals that gave their lives to a cause they be- lieved to be right, and I should like to see a monu- ment raised that would tower above all others in memory of the old pioneers, facing to the west, with his ax in one hand and his trusty rifle in the other, with his faithful wife by his side, with her Bible in one hand and distaff in the other. Sixty Years in Texas. 39 THE OLD LOG CABIN HOME. Dear memory's chain has bound my heart To my old log cabin home, And the boundless prairie free as air, Where once I loved to roam. When the deer was on the prairie. And the turkeys in the tree. And the bear was plenty in the woods And as fat as fat could be. Then the world seemed free and easy. No selfishness nor pride, And those that had a plenty Were always ready to divide. All men then seemed like brothers, And for help in vain we'd ne'er appeal, For we knew that all our neighbors Had hearts as true as steel. I shall ever love and praise the pioneer Wherever I may roam, And kindly love those dear old friends. And our old log cabin home. When I visit gilded halls and palaces, In company or alone, My heart not there, I am not right, I do not feel at home. My mind turns back to my dear old friends and our old log cabin home. It was there my dear old mother. With kind and loving care, Attended to my every want. And all my troubles seemed to share. With troubled heart and scalding tears Sometimes when I'm alone I think of my kind and dear old mother, And our old log cabin home. 40 Sixty Years in Texas. In regard to the descendants of John and Mary Jackson : They had seven children that grew to be men and women, four sons and three daughters. John Jackson, Jr., my oldest brother, died the 17th of July, 1904, leaving his second wife and one daughter. He left five sons by his first wife. He lived on the same place that he first improved for nearly fifty years, and had acquired a large body of land, giving each one of his five sons a farm, and had a beautiful place of his own, 640 acres, and at the time of his death his homestead, with its at- tractive residence and surroundings formed one of the most beautiful rural places in the county. He felt it his duty to enter the service of his adopted country. He enlisted in William Jackson's, his brother's, company, and served only six months and was discharged on account of sickness. He served as Justice of Precinct No. 1 several years. William Jackson, the next oldest brother, served with the rangers in General Darnell's company in 1858, and '59, and early in the war he enlisted in W. H. Witt's company and was elected first lieuten- ant, and later Capt. Witt resigned and he was elect- ed captain of the company. He married Miss Mat- tie Harris, a cousin of Chief Harris, of the Cherokee Nation, and not long after the war he moved to the Cherokee Nation and settled near Fort Gibson. He was elected to the Cherokee Legislature, and served for some time, and was appointed as one of the com- mittee to meet and confer with the Dawes Commis- sion. He practiced law for many years in the Cher- okee country. He is now 73 years old, and had a stroke of paralysis two years ago, and has been very feeble since. He has two sons and one daughter living, and they are married and doing well. The oldest son, William Jackson, Jr., was Commissioner of Denton County. JOHN JACKSON. JR. CAPTAIN WILLIAM JACKSON MR. FRANK JACKSON MRS. FRANK JACKSON Sixty Years in Texas. 49 Frank Jackson, my younger brother, enlisted in William Jackson's company when quite young, and was in active service until the battle of Elk Creek. He was wounded in that battle by the explosion of a shell, his skull being fractured badly. A piece of his skull was taken off nearly as large as a half dol- lar, and left his brain exposed and some of his brains came out, and they did not think it possible for him to recover. But he did. It took six or seven years for his skull to heal up. He married Miss Lizzie Hunter not long after the war. She was a native of Dallas county and reared six miles north of Dallas, and they have had twelve children born to them. Ten are living, six sons and four daughters. The sons are all married. The daughters are at home with the parents. The sons, several of them, are at Wichita Falls in business and doing well. The old- est son, J. L. Jackson, owns valuable property in Wichita Falls, and is considered wealthy. The sec- ond son, Henry, is cashier of the bank at Orange. He married the daughter of Judge Holland. The other sons are in the hardware and implement busi- ness at Wichita Falls. And brother Frank, their father, is still on the farm, and owns a part of the old homestead we first settled when we came to Texas. He owns a 300-acre farm. My oldest sister, Mrs. W. R. Dudley, died many years ago. W. R. Dudley married again to Miss Eva Carnes. He departed this life about ten years ago and Mrs. Dudley is living on the old place. They left three daughters and one son. The two youngest daughters died several years ago. The other daughter is living in Dallas. She married W. J. Everett. They have five children living, and two dead. The oldest son, William Everett, is married and works for the Dallas News. The oldest daugh- ter, Nora, married Mr. Crowder, the District Clerk 50 Sixty Years in Texas. of Denton County, and has since died. The oldest son, John Dudley, married Mattie Everett. They reside in Piano. They have six children. The oldest daughter married Wallace Houston, of McKinney, a lawyer. He was elected County Attorney, and served his term out, and now has a good law prac- tice. The next daughter married a Mr. Claude Jas- per, the son of a banker at Piano. John Dudley is a successful stock trader, and has done well in Piano. In regard to my own family, I will say my wife and I have been married nearly forty-four years, and we have not yet had a death in our family. Mrs. Lydia Jackson, my wife, was the second daughter of Abraham and Caroline Hewitt, of Leesburg, Vir- ginia. She was born and reared in Leesburg until the age of 15 years. She moved with her parents to Missouri in 1858. Her father and people were loyal to the Union, and moved to Kansas before the close of the war. We have four children, two sons and two daughters. Our oldest son, Edward, is living in Frisco, Collin County. He is married, and they have four children. He is in the hardware and im- plement business at that place. Roy, our second son, married Miss Hattie Hens- ley, daughter of John Hensley, of Jacksboro, and they have five children. They live at Fort Worth, and he has charge of the Hicks Stock Yards at that place. Carrie, our oldest daughter, married Dr. C. L. Morey, a dentist. They have no children. He is a partner of Dr. Rice, and they have their office in the Wilson Building, Dallas, Texas, and they seem to be doing a good business. Emma, our youngest daughter, married Mr. A. C. Pepple. They have three children. He is the steel furniture man, and has been in that business seventeen years. They are living at 983 Bryan MRS. GEORGE JACKSON Sixty Years in Texas. 53 street, Dallas. He has done a fine business, and is known throughout the State. My wife and I are liv- ing with them in our declining years. Fanny Jackson, second sister, married William Furneaux, and have been mentioned elsewhere in this book. They had four children born to them, J. H. Furneaux, John and William Furneaux, and Mary Furneaux. Mary married J. R. McFarland, the druggist. He and his brother own the drug store at 598 Elm street, Dallas. The Furneaux own three thousand acres of land in the north part of Dallas County, and the south part of Denton County, most of it in a high state of cultivation. My youngest sister, Susan, married James H. Mathis, December 18th, 1865. They now reside in Dallas. He came to Texas in 1855 with his parents. He enlisted in Company E, 18th Texas Cavalry, and was in many battles, the Battle of Ark Post, Chicka- mauga, Rescoa, New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek, and the Battles of Atlanta on the 21st and 22nd of July; in the latter he was taken prisoner, and spent about eight months in Camp Chase Prison at Columbus, Ohio. He was also a prisoner about four months at Camp Douglas, Chicago, Illinois, having been captured with the entire command at Ark Post. Their children, Flora and Martha, are single and reside with their parents. John Morris, their oldest son, died March 21st, 1908, leaving a widow and three children. Her maiden name was Carrie Boone. John M. Mathis spent about thirteen years in active work in the Y. M. C. A. as Principal Sec- retary at Houston and Dallas, and as General Sec- retary in the Railroad Y. M. C. A. in Smithville and San Antonio, having opened the work at both places. The youngest son, Arthur S. Mathis, married Miss Laura Towles, and they have one son. He himself 54 Sixty Years in Texas. occupies a prominent position as purchasing agent and assistant manager with Smith & Lamar, agents for the Methodist Pubhshing House of the M. E. Church in Dallas. There are now about 145 of the connection, counting those that have married into the family. We have had two reunions at my brother's near the old homestead in 1901 and 1903 that lasted three days each time, and we succeeded in getting most of them together. We had music and speeches, and had a very enjoyable time, and about two hundred took dinner with us each day. We had a dozen cooks and twice as many waiters, and the best the coun- try afforded was placed on the tables, and we talked of old times and the hardships we had gone through, the privations and difficulties of frontier life. We labored under many difficulties when we first came to Texas, and were considered green in the ways of frontier life, and the only redeeming feature we had was grit, but it was a hard struggle between grit and green, but grit was successful and did predomi- nate in the end. When I was ten years old in the spring of 1849 I did my first plowing, with a large yoke of oxen. I had a line around the horns of the near ox, and I placed it around my body, and got along very well for a short time, but when I got to the farthest end of the land and was turning them around they threw their tails over their backs and jumped into a gallop. I did not know what was the matter with them then, but thought they had gone mad all at once. But afterwards we found out that it was the heel flies that were stinging them. The line slipped down over my body and drew tight around my ankles. The oxen nearly flew, and I just touched the high places along as we passed through the field at such a rapid gait. They stopped when they reached the fence, and I disengaged my- JAMES H. MATHIS SUSAN JACKSON MATHIS Sixty Years in Texas. 59 self, and nursed my bruises a few minutes, and tried them again. In regard to our first reunion, in August, 1901, I will copy a small part as published by the Dallas News. "Three miles northeast of Carrollton, August 30th. Special correspondent of the News. At the home of Mr. John Jackson, presents an unusual scene. A stranger riding past this comfortable and spacious old homestead would scarcely know what to think. The grounds in the immediate vicinity of the dwelling are dotted with tents, wagons and bug- gies. Beneath the grove of old cedars are seen smiling, happy groups of people of all ages, from the prattling infant to hoary-headed and venerable grand parents. The old pioneer fathers of the Peter's Colony time are here — that is, a few of them — and dear old matrons, too, who shared the trials and hardships incident to the settling of a new coun- try. Upon the front porch the piano has been rolled out, and accompanying it are a cornet and two violins, all played by pretty girls in a most pleasing manner. Under the largest of the tents long tables are spread with an abundance of wholesome, well prepared meats and delicacies, for the Jacksons are not people who do things by halves. They set in to have a general family reunion, and they went about it right. Beeves and muttons were provided, and the services of skilled barbecuers were enlisted, and everything was done to provide without stint for » crowd of at least 200. Among the old pioneer families of the colonial period of Texas, there are none more highly respected and generally loved than the descendants of the sturdy and courtly old Devonshire Englishman, John Jackson, who with his large family immigrated to Texas in 1848. He died May 31, 1866, on the farm that he settled here, and lived upon for eighteen years. His venerable 60 Sixty Years in Texas. wife died in Dallas at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Fanny Furneaux, in May, 1894. These old people left four sons and three daughters, each of whom raised families. So numerous has the Jack- son family and their immediate connections become that it occurred to Capt. William Jackson, the second son, to hold a general reunion at the residence of his brother, John. Capt. Jackson has for a good many years lived at Waggoner, I. T. Last April he came on a visit to his relatives and old home in Dallas County, and while here suggested the pres- ent three days reunion. The idea was evidently a popular one, for the meeting was a grand success. It is strikingly evident that there is not the least danger of the Jackson family becoming extinct in the Southwest." The Dallas News of that date gives the names of all. I will state that there are now twenty families of Jacksons of the descendants of John and Mary Jackson, and thirteen families of the girls and their descendants that have had their names changed, making a total of thirty-three families to date. .Oi-'i- ^♦^•^tei ■ "^ ^ ,fl J^iW liV .•^£^ , '*^ ''t^^ ^^'"■^■'•k- ^j^ '^'-."ii ::.'-'■' :>mii^, Sixty Years in Texas. 65 History of the Members of the English Colony LIONEL SIMPSON All of the older members of the English that emigrated to Peters Colony have departed this life. But many of their descendants are prominent citi- zens. Lionel Simpson came from Scotland. He was an energetic, sturdy Scotchman, and braved the dan- gers, hardships and privations of frontier life with a determination never to give up short of success. He made a fortune before the war broke out, and be- came a slave owner. He was in the Confederate ser- vice a short time, and the company that he was in were ordered to help guard the prisoners that were taken by Bourland's men, and hung near Gainesville, forty-five were hung near that place at one time. He said it was an awful scene to have to witness. They were hung until dead and then taken down and placed in a cart and hauled to a ditch and buried. Mr. Simpson lost a great deal of his property dur- ing the war, but had a large estate at the time of his death. A Mr. Joseph Hildreth came with him from England. He was a city gentleman, and the hard- ships of pioneer life were too much for him, and he returned to the Old Country again. A Mr. Sims, a shoemaker, came from England in 1847, and located land here, intending to have his family come later, but was taken sick and died, but secured the land for his family. Lionel Simpson died many years ago, leaving three daughters, and one son, that has since died. Two of the daughters. Miss Ellen and Miss Anna, married sons of Captain McKamy, who were broth- 66 Sixty Years in Texas. ers of our ex-Senator William C. McKamy. Miss Emma married Col. Bishop, a very prominent man and for some time was a member of the Legislature. REV. J. H. MORGAN Rev. J. H. Morgan emigrated from Torquay, Eng- land, early in the fifties. Later Mr. Joseph Morgan, his brother, came to the English colony. Their fa- ther was a Methodist preacher, and a very prom- inent man in Torquay. I visited that city in 1904, and was struck with the beauty of the place, and it is said by many people to be the garden spot of Eng- land. Rev. J. H. Morgan was also a Methodist min- ister. He was broad in his views, rather too broad for the faith, order and discipline as taught in the Methodist Conference in this country. He did not believe in sectarianism, and felt like taking every man by the hand and calling him brother, and he thought the feeling and division between the differ- ent churches was too marked, and he believed that they should be united and all should work to that end, as all were striving to go to the same place. J. H. Morgan was a Bible student and studied the Bible the greatest part of his life, and some time before his death he wrote a number of manuscripts on the Bible, and was expecting to put it in book form and have it published. He was a very pious and devoted Christian and a deep thinker. The widow, Mrs. J. H. Morgan, has five of his manu- scripts that she expects to have published in book form. The first written is on the Fall of Man. The second is on the Atonement. The third is on Salvation. The fourth is on the Judgment. The fifth is on Damnation. REV. JOHN H. MORGAN MRS. J. H. MORGAN Sixty Years in Texas. 71 He has certainly given it a great deal of thought. Mrs. Margaret Oliver Morgan, wife of J. H. Morgan, was born in Port Glasscow, Scotland, and came to Texas in 1858. She married J. H. Morgan in 1860. She is now seventy-three years old, and re- sides in the city of Dallas. J. H. Morgan departed this life January, 1900, about eight years ago. I do not know the exact date. His widow and five children survive him. Professor Joseph Morgan, the principal of the High School at Dallas, is his oldest son. Henly, his second son, is living on the old homestead. Edward Morgan If. in business in Dallas. Miss Maggie Morgan, the oldest daughter, married Mr. Jack Amery, and they live in Missouri. Miss Bessie, the second daughter, married William Furneaux, Jr., and they have a beautiful place in the country; he is a brother of John L. and J. H. Furneaux of Dallas. They are well and favorably known as prominent stock men of North Texas. They have been engaged in that busi- ness many years, and they ship large quantities of fat cattle to Liverpool and London, also to Chicago, St. Louis and Fort Worth, Texas. They are the sons of William Furneaux and Fanny Jackson Furneaux. William Furneaux emigrated to Dallas County, from Devonshire, England, in fifty-seven, a young man. He was very successful in business up to the time of his death, and had acquired a large fortune, but died very suddenly at the age of forty-four years. Mr. Joseph Morgan, Sr., departed this life the 19th of December, 1907, at the ripe old age of 77 years. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. His wife was a Miss Eliza Furneaux. She died in the year 1901. Mr. Joseph Morgan is sur- vived by two sons and a daughter. His oldest son is a wealthy and successful ranchman of Denton Coun- 72 Sixty Years in Texas. ty. His second son, Rev. Joseph J. Morgan, is M. A. B. D., president of the North Texas University Training School of Terrell. Mr. Joseph Morgan was the oldest surviving member of the English Colony. Mrs. Maria Morgan Smith, the only daughter of Joseph and Eliza Morgan, is the wife of Rev. L. O. Smith. They are now living at Whitesboro, Texas. She has been very prominent and a very active Christian lady, and is known in Methodist circles throughout the State, and is a leader in every char- itable and good cause. She and Mrs. Johnson, a prominent lady of this city, were instrumental in building the rescue home in East Dallas. They (the Methodists) have seven acres of ground and a large building, and many a poor girl and fallen woman has found protection and a home there when their kindred and relatives would not recognize them. Mr. Joseph Morgan was a very useful man and was an exception, and volumes could be written on his good qualities. But we can sum it up in a very few words by saying he was a perfect Christian gen- tleman, and his good works live after him. The Morgans have done much for the people in the neigh- borhood in which they have lived, and their influence has spread out over a large part of Texas. I never heard him use any bad language when a young man, never a word that was not fit for the ears of ladies, and his influence was always good. I will try to note the character of Mr. Joseph Morgan in the following poem. Our departed brother was a Christian And a man without a stain, And was never known to do a wrong To secure a worldly gain. Sixty Years in Texas. 75 By looking straight into his face A child could understand That he could depend on such a friend, Because he was a kind man. His language was always pure and chaste, And such as all could understand; And his neighbors loved him very much. Because he was a pure man. The Church esteemed him highly — He was first to give and plan, And the members held him as a model, Because he was a liberal man. In business circles he was known. And they seemed to understand That his word was good as any bond, Because he was an honest man. And he also was a scholar. And did deep questions understand. And the world esteemed him highly, Because he was a learned man. George Jackson, His neighbor and friend for more than fifty years. THE WARNERS The Warners emigrated to Dallas County early in 1852 direct from Ireland. They were influenced by letters w^ritten by my father to his brother that was then living in Ireland. There were eight of them, the old gentleman and his wife and five sons and a daughter. They have all made good citizens. Mr. John Warner served as Judge of District No. 1 76 Sixty Years in Texas. for some time, and could have served longer, but de- clined to stand for the office, preferring to retire. Mr. Thomas Warner married Miss Harriet Perry, the daughter of A. W. Perry, and resides in the north part of the county. He is a wealthy farmer and stock man, is highly respected and one of our best citizens. Mr. William Warner married a Miss Vicery, an Irish lady. They live on a farm in north part of the county, and they are independent. It is now sixty years since we landed in this coun- try, and I have kept track of most all of the descend- ants of these early settlers, and there are a great many of them, and I do not know of one that has not made a good citizen, and many of them have become prominent. This is a record that every descendant of those early pioneers should be proud of. I will say a few more words in regard to the Warn- ers. They were a family of more than ordinary intel- ligence. The old gentleman was a remarkable man, over six feet tall, well educated and as polite as a French dancing master, and could make as graceful a bow as a Chesterfield. He had a rich Irish brogue, and was very interesting in conversation and a dig- nified Christian gentleman, and was held in high esteem by all his neighbors. He was born 1795 and departed this life in 1875, the family came from County Cork, Ireland. Two of his sons, Robert and Benjamin, departed this life several years ago, also the daughter, Susan. The entire family were Pro- testants. Those old pioneers were honest and re- liable, and true to one another. One circumstance that happened is probably worthy of note : A young man by the name of George Reed came to this country with the Warners, but did not leave Ireland with them, and my father was afraid he was with them for no good, as Mr. Warner THOMAS WARNER ROBERT WARNER JUDGE JOHN WARNER Sixty Years in Texas. 83 had quite a sum of money. My father thought he might be waiting for an opportunity to get it, and skip the country. Mr. Warner had it sewed up in a belt, a thousand or twelve hundred dollars in gold, that he wore around him. My father was so uneasy about it that he went to Warner's camp just after they reached the neighborhood and called him out to talk with him, and put him on guard, and when he mentioned his fears the old gentleman laughed heartily and told my father that he had lost his belt of money as they came along. He had taken the belt off and put it under his head at night, and in the morning there was some haste in getting away and their blankets were thrown in the wagon, and the money left in the grass. Reed, that morning very early, left the camp to try to kill a deer, and when he returned to the camp they were all gone. He picked up the belt of money and buckled it around him, and started after them, and about ten or eleven o'clock overtook the wagon. The old gentleman had not yet missed his money. George Reed delivered him the belt of gold and advised him to be more care- ful with his money in the future. Mr. Warner thanked my father very much and told him that George was perfectly honest. The early settlers of Dallas County were honest, generous and brave. They were a class of people that any country might be proud of, and a very few countries can boast of such a people as the early settlers of this country, and many of their descend- ants have become the prominent men of the county and State, and we never heard of any dishonesty from the time of the early settlement until near the close of the Civil War. Mr. John Warner married Miss Mollie Johnson, a sister of H. B. Johnson, of the City of Dallas. They were a fine looking couple, both of them over 84 Sixty Years in Texas. six feet tall. They lived on the farm for many years. Five children were born to them, three boys and two girls. Two of the boys are now living in Dallas. The oldest daughter, Ula, married Mr. William Perry, son of Frank Perry. They live on the farm. The other son, Alexander Warner, is married and lives on the farm, and the youngest daughter, Emma, is living with her father. Mrs. Warner died many years ago, when the children were quite young. Mr. Warner never married again. He brought up and educated the children, and one of them, the young- est, is still living with him. He has alwaws been a Republican politically, and most all of his neighbors are Democrats, but they think so well of him they would vote for him for any office that he wanted ; white, black. Democrat and Republican would all vote for Warner. He is now 68 years old. William B. Rowe and family emigrated from Devonshire, England, to Peters Colony in 1848. His family consisted of himself and wife and a son and daughter. The daughter married James Kennedy. One son was born to them, and Mrs. Kennedy died not long after. The son, William Kennedy, lives in the north part of the county, and is a wealthy farmer. He married Miss Ann Perry. They have a large fam- ily of children, most of them grown. William Rowe, Jr., married Miss Sarah Perry, daughter of Western Perry. They had one son born to them, and Mrs. Rowe, his wife, died not long after. The son is living in the north part of the county and is a well- to-do farmer. His father married the second time and raised a large family of children. He died several years ago. I do not know the children by his last wife. In regard to those camp-meetings, I will say for my part, I have a profound regard for those early Christians. I revere the memory of those men who Sixty Years in Texas. 85 fought the first battles, and I love all that tends to revive their memory. I delight to think of the deeds of love, and wish there was more of the zeal that actuated the advanced guard being experienced by the ministers of our own time. Who that ever felt the love of Christ in his heart does not experience a heavenly emotion when he passes over a camp ground? A train of thoughts will come rushing through his mind as he thinks of the stirring ser- mons and the shouts of new born souls, and the good old songs that were sun with such spiritual fervor that angels seemed to catch the sound and waft it over the Battlements of Heaven, Such as, "How Firm a Foundation," "Ye Saints of the Lord," and "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," "Tune My Heart to Sing Thy Grace." The great generosity shown by the campers at those meet- ings will ever be remembered by those that took part in them, and their names will be loved and revered by all VN^ho knew them. I will name a few of them that so often come to my mind : The Webbs, the Knights, the Cochrans, the McKamys, the Armstrongs, and many others, whose unbounded generosity will be loved and admired by all who knew them. Long tables were spread and loaded with a bountiful supply of everything that was good to eat, and all of those from a distance received a hearty welcome, and wagon loads of corn were brought on the ground and those that came from a distance were invited to help themselves. Both man and beast were provided for. 86 Sixty Years in Texas. The Indians In the winter of 1860-1861 the Indians made several raids into Parker, Clay, Cook and Denton Counties, and the settlers became alarmed and ex- cited. There was a company of one hundred men raised in the neighborhood of Trinity Mills, in the north part of Dallas County. We elected W. Hamp Witt, captain. We took no time to drill, but were off on the jump like minute men. I had a double- barrel shotgun, with one tube spiked, and I had no time or place to get a new tube put in. So I put a heavy load in the other barrel and promised them if I got in shooting distance I would give them the best I had in my shop. I started off on the jump with the company. We went through Denton, Cook and into Clay County, and ranged around a few days. We had such a formidable company I think we must have frightened all the Indians out of the country. We never did get in sight of an Indian. The country at this time was very much excited and there were wild rumors afloat. In the summer of 1860 Dallas was burned and the people were ex- pecting a negro insurrection. The burning of Dallas was laid to the negroes, and three negroes were hung. There were two Methodist preachers from Iowa that were accused of instigating the insurrection and put- ting the negroes up to burning the town. After hang- ing the three negroes, a great many of the negroes in the county were whipped. The two preachers were handled pretty rough. They were whipped and ordered to leave the country, and men fresh from the North were looked on with suspicion, and some good men were threatened. The summer of 1860 was very hot, 110 degrees in the shade, and in many places matches were known to take fire while on the mantel, or shelf. Some people WM. FURNEAUX, SR. MRS. FANNY JACKSON FURNEAUX Sixty Years in Texas. 91 thought that was the cause of many of the fires. There was thedifferenceof opinion. Some of the prom- inent citizens said they had proof that the negroes did it, and the Methodist preachers were at the head of it. The negroes suffered, and many of them were whipped. Some of the slave-holders did not like to have their negroes treated so cruelly. I still thank the Lord that I took no part in it. These were excit- ing times, and great interest was at stake, and the great institution of negro slavery that we had been taught and believed was all right seemed to be tot- tering on its own foundation, and there was nothing left to do but secede and fight for slavery or submit to gradual emancipation or abolition. The negroes were treated very well by their master up to this time ; once in a while one was sold. Sometimes they were given the privilege of selecting their own mas- ters. WM. FURNEAUX, SR. Wilham' Furneaux, of Devonshire, England, was the third son of John and Maria Furneaux, of Dev- onshire, England, and in 1857, when seventeen years old, emigrated to Dallas County, Texas. Furneaux is a French name. William Furneaux is a descendant of a very old family. The Furneaux trace their ancestry back near the time of William the Conqueror, that invaded and conquered England in 1066. On September 19, 1861, he married Miss Fanny Jackson. They had four children born to them — Wm. Furneaux, Joseph H. Furneaux, J. L. Fur- neaux, and Mary N. Furneaux. He in- herited and accumulated a magnificent estate, that he was possessed of at the time of his death. He departed this life very suddenly and unexpectedly. May 6, 1884. His widow, Mrs. Fanny 92 Sixty Years in Texas. Furneaux, now lives at 299 Worth street, Dallas, Texas, and Mrs. Mary McFarland, her daughter and husband, the druggist, are living with her. Mr. Vivian, an Englishman, came to the English colony during the war. He was a Confederate sol- dier, and as brave a man as ever saw Texas. He had said that he would never surrender his gun to a Federal soldier. His bravery was tested on several occasions during the war, and after the close of the war. The Federals stationed at Dallas had deter- mined to kill him, and a squad of soldiers was sent to the home where he lived on White Rock, near Frank- fort, and they slipped up on him and shot him in the house, and after shooting him, they knocked him in the head with their muskets, and one of the brav- est men that ever lived was murdered in that way. Mr. Wm. Kingwell came to the English Colony in 1848, and died, and a Mr. Lambshead came, he went west trading with the Indians and we lost sight of him. A. W. PERRY & WIFE, SARAH They were our near neighbors, and they certainly were the right kind of neighbors. There are only just a few such people as Uncle Elic and Aunt Sally, as we used to call them, and if they had any enemies I never knew it, and I lived in half a mile of them, or near them, for thirty or more years. A. W. Perry was not an educated man — that is, he did not have a literary education — but was a very practical man, and the boys would frequently say that he had more good horse sense than any man in the neighborhood, and a stranger talking with him would just as likely take him for a judge as a common farmer. A. W. Perry was the greatest provider for a Sixty Years in Texas. 93 family that I ever knew. The abundance that he provided was wonderful, and no one ever knew of A. W. Perry and wife doing any light house-keeping. His neighbors and friends were always welcome to share with them the good things they possessed. It was always said he had the best orchard in that part of the county, and it was very seldom that he had less than one hundred bee stands, and it could be truthfully added that his place was a place that flowed with milk and honey. Mr. Perry and wife moved from Illinois in 1844 with three children, and settled near the place that he died on. He died recently at the ripe old age of 86 or 87 years, loved and honored by all who knew him. He had accumulated a very large estate, and he raised a large family of fourteen children. There are six or seven of them now living, and the others dead. He made one division of his large estate many years before his death, giving each one a farm, and later, and not many years before his death, he made the second division. Mr. Perry was a partner with W. H. Witt, and they built what was known as the Trinity Mills. Later he sold to W. H. Witt, and it was known after as Witt's Mill. He was the original owner of the townsite of Carrollton, and laid oif the town and sold lots, and gave land for the M., K. & T. depot. Religiously, A. W. Perry and wife were Baptists, and most of their children were members of the same church. He joined the old Union Baptist Church, the first Baptist Church organized in the country. Said church was organized in 1846, with five charter members. He and his wife were always true to the Baptist faith. They were devoted Chris- tians from the time of their conversion to the time of their death. At the time Mr. Perry moved to Dallas County, 94 Sixty Years in Texas. in 1844, the Indians were plenty then, and made raids and stole horses after that time, but he did not suffer much from the Indians. Mr. Perry was a very cautious and a very shrewd man. If all of the people were such people as A. W. Perry and wife, the Millennium would be near at hand. We would need no sheriff, no police, no jail, no courthouse, no peace officers of any kind, but every man and every woman you met would be your friend, and we would almost have a heaven upon earth. Mr. Perry moved to Texas at a time when it tried men's souls, but he overcame every obstacle and surmounted every hill of diffi- culty, and was very successful in all his undertak- ings, and he departed this life without a stain upon his character. JOHN HENRY BROWN Late of Dallas, was born in Pike County, Mis- souri, Oct. 29, 1820, five months before that territory became a State. His family is essentially one of pa- triots and historical worth. The originator of the fam- ily came across the ocean in the time of Lord Balti- more. Captain Henry S. Brown, the father of John Henry Brown, came to Texas in 1824, as an Indian and Mexican trader, and was in many Indian fights. He often commanded companies against the Indians, defeating them near where Waco now stands, and in 1825 north of San Antonio, and in 1827 on the Nueces, and led his company to victory in many oth- er fights in Central Texas, where there was such a bloody warfare for many years with the Indians. He died suddenly in Brazoria, July 26, 1834. Brown County, created in 1856, was named in his honor at the request of many old citizens. His wife survived him until April 30th, 1861. She died at her home in Lavaca County, Texas. JOHN HENRY BROWN Sixty Years in Texas, 97 To write the history of John Henry Brown would require a large volume. He is known in Texas, and favorably known. It is not the leading and great men of Texas only that know John Henry Brown, but his name is a household word in the homes of all the common people of Texas, and all the long time during his active and useful life he has worked in the interest of the people, and for the welfare of our beloved State. His services and advice have been eagerly sought after wherever he has lived in our great State, and he has been prominent in the an- nals of Texas as a pioneer, legislator, soldier and his- torian. He departed this life without a stain upon his character, honored by the people and loved by his neighbors. THE COCHRAN FAMILY John M. Cochran has been a resident of Texas since his early childhood, and has been identified with the interests of Dallas County as closely as any man that has lived in the county. He was born in Tennessee, June 28th, 1838, and his parents moved to Dallas County, Texas, when John was three years old. He received a good education. He graduated with honor at the McKenzie Institute on Red River and was qualified to fill almost any position. His father was the first county clerk of Dallas County,, in 1846, and later, in 1847, he was sent to the first Legislature. My father and family became acquainted with the Cochran family in 1848. Mr. William M. Coch- ran was instrumental in securing our 640 acres of land. We were detained at Mount Pleasant, in Titus County, by sickness, and did not arrive in Peters' Colony until after the 4th of July, 1848, that being the last day of grace. Mr. Cochran brought it up 98 Sixty Years in Texas. in the Legislature, and the member from Titus Coun- ty, being acquainted v\^ith the circumstances, corro- borated the facts stated by Cochran, and we secured our land by a special Act of the Legislature. John H. Cochran, the subject of our sketch, has served as a member of the Legislature six terms, and was Speaker of the House in the Sixteenth and the Twenty-third Sessions. He served Vv^ith ability and had the confidence of the people at home. He was postmaster of Dallas County during Cleveland's first administration, and was also County Assessor in 1862. He served the County long and well. He was never accused of trickery, and no word of suspicion was ever spoken against him. I was his neighbor for many years, and his partner in business for one year, and can testify to his worth and honesty. He married Miss Martha Johnson, of Young County, in 1860. They had six children born to them, William and James, their two oldest sons, died just as they attained manhood. They were two promising young men. They were my next-door neighbors during their sickness. Mr. Cochran lived in Young County a short time, and he has often told me about the Indian fights and the close places he has been in. The Cochrans have been closely identified with the county. A. M. Cochran has been a member of the Legislature of Dallas County and was also postmas- ter of Dallas. He is a Republican in politics, and has held many places of honor and trust in the coun- ty. In 1886 he was the Republican nominee for Governor of Texas, and made a canvass of the State. William P. Cochran, deceased, was a prominent citizen, and took an active part in politics. He own- ed the old homestead, six miles north of Dallas, and was reared to farm life. He enlisted in Sixth Texas Cavalry in 1861, and went all through the war, and was in many battles — Pea Ridge, Corinth, Inka, JOHN H. COCHRAN Sixty Years in Texas. 101 Holly Springs and forty-six days fight before At- lanta. He departed this life a few years ago. James M. Cochran, another brother, was reared to farm life and is a successful farmer and stock raiser. Of late years he has been living in Dallas. He was County Commissioner in 1905 and 1906. He is now engaged in the real estate business under the firm name of Jacoby & Cochran. OBADIAH KNIGHT Was a native of Virginia, and when a young man removed to Tennessee, where he engaged in agricul- ture, which he pursued until 1846. In that year he came to Dallas County, Texas, and settled in Pre- cinct No. 1, in four miles of the little village of Dal- las, He purchased a thousand acres of land, which he placed under cultivation, and he was the owner of slaves, although he was opposed to the principle of bartering in flesh and blood. Mr. Knight was twice married. There were five children of the first marriage; all of them are dead except Gabriel A. The deceased are, William A., Elizabeth Mallard, Dr. John W. and Mrs. Judge Bur- ford. The second marriage was to Miss Hughes, and the children of this union are, Laura, who died in 1870 ; Mattie A,, deceased ; Sarah Catharine, Mar- garet B., William H., Epps G., who is favorably known throughout the entire county. He was County Collector for three terms, and a very efficient Chief of Police for several years. The next son is R. E. L., a lawyer by profession, and has become very prominent, and is considered one of the ablest lawyers at the bar. Archelaus J., the youngest liv- ing son, is a well-known real estate man of Dallas, and is now doing a good business under the firm name of Aldredge & Knight, at 239 Main street, 102 Sixty Years in Texas. Dallas, Texas. Monroe, Henry, Josephine and Lula died in childhood. From this father, Obadiah, sprang a large and influential family, that have done much for Dallas County. Mr. Knight was a member of the Methodist Church and one that was respected and looked up to. He was identified with the Democratic party, and was of the most honored and respected of the early pioneers, and left behind him a name that will be revered while memory lasts, and the influence of this good man has been the cause of many other liv- ing better and more useful lives. G. A. Knight, the oldest son, enhsted in the First Texas Artillery and served for four years, and par- ticipated in some of the most noted battles in the conflict, and after the surrender he returned to Dal- las County. September 8th, 1869, he was united in marriage to Miss Hannah E. Jenkins, a native of Dallas County, and a daughter of William Jenkins, who was the first Sheriflf of Dallas County. Nine children Vv^ere born to them, two of whom died in infancy. Those living are, Alma L., William Bur- ford, Andrew G., Mattie, John J., Adaline and Lu- cile. Mr. Knight engaged in farming, and remained on the farm until 1889, and then located in the city. He has held several offices in the city. He was a member of the City Council for several years. He has acquired a large estate and owns and lives in an elegant residence on North Harwood street, and has been a consistent member of the Methodist church for many years. DAVID MYERS Was a Baptist preacher of the old school, and gave his time and services to the good cause, and received but small pay in this life. He was a man Sixty Years in Texas. 103 of pleasing address, and a good and earnest preach- er. He organized the first Baptist Church in Dal- las County, in 1846, known as the Union Baptist Church, located near the town of Carrollton. He also organized a Church on Rowlett's Creek, and the Bethel, Liberty and probably other churches. He was active in the work, and trusted the Lord for results. The old pioneers had but little money. As a Texas pioneer preacher he sufi'ered many hard- ships and privations. During his entire ministry I don't think he received as much as $500.00; but he seemed to delight in his w^ork, and the Lord only knows the great influence for good he did among the old pioneers. It was at the cabin of David Myers that my father and family stopped at the end of our long journey from Devonshire, England, to Peters Col- ony, and we received kind treatment from the old pioneer preacher and his family. We remained there some time, until we could secure a cabin to go into, and the Myers family have always been our friends. The first sermon preached by David Myers in Dallas Countj^ was a funeral discourse, delivered in June, 1846, and his last sermon was preached at the Bethel Church, a church that he had organized. He departed this life March 9th, 1853, honored and loved by all who knew him. He was in active service, preaching to the pioneers of Dallas, Denton and Collin Counties for seven years, and died at the age of 56 years. JAMES A. SMITH The great pioneer preacher was our neighbor, and a friend of every person, and especially to the members of the English Colony, and we held him in high esteem. He lived 9 miles from our home. 104 Sixty Years in Texas. The following chronological sketch was written by Mr, Smith himself: James Anderson Smith, son of Joshua Smith, son of John Smith. My mother, Mary Smith, was the daughter of William and Nancy Anderson. They were born in Ireland — emigrated to South Carolina after their marriage, where my mother, their first child, was born in the year of our Lord, 1774. My grandfather Anderson was killed by the British in a skirmish shortly after Sumpter's defeat near Camden, S. C. My grandfather Smith was a native of Maryland, and descended from a Welch family; he emigrated to Virginia, Prince William County, about the year 1760, where my father was born in the year 1765. From thence he moved to South Carolina in the year 1769. My parents were married in the year 1794; lived in South Carolina until 1804; moved to Ten- nessee, settled in Robertson County, near Spring- field ; in 1818 emigrated to North Alabama, Lauder- dale County, and in 1843 emigrated to Mississippi, Tishomingo County, where my father died in Sep- tember, 1845 ; also my mother died a year or two af- ter, in Franklin County, Alabama. I was born in Chester District, S. C, Sept. 25, 1801; married to Anne Kilten, Feb. 26, 1828; emigrated from Missis- sippi to Texas, Dallas County, in the wint-r of 1846-7. The late Rev. Wesley Smith, in his bo^«<, "My Family History," I find the following: "My brother, James A Smith, was converted at a praye"'-meeting in Franklin County, Ala., in 1831; was ^T^pointed class leader of his society soon after his conversion, which position he held until 1834, when he was reg- ularly licensed to preach. I also have in my posses- sion his ministerial credentials as elder in the M. E. Church, South, signed by Bishop Kavanaugh. Sixty Years in Texas. 105 "Soon after his arrival in Dallas County he lo- cated eight miles north of Dallas, between the Pres- ton and McKinney roads, built his log cabin home and opened up his farm. He and his family were not only satisfied with the country, but delighted with it. At the first he felt himself identified with it and its future interests ; he directed his efforts to its development materially, socially and morally. Never once did he sigh for the flesh pots of Egypt, though enduring the privations and hardships of the pioneer. He was optimistic in his views and inspired all others with his cheerful confidence as he looked to the future for the fulfillment of his high ideals. But as uninterrupted success and happiness is not the portion to mortals given, so it was with Mr. Smith, when the greatest trial of his life came upon him, when the death angel came and took from him his loving, devoted wife. On April the 3rd, 1861, Vv^hen surrounded by husband and children, to whom her life had been devoted, she left us all, in answer to the summons of her Lord to come up higher, and though he bowed in meek submission to the will of his Heavenly Father, yet the blow was so heavy, the breaking of the cords that bind around the heart was so severe, he never recovered fully his joyous spirit, but when the Civil War, now immi- nent, sent forth its mandate "To arms," and the dark gloom of war hovered over his loved country, his patriotism asserted itself with incomparable de- votion and energetic efi"ort to cast all, if necessary, upon its altar. He gave liberally of his substance to aid in the prosecution of the war, and though his health was rapidly failing, he withheld not his sons, but bid them all go to the defense of his loved South- land. Though confined to his room, this long weary time, he ever had a deep interest in the affairs of his country, watched with unabated interest the prog- 106 Sixty Years in Texas. ress of the war, never complained or murmured on account of physical suffering. After two years from the death of his wife this life's conflict was over. Like St. Paul, he had fought the good fight, "he had kept the faith ; hence- forth there was laid up for him a crown of eternal life which the righteous Judge shall give to the final- ly faithful." Better than to speak myself, I will ap- pend a tribute of love and respect from three of his particular friends. The "In Memoriam," by the Rev. W. K. Hasten, a minister of the North Texas Conference, written soon after his death. A tribute by the late Joseph Morgan, which has ever been highly prized by the family as coming from one whom no one knew better of Mr. Smith's private inner life. A contribution to the "Texas Christian Advo- cate" of November, 1905, by Rev. W. H. Hughes, a friend and co-worker, who, after a lapse of more than forty years, tells of his abundant labors, his usefulness, and unvarying faithfulness as a minister of the gospel, in the establishment of the church, in the early settlement of Dallas County. In Memoriam. Rev. James Smith departed this life at his resi- dence in Dallas County, April 15, 1863. He came to this country a minister in the Methodist Episco- pal Church, South, and labored with great accepta- bility, both to the church and to the people, as a local preacher. As a citizen, Mr. Smith was true to his country and took great interest in its ad- vancement, was never found lagging in any of the enterprises that seemed to promise its development and general welfare. As a neighbor, he was kind and obliging. As a friend and companion in the closer walks of life he was true, confidential and Sixty Years in Texas. 107 benevolent. As a Christian he was constant and unmovable. As a preacher he was earnest, a clear reasoner, and at times was almost overpowering in pathos and eloquence. Was more successful in his pulpit exercises than most men, as hundreds in this and the adjoining counties can testify. He has more fruits as a preacher, perhaps, than any minister in this section of the county. Hundreds through his instrumentality have been brought to Christ and added to the Church of God. He died as he had lived, in favor both with God and man. He retained the full vigor and strength of his intellect and reason until the very last moment of his life. The writer of this sketch was with him from early in the day until he died at 8 p. m., conversed with him much, in regard to his acceptance with his Heavenly Father, and it is for the consolation of his children and friends that I will say that from the frequent interviews I had with him during his long and painful sickness I never found him dis- posed to murmur or complain. He often told me he did not wish to choose whether he should live or die; he loved his family and friends very much, but he had a strong desire to be with Christ, and as he was passing into the very jaws of death, and while his children were weeping around him, he called them to him, laid his hand upon each of their heads and blessed them in the name of the God of Jacob. Thus passed away from our midst one among the very best men in all the land. W. K. Hasten. Tribute of Mr. Joseph Morgan to Rev. James A. Smith. " This is my beloved Son. Hear Him.' "Such a truth! How grand! How glorious! 108 Sixty Years in Texas. Hear ye Him, give heed to His teachings. Attend His calls. Obey His commandments. Die with Him to sin, as He died for sin. Arise with Him to new- ness of life. Live with Him a life of holiness, benev- olence and humble devotion. So may I believe, at- tend, obey, and live with Him forever. So might it be. J. A. S." The above was written in pencil on the cover of a book entitled The Christ of History. These few lines written by the Rev. J. A. Smith a short time previous to the close of his earthly pilgrimage dis- cover to us the source of that pure strain of benevo- lence and humble devotion which flowed so unvary- ingly from his full heart, and from which many of us have so often drank and been refreshed. He did believe, he did attend, he did obey, and now he is gone from us to live with Christ forever. Let those, his own words, be his epitaph written not on a gorgeous monument, for he despised outward show, and cared but little for the praise of men — but written with the pen of love in the memories of all who knew him, friends or foes. Repeat them to your children's children. Teach them by word and example to follow him as he followed Christ. So may we all attend, believe and obey, and with him live with Christ forever. Amen. Joseph Morgan. Rev. James A. Smith, a Pioneer Preacher. (By W. H. Hughes.) Ingratitude towards those who in anywise have contributed to our comfort and prosperity is one of the most detestable elements in human nature. But ingratitude toward those who have gone before us and have borne the burdens and inconveniences of frontier life is too often found in Church and State. Jesus said to His disciples, "One soweth Sixty Years in Texas. 109 and another reapeth. I sent you to reap that where- on ye bestowed no labor; other men labored and ye entered into their labors." This is true of thou- sands in Texas to-day, who are occupying fat places and reaping a rich harvest in fields on which they bestowed no labor. These pleasant places have been created and made possible through the labors of Rev. James A. Smith and others who took their lives in their hands and endured the labor, defied the dangers of wild beasts and savage men and con- verted these prairies from a vast wilderness into a veritable paradise of Christian civilization. To preserve the memory of this noble man of God, and give some little recognition to his merits, I write this imperfect sketch of a few of the many virtues of my old friend and co-laborer, who was the first local Methodist preacher in Dallas County, and who did more perhaps than any other one man to Christianize and Methodize the early settlers of this community. In 1846 Brother Smith left Mississippi, came to Texas and settled near what is now Caruth Chapel. His family consisted of his wife, three sons, John Wesley, Joshua Fayette, and William Robert, and two daughters, all of whom have long since pass- ed over the river. William Robert became a preach- er and member of the North Texas Conference, Brother Smith found but few people in this vast country, some of whom were Methodists, who were like sheep in the wilderness without a shepherd. To these he began at once to preach, and they heard him gladly. Brother Smith was in many respects a re- markable man. His piety was of the type of John the Evangelist, whose life was always even and con- sistent. He did not seem much elated by success, nor depressed by adversity. He seemed to feel God at the helm, and he was content. He had a pleasant Wesleyan face and was an attractive speaker and 110 Sixty Years in Texas. preached with demonstration of the Spirit and pow- er. I have at no time heard a more earnest and elo- quent local preacher than was James A. Smith. He was of a preaching family. Had two broth- ers, William and Wesley, in the Texas Conference, both strong men. He was a prudent man and of a genial temperament. He was popular with saint and sinner, and officiated at almost every wedding and funeral among the early settlers. Unlike most of the first settlers, he was a man of considerable means, which he used liberally in building up the cause of Christ. While he was indifferent perhaps to a fault about personal dress, yet his manner was that of a polished Christian gentleman, and he was modest as a lady. The first Methodist organization in Dal- las County was in 1844, in the house of I. B. Webb, which w^as only sixteen feet square. This society consisted of the following names (as near as I get from the record) : I. B. Webb, Mary Webb, W. M. Cochran, Nancy J. Cochran, Mary Byrd, C. and J. Harris, David Shahan, James Shelly, Caroline Shel- ly. To this little company he preached regularly, and the people for many miles came on foot, in ox wagons and horseback, to hear the word. It was not an uncommon thing then for people to go ten or fifteen miles to preaching when an increased popula- tion necessitated a larger house for worship. Brother Smith was the largest contributor to build Cochran Chapel, which was the first Methodist Church built in Dallas County. This house was 30x40 feet and cost $1600. It was dedicated without debt, by the Rev. J. W. P. McKenzie of precious memory. The land for the church and graveyard was given by the widow of W. M. Cochran. Brother Smith was the forerunner of John the Baptist who prepared so well for the future de- velopment of Methodism which we now enjoy. The Sixty Years in Texas. Ill little vine thus planted in the wilderness has grown as rapidly as Jonah's gourd vine, and its fruit is as luxuriant as the clusters found by the Hebrew spies in the promised land. Cochran Chapel soon number- ed its members by the hundreds. As the country settled up the remoter members became the nucleus of other organizations. Thus in less than one man's lifetime this little band has multiplied into more than 5,000 members in Dallas County alone, and this little home as a house grew into more than a score of commodious churches. His death was all we could expect or desire, after such a life. His last illness was protracted through many months, and he sank gently and peacefully into the arms of his Master, Whom he had served so well. He often spoke of the peace of God that filled his soul with joy, and removed all fear of death. His life and death were indeed beautiful and trium- phant. "His witness is in heaven and his record is on high." He was one of God and Nature's noblemen. THE NOBLEMAN. The nobleman is a Christian man, And one God loves to bless. For he helps a fallen brother When he finds him in distress. His heart is tender and compassionate, And free from care and strife. And every man is his brother, Although his station is low in life. The passions and the weakness And the sins of fallen man He prays to be forgiven As per God's eternal plan. 112 Sixty Years in Texas. I don't aspire to be a judge, But those may judge who can; But in the day of reckoning There may be many and many a sham. Proud gentlemen and ladies In full dress to church will go, And take a place of prominence, And try to make a show. We see them in the churches. And we meet them on the street. With pride and dress they are all puffed up And do not care to speak. These men and women of the world That hold their heads so high, A few short years will tell the tale. When they'll lay down and die. And a few short months may still pass on And their bones and flesh be rotten, And the fools that held their heads so high, Will then all be forgotten. Courage, merit and Christian kindness Are the deeds esteemed so high. And are treasured in the human heart, And can nev'er, never die. The title of nobility That God to man imparts Is righteousness and wisdom And a kind and loving heart. Kings may grant their titles, And cause their noblemen to rule. With hearts as black as midnight. And vindictive, cross and cruel. Sixty Years in Texas. 113 The world measures men by wealth and rank, And what they can control; But God, He measures moral worth. The mind, the heart, the soul. — Geoj^ge Jackson. THOU GOD SEEST ME. Oh God, to Thee the heart is known, Each action and intent; From Heaven Thine everlasting throne. The searching spirit is sent. Thou seest the penitential tear, Thou hearest the mourner's sigh. Desponding soul, dismiss thy fear. For lo! thy God is nigh. The thoughts, though hid from mortal sight, Are open unto Thee. Light as the day is darkest night. Oh God, Thou seest me. Though I should mount on eagle's wings And soar through realms of air. Still to my soul Thy presence clings, For Thou art with me there. To Thee eternity's as an hour, Infinite space a span; Nor time nor space can stay Thy power, Yet Thou rememberest man. When death's chill hand has stayed life's tide, And glazed my sightless eyes, Thy presence then my soul will guide ; My soul without Thee dies. 114 Sixty Years in Texas. What comfort to the Christian's heart When Hfe's short race is run; The Judge doth know me, not in part, But all that I have done. —W. R. Smith. Isaac B. Webb and family came from Missouri in 1844, and settled on Farmers Branch. He built a house or room 16x16, and in this house the first Methodist organization of the county took place in 1844. This society consisted of the following names, as near as I get the record : I. B. Webb, Mary Webb, W. M. Cochran, Nancy J. Cochran, Mary Byrd, C. and J. Harris, David Shahan, James, Shelly, Caro- line Shelly. This little company the Rev. J. A. Smith, the pioneer preacher, would preach to, and others from a distance would come to hear him. The Webbs were all good Methodists and took a great interest in the camp meetings of later years. These old pioneers did a great deal to help the religion and morals of the early settlers of their day. Their liberality and earnestness touched the hearts of many that were trying to live better lives. Wil- liam D. married Olivia Merrill. She died several years ago. J. Witt married Miss Sarah Dennis. She died and Mr. Webb married again. They are living in Dallas. The oldest daughter married Jack Dennis. They raised a large family. Mr. Dennis died a few years ago. The next daughter married Howard Cox. They also have a large family. They all live near Farmer's Branch. Another one of the daughters, Saphronia, married Mr. Ford. They now live in Dallas. His son, I. W. Ford, is a. prominent lawyer in this city. A Mr. Taliaferro married Anna Webb, another daughter. They also live in this county. J. Newt. Webb married Miss Donnell and died a few years after. Samuel Webb died when a youth. MR. HARRISON C. MARSH MRS. POLLY MARSH Sixty Years in Texas. 119 All the descendants of those good old Methodist pioneers are highly respected, and have made good and upright citizens. Harrison C. Marsh and wife, Polly, came to Texas in 1843, from Missouri. He had only lived in Missouri four years. He moved from Kentucky, being a native of that State. They had seven chil- dren born to them, two sons and five daughters. Thomas C, the oldest, married Hannah Husted. They lived on the place he first improved until his death. He died several years ago. His widow died recently. They raised a family that is highly respec- ted by all who know them. J. D. Marsh, the second son, married Rebecca Perry, a daughter of Western Perry, and they had nine children born to them — Harrison F. Marsh, Fanny, Hollis W., Laura R., John D., who died in childhood, Henry C, Walter, Chas. D., and Thomas. Mrs. Marsh departed this life in 1880, age forty-two years. Mr. Marsh married again in 1883 to Miss Fanny Williams. They had two daughters born to them. He departed this life a few years ago. The widow and two daughters are now living in Dallas. Mary Ellen married H. C. Daggett, of Fort Worth. He departed this life many years ago. Mary, second daughter, married J. J. McAlister. They are living in Dallas. Elizabeth J. married E. B. Daggett. They are living in Fort Worth. Martha A. married Mark Allison, of this county. Charlotte M., known by the name of Pete when a girl, married W. 0. Neill of Tarrant County. The old home of Harrison and Polly Marsh brings to mind many pleasant recollections. It was there the young people loved to meet. We had many a party there, and always had a good time, and those dear old people were always so good and kind to us. 120 Sixty Years in Texas. When I think of them, and while I write these lines, my eyes are moist. I cannot restrain or keep back the tears. May God bless them and theirs, as I be- lieve they richly deserve. They lived and died on the same place they first improved. Mrs. Marsh died first, and was buried near the old home. Mr. Marsh would often visit her grave, and seemed so lonesome, but was patiently waiting to cross over and join her in the great beyond. James M. Kennedy, deceased, was our nearest neighbor. His mother located the adjoining section to my father's headright. They were from Alabama, but moved to Arkansas, and in 1845 moved to Texas with her two sons, J. M. and Henry Kennedy. James, the oldest, was 15 years old. Henry was probably eighteen months younger. In 1849 Henry left his mother and brother and went to California during the gold excitement of that year, and made a fortune in California, but never returned to Texas, and James and his mother were left to struggle alone on the frontier. He received a very limited education, but was a man of more than ordinary intelligence and soon became a skillful and practical frontier man. He was a good hunter and a dead shot, and meat a plenty was always provided for the family. He was very industrious and successful in busi- ness, and became a full partner in 1860 with W. H. Witt in the splendid property known as Trinity Mills, with a large store in connection with the mill. James Kennedy married Miss Prudence Rowe in 1853, an English lady, the daughter of W. B. and Prudence Rowe. They came from Devonshire, Eng- land, in 1848, and settled on Farmer's Branch. She died in 1855, leaving one son, William. He is now a wealthy farmer and stockman that has raised a Sixty Years in Texas. 121 large family and is now living in the north part of the county. In 1858 Mr. Kennedy wedded Miss Scharlotte Drake, daughter of George D. and Rachel Tomkins Drake. They emigrated to Texas in 1855 from Marshall County, Illinois. They had nine children born to them, two dying in infancy. Six are now living, George, the oldest, Samuel and James, twins, Marsh, the youngest son; Ella Prudence, the oldest daughter, married G. F. Myers, son of Rev. J. M. Myers. They were married in 1885. She died in 1890, leaving three children ; Emma, the next oldest daughter, married Charles Jackson, one of my brother John's sons. They have three children. Mattie, the third daughter, married Andrew Jack- son, my brother John's youngest son. They have two children. Both families live in Carrollton. They are farmers, each one of them having a good farm. They also have a brick plant at Carrollton that has been engaging their attention lately. Mr. Kennedy when the war broke out had ac- cummulated quite a fortune, but most of it was swept away during the war. He enlisted in the Con- federate army in 1861, W. H. Witt's company, Dar- nell's regiment, and soon after transferred to Scant- ling's squadron, in which he remained until the war closed. After the exemption law William Jackson was made captain of their company, and James Kennedy was promoted to first lieutenant. He participated in many skirmishes and a number of battles. I have heard my brother say frequently that he was as brave a soldier as ever carried a mus- ket. He was frequently placed in command of squads that were sent out as skirmishers. He departed this life several years ago. His widow is still living on the old homestead near Car- rollton. 122 Sixty Years in Texas. JUDGE NAT M. BURFORD Was born in the State of Tennessee, June 24th, 1824, and was a son of John H. and Nancy McAlis- ter Burford, natives of Virginia and North CaroHna respectively. His parents were pioneers of Tennes- see, and were married in that State. The father was a farmer by occupation. He served as captain in the war of 1812, and distinguished himself for bravery and courage. He ended a long and useful career in 1862. His wife died in 1870. They were sturdy, noble souls, people of great integrity and nobility of character, and representative types of the early settler. Nat M, grew to maturity in his native State. After a careful preparation by private tutors, he entered Irvins College and took the full course of that institution. He then read law, graduated at the Lebanon, Tennessee, law school, and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1845, beginning an active prac- tice the following year. In January, 1847, he moved to Texas and settled in Jefferson, where he resided until October, 1848, at which time he settled in Dal- las, where he has been a prominent factor in the de- velopment and progress of the State. So rapidly did he grow in popularity and public esteem that in 1850 he was elected District Attorney. He served the term with great satisfaction to his constituency, and was re-elected to the office in 1852. In 1856 he was elected Judge of the Fourteenth Judicial District, which comprised a wide territory, sixteen counties. He traversed the section under his jurisdiction in primitive style, and was always received with bounteous hospitality by the settlers. During his administration the State was passing through a transition period and many cases of grave and serious importance arose. His clear conception i^y f>; -/^{"^^ JUDGE NAT M. BURFORD Sixty Years in Texas. 125 of law, coupled with a prompt decision and unflinch- ing adherence to his convictions, enabled him to master the situation under all circumstances, and won for him a wide and lasting reputation. During his official career he became the personal friend of General Thomas, and made the acquaint- ance of many other persons of distinction. In 1862 Judge Burford was made colonel of the 19th Texas Cavalry in the Confederate service, and held the position until 1864, when he was obliged to resign on account of ill health. He resumed his legal prac- tice and was soon elected a member of the Eleventh Assembly of Texas, and was chosen Speaker of the House. He was in 1876 again elected District Judge, an office which he resigned at the end of two years. Since that time to the time of his death he lived a retired life. Judge Burford was united in marriage in 1854 to Miss Mary Knight, a native of Tennessee. Eight children were born to them. Mrs. Burford died in 1888. She was a faithful wife, a fond and careful mother, and a woman of great nobleness of charac- ter. The children who survived the mother are named as follows : Mattie, the wife of William Free- man, Robert Lee, Jeff M., and Mary. The children have all enjoyed superior educational advantages, and have made the most of their opportunities. Judge Burford was a student all his life, and was one of the most cultured gentlemen in Dallas Coun- ty. He was a member of the Episcopal Church, and for many years he served as vestryman. Both in public and private life he has lived above reproach, and Dallas County was proud to claim Nat M. Bur- ford as one of her representative citizens. One had to know Judge Burford to appreciate him. His mind and intellect was superior to the common man. His memory was remarkable. Gov- 126 Sixty Years in Texas. ernor Roberts said that he had the best memory of any man in the State. His rehgion was the Golden Rule. He v\^as generous to a fault. No one ever applied for help without being given freely. He abhorred hypocricy, and was truly a friend to the widow and orphans, and during the long period of his practice he never accepted a fee from an attorney. He was a friend always to the young lawyers, and never too busy to give them advice and in his quiet way to see that they got some clients. JAMES M. PATTERSON The pioneer merchant of Dallas, was born near Lexington, Kentucky, in 1812. He came to Texas in 1846, and settled on the Trinity River. Where Dallas now stands there was a settlement of five or six families living in log cabins. He embarked in the mercantile business soon after coming to Dallas with J. W. Smith, buying their goods at Shreveport and transporting them on wagons drawn by oxen a distance of 200 miles, and the firm name of Smith & Patterson did business in Dallas for many years and was known throughout the county. In 1851 this firm built a flat boat and shipped a boat load of cot- ton and hides down the Trinity River. They were the first to navigate the Trinity from Dallas. Judge Patterson was a man of good judgment, and was successful in business. He always made his promises good. He married in 1848, on Farmer's Branch, in Dallas County, to Miss Sarah E. Self. In 1854 he was elected Chief Justice of Dallas Coun- ty, and served six terms until 1866. During his long term of office the affairs of the county were wisely administered. He served as judge with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. During the war he lost much of his property, and had to Sixty Years in Texas. 127 begin life anew. His energy and perseverance soon brought him success again, and when Dallas began to grow his landed estate began to increase in value, and he retired from active business many years be- fore his death, and lived in ease in the declining years of his life, and left a magnificent estate that made his children wealthy. He departed this life at the age of 93 years, honored and respected by all who knew him. LANCASTER The town of Lancaster is situated 14 miles south of Dallas, and is a very solid, substantial town. There is nothing of the mushroom order about it. It is a very old town, one of the oldest in the county. She has the best of schools and churches, and most of the conveniences found in larger cities, and is sur- rounded by as rich land as can be found in Texas. She has two railroads, the M. K. & T. and a branch of the H. & T. C. Railroad. The town was incorporated in 1886, and since that time has grown more rapidly. There were a number of energetic pioneers that settled near Lan- caster in an early day, that have done much for that town. The Whites that were originally from Tennes- see moved to Texas in the year 1851 and settled near Lancaster and improved a farm, and a few years after they moved to Lancaster and have done much for the town, and have become very wealthy. Jones Green and family settled near Lancaster in an early day, also Captain Mid Perry. They were prominent and useful men in building up the coun- try, and I have no doubt but many of their descend- ants are living in Lancaster or near the town. The Henrys became identified with Lancaster in the early sixties, and have done much for the town. 128 Sixty Years in Texas. and have become very wealthy. The elder Henry and family came from France and settled in what is known as old French Town, three miles west of Dal- las, in 1855. These French people after a year or two scattered about, and their descendants can be found in almost every neighborhood throughout the country. Thomas McKee Ellis was another one of the early pioneers that settled near Lancaster. He moved to Dallas County in 1845, one of those brave and hardy men that helped to blaze out the way and have done so much for Texas. He contributed his share in converting the wild wilderness of Texas into a veritable Paradise, and I have no doubt but many of his descendants are living in Lancaster or near, and have done their share in building up the town, and making it the substantial and beautiful place that it now is. Roderick Rawlins is another one of the old pio- neers who moved to Texas from Illinois in 1844 and settled on the section of land that Lancaster now stands on. A. Bledsoe moved to Dallas County, Texas, from Kentucky, in the year 1847, and he bought one-half of R. Rawlins' headright and proceeded to lay out a town on the land and sell lots, and he named the town Lancaster, after the place of his birth in Ken- tucky. Mr. R. A. Rawlins married Miss Virginia Bledsoe, and became the son-in-law of A. Bledsoe, who has been very prominent in the affairs of this county. He was Comptroller for several years, and was also County Judge in 1867-8. The names herein mentioned are names of the old pioneers that have done so much for Lancaster and vicinity. Their names should be kept fresh in the memory of those that live and enjoy the comforts of this substantial and thriving town. The town now Sixty Years in Texas. 129 is supposed to have fifteen hundred or two thousand inhabitants. FARMER'S BRANCH Was rather a noted place here in the early days, from 1842 to 1850. It was better known than Dallas. There was a blacksmith shop, a mill and a postoffice and a Methodist meeting house, and a number of families settled near there. Thomas Keenan and family came first, in 1842. The next was William Cochran and family, in 1843, and in 1844 Harrison Marsh and family came. I. B, Webb and family came in 1844. Rev. William Bowles, a Baptist preacher, came in 1844. He married Mrs. Rebecca Self. She had four children — Ann, who married Robert Walker; Sarah E., who married Judge J. M. Patterson ; Harvin H., and Chonac Self. They were most of them grown. R. J. West and family came in 1845. James Cheneweth and Thomas Cheneweth came in 1845 or 1846. Hiram Vail came in 1845. David Shahan came in 1844. William P. Shahan came single in 1844. John Nix came in 1846. James Armstrong and family came in 1846. Noah Good and family, 1846. Elisha Fyke came in 1846. Archer Fyke, 1846. All of the above named lived on Farmers Branch, or near there, and there were many others that came at a later date. Rev. William Bowles built a mill and a blacksmith shop. He owned a negro named Jor- dan, that was a good blacksmith, and many people would come from a distance to Farmers Branch to get their blacksmithing done. For the want of a smith they were like the Israelites of old, that had to go to the Philistine country to get their coulters and plows sharpened. That was the only shop of that kind in the country. 130 Sixty Years in Texas. The mill was not a modern mill by any means, and I shall not attempt to fully describe it, but will state that it was run with a rawhide belt, and every man that wanted a grist ground had to furnish his own power. Some would use an ox, others a horse or a mule, and it took patience as well as power ; and when the weather was damp and rainy the belt would stretch, and all the machinery was at a stand- still. Farmers Branch at that time was the most noted place in the county. They had a mill and blacksmith shop, a Methodist Church and a Baptist Church, both built in 1846, and a school taught by Mrs. R. J, West, and a postoffice, the first established in the county, and a small store. Isaac B. Webb was post- master. COL. JOHN C. McCOY To write of the history of Dallas County, or of the history of the great city of Dallas, it would be incomplete without the name of John C. McCoy. He was a gentleman commanding in appearance and venerable in the magnificent character he built up for himself as a true and efficient and worthy citi- zen. He was born in Clark County, Indiana, Sept. 28, 1819, the youngest son of John and Jane Collins McCoy, natives of Pennsylvania. His grandfather. Rev. William McCoy, moved from Pennsylvania to Kentucky in 1790, coming down the Ohio River in a flat boat, and settled in Shelby County. He was a Baptist preacher, and made many hazardous jour- neys in Kentucky and also in Southern Indiana, crossing the Ohio River, and penetrated the forest of Clark County, a bold, brave man. He proclaimed COL. JOHN C. McCOY Sixty Years in Texas. 133 the Gospel beneath great trees to the sparse settlers with gun at his side. Col. McCoy's father was married in Kentucky in 1803, and afterwards moved to Clark County, Indiana. He entered land and improved it, and after that he moved to Jeffersonville, Indiana, and made that his home until his death, Sept. 3, 1859. His wife died Sept. 1st, 1835, in Clark County, Indiana. This worthy couple had ten children, four daughters and six sons, all of them grovv^ing to man and woman- hood except one daughter, but now all are dead. The eldest son, Lewis, was the father of John M. McCoy, Esq., of Dallas, Texas, who was the law partner of Colonel McCoy in Dallas for fourteen years. Isaac, the third son, was a prominent educator in Southern Illinois, and George R., a prominent physician, and William McCoy became a noted Baptist preacher in Indiana, and no man stood higher than he in the denomination. He was the continuous pastor of two churches for over forty-seven years. He died May 22, 1891, and left surviving him a son. Rev. John E. McCoy, a prominent Baptist preacher. The youngest daughter, Eliza McCoy, was a mis- sionary to the North American Indians for nine years, beginning in 1844. She was the principal legatee of Col. McCoy to the magnificent estate he accumulated as a lawyer in Dallas, Texas. She sur- vived him about five years, but during that time she donated at least $75,000 of her estate to benevolent and religious institutions, and in her will she be- queathed almost all of the balance of her estate, value $50,000, to the cause of missions. She died November 8th, 1891, at Dallas, Texas. She was greatly loved, honored and lamented as one of the most exemplary of Christian women. Col, McCoy was reared on a farm to the age of fifteen years, when in 1834 he entered as a student 134 Sixty Years in Texas. in the Clark County Seminary for one year, and was also a student one year in Wilmington Seminary, and in 1836 he returned to Clark County Seminary for another year. Thus closed his school days. His first employment was Deputy Circuit Clerk of Clark County, Indiana, two years. During his spare time he studied law. In 1839 he was engaged in re-surveying the Western County line of the State of Missouri from the Missouri River south to the Osage River. He was next employed as an enroll- ing agent and assisted in making payments to the various tribes of Indians for the Government, in Western Missouri. In 1840, he assisted in drafting the treaty between the Shawnee and Delaware In- dians and the Government for a portion of their lands to locate the Wyandotte tribe ; and on this land so acquired Wyandotte City was built, and there the remains of that tribe are still to be found. In May, 1840, he returned to Indiana and resumed the study of law in the City of Jeffersonville, and in May, 1841, was licensed to practice law in the State and Federal Courts of Indiana and Kentucky. He soon secured a large and lucrative practice, which continued until his departure to Texas. The McCoy family that John C. McCoy was a member of was a remarkable family, sons and daugh- ters of a farmer, and they became useful and very prominent men and women in Illinois and Indiana, and John C. McCoy, that has been so prominent and useful in the affairs of Dallas County and held sev- eral offices of honor, could have been elected to almost any office within the gift of people, but his large and profitable law practice was such that it would have been a great sacrifice on his part to have given it up. He was our first District Clerk in 1846, and was District Attorney for a large district in 1856, and was elected twice to the Legislature in Sixty Years in Texas. 135 •1862 and 1864, and when Dallas County was organ- ized by John Neely Bryan, in which enterprise Colonel McCoy contributed his full share of brain work and physical labor, and his services were great- ly appreciated by those he had so faithfully served. On December 12, 1844, Col. McCoy having ac- cepted the position of agent and surveyor of Peters' Colony in Texas, he embarked for New Orleans en route to the wild scenes of the great Empire State, with a few others. They went by way of Galveston, and from there to the interior; to Houston in a steamboat by way of Buffalo Bayou, and from there with teams to Cincinnati on the Trinity River, and there constructed a raft or flat boat 61/2x36 feet, and placed their wares on said raft and proceeded up the river to Ft. Alabama, making such progress as their strength would permit. At that point they abandoned the boat and engaged two ox teams, and made better and easier progress to Fort Houston. There they left a part of their goods, and Col. McCoy and Captain Hensley bought two ponies, and they rode on in advance of their party on those bronchos to the place where Dallas is now situated, and they found Colonel John Neely Bryan established in a log cabin 10x12 feet in extent. He cordially received them. He was dressed in buckskin, and his feet en- cased in moccasins. In 1845 the Company started out to prosecute their survey, Capt. Hensley being called to Ken- tucky, Colonel McCoy fell heir to the absolute con- trol of Peters' Colony. 1846 he servered his connec- tion vv'ith the Colony authorities, and in June, 1846, he began his career as an independent but active and zealous citizen of Dallas County. He was the first to erect a frame house in the City of Dallas, and he introduced a style of architecture superior to that of the log cabin. He cultivated and beautified not only 136 Sixty Years in Texas. his own home, but also extended his ideas into the- public interest of the county, and to him Dallas County was indebted for the magnificent trees that adorned the Court House square. In 1851 Col. McCoy was married to Miss Cora M. McDermett, daughter of J. B. McDermett of Penn- sylvania, and a brother-in-law of David R. Porter, Governor of Pennsylvania. His residence was situated on the corner of Commerce and Lamar Streets, and was the home of gayety and frequented by all who wanted to steal avv^ay from the cares of a busy life. His was a happy home, but destined also to be of short duration. The young wife, that gave him so much love and made his home a veritable paradise, was snatched away by the relentless jaws of death before the babe could lisp the holy name of Mother, and for over thirty-six years Colonel McCoy walked alone in the shadow of his ever present sor- row. In 1861, when the Civil War, ominous of the worst, broke forth upon the country. Governor Clark recognized administrative ability of the highest order in the systematic and determined character and will of Colonel McCoy, and appointed him to be quartermaster of the regiments commanded by Colonels Young, Simmes, Lack and Parsons. When these commands were mustered into the Confederate service Colonel McCoy was retained by Governor Clark in the military service of the State, and as- signed to duty as mustering officer for the regiments that were subsequently carried into the Confederate army by Colonels Burford and T. C. Haupe, His further duties as a military man were devoted to the enrollment of soldiers from Dallas County, and as Provost Marshal of the same. Colonel McCoy showed his strongest character- istic in his love for little children. In this com- Sixty Years in Texas. 137 munity no man enjoyed so much esteem among the juvenile element as he, and even the humblest ap- proached him with confidence, Christmas they never failed to find him prepared for the visits of his little friends, and Uncle Mac's Christmas tree from the force of custom had grown into one of the established institutions of the ctiy. His invitations were given through the newspapers. No better nor higher eulogism can ever be pronounced upon his character than the single simple sentence, he was the chil- dren's friend. Colonel McCoy united with the first Baptist Church of Dallas in October, 1880, and was ever afterward an active and efficient member, aiding liberally in all Church work. His final summons came the 30th of April, 1887, when he departed this life mourned by his many friends. The following selection is from a tablet of thanks presented to Miss Eliza McCoy in return for a por- trait of Colonel McCoy presented by her to the Dal- las Commandery No. 6 Knights Templar: Miss Eliza McCoy, Dallas, Texas. Honored Miss: It was the pleasure of DALLAS COMM- ANDERY No. 6, KNIGHTS TEMPLAR, to appoint the undersigned a committee, to express to you, thanks, for the highly appreciated and invaluable gift of the beautiful and life-like portrait of your deeply lamented brother, Col. John C. McCoy, Past Grand Commander Knights Templar of the State of Texas. His death caus'.d more unfeigned pain and regrets than perhaps ar y other mason in Texas who has passed the dark river to enjoy the celestial de- lights in the "great be.^ ond." The only consolation a mournful one, is that he 138 Sixty Years in Texas. lived to the fullness of time allotted to man and like a sheaf of wheat, was cut down when fully ripe. No Mason in Texas can ever forget his zeal in behalf of masonry when wars and dissensions occurred be- tv^^een the North and the South, when nearly every Christian, social and benevolent organization in this State was disrupted and in many instances aband- oned, your honored brother. Sir Knight, John C. McCoy, at his own individual expense, paid Chapter, personal, lodge and commandery dues for members and kept the lights burning on all the altars of Free Masonry in Dallas. No Mason ever knew John C. McCoy, who did not love him and his grand character and his kind consideration to the wants of every destitute Mason, or his widow and orphans, have so endeared him to Masons that his noble countenance, his commanding person and his benevolent kindness has photo- graphed his memory on the hearts of every member of the order. Hoping, dear Miss, that you may live long to enjoy the high esteem of all who have the honor and pleas- ure of knowing you and your dear and noble brother, we are, sincerely and truly, Your friends and brothers, L. M. KNEPFLY, GEO. H. GREENE, A. A. JOHNSTON, Committee. CAPTAIN WM. McKAMY Moved from Rone County, Tennessee, to Texas in 1851, and stopped in Wood County one year, and in 1852 moved to Dallas County and bought the home and mill on White Rock, from Jack and Tom Mounts. He with his young wife and small family took pos- Sixty Years in Texas. 139 session of the home and began to improve it. He was very successful in business, and soon accumulated a large landed estate. They had four sons and one daughter born to them ; Albert, the oldest, who mar- ried Ellen Simpson. He departed this life a few months ago, leaving a wife and large family. They have six grown sons. He also left a large estate in Denton County, a few miles from the old homestead. Mrs. Albert McKamy was the daughter of Lionel and Mary Simpson. John McKamy, the second son, married Anna Simpson. They own a large estate situated on the line of Collin and Dallas Counties, near Frankfort. Mary McKamy, the daughter, married Colonel Bishop, and she died near- ly thirty years since, leaving one son, William Bishop, a very wealthy farmer and stock man. He is now living on the old Simpson homestead. W. C. McKamy, his third son, has been our State Senator for two terms, and served one term in the House. He is now living on the old McKamy home- stead. Charles, his fourth son, departed this life many years ago, just about the time he was reaching man's estate. Capt. McKamy enlisted in Captain Lafayette Smith's company in Col. Stone's regiment, and served in that company until the troops were sent across the Mississippi River. The troops were dismounted and McKamy was detailed to take the horses home, and distribute them to the families. He then enlisted in Ben McCullough's regiment, and was elected captain. He was in the Battle of Elk Horn and other engagements, and later was trans- ferred to the frontier to Gen. Bourland's command, where he served until the close of the war. Capt. McKamy and wife were Methodists, and took a great interest in the camp meetings, and always provided liberally for them. Their residence 140 Sixty Years in Texas. was near the old camp grounds on White Rock Creek. Mr. and Mrs. McKamy have both passed away. Mrs. McKamy died first, several years ago. They were honored and respected by all who knew them. ROBERT J. WEST Was born in Washington County, Tennessee, in 1812, and there married Mary Ann Ryland, a native of the same county, and they moved to Texas in 1845, and settled on Farmer's Branch, and lived there until the time of his death. His family was reared on the same place and there grew to man and womanhood. Mr. West moved to Texas on account of his health. He had lung trouble, and was in failing health. He recovered rapidly after reaching Texas. Mr. West was prominent in the affairs of the county in an early day. He was the first Treasurer of the county, and one of the first County Commis- sioners. Mr. West was a slave owner, and treated his slaves with such consideration and kindness that his negroes thought more of "Old Master and Mistress" than any one else in the world. There were six children born to them, Helena, the oldest daughter, who first married T. J. Winn, and after his death Dr. C. C. Gillespie. J. R. West, of Dallas, is the oldest son. The late Robert H. West was his second son. He was County Judge of Dallas County, and also filled other offices of honor and trust in the county. He departed this life the 19th of April, 1905. Annie R., married William Winn. She departed this life many years ago. Martha Alise, married Thomas Floyd. Marie Catherine, who died in infancy. John West, Jr., son of J. R. West, is our County Surveyor and has been for some time. ROBERT J. WEST COL. T. J. NASH Sixty Years in Texas. 145 THOS. J. NASH AND ELIZA FLOOD NASH Were natives of Virginia, both born near Appo- matox, and of Scotch Irish descent. Thomas J. Nash was born in 1808; went to Kentucky in 1815, being one of the pioneers of that State. He was a farmer by occupation, as also was his father, Thomas Nash, Thomas J. Nash received a superior education for a country boy of his day, and started out in life with fair prospects in Marion County, Kentucky. He was elected to various offices of minor importance, and when in his fortieth year was elected as Repre- sentative of his county to the State Legislature. Previous to this he raised a regiment of men and offered his services to the United States for the war with Mexico. His offer was not accepted ; the goy- ernment had more men than they needed. He was a Democrat, the Governor of Kentucky a Whig, and did not accept the the services of any colonel in Ken- tucky who was a Democrat. He came to Texas in 1854, and settled six miles north of Dallas. In 1857 he permanently located near Garland. He bought a large tract of wild land and improved it and devel- oped a fine farm, and by the time the war came on he had a good farm and plenty of stock, and about fifteen negro slaves, having brought four negro women and five negro men from Kentucky. He was a man of good judgment, and more than ordinary intelligence, and took an active part in poli- tics. He was elected County Commissioner in 1858, and his services to the county was very satisfactory. In 1861 he was chosen a member of the Secession Convention, and was made a recognized authority on many subjects, and especially on State rights. When the war came on he was getting up in years, and did not enter into active service, but he did what 146 Sixty Years in Texas. he could to help the Confederate cause, as a civilian. In 1876 he was again elected County Commissioner, and served two years Vv^ith satisfaction to his con- stituents. For many years he was a member of the Masonic fraternity. He was also a consistent and active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, nearly all his life, and took great interest in Church affairs. He died March 3rd, 1886. His wife died July 7th, 1873. She was a member of the same Church, a devoted Christian, and possessed of many amiable traits of character. Both she and her husband were honored and held in high esteem by all who knew them. Her father, Charles Flood, was a first cousin of the celebrated Peter Cartvx^right. Of their fifteen children eleven lived to be grown, and six still survive. The eleven are as follows : Lucy J., widow of Jerry Brown, resides in Seattle, Washington ; Marietta, deceased ; Isabella, deceased, wife of J. W. Jones; George W., of Grayson County, Texas; C. L., of this county; J. J., deceased; Adelia, deceased; Mary E., deceased, wife of T. J. Jackson; Thomas F. ; Albert R., a Methodist minister of Kauf- man County, who has been preaching in the North Texas Conference many years, and is now stationed in the tovv^n of Kaufman, Texas; Anna E., wife of John Jackson, of this county; Emma E., deceased. Thomas F. Nash, our present District Judge, has been elected by the people of this county twice to the Legislature. He served in the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Legislature, and he was also elected County Judge and served two terms, from 1892 to 1896. He was elected District Judge in 1900, re- elected without opposition in 1904, and is now serv- ing his third term. T. F. Nash's father and grand father were both \ V ^' ^ l^^> f^^ > A 1 ll JOHN H. COLE Sixty Years in Texas. 149 slave owners, and his mother's father was a slave owner. His father owned about twenty slaves when the war ended and lost their value, of course, by emancipation. Thomas J. Nash, though a Democrat and seces- sionist, always believed in Henry Clay's doctrine of gradual emancipation. Again, he never would sell his negroes, because he could not well sell a whole family together. In othere words, he would not sell a mother from her child — a child from its mother — nor separate brothers and sisters. JOHN H. COLE John H. Cole, who departed this life last January, was a retired farmer of Dallas County. He was born in Robertson County, Tennessee, in January, 1827, the fifth of ten children born to John and Mary (McDonald) Cole, natives of Virginia. His father moved to Tennessee in an early day, where he was a farmer and a physician. He was also one of the early practitioners of Dallas County, and in 1829 he moved to Washington County, Arkansas, and im- proved a farm, and in 1843 he again came to Dal- las County. His 640 acre section of land that now joins the city is the claim that he first settled on. In the year 1850 there was a vote taken to decide where the county seat of Dallas County should be located, and Cedar Springs, not far from John H. Cole's place, Vv^as one point voted on, but failed to get the required number of votes. Dallas and Hord's Ridge each got a few more votes than did Cedar Springs. Dr. John Cole, the father of John H. Cole, was the first probate judge of Dallas County. He died in the spring of 1851. John H. Cole, the subject of our sketch, probably was identi- fied with Dallas County and its interest a longer 150 Sixty Years in Texas. time than any man that has ever Hved in Dallas. He was nearly grown when he came, and from 1843 up until his death, that recently took place, he has been an honored and highly respected citizen of Dallas. He was the first county surveyor of Dallas County, and was also the first notary public. His son, George C. Cole, that departed this life a few years ago, was a very prominent lawyer, and had held several offices in the county, being a member of the City Council for some time, and was once a can- didate for mayor, and went through one of the most exciting campaigns that has ever taken place in this county. He was defeated by a very small majority. John H. Cole has been interested in the welfare of Dallas a long time. He was here when Dallas was born, and he has been with Dallas and for Dallas up to the time of his death, and has seen Dallas grow from one or two families to ninety thousand peo- ple. He was an unassuming, quiet man but such men give strength and stamina to any country, and they are really the back bone and principal men of the country. He left four children that survive him — ■ John Dallas Cole, Margaret, wife of W. R. Myers, and Hester F., wife of Dr. Gillespie, and Cora A. Cole, at home; four dead; George C. Cole, Walter F. Cole, Annie L. Cole, and Lottie Cole. John H. Cole surveyed more land and located more homes than any man in Dallas County. He left a large and valuable estate and his children and grand children are wealthy. He was married in Dallas County, 1856, to Elizabeth Preston, a native of Tennessee and grand daughter of Capt. George Preston, an early pioneer of Tennessee, and a sol- dier in the Creek War. She departed this life in 1891. Sixty Years in Texas. 151 Happenings in Dallas Before the Civil War Files of the Dallas Herald from 1855 to 1860 record some of the stirring scenes. Away back in 1859 The Dallas Herald, under the capable manage- ment of Latimer & Swindell, was the leading weekly journal of North Texas, "With our Country, May she always be right, but right or wrong, our Coun- try," as its motto. The Herald was what would be termed in these days a live wire. For many years after the date given above the paper continued the most popular medium in this section. Under differ- ent managements, at different times, the policies of the paper were always progressive. Colonel W. L. Hall was the last owner of the original Dallas Her- ald. Colonel Hall is now a prominent lawyer and general attorney for the Texas & Pacific, but in those days he was a well known and an influential editor. He has a file of The Dallas Herald from 1858 down to the time it was sold and discontinued, some twenty years later. The Colonel granted me the privilege of looking over these papers and getting what information I could and see what the doings of these early Dallasites were from week to week. The City of Dallas 1859— population, white 678 Negroes — slaves 97 Dallas, 1859, was a fild frontier town, and Co- manche and Wichita Indians roamed the prairies to the west of us. Under date of March 16th, 1859, The Dallas Herald announces that P. Ayers of Tar- rant County brings in the information of a fight between sixty U. S. troops and a large band of Comanches, and Wichita Indians. The fight took place near Fort Arbuckle. The soldiers had started from that point on a scouting expedition. Lieuten- 152 Sixty Years in Texas. ant Powell, of Fort Arbuckle, was in command. The Indians were completely routed, several of them be- ing killed. The Comanches were the Sioux Indians of the Southwest. They were brave, cruel and a hardy people, most of them over six feet tall, and when painted for the fight they looked like some- thing terrible, and as late as the '70s they kept West Texas in a constant turmoil with their raids and barbarous cruelties. INDIANS RAID JACKSBORO Just before the War between the States began a series of depredations extending from the coast to the Canadian border. Dallas citizens responded nobly to the following letter which was printed in the Herald : "Jacksboro, Nov. 26, 1861. "I- am requested by the citizens of this place to ask your immediate assistance. The Indians have murdered three families within four miles of this town, and proceeded in the direction of Briscoe, murdering all who live there, as smoke is plainly seen rising from their houses. Never before have we seen so much anguish. Men, women and chil- dren lie mangled corpses, at the houses of Mrs. Gage, Mr. Landman and Mr. Hayes. Such atrocities have never before been committed in our country. I hope that every man who will turn out will bring as much bread stuff and ammunition with him as is convenient, and to remember to take mules and horses. Let no man hesitate who wishes our people well. This is a time of need to us, and the brave spirits of Parker County, we have to appeal lose no time in coming to our assistance." Mr. John Fields of Oak Lawn, Dallas, Texas, about this time was at Fort Arbuckle. The Comanche Indians then were very bad. He was Sixty Years in Texas. 153 somewhat acquainted with a Comanche chief that was half civihzed, and through him he learned that the Comanches had three children by the name of Savage. They were of two families. Their fathers' names were Bolan and James. They were killed and scalped when the children were stolen. Mr. Fields got one of the arrows that one of the Savages was killed with. Their wives got away. Mr. Fields made a bargain with the old chief for the delivery of the children to Fort Arbuckle. The chief brought the two boys but left the girl, and Mr. Fields had to give a horse, saddle and bridle for the girl. Th^ mothers no one knew where to find them. Mr. Fields rode to McKinney and advertised them in the McKinney Messenger, and one of the mothers got the news, and soon claimed the children. The other mother was found near Lewisville, Texas. The mothers wanted to give Mr. Fields a fine horse, but he refused to accept it. The horse was about all they had. The Mr. Savages were killed and scalped, and the children stolen near Comanche Peak. Not a great many years ago a reporter for a paper heard Mr. Fields telling this story, and he published it, and not long after he received a letter from the Mr. Savages. They now reside in Texas. Their names are Sammy and Jimmy Savage. The girl's name was Malindy Savage. She married, her brother says in his letter, and raised a large family. She died not many years ago. From 1858 to the close of the war Texas was threatened from almost every quarter, and it has always been a wonder to me how she escaped as well as she did. Secession Convention met at Austin February 18, 1861. In North Texas there were a great many union men, but there was a majority favoring seces- sion in Dallas County, and quite an exciting election when the candidates to the Secession Convention 154 Sixty Years in Texas. Vv^ere elected. For the purpose of considering the question the following names were elected from Dal- las County : J. B. Smith, J. B. Floyd, Pleasant Tay- lor and T. J. Nash. Mr. Smith resigned, and at the earnest solicitation of the voters of Dallas County E. B. Nicholson accepted the vacant place. The Convention met on the 18th of February, 1861, and an ordinance was passed dissolving the union be- tween the State of Texas and the other States united in compact, and styled United States of America. When the vote was taken Dallas County voted 741 for secession, and 237 against it. The secession movement was strongly opposed in Grayson and Collin Counties, according to figures given by the Herald, as these two counties voted 1849 against secession and 868 for it. The Dallas Herald reads that when the news of the vote in Texas was received the people of the city joyfully assembled at the Court House and saluted the Texas flag. In the meantime, John J. Good ordered the Dallas Light Artillery to assemble at Lancaster, armed and equipped as the law directs, with twenty rounds of blank cartridges. DALLAS CITY GOVERNMENT On April 10th, 1861, the Dallas municipal gov- ernment was composed of J. L. Smith, Mayor; J. M. McAuley, Constable; W. F. Murphy, Treasurer; G. W. Guess, Recorder; J. N. Smith, S. B. Prayer, W. W. Peak, T. W. Hunt, and George W. Guess, Aldermen. All these gentlemen were heartily in favor of secession, and assisted in the preparation for the coming struggle. About this time three thousand Mexican soldiers were reported in the columns of the Herald to be advancing on Browns- ville, Texas. Couriers brought in the news that some nine hundred hostile Indians were crossing Sixty Years in Texas. 155 Red River into Texas. The French and English were beginning the war in Mexico. That would put Maximilian on the throne. Lincoln had called for 75,000 volunteers. Texas with a small population had armed men crossing her borders from Okla- homa, Mexico and the East. The Herald rings with the preparations to meet these dangers. Such mer- chants as Jones & Dunaway, I. W. Wells & Bro., Mott & Peak, E. M. Stackpole, made generous dona- tions in flour and other supplies to the soldiers of Texas. The war was on, and for four years the country was to shake with the tramp of host and the roar of artillery until the final scene of the tragedy, Appomattox. THE HEDGECOX WAR In 1851 a company of men from Collin and Dal- las Counties held a meeting to consider what course to pursue and what was best to be done with Hedge- cox and the agents of Peters' Colony. The Hedge- cox office was situated in Denton County, about twenty miles north of Dallas. The pioneers were dissatisfied. The State of Texas was granting to heads of families outside of this Colony 640 acres of land, and to single men seventeen years old or over 320 acres, and Peters and associates did not want to allow the emigrants to Peters' Colony just half that amount. The settlers became so aroused over it, they decided to take matters into their own hands, and they organized a company of a hundred men and elected John J. Good, of Dallas, captain and com- mander of the company, and they advanced on Stewardsville, that being the name of the place. It was known by that name in the other States and in England, where the Colony had been so liberally advertised, but here it was known as Hedgecox's Office. They took possession of the place, and gave 156 Sixty Years in Texas. Hedgecox and his clerks notice to leave the country. Hedgecox or his daughter concealed or got away with part of the papers. The office was broken up entirely. The contract that Peters and associates had with the Republic of Texas was as follows : They agreed to deliver as many as two hundred and fifty families annually, with the privilege of getting as many as ten thousand families before the expiration of the time, which was July 1, 1848, the contract being made and entered into in 1843. Said company was to build or provide cabins for each family, and if the company failed to get two hundred and fifty families located annually the contract was null and void. For this service the Republic agreed to give every alternate section of land. But before the land was conveyed to the company the said company was to pay $12.00 in specie into the treasury of the Re- public for each section so conveyed, and the com- pany was to give settlers not less than one hundred and sixty acres or more than six hundred and forty acres to each head of a family. The Colony began at a point on Red River, and extended south one hundred miles to a point near Waxahachie, taking all of Dallas County, except a strip 3 miles wide on the east. The south line ex- tended west one hundred and sixty-four miles. Thence north to Red River. Thence east with the meanderings of the river to the place of beginning. Peters had a good part of the land surveyed in sec- tions of 640 acres, and half sections of 320 acres. It was a disputed question as to whether Peters and associates had fully complied with their contract or not.. However, the settlers were dissatisfied be- cause they were not getting the same quantity of land that the State was granting other settlers. The State made a compromise with Peters and associ- Sixty Years in Texas. 157 ates, and gave them seventeen hundred sections of land in counties further west, and granted to set- tlers of the Colony 640 acres to families and 320 acres to single men over seventeen years old. BIRTH OF DALLAS Late in November, 1841, John Neely Bryan, a Tennessean, who had spent some time in the settle- ments on Red River, camped alone and erected a tent on the banks of the Trinity, near the site of the court house, and remained alone till the succeeding spring, excepting when visited by persons looking at the country. In the spring of 1842, several other families having in the meantime arrived at Bird's Fort, the families of Capt. Gilbert first and next John Beeman — the former in canoes, the latter in an ox-wagon — abandoned the Fort and removed to Dallas, that of Beeman to remain permanently, but, after two or three years, Gilbert returned to Red River, Mr, Beeman, with his brothers and their families, had come to Bowie County, Texas, from Calhoun County, Illinois, in the year 1840, and thence he had moved out, as stated, to the Fort. Later in 1842, James J. Beeman, half brother of John, and family, came directly from Bowie County to Dallas. A few others came during that year, and a fevv^ single men and prospectors visited the place in that time. Mr. Bryan finally secured, as his head- right, 640 acres of land fronting on the river, long in its front, where a part of Dallas now stands. Dallas was named for George M. Dallas, Vice- President. In the year 1844 James K. Polk and George M. Dallas were candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States of America, and were the champions of the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic party and favored the annexation of Texas, and the cry went up during the entire cam- 158 Sixty Years in Texas. paign for Polk and Dallas and the annexation of Texas, They were elected by a very large majority and inaugurated March 4th, 1845. The City of Dallas was named for the popular Vice-President, George M. Dallas. MURDER OF CLEMENTS AND WHISTLER, CHRISTMAS DAY, 1842— ESCAPE OF THEIR FAMILIES AND MRS. YOUNG A portion of the history of Collin County, in its first settlement, is so closely allied to that of Dallas that I condense a few of the facts. In the same month that John Neely Bryan camped at Dallas (November, 1841), Dr. William E. Throckmorton, from Fannin County, with his family, settled on Throckmorton Creek, near the present town of Melissa. (Dr. Throckmorton was, like the first set- ler of Dallas, a Tennessean, but had lived in Illinois and Arkansas. He was a man of sterling character, the head of a large family, of whom ex-Governor James W. Throckmorton was one. Throckmorton County Vv^as named for the father, and not for the son, by John Henry Brown, of Galveston, and Absa- lom Bishop, of Wise, in the Legislature of 1857-8.) In January, 1842, he was joined by Pleasant Wil- son, Edmund Dodd, Wm. R. Garnett, Garrett Fitz- gerald and Littleton Rattan. Soon afterwards, Benj. White, his son, Archy, and Wm. Pulliam settled in the neighborhood and John Kincaid on Hurricane Creek. A stockade was built at the Throckmorton settlement. Early in the summer, a number of families and single men, who had been a short time at Bird's Fort, abandoned it (as Beeman and Gilbert had done in March, when they removed to Dallas), and moved back to Throckmorton's settlement. They Sixty Years in Texas. 159 were Henry Helm and family, — ^ Walker and family, John and James Wells, Bly, Doddy, B. C. Thompson and Joshua E. Heath. They built cabins in the stockade, but not long afterwards selected and settled on their own lands in the neigh- borhood, excepting Thompson, who died soon after his arrival. In November, 1842, Joseph H. Wilcox, David Helms and Joseph Harlan began a settlement on Wilson's Creek, but were broken up by the In- dians and joined Jack McGarrah in making a settle- ment at "Old" Buckner, the first county seat. Just before this, Wesley Clements, Samuel Young and Whistler, all with families, settled on Honey Creek, and erected cabins. A few days before Christmas (1842), young went back to the Inglish settlement, in Fannin, for provisions. On Christmas Day, Cle- ments and Whistler were at work in the bottom near their cabins, when, early in the forenoon, they were attacked by Indians, and Whistler killed on the spot. Clements was pursued towards the house. Hearing the guns, and then seeing her fleeing husband, Mrs. Clements, gun in hand, ran to meet him ; but she was too late. He was tomahawked and scalped within forty or fifty yards of the house, and she barely escaped into it in time, with the aid of Mrs. Young, to bar the door, present her gun and defy the In- dians. This she successfully did and they disappear- ed. In the meantime, Mrs. Whistler, who was at the branch, near the creek, heard the firing, then the screams at the house, and next the Indians pursuing the hobbled horse of her husband, which had on a bell. The bell was coming directly towards her. The branch was full from back water. She sprang in arhong driftwood, under the bank, keeping only her nose above water. The horse was caught immediate- ly above her. After everything became still, be- lieving all had been killed, she hurried down the 160 Sixty Years in Texas. creek, through brambles and briars, to find the road leading back to Inglish's settlement. Her clothing was torn into rags, and her person sorely torn with thorns. But her father and mother had been slain by these demons, on the Brazos, some years before, and horror gave her both strength and speed. She finally found and followed the road to East Fork, which was too deep to cross. She went down, found a shallow place, crossed, returned to the road, and when she reached the open prairie, she was virtually naked and covered with blood. Seeing two men, with a wagon, approaching, she deflected from the road to pass them. They hailed her, but she hurried on, exclaiming that the Indians had killed all the settle- ment. They started toward her, but she ran so fast that they concluded she was deranged, and continued on to Honey Creek, and encamped. Very soon after- wards, Mrs. Clements, Mrs. Young and their chil- dren, after a flight of six miles, appeared on th'3 opposite bank. The creek was up. The men felled a tree, crossed them over, and furnished from their scanty stores every available relief. They retreated as fast as possible, with them, to the settlement. I regret not being able to give the names of those two true-hearted pioneers. Mrs. Whistler had arrived in a deplorable condition, but was tenderly cared for by as warm and gentle hands as ever wrought for progress in the wilderness — for of such were the Inglish family and their associates. A party volun- teered at once to go out and bury the dead. This tragedy, on Christmas Day, 1842, vv^as the first anni- versary of the murder of Hamp Rattan, near Carroll- ton, in Dallas County. It was the third anniversary of Burleson's victory over the Cherokees at the mouth of the San Saba. And at the very hour at which Whistler and Clements were killed, and dur- ing many succeeding hours, three hundred Texas Sixty Years in Texas. 161 volunteers, beleaguered by Ampudia and over two thousand Mexicans, though fated to a cruel cap- tivity, were winning imperishable laurels in the Mexican town of Mier. It was also in the womb of the future that a brother of one of those prisoners (one, too, v\^ho drew a black bean, and with sixteen others w^as murderously slain March 25, 1843) should be killed by Indians near Presidio del Norte, on Christmas Day, 1849 — the prisoner being young James Torrey and the other lamented David Torrey ; their brother Thomas, in the meantime, and equally lamented, dying on the treaty grounds at Johnson's Station, on the 28th of September, 1843. KILLING OF DR. CALDER, OF DALLAS, FEBRUARY, 1843 In February, 1843, McGarrah, Wilcox, Helms, Harlan, Blankenship and Rice were engaged in building at the former's place, afterwards called Buckner, and, for a short time after the creation of Collin County in 1846, the county seat. About sun- rise one morning in that month. Dr. Calder, who had settled near Cedar Springs, in Dallas County, ar- rived there, riding one and leading another horse, en route to Inglish's. Soon af^er leaving, he was seen on foot, rushing toward the house and pursued by two Indians. The men at the house hastened to his relief, but in a cluster of trees he was slain and scalped ; and at the same time the relief party found themselves confronted by about sixty Indians, just risen from the high grass and very near them, and were greeted by a shov\^er of balls and arrows. They retreated into the unfinished house and stood on the defensive, using the cracks as port-holes. The chiefs angrily urged their clansmen to charge the house, but without success. It then became evident that 162 Sixty Years in Texas. Dr. Calder had killed one of their number with one barrel of his shot-gun, which, having a percussion lock, then a new invention, was of no service to the savages, and was left, with one barrel still loaded, where the doctor fell. The numerous dogs on the place furiously assailed the red men, and all but one vvere killed. The Indians retired during the day, when the body of the doctor was carried to the house, and, a little after dark, the whole party retreated towards the Throckmorton settlement, and arrived soon after daylight. Eleven men soon returned and conveyed the dead body to that settlement, and it was interred on the Throckmorton place, besides those of Clements and Whistler. MURDER OF JAMISON, MUNCEY, WIFE, CHILD, TWO SONS AND YOUNG RICE IN 1844. In 1843, after the murders described, but few settlers ventured into Collin. McGarrah returned to his place, and was joined by his son-in-law, Jones, with George McGarrah, Fala Dunn and George Herndon. In 1844, among others, arrived Jacob Baccus and sons Godfrey and Peter and their fami- lies; John Fitzhugh and sons Robert and William (afterwards the gallant frontier captain and Con- federate colonel, who married Mary Rattan and was accidentally killed , 188 — ;) Leonard Searcy and his sons, Gallatin, Langdon, Thrashly and Thomas; William Rice; Thomas Rattan (father of John, Littleton, Hugh, Edward, and of the subse- quent wives of Wm. Fitzhugh, A. J. Witt, Jas. W. Throckmorton, Moore, Robert Dowell, Hogan Witt, John Kincaid, and other children) ; John Kauf- man; the old patriarch, ColHn McKinney, with his sons, William and Scott, and widowed daughters, Sixty Years in Texas. 163 from Red River County, he being a signer of the Declaration of Independence in 1836; Wilham Creager, the Caldwells, John Hodge and others. In the fall of 1844 a man named Muncey, with his wife, three sons aged seventeen, fifteen and twelve, a child aged three years and an elderly man named Jamison, settled on Rowlett's Creek, near the line of Dallas County. They built and lived in a board camp hut, and were engaged in building a log house. The location was in dense timber. Leonard Searcy and William Rice, each with a son, went down into that vicinity on a camp hunt. On the first morning after pitching camp, Mr. Searcy went in search of Muncey's camp and found it, but stood aghast at the scene presented — Muncey and Jamison dead and untouched by mutilation on the floor of the hut, Mrs. Muncey, horribly mutilated, her breasts cut off, her blood and the blood of her assailants besmeared over everything and in coagulated pools, showing that after the stealthy murder of the men she had made a desperate and bloody defense with a bowie knife in the hut ; the child of three years lying by its parents with its head mashed into a shape- less mass. The horrible affair had occurred early on the morning of the discovery. At that time the Mun- cey boy of fifteen had gone to the Throckmorton set- tlement. The boys of seventeen and twelve were missing — had been carried away by the savage wretches — and were never again heard from; but subsequent discoveries rendered it quite certain that both were killed on the retreat by their captors. When Mr. Searcy reported these discoveries to Rice, their sons, on horseback, had gone out hunt- ing. The alarmed old men went in search of them, and soon came upon the mutilated body of young Rice. They mounted it on a horse and conveyed it ten miles to Wilson's Creek, where they found young 164 Sixty Years in Texas. Searcy, who, seeing Rice killed, had escaped by flight, and was already getting aid to go in search of the two fathers. Adding to these atrocities the burn- ing of Thomas J. McDonald's house about the same time, it is a pleasurable relief to say that they con- stituted the last fatal depredations in the grand and noble county of Collin, linked with Dallas in birth, in tribulation and sacrifices for the more western frontier, and bound to her by hooks of steel in the memories — the loss of fathers, husbands, sons and brothers — the glories and the miseries of the civil war. As Johathan and David they have stood — confiding, trusting, loving — and God grant that so it shall ever be. THE GRAND PRAIRIE FIGHT AND PRES- TON WITT'S TRIUMPH, NOV. 25, 1846. In the summer of 1846 the few settlers in the upper part of Dallas County met at the house of Preston Witt, on White Rock Creek, and organized a minute company for mutual protection against the Indians, small parties of whom occasionaly depre- dated upon the settlers. The organization was de- signed by its members to be always ready, with horse, ammunition and provisions, to hasten pursuit and chastisement. Jesse Mounts was elected Cap- tain of the squad, and Josiah Pancoast orderly ser- geant. In the month of November of the same year a raiding party of Indians stole horses from Samuel Chowning and others on Barksdale's Creek, near the present line of Dallas and Denton Counties. Run- ners were dispatched to notify the members of the minute company, and twenty-two men promptly re- sponded, and as this is the fortieth anniversary of Sixty Years in Texas. 165 the fight (this being written on Thanksgiving Day, November 25th, 1886), it is gratifying to give all of their names. Here they are: Jesse V. Mounts, captain ; Josiah Pancoast, sergeant ; Preston and Pleasant Witt (twin brothers), W. Hamp Witt, Wm. Barnes, Allen Bledsoe, James Gates, Thos. Chenowth, A. J. Clark, Robert Chowning, J. W. ^;/Xhowning, Chas. Dernay (or Demay), Thomas Keenan, Jack Mounts, James Mathis, Joshua Mc- Cants, James Mooney, John Mitchell, John Noble, Alex. W. Perry, Robert Wilburn. The Indian trail v>^as followed by these volunteers across the Elm Fork of the Trinity, the upper por- tion of Grapevine prairie, through the lower Gross Timbers into Grand Prairie and southwesterly through it to a point very near where Decatur stands, when, about noon on the second day, several Indians were discovered a little in advance. Gapt. Mounts ordered a charge, which was promptly made. The Indians fled with all the speed they could command, and were hotly pursued; but only Preston Witt and William Barnes gained on them. Both selected an Indian supposed to be a chief, and when Witt was about closing the gap between them, the savage furiously sped an arrow which cut his suspenders asunder and slightly lacerated his breast. The war- rior had previously cast off his baggage, and now realized that he or his fearless pursuer must die. Escape by flight being impossible, he sprang from his horse, and Witt did the same, each holding his horse as a shield. Only a few feet separated them, or rather, only the Indian's horse. No time was to be lost by the red man, or Witt's friends would soon arrive. He rushed under his horse's neck with drawn knife, directly confronting his assailant ; but Witt seized his right hand with his own left, and with his right, by one superhuman thrust with his 166 Sixty Years in Texas. bowie knife, disemboweled the wild man, who gave a dismal groan, walked a few paces, and fell to rise no more. Two Indians were killed and one, if not both, scalped. One or two others were wounded, but escaped by the fleetness of their horses. Witt took from his fallen foe several brass bracelets and other trinkets, which are yet in the possession of his son Edward. Several horses were recovered and re- turned to their owners. The affair, considered in all its bearings and the condition of those new settlers in the country, was highly creditable to all con- cerned, exceedingly gratifying to the people, and served as a warning to small parties of those wild freebooters. W. Marion Moon, then a youth, be- longed to this company, but was sick at the time. Elder John M. Myers and others of those few early pioneers also belonged to it, but on so short a notice it was impracticable for more to go; indeed, it was deemed essential for some to remain as protectors of the families. THE MURDER OF PHELPS AND OTHERS IN 1848 The Murder of Phelps and Others in 1848. Josiah S. Phelps, who came to Dallas in 1844 or 1845, was a surveyor. In March, 1846, he married Mrs. Melissa T. Jacobs, daughter of Alexander M. Harwood and sister of Alexander Harwood, whose name so often occurs as county clerk. In the begin- ning of 1848, and probably as early as 1846 and 1847, Mr. Phelps was employed by the Peters' Colony Company to survey lands. At the time to which this narrative relates the headquarters of the colony for surveying purposes were at a village called Stewarts- ville, in Denton County. In the spring Mr. Phelps, with only two men, were surveying in the valley of Sixty Years in Texas. 167 the Main or so-called West Fork of the Trinity. Their camp was in a grove on a mound, since bear- ing the name of Phelps Mound, on the north side of the stream, four and a half miles northwest of Fort Worth. One of the men was named James Wood, formerly of Indiana; the other is believed to have been named McCombs, or Combs, but there is some doubt about his name. James W. Chowning, yet living in Denton Coun- ty, was sent by the agents at Stewartsville with pro- visions in a two-horse wagon for the surveying party. It is probable he had left the party for this purpose; but of this I am not advised, nor is it material. On reaching the camp, Mr. Chowning was horri- fied to find himself alone and in the presence of three dead men, their bodies yet scarcely cold and lying in the tent, where, during the previous night — April 9th, 1849 — and while asleep, they had been murdered by Indians, a considerable number of whom were raiding that portion of the country — so much so, in connection with swollen streams, as to prevent the Texas Rangers, then at different stations on the frontier, from sending a party in time to bury the unfortunate victims. A few persons assembled and performed the sad office — among them Mr. Conley and Mr. Thomas, whose widow, Mrs. Drusilla Thomas, lives in Jacksboro. They were buried half a mile west of the mound, the land being owned by Mr. Conley, who soon afterwards sold it to Mr. Far- mer, who disposed of it but a year or two since. The sadness of the occasion was augmented by the fact that Mrs. Phelps had died only about three months before, leaving an infant but a few weeks old, destined to grow to womanhood without father, mother, brother or sister. Yet, in her warm and noble-hearted uncle, Alexander Harwood, and his 168 Sixty Years in Texas. estimable wife, married at a later day, she found protection, care and tender affection, to become in 1870 the wife of Mr. Henry C. Miller. They live near Azle P. 0., in the northwest portion of Tarrant County. "Dickey" Phelps grew to womanhood in Dallas, and is remembered and held in esteem by the older citizens as a bright and amiable little girl and young lady. TEXAS IN THE EARLY DAYS SIXTY YEARS AGO. In the early days of Texas The deer and buffalo In herds were found so plenty. No matter where we would go. The wily Indians with his tomahawk Had nothing then to fear. And he lived in peace and plenty On the buffalo and deer. These herds and flocks they did inherit And the great Father gave the land ; But the advancing step did echo Of the greedy paleface man. The Indians they grew desperate. And painted for the strife. With their trusty bovv^s and arrows And a wicked, flashing knife. They swore vengeance on the white man, As their sharpener tomahawks they felt, And said the scalps of many a paleface Should dangle from their belts. The whites took possession of the country. And killed the deer and buffalo. And looked upon the Indian As a savage, treacherous foe. Sixty Years in Texas. 169 During forty years of warfare, With death and blood and strife There has many a scalp been taken By the savage Indian knife. There were many tribes to conquer, And they had many ways to fight; They would lie in ambush in the day And attack in the dark and stormy night. They prowled along the southern coast, Both winter, fall and spring, Where the mosquitoes with their merry song Had such a business ring. Where the hideous alligators bellowed. And the owls had an Indian whoop. Near the slimy, muddy banks Of the sluggish Guadaloupe. They would steal upon them in the night. And when near would give a whoop, With tomahawks and scalping knives, Dov>^n on the Guadaloupe. The ferocious savage, ugly Kronks* As fierce as any beast. And every white man they could catch They would celebrate and feast. The Comanches and the Wacos Further north and west were found. Where the howling wolves and rattlesnakes And the prairie dogs abound. And the tarantula and the centipede And the little horned frog. That would make a fair collection Without the prairie dog. 'They were cannibals. 170 Sixty Years in Texas. Oh, the horrors here in Texas That these early settlers tell — It will cause your hair to stand on end, And make you thing of h — . The Comanches once declared for peace. And the council house was filled. But the program was not understood, And every chief was killed. The Comanches then went wild again. And laid many a vicious plan. And stole their wives and children And scalped many a butchered man. Oh! the awful bloody battles Between the white and red, The wounded and the scalped. And the dying and the dead ! But the white men were victorious, And drove the Indians from the land, Over the Western wilderness And across the Rio Grande. The privations and the hardships Of these hardy, fearless men Can never be described By language, word or pen. (The following verses may be a little over- drawn.) The hog then known in Texas Was a self-supporting grazer, With a nose as long as a walking stick. And a back just like a razor. Sixty Years in Texas. 171 And the cattle were very slender, And almost as slim as a blacksnake whip, With horns that measured seven feet Across from tip to tip. The Spanish ponies and mustangs were as wild as any deer, And every time you rode one he would get up on his ear, And jump and pitch and buck and ball. And if you did not have the nerve, my boy, you would surely catch a fall. I cannot now describe them — I will not dare begin it, Kut simply say in passing They could run a mile a minute. And in drouthy times the land would shrink, And crack to beat the bang, And the cattle would fall in them And there by the horns would hang. The ticks were there by millions — I tell the very truth. For they covered up the cattle Just like shingles on a roof. They would begin to suck the blood of life From the time the calves were born, And their bodies had no chance to grow. And the calf all went to horn. And in Eastern Texas burning sand When the children went to school They would often hop upon a stump To allow their feet to cool. 172 Sixty Years in Texas. It was there the hve mosquitoes Their merry songs would sing, And the fleas would dance to music That had a business ring. These troubles now have passed and gone, And are told in song and story, And the noble Indian once so bad We hope has gone to glory. — Geo. Jackson. TEXAS AT THE PRESENT TIME. Texas now is a delightful place. And is forging to the front. And there are modern towns and cities Where once we used to hunt. And our cattle are of the very best That is exhibited at the show. And nearly always take the premium Everywhere they go. And the hogs are of the very best That are brought upon the ground. And will weigh from seven hundred Up to a thousand pounds. And our horses, too, are very fine, And we have the best of every breed- The Norman and the Suffolk, Down to the Arab steed. We have free and universal education For the rich and all the poor. And everything that's needed Is delivered at our door. Sixty Years in Texas. 173 And when the weather is growing warm We use the electric fan, And we all enjoy the comfort Of this artificial plan. We ride in electric carriages, In company and alone, And talk with people miles away Over the telephone. Our women are modest, fair and beautiful, And all like ladies, dressing neat. And are equal to the queens of old When seen upon the street. And our country is rich and beautiful, Although it was abhorred. It is like a flov^^ery kingdom Or the garden of the Lord. It has grown to a mighty nation, After going through the rub, And we have many commercial cities. And our Dallas is the Hub. — Geo. Jackson. FROM JOHN HENRY BROWN'S HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY By the kindness and permission of Miss Lizzie C. and Marion Taylor Brown, daughters of the late John Henry Brown, I have gotten the names of many of the officers of Dallas County from the beginning up to the year 1887 from John Henry Brown's His- tory of the County, and also the account of the Grand Prairie fight and the murder of Clements and Whist- ler and families, and Dr. Calder, of Dallas, and many others. I later became acquainted with nearly all of the men that were in the Grand Prairie fight. 174 Sixty Years in Texas. They were our neighbors, and it has not been a great many years ago since I saw the scalp that Capt. Witt took of his Indian. ORGANIZATION OF DALLAS COUNTY The First Legislature of the State, on the 20th of March, 1846, passed an Act creating the County of Dallas. Said county being thirty miles square or 900 square miles, A further Act, approved April 18th, 1846, provided that until otherwise provided by law that the town of Dallas shall be the seat of justice of Dallas County, and all the courts for said county shall be held thereat. Act. of '64, p. 93. A third Act, approved May 12th, 1846, appointed John Neely Bryan to appoint managers and order an election for organizing Dallas County, the elec- tion to be held according to existing law, the returns to be made to Bryan, who should issue certificates to all persons elected and make returns thereof to the Secretary of State. Act of '46, p. 242. An Act of the Second Legislature, approved March 20th, 1848, provided for an election for the permanent location of the County Seat, requiring a majority of all the votes cast to elect, and should donations of land be offered and accepted, William Jenkins, J. J. Beeman, William H. Hord, Micajah Goodwin and R. J. West were appointed commission- ers to lay out the ground and sell lots. The Act of '48 failed to settle the question, and on the 11th of January, '50, a somewhat similar Act was passed, an election to be held at the general election, August, 1850, and at this election for County Seat the vote stood : Sixty Years in Texas. 175 For Dallas 191 votes Hord's Ridge, near Oak Cliff 178 votes Cedar Springs 101 votes Total 470 votes Under the last election, on the 31st of the same month, the result was : For Dallas 244 votes Hord's Ridge 216 votes Total 460 votes A majority for Dallas of 28 votes. PETERS' COLONY The year 1841 was ushered in by an act of the government of Texas to encourage the settlement of this wilderness. On the 4th of February the Texas Congress passed "An Act granting land to immi- grants," in which a grant was made "to Joseph Car- roll, Henry J. Peters and others, their associates, therein named, for the introduction and settlement of immigrants," and authorizing the President to enter into contract with said parties and designate the territory into which they should introduce set- tlers, etc. The contract was executed by President Houston and Samuel Browning, attorney for the company — thereafter commonly known as the Pet- ers' Colony Company — on the 30th of August, 1841. It was modified November 20th, 1841, and again, through Horace Burnham, attorney of the company, July 26th, 1842. This enterprise, first discussed in 1840, the head- quarters of the projectors being in Louisville, Ken- tucky, is what drew attention to this unoccupied wil- derness and led to its settlement, beginning, as al- ready stated, with John Neely Bryan in November, 176 Sixty Years in Texas. 1841. The colony covered a large district lying on the south side of Red River and extending south, so as to include a large portion of Ellis. The east line, beginning at the mouth of Big Mineral Creek, on Red River and in Grayson County, ran about ten miles east of Dallas, so that all of Dallas County, ex- cepting a strip about three miles wide, on the east side, was embraced in the colony. Though there were subsequently acrimonious contentions between the contractors, who sought to claim a portion of each settler's land, and the colonists — involving matters of great interest then, but without interest now — the matter was finally adjusted by laws of the State, under which each head of a family received six hun- dred and forty acres of land and each single man half the quantity. The company widely advertised the enterprise, describing the country and its many natural ad- vantages, and this drew an excellent population from the Southern and Western States, more especially from Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee, who diffused themselves over the large territory, the limits now embraced in Dallas County receiving its full share. Prior to this many surveys had been made in this county by surveyors from Nacogdoches, to which all of Dallas County, east of the Trinity, be- longed till 1846 — Vv^hile west of the river, till the same time, belonged to the county of Robertson. Hence, from 1842 to 1846 the settler in Dallas, on the east, had to attend court in Nacogdoches, about 200 miles distant, while his neighbor, a mile distant, over in the then unchristened and undreamed of suburb of Oak Clifi", had to do jury duty and answer for his errors, if any, at the now extinct, but then important, village of Old Franklin, 150 miles on the way to Houston. Say not that men with wives and Sixty Years in Texas. 177 children, but without intelligence, courage and as- pirations for improving their condition, would have assumed the hazards, the hardships and sore trials through which alone success, peace, plenty and hap- piness, could be attained ! The gray-haired survivors of those stout-hearted pioneers — the middle-aged children of both the dead and the living, and the grandchildren of all — have just and rational cause to felicitate themselves in manly and womanly pride at the record made and the achievements won. The actual settlement of Dallas County, there- fore, began in the spring of 1842, when the first cabin was erected and the families of John Beeman and Capt. Gilbert being the first to arrive (Mrs Martha Gilbert being the first American lady) and relieve the loneliness of the adventuorous and true- hearted avaunt courier, John Neely Bryan, who had, for five or six months, been "monarch of all he sur- veyed" — provided, he neither surveyed red men of the forest nor the raging Trinity on one of its pe- riodic "spreads." He entertained them with the best he had — chiefly "bear meat and honey" — perhaps v/ithout recalling the adage about "entertaining an- gels unawares," yet it was verified in this case, for, ere a great while, the lonely son of Tennessee gave his heart and hand to a comely and pure-hearted daughter of Illinois, in the person of Margaret, a daughter of Mr. John Beeman, the same estimable lady yet surviving her faithful husband and, until recently, daily beholding the mighty contrast — Dal- las in its primeval state in 1842, and Dallas in 1908. WHEN I GOT THE GOLD FEVER In 1859 and '60 the gold fever broke out in Colo- rado, and spread to other States. It was very con- tagious. Texas did not escape, and in the fall of '60 I had symptoms of fever, and before the winter had 178 Sixty Years in Texas. passed it developed into a bad case, and my parents were somewhat alarmed, and when I told them thut there was no cure for it except a change of climate, they seemed to be very much troubled vv^hen I told them I had fully decided to go to Pike's Peak. Three other boys in the neighborhood had took the same raging fever, Dave and Tom Houstes and Lyman Drake, and we all decided to try our fortunes in the gold fields of Colorado, I had reached my majority and was possessed with the spirit of adventure. I knew that Texas was a very large State, but I de- cided it was too small to hold me. We soon rounded up a fine bunch of cattle, and each one of us had a wagon and ox team, and by the time the wild flowers were blossoming on the prairie we were ready for the trip. Fort Leavenworth or Leavenworth City, only about 600 miles distant from Dallas County, was the nearest and best point for us to buy our supplies and mining tools. 1 bade farewell to my father and mother, brothers and sisters, and friends, and all that were near and dear to me by the ties of nature, and made the start for Pike's Peak and thvO far West, and as we crossed the border into the In- dian country and left old Texas behind, our hearts were light, and our hopes for the future were bright. We did not even dream of the trouble ahead and in the near future. The war clouds were gathering. The Southern States had seceded. Texas was in the Secession Column. But we believed that the North would never attempt to coerce the South, We thought the hot blood of the South, with their dash and cour- age, would be too much for the timid Yankee. We moved slowly along with our herd of cattle, crossed brooks and swimming the large streams. Our cattle would stampede occasionally, and one night I was on herd the latter part of the night, and it had been raining. I rode quietly around the cattle, and the Q a. < CO UJ X H Sixty Years in Texas. 181 whole herd had become very quiet. Nearly all of them were lying down. I was riding a young horse, and I had taken with me my gum coat or slicker, as we called it, and it was hung to the horn of my saddle. I could see the gray streaks of dawn in the east, and I had become very tired sitting on my horse, and thought there would be no danger in getting off, and I did alight, and was walking around holding to the bridle rein, Vx'^hen all at once in one second every brute was on his feet and in a mad rush, running right toward me. I made a jump for the horse, but missed the stirrup and landed on my stomach in the saddle. By that time the cattle were all around me, and the horse running like mad, and as soon as I landed in the saddle on my stomach the horse began to buck, and I thought my time had come. I tried to stick for dear life, but about the third or fourth pitch he threw me so high I turned a somersault and lit on my feet, and I know how it was, but I had that slicker in my hands, and I waved it up and down in a frantic manner, knowing that my life depended on it, and I could feel the hot breath of the cattle as they passed me. Saying "Baw, baw, baw," I suc- ceeded in splitting that herd of 640 head of cattle wide open, and made my escape without a scratch or a bruise. We moved slowly along with our herd and teams, nothing very strange taking place. We passed through a beautiful country, sometimes passing along a range of sun-kissed hills, skirted with beau- tiful groves of trees and rich valleys of land that stretched away a great distance, with clear streams of water runnig through them. I suppose it was just the same as God and nature left it after the creation, and never had been inhabited only by the roving Red man of the forest. We passed through 182 Sixty Years in Texas. the Cherokee National, and found some improve- ments there, and one evening, just after we camped, several men rode into our camp. They were talking loud, and seemed to be excited. One of them, that seemed to be the principal spokesman, said that war had been declared and Lincoln had ordered out 75,- 000 troops, and they were now marching south. He said his property was all niggers, and he was going to enlist in the army at once, and expected to fight the Yankees to a finish, and he thought every true Southern man should shoulder his musket and go and meet the enemy and give them . We agreed with him, and said that was just the thing to do, but we had started to the gold mines, and we had 'Tike's Peak or bust" inscribed on our wagon sheets, and could not possibly turn back now. The men left us, and they seemed to be very anxious to get to the front. They were actually spoiling for a fight. We moved along day after day, and at last reach- ed the border of bleeding Kansas, and the people there seemed to be spoiling for a fight about as bad as the men we left in the Cherokee National, and when we reached Fort Leavenworth and Leaven- worth City, all was excitement. We could see squads of infantry drilling in every direction, and companies of cavalry dashing about, and blood and war seemed to be in the air. Most of the Southern States had seceded before we left home. Texas was in the Seces- sion Column, and we did not think any attempt would ever be made to force her back into the Union again. We sold our cattle, all but the teams, bought our supplies, loaded our wagons and headed for Pike's Peak and the far West. If I had remained in Texas I should have joined the Southern army with- out any hesitation whatever. But this trip put me to thinking. I read the Northern papers, and I studied about the institution Sixty Years in Texas. 183 of slavery, and I would ask myself the question, is it right? I had been taught to believe that God ap- proved it and the Bible upheld it, and that it was a divine instituion. But the more I thought about it the more skeptical I became, and before the end of the first year of the war I was of the opinion the Confederacy and the institution of slavery was doom- ed. But I could not think of going into the Northern army. My friends w^ere in the South, the people I loved. My brothers were in the Southern army, and I did not have the heart to take up arms against them. We were several w^eeks crossing the plains, but we finally reached Denver, a town of twelve or fifteen hundred people. It was a wide open town, gambling halls on the lower floors and cappers in the streets trying to rope in the suckers. I visited one large gambling hall. Bands of music were playing, and there were tables all around and over the hall, with piles of gold and silver, and various different games that men could take a part in. I was told before I left home to never bet on another man's game, and I had decided not to try to make my fortune that way. We did not stay in Denver long, only a few days, and then moved on to Central City, in the mountains, and when we reached that point we found more war excitement than gold fever. I tried mining for a short time, but soon tired of it. I took the goods we hauled out for supplies and started a grocery store and added a bakery to it, and made a little money that way. The excitement continued and a part of the building that I occupied was used for a recruiting office, and a brass band and a big bass drum was playing most of the time. This recruiting was for the Federal army, but there were a great many Southern people there, and there was some recruiting for the Southern army, but they 184 Sixty Years in Texas. were not quite so bold. One company was raised for the South and the officers elected. A man by the name of McGee, that lived in Parker County, Texas, was elected Captain, and a man by the name of Tuck- er was elected First Lieutenant, and Mr. B. M. Hen- derson, ex-sheriff of Dallas County, was elected Sec- ond Lieutenant. I roomed with Henderson, and I knew his family in Texas before I left for Colorado. He was a hot secesh, and talked too much. A num- ber of those fellows had very long knives, nearly tvv'o feet long, with a hole bored through the handle, and a strong twine string tied to it, and they would prac- tice with those knives and boast how they would carve Yankees with them. They would throve them quite a distance and then pull them back with the twine string. The company had a meeting place near Denver, and a camp, and the night before they were to start south in the morning, the officers went into the city, and they were all arrested. McGee and Tucker were put in jail. Henderson was so violent and talked so much the guard took him to the Piatt River and ducked him. It was in November, and the v/ater was very cold. They put him under guard in his wet clothes, he tried to make his escape and v/as shot and killed. When this news reached the com- pany they were at a loss what to do. Most of them scattered, all of them but thirty-two. That number started South, and when they got out on the Santa Fe trail they held up a train and robbed it. The Fed- erals soon got word of it and went after them and caught them napping, and the day I reached Denver bound for the States they were marched through the streets vv^ith handcuffs on them. I was thinking p.t one time of joining the company and coming tr rough to Texas, and I knew all their plans, but I finally decided to remain in the mountains, and I told them I could not arrange my business in time. Sixty Years in Texas. 185 I heard afterwards that McGee and Tucker were released, but they kept them in jail quite a long time. I thought afterwards I was very fortunate in not joining them. We crossed the plains on our return with mule teams. Nothing very strange occurred. One inci- dent I will mention. One morning a lot of fellows came chasing a buffalo passing the camp, and the animal seemed to be gaining on them, and they gave up the chase. One of our boys grabbed his rifle and jumped on his horse and dashed after it full speed, and soon overtook the buffalo, and began snapping his rifle at him, but it would not go off. Failing in that, he drew his pistol and began shooting, and finally killed him, and we had buffalo meat a-plenty. Shortly after that he examined his rifle and found it was not loaded. We reached LeavenvN^orth City and remained there a few days, and from there we start- ed South. The weather was bitter cold, the ground covered with snow and sleet. We reached Southern Kansas and camped in the Marmaton bottoms for the win- ter. We would go to Fort Scott occasionally and get the war news. We read the papers and kept up with the movement of the army, and when winter broke and the spring came we decided to go back to the mountains and let them fight it out. We again went to Leavenworth City, and while there my mules w^ere stolen. I spent considerable money and som.-) valuable time trying to find them, but I never saw them again, and I was getting short of money, and I hired to the government and was sent with a lot of other men out into Missouri, where the Government had a large herd of mules, and we had to catch those mules (many of them that had never been worked), and harness them and hitch them up to the wagons, six mules to each wagon, and we certainly had a gay 186 Sixty Years in Texas. time. We went to the little town of Rolla, Missouri, to get our mules shod. There were some large Gov- ernment shops there. It was a rainy day, and when we reached that place I was rather wet, and was sitting near one of the forges drying my clothes, when a dirty-looking Irishman stepped up close to me, and I carelessly remarked to him, "Old fellow, you have been hunting for something on the ground, haven't you?" He said, "Yes, I have, and d — n you, I have found you and I can v/hip out of you," and he cursed me and shook his fist in my face and called me a coward. I tried to apologize for what I had said, and told him I meant no offense, but it made him worse. I saw he was drinking, but I did not want to run from him, and I picked up an iron poker and told him to leave or I would hurt him. He was very quick in grabbing the poker. I held the one end of the poker with my right hand, and he held the other. I am left-handed, and I drevN^ back and struck from the shoulder with all my might, and I floored him, and he bled like a beef. He and the poker all went together. While he was down I snatched the poker from him, and I threw it aside, thinking he had enough of it; but, bless you, he got up and came right for me. I squared myself and let him have it again, and I laid him out the second time. I had practiced boxing for several months, but was not conceited. I knew I had no chance with the heavy-weights. The crowd by this time had gathered around us and was all anxious to see the fight. The Irishman was on his feet again, and a squabby Dutchman that was in my mess stepped in front of me and said he would take that fight ofi" my hands. The Irishman went for him and struck him in the face the first blow, and then they clinched and bit and gouged and pounded one another, and we pulled them apart, and Sixty Years in Texas. 187 the Irishman walked off. We thought it was all over, and the boys were laughing over the fun. But in about fifteen minutes he returned with five or six strapping big fellows and without any ceremony they pitched into our crowd, and such a mix-up and free fight I have never sene before or since. Some- times two were on on£, and scrap iron was flying in every direction, and every few minutes one would be laid out. The fight reached such alarming propor- tions the soldiers were sent for, and they soon put a quietus on it. There were about twenty of our crowd, and only six or seven of the others. I thought if there had been two or three more Irishmen we would have had to sound a retreat. But as it was we thought we had got the best of it, and we went into camp to rest on our laurels, and bandage our black eyes, and bathe our bruised limbs. My fierce blows put one of my thumbs out of place, and it pained me so I could not sleep for several nights. This great fight was all brought about by my ill advised remark, and I will say I have been very guarded ever since in my remarks, especially in the presence of strangers and half-drunk people. I did not like to work for Uncle Sam, and I soon returned to Leavenworth City, bought a team and a reaping machine and went to Southern Kansas and helped the farmers harvest their wheat and oats, and then went into the hay fields. I made myself as useful and agreeable as pos- sible. The people I made my home with were full- blooded Yankees, and very good people, and the old lady had been as kind to me as a mother. Her mar- ried daughter and husband had separated, and the daughter died, leaving a little babe a few months old, and her dying request was that her mother should raise it and care for it, which the mother agreed to do. But shortly after her death the hus- 188 Sixty Years in Texas. band took the babe from her and gave it to a neigh- bor woman about two miles distance, and the old lady grieved over it a great deal, and one day I came in from the hay field and she asked me if I would take her to see the baby. I told her that I would be glad to do so, but one of my horses was out in the hay field, but I would get him and take her down there, and went to get my horse, and never dreamed of any trouble. During my absence one of the neigh- bors came along in his wagon, and she asked if he would take her down to see the baby, and he did, and when they came to the house she got out of the wagon and went in, and no one was in the house but the baby lying in the cradle. She picked the baby up and started off with him. Mr. Allen, the owner of the team, thought she had the consent of the v\^om- an to take it, and took them home, and when the father of the baby heard of it he was wild, and the first thing he did was to shoot Allen dead in his own house and then came to the house where his babe was, declaring he would kill every man there. I had not yet returned with my horse, and vv'hen I heard of it I thought I had made a narrow escape. Raids were frequently made into Kansas, and the Kansas people would make raids into Missouri and burn the houses and kill every man they could catch that could not give a satisfactory explanation as to who he was. I was in Lawrence, Kansas, just before Quantrell made his famous raid and killed eighty-one men. One woman Vv^as shot through the arm in hold- ing to her husband and trying to protect him. I was in the town shortly after the killing, and saw where the blood had run over the floors, where men had been killed. After the haying season was over E made a trip to Fort Smith with a load of Suttler's goods. There was a very long train of Government wagons, several hundred, and it took from two Sixty Years in Texas. 189 o'clock in the evening until after night for all of them to get into camp. The advance guard would catch a few men occasionally. They called them bushwhackers and would stand them up in line and shoot them down and let them lie. Some of them we saw on our return trip. They were black and rotting in the same place they were shot down. The Government did not furnish any escort for us on our return trip. We waited about two weeks in Fort Smith. The winter was very cold. Many crossed over the Arkansas River with their teams on the ice, and we, with the Suttler wagon outfit, about a hundred wagons, decided to make the trip alone, and on the second day after leaving Fort Smith I had a severe attack of pneumnoia, and could not drive my team any further. I secured a driver, and I was laid in the wagon on some old quilts. My side pained me so I held myself up on my elbow and spit blood for two days, until I became so weak I gave it up, and when the horses would trot over the rocks and rough road all I could do was to lie as still as I could and take things as they came. At night the campers would make a good fire and scrape away the snow, and carry me out and sit me in an old chair they had and throw a quilt over me, and all the med- icine they had was black pepper and patent pills, and they blistered me inside with the pills and outside with the pepper, and ever since that experience I can never think of pepper and pills Vvdthout a shud- der. The night after the fourth day they left me at the Osage Catholic Mission and sent forty miles for a doctor, and he came. They expected me to die, but I did not. Those Catholics, with the help of the doc- tor, nursed me back to life, and ever since then I have had a warm place in my heart for these good Catholic nurses. 190 Sixty Years in Texas. The winter of '63 passed, and the old gentleman that I made my home with while in Southern Kansas was taken sick. His name was Sherburne, and was known as Uncle Ben. He was one of the most re- spected citizens of that community. He lingered about eight or ten days, and then died. I stayed by his bedside most of the time, until death claimed him. But before he died he told me that I had been re- ported to the Union League as a Copperhead and a dangerous man, and the League had been discussing the question as to what disposition to make of me, and had sent for him, and he had told them that he was not worth a great deal, only a little farm and some few stock, and he had offered to go my security to the amount he was worth that I would do them no harm. I found out that an old rascal that I had disappointed in some way about cutting his hay had reported me. The spring of '64 came, and I was figuring with some other parties about a government hay contract, and we put in a bid for a large amount of hay to be delivered to Fort Scott, and we secured the contract, amounting to the sum of $53,000, and we got a good start in the delivery of the hay. We drew $14,000. There were a number of other contracts let, and hay was delivered in Fort Scott faster than they could take care of it, and we began stacking it right on the ground where we cut it, and had a large amount stacked. But my plans and calculations were defeat- ed. The news came that General Price was making a raid through Missouri and sweeping everything before him. Every able-bodied man in Kansas was enrolled in what was called the enrolled militia, and all work ceased, and everybody was called to take up arms, and report at Fort Scott. I reluctantly obeyed the command, and we were formed into companies and regiments, and about the time we were ready Sixty Years in Texas. 191 to take up the line of march, Col. Knowls came to me and said he had been detailed to guard Marmaton, a small town seven miles west of Fort Scott. My home was near that little place. He said he had not sufficient men, and he asked me to stay at home and help to guard the place, and said he would make it all right with the general in command. I thought favorably of it at first, but on second thought I de- cided differently, and told the Colonel I would go with the big crowd, and I put spurs to my horse and soon overtook the company. I never saw the Colonel after that. He and his men were all killed, and the town burned, only a few days later, and my life was spared again. My intended wife lived near the little town, and she said they could hear the shrieks of the women and the groans of the dying, as the columns of smoke ascended and the consuming flames destroyed their little town. We Vv^ent to Kansas City and the militia was gathered there and near there in very large numbers. General Price's army was advancing from the east. The Federals had met them from Jefferson City and St. Louis, and were disputing their right of way, and the Southern army headed for the West and Kansas, and the Kansas militia met them east of Kansas City and disputed their right of way into Kansas, and several skirmishes took place. I was in the front at the battle of Westport, with the artillery in the rear on the hill in a commanding position, shelling the woods in front and firing over our heads. We entered the woods and skirmished around, and then advanced up the hill, and when we reached the top of the hill the Southern soldiers fired on us, and the bullets flew around pretty thick. The Southern sol- diers were behind a stone wall. A retreat was order- ed, and we tumbled down over the hill to get under shelter, and when we got in line again we were order- 192 Sixty Years in Texas. ed to advance on double quick and dislodge the enemy behind the stone wall, and I must confess we did not like to undertake the scaling of that wall. But we did make the charge, and it looked like we were facing death. But when we got started we ran as fast as we could, every man yelling as loud as he could. But before we reached the wall the artillery had swung around to the left in a commanding posi- tion and swept the wall and scattered the Southern troops, and when we scaled the wall we only found a few dead and dying soldiers. We had then been nearly two days without any- thing to eat, and Price's army was on the run. Our commissary wagons were ordered to drive up to the front, and our horses were brought forward, and when the wagons came scores of men were detailed to make up dough and hand it out in wads to the soldiers, and an army of men would advance on a string of fence, about four to a panel, and the whole line of fence would move off at once. There were large fieMs of shocked corn, and we could see about five or six men to a shock, and the fence and con- tents of the field seemed to all move off at once. The first wad of dough that I got I rolled it out and twist- ed it around my ramrod and held it over the fire a few minutes and warmed it a little, and it seemed to be very good eating. I will say the little war experience that I had I did not shoot a gun. I was not mad, and I did not want to fight. A few of our men were killed and vv^ounded. The lieutenant of our company was shot while near me. Price's raid was a great damage to me. They ruined my plans, stopped my hands from work, and burned all the hay I had stacked. I married in the winter of 1864, and moved to Leavenworth City, and managed to make a living by speculating and freighting, and in the spring of '65, Sixty Years in Texas. 193 as soon after the surrender as possible, I arranged my business and got things in shape to move to Tex- as. I went to Fort Scott and there met Mr. Lyman Drake, one of the men that came with me from Texas, and he said he would go with me. He was worth considerable money. He had two teams and wagons. He bought goods and loaded his wagons. I had one wagon and team and a horse and buggy. We were warned not to go. It was considered very dangerous, too dangerous to even think of going through the Indian Territory. The Southern Chero- kees had not been disbanded, and were not allowed to come back to their old homes, and General Stan- watie still in command had camped on the Blue River, about twenty miles north of Red River. I tried to raise a company in Fort Scott to come with us to Texas. I succeeded in raising fifteen men that agreed to come with us and stand by us. All ar- rangements were made, and we made a start for Texas again, after a period of four years and several months. All of my men came into camp the first night but two. I knew nothing of the history of these men. I think most of them were renegades. After we had been in camp a short time four men rode into the camp heavily armed, and said they were after horse thieves, and I think they suspected some of our crowd. They went on and overtook a man on foot, and they seemed to suspicion him that he knew some- thing. There was not a house for a hundred miles the way he was going. They brought him to our outfit and told him to remain with us, and the four men returned to Fort Scott, thinking they were on a cold trail. These men separated on their return to Fort Scott, and two of them met the horse thieves and their horses and were afraid to try to take them, but went on to Fort Scott and reported and they all 194 Sixty Years in Texas. • returned and made another run after them. The horse thieves rode into our camp the second night, and camped that night with us. It was my two men that failed to come into camp the first night, but I did not know they had the stolen horses; and the next day we stopped for dinner at Baxter Springs, and these men went to water their horses, and some of my men told me they were the stolen horses, and said for us all to be ready with our guns and when they came back we would take them. But they never came, but were gone in a hard run, and we never saw them afterwards. I did not suspicion the other men at that time, but afterwards I found out they were just making a grand-stand play and knew all about it. The young man they arrested, left in our camp, was still with us. I think he was a discharged soldier, and had drawn his pay and had money. The following morning before we left camp, the party overtook us again in pursuit of the horse thieves. We gave them what information we could, and they went on in pursuit. The young man slept under my wagon that night. He had told us his name was Tucker. I was carrying his coat and the few things he had in my wagon. But we never saw him after. Before we reached Fort Smith seven of our men turned back, and after we reached Texas one of them wrote me that they found Tucker's body about two hundred yards from the place we camped, and the supposition was that the men that were on guard that night got him out and murdered him for his money. We had traitors and murderers in camp, and enemies without. After the seven men turned back we knew we were in great danger. I bought four bushels of corn in Fort Smith, and gave $16.00 for it, and our little squad took up the line of march again. The second day four men overtook us. They were riding good Sixty Years in Texas. 195 horses and were well dressed. They were all rather dark looking, and wore their hair long. They had a good deal of jewelry on their hats and clothing. They passed us, and one of the boys said, "We will have to look out, they are regular bushwhackers." From that time on we kept close together, and of a night we would run our wagons and my buggy as near to- gether as possible, and stand guard in the most shel- tered place, and in the day time we would carry our guns and six-shooters and were always ready to give the best we had if attacked. We traveled that way for days, and these men would pass and repass us until Y^e got down near where Stanwatie's command was camped, and there other men would occasionally pass us. I kept cautioning our men to keep close together and be ready. I kept my shot gun across my lap in the buggy. My wife was used to just such times in Southwest Missouri. After noon one day, as we were leaving camp, something was forgotten, and the wagons stopped a few minutes. Two of our men that were horseback rode on and got a few hundred yards ahead of the wagon, when we heard shooting, and one of them came dashing back and said Lacey was shot dead. We went on and found him lying dead in the road. He had been shot through the heart. By this time there were a good many men, some Indians and some soldiers, riding about. We were near a house, and there was a graveyard in an old field near, and the man that lived at the house said we could bury our man there if we wanted to. We quietly dug his grave with a vault to it, and buried Lacy with his clothes on. Not a hymn was sung, nor prayer offered. We quietly and silently laid him away. Several of Stanwatie's men were present, and I noticed one of them kept looking at me, and he called me aside and said he would like to talk to me. 196 Sixty Years in Texas. He first asked me my name, and I told him that it was Jackson. Then he inquired of me if I had a brother in the army in the Territory during the war. I said I did have several of them, one was a captain. He said that he knew him if it was Captain William Jackson. I said yes, that was his name. He said he had been looking at me and saw such a striking re- semblance that he almost knew he was my brother. Well, he says : "Have you seen four men, long-haired fellows, following you?" and I replied that we cer- tainly had, and if they don't look out we will get them yet. We had held a council the day before to consider whether we should shoot them on sight, but we decided we had better not. The man talking to me said his name was Evans, and he said that these four men had followed us from near Fort Smith and their intention was to kill us and take what we had. I wanted to know how he had made that discovery, and he told me he had been in the same business with them during the war, and they had come to his house last night to get him and another man to go in with them, and that night they were to attack us. "They represented to me," he said, "that you had lots of greenbacks, but said they did not want to divide it between too many, and thought seven of them would be enough ;" and he also said that he had agreed to meet them at a certain place and make preparations to bring on the attack. He said that he would go and meet them as agreed, and make some excuse to get out of it. He would tell them that the war was over and that he had decided to quit the business. He bade me good-bye, and cau- tioned me not to say a word about betraying them, if I did they would certainly kill him. He left me, and we decided not to go to the place we expected to camp, but selected a place near the house I spoke of, where there were some very large oak trees, and Sixty Years in Texas. 197 we saw that our guns and pistols were loaded and ready to meet them if they made the attack. Each one of us got behind a tree and my wife and another lady that was in the company were to stay in the house. Just as it was getting dark Evans rode up to the camp and called for Jackson. I was not certain whether he was friend or foe, but I came out from behind my tree with six-shooter in my hand and advanced towards him. He said to me, "I was late and did not meet the boys, but I think they are com- ing. I saw two of them between me and the sky as they rode over the hill. Look out. I don't think they will try to get anything but your horses to- night, the way you are fixed." He says, "Good night, and for God's sake don't say a word or they will kill me." He had ridden about one hundred yards, and I heard a man say halt, and then a shot, and then another shot. Then I heard one say, " him, shoot him again." The horses were running, and we did not know whether he was killed or not. That night we stood behind our trees all night, ready to give them a warm reception if they attacked us. But they did not come. In the morning my friend Evans came into our camp. He was shot through his boot heel and an- other shot tore the skirt of his coat, and he said he had acted the covN^ard in running, but them fellows had better not brag about it or he would kill one of them yet. There was a young man at this Indian house that said he was from Illinois, and he told me that there was a home guard in the neighborhood that had been appointed to look after the horse thieves and lawless characters, and if I would notify them they would protect us. I offered him five dol- lars if he would go and notify them, and he went 198 Sixty Years in Texas. in the night and notified all of them, and about 9 or 10 o'clock the next day they came into our camp. But they said the line of their territory was only a few miles, and they could not go to the Texas line without pay. I offered them fifty dollars to go with us and see us over Red River, and they agreed to it, and we took up the line of march again, and when we got in a few miles of Red River we saw our bushwhacking friends, and three other men with them. They intended to attack us before we got into Texas, and had selected a suitable place, not know- ing we had employed a guard. We had seventeen men heavily armed, and we would have given them the best we had in our shop if they had attacked us. Our guard crossed over the river with us, and camped with us that night in Texas, and in the morning they left us, and we went on our way re- joicing. I will go back to the first of our journey. We met some Federal soldiers, and they had been ordered to burn their blankets, and a man by the name of King, a Texas man, had bought twenty-one blankets for 50 cents apiece and tied them in a bundle and hid them, and when he met our wagons he said he would give me $5.00 if I would haul them to Fort Gibson. I did so, and he paid me. It was at night he gave me the money, and he gave me two $5.00 bills stuck together, and I did not notice it until the next day. He said his family lived near the road not far from where Denison now stands, and he said it would be a great favor to him if I would stop and tell his wife that he was well and hoped to be dis- charged soon, and they might expect him home any time. As I had $5.00 of his money I thought I would call and see his wife and give it to her. My wife and I drove up to the house, and several women came out, and I inquired for Mrs. King, and she was Sixty Years in Texas. 199 one of the number, and her mother was there, a very old lady, and they were very much interested and anxious to hear from Mr. King, and seemed to be almost overjoyed, and when I told them about the blankets and gave them the $5.00 the old lady began to shout, and it seemed like a regular camp-meeting was taking place. She said, "Thank the Lord. I had thought every man had got dishonest. But thank the Lord again, there is one left," and we drove olT leaving them all happy. We began to feel like we were safe. I have al- ways felt safe in Texas, and will say I love Texas, and a man that is once a Texan is always a Texan, and when we crossed the border into old Texas I felt like I was in the warm embrace of a mother's love. Her outstretched arms were ready to receive me. I love her broad prairies and rich valleys, and balmy breezes. We arrived safely at home, and found Father and Mother, brothers and sisters, all well. We all had gone through the bloody conflict, and met again at the old homestead, and talked about the awful war, the bloody scenes, and the almost inhuman cruelties ; and when I look back over my experience I believe a kind Providence and the favor of God kept me from harm, and as I grow older and look back over my past Hfe, and think of the countries I have visited, the people I have mixed with, the mul- titudes I have seen, I think of man's inhumanity to man. I believe that men and women in this life are cast between two great currents. They must take one of the other. The one is Self, Self, Self, and wrong. The other is right and God ; and the almost countless millions of God-forgetting people are be- ing swept along the current of self and wrong. But I thank God that there are stations and stopping places along the shores of this sweeping current. 200 Sixty Years in Texas. where men and women may stop and think and call to God for help, and all of those that call in earnest, He will come to their rescue and deliver them from that awful current that seems to be sweeping them on, they know not where. He will inspire them with better thoughts, higher motives, nobler desires, and loftier purposes. He will transform and change that human heart, and fill it with love, tenderness and compassion, and they will have an inner knowl- edge that needs no other proof that God exists, and is guiding and leading them onward and upward to glory and Heaven. It has been forty-three years ago since the war closed. The question was so great and the interesi. so vast, and the temper of the people so wrought upon, in my judgment nothing but war could settle it, and I believe the war was fought at the right time, and fought by the right people, and now the blue and the grey meet and mingle together, and place flowers on the graves of their friends that died defending the cause they thought to be right. This is just as it should be, and no Confederate feels humiliated or disgraced because of losing in the con- flict, but the blue and the grey stand together — those that followed Lee and Jackson, and those that followed Grant and Logan — citizens of the greatest country on the globe. It was the valor and courage and bravery of those that followed Lee and Jackson that made heroes out of Grant and Logan, and the brave men that stood with them. They met men worthy of their steel. The unconquerable courage of the Confederate soldier made the glory of the Fed- eral generals. Most of the old veterans have passed over the river, and are now resting in God's eternal camping ground; but those that are still with us are citizens of a great country. We are to-day the superior of the earth, with our Sixty Years in Texas. 201 free institutions, our great free school system, our numerous colleges, and our great institutions of learning, our hospitals, deaf and dumb and blind asylums, and all the instituions we have to care for the afflicted and unfortunate. Every man should con- sider it an honor to be an American citzien. It was said in ancient times when Rome was the mistress of the world, that it was considered a great honor to be a free-born Roman citizen. But I consider today that it is a much greater honor to be a free-born American citizen. If we show that love and patriot- ism to the flag of our country that it deserves — if the humble and the poor are given an equal chance in the race of life, with the strong and the wealthy — we shall command respect at home and abroad, and no nation on the globe will invade our shores to harm us, and no enemy will ever insult our flag. The great speaker and statesman, Henry Grady, at the Dallas Fair, in his celebrated speech, said: "The Anglo- Saxon blood ha-s dominated always and everj^^here. It fed Alfred's veins when he wrote the Charter of English liberty. It gathered about Hampden as he stood beneath the oak. It thundered in Cromwell's veins as he fought the king. It humbled Napoleon at Waterloo. It has touched the desert and jungle with undying glory. • It carried the drumbeat of England around the world, and spread on every con- tinent the gospel of liberty and of God. It estab- lished this Republic, carved it from the wilderness, conquered it from the Indians, wrested it from Eng- land, at last stilling its own tumult, consecrated for ever as the home of the Anglo-Saxon and the theatre of his transcending achievements. Never can one foot of it be surrendered while that blood lives in American veins and feeds American hearts, to the domination of an alien and inferior race." The great preacher. Dr. Talmage, said in a speech 202 Sixty Years in Texas. after he returned from his tour through Europe he first had a good word to say about all the different nationalities that he had visited, and he traveled through most of the European countries. He said here in this United States we have the sound sense of the English, the stout heart of the German, the sterling worth and honesty of the Scotch, the polish- ed manner of the French, and the artistic taste of the Italian, and last, but not least, the lightning wit of the Irish. We have all of these different national- ities woven together, and wiien that man stepped out upon the virgin soil all heaven and earth is ready to exclaim. Behold, the man. He is an American. We now have a government of 80,000,000 of peo- ple — such people as described by the late Dr. Tal- mage, that has opened the eyes and aroused all of Europe from their slumber. We lead in all kinds of inventions and improved machinery, and the skill that is shown, and the rapidity of great undertak- ings that has been carried to a final success. Our great achievements have been the wonder of the world. Shall we think lightly of our citizenship? No. We of the South will consider it a greater honor than the Romans of old. And the true American that is entitled to wear that badge of honor should wear it wtih pride, and defend it with his life if necessary. Our country is larger than any State. It is great- er than Texas, the State I love so well. It is greater than Virginia, the mother of presidents ; greater than Massachusetts or New York. We have not given ourself to any State or province. We are citi- zens of America, the greatest country on the globe. A dear old mother in Missouri had a happy family of eight children, two were grown sons. One of the sons joined Price's army and tried the for- tunes of the South. The other joined the Federal Sixty Years in Texas. 203 army and tried the fortunes of the North. Many battles were fought; thousands were killed; armies were defeated ; prisoners were captured ; homes were destroyed ; families were broken up ; and these two brothers went through all the desperate struggles and engaged in many a bloody conflict, but the time came when Lee surrendered at Appomattox, and the two brothers again returned to their old home, and there upon the threshold of that old home, where they had played together when they were boys, they shook hands and agreed to forget the past. And the loving mother gave them both the same welcome, and her heart overflowed, and was made to rejoice, as she fell upon her knees and looked up to God through her tears, and thanked Him again and again for a once more united family. There are a few still left of the blue and the grey. They have gone through many a bloody conflict. They long ago shook hands over the bloody chasm. Now we know each other better, and should be brothers, as much so as the two brothers that shook hands in the presence of their mother, on returning to their old home in Missouri after the war. We are members of the same family, and descended of noble sires and the sons of a people that were born to rule, and citizens of a mighty na- tion, and the most glorious country on the globe. We should be loyal to this great country, and also loyal and true to the South, that has such a glorious history, and has furnished most of the great men of the Nation. The Lees, the Jacksons, Washington, were all sons of the South. When the Civil War was over and the Angel of Peace had checked the movements of contending forces, and war with Spain took place. General Fitzhugh Lee was sent to that important post, a son of Virginia, and a member of one of the grandest families this Nation has pro- duced. When the Rough Riders were ambush- 204 Sixty Years in Texas. ed, and El Caney seemed to become a dis- aster, after Shafter had failed, they placed the forces in the hands of Fighting Joe Wheeler, a son of the South, and as he took the command of the advancing column of that army he raised in his stir- rups and shouted, "Charge 'em, boys !" and "drive them into the Gulf," and the victory w^as soon won. Roosevelt knew where to get the kind of men he wanted. He knew in Texas and the West they could be found, and here he secured them, and they did his fighting and won the victories that made him President of this United States. The South has a great history of war, but a far more glorious and greater history of peace. After the Civil War, when the bloody conflict had ended, those that returned home, many of them barefooted and with scanty and ragged clothes, found their homes in ashes, their stock stolen or driven away, their fence de- stroyed, their negroes set free, and their wives and children in a deplorable condition. But .their hearts never faltered. They did not give up. They em- braced their children and kissed their wives, and again went to work to build up their shattered for- tunes, and the advancement the South has made has been a wonder to the world. The South was not re- sponsible for slavery. The guilt or wrong, if at- tached to any one, was our forefathers or the country at large that built up and cherished the in- stituiton of slavery, and at the beginning of the Civil War the South was not responsible for the conditions the country was in. And today the South and the Southern people are the best friends the negro has. Taking a broad view of the conditions of the negro now, and the negro when first sold into slavery, and we must all admit that slavery in the end has been a great bless- ing to the negro, and a great curse to the white peo- ple of this Nation. Sixty Years in Texas. 205 Third Legislature of Texas, but the first one in which Dallas County was represented. FIRST LEGISLATURE, 1847-9— HOUSE. William M. Cochran. SECOND LEGISLATURE, 1849-51— HOUSE. Jefferson Weatherford. THIRD LEGISLATURE, 1851-53— HOUSE. John M. Crockett. FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 1853-55— HOUSE. John M. Crockett. FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 1855-57— HOUSE. John M. Crockett. SIXTH LEGISLATURE, 1857-59— HOUSE. Andrew J. Witt. SEVENTH LEGISLATURE, 1859-61— HOUSE. Nicholas H. Darnell. EIGHTH LEGISLATURE, 1861-63— HOUSE. Jas. P. Thomas. Resigned in '62. Succeeded by Jas P. Goodnight. NINTH LEGISLATURE, 1863-65— HOUSE. Geo. Wilson. Resigned and succeeded by John C. McCoy. ELEVENTH LEGISLATURE. No election '66, but under military rule. 1867 to 1869, Nat. M. Burford, Arch M. Cochran. TWELFTH LEGISLATURE, 1869-72— HOUSE. John W. Lane. THIRTEENTHLEGISLATURE, 1872-73— HOUSE. John Henry Brown. FOURTEENTH LEGISLATURE, 1873-75— HOUSE John H. Cochran. 206 Sixty Years in Texas. FIFTEENTH LEGISLATURE, 1875-77— HOUSE. John H. Cochran, J. T. Downs. SIXTEENTH LEGISLATURE, 1877-79— HOUSE. John H. Cochran, Speaker (M. D. K. Taylor and Guy M. Bryan were his competitors for Speaker) , John W. Daniels. SEVENTEENTH LEGISLATURE, 1879-81— HOUSE. John W. Daniels, Thos. F. Nash. EIGHTEENTH LEGISLATURE, 1881-83— HOUSE. John H. Cochran, Thos. F. Nash. NINETEENTH LEGISLATURE, 1883-85— HOUSE. R. S. Kimbrough, Z. Ellis Combs. TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 1885-87— HOUSE. Jesse M. Strong, J. C. Rugel. TWENTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE— HOUSE. J. M. Strong, J. F. Rowland. TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE— HOUSE. J. H. Cochran, J. F. Rowland. TWENTY-THIRD LEGISLATURE— HOUSE. J. H. Cochran, Speaker of House (Gassett Wilson and Breeding, competitors), P. H. Golden, A. S. Taylor, Lancaster. Floater: R. King, in 1896. TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE— HOUSE. J. F. Reiger, W. A. Orr, R. B. Allen. Floater: B. King. TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE— HOUSE. W. C. McKamy, J. F. Reiger, J. S. Strother. Floater: H. W. Manson. Sixty Years in Texas. 207 TWENTY-SIXTH LEGISLATURE— HOUSE. Dudley G. Wooten, W. C. McKamy, Wm. Gill. TWENTY-SEVENTH LEGISLATURE— HOUSE. W. A. Shaw, Mike Lively, J. S. Strother. TWENTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE— HOUSE. Curtis Hancock, Thos. B. Love, J. S. Strother. Floater: J. W. Reese. TWENTY-NINTH LEGISLATURE— HOUSE. 0. P. Bowser, Curtis Hancock, Thos. B. Love. Floater: E. D. Foree. THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE— HOUSE. E. C. Lively, Claude M. McCallum, Thos. B. Love. Floater: Jeff D. Cox. COUNTY CLERKS OF DALLAS COUNTY. William M. Cochran, first County Clerk. He was the father of J. H. Cochran, A. M. Cochran and James Cochran, of this city. John W. Smith, second County Clerk. Alexander Harwood, third County Clerk. Alex- ander Harwood served from 1850 to 1854. William W. Peak, fourth County Clerk, '54 to '56. W. K. Hasten, fifth County Clerk, 1856 to '60. Ed. W. Hunt, sixth County Clerk, 1860 to '62. George W. Laws, seventh County Clerk, 1862 to 1866. James P. Thomas, eighth County Clerk, '66 to '67. The officers of Dallas County were removed in November, 1867, and from that time to 1870 we had 208 Sixty Years in Texas. military despotism, and all officers were appointed by the military. County Judge A. Bledsoe, and the ninth County Clerk was Samuel S. Jones to 1870. John M. Laws tenth County and District Clerk. Election 1873. Alex Harwood, the eleventh, was elected District and County Clerk, and served until 1882. In 1882 W. M. C. Hill, the twelfth County Clerk, served three terms until 1888. 1888, Bev Scott, the thirteenth County Clerk, was elected, and served until 1892, two terms. Lee H. Hughes, fourteenth County Clerk, served two terms, until 1896. Albert Jackson, fifteenth County Clerk, served three terms, until 1902. Frank R. Shanks, sixteenth County Clerk, served two terms, until 1906. Jack M. Gaston, seventeenth County Clerk, is now in office. STATE SENATORS In 1846, when Dallas County was created, Joseph L. Hogg, of Nacogdoches, represented in the Senate the east half of the county, and Henry J. Jewett, of Robertson County, the west half; in 1849, in a new district Albert G. Walker of Dallas v>^as elected over J. H. Reagan, the Senatorial term being four years. In 1851 Walker resigned, and Samuel Bogart. of Col- lin, was elected to fill the unexpired term. In 1853 to 1857, Jefferson Weatherford, of Dallas County, was Senator. From 1857 to 1861, A. G. Walker, of Tarrant, was Senator. In 1861 to '65, Jefferson Weatherford again served. Owing to the close of the vx^ar and provisional government by the appoint- ment of President Johnson, there was no election in Sixty Years in Texas. 209 1865. A. J. Hamilton was apopinted provisional Gov- ernor and served from July 25, 1865, to August, 1866. Under the Constituiton of 1866 and the ses- sion in that year J. K. P. Record of Dallas was Sen- ator. That Constitution and government were over- thrown by the reconstruction act of of Congress of March 2, 1867, and from July 30, 1867, to April 16, 1870, the State was under military gov- ernment. The next Senator after the military govern- ment was Samuel Evans, of Tarrant, and served until 1873, when Amzi Bradshaw of Ellis was elect- ed. Then Robert S. Guy, of Lancaster, was elected and served for four years. He Vv^as succeded in 1880 by Anson Rainey, of Ellis County. He served to 1882; Barnett Gibbs to 1884. Then Joseph O. Ter- rell, of Kaufman, to 1886. Then R. S. Kimbrough was- elected, and served two terms until 1890. Then 0. P. Bowser was elected and served three terms until 1896. Then Barry Miller was elected and served until 1906. Then E. G. Senter was elected, and is still in office. FIRST COUNTY JUDGES OF DALLAS COUNTY 1846 to 1848— John Thomas. 1848 to 1850— Wm. H. Hord. Wm. H. Hord married the first couple after the organization of the county. 1850 to 1852— Smith Elkins, resigned ; John W. Lattimer, re-elected. 1852 to 1854— John W. Lattimer. 1854 to 1856— J. M. Patterson. 1856 to 1858— J. M. Patterson. 210 Sixty Years in Texas. 1858 to 1860 — J. M. Patterson. 1860 to 1862— J. M. Patterson. 1862 to 1864 — J. M. Patterson. 1864 to 1866— J. M. Patterson. 1866 to 1868— Z. E. Coombes. 1868 to 1870— A. Bledsoe. 1870 to 1872 — John D. Kerfoot. 1872 to 1874 — John D. Kerfoot. 1874 to 1876— Nat M. Burford. 1876 to 1878— Robert H. West. 1878 to 1880— R. E. Burke. 1880 to 1882— R. E. Burke. 1882 to 1884— R. E. Burke. 1884 to 1886— E. G. Bower. 1886 to 1888— E. G. Bower. 1888 to 1890— E. G. Bower. 1890 to 1892— E. G. Bower. 1892 to 1894— T. F. Nash. 1894 to 1896— T. F. Nash. 1896 to 1898— S. H. Foree. 1898 to 1900— S. H. Foree. 1900 to 1902— Ed. Lauderdale. 1902 to 1904— Ed. Lauderdale. 1904 to 1906— H. F. Lively. 1906 to 1908— H. F. Lively. TOWN GOVERNMENT OF DALLAS, 1856 TO 1862 Dallas as a town a half a mile square was first incorporated by the Legislature February 2, 1856. When Jefferson Weatherford was the Senator and A. J. Witt the representative. The charter was drawn by Nat. M. Burford. The first election was held April 5, 1856, and I give the vote in full. Sixty Years in Texas. 211 1856-57. City Officers — First Election. Mayor-elect — Dr. Sam B. Pryor 58 votes A. A. Rice, competitor 34 votes Marshal — Andrew M. Moore 55 votes J. W. Merifield, competitor 37 votes Treasurer — Wm. L. Murphy, elect 56 votes Z. E. Ronney, competitor 36 votes Recorder — Samuel Jones, elect 90 votes Six Aldermen — Wm. Burtle 75 votes W. Latimer 74 votes Wm. J. Halsell 71 votes Burrill Wilkes 68 votes Mr. Williams 59 votes Geo. M. Baird 57 votes April, 1857, to April, 1858, John M. Crockett, Mayor, Marlin M. Thompson, Marshal. April, 1858, to August, 1858, Isaac Naylor, May- or; Andrew Moore, Marshal. A few days after the election Andy Moore killed Alexander Cochrell. During the following June the citizens voted to adopt the general Act for municipal corporations, which had been but a short time pre- vious been passed by the Legislature, and under this Act the following officers were elected August 2nd. : Mayor — Dr. A. D. Rice 39 votes Scattering 11 votes 212 Sixty Years in Texas. City Marshal — Wm. M. Moon 57 votes Five Alderynen — Wm. Halsell 22 votes Isaac C. Nailor 19 votes James N. Smith 18 votes Wm. W. Peak 12 votes August, 1859, to August, 1860: Mayor — J. M. Crockett 38 votes Marshal — Geo. W. Baird 37 votes Five Aldermen — Wm. M. Moon 39 votes James W. Smith 39 votes Geo. W. Guess 39 votes Edward W. Hunt 38 votes Dr. S. B. Pryor 37 votes 1860-61. Mayor — J. M. Crockett 51 votes Marshal — M. M. Thompson 40 votes There were five aldermen elected : J. N. Smith. Wm. M. Peak, G. W. Guess, Dr. Sam B. Pryor; vote 39 to 43. August, '61 to '62. Many of the men had gone into the army, and the vote was still light. Mayor — Rev. Thom, E. Sherwood 30 votes Sixty Years in Texas. 213 Marshal — Peter Stevenson 34 votes Five Aldermen elected — G. N. Guess 63 votes J. N. Smith 62 votes Edward Hunt 61 votes Wm. M. Peak 58 votes Dr. Sam B. Pryor 56 votes August 1861-66. The records fail to show any election, but an election was held by authority of the County Judge, as the law at that time provided. The county records therefore show: Mayor — John W. Lane, vote 66 votes J. M. Crockett 25 votes Marshall, Mat J. Moore. 49 votes Aldermen — S. S. Sanders, John Neeley Bryan, A. W. Moreton, Edward W. Hunt, and M. M. Morrow, vote 86 to 91. Throckmorton selected Lane for his private secretary, and George W. Guess became Mayor. He elected by the City Council to fill out the term. In 1867 no record appears of any election during this year, and there appears to have been no Mayor from August, 1867, till September, 1868, when the following officers were appointed by the Federal authorities at Austin under Governor Davis' rule, from September, 1868, to November, 1872. Mayor, Benjamin Long; Marshal, J. F. Barbier; Treasurer, A. J. Gouffe; Aldermen, J. P. McKnight, C. R. Miller, Henry Boll, Edwin Taylor, John Ten- ison. John Henry Brown gives the following item in history : Mr. Boll refused to serve, and Mr. Ten- ison soon resigned. Samuel S. Jones and J. C. Seydel 214 Sixty Years in Texas. ' were appointed in their stead. Then Jones resigned, and John Loufot was substituted. Long resigned to visit Europe, April 1st, 1870, when Henry S. Ervay was appointed by the newly installed Gov- ernor Davis, and held the office till the four days November 5, 6, 7 and 8, 1872, under the charter granted in May, 1871. Under Ervay's administra- tion John N. McCoy was attorney, R. S. Druley, Sec- retary, and G. W. Campbell, Marshal. The Alder- men at different times (some resigning) were: F. L. Wellemet, Ira B. Conklin, Samuel Crosley, E. H. Ken- dal, J. C. Seydel, Z. E. Coombs, Dr. E. W. Tucker and Edwin Taylor. In 1872 Governor Davis, who had been counted in by Gen. J. J. Reynolds, of the United States Army, headquarters at Austin, con- cluded that Mr. Ervay was not sufficiently loyal, and issued an order removing him, and appointed anoth- er in his place, but the civil government had reorgan- ized, and both under legal advice and a sense of duty to the people refused to yield. District Judge Har- den Hart issued a mandate commanding him to sur- render the office, but Mr. Ervay positively refused to comply, and thereupon he was committed to jail. It so happened, however, just at that crisis that a decision arrived here made by Davis' own Supreme Court, in a precisely similar case, ruling that the governor did not possess the power of removal. Whereupon Judge Hart hastened to unlock the prison door and Mr. Ervay stepped out a free man, to re- sume the duties as Mayor, and enjoy the increased respect of the people. His conduct throughout the affair deserved and received the warmest approval of the people. Sixty Years in Texas. 215 November, 1872, to April, 1874. Mayor — Benjamin Long, Republican, 348 votes Edvv^ard H. Hunt, Democrat 246 votes Thomas Flynn was elected Marshal, Dr. David King, Assessor and Collector. The Aldermen were : Ellen P. Bryan, Sr., C. Capy, George M. Swink, Frank Austin, Wm. H. Gaston, Michel Trevenet, John W. Lane, A. M. Cochran. The Council elected Henry Boll, Treasurer; James H. Field, Attorney; C. S. Mitchell, Secretary. This election was held and charter granted. May 22, 1871. On the 24th of April, 1873, all of the above named Aldermen resigned, except Lane, and the fol- lowing were elected in their stead : Henry S. Ervay, Hickerson Barksdale, Alex Sanger, John H. Bryan, Wm. H. Scales, John Owen, Wm. G. Sterett, and James Greer. Olen Welborn was elected City At- torney, October 6, 1873. These held their ofhce until the first Tuesday, 1874, at which time the following were elected : Mayor, W. L. Cabell ; Marshal, June Peak; Assessor and Collector, T. J. Keaton; Attor- ney, Wm. M. Edwards ; Treasurer, Robert A. West ; Engineer, Wm. M. Johnson ; Secretary, W. H. Prath- er; Aldermen: Henry S. Ervay, R. E. Burke; Jas. A. Leonard, R. D. Coughanour, J. S. Howell, A. T. Hensley, John Owens, Joseph C. McConnell, Wm. C. Young, H. B. McConnell. Elected April, 1875 : May- or, W. L. Cabell; Marshal, June Peak; Assessor and Collector, T. J. Keaton ; Attorney, Wm. M. Edwards ; Engineer, Wm. M. Johnson ; Treasurer, Robert H. West ; Secretary, J. B. Hereford. Aldermen : J. W. Crowdus, Henry S. Ervay, F. L. Wellemet, A. T. Obenchain, Alfred Davis, Benj. P. Jett, D. E. Grove, Wm. J. Shone, R. V. Thompkins, E. C. McLure. 216 Sixty Years in Texas. On the 27th day of April, 1875, this Council adopted the general incorporation law of the State, and all of the officers under this change were elected every two years, except the Mayor, one-half to be elected to serve one year, the other half two years. So it followed after this election that one-half would be elected annually, each holding his office two years. 1876: Mayor, John D. Kerfoot for one year; Marshal, W. F. Morton; Assessor and Collector, J. N. Ogden; Attorney, Barnett Gibbs, for two years; Engineer, Wm. M. Johnson, for two years ; Secre- tary, J. B. Hereford; Alderman, John W. Crowdus, Henry S. Ervay, W. J. Clark, F. E. Guedry, Benj. P. Jett, E. P. Cowen, Jacob L. WilHams, Dr. M. M. Nevv^som. August 9th there was another change made in the election of officers. The two years' term was changed so as to include that of the Mayor. And also an amendment afterwards adopted so as to allow the Council to elect the Engineer, Treasurer and At- torney, instead of the people electing them. April, 1877 : Mayor, W. L. Cabell; Aldermen, H. S. Ervay, J. W. Crovv^dus, W. M. C. Hill, F. E. Guedry, W. J. Shone, Benj. P. Jett, Dr. M. M. New- som, Jacob L. Williams. 1878: Mayor, W. L. Cabell; Assessor and Col- lector, Julius C. Bogel ; Treasurer, J. W. Bowen ; At- torney, Barnett Gibbs ; Marshal, W. F. Morton ; En- gineer, S. W. S. Duncan; Secretary, J. B. Hereford; Aldermen, John F. Caldwell, H. S. Ervay, P. B. Shel- don, M. D. GarUngton, W. C. Holland, W. J. Shone, Dr. M. M. Newsom. 1879 : Mayor, J. M. Thurman ; Assessor and Col- lector, J. C. Bogel; Treasurer, John C. Bowen; At- torney, Barnett Gibbs ; Marshal, W. F. Morton ; En- Sixty Years in Texas. 217 gineer, S. W. S. Duncan; Secretary, J. B. Hereford. These held over into this term. Aldermen, John B. Stone, John F. Caldwell, L. F. Bohny, P. B. Shel- don, W. K. Wheelock, John S. Witwer, Chas. E. Kel- ler, W. R. Mclntire. April, 1880: Marshal, W. F. Morton; Assessor and Collector, J. C. Bogel; Engineer, J. S. Thatcher; Attorney, Barnett Gibbs ; Secretary, J. B. Hereford ; Aldermen, H. S. Ervay, John B. Stone, J. S. Ballard, L. F. Bohny, Zimri Hunt, W. K. Wheelock, E. M. Tillman, Chas. E. Keller. Mayor Thurman in Sep- tember, 1880, was removed from office by a vote of the Council, and John J. Good VN^as elected to fill the vacancy. 1881 : John Stone was elected Mayor by a ma- jority of 37 votes, but was declared ineligible be- cause he did not reside within the corporate limits of the city, as the charter provided, and on the 17th day of May, Dr. J. W. Crowdus was elected. J. B. Hereford resigned as Secretary, and G. M. Swink was elected to fill out the unexpired term. Alder- men : D. A. Williams, H. S. Ervay, W. J. Clark, J. S. Ballard, J. D. Carter, Zimri Hunt, Frank G. Moore, E. M. Tillman. Hunt resigned and Dr. J. V. Chil- dress was elected. Marshal, James Arnold ; Assessor and Collector, J. C. Bogel; Treasurer, N. W. God- bold; Attorney, Frank Field; Secretary, G. M. Swink ; Engineer, Wm. M. Johnson. Aldermen, Sig- mond Loeb, D. A. Williams, James Moroney, W. J. Clark, C. F. Carter, J. D. Carter, E. M. Tillman, Frank G. Moore. Dallas is growing rapidly and put- ting on city airs. 1883: Mayor, W. L. Cabell; Aldermen, Frank M. Cockrell, Sigmond Loeb, John Spellman, James Moroney, J. D. Carter, C. F. Carter, C. A. Gill, E. M. Tillman. Under an amendment of the charter of 218 Sixty Years in Texas. March, 1883, the city was divided into six instead of four wards, and in April, 1884, two aldermen were elected from each ward, and classified anew as be- fore. In April, 1884 : Marshal, James C. Arnold ; As- sessor and Collector, J. C. Bogel; Attorney, Wm. H. Johnson; Treasurer, W. H. Flippen; Engineer, W. M. Johnson ; Secretary, W. E. Parry ; Health Officer, Dr. J. L. Carter; Aldermen, D. A. Williams, John Spellman, James Maroney, Robert B. Seay, Jacob Rauch, E. C. Smith, Sigmond Loeb, Robert Gibson, Charles D. Keller, John Henry Brown, J. D. Carter, Messrs. D. A. Williams, John Spellman, Robert B. Seay, E. C. Smith, Robert Gibson. John Henry Brown drew the two years' term, the others one year. 1885 : Mayor, John Henry Brown. Aldermen : John B. Loucks, D. A. Williams, W. F. Daugherty, John Spellman, John Bookhout, Jacob Rauch, Sig- mond Loeb, P. W. Linskie (vice E. C. Smith, re- signed), Chas. E. Keller, Robert Gibson, J. D. Car- ter, Samuel Peterman (vice John Henry Brown, re- signed). April, 1886: Mayor, John Henry Brown, hold- ing over; Marshal, James C. Arnold; Attorney, W. H. Johnson; Assessor and Collector, J. Ford House; Engineer, J. S. Thatcher; Water Superintendent, Dave Tichenor; Secretary, W. E. Parry; Health Offi- cer, Dr. J. L. Carter; Aldermen, John B. Louch, J. A. Brown, W. F. Daugherty, D. P. Mahoney, Jacob Rauch, John Bookout, Sigmond Loeb, F. R. Rowley, C. D. Keller, D. C. Mitchell, J. D. Carter, Samuel Peterman. April, 1887: Mayor, W. C. Connor; Recorder (newly created office), T. J. A. Brown; Assessor, Sixty Years in Texas. 219 J. F. House ; Assistant, Ben F. Melton ; Secretary, W. E. Parry ; Assistant, Wm. McGrain ; Water Superin- tendent, Dave Tichenor; Health Officer, Dr. J. L. Carter; Attorney, W. H. Johnson; Engineer, J. S. Thatcher ; Water Collector, L. M. Fargason ; Alder- men, John B. Louck, Frank Cockrell (vice T. J. A. Brown, resigned), D. P. Mahoney, A. M. Cochran, Jacob Ranch, W. L. Hall, F. R. Rowley, Sigmond Loeb, D. C. Mitchell, K. J. Kivlen, Samuel Peterman, Darius Welch. Police Force of Dallas, July 1, 1887: James C. Arnold, Marshal; Geo. Ed. Cornwall, Deputy Mar- shal ; Samuel H. Beard and Henry C. Waller, mount- ed officers; John T. Carter, Clerk; Dean S. Arnold, Station keeper; Thos. C. Halsell, in charge of street force; regular patrolmen: Wm. M. Moon, James A. Beard, John P. Keehan, John W. Kivlen, Patrick Mullins, W. R. Barnes, Clifton Scott, Peter Ahearns, Geo. L. Williams, Erastus F. Yates, Wm. Schroeter, Wood H. Ramsey, M. W. Skelton, Milburn W. Kirby. 1887: Mayor, W. C. Connor; Recorder, T. J. A. Brown; Assessor, J. F. House; Assistant, Ben Mel- ton; Secretary, W. E. Parry; Assistant, Wm. Mc- Grain ; Water Superintendent, Dave Tichenor ; Health Officer, Dr. J. L. Carter; Attorney, W. H. Johnson ; Engineer, J. S. Thatcher ; Water Collector, L. M. Fargason. Aldermen : John Loucks, Frank Cockrell (vice T. J. A, Brown, resigned), D. P. Ma- honey, A. M. Cochran, Jacob Ranch, W. L. Hall, F. R. Rowley, Sigmond Loeb, D. C. Mitchell, K. J. Kivlm, Samuel Peterman, Darius Welch. 1888: Mayor, W. C. Connor; City Secretary, Wm. McGrain; City Treasurer, W. H. Flippen; Re- corder, T. J. A. Brown ; City Marshal, J. C. Arnold ; City Attorney, W. H. Johnson ; Collector, J. C. Bogel ; 220 Sixty Years in Texas. Assessor, Ben M. Melton; City Engineer, R. W. Havens ; Superintendent Waterworks, Dave Tichenor ; Health Officer, Dr. J. L, Carter; Chief of Fire De- partment, Tom Wilkerson ; Assistant Chief, John Spellman ; School Board : C. A. Gill, T. G. Terry, F. M. Ervay, J. H. Jones, Henry J. Frees, E. P. Mar- shall, 0. E. Linderman, Pro. J. T. Hand. Aldermen : John B. Loucks, W. F. Johnstone, W. M. Edwards, A. M. Cochran, W. L. Hall, L. S. Garrison, F. R. Rowley, K. J. Kivlin, C. H. Howell, D. Welsh, Ben M. Good, J. M. Wendelkin, G. V. Hughes. 1889: Mayor, W. C. Connor; City Judge, T. J. A. Brown; School Board, T. G. Terry, John Alder- hoff, A. C. Ardrey, W. H. Lemmon, M. V. Cole. Al- dermen : John Loucks, J. J. Gannin, W. C. Holland, Sigmond Loeb, K. J. Kivlin, M. T. Cone, Geo. V. Hughes, Geo. Cole, J. M. Howell, Wm. Bustren, Wm. Harris. 1890: Mayor, W. C. Connor; City Attorney, A. P. Wozencraft ; Assistant, Man Trice ; City Auditor, F. R. Rowley; Secretary, W. McGrain; Treasurer, W. H. Gaston ; City Judge, T. J. A. Brown ; Clerk of City Court, John J. Carter; Marshal, J. C. Arnold; Assistant Marshal, G. E. Cornwell ; Collector, J. C. Bogel; Assessor, Ben M. Melton; Engineer, D. A. Poyner; Superintendent Waterworks, D. P. Ma- honey; Health Officer, W. R. Wilson, M. D. ; City Chemist, L. Myers Connor; Chief of Fire Depart- ment, Tom Wilkerson; Assistant Chief, Chas. A. Capps ; Street Superintendent, J. S. Spar ; School Board, T. G. Terry, J. L. Peacock, John S. AldehofF, W. B. Parry, D. G. Shelby, W. White, L. A. Wilson, W. H. Lemmon, M. V. Cole, John W. George, F. M. Ervay, James Ennison. Aldermen: N. G. Turney; W. C. Holland, J. J. Gannon, J. J. Conroy, Henry Hamilton, Samuel Klein, K. J. Kivlin, W. J. Brady, Sixty Years in Texas. 221 M. T. Cone, R. R. Lawther, Geo. V. Hughes, B. F. Coffman, J. M. Howell, Geo. C. Cole, Wm. Bustrin, Wm. Harris, J. H. Webster, W. J. Keller, G. W. Crutcher, O. K. Harry, J. H. McClellan, J. W. San- ders. 1891: Mayor, W. C. Connor; Mayor pro-tem, O. K. Harry; City Attorney, A. P. Wozencraft; Assis- tant, Mann Trice ; City Auditor, J. F. Caldwell ; City Secretary, W. McGrain ; City Judge, Kenneth Foree ; Clerk, City Court, John T. Carter; Chief of Pohce, J. C. Arnold; Assistant, G. E. Cornwell; City Col- lector, J. C. Bogel ; City Assessor, B. M. Melton ; City Engineer, D. A. Poyner; Superintendent Water- works, D. P. Mahoney ; Health Officer, C. M. Rosser. M. D. ; City Chemist, G. W. Grove, M. D. ; Chief Fire Department, Tom Wilkerson ; Street Superintendent, J. S. Spar; President City Council, Sam Klein; Secretary, W. McGrain. School Board, T. G. Terry, J. L. Peacock, J. S. Alderhoff, W. E. Parry, C. P. Smith, W. White, L. A. Wilson, J. H. Yeargan, M. V. Cole, J. W. George, F. M. Ervay, James Ennison. Aldermen : N. G. Turney, W. J. Logan, J. J. Conroy, Geo. T. Lack, H. Hamilton, G. A. Knight, Sigmond Loeb, Samuel Kline, K. J. Kivlin, C. H. Howell, M. T. Cone, R. R. Lawther, B. F. Coffman, H. P. Lawther, S. J. Potter, F. P. Holland, Wm. Harris, J. H. Web- ster, W. J. Keller, G. W. Crutcher, J. H. McClellan, J. R. Briggs. 1892 : Mayor, W. C. Connor ; Mayor pro-tem, J. H. McClellan ; City Attorney, A. P. Wozencraft ; As- sistant, Mann Trice; City Auditor, J. F. Caldwell; City Attorney, Wm. McGrain ; City Treasurer, W. H. Gaston; City Judge, Kenneth Foree; Clerk City Court, John T. Carter ; Chief of Police, J. C. Arnold ; Assistant, G. E. Cornwell; City Collector, J. C. Bo- gel ; City Assessor, Joe Blakeney ; City Engineer, D. 222 Sixty Years in Texas. A. Poyner; Superintendent Waterworks, J. M. Strong; Health Officer, V. P. Armstrong, M. D. ; City Chemist, G. W. Grove, M. D. ; Chief Fire Depart- ment; Tom Wilkerson; Street Superintendent, Jake Spar; Electrician, J. M. Oram. School Board, T. G. Terry, C. A. Gill, J. P. Vaughn, J. L. Peacock, J. S. Aldehoff, W. E. Parry, W. White, J. H. Yeargan, M. V. Cole, J. J. Collins, C. 0. Wood, H. G. Putman, T. G. Harris. Aldermen : W. J. Logan, Pat O'Keefe, J. J. Conroy, Geo. T. Lack, G. A. Knight, Curtis P. Smith, Neal Starke, Chas. Kahn, K. J. Kivlin, M. B. Loonie, M. T. Cone, M. J. P. Lacey, H. P. Lawther, C. A. Cour, Geo. C. Cole, T. L. Lawhon, Wm. Bustrin, J. C. Woodside, J. H. Webster, W. J. Keller, Y. B. Dowell, 0. K. Harry, J H. McClellan, J R. Briggs. 1893: Mayor, B. T. Barry; City Attorney, A. P. Wozencraf t ; City Auditor, J. F. Caldwell ; President City Council, H. P. Lawther; Secretary, Wm. Mc- Grain; Treasurer, W. H. Gaston; City Judge, Ken- neth Force ; Clerk City Court, John H. Carter ; Chief Police, J. C. Arnold; Assistant Chief, G. E. Corn- well; City Collector, J. C. Bogel; Assessor, Joe Blakeney; Enginer, D. A. Poyner; Superintendent Waterworks, J. M. Strong; City Health Officer, V. P. Armstrong ; City Chemist, G. W. Grove ; Chief of Fire Department, Thos. Wilkerson; Street Superin- tendent, J. S. Spar; Electrician, J. M. Oram; Alder- men : Pat O'Keefe, A. M. Cochran, C. P. Smith, C. A. Gill, J. F. Callahan, C. S. Swindell, Chas. Kahn, F. S. Kelley, M. J. P. Lacey, C. A. Cour, R. D. Long, J. C. Woodside, J. C. Corder, C. E. Bird, J. R. Briggs. 1894: Mayor, B. T. Barry; City Attorney, A. P. Wozencraf t; Assistant, T. A. Work; Auditor, J. F. Caldwell; Secretary, Chas. G. Morgan; Assistant, T. L. Lawhon; Treasurer, E. M. Reardon; City Sixty Years in Texas. 223 Judge, Kenneth Foree; Clerk City Court, M. C. Kahn; Chief of Pohce, J. C. Arnold; Assistant, G. E. Cornwell; City Collector, T. P. Scott; Deputy Collector, F. R. Rowley; Occupation Tax Collector, J. F. Metcalf; Assessor, B. M. Melton; Deputy, E. H. Happel; Engineer, R. W. Havens; Assistant, Hugh Rains; Superintendent Water Works, J. M. Strong; Collector of Water Works, J. F. Irwin; Inspectors of Water Works, John F. Lucas, John A. Capps; Health Officer, Dr. V. P. Armstrong; City Chemist, L. Myers Connor; Chief of Fire Depart- ment, Tom Wilkerson; Assistant, Tom M. Myers; Street Superintendent, P. H. Golden; Electri- cian, W. A. Eraser; Engineer City Hall, Mitchell Lamey; Janitor, John Devine (col.). Aldermen: Pat O'Keefe, A. M. Cochran, Curtis P. Smith, Chas. Kahn, T. S. Kelley, M. J. Lacy, C. A. Cour, D. R. Long, J. C. Woodside, J. L. Carder, C. E. Bird, J. R. Briggs. 1895 : Mayor, Frank P. Holland ; Mayor pro tem, C. A. Cour; City Attorney, A. P. Wozencraft; As- sistant, T. A. Work ; Auditor, T. F. Caldwell ; Secre- tary, Chas. G. Morgan; Assistant Secretary, T. F. Lawhon; Treasurer, E. M. Reardon; City Judge, Kenneth Foree; Clerk City Court, M. C. Kahn; Chief of Police, J. C. Arnold; Assistant Chief, G. E. Cornwell; City Collec- tor, T. P. Scott; Deputy Collector, F. R. Row- ley; Occupation Tax Collector, James F. Metcalf; Assessor, B. M. Melton; Deputy Assessor, E. H. Happer; Engineer, R. W. Havens; Assistant Engin- eer, Hugh Raines; Superintendent Water Works, J. M. Strong; Collector Water Works, J. F. Irwin; In- spectors Water Works, John L. Lucas, Chas. A. Capps; City Health Officer, Dr. V. P. Armstrong; City Chemist, L. Myers Connor; Chief Fire Depart- 224 Sixty Years in Texas. ment, Thos. Wilkerson; Assistant Chief, Thos. My- ers; Street Superintendent, P. H. Golden; Electri- cian, F. A. Fraser; Engineer City Hall, Richard La- mar ; Janitor, John Devine. Aldermen : Pat O'Keef e, R. J. Adams, C. P. Smith, Leo Wolfson, F. S. Kelley, M. J. P. Lacey, C. A. Cour, D. R. Long, J. C. Wood- side, J. C. Corder, M. L. Robertson, W. H. Lince- cum. 1896: Mayor, F. P. Holland; Mayor pro tem, J. C. Woodside; City Attorney, A, P. Wozencraft; As- sistant, T. A, Work; Auditor, Chas. G. Morgan; Secretary, T. L. Lawhon ; Treasurer, E. M. Reardon ; Judge, Kenneth Foree ; Clerk, M. C. Kahn ; Chief of Police, J. C. Arnold; Assistant Chief, M. W. Kirby; Collector, T. P. Scott; Deputy Collector, F. R. Row- ley; Occupation Tax Collector, J. F. Metcalf; As- sessor, B. M. Melton ; Deputy Assessor, E. H. Hap- pel ; Engineer, R. W. Havens ; Assistant, Hugh Rains; Superintendent Water Works, J. M. Strong; Collector, J. F, Irwin ; Inspectors, Chas. Capps and Thos. McGraw; Health Officer, Dr. V. P. Armstrong; City Chemist, L. Myers Connor; Chief of Fire De- partment, Thomas Wilkerson; Assistant Chief, Tom Myers; Electrician, W. A, Frazer; Street Superin- tendent, P. H. Golden ; Engineer City Hall, Mitchell Lamey ; Janitor, Thos. Chambers (col.). Aldermen: Pat O'Keefe, R. T. Adams, Curtis P. Smith, Leo Wolfson, F. S. Kelley, M. J. Lacy, C. A. Cour, R. D. Long, J. C. Woodside, J. C. Corder, M. L. Robert- son, W. H. Lincecum. 1897: Mayor, Bryan T. Barry; Mayor pro tem, F. D. Kelly; City Attorney, A. P. Wozencraft; As- sistant, T. A. Work; Auditor, Chas. Morgan; Sec- retary, T. L. Lawhon; Treasurer, E. M. Reardon; City Judge, C. P. Smith; Clerk, M. C. Kahn; Chief of Police, J. C. Arnold ; Assistant Chief, M. W. Kir- Sixty Years in Texas. 225 by; Collector, T. P. Scott; Deputy, Ed F. Pittman; Occupation Tax Collector, J. F. Metcalf; Assessor, Ben Melton; Deputy, E. H. Happel ; Engineer, Hugh B. Rains ; Superintendent Water Works, J. M. Strong; Secretary, R. R. Nelms; Inspectors Water Works, Chas. A. Capps and Thos. McGraw; Health Officer, V. P. Armstrong; City Chemist, L. M. Con- nor; Chief of Fire Department, Tom Wilkerson; Assistant, J. W. Ryan; Electrician, W. A. Eraser; Street Superintendent, P. H. Goldman ; Engineer City Hall, Jeremiah M. Campion ; City Janitor, Thos. Chambers (col.). Aldermen: D. E. Grove, R. T. Adams, A. A. Jackson, Leo Wolfson, F. S. Kelley, Theo. Beilharz, A. P. Black, D. R. Long, J. E. Jami- son, Kirk Hall, S. L Hunger, W. H. Lincecum. 1898: Mayor, John H. Traylor; Mayor pro tem, W. H. Lincecum; City Attorney, Wm, P. Ellison; Assistant, T. A. Work; Auditor, Chas. E. Morgan; Secretary, T. L. Lawhon ; Treasurer, E. M, Reardon ; City Judge, C. P. Smith; Chief of Police, C. E. Corn- well ; Assistant, S. H, Beard ; Captain, T. P. Keehan ; Collector, T. P. Scott; Deputy Collector, Ed Pitt- man; Occupation Tax Collector, J. S. Metcalf; As- sessor, Ben Melton; Deputies, E. H. Happel and G. W. Crutcher; Engineer, H. B. Rains; Assistant, Leon Dalton ; Superintendent Water Works, J. M. Strong; Secretary Water Works, R. R. Nelms; In- spectors Water Works, Chas. A. Capps, Thomas Mc- Graw and J. Boll ; Health Officer, J. H. Florence ; Chief Fire Department, H. F. McGee; Assistant Chief, John W. Ryan; Electrician, W. A. Eraser; Street Superintendent, J. C. Woodside; Janitor, Isaac Leonard (col.). Aldermen: Max Hahn, T. J. Barry, Henry Hamilton, Leo Wolfson, J. S. Calla- han, Theo. Beilharz, A. P. Black, D. R. Long, H. G. Brady, H. L. Hancock, Ed Foy, W. H. Lincecum. 226 Sixty Years in Texas. Board of Commissioners : A. J. Brown, B. N. Boren and the Mayor. 1900 : Mayor, Ben Cabell ; Mayor pro tern, Henry Hamilton; City Attorney, W. P. Ellison; Assistant, J. J. Collins; Auditor, James B. Reese; Secretary, I. A. Moore; Treasurer, E. M. Reardon; City Judge, C. P. Smith ; Chief of Police, G. E. Cornwell ; Assist- ant, E. F. Gates; Collector, Ford House; Deputy, J. S. Robison; Occupation Tax Collector, G. V. Peak; Assessor, B. M. Melton; Deputies, E. T. Hutching- ton, L. L. Bristol; Engineer, Hugh B. Rains; As- sistant, E. L. Dalton ; Superintendent Water Works, J. M.- Strong; Secretary Water Works, R. R. Nelms; Water Inspector, Chas. S. Swindell ; City Plumbing Inspector, Jacob Boll ; City Plumber, Thos. McGraw ; Sewer Inspector, Peter Ross ; Health Officer, J. H. Florence; Chief Fire Department, H. F. McGee; Assistant, J. W. Ryan; Electrician, W. A. Eraser; Street Superintendent, O. Lacuture; Janitor, Isaac Leonard. Aldermen : 1st Ward, Max Hahn ; 2nd Ward, F. J. Barry; 3rd Ward, Henry Hamilton; 4th Ward, Leo Wolfson ; 5th Ward, J. S. Callahan ; 6th Ward, Theo. Beilharz; 7th Ward, A. P. Black; 8th Ward, D. R. Long; 9th Ward, H. G. Brady; 10th Ward, H. L. Hancock; 11th Ward, Ed Foy; 12th Ward, W. H. Lincecum. Board of Commissioners: A. J. Brown, Benj. N. Boren and the Mayor. 1901 : Mayor, Ben E. Cabell ; Mayor pro tem, D. R. Long; City Attorney, Will T. Henry; Assistant, J. J. Collins; Auditor, J. K. Reese; Secretary, I. A. Moore; Treasurer, E. M. Reardon; City Judge, E. G. Bower; Chief of Police, Sterling Price; Assist- ant, E. F. Gates; Collector, Sam Taber; Deputy, P. H. Talley; Occupation Tax Collector, J. A. Meek; Assessor, B. M. Melton ; Deputy Assessor, L. L. Bris- Sixty Years in Texas. 227 tol; Engineer, Hugh B. Rains; Assistant, Leon Dal- ton; Superintendent Water Works, John J. Con- roy ; Secretary, R. R. Nelms ; City Water Works In- spector, W. A. Fanning; City Plumbing Inspector, Jacob Boll ; Health Officer, J. H. Florence ; Chief of Fire Department, H. F, McGee; Assistant, J. W. Ryan; Electrician, S. G. Anderson; Street Superin- tendent, W. S. Wilson ; Superintendent Sanitary De- partment, F. L. Coe; Janitor, Addison Gaston (col.). Aldermen : Ben Irelson, F. J. Barry, D. H, Lindsley, C. A. Gill, J. F. Callahan, A. C. Ardrey, A. P. Black, D. R. Long; District, Wm. Illingworth, H. L. Han- cock, T. L. Lawhon, Julian Capers. Board of Com- missioners : Mayor, Bennett Hill, D. F. Sullivan. 1902 : Mayor, Ben E. Cabell ; Mayor pro tem, A. P. Black ; Attorney, Will T. Henry ; Assistant City Attorney, James J. Collins; Auditor, James R. Reese; Secretary, A. Moore; Treasurer, E. M. Rear- don; City Judge, Chas. T. Morris; Chief of Police, Sterling Price; Collector, Sam Taber; Assessor, B, M. Melton; Engineer, Hugh B. Rains; Superintend- ent Water Works, John J. Conroy; Secretary, R. R. Nelms; City Plumbing Inspector, Jacob Boll; City Plumber, Thomas H. McGraw; Sewer Inspector, Peter Ross; Health Officer, J. H. Florence; Elec- trician, S. G. Anderson; Street Superintendent, W. S. Wilson; Superintendent Sanitary Department, T. L. Coe; Superintendent Parks, Robert Tietze. Al- dermen : Ben Irelson, F. J. Barry, D. H. Lindsley, C. A. Gill, J. F. Callahan, C. S. Swindells, A. P. Black, D. R. Long, District, W. Illingsworth, H. L. Hancock, B. T. Lawhon, Julian Capers. Board of Commissioners: Mayor, Bennett Hill, D. F. Sulli- van. 1903: Mayor, Ben Cabell; City Attorney, Will T. Henry; Assistant City Attorney, James J. Collins; 228 Sixty Years in Texas. Auditor, James R. Reese; Secretary, I. A. Moore; Treasurer, Royal A. Ferris; City Judge, Curtis P. Smith; Chief of Police, R. L. Winfrey; Collector, Sam Taber; Assessor, B. M. Melton; Engineer, Hugh B. Rains; Superintendent Water Works, John J. Conroy ; Secretary Water Works, R. R. Nelms ; City Plumbing Inspector, Jacob Boll; City Plumber, Thomas H. McGraw; Sewer Inspector, Peter Ross; Health Officer, J. H. Smart ; Chief of Fire Depart- ment, H. F. McGee; Assistant Chief, T. A. Myers; Electrician, S. G. Anderson; Street Superintendent, Wm. S. Wilson; Building Inspector, D. C. McCord, Jr. ; Superintendent of Sanitary Department, Frank L. Coe ; Chief Sanitary Inspector, B. B. Linskie ; Su- perintendent Parks, Robert Tietze. Aldermen : Ben Irelson, W. G. Edwards, J. W. Shanks, C. A, Gill, J. F. Callahan, G. C. Morgan, C. C. Lane, G. H. Irish ; in district, Wm. Illingworth, H. L. Hancock, James Moroney, H. G. Brady. Commissioners : Ben- nett Hill, D. F. Sullivan and the Mayor. 1904 : Mayor, Bryan T. Barry ; City Attorney, James J. Collins; Auditor, Chas, T. Morriss; Secre- tary, Joseph N. Winslett; Treasurer, Royal A. Fer- ris ; City Judge, C. P. Smith ; Chief of Police, Epps G. Knight; Collector, Sam Taber; Assessor, Ben Melton; Engineer, Hugh B. Rains; Superintendent Water Works, Thomas McGraw; Secretary, R. R. Nelms; City Plumbing Inspector, Jacob Boll; Sewer Inspector, Peter Ross; Health Officer, J. H. Smart; Chief Fire Department, H. F. McGee; Assistant, T. A. Myers ; Electrician, S. G. Anderson ; Street Su- perintendent, R. P. Sanderson ; Building Inspector, D. C. McCord, Jr. ; Superintendent Sanitary Depart- ment, Frank L. Coe ; Chief Inspector, H. B. Linskie ; Superintendent Parks, Robert Tietze. Aldermen: Joseph Leroy, W. G. Edwards, J. E. Flanders, J. Sixty Years in Texas. 229 F. Callahan, C. H. Read, Wallie Felton, G. H. Irish, Chas. Steinmann, Ben Irelson; District, J. Howard Ardrey; District, T. L. Lawhon; District, C. A. Gill. Commissioners : Bennett Hill, D. F. Sullivan and the Mayor. 1905: Mayor, B. T. Barry; Mayor pro tern, J. Howard Ardrey; Attorney, J. J. Collins; Auditor, Chas. T. Morriss; Secretary, Joseph B. Winslett; Treasurer, E. J. Gannon; City Judge, C. P. Smith; Chief of Police, Epps G. Knight ; Collector, Sam Ta- ber; Assessor, B. M. Melton; Engineer, E. L. Dalton; Superintendent Water Works, D. F. Sullivan; Sec- retary Water Works, R. R. Nelms; Assistant Secre- tary Water Works, James B. Simpson, Jr. ; Engi- neer of Distribution, W. J. M. Preston ; City Plumb- ing Inspector, Jacob Boll ; Sev/er Inspector, Peter Ross; Health Officer, J. H. Smart; Superintendent Fire Department, H. F. McGee; Assistant Chief, T. S. Myers; Electrician, S. G. Anderson; Street Superintendent, I. B. Sira; Building Inspector, L. L. Bristol; Superintendent Sanitary Department, Frank L. Coe; Chief Sanitary Inspector, A. S. De- Lee ; Superintendent Parks, Robert Tietze ; Board of Appeals, C. H. Huvelle, S. M. Leftwich, C. M. Bolles, Aldermen : Joseph Leroy, W. G. Edwards, J. A. Pon- drom, J. E. Flanders, J. F. Callahan, G. H. Irish, Chas. Steinmann, Thomas F. Lewis, Ben Irelson; District, J. Howard Ardrey, T. L. Lawhon, C. A. Gill. Board of Commissioners : A. B. Flanary, Louis Blaylock and the Mayor. 1906: Mayor, C. P. Smith; Mayor pro tem, W. D. Burke; Attorney, J. J. Collins; Auditor, C. T. Morriss; Secretary, Joseph B. Winslett; Treaurer, E. J. Gannon; City Judge, H. B. Williams; Clerk City Court, Frank Rainey; Chief of Police, R. P. Keith; Collector, Sam Taber; Assessor, B. M. Mel- 230 Sixty Years in Texas. ton; Engineer, E. L. Dalton; Superintendent Water Works, R. R. Nelms ; Secretary Water Works, James E. Record ; Assistant Secretary Water Works, James B. Simpson, Jr. ; Engineer of Distribution, W. J. M. Preston ; Chief Engineer of Water Works, J. M. Bas- sett; City Plumbing Inspector, Jacob Boll; Sewer Inspector, Peter Ross; Health Officer, T. B. Fisher; Superintendent Fire Department, H. F. McGee; As- sistant Chief, T. A. Myers ; Electrician, S. G. Ander- son; Street Superintendent, I. B. Sira; Building In- spector, L. L. Bristol; Superintendent Sanitary De- partment, Frank L. Coe; Chief Sanitary Inspector, A. S. DeLee; Superintendent Parks, Robert Tietze; Board of Appeals, C. H. Huvelle, S. M. Leftwich, C. M. Bolles. Board of Commissioners : C. P. Smith, A. B. Flanary, H. 0. Samuels. 1907-8: Mayor, S. J. Hay; Commissioners: Har- ry L. Seay, Police and Fire Commissioner ; Wm. Do- ran, Street Commissioner and Commissioner of Pub- lic Property; Dan F. Sullivan, Water and Sewerage Commissioner; C. B. Gillespie, Commissioner Fi- nance and Revenue; J. B. Winslett, City Secretary; J. J. Fannin, Secretary to Board of Commissioners ; J. J. CoHins, City Attorney ; J. M. Preston, City En- gineer, has just succeeded E. M. Dalton ; W. T. Hen- derson, City Auditor; R. R. Nelms, Secretary and Collector Water Department; Ben Melton, Tax As- sessor and Collector; W. L. Mathis, Judge Corpora- tion Court; B. F. Brandenburg, Chief of Police; Chas. Graham, City Electrician; T. B. Fisher, City Physician; L. L. Bristol, City Building Inspector; I. B. Sira, Street Superintendent; F. L. Coe, Super- intendent Sanitary Department. Sixty Years in Texas. 231 POPULATION OF THE CITY OF DALLAS AND DALLAS COUNTY The population of Dallas was small in 1861, probably 1,000; that includes slaves. Population of Dallas County, United States Cen- sus Report, in the year 1850 2,743 In the year 1859, not the Government report, vv^hite 7,729' Negro slaves 1,080 In the year 1860, Government report 8,665 In the year 1870, Government report 13,314 In the year 1880, Government- report 33,448 In the year 1890, Government report 67,042 In the year 1900, Government report 82,726 In the year 1872, City 1,500 In the year 1873, City 2,063 In the year 1880, City 10,358 Population in 1890 38,067 Population in 1900 42,638 Population by Worley for Directory, 1907. . 77,678 In addition just outside of city limits 3,702 The first Mayor elected in 1856 received 58 votes. His competitor, A. A, Rice, received 34 votes. The election in the County, Aug. 31, 1850, for the permanent location of the County Seat of Dallas, the result was: Hord's Ridge, now Oak Cliff 216 Dallas 244 A majority of 28 There was some excitement in this election, and the County was well canvassed in a former election. Cedar Springs was a candidate and received 101 votes, Dallas 191, Hord's Ridge 178. 232 Sixty Years in Texas. The official municipal history of Dallas in its personnel has thus been given from the beginning in 1856 to 1908, a period of fifty-two years, and the personnel of the Mayors from 1856 to 1908, and the voting population has increased from 92 to 12,- 742 legal voters in 1908. A few of the minor mat- ters and official positions have been omitted, since 1887. It is a compilation well Vv^orth preserving, and in the time to come in the days of those grand frui- tions which to all human appearances are in store for John Neely Bryan section and John Grigsby league and labor, they will be held as invaluable memorials of the early times and struggles of those who have gone before to found on this favored spot, at least speaking comparatively in this day of suc- cessive marvels in the movement of population, a great inland seat of commerce, manufactures, schools and colleges and all those industries which in modern times pertain to such an aggregation of enlightened humanity in a country blessed by nature and by the Ruler of all, despite an interval of disorder and usurpation, blessed with free Democratic institu- tions under which liberty reigns. DISTRICT JUDGES OF DALLAS COUNTY, 1840 TO 1908 The following District Judges reside elsewhere and have a large district, presided successively in Dallas from the fall of 1846 to the year 1856 : Wil- liam B. Ochiltree held the first Court in 1846, fol- lowed by Amos Clark in 1847; Bennett H. Martin served in 1848, then Oran M. Roberts came on in 1850, and in 1853 John H. Reagan served, and in 1856 the new District was created, and Nat M. Bur- ford elected and held the office until the spring of Sixty Years in Texas. 233 1862 ; John W. Ferris of Ellis County was then elect- ed, and held until the election, under the Constitu- tion of 1860, but R. W. Scott convened Court and presided one term, to October, 1866. The Criminal District Court of Dallas, McKin- ney and Sherman, created by Act of the Legislature, passed June 4, 1873. Silas Hare of Sherman ap- pointed Judge and held Court until the office was abolished by the Constitution of 1876. DISTRICT JUDGES OF DALLAS COUNTY, 1846 TO 1887. The following District Judges resided elsewhere, and having a large district, presided successively in Dallas from the fall of '46 to the year '56 : Wil- liam B. Ochiltree (1846) held the first Court, fol- lowed in 1847 by Amos Clark; Bennett H. Martin served in 1848; Oran M. Roberts, 1850; J. H. Rea- gan, 1853, of the nevv^ district created in the begin- ning of 1856. Nat M. Burford was elected Judge and held office until the spring of 1862. John W. Ferris of Ellis County was then elected and held until the election under the Constituiton of 1866, when John J. Good of Dallas was then chosen, and served until removed by military authority as an impediment to reconstruction. In December, 1867, D. 0. Norton, of ParkerCounty, was appointed in his place, and in November, 1868 (having died) A. B. Norton of Dallas was appointed, and it is but simple justice to say that both the people and the bar gave him credit of being a fair and impartial Judge. He served until 1870, when Gov. Davis ap- pointed a stranger named C. T. Garland, and in May, 1871, Hardin Hart, who resigned in the spring of 1873, and was succeeded by Hickerson Barksdale of Dallas. 234 Sixty Years in Texas. Nat M. Burford was elected in 1876, and served until July, 1877, when he resigned, and Gov. Hub- bard appointed Zimri Hunt to fill the unexpired term. In 1878 George N. Aldredge was elected, and held the office until 1888. Judge Burke succeeded Aldredge, and served two terms. Fourteenth Dis- trict, until 1896. Then Judge W. J. J. Smith was elected, and served from December, 1896, to Janu- ary, 1900, and resigned, and Judge Eckford was ap- pointed and served balance of term. Then Judge Nash was elected, and is now in office The Court was divided in 1889, and Judge Tuck- er was appointed and the Fourty-Fourth Judicial District created, and served until 1890. He was then elected without opposition and served until 1893, and resigned, and Judge Gray was appointed and served balance of the term. Then elected and served until 1898. Then Judge Morgan was elected and served until his death. Then Judge E. B. Muse was appointed, and is now holding the office. CRIMINAL COURT In 1890 the population of Dallas County was 67,- 042, the city 38,067, a gain in the city of 27,709 in ten years, and the county had just doubled. In 1893 a separate Criminal Court was created, and Judge Chas. F. Clint was appointed, and presided over that Court for one year, and in 1894 he was elected and served two terms, until 1902 ; then Judge E. B. Muse was elected and served four years, and was returned in 1906, and resigned in February, 1907. Judge R. R. Nelms is serving by appointment. We have the following Courts in Dallas : Fourteenth Judicial Court, presided over by Judge T. F. Nash. Sixty Years in Texas. 235 Forty-Fourth Judicial Court, presided over by Judge E, B. Muse. The Criminal Court, presided over by W. W. Nelms. In 1907 there was another County Court cre- ated, and Judge W. M. Holland was elected, and now presides over that court. The amount of busi- ness had so increased and so much probate business to be attended to that it was impossible for one Court to transact all the business. The County and Probate Court, presided over by H. F. Lively. Justice Court, Precinct No. 1, presided over by W. M. Edwards. Justice Court, Precinct No. 1, presided over by John F. Williams. City Court, presided over by Judge W. L. Mathis. Court of Criminal Appeals, presided over by W. L. Davidson, M. M. Brooks and W. T. Ramsey, Associates Justice. Court of Civil Appeals, Anson Rainey, Chief Justice; Hovv^ard Templeton and John Bookhout, Associate Justices. Federal Court, presided over by Judge E. R. Meek. Commissioners' Court, Hiram F. Lively, Judge; Commissioners, R. W. Eaton, District 1 ; H. H. Ben- nett, District 2; C. D. Smith, District 3; W. H. Pip- pin, District 4. 236 Sixty Years in Texas. COURT HOUSES The first Court House built in Dallas County was in 1850. Size 16x32 feet, and nine feet from floor to ceiling, with a partition in the center mak- ing two rooms, with a stack chimney built of stone with a fire-place in each room. The outside walls were weatherboarded with four-foot boards, well shaved, one door of the usual size in each room, with good beaten shutter, with book-case in each room alongside the chimney. In 1855 there was a con- tract let to Moore & Wilkes to build another Court House. The plans for this new Court House were drawn by John G. Wood, J. M. Patterson and others, and it was built out of the best brick that could be manufactured in the County. Said house was 50 feet square, and two stories high, and covered with lead roofing, and all the wood was pine except sleepers and joists, that were of oak. There was a brick chimney in each corner of the house. This was considered a magnificent structure at that time. Dallas County held her courts in this building for fifteen or sixteen years. In 1871 this Court House was condemned as unsafe, and sold for a very small sum, and in 1871 another Court House was built on the same ground. White stone, quarried in this County, was used for the construction of this building. It was two stories high, and made a very pretty building. In 1880 this building was partially destroyed by fire, the four walls being all that remained after the fire. The walls being good, another story was added, and the building presented a very beautiful appearance. But again in 1890 this building was destroyed by fire, and nothing left but the charred and ruined walls of Dallas County's fourth Court Sixty Years in Texas. 237 House. It is fortunate for Dallas County that the records have been preserved. After the destruction of this house Dallas County decided to build a fine Court House, and the present structure is second to none in the State, built on the same ground that has been used for that purpose nearly sixty years. If I remember right, John Neely Bryan gave to the County ninety-three lots 50x100 feet for the location of the county seat at Dallas. These lots are situated around the Court House and where the Court House stands, and five Commissioners were appointed to sell the lots for the County, and soon after the elec- tion, which took place August 5th, 1850, the Com- missioners, J. A. Smith, R. J. West, Amon M. Comas, W. J. Walker and Micajah Goodwin, advertised the lots, and the days of sale. They were sold at auction to the highest bidder, and the prices ranged from ten to sixty dollars, and only one that sold for sixty dollars and fifty cents, and a very few that went as high as thirty dollars. There were four lots sold for fiftv dollars each. 238 Sixty Years in Texas. The Yellowstone Park A special imprint of divinity by Almighty God has been stamped on this wonderland, and there is a very small per cent, of our people that realize what a treasure w^e possess, a marvelous section of our earth eight thousand feet above the sea level, and nearly as large as Dallas, Denton and Collin counties. Three sides of it is guarded by lofty and almost inaccessible mountains. I visited this, our National Park, in August, 1907. This visit gave me great pleasure and happiness. I looked upon some wonderful sights day after day, and the more I savv^ the more interesting it became. It looks like one vast amphitheater, near- ly surrounded by mountain peaks, and their snow- capped summits glisten in the sun and look grand and sublime. The mountains principally are brand- ed with fire and seem to be volcanic in their origin. They are symbolic of the entire park. Fire and water are the two great forces which have for ages strug- gled for supremacy. It was a great surprise to me, as we drove up to the great hotel. The broad piazza was immense, forty feet broad and four hundred feet in length, and accommodation equal to the modern hotels of our cities, clean and comfortable beds, and a complete service. A staff of waiters in the dining room, a bell boy service. They manufacture their own electric- ity, and at the proper time every thing is lit up with a blaze of electric light. I stopped a part of two days and one night at the Old Faithful Inn. I had heard it spoken of, but I was not prepared for such a sur- prise. The entire building is of logs, and has over two hundred rooms, and its cost was two hundred thousand dollars. Its broad piazza and spacious sit- ting room and large dining hall capable of seating a hundred and fifty or two hundred people. The sit- Sixty Years in Texas. 239 ting room had an immense stack chimney in the cen- ter, with a fire place on every side, four very large fire places. The chairs are all rustic, and very com- fortable. This Old Faithful Inn is situated in one of the most interesting parts of this wonderland. With- in one-half mile there are as many as thirty geysers, and as many as fifteen or sixteen have been observed in action at the same time. Many of these geysers during the past ages have built up for themselves cones or funnels with the minerals contained in the boiling water and oftentimes they look like an old ruin or rock with no indication of activity whatever. But at intervals they throw up a large volume of boiling water and steam, and some of these volcanic fountains will play for nearly half an hour before their contents are discharged. Some of the geysers seem to be losing their pow- er. I think the Old Faithful geyser is waning, but is still a v/onder. The Old Faithful geyser and the Beehive are situated only about three or four hun- dred yards apart. The Old Faithful throws up an immense volume of boiling water every sixty or seventy minutes. It is said it never exceeds seventy minutes, an amount that would furnish water for a city as large or larger than the city of Dallas. The Beehive is not so regular in its habits and will some- times go for thirty or forty days, and when in action the water is thrown to a height of one hundred and eighty to two hundred feet high. Within the area of the active geysers' is a place called Hell's Half Acre, and it has the right name. Rough perpendicular ledges project, from which clouds of steam are constantly arising, and when the wind blows back these sulphur laden fumes the vis- itor can look down and see a boiling lake below. John L. Stoddard says : Suddenly in 1881 the underlying force hurled the 240 Sixty Years in Texas. entire lake up bodily to a height of two hundred and fifty feet, and repeated these eruption frequently. After some months the exhibition ceased, and it was again calm for seven years, and in 1888 it burst forth again with such prodigious force that it threw up more water than all the other geysers in the Park combined, and tons of rock were thrown up with the water more than two hundred feet high. There is no telling when this sleeping giant will be aroused again. Here within the circumference of half a mile there are three geysers, one playing every seventy minutes, one every thirty or forty days and the other seven years apart. Will scientists please explain? The Old Faithful is a favorite with the tourists. The opening through which this miracle of nature springs is at the summit of a beautiful mound that has been gradually formed, and its ancient and griz- zled look tells of a past whose secrets still remain a mystery, and we contemplate and look on this won- der with bated breath. The entire slope has been built up gradually, atom after atom, through many ages, during which time, no doubt, the geyser hour by hour has faithfully performed its part without a spectator to note its splendor or a tourist to sing its praises to the world. Old Faithful does not owe its popularity to its height or beauty. It is beloved for its regularity. Whatever irregularities the other geysers may have, the Old Faithful never fails. Day and night, winter and summer, year in and year out, in cold and heat, sunshine and in storm, every seventy minutes it sends up an immense volume of boiling water a hun- dred and fifty or two hundred feet high, and of all the geysers known to man this is the most reliable and perfect. During my stay there I have noted its regularity. As we went through Hell's Half Acre our guide was with us, and pointed out many dan- Sixty Years in Texas. 241 gerous places. The earth was hot and in many places the crust was thin, and many holes of boiling water or paint pots. They are beautiful pools of boiling* water. It is almost inconceivable to those that have never seen them. No description can do them jus- tice. No photographer can reproduce them, and no artist's brush can portray their peculiar coloring. Their hues are varied, and as I looked on them with wonder and admiration I thought it was the most beautiful sight that I had ever beheld, and at night we could look out over this great valley of geysers and see them rise and fall with almost ceaseless reg- ularity, a scene unequaled in the world. In the upper basin Vv^e found what is known as the Mammoth Paint Pot. The earth around it is cracked and blistered by heat. This Paint Pot looks like an enormous caldron of hot mush, of varied tints of color, and it looked like a huge vat where skilled painters had been engaged in mixing their colors. There is also a horrible object known as the Mud Geyser, and by crawling up a steep bank we could look down into the crater. Its ugly mouth was twelve or fiften feet in diameter, and a throat some six feet in diameter, and of an unknown depth. His throat was filled v^^ith boiling mud, which rose and fell in sickening gulps as if the monster was strang- ling from the slimy mixture, which all its efl'orts could not possibly dislodge. Occasionally the sicken- ing mixture would sink from view as if the strang- ling wretch had swallowed it; then could be heard, hundreds of feet below, a retching a strangling and pumping, and in a few moments it would come up again, belched out with such explosive force that a boiling spray of mud was thrown so high that those standing near had to scramble to get out of the way. A single drop of it would have burned like molten lava. 242 Sixty Years in Texas. Here we could hear a roaring sound like the steam escaping from a great trans-Atlantic liner, and we moved on towards the grovv^ling noise, and at last we reached the cause — a mass of steam- that rushed through an opening in the ground. This is surrounded by a rock as black as jet, and it is called the Black Growler, and when near it a person cannot hear his ears. A mass of steam rushes from it day and night, winter and summer, year in and year out, and I have no doubt but it has for ages, in one un- broken volume, keeping up the same terrific roaring. But this is not all. Volumes could be written in de- scribing this wonderland, and the marvels of our National Park. The most wonderful of them all is the world renowned Yellowstone Canyon. The in- troduction to this is sublime. It is a waterfall. The entire volume of the Yellowstone River falls three hundred and sixty feet. The river is compressed into the narrow space of seventy feet and with rush and roar and maddening flow it leaps the precipice into the yawning gulf below. I, with other tourists, v/ent down a flight of four hundred and ninety steps, near the great volume of Vs^ater that leaped from the precipice into the gulf below, the spray bounding back and producing a beautiful rainbow. The banks of the canyon are fifteen hundred feet high, and of many different colors, much of it a bright yellow and red, white, lavender and green. The ceaseless roar of this great volume of water echoes and re-echoes down the Canyon. It is an awe-inspiring scene, and looking at the falls from a distance they look like a long, white robe, nearly four hundred feet in length. The channel seems nar- row and deep, and as we look at it from the platform over the falls it looks like a silver ribbon as it winds its way down the canyon and is lost in the distance, and the passing clouds almost perform a miracle. Sixty Years in Texas. 243 The lights and shades that follow one another down the gorge vary in tints of different, changing colors. There is another striking feature in the National Park — the petrified forest. There is a large area that solitary columns can be seen that were once the trunks of trees, but are now solid stone shafts. One can see by examining the columns that they were once wood. The bark and rings can be plainly seen. John L. Stoddard says : This forest must have been submerged by a mineral deposit, and it is marvelous to relate that to excavating on the hill side many lay- ers of such forest have been found, and these forests are divided by as many layers of lava. Jut think of the ages that these different forests represent ! There is still another wonderful and striking feature in the National Park — a mountain of jet black glass, pro- duced by volcanic fire. John L, Stoddard says : This glass is used by the Indians for arrow heads, and is known as the Great Indian Armory, and is neutral ground, and here they come for instruments of war. The first explorers found this mountain a very difficult proposition to get over, John L. Stod- dard says, but when they ascertained M^hat it was composed of they piled up timber at the base of the mountain and set it on fire, and when the glass Vv^as hot they threw water on it, and it broke into frag- ments and then with picks and shovels and prize poles they pushed in down into the lake, and opened a wagon road for a thousand feet in length. When the tourists reach the large hotel situated near the banks of the Yellowstone Lake they have the opportunity of taking passage on a steamboat across the lake to the next stopping place. It is a large boat capable of carrying six hundred passengers, and to appreciate Lake Yellowstone one should make the trip in the evening of a clear day and see the sunset glow. We landed at one station to see a herd of 244 Sixty Years in Texas. buffalo and elk. One of the buffaloes was said to be the largest in America, and came from Texas. We soon set sail again, and quite a gale of wind was blowing, but we reached our destination before much sea sickness took place, but had some difficulty in making the landing. This lake is the fisherman's paradise, and some of the lovers of the sport Have said they would rather be a fisherman here than to be an angel. The mountain trout are here in abun- dance, and will weigh from one to three pounds. They are served at the hotels almost every meal. There are two steamboats on this like, one of recent date that is much larger than the old one. Imagine the labor required to take this vessel such a distance from the end of the railroad ! The Yellow- stone Lake is about eight thousand feet above the sea level. The fleecy summer clouds that pass over our heads daily in Texas are about the same height as the steamboats that ply upon the bosom of this wonderful lake in our National Park. There are several hundred stage coaches, with four horses to each coach. They meet the trains regularly, and make regular trips around the Park, and any of the tourists that wish to stop over can do so, and be taken on the next day. There are many that camp out. They generally employ a private conveyance and take their own time. The government troops protect the animals, and it is a violation of law to molest or interfere with anything in the Park, and a heavy penalty attached. They claim thirty thou- sand elk and deer in the Park. The bears are numer- out and becoming quite gentle. A number of them come down out of the mountains near the hotels every evening to pick of the scraps and waste that is thrown out. One evening fourteen came down for their supper, and most of the visitors went out to see them, and they did not seem to be afraid of us, Sixty Years in Texas. 245 but we did not pet them very much. The tourists are allowed to fish ; that pleasure is free in the Park, and the campers have great sport fishing, and all the fish they can eat. THE YELLOWSTONE CANON. Within the girdle of these snow-capped peaks The wondrous hand divine Has blended the beautiful and the terrible With the strange and the sublime. It is one enormous amphitheatre That by nature's God was planned, And in the arena struggled forces Long before the time of man. The Gladiators were volcanoes That struggled in this awful fight. With no spectators but the sun by day And the moon and stars by night. Fire and water were the force With lurid flame and scalding steam ; They struggled here for ages And produced this wondrous scene. The rocks did rend, the earth did quake. And the mountains cleft asunder, And we trembling stand upon the brink And look down, and down, and wonder. The great river of the Yellowstone, With rush and rage and maddening flow. Leaps the awful precipice Into a yawning, foaming gulf below. When we stand on the mount of inspiration. And behold this awful scene so grand. We know the wonders here to be described Are beyond the power of mortal man. 246 Sixty Years in Texas. There are numerous geysers in this wonderland That are in action night and day, And the boihng water is thrown so high That it falls back like a silver spray. There is one that is named Old Faithful, That goes up on schedule time, A boiling volume in the air That looks so glorious and sublime. Then there is a noisy old black growler, An ancient, rough old timer. That blows off steam both night and day Like a great Atlantic liner. Then there is a monstrous ugly caldron Filled with boiling mineral mud and slime, That at intervals it swallows, Then throws it up again on time. There are numerous boiling lakes and paint pots. With every shade of color that shines like burnished gold ; And the tourists seem delighted When these beauties they behold. — Geo. Jackson. Sixty Years in Texas. 247 Brief History of the First Baptist Church of Dallas The church was organized on the 30th day of July, 1868. There were eleven constituent members, to-wit: E. G. Mays, W. L. Williams, John Hanna, Mrs. Lou B. Williams, Mrs. M. L. Bowman, Mrs. C. E. Mayo, Mrs. A. C. Mays, Mrs. N. E. Collins, Mrs. Martha Seegar, Mrs. A. C. Daniels (Akard), Mrs. M. E. Kerfoot. Upon the organization of the church, W. W. Harris was elected pastor for half his time; he served about six months and resigned. The church organized and maintained a Sunday School, and did the best it could without a pastor until October 8th, 1871, when Elder C. A. Stanton was called and served the church one-half his time, until May 12th, 1872, when he resigned, and Brother Abraham Weaver was called upon a salary of $1,000 a year, and served the church until Sept. 25, 1875. Rev. G. W. Rogers served as pastor from Jan. 23, 1876, to Oct. 31, 1877. The church was pastorless then until 1878, when Elder J. H. Curry was installed, and served the church until June, 1882, and the church was without a pastor, but not without preaching, till January, 1883, when Rev. R. T. Hanks was installed as pas- tor, and served until the close of the year 1889. Rev. A. M. Sims was pastor from 1890 to July, 1892. Rev. C. T. Seasholes was called to the pastorate Sept. 1, 1892, and served until July, 1897. Rev. George W. Truett, the present pastor, was called to the pastor- ate, and began his work Sept. 1st, 1897. The growth of this church has been remarkable, and has grown rapidly during the last ten years. In 1892 the membership was 643; in 1901, 1,020; at present, 1,400. 248 Sixty Years in Texas. Under the able management and earnest preach- ing of our present pastor, large crowds have been attracted to hear him. The handsome and costly church that was built in 1889 and '90, and was thought at that time to be large enough to accommo- date the people for the present generation, in late years has been entirely too small to accommodate the multitudes that have been attracted there. The present church auditorium, that is nearly completed, has a seating capacity of nearly 4,000, and is the largest church auditorium in the State, and is handsome in appearance. The total collections by the church for all pur- poses in the year 1905, was $28,675.09 Total collections for the year 1906, was. . . 46,490.31 Total collections for the year 1907, was. . . 49,244.11 The Sunday School, under the capable and effi- cient management of Dr. Bush Jones, our faithful superintendent, has kept pace with the church. Ten years ago, when he took charge of it, the attendance was from 225 to 250 scholars. The report for April 30th, 1908, shows enrolled for the main school. . 711 The home department 350 The cradle roll 250 Total enrollment 1311 The Sunday School collections for the year end- ing April 30th, 1908, were $1,800.00. JEHOVAH REIGNS. The great Jehovah is wisely reigning Over worlds created by His hand ; The rolling seas, majestic mountains. Are all a part of God's great plan. Sixty Years in Texas. 249 The northern blast, the chilhng winds And drifting snows throughout the land, Prepares the earth for coming spring. And is all a part of God's own plan. When spring has come with balmy breezes, And life is seen on every hand. Beauty peeps from bud and blossom. And it's all a part of God's great plan. The thunders roll doMm hill and valley. And the lightning looks sublime and grand ; The waving grain and ripening fruit Shows God's eternal love for man. The graceful hills and fertile valleys. Laden with rich fruit for man, Depths of wisdom, love divine. All a part of God's great plan. Summer suns and southern breezes Gently wafted o'er the land, Makes golden sheaves and rich, ripe fruit, A gracious gift from God to man. The blazing sun, a mighty monarch, Shining dov^^n upon our land, The world revolving on its axis. Is all a part of God's great plan. Numerous planets, all in motion. Endless space, seems broad and broader; Solar system after system. Everything in perfect order. We wondering look with admiration At His grand and glorious plan; The silver moon and star decked heavens. Whispering words too deep for man. 250 Sixty Years in Texas. Should we not then obey God's teaching, And look with reverence on His plan, And trust to Him for our salvation, Although it seems too deep for man? George Jackson. The Rise and Progress of the M. E. Church, South, in the City of Dallas. By Rev. W. H. Hughes. The first time I ever attended divine worship in what was then the village of Dallas was early in 1853. The Rev. James A. Smith, a most reputable preacher, gave us an excellent sermon in a little paint shop about fourteen feet square. There were perhaps one dozen present at that time. There was no church house in the town, nor was there any church organization of any denomination. Just where the First Methodist Society was organized and by whom I do not novv^ recollect, but it was some time in 1854. From that time on regular preaching was kept up by both the circuit and local preachers. They preached in the Courtouse and in the Masonic hall. In 1867 Dallas was made a station, and Rev. W. H. Hughes was stationed there that and the follow- ing year. During his pastorate old Lamar Street Church was built, where the Gaston building now stands, on the corner of Commerce and Lamar streets. The lot was donated by Mrs. Sarah Cock- rell. This church VN^as burned in 1878. Since that time the little village of Dallas has grown into a city of 100,000, and from the ashes of the old church Sixty Years in Texas. 251 there are to-day nine different charges, (not count- ing the Northern Methodist or the African Metho- dist), with 4663 members and 3275 in the Sunday Schools, and yet the field is white to harvest. 252 Sixty Years in Texas. Promiscuous Poems FROM THE ALAMO TO SAN JACINTO. You may talk about Napoleon, And sing of Washington and Lee ; But they can't compare with the Texas men That fought for liberty. You may read the history of all nations, And the brave of every land ; But there is nothing found to equal Colonel Travis and his band. Before the storming of the Alamo By a dim and flickering light A line was drawn by Travis To test them for the fight. Now all that want to die like heroes Just step across this line. And in a rush they all responded, And stepped across on time. They were like a group of giants That were nerved to do or die; And they fought the hordes so desperate That it made the price of victory high. It was early in the morning when they stormed the Alamo, *But they killed them as they came, and killed them on the wall, And with their knives and muskets. They tried to kill them all. *One hundred and eighty-two Texans against five thousand Mexicans, and in thirty minutes they killed and wounded 500 of the foe. Sixty Years in Texas. 253 They all fought to desperation, That our country might be free ; And Texas was baptized with blood In the creed of liberty. Then Santa Anna was rejoicing, And said there was nothing more to dread; And he gave his soldiers orders To burn the rebel dead. And when the pyre was ignited To burn the heroes that had bled The moaning of the winds Sa;ng a requiem for the dead. The funeral pyre was then enveloped. And blazed with a lurid glow. As it burned the bodies of the heroes That fell at the Alamo. "Heap on the fire," they shouted. In all their fiendish glee ; But the flame that burned the martyrs Was the death of tyranny. Fannin, he at last surrendered. But it seemed all the chance was left ; And his men were stood in a solid line And cruelly shot to death. The Texans then grew desperate, And they seemed in an awful plight, But the bloody hordes of Santa Anna They had determined yet to fight. At last Houston, with his little army. Charged upon the bloody foe. And gained a glorious victory, And avenged the Alamo. 254 Sixty Years in Texas. It was at the battle of San Jacinto That Santa's army tried to flee, But they all were killed or captured, And thank God, Texas now is free. Geo. Jackson. THE LAST DAY OF POMPEII. No lowering clouds obscured the sky. The sun shone bright and clear, And the people were on pleasure bent, With no thought of danger near. The many places of amusement Did attract the happy throng, With the dances and the drama, And with mirth and merry song. In their large and spacious amphitheater Great throngs with bated breath Looked at men and wild animals, As they fought and fell in cruel death. But the animals sudenly refuse to fight. And there was an uproar in the den. And an awful doom seems written On the face of frightened men. The earth did rock, loud thunder roared. And the sky turned black as night, And in terror and confusion Some escaped by sudden flight. Beneath Vesuvius' burning cone Old Vulcan stirred the coal. And fire and flame and melted lava Down the mountain side did roll. Sixty Years in Texas. 255 Vesuvius belched her fiery lava Just from the jaws of hell, With wreaking flames and stifling smoke, And a death-like odorous smell. Then loving mothers with their children Could no longer get their breath. And their dying groans grew fainter, Until all were hushed in death. The doomed city then was buried With all her wealth and pride, And the beggar and the nobleman Are found lying side by side. After eighteen hundred years of silence. With no sorrow, care nor strife. We resurrect their bodies. As natural as in life. Geo. Jackson. Some historians have said that the day that Pompeii was destroyed that it was a gala day, and the people were engaged in difl'erent kinds of amuse- ment. The great amphitheater was filled, and pris- oners were put in the arena and compelled to fight with wild beasts. They would plant trees in the arena and have lions, tigers and a few boa con- strictors turned loose and these prisoners had to fight for their lives all for the amusement of the spectators — a sport that the old Romans delighted in. TO AN OLD FRIEND THAT I HAD NOT SEEN FOR OVER FORTY YEARS. Dear Tom, we look back o'er the passing years The childhood's happy hours, But the thief of time has stole those joys ; They are no longer ours. 256 Sixty Years in Texas. Time, time, deceptive time. Promised youth its sports and pleasures plenty; They have passed. 'Tis gone, it's fled away ; The treasure house is empty. Time brought us on to middle age. And promised place and power; But ambition and its hollow schemes Did vanish hour by hour. Time still rolls on, old age is here. And wealth and ease we crave; But we are moving onward step by step In the pathway to the grave. And when we reach that dark and silent place. Where friends do weep and drop a tear. If we have loved our God and fellow man There is naught beyond the grave to fear. George Jackson. THE OLD MAN AND HIS DOG. What can we say of friendship. And of those we think are true? Have they been tried in time of need? Do you know they'll stick to you? The greatest boon God gives to man Is friends in time of need, With ready help and sympathy To do some righteous deed. There are sunshine friends that hover around When the sky is clear and bright; But in trouble and adversity Your own battles you must fight. Sixty Years in Texas. 257 I once had friends I thought were true, But they are beneath the sod, And there is no one left to comfort me But Jack, my faithful dog-. And when I pat him on the head He seems in ecstasy and glee. And says you have a friend, you can depend. If you'll only trust to me. When we go out to take a walk In the garden, field or glen. No matter where we ramble, I know I have a friend. I cannot always trust to men ; They sometimes steal and rob; But no matter what conditions are, I can always trust my dog. And he looks so wise and eloquent. And such a trusty friend, I would rather have his company Than any vulgar men. Then Jack is a faithful watch dog. And guards me while I sleep; And in the morning early My presence loves to greet. If I should scold or threaten Jack, ? ; My pardon he would crave. And humbly cringe about my feet Like a good and faithful slave. And if I should die before my dog. This faithful friend so brave. Will follow to my resting place And watch upon my grave. George Jackson. 258 Sixty Years in Texas. THE NATURAL MAN ON THE OCEAN OF LIFE. On the ocean of life we are sailing, But the question is where do we go? But the answer comes back like an echo, I don't know, no, no; I don't know. We strain our eyes and look backward, But onward the ship seems to go. And we inquire where the first man began sailing, And the answer comes back, I don't know, no. ; I don't know. We still look back for a beginning. And inquire why these wonders are so ; But the answer comes back like an echo, I don't know, no, no ; I don't know. We meet great ships in mid-ocean, And the cry is, where do you go? And the answer comes back like an echo, We don't know, no; we don't know. Onward our ship keeps moving, And we ask if in safety we'll cross. But the answer comes back like an echo, I am afraid, I am afraid you are lost. THE CHRISTIAN MAN. Not so with the man of the Bible, That Christ has given light ; His heart is ever bouyant. And the future is looking bright. The Christian man that Christ iias freed From contention, care and strife. Rejoices as he leaves this clay. To live a higher life. Sixty Years in Texas. 259 If we will only take God at His word, Our faith will be sure to grow, And what we do not understand Hereafter we shall know. THE EXPERIENCE OF A MAN THAT WAS ONCE RICH. When Fortune smiled and the sky was clear And friends were plenty far and near. And life seemed real and worth the living. And we enjoyed the blessings God was giving; When men were honest and women true, God seemed to bless then all we knew; No widow's wail, no orphan cries; This world then seemed a Paradise. BUT TIMES HAVE CHANGED. This world that once seemed rosy bright Is dark and gloomy as the night. Riches took wings and flew away, And sunshine friends have gone to stay. 'Tis vain to trust in things below, For wealth and friends are sure to go. Then look up to Him, be true and brave. For Christ our Lord alone can save. Geo. Jackson. ANCIENT ROME. When Rome was in her glory, And the world was at her feet. And her legions marched to victory And her conquest was complete; 260 Sixty Years in Texas. When the Csesars reigned in splendor, And would dictate every thing, And the nations of the Universe Paid tribute to the king ; They would mobilize great armies, And march their legions out afar, And conquer weaker nations. And bring back the spoils of war. When the army and the legion Returned again to Rome They were met by all the leading men, And welcomed to their home. They would form one grand procession. With the conquering general set on high, And shouts of victory would go up That seemed to rend the sky. And in this proud procession, With glorious pomp and power. They would march their prisoners Through the streets for many and many an hour. Then they cast them into filthy dungeons With darkness, dirt and gloom. With aching hearts and weary limbs To await their awful doom. Then Rome was in her glory. With all her captured treasure ; She lived a life of wickedness, With rounds and rounds of pleasure. They had one enormous amphitheater,* With the wild beasts roaring loud, As they tore the flesh of captives, And amused the wicked crowd. *It would seat 80,000. Sixty Years in Texas. 261 And in all this maddening multitude That in exultant glee did rave, There was not a single eye to pity, Nor a single arm to save. But Christ, our blessed Saviour, The glorious Prince of Peace, Has set a new example, And His doctrine does increase. Then Paul, the great Apostle, The glorious news did bring, And preached it to the Romans, And told it to the king. Although he was a prisoner, Bound with Roman chains so hard, He preached it to the soldiers. And explained it to the guard. Then the Spirit of our Saviour, The glorious Prince of Peace, Touched the hearts of many Romans, And its power does still increase. I hope the time may soon arrive When cruel wars shall cease, And all shall heed the teaching Of the glorious Prince of Peace. GOD TEACHES HIS CHILDREN. Should we murmur to our Maker, With complaining words to God, If in sickness or afflictions He does not spare the rod? Have you obeyed His blessed teachings? Do you know the higher life? Are you free from vain contention? Do you engage in world strife? 262 Sixty Years in Texas. Do you know this world is a training school, And that God will certainly teach us right, If He has to chasten to prepare us For that high and better life. If we are the heirs of God the Father And the children of His choice, We will learn the deeper secret That will make our hearts rejoice. We often worry, full of care, In this struggling, selfish world of strife, When God's afflicting hand says, Halt! I have a lesson for you to learn in life. Our time on earth is very short ; This life is but a span Compared with endless happiness That God has promised faithful man. The wisdom of His teaching. And the glory of His plan. Demands true worship and attention By thoughtless, sinful man. If we have trials and afflictions And hearts all loaded down with care, Look to God and ask for mercy, And He will all our troubles share. Geo. Jackson. FOR THE COMING PROHIBITION ELECTION. We are living in a grand and awful time, If we live and live aright. With courage, strength and manhood All girded for the fight. Sixty Years in Texas. 263 King Alcohol is reigning, And his minions does control, And he is bartering off the morals Of our people now for gold. We call for noble manhood To be girded for the fight, With courage of convictions When they know they are in the right. Up and tread beneath your feet ^ Every cord by party spun ; Let your hearts together beat As the heart of one. Let real estate or stocks or trade Let it rise or let it fall; Freedom asks your common aid. Have courage, manhood, one and all. 0, for God and duty stand, Heart to heart, and hand to hand. Around the polls throughout the land. And do your duty while you can. Hark! the mothers weep. The children cry They cringe and run and hide with fear. The father comes. He is drunk again; His homeward staggering steps they hear. The children are often driven out doors, And not a friend to take their part; And the mother weeps and pines away, And dies with a broken heart. The attraction of the grand saloon And the inducements they employ Have ruined many a useful man And caught many and many a boy. 264 Sixty Years in Texas. They drink this poisoned liquor Until the inner man is filled, And all reason has departed, And often the best of friends are killed. They claim they have the legal right This business to uphold. And produce the license from the State For which they paid the gold. And our penitentiaries now are full, And our jails do overflow, By crimes committed by this curse And sanctioned by the law. Our legislative bodies And the laws they do uphold, Have prolonged the withering, blighting curse. And money has controlled. O, for God and duty stand. Heart to heart, and hand to hand. Around the polls throughout the land, And do your duty while you can. Up and tread beneath your feet Every cord by party spun; • Let your hearts together beat As the heart of one. Let us speak aloud, in thunder tone. And protect our children and our home. And dash the monster from his throne. And save our country and our home. Geo. Jackson. (Eight lines quoted from Whittier.) Sixty Years in Texas. 265 THE STORM. The sun was shining very warm, And all nature semed oppressed ; Both man and beast seemed languid And seeking shade, and quiet rest. Hark! there is a faint and distant rumbling That seems to vibrate through the air, And the unseen powers of nature With force are gathering there. The moaning wind begins tg move, The clouds prepare to fly. And lightnings flash from point to point Across the hidden sky. The clouds grow dark and darker still, Almost as black as darkest night ; Then lightnings flash, and thunders roil, And the heaven is a blaze of brilliant hght. The winds increase, a perfect fury. Lightning blaze a constant flash. And thunders tumble from the heavens. Making such terrific crash. The towerings oaks like mighty monarchs Rooted deep beneath the sod Are wrenched and torn and split to pieces By unseen forces of our God. The storm has passed, the stars appear. And grace and grandeur all things fill ; The Lord commands. The winds obey, And all is quiet. It's peace, be still. The storm of life will soon be over. Our feet draw near the chilly tide ; Then trust in God to help you over. There is peace and joy the other side. 266 Sixty Years in Texas. Shall we doubt the power of God the Father, Or His Scripture that has said If you'll trust in Me I'll set you free And raise your bodies from the dead? Geo. Jackson. ANCIENT GREECE. The mother of imperishable memory, Her arts have conquered time. Her brilliant beauties shine today As when Gree'ce was in her prime. The inspired sculptors with their chisels The wondrous arts achieved. And their statues when completed In transcendant beauty ssemed to breathe. They err who say that Greece is dead ; Her language and her poets, her sculptors and her sages Are living now and will live on Down through the coming ages. There is Homer, and Demosthenes, With language so sublime ; They have been a shining light in every age Down to the present time. A wave of light and mental energy O'er that nation then did roll. And her arts, philosophy and learning Has spread from pole to pole. The Parthenon, the crown of the Acropolis, And the glory of the past, The art and beauty there displayed Has never been surpassed. Sixty Years in Texas. 267 The wondrous art and amazing skill For centuries there employed The barbarians and the vandals In later years destroyed. George Jackson. IS THIS LIFE WORTH LIVING. No, if all our talents and our time To the devil we are giving Our life will be a failure And hardly worth the living. Or if this life is all, and death the last, With no ho}3e beyond, nor sins forgiven, No God to meet, no friends to greet. Then this life is a blank, and not worth living. The poet has said : That hfe is real; life is earnest; And the grave is not its goal ; That dust though art to dust returneth Was not written of the soul. Shall our souls be bound to things of earth, Amidst sin, deceit and worldly strife, When there is a fountain we can reach That gives to us eternal life. Our mind and thoughts may rise above All cares and worldly strife, And on eagle's wings may soar aloft And taste the bliss of a higher life. This life on earth is worth the living If we improve God's given time. And if we obey His blessed teachings, We can make our lives sublime. 268 Sixty Years in Texas. Our souls can rise to heavenly heights Above this sin-cursed world of strife And work for Him who died for us, And live a glorious, happy life. Then when time on earth shall be no more Our soul shall take its homeward flight, And gloom and fear shall be dispelled By a brilliant flame of heavenly light. The poet has described the passing from this world into the next in the following lines : What is this absorbs me quite. It steals my senses, shuts my sight. Drowns my spirit, draws my breath, Tell me, my soul, can this be death. Cease, fond Nature, cease thy strife. And let me languish into life. LOVE AND KINDNESS. When man was first created By the power of God above, The strongest passion that He planted In the heart of man, was love. The youth that loves the maiden Or the men that love their wives When in danger or in trouble Will protect them with their lives. Kind parents love their children. And their battles they will fight; And the children love the parents If the parents treat them right. Sixty Years in Texas. 269 Our hearts go out to near of kin When in sickness, pain or sorrow; But our love when measured by God's Word Is weak and small and narrow. Men engage in strife and cruel war, And sink to murderous depths of sin ; But Christ commands to rule by love. For all the world of man are kin. We love to greet the smiling face. And happy, loving words we crave; It cheers the heart, and does more good Than wreaths of flowers upon our grave. Bad habits grow and cling to men And bind them like a fetter; They fret and fume and fuss around, When kindness would be better. You parents should be pleasant And kind in all your ways. And when your child deserves it Be sure and give him praise. The aged, with silver locks and tottering steps, Where once they firmly trod. Be kind to them, in word and deed With love that's born of God. Their wrinkled face and trembling limbs And aching heart does crave A word of cheer and kindness now. Not flowers upon their grave. Father Time is swiftly passing, And no stop will he allow ; Then if you have some words of comfort, Be kind, dear friend, and tell us now. 270 Sixty Years in Texas. I often think of Robert Burns,* The genius and the poet, That almost starved in Scotland, And no one cared or seemed to know it. But now they worship at his shrine. And of his genius prate. And the help and kindness he deserved At last has come too late. Soon the death knell of time shall sound the note And liberate this slave. Then give me words of kindness now — Not flowers upon my grave. I do not write these lines to condemn the beauti- ful custom of placing flowers on the graves of our dear, departed friends, but rather to impress the readers to be kind to the living and throw them a few bouquets while they yet live. Geo. Jackson. *Robert Burns was threatened with imprison- ment for a small debt of $25.00, and was in very embarrassing circumstances and lived in a miserable little house in Dumfrees, Scotland, while he wrote the poems that have immortalized him and when so oppressed he sold his best book of poems for the pitiful sum of $45.00. A fac-similie of his house and the furniture was exhibited at the World's Fair, St. Louis. Since his death monuments have been raised to his memory in most of the cities of Scot- land. Sixty Years in Texas. 271 THE PARK AT COLORADO SPRINGS. My home is down in Texas, In the garden of the Lord, Where golden grain and luscious fruit Is the farmer's rich reward. I love that land of freedom, Where men are honest, brave and true, And have not worshipped Mammon As some others seem to do. But when summer time comes pressing on, And the sun gets blazing hot, I know a most delightful place, A cool and charming spot. It's up in Colorado, Near Pike's Historic Peak, Where the mountains rise in grandeur. And the winds their revels keep. The trees are large and uniform. And stand straight in many a row; And the sparkling waters at the fount Are just from the melting snow. It's there we meet congenial friends. And talk of many things. In that pleasant and delightful Park At Colorado Springs. The seats are free, and easy. And sweet music in the air ; And we pass the fleeting moments Forgetting every care. Then all hail to General Palmer, The founder of the town, I love to sing his praises From Texas all around. 272 Sixty Years in Texas. All hail to General Palmer, For these Colorado parks. He has been a public blessing And completely won our hearts. Geo. Jackson. Written in Colorado Springs. ISAIAH'S PROPHECY. The wondrous vision of Isaiah, When he looked down the stretch of time And saw our blessed Saviour And beheld the awful crime. He saw the King of Glory when by Pilate He was tried, And he saw the wicked priests when with hate and rage they cried, "There is no king but Caesar, And He must be crucified !" He saw the wicked, railing mob That nailed Him to the tree. And saw Him give his precious life For sinful men like you and me. He saw our humble Saviour, The Man of Galilee, While spat upon and cruelly scourged. And died upon the tree. He saw Him there between the thieves. When they cruelly pierced His side ; And heard His last expiring word, "It is finished!" then He died. He saw Him laid in the silent tomb, A short time to remain. When He broke the bands of death and the grave, And in triumph arose again. Sixty Years in Texas. 273 O Lord above, Lord of love, May the vision of my soul be bright. That I may see Thy wondrous power In every bud and every tree and every open- ing flower! George Jackson. A MIDNIGHT DREAM I dreamed a dream the other night, While pressed beneath my quilts ; I dreamed I saw our City Dads All walking around on stilts. Hay, he walked a Shanghai pair, And "Forv/ard" was his cry, "I'll navigate these Dallas streets Or every man shall die." At length they reached the mud on Bryan street. They all thought was the worse. And they stopped and called a Council, But some began to curse. When Sulhvan made a motion From his place of elevation. And swore he'd pave the swamps of Main street Or burst the corporation. Then on the handsome face of Mr. Seay The troubled look increased, And he said "Something must be quickly done. Or I shall lose all my best police." Then Father Doran's troubled face Turned almost as white as chalk. And he straightened high upon his perch And we thought he was going to talk ; 274 Sixty Years in Texas. But he hemmed and hawed And coughed and sneeed, Then said, "Look yonder, boys. The Elks do come in mud above their knees." Then Charlie sighed and gave a groan, And his heart did fairly throb, And he said, "Lord have mercy on our souls. We have tackled an av/ful job." Then the asphalt men with their smoothing irons Appeared upon the scene; And they all fell in those awful holes And awoke me from my dream. Notwithstanding this awful dream, I have an abiding confidence in the Commission and Mayor Hay, and believe he, with the help of the Commission, will prove to be the Moses that is to lead us up out of the wilderness of mud and mire and plant our feet on solid pavement. All they want is cash, con- fidence and co-operation, and a little time. Father Doran now is active. And with his large force he stirs And it means good streets for Dallas And he will surely win his spurs. Geo. Jackson, Patient Citizen on Bryan Street. Written December 15th, 107, when the mud was very deep on Bryan street. Sixty Years in Texas. 275 OUR LITTLE GIRL. Our darling, lovely little girl That has come to give us joy, With dimpled cheek and golden hair, Our bright-eyed, blue-eyed little Foy. She grows so fast and looks so bright, And acts so very smart ; Her golden hair and tiny arms Are twined about our heart. Our home was made so happy. And life's blessings we enjoy. With this priceless treasure in our hearts, Our bright-eyed, blue-eyed little Foy. The cords of love that are so strong Has bound her to our heart. And it was a sad and awful day When we did have to part. But the angel of death in a pityless flight Passed over our happy home. And the treasure we loved was called away, And we are left to mourn alone. If God's judgment then is always right We must put our trust in Him ; If He takes the treasures of our heart Before they know of sin. May Heaven open wide her golden portals. And swing the pearly gates afar. And hail the coming with glad tidings Of our bright-eyed, blue-eyed little Foy. George Jackson. 276 Sixty Years in Texas. SCOTLAND. Of all the different nationalities That in this land have cast their lot, I love best to sing the praises Of the brave and bonnie Scot. The land of Bruce and Wallace And the men that knew no fear, That kept the Britons from their heather For many a hundred year. Bruce was hunted by the English And excommunicated by the Pope, But his soul was never conquered, And he never gave up hope. Brave Bruce, he led at Bannockburn, That fearless Scottish clan. And in dismay the hordes of England Were driven from their land. And Wallace cannot be destroyed — You may cut and burn the body and do just what you will;* He stood for a great immortal truth, * And his soul is with us still. Then Robert Burns, the plow boy. His genius I do admire. He puts my heart to thinking, And my soul he sets on fire. He said, *'Gie me a spark of nature's fire, That's the learning I desire ; Then tho' I drudge thro' dub and mire At plow or cart. My muse tho homely in attire. May touch the heart." *These beautiful and touching lines were written when he was so oppressed by his creditors. Sixty Years in Texas. 277 And he has touched the heart of miUions In his sad and short career, And thousands visit at his grave In every coming year.* His simple verses touched the heart And his nature so inchned, And he wrote the never dying song Of the days of Auld Lang Syne. ROBERT AND MARY. With Bible in hand by the running streamt They pledged their vows so fairly, But death stepped in with a cruel hand, And took his Highland Mary. The Bible now can yet be seen In his monument at Ayr, And on a faded page his autograph Beneath a tress of Mary's hair. His lines are sad and beautiful That he wrote by the running stream, And have touched the hearts of many, And very sad they seem. *30,000 annually. tAccording to the solemn custom of the country, the lovers when exchanging their vows of everlasting faithfulness stood beside a stream of running water, emblem of eternity, and holding a Bible between them, pledged love and loyalty forever. They never met again. Mary died soon after. 278 Sixty Years in Texas. "Ye banks and braes o' Bonnie Doon, How can ye bloom sae fresh and fair?* How can ye chant, ye httle birds, And I sae weary, fu' o' care!" And Walter Scott, the poet And novelist so grand. With such transcendant genius He has immortalized that land. The great magician with his magic pen Our interest does awake, With Loch Katrine and the Silver Strans, And the Lady of the Lake. Geo. Jackson. IRELAND. When I think of dear old Ireland My heart is sore distressed, Her noble sons in poverty And by England so oppressed. When in olden times the English To heathen gods were turning. Old Ireland was a Christian land And the seat of piety and learning. Her missionaries were sent out. And went from place to place, And preached the Gospel to the people Of the Anglo-Saxon race. *Wallace was betrayed and suffered a horrible death at London. His head was cut off and placed on a pole on London bridge ; his right arm displayed at Newcastle, his left arm at Berwick ; one leg was sent to Perth, the other to the town of Aberdeen; the other parts of the body was burned. Sixty Years in Texas. 279 The disciples of Columbia and St. Patrick/'^ From Tara's hill did start To the heathen shores of Briton Their knowledge to impart. There were hundreds of monasteries, And churches many and many a score, That were founded by these noble men On England's heathen shore. There were schools and colleges then in Ireland, And some of them were free. That drew their students from England and from Scotland, And some from Germany. But the Danes and Scandinavians Did invade old Erin's shore With murder and destruction, For two hundred years or more. But Erin's sons did ne'er give up. Although much precious blood was spilled, But they fought and fought and fought again. Until every Dane was killed. But old Ireland then was crippled. And her wealth was all destroyed. And she was deprived of many blessing That she had so long enjoyed. *Saint Patrick and twelve of his disciples visited the Pagan King at Tara, dressed in white robes, and they carried crosses, and made such an impression on the King and his ministers that the King granted them permission to preach the gospel, and later Columbia and his disciples crossed over to Scotland, and they founded in Scotland, England and Ger- many one hundred and sixty-four monasteries. 280 Sixty Years in Texas. Then old England with her armies That country did invade, With fire and sword on every side, And many a prisoner made. Seven centuries now have passed and gone, But Ireland is still oppressed. Will England never see her faults And at last make some redress? Daniel O'Connell, Burke and Gratten, That long ago have died. In eloquence plead for justice, But it always was denied. The Irish heart is generous And always brave and strong. And will ever yield to kindness And with scorn resent a wrong. And her soldiers in the British rank Are always brave and true. And her generals always lead the way. And they are Irish, too. The greatest battle ever fought Was that of Waterloo, With the Duke of Wellington in command, And he was Irish, too. Lord Kitchener commands in Egypt, And to England is ever true. And justice is his watchword. And he is Irish, too. There is Lord Roberts, White and Wolsley, And others not a few, That have led the British arms to victory— And they all are Irish, too. Sixty Years in Texas. 281 Old England now has power supreme, And is praised in song and story; But she is indebted to old Ireland For more than half her glory. The harp- that once through Tara's halls The soul of music shed Now hangs as mute on Tara's walls As if that soul were fled. No more chiefs and ladies bright The harp of Tara swells. The chord alone that breaks at night Its tale of ruin tells. The above two verses are the touching lines of Tom Moore. TO FRANK PERRY. In the long, long ago, The old school-house on Patties Branch, The place we used to go. When our hearts were light, And our hopes Vv'ere bright. Just fifty years ago? Our teacher, Frank, has died since then ; He was so good and true ; But his soul is gone to live with God, And few are left but me and you. They were joyous times, dear Frank, And my memory loves to go To that old school house on Patties Branch, Just fifty years ago. 282 Sixty Years in Texas. The sparkling water chrystal clear, From the fountain head did flow, A winding, rippling, merry stream, Into the larger branch below. But now, dear Frank, the branch is dry, I don't know why it's so ; And the fountain head is not so clear As it was in the long ago. Dear Frank, I well remember The names of every girl and boy. And the games we played upon the green, And those we did enjoy. But most of them are gone, dear Frank, A few are left, we know. That played with us on Patties Branch, Just fifty years ago. 'Twas then the blue-back speller Vv''as the greatest book in school, And we used to spell quite often. Because it was the rule. We stood up in our classes Upon the puncheon floor And spelled and spelled and spelled Almost forever more. But most of them are gone, dear Frank, But few are left, we know That spelled with us at the old school-house Just fifty years ago. Then we had the spelling match. With a chief on either side To make the best selections. For in that they took a pride. Sixty Years in Texas. 283 And then the spelhng would begin, And the words go around and around, And everybody had a chance To spell the others down. But most of them are gone, dear Frank, A few are left we know That spelled with us at the old school-house Just fifty years ago. But now, dear Frank, the time does fly, And the winters come and go; But we've been blessed by the God above, From whom all blessings flow. And when the march of time has passed. And we are called upon, May we meet our friends in the field of bliss, In the unknown world beyond ! Yes, the time is coming quickly When we both will have to go. Hoping for a grand reunion With those of fifty years ago. Geo. Jackson. Mr. Frank Perry was the last man left in the old neighborhood that went to school with me in the old log cabin, and he has since died. 284 Sixty Years in Texas. The Neglected Boys of Dallas I am glad that the cry of the neglected boys of Dallas is beginning to sound in the ears and touch the hearts of the Christian people of the city. They have been neglected too long, entirely too long and I was delighted when the Club Ladies of Dallas took the matter up, and I believe they have struck the key-note, and I beheve the neglected children of Dallas will be better cared for in the future ; and I hope every good citizen and tax payer will encourage and help them in this laudable enterprise. I be- lieve the money invested in this undertaking, looked at from a financial standpoint, will be a good in- vestment. Most of our criminals come from this ele- ment. I was driving down East Elm street towards the main part of the city ten or tvv^elve years ago, and I saw in front of me and near a saloon a crowd of men, and as I drew near I saw two boys fighting, and some of the men were hurrahing for one and some for the other. The boys appeared to be about ten or twelve years old. I jumped out of my buggy, leaving my horse standing in the street, and after some difficulty I succedeed in parting them. One had got the other down. They were both in a raging pas- sion, and one swore he would kill the other, and as I pulled them apart he kept saying, "I'll kill him. I'll kill him." After I had them safely parted I told the crowd they ought to be ashamed of themselves for urging and encouraging the boys in the fight. I then got in my buggy and left them, and I began to think of the environments and the low moral standard that was educating and forming the character of those boys, and I talked with several about the conditions, but nothing was done except through our mission schools. I did for many years gather up children Sixty Years in Texas. 285 and take them in my carriage to the evening mission school, and hope there might have been some good done; but I am of the opinion that something dif- ferent from what our churches and missions are doing will have to be done to reach the neglected boys. It is hard to get them into the missions, and our fine churches are entirely too respectable to reach this class. If we succeed in getting one into the mission it is only for an hour once a week. It is true even that might be a great help to him. I am of the opinion that we should have some organization or some means of securing the friendship of these boys. If we can only make them believe we are their friends we may find a soft place in their hearts, and when in that condition they can be instructed and may receive lasting impression for good. Many of these boys may have parents that are cross, crabbed and cruel, and the boy may never have had a kind word at home, not a word to encourage him in the right Vv^ay, and the boy is virtually driven out in the streets, and there he gets his education. I think such boys are no better off than the orphans. I hope the people of Dallas will hold up the hands of these good women that have undertaken this good work, and when tag day comes around again respond to their demands liberally. FOR TAG DAY. 'Tis said we live in a Christian age. With modern church and school And we also have the modern club. With officers to rule ;, We have clubs for women, and clubs for men. And clubdom we enjoy — But I'll ask tonight. Have you done right With the poor and friendless boy? 286 Sixty Years in Texas. We also have the modern smoker, And cigars they puff and smoke, And tell the witty story. And crack the modern joke. It's the thing they seem to fancy, And the life they do enjoy ; But ask your souls tonight. Have you done right With the poor and friendless boy? We also have the modern drinking place, The gilded, grand saloon, Where tipplers meet and talk and drink At morning, night and noon ; We have the mixed and modern drink That the fathers so enjoy. But ask your souls tonight. Have you done right By the poor and friendless boy? We have the costly modern church. With steeples towering high, with costly windows, colored paints, And all the pictures of the saints, And modern sermons to enjoy — What have you paid, what have you done, To help the poor and friendless boy- His little feet are on the street, And it is the devil's plan To lead to'sin and every crime. And make a worthless, wicked man. Then listen, hark ! The mothers' call, Be up and doing, one and all; Then in after life it will be a joy Dear Frank, do you remember To know you helped the friendless boy. George Jackson. Sixty Years in Texas. 287 Tag day was celebrated February 29, 1908, by the Club Ladies of Dallas, for the purpose of raising money for the neglected children of Dallas by selling a tag to every passing gentleman on the streets, and over $4,000 was raised. This will be made an annual event. Diary of Trip to England after an absence of 56 years Dallas, Texas, June 1, 1894. The first part of this diary may not interest the public, as it speaks of names and places familiar only to my ovv^n people ; but further on in the diary it speaks of historic places and names that will be of interest to almost every reader. I bade my home folks good bye and took the Katy Flyer. The first day I went to Waggoner, and stayed the night with my brother, Capt. William Jackson. They had a reception that night, and the place was lit up with electric lights and a band of music play- ing. Second day I stopped over with him. The 3rd of June I boarded the train for St. Louis, but stopped over at Nevada. The Marmaton and the Osage Rivers were very high, and the washouts detained us so long the passengers became acquaint- ed. At the Marmaton River we were detained half a day. We employed a negro with a banjo, and he played for us, and we passed off the time very well, and when we reached the Big Osage River it was very high. We went a mile or so in the water, and crossed the main stream, but came to a washout and had to back out and go around by Kansas City. We did not reach St. Louis until the evening of the sixth day. I did not leave St. Louis until the 288 Sixty Years in Texas. evening of the ninth day. I visited the Fair and enclosure of the FiKpinos, fenced with bamboo cane, and there were a great many ladies and gentlemen there with their cameras taking snap shots at the groups of almost naked Filipinos. The principal attraction was the tribe of dog eaters. One Filipino was seen beating on a pan, and another sharpening a large knife, and the third one brought in a dog. One held him_ by the head, the other by the hind legs, and the third party cut off his head, and the ladies were taking their pictures v/ith their cameras. Uncle Sam has quite a job to convert these Filipinos into good and useful citizens. I left St. Louis on the evening of the 9th. Crossed over into Canada at Detroit. A very beautiful river is the Detroit River. We went by way of Niagara Falls, and reached New York the 11th day of June. I put up at the Abingdon Hotel, and took in the town ; rode about fifty miles that day, over Brook- lyn and New York, on the elevated cars. I went fif- teen miles in one direction, but did not get out of town. Saw a great many strangers, and they did not seem to knovN^ much about the city. I went to Coney Island, about fifteen miles from the Hotel at which I was stopping. I did not know what the place vv'as until I got there, and there seemed to be as many people there as I had seen at the World's Fair; and every kind of a show and all kinds of amusements, but I did not care to take them in. Twelfth day, Sunday, I went to the Plymouth Church in the morning, to hear the great Scotch preacher, McNeill — a large congregation and a good sermon. The text was "Work and hope and patient- ly wait for the Salvation of the Lord." I returned to the hotel, and in the afternoon went to the famous Flat Iron Building, and there took an auto with fif- teen others. The machine was owned by the Sight- Sixty Years in Texas. 289 Seeing Company; the seats were very elevated, and there was room for 25 people; we had a nice com- pany. The guide stood in front, with his face to- wards the company, and spoke through a trumpet and gave us a short history of the noted places ; also gave us the names of the owners of the fine mansions as we passed along, and the cost of the buiMings ; he would speak of nothing that cost less than a million (and from that to ten millions), unless it had some historic significance. He spoke of the Goulds, the Vanderbilts, the Astors, Rockefelbrs, and very many others, and showed us what they had done. We rode through Central Park, to River- side and saw Grant's Monument, and we could get a good view of the Hudson River on the right and some nice scenery beyond ; many boats sailing hither and thither; and on the left magnificent mansions, and again, on my right, the bank was lined with well-dressed people; some seated on nice seats that are provided by the city, and others promenading, and all seemed to be enjoying themselves, looking at the beautiful sights there to be seen. It is a very broad avenue, and several lines of nice shade trees through the center, and a great many motors, lan- dau and fine carriage turn-outs could be seen; and as I looked at this great sight I thought the Amer- icans were a great and happy people, and New York a wonderful place. Thirteenth day: Remained at the hotel most of the day, and got rather lonesome and went out to buy a book; had to go eight or ten blocks before I found a book store, but found a saloon on almost every corner. I went on board ship that evening. The Kaiser Wilhelm the H. is a very large boat, and a very fine one; 40,000 horse power, and consumes 600 tons of coal per day, taking 75 men to put it on 290 Sixty Years in Texas. the fire places, there being 124 fire places. I had a very good bed and slept well. Fourteenth day: I was on deck early, in timj to see the ship sail. It was a great sight to see, as we left the shore, with its 2000 passengers waving their white handkerchiefs, and the great multitude on shore waving theirs in return and bidding us a last farewell. We steamed out of New York harbor into the bay, and passed the Statue of Liberty and New York, with her sky-scraping buildings, faded away in the distance, and our great ship glided through the deep waters at a rate of 23 miles an hour. It was then three o'clock and we had had three meals already that day. Later the bell rang for the fourth, and there was a concert in the great dining room at night, the Germans being great lov- ers of music. Fifteenth day : And the great ship is plowing through the broad ocean at a rapid rate, and leaving a white stream of foam behind, that looked like a broad avenue as far back as we could see. But many of the passengers were feeling bad and some were trying to vomit. Two of my room mates were sick and my head v>'as whirling around; up to that time I had kept m.y stomach but lost my appetite. Sixteenth day: I was sick all day, but the sea was quiet, and scarcely a ripple on the surface of the deep. We overtook an American war ship ; some said it was the Missouri. We also saw a whale, and that was all the excitement the passengers had that day. Some seemed to be enjoying themselves, while others were holding to the railing, with a curve on their bodies, and seemed to be in awful agony. I don't know what we would have done if the sea had gotten rough. Sixty Years in Texas. 291 Seventeenth day: The weather was perfectly beautiful; there was scarcely a ripple on the bosom of the great deep. I felt a little better, but my stomach was not very strong. I ate no supper, and no breakfast that mroning, and I felt that I did not want any dinner. I called for a cup of tea and some crackers, and thought I would try the deck where I could get a breeze. Eighteenth day : We caught up with and passed several ships, but nothing strange happened that day. We had beautiful weather ; made 564 miles and beat the world's record. Nineteenth day : Weather was fine, and we Vv^ere rapidly plowing along, passing other ships and leav- ing them in the rear, with a number of them in sight. We were now nearing the Land's End, and could see the lights. All were on deck looking wtih as much interest as did the crew of Columbus when they discovered America. At midnight the lights of Plymouth were all ablaze in front of us. The ship stopped for nearly an hour, when we saw a boat coming and were transferred to it, three or four hundred of us. Those who remained on the ship — principally Germans — were all on deck. They had been drinking beer most of the night and were feel- ing good. They bade us a hearty farewell, shouting, singing and waving their handkerchiefs. The twentieth day was beginning to dawn ; we landed and our baggage vv^as inspected. Before my train left I took a little stroll to look around Ply- mouth. It was a very beautiful place, with splendid sidewalks, clean streets and very substantial build- ings, of uniform height, three stories. The place known as "The Hoe" was a beautiful place and over- looked the city; there was some delightful scenery in view. I took a train for Lustleigh and was soon 292 Sixty Years in Texas. going at great speed through beautiful Devonshire, passing numerous fields, from 1 to 5 acres in size, mostly in clover and fine grass. Some of the fields had sheep in them that had recently lost their coats ; other fields had fine, fat, lazy-looking cattle, in clover knee deep; other fields were in cultivation. These fields Vv^ere all enclosed with hedges, with nice shrub- bery growing on top and beautiful wild flowers on the sides. Sometimes we would dash into a forest almost like the jungles of Africa, and the next mo- ment we could see delightful and attractive scenery. I arrived at Lustleigh and was met at the station by Mrs. Amery, my cousin, Mrs. Dodd's daughter. They had a very comfortable place and made me feel at home. Twenty-first day : I visited our old home. I hired a trap, and Mrs. Dodd, my cousin, and I went to Blackenstone Rock, and I made my way to the top of it. The steep part had stone steps and iron rail- ing. I looked with pleasure at the beautiful scenes; the hills and valleys of old Devonshire seemed to be at their best. I was charmed with the view from every quarter, and was ready to exclaim in the lan- guage of the poet : "How dear to my heart are the scenes of my childhood, As fond recollections present them to view ; The orchard, the meadow, the deep-tangled wildvv^ood. And all the loved spots that my infancy knew." We went to Moreton and I went through the White Hart Inn, and went to Wray Barton, where I was born and my father and my grandfather and my great-grandfather were buried from that place July 4, 1804, and Barn Court. We had a very pleas- Sixty Years in Texas. 293 ant drive and an enjoyable time. Everyone seemed to be very kind and courteous. Twenty-second day: Went to Newton Market and saw some fine stock, sheep and cattle, sold at auction ; sheep ten to eleven dollars per head ; one coM^ and calf sold for about ninetj^-five dollars; an- other for one hundred and thirty. I went home with Cousin Jasper Amery to Ippelpain, and stayed one night with him. Twenty-third day : Went to Teignmouth and stayed with John Furneaux a few days ; he had a suite of rooms rented, and some of his wife's people were with him. He was in a beautiful place near the beach, and made me feel at home. Twenty-fourth day : Went to Buckfastleigh and went through the woolen mills of Hamlins and Fur- neaux and saw the many processes, from the dirty wool just off the sheep's back, to the fine cloth suit- able for ladies' dresses and dress suits for gentlemen. We took dinner with Mr. Joe Hamlyn, at his splen- did mansion, and after dinner he furnished us with a carriage and driver and we went to the old home of the Furneaux, where they were born and have lived for four generations and probably longer ; they have the records for that, and the old house may stand many years longer. Near it stands a fine man- sion with beautiful grounds, the home of Wm. Ham- lyn. We went to the old established church, which was built many hundreds of years ago ; there was a large sepulchre there with the name of R. Cabell, the Lord of the Manor at that time, date 1656, and I wondered if our General descended from that stock. We looked at many places that were very ancient and returned to Teignmouth. Twenty-fifth day: I remained at the hotel all 294 Sixty Years in Texas. morning, and in the evening took a boat ride on the River Teign w^ith Mr. John Furneaux and Mr. Toop. We went up the river with the rising tide and came back with the outgoing tide. Twenty-sixth, Sunday : Went to the Congrega- tional Church in the morning and the Baptist in the evening, and went to two open air services. Twenty-seventh day : Went to Newton Abbott in the morning with Mr. Toop and daughter, and went with a coaching party in the evening, leaving New- ton at 12 o'clock. We had twelve in the party, on3 lady from St. Louis, and our driver with four-in- hand, and our footman blowing his horn. A jolly party left Newton for a trip over the Moor. We pass- ed beautiful gardens and fields, and fine mansions, and many less pretentious houses nestled away among the hills, surrounded by beautiful flower gar- dens, and I certainly think that that country de- serves the name of the Flowery Kingdom. We soon reached Haytor and stopped for an hour and fifteen minutes, and most of us with some difficulty ascend- ed the Haytor Rock, where we could see for many miles around. It was a beautiful scene, the like I never expect to see again after I leave Devonshire. We took our lunch here, which our sharp appetites relished. Our coach was ready, and v\^ith step-ladder our party ascended to their elevated positions, and off we drove with horn blowing across the moor, and down zig-zag lanes, into deep gorges, passing stone houses covered with thatch. Soon we reached the River Dart and crossed over an ancient stone bridge, and for its appearance I think it will be standing a thousand years hence. We stopped at a beautiful little cottage home and took tea, bread, butter and cake, with Devonshire Cream, that all seemed to en- joy. We again ascended our lofty perch and drove Sixty Years in Texas. 295 for the ancient town of Ashburton, and stopped at the Golden Lion Family Hotel, and the landlady showed us through the garden. I will not attempt to describe it, but she said it was just as it was laid off one hundred and fifty years ago, and that the house was much older, and as English people always deal in facts, I took it for granted that it was all so. She said she had pictures and sketches of the garden with dates back to the time mentioned. We then drove for Newton Abbot, and passed through the town with horn blowing ; stopped in front of the hotel, and our drive was over, and I bid my London friends good-bye. They gave me their address and invited me to come and see them when I reached London. This was one of the most enjoyable days I had on the trip. Twenty-eighth day: I went to Blackenstone again and went to Vv^here the old house stood. It was pulled down about two years ago, but the barn and garden walls seemed to be just as they were when we left them, but it looked like an old, deserted place, and it made me feel sad when I thought of my parents' struggles here on this poor farm, trying to make a living, vv^hen Fate seemed to be against them. But I think it was all for the best, as we found a country with better opportunities, and the family and their descendants have profited by the change, and again I will say, "It was all for the best." I re- turned to Morton and put up at the White Hart Hotel. The old place is kept very well by the grand- daughter of a Mr. Peters, who lived across the street from us in our time. I went to the old Unitarian Church and had the sexton to let me in, and there found the graves of my forefathers. My great-grand- father, buried 1804, age 78 years; grandfather died 1854, age 87 years — both named Geo. Jackson. I had the gravestones cleaned up and the lettering repaint- 296 Sixty Years in Texas. ed, and had some photos taken of them; also of the old church, which was built in 1802. I also went to the Church of England, which is very ancient, but no one seemed to know its age, but thought it was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. Saw manj^ familiar names on the grave stones, some as far back as the 16th century. Saw the property in Morton once owned by our grandfather; one of the old houses, the one our grandfather lived in, had been torn down, and a nevv^ one built in its place. But the other is still standing, with all the outhouses, still covered with thatch. The property is now owned by a Mr. Hewitt, a very old man, and he said he bought it from a George Jackson of Ireland thirty-five or forty years ago. The place descended to his oldest son, George Jackson, my uncle. Twenty-ninth day : I was at Mr. Dadd's, my cousin; they were very kind to me and tried to make me feel at home. Thirtieth day: We all went to Brixham on th^i 11 o'clock train. We arrived at our Uncle George'r. old place, a very cozy little place enclosed with high walls, about three acres of it; they have thirteen acres in all and almost every kind of fruit that grows in England. They have an abundance ; all the trees and bushes are loaded with it, and it was a grej..c surprise to me how so much could be grown on so small a piece of ground. There I met Aunt Ann Amery, a very remarkable woman, aged 82 year.;. Her erect form and firm and steady step, and clear mind and smiling countenance, which has grown beautiful with age, made a deep and lasting impres- sion on my mind. She is one of those happy Chris- tians whose life has been a blessing to others and I am sure that Vv^hen she passes over the River it will be with a radiant smile upon her happy face. I spent a pleasant day with them. Sixty Years in Texas. 297 July 1st: I bid my dear friends good-bye, and the grand-daughter, Susan Ann, went with me to the station. She is a very'sensible and business girl, who is soon to be married to a young man from London. I bid her goodbye at the station, wishing her much happiness and long life, and boarded the train for Torquay and went to Geneva Cottage, to see the Misses Henlys, relatives of the Morgans of Dallas, who are very interesting and business wom- en ; one of them showed me over a good part of Tor- quay, which is a very beautiful place, said to be the garden spot of England. Torquay is a city of about 40,000 people and noted for its delightful scenery, and its bracing, healthy sea-breezes. I was delighted with the place. I put up at a hotel, and the next day engaged a seat with a coaching party; there were twenty-one of us, including the footman and coach- man. We drove out of Torquay by way of the beach and all of them seemed to be delighted with the beau- tiful scenes, and our comical little footman, a little more than four feet high, with a tall, white hat and a horn nearly as long as himself, made fun for the company. We had a pleasant ride and a delightful time, taking tea, bread and butter, cake and Devon- shire Cream at half-past five, and again driving into Torquay a little after six o'clock, I took a train for Lustleigh and went to the Kelly farm to see the home folks. Sunday, July 3rd : Went to the Episcopal Church in the morning; the services consisted of responsive reading and prayers. This is the church that my father and mother were married in. I went to the Baptist Church in the evening and heard a very good sermon. This church was built by our uncle, John Amery, and is a very pretty little stone church. He was a dissenter and became a prominent Baptist preacher. 298 Sixty Years in Texas. July 4th : I spent the Glorious Fourth in Teign- mouth, but I never found a man in England, with the exception of John Furneaux, who knew that America had such a holiday, or what the celebration of the Fourth of July was for. July 5th: I spent this day in Teignmouth and went to several concerts. July 6th : Went coaching again ; went for a thir- ty-mile trip over Dartmoor. We took dinner at the Haytor Hotel and went from there to Widecombee, on the Moor, which is a historic place. The ancient church, with tower 130 feet high, has been compared with St. Mary Magdalene's Church at Oxford. Writ- ten in large letters just inside the church tovN^er is an account of an awful thunderstorm, which hap- pened Oct. 21st, 1638. This tragic event happened when the people were worshipping, and a very graphic description is given. In that period it was directly attributed to Satanic influence. There were four persons killed and sixty-two hurt. One man had his money melted in his pocket, but the purse was not hurt. This place I have heard my mother speak of often. After looking over this fine and ancient church Vv^e again took our seats in the coach and drove for several miles over the moor. The next place of interest was Grimespound, a place of the ancient Britons, of about three acres, enclosed by a stone wall, and within that inclosure several very small places inclosed by a stone wall, and in some places could be found stone that stood up with one end firmly set in the ground, three or rour feet high. Three of these stones would support an immense slab of granite stone lying flat on the top these cromlech. No one seems to know what they were used for ; some think for shelter, and others think they Vv^ere used for sacrifice or worship. After viewing the remains of these ancient Britons we ascended the high hills Sixty Years in Texas. 299 of Dartmoore and looked around at some of the most delightful scenery in the world, that almost charmed us. We then turned toward the beautiful valley of Lustleigh and Bovey Tracey; and the 6th of July, 1904, has passed away. July 7th : I decided to take one more coach ride over the Moor, in another direction. The coach left the White Hart Inn, Morton Hampstead, at 10:45 a. m. to return 6 :35 p. m. This time we drove to Prince Town, rather an ancient place. The pris- oners of war vv^ere kept here, no doubt as far back as William the Conqueror, but now, and in times of peace, the convicts are confined here, of which they now have 1,400 on hand. They work them in the quarries and on the roads, and sometimes in the fields. I saw several hundred thinning out a field of turnips. We stopped here at what seemed to be a very ancient hotel, built of granite. We looked over the place for an hour or two, then headed for Mor- ton. It was getting cold, the north V\^ind was blow- ing over the Moor ; we put on our overcoats and the ladies their wraps. In a conversation with the lady near me I found she was the granddaughter of Par- son Clack, of Morton Parish, that held that position in 1848 when we left England. I had intended look- ing over the Parish records, which are kept in an iron chest, to see how far I could trace back the Jackson family, but this lady said she v\^as thor- oughly familiar with the records, and that the old records, from the 17th century back, were burned, so I decided not to go to the trouble of searching the records. Everybody seemed to be very kind and ready to give me all the information they could. We reached Moreton and drove through the town with horn blowing, and I took the train for Lustleigh and reached the Kelly farm rather tired. July 8th : I took a rest, and it was rather warm. 300 Sixty Years in Texas. Saturday, July 9th: I took the train for the ancient City of Ashburton, to see my rich cousins, John and Peter Fabian, Spark Amery of Druid Farm, They received me very kindly and I spent three days with them, and found them very inter- esting, and probably the best posted men in the his- tory of Devonshire and Dartmoore to be found in that country, and it seemed that nearly everything had a history. Some of their furniture they showed me was over 300 years old. We went out for a walk in the afternoon and he showed me a part of his farm, which was once occupied by the ancient Britons or Druids, and his farm long ago took the name of Druid Farm. The Amerys, my cousins, own a part of the old Warren Farm. General Warren, of Revolutionary fame, that fought and fell at Bun- ker Hill, whose monument stands at Washington, was of Devonshire stock. I have the names of his ancestors and his pedigree back to 1325. I saw the old Warren house; it is still standing near Ashbur- ton in Devonshire. My cousins, when they visited Canada and America, they also visited Washington to look at the monument of General Warren. Sunday, July 10th: We all went to Sunday- school, the Congregational Church. Fabian Amery is superintendent. They were celebrating the 89th anniversary of the school, and a Mr. Davies of Buck- fortleigh helped to conduct the services. He preach- ed and talked to the children, and was very interest- ing. There were three services at the church that day. Mr. Amery seemed to be holding several places of honor and trust; he sometimes gives lectures, and is knov/n as Lieutenant Col. Amery. He is the sec- retary of the Devonshire Club and the Treasurer of the British Club, and recently he and his brother were apopinted to get up all the old legends of Dart- moore. I think for vears thev have been looking Sixty Years in Texas. 301 up this history of Devon. There are a great many cross stones in many different places in Devon, that he said were planted in the early Christian Age. These stones were set up at the wells and watering places, and the priest would come and talk to the people, and they would gather there, and soon rooms were built for services; as the gatherings became larger, more room was added, and later the church was built. There was said to be a cross stone in Moreton, near where the old cross tree stood for 300 years. That tree was planted to mark the spot, but was re- cently blown down, and now they have a terrace there and a cross stone, and the church stands not far from it. That old tree has quite a history: In the 17th and early in the 18th century, they had parties and receptions under it. I and my brothers knew it when we were boys, and upon many occa- sions platforms were built from the high walls near it, to the broad boughs of the tree, large enough to hold thirty people, and as many as seven couples would dance at one time in the old tree. July 11th: I rested. July 12th: Went to the Kelly Farm and took a rest with the home folks, until the fourteenth day. July 14th: I felt better; went to Lustleigh Cleve, which is a very high point, and rather difficult to climb, and could see Blackenstone Rock and Hey- lor Rock ; and it is here that the famous Nut Cracker stands, that our mother and father used to speak of, which is a large rock on a pivot that weighs many tons. By standing on one end of the rock the other end will raise high enough to place nuts under and then step forward it will crack the nuts. July 15th : Took train for Weston Super Mare, the home of Mr. Hall, Mr. John Furneaux' son-in- law. I met Mr. Furneaux there. Weston Super 302 Sixty Years in Texas. Mare has beautiful lawns and sea front, and is a summer resort and watering- place. Hundreds of people come here from other cities to spend a few weeks and enjoy themselves, many of them bringing their children. There were concerts on the beach and fine buildings on the piers out in the sea, and the opera and theatre goers find plenty of amusement. There is also a very old church known as the Uphill Church, probably 800 or 1000 years old. The build- ings here are all of stone or brick, but principally stone, Saturday, July 16th: Mr. Furneaux and I took a train to the ancient city of Bristol. We first went to the Cathedral, which is very ancient and very fine. The building is very large and inside has mas- sive columns and high arches, all of solid granite. It is about 800 years old. We then went to the sus- pension bridge that spans the River Avon. It is 245 feet above high water, and one span between th-'; piers is more than 700 feet long, and is said to be one of the greatest pieces of engineering skill known in the world. The immense height of the perpen- dicular and solid granite banks on one side and the delightful scenery on the other, makes a very roman- tic looking place. This place was the home of Sebas- tian Cabot, who claimed to have discovered America before Columbus, and there is a monument erected to his memory on a very elevated piece of ground, said monument being 205 feet high and overlooking the city. In this Christian city there is also an orphans' home which keeps and provides for 2,000 children. This home was founded by George Muller in 1835, and the most remarkable thing about it is that he had no money, but prayed and trusted to the Lord for the money and promised Him that he would do the work, and the Lord moved upon the hearts of the people, and the money was provided and 2,000 Sixty Years in Texas, 303 orphans are clothed and fed and educated and sent out into the world prepared to meet its realities, and as fast as they go others take their places, and it is said that none of them have yet suffered for any- thing. Large steamboats sail up the river Avon at high tide and a great deal of business is done here. The electric cars are different from ours, being two stories high, and they that prefer to ride on top and get a better view of the city can do so. Sunday, July 17th : I kept my bed most of the day, and was feeling very bad ; thouglit I had better send for a doctor. He came and left me some medi- cine, which I thought would soon set me all right. Monday, July 18th: I still kept in doors, but felt much better, and thought I would be ready to go abroad the next morning. July 19th : Mr. John Furneaux and I took a train for Wales, passed through the City of Bristol and soon entered the long tunnel, four and a half miles, and passed under the River Severn. We were in Wales and soon reached the ancient Abbey of Tin- tern. Tintern was a monastery of the great branch of the Benedictine Order, established in 1098 at Citeaux in Bergundy. Their dress was white and known in this country as the White Monks. This was the .third house of their long list of English houses founded in 1131 by Walter De Clare. The length of the building East to West is 228 feet. North to South, 150 feet; Vvidth of small arches 30 feet, height of central arch 70 feet, height of east window 64 feet, west window 42 feet, the wall above the west window 28 feet ; width of east door 14 feet. I measured one of the columns, 30 feet in circum- ference, and when I looked at these strong and state- ly walls, the massive columns, the high and grand arches, the graceful simplicity of the architecture, the beauty of its mouldings, the elegance of the out- 304 Sixty Years in Texas. lines and the purity of the carving, the thought oc- curred to me that these Monks must have been ac- tuated by something higher than earthly motives, although in that age they had absolute power over the community and could command obedience and punish disobedience even w^ith the death penalty. But we must judge them by the age in which they live; they were the pioneers of Christianity, civiliza- tion and culture, and were self-denying men, waging vx^ar with barbarianism and heathenism, and but for them the light of liberty and literature and science might have been forever extinguished. After an hour at the Abbey we went to Chepstow Castle. This structure is boldly reared on the irregular sloping edge of a lofty limestone cliff, rising vertically from the River Wye, which here and in front forms a natural fortress, while the entire front of the castle, with its massive round towers, is displayed across the ascent of an open green acclivity. The fortress is of the Norman period, and ovv^es its erection to William Fitz Osborn, one of the councillors of Wil- liam The Conqueror. He, with Odo, the brother of William The Conqueror, was left to govern England, and William the Conqueror withdrew to Normandy. Would not attempt to describe this castle, but its walls are 12 feet thick and very high ; it has a vault- ed subterranean chamber overlooking the River Wye. It was here the unhappy Edward the II. stay- ed for a time, and his tragic end occurred at Berkley Castle the following September. Jasper, Earl of Pembiroke, and the Earl of Richmond, was also here. Rodger Vaughan, a valiant man, was sent by Ed- ward to take the Earl, but he failed and suffered death at the appointment of the Earl, and after said Earl of Richmond became Henry VII., Elizabeth, wife of Edward the IV., was at Chepstow Castle. Jeremy Taylor was a prisoner there, one of the Sixty Years in Texas. 305 brightest stars, and of English theological writers. This castle was garrisoned by Charles First until 1645, and later was surrendered to Colonel Morgan, Governor of Gloucester. Later, in 1648, the castle was betrayed during the absence of the Governor, into the hand of Sir Nicholas Kemys, and then Cromwell, being in the neighborhood, marched upon the castle with a train of artillery, but the castle was so obstinately defended that he withdrew. But later it was taken and Sir Nicholas Kemys and 48 men slain, and 120 prisoners taken. It was here that Henry Marten, the Regicide, was imprisoned for tvv^enty years, and the tower that he was confined in is known as the Marten Tower to this day. July 20th : I took a rest, although the weather was beautiful and I felt like going out, but waited until morning. July 21st : Mr. Furneaux and I went to Lang- ford and took a coach with twenty others, and cross- ed the Down 12 miles to Cheddar, going up the famous Barrington Valley, and v/e saw the great rock in a cleff of which Mr. Toplady took refuge dur- ing a thunder storm, and there composed the famous hymn that has been sung around the world, "Rock of Ages Cleft For Me." We crossed over the Down, and were soon in sight of the Cheddar Cliffs, which are remarkable, rising to a perpendicular height of 480 feet, and look very much like the walls of a great castle. One of the rocks is known as Castle Rock, which rears like a gigantic tower in front of the spec- tator ; and to the left is a grand mass of rocks known as Lion Rock ; on top of this mass of rocks there is a very large stone that resembles the king of beasts, the lion. The most skillful word-painting would fail in an attempt to describe the beauty and grandeur of this scene, at every turn and winding of the pass. 306 Sixty Years in Texas. There are two great caverns here, known as Gough and Coxes Caverns, that are very interesting. The stalactites and stalagmites are equal to those of the famous Mammoth Cave of Kentucky. Some of these masses have assumed a variety of fantastic shapes, others have a striking resemblance to natural ob- jects. We left the cliffs and caves of Cheddar and went a few miles to the town of Wells, which is very ancient and is noted for its great and ancient cathe- dral. We Vv^ere admitted and entered from the west door, and were greatly impressed with the grandeur and massive character of the continuous range of piers, and the very many beautiful arches. We found the statues of many bishops and monks, dated back to the 10th century. The first church on this spot was founded with a college in 705, and 200 years later, in the reign of King Edward the Elder, was made a cathedral. The west front of the cathedral has 300 statues, 150 of life size; 21 crowned kings, 8 queens, 31 mitred ecclesiastics; also numerous princes, nobles and knights, ;and many Bible scenes such as the creation of man; Noah building the Ark; the sentence of Cain, and many others; and many Nevv^ Testament scenes, Christ before Pilate; the twelve Apostles judging the twelve Tribes of Israel, and very many others. Many of the statues inside the church have been defaced, and it is said to have been done by the sol- diers of Cromwell. This cathedral is one of the most ancient, and the grandest in all England. In the chapel, on the north side, is the celebrated as- tronomical clock, constructed by Petros Lightfoot, a monk, in 1325. A figure strikes the quarters with his feet on two small bells ; in the costume of Charles the First, above the dial plate, in a paneled tower, are four mounted figures equipped for the tourna- ment, and they revolve in opposite directions when Sixty Years in Texas. 307 set in motion, by the striking of the quarters. It is the oldest known clock, self-striking the hours with a count wheel. July 22nd : I bade my friends at Weston good- bye and boarded the train for London; arrived there safe and put up at the Montague Place, Russell Square, near the British Museum. July 23rd : Went to the British Museum ; it opens for visitors at 10:00 o'clock; I went from room to room, and remained there until 2:00 o'clock, a very short time to look at so much, but that which impressed me most was the rooms of the ancients, the Egyptians, the Assyrians, the Romans, the Gree- cians and Athenians. The ancient City of Ephesus has a room, and there are parts of the massive col- umns of the great Temple of Diana, where Paul was in such danger of being pulled to pieces. The Egyp- tian statues and monuments seemed to date back further than any, some 4,500 years B. C. There were statues of kings and queens long before the time of Joseph, some standing and some sitting. There was many a sarcophagus in a good state of preservation, nearly 4,000 years old. I saw many of the mummies of kings and queens, and immense statues of some of their kings; Pharoah, who op- pressed the Children of Israel. The history of the Assyrians reaches nearly as far back. I saw the statues of a number of their kings, whose names are mentioned in the Bible. There were immense winged bulls and lions, with human heads, chisseled out of solid rock, that stood about fifteen feet high, and was found guarding the entrances of these ancient palaces, seven or eight hundred years B. C. There could be seen many im- mense statues of the Assyrian Kings mentioned in the Bible, Shalmaneser, Ashur Banepal, Sennach- erib, and others. They have on their clay tablets an 308 Sixty Years in Texas. account of the creation and the flood; and there is Jehu, King of Israel, bowing down before Shal- maneser; there is a series of bricks and boundary stones, showing Babylonian and Assyrian writing from earliest times, the Kings' seals with impres- sions; clay cylinders and tablets of historic inter- est; the Siege of Jerusalem, and submission of Hezekiah. I saw the Rosetta Stone, inscribed with a decree in the priest's writing or hierogliphics, and also in the peoples' writing in Egyptian, and also in Greek; this inscription gave the clue through the Greek how to read the Egyptian. The Roman Gallery showed the portrait heads of Roman Emperors — Julian Caesar, Tiberius, Nero, Titus. Julius Csesar invaded Briton in the year 55 B. C. and the Romans held the country until 410 after Christ. Roman Coffins and ornamental pave- ment found in England. I saw many statues of the warriors, statesmen and poets of ancient Rome, the most powerful nation of the ancients. The Greeks, the most artistic people that ever lived, their statues, their monuments, their sculp- tures, are marvels of beauty. There is on exhibi- tion a good part of the remains of the Parthenon, or the Temple of the Virgin Goddess, Athene, built when Athens was the most powerful city in Greece ; built on the Acropolis or fortified Rock Hill, where Paul preached to the learned Athenians. The col- umns are immense and the sculpture beautiful. I went to St. Paul's Cathedral in the evening; the history of the building is very well known ; but will say it is grand on the inside, such an immense dome. There can be seen here the statues of Eng- land's greatest warriors, statesmen and poets, from the eleventh century down to the present time. I also went to Westminster Abbey, which is an im- Sixty Years in Texas. 309 mense building, in the form of a cross laid on the ground. The visitors pay sixpence each and the guide shows them through the chapel and explains everything of interest. It was founded by Edward the Confessor, who died in 1065, but the building has been added to and it is a building of five cen- turies; as it now stands, the successive kings and queens have been crowned since Edward the Con- fessor, and the old chair they sat in when crowned, is not much the worse for wear; and here most of them have been buried. The princes who were mur- dered in the Tower lie here. There are statues and monuments almost without number, and as I looked upon the last resting place of these Things and queens, this thought occurred to me, "Life is but a span, and the king, like the beggar, soon passes away." This building was occupied by Parliament for thre centuries. It was the cradle of the Parlia- mentary Government of England, and of her Colon- ies. Sunday, July 24th : Went to Spurgeon's Taber- nacle and heard Mr. Thomas Spurgeon preach in the morning; in the afternoon drove through the city, looking at the places of interest. July 25th : Went to the museum in the morning, and in the evening went to the zoological garden and looked at the animals and birds, I think almost every kind known to man is there. July 26th : I rode over the city. The principal travel on the streets is in two-story busses, and on many of the streets it looks like a moving mass of humanity ; all of them seem to want to ride on top, which is very well seated and the streets are good. They are paved with wood, asphalt and stone, but principally wood, and the blocks are in the shape of brick, but a little larger, and put down edgeways, 310 Sixty Years in Texas. and so smooth that wagons make but very little noise; but where the stone pavement is there is a good deal of racket. After riding over the streets of London for days, I am of the opinion that there are more street repairs needed on Elm and Main streets of Dallas than in all of London. The wood seems to bs preferred to asphalt, but it is hard to find a break in either wood or asphalt, and there are hundreds of miles of it there, and very heavy travel on most of them. London builds 70 miles of streets annually. July 27th : Left London for Paris ; took train at Charing Cross and reached Folkstone at 4:00 o'clock, and boarded a steamboat for Boulogne; was two hours crossing the Channel. It was raining and I went below and got very sick, and it was with difficulty I made my way to the deck; great drops of perspiration came out on my face, and all over my body, and my head seemed to go round and round, and my stomach was trying to turn over, and in this awful agony I held to the railing and leaned my head upon it. But we were now drawing near the land, and I tried to cheer up by singing: "In that sweet bye and bye. We shall land on that beautiful shore. Where stomachs shall cease to revolve And never turn o'er any more." We reached the shore and there was a train awaiting us for Paris, and I entered the car between a sweat and a shiver, and fell into a cushioned seat and rested easier, and my stomach settled back to its normal condition, and we went at almost a light- ning speed toward Paris, which is the glory of the Frenchman. We reached the city at 9 :30 p. m. Car- riages were awaiting us and we were driven rapidly away through the glare of electric lights, to the Hotel Dominicia, and there we were met by polished Sixty Years in Texas. 311 waiters and shown to our elegant apartments. We were all under the control of Cook & Son, the excur- sionists. July 28th — 9:30 a. m. : Up came the coach and four, and all were ready to go and see the sights, and there were many sights and places of interest to be seen in this city — the monuments, the statues, the parks and fountains, the cathedrals, the palaces, the tovN^ers and beautiful gardens; the art galleries so full of interest and history, would take weeks to look through, and the Pantheon, the place of many gods, all very interesting, and the grand boulevards, of an evening and Sundays is quite a sight; nothing like it in England or America either. July 29th : Went to Versailles, 17 miles from Paris ; the gardens and palaces are Vhe attractions there, and the history of this place includes much of the history of France. Our guide showed us through the great palace, the rooms that were occu- pied by Napoleon Bonaparte, and his carriages of state, with many others, that cost almost fabulous sums of money. The rooms of Marie Antoinette are still intact, and the private stairway by which she fled ; but later she and her husband, Louis the 16th, were the first victims of the guilotine. In these rooms are many immense oil paintings, said to be the best selections in the world ; they represent many of the historic scenes of France. There was an immense and mass- ive frame about 18 by 25 feet, representing the cor- onation of Josephine, Napoleon's first wife, and not far from it was the picture of Josephine after the divorce; and there was a large picture of Jeanne d'Arc bestride her horse leading the French army to victory, and not far from it she is shown in a painting lashed to a stake and ready for the flames. In another place they have a large bronze statue 312 Sixty Years in Texas. of her, and she is represented bestriding her horse, bare-headed and carrying a flag in her right hand. The changes which this palace has witnessed are pages in the history of France. Louis the Four- teenth died here; Louis the Fifteenth was born and died here. 'Twas here the attempt was made to as- sassinate the last named King. Louis the Sixteenth was forcibly carried away from here, and after the fall of Napoleon it was occupied by Louis the Eigh- teenth, and Charles the Tenth and Louis Phillippi, and in 1855 good Queen Victoria was received here by Napoleon the Third. In 1871 it was occupied by the German forces, and here King William of Prussia was proclaimed Emperor of Germany, and after the departure of the German forces it became the seat of government under the presidency of M. Thiers. The great number of rooms, with the furniture of the past kings and queens, the costly jewels of Marie Antoinette, and the numerous pictures of bat- tle scenes, and of the royalty of past ages, is too much to be seen in so short a time. July 30th : We now turn to Place de la Concorde, the finest place in Paris, and indeed in Europe. Many fine buildings can be seen from this place; it was completed in its present form in 1854. This site has a tragic history. There is an obelisk stand- ing here, and a sister Monolith to Cleopatra's Needle. During the Reign of Terror in 1793 the guilotine was erected here, on the spot where now stands the obelisk, and Louis the Sixteenth and Marie Antoinette were the first victims, and in two years upwards of 2,000 persons were decapitated. It was here the Prussian army camped in 1871. There are eight fine statues in the square, repre- senting the chief towns of France — Lyons, Mar- Sixty Years in Texas. 313 seilles, Bordeaux, Nantes, Rouen, Brest, Lille and Strasburg (now German). Foreign armies camped here three times — the Allied armies in 1814, the British in 1815 and the Prussians in 1871. The army of Versailles attacked the Communists here in 1871. July 30th : Went to the Trocadero Palace and Garden. The palace is in the shape of a crescent and the center consists of a circular edifice of vast pro- portions, surmounted by a dome which is 173 feet in diameter, exceeding the width of St. Peter's at Rome, or St. Paul's of London, and on each side of the building are fine proportioned towers, one of which we ascended by means of an immense ele- vator, and got a splendid view of the city of Paris. Effel Tower I also ascended. This enormous un- dertaking is a monument surpassing anything of the kind hitherto erected ; it completely dwarfs into in- significance every public building. The tower has three platforms, and is comfortably arranged for many hundreds of visitors at a time. The third platform is 863 feet high; the total height 985 feet. To view the city from the top of it is little more than a map. The view over France is superb, extending fifty miles, until the River Seine looks like a mere silver ribbon. There is a military wall 33 feet high that surrounds Paris, about 27 miles in circum- ference, constructed by order of M. Thiers in 1841, at a cost of $25,000,000. At various intervals six- teen detached forts outside the walls, mounted with heavy artillery, for the defense of the city. Sunday, July 31st: Went to Efl'el Tower in the morning and to the grand boulevard in the evening. August 1st : Took a train for Boulogne, and there took boat for Folkestone, and crossed the Chan- nel ; the weather clear and sea calm, and reached London in the evening, rather tired. 314 Sixty Years in Texas. August 2nd : Went to the Tower of London, which has a history of a thousand years. Here were the old city walls, built by the Romans, and rebuilt in 885 by King Alfred, and later in 1078, by order of Wm. The Conquer, the work of building was going on. This tower has been an awful history of blood. 'Twas here that Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry the Eighth, and Kathrine Howard, fifth wife, was beheaded, and Lady Jane Grey, and Margaret, Coun- tess of Salisbury; and Jane, Viscountess of Rockford, and Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex, and Lord Hastings, and Lord Guildford Dudley, and many oth- ers were imprisoned and beheaded, and the children, Edward Fifth and brother, imprisoned and murder- ed here, supposed to have been done by order of Richard the Third. Here lie the old axe and block that were used to sever the heads from the bodies of those unfortunates. Here is the chapel that must have seen the devotions of William the Conqueror and family. We find here in the armory the armor used in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, for horse and man, weighing from 60 to 120 pounds, Henry the Eighth's weighing 81 pounds ; both man and beast are represented here with the armor on and ready for war. Here are also the crown jew- els and crowns. The king's crown occupies the high- est place in the double case that forms the English Regalia. St. Edward's crown seems to be the model from which all other crowns have been fashioned. The royal sceptre and other magnificent regal em- blems, the annointing spoon, and the eagle for the annointing oil, and the baptismal font, used in the christening of sovereigns' children, and many other regal emblems ; two swords of Justice, one ecclesias- tical, one civil, and the Sword of Mercy, pointless, the blade 40 inches long. We find every make of Sixty Years in Texas. 315 gun and cannon here that have ben used in modern warfare. The Tower is not so high as I expected to see, bu'c very much larger. There are 18 acres of ground, and it is a place of many towers and buildings, and each one has a name, such as the Bell Tower, the Bloody Tower, the Lion Tower, the Middle Tower, and others. There vs^ere the implements of torture, used during the Spanish Inquisition; the thumb- screw, the scavenger's daughter, for confining the neck and hands and feet, and also the so-called collar, taken from the Spanish Armada. August 3rd : Went to the West of London, which seems to be more modern; many very large estab- lishments ; the drj' goods or drapery houses seem to be the largest. August 4th : Not well, remained at the hotel. August 5th : Felt better, but thought I had bet- ter remain at hotel and rest. August 6th : Took a street car and went to East London ; went through the famous White Chapel dis- trict ; there seems to be a rather hard class of people in that part of the city. The streets leading from London proper to the White Chapel district were jam- med with all kinds of traffic, and the cars got along very slovv^ly. It took me over half a day to go there and back. I went to Madame Tussard's Exhibition in the evening. This institution was founded more than 120 years ago, in the city of Paris, prior to the great revolution, and about ninety years ago it was moved to England, and has become permanent and very popular in London. She has exhibited the collections for fifty years, and her sons and grand- sons up to the present. The talents of the family have been employed upon the exhibition since its foundation; and these wonderful life-like and life- size wax figures dressed in the costume of the age 316 Sixty Years in Texas. in which they hved, their features having a strik- ing resemblance to the parties they represent; and most, or all of the royalty of the past ages, of Eng- land and France, together with most of the historic scenes, are represented in these vast chambers, al- most life-like. There is a life-like figure of every king and queen, giving the length of time they reigned, the coronation scenes ; the murder of the princes in the Tower; the execution of Mary Queen of Scotts, the executioner, the block and all of the parties w^ho took part in that awful scene ; the scene of the murder of Thomas A. Becket in 1170; the scene of King John signing Magna Charter; there were life-like figures of most of our presidents and great men ; also of the great men of England : John Knox, Shakespeare and Cromwell, and a host of others. It is worth curious remark that almost the first blood of the Revolution in France was shed in consequenceofabroil engendered by two figures mod- eled by Curtis, the founder of this institution. Some- well-dressed people obtained from the Cabinet in the Palais Royal the bust of a recently disgraced min- ister. The bust was veiled with black crepe, to symbolize the popular mourning for the minister's downfall, and they were attacked by the soldiers and the bust cut to pieces and the parties shot, several losing their lives, and this may be termed the begin- ning of Madame Tussard's Exhibition. Two days after this occurred the storming of the Bastille. Sunday, August 7th : I rested. Everything was very quiet in London on Sunday, quite different from Paris ; there business seems to go on about the same as other days, and a great many of the workmen don't seem to know when Sunday comes. It is a holiday for a great many others. August 8th : I took train for Liverpool, passing Sixty Years in Texas. 317 through Bedfordshire and Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, and several other shires. Derbyshire is very hilly and looks something like Devonshire. We passed the tov>^n where the rich Duke of Devon lives. In several of the other counties harvesting was in full blast; could see a good many self-binders at work, and some old machines that raked the grain off, such as we used 35 years ago. In France nearly the whole country between Boulogne and Paris was covered with wheat and oats, and har- vest was in full blast there, and they were using about the same kind of machinery as in England. August 9th : And I am at the Shaftesbury Hotel in Liverpool. I looked around over the city a little, but did not find anything very interesting at first. Went to St. George's Square. The Town Hall is on one side, rather a large building, with numerous massive columns, and guarded in front by four im- mense lions; and upon the right is a monument of Queen Victoria, mounted on a great charger, and upon the left Prince Albert, mounted in like manner. On the other side of the building is a very beautiful flower garden, with several monuments, the central figure being the monument of the late Wm. Glad- stone, the base being over twenty feet in diameter, and he stands erect on said monument, his left hand resting on a stack of books, and upon either side are two large-winged female statues, in sitting posture, the one on the right holding the Bible in her hand and representing Truth; the one on the left holding the balances in her hand and representing Justice; and on the back two men are shaking hands and representing the Brotherhood of Man; and on the front is written, "Wm. Gladstone, born at Liverpool Dec. 29th, 1809. Died May 19th, 1898." There is also in the middle of the Square an im- mense monument of the Duke of Wellington, the 318 Sixty Years in Texas. largest in England, over 30 feet in diameter, at the base, and 155 feet high. I then went to the Mueum, which is not so large as the British Museum, but some things are on exhi- bition there that are not seen in the British Museum. I saw the skeleton of a whale that was caught in the River Mersey. It was resting on a frame made for that purpose, and was about 40 feet long, and could have swallowed Jonah very easily, without scratching his throat. I also saw the skeleton of an immense deer, that was found in the bogs of Old Ireland. It is said the species have become extinct. I think from the ground to the top of his horns was about ten feet, and the horns from tip to tip seven or eight feet. Old Ireland in the past has produced great animals as well as great men. I then went to the art gallery — I had only a short time until our ship sailed. As I aproached the building I took care- ful notice of two large statues in a sitting posture, one on the right, Michael Angelo, born 1474, died 1565. The one on the left, Raphael, born 1483, died 1520. There were many large and beautiful paint- ings in these galleries, but not so great a collection as I saw at Varsailles. The policemen of the great cities of England are very courteous and kind, and ready to give you all the information they can, especially the policemen of London; I think they are a very fine body of men, intelligent, kind, courteous and civil, and I think they must have been selected with much care. One thing struck me very forcibly — the great respect the people had for the law. It is in this the strength of England lies. I will conclude by saying that when I think of the history that England has, and her colonies, and the countries she controls, and the love and patriot- ism that is shown by them for the Mother Country, Sixty Years in Texas. 319 and the influence she has over the world, I do not wonder at an Englishman being an Englishman, and claiming her protection in every country and every clime. The policemen in Paris I could not understand ; I never spoke to one that could speak English; and in regard to Paris, v/ith all her splendor, I do not think I should like to live there, after going through the market places and seeing what they sell there for people to live on, such as snails and frogs and crabs, and horse and mule meat, and many other unpal- atable things. August 10th : And we are on board of the Oceanic, a ship of the White Star Line, and are steam- ing out upon the high sea, and — England is fading away in the distance, and I must say farewell to the shores of Old England forever. Farewell to thy great and ancient cities. Farewell to thy people, Vv^hose power and influence have encircled the globe. Farewell to old Devonshire, the place of my birth. Farewell to my old home, whose ancient walls shel- tered and protected me in infancy. Farewell to thy ancient hills. Farewell to thy delightful scenery. Farewell to the quaint old churches, the towers and spires of which have pointed heavenward for cen- turies. Farewell to thy old church bells, whose chimes and warning notes have been wafted out upon the morning breeze for ages past, notifying the villagers that it was time to meet for worship. Farewell forever. Farewell to the graves of my forefathers. Farevv^ell to the monuments and grave- stones that stand as faithful sentinels to mark the spot of their last resting place, forever farewell ! Farewell to thy ancient castles, whose strong walls have been a protection and means of defense in the Dark Ages that are past. Farewell, forever fare thee well ! Farewell to my friends and relatives who 320 Sixty Years in Texas. have received me so kindly, and treated me so royal- ly ; with a loving heart I must bid you a last fare- vv^ell, hoping that a kind Providence will provide a meeting place for us in the Great Beyond. But for the present, farewell! Thursday, August 11th: The sky was bright and clear, and it was cold enough for an overcoat on dsck, and we were at anchor at Queenstown. The land was in front and on either side, and it looked like a great lake, with only a small opening in the rear to get out. It was a very pretty scene, and most of the passengers Vv^ere on deck looking at the surround- ings. There were a number of small boats, with fruits and other things for sale, alongside our ship, and the passengers were having a good deal of sport pulling things up in baskets. And we saw fourteen black looking boats that were said to be torpedo-boat destroyers, lying in the harbor. The sea-gulls were very much in evidence, and large flocks of them were hovering around, their keen eyes detecting every small thing lying upon the surface of the sea. The mail — a very large quantity — was delivered on board our ship, and vve made another start and passed along the coast of Ireland, and passed the lighthouse on the Rock of Fastness, 65 miles from Queens Town. The weather was clear and cool, a light breeze was blowing, and our great ship, with 2,000 passengers, was gliding smoothly along. She was 705 feet in length, and one of the largest Ocean Grey Hounds, but she was not making as good time as did the Kaiser. Friday morning: It vv'as raining; the deck was sloppy, and the wind cold. The sea was a little choppy and some of the passengers were getting sick. Noon — and the gong sounded for dinner, and only about two-thirds of the passengers appeared at the table; one of my room-mates was sick, and it Sixty Years in Texas. 321 was all that I could do to hold up. The clouds rolled by and the rain was over for the time. Saturday, the 13th: I was sick and kept my bed all day. Sunday, 14th : Was a beautiful day ; the sea was calm. We had two services that day, one conducted by an Episcopalian on our deck, the other was held on the lower deck with the steerage passengers. There was good singing and a good sermon. There were over one thousand steerage passengers, and they made a large congregation. We could stand on our deck and look down on them and hear very well, and some on our deck took part in the singing. Monday, the 15th : A stiff breeze was blowing and black clouds were coming up from the west, rt is noon and the storm coming; we could see the lightning flash and hear the thunder roll; and the storm came and the rain poured. The wind was blowing and the waves rolling high; our ship was rocking and many passengers getting sick. Tuesday, the 16th : The weather was clear and we were making good time. A little infant eight months old died on Monday, and on Tuesday she was committed to the waves, and the great sea swallowed her up; the mother with sorrow and grief went to her room weeping. Wednesday, August 17th: And we were nearing land ; most of the passengers were jolly, and all seemed to be in good humor. We could hear fhem say to one another, "It won't be long until we shall land in God's country." We were nearing the har- bor, and there were a great many boats of all kinds sailing in every direction. It was a very pretty sight. I landed and had my baggage inspected; it was a very tedious job. I went to the Abingdon Hotel, and at 5:00 o'clock took train for Centralia. Illinois. Took a sleeper, but could not sleep much. 322 Sixty Years in Texas. August 18th : Nothing of interest happened ; we passed ripe fields of grain, wheat and oats, and har- vest was in full blast in Canada. August 19th : Arrived at Centralia and it rained all day. After resting a day or two at Centralia with Dr. Morey and wife, my daughter, I took the train for St. Louis to visit the Fair for a few days, and then took the train for Dallas, Texas, and arrived at home safe, making the trip in a little less than three months. ENGLAND AND ROME. There is one nation in this universe That has arisen to power and fame. And her patriotic principles Have immortalized her name. In splendor, pomp and power The ancient kings did rule. But oppressed and enslaved the people And were heartless, vain and cruel. The eternal city on the Tiber, Where the Caesars ruled complete. And the plebeian and the alien Stood trembling at their feet — Tfiat city of the seven hills Once reigned and ruled the globe. But now the imperial mantle of her mighty kings Is a cast off tattered robe. She ruled for Rome, and Rome alone. And in exultant praise would sing. While other nations bent the knee And paid tribute to the king. Sixty Years In Texas. 323 Rome's matchless buildings, gilded domes, And the Forum — oh, alas ! The glory then of ancient Rome Now the glory of the past. The seeds of true democracy Were by the Anglo-Saxons planted ; And the first fruit was seen at Runneymede, And Magna Charta granted. In the Parliament of Briton, In spite of lords or kings, it grew; And the Baron and the Commoner Built better than they knew. It was the dawning of the morning When the Virgin Queen did reign. And the British heart rejoiced once more For the liberties obtained. In modern times the British With freedom's flag unfurled Has preached the Gospel of God and liberty Around the heathen world. She rules in Africa and Egypt, And on to India's coral strand, And justice is her watchword For every race of man. *The turbid waters of the narrow Tiber Roll on restless to the sea, And Rome she ruled in narrowness, And no nation then was free. *The Tiber where Rome is situated is only 300 feet wide and where it enters into the Mediterranean, sixteen miles distant, is only 600 feet wide. 324 Sixty Years In Texas. **The Thames, unlike the Tiber, Grows broad and broader to the sea ; And England's broad and righteous rule Will set the nations free. The measured step of the British rank That has moved from place to place Has given Gospel light and liberty To every heathen race. Will our politicians ne'er forget. And never cease to crow O'er the blunders of that old King George, That happened so long ago? The white man has a burden That the good and wise do plainly see, And it is to Christianize and educate, And set the heathens free. '''*ihe Thames at London is 900 feet wide from bank to bank and where it enters into the sea it is six miles wide. First Pioneers of Dallas County Alphabetically Arranged — Over 1200 The first pioneers of Dallas County that came to Texas before July, 1848, and many of the children are named. They are the people that endured the hardships and braved the dangers and drove back the Indians and converted this country from a wild wilderness into a garden spot and made it possible for those that came later on to enjoy the benefits and blessings of their labors. This list is principally taken from John Henry Brown's book by the kind- Sixty Years In Texas. 325 ness and permission of Misses Lizzie and Marion Taylor Brown, his daughters, and there is no doubt but many of the old pioneers have died since this list was first printed in 1887. While the list is alpha- betically the rule is departed from in so far as to assign the post of honor rightfully and gratefully to: Bryan, John Neely, a Tenneesseean, last from Red River, the first settler of Dallas county, and a single man, who came about the last of November, 1841. Allen, Simon Bolivar, merchant in 1848 — did live in Bonham. Atterberry, James, and family. Atterberry, Stephen C, and family. Atterberry, Jesse, and family. Atterberry, Nathan (soldier in Mexico) and Churchill came single. Anderson, John L., and family, came from Ken- tucky 1846. Anderson, James, and family, 1846. Anderson, single, Thomas R. and James W. Armstrong, James, and family, came in 1846; his daughter, Frances E., came, the wife of John Bur- sey, and is now dead ; Martha married Robert Cook, dead ; Nancy J. married first Wm. A. Knight, second W. Marion Moon ; Mary J., married Alex- ander A. Thomas; Anderson, the only son, died in 1848. Armstrong, Miss Cenia. Aytes, John, and family before 1849. Archer, Thomas M., and family, 1846. AsHLOCK, Josiah, and family. Andrews, Ben F. and Samuel, came single. Alexander, J. J., came single. Bursey, John, and wife, nee Frances E, Armstrong, came in 1846. 326 Sixty Years In Texas. Badgeley, Daniel A,, and family; Job married Lydia Marks. Balshmire, Henry, married Eliza Goodwin, Bryan, James B. (brother of John N.) came in 1846; married (second wife) Mrs. Elizabeth Har- ter, nee Beeman; children, William, James and Lenore. Baird, Geo. W., 1849 ; married Marry E. Traughber. Bethurum, Robert P., married Electa A. Hawpe. Bethurum, Ben F., married Nancy P. Elam. Bast, Abraham, 1848, m. Myers; children. Morgan, Jack, David, Abraham, Julia, Lucinda. Eliza. Bledsoe, "A.," and family, from Missouri 1846 ; chil dren, Willis A., married Jane Boyle; Moses O. lo Sadie George; Isaac C. to Miss Steele; Virginia to Capt. R. A. Rawlins; Bettie to Thomas Spruance; Fleming G. to Juliet Samuels. Bledsoe, Anthony, married Martha Huitt. Bledsoe, Dr. Samuel T., and family, 1845. Bernard, Charles H., came from Illinois, 1847. Brown, Young E., and family, 1844. Brown, Crawford, and family, 1844. Brandenburg, A., and family; Samuel came single. Beard, Allen, and family. \X Beverly, Wm., 1846, married Rebecca Conover; died in Collin 1887. tvi^-ww^n— ^ Bennett, Hiram, came in 1845 ; children, Madison, Hardy and C. L. Bennett, Wm. H., and family, 1845. Bennett, James M., and family, 1845. Bennett, Elisha and Elijah D., came single. Burris, Thomas, and family. Browder, Mrs. Lucy, came in 1845. Browder, Isham, son of Lucy, and family, 1845. Sixty Years In Texas. 327 Browder, Edward C, son of Lucy, 1845, m. Eliza- beth Coats; his children. Pleasant S., Annie B. m. Edgar Prickett; Emma m. Dr. J. H. McCorkle; Fanny m. G. M. Overleese. Bird, James and family, from Missouri 1844. Bird, Samuel P., came single. Bruton, Wm., patriarch, from Illinois 1845; chil- dren, Richard married Elizabeth Cox; James R. married Nancy Edwards. Britton, Joseph, and family, 1848. Baker, James M., married Ruth Forester. Baker, Artemas, came single. Barker, Joshua, married Sarah Hart. Bandy, Richard T,, married Aurelia A. Rawlins. BiLLlNGSLEY, Wm., married Arena Kirkland. Barnes, Wm. D., married Tabitha C. Smith. Barnes, Wm., came in 1845; in Grand Prairie fight. BURNHAM, Horace, married Matilda Cole. Burnett, Wm. D., came single. Brotherton, Robert K., came single. Brotherton, H. K. BURFORD, Nathaniel M., came from Tennessee in 1848; m. Mary Knight in 1854; their children — Mattie m. Wm. Morris Freeman in 1886 ; Nathan- iel is dead; Robert Lee, Jeff Mallard and May. Barrett, Rosvv^ell B., an orphan of Texas parentage, came with James Armstrong in 1846; married "Babe" Baldridge. Barrett, James W., brother of Roswell, still single. Bledsoe, Allen, came in 1845; in Grand Prairie fight. BUSKIRK, Jonas, and family. Bradshaw, David, and family. Beeman, John, and family, from Illinois to Bowie county 1840, to Bird's Fort November, 1841, to Dallas county April, 1842. His wife was Emily Hunnicut. Their children — Elizabeth m first Hen- 328 Sixty Years In Texas. ry Harter in 1844, going eighty miles to Bonham for that purpose, second James B. Bryan, and third Wm. Cumby; Margaret m. John Neely Bryan ; Wm. H. m. Martha Dye ; Samuel H. m. Mary Ann Weatherford ; Isaac H. died in Cali- fornia ; James H. m, Mary Hammond ; Clarissa m. Walker ; Nancy m. Wm, Hobbs ; Ann m. John Fugate; Caroline m. Isaac Fisher — ten chil- dren — nine married. Beeman, James, J., in St. Charles county, Missouri, in 1836, married Sarah Crawford ; in Dallas, No- vember 29, 1851, he married Elizabeth Baker, from Ohio. By the first marriage he had children, Mary J. (died in 1884) marired first Henry Price, second Wyatt Barnett; Emily T. married Wm. T. Baker; Francis M. married Amanda McCormick; Melissa died in youth. By his second wife J. J. had Charles A., who married Martha McCormick, and Sarah E., who married L. A. Sweet. Beeman, Samuel, married in St. Charles county, Missouri, Mary Smelser (both now dead), and came November, 1846, from Calhoun county, Illi- nois. Of their children, John S. married Isabel Bryan in Illinois — came with his father; Ruth married Adam C. Haught, whose first wife, Mar- garet, was a sister of her father; Nancy (in Illi- nois) married Wm. Hunnicut; Isaac married Han- nah Bethurum ; Temperance married Moore ; Mary married Benj. Lanham; Peter married Ma- tilda Riggs; William and Jacob were killed in the Confederate army ; Kate married Newton Husted. The three brothers brought twenty-four children to Dallas county, including those born here. Caldwell, Solomon, and family, from Illinois 1842. Caldwell, Wm., and family, from Illinois. Caldwell, Timothy, came single, married Nancy Ray. Sixty Years In Texas. 329 CORLEY, Adelbert, son of the Rev. Sam. Corley, the Mexican war soldier, came in 1848; for thirty years has been clerk of Red River county. Cole, John P., and family, moved to Tarrant. Corcoran, John T., and family, 1845. Crabtree, William, and family. Crutchfield, Thomas F., and family, from Ken- tucky 1845 ; children, James O. m. Fanny Floyd ; Albertus went to California; Th. Ella m. G. S. C. Leonard ; Ophelia m. John J. Eakins, who died in 1886; Minerva m. John W. Swindells; Betty m. John W. Lane. COUSY, Mrs. Nancy, and family. COUSY, Thomas W., came single. Casey, John, and family. Casey, Harvey, came single. Casey, Harry, came single. Cornelius, Abner P., and family. Crumpacker,, Darriel and Joel, came single. Cheshire, Thomas and family. Cook, John C, married Elvira Mays. Carver, Solomon, and family. Carver, Abraham, and family. Carver, Daniel, came single. Chenoweth, James F., and family. Chenoweth, Thomas, married Hannah Keenan. Clark, A. J. (old Texian) came in 1845 — m Grand Prairie fight, married Sarah Myers; their son, H. C, in Dallas. Clark, Henry, and family. Clark, Wm., came in 1845 — his family came with Judge Patterson in January, 1846. Gates, James, came in 1844 ; in Grand Prairie fight ; married Elvira Fay. Campbell, Thomas J., came single. Chapman, John C, and family. Chapman, Robert, came single. 330 Sixty Years In Texas. Castor, Jacob, came single. Carlock, Jacob G., came single. Coats, Samuel, and family, from Illinois 1845. Coats, Thomas D., and family, from Illinois 1845. ^ , Coats, Marion A., and Wm. B. came single. '•'^^'^ '^ Cox, John H., and wife, from Illinois 1842. Cox, George, from Illinois 1842. Cox, James, from Illinois 1844. Cox, Davis B., from Illinois 1844. Cox, Hartwell B., from Illinois 1844. Cox, Joseph, married Narcissa Elam. Cox, William, married Mary Dike. Conover, Dr. W. W., came 1845. Campbell, Thomas A., married Margaret A. Coombes. Carr, Wm., and family. Carr, Henry, came single. Connor, Wm. D., married Mary Fikes. Carpenter, Timothy, and family came in 1843. Crowley, Richard, married Almeda Leake. Crowley, Benj. F., married Edna Leake. Calder, Dr. , came in 1842, killed by Indians in Collin February, 1843 (see narrative.) ■ Coombes, Wm., and family, from Kentucky 1843; children — Leven G. m. Jane H. Heady; Zachariah Ellis m. Rebecca F. Bedford ; Isaac N. m. Berrilla K. Myers ; Margaret A. m. Thos. A. Campbell and died in Missouri in 1869; Mary M. m. Levi M. Bumpas ; Rebecca F. m. Wm. L. Holt and is dead. Children by a second wife, Samuel H., John W. and three daughters. Combs, Joseph, and family (Cedar Hill) came before July, 1848; of his children Zur m. Sarah Evans; Wm. S. m. Elizabeth J. Evans ; Robert. Chowning, Robert, came in 1845. Crowning, J. W. m. Nancy Myers in Illinois — in Sixty Years In Texas. 331 Grand Prairie fight in 1846; found the murdered Phelps party in 1848. Couch, Henderson, as foreman of the jury at the first court ever held in Dallas county, December, 1846, he and his eleven colleagues divorced Mrs. Charlotte M. Dalton from her husband, Joseph Dalton; and before the sun of that day glided to the "Heathen Chinee" side of the globe, the said Henderson Couch and Charlotte M. Dalton, legal- ly and constitutionally, v/ere husband and wife. It was the first civil suit — Dalton vs. Dalton — ever tried in Dallas county ; yet some people of this day imagine that the "Early Timers" of Dallas were of the backwoods, "Arkansaw Traveller," non-progressive class, such as are found stuck away in certain spots in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and possibly a few in North Caro- lina and Virginia, but never in the prairies of the Great West or Southwest. Let all such realize the electric dispatch of business in early Dallas days, and be convinced of their former erroneous impressions — then tip their beavers to the mem- ory of Henderson and Charlotte Couch. Chenault, Wesley M., and family came in 1845. Chenault, William, came single, a soldier in Mex- ico, married Ruth Ann Jackson, died in 1886. Cameron, David R., and family, from Missouri in 1844; among his children were Chris C, L. Frank and T. H. COCKRELL, Wesley, and family came in 1846. Cook, Henry, and family, before 1849. Cole, Dr. John, wife and mostly grown children came from Arkansas 1843 ; their children, Calvin G., married in Arkansas Elvira Reeder; James M., m. Sarah Bennett ; John H. m. Elizabeth Preston ; Martin V., m. Maggie Preston; Joseph, m. Jennie Overton; Malinda, m. (second wife of) James N. 332 Sixty Years In Texas. Smith; Eliza, m. Jefferson Tilley; Louisa, m. A, G. Walker, and is dead; Wm. did live in Medina county, m. Mary Bennett. Cook, Williford W., brother of Robert M., came in 1845. Cook, Robert M., surveyor, came in 1845; m. Martha Armstrong; both dead. Conner, Abraham, and family, came before 1846. Crockett, John M., and wife came from Tennessee October, 1847 ; are now dead. Collins, James, and wife Nancy came in 1846. Collins, Thomas, brother of James and wife Mary, came in 1846. Carter, Wormley, born in Loudon county, Virginia, June 19, 1816; removed from Kentucky to Mis- souri 1843 ; to Dallas in May, 1846 ; married Lucy Anderson; since 1880 has lived near Lewisville, Denton county; is dead. Carter, Asher W., brother of Wormley, married Eliabeth A. Wood; is now dead. Cockrell, Alexander, came from Missouri in 1845 ; was a frontier soldier and partly in Mexico ; mar- ried Sarah H. Horton ; was killed in Dallas April 3, 1858. His widow now dead. Frank Cockrell lives in St. Louis ; Alexander married Ettie Fulk- erson, and lives in Dallas. Crow. Wm. M., and family came in 1847. Carder, Wm. P., and family came in 1845 ; his sons, Elijah and Christopher, were soldiers in Mexico, and died in the city about Christmas, 1847. His wife, nee Brumfield, was a sister of Mrs. Amon McCommas. DOOLEY, George W., and family, before 1848. DURRETT, George W., and family, before 1848. Daniel, John H., came from Missouri in 1845 — a soldier in the Mexican war — married Rebecca Ray in Dallas county. Their children, William R. mar- Sixty Years In Texas. 333 ried Josephine McCommas; Mary Frances mar- ried George H. Alexander; "John Henry" died March 5, 1885; Benj. F. ; Sterhng Price; Edmund W. married first Emma McCommas, second Ettie Wilkinson; Charles A., Martha J., and the last is "Arthur Ellis Coombes Daniel." Dykes, Thomas, came single in 1845 ; a soldier in Mexico, and died in New Orleans en route home. DURGIN, Charles H., merchant, came from Massa- chusetts 1845; married Elizabeth B. Thomas, and is long deceased. Dakan, Dr. Perry, married Ann R. Walker, who died in California. He returned, and died in Texas. Dye, Benjamin, Sr., and family, came from Ken- tucky in 1847. His children — Enoch, now dead, married a daughter of Rev. Abner Keen; Benj., Jr., and Wm. H., died single; Joseph F. went to California in 1853 ; George lives in Dallas county ; Martha E. is the vv^ife of Wm. H. Beenman; Sarah first married Vassella and is now the wife of Dr. Mitchell; Miranda married Madison Bennett; Addie is the wife of Wm. A. McDermett. Dye, William, brother of Benj., died single. Dawdy, Alanson, married Rebecca Shelton. Downing, Wm. W., came single. DUNAWAY, Foster W., came single. Dixon, Solomon W., and family. Demay (or Dernay) Charles, came in 1845 — in Grand Prairie fight. Davis, Hinson C, and family. Davis, John W., Benj., F. and Jeremiah came sin- gle. Ellis, Thomas M., and wife, nee Witt, came from Ilhnois in 1845. One of their daughters married Middleton Perry, Mary married Jones Green, married W. L. White, Wm. F. married Miss Smith, 334 Sixty Years In Texas. John T, married Miss Stewart, James H. married Mary E. Rawlins. Elam, Wm. B., wife Mary and family from Illinois 1845. Elam, Isaac, wife Margaret and family, 1847. Elam, W. M., and family. Elam, Jesse, and family. Elam, Andrew, Benton and several others came sin- gle. Elliott, Sanders, came in 1845. Elkins, Smith, elected chief justice in 1850, and quit the country under a domestic cloud. Edwards, Isaac, and family. Ferris, Morris, and family came before 1846. Floyd, George, and family. Fyke, Ehsha, and family. Fyke, Archer, came single. Fortner, Milford F., and family. Frost, Benj., and family. Frost, Thomas, came single. Ferris, Warren A., surveyor, and family came from Nacogdoches in 1846. Fleming, Wm., and family came in 1846. Fleming, Geo. W., came single in 1846; married Louisa Jane Britton. Franklin, Levi, married Nancy Rogers. Fletcher, , married Miss Henry. Fortner, John, and family, came in 1844 ; now lives at Vinita, Indian Territory; his children — Amos, Mary J. married George Burgoon; Caroline mar- ried George Nash. Freeman, Mrs. Mary Amy and family came in 1846. Freeman, Wm. S., and wife Susan came in 1846. Fondren, John R., came in 1846. Glover, George W., and family came in 1843. Goodwin, Micajah, and family came before 1846. Goodwin, Thos. R., came single. Sixty Years In Texas. 335 Galloway, D. R. S. C, married Jane Manning. Gracey, Marquis D. L., came in 1846; married Amanda E. Harris. Gracey, Emory A., married Miss Matlock. Gracey, Grundy C., Sabine and Wm. T.,; Amanda married Goodnight. Gill, Eldridge, came in 1849 ; married Mrs. Lucinda McDonald, nee Smith. Gunnels, Washington, married Polly Sparks. Greathouse, Archibald, and family came in 1844. Garkins, George, and wife Easter came in 1847. Gilbert, Mabel, and wife Martha, came from Bird's Fort, in March, 1842, Mrs, Gilbert being the first white lady to reach Dallas, though followed on the 4th of April by Mrs. John Beeman, yet living, and her daughters. Mr. Gilbert had formerly been a steamboat commander. Griffin, Elder Thacker Vivian, a preacher of the "Christian" church, born 1800 — came to Dallas in 1846 ; organized the first church of his denomina- tion in Dallas county at Hord's Ridge, and died in 1852 or '53. His only son died in the Confed- erate army. His only daughter, Ehzabeth A., is the [to this writer and his family especially]., esteemed wife of Dr. Albert A. Johnston. Gray, Andrew K. and Daniel H., came single. Green, Jones, came in 1845 ; his wife was Mary Elhs. Graham, Joseph, and family. Graham, Milton H., came single. Goar, John, and family; his daughter Matilda mar- ried Norvell R. Winniford. Grounds, Robert, and large family, came in 1845. Green, Mrs. Martha P., and family. Garvin, Thomas, came single. Howell, John and wife Parthena came in 1845 ; their children — Virginius, James, Hartwell (lost in the Confederate army), Lizzie (Mrs. John Wright), 336 Sixty Years In Texas. Salome (Mrs. John M. Hervay), Charles, married Miss Thomas. HiCKLiN, Wm. J., and family came in 1845. He was killed out West. HORTON, Enoch, Sr., and family, from Russell coun- ty, Virginia, arrived November 29, 1844. HoRD, Wm. H., and wife Mary J. (nee Crockett) came from North Carolina 1845; their children, Thomas A., Ferdinand P., Mattie J. (Mrs. J. A. Crawford). Hunt, Edward W., came in 1846 ; first married Jane A. Thomas, second Olivia H. Winn. Hunt, John L., brother of E. W., came in 1846, went to California in 1849. Henry, J. Paul, Sr., married Miss Fletcher. Hambrick, N. M., and wife came in 1847. HoBBS, Wm. W., came in 1842, married Nancy Bee- man. HuiTT, John, and family came in 1843. HuiTT, Roland, brother of John, came in 1843. Hibert, J. B., came in 1845. Hetherington, John C, came in 1846; married Susan A. Drake. Hart, Abe, came in 1847; married Elizabeth Ray. Hill, Mrs. S. J., came in 1845. Houx, Nicholas, and family came in 1848. Houx, James M., and family. Harter, Henry, married Elizabeth Beeman. Harwood, Alex. M., and family, Tennesseeans, but last from Missouri, in 1844. The parents died at Harwood Springs, as did their son, N. B., and his wife, the parents of Wm. A. Harwood, formerly district clerk, now of Dimmitt county. Harwood, Alexander, (so long county clerk), who married Sarah Peak, He died July 31, 1885. Their Son, Ripley B., married Lucy Keller, and has a son Sixty Years In Texas. 337 named Alexander. Their daughter, Juhet, is the wife of James J. Colhns. Henderson, John, married Malvina Kimbell. Hickman, Henry, married Elizabeth Newton. Hanby, J., married Susan Smith. HuTTON, V. J., and wife came in 1845 or '46. HUSTED, Harrison, and family came in 1845. HUSTED, James G., N. J., S. F. and others came sin- gle. Hargroeder, Mrs. Mary, and family, before July, 1848. HOBBS, James, and family, before July, 1848. HOBBS, Wm. W., married Nancy Beeman. Hart, Jacob, and family, before July, 1848. HanNA, Amariah and family, before July, 1848. Harding, John M., and family, before July, 1848. Hughes, William, and family, before July, 1848. Halford, Jeremiah, and family, before 1848. Halford, J. W., came single. Henderson, Noah, and family. Hunnicut, Wm. C, and family, 1844. Hall, Jacob C, and family, before 1848. Hall, John, and family, before 1848. Hollow AY, Joseph H., before 1848. Hall, Henry H., came single, married Ander- son. Harris, John, and family, before 1848. Harris, William, came before 1848. Harris, Daniel, and family, before 1848. Haught, Adam C, from Illinois in 1845; married first Margaret Beeman, second Ruth Beeman. Haught, Peter, came in 1845; a soldier in Mexico; married S, J. Pruitt. Haught, Samuel A., came in 1845 ; a soldier in Mex- ico, and raised a large family. Jenkins, William, wife and children came from Mis- souri in 1845 — died in 1872; their children, Mary 338 Sixty Years In Texas. A. married first James Collins, second A. M. Coch- ran; Lizzie married Eugene Lively; Hannah E. married Coany; Miron E. married Celeste Brown; Sarah married Chas. Fladger; Rufus Henry and . Willis L. Jackson, John, wife and children came from Mis- souri in 1846 ; their children were Andrew Sloan Jackson, a soldier in Mexico, married Elizabeth Dye ; William was a soldier in Mexico, came home sick and died September 12, 1848 ; James E. mar- ried Diana Davis; Good married Miss Thomas; George married Molly Nash; Ruth Ann married Wm. Chenault. KUHN, Anton, came in 1845 or '46 — the first black- smith in the town of Dallas. Keifer, Benj., came single. Keller, Samuel, and family came before July, 1848. KiMMFLL, Mrs. Catharine, and family came before July, 1848. KiMMELL, Philip, and family came before July, 1848. Kirk, John W., came single, before July, 1848. Kennedy, Mrs. Mary, and family came before July, 1848. Keen, Wm. H., and family came before July, 1848. Keen, W. W., and family came before July, 1848. Keen, John S., married Olive S. Merrill. Keen, John W., married Nancy Turner. Kenison, Daniel W., came single, married Mary Horn. Larner, Wm., married Mary Jennings in Illinois — came in 1842 — raised a large family; both dead and children scattered. Leonard, George L., and family came from Tennes- see in 1843. (A portion of this family spell the name Lenard.) His children were George S. C, married Thomas Ella Crutchfield, and both dead ; Wm. M,, John R., Jackson L., married Mittie Sixty Years In Texas. 339 Hearne, and both dead ; Samuel F., married Mattie Miller and is dead ; Washington C. ; Elizabeth, mar- ried John W. Wright; Mattie, and Joseph A., mar- ried Annie Jeffries. Long, Henry C, came single, married Lavender, Mrs. M. H., and family, from Illinois 1845. Lavender, J. J., and wife Lucy A., came in 1846. Laughlin, J. Y., and wife Abby C. came in 1849. Laughlin, J. P., and wife came in 1849. Ledbetter, Oliver V., and wife Margaret came in 1848. Ledbetter, W. H., came in 1846. Ledbetter, Rev. Arthur, married Elizabeth Pear- son, Lanier, John, and family came before 1846. Lanier, Archibald, son of John, married Lucy Hor- ton; Lucy married Enoch Horton. Lee, J. B., and family came before 1848; his chil- dren were William, Thomas, Lee and three daugh- ters. Lawrence, John P., married Fanny Coats. Lynch, John, Married Mahala Warner. Latimer, James W., founder of the Dallas Herald in 1849, came from Red River county in that year and died in 1859. He was a good writer — left a widow and several children, all or nearly all of whom are now dead. His parents came from Tennessee to Red River in 1834. His death was deplored as a loss to Dallas. Loving, James, and family came before July, 1848. Loving, Samuel P., came single. Leake, Anthony M., and family, before July, 1848. Lacey, Philemon, came single before July, 1848. Linney, Parry, and family, before July, 1848. LONGLEY, Thomas, and family, before July, 1848. 340 Sixty Years In Texas. THE M'COMMAS family. Elder Amon McCommas, with his wife, nee Mary Brumfield, and children, came from Missouri in 1844. He hailed from Virginia, stopping for re- pairs, successively, in Kentucky, Ohio, Illinois and Missouri. Of his children, James B. married Miss Shields before coming; John (a soldier in the Mexican war) married in Dallas county Missouri Tucker; Elisha married Rhoda Ann Tucker; Wil- liam M. married Julia Tucker; Amon, Jr., mar- ried Nancy Seals; Stephen B. died a soldier in the City of Mexico, December 24, 1847 ; Rosa mar- ried Jesse Cox; Armilda married Benj. F. Flea- man ; Mary E. married John W. Herndon. McCommas, Stephen B., Sr., brother of Amon, came with his family. His son, Burke, died a soldier in the City of Mexico, about Christmas, 1847. Of his other children, Serena married Rufus Bennett, and of John I have no data. McCommas, John C, brother of Amon and Stephen, came with them married — was a soldier in Mexico, and did live in Young county. McCommas, Mrs. Lavinia, a sister-in-law of the three brothers, with her family, came with them. Moore, Benj. S., came single — married Martha Weatherford. Myers, William, and family came in 1843; his son Meredith married Miss Eddy. Mounts, Jesse V., and family, came in 1844: he commanded in the Grand Prairie skirmish in 1846. Mounts. Thomas A., married EHza J. Harmison. Mounts, George, died a soldier in the City of Mex- ico, December, 1847. Mounts, J. H. Minter, Rev. Green, came before 1846. McCants, Joshua, and family came before July, 1845 — in Grand Prairie fight. Sixty Years In Texas. 341 McDermett, J. B., came from Arkansas in 1847, his sister Lucy being of his family. Of his chil- dren, Mary M. married Joseph Parker; William A. married Addie Dye; Henrietta married John Tenison ; Cora M. married John C. McCoy ; Dr. David Porter married Talitha Smith, did live in Pilot Grove; Sam died in New Mexico; Josephine A. married Ulysses Matthews; Edward J. was killed in the naval battle of Mobile. Moon, Jesse and wife Mary J. came from Missouri in 1845; of their children, E. G. died at fifteen; Jesse in 1872; Julia married Ellis C. Thomas; Martha married Matt. J. Moore; Nancy E. mar- ried Joseph C. McConnell; W. Marion married Mrs. Mary J. Knight, nee Armstrong; Sarah J. Miller, Madison M., long a merchant at Pleasant Run, near Lancaster, came in 1846; he first mar- ried Mary Rawlins, second Emma A. Dewey. Miller, William B., wife and children came from Kentucky in 1847. By his first wife he had chil- dren, Charilaus (Crill), who married Miss Walk- er; Alonzo; Mattie married S. Frank Leonard; Molly married George W. Guess; Jennie married Chas. D. Kanady; Susan married Frank Robber- son (who died in 1867), and is now the wife of Dr. Jacob B. Ewing, of Dallas. By his present wife, Emma A. (formerly widow of Madison M. Miller, of Lancaster, and nee Emma A. Dewey), he has Minnie, wife of Philip B. Miller, Charles and Richard. Miller, James T., came single, a blacksmith; went to California. Miller, Stephen H., came single before July, 1848. Mathews, Ulysses, married Josephine A. McDer- mett. Moorman, John H., married Susan Hickman. 342 Sixty Years In Texas. Markham, George, a soldier in Mexico, married Hannah Cox. MONEYHAM, James J., and family came in 1843; moved to Tarrant county, and finally left the State. MONEYHAM, Joseph William, and family came in 1843; his son married and died at Letot; a daugh- ter married Taylor. Morris, Wm., and family came in 1844 — his chil- dren, James M., Samuel, L. D. and Preston W. died single — Melissa married Snyder Kennedy. MoONEY, James, came in 1845 — in Grand Prairie fight. Mitchell, John, came in 1845 — in Grand Prairie fight. Mathis, James, came in 1845 — in Grand Prairie fight. McCarny, Perry,and family came in 1846. Masters, Wm., and family came in 1846. Morris, Richard, young Englishman, came in 1848 — died. McCrackin, Anson, and family came in 1845. May William C., and family. Merrill, Adolph G. M., came single. Merrill, David, and family came in 1844; among his children were Benjamin, Robert, Samuel and Eli. children of elder JOHN M. MYERS. Eliabeth married J. S. Bailey; Mary married Wil- liam Mosely; Martha married J. J. Stubbs; J. S. married M. V. Cooper; Douglas married Eugenia Hoffman ; G. F. married Ella Kennedy ; Letty mar- ried James McWhorter; Nancy married W. T. McKamy; Lewis married Miss Myers. Merrill, Elder Eli, and wife, Mary came in 1844; of their children, Julia married John W. Wright; Sixty Years In Texas. 343 Cornelius married Margaret Dickinson; John M. married Sue Whitman; Thomas was murdered at Van Horn's Wells, near the Rio Grande ; and Geo. C. Merrill. Merrill, Charles D., and family. McCOMBS, Joshua, came single. McDowell, John, came single before July, 1848. Munden, Joseph, and family, before July, 1848. Metcalf, John J., and family came before July, 1848 — a surveyor, and died in Palo Pinto county. Moore, James, came before July, 1848. Moore, Jesse and John T., came single before July, 1848. Marks, Watts, and family, before July, 1848. Morse, Frederick, and family, before July, 1848. Manning, Mrs. Delilah, and family, before July, 1848. Manning, Thomas G., came single before July, 1848. Manning, Andrew J., and family, before July, 1848. Mills, Edward, and family, before July, 1848. Mills, James, came single before July, 1848. Mills, John, came single before July, 1848. McDaniel, Aaron, came single before July, 1848. Newby, James, came single, married Mary Keenan. Neely, Charles, came single before July, 1848. Nix, John, came in 1846; his children, Margaret married Malone; D. H. to Mary Myers; Francis M. to Caroline Drake; Louisa to Lewis Cook; Sarah to W. J. Anderson; Daniel to Mary Fyke. Newton, Harvey H., and family, before July, 1848. Newton, Charles G., and family, before July, 1848. Newton, Samuel G., came at the same time — died in San Antonio. Narboe, three Norwegian brothers, came in 1845 — John P. and wife died ; Peter married Jane Robin- 344 Sixty Years In Texas. son. Peter, Paul and John, single, went to Cali- fornia about 1850 or '51. Noble, John, came in 1845; in Grand Prairie fight. Nanny, Andrew T., came single in 1847, married Susan Ray; his children, Benj., Amos, Levy, Re- becca, and perhaps others. Norton, Daniel E., came single, married Margaret E. Strong. Nations, John W., came single, married Darcus Baugh. Overton, Aaron, and family came in 1844 Overton, Caswell, and family came in 1844. Overton, John M., and family came in 1844. Overton, Wm. P., and John C. came single in 1844. O'GuiNN, Wm., and family came before July, 1848. O'GuiNN, Stephen C. and Leonidas, came single. Patrick, Callaway H. and wife, came to the county in 1846. He had been in it in 1841 with an Indian scout. He married Rhoda I., daughter of Abra- ham T. Smith, killed by Indians in Young county, 1841. Phelps, Josiah Smith, came in 1845, and was a sur- veyor; in March, 1846, at Harwood Springs (Kle- burg) , this still being Nacogdoches county, he married Mrs. Melissa T. Jacobs, daughter of Alex. M. Harwood, Sr. ; she died about January, 1848, leaving an only infant child, "Dickey," now Mrs. Henry C. Miller, Azle P. O., Tarrant county. Mr. Phelps was killed by Indians April 9, 1848. Pancoast, Josiah, a soldier in the Grand Prairie fight and in Mexico, married Mary Ann Young; moved to San Antonio, reared seven daughters, and died there. He was a brother of the celebrat- ed medical author. Dr. Pancoast, of Philadelphia. Pearson, Wm. H., and family came in 1844. Pearson, Dudley F., a soldier in Mexico. POPPLEWELL, Simcoe, single. Sixty Years In Texas. 345 PULLIAM, Wm. H., and family came in 1845. PULLIAM, Marshall S., single, came in 1845. PULLIAM, John L., single, came in 1845 — soldier in Mexico. Pruitt, William, and family. Pruitt, Martin, single. Parks, Elias C, came in 1845. Pruitt, Wm. A., married Elizabeth Freeman, Prigmore, Joseph, and family came in 1845. Prigmore, Benjamin J., came single in 1845, soldier in Mexico in his nineteenth year, married Lucy Jackson, and lives near Richardson. Parks, Alfred J., married Lydia A. Rawlins. Parker, Joseph, came from Shelby county, Texas, 1848, married Mary McDermett and died in 1878, Their children are Theodore; Clementine, wife of Robert P. Toole, and Cora J. (Mittie) is Mrs. Littlefield. Perry, Mrs. Sarah, and family came 1844 or '45. Perry, Alexander W., and wife, nee Sarah Hoffman, came from Illinois in 1844; their children, Mar- garet married J. M. Smith; Harriet married Thomas Warner ; J. H. married Susan Poor ; W. F. married Amanda Cox; Carrie married Clinton Hoffman ; Lillie Dale married W. D. Fyke ; Rosey Ann married N. N. Butler. Perry, Weston, and family came in 1846 ; his chil- dren, Nancy was married to Page Blackwell, F. S. to Miss McCants, W. M, to Miss Blackwell, Re- becca to David Marsh, Caroline to John Jackson, Sarah to Wm. Rowe, Elizabeth to James Cox, Ellen to J. F. Fonts, Ann to Wm. Kennedy, Eveline to Preston Buchanan — Theodore, Commodore and John are dead — thirteen children and ten mar- ried. F. S., Caroline, Ellen, Rebecca, Sarah and Eveline are dead. Perry, Middleton, came in 1845, married in Illinois 346 Sixty Years In Texas. a daughter of Thomas M. ElKs — raised a large family in Dallas county. Patterson, James M., from Warren county, Ken- tucky, in January, 1846; married Sarah E. Self; merchant from 1846 to '54; chief justice of the county, 1854 to '66; his children, Florence Belle is the wife of John Spellman; Kitty is the wife of Joseph Shuford; Charles L. is dead; James M. and Edward are single; Rowena is the wife of Thomas H. Patterson; Emma married M. Couch- man. Pryor, Dr. Samuel B., and young wife, from Virginia and last from Arkansas, came in 1846. His first child, Ashton R. (late poHce officer), was born in Dallas October 29, 1847. Dr. P. was district clerk from December, 1846, to August, 1850 — was the first mayor of Dallas, in 1856-'7, and died in 1867. His widow and other children reside in Southwest- ern Arkansas. Porter, John F., and family came before July, 1848. Porter, George R., came single. Paxton, Edwin H., came single before 1848. Pound, Bales O. C, came single before 1858. Pemberton, Gideon, came single before 1848. Roland, Joseph, and family came before July, 1848. RiCKETTS, Zedekiah, and family before 1848. RiCKETTS, Daniel D. and David M., single. Reed, Benjamin, and family, before 1848. Ramsey, Samuel, and family, before 1848. RUNYON, Silas R., and family, came before 1848. Reedy, David W., came in 1845; his wife, Mary E. , in 1844. THE RAWLINS FAMILY, FROM ILLINOIS. Rawlins, Elder Roderick, and wife Mary came in 1844. Of their children, Louisa married Lewis Hull ; Nancy married Pleasant Taylor (now dead) ; Sixty Years In Texas. 347 Pleasant King married Mrs. Lydia Spruance — he died June 6, 1887; Lucinda married Samuel Kel- ler; Tabitha married Carlos Wise; Mary married ' M. M. Miller; Roderick A. (Capt. Aleck) married Virginia Bledsoe; Elder William married in Illi- nois. Rawlins, Pleasant K., as above ; his stepson, Thom- as Spruance, married Bettie Bledsoe; his son, A. H. Rawhns, married first Maggie Swindells, sec- ond Georgie Rogers; R. D. (Dod) married Hen- rietta Jacobs, is dead ; John S. married Mary Pea- cock; Lucy A, married Robert Brotherton, who died in 1866 or '67, and she is now the wife of Irvine Lavender; Mary E. married James Henry Elhs; Benj. S. died 'in 1863. Rawlins, Elder William, son of Elder Roderick, and family came in 1846. His children are Hubbard M., George, Allen, Frank, Malinda, Lucinda and Mrs. Richard T. Bandy. Rogers, Elijah, married Lourina Crowley. Robinson, John B., came before July, 1848. Robertson, Mrs. Elizabeth, and family, before July, 1848. Robertson, Hugh, and family, before July, 1848. Robertson, Joseph M., came single before July, 1848. Rhodes, Elisha L., and family, before July, 1848. Rhodes, Frederick, and family, before July, 1848. Ray, Robert, and family, came from Illinois in 1845. Of his children, all coming with him, Susan mar- ried Andrew T. Nanny and Mary married Benj. F. Andrews, both in illinois; William married Lu- cinda Hart; Elizabeth married Abe Hart; Re- becca married John H. Daniel, a soldier in the Mexican war ; Nancy married Timothy Caldwell ; Jane married Joseph Lockett ; of twin boys, Robert married Emiline McCommas and Samuel married 348 Sixty Years In Texas. Miss White; Martha married James Kinchelow, who died a prisoner in Camp Douglas, Chicago — ten and all married. Ray, George M., came in 1846 from Tennessee. His wife Subrina, is now the widow of James Shep- pard, residing in Dallas with her stepdaughter, Mrs. E. A. (Dr. A. A.) Johnston. ROWE, Wm., and family, before July, 1848. ROWE, Wm. B., and family, before July, 1848. RowE, John M. and Wm. H., single, before July, 1848. Riley, James R., and family, before July, 1848. Riley, Thomas, came single before July, 1848. Ramsey, Isaac, and family, before July, 1848. Romine, Wm., came single before July, 1848. Reedy, E. L., came single before July, 1848. Renfro, Creath, and family — removed to the fron- tier, where he and his son were killed by Indians in 1859 or '60. Ray, James, came single before July, 1848. Ream, Mrs. Sarah, and family, before July, 1848. Ream, Sylvester, came single before July, 1848. Roberts, Joel, and family, before July, 1848. Ramsey, Samuel, and family, before July, 1848. Rattan, Thomas, and family came from Illinois 1841 — settled in Collin; of his children, Hamp, then of Bird's Fort, was killed by Indians, one and one- half miles southwest of Carrollton, Dallas county, Christmas day, 1841; Littleton; John died in Col- lin ; Mary married Wm. Fitzhugh ; Harriet mar- ried Andrew J. Witt, and died in Dallas ; Ann mar- ried James W. Throckmorton ; Hugh married a daughter of David Turner; Jennie married Mr. Moore and died in Collin ; Tollie married Robert Dowell and lives in Collin; Edward married Miss Stiff and lives in Collin; Louisa married Hogan Witt (cousin of Preston), of Colhn; Temperance Sixty Years In Texas. 349 married John Kincaid ; Thomas Hves near Van Alstyne. Robinson, Wm., married Ann Matterson. Robinson, J. M., married Louisa Newton. Sheppard, Mrs. Subrina, daughter of Hugh Brown, of Georgia, came to Dallas the wife of George M. Ray, in 1846 ; her second husband was Elder Thacker V. Griffin, and she is now the widow of James Sheppard, residing with her stepdaughter, Mrs. E. A. (Dr. A. A.) Johnston — now dead. Smith, Patrick P., a soldier at Monterey in 1846 — son of Abraham T. Smith, who w^as killed by In- dians, on the Brazos, in 1841 — now dead. Shahan, David, and family came in 1844 or '45. Shahan, Wm. P., came single in 1844 of '45. Smith, Chilton, and family came in 1844 or '45. Sprowls, William, and family, from Illinois in 1844 or '45. Samson, Dr. Jonathan L., came in 1845; visited Cal- ifornia and died. His widow married the late Mr. Bourgeois. Sharrock, James, and family, before 1848. Sharrock, Everard, and family before 1848, Sharrock, Everard, Jr., came single before 1848. Sharrock, George W., came single before 1848. Simmons, James A., and family, died early. Stewart, Samuel A., and family, before 1848. Sloan, Robert (a gallant and early Indian fighter) and family came from Red River county in 1844. He commanded a scouting party through Dallas county in 1840; died in Stephensville in 1886. Sloan, Samuel (brother of Robert) , came from Red River county in 1844 ; was a soldier in the Texian army of 1836. He now lives in Stephens county. Stewart, Wm. A., married Susan O. Harwood. Slayback, Anderson, married Lucinda Chapman. Stone, Thomas, married EHzabeth Ross. 350 Sixty Years In Texas. SCROGGINS, Wm., married Lucretia Strong. Smith, Rev. James A., and family came from Mis- sissippi in 1846. [He, his twin brother, Wesley, now of Eastland county, and his brother William A., superintendent of the State Blind Asylum during the war, now dead, were all Methodist preachers, and each one, in the locality of his residence, from his ruddy complexion and bristly hair, was known by the soubriquet of ''Cedar Top" — by the way, three excellent and sincere men.] James A. Smith's chil- dren were John Wesley, married Miss Wilburn; Joshua Lafayette, married Miss Daniels — a cap- tain in Stone's Sixth Texas cavalry, murdered in Dallas in 1867 by Wilson, an attache of the Freed- men's bureau, who fled the country; Robert mar- ried Sophronia Wnn; Fanny Killen married John M. Laws, and is dead. Swing, Matt L., came in 1848. Snow, Wm. J., came single before 1848; married Eleanor Otwell. Snow, J. M., came from Arkansas in 1848. Stadden, Seth, and family from Illinois in 1846. Story, John L., before 1848. SCRUTCH. Nathan, single, before 1848. Story, Thomas C, single, before 1848. Starkey, Jesse S., before 1848. Simpson, Lionel, before 1848. Smith, Absolem, and family, before 1848. Snyder, John D., single, before 1848. SCURLOCK, John, and family, before 1848. Sewell, James M. and Thos. J., single, before 1848. Sweet, Levi J., and family, before 1848. Sage, Daniel, before 1848. Taylor, Pleasant, in Illinois married Nancy, daugh- ter of Elder Roderick Rawlins ; came in 1844 ; their children were Alonzo, Addie Paris, all dead ; , killed by a pet bear; living — Pleasant King, who Sixty Years In Texas. 351 married Annie Collins, and Sophronia, wife of R. P. Aunspaugh; Alfred married Lizzie Green, now the wife of Frank M. Ervay. TuGGLE, Henry, married Minerva A. Biffle. Trees, Crawford, came in 1845. In 1846, married Annie M. Kimmel, being the first couple married in the new county in July or August, 1846, the record being destroyed. Her name is erroneously printed Henderson on a former page. Thomas, John (the first chief justice of Dallas coun- ty) , wife Hannah and children came from Mis- souri in 1844. Their children — John, died a sol- dier in Mexico; Alex. A., also a soldier in Mexico, marrfed Mary E. Armstrong; Ellis C. married Julia Moon; Elizabeth B. married Charles H. Durgin ; Eliza married Reese Jones ; Sarah A. mar- ried P. A. Sayre. Turner, Wm. A., came single before July, 1848, married Alinda Turner. TOLIVER, J. M., from Illinois in 1846. TiLLEY, Jefi:erson, came in 1844 — married Eliza Cole. Thompson, Marlin M., came in 1844; married Lucy Horton. Turner, Levi, and family, before 1848. Turner, Wm., and family, before 1848. Turner, Wm. (?), single, before 1848. Taylor, Calvin, single, before 1848. Trimble, Wm. C, single, before 1848. Tucker, John S., and family, before 1848. Vance, Thomas, and family, before 1848. Vance, John C, and family, before 1848. Vance, Charles K., and family, before 1848. Valentine, Henry K., and family, before 1848. Vernoy, Thomas, came single in 1845, married Julia A Bast and died early. Vernoy, Julia, married first — Bast and second Wm. James. 352 Sixty Years In Texas. Vail, Hiram, came single, married Betsey Keenan. Weatherford, Jefferson and family, from Kentucky, but from Illinois in 1845. Weatherford, Money, and family, from Illinois in 1845. Weatherford, Hairbird, single, from Illinois in 1845. Wampler, Thos. J., and family, before 1848. Wampler, Valentine, and family, before 1848. Wampler, Martin J. S., Austin C. and Wm. R. came single. Walker, Wm. J., and family, from Tennessee 1846. Walker, A. G., from Kentucky 1845. Wilson, Richard, and family, before 1848. Wilson, Aaron B., and family, before 1848. Wilson, George, and family, from Missouri in 1840; from Lamar county in 1848. Among his children are Thomas, Charles, James K. P. and Nancy E., wife of James N. Whittenburg — was lieutenant colonel in Young's regiment at the close of the Mexican war. Williams, Thomas C., and family, from Tennessee in 1845. Among his children are T. J., J. B., E. A., M. J. and R. H. I am not responsible beyond the initials. Wright, John W., and family, before 1848. Wright, John W. (2) and family, before 1848. Wand, Henry, and family, before 1848. Wilburn, Robert, and family, came in 1845; in Grand Prairie fight. Wilburn, Edward, and family came in 1845. Wilburn, Hiram, and family came in 1845. Winn, Francis A., and family came in 1845 ; among his children were Berry; W. M. married Ann R. West; Emma married John R. West; Viola H. mar- ried Edward W. Hunt ; Helena married T. J. Winn. Sixty Years In Texas. 353 West, James, and family, before 1848. Whitlock, John, and family, before 1849. West, Robert J., and family came in 1845; of his children, Ann R. married W. M. Winn; Helena married first T. J. Winn, second Dr. C. C. Gilles- pie ; Alice married Thomas H. Floyd ; John R. married Emma Winn ; Robert H. dead. Warner, John, came single before 1848. i--^ Webb, Alex. W., from Illinois to Bowie county in 1840 — to Bird's Fort in 1841 — escaped when the Indians killed Rattan; settled with his family in Dallas county in 1842. the WITT brothers FROM ILLINOIS. Witt, Preston, came in 1842 — died in 1877 — his wid- ow lives in Kansas. Witt, Wade H., and family came in 1845. Witt, Andrew J., came in 1845; married Harriet Rattan — both dead. .Witt, Pleasant, twin of Preston, came in 1842, and is dead. Witt, Eli, and family, now over ninety, lives at San Antonio. Witt, John, came single. Wise, Carlos, came single before 1848 — married Tabitha Rawlins. Young, John, and family, came before 1848. Zachary, Mrs. Sarah, and two children came from Kentucky in 1845; her daughter married Henry C. Long and died early. SAMUEL B. PRYOR Samuel B. Pryor and young wife came from Virginia, and last from Arkansas. His first child, Ashton, was born in Dallas, Texas, October 29, 1847. Dr. Pryor was District Clerk from December, 1846, to August, 1850, and was the first Mayor of Dallas. J. M. CROCKETT J. M. Crockett and wife came from Tennessee in 1847. He was very prominent in the affairs of Dallas County in an early day. He was second mayor of Dallas and served three terms. He was elected in 1853 as representative of Dallas county and served three terms until 1859, and served one term as Lieutenant-Governor from 1861 to 1863. ISAAC C. NAYLOR, Third Mayor of Dallas. JUDGE WM. M. HORD 358 Sixty Years In Texas. JUDGE W. H. HORD W. H. Hord and his wife Mary J, Hord (nee Crockett), came from Tennessee in the fall of 1844, and arrived in Dallas County, Texas, on the 12th day of January, 1845, and settled on what is now called Oak Cliff, and Cedar Creek at that time. W. H. Hord was born April 5, 1809, in Staunton, Vir- ginia; Mary J. Crockett was born in Cheraw, S. C, April 10, 1812, moved to Tennessee and were mar- ried there in Troy, O'Bryen County. Left there for Texas in 1844, and arrived in Dallas County and set- tled on Cedar Creek on January 12, 1845. Children, Wm. Henry, T. A., John G., F. P., and Mattie J., who is now Mrs. J. A. Crawford. William Henry and J. G. and F. P. Hord are dead. W. H. Hord died in 1902, at the age of 92. Hord's Ridge, Cedar Springs and Dallas were candidates for the county seat of Dallas County. The election being held, Hord's Ridge received 13 votes less than Dallas; then Cedar Springs, being on the same side of the river with Dallas, withdrew, and the election was held again, and Dallas received the majority of 28 votes over Hord's Ridge. Mr. Hord was our second Chief Justice, and serv- ed from 1848 to 1850. He married the first couple after the county was organized. Their names were Crawford Treese and Annie M. Kimble. Judge Hord was a prominent and a popular man during his long live in Dallas, and was honored and respected by all who knew him. JOHN HUFFHINES John Huffhines was born in Kentucky in 1800, of German ancestry, and came to Texas in 1853. His wife, Elizabeth Wright, of New York, having four- teen children, all lived to be grown and married. Sixty Years In Texas. 359 There are over one hundred grand children and great grand children too numerous to mention. Eight of them were in the Confederate Army — William and Phil, and Tom and Daniel Doty, P. B. Harris, and W. J. Halsell, lost three sons in law, were with Morgan and captured in the Ohio raid. George was killed at Chickamauga. Chris died in Louisiana. His daughters, Fannie married J. P. Saunders; Mary, Daniel Doty ; Elizabeth married W. J. Halsell ; Amanda, F. B. Harris; Cinderella, Henry Hatcher. Mr. John Huffhines, Sr., died March 15, 1875, his wife in 1886. The descendants and connections of John Huff- hines at this time will probably number nearly 500. The Huffhines were a kind of people to develop a new country. None of them ever aspired to office, and they did not try to bring themselves into public notice, neither did they spend much time in idle talk. They found here a new and wild country, untouched by the finger of man, and they converted it into a garden spot, and caused the wilderness to blossom as the rose. None of them ever held an office or ever asked for one ; and as far as I know not one of them was ever sued for debt, and all of that multitude of Huffhines were good for their promises. Such men are the stay and the strength and the backbone of our country, and when they came here they must have realized that they were a part of the advance guard going out in obedience to the command of God to subdue and replenish the earth, and they certainly have obeyed the command to the letter. CHARLES H. DURGIN Charles H. Durgin was an early arrival in the Republic of Texas, settling in 1842 in what is now Jefferson, Marion County, Texas. From there he went to San Antonio and came to Dallas in the 360 Sixty Years In Texas. spring of 1844, where he at once opened a mercan- tile business, being one of the two business houses then operated in what is now known as Dallas. He continued in business for some four years, and as an adjunct of his business was appointed the first post- master of Dallas — about 1846. He went to New Haven, Conn., in 1852, for medi- cal treatment, and there died at the age of 33. The original post office letter case consisted of a piece of heavy duck, seemingly "homespun," and un- questionably home made, with a system of alpha- betically arranged and lettered pockets in which the mail was distributed and the entire outfit was hung upon the wall. This old letter case was, prior to the death of "Aunt Lizzie" — Mrs. Elizabeth B. Durgin — wife of the subject of this sketch, given by her to her grand-nephew, William Cochran, of the Registry Department, Dallas Post Office. Charles H. Durgin was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1821, was educated in the city of his birth and Chicago, Illinois. He was married in Dallas County, in May, 1848, to Miss Elizabeth B. Thomas, their marriage license being the first to be issued in Dallas County. Mrs. Durgin's parents, John and Hannah (Andes) Thomas, were born respectively in Ten- nessee and Virginia, and were married in Sevier County, Tennessee. Her father, John Thomas, was elected to the office of Chief Justice when Dallas County was organized in 1846, and therefore the first Chief Justice. Wm. M. Cochran, a kinsman by marriage, being the first County Clerk of Dallas County. Mrs. Elizabeth B. Durgin owned at her death, and had lived for many years prior to her removal to Dallas, on part of the original headright patented to her father. She died recently. She only had one son, Charles, who died many years ago. Sixty Years In Texas. 361 JOHN THOMAS John Thomas was born in Sevier County, Tennes- see, , and married Miss Hannah Andes, a Virginian by birth, their union being cele- brated in Seviersville, Sevier County, Tennessee. Isaac Thomas, father of John Thomas, being also a Tennesseean and a Revolutionary soldier as well as a participant in the early Indian wars. John Thomas took an active part in the war of 1812 (second war with England), the Cherokee war, Black Hawk War, and the troubles with the Mormons or Latter Day Saints. In 1833 he settled in Independence, Jackson County, Missouri, living there until 1844, when he removed to what is now Dallas County, Texas. He took an active part in the political affairs of this section, and was elected the first Chief Justice of Dallas County, July, 1846, to August, 1848. He died in 1878, and his wife in 1875. Nine children were born to John and Hannah Andes Thomas, viz. : Cynthia A., wife of William Jenkins, both deceased; Henry, who died in Mis- souri about 1841 ; Ellis E., who died serving the Con- federacy in 1865 ; Alexander A., who died in Dallas County; Elizabeth B. (Mrs. Durgin), now dead; John T., who died in Mexico. He and his brother Alexander A. both being soldiers in the second war with Mexico; Jane, wife of Edward Hunt, died in Dallas in 1856; Sarah A., wife of F. A. Sayre of Bowie, Montague County, Texas; and Eliza Jones, who died in Johnson County, Texas, in June, 1883. COL. GEORGE WASHINGTON RECORD. Col. George Washington Record emigrated to Dallas County in 1853 from Marshall County, Ten- nessee, his birthplace. His father being a native of 362 Sixty Years In Texas. Virginia, but moved to Tennessee at a very early day, and there died. The old homestead of Col. Record being situated some five miles northwest of Dallas, at what is commonly known as the "Record Crossing," on Elm Fork of the Trinity River. At this point he erected a mill, which for many years bore his name. Back in the old commonwealth of Tennessee he married Alice Amanda Hughes, sister of Wm. H. ("Uncle Buck") Hughes. Of this union there lived to be grown the following children : John S., Alice, Joseph W., George Washington, Narcissus, Mary Ann, and Elizabeth Zulika. John A. now lives in Marshall, Texas. Alice is the widow of George Penn, Joseph W. died February 28th, 1896, George Wash- ington died about 1870, Narcissus C'Notty") mar- ried James Horn, of Dallas County, and died about 1890, Mary Ann, now the wife of W. W. Weston, of Dallas, Elizabeth Zulika (Bettie) now the wife of John S. Corley, of Mexia, Texas. It should be stated in this connection that Col. George W. Record had by former marriage two daughters — Martha, who married George Laws, and Mary Ann, who married William Knight, all of whom are now dead. CLAYTON RODGERS A Tennesseean, came to Texas in 1847 with his wife, Elizabeth Brooks Rodgers, and two children, Ralph and Mary Jane. They first settled in Grayson County, but did not remain there long; they made a wise choice and moved to the free State of Denton. I hope the reader will not think that I am making sport of Denton by calling her the free State. Far from it. It was there I spent the happiest part of my life. I have crossed it from side to side and from end to Sixty Years In Texas. 363 end, and always found a welcome in every home, and it would be almost as hard for me to forget the lov- ing mother that bore me as to forget the kind and generous people of Denton County. It was there I spent the glorious days of youth, when all were free and happy, and I often think of and can never for- get the girls and boys and the good old days I spent with them in youth so long ago. But something beautiful has vanished And we sigh for it in vain; We behold it everywhere on the earth and in the air But it never comes again. — J. L. S. CLAYTON RODGERS Clayton Rodgers and family were the kind of people to build up a new country. They came from Tennessee. That alone stands for success. The Tennesseeans have done a great deal for Texas. Sam Houston came from Tennessee, and others like him brought grit and energy with them, and that is what it takes to develop a new country. That, with courage that never backs down, will accomplish wonders. Time has proven that the Rodgers family were pos- sessed of all these traits of character. Clayton Rod- gers and family settled near the head of Steward's Creek, about a mile from where the town of Frisco now stands, and there pre-empted land. The historic town of Stewardsville was situated near there, but like some of the ancient cities, there is no traces of it left, although once its name was known through- out the States, and in Europe, and its splendor was talked much of in England. But it proved to be all on paper except one cabin 10x12 ft. in extent. The Rodgers family came to Texas at a time when it tried men's souls. The oldest son, Ralph, did the milling for two years, and would ride horseback to Bonham 364 Sixty Years In Texas. to mill when only eight years old — a distance of fifty miles, and the first crop they cultivated was twelve miles from their home. Clayton and Elizabeth Rodgers raised a family of seven children — four boys and three girls — whose names are as follows : Ralph, Mary Jane, Matthew, Maria Francis, Joe B., Tennie and I. S. They were all born here except the two oldest — Ralph and Mary Jane. The children grew up and married in the neighborhood they were raised in, and the descend- ants of this family now number one of the largest in North Texas, and are held in the highest esteem, many of them having held very responsible positions of honor and truth. Joe B. Rodgers is now serving his second term as treasurer of Collin County and Dr. I. S. is the present Mayor of Frisco and enjoying a very large and lucrative practice of medicine. They are more than an ordinary family, and have done much in developing and improving that part of the country. The oldest son, Ralph, enlisted in the Con- federate army and served throughout the entire war. WILLIAM B. MILLER A pioneer of Dallas County, was born in Madison County, Ky., in 1807, the second of seven children born to John and Mary Brown Miller, natives of Kentucky. Mr. Miller was reared to farm life, and educated in the public schools of Madison County, Alabama, and at the Academy at Huntsville. In 1847, he moved to Dallas County and settled in Pre- cinct No. 1, near Dallas, and from that time to the time of his death he ranked as one of the foremost and most honorable citizens of Dallas County. He lived to be a very old man. He departed this life not many years ago. He was married in 1828 to Elizabeth Waddy, also a native of Kentucky, whose ancestry on one side is traceable back to the Chero- Sixty Years In Texas. 365 kee Indians. By this marriage there was one child, Charilans, who did reside in the Cherokee Nation and was a neighbor of my Bro. Wilham. Charilans is now dead. He was a gallant colonel in the Confeder- ate army from Texas. He was familiarly known as Crill. Mr. Miller, Sr., the subject of our sketch, married Minerva Barnes, also a native of Madison County, Ky., and daughter of Jesse and Patsy Oden Barnes, natives of Kentucky. This Mrs. Miller died in 1856, after having had five children ; Alonzo, who died in 1855 ; Martha, wife of W. C. Leonard, of Kaufman county ; Mary, wife of G. W. Guess ; Eliza- beth, who married John Edmondson, now dead, and Susan, who married Dr. Ewing, of Dallas, is now dead. Mr. Miller married again in 1860 to Mrs. Emma Miller, widow of Madison M. Miller, and daughter of- Silas H. and Amy Spencer Dewey, natives of New York. The grandmother Dewey, previously Miss Hyde, was a grandaughter of Lord Chancellor Hyde. Silas H. Dewey came to Texas in 1855. He died near Bloom- field, Mo., in 1867. His wife died in Grayson Co., Texas, in 1884. Mr. and Mrs. Miller have had three children, viz. : Chas., J. H. and Minnie. The latter is the wife of Barry Miller of Dallas. REV. WILLIAM ALLEN Rev. Wm. Allen was born in Barren County, Kentucky, March 18th, 1834, and died recently at Frisco, Collin County, Texas. He was a methodist preacher, and has lived a life of usefulness. He was prominent and practical and the friend of saint and sinner, and was held in high esteem by all who knew him. He came to Texas in 1855, and was licensed to preach in 1860. He was stationed at Sabine Pass, on the Gulf, in 1862. He joined the Confederate Army and was soon promoted to military chaplain. 366 Sixty Years In Texas. and continued until the close of the war. Bro. Allen was not only an able and consecrated preacher of the gospel of Christ, but he was also an educator, and taught school for many years, and many of the young men of Collin and Denton County are indebt- ed to him for their education, and quite a number of Methodist preachers were educated under him. He taught school in the west part of Collin County for fourteen years. On June 7, 1866, he married Miss Abbie Mays, daughter of Dr. R. B. and Nancy Mays, and settled just in the edge of Denton County, where he hved until 1904, when he moved to the new town of Frisco. They never had any children, but raised several orphans. His good wife and a num- ber of his brothers and sisters that live in Kentucky, and Mrs. A. B, Mayes of McKinney, Texas, survive him. Bro. Allen was ele.cted to the State Senate and served for four years. He was a very close student and VvTote a great deal. His contributions to the papers were always readable and full of well-devel- oped thought. He was also quite an- author, and wrote several books, "Five Years In the West," "Southland," "Columbia," "Matter, Man and Spirit," and the "Life and Times of John B. Denton." These books were well written and are found in the libra- ries and homes of many people. Bro. Allen, by econ- omy and good investments, had accumulated a large estate and was very liberal and gave in the last three years before his death to various institutions the sum of $10,000. He gave $5,000 to Southwestern University, $500 to foreign missions, $500 to the Methodist Orphanage, $500 to Ann Browder Mission Home in Dallas, $500 to the Methodist Dormitory in Denton. The chapel of that institution is named in honor of him. He gave $1,000 to superannuated Homes. Bro. Allen stood out boldly for the up- building of everything that was for the good of Sixty Years In Texas. 367 humanity. The great influence for good of this use- ful and noble man of God cannot be measured now; it will go on and on down through the ages, and may be known in the great and final day of reckoning. Bro. Allen has willed most of his magnificent estate to the University of Georgetown, amounting to about $100,000, after the death of his wife to be known as the WiHiam and Abbie Allen Helping Fund, to be used toward educating the poor. This man was his brother's keeper, and did much to cause others to live better lives, and it is certainly a blessed thing when the messenger of death shall come to be able to look back over a useful and well-spent life, as did our departed brother. E. A. GRACEY A prominent and prosperous Dallas County farm- er, was born in Bond County, Illinois, March 13th, 1837, the youngest son of eleven children of William and Isabella M. (Harris) Gracey, natives of South Carolina, of Scotch and Irish degcent, and pioneer settlers of Illinois. At the age of 13 years Mr. Gracey came to Texas by v>^ay of steamboat to New Orleans, and thence up Red River to Jefferson, Tex- as, and walked nearly 200 miles to Dallas County. He went to work immediately, finding employment with J. M. Crockett at $12.00 per month. He worked for him a few months, and then went to work for his brother in Ellis, now Johnson, County, helping him to improve his farm. In the fall of 1854 he Vv^ent with M. T. Johnson, after whom Johnson Coun- ty was named, and Capt. Robert Sloan. He went to Ft. Belknap, as a prospector for the Texas & Pacific Railroad Company. From that time to 1860 he was engaged in the live stock business. The Indians had become very troublesome, and had committed many depredations. They had been 368 Sixty Years In Texas. stealing horses and killing people and scalping them in the counties further west. Mr. Gracey then joined a party of rangers, and was in many Indian fights. In one fight they killed one Indian and captured two, and nine horses, and thirteen at another time. After a year thus engaged the Civil War broke out, and Mr. Gracey enlisted in Company H, Captain J. B. Barry, of the First Texas Calvary, Colonel H. E. McCullough commanding. They took the first line of post vacated by the United States forces on the frontier of Texas. He was also at Camp Cooper when surrendered to the Confederates, and remained there until April, 1862, 'during which time they were in eight engagements with Indians, killing seventeen and captured 47 head of horses, and having four men killed and thirteen wounded, besides two mortally frightened — at least, they were never heard of after- wards. In April, 1862, the company was reorgan- ized, and Mr. Gracey elected Second Lieutenant. They were then ordered to the Rio Grande to hold the Mexicans in check, and at one time they were without bread for twenty-four days. They were sent with a detachment into Mexico to buy mules for the Confederate Government. They purchased 60 head near Monterey for $7.00 per head. Next they were sent to Corpus Christi and Goliad and Sabine Pass. At the latter place they had a battle with the Federal troops, and captured two gunboats and 160 prisoners. Here Mr. Gracey was promoted to First Lieutenant. After this they went to Louisiana, and were in several engagements, and were at Keechie, Louisiana, at the time of the sur- render. He then returned to Dallas County. He married Miss Martha Amanda Matlock. They have raised a large family. Fourteen children were born to them, five of them dying in infancy. Mr. Gracey is an elder in the Presbyterian Sixty Years In Texas. 369 Church, and is a Christian gentleman. He and his family are highly respected by all who know them. Mr. Gracey is a self-made man. His prosperity is due to his energy and industry and well directed effort. CAPTAIN JEFFERSON PEAK Jefferson Peak was born in Scott County, Ky., April 1, 1801. In 1825 he married Martha M. Reason. War being declared with Mexico in 1846. he raised a company of Kentucky cavalry. March- ing overland, they joined General Zachary Taylor's army, near the Rio Grande, and remained with him throughout his campaign in Northern Mexico. After peace was declared. Captain Peak returned to Ken- tucky, where the company was disbanded. He was then elected to the Kentucky Legislature as a Whig. At this period he became interested in stamboating, owning and operating several steamboats which plied between Louisville and Cincinnati. Between 1850 and 1854 he made several trips to Texas, overland, bringing with him his three old- est sons (Dr. C. M. Peak, locating in Fort Worth, while it was yet but a military post; Wallace and Jefferson, Jr., locating in Dallas). In 1855 Captain Peak brought the remainder of his family (consist- ing of his wife, three sons, Junius, Worth and vic- tor, and three daughters, Sarah, Juliette and Flor- ence) , to Dallas and built near the present intersec- tion of Peak Avenue and Worth Street, the first brick house erected in Dallas County. From 1857 to v*^ithin a few years of his death. Captain Peak was engaged in the mercantile business. Always a firm believer in a great future for Dal- las, he invested largely in local realty. Both Cap- tain and Mrs. Peak were devoted members of the 370 Sixty Years In Texas. Christian Church. The death of Captain Peak oc- curred in 1885 ; that of his wife in 1890. Of their children five are now Kving: Three sons — Junius, Worth and Victor; and two daugh- ters, Mrs. Sarah A. Harwood, widow of the late Cap- tain Alex. Harwood, and Mrs. Florence C. Field. All these reside in Dallas. THE MILITARY ROAD This road was blazed out through the timber and staked through the prairie in 1840 by Col. Wm. G. Cooke. Provisions had been made by Congress at Austin in 1840 for the opening of a military road from Austin to Red River, or the mouth of the Kiam- ishi in Red River County. The entire route lay outside of the settlements, it being approximately a direct line from Austin to Bonham, then known as Fort Inglish, the home of a worthy pioneer named Bailey Inglish. Col. Cooke lost five of his men at one time they having been killed by Indians, and the entire expedition was one of peril and hardship. "The northern initial point of this road was the mouth of Kiamishi Creek, on Red river, in Rea River County; thence it ran southwesterly, passing at or near where Paris stands; thence nine or ten miles west of the present town of Greenville; thence to what was aftervv^ards known as "McKenzie's," and later as "Barnes,' " ferry, on the East fork of Trin- ity; thence to the present county road crossing on White Rock, four miles east of Dallas ; thence to the Trinity near where the Santa Fe railway crosses, a little below Dallas; and thence by the Waco village and fort, on Little River, to Austin, an entire dis- tance of about three hundred and sixty miles. It was "staked" through the prairies and "blazed" through timber, but not opened through timber and Sixty Years In Texas. 371 timbered bottoms till 1843, and then only to the Trinity from the north, when, a few settlers having located where Dallas is, it was deflected from White Rock so as to cross the river at that point and fall on the marked line a little beyond. But the changes in the country, by immigration in the next few years, were such as to supersede portions of the road and eclipse its original national intendment, insomuch that many persons now living who came to the coun- try but a little later are unaware of or have for- gotten its origin and character. "On the 14th of November, 1840, from his camp at Inglish's, on the Bois d'Arc, Col. Cooke officially reported all the facts herein recited, up to that date, to Branch T. Archer, Secretary of War, and has been carefully followed in this narration. In it he says that he had selected an eligible location for a post, at which to store supplies and station men for the protection of the Red River settlements against the Indians. "The point finally chosen, and at which barracks were immediately erected, but not occupied or gar- risoned, was at or in the immediate vicinity of the present town of Denison, a few miles below Coffee's trading house ♦on Red River. In May, 1841, the Village Creek expedition, in which Denton was killed, halted on the outward trip, for two or three days, at these barracks, and on the return trip dis- banded at the same pla,ce." THE SHERIFFS OF DALLAS COUNTY First sheriff, John Huitt, 1846 to 1848. Roland Huitt, second, 1848 to 1850. T. C. Hawpe, 1850 to 1854, two terms; Adam C. Haught, 1854 to 1856. B. M. Henderson, 1856 to 1858. He was killed in 372 Sixty Years In Texas. Denver while under guard by the Federal soldiers. 1861. Wormley Carter, 1858 to 1860. Allen Beard, 1860 to 1862. N. 0. McAdams, 1862 to 1866, two terms. Jerry M. Brown, 1866 to 1867; the officers were removed and others appointed by the military. N. R. Winniford served until 1870, sheriff, Jerry Brown, 1870 to 1872 ; James E. Barkley sheriff 1873 to 1876; Marion Moon to 1878; Marion Moon re- elected to 1880. Ben Jones, 1880 to 1882. William H. W. Smith, 1882 to 1886, two terms. W. H. Lewis, 1886 to 1892, three terms. Ben Cabell, 1892 to 1900; resigned in April. Lee Hughes elected by the County Commissioners to serve unexpired term. J. Roll Johnson elected and served two terms until 1904. Next A. L. Ledbetter ; he is now in office. DISTRICT CLERKS OF DALLAS COUNTY 1846 to 1848— first District Clerk, John C. Mc- Coy, resigned. Sam Pryor appointed. Samuel B. Pryor re-elected to 1850. Edward C. Browder, 1850 to 1864, seven terms. George W. Laws, elected 1864 to 1866. Wm. C. Young, elected 1866 to 1868. District Clerk appointed by the military, E. B. Spellman, superseded by Ben Long June 2, 1868. Served until 1870. District and County Clerk, J. M. Laws, 1870 to 1872. Alex Harwood, District and County Clerk, 1872 to 1876. 1876 to 1880, Wm. A. Harwood. Wm. A. Harwood from 1880 to 1882. Sixty Years In Texas. 373 Henry W. Jones, 1882 to 1888, three terms. Joe H. Stewart, 1888 to 1896, four terms. Henry W. Jones, 1896 to 1904, four terms, eight years. A. B. Rawhns, 1904 to 1906. H. H. Williams, 1906 to 1908 ; and is now nomi- nated for another term. THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF DALLAS Have been an important factor in building up the City of Dallas. Twenty-five years ago, when I moved to Dallas for the purpose of giving my children better school advantages, the public school system was very im- perfect, and I sent my children to a private school. Since that time the public school system has very much improved, and of late years the schools have been very well managed, until the public school sys- tem of Dallas is almost perfect. The capable and efficient management of our last Superintendent, Prof. J. L. Long, has done much for the public schools. Professors Harris, Hand and Stanberry all did their part in building up the public schools of Dallas and making them what they are to-day. In 1886 there were no brick public school houses in the city. At that time East Dallas was a separate corporation, and we had no school house. The East Dallas city council at that time consisted of eight aldermen and the mayor. I and two other aldermen were in favor of building a brick school house, and a good one, for East Dallas, and the mayor was with us, but we had five aldermen to fight, and we had to watch our chances, and that chance came when two of the opposition v/ere absent, and I brought the question up, and it resulted in a tie vote, and the mayor decided it in our favor, and before the next 374 Sixty Years In Texas. meeting we persuaded one of the opposition to come across. The opposition was such it was a long time before we could secure a quorum to do business, and we had to adjourn from time to time. We at last got tired of it and adjourned to meet at the house of one of the opposition a few minutes later, that claim- ed he was sick, and after transacting some business we brought up the school house question, and the sick alderman dashed out of the door and hollowed back, "'No quorum!" but the mayor decided differ- ently. The opposition wanted to build three or four small wooden houses. The brick school house that stands upon solid rock at the corner of Gaston and College Avenue is the result of our labors, and is a thing of beauty and a joy forever, and that was the first public brick school house built in the city of Dallas. It was built in the year 1886. In 1888 Dal- las proper followed by building the Oak Grove and the Cumberland Hill school houses, and in 1890 the McKinney Avenue and Cedar Lawn school houses were built. We now have seventeen large brick school houses in the city, and a very large and ele- gant up to date brick for the high school, and the competent and efficient principal, Joseph Morgan, has charge of it, and has served the public for many years. ' G. W. Crutcher was mayor of East Dallas in 1886, and the following named aldermen were in office : S. P. Bird, H. N. Haskell, T. J. Murnene, T. G. O'Riley, F. Ganser, Chas. Wood, George Jackson and J. T. Farrell were aldermen when the first brick school house was built in Dallas. The old high school property was bought in 1887. Our well conducted public schools have brought many people to Dallas from other small towns and from the country. We now have nine months school, from September 1st to June, and the gradu- Sixty Years In Texas. 375 ates of the High School are able to get first class certificates to teach in any of the common schools of the country. THE TEXAS STATE FAIR The Texas State Fair, that has been held annual- ly at Dallas for 23 years, has a history that only a few people know. The following is a portion of the unwritten history of the Texas State Fair: It may be a matter of news to many of the pres- ent citizens of Dallas, but it is a fact, nevertheless, that when this fair opened its gates in 1886 it owed $150,000, and that this sum was carried on the per- sonal notes of a few men who now live in this city. It is also a fact that this debt was carried for many years, and, in fact, until these gentlemen were en- abled to bond the grounds in 1892 for $100,000, which was all they could get at that time, and in order to effect this negotiation they were forced to take themselves second mortgage bonds on the fair grounds for $50,000, every cent of which they freely gave up and lost in order, subsequently, to save the fair. The first eighty acres of land this fair ever owned was purchased by one of these same gentlemen from three different owners, and for which he was com- pelled to pay the cash, and after doing this he deeded it in fee simple to the fair, taking its stock for pay, and every dollar of this stock was afterwards given up and lost in the troubles of 1892; but he is not alone in this, for every one of the above gentlemen has donated in the past sixteen years not less than $10,000 to this fair, besides giving his services free to keep it going until it could get on its feet; and last, but not least, not one of these men, nor any other man, to-day owns more than ten shares of 376 Sixty Years In Texas. stock in this present corporation, which now owns and controls the Texas Stats Fair. The $100,000 bonds which were placed on the fair grounds in 1892 bore 9 per cent, interest, payable semi-annually, which, at that time, was not consider- ed high. Twenty-eight thousand dollars of the above $100,000 was taken and paid for in full by these same gentlemen named above ; the other $72,000 was sold to an English syndicate. From 1892 to 1900 these same gentlemen through all the dark days of adversity that hung over the city of Dallas like a funeral pall, stayed by and labored to keep the fair in operation. Each year, to create a fund with which to open the fair, they borrowed $10,000 on their per- sonal notes and pledged their credit and responsi- bility for the premiums, purses and expenses, amounting to $60,000 each year. On three different occasions during this period, owing to hard times and rainy Vv^eather, destructions of buildings by fire and other calamities, the fair did not earn enough money to pay its premiums and debts, and but for the generous aid tendered by the citizens of Dallas and the railways and other public institutions of the city, the fair must have gone into the past ; but it seemed that when everything was gloomy, every avenue was shut up and the fair was in the balance, tottering to- wards its end, some opening appeared, and by some way or other the fair was kept on, and has increased in interest for many years, and has attracted great multitudes of people, not only from our own great State, but from many other States, and an increas- ing interest taken in it from year to year; and the year 1908 will be a Fair of such magnitude in every department it will be without a parallel in the United States. Th3 Agriculture and Manufacturing Building has a space of 294x376 feet, or more than 2i ■> acres. Sixty Years In Texas. 377 Our Fine Arts and Ladies' Textile Building is 125 feet square, handsomely built of cement stone and covered with glass domes some 50 feet in height. The Ladies' Textile Division covers an area more than double what it did last year. The new steel Grand Stand, after the latest model, is 300x64 feet, with a seating capacity of 5500. Our Implement and Vehicle Department, the building is 200x500 feet. Vast sums of money have been spent in improvements for the year 1908, and it now enjoys the reputation of not having a parallel in the whole history of fairs, and each entertain- ment grows better, and the people of Texas are proud of the great State Fair at Dallas. DALLAS COUNTY PIONEER ASSOCIATION Has met annually since the year 1875, but the members that composed the Association at that time, most of them, have passed over the River, and gone to their reward, and others have taken their places. This meeting is an annual event that is looked for- ward to with pleasure, and the old pioneers that are left still love to talk about the good old days of the pioneer, although many hardships were endured and they still claim thhat they enjoyed life then as well as now, and we have all the comforts of life. All men then seemed to be honest, and they trusted each other like brothers. The sons and daughters and grand children of those old pioneers are still taking a great interest in the Old Pioneers Association. All of the officers of the first organization are novv^ dead except probably three or four. The following are the names of the officers : When the Association was organized, July 13th, 378 Sixty Years In Texas. 1875, for temporary organization, W. H. Witt, Presi- dent; I. B. Webb, Vice, deceased; M. V. Cole Secre- tary, deceased ; a constitution was adopted and 115 members enrolled. John C. McCoy elected Presi dent, I. B. Webb, William H. Hord, Mrs. Elizabeth B. Durgin, Mrs. Nancy J. Cochran, Vice-Presidents, all now dead; Edward C. Browder (now dead). Sec- retary ; John W. Smith, Treasurer ; Elder Amos Mc- Commas (now dead), Chaplain; Executive Commit- tee, John M. Crockett (now dead), John H. Cochran, Elizabeth B. Durgin (now dead), Mrs. Martha Bee- man, Mrs. Fanny Laws (now dead), Mrs. Thomas Ellis, William B. Elam and R. Alexander Rawlins, John Henry Brown (now dead). BIRD'S FORT In the fall and winter of 1840-41 the fort, since known at Bird's Fort, about twenty-two miles west- erly from Dallas, on the north side of the Main or West fork of the Trinity, was built by a company of three months Rangers, under Capt. John Bird, all residents of Bowie and Red River Counties. They soon returned home and left the post unoccupied. Not far from the same time, but the precise date is unknown, Robert Sloan, in command of a detach- ment from a company of "minute" men in Red River County, made a hasty scout through this country, and Mobile here one of the men, named David Clubb. formerly of Illinois and a soldier in the Black Hawk War, of 1832, was killed by Indians at a small lake on the Elm fork of the Trinity, a short distance above its mouth and below the Keenan crossing. It has been erroneously said that this man's name was Samuel Clubb, and that he was killed on the east side of White Rock Creek. Sloan was not the cap- tain of the Red River company, but a leader of one Sixty Years In Texas. 379 of the squads into which it was divided for alternate scouting purposes. In the fall of 1841 the families of Hamp Rattan and Capt. Mabel Gilbert, with a few men, reached Bird's Fort, and a little later the family of John Beeman. Late in November, 1841, a wagon was sent back to Red River for provisions. It stayed so long that three men were sent to find and assist it, if necessary. These men were Alex W. Webb (did live near Mesquite, in Dallas County), Solomon Silk- wood and Hamp Rattan. On the east side of Elm Fork, about a mile and a half southwest of where Carrollton is, while cutting down a large ash tree to get the honey found to be in it, and on Christmas Day, 1841, Rattan was killed by a small party of concealed Indians. Webb and Silkvx^ood killed one Indian and escaped to reach the Fort. The snow was six inches deep. It was intensely cold, and so remained for several days. Silkwood, from the ex- posure endured, sickened and died. A single man was again started to meet the relief wagon. He succeeded, and on the 30th, five days after the kill- ing, the wagon reached the scene. The body of Rattan was still guarded by his faithful dog. The remains Vv^ere conveyed to the Fort, and there, in a rude coffin made of an old wagon body, committed to the earth. His brothers, John and Liddleton Rattan, had been in the fight of Village Creek, in the pre- vious May or June, when Denton was killed. He was also a brother of Mrs. A. J. Witt, deceased, of Dal- las County, and Mrs. J. W. Throckmorton and Mrs. Wm. Fitzhugh, of Collin. He was a neighbor in Illinois of our esteemed old fellow-citizen and pio- neer of Dallas County, Elder John M. Myers, of Carrollton, (so near the spot where he was killed), who assures me that he was a worthy man. 380 Sixty Years In Texas. RICHARDSON This village is twelve miles north and a little east of Dallas, on the Houston & Texas Central Railroad. It was established in 1872, near the old town of Back- enridge, that flourished in ante bellum days. There is no richer body of land in America than the country that surrounds Richardson. The town is small, prob- ably five or six hundred. It is too near Dallas to grow into a very large place. The citizens are en- terprising and abreast of the times. They have one of the best schools in that section of the country. The farmers are thrifty, and Richardson is a great grain and cotton shipping point. Considering its population it is one of the best towns in the country for business and enterprise, and the farmers around Richardson are well fixed, comfortable houses and well improved farms. CARROLLTON Is a thriving little town, situated fourteen miles north and a little west of Dallas, and is on the M., K. and T. Railroad, or what was first known as the Dallas and Wichita Railroad. Later the Cotton Belt Railroad crossed the M., K. & T. Railroad at that place, and still later the Frisco entered Carrollton, and has been extended to Irving and connected with the Rock Island. This gives Carrollton an outlet in six different directions. Carrollton has become a good shipping point, and has two large brick plants, and an excellent quality of brick is manufactured at that place. My old farm was situated near Carrollton, and in the pasture nearest the town the land seemed to be worthless. The shale came to the top of the ground, and no grass would grow on it. At that place now there is Sixty Years In Texas. 381 a very large brick plant, and the land is more val- uable than any other part of the farm. GARLAND Among the most prominent towns in the county outside of the City of Dallas is Garland. It is sit- uated about seventeen miles northeast from the City of Dallas, on Duck Creek, at the junction of the M., K, & T. and the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroads, and near the site of the old town of Duck Creek. In 1886 the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Railroad was lo- cated and run about a mile east of the town on Duck Creek, and a town sprung up at that place, and was named Embree, after the name of one of the leading physicians, and when the Missouri, Kan- sas & Texas road located a line and run near Embree another town sprung up, and there was quite a rival- ry between the two towns. Duck Creek and Embree, but it was finally consolidated into one town and named Garland, and the bad feeling that existed at one time has disappeared, and the citizens of Gar- land all work together and are proud of the town, and it has become a noted place, and has grown rapidly. Garland is noted for her liberality. They often have barbecues and picnics and great political gath- erings there, and the multitudes that attend are al- ways loud in their praises of the hearty welcomes and the great hberality shown by the people. It has most of the conveniences of the larger cities and is surrounded by one of the richest sections in the country. Garland has good churches and schools, and the people seem to be happy and contented. The farms are well improved with comfortable farm houses, and most of them are clear of debt and are independent. 382 Sixty Years In Texas. CEDAR HILL This place took its name from the cedar brakes on Mountain Creek, which runs a short distance from the town. It is the second oldest town in the county, coming next to Dallas. Farmers Branch was more of an important place than either in the early days, but did not develop into much of a town until recent years. Cedar Hill is situated eighteen miles south- west of Dallas, and in 1856 experienced a sad fate of being blown away by a storm, leaving only two houses, killing most of the people. I remember well the look of that angry cloud and the awful stories told by our people that went from our neighborhood to help bury the dead. Many stories were told that seemed also incredible, but nevertheless true. Cedar Hill is situated upon a lofty rolling hill, and the scenery surrounding this town is truly grand. Such magnificent sceneries cannot be vv^itnessed from any other point in the country. The schools are good, and the several religious denominations have good church houses. Some of the most enterprising citizens of the county live in this little town. Joe H. Stewart, that served us as District Clerk for eight years, is an old citizen of Cedar Hill, and has lived here for more than thirty years. He is a native of North Carolina. He is known, and favorably known, throughout the coun- try. He is affable, congenial and a talented gentle- man, and his friends are almost without number. The soil around Cedar Hill is very good for small grain and cotton. It is a mixture of white lime and black soil. Cedar Hill is also a fine shipping point. PLANO Is situated on the Houston and Texas Central Railroad, about twenty miles north of Dallas, in Col- Sixty Years In Texas. 383 lin County, a few miles north of the north hne of Dallas County, and is so closely identified with Dallas that we would like to claim her as one of Dallas County's prosperous and growing towns. She has the H. & T. C. and the Cotton Belt Railroads, that give her an outlet both north, south, east and west. She also has the Dallas and Sherman Interurban road, with cars passing every half hour. The coun- try that surrounds Piano is probably the best and richest blackland county in North Texas. It is sim- ilar to the country around Richardson, and thought by many to be the richest and best body of black land in the United States. Many of the farmers around Piano are wealthy, and Piano is a thriving, hustling, up-to-date town of probably 2,500 inhab- itants or more, and has most of the conveniences of larger cities. She has good school houses and up- to-date schools, and the several different denomina- tions have good churches, and Piano does a large trade with Dallas. When my father and family came to Dallas Coun- ty and settled about ten miles west of where Piano now stands the land then was considered worthless on account of it being so far from timber, and in later years much of it was located by land certificates that were floating around, the cost being from fifteen to twenty-five cents per acre. Some of the same land has sold in recent years as high as $100 per acre, and not many of the farmers care to sell at all. A black-land farm near Piano is a mine of wealth, and those that work it receive bountiful and rich returns. MESQUITE Is a thriving little town of a thousand or fifteen hundred people, situated on a high prairie twelve 384 Sixty Years In Texas. miles east of Dallas, on the Texas & Pacific Railroad. It was established in 1872, as a railroad station. Being located in a rich prairie country, it soon took rapid growth, and developed into an attractive little town. The first settlers were Major Bradfield, the station agent, and J. J. Gallaher. There was but lit- tle improvement at that time in the surrounding country. It was a wild prairie. But now it is a well- improved country. Neat looking farm houses and a prosperous people. The lamented R. S, Kim- brough did a great deal for Mesquite during his life time. He was a very public spirited man, and Mes- quite lost one of her best and most useful citizens when R. S. Kimbrough died ; but Mesquite has many public spirited and enterprising citizens now. The Honorable J. C. Rugel has served in the State Legis- lature, and has had a career of honor. Four or five different denominations have creditable church buildings, and the school at this place is the pride of the citizens, and Mesquite is also a good cotton mar- ket, and it is also a first-class shipping place for small grain, cotton and cattle. Mesquite is surrounded by a rich and beautiful country, and her people are prosperous, and their farms well improved. GEORGE JACKSON. NOV 28 1908 ^^^ ^^^ H ^^^ ^ LIBRARY OF CONGRESS IIIU 014 648 377 A