Vol 18 No. 05 - February 1941

Captivity Of The Simpson Children

John Henry Brown

Among the residents of Austin in the days of its partial abandonment, from the spring of. 1842 to the final act of annexation in the winter of 1845-6, was an estimable widow named Simpson. During that period Austin was but an outpost, without troops and ever exposed to inroads from the Indians. Mrs. Simpson had a daughter named Emma, fourteen years of age, and a son named Thomas, aged twelve. On a summer afternoon in 1844, her two children went out a short distance to drive home the cows. Soon their mother heard them scream at the ravine, not over 400 yards west of the center of the town. Thus began the tragedy which is the subject of this account.

Further Mentions: Col. John S. Ford * Mount Bonnell * Mount Barker * Judge Joe Lee, Columbus Browning and Thomas Wooldridge * Thomas Simpson * Shoal creek * George

A Tenderfoot In A Sheep Camp

By J. Marvin Hunter

In the account, the author describes his experiences when unemployment led him to take up duties serving for a time in a sheep camp near Sonora, Texas.

Mentions: the Devil's River News * Mrs. Traweek's hotel * Mrs. McDonald's hotel * Mike Murphy * Steve Murphy * Reed Calhoun * Mark Baugh * Callahan county * the San Angelo Standard * the West Texas Museum at San Angelo * Miss Ella Sanders * Menardville * Sheffield, on the Pecos * Pipkin * Thurman Baldwin * Bill Cook gang * Mrs. Jim Hagerlund in Sonora * Sam Stokes, Charlie Adams, Charlie Nichols, Ben Cusenberry, S. Lewenthal * Uncle Billie Franklin, John Hagerlund, Mike O'Meara, Felix Vanderstucken, Jim Boggs, Max Mayer, Doc Word, O. T. Word, J. L. Davis, L. N. Brooks, E. E. Sawyer, W. B. Woodruff, Clemmie Dodson, J. W. Stewart, W. J. Fields, T. D. Newell, Charlie Collins, and N. H. Rose * Charlie Collins * M. O. Dickerson of Roosevelt, Texas * Mrs. Carlotta Burt, Junction, Texas ; Harry Northcutt, Junction, Texas; J. A. Parker, Roosevelt, Texas; Dr. E. R. Young, Charco, Texas; G. M. Jones, Kenedy, Texas; Miss Georgie Allison, Roosevelt, Texas; Mrs. Belle Taylor, Roosevelt, Texas; W. R. Sanderfur, Charco, Texas; R. E. Roberts, Charco, Texas; John B. Bailey, Ozona, Texas, and D. H. Myers, San Antonio, Texas *

Buried Treasure

By Grace Miller White, San Antonio, Texas

Tales of buried gold, fabulous Spanish treasure, and pirate booty long hidden have always been common in Texas. Such stories make up most of the folk-lore of the Southwest. Adventurous and imaginative persons still search for lost mines and cached chests of gold and priceless jewels. The treasure hunter is usually a lone wolf, but now and then groups have been formed to work together to search old records and maps for data and to sift for clues the vast number of stories that have been handed down. By combining their time and their resources they hope to ferret out the hiding places of phantom riches. Fortunes have been spent in futile search; men have been killed when the quest seemed to be too near the end; lone seekers have perished in the fastnesses of arid mountains. They have gone on burros, by wagon train, on foot, in automobiles, and now some are going by airplane, but always their evanescent dreams have made them a bit mad. This account deals in particular with a report that in Austin there is a large treasure buried somewhere near the banks of Shoal creek.

Mentions: North Rio Grande street * Pease Park * Coronado's Children * Seven Cities of Cibolo * Governor Pease * Ramon de la Cruz * La Piedrosa * Racoon * old man Harrell's cabin * William Sidney Porter *

Charles Goodnight's Famous Belled Steer

By J. Frank Dobie

Account of frontiersman and cattleman, Charles Goodnight and of Goodnight's prize steer, Old Blue.

Mentions: J. Evetts Haley * John Chisum * Bosque Redondo ranch * JA brand * a Scotchman, Adair by name * Palo Duro * Wright & Beverly's store * Wolf creek * Chief Lone Wolf * John Tylor * John A. Lomax *

Heroines Of The Hills

By T. U. Taylor, Austin, Texas

This account (and the one that follows on the Old Johnson Institute), detail some excellent HAYS COUNTY TEXAS early history and genealogy

The first white settlers came to the county in 1846, the same year the town of Fredericksburg was founded. Others came in 1847 in large numbers. General Edward Burleson was representing the district in the State Senate and he introduced the bill to make the district a county. The bill was passed on March 1, 1848, creating Hays county.

Article Mentions: John Kirby, sheriff * E. Erherd, county clerk * W. E. Owens, district clerk * Henry Cheatem * N. F. Owens * Sheppard Colbath, C. R. Johns, A. E. McDonald, and U. A. Young * the famous Plum Creek fight * Emma Kyle * Major Edward Burleson was the son of General Edward Burleson * Aunt Sooky Holt * the Kyle ranch * Edward Claiborne * Edward Claiborne Burleson * Sink Springs * the Limekiln road * John William Burleson * James Glenn Burleson * Ford McCulliver Burleson * Albert Sydney Burleson * Lily Kyle Burleson * Mary Kyle Burleson * Emma Kyle Burleson * B. Melaski * Mr. Johnson, the storekeeper * Tom Sneed, a brilliant lawyer * the International and Great Southern railroad * St. Mary's Academy * Mary Baldwin seminary in Stanton, Virginia * Aunt Sookey Breedlove * the good Samaritanwomen of Stringtown * Emma Johnson, wife to Thomas Johnson of Hays, Blanco, and Travis * Mrs. Roundsavill * Coronal Institute * Sam R. Kone * R. M. Alexander * Samuel Reid Kone * C. W. Moore * Ferg Kyle * George W. Brackenridge * O. M. Roberts * the town of Hunter * Jennie Burleson * Her father was David Crockett Burleson * Louisa Ware * Crock Burleson * the town of Buda * the Birdwell store * Scarborough and Hicks * the Suton Infirmary *

The Johnson Institute

By T. U. Taylor, Austin, Texas

In the year 1852, witnessed a great trek or migration from the older states into Texas. Texas had been a state some six years, and Texas fever had spread over all the Southern States, especially the Gulf States, and swarms of settlers crossed the Red River from Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas. They generally took the northern route, came by Little Rock, crossing the Red River above Shreveport. Long before this immigration started, certain pioneer school teachers came as missionaries to Texas. By 1840, the churches had become alive to the necessity of education, but the state itself had made no provision for popular education. There had come into Texas in the latter part of the 1840's, Thomas Jefferson Johnson, a robust educator and a very heroic Christian. He, first taught in Huntsville, Texas, before Austin College was erected or had been established. He later taught in Webberville, Travis county. Overtures were made to him to establish an institution in the City of Austin, but like McKenzie, he determined to establish his school out in the country. He studied the situation, and of all the places he inspected, he finally decided on a spot in the northern part of Hays county, 17 miles southwest of Austin, in a beautiful flat valley between two prongs of Bear Creek, and here he established Johnson Institute that began operation in 1852. This is the story of Thomas Johnson and the institute. Includes 2 old photos of Institute.

Further Mentions: Reutersville College * McKenzie College * Austin College * Huntsville * Clarksville * LaGrange * the Sam Houston Normal Institute * Catherine Hyde * Jefferson City * Lockhart and Webberville * Bear Creek * Mrs. T. J. Johnson * San Marcos * Oatmanville * John Hyde * William H. Greer of Navasota; Elizabeth, who married Hezekiah Williams of Austin, and Annie, who married Melvin Lockett * Ben Johnson * Ben Johnson married Idella White * Devine * Soule University * John Hyde Johnson * Miss Betty Clevourne * Lucy Hall * Rev. J. H. Johnson * William H. Greer of Navasota * John E. Shelton * Willie Melia * Edgar Greer Shelton * Lelia Mosley * William Earl Shelton * Adell Horn * Ruth Stevenson * Catherine Crow * John E. Shelton, married Kathryn Cavitt * Glenn Polk Shelton married Nella Cox * Emmett Hughes Shelton married Elba May Gilbert * Harold Moen Shelton married Elizabeth Gillis * Simon Gillis * Melvin Lockett * Elizabeth Johnson married Hezekiah Williams * Elizabeth Johnson Williams * Hezekiah Williams * the Brueggerhoff building at the corner of Congress avenue and Tenth street in Austin * the Maverick Cafe * John Shelton of South Austin * Albert Sidney Johnston * Dale Valley * the Jones family of Travis county * Mrs. Pearce * Del Valle * Ned Anderson, Henry Barber, Lizzie Barr, Mattie Barr, Richard Bertram, Jennie Bishop. Lula Bishop, Sarah Bonner, Breedlove. Pierre Bremond * John E. Shelton * Alf Burehard, William Burehard, Felix Burtcher, Morgan Burtcher, Lucy Butler, Octavia Butler, Arnold Capt, Robert Capt, Susie Carpenter, L. D. Carrington, Sena Carson, Will Clayton John Compton, Charles Cook, Ed Cook, Bascom Craft, Walter Craft, Mollie Crisp, Willie Crist, Santa Anna Cruz, Frank Fitzhugh, Albert Glasscock, Andrew Glasscock, Frank Glasscock, George Glasscock, Nannie Glasscock, Tom Glasscock, Ish'am Good, August Green, Jim Green, Glenn Greer, John Greer, Susie Greer, W. H. Greer, Jap Halford, Emma Hancock, James Hancock, John Ilancock, Mollie Hancock, Willie Hancock, Woods Hancock, Dave Harrington, E. D. Harrington, Priscilla Harrington, Virginia Harrington, Warren Harrington, Blanche Herndon, Frank Herndon, Haywood, Johnie Hines, Jim Jolly, Stanton Jolly, Annie Johnson, Alice Jones, Annie Jones, Fulton Jones, Jodie Jones, Mattie Jones, Susie Jones, Caroline Klein, Crooms Lee, M. B. Lockett, Emma Lohmann, Fred Lohmann, Gus Lohmann, John Lohmann, Will Lohmann, Dave Martin, George Martin, John McGlaughlin, Monroe Miller, Nance, Jim Nickols, Medlin Nichols, George Nuckols, Joe Nuckols, Caroline Ochs, Ada Oldham, A. Y. Oldham, Emma Oldham, Frances Oldham, Herman Pecht, William Palm, Peter Pfluger, Henry Richie, Minerva Richie, Albert Rismann, Alonzo Robinson, Jim Rogers, Joe Rogers, John Rogers, Nannie Rogers, Rachel Rogers, Will Rogers, H. C. Roundtree, Jim Roundtree, Pell Roundtree, Sam Roundtree, Alf Roy, Charles Roy, Henry Roy, John Roy, Kate Rowell, Mary Rowell, Harry Runnels, Monroe Sawyer. Pedee Sawyer, Emma Schmitt, Jim Schmitt, William Schmitt, Annie Smith, Bud Smith, Helen Smith, John Smith, Lizzie Smith, Matthew Speed, Flora Stacker, Robert Stacker, Mary Stepehnson, John Stringer, Eliza Tally, Lizzie Tally. Mary Tally, Abraham Taylor. Gila Taylor, Lizzie Taylor, Matt Timman, Pinkev Tinnan, Clip Tinnan, John Tulk. Ed Tyson, Jim Wahrenbereer, John Wahrnburger, Margaret Wahrnbureer, Monte Weir, Pete Weir, Scott Weir, Trace White, C. C. Wnthrich, J. R. Wuthrleh.

Some Characters Around Old San Felipe

Noah Smithwick

Account of early development and subsequent events that occurred in this historically vital area, the region of Texas' first settlers under Stephen F. Austin. The account is written from the eye of one of it's chief residents - Noah Smithwick.

Further Mentions: Marcin county, North Carolina * Thurza N. (Blakey) Smithwick * Mrs. Nanna Smithwick Donaldson * George Huff * the farm of Joshua Parker * Seth Ingram and Ira Ingram * David G. Burnet * Hosea N. League * William Pettus * the Peyton tavern * Jonathan C. Peyton * Dinsmore's store * the store of Walter C. White * Godwin B. Cotton * the Whiteside Hotel * the "Cotton Plant," the first newspaper in the colonies * billiard hall of Cooper and Chieves * Samuel M. Williams * Quintana * George W. Hockey * Francis W. Johnson * 'Walter C. White * Benjamin Milam * Godwin B. Cotton * P. C. Gray * Gail Borden * Judge R. M. Williamson * Madam Powell * Jose Riel * Padre Muldoon *

Our Northern Boundary

What is the northern boundary of the Lone Star state? The answer to that contentious question—bandied between five nations off and on for four centuries—goes back to 1813, when Pichardo, Mexican cleric and historian appointed by the Spanish government to chart Mexico's boundary, traced the tortuous, muddy Red River. This account traces the various developments in the fixing of the state's northern boudary. Further Mentions: Charles W. Hackett * Dr. Charmion Shelby *

Texas Owes Much To George Childress

Brady Standard

Little did those hardy patriots and Texas pioneers who assembled at Washington-on-the-Brazos during the eventful days of March, 1836, realize what the results of their deliberations would be, but they did lustily cheer and thrill to the words of the brilliant young Tennessean who had written that immortal document of Texas history—the declaration of independence from Mexico. That man—then only 32 years of age—was George Childress, an eminent lawyer, United States marshal for many years, and a man of great wealth. He was a close friend of Andrew Jackson. Here is his story.

Further Mentions: the Rosenberg School grounds * Judge John Childress * Elizabeth Robertson Childress * Col. Elijah Robertson * Sterling C. Robertson * Richard Ellis, Robert Porter, Don Lorenzo de Zavala * James Colilingsworth * Dr. Stephen H. Everett * Richard Ellis * Edwin Walter * Dr. Ashbel Smith

Debunks Some Roy Bean Tales

Tom McGowan

Roy Bean, justice of the peace, operator of the famous Jersey Lily saloon at Langtry, and jurist par-excellence, about whom fiction writers and movie scenarist have woven an aura of romanticism, is just plain Roy Bean to one San Antonian who knew him. This San Antonioan is S. P. Peterson, a former justice of the peace at Sanderson, a railroad car inspector, and acquaintance of the famous jurist who held court sessions in his saloon at Langtry. According to Peterson, many of the Roy Bean anecdotes are just plain "bunk." Some of them, however, are true, he says. Here is his account of Judge Bean

The railroad man paid for his refreshment with his pay check, and just as Bean went to get the change, a "case" was brought before the court. Bean began the trial, which proved to he a long one. The railroadman waited patiently for some time, and then finally asked Bean for his change. The "judge" became enraged and cited the man for contempt of court fining hint the remainder of his check… Mentions: Sanderson * Vinegaroon * Charley Wilson * Del Rio * etc.

George Bigford Passes On

By A. P. Johnson, Carrizo Springs, Texas

Account of George Bigford of Dimmit county Texas. Early Bell county Texas pioneer, frontiersman, Ranger and cowboy.

Mentions: Panola county, Mississippi * James Bigford * Cook county * Belton * Little Duck Creek * Louisa Mae Bell of Carrizo Springs * the old El Jardin Ranch * Rev. Brae Roberts * Hebbronville

Texas News Items Of Long Ago

Mentions: Eight men went to the house of Tom Weaver, a halfwitted man who lived on Plum Creek, and deliberately shot him to death while he lay in bed between two children... * The Weatherford and Jacksboro stage was robbed last week… * A Mr. Knight rode into Cleburne a few days ago on a horned horse. The animal was in every respect a well formed two year-old colt except that it has two horns about… * The fencecutters have been very… * Van Alstyne * Frank Welch Higon * Z. Van Ward, aged seventy years, a resident of Bexar county * S. Brown, who killed old man Martin last summer * Jim Swofford, living near Springtown in Parker county… * . J. W. Mears of Menard * J. C. Jones * McCulloch county * Charles Lippincott * Mollie Johnson * Prosecuting Attorney Wallace of Medina county

THE EDITOR'S BOX

Mentions: Hugovilla, the noted sculptor, * Dave Dillingham * Dean T. U. Taylor * I. H. Burney * Mr. Burney was born at Kerrville * Uncle Tom Stevens Bandera pioneer * Captain Jack Phillips Company * Mr. A. E. Getzendaner * Motilone Indian * Mr. Getzendaner * Mrs. Beall Frost * Mrs. Lynn Eliot of San Antonio * Uncle Charlie Gersdorff of San Antonio * Miss Oleta Loyd of Kingsville * Willie Mueller of Bandera * Ed Cosper of Duncan * Mr. Sam N. Moses of Belle Fourche * Edith Buckner Edwards