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LIBRARY  OF  CONGRESS 


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Fayette   County, 


HER    HISTORY    AND    HER    PEOPLE. 


F.  LOTTO. 


Breathes  there  the  man  with  soul  so  dead, 
Who  never  to  himself  hath  said, 

This  is  my  own ,  my  native  land ; 
Whose  heart  hath  ne'er  within  him  burned. 
As  home  his  footsteps  he  hath  turned, 

From  wandering  on  a  foreign  strand  ? 
If  such  there  breathe,  go,  marlt  him  well: 
For  him  no  minstrel  raptures  swell. 
High  though  his  title,  proud  his  name. 
Boundless  his  wealth  as  wish  can  claim; 
Despite  those  titles,  power,  and  pelf, 
The  wretch,  concentred  all  in  self. 
Living  shall  forfeit  fair  renown. 
And,  doubly  dying,  shall  go  down. 
To  the  vile  dust  from  whence  he  sprung. 
Unwept,  unhonored,  and  unsung. 

—Scott. 


Published  by  the  Author  at  Schulenburg,  Texas,  1902. 


$TicKEB  Steam  Preso, 


r  3 '  ^ 


THE  LIBRARY  OF 
CONGRESS, 

Two  Cowtd   RecsivED 

SEP.  n    1902 

COPVBIOHT    ENTnV 

CLM^  i^XXc  No. 

;f  f  2>  n  g 

COFY  B 


Copyright,  1902, 

by 

F.  Lotto,  La  Grange,  Texas. 


All  rights  reserved. 

Published  September,  1902. 


PREFACE, 

It  is  customary  for  a  writer  to  have  in  the  preface  of  his 
book  a  sliort  address  to  the  reader  either  to  reconiraend  his  work, 
or  tell  of  its  aitrits,  its  history  and  the  difficulties  encountered  in 
preparing  it.  The  writer  of  this  book  has  chosen  for  his  theme 
the  description  and  liistory  of  the%rai1"d  old  county  of  Fayette. 
If  works  of  fiction  find  the  approval  of  an  enlightened  public, 
the  writer  hopes  that  his  book,  wherein  he  has  shown,  on  the 
hand  of  public  records,  the  development  of  a  struggling  commun- 
ity to  a  prosperous  county,  one  of  the  proudest  and  foremost  in 
tlie  state,  the  home  county  of  the  reader,  where  the  scenes  of  his 
childhood  lie,  where  he  has  grown  to  manhood  and  of  which  he 
is  a  political  factor,  will  appeal  to  his  love  of  home  and  be  a 
source  of  interest  to  him.  History  is  nobler  than  fiction,  a  grand 
fact  greater  than  a  noble  thought.  The  book  contains  a  world 
of  grand  facts.  If  they  have  not  been  always  treated  with  the 
dignity  of  critical  exposition  and  embellished  by  philosophic 
thoughts,  there  is  nothing  to  hinder  the  reader  to  improve  these 
shortcomings  and  to  recall,  on  hand  of  these  furnished  facts,  a 
more  vivid  picture  of  the  scenes  and  the  life  of  the  past. 

Some  friends  of  the  writer  have  asked  him  to  place  his  bio- 
graphy in  this  book.  Ihis  he  does  not  feel  inclined  to  do  on 
account  of  his  short  residence  in  the  county.  But  to  a  history 
of  the  preparation  of  this  book  the  reader  is  entitled,  the  more 
so  as  it  refiects  the  greatest  credit  on  the  people  of  Fayette 
County  and  is  also  in  many  other  respects  quite  interesting. 

The  intelligence  of  the  writer  had  secured  him  the  position 
as  traveling  agent  of  that  great  German  weekly,  "La  Grange 
Deutsche  Zeitung,"  in  which  position  he  became  afilicted  with  / 

rheumatic  fever  and  landed   in   the   Fayette  County   Hospital.  / 

Here,  in  his  fever  visions,  the  scenes  of  his  childhood  and  the 
chronique  of  his  native  place  which  he  had  read  in  his  youth 
presented  themselves  before  his  mind  so  often  that  after  he  grew 
well,  he  considered  the  question  of  writing  a  book  on  Fayette 


— Vl-  - 

County.  Kealizing  that  the  people  of  tliis  county  are  as  enlight- 
ened and  patriotic  as  those  of  his  native  land  and  realizing  tliat 
his  book  would  take  in  a  wider  scope,  he  talked  the  matter  over 
with  his  friend  Jake  VVolters,  who  quite  approved  the  idea.  In 
January,  1901,  Mr.  \V.  R.  King  and  Mr.  Chris.  Steinmann,  wh  ) 
both  approved  the  idea,  saw  the  writer  in  regard  to  his  prospec- 
tive book  at  the  County  Hospital,  and  Mr.  King  made  a  verbal 
agreement  witli  him  about  printing  it.  The  writer  thought  a 
book  like  that  could  be  gotten  out  in  about  six  months.  But  in 
this  he  was  mistaken.  He  has  worked  at  it  for  about  fourteen 
months.  It  took  him  more  than  six  months  to  procure  data  and 
notes  and  go  over  the  records.  As  the  progress  of  the  work  was 
rather  slow,  his  practical  friend  "Jake,"  a  leading  lawyer  of  La 
Grange,  whom  the  writer  sometimes  went  to  see,  one  day  asked 
him:  "Now,  look  here.  Lotto,  on  what  are  you  going  to  live 
while  writing  this  book?  You  have  not  a  cent."  To  which  he 
replied:  ''Well,  Jake,  I  have  studied  Thackeray's  chapter 
'How  to  live  on  nothing  a  year,'  and  my  friend,  Judge  Kennon 
of  Colorado  county,  claims  that  I  could  have  given  Thackeray 
pointers  on  this.  I  am  just  going  to  freeze  it  out."  "You 
mean  sweat  it  out."  "Well,  that  may  amount  to  the  same." 
But  a  man  cannot  live  on  i)rospects;  he  has  to  have  something 
more  substantial.  Thus,  the  writer  accepted  again  the  position 
as  traveling  agent  of  the  great  German  weekly  and  gathered  ma- 
terial and  notes  for  his  book  whenever  he  could.  A  great  many 
citizens  of  Fayette  county  welcomed  the  idea  and  gave  tlie  writer 
all  possible  assistance  and  encouragement.  In  a  great  many 
cases,  or  rather,  to  be  truthful,  in  must  cases,  they  went  so  far 
as  to  secure  him  patronage  for  his  book  and  even  bore  the 
expenses  of  obtaining  it.  He  received  numerous  invitations  to 
come  and  see  them  and  make  his  sta}''  with  them  while  engaged 
in  his  work.  Where  he  had  no  invitation,  he  was  a  more  or  less 
welcome  guest  anyway.  The  writer  can  not  thank  them  too 
much  for  their  kindness.  For,  without  their  generous  assistance 
and  encouragement,  he  would  have  despaired  of  his  work.  If, 
on  his  canvass,  he  sometimes  found  a  man  who  ridiculed  the 
idea  of  writing  a  history  of  Fayette  County  and  in  his  feeling  of 
the  superiority   of  his  nothingness  looked  down  on   him   and 


— Vll — 

refused  him  his  patronage,  the  thought  of  the  generous  friend 
ship  of  the  majority  of  the  people  upheld  him.  The  people — 
the  generous,  liberal,  patriotic  people  of  Fayette  county 
— were  on  the  side  of  the  writer  and  this  was  the  greatest  source 
of  pride  and  pleasure  to  him  and  on  that  account  he  could  well 
afford  to  overlook  the  remarks  of  cutting  sarcasm  which  werfi 
intended  to  hinder  the  author  in  liis  work.  The  fact  remains 
that  the  generosity  of  the  people  of  Fayette  county  enabled  the 
writer  to  get  out  his  work  without  having  a  cent  in  his  pocket,  a 
fact  which  reflects  still  greater  credit  on  them  than  on  him.  In 
fact,  such  could  be  accomplished  only  among  people  of  the  very 
highest  intelligence,  among  people  who  judge  a  man  by  his  acts 
rather  than  by  his  money-purse.  To  have  secured  tlieir  friend- 
ship, or,  at  least,  patronage  and  good  will,  will  be  a  source  of 
everlasting  pride  and  gratification  to  the  writer. 

The  author  had  labored  all  these  months  without  money, 
but  now  he  had  come  to  that  stage  in  his  work  where  he  must 
have  money  to  procure  engravings,  binding  and  a  hundred  and 
one  things  which  required  money.  It.  was  now  a  question 
whether  the  work  of  all  these  long  months  should  be  thrown 
away  or  whether  tiiis  book  should  yet  reach  the  hands  of  the 
public.  The  author  again  turned  to  Jake  Wolters  and  laid  the 
matter  before  him.  With  him  it  was  only  a  question:  "How 
much  do  you  i  eed,  Lotto?"  Then  he  talked  to  John  B.  Hollo- 
way,  the  big-hearted  and  patriotic  cashier  of  the  First  National 
bank,  and  the  cashier  and  Jake  fixed  it  up.  Thus  the  writer 
found  his  Maecenas  in  Jake  Wolters.  To  him  he  is  indebted 
for  financial  aid  as  well  as  for  his  encouragement  and  influence. 
For  the  writer  must  confess  that  there  were  times  when  he  felt 
discouraged  and  felt  inclined  to  throw  up  the  undertaking.  But 
words  of  good  cheer  always  roused  him  up  to  move  forward. 

He  also  feels  under  deep  obligations  to  Prof.  Wm.  Eilers, 
Prof.  J.  H.  Merz,  Mr.  J.  C.  Melcher,  Mr.  C.  L,  Melcher,  Mr. 
Geo.  Huebner,  Judge  A.  Haidusek  and  a  great  many  others  too 
numerous  to  be  mentioned. 

To  Mr.  W.  R.  King,  who  had  the  contract  to  print  the  book 
and  who  engaged  for   the  printing  two  extra  flrst-class,  experi< 


— viu — 

enced  printers,    he    feels  obliged  for    the   elegant    workmanlike 
manner  in  which  the  work  has  been  completed. 

The  works  of  reference  that  have  been  used  in  the  History  of 
Fayette  County  are  John  Henry  Brown's  History  of  Texas,  W.  C. 
Crane's  Life  of  Sam  Houston,  the  Minutes  of  the  Commissioners' 
Court  of  Fayette  County,  the  Election  Records  of  Fayette  County 
and  a  great  number  of  official  bonds  and  other  documents. 

The  writer  has  striven  to  be  as  exact  as  possible,  he  deeming 
exactness  the  main  quality  in  a  work  of  this  kind.  Still,  a  few 
errors,  caused  by  incorrect  spelling  in  the  records,  may  have 
crept  into  the  book.  Of  such  errors  as  he  has  found  himself  or 
as  have  been  pointed  out  to  him,  he  has  made  a  list  of  errata  in 
order  for  the  reader  to  correct  the  text.  Considering  the  large 
size  of  the  book,  they  are  exceedingly  few,  and  he  begs  to  be 
excused  for  them.  No  matter  how  much  care  and  attention  one 
may  pay  to  a  book  and  its  printing,  there  never  was  a  book 
printed  yet  entirely  without  errors. 

La  Grange,  September,  1902.  F.  Lotto. 


CONTEiSTTS, 


PART  I. 


DESCRIPTIOiN  OP  FAYETTE  COUNTY. 

PAGE. 

Situation,  Climate,  J^evel  above  Sea,    Rainfall,  Boundaries, 

Area  and  Population o 

Surface  and  Soil 5 

Watercourses  and   Drainage 8 

Produce  and  Land  Price 9 

Resources  of  the  Count}^ 15 

'J'he  JNIinerals  of  Fayette  County.     By  J.  C.  Melcher 16 

Fayette  County's  Mineral  Res'^iurces.      By  L.  C.  Melclier 22 

The  Timber  of  the  County.     By  J.  C.  Melcher 26 

A  Bird's  Eye  View  of  Fayette  County  in  Summer  Time 37 

Industries 40 

Commercial  Highways 40 

Character  and  Elements  of   Population 43 

Social  Life — Schools,  Churches,  Clubs,  and  Societies 51 

Politics 58 

The  Newspa])er  Press  of  the    County 58 

Possibilities  of  Fayette  County 02 

A  Day  of  Life  on  a  Farm  in  Fayette  County 63 

A  Talk  with  an  Old  Settler. — Past  and  Present  Compared ijij 

Tile  Boundaries  of  Commissioners'  and  Justices'  Beats    and 

Voting  Precincts  of  Fayette  County 61) 


1>ART  II. 

HISTORY  OF  FAYETTE    COUNTY. 

PAGE. 

Introduction 85 


— X — 

FIRST  PERIOD. 

FROM  THE  EARLY  SETTLEMENT  OF  FAYETTE  COUNTY  TO 
THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  COUNTY  (1821-1838.) 

PAGE. 

Arrival  of  the  First    White  Settlers 86 

Indian  Tribes 86 

Character  of  the  First  White   Settlers 86 

Nativity  of  the  First  White  Settlers .  87 

Municipalities 88 

Indian  Marauding  Expeditions 88 

Indian    Fights 88 

Fayette  County's  Share  in  tlie  War   of  Indepenpence Ul 

Letter  of  Joel    W.  Robison. J>2 

An  Act  of  Congress  Establishing  Fayette  County 94 

SECOND  PERIOD. 

FROM  THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  COUNTY  TO  THE 
CIVIL  WAR  (1838-1861). 

Organization  of  the  County 96 

La  Grange  as  a  Competitor  for  the  Capital 97 

The  Dawson  Massacre 98 

liattle  of  Furt   Mier „  99 

State  of  the  County  at  tlie  'I'ime  of  Oi'ganization 100 

Taxation 101 

First  and  Second  Court  House 102 

I<"irst  and  Second  Jails 104 

Credit  of  the  County 105 

Public  Ferries 106 

The  First  Bridges  in  the  County 107 

County  Finances  and  County  Scrip 107 

Defalcations  and  Suits  of  the  County 110 

A  Faithful  Officer 112 

Fees  of  Officers 112 

Prices 113 

Justices  of  the  Peace  113 

Commissioners'    Court 113 

County    Records II3 


—  XI — 

PAGE. 

Public    Roads 114 

Election  Precincts 115 

Citizens'  Papers IK) 

Paupers 116 

Apportionment  of  School  Fund  to   Fayette  County 117 

Fayette  County  School  La,nds 117 

County   Attorney's  Office 1 17 

County  Assessments  and  Negro  Population 11^ 

Tliird  Court  House  in   Fa^^ette  County 118 

Patrol  Companies 121 

THIRD   PERIOD. 

FAYETTE    COUNTY    DURING  THE    CIVIL    WAR    (1861-1 SG5). 

Secession 128 

Companies  Raised  in  Fayette  County 123 

Problems  to  Solve  at  Home. 121: 

Bounty    War   Scrip 1 2-") 

Probable  Number  of  Levied  Men 127 

Change   Notes 127 

Depreciation  of  the  Currency 129 

Destitution  Among  Families  of  Soldiers — War  Tax  and  War 

Tax  Scrip 121) 

The  Cow    Order lol 

A  Tax  Paid  in  Provisions 134 

Doubtful  Characters  at   Home 135 

The  Negro  Population  During  The  War 13G 

Prohibition  in  La  Grange 137 

Physician's  Certificates 1^7 

Election  Contest. 138 

Road  Precincts 138 

FOURTH    PERIOD. 

FAYETTE    COUNTY    DURING     THE    ERA    OF    RECONSTRUCTION. 

(1865-1876.) 

Condition  of  the  South,  and   Especially  of  Fayette  County..  139 

Taxes,  Finances  and  Salaries  of  County  Officers 141 

Yellow  Fever 141 


— xu 

PAGE. 

Overflows  of  1869  and  1870 142 

Smallpox , 142 

Minor  Details 143 

First  Board  of  Medical  Examiners... 148 

Road   Precincts. 143 

Election  Precincts 143 

Transcript  of  County  Records 144 

Paupers 144 

School  Affairs 144 

Fayette  County  School  Lands 144 

Suits  of  the  County 145 

The  Southern   PacKic 146 

FIFTH  PERIOD. 

EK.\    OF    DEVELOPMENT    (1876-1902.) 

Railroads  liuilt  in  the  County '. 148 

Sale  of  Fayette  County  School  Lands 149 

Jail  and  Jail  Bonds 152 

Colorado  River  Bridge  and  Bridge  Bonds 154 

Paupers  and  Poorhouse _ 157 

Fourth  Court  House 159 

Public  Roads 160 

Bridges  and  Bridge  Bonds 162 

Interesting  Incidents 164 

A  Friendly  Spar  with  Colorado  County - 164 

Salaries  and  Fees  of  Some  County  Officers-- 165 

The  Prohibition  Question 166 

Epidemics 166 

Yellow  Fever  Quarantine 167 

Overflow  of  1900 168 

Storm  of  1900 170 

Election  Precincts 171 

School  Districts 171 

Justices'  Courthouses 171 

Incorporation  of  Towns 171 

Minor  Details 172 

Resolutions  of  Respect - - 172 

Companies  Raised  in  Fayette  County  for  ihe  Spanish  War...  173 


— XIU — 

APPENDIX. 


PAG5I. 

Tlepublic  of  Texas  versus  Inconsistent  Legislative  Acts.  .  . .   i1^) 

Adldavit  of  ])istrict  Attorney  Thomas  Johnson 17S 

Administrator's  Bond  of  N,  VV.  Eastland  on  the  Estate  of 

Nicholas  M.  Dawson 17!> 

List  of  Freeholders  in  Faj^ette  County  During  the  Time  of 

the  Republic  of  Texas -.  .   171) 

Jjist  of  Persons  Who  Paid  Occupation  Tax  in  Fayette  Coun- 
ty in  1838-39 181 

List  of  Persons  to  Whom  Licenses  Were  Issued  in  1840-41  182 

An  Agreement 184 

List  of  County  Ofiicers  Since  tlie  Organization  of  the  (-ounty 

in  1835 185 


BIOGRAPHIES, 


COUNTY   OFFICEES. 

Joseph  Echols  Baker 1!)1 

Sam  C.  Lovvrey 192 

Rud.  Klatt... 193 

August  Loessin 194 

R,  T.  Bradshaw 195 

C.  W.  Steinmann 197 

Neal  Robison 198 

G.  A.  Stierling 199 

THE  BENCH  AND  BAR  OF  FAY- 
ETTE COUNTY,  201 

R.  M.  Williamson 202 

R.  E.  B.  Baylor 203 

John  Hancock 203 

Ttiomas  H.  Duval 205 

James  H.Bell 205 


MEMBERS  OF    FAYETTE    COUNTY 
BAR. 

J.  C.  Brown 20G 

J.  T.  Duncan 208 

Hon.  H.  M.  Garwood...  210 

Judge  Aug.  Haidusek.  .  .  211 

C.  D.  Krause 215 

Hon.  J.  Lane 217 

Hon.  C.  E.  Lane 218 

Thomas  W.  Lane 220 

Geo.  E.  Lenert 221 

Hon.  L.  \V.  Moore 222 

Edward  II.  Moss 223 

Robert  Moss.... 225 

Method  Pazdral 225 

Hon.  W.  S.  Robson 227 

Hon.  liana  Teichmueller  229 

Hon.  Jacob  F.  Wolters..  231 


XIV 


LEADING    CITIZENS    OF    FAYETTE    COUNTY, 


Chris.  Biiumgavten,  sr. .  .    i^BG 

G.  A.  Banmgarten 238 

Henry  Beniker 239 

A.  VV.   Beniker 241 

Rev.  J.  Chromcik 242 

Dr.  1.  E.  Clark 244 

Henry  Eilers 246 

Prof,  Wm.  Eilers 248 

Hon.  A.  E.  Falke 250 

Loreuz  Fuclis 251 

Prof.  Julius  Hansen 253 

A,  Heintze,  sr 254 

A.  Heintze,  jr 25G 

John  B.  Hollovvay 258 

Geo.  Huebner *2G0 

Hon,  A.  B.  Kerr 261 

Anton  Legler 204 

Auj;.  F.  Loessin 265 

Will  Loessin 267 

Carl  Luecke 269 

Hon.  Wenzel  Matajowski  270 
Geo.  Mauer,  sr 272 


J.  C.   Melcher 273 

C.  L.  Melcher 274 

Julius  Meyenberg,  sr.  .  .  .  275 

Prof.  M.  W.  Meyer 277 

Mrs.  iMaria  Muelker 288 

Marshall  B.  O'Bar 280 

John  Oltmanns 282 

F.  Presun 283 

Chas.    H.  Schaefer 285 

Max  and  Julius  Schwartz  286 

Clias.  and  G.  Singelmann  287 

John  Speckels,  sr 288 

G.  E.  Speckels 290 

Hon.  J.  C.  Speckels 293 

Josei:)h  George  Wagner.  .  294 

Robert  VVolters,  .sr 296 

Theo.  Wolters 298 

Hugo  Zapp,  sr 300 

Robert  Zapp 303 

B.  L.  Zapp 305 

W.  L.  Kreische 306 

Louis  Schlottman 307 


PART    II  r. 


CITIES    AND    TOWNS    OF    FAYETTE    COUNTY. 

PAGR 

La  Grange  (the  County  Seat) 323 

INCJKPORATED    CITIES. 


Fayetteville 340         Flatonia 351 

Round  Top 355         Schulenburg 359 


-XV — 


TOWNS    AND    SETTLEMENTS. 


Ammannsville 872 

Biegel o7r> 

Black  Jack  Springs 377 

Bluff" 377 

Bridge  Valley 371) 

Carmine 380 

Cedar 3S2 

Cistern 382 

Colon V 385 

Dubina 385 

Ellineer 3SG 

Engle 3i»l 

Frey burg 392 

Halsted 302 

Haw  Creek 393 

High  Hill 394 

Holman 395 

Ledbetter 39(j 


Moravan 398 

Muldoon 3i>9 

Nechanitz 400 

Oldenburg. 400 

O'Quinn 401 

Oso 402 

Plum 406 

Praha 402 

Roznov 40(5 

Kutersville 407 

Stella 408 

Swiss  Alp 408 

VValdeck 409 

Wallialla 409 

W'arda 410 

Warrenton 414 

West  Point 416 

Winchester 418 

Zapp 421 

Addendum. 423 


LIST   OF  ERRATA. 


On  line  36,  on  page  59  strike  out  comma  before  "(luit"    and 

insert  after  quit. 

On  line  35,  on  page  61  instead  of  "Guerdler"  read  "Coerdel.'" 
On  line  27,  on    page  88    instead  of  "J.    Russek"    read    "I. 

Kussek." 

On  line  19,  on  page  95    instead    of  "William  Porton''   read 

"William  Ponton." 

On  line  21,  on    page    95    instead    of  "De  Wftts"  read  "De 

Witt-s."' 

On  line3  in  note,  page  95  instead  of  "Lacaca"'  read  "Lavaca." 
On  line  34,  on  page  99  instead  of  "1856"  read  ^'1846." 
On  line  32,  on  page  172  instead  of   "January"    read  "Feb- 
ruary." 

On  line  3,_on  page  173  instead  of  "1998"  read  "1898." 
On  line    17,  on  page  184  instead  of  "R.  S.   Hormuth"  read 

"R.  S.  Homuth." 

In  list  of  County  Clerks  on    page  187  instead  of  "1835  I.  8, 

Sister"  read  "18381.  S.  Sister." 


-XVI — 


In  list  of  Sheriffs  on  i)age  188  instead  of  "S.  Alexander 
Irivvin"  read  "8.  Alexander  Irwin."' 

In  list  of  Sheriffs  on  page  18S  instead  of  "1873  G7"  read 
"1873-7G." 

In  list  of  Sheriffs  on  page  188  instead  of  "1895  to  present 
time"  read  "1894  to  present  time." 

In  list  of  Assessors  on  page  189  instead  of  "1892  to  96" 
read  "1882  to  1896." 

In  list  of  County  School  Superintendents  on  page  190  in- 
stead of  "1998  to  present  time"  read  "1898  to  present  time." 

In  list  of  District  Clerks  on  page  190  instead  of  "1854-65" 
read  "J854-58"  instead  of  "19G6"  read  "1866;"  instead  of 
"177694"  read  "1876-94,"  in  note  instead  of  "L.  H.  Moore" 
read   "L.  VV.  Moore." 

In  biography  of  August  Loessiu  in  line  11  on  page  195, 
instead  of  "1869"  read  "1897." 

In  line  18  on  page  201  instead  of  "W.  G,  Welsh"  read  "VV. 
G.  Webb." 

In  line  26  on  page  207  instead  of  "Willow  Bayou"  read 
"Yellow  Bayou"  and  insert,  "and  the  skirmishes  from  Double 
Bridges  down  to  Yellow  Bayou." 

In  line  19  on  page  225  instead  of  "Wm.  Krause"  read 
"Wm.  Kruse." 

In  line  16  on  page  228  instead  of  "Then"  read  "Thus." 

In  line  37  on  page  245  instead  of  "Polylinic"  read  "Poly- 
clinic." 

in  line  28  on  page  293  instead  of  "but"  read  "best." 

In  No.  9,  on  page  309  instead  of  "Crockett's"  read  "Cock- 
rell's." 

In  line  30,  page  320.  strike  out  "part  of  the," 

In  line  16  on  page  360  instead  of  "W.  Pierce"  read  "T.  \Y. 
Pierce." 

In  line  3  on  page  361  instead  of  "Franz  and  Rosina  Stan- 
zel"  read  "F.  A.  and  Therese  Slanzel." 

In  line  16  on  page  361  strike  out  the  words  "who  estab- 
lished the  first  lumber  yard  m  Schulenburg." 

Ln  line  6  on  page  364  instead  of  "Plenrv  Perlitz"  read  "F. 
W.  Ferlitz." 

In  line  3  and  10  on  page  383  instead  of  "Cockrill's"  read 
"Cockrell's." 

In  line  19  on  page  400  instead  of  "Vodkel"  read  "Voelkel." 

In  line  9  on  page  420  instead  of  "Dr.  A.  F.  Verderi"  read 
"Dr.  A.  F.  Verdery." 


PART  I. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  PAYETTE 
COUISTTY. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  FAYETTE 
COUNTY. 


I. 


SITUATION,     CLIMATE.     LEVEL     AIJOVE     SEA,      RAIXFALL 
BOUNDARIES,   AREA  AND  POPULATION. 


Fayette  County  is  situated  at  a  distance  of  about  eighty 
miles  nortlivvest  from  tlie  Gulf  of  Mexico  in  the  southern  portion 
of  Central  Texas.  It  is  traversed  by  the  Colorado  River,  which 
divides  it  into  two  nearly  equal  parts.  The  thirtieth  degree  of 
latitude  and  the  ninety-seventh  degree  of  longitude  west  of 
Greenwich  cross  each  other  in  the  northwestern  portion  of  the 
county  near  the  town  of  Winchester.  The  county  seat,  La 
Grange,  is  under  the  same  longitude  as  Dallas,  Texas,  and  Lin- 
coln, Nebraska,  which  are  due  north  of  it,  all  three  places  being 
some  twelve  miles  east  of  the  ninety-seventh  degree  of  longitude. 
LaGrange,  the  county  seat,  is  also  under  the  same  latitude  as 
New  Orleans, 

The  climate  of  Fayette  County  is  delightful.  Though  the 
county  lies  in  the  semi-tropical  zone,  the  heat  of  the  summer  is 
never  excessive;  it  is  tempered  by  refreshing  south-winds,  called 
Gulf  breezes;  these  winds  generally  rise  in  summer   time   about 


-4— 

ten  o'clock  ill  the  morning  and  last  during  the  balance  of  the 
day.  The  winter,  too,  is  very  mild.  Some  winter  days  are  as 
warm  as  summer  days  in  the  North.  Seldom  the  thermometer 
stands  at  or  little  beluw  the  freezing  point.  That  is  the  time 
when  a  northwind,  called  norther,  sweeps  the  vast  slope  of  Tex- 
as; but  before  it  reaches  Fayette  County,  its  force  is  generally 
spent.  Nor  do  these  northers  last  for  a  considerable  time,  hard- 
ly ever  longer  than  two  days.  Still,  when  they  do  come,  the 
people,  being  accustomed  to  warm  weather,  feel  their  disagree- 
able effects.  Overcoats,  long  stowed  away,  hardly  ever  used, 
are  taken  from  their  hiding  places.  People  change  their  slow 
walk  to  a  quick  tramp.  Then,  too,is  the  time  when  resolutions  to 
reform  are  most  liable  to  be  broken.  But  even  those  cold 
northers  are  not  without  scenes  that  speak  to  the  heart.  At  that 
time,  on  the  farm,  the  'pater  farailias'  stands  by  a  huge  fire  in  the 
yard,  butchering  his  fatted  hog;  inside  the  women  folks  are  busy 
salting  the  pork,  frying  the  fat,  making  sausage  and  preparing 
choice  morsels  for  dinner.  The  children  who  want  to  see  papa 
kill  and  butcher  the  hog  have  to  be  sent  back  into  the  house  out 
of  the  cold  wind  time  and  again.  Our  friend  goes  with  his  help- 
ing neighbor  time  and  again  to  the  smokehouse  where,  from  a 
corner,  he  takes  a  brown  jug  and  they  drink.  Probably,  his 
good  wife  does  not  know  if  vinegar  or  molasses  is  in  that  dusty 
jug.  They,  of  course,  know  and  seem  to  enjoy  it.  No  wonder 
that  they  are  unusually  bright  and  cheerful  at  dinner  and  the 
good  humor  and  glee  spreads  over  the  whole  family.  They 
have  a  hogkiUing  time.  Thus,  even  northers  are  not  without 
their  pleasures.  But  very  often  a  winter  is  so  mild  that  it  is  hard- 
ly cold  enough  to  kindle  a  fire  in  the  fireplace.  Very  often  roses 
and  other  flowers  are  blooming  in  January  in  the  open  air. 
Greens,  mustard,  turnips,  radishes,  etc.,  may  be  had  constantly 
for  the  table.  Jt  is  not  the  intense  heat  or  cold  that  makes  a 
climate  insufferable  and  unhealthy,  but  rather  the  great  change 
from  intense  heat  to  intense  cold.  While  the  summer  in  the 
North  is  as  hot  as  ours — and  some  people  claim  it  hotter — the 
winter  up  North  is  as  cold  as  the  summer  is  hot,  thereby  causing 
a  great  change  of  temperature.  Here,  in  Fayette  County,  the 
mercury  in  the  thermometer  climbs  up  even  in  the   winter   time 


very  often  to  80  degrees  Fahrenlieit;  and  in  summer  time,  it 
does  not  go  much  higher  (hardly  ever  to  95  degrees  and  never 
over  100  degrees)  so  that  we  have  a  warm  climate  all  the  year 
around  without  any  great  perceptible  change.  Sunstrokes  which 
are  caused  up  North  by  the  great  change  of  temperature  from 
cold  to  heat  never  happen  in  Fayette  County;  unknown  cause 
of  death  to  us,  only  heard  of  and  read  of  in  newspapers. 

As  Fayette  (bounty  is  not  far  from  the  sea,  abundant  rams 
are  most  propitious  to  crops,  while  the  rolling  country  well 
drained  and  about  400  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea,  at  the  same 
time,  gets  quickly  dry  and,  therefore,  is  healthy.  Statistics 
about  the  rainfall  in  Fayette  County  could  not  be  obtained,  but 
it  may  be  estimated  that  the  rainfall  is  about  twenty  to  forty 
inches  per  year.  Big  winter  rains  are  considered  very  favorable 
to  crops,  as  the  country,  in  that  case  well  soaked,  retains  suffi- 
cient moisture  for  the  growth  of  plants  till  late  in    the    summer. 

Fayette  County  is  bounded  on  the  east  by  Austin  and  Colo- 
rado Counties,  south  by  Lavaca  County,  west  by  Gonzales  and 
Bastrop  Counties,  north  by  Lee  and  Washington  Counties. 

The  county  contains  963  square  miles  and  has,  according  to 
tiie  U,  S,  Census  of  1900,  a  population  of  30,542  iniuibitants 

Surface  and  Soil. 

The  topography  of  the  county  may  be  reduced  to  a  very 
few  simple  features  that  form  the  frame  of  the  description.  If 
the  reader  has  mastered  these,  he  may,  if  interested,  i)roceed  to 
the  details  without  fear  of  becoming  confused  by  their  mass. 
To  describe  the  surface  and  soil  of  a  whole  county  clearly  and 
exactly  is  always  a  difficult  task,  and  no  matter  how  clear  the 
description,  its  perusal  will  always  be  a  constant  strain  on  the 
attention  of  the  reader.  For  clearness  sake,  the  main  features 
are  treated  of  first,  in  order  for  the  reader  to  have  a  frame 
around  which  to  group  the  details.  In  the  eastern  part  of  the 
county  are  two  gravel  ridges,  one  north,  one  south  of  the  Colo- 
rado River.  These  ridges  are  covered  with  post-oak.  East  of 
them  are  prairies  that  extend  into    adjoining   counties,    west    of 


— 6— 

them  are  large  prairies  that  are  entirely  in  the  county.  Again, 
west  of  these  latter  prairies  begins  post-oak,  enclosing  small 
prairies  and  extending  into  adjoining  counties. 

To  reduce  this  statement  still  farther:  From  the  eastern 
part  of  the  county  prairies  extend  into  adjoining  counties;  from 
the  western  part,  post-oak;  in  the  middle  are  extensive,  rich, 
black  land  prairies,  surrounded  by  post-oak.  Very  simple  feat- 
ures, if  the  reader  stops  to  make  a  picture  of  them. 

The  reader  remembers  the  two  gravel  ridges  running  in  the 
middle  of  the  eastern  part  of  the  county  in  a  northerly  direction, 
north  and  south  of  the  Colorado  River.     Pay  your  attention    to 
the  northern  half  of  the  county,  i.  e.  north  of  the  Colorado  River 
first.     The  mentioned  northern  gravel  ridge  runs    for    the    most 
part  on  the  left  or  western  bank  of  Cumming's  Creek.     On  both 
sides  of  this  ridge  is  a  small  belt  of  sandy  post-oak,  on  the  outer 
edges  of  these  post-oak  belts  are  rich    black   land  prairies.     On 
the  prairie  east  of  this  gravel  ridge  lie  the  towns  of  Round  Top, 
Haw  Creek,  and  Zapp.     This  prairie    extends   far   into   Austin 
and  Washington  Counties,  being  their  richest  lands,  as  also  the 
Fayette  County  part  of  this  prairie  is  one  of  the  richest  sections 
in  this  county.     On  the  prairie  west  of  this  gravel  ridge  lie  the 
towns   of  Rutersville,  Oldenburg,    and  Warrenton.     This    rich 
prairie  is  bordered  north  and  west  by  sandy  post-oak  which  ex- 
tends for  a  great  many  miles  north  through  the    whole    of    Lee 
County,  far  eyen  into  Milam  County,  west  through    the    largest 
part  of  Bastrop  County.     This  post-oak  forms  the  northwestern 
part  of  Fayette  county;  in  it  are  the  towns  of  Warda,    Winches- 
ter, and  Ledbetter,    This  large  sweep  of  post-oak  contains  in  the 
Fayelte  County  part  several  islands  of  pine  woods,  notably  be- 
tween Warda  and  Winchester;  also  several  prairies  of  small   ex- 
tent, notably  the  Cunningham  and  Ingram  Prairies  in  the  neigh- 
borhood   of   Winchester,  the  Cottonwood  Prairie  with  the   town 
of  Walhalla,  and  Long  Prairie  with  the  towns  of  Nechanitz  and 
W'ahlock.     The  soil  of  all  this  post-oak  and  these  pineries  is  for 
the  most  part  sandy,  with  red  and  yellow  clay  for  subsoil,     The 
prairies  have  ricli  black  soil.     The  whole    swec])    of   country    is 
drained  and  traversed  by  a  great  many  creeks  which  have  very 
good  bottom  lands. 


The  southern  part  of  Fayette  County  is  somewhat  analogous 
to  the  northern  part.  In  sight  of  LaGrano;e  a  high  rock  and 
gravel  ridf^e  covered  with  post-oak,  called  the  Blufi',  rises  ab- 
ruptly from  the  river.  It  stretches  in  a  southeasterly  direction, 
sometimes  receding  from  the  river,  thus  giving  place  for  the  bot- 
tom lands.  South  of  Williams'  Creek,  it  is  continued  bv  post- 
oak  which  extends  into  Lavaca  County.  East  of  this  post-oak 
is  the  Mullins  prairie  which  towards  Weimar  takes  the  name  of 
Weimar  Prairie,  rich  black  land,  part  of  it  still  in  Fayette  Coun- 
ty. West  of  this  post-oak  is  the  black  land  Navidad  or  Schulen- 
burg  Prairie,  rich  and  extensive,  studded  with  many  prospering 
towns  and  villages.  It  extends  west  to  the  neighborhood  of 
Flatonia.  In  the  south,  this  prairie  is  bordered  by  black  live- 
oak  and  sandy  post-oak  lands  of  Lavaca  County.  From  this 
southern  post-oak  a  big  tongue  or  peninsula  of  live-oak  and 
post-oak  stretches  into  the  prairie  lands  through  Engle  to  the 
neighborhood  of  Freyburg  in  a  northerly  direction.  In  the  west  this 
prairie  is  bounded,  like  the  prairie  in  the  northern  part, by  sandy 
post-oak.  In  this  post-oak  are  also  small  prairies,  notably  one 
at  Cistern,  northwest  of  Flatonia.  In  spots  in  this  section  the 
post-oak  soil  is  of  a  chocolate  color  like  the  soil  in  Cistern  Prai- 
rie. The  subsoil  here  too  as  generally  in  Fayette  County,  is  red 
and  yellow  clay.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Muldoon  in  this  post- 
oak, the  thin  surface  soil  is  broken  by  big,  hard  sand  rocks.  Here 
are  the  Muldoon  quarries  that  furnish  rocks  for  the  Galveston 
jetties. 

It  remains  for  the  reader  to  pay  attention  to  the  bottom 
lands  of  the  Colorado  Kiver.  This  river  flows  through  the  mid- 
dle of  the  county.  At  places  high  ridges  and  bluffs  fall  precipit- 
ately nito  the  river;  at  other  places  they  recede  even  for  several 
miles  from  the  river,  thus  giving  place  for  rich  bottom  lands. 
These  ridges  are  grown  with  post-oak  which  continues  further 
on  through  the  whole  county,  as  in  the  western  part  or  forms 
the  border  of  rich  black  land  prairies  as  in  the  eastern  part. 
Thus,  the  prairies  in  Fayette  County  are  like  costly  pictures  set 
everywhere  in  a  wooden  frame,  iierc  of  post-oaks,  the  picture 
being  the  more  valuable. 

Haviug  thus  separated  the  prairie  from  the    post-oak,    the 


black  lands  from  the  sandy,  it  remains  for  the  reader  to  notice 
that  the  surface  is  of  a  rolling  nature,  not  only  in  the  prairies, 
but  also  in  the  post-oaks,  though  more  so  in  the  prairies.  It  rises 
gradually  towards  the  west.  It  has  already  been  remarked  that 
the  subsoil  of  Fayette  County  generally  is  red  or  yellow  clay. 
The  black  land  humus  which  covers  it  is  one  to  two  feet  deep, 
therefore  very  fertile  and  lasting.  The  sand  is  not  very  deep, 
but  rests  on  a  rich  loam- bed  which  makes  it  fertile.  Very  few 
complaints,  if  any,  are  heard  in  Fayette  County  thot  the  land 
or  rather  the  humus  washes  away  during  big  rains.  The  slopes 
of  the  hills  in  this  county  are  very  little  slantinfj,  falling  only 
very  gradually.  Besides,  the  fields  are  generally  small  and  sep- 
arated from  each  other  by  strips  of  grass,  thereby  breaking  the 
force  of  the  running  water.  Still  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  repeat 
here  the  advice  of  the  U.  S.  Agricultural  Bureau  in  regard  to 
preventing  land  from  washing  away  during  big  rains;  First,  to 
plant  trees  on  the  top  of  the  hills.  There  the  water  starts.  The 
rcots  of  the  trees  suck  up  the  water  and  thus  prevent  it  from  get- 
ting a  forcible  start  from  the  top  of  the  hills.  Second,  to  plow 
not  down  the  hill,  but  across  it.  Third,  to  leaye  at  short  distanc- 
es strips  of  grass,  thus  preventing  one  downright  fall  of  the 
water.  Fourth,  where  gullies  are  already  caused  by  rains,  to 
fill  them  with  brush  and  place  rocks  on  top  of  the  brush  to  the 
brink  of  the  gully  at  proportionate  distances,  thus  the  gully  will 
gradually  fill  up  and  be  arable  land  again.  Advice  not  neces- 
sary for  Fayette  county,  still  worth  considering  in  a  few  parts. 
Some  of  these  ideas  are  carried  out  in  Fayette  County  anyway; 
farmers  that  had  cause,  have  found  them  out  themselves. 
'therefore,  big  rains  generally  do  very  little  damage  in  the 
county  by  washing  the  laud  awav. 

Watercourses  and    Drainage. 

The  reader  knows  that  the  Colorado  River  runs  through  the 
county  from  northwest  to  southeast.  This  river,  with  its  num- 
erous tributaries,  is  the  mam  drainage  channel  of  the  county. 
Its  tributaries  in  the  north  are  Ilabb's  Creek  and  Cumming's 
Creek;  they  run  nearly  parallel  to  each  other  in    a  southerly   di- 


rection;  Rabb's  Creek  in  the  west,  Ciunming's  Creek  in  the  east. 
The  main  tributary  to  llabb's  creek  on  the  left  or   eastern    bank 
is  Owl  Creek,  running  west;  to  the  Cumming's  Creek,     on    the 
right  or    western    bank,    the    Clear  Creek,    running    east.     The 
main  tributaries  of  the    Colorado    on    the    southern    bank    are 
Buckner's  Creek  and  Wiliianis'  Creek,    running  in  an    easterly 
direction;     Euckner's  Creek  meeting  the  Colorado  at  LaGrange, 
Williams  Creek,  some  eight  miles  below,     in  the    southeastern 
part  of  the  county  the  Navidad  River  and  its  tributaries,   one    of 
them  the  Mixen  Creek,   drain    the    surrounding    country.     All 
thesei  creeks    are   running   the  whole    year,     thereby    contrib- 
uting greatly  to  the  fertility  of  the    country,     Kor  is    tT^iere    any 
need  of  water  for  cattle  and  horses.     Strips  of  bottom  timber  are 
bordering  these  creeks  preventing  greatly    their    drying    out    or 
being  ruled  up  with  washed  up  land.     May   they   never    be    cut 
down.     In  some  parts  of  other  counties  where    this    has    been 
done  the  creeks  have  been  filled  up  with  washed  up  land;    they 
are  changed  to  dry  gullies  and;  at  the  time  of  big  rains,  overflow 
and  damage  the  adjoining  farm  lands.     Therefore,  let    the    trees 
stand  at  the  border  of  creeks;  they  also  help  to  retain  the    mois- 
ture in  the  ground.     For  this  reason,  water  in  abundance  car-  be 
found  everywhere  in  Fayette  County  at  a   short  distance   under 
ground,  say  from  20  to  60  feet. 

Produce  and  Land  Prices. 

Fayette  County,  as  the  reader  has  seen,  having  good  soil 
and  subsoil,  being  well  watered  and  drained,  vvitli  sufhcient 
rainfall  and  delightful  climate,  is  necessarily  a  fertile  and  pro- 
ductive county.  The  staple  product  is  cotton.  The  inexhaust- 
ible bottomlands  of  the  Colorado  River  and  some  creeks  produce, 
according  to  the  season,  from  one  to  two  bales  of  cotton  per 
acre  and  from  forty  to  eighty  bushels  of  corn.  The  fertile  prair- 
ie lands  bring  from  one-half  to  over  one  bale  per  acre,  the 
sandy  post-oak  lands,  in  wet  seasons,  the  same  amount:  in  dry 
seasons,  considerably  less;  nor  is  the  sandy  land  as  lasting  as  the 
black,  waxy  prairieland;  its  fertility  has  to  be  kept  up  by  manur- 
iufj.     The  i)ost-oak  land  is  not  very  good  land  for    corn.      While 


—10— 

forty  to  sixty  bushels  of  corn  is  only  an  average  crop  in  the 
black  prairie,  twenty-five  bushels  is  a  good  crop  for  post-oak 
land;  and  very  often  it  happens  that  instead  of  hauling  a  crop  of 
corn  from  the  field,  the  post-oak  farmer  gets  only  some  twelye 
barrels  of  nubbins  per  acre  for  his  work.  Still,  where  the  land 
is  well  manured  and  the  farming  well  done,  quite  satisfactory 
corn  crops  are  obtained  even  in  post-oak-lands.  While  post-oak 
land  is  not  as  favorable  to  corn  as  the  rich  black  prairie,  it 
beats  the  latter  for  raising  tobacco  and  wine,  two  products  that 
do  not  require  a  rich  soil,^  but  do  better  on  sandy  land.  Though 
both  these  latter  crops  do  well  in  Fayette  County,  they  have  not 
been  raised  yet  for  the  market,  but  only  for  home  consumption. 
Other  counties  with  the  same  soil  and  climate  as,  for  instance, 
Montgomery  and  Lavaca  Counties,  have  raised  excellent  quali- 
ties of  tobacco  and  found  it  a  very  profitable  crop.  There  is  no 
doubt  that  in  future  time  Fayette  County  post-oak  owners  will 
engage  more  extensively  in  tobacco  culture.  Till  now  inexperi- 
ence to  some  extent  in  curing  the  tobacco  and  bringing  it  into 
salable  shape,  also  the  only  small  amount  raised  have  not  been 
lavorable  in  obtaining  a  ready  market.  But  these  obstacles  will 
be  overcome  as  the  tobacco  culture  progresses. 

Wine,  too,  of  a  very  good  quality,  equal  at  least  to  the  bet- 
ter California  grades,  can  be  raised  in  this  county  and  in  some 
places,  is  raised;  but  also  only  for  home  consumption.  In  Fay- 
ette County  and  in  Texas  in  general,  the  market  for  wine  is  not 
very  favorable,  as  here  beer  and  whiskey  are  the  going  bever- 
ages. Barkeepers  who  sell  wine  charge  for  Texas  wino  the 
same  price  as  for  imported  wines,  and,  in  comparison,  Texas 
wine  is  well  worth  its  price.  Still, if  they  would  sell  it  at  half  the 
price  of  other  wines,  thev  would  still  make  a  very  good  profit 
and  also  start  and  introduce  a  new  industry  that  would  benefit 
the  whole  county.  Besides,  the  wine-growers  should  sell  their 
wine  m  attractive  bottles.  Instead  of  filling  it  into  empty  beer 
bottles  and  flostetter  Bitters  bottles,  let  them  buy  wine  bottles, 
])ut  an  attractive  label  and  a  nice  gold  or  silver  seal  on  it,  in 
short,  bring  it  into  sliape  attractive  to  the  buyer  and  spend  some 
money  for  advertising.  Keej)  on  pusiiing  it  and  see  if  a  paying 
niarket  will  not  finally  be  opened  for   tiiis  product.     All    wine- 


—11— 

growers  do  not  raise  the  same  quality;  some  know  tlie  processes 
of  obtaining  a  good  wine  better  than  others;  here  experience 
again  will  come  with  a  more  extensive  culture.  The  wines 
raised  and  that  do  best  in  this  county  are  the  Herbemnnt  and 
Black  Spanish;  the  lirst  of  a  golden,  the  latter  of  a  dark  red 
color.  Wine  culture  requires  great  care  and  experience.  Wine 
has  in  nature  many  enemies,  the  greatest  of  them,  black-rot 
which  destroys  the  vines.  Besides  these  tame  wines,  Mustang 
wine  from  the  wild  growing  vine  of  the  same  name  is  produced 
in  Fayette  County.  It  is  of  different  quality  according  to  the 
knowledge  and  experience  of  the  maker  in  the  i)rocesses  of  ob- 
taining a  good  wine.  While  some  i)roduce  a  tolerable  wiae,  the 
product  of  others  is  of  an  inky  taste.  If  this  writer  has  compli- 
mented some  people  on  their  self  made  Mustang  wines  and,  a})- 
preciating  their  good  will  towards  him,  from  excessive  polite- 
ness, acknowledged  that  their  Mustang  wines  were  of  superior 
taste,  flavor  and  quality,  even  if  they  were  only  a  few  months 
old  and  sour  enough  to  draw  up  shoe-leather,  his  great  love  of 
veracity  prevents  him  from  admitting  in  writing  that  all  Mus- 
tang wines  are  good. 

Of  fruit-trees,  peach  and  pear  trees  do  very  well  every- 
where in  Fayette  County.  Other  varieties  of  fruit-trees  also  do 
well  here,  but  are  not  so  extensively  planted  as  the  former. 
The  fruit  is  very  good  and  enough  of  it  is  raised  that  shipments 
should  pay.  But  the  people  are  too  busy  raising  their  other 
crops,  especially  corn  and  cotton  so  as  to  pay  much  attention  to 
this  crop,  though  there  is  little  doubt  that  if  done  so,  it  would 
pay  well.  All  the  good  house-wife  can  do  is  to  save  time  to 
cook  a  small  and  choice  part  of  the  fruit  and  make  preserves  of 
them.  Of  these,  a  very  large  stock  is  found  m  nearly  all  house- 
holds. The  balance  of  the  fruit  is  either  gathered  and  given  to 
the  hogs,  or,  if  there  is  no  time  for  tliis,  as  sometimes  there  is 
not,  it  rots  on  the  ground. 

Oats  and  rye  are  the  small  grains  tnat  are  raised  in  the 
county.  Both  grains  make  good  crops.  Rye  is  planted  to  some 
extent  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county  by  German  farmers.  It 
produces  from  twelve  to  fifteen  bushels    ])er    acre.     Ground    to 


—12— 

flour,  it  is  used  for  bread.  A  great  many  crops  are  new  in  Fay- 
ette County;  as  for  instance,  the  rye  crop;  the  longer  the  experi- 
ence in  these  crops,  the  better  will  be  the  results. 

Garden  vegetables  grow  in  abundance  and  are  of  the  choicest 
quality.     Tomatoes,  turnips,  carrots,  beets,    radishes,    mustard, 
cabbage,  asparagus,  squash,  green    pepper,    cucumbers,    beans, 
peas,  watermelons,    cantaloupes,    pumpkins,    cauli-flowers   and 
a  great  many  other  vegetables  which  the  writer    does   not   know 
the  name  of  grow  luxuriously  in  all  varieties.     Their  shipment 
would  hardly  pay.    Still,  if  they  would  be  raised  in  large  quanti- 
ties so  that  it  would  pay  buyers  to  look  after  them,  and  if    they 
were  paid  for  on  delivery  at  the  shipping  place,  they   would    be 
a  good  money  crop,  and  Fayette  County  vegetables  soon   would 
conquer  a  market  and  gain  a  reputation  for  their  choice  quality. 
The  difficulty  in  marketing  garden-vegetables  is  that  they  are  of 
a  perishable  nature  and  cannot  be  held  like  corn  or   cotton   for 
speculation,  but   must  be  sold  quickly   and   at  any  price.     It 
would  hardly  pay  the  owners  to  ship  them  without  having  pre- 
viously found  a  market  for  them  and  entered  into  contract  with 
the  buyers  for  the  terms  of  their    delivery    and    payment.     In 
that  case,  money  may  be  realized  and  a  good   profit   made;    but 
if  the  owner  should  ship  them  at   haphazard  to    some    commis- 
sion house  for  sale  without  first  having  figured  on  the   railroad 
rates,  he  may  find  to  his  great  regret  that  he  has  shipped    them 
with  no  proceeds  whatever,  the  proceeds  only  covering  expense 
of  railroad  freight  and  commission.     Some  Austin  and  Colorado 
County   farmeis    experienced   this   with  a  shipment  of  a  car  of 
watermelons  to  Chicago,  some  years  ago.     The  shippers  of  the 
Colorado  County  car  were  called  on  by  the  Chicago  commission 
house  to  pay  in  addition  to  the  proceeds  of  their  shipment  $5.00 
for  sale  of  melons  and  for  freight.     The  Austin  County  shippers 
were  luckier  and  realized  from  the  proceeds  of  the   sale   of  one 
car  of  watermelons  S  16.00,  about  enough  to  pay  them  for    haul- 
ing them  to  the  depot.     Still,  if  they  are  raised  close  to  a   ship- 
ping place  and  care  is  taken  to  have  a   market   for   them,    they 
may  be  shipped  with  profit.     Careless  shipments  made  in  such 
a  way  are  liable  to  ruin  a  new  industry  in  the    county.     Nobody 
doubts  tb.at  he  can  raise  vegetables  of  the  most  excellent  quality 


—13— 

in  any  amount,  but  before  engaging  into  the  business  of  raising 
them  for  the  market,  he  should  provide  for  a  market  first  and 
be  sure  of  it.     Then  there  will  be  great  profit  in  it. 

Sweet  potatoes,  Irish  or  white  potatoes  do  splendidly  in 
Fayette  County.  Of  sweet  potatoes  as  many  as  150  bushels  have 
been  gathered  from  an  acre.  As  these  products  are  not  of  such 
a  perishable  nature,  they  are  often  disposed  of  in  the  market 
with  profit.  If  this  fails,  they  are  excellent  feed  for  hogs  and 
may  be  used  for  that  purpose. 

Sorghum-cane  and  ribbon-cane  do  well.  Though  I  believe 
that  instead  of  ribbon -cane  other  crops  could  be  raised  with 
greater  profit.  It  is  raised  only  for  home  consumption.  Sor- 
ghum-cane makes  two  to  three  cuttings  a  year.  It  makes  a  very 
good  molasses,  far  better  than  the  molasses  bought  in  stores  for 
thirty-five  cents  per  gallon.  This  store-molasses,  made  from  corn 
and  broomcorn-stalks,  is  of  poor  taste  and  not  considered  heal- 
thy. Besides  this, sorghum  cane  is  excellent  feed  for  horses, cattle 
and  hogs  and  is  raised  chiefly  for  this  purpose.  Now,  as  some 
attention  is  paid  to  fattening:  cattle  for  the  market  and  cotton- 
seed meal  and  hulls  are  mostly  used  for  that  purpose,  it  may  be 
worth  considering  the  question,  if  even  better  feedstufis  cannot 
be  raised  cheaper. 

One  crop  that  would  do  very  well  in  the  rich  black  land 
prairies,  but  is  not  raised  in  the  county,  is  broomcorn.  It  brings 
about  half  a  ton  to  the  acre.  The  price  fluctuates  from  seventy 
to  two  hundred  and  forty  dollars  per  ton,  according  to  quality 
and  demand.  It  requires  less  work  in  cultivating  than  cotton, 
but  wears  out  the  land,  if  planted  several  years  in  succession  in 
the  same  field. 

Horses,  cattle,  hogs,  sheep  and  poultry  are  raised  by  near- 
ly every  farmer.  Of  late  years,  great  attention  has  been  paid  to 
the  improvement  of  stock.  The  stock  farm  of  Dr.  I,  E.  Clark, 
near  Schulenburg,  has  acquired  a  reputation  eyen  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  state.  Horses  and  cattle  are  raised  enough  for 
home  needs  and  even  for  sale.  While  formerly  bacon  and 
pork  was  shipped  to  this  county,  enough  hogs  are  raised  now  iu 


—14— 

the  county  to  meet  the  home  demand.  The  hens  of  some  farm- 
ers are  (|uite  industrious  so  that  some  farmers  meet  their  whole 
store  bills  from  the  proceeds  ot  tlieir  poultry-trade.  It  seems  to 
this  writer  that  in  comparison  to  other  meats  the  price  of  tur- 
keys and  geese  is  not  what  it  should  be;  they  are  at  least  half  as 
cheap  as  beef.  Still,  they  are  used  only  for  Thanksgiving  and 
Christmas  dinners. 

Well,  has  the  kind  reader  thought  something  in  perusing 
all  this?  May  be  only  that  it  was  tedious  reading.  Very  un- 
profitable thought  that  is  and  very  uncomplimentary  to  the 
author.  But  here  is  one  profitable.  Fortunes  may  still  be 
made  in  Fayette  County  and  the  men  that  provide  or  find  a 
market  for  the  great  variety  of  products  that  can  be  raised  with 
ease  and  with  profit  in  Fayette  County  and  are  as  yet  without  a 
market  will  make  them.  There  is  always  profit  in  introducing 
and  developing  new  industries.  This  will  happen  in  future  time. 
We  do  not  need  to  be  in  any  hurry  about  it.  Neither  soil  nor 
its  ability  to  produce  these  crops  will  disappear.  Considering 
that  eighty  years  ago  Fayette  County  was  a  wilderness,  we 
should  feel  proud  of  the  achievements  of  the  past  and  feel  hap- 
py that  soiiie  work  is  still  left  for  the  future. 

Outside  of  tlie  cities  and  towns  the  farming  countrj'  at  large 
is  densely  settled,  may  be  more  so  than  any  other  portion  of 
the  state.  For  this  reason,  land  prices  in  Fayette  county  are 
reasonably  high, not  inflated  by  a  boom  like  in  some  other  coun- 
ties, but  because  the  lands  value  more  on  account  of  conveniences 
of  schools  and  churches  and  the  comforts  of  neighborhood  en- 
joyed in  densely  settled  districts.  Lands  of  the  same  quality, 
but  removed  from  the  market  and  the  conveniences  of  modern 
comfort,  would  not  bring  half  the  price;and  quite  right  so,  con- 
sidering only  one  item  that  their  products  have  to  be  hauled  for 
long  distances  to  a  market.  Still,  lands  are  not  excessively 
high  in  this  county.  As  the  reader  knows  that  there  is  a  great 
variety  of  soil  in  Fayette  county,  gravel,  sandy,  prairie  and  bot- 
tom land,  the  price  varies  greatly  with  the  quality  of  the  land. 
Post-oak  land  may  be  bought  at  from  two  to  fifteen  dollars  per 
acre  according  to  improvements  and  state  of  cultivation;    prairie 


—is- 
lands are  sold  from  twenty  to  forty  dollars  per  acre;  bottom- 
lands, still  higher.  There  are  farmers  owning  well  improved 
farms  who  would  not  part  with  them  for  lifty  dollars  an  acre. 
Land  prices  are  less  fluctuating  in  Fayette  County  than  elsewhere 
for  the  reason  that  there  have  never  been  any  crop-failures  in 
the  county.  No  one  who  comes  to  Fayette  County  to  make  his 
living  by  farming  has  to  pack  up  again  on  account  of  crop-failure. 
How  often  have  not  people  bought  land  in  otlier  counties,  the  val- 
ue of  which  was  inflated  by  a  boom  and  after  several  crop-fail- 
ures had  to  give  it  up,  having  lost  their  all.  Such  never  was 
the  case  in  Fayette  County.  Here  the  farmer,  knowing  what  he 
has,  is  not  anxious  at  all  to  sell  his  farm  and  if  he  does,  the 
buyer  gets  it  at  value  received.  For  the  reason  that  there  are 
no  crop  failures,  even  the  fluctuation  of  prices  of  the  staple  pro- 
duct of  cotton  does  not  affect  the  value  of  land,  the  farmer  being 
well  able  to  weather  low,  cold  prices  for  years. 

Resources  of  the  County. 

The  various  products  that  may  be  raised  in  this  county 
have  been  treated  of  very  extensively  under  another  heading, 
may  be  too  extensively  even  for  a  patient  reader.  Besides  these, 
the  resources  of  the  county  are  abundant  in  the  greatest  varie- 
ties of  timber.  This  subject  will  be  given  an  entire  chapter  lat- 
ter on.  We  will  look  here  for  the  resources  underneath  and  this 
writer  cannot  do  better  than  refer  to  an  article  on  "The  Oil  De- 
posits of  Texas"  by  jNIr.  Dumble,  the  Texas  state  geologist,  pub- 
lished sometime  in  January  1901  in  the  Houston  Post.  "The 
next  important  horizon  is  that  connected  with  the  belt  of  lig- 
nites, one  bed  of  which  is  exposed  at  Manton  Bluff,  above 
LaGrange  and  the  sands  which  overlie  them.  In  this  imme- 
diate vicinity  the  natural  production  of  oil  from  lignite  beds 
can  be  seen  in  progress.  Positive  proof  o-f  the  presence  of 
oil  and  gas  in  these  beds  is  found  in  the  Cervenka  well  near 
LaGrange,  and  the  Greenwine  well  of  Washington  County." 
Not  alone  lignite  beds  and  oil  fields  are  found  in  Fayette 
County,  but  also  a  great  variety  of  other  minerals.  Mr,  J. 
C.  Melcher,  of    O'Quinn  has     for    the    last    twelve  years  paid 


—16— 

liis  closest  altention  to  the  discoveries  of  minerals  in  the 
county,  he  has  made  extensive  prospecting  tours  and  is 
well  qualified  to  speak  on  the  minerals  of  the  county.  The 
following  article  is  prepared  by  him  for  this  book  and  deserves 
tlie  careful  attention  of  the  reader. 

THE  MINERALS  OF  FAYETTE  COUNTY. 

By  J.  C.  Melcher,  O'Quinn,  Texas. 

A  deficiency  in  the  railroad  laws  proves  very  disastrous  to 
the  mining  interests  of  the  state.  Railroads  have  no  right  to  con- 
demn a  man's  land  and  pay  for  it  at  the  assessed  value  in  order 
to  build  a  spur  to  a  mineral  section  of  country.  Thus,  a  man 
owning  a  few  hundred  yards  between  a  railroad  and  a  mineral 
deposit  may  jirevent  its  development  by  asking  an  exorbitant 
price  for  it  or  by  refusing  to  sell  the  right  of  way  at  all.  Amongst 
others,  I  haye  several  times  suffered  from  the  deficiency  of  such 
laws.  In  consequence,  my  attempts  to  find  gold  and  other 
precious  metals  or  ores  have  been  very  limited,  more  than  they 
would  have  been  otherwise.  Many  people  imagine  that  there 
might  be  millions  in  the  ground  and  that  the  prosj)ector  is  try- 
ingto  steal  them.  I  have  found  several  valuable  minerals  on  the 
Walter  Hamilton  and  Muldoon  Leagues,  but  failed  to  make  con- 
tracts with  the  land  owners  to  develop  their  properties  for  a 
reasonable  compensation.  I  have  some  very  interesting  assay 
certificates,  but  they  do  me  no  good,  as  the  land  does  not  belong 
to  me.  We  need  outsiders  to  come  in  and  take  hold  of  these 
things,  as  the  people  are  more  willing  to  bargain  with  them 
than  with  their  neighbors. 

Evidences   of   Gold  and  Precious  Metals. 

I  am  of  the  opinion  that  even  gold  may  be  found  in  Fay- 
ette County.  Old  theorists  said,  'Precious  metals  are  found  only 
in  volcanic  countries.'  Precious  metals  are  found  in  some,  but 
not  in  all  volcanic  countries.  Eminent  geologists  say,  'Grold  is 
where  you  find  it.'  Placer  or  drift  gold  may  be  found  any- 
where, but  not  veingold.  Fayette  County  bears  a  great  many 
evidences  of  volcanic  upheavels.     The   great   bluffs    and    hills 


—17— 

north  and  south  of  LaGrange  and  east  of  Winchester  and  the 
rocky  ridges  near  Muldoon  are  positive  evidences.  The  many 
gravel  hills  and  deposits  in  this  county  show  that  there  once  was  a 
very  strong  current  of  water  coining  down  from  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains which  brought  the  rocks  and  gravel  down  from  the  moun- 
tain sides.  We  know  that  there  is  gold  in  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  some  of  it  must  have  come  down  here  with  the  drift  rock 
and  sand.  Wherever  we  find  much  quartz  among  the  rocks, 
sand  and  gravel,  we  may  look  for  some  gold  or  silver  in  the 
form  of  placer  of  drift  metal.  Mineral  springs  and  sulphur  and 
gypsum  in  the  earth  are  also  usually  good  indications  of  more 
or  less  minerals  in  the  vicinity.  These  we  have  in  many  places 
in  this  county.  I  have  a  piece  of  very  rich  gold  ore,  found  by 
a  negro  in  a  gravel  bed  near  O'Ciuinn  Creek.  I  have  heard  of 
an  outcrop  of  blue  quartz,  containing  considerable  pyrites,  south 
ot  the  Bluff  near  LaGrange.  I  have  found  pyritic  sands  and 
sulphites  in  Buckner's  Creek  and  Iron  Ore  Branch. 

Sulphur. 

We  have  many  sulphur  veins  and  springs  in  this  county,  but 
I  do  not  know  of  any  sulphur  deposits  large  enough  to  be  work- 
ed. There  is  a  large  territory  along  Buckner's  Creek  in  this 
county  where  it  is  almost  impossible  to  get  good  well  water  on 
account  of  the  ground  containing  too  much  sulphur  and  other 
mineral  matter.  There  are  many  sulphur  and  mineral  wells  in 
other  parts  of  this  county,  bnt  there  is  also  generally  enough  of 
good  water  to  supply  the  neighborhoods. 

Lignite. 

I  think  Fayette  County  has  more  lignite  than  any  other  county 
in  the  State.  One  coal  belt  extends  nearly,  if  not  quite  across 
the  entire  county,  from  near  Carmine  to  Waelder.  This  lignite 
belt  seems  to  be  in  places  seven  miles  wide,  but  it  is  not  a  solid 
sheet  all  the  way;  in  manv  places  it  is  broken  up.  The  biggest 
and  finest  out-crops  seem  to  be  between  LaGrange  and  Muldoon. 
One  mine,  or  rather  a  coal  quarry  was  in  operation  on  the  Colo- 
rado River  bank,  three  miles  above  LaGrange, in  twelve  to  lifteen 
feet  of  lignite.     They   have  stopped  working;  for  what  reason,  I 


—18— 

do  not  know.  I  suppose  that  the  oil  boom  has  scared  them  out. 
Other  lignite  beds  have  been  discovered  along  the  S.  A.  &  A.  P. 
R.  R.,  bui  the  oil  boom  has  kept  them  down,  A  number  of  suc- 
cessful tests  have  been  made  lately  with  Beaumont  oil  and  lig- 
nite combined.  The  combination  burns  and  heats  much  better 
than  either  alone.  It  is  the  cheapest  and  best  fuel  for  smelting 
iron  ores  and  several  other  purposes. 

Oil. 

Tliere  are  many  si»ns  of  oil  in  the  lignite  and  sulphur  districts 
of  this  county.  One  good  sign  is  said  to  be  on  the  Tansey  place, 
three  miles  west  of  Muldoon.  Genuine  blue  'mineral  oil  sands 
crop  out  in  many  places  below  the  lignite  beds.  These  sands  as 
well  as  the  lignites  dip  to  the  south-east  and  that  is  the  direc- 
tion in  which  the  oil  goes  or  comes.  It  the  theory  is  correct 
that  oil  rises  (and  I  have  no  doubt  that  it  does,  until  it  gets  near 
the  surface  of  the  earth,  when  it  will  disappear  again,)  then  the 
oil  may  come  from  the  Gulf,  crop  out  here  and  be  the  cause  of 
the  formation  of  lignites  here.  If,  however,  the  oil  was  formed 
here  among  the  lignites  and  followed  the  dip  to  the  south-east, 
then  we  may  look  for  oil  on  the  dip  (slope)  south-east  of  here 
or  we  njay  strike  the  oil  vein  from  the  Bastrop  County  lignites. 

There  was  some  talk  about  drilling  for  oil  in  the  north-eastern 
portion  of  the  county.  Gen.  H.  Loessin  had  leased  lands  for 
oil  near  Muldoon.  The  present  cheapness  of  Beaumont  oi)  will 
keep  the  oil  and  lignite  prospects  in  the  county  down  for  some 
time. 

Gas. 

I  know  of  only  one  gas  well  in  this  county,  but  there  are  a 
number  of  ordinary  water  wells  which  contain  small  quantities 
of  gas.  To  my  knowledge,  a  well  has  never  been  dug  in  this 
county  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  gas  or  oil.  The  gas  well  in 
this  county  was  struck  while  drilling  for  water  at  a  depth  of  124 
feet,  about  four  miles  south-west  of  LaGrange  in  1897.  One 
day  the  gas  was  set  afire  by  an  inquisitive  experimenter  who  in 
consequence  carried  away  a  considerable  amount  of  experience. 
The  hole  had  to  be  filled  half  full  of  dirt  before  the  blaze   could 


—lu- 
be checked.     It  was  said  that  a    local  oil  company    intended    to 
reopen  the  well  and  go  down  to  considerable  depth,  if  necessary. 
I  hear  nothing  of  them  now,  1  suppose  the  Beaumont  oil  is  hold- 
ing them  down. 

Kaolin. 

Kaolin  is  the  finest  of  white  clays,  used  in  the  manufacture 
of  porcelain  ware  and  for  many  other  purposes.  Large  beds  of 
kaolin  are  found  near  Flatonia.  There  is  a  great  difference  in 
the  quality  and  color  of  kaolins.  I  have  found  a  large  bed  of 
the  finest  kind  of  kaolin  on  the  S,  A.  &  A.  P.  railroad,  near  thg 
Muldoon  rock  quarries,  five  miles  north-east  of  Muldoon.  Kao- 
lin deposits  have  also  been  found  in  the  hills  east  of  Winchester. 

Gypsum,     (Plaster  Paris.  Hydrochlorate  of  Lime.) 

Gypsum  is  scattered  over  many  places  in  this  county,  but  I 
have  never  found  enough  of  it  to  pay  working,  I  think  it  will 
be  found  in  sufiicient  quantities  in  the  future.  Tlie  specimens 
thus  far  found  are  very  clear  and  transparent. 

Feli).spar. 

Feldspar  is  found  m  payinor  quantities  in  many  places  be- 
tween O'Ciuinn  and  Flatonia.  It  may  be  used  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  pottery  and  crockery,  after  it  has  been  prepared. 

Alumina. 

Alumina  is  mostly  found  among  the  feldspathic  and  silici- 
ous  clays.  It  can  be  found  among  our  valuable  white  clays  in 
the  county.  I  have  a  sample  before  me  which  is  white  and 
very  light,  almost  like  magnesia. 

Common  or   Potter   Clay. 

Common  or  Potter  Clay  is  abundant  in  many  |)laceH.  A 
good  clay  bank  of  the  right  kind  near  the  railroad  is  very  valu- 
able. It  will  all  be  needed  by  and  by.  especially  for  good 
bricks,  fire-proof  bricks,  ornamental  works  and  house  fronts. 


—20- 

TiLE  AND  Jr'iPE  Clay, 

Tile  and  Pipe  clay  will  be  needed,  and  we  have  worlds  of 
it,  of  all  grades  and  colors.  Red  clay  is  also  iu  abimdance.  Peo- 
ple have  learned  to  make  a  very  valuable  cement  out  of  certain 
clay.  Probably  old  Fayette  has  th:=^  very  stuff  for  this.  Would 
it  not  be  a  great  thing,  if  old  Fayette  should  furnish  Galveston 
with  rock  and  cement  to  build  the  great  sea-wall  around  Galves- 
ton? They  could  have  the  rock  and  cement  all  in  the  same  place, 
at  very  little  cost. 

Limestone  and  Lime. 

Many  years  ago,  some  people  burned  their  own  lime  in  this 
county,  and  a  durable  lime  it  was.  I  will  try  to  give  the  names 
of  some  of  the  old  lime  makers  of  this  county.  They  were  H. 
L.  Kreische.  and  Kucik  on  the  Bluff,  Tiemann  on  Cedar  Creek, 
and  Wm.  Duelberg  at  O'Quinu.  1  don't  think  any  lime  was 
burned  here  in  the  last  thirty  years.  I  don't  tliink  it  was  the 
lack  of  material  which  stopped  the  manufacture  of  lime,  but  we 
could  get  it  elsewhere,  just  in  quantities  needed  and  ready  pack- 
ed. What  is  needed  is  that  some  one  starts  the  work  again  and 
a  barrel  factory  close  by. 

Sandstone. 

Most  of  our  building  stone  would  be  called  sand-stone,  some 
of  it  is  mixed  with  lime  and  micaceous  matter.  I  think  the  best, 
handiest  and  most  availiable  building  stone  is  at  or  near  Mul- 
doon.  Thousands  of  carloads  have  been  taken  therefiom  and 
millions  of  tons  of  fine  rock  are  still  left  there.  The  rock  there 
is  a  stratified  sandstone,  mixed  with  lime  and  micaceous  mat- 
ter so  that  it  cracks  and  splits  very  readily  under  the  hammer  in 
desired  directions.  It  lies  in  straight  layers,  already  cracked  in 
large  cubes,  therefore  very  handy  to  quarry,  break  and  load.  I 
know  that  sandstone  formations  and  petrifications  are  going  on 
Ibis  day.  Some  sand-stone  which  was  very  soft  when  I  was  a 
boy  is  hard  enough  now.  Tlie  next  big  rock  quarry  in  this 
country  is  about  four  miles  south-east  of  Ledbelter.  Rock  fram 
this  ])lace  has  also  been  used  for  the  Galveston  jetties.  Tlie 
great  and  celebrated  Bluff,  south  of  LaGrange,  contains  millions 


—21  — 

of  good  rock  of  many  kinds  and  colors,  but  it  is  diilicult  to  get 
them  into  market,  as  the  place  is  not  easily  accessible  for  rail- 
roads. There  are  several  smaller  rock  quarries,  three  to  five  miles 
south-west  of  LaGrange.  From  the  High  Hill  Creek,  east  of  La- 
Grange,  ver}^  good  thin  building  stones  have  also  been  quarried. 
A  nice  red  sand-stone  is  found  three  miles  west  of  Serbin.  A 
church  house  was  built  of  this  stone  in  1868  which  still  looks 
very  well  this  day. 

Petrifications. 

Petrifications  are  very  numerous  in  this  county.  Tliey  are 
great  curiosities  in  other  counties,  wliilo  we  do  not  pay  any  at- 
tention to  them  here.  The  largest  and  most  interesting  pieces 
are  three  trees  on  the  Leitenberg  place  near  the  S.  A.  &  A.  P. 
R.  R,  each  of  which  was  over  four  feet  in  diameter  and  forty  to 
fifty  feet  long  to  the  first  limbs.  The  choicest  pieces  liave  been 
hauled  away  for  orupmcnts  ;  there  is  a  pair  still  left,  twenty-two 
inches  in  diameter  and  fourteen  feet  long,  without  a  crack  or 
knot.  Many  p^etrified  bones  of  antediluvian  animals  have  been 
found.  The  most  numerous  petrifications  are  found  between 
Swiss  Alp  and  West  Point.  I  think  they  probably  will  be 
looked  after  in  the  future, 

Iron  and  Oxide  oi'  Ikon. 

A  fine  large  bed  of  limonite  ore  has  lately  been  discovered  on 
the  V/alter  Hamilton  League  and  secured  l>y  a  twenty-five  years' 
lease.  It  overlies  a  thick  bed  of  iron  ochre.  Plematite  and 
oxide  of  iron  eroji  out  in  several  places  on  the  Walter  Hamilton 
and  Muldoon  Leagues.  Iron  oxide  mixed  with  sand  and  clay  is 
found  in  many  places  in  this  county.  When  pure  and  strong,  it 
is  a  valuable  insecticide,  fertilizer,  and  color  maker,  like  the 
ochre;  it  is  used  also  as  a  cheap  paint;  some  of  the  clay  mnkes 
line  red  pottery,  tiling  and  pipes  ;  mixed  with  sand,  it  makes 
nice  red  brick.  If  applied  to  the  cotton  plants  on  blacklands 
with  calcareous  subsoils,  before  they  die,  or  if  such  lands  are  fer- 
tilized with  the  oxide  of  iron,  I  think  it  will  prevent  the  cotton 
from  dying.  Oxide  of  iron  is  a  poison  to  all  aoisnal  lilc  having 
white  blou(l,  and  it  is  necessary  to    all    animal    life    having   red 


—22— 

blood.  Fayette  County  has  millions  of  tons  of  this  slufT",  and  the 
time  will  come  when  it  will  be  looked  after.  Old  Fayette  has 
nearly  everythiuo;  in  the  mineral  line  you  may  call  for.  The 
other  day  I  came  accidentally  across  a  vertical  vein  of  metallic 
ore  on  top  of  a  hill  one  hundred  feet  high,  about  six  miles  north- 
east of  Flatonia.  Another  positive  proof  that  parts  of  this 
county  are  of  volcanic  origin. 

Magnj:tio  Sand. 

There  is  one  more  interesting  mineral  in  the  county  to  be 
mentioned,  magnetic  sand.  Your  readers  will  notice  directly 
after  a  rain  on  roadsides  or  ditches  streaks  of  blue  metallic 
sand.  If  they  will  pass  a  magnet  over  these  blue  streaks,  the 
magnet  will  pick  up  the  bluish  black  metallic  ore.  We  have 
places  in  this  county  where  lightning  strikes  very  often.  This 
is  mostly  due  to  the  metallic  magnetic  sand  in  the  earth. 
Yours  very  truly, 

J.  C.  Melcher. 


FAYETTE  COUNTY'S  MINERAL  RESOURCES. 
As    Described    by   C.    L.    Melcher,    of    S\viss    Alp,    Texas. 

1.  There  is  an  outcrop  of  iron  ore  in  the  western  part  of 
the  coanty,  beginning  near  Peacii  Creek  about  ten  miles  west  oi 
Flatonia,  thence  in  a  northeastern  direction  to  the  Colorado  River 
near  West  Point.  Indications  show  that  there  is  a  heavy  de- 
posit of  iron  ore  beneath  the  outcrop]jing  which  is  generally  on 
toj)  of  a  hill  or  on  the  hillsides.  There  is  an  immense  quantity 
of  iron  in  the  ground  near  the  outcroppings  of  tiie  ore  on  the 
surface  of  the  ground. 

2.  Great  quantities  of  lignite  coal  are  found  on  a  line  par- 
allel   with   the   iron   ore   bed,  southeast  Irom   the  iron  ore  bed. 

Of  course,  this  is  not  taken  from  a  geological  or  topographic 
survey  or  standpoint,  and  is  only  viewed  by  outcroppings  of 
said  lignite  coal  on  different  places  along  hillsides,  branches  or 
washouts.  These  outcroppings  indicate  in  which  direction  the 
veins,  or  lodes,  of  the  lignite  coal  are  dipping  or  traveling, 


—23-^ 

The  first  vein,  or  lode,  which  is  undoubtedly  the  mother 
vein,  or  lode,  begins  on  the  Gorham  Branch  about  Ij  miles  west 
of  Hermann  Loessin,  better  known  as  General  Loessin's  place, 
where  the  first  outcroppmg  of  lignite  is  plainly  wa=ihed  out,  and 
can  be  traced  for  several  hundred  yards  in  a  northeasterly  direc- 
tion. Thence  it  travels  to  Shed  Clayton  (col.)  or  Otto  Polsin's 
place  on  Cedar  Creek,  where  an  outcropping  in  tiie  latter  creek 
shows  a  heavy  bed  of  lignite  coal.  Thence  in  a  northeasterly 
direction  to  the  O'Quinn  Branch,  near  or  at  Ernst  Hengst's 
place,  at  a  washout  in  this  branch  ;  lignite  coal,  mixed  with 
sulphur,  protrudes  in  the  bed  and  banks  of  said  creek.  Thence 
in  a  northeasterly  direction  to  Iron  Ore  Branch  near  or  at  Henry 
Duelberg's  place,  where  sulphurous  deposits  mixed  with  copper, 
also  lignite,  protrude  out  of  the  bed.  Thence  in  a  northeasterly 
direction  to  Buckner's  Creek  near  or  at  the  place  known  as  the 
Dr.  Denker  place,  where  lignite  protrudes  in  great  quantities 
and  burns  freeJy  in  an  open  blacksmith  hearth. 

Thence  in  a  northeasterly  direction  to  the  Colorado  River 
near  or  at  the  Manton  farm,  about  three  miles  above  the  city  of 
LaGrange,  where  lignite  coal  is  now  mined  and  proves  to  be 
very  satisfactory. 

Thence  northeasterly  across  the  Colorado  River,  creeping 
under  the  chalk  bluff  about  three  miles  above  LaGrange,  where 
the  mother  lode  is  cut  off  and  expires.  It  undoubtedly  has 
been  produced  and  formed  at  the  time  when  the  chalk  bluff  and 
the  bluff  at  LaGrange,  better  known  as  Kreische's  Bluff",  were 
upheaved. 

This  will  end  the  mother  lode  as  far  as  I  can  trace  it. 

Now  to  the  tributaries  or  branches  as  they  zigzag  from  tne 
place  to  another,  creeping  in  the  direction  of  the  mother  vein 
where  they  will  intersect  and  unite  with  their  mother  lode. 

The  second  vein  begins  at  Henry  Leitenberg's  place  on 
Buckner's  Creek  and  travels  in  a  zigzag  line  to  J.  C.  Melcher's 
place,  where  a  shaft  has  been  dug  and  a  solid  bed  of  lignite  coal 
twelve  feet  thick  was  struck.  This  coal  was  tested  at  Yoakum 
and  several  other  places  and  proved    to    be    a    very    good   coal. 


—24— 

This  vein  still  continues  on  in  a  zigzag  line  towards  its  mother 
lode  and  intersects  the  same  near  Henry  Duelberg's  and  John 
Laux's  places  on  Buckner's  Creek.  Indications  and  outcroppings 
on  the  surface  of  the  ground  are  plainly  visible  and  show  in 
which  direction  the  yein  travels, 

The  third  vein  begins  somewhere  near  West  Point,  travels 
in  an  easterly  direction  along  the  divide  between  the  Colorado 
River  and  Buckner's  Creek,  also  in  a  zigzag  line  toward  its  mother 
lode  and  intersects  it  at  the  same  point  where  vein  No.  2  inter- 
sects. 

Tins  so  far  ends  the  lignite  coal  veins. 

Now  to  rock.  There  is  a  layer  of  a  very  coarse,  blue-gray- 
ish looking  rock,  which  lies  parallel  uith  the  mother  lode  of  lig- 
nile.  By  examining  this  rock  any  person  can  see  that  it  ia 
formed  of  nothing  else  but  sea  shells  or  shale  and  is  undoubt- 
edly the  cap  rock  of  the  lignite.  Tliere  is  another  layer  or  vein 
of  rock  also  running  parallel  with  the  coal  vein.  This  rock  is 
what  is  called  sand  rock  and  is  wery  good  for  building  and 
masonry  work.  This  layer  begins  east  of  the  town  of  Flatonia, 
thence  travels  in  a  northeasterly  direction  to  the  bluff  near  the 
city  of  LaGrange  where  an  immense  quantity  of  this  rock  has 
been  upheaved  and  forms  the  bluff,  which  is  300  feet  high.  The 
bluff  in  some  places  is  i)erpendicular,  from  100  to  200  feet  high, 
and  of  good  solid  rock  ;  immense  boulders  of  this  rock  weighing 
from  five  to  ten  tons  can  be  found  in  Mr.  Knigge's  pasture. 
These  boulders  are  all  sticking  edgewise  or  upright  in  liie  ground, 
and  all  indications  show  that  tht-,se  great  boulders  have  been 
blown  up  under  great  pressure  and  have  remained  in  such  posi- 
tion ever  since.  There  is  no  telling  what  pressure  yet  remains 
underneath  the  bluff. 

Now  as  to  gas.  First,  gas  has  been  found  in  a  well  about 
80  feet  deep  and  riglit  on  top  of  a  hill  on  Mr.  Fritz  Nollkaem- 
per's  place  near  Swiss  Alp.  about  eight  miles  southwest  of  La 
Granoe.  Eighteen  years  ago  this  well  was  called  the  singing 
well,  and  no  well  digger  would  go  into  it  tor  anything  in  the 
world  ;   hence  the  well  w:is  abandoned  and  covered  up. 

Second,  gas  was  struck  about  six  years  ago  in   a   well  at  a 


—25— 

depth  of  128  feet  on  Mrs.  Cervenka's  place,  about  five  miles 
south  of  LaGrange,  and  almost  at  the  base  on  the  south  side  ot 
the  bluff.  The  roar  and  rumbling  of  this  well  could  be  heard 
for  a  distance  of  400  or  500  yards. 

The  well  caught  fire  from  strikmg  a  match  near  it.  by  an 
onlooker,  and  endangered  ihe  dwelling  which  stood  near  by.  It 
required  ten  or  twelve  men  to  drag  water  and  earth  over  and  in- 
to the  well  to  extinguish  tlie  fire.  The  well  was  then  tightly 
covered  up  and  abandoned;  there  it  still  remains.  This  gas 
well  is  about  2i  miles  northeast  of  the  Nollkaemper  well  and  on 
the  same  ridge  which  is  an  extension  of  the  bluflt".  This  well 
is  also  on  top  of  a  hill. 

In  a  washout  on  a  branch  on  the  place  of  Mr.  E.  Knigge, 
Jr.,  near  Swiss  Alp,  and  about  eight  miles  south  of  LaGrange. 
an  immense  lot  of  bones  of  all  kinds  from  the  smallest  rib  up  to 
teeth  tliat  weigh  4 J  pounds  have  been  found  and  can  be  found 
yet.  These  bones  are  very  brittle  and  will  fall  to  pieces  as  soon 
as  they  get  dry.  The  deposit  of  bones  lies  under  a  soft,  white- 
yellowish  looking  sandstone. 

Now,  from  the  above  can  be  seen  and  readily  understood 
that  this  (Fayette  County)  has  an  ample  amount  of  iron,  lignite, 
gas,  hundreds  of  thousands  of  car  loads  of  good  rock  for  building 
purposes,  and  very  good  indications  for  oil  and  other  minerals. 

Now  as  to  the  veins  and  ridges  of  the  above  and  in  which 
way  they  travel. 

1st.  Iron  ore  in  the  western  part  of  the  county  travels  from 
southwest  to  northeast. 

2nd.  Lignite  vein  is  on  the  east  side  of  the  iron  ore  vein 
and  travels  parallel  with  it. 

3rd.  The  shell  rock  vein  lies  on  the  east  side  of  the  lignite 
vein,  also  traveling  parallel  with  it. 

4th.  The  upheaved  bluff  with  its  extension  lies  on  the  east 
side  of  the  shell  rock,  also  traveling  parallel  with  the  shell  rock 
vein  from  southwest  to  northeast.  The  deposit  of  bones  is  on 
the  east  side  of  the  southwest  extension  of  the  bluffj  but  it  can 


— ^6- 

not  be  traced  in  which  direction  it  travels.  I  think  it  is  only  a 
pocket  and  was  formed  during  a  great  flood,  when  the  various 
animals  were  washed  and  lodged  and  covered  np  with  earth  at 
the  time  the  bluft'  was  uplieaved, 

This  so  far  ends  my  description  of  Fayette  County  concern- 
ing minerals,  etc.  It  is  not  written  from  what  people  say,  but 
is  all  from  my  own  knowledge. 

I  was  raised  in  this  county  and  know  almost  everv  foot  of 
ground,  and  if  any  person  desires  to  go,  1  will  take  him  over  the 
ground,  and  he  can  convince  himself. 

C.  L.  Melcher, 

Swiss  Alp,  Tex. 


THE  TIMBER  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

By  J.  C.  Melcher,  O'Quinn,  Texas. 

Before  describing  the  timber  of  the  county,  I  may  first  state 
where  it  is  found  or  which  sections  of  the  county  are  timbered. 

The  heaviest  timber  grows  in  and  near  the  principal  bot- 
toms of  rivers  and  creeks  viz.,  in  the  Colorado  River  bottom, 
in  the  bottoms  of  Cummin's  Creek  and  Rabb's  Creek  and  their 
tributaries,  north  of  the  Colorado  River  and  in  the  bottoms  of 
Williams'  Creek  and  Buckner's  Creek,  south  of  the  Colorado. 
About  one-half  of  the  county  was  timbered,  but  large  portions  of 
land  are  cleared  of  timber  every  year  and  put  in  cultivation.  A 
great  mass  of  useful  timber  has  been  destroyed  and  burned  in 
this  clearing  of  lands,  valuable  and  useful  timber  at  that  ;  but 
fur  the  reason  that  it  was  too  far  from  the  market,  no  use 
was  made  of  it.  This  destruction  of  timber  goes  on  year  by 
year.  There  is  an  immense  quantity  of  valuable  timber,  espec- 
ially  hard  timber,  in  the  county  that  may  be  used  in  manufac- 
ture. But  we  have  no  factories  of  that  kind  in  the  county.  A 
factory  which  works  our  hard  timber  would  be  a  success  and  a 
blessing  to  the  county.  A  capitalist  would  find  a  good  chance 
to  invest  his  money  in  a  factory  of  this  kind.  I  will  now  give  a 
description  of  the    most    common    and    useful    timbers    of  this 


—27— 

county,  but  beg  to  be  excused,  if  1  write  of  tbem  as  they  come 
into  my  mind,  without  arranging  or  classifying  them. 

Ash  grows  in  nearly  all  bottom  lands  (by  bottom  lands  I 
mean  the  low,  rich,  heavily  timbered  lands  along  the  streams). 
Ash  grows  to  a  height  of  forty  to  ninety  feet,  and  to  four  feet  in 
diameter.  It  is  generally  harder  and  tougher  than  the  northern 
ash,  makes  a  splendid  wagon  timber,  and  is  found  in  sufficient 
quantity  to  supply  all  the  wheelwrights  of  this  county.  A  great 
deal  of  it  is  sinfully  used  for  firewood,  still  more  of  it  is  dead- 
ened and  burned  in  clearing  bottom  lands  for  cultivation,  be- 
cause there  are  no  mills,  factories  or  markets  near  by. 

Black  Jack  is  scattered  all  over  the  woods.  It  is  the  most 
useless  wood  we  have,  good  only  for  fence  rails  and  firewood. 
It  resembles  Spanish  Oak,  but  is  more  dwarfish,  grows  to  a 
height  of  fifty  feet  and  sometimes  measures  thirty  inches  in 
diameter,  but  generally  is  only  ten  inches  in  thickness.  The 
tree  bears  many  large  acorns.  Its  bark  contains  a  great  deal  of 
tannin  and  acid. 

Bois  d'Arc  is  native  in  a  few  places  in  the  northeast  por- 
tion of  this  county  and  has  been  transplanted  and  seeded  nearly 
all  over  the  county  some  twenty  to  thirty  years  ago  for  ornament 
and  as  hedgeplant.  It  is  one  of  the  hardest  woods  we  have, 
grows  rapidly,  splits  tolerably  well,  and  makes  excellent  fence 
posts  and  good  wagon  timber,  although  it  is  a  little  too  heavy 
for  the  latter  purpose.  Bark  and  roots  somewhat  resemble  the 
mulberry  and  its  leaves  are  equally  good  silkworm  food.  The 
seeds  cluster  into  an  immense  ball  wiiich  looks  like  a  mammoth 
orange.  The  color  of  the  wood  is  yellow.  Nice  walking  canes 
may  bo  made  of  the  young  shoots.  Although  it  is  used  as  a 
hedge])lant,  it  grows  to  a  thickness  of  several  feet  and  sixty  feet 
hign. 

Box  Elder  is  something  between  the  ash  and  the  maple, 
more  resembling  the  ash  in  its  leaves  and  therefore  often  called 
water-ash.  It  grows  among  the  ash  in  the  bottoms  along  creeks 
and  branches  to  a  height  of  fifty  feet  and  often  reaches  thirty 
inches  in  dian)etei%     The  wood  is  smooth  and  whit«,  ^^I'liost  a,^ 


—28  — 

white  as  the  white  liolly  of  the  North,  hut  is  not  quite  so  hard. 
It  is  excellent  material  for  scroll-sawyer's  work  and  for  furniture. 
It  makes  good  fence-posts  when  put  into  the  ground  thoroughly 
dry  ;  also  splendid  doorsteps  and  sills.  It  splits  and  is  worked 
very  easily  when  green,  but  when  dry  it  is  rather  hard.  The 
seeds  are  very  small  and  resemble  the  seeds  of  the  ash. 

Burr  Oak  grows  along  the  bottoms,  but  is  not  so  very 
plentiful  now.  It  is  much  sought  after  for  wagon  timber  and 
other  purposes  where  good  hard  wood  is  required.  It  has  the 
largest  leaves  and  acorns  of  all  the  oak  family  and  grows  to  good 
sized  trees. 

Cedar  (Red  Cedar)  was  the  most  valuable  timber  in  this 
county,  but  nearly  all  the  large  trees  have  been  used  up.  I  be- 
lieve that  Fayette  County  had  as  much  or  more  red  cedar  than 
any  other  county  in  the  state.  There  are  a  great  many  young 
cedars  growing  up  again,  nnd  as  wire  fencing  has  come  into  use, 
cedar  rails  will  not  be  needed  now  and  the  young  cedars  will 
have  a  chance  to  become  fair  trees.  They  grow  tolerably  fast, 
averaging  about  one-half  an  inch  in  the  growth  of  diameter 
every  year.  I  have  some  cedars  in  my  yard  which  average 
more  than  that.  I  like  them  better  than  any  other  trees  for 
ornament  and  shade.  They  are  a  beautiful  evergreen  and  may 
be  clipped  into  almost  any  shape.  They  emit  a  very  pleasant 
aroma,  grow  in  nearly  every  bottom  and  often  among  the  post- 
oaks,  and  are  not  at  all  particular  as  to  the  kind  of  soil.  The 
best  time  to  transplant  them  is  in  the  months  of  September  .■:\nd 
October,  as  they  grow  most  in  the  fall  of  the  year.  In  the  rich 
bottoms  they  grow  to  a  height  of  one  hundred  feet  and  to  several 
feet  in  thickness.  There  is  no  timber  ahead  of  them  for  fence- 
rails,  pickets  and  shingles.  For  posts  and  well-curbing,  live- 
oak,  bois  d'arc,  mulberry,  and  mesquite  may  excel  them,  but  I 
believe  that  in  black  ground  ced\r  excels  them  after  all. 

Cottonwood  is  a  species  of  the  poplar  family  and  grows 
along  the  streams,  creeks  and  branches,  and  also  in  the  pretty 
])rairies  of  our  county,  to  a  height  of  over  one  liundred  feet  ;  the 
thickest  1  ever  saw  was  six  feet  in  diameter.  If  cut  in  the  right 
season  of  the  year,  the  old  trees  make  splendid  limber  for   box- 


—29— 

ing,  ceiling,  franiing  and  shingles.  The  younger  trees  are  gen- 
erally rather  tough  to  work  and  too  apt  to  spring,  warp  and  rot. 
My  whole  storehouse  is  ceiled  witli  cottonwood  from  only  one 
tree  ;  the  same  made  two  thousand  six  hundred  feet  of  good 
lumber.  Cottonwood  grows  very  well  after  transplanting,  but 
only  in  rich  soil, 

SYCAiMORE.  I  don't  think  ours  is  the  sycamore  of  the  Nortli; 
ours  resembles  more  the  silver  poplar.  It  grows  natively  in  the 
bottoms  among  the  cottonwoods  which  it  somewhat  resembles, 
only  that  the  leaves  are  much  larger  and  the  bark  is  almost  snow 
white.  It  is  quite  an  interesting  sight  to  see  the  large,  huge 
white  limbs  in  the  green  foliage.  When  the  wind  sweeps 
through  the  large  leaves,  they  rattle  against  each  other  like  a 
coming  hail  storm.  Sycamore  grows  to  a  height  of  over  one 
hundred  feet  and  several  feet  in  diatneter.  If  trees -are  selected 
and  cut  in  the  right  time,  they  make  lumber  of  good  quality, 
andsif  nicely  dressed,  the  prettiest  kind  of  inside  work  and  also 
good  looking  furniture.  Tiiey  furnish  very  often  over  a  thous- 
and feet  of  lumber. 

Cypress  is  in  resemblance  between  the  cedar  and  the  pine, 
coniform,  and  known  all  over  the  world  better  than  I  can  des- 
cribe it.  It  grows  along  some  of  the  streams  east  of  the  Colorado. 
Some  fair  sized  trees  still  remain  standing.  The  balance  has 
been  felled  and  worked  up.  They  are  evergreens  and,  like  the 
cedar,  grow  from  the  seeds.  They  grow  to  a  very  large  size  and 
make  fine,  straight,  round  saw-stocks.  The  lumber  is  light  and 
soft,  but  hard  to  beat.     It  is  getting  scarce  too  soon. 

China  (Wild  China)  is  found  scattered  in  the  bottoms.  It 
grows  to  a  height  of  twenty  to  fifty  feet,  and  ten  to  sixteen 
inches  in  diameter.  It  resembles  the  tame  china  in  fruit  and 
bloom,  but  the  bloom  is  lighter  in  color  and  larger  in  cluster 
and  contains  much  more  nectar  than  the  bloom  of  the  tame  china; 
a  good  place  for  bee  hunters  in  early  spring.  The  bark  is  very 
rough,  the  wood,  hard  and  heavy  ;  it  makes  good  baskets  and 
does  not  rot  easily.  The  leaves  resemble  those  of  the  tame  and 
umbrella  china,  but  don't  make  as  much  shade.     The  kernel  of 


—80— 

the  fruit  is  jet  black,    shining,    hard    and    round,     Tlie  Indians 
used  to  make  beads  of  them. 

Elm  (German  Ulme).  Of  this  tree  we  have  three  kinds. 
They  are  very  numerous  in  all  our  bottom  lands. 

Red  Elm  grows  tall  and  straight  to  a  height  of  over  one 
hundred  feet,  and  to  thirty-six  inches  in  diameter.  It  splits 
well  and  makes  good  fencing  plank,  framevvood,  wagon  axles, 
tongues,  etc.  If  cut  in  the  riglit  season  of  the  year,  it  will  make 
good  fence-rails,  but  is  unsuitable  for  posts,  It  makes  beautiful 
furniture,  takes  a  fine  polish,  but  is  very  hard  to  dress. 

White  Elm  grows  among  tlie  red  elms  to  the  same  height 
and  shape,  but  even  to  a  thicker  size.  It  is  a  very  j^retty  wood, 
but  apt  to  warp  and  almost  impossible  to  be  split.  The  wood 
laots  as  long  as  that  of  the  red  elm,  but  is  not  so  hard  and  tough. 
It  is  a  pity  to  see  these  fine  looking  trees  destroyed  by  fire  in 
clearing  the  lands  for  cultivation. 

Gum  (Sweet  Gam)  is  scattered  all  over  the  county  and 
found  amongst  all  kinds  of  timber.  It  does  not  require  a  partic- 
ular soil,  only  it  grows  larger  in  the  bottoms.  Its  height  on  the 
high  lands  is  about  twenty  feet,  in  the  bottoms,  forty  feet.  A 
tree  of  one  foot  in  diameter  in  the  bottom  is  of  large  size.  The 
bark  is  dark  gra}^,  rough,  and  finely  cracked.  The  gum  looks 
like  milk,  tastes  sweet  like  good  cow  milk,  and  is  found  between 
the  second  bark  and  the  tree.  Ciiildren  love  to  chew  the  crude 
bark  for  its  taste  and  extract  from  it  the  gum  to  play  therewith. 
The  little  flowers  of  the  gum  tree  are  sweet  and  full  of  nectar  ; 
its  fruit  is  a  black  berry  of  sweet  taste,  of  oblong  shape,  and 
about  three-fourths  of  an  inch  in  diameter.  Tiie  tree  has  a  great 
many  thorns  on  the  smaller  twigs,  but  not  as  many  as  the 
mesquite. 

Hackberry  like  sweet  gum  is  found  all  over  the  county. 
Many  of  these  trees  are  planted  for  shade  and  ornamental  pur- 
poses. After  transplanting  they  are  sure  growers  even  if  they 
have  but  few  roots  and  are  ten  years  old.  The  leaves  resemble 
those  of  the  elm.  The  bark  is  very  rough  and  covered  all  over 
Avith   hard    warts    so   that  the  boys  cannot  well  climb  the  trees. 


-31- 

The  fruit  is  a  small,  hard  eatable  berry  of  red  color  and  of  the 
size  of  buckshot.  In  rich  bottoms  it  grows  to  a  height  of  sixty- 
feet  and  two  feet  in  diameter.  The  wood  is  like  that  of  the  elm, 
but  lighter  in  weight  and  color  and  much  softer.  It  splits,  saws, 
and  works  well. 

Hickory  is  scattered  over  the  wooded  highland  portion  of 
this  county,  but  good  large  trees  are  scarce.  But,  even  if  they 
were  plentiful,  I  think  they  hardly  would  be  utilized  as  nearly 
all  the  manufactured  articles  for  which  hickory  is  used  are  im- 
ported ready-made  from  the  North.  1  sincerely  wish  we  would 
get  factories  in  this  county  to  utilize  our  many  good  hard  woods 
of  which  we  have  immense  quantities, 

Mesquite  is  found  scattered  in  the  county.  It  is  a  tliorny, 
dwarfish  and  brushy  tree  and  bears  long  pods  with  beans  which 
make  a  good  food  for  cattle.  The  pod  is  sweet  and  tender.  The 
timber  of  the  mes(iuite  is  very  hard  and  not  apt  to  rot. 

Mulberry.  This  valuable  timber  grows  in  our  bottoms  to 
a  height  of  thirty-five  feet  and  to  a  size  of  twenty-four  inches  in 
diameter.  The  wood  is  of  a  golden  yellow  color,  saws  and 
works  well  and  makes  the  best  fence  posts,  good  furniture,  and 
splendid  wagon  timber.  Mulberry  trees  are  sure  and  prolific 
bearers  and  fast  growers.  They  grow  well  after  transplanting 
and  are  often  planted  for  shade  and  ornament.  The  berries  are 
over  an  inch  long,  nearly  half  nn  inch  thick,  dark  red,  very 
pulpy  and  sweet.  The  leaves  are  the  well  known  food  of  silk- 
worms. 

Live  Oak,  These  beautiful  trees  are  found  nearly  every- 
where in  the  county.  In  the  prairies  they  stand  singly,  giving 
shade  to  cattle  and  increasing  the  good  looks  of  the  country. 
They  are  beautiful  sights.  Covered  by  silver-gray  moss  which 
hangs  from  their  limbs  like  a  beard,  they  stand  like  aged  giants 
to  speak  to  man  of  the  time  of  ages.  Tiiey  are  the  most  gigantic 
of  the  oak  family,  and  grow  sixty  feet  high  and  five  feet  thick. 
Its  acorns  are  oblong  and  black,  a  splendid  mast  for  hogs  ;  the 
wood  is  the  hardest  known. 

Pin  Oaks  predominate  in  most  of  our  bottoms.     They  re- 


—32  — 

semble  the  white  oak,  but  the  wood  is  of  darker  color  and  not 
quite  as  liard  and  tough.  It  saws  well  and  makes  good  frame- 
wood,  good  fence  rails,  in  case  they  do  not  rot  before  they  get 
dry,  good  flooring  and  fine  roofing  boards  (called  clap  boards  by 
most  of  us).  Pinoaks  are  a  very  fine  large  timber.  A  great 
many  of  them  are  deadened  for  clearing, 

Post-Oak  is  the  principal  timber  of  our  county  as  far  as 
quantity  is  concerned  and  is  used  for  a  great  many  purposes. 

Pine  used  to  be  plentiful  in  the  neighborhood  of  Rabb's 
Creek,  but  it  is  pretty  well  used  up  now. 

Pecan  is  scattered  nearly  all  over  this  county  and  grows 
to  a  large  size,  to  about  one  hundred  feet  in  height  and  three  to 
four  feet  in  thickness.  It  resembles  black  walnut  in  leaf,  bark 
and  shape,  but  its  lumber  is  not  so  valuable,  it  ranks  between 
Jiickory  and  walnut.  The  wood  is  nearly  as  hard  and  tough 
as  hickory  wood.  The  old  large  trees  make  splendid  framing 
and  fairly  good  weather  boards.  The  nuts  are  preferable  to  all 
others. 

Persimmon  (Red  Persimmon)  grows  along  some  water- 
courses, but  not  very  plentiful.  They  measure  up  to  twenty 
feet  in  height  and  eight  inches  in  diameter.  The  fruit  is  of  a 
yellowish  red,  very  pulpy  and  sweet. 

Peach  (Wild  Peach).  I  don't  know  why  this  tree  is  called 
wild  peach,  as  it  resembles  the  peach  tree  very  little.  It  grows 
in  the  richest  bottom  lands.  Wild  peach  bottom  lands  are  con- 
sidered the  very  best  for  agricultural  purposes.  The  peach  tree 
grows  about  thirty-five  feet  in  height  and  twelve  inches  in  diam- 
eter.  It  is  a  beautiful  evergreen,  may  be  clipped  into  nice 
shapes  and  then  be  used  for  ornamental  hedges  in  the  yard.  It 
is  a  fine  shade  tree,  blooms  very  early,  and  excels  in  aroma  the 
china ;  bees  work  on  its  blooms  very  lively  Leaves  and  bark 
have  medicinal  properties.  The  bark  is  nearly  black  and  is 
cracked  all  over  except  on  young  twigs.  The  fruit  is  a  slick, 
shining  black,  round  berry  of  bitter-sweetish  taste,  and  is  eaten 
by  birds.  The  wood  is  hard  and  tough  and  a  little  darker  than 
the  tame  peach. 


Prickly  Aph  is  found  all  over  the  county  and  grows  twenty- 
five  feet  Jiigh  and  ten  inches  in  diameter.  It  has  thorny  i)rickles 
all  over.  It  blooms  early  in  the  spring  and  has  aromatic  white 
flowers,  liees  like  the  flowers  ;  birds,  the  little  black  seed. 
The  bark  and  leaves  have  a  very  strong  smell  and  taste,  almost 
like  hartshorn  (Ammoniac.)  They  contain  valnable  curative 
properties. 

Walnut  grows  in  some  places  on  Cummins  Creek  and  on 
Criswell's  Creek  to  fair  sizes  ;  also  some  on  the  Colorado  lliver 
below  LaGrange.  Lumber  and  nuts  are  harder  than  those  of  the 
northern  walnuts.  It  is  an  excellent  timber  for  every  pur])ose. 
Some  mills  made  it  a  business  to  export  it ;  this  waa  several 
years  ago  ;  they  have  quit  now.  Large  old  sawstock  trees  are 
getting  scarce  now,  but  many  young  ones  are  growing  up  again. 
In  some  places,  tiiey  are  planted.  The  wood  is  known  all  ovj.r 
the  world  so  that  I  do  not  need  to  describe  it. 

Whitp:  Oak.  This  valuable  timber  is  not  spread  all  over 
our  woodlands  like  in  the  northern  and  eastern  states.  It  is  con- 
fined to  a  few  bottoms  near  and  on  the  Colorado  River,  and  a  few 
are  scattered  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  our  county.  It  grows 
to  one  hundred  feet  in  height  and  measures  many  mches  in  diam- 
eter. The  wood  splits  well,  but  is  harder  than  the  northern 
white-oak  and.  therefore,  does  not  work  so  well  under  the  tool. 
It  makes  the  best  wagon  timber,  very  good  tence-rails  and  posts. 
VViLLjw,  We  have  only  one  kind  here,  the  common  water 
willow  (salix).  The  tim,ber  is  of  little  use.  In  tlie  i)rairies, 
willows  are  planted  around  tanks  and  springs  for  siiade  and 
ornament. 

I  will  now  describe  some  of  our  commonest  vines  and  bushes, 
Spanish  Mulberiiy,  This  is  more  a  weed  than  a  tree,  and 
why  they  call  it  mulberry,  I  caimot  understand.  I  don't  think 
that  this  is  its  proper  name.  It  grows  in  most  of  our  woods 
and  the  land  on  which  it  grows  is  generally  considered  rich 
land.  It  grows  to  a  height  of  from  four  to  eight  feet  and  is  about 
one  inch  thick.  J. eaves  and  bark  resemble  some  yi>ung  wild 
mulberries.  Its  fruit  is  a  puri)lish  red  berry,  wliich  grows  in 
clusters  ;   birds  like  to  cat  the  berries, 


—34— 

Su.MACH.  I  know  of  but  one  kind  ;  it  is  the  kind  used  for 
dyeing,  and  it  was  used  extensively  for  tiie  purpose  of  dyeing 
cloth  during?  the  latter  part  of  the  Civil  War.  It  does  not  grow 
everywhere  in  this  county,  is  more  a  shrub  than  a  tree,  and  at- 
tains a  height  of  fourteen  feet.  The  leaves  are  formed  somewhat 
like  the  tame  China,  bat  are  generally  of  a  reddish  color.  The 
bloom  and  seeds  grow  out  on  the  utmost  top  of  each  branch  in 
the  forni  of  an  upright  tassel  of  four  to  seven  inches  in  length 
and  of  deep  red  color,  presenting  a  pretty  appearance. 

Spanish  Rattan.  The  kind  which  is  occasionally  found 
natively  in  this  county  does  not  resemble  the  rattan  of  South 
America  and  India.  Ours  belongs  to  the  Mesquite  (chaparall) 
family  of  Mexico.  It  grows  in  almost  any  soil,  is  dwarfish, 
hardly  ever  over  ten  teet  high,  and  several  inches  thick,  It 
branches  from  the  bottom  up  and  has  but  few  side  branches. 
The  bark  is  smooth  and  green  ;  the  flowers,  fine,  yellow,  and 
containing  much  nectar.  It  bears  a  bean.  The  wood  is  hard 
and  heavy  and  makes  good  walking  canes. 

Rattan  Vine  (Blueberry  Vine).  This  vine  is  plentiful  all 
over  the  woods,  but  grows  mostly  in  the  bottoms.  It  grows  to 
considerable  height  and  measures  several  inches  in  diameter. 
The  only  point  in  which  it  resembles  the  rattan  is  in  the  bark, 
the  same  being  hard,  smooth  and  green.  It  may  be  twisted  so 
as  to  grow  into  peculiar  and  pretty  shapes  ;  it  makes  splendid 
walking  canes,  its  hard  bark  taking.a  natural  polish  by  use  and 
wearing.  The  leaves  are  dark  green,  oval,  smooth,  and  nearly 
the  size  of  half  a  dollar.  Tiie  vines  bear  blue  berries  of  which 
children  and  bird;5  are  very  fond. 

Spanish  Grape  (Winter  Grape).  This  is  a  small  variety 
of  grapes  which  ri{)ens  in  September  and  October.  The  berries 
are  tlio  sizo  of  buckshot,  black,  not  very  pulpy,  seedy,  and  some- 
wliat  .icid.  I  don't  know  if  tlioy  would  make  good  wine.  They 
arc  eatable  and  taste  well.  The  vines  and  leaves  resemble  some 
of  our  tame  varieties.  It  is  scattered  mostly  over  the  woods 
south  of  the  Colorado  River,  and  some  is  found  on  the  northeast 
side  of  the  county. 

Spanish  Mustanc;  Grape.     This  vine    is   not   confined  to 


—35- 

the  woods,  but  may  be  found  on  every  creek  and  along  some 
fences  in  the  prairies,  It  climbs  to  the  top  of  our  highest  trees 
and  goes  even  much  further  than  that,  and  if  straightened  out, 
would  measure  several  hundred  feet  in  length.  It  sometimes 
reaches  ten  inches  in  diameter  ;  the  average  diameter  is  about 
four  inclies.  It  resembles  several  of  our  domestic  varieties,  but 
the  berries  are  larger,  of  black  color,  round,  very  juicy  and 
pulpy.  The  hull  of  tiie  pulp  contains  acid  and  tannin,  but  is 
easily  removable,  leaving  the  very  sweet  and  palatable  inside 
juice  and  pulp.  The  vines  are  very  prolific  ;  some  vines  pro- 
duce as  much  as  four  flour  barrels  of  grapes,  which  quantity 
will  make  about  a  fifty  gallon  barrel  of  wine.  The  wine  is  very 
good  and  healthy,  and  if  properly  made,  I  like  it  as  well  as  any 
wine  I  ever  tasted  except  champagne.  The  people  are  learning 
fast  how  to  make  it,  but  the  trouble  is  that  they  very  often  do 
not  let  the  grapes  get  ripe.  In  the  more  unsettled  woods  there 
are  thousands  of  tons  of  these  grape?  going  to  waste  every  year. 
I  have  been  successful  in  making  good  mustang  wine  for  the  last 
five  vears  and  if  you  wish,  I  will  give  you  my  recipe  for  making 
it. 

Black  Persimmons  are  very  scarce  in  Fayette  County. 
The  trees  grow  about  sixteen  feet  high  and  three  to  six  inches  in 
diameter.  The  Iruit  is  bluish  black  and  about  the  size  of  a  wild 
plum  or  a  good  sized  tame  plum.  Some  people  like  to  eat  them; 
birds  and  some  animals  are  very  fond  of  them.  The  wootl  is 
very  hard  and  when  cut  in  certain  seasons  of  the  year  and  turned 
on  a  lathe  when  green  will  turn  black  while  drying. 

Buckthorn  (Rhamnus)  grows  in  wet  places  and  along  some 
branches,  but  not  to  a  great  extent  in  this  section.  It  grows  to 
a  height  of  sixteen  feet,  and  five  inches  in  diameter.  The  bark 
is  rough  and  diagonally  cracked  on  old  trees  ;  the  young  trees 
and  the  limbs  have  smooth  bark.  It  is  used  for  yellow  dyes. 
It  bears  black,  bad  smelling  and  tasting  berries.  The  charcoal 
pf  the  tree  is  preferably  used  in  the  nuinufacture  of  powder. 

Buckeye  grows  only  in  some  of  the  richest  bottoms  and  to 
a  height  of  ten  to  sixteen  feet.  I  don't  think  it  grows  over  tiiree 
inches  thick.     It  bears  nuts    of  the    size    of   hazelnuts.     These 


-36- 

nuts  are  enclosed  to  the  number  of  three  or  four  in  one  capsule. 
When  ripe,  the  capsule  bursts  open  and  the  s^eds  fall  to  the 
ground.  They  resemble  a  buck's  eye  of  black  color,  hence  their 
name.  They  are  considered  poisonous  ;  some  people  carry  them 
in  their  clothes  to  cure  rheumatism.  The  wood  is  very  soft, 
but  tough  and  hard  to  saw  ;  the  bark  is  tolerably  smooth. 

Bamboo  Thorx  (Mammoth  Brier)  is  found,  but  scarcely,  in 
rich  bottoms.  It  grows  to  a  length  of  sixty  feet  and  one  inch 
thick.  Every  fourth  of  an  inch  it  has  a  long  thorn  or  needle 
about  one-half  an  inch  long.     The  plant  has  no  fruit. 

Currants  (Huckleberries)  grow  to  a  heiglit  of  twelve  feet 
and  are  about  tliree  inches  m  diameter.  They  are  scattered  in 
the  woods  over  rocky  and  gravely  places.  In  the  northwest 
corner  of  our  county  there  are  thousands  of  acres  thickly  cov- 
ered  with  them.  They  generally  bear  every  year  profusely. 
The  berries  are  nearly  as  large  sm  the  tame  ones,  but  not  so 
imlpy  and  sweet.  They  are  relished  however  by  boys,  beasts 
aiul  birds. 

Dogwood  We  have  but  very  few  of  the  large  kind  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Colorado  River  and  very  few  more  on  the  north 
side.  We  generally  have  ni  tiiis  c»unty  the  dwarf  kind.  It 
grows  ten  feet  high  in  some  thickets  along  branches  and  in  some 
bottoms.  Tlie  wood  is  very  hard.  From  the  blooms  of  the  tree 
the  bee  draws  honey. 

Elder  (German  Hollunder)  grows  native  in  some  ot  the 
heaviest  and  richest  bottoms  to  a  height  of  ten  feet  and  measures 
several  inches  in  diameter.  It  is  almost  an  evergreen.  The  flow- 
ers when  dried  make  a  fine  tea.  The  berries  are  black  and  pos- 
sess medicinal  properties.  It  is  often  planted  in  some  corner  of 
the  premises  in  order  to  have  some  flowers  and  berries  for  fam- 
ily use.  The  wood  is  liard  and  has  a  large  pith  which  hardly 
can  be  pushed  out.  Who  remen^bers  not  his  boyhood  days  when 
lie  m:ide  pop-guns  and  squirts  of  the  hollow  stems?  Who  does 
noL  aladly  think  back  of  the  i)leasure  attending  the  making  and 
liie  use  of  these  ])op-guns  and  squirts? 

Poison  Ivy  grows  in  the  heavy  bottoms  to  a  length  of  prob- 
ably one  hundred  feet,  but  it  is  rarely  over  two  iuqhes  thick.    It 


—37— 

bears  a  beautiful  red  trumpet-shaped  fiower  about  four  inciies 
long  and  two  inches  wide  at  the  brim  of  the  trumpet,  of  attrac- 
tive shape,  size  and  color.  The  fruit  is  a  pod  with  beans  of  the 
size  of  lima  beans.  During  their  blooming  the  wliole  plant  and 
bloom  is  very  poisonous  to  some  people,  while  it  does  not  affect 
others.  The  simple  touching  or  smelling  of  it  will  cause  a  feel- 
ing of  sickness  ;  the  skin  will  blister  and  rot  off  even  in  places 
not  touched  by  the  plant  ;  this  sometimes  terminates  fatally  and 
recjuires  often  months  of  skill  and  care  to  cure  the  unfortunate 
patient.  I  find  in  the  Scientific  American  a  number  of  receipts 
and  treatments  for  its  cure,  but  don't  know  which  is  the  best. 

Poison  Oak  is  more  plentiful  tlian  poison  ivy  ;  its  vine 
grows  thicker  and  longer  than  tlie  latter.  There  are  two  kinds 
of  poison  oak  ;  one  has  tlirec  i.u'onged  leaves,  the  other,  four 
pronged  leaves,  otherwise  they  are  alike.  Some  people  hold 
only  the  four  pronged  leafed  poisonous,  but  I  think  they  are 
all  poisonous  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year,  namely  in  May  and 
June. 


A  BllUrS  ]i:VE  VIEW  OF  FAYETTE  COUNTY 
IN  SUMMEll  TIME. 

If  by  this  title  the  expectations  of  the  readeis  siiouid  be 
raised  to  such  a  ]jitch  as  to  look  for  a  })oetic:d  flight  describing 
the  beauties  of  Fayette  County  as  they  deserve  to  be  de- 
scribed in  poetical  language,  this  writer  may  state  at  the  very  be- 
ginning that  they  will  be  disappointed.  Old  poets  used  to 
place  songs  and  poems  praising  the  beauties  of  londscnpcs  in 
tiie  mouth  t)f  the  animal  world,  thereby  i)roducing  ma'«ler|)ieces 
of  art.  Grand  as  the  tlieme  would  be,  it  this  writer  could  put 
a  song  praising  the  beauties  of  our  county  into  the  mouth  (if  a 
bird,  lie  feels  that  even  if  he  ever  had  this  thought,  his  wings 
are  somewhat  cli|)ped  and  jjerhaps  never  were  vigorous  enough 
to  carry  him  on  such  afliujht  mueh  less  an  impatient  reader  with 
him.  To  carry  him  on  a  poetical  flight,  the  reader  must  look 
to  some  other  person.     May  be  some  fair  lady  being  called  in  the 


tenderness  ot  love  bird  or  birdie,  and  being  used  to  the  name, 
perhaps  possessed  also  of  its  qualities,  may  carry  him  on  the 
wings  of  her  poetical  strength  to  these  elevated  realms.  As  for 
this  author,  he  can  proceed  only  to  point  out  some  of  the  poetic 
beauties  of  our  county  in  his  own  very  prosaic  vernacular. 

The  author  remarl^ed  somewhere  that  the  prairies  of  F.i}-- 
ette  County  were  set  like  pictures  in  a  wooden  irame  of  post- 
oaks.  And  a  pleasant  picture  they  are  in  summer  time.  The 
scenery  is  nowhere  grand,  but  always  pleasing.  Large  dark 
green  corn  and  colton  fields,  checkered  with  pastures  and  mead- 
ows like  a  chess-board  ;  the  tall  corn  bowing  slightly  before  a 
gentle  south  breeze  ;  stri])s  of  green  trees,  b)rdering  little  riv- 
ulets and  creeks,  intersecting  meadows  and  fields  ;  sliglit  hills 
interchanging  with  valleys,  tlie  whole  surface  studded  with 
many  neat  cities,  towns,  villages,  and  farmhouses;  church 
steeples  and  house-roofs  looking  forth  out  of  groups  of  green 
trees  ;  white  hous^es  with  green  blinds  shining  through  them, 
sometimes,  hidden  behind  thfui  ;  here  and  there,  a  smoke  stack 
of  a  gin,  heated  now  only  by  the  rays  of  the  summer  sun  ;  in  tlie 
woods,  farm  openings  intercepting  tlie  monotony  of  the  woods  ; 
the  whole  picture  enlivened  by  teams  and  people  working  in 
the  field  and  by  grazing  cattle. 

These  prairies  are  a  beautiful  picture,  pleasing  alike  to  man, 
beast  and  bird.  The  writer  of  idylls  may  find  plenty  of  scenes 
in  Fayette  County  worthy  of  his  pen,  the  painter  of  still  life, 
scenes  worthy  of  his  brush.  If  the  writer  tries  to  describe  some 
of  these  scenes  and  fails,  may  the  reader  forgive  him  his  failure 
on  account  of  good  intentions.  After  all,  a  book  on  Fayette 
County  would  be  incomplete,  if  the  writer  should  not  at  least 
attempt  to  describe  some  of  its  scenes  of  still  life  and  beauty. 
Yonder,  at  the  beginning  of  a  cotton  row  stand  a  pair  of  sleek 
horses  hitched  to  a  cultivator.  The  farmer,  an  elderly  man, 
has  worked  steadily  all  the  morning.  He  now  squats  down  to 
light  his  pipe  and  as  he  stops,  he  may  just  as  well  clean  it. 
His  morning's  work  is  well  done  as  his  whole  life's  work — 
greatest  i)art  behind  him  now,   with    less    before   him — deserves 


—Bo- 
at least  the  comfort  of  a  pipe  of  tobacco.  May  he  well  enjoy  it 
and  many  more  too.  In  the  field  on  the  other  side  of  the  road, 
an  impatient  man  witli  a  patient  team  ;  soon  one  thing  is  wrong, 
soon  another;  he  will  soon  make  his  team  so  wild  that  they  do 
not  understand  what  he  wants  of  them,  and  then  it  shall  be  still 
worse.  In  the  garden  by  tiiat  large  fine  white  house  witl)  its 
green  blinds  and  lofty  windows  a  tall,  lithe  girl,  lier  fair  face, 
Hushed  by  the  heal  of  tlie  sun,  glows  like  arose.  She  works 
will)  care  and  knowledge,  altoiuJing  to  her  more  heirless  sister 
iiowers,  freeing  them  from  weeds  tiiat  want  to  take  all  the  sun- 
siiinc  and  all  the  dews  of  tiie  morning;  she,  "fairer  far  than 
any  blooms  of  summer  are."  And  there,  on  the  side  of  the 
hill,  an  old  gray  little  house,  vines  ranking  to  the  top  of  the 
gallery;  the  little  bird  finds  tliere  its  ilk;  a  fair  young  girl 
standing  in  the  door  way,  lier  fresh  rosy  face  nicely  set  in  the 
green  vines  ;   a  i)roper  setting. 

Here  the  writer  stops  to  bring  in  a  word  from  the  reader. 
For  (|uite  a  time  this  writer  has  seen  his  elderly  gentlenian 
shake  his  head  as  if  in  disapi)roval,  until  it  became  (juite  a  mat- 
ter of  solicitude  to  him.  The  elderly  gentleman  reader  who  has 
had  his  experience  with  ihe  ladies  and  now  has  struck  his  b:>l- 
ance  sheet  and  settled  their  accounts  with  him  and  after  that 
has  settled  down  to  a  (}uiet  life  with  his  pipe  of  tobacco,  his 
daily  Houston  Post  or  Galveston  News  and  his  three  drinks  a 
day  before  meals,  quite  disapproves  of  the  passage  about  the 
fair  girls  and  thinks  that  in  an  enumeration  of  the  beauties  of 
Fayette  County,  they  should  be  left  out.  Dear  friend,  in 
pointing  out  beauties,  should  tiiis  writer  not  passingly  mention 
the  greatest  of  them  all?  Their  presence  gives  the  complexion 
of  beauty  even  to  a  desert  and  how  much  more  to  this  beautiful 
spot  of  old  Fayette.  But,  my  elderly  friend,  let  us  make  peace. 
The  ladies  of  Fayette  County  will  cross  you  in  this  book  sel- 
dom, not  because  they  are  not  tlie  worthiest  subject  to  be  writ- 
ten about,  but  this  author  with  all  his  efforts  should  not  be  able 
to  treat  this  subject  well  enough.  WMien  we  come  to  the  sub- 
ject of  Statistics,  we  shall  light  our  pipes  and  muse  and  be 
friends  again. 


—  40— 
INDUSTRIEIS. 

Farming  and  oardoning  have    been    treated    of   extensively 
under  the  head  of    pro<Jucts  ;     stockraising    also    has     received 
there  some  attention  ;   quarrying,  as  the  reader  l)as  seen,  is    car- 
ried on  at  Muldoon  ;  coal-mining  at    LaGrange.     It    remains   to 
state  that  numerous  gins  bring  the  staple  product,   cotton,    in:o 
marketable  shape  and  that  at  the  same  places,    mills    grind    the 
corn  to  meal  for  home  use.      At  Warda  and  several  other    places 
saw-mills  cut  lumber  for  their  neighborhoods,    but    none    is    cut 
for  the  market;  for  that  purijose  the    wood    is    too    far    removed 
from  the  railroads.     At   LaGrange    and    Schulenburg  there    are 
oil  mills   which    separate    the  cotton    seed    into    oil,    meal    and 
hulls.     Their  output  is    (]uite  considerable.     All    these    cotton- 
seed products  iind  a  ready  market  mostly  outside  of  the  county, 
LaGrange,  l^'Iatouia  and  Sciiulcnburg  have  electric  light    plants. 
In  IjiiGrange  the    [)lant    is    run    in    connection    with    the   water 
works  system.     The  >Schulcnburg  electric   light    plant    was    run 
in  connection  with  a  gin.      The  latter  was  destroyed  by  lire    and 
tlie  electric  light  plant  with  it.     It  is  intended  to  rebuild  it   this 
fall.      Flatonia  has  a    foundry     which     turns;  out    good     work. 
There  is  considerable  activity  in  the  county  to  enlarge  the  field 
of  industries.     Thus,  Fayetteyille  built  in  1901   a    creamery;    at 
ju'esent,  it  has  stojjped  woiking,   but    as    soon    as    satisfactory 
arrangements  are  made,  it  is  intended    to    run    it    again.      West 
Point  has  erected  a  cannery  in  the  jn-eseut  year.     The  prosi)ects 
for  its  succes,  it  being  situated  in  the  center  of  a  fruit  producii  g 
country,  are  very  bright.      Numerous  mechanics  as  blacksmiths, 
tinners,  saddlers,  siioenuikers  and  tailors  are  sullicient  to  do    all 
repairs  and  also  t^    manufacture    several    articles    in    their    lii  e 
which  either  are  made  to  order  or  easily  sold  in  the  county. 

COM  MERCI A  L  HIGH  WAYS. 

IIailuoads.  One  of  the  reasons  that  Fayette  Count}^  ranks 
to-day  as  one  of  the  most  populous  and  pros[)erous  counties  of 
the  state  are  her  great  railroad  facilities.  Shipping  places  for 
the  various  larm  i)roduets  within  easy  reach  are  a  great  conveu- 


— 4i— 


—42— 

ience  and  not  the  smallest  inducement  to  settlement.  Quite  a 
net  of  railroads  covers  the  county  so  that  a  farmer  has  to  luiul 
his  products  only  a  few  miles  to  get  to  a  shipping  point.  Two 
large  througii  lines  and  several  large  hranch  roads  constitute 
the  main  arteries  of  commerce  of  Fayette  County.  Tlic  Missou- 
ri, Kansas  and  Texas  jjasses  through  the  center  of  tlie  county, 
through  its  whole  extent.  At  LaGrange,  it  crosses  the  (\)lorado 
River.  Soutli  of  this  road,  another  large  through  lino,  the 
Southern  Pacilic,  passes  througii  tlie  whole  southern  extent  of 
the  county  within  a*  few  miles  of  the  southern  b'jundary. 
Tlirough  the  whole  extent  of  the  northern  i)art  runs  the  iVuslin 
branch  of  the  Houston  and  Texas  Central.  Tn  the  western  jjart 
of  the  county,  a  branch  of  the  San  Antonio  and  Aransas  Pass 
crosses  these  above  named  three  roads.  A  branch-road  of  the 
Southern  Pacilic  connects  the  county  seal  with  its  main  trunk 
line.  This  is'the  railroad  net  that  covers  tiie  county.  There- 
by, the  latter  enjoys  shipping  facilities  enjoyed  onlv  by  few 
counties 'inthis  state  to  a  similar  extent.  Nor  is  it  excluded 
that  great.as  these  facilities  ai'e,  they  may  not  increase  as  the 
location  of  the  county,  the  fertility  of  the  soil  and  the  industry 
of  her  people  would  still  prove  a  ]jr(j(itable  iiekl  fur  future  rail- 
road buikling.  As  the  matter  stands,  Fayette  County  is  well 
connected  with  the  outside  world;  the  news  of  the  day  are  read 
with  more  or  less  eagerness  next  mornmg.  Even  nearly  all 
country  places  get  their  mail  daily,  some  even  twice  a  day,  and 
the  news  of  the  achievements  and  the  glory  of  the  world  ])olicy 
of  our  present  administration  may  gladden  the  heart  of  the 
patriot  soon  enough,  provided  he  approves  this  policy. 

Public  Roads.  Fayette  County  has  as  good  roads  as  few 
counties  in  the  state.  She  has  excellent  road  material  and  for 
large  tracts  the  roads  have  been  graded.  Parts  of  th3  roads  are 
not  inferior  to  macadamized  roads.  Vast  sums  of  money  have 
been  expended  for  road  improvements.  An  iron  bridge  crosses 
the  Colorado  River  at  LaGiange  and  numerous  smaller  iron 
bridges  lead  over  the  smaller  waters  of  the  county.  The  roads 
are  passable  during  all  kinds  of  weather.  First-class  roads  lead 
from  the  county  seat  to  all    larger    places   of    the    county  ;   the 


-43- 

latter  also  are  generally  connected  with  each  other  by  first-class 
roads.  The  roads  are  divided  into  road  overseer  precincts. 
(For  further  Information  on  this  subject  see  Public  Roads  in 
Part  II.  History  of  Fayette  County.) 


Bridge  across  Nabor's  Creek,  flve  miles  from  LaG-range  oa 
LaGrange  and  Schaleaburg' Road. 


CHARACTER  AND  ELEMENTS  OF  POPULATION. 

The  times  of  the  early  settlement  of  Fayette  County  whcru 
man  was  left  to  a  great  extent  to  his  own  resources,  were  favor- 
able to  the  development  of  individuality  ;  the  great  later 
achievements,  gained  against  overwhelming  odds,  proved  that 
this  individuality,  by  its  strength,  was  worth  its  life  ;  it  also 
gave  the  people  a  self-consciousness  and  self-conlidence  based 
ou  their  own  merits.  How  far  time  and  events  liave  modified 
this  individuality  in  their  descendants  would  be  an  interesting 
subject  for  study.  The  early  settlers  of  Texas  came  from  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  United  States,  mostly  from  the  soutliern  states  ; 


-44- 

already,  at  a  very  early  date,  a  large  German  immigration,  sup- 
plemented later  on  by  a  Bohemian  immigration,  came  to  this 
county.  How  tliey  amalgamated  to  a  harmonious  union  ;  how 
far  the  individuality  of  the  early  settlers  impressed  its  stamp 
on  them,  to  what  extent  the  cliaracter  of  the  descendants  of 
these  settlers  was  intluenced  by  these  new  elements  or  shaped 
by  new  conditions  and  circumstances  created  by  them,  this  also 
would  be  an  interesting  subject.  How  climate,  the  nature  of 
the  country,  the  conditions  to  gain  a  livelihood  influenced  and 
shaped  old  traits  of  character  and  brought  out  new  traits, — all 
this  and  a  great  deal  more  will  be  a  profitable  subject  for  consider- 
ation. The  reader  may  estimate  from  this  the  difficulties  of  a 
conscienscions  author.  If  conclusions  do  not  come  up  to  the 
reader's  ideas  on  this  subject,  let  liiin  consider  that  important 
as  it  is  that  the  conclusions  on  this  subject  should  be  correct, 
tlie  most  important  object  for  the  reader  is  that  he  himself  have 
correct  conclusions,  and  this  he  may'  do  by  correcting  tiiem 
from  the  facts  given  and  from  his  own  experience. 

It  is  already  difficult  (o  form  a  correct  opinion  of  the  char- 
acter of  one  man.  To  do  him  justice,  you  must  underst?nd  and 
like  him.  You  must  mako  allowance  at  certain  times  for 
riianges  and  aberrations  of  his  ordinary  course,  It  is  still  more 
difficult  to  arrive  at  a  correct  estimate  of  a  whole  population. 
One  may  i^rcscnt  them  as  one  knows  them  from  liis  own  exper- 
ience, and  that  experience  may  not  be  complete  or  bear  only  on 
part  of  their  traits.  All  these  difficulties  will  stand  forth  still 
more  prominent,  as  three  elements:  the  American,  German  and 
liohmi.m  that  constitute  this  county  have  to  be  treated  of. 

The  Americans  are  very  good  neighbors,  hospitable,  help- 
ful, and  accomodating.  They  are  true  in  their  friendships. 
►Sometimes,  peo;.)Ie  will  lake  their  politeness  and  congenial  be- 
havior for  friendship  and  make  a  mistake  ;  but  they  should  not 
complain,  for  it  is  their  mistake.  Tliey  are  polite  and  gallant 
to  the  ladies.  Politeness  is  an  innate  virtue  with  them  ;  it 
forms  part  of  their  character  that  cannot  be  separated  from 
them.     With  European  people  politeness  is  very    often  a    pro- 


—45— 

duct  of  education,  not  an  innate  trait  of  character,  serving  in 
many  cases  only  to  cover  the  very  hideonsness  of  their  character.  . 
If  this  censure  of  the  European  people  should  be  held  unjust, 
I  recall  the  burning  the  Paris  Bazaar  in  1899,  where  helpless 
ladies  were  pushed  back  into  the  fire  or  trampled  down  by  the 
cream  of  the  young  society  men  of  that  country  in  their  frantic 
efforts  to  save  themselves.  A  greater  contrast  of  character  to 
the  American  could  not  well  be  found.  Most  Americans  would 
rather  die  than  to  be  guilty  of  such  barbarism.  The  sexes 
mingle  in  this  coutry  very  freely  with  each  other  and  this  has 
the  effect  of  polishing  their  manners  and  gives  them  a  certain 
confidence  and  self-reliance. 

Under  these  circumstances  their  marriage  relations  are  very 
conducive  to  mutual  happiness  so  much  so  that  older  married 
men  wish  other  people  who  are  not  in  such  a  lucky  state,  to  en- 
joy such  a  happiness  too  and  talk  to  the  conscience  of  young 
men  telling  them  how  marriage  made  men  of  them  and  improv- 
ed tlieir  character  ;  how  their  wives  have  been  the  making  of 
them  financially,  socially  and  every  other  way.  Still,  some 
men  prefer  to  remain  bad  boys  ;  they  seem  to  enjoy  some  com- 
fort in  being  bad. 

The  leading  traits  of  the  American  character  are  preemi- 
nently social  virtues.  Everyone  who  appreciates  these  traits  or 
in  part,  possesses  them  himself,  i&  welcome  in  tlieir  society  ;  is 
one  of  them.  But  people  deficient  of  Ihem  or  partly  deficient, 
whose  ideas  are  not  social  virtues,  must  naturally  be  a  jar  on 
them  and  fare  not  so  well  in  their  judgment.  Just  think  of  it, 
some  of  their  writers  call  the  Germans  stupid  and  stolid.  The 
fact  is,  when  a  German  comes  to  this  country,  his  aim  is  not  to 
shine  in  society,  but  to  make  an  honest  living  and  provide  for 
comfort  in  old  age.  His  ideal  is  the  posseision  of  a  farm,  free 
of  debt.  As  soon  as  lie  has  a  farm,  he  sets  to  improving  it  and 
building  a  nice  comfortable  dwelling  house.  This  improved 
farm,  together  with  a  few  hundred  dollars  in  the  bank  or  put  in 
safe  vendor's  lien  notes  represent  his  life's  work  ;  every  cent  of 
it  honest  and  made  by  his  labor.  He  has  grappled  with  life's 
difficulties  successfuliy  and  come  out  ahead.     If  this  is  stupidity 


and  stolidity,  it  is  of  the  valuable  kind.  Sometimes  he  may 
have  the  satisfaction,  if  satisfaction  it  is,  to  see  an  American 
neighbor  who  ridiculed  him  lose  his  fortune  either  by  living  be- 
yond his  means,  or  by  helping  a  friend  too  generously,  or  by  spec- 
ulating in  an  enterprise  that  promised  so  well  and  turned  out  so 
bad.  But  the  Americnn  is  undaunted  ;  he  starts  anew  and  may 
be  some  day  on  top  again,  The  rallying  power  and  elasticity  of 
the  American  is  wonderful.  You  may  press  a  rubber  ball  ;  tlie 
moment  you  release  your  hold,  it  assumes  its  natural  shape 
again.  Circumstances  may  press  heavy  on  an  American  ;  the 
moment  the  pressure  relaxes,  he  assumes  his  natural  sliape  ;  it 
has  left  no  impression  on  him.  With  a  German  it  is  different. 
Should  the  result  of  his  life's  work,  representing  honest  and 
frugal  wages,  be  swept  away  from  him,  it  would  be  much  harder 
for  him  to  start  anew  again  ;  his  energy  would  to  some  extent 
be  crippled  by  the  defeat. 

I  mentioned  that  the  American  sometimes  loses  a  fortune  by 
speculation.  He  is  very  enterprising  and  not  afraid  of  great 
risks.  As  he  has  been  the  pioneer  in  o[,ening  the  country  for 
settlement,  he  has  been  in  a  great  many  cases  the  pioneer  in  new 
enterprises.  Not  that  the  Gorman  is  lacking  in  enterprise,  but 
he  liardly  ever  will  open  new  i)aths.  If  they  are  opened  for  him 
and  shown  to  him  by  Americans,  and  on  careful  examination  he 
finds  them  profitable,  he  will  invest  ;  in  many  cases  more  suc- 
cessfully than  the  American  ;  for  this  reason,  experience  must 
be  paid  for,  and  that  the  American  has  done  when  he  started  in 
the  enterprise  ;  and  with  this  experience  that  he  did  not  need  to 
pay  for,  he  can  now  start  more  successfully,  it  must  be  con- 
sidered, too,  that  the  American  on  account  of  his  greater  knowl- 
edge of  the  condition  of  the  country  and  his  larger  circle  of  ac- 
(juaintances  is  for  that  reason  generally  better  qualified  to  em- 
bark first  in  new  enterjjrises.  So,  if  German  papers,  with  justi- 
fiable pride,  point  out  the  great  share  the  Germans  had  in  devel- 
oping this  country,  they  should  also  not  forget  how  much  the  Ger- 
mans owe  to  the  American  pioneer.  In  justice  to  the  Germans 
I  must  point  out  two  ideas  which  they  have  started  and  which 
are  well  worthy  of  imitation.     1  meq-n  the  fir^  and  life  insurnncf^ 


—47— 

associations  amongst  the  farmers.  The  insurance  corporations 
demand  extraordinarily  liigli  rates  ;  tiiey  want  the  fanners  to 
make  good  their  losses  in  other  places.  Consequence  :  farmers 
form  organizations  amongst  themselves  and  insure  at  a  surpris- 
ingly low  rate.  The  safeguard  they  threw  around  against  abuses 
and  tiieir  general  management  of  the  matter  is  a  great  credit  to 
their  f(.)resig!it  and  their  practical  sense,  also  to  their  a(hu)til)il- 
ity  to  self-hel|).  Strange  to  say  that  these  their  laudable  etturls 
are  often  overlooked  by  tiie  German  press. 

Tlie  German  is  very  conservative,  liolding  generally  to  his 
old  customs  and  manners.  He  loves  tiie  country  of  his  birth 
and  naturally  wishes  that  his  children  retain  the  language  of  the 
old  fatherland.  Most  laudable  are  the  efll'urts  of  the  German 
press  to  assist  him  in  this  object.  The  German  press  has  set 
itself  the  task  to  further  and  maintain  the  German  language, 
but  it  meets  with  a  great  many  diflicnlties. 

First,  the  English  language  is  the  language  of  the  country. 
To  do  business  in  this  country,  to  be  independent  of  other  peo- 
ple in  transacting  it,  one  must  know  it.  For  this  reason  the 
Germans  are  anxious  that  their  children  may  learn  it.  Now, 
English  is  easier  than  German  and  therefore  better  liked  by  their 
children.  Then  they  mix  in  the  schools  with  the  Am.erican 
children.  They  have  to  talk  to  them  in  English  and  if  they  are 
not  held  strictly  at  home  to  study  German,  it  is  soon  discarded 
altogether.  This  is  done  most  rapidly  in  cities.  If  all  the  de- 
scendants of  all  the  Germans  that  ever  came  to  this  country, 
had  retained  the  German  language,  a  great  deal  over  half  ot  this 
country  would  be  German. 

If  there  is  any  prejudice  among  the  Americans  against  the 
Germans?  I  think  generally  not,  though  there  is  amongst  some 
of  them.  People  who  come  to  this  country  without  knowledge 
of  the  English  language  will  in  the  beginning  be  in  a  he]()less  con- 
dition and  naturally  not  command  great  respect.  There  is  also 
tlie  point  that  not  knowing  the  language,  they  will  be  sometimes 
misunderstood  and  misjudged.  Their  different  customs  and 
manners,  their  diflerent  character,  their  ditfercnt  ideals  and 
views  of  life  will  likely  be  i^iisundcrstood    in  the  beginning  and 


—48— 

be  liable  to  misinterpretation.  But  I  may  say  that  during  the 
long  time  the  Germans  have  been  in  this  country,  their  associa- 
tions with  Americans  have  become  more  frequent  and  reduced 
prejudice  that  might  have  been  to  a  minimunj.  I  even  think 
that  a  majority  of  Americans  have  a  tolerably  good  opinion  of 
them. 

I  have  had  a  great  many  talks  with  Americans  on  the  sub- 
ject of  immigration.  Some  do  not  object  to  the  Germans,  but 
complain  that  there  is  no  immigration  of  the  class  with  a  higher 
education,  that  it  is  the  poorer  and  less. educated  class  that  comes 
to  this  country.  I  think  this  class  the  most  desirable;  it  has 
health,  energy  and  willingness  and  ability  to  work,  coupled  with 
sound  common  sense  and  average  intelligence.  It  easily  finds  a 
field  of  usefulness,  profitable  to  themselves  and  advantageous 
to  the  upbuilding  of  the  country.  Now  what  fields  of  usefulness 
are  open  to  the  foreigner  with  a  higher  education?  Shall  ho 
labor  in  the  field?  Very  likely  he  won't  enjoy  it  ;  most  likely 
his  less  educated  countrymen  will  beat  him  two  to  one  with  ease. 
Shall  he  teach  school?  At  first,  he  does  not  know  the  English 
well  enough.  Besides,  that  work  is  easier  in  Germany  and  bel- 
ter paid.  For  the  mercantile  pursuit,  he  is  less  fit  tlum  for 
the  agricultural.  There  is  no  class  of  immigrated  Germans 
with  higher  education  that  can  provide  an  opening  for  him. 

Now,  the  Germans  born  in  this  country  who  liave  a  higher 
education — an  American  college  education — will  not  regard  hiiu 
with  favor.  They  fear  that  their  influence  amongst  their  coun- 
trymen would  be  curtailed,  if  they  allowed  him  to  rise.  Tlu; 
German  farming  population  might  be  willing  enough,  br.t 
not  able  to  provide  a  field  for  him.  What  then  should  lie  do? 
I  advise  him  to  cultivate  the  friendship  of  Americans  and  tr}^  to 
establish  a  standing  amongst  them.  If  he  has  gained  a  standin^j 
there,  he  will  have  one  soon  amongst  his  countrymen.  For  it  is 
strange,  in  how  many  cases  the  Germans  look  for  the  judgment 
of  Americans,  in  more  cases  than  they  are  conscious  of  and  will- 
ing to  admit.  This  is  very  natural  too  ;  for  the  (iermans  genei-- 
ally  wish  to  be  on  the  best  terms  with  the  Americans  and  a 
countryman  of  theirs  who  is,  obtains  their  regard  also.     All  ihis 


—49— 

is  so  much  true  that  I  do  not  know  of  ca  single  instance  where  a 
foreigner  has  risen  to  any  prominence  in  any  of  tiie  walks  of  life 
without  tliis  aid  and  good  will  of  the  Americans,  Should  he  at- 
tain to  any  prominence,  it  will  be  after  years  of  severe  appren- 
ticeship. But  most  likely  it  is  that,  while  his  less  educated 
countryman  will  have  a  farm  and  beautiful  home,  also  a  well  es- 
tablished standing  amongst  his  neighbors,  he  will  have  to  search 
his  pockets  to  turn  up  a  nickel  to  buy  liim  a  glass  of  beer.  Thus, 
I  dare  say  that  tlie  German  immigration  we  get  in  Texas,  and 
also  in  Fayette  County,  is  the  most  desirable  class,  far  more  de- 
sirable than  a  class  with  higher  education. 

To  sum  up  tliC  differences  in  American  and  German  char- 
acter :  in  the  American  the  social  virtues  are  pre-eminent  ;  in 
the  German  the  domestic.  To  compare  the  American  and  Ger- 
man woman  :  while,  in  conversation  the  brilliancy  and  wit  of 
the  American  woman  may  be  stimulating,  the  simple  Avays  and 
artlessness  of  the  German  maiden  may  be  refreshing. 

As  stated,  there  is  a  difference  of  character  in  the  American 
and  the  German  in  this  country.  It  may  be  pointed  out  that 
there  is  as  mueli  difference,  too,  between  the  German  of  this 
country  and  the  German  of  the  old  fatherland.  You  cannot  call 
the  Germans  of  x\merica,  Germans,  for  they  are  not  ;  neither  can 
you  call  them  exactly  Americans  ;  they  are  in  a  transition 
period.  Therefore,  the  name  of  German- American  should  be 
entitled  to  its  right  to  live,  notwithstanding  that  this  distinction 
is  not  ])leasing  to  some  Anglo-Saxon  ears.  Those  Germans  who 
liave  lived  in  this  country  for  a  great  number  of  years  and  taken 
an  interest  in  their  surroundings  have  acquired  new  virtues  and 
sometimes,  forgotten  old  ones  ;  they  haye  gained  considerably 
in  intelligence  and  self-reliance;  and  sometimes  they  have  for- 
gotten the  great  German  virttie  of  modest3^  Son^e  of  the  Ger- 
man papers  speak  of  them,  and  some  papers  have  a  public  and 
a  private  opinicm,  as  most  intelligent  and  highly  cultured.  Now, 
in  the  fatlierland  they  luive  boen  farmers,  farm  laborers  or 
mechanics  ;  it  is  i.ot  probable  that  any  one  in  Germany  went  to 
them  for  fiighest  intelligence  and  great  culture  ;  neither  does 
one  here  except  perhaps  part  of  the  (merman  press    which    sce.^ 


-50- 

the  high  degree  of  intelligence  and  cultuie  through  a  magnify- 
ing glass.  A  German  who  accepts  such  a  gross  flattery,  has  cer- 
tainly lost  the  great  German  virtue  of  modesty,  and  what  is 
worse,  he  has  lost  the  German  sound  common  sense.  It  is  cer- 
tain, too,  that  the  pursuance  of  such  a  policy  can  develop  only 
unamiahle  traits,  and  defeats  the  very  ends  of  its  aim.  It  might 
be  said  that  this  recourse  to  flattery  is  an  imitation  of  the  Amer- 
ican, but  a  very  poor  one.  For,  while  the  American  seizes  on 
prominent  virtues  and  compliments  his  audience  on  them,  and 
thereby  encourages  their  development,  part  of  the  German  press 
at  least,  seizes  on  traits  which  are  not  prominent  and  flatters. 
Undoubtedly  there  are  prominent  good  traits  in  the  German 
character,  traits  not  only  of  a  high,  but  of  the  very  highest  order, 
his  unwavering  steadfastness  of  purpose,  his  patience,  his  per- 
severance in  the  chosen  path,  his  practical  common  sense,  trails 
leading  to  final  success  and  triumph  and  on  account  of  which  he 
can  stand  a  compariscn  with  any  other  nation.  To  encourage 
and  develop  these  traits  should  be  the  aim  of  the  German  press, 
not  to  flatter  on  traits  which  are  not  German  ;  only  thus  could 
a  healthy  German  life  be  developed  and  retain  those  virtues 
even  after  being  completely  Americanized. 

Having  spoken  of  the  American  and  German  elements, 
there  remains  the  Bohemian  element  to  be  treated  of.  There  is 
one  remarked  difference  between  the  American  and  German 
and  Bohemian  element.  While  difterences  of  opinion  and  char- 
acter split  the  American  and  German  elements  into  various 
cliques  and  parties,  the  Bohemian  element  represents  nearly 
everywhere  a  united  front.  It  is  therefore  enabled  to  yield  a 
powerful  influence  ;  or  at  least  their  leaders  are.  The  sturdy 
sons  of  Bohemia  are  noted  as  great  lovers  of  music.  Bohemia  is 
the  country  of  musicians  and  traveling  artists,  so  much  so  that 
Bohemian  is  a  synonym  for  the  light  hearted,  easy  mannered 
student  artist  all  over  the  world.  It  may  be  said  that  in  general 
the  Bohemians  possess  all  the  virtues  and  all  the  faults  of  that 
class  of  people  to  whom  they  have  given  a  class  name.  If  there 
is  a  prejudice  among  some  Americans  and  perhaps  among  some 
Germans  against  them,  it  should  be  noted  that  in  the  musical 
Ayorks  of  the   world's    greatest  miisicians,    Mozart    and    Haydn, 


—51  — 

natives  of  Bohemia,  there  speaks  a  spirit  of  greatness  and  ten- 
derness that  is  conceded  everywhere  as  a  leading  trait  of  the 
nation.  They  do  not  v)Ossess  to  a  great  extent  any  of  the  shining 
social  qualities,  brilliancy  and  wit,  but  the  more  of  the  simply 
human:  deep  feeling  and  tenderness. 

As  in  the  case  of  the  (Jerman,  most  of  them  have  come  to 
this  country  poor,  and  eraployed  all  their  time  in  making  head- 
way in  life  and  acquiring  a  farm.  It  may  be  said  that  Bohem- 
ians generally  settle  only  on  rich  black  land.  They  are  gener- 
ally more  powerfully  built  than  the  (lermans  and  Americans, 
of  great  physical  strength,  good  workers  and  excellent  fanners. 
Tliey  are  a  most  valuable  ac(iuisiti'jn  to  tliis  country.  The 
Bohemian  maidens  are  exquisite  types  of  beauty,  excelling  in 
physical  vigor  and  proportioned  strength.  They  compare  to  the 
maidens  of  other  nations  much  like  the  Spartan  woman  to  the 
Athenian  woman  who  was  suri)rised  at  the  physical  strength 
and  symmetrical  development  of  the  former.  It  ma}'-  be  said 
that  as  they  perform  a  great  amount  of  manual  labor — the  great- 
est foe  of  woman's  beauty— their  beauty  is  thereby  destroyed 
too  soon. 

In  conclusion,  it  may  be  said  that  about  one-fourth  of  the 
population  are  negroes.  'I'hey  are  viewed  from  different  stand- 
points. Some  i^eople  get  along  with,  them  very  well,  others 
don't.  (Some  negroes  are  good  workers  and  possess  their  own 
farms,  but  most  of  them  live  just  thinking  of  the  present  day, 
without  any  thouglit  of  the  future.  They  are  good  field  hands, 
if  under  a  strict  overseer  who  knows  how  to  treat  them,  but  only 
a  few  of  them  strive  to  own  something  and  be  independent. 

SOCIAL  LIFE. 

Schools,  Churciiks.  Cluiss,  and  Sociktiks. 

Fayette  County  has  a  cosmopolitan  population.  Tlie  new- 
comer is  sure  to  make  ac(iuaintances  tliat  suit  him  ;  he  has  such 
a  large  choice.  The  pei)ple  are  noted  for  their  ho3pitalit3^ 
There  is  friendly  intercourse  between  them;  newcomers  malce 


—52— 

acquaintances  at  school  entertainments,  churcli  meetings  and 
balls,  concerts  and  theatres  given  under  the  auspices  of  tlie  vari- 
ous clubs  and  societies.  In  winter  time,  traveling  theatre 
troupes  often  play  before  large  houses  in  the  larger  towns. 
Amusements  and  entertainments  are  not  lacking. 

Fayette  County  has  excellent  schools  with  an  able,  progres- 
sive corps  of  teachers.  They  are  under  the  control  of  a  capable 
superintendent,  Prof.  G.  A.  Stierling.  There  are  one  hundred 
and  thirty-three  schools  in  the  county  ;  eighty-nine  for  white 
and  forty-four  for  colored  children.  The  scholastic  population 
of  the  county  amounts  to  5201  white  pupils  and  2288  colored 
pupils.  They  are  taught  by  one  hundred  and  six  white  and 
fifty  colored  teachers.  There  are  three  independent  school  dis- 
tricts in  the  county,  namely,  LaGrange,  with  251  white  and  196 
colored  scholastic  population  ;  Flatonia,  with  167  white  and  57 
colored,  and  Ledbetter,  with  41  white  and  18  colored, 

A  great  many  schools  in  the  county  are  taught  for  a  term  of 
eight  to  nine  months.  In  a  great  many  sections  of  the  county, 
after  the  close  of  the  free  school,  a  private  school  is  started  and 
is  maintained  by  subscriptions  from  its  patrons;  especially  is 
this  the  case  in  the  German  settlements.  In  a  great  many 
schools  of  tlie  county  the  German  language  is  taught  besides 
English,  and  in  some  of  them  the  Bohemian  language. 

Nearly  every  religious  creed  has  its  adherents  over  the 
county.  Eloquent  preachers  work  faithfully  in  the  vineyard  of 
the  Lord,  and  administer  to  and  comfort  distressed  souls.  Sev- 
eral churches  are  masterpieces  of  architecture  and  impress  on 
the  spectator  the  solemnity  of  their  purpose. 

Popular  occasions  for  the  meetings  of  neighbors  are  furn- 
ished by  entertainments,  balls,  concerts  and  theatres  given  un- 
der the  auspices  of  the  social  clubs,  lodges  and  societies.  There 
neighbor  meets  neighbor,  and  public  affairs  and  the  news  of  the 
day  are  discussed.  There  are  quite  a  number  of  clubs  and  soci- 
eties wliere  people  are  banded  together  for  the  purpose  of  amuse- 
ment. Their  entertainments  are  great  sources  of  enjoyment  and 
are  largely  participated  in  by  the  people,  and  it  may  be  said  of 


them  :  the  more,  the  merrier.  Besides  these  entertainments 
open  to  the  general  public,  private  parlies  and  entertainments 
are  of  frecjuent  occurrence.  Tlius,  the  one  who  fails  to  entertain 
and  amuse  himself  in  this  county,  may  as  well  fjive  up  all  hope 
of  doing  so  in  this  world,  and  postpone  it  to  his  arrival  into 
a  happier  world. 

POLITICS. 

As  said  before,  there  are  four  elements  of  people  in  this 
county  :  x\mericans,  Germans,  Bohemians,  and  Negroes.  They 
cast  together  about  7,000  votes,  Of  these  elements  the  German 
is  numerically  the  strongest,  casting  about  3,000  votes  ;  next 
follows  the  negro  with  about  1,600  votes  ;  then  the  Bohemian 
with  about  1,400,  and  last  the  Americans  with  about  1,000.  At 
first  it  looks  as  if  the  numericxJly  strongest  element,  the  Ger- 
man, by  combination  with  any  other  could  exert  a  controlling 
influence  in  elections  ;  but  this  is  not  the  case,  for  these  ele- 
ments are  not  arrayed  on  lines  ol  nationality,  but  on  political 
lines.  The  Americans  belong  to  either  the  democratic  or  popu- 
list party  ;  the  Boiiemians  generally  vote  the  democratic  ticket 
in  a  solid  body  ;  the  Germans  have  a  democratic  and  republican 
minority,  the  large  mass  of  the  voters  being  independent  ;  they 
generally  vote  the  democratic  ticket  and  form  the  rearguard  of 
the  democracy,  but  they  are  ready  at  any  moment  when  the 
course  of  the  march  of  democracy  does  not  meet  their  approval, 
to  quit  the  line  of  march  and  take  a  side  road.  The  late  Judge 
H.  Teichmueller  quite  approved  this  their  policy  of  political  in- 
dependence ;  he  deemed  it  best  for  the  good  of  the  country  to 
have  a  large  independent  body  of  voters  who  by  their  indepen- 
dent votes  could  approve  or  disa})prove  of  the  correctness  of  the 
ruling  party's  course.  These  views  of  the  judge  are  supported 
by  as  high  authority  as  the  distinguished  English  historian  Mc- 
Caulay,  who,  commenting  on  the  strength  of  the  whig  and  tory 
parlies  of  England,  stated  that  the  large  mass  of  the  people 
were  not  aligned  to  any  party  ;  that  they  formed  the  anchor 
which  saved  the  state  Irom  danger,  and  that  an  independent 
mass  of  voters  was  the  best   for  the   good  of  the  country.     In 


—54— 

justice  to  himself,  this  writer  feels  called  upon  to  state  his  opin- 
ion against  such  overwhelming  authority  that  he  does  not  agree 
with  it ;  at  least  not  in  regard  to  Texas. 

The  lowest  factor  in  Fayette  County  politics  is  the  negro 
element.  No  doubt  there  may  be  some  good  negroes,  but  the 
large  majority  of  them  are  but  voting  cattle,  following  blindly 
their  bought  leaders.  They  are  republicans,  but  even  the  re- 
publicans have  to  spend  money  to  keep  them  in  line  and  get 
their  vote. 

It  has  been  remarked  before,  that  the  conditions  at  the 
early  time  of  settlement  were  favorable  to  the  development  of 
individuality  ;  those  times  furnislied  favorable  occasions  to  prac- 
tice and  strengthen  the  doctrine  of  personal  rights  and  of  local 
self-government,  the  doctrine  of  Thomas  .Jefferson,  the  states- 
man as  .Mr.  Bryan  so  appropriately  has  called  him  "for  all  peo- 
ples and  for  all  times."  The  immigration  that  came  to  Fayette 
County  was  in  harmony  witli  these  very  principles  even  before 
their  arrival  in  this  country,  You  may  imagine  their  surprise 
in  this  country  of  the  free  when  a  strong  clique  wanted  to  dic- 
tate to  them  precepts  more  tyrannical  and  more  interfering  with 
their  personal  rights  and  conduct  than  a  monarchical  government 
ever  iittempted  to  do.  The  tyranny  of  a  majority  is  not  n:iore 
supportable  than  that  of  a  single  man  ;  on  the  contrary,  it  is 
more  oppressive.  And  there  are  certain  inalienable  rights  which 
even  a  majority  should  respect.  God  gave  us  self-determina- 
tion, the  choice  of  roads,  but  he  commissioned  no  other  man  or 
no  majority  of  people  to  choose  for  us  and  make  us  take  their 
choice.  Thus,  one  may  pursue  his  happiness  in  drinking  whis- 
key, another  listening  to  the  sermons  of  Sam  Jones.  Take  your 
choice  ;  I  will  take  mine,  in  tlie  prohibition  campaign  excite- 
ment ran  high  in  Fayette  County.  Hon.  Jonathan  Lane  was  the 
most  prominent  fighter  against  prohibition.  His  American  fol- 
lowing was  joined  by  the  Grerman  and  Bohemian  elements  al- 
most in  a  solid  body.  The  defeat  of  prohibition  made  him  im- 
mensely popular  with  these  elements.  In  the  Hogg  and  Cook 
campaign  which  opened  the  Railroad  Commission  <juestion,  he 
fought  the  commission  idea.     Remembering    his    leadership  in 


—55— 

the  prohibition  question,  the  German  and  Bohemian  elements 
gathered  under  him  at  his  call  ;  they  held  the  commission  idea 
as  an  unjustified  interference  of  the  state  government, much  on  the 
same  base  with'prohibition.  A  large  number  of  Americans  who 
had  agreed  with  him  on  the  prohibition  (|uestion  did  not  follow 
him  in  the  latter  (juestion  ;  they  held  that  the  commission  was 
a  political  body  to  be  established  to  kee[)  corporations  from  in- 
terfering with  and  trampling  on  their  rights.  On  this  side  Mr. 
\V.  S.  Robson  was  a  prominent  leader.  These  opposite  views 
caused  quite  a  great  deal  of  political  excitement.  The  people 
aligned  themselves  around  these  leaders,  the  cordial  entente  was 
broken  and  two  factions  sprang  into  existence,  Although  some 
bitterness  was  engendered,  the  prudence  and  the  patriotism  of 
the  leaders  kept  them  from  committing  any  violence.  Two 
bitterly  opposed  factions  would  not  be  a  blessing  to  this  county; 
such  they  are  nowhere.  Mercantile  interests,  social  interests 
and  a  great  many  other  interests  would  suffer.  Our  unfortunate 
neighboring  Colorado  County  gives  an  example  to  what  state 
two  bitterly  opposed  parties  may  lead  a  county.  Two  bitterly 
opposed  parties  whose  dislikes  would  lead  them  to  commit  vio- 
lence, never  could  get  control  of  the  affairs  of  Fayette  County.  It 
is  not  likely  that  the  German  element  of  the  county  would  take 
sides  with  factions  and  engage  in  fighting  their  battles.  It  is 
more  likely  that  always  moderate  men  as  our  present  county 
officers  all  are  would  be  elected  by  that  decisively  moderate  and 
conservative  element,  After  Mr.  Lane's  removal  to  Houston, 
Hon.  J.  F.  Wolters  became  a  prominent  and  popular  leader  in 
the  fights  for  personal  rights.  The  confidence  of  the  people  in 
electing  him  to  the  legislature  he  rewarded  with  eminent  services 
in  that  body.  He  was  the  most  energetic  and  uncompromising 
advocate  in  that  body  of  the  doctrine  of  personal  rights.  In 
these  later  times,  thf?se  factions  have  drawn  more  closely  togeth- 
er so  that  harmony  again  prevails  throughout  the  county. 

It  has  already  been  stated  that  the  majority  of  the  largest 
element,  the  German  element,  is  largely  independent.  For  this 
reason,  the  parties  have  refrained  from  making  county  nomina- 
tiouo.     For   this    vote   is  large   enough  to  decide  the  success  of 


—56— 

the  nominations  of  either  party,  and  unless  backed  by  this  inde- 
pendent vote,  nominations  would  be  failures.     Some  dyed  in  the 
wool  democrats  exclaim:  "Rule  these  Germans  out  of  the  party." 
My  friend,   they  are  out  already.     Tliose  who   are  in  the  party 
could  be  gotten  rid  of  also.     But  how  do  you  expect  to  win  with- 
out them  in  this  part  of  Texas?     The  trouble  is  not  so  great  ia 
getting  them  out  as  in  getting  them  in.     Far  more  difficult  that 
IS.     It  is  this  independence  of  party  that  makes  county  nomina- 
tions  not    feasible.     This    writer  is  in  favor  of  county  nomina- 
tions and  endorsements,  but  does  not  think  the  idea  practicable, 
unless  some  preliminary  steps  are  first  successfully   taken.     To 
better  understand  this  question,  letuslook  at  the  objections  of  the 
opponents  of  county  nominations.     The  objections  are  weighty 
ones  and  true.     l<"irst,  Fayette  County  has  a  set  of  good  officers; 
'no  man  who  was  not  worthy  has  ever  offered  himself  as  a  candi- 
date for  office  in  this  county.       Second,    in    county    conventions 
the  nominations  will  be  in  the  hands  of  leading  politicians,  the 
rights  of  the  present  independent  vote  might  not  be  respected, 
they  may  nominate  officers  whom  the  independent  voters  do  not 
desire,  the  latter  would  still  be  bound  to  vote  for  them,  having 
participated  m  the  convention  ;  they  would  have  lost  their  right 
to  determine  their  choice  from  any  number  of  candidates  without 
gaining  anything.      Much  the  same  may  be  said  in  regard  to  the 
forming  of  a  white  man's  party  in  order  to  counteract  the  influ- 
ence of  the  corruptible  negro  element.     It  is  the  same  as  nomi- 
nations   together    with    endorsements.       The  question  is  :   first, 
will  county  officers  or  candidates  for  county  office  who  need  this 
element  at  election  cut  loose  from  it  and  place  themselves  in  the 
hands  of  the  politicians  of  a  convention?     Second,  after  having 
cut  loose  from    the    negro    element,  will  the  leading  politicians 
guarantee  them  good  faith?     For,  while  Fayette  County  has  no 
nominations,  the  experience  in  other  counties  is  that  good  faith 
sometimes  is  broken  especially  to  republicans  Nvho  are  asked  to 
join  the  party.     This    expression   shall    not    in  the  least  reflect 
on  the  integrity  of  Fayette  County   politicians  ;  this  writer  con- 
cedes them  integrity  ;  still  no   man  ever    lived   who   was  to  all 
men,  like  Ctesar's  wife,   above  suspicion.     Third,  will  the  con- 
vention iiave  power  enough  to  elect  their  candidates?     All  these 


—57— 

questions  may  be  profitably  considered  before  starting  the  agi- 
tation for  county  nominations.  In  fact,  these  county  nomina- 
tions should  be  made  with  the  certain  knowledge  of  success  be- 
fore they  are  engaged  in.  Tlie  object  of  nominations  is  a  ver}'- 
worthy  one,  viz  :  to  counteract  tlie  influence  of  a  corrui)tibIn 
neyro  vote.  A  purchasable  vole  can  never  exert  a  healthy  polit- 
ical iniluence.  U  tends  also  to  corrupt  the  politicul  morals  of  a 
people.  The  writer  here  may  state  that  even  a  small  amount  of 
the  white  vote  is  purchasable,  a  sad  consequence  of  the  example 
of  the  negro.  He  lately  heard  a  gentleman  in  surprise  comuient 
on  this  on  what  was  no  news  to  tlie  writer.  The  opponents  of 
nominations  slate  that  the  negro  vole  in  this  county  is  so  small 
as  not  to  amount  to  anything.  This  is  not  the  case.  The  negro 
vole  amounts  to  one-fourth.  A  candidate  who  gets  the  solid 
negro  vote  needs  only  one-third  of  the  entire  vote  to  be  elected. 
If  tljree  candidates  are  running  for  the  same  office,  he  needs 
considerably  less.  Sixteen  hundred  votes  do  not  amount  to 
notliing,  but  to  a  great  deal.  It  may  be  expected  that  tiie  re- 
(|uirement  of  a  poll-tax  receipt  dated  before  February  1  preced- 
ing the  election  as  provided  in  the  johit  resolution  referring  to  a 
constitutional  amendment  passed  by  the  last,  the  Twenty-.Sev- 
enth  Legislature,  and  to  be  submitted  to  the  people,  will  some- 
what reduce  this  vote. 

The  way  of  electioneering  is  this  :  a  candidate  announces 
in  the  county  papers  and  then  during  his  race  addresses  the 
people  at  public  gatherings  in  which  he  explains  his  views. 
This  is  a  very  good  way,  much  preferable  to  canvassing  the  peo- 
ple and  explaining  to  them  matters  privately.  In  the  first  case, 
everything  is  open  and  public,  in  the  other  case  tliere  lies  dan- 
ger that  unfair  means  may  be  employed.  Attacks  on  o[)ponents 
at  public  meetings  are  very  often  resented  by  the  audience. 
This  should  not  be,  Open  charges  with  which  ihe  opponent 
may  become  acquainted  are  more  honorable  than  the  dark  ways 
of  backbiting  which  may  not  become  known  to  the  opponent. 
The  reason  that  these  public  attacks  on  opponents  meet  with  so 
little  favor  is  this  :  sharp,  cutting  speeches,  if  delivered  by  the. 
op[)osing  candidates  are  apt  to  inflame  the  zeal  of  their  adher- 
ents ;  they  may  imitate  their  candidates  in  using  cutting  lau- 


—58- 

guage,  pleasant  relations  might  be  disturbed  and  bitterness 
might  rankle  between  the  opposite  parties  for  a  long  time  after 
the  decision  of  the  ballot  box.  Therefore,  such  attacks  are  dis- 
countenanced by  the  conservative,  peaceable  elements. 

There  is  an  opinion  among  some  Americans  that  as  the 
negro  vote  is  bought  by  money,  the  German  and  Bohemian 
vote  may  be  bought  by  beer.  Such  is  not  the  case.  The  large 
majority  of  them  would  frown  on  any  attempt  to  bribe  them 
with  beer.  With  some  the  invitation  to  a  glass  of  beer  has  the 
opposite  effect  from  the  one  intended  ;  they  will  not  vote  for 
that  candidate.  Still  a  great  number,  though  considerably  in 
the  minority,  look  to  candidates  for  free  beer.  They  make  no 
distinction.  The  beer  of  all  the  candidates  tastes  equally 
good.  They  consider  free  beer  as  a  tax  that  is  due  to  them 
Irom  the  candidates.  That  part  of  the  German  and  Bohemian 
votes  are  not  very  reliable.  Sonjetiraes,  at  the  close  of  conver- 
sation, tliey  have  forgotten  the  very  name  of  the  candidate  that 
solicits  their  vote.  They  make  up  their  mind  from  the  prevail- 
ing sentiment  in  the  community  and  help  to  swell  the  vote  of 
the  favorite  candidate.  Treating  for  no  other  purpose  than  to 
bribe  therewith  voters  is  a  sad  waste  of  money  on  the  part  of  the 
candidate.  Still, by  treating,  the  candidate  gets  a  chance  to  show 
himself  of  a  companionable  nature,  he  gets  a  chance  to  ap- 
proach the  voter  in  a  social,  congenial  way,  he  gets  a  chance  to 
be  listened  to  with  the  attention  which  a  companionable  man 
well  met  deserves.  Great  advantages  these.  This  treating 
system  was  somewhat  abused  in  late  years,  but  at  the  last  elec- 
tion candidates  have  spent  very  little.  The  influential  part  of 
the  Germans  and  Bohemians  look  at  wild  treating  with  unmis- 
table  disgust  and  no  doubt  their  influence  has  put  a  whulesome 
check  on  the  treat  demanding  element. 


THE  NEWSPAPER  PRESS  OF    THE    COUNTY. 

The  intelligence  of  a  community  may  be  judged  by  its 
newspaper  press,  The  press  is  the  mirror  of  the  intellect,  the 
morals  and  the  manners  of  the  people.     Already    in   the  early 


—59— 

clays  an  intellectual  life  made  itself  felt  throughout  the  county, 
with  its  center  in  LaGrange.  In  looking  over  old  rec.n-ds,  we 
lind  that  as  early  as  1848  an  effort  was  made  to  estahlish  a  paper 
in  the  county.  At  that  time,  the  court  let  some  printing  to  one 
Irvin  Drake  with  the  stipulation,  "if  he  can  get  his  pa[)cr  start- 
ed." Poor  fc^llow,  you  have  my  sympathy.  There  you  were 
in  a  i)opulation  of  great  character,  but  of  little  wealth.  "If 
you  can  get  your  pa])er  started."  Success  to  you.  May  some 
good  friends  take  ciiarge  of  your  im])ortunity  and,  api^recialing 
the  value  of  your  enterprise,  help  you  along.  Kven  with  their 
most  generous  assistance,  hard  times  will  be  in  wait  for  you. 
The  paper  did  get  started  and  in  1845  we  find  it  referred  to  as 
'The  LaGrange  Intelligence.'  May  your  struggles  grow  less 
now.  From  tlie  records  we  further  find  that  otlieial  notices 
were  often  printed  in  the  Houston  Telegraph,  tiie  Austin  Gazette 
and  the  Texas  Monument.  They  are  gone  now,  buried  in  the 
history  of  their  times.  During  the  Civil  War  we  find  two  news- 
papers mentioned  in  LaGrange:  'The  True  Issue'  and  'The 
State  Rights  Democrat;'  but  they  issue  no  more  now,  neitlier 
do  they  advocate  state  rights  any  more.  Their  work  was  done 
in  their  time  and  lies  in  the  past.  New  issues  have  arisen  and 
new  rights  are  advocated  now.  These  papers  were  succeeded 
by  the  LaGrange  Record  which  also  hao  gone  now  tiic  way  of 
all  things  mortal. 

The  oldest  papsr  in  LaGrange  is  the  LaGrange  Journal. 
It  was  started  by  Col.  Mattiny.  From  him  it  passed  into  the 
hands  of  Messrs.  Phelps  and  Haidusek.  They  were  succeeded 
by  Col.  P.  E.  Edmundson.  He  edited  this  paper  till  the  time 
of  his  death  (1897).  After  being  edited  for  some  time  by  Lion. 
J.  F.  Wolters  and  later  on  by  Judge  VV.  S.  Robson,  it  passed  in- 
to the  hands  of  the  present  owner,  Mr.  Ben  Harigel.  The  paper 
is  ably  edited,  democratic  in  its  opinion,  brings  able  editorials 
and  all  the  important  news  of  the  county.  Before  harmony  was 
restored  in  the  democracy  of  Fayette  County,  it  had  a  competi- 
tion in  the  LaGrange  Democrat,  founded  by  Hon.  Jno.  Lane  and 
edited  by  the  incomparable  James  Quarles  and  later  on  by 
James  Wetherell.  The  last  named  editor,  (juit  the  paper  was 
revived  under  the  name  of  'Latirange  News,'  but   two    English 


—60— 

papers  being  too  many  in  one  city  with    a   comparatively    small 
English  speaking  population,  it  stopped  in  1901. 

The  most  successful  ])aper  m  the  county  is  Judge  A.  Haid- 
usek's  Bohemian  paper,  'Svoboda.'  It  has  a  large  patronage 
and  a  circulation  of  about  4000.  It  is  the  Bohemian  paper  of 
the  state  and  has  a  large  subscription  list  in  nearly  all  the  Bo- 
hemian settlements  throughout  tlie  state.  It  is  a  strict  advocate 
of  democratic  principles.  It  was  started  by  a  joint  stock  com- 
pany consisting  of  about  fifiy  members.  They  employed  as 
editor  a  man  from  New  York,  named  Chudoba.  In  1S87  the 
paper  had  400  subscribers  and  $2400  indebtedness.  This  was 
not  a  good  showing.  The  New  York  man  was  sent  off  to  hunt 
another  job  and  .Judge  A.  Haidusek  took  charge  of  the  paj^er. 
In  1890  he  had  paid  off  the  indebtedness  and  increased  its  cir- 
culation to  3000.  He  then  became  owner  of  the  paper.  As  a 
newspaper  manager  the  judge  is  hard  to  beat. 

The  next  paper  in  LaGrange  is  the  'LaGrange  Deutsche 
Zeitiing,'  edited  by  Mr.  G.  A.  Heilig.  It  has  no'  defined  policy, 
but  is  strictly  against  prohibition  and  free  silver.  It  has  a  cir- 
culation of  about  2000.  The  paper  was  founded  by  one  Leh- 
mann.  Many  are  the  funny  stories  about  tlie  early  times  of 
the  paper.  Its  founder  baptized  it  with  beer  and  it  has  stuck 
to  this  German  national  beverage  ever  since.  From  Mr.  Leh- 
mann  it  passed  into  the  hands  of  F,  Lidiak  who  employed  Frof. 
E.  Juorgens  for  two  years  as  editor.  Later  on  Mr.  R.  Koper 
occupied  the  editorial  chair.  In  1896  the  paper  was  bought  by 
its  present  owner,  Mr.  G.  A.  Heilig,  Mr.  Koper  remaining 
editor.  The  owner  assumed  the  editorship  on  Mr.  Koper's 
death  in  1899.  Under  his  management  the  paper  increased  to 
2000  in  circulation.  In  comparison  with  former  issues,  its 
editorials,  as  well  as  its  news  columns,  have  considerably  im- 
proved. 

Beside?  these  papers  in  LaGrange,  there  are  several  papers 
in  other  cities  of  the  county.  The  most  important  is  the  Schu- 
lenburg  Sticker,  liefore  its  establishment,  Schulenburg  had 
several  papers,  founded  by  different  persons.  But  the  papers 
could  not  exist  on  accouni   of  lack   of   patronage.     Schulenburg 


—  61— 

was  ccnsidered  a  newspaper  graveyard.  It  was  in  the  early 
nineties  when  Mr.  E.  Goeth  established  another  paper  witli 
the  intention  to  put  it  on  a  paying  basis  and  make  it  stick,  he 
therefore  named  it  the  Sticker,  Tiie  pai)er  has  been  a  success. 
In  1900  it  passed  from  Mr.  Goeth  into  the  hands  of  the  present 
owner,  Mr.  W.  R.  King.  He  is  an  able  editor,  filling  the  col- 
umns of  his  paper  with  able  editorials  and  news  of  the  county. 
His  paper  has  a  circulation  of  about  one  thousand.  The  j)aper 
is  the  official  organ  of  the  county,  i)rinting  all  county  notices 
and  citations.     It  is  democratic  in  its  tendencies. 

In  April  1901,  anotlier  newspaper,  the  Schulenburg  Sun, 
was  established  in  this  city.  It  is  newsy,  full  of  able  editorials 
and  paragraphs,  and  a  worthy  competitor  of  the  Sticker.  Its 
owner  and  editor,  Mr.  F.  \V.  Miller,  is  a  veteran  printer  and 
editor  and  works  industriously  to  make  his  paper  a  success. 

The  city  of  Flatonia  has  two  papers,  the  Flatonia  Argus  and 
tiie  Flatonia  Record.  The  oldest  paper  of  the  two,  as  also  of 
the  whole  county,  is  the  Flatonia  Argus,  It  was  established  in 
1875  by  Col.  Pocohontas  E.  Edmondson.  Then  it  passed  through 
quite  a  number  of  hands  :  Emmett  O'Riley,  Maj.  Lee  Kyle,  O. 
P.  Bassford,  J.  J.  Moody,  Robt.  Sheppard  and  Clarence  Renfro, 
W.  A.  Thatcher,  J.  R.  Crockett  and  at  last  it  came  into  tlie 
possession  of  its  present  owner,  Mr.  S.  C.  Blanton.  The  paper 
takes  care  of  the  mercantile  interests  of  Flatonia  city  and  prints 
the  news  of  the  neighborhood.  It  is  well  edited  and  has  a  cir- 
culation from  Canada  to  Chili  and  from  California    to  Germany. 

The  Record  advances,  like  the  Argus,  the  mercantile  inter- 
ests of  Flatonia  city.  It  was  founded  by  Mr.  R.  S.  Menefee, 
then  owned  by  Mr.  O.  P.  Basford  again  by  Mr.  Menefee  and 
then  passed  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Glen  Beckham.  It  is  newsy 
and  ably  edited,  and  has  a  large  circulation  in  its  neighborhood. 

Carmine  also  has  a  paper,  the  New  Century.  It  is  pub- 
lished in  the  interest  of  the  merchants  of  that  place.  Its  col- 
umns are  filled  with  interesting  reading  matter.  It  was  found- 
ed in  1902  by  Messrs.  Guerdln-  and  Menu. 

The  reader  may  see   from  this   that  a  healthy  intellectual 


—62— 

life  pulsates  in  all  parts  of  the  county.  A  local  press  is  a  neces- 
ity  for  the  development  of  a  country.  It  is  true  that  the  ]japers 
of  the  large  cities  are  cheaper.  Ikit  what  about  it?  Is  it  not 
worth  something  to  take  care  ot  the  interests  of  our  immediate 
neighborhoods?  If  there  should  be  no  local  press,  most  local 
interests  would  suffer.  The  local  press  is  the  center  of  intellec- 
tual life  of  its  neigliborhood  ;  it  develops  and  nurses  it;  with- 
out a  local  press,  the  intelligence  of  its  community  could  not 
make  itself  felt  in  such  large  circles.  Iherefore,  this  writer 
most  heartily  wishes  the  gentlemen  who  are  at  the  head  of  the 
press  of  this  county  abundant  success. 

POSSIBILITIPIS  OF  FAYETTE  COUNTY. 

If  we  consider  the  fertility  of  Fayette  County's  soil,  the  va- 
riety of  crops  to  which  it  is  adapted,  its  promise  of  great  miner- 
al resources,  if  we  compare  its  density  of  population  with  that  of 
other  countries  and  find  that  for  instance  the  United  Kingdom 
supports  on  an  average  three  hunrdred  and  fifty  people  per 
square  mile  and  Germany  two  hundred  and  sixty  per  square 
mile,  while  Fayette  County  barel}'-  supports  thirty-eight  people 
per  square  mile,  there  is  no  reason  to  doubt  that  Fayette 
County  will  be  able  to  support  a  population  of  a  quarter  of  a 
million.  Fayette  County  ranked  in  1899  in  the  production  of 
cotton  as  third  county  in  the  United  States.  Still,  the  county 
has  no  cotton  factory.  She  is  a  wealthy  county ;  a  large 
amount  of  money  of  her  wealthy  men  is  invested  in  private  en- 
terprises in  the  development  of  other  counties.  Fayette  County 
in  comparison  to  her  sister  counties  and  a  great  many  parts  of 
Texas  has  advanced  in  her  development;  other  counties,  at  pres- 
ent, offer  an  easier  and  a  more  profitable  chance  of  investment  in 
old  well-known  lines.  But  as  the  promising  chances  of  future 
development  remain,  there  is  no  doubt  that  Fayette  County,  if 
she  does  not  lead,  will  follow  her  sister  counties  in  the  develop- 
ment of  her  home  resources.  At  present  there  is  a  kind  of 
lethargy  in  the  county  ;  a  reaction  has  set  in  of  the  stirring  ac- 
tivity of  tlie  latter  part  of  tlie  last  century.  It  seems  that  the 
people  rest  at  present  to  gather    new  strength  for  the  develop- 


-63— 

ment  of  the  county  in  new  lines  of  enterprises.  The  great  nat- 
ural resources  of  the  county  remain  and  there  is  no  doubt  that 
people  in  time  will  develop  them  ushering  in  an  era  of  pros- 
perity to  whicii  even  the  unprecedented  progress  of  the  last 
period  will  fall  short  of  comparison. 

A  DAY  OF    LIFE  ON  A  FARM    IN  FAYETTE    COUNTY. 

The  writer  of  idylls,  the  novelist,  in  writing  idyllic  scenes 
will  and  cannot  lind  a  better  field  for  observation  than  the  great 
agricultural  county  of  Fayette.  Idyllic  scenes  of  farm  life  speak 
to  the  iieart,  but  oiten  the  line  touch  is  lost  in  giving  them  ex- 
pression in  writing.  The  writer  feels  his  weakness  as  repro- 
ducer of  idyllic  scenes,  and  if  it  were  not  for  his  view  of  making 
this  book  on  Fayette  County  complete,  would  hardly  dare  to  un- 
dertake this  task.  He  knows  his  inability  to  reproduce  in  the 
reader  those  feelings  which  the  latter  would  have  at  the  actual 
contemplation  of  these  idyllic  scenes  in  Fayette  County. 

Fayette  County  has  a  great  many  farmers  who  are  well-to- 
do.  The  land  is  fertile,  and  the  people  are  industrious.  They 
work  the  farm  with  their  families  and  every  dollar  mada  ac- 
crues to  their  benefit.  Their  wants  are  small ;  comfort  is,  but 
luxury  is  not  known  to  them. 

A  farmer  told  the  writer:  "A  great  many  people  claim 
that  farming  does  not  pay.  I  do  not  find  it  so.  Last  year  I 
made  on  my  two  hundred  acre  farm  of  which  there  are  about 
ninety  acres  in  cultivation  i^early  two  thousand  dollars.  1  had' 
about  sixty  acres  in  cotton  ;  they  produced  about  forty  bales  or 
sixteen  hundred  dollars  in  money.  The  balance  of  the  land  I 
had  in  corn  and  sorghum.  Of  corn  I  sold  about  one  hundred 
dollars  worth.  1  sold  also  some  cattle  and  hogs,  and  thus 
came  close  to  two  thousand  dollars.  We  had  vegetables  the 
whole  year  round,  raised  our  own  bacon,  and  the  chickens  and 
eggs  we  sold  paid  our  entire  grocery  bill." 

13ut  the  reader  may  like  to  visit  a  Fayette  County  farmer. 
Let  him  look  at  tlie  dwelling  house  first.  The  building  is  gen- 
erally a  substantial,  simple,  one-story  frame  building  with  a  gal- 


—64— 

lery  in  front,  facing  snnth-wnrd  to  catch  the  coolina;  south  breeze 
of  the  summer  time.  In  front  of  the  house  is  a  lawn  with  some 
shade  trees,  but  more  {generally  a  flower  garden.  A  garden  f)r 
vegetables  is  close  by.  ISome  flowers  in  pots  stand  on  the  gal- 
lery, the  pride  of  the  hoiist-wife. 

The  most  popular  style  of  building  has  in  the  middle  a 
large  hall  with  two  rooms  on  each  side  of  it.  One  of  these 
rooms  with  rocking  chairs,  carpet,  pictures,  a  few  tables  "with 
albums  and  bric-a-brac  is  the  state  room  that  is  generally  en- 
tered only  on  festive  occasions.  The  other  rooms  and  upstairs 
are  the  dwelling  and  sleeping  rooms  of  the  family  and  contain 
simpler  furniture,  beds,  a  few  tables,  and  wooden  or  raw- hide 
chairs, 

A  kitchen  and  a  dining  room  are  generally  apart  from  the 
house,  but  connected  with  it  by  a  gallery. 

The  reader  has  not  seen  the  farm  if  he  has  not  looked  at  the 
barn.  The  barn  is  a  large  building,  generally  painted  red,  built 
in  most  different  styles,  the  most  approved  one  is  with  one 
thoroughfare  in  the  middle  and  stables  on  each  side  of  it.  At 
one  of  the  ends  are  rooms  for  corn  and  rooms  for  sheltering 
farm  utensils.  In  the  loft  under  tlie  roof  is  the  store  place  for 
hay.  A  cow  pen  at  the  end  of  a  pasture,  a  hog  pen  and  a 
smokehouse  filled  with  bacon  cemplete  the  surroundings. 

It  is  daybreak.  The  men-folks  get  up  to  feed  the  horses  ] 
the  women  milk  the  cows  and  prepare  breakfast,  At  sunrise,  or 
sliortly  thereafier,  breakfast  is  ready.  The  members  of  the 
family  are  seated  in  the  dining  ro»m  around  a  large  table  cov- 
ered with  wax-cloth  and  sometimes  with  a  linen  tablecloth. 
The  plates  and  dishes  are  neat  and  clean,  the  meal,  very  sim- 
ple :  some  fried  ham  or  bacon,  eggs,  biscuits  or  cornbread,  but- 
ter and  coffee.  The  head  of  the  family  discusses  with  the  older 
members  the  weather,  tiie  condition  of  the  soil,  and  farming  af- 
fairs and  gives  them  directions  for  the  work  of  the  day. 

Soon  the  smaller  children  dress  themselves  for  school.  Af- 
ter filling  their  dinner  pail,  the  mother  dismisses  them  with  a 
loving  pat  or  caress  and  instructions  to  obey  the  teacher.  The 
smallest  one  bids  her    friend,  the    yard-dog   Dash,  good-bye  and 


--65— 

soon  sl)e  is  gone.     The  house-wife   now  busies  herself  in  clean- 
ing up  the  house,  working  in  the  garden  and  preparing  dinner. 

At  dinner  the  field-hands  come  home  and  feed  their 
teams.  They  take  a  cool  wash  and  then  are  ready  for  dinner. 
Farm  affairs  and  new  plans  tried  by  neighbors  form  again  the 
main  topic  of  conversation.  The  dinner  consists  of  some  ham, 
bacon  or  beef,  a  variety  of  vegetables,  some  pies  or  preserved 
fruit  and  coffee.  There  is  plenty  of  everything  and  the  work 
has  sharpened  their  appetites  to  relish  their  meals.  After  din- 
ner the  field-hands  lie  down  on  the  gallery,  stretch  themselves, 
and  take  a  short  rest  in  the  refreshing  south  breeze.  Ihen  they 
go  to  work  again. 


Cotton  Field  in  Fayette  County. 

Late  in  the  afternoon  the  schoolchildren  come  home  and 
bring  some  newspapcis  and  letters.  Nearly  every  well-to-do 
farmer  kee[)3  three  to  six  newspapers. 

At  night  the  family  are  again  gathered  in  full  around  th^ 


— ()6— 

famil3'  table.  After  the  horses  and  hogs  are  fed  and  the  cows 
milked,  they  partake  of  their  sin>ple  meal.  The  rest  from  din- 
ner has  been  warmed  up,  some  fresh  bif^cuits  and  cornbread 
baked,  and  under  conversation  the  meal  is  finished.  The  head 
of  the  family  opens  and  reads  tlie  letters.  A  relative  in  a  dis- 
tant county  complains  of  poor  crop  prospects  which  causes  him 
to  remark  that  crop  failures  are  unknown  in  Fayette  County. 
Some  read  the  papers  ;  perhaps  there  is  a  piano  in  the  house 
and  the  oldest  daughter  plays  for  the  entertainment  of  her 
brothers  and  sisters,  or  the  oldest  boy  takes  the  fiddle  and  gives 
them  a  tune  or  two.  The  hired  farm  hand  lights  his  tobacco 
pipe  and  muses  over  his  folks  at  home,  or  periiaps  over  tiie 
beauties  of  some  fair  maiden  who  captured  his  fancy. 

This  is  a  day  of  life  of  a  healthy,  independent  and  happy 
family  in  Fayette  County.  The  regularity  of  their  life  is  only 
sometimes  broken  by  fishing  and  hunting  trips,  by  balls  and 
concerts  at  public  halls. 

A  TALK  WITH  AN  OLD  SETTLER.— PAST  AND 
PRESENT  COMPARED. 

Wonderful  must  be  the  experience  of  the  old  settler  whose 
fortune  it  was  to  watch  the  gradual  development  of  the  county. 
This  change  being  his  own  experience,  it  presents  itself  to  his 
niind  more  vividly,  and  he  is  apt  to  express  it  more  forcibly  tiuin 
the  writer.     Thus,  let  us  hear  him. 

"Yes,  you  are  right ;  limes  are  diflferent  from  what  they  used 
to  be.  Fifty  years  ago,  there  was  no  railroad  in  the  county.  A 
Hjail  coach  carried  the  mail  from  AUeyton  by  LaGrange  to 
Austin.  That  was  a  time  for  teamsters.  All  the  freight  had 
to  be  hauled  from  Houston  by  wagon.  The  teamsters  had  largo 
heavy  wagons  and  could  carry  on  them  from  four  to  five  thous- 
and pounds  of  freight.  Ten  and  twelve  bales  of  cotton  made  a 
lead.  They  had  oxen  then,  and  it  took  six  yoke  of  ox?n  to  })ull 
a  wagon  like  that.  Oxen  were  a  good  deal  better  than  mules, 
be:ause  they  did  not  have  to  be  fed  so  much.  I  tell  you  those 
teamsters   made   money   then,     A  great  m*ny  people  who  now 


—67— 

have  fortunes  made  their  start  by  hauling  freight.  The  freight 
bills  were  always  made  out  to  the  number  of  three.  The  shipper 
kept  one  ;  one  was  sent  by  mail  to  the  man  tlie  goods  were 
shipped  to,  and  one  the  teamster  got.  The  teamsters  were  al- 
ways in  crowds,  at  least  always  three  or  four  of  them,  so  that 
if  anything  happened  to  one  of  them,  the  others  could  always 
help  him.  And  they  always  carried  whiskey  with  them.  I  tell 
you  those  were  fine  times.  At  night  they  would  turn  loose 
their  oxen,  sit  around  a  campfire,  cook  supper,  and  swaj)  jokes. 
In  the  morning  they  made  breakfast  and  drove  up  their  oxen. 

You  did  not  hear  in  those  times  as  much  grumbling  about 
bad  roads  as  now.  But  the  country  was  not  so  much  fenced  uj) 
then,  and  if  one  place  was  bad,  one  always  could  drive  around 
it.  Well,  there  were  no  bridgRS  over  the  creeks  then  and  some- 
times the  teamsters  were  waterbound  and  could  not  pass  the 
creek.  The  freight  being  merchandise  would  often  be  piled  up 
high  and  the  top  part  would  often  be  brushed  off  by  limbs,  or 
capsize.  I  remember  a  fellow  once  gave  me  his  trunk  as  freiglit. 
He  had  a  bucket  of  dewberries  in  the  trunk  and  the  trunk  fell  off 
more  than  once.  A  nice  mess  it  was  when  he  opened  it.  (jot 
angry?     VVell,  why  did  the  fool  not  come  along  and  hold  it? 

You  ought  to  have  seen  the  people  come  at  those  times  to  a 
feast  or  a  ball.  I  tell  you  that  would  be  a  sight  now-a-days.  U 
people  now-a-days  do  not  come  to  a  feast  in  buggies,  but  in  wag- 
ons, they  are  considered  poor  or  trifling,  not  able  to  make  head- 
way enough  to  get  a  buggy.  People  who  came  in  those  days  in 
wagons  were  considered  as  putting  on  style.  In  those  days 
a  family  generally  sat  on  a  sleigh  pulled  by  oxen  and  the 
man  walked  beside  them  and  drove  the  oxen.  Coats  were  almost 
unknown  then,  and  the  boys  came  to  a  dance  in  hickory  shirts. 
Platforms!  Bosh!  Tfie  ground  was  cleaned  and  smoothed  and 
the  boys  and  girls  danced  there  barefooted  and  ])erha[)s  they 
had  as  much  fun  then  as  they  have  now-a-days. 

In  my  time  when  I  was  young,  tiie  farm-houses  instead  of 
frame  buildings  were  generally  log  houses,  the  cracks  in  tlicm  lac- 
ing covered  with  slal.)s.  They  were  generally  on  the  ecige  of 
timber  or  in  the  timber  and  close  to  a  creek.     For,  in  those  diiys 


— C8  — 

the  people  raised  a,  great  deal  of  cattle  and  on  account  of  them 
wanted  to  live  always  close  to  running  water.  Tlie  man  loved 
liis  Mary  Ann  as  much  then  as  now.  1  should  say  that  if  a 
norther  blew  through  those  cracks,  he  rather  would  hug  close  up 
to  her 

The  neighbors  were  on  very  friendly  terms  with  each  other 
and  had  a  great  deal  more  of  social  intercourse  with  each  other 
than  they  have  now.  In  those  times  they  had  a  great  many 
balls  and  parties  at  private  houses,  called  family  balls  and  fam- 
ily parties.  Each  settlement  formed  one  great  family,  and  the 
settlers  all  considered  each  other  as  brothers  and  sisters. 

There  were  plenty  of  deer  and  wild  turkey'  then  and  the 
people  did  not  need  to  go  very  far  to  provide  meat  for  their  fam- 
ily. Vegetables,  like  Irish  potatoes,  turnips,  radishes,  beans, 
and  peas  were  almost  unknown  then.  Flour  was  a  luxury. 
They  had  cornbread  and  sweet  i)otatoes  then,  and  a  man  very 
often  had  to  ride  ten  miles  to  a  mill  to  have  his  corn  ground  into 
meal. 

Land  was  very  cheap.  You  could  have  bought  the  finest 
land  at  a  dollar  an  acre,  but  the  people  did  not  have  any  money 
to  buy  it  with.  There  were  no  wire  fences  then.  The  jieoijlo 
only  had  small  fields  ;  for  the^'  had  to  put  a  rail  fence  all  around 
it.  Wood  was  then  taken  care  of.  Only  the  round  limbs  were 
burned.      The  trunks  of  the  trees  were  saved  for  rails. 

Tliere  were  few  schools  in  the  counts  then.  Generally 
some  preacher  taught  them  during  some  winter  months  and 
then  went  off  again. 

Now  everything  is  changed.  Wondei'ful  progress  has  been 
made.  The  ]^eople  of  those  days  never  dreamed  of  those  com- 
forts the  people  now  iiave.  Why,  if  they  would  have  dreamed 
of  them  they  would  have  thought  that  they  lived  in  fairy  land. 
But  the  good  old  times  were  not  witliout  their  ))leasures. 
Above  all  there  was  the  good  will  and  the  true  i'riendship  of 
neighbors  ;  those  were  comforts  that  no  improvements  can  re- 
place," 


_69— 

The  writer  lias  given  only  the  outline  of  his  talk.  lie  niay 
haye  changed  to  some  extent  the  wording  of  the  old  settler. 
That  lies  in  the  inability  of  the  writer.  His  main  aim  was  to  give 
a  picture  of  those  old  times  and  the  reader  ma}'-  easily  supple- 
ment it  by  personal  conversation  with  an  old  settler.  He  then 
will  get  it  in  his  characteristic  style. 

THE    BOUNDARIES    OF    COMMISSIONERS'    AND     JUS- 
TICES' BEATS  AND  VOTING  PRECINCTS 
OF   FAYETTE  COUNTY. 

Boundaries  of  Commissioners'  Beats. 

No.  1. — Commissioners'  Beat  No.  I  shall  be  composed  of 
Justice  precincts  numbers  1  and  2. 

No.  II. — Commissioners'  Baat  No.  LI  shall  be  composed 
of  Justice  precincts  numbers  3  and  4. 

No.  III. — Commissioners'  Beat  No.  Ill  shall  be  composed 
of  Justice  precincts  numbers  5  and  6. 

No.  IV. — Commissioners'  Beat  No.  IV  shall  be  composed 
of  Justice  precincts  numbers  7  and  8. 

Boundaries  of  Justices'  Precincts. 

No.  I. — Justice  Precinct  No.  I,  shall  begin  at  the  south 
corner  of  the  E.  Savage  league  ;  thence  northeast  to  east  corner 
of  said  league;  thence  northwest  to  the  south  corner  of  the  F. 
Lewis  league  ;  tiience  east  to  the  southeast  corner  of  the  S.  P. 
Brown  league  ;  thence  northwest  to  the  northeast  corner  of  the 
James  Green  league  ;  thence  southwest  to  the  northeast  line  of 
VVm.  Rabb  mill  tract ;  thence  northwest  with  said  line  to  Rabb's 
Cre-ek ;  thence  down  said  Kabb's  Creek  to  the  Colorado  River  ; 
thence  up  the  said  river  to  a  point  where  the  Chandler  road  res- 
ervation through  the  center  of  the  John  Cook  league  from  south 
to  north  intersects  said  river  on  its  west  bank  ;  thence  south 
following  the  said  Cliandler  reservation  to  the  northwest  corner 
of  A.  O'Bar  survey  ;  thence  soutli  with  the  west  line  of 
A,   O'Bar  survey    to    Buckner's  Creek  ;   thence  down  said  creek 


-70- 

to  the  north  corner  of  the  J.  E.  Lewis  survej'  ;  thence  south 
with  the  west  line  of  said  Lewis  survey  to  the  west  corner  of  the 
D.  Berry  league;  thence  southeast  to  the  northwest  corner  of  Fay- 
ette County  school  land  ;  thence  with  tlie  west  line  of  said  school 
land  to  the  first  alley  south  of  Williams  Creek  ;  thence  east  with 
said  alley  to  the  west  line  of  the  R.  M.  Cravens  league  ;  thence 
nortli  to  the  south  corner  of  the  Anna  Powell  league  ;  thence 
with  the  southeast  corner  of  the  Anna  Powell  league  to  William's 
Creek;  thence  down  said  creek  with  its  meanders  to  the  Colo- 
rado River  ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the  place  of  beginning. 
The  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  this  Precinct  shall  hold  the  regular 
terms  of  his  Court  in  the  city  of  LaGrange  on  the  last  Monday 
of  each  month. 

No.  IL — Justice  precinct  No.  II  to  begin  at  the  south  cor- 
ner of  the  E,  Savage  league  ;  thence  down  the  Colorado  River  to 
the  Colorado  County  line  ;  thence  with  the  Colorado  County 
line  to  the  Austin  County  line  ;  thence  with  the  Austin  County 
line  to  the  northeast  corner  of  the  John  Jones  league  ;  thence 
with  the  northwest  line  of  John  Jones  league  to  Cummin's  Creek  ; 
tlience  down  Cummin's  Creek  to  the  mouth  of  Clear  Creek  ; 
thence  up  Clear  Creek  with  its  south  fork  and  meanders  to  the 
southeast  line  of  the  N,  Townsend  league  ;  thence  with  the 
southeast  lines  of  said  Townsend,  S.  P.  Brown  and  F.  Lewis 
leagues  to  the  south  corner  of.  F.  Lewis  league  ;  thence  south- 
east to  the  east  corner  of  the  E.  Savage  league  ;  thence  with 
the  southeast  line  ot  said  E.  Savage  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

The  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  this  precinct  shall  hold  tlie  reg- 
ular terms  of  his  court  at  the  town  of  Fayetteville  the  first 
Thursday  alter  the  fourth  Monday  of  each  month. 

No.  III. — Justice  precinct  No,  III,  to  begin  at  the  south 
corner  of  the  N.  Townsend  league;  thence  with  the  southeast 
line  of  said  Townsend  league  to  the  south  fork  of  Clear  Creek  ; 
thence  down  said  creek  to  Cummin's  Creek  ;  thence  up  Cum- 
mins' Creek  to  the  south  corner  of  the  W.  W.  Shepherd  league  ; 
thence  with  the  southeast  line  ot  said  Shepherd  league  to  Austin 
County  line  ;  thence  with  the  Austin  and  Washington  County 
line  to  Lee    County  line  ;  thence    with   said  Lee  County  line   to 


—Ti- 
the north  corner  of  Geo.  Riddle  survey  ;  thence  witli  tlie  east 
line  of  said  Geo.  Riddle,  Thos.  Green,  Jas.  Blair,  and  Ed. 
Powitzki  surve3'S  ;  thence  to  the  east  corner  of  E,  Povvitzki  sur- 
vey ;  thence  southwest  to  the  north  corner  of  Jas.  Green  league  ; 
thence  with  the  last  boundary  line  of  Beat  No.  1,  to  the  place 
of   beginning. 

The  Justice  of  the  Peace  ot  this  Precinct  shall  hold  the  reg- 
ular terms  of  his  Court  at  Round  Top  on  the  first  Monday  of 
each   montii. 

No.  IV. — Justice  Precinct  No.  IV,  to  begin  at  the  mouth 
of  Rabb's  Creek  ;  thence  up  said  creek  to  the  north  line  of  VVm. 
Rabb's  mill  tract  ;  thence  southeast  to  the  west  corner  of  the 
James  Green  league  ;  thence  northeast  to  the  east  corner  of  Ed- 
ward Powitzki  survey  ;  thence  northwest  to  the  Lee  County  line 
at  the  north  corner  of  the  Geo.  Riddle  league  ;  thence  with  Lee 
County  line  to  the  nortinvest  corner  of  J.  F.  Berry  league  ; 
thence  northwest  to  the  Bastrop  County  line  to  the  Colorado 
River  ;  thence  down  said  river  to  the  place  of  beginning. 

The  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  this  precinct  shall  hold  the  reg- 
ular terms  of  his  court  at  the  town  of  Winchester  on  the  Thurs* 
day  next  after  the  first  Monday  of  each  month. 

No.  V, — Justice  precinct  No.  5,  shall  begin  at  the  Color?do 
River  at  the  Bastrop  County  line  to  the  north  line  of  S.  Millet 
league  ;  thence  eas1<  with  said  Millet  and  the  Pearson  league 
line  to  Pin  Oak  Creek  ;  thence  down  Pin  Oak  Creek  to  the  north 
line  of  E.  Dever's  league  ;  thence  west  with  the  said  Dever'g  line 
to  the  northwest  corner  of  said  league  ;  thence  south  to  the  south- 
west corner  of  said  Dever's  league  :  thence  east  with  Dever's 
south  line  to  the  northwest  corner  of  L.  Wood's  survey  ;  thence 
south  to  the  southwest  corner  of  said  Wood's  survey  ;  thence 
east  to  the  southeast  cornet  of  Wood's  survey  ;  thence  south  to 
the  southwest  corner  of  F.  A.  Bettinger  survey  ;  thence  east  to 
the  northwest  corner  of  J.  Vivian  survey  ;  thence  south  to  the 
southwest  corner  of  said  Vivian  survey;  thence  east  with  the 
south  line  of  J.  Vivian,  J,  B.  Tatum,  L.  \V.  Peebles  survey  to 
the  west  line  of  N.  Carnes  league  ;  thence  south  to  the  south- 
west corner  of  said  Carnes  league  ;  thence  east  to  the  southeast 


-72- 

corner  of  Carnes  league  ;  thence  north  to  the  northwest  corner 
of  S.  F.  Knight  league  ;  thence  east  to  the  west  line  of  R.  Smith 
league  ;  thence  north  to  the  northwest  corner  of  8mith  league  ; 
thence  east  to  the  southeast  corner  of  \V.  H.  Toy  league  ;  thence 
north  with  west  line  of  F'ayette  County  school  land  to  the  south 
line  of  the  E.  Berry  league  ;  thence  northwest  to  the  west  corner 
of  D.  Berry  league  ;  on  the  south  corner  of  J,  Lewis  survey  in 
east  line  of  S.  M.  Williams  league  No.  1  ;  thence  nortli  witli 
said  line  to  Buckner's  Creek  ;  thence  up  Buckner's  Creek  to 
southwest  corner  of  A.  O'Bar  survey  ;  thence  north  with  west 
line  of  A.  O'Bar  survey  and  the  Chandler  reservation  on  the  J. 
Cook  league  to  the  Colorado  River  ;  thence  up  said  river  to  the 
place  of  beginning. 

Tha  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  this  Precinct  shall  hold  the  reg- 
ular terms  of  his  Court  on  the  Saturday  after  the  first  Monday 
in  each  month  at  the  town  of  Muldocn. 

No.  VI. — Justice  Precinct  No.  VI,  to  begin  in  the  Lavaca 
county  line  at  the  southeast  corner  of  W.  D.  Lacey  survey  ; 
thence  north  to  the  northeast  corner  of  the  said  Lacey  survey  ; 
thence  east  to  the  southeast  corner  of  the  J.  C  DuflT  league; 
Ihence  north  with  the  east  lines  of  said  Duff  league  and  M.  Mul- 
doon  No.  13  league  to  the  noitheast  corner  of  said  Muldoon  No. 
,lo  league ;  thence  west  to  the  southwest  corner  of  S.  F. 
Knight's  league  ;  thence  north  to  the  southwest  corner  of  Noah 
Carnes  league  ;  thence  with  the  line  of  justice's  precinct  No.  5 
(five)  to  the  Bastrop  County  line  ;  thence  southwest  with  the 
Bastrop  County  line  to  the  Caldwell  County  line  ;  thence  with 
the  Caldwell  County  line  to  the  Gonzales  County  line;  thence 
southeast  with  the  Gonzales  County  line  to  the  Lavaca  County 
line  ;  thence  east  with  the  Lavaca  County  line  to  the  place  of  be- 
ginning except  that  part  of  J.  G.  W.  Pierson  league  lying  north 
and  east  of  Pin  Oak  Creek. 

The  justice  of  the  peace  of  this  precinct  shall  hold  the  regu- 
lar terms  of  his  court  at  the  town  of  Flatonia  on  the  second 
Monday  of  each  month. 

No,  VII. — Justice  Precinct  No.  VLi,  to  begin  at  the  point 
where  the  Colorado  County  line  strikes  the  west  line  of  the  H. 


Austin  five  league  track  of  land  ;  tlience  north  to  the  southeast 
corner  of  M,  M.  Eastland  survey  ;  thence  due  west  with  south 
lines  of  the  Eastland,  J,  Mullins  and  VV.  A.  Hall  surveys  to  tiic 
southwest  corner  of  W.  A.  Hall  league;  thence  due  west  across 
the  John  Paino  and  R.  Smith  leagues  to  the  west  Navitlad  (com- 
monly called:  Walker's  Brancli)  thence  U[)  said  branch  to  the 
south  line  of  VV.  H.  Toy  league  ;  thence  east  to  southeast  corner 
of  said  Toy  league;  thence  north  with  the  east  line  of  said  Toy 
league  and  the  west  line  of  Fayette  County  school  land  to  tlic 
first  alley  on  said  scliool  land  south  of  Williams  Creek;  Ihbuce 
cast  with  said  alley  to  the  west  line  of  the  R.  M.  Cravens  league; 
thence  north  to  the  south  corner  of  A.  Powell  league  ;  thence 
northeast  with  the  southeast  line  of  said  Ann  Powell  league  to 
W^illiams  Creek;  thence  down  said  creek  to  the  Colorado  River; 
thence  down  said  river  to  the  Colorado  County  line  ;  thence 
southwest  with  said  Colorado  County  line  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning. 

The  justice  of  the  peace  of  this  Precinct  shall  hold  the  regu- 
lar terms  of  his  court  at  Ammannsville  on  the  Thursday  next  af- 
ter the  third  Monday  of  each  month. 

No.  VIIL — Justice  Precinct  No.  Vlli  to  begin  at  the  Colo- 
rado County  line,  where  Beat  No.  7  begins;  thence  north  with 
line  of  said  Beat  No.  7  to  the  southeast  corner  uf  M.  M.  East- 
land survey  ;  thence  west  with  Beat  line  No.  7  to  west  Navidad 
(or  Walker's  Branch)  ;  thence  up  said  branch  to  Beat  line  No.  5 
thence  with  the  south  line  of  Beat  line  No.  5  to  southwest  corner 
of  Noah  Carnes  league  being  a  point  in  line  of  Beat  No.  6  ; 
thence  south  with  line  of  Beat  No.  (1,  to  Lavaca  County  line  ; 
thence  east  with  said  Lavaca  County  line  to  the  Colorado 
County  line;  thence  northeast  with  Colorado  County  line  to 
the  place  of  beginning. 

The  justice  of  the  peace  of  this  Precinct  shall  hold  the  regu- 
lar terms  of  his  court  in  the  town  of  Schulenburg  on  the  Thurs- 
day next  after  the  second  Monday  of  each  month. 

BOUNDARIES  OF  VOTING  PRECINCTS. 
(In  Justice  Precinct  No.  1.) 
No.  I. — The  boundaries  of  LaGrange  shall  be  composed  of 


—74- 

the  following  leagues  and  surveys  :  the  J.  Castleman,  the  south- 
east half  of  E.  St.  John  Hawkins,  \Vm.  Rabb's  mill  tract  east  of 
Rabb's  Creek  ;  James  Green,  Fayette  County  school  timber 
land,  W.  H.  Carson,  VV.  M.  Eastland,  James  Green  labor,  S. 
Darling,  N.  W.  Eastland,  J,  H.  Moore,  John  Eblin  and  E.  Sav- 
age. All  elections  in  this  J^reciuct  shall  be  held  at  the  Court 
House  in  LaGrange. 

No.  2.— Bluff"  shall  be  composed  of  the  following  leagues 
and  surveys  :  The  heirs  of  John  Alley  and  R.  M,  Cravens  lying 
north  of  Williams  Creek,  Anna  Powell,  Mary  Lewis,  Fayette 
County  school  land  tracts,  Nos.  80,  81,  82,  83,  98,  99  and  100  ; 
the  Silas  Jones  and  all  of  the  D.  Berry  league  lying  northeast  of 
a  line  drawn  from  the  west  corner  of  Silas  Jones'  league  to  the 
south  corner  of  the  J.  Castleman  league  and  that  part  of  the  J. 
Castleman  south  of  Buckner's  Creek;  the  J.  J.  Lewis,  all  of  the 
D.  Berry  lying  west  of  a  line  drawn  from  the  west  corner  of 
Silas  Jones  to  the  south  corner  of  the  J.  Castleman  league  and 
Fayette  County  school  land  tracts  numbers  84,  85,  86,  87,  88,  89, 
90,  9L  92,  93,  94,  95,  96,  97,  101,  102,  103,  104,  105,  106,  107, 
108,  109,  110,  111,  112,  113,  114,  115,  116,  117,  118,  119,  120, 
121  ;  and  all  elections  in  this  Precinct  shall  be  held  at  the  Bluff 
school  house. 

No.  3. — The  boundaries  of  Plum  voting  Precinct  No.  19 
in  Justice  Precinct  No.  1,  shall  be  composed  of  tiie  followirg 
leagues  and  surveys  :  The  east  half  of  John  C'ook  league  east  of 
Chandler  road  reservation,  llie  A.  O'Bar  survey,  the  A.  Castle- 
man, the  L.  Backsdale,  J.  Castleman,  \Vm.  H.  Taylor  leagues, 
the  northwest  half  of  E.  St.  John  Hawkins,  and  the  A.  W. 
Wordley  survey.  All  elections  hereafter  held  in  said  voting 
Precinct  shall  be  held  at    the  school  house  at  Plum. 

No.  4. — Rutersville  shall  be  composed  of  J.  R.  Phillips,  J. 
H.  Cartright,  F.  Lewis,  and  S.  P.  Brown  leagues,  and  all  elec- 
tions in  this  Precinct  shall  be  held  at  Rutersville. 

(In  Justice  Precinct  No.  2.) 

No.  5. — Biegel  shall  be  composed  of  the  following  leagues 
and  surveys  :  The  George    Duty.  Jos.    Biegel,    J.  M,  Hensley, 


R.  tSchwartz,  \V.  H.  Blair,  and  that  part  oi  the  S.  A.  Anderson 
and  \V.  O.  Jiarnham  lying  northwest  of  Sarrazin's  Creek.  Ail 
elections  in  this  Precinct  sliall  hereafter  be  held  at  KroU's  store. 

No.  6. — El  linger  shall  be  composed  of  the  following  leagues 
and  surveys;  The  J.  J'etty,  J.  M.  Burton,  all  oftheW.  O. 
Burnhani  and  Lucy  Kerr  leagues  lyin[^-  southwest  of  the  liicgel 
and  Ellinger  road,  all  of  the  S.  A.  Anderson  lying  southeast  of 
S.irrazin's  Creek,  and  all  of  the  Jos.  Duty,  \V.  T.  Dunlavy  and 
Jug.  Ehlinger  lying  in  Fayette  County.  All  elections  hereafter 
held  in  said  Precinct  shall  be  lield  at  Ellinger. 

No.  7. — Fayetteville  is  bounded  as  follows  :  Beginning  at 
Colorado  County  line  at  Cummin's  Creek,  to  the  mouth  of  Clear 
Creek  ;  tlience  up  the  said  Clear  Creek  to  the  southeast  line  of 
N.  'I'ownsend  Iciigue  ;  thence  to  the  soutli  corner  of  said  league  ; 
tiience  along  the  n.ortheast  lines  of  the  Hensley  league  tt)  its  east 
corner;  thence  along  the  southeast  lines  of  Hensley  and  Biegel 
leagues  to  the  Biegel  and  Ellinger  roacJ  ;  thence  with  said  road 
to  the  northwest  line  of  the  J.  M.  Burton  league  ;  thence  along 
the  northwest  line  of  said  league  to  its  north  corner;  thence 
along  the  northeast  line  of  said  league  to  the  east  corner  of  said 
league;  thence  nilli  the  Ehlinger  league  line  to  Colorado  County 
line  ;  thence  with  said  county  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 
All  elections  hereafter  held  in  said  Precinct  shall  be  held  at  tlie 
town  of  Fayetteville. 

No.  8. — Zapp  shall  be  composed  of  the  John  Jones,  James 
Miles  leagues  and  that  part  of  the  John  Andrews  league  east  of 
Cumming's  Creek.  All  elections  hereafter  held  in  said  Precinct 
shall  be  held  at  Zapp's  store. 

(In  Juotice  Precinct  No.  8.) 

No.  0.  —  Warrenton  shall  be  composed  of  the  N.  Townsend, 
D.  E.  Colton,  J.  Shaw  leagues  and  that  part  of  the  W.  .1.  Russell 
league  southeast  of  tlie  present  Houston  and  Bastrop  road  and 
all  of  the  R.  Peebles,  B.  Greenville  and  Thomas  (iay  leagues 
lying  north  of  Clear  Creek.  All  elections  hereafter  held  in  said 
Precinct  shall  be  held  at  the  town  of  Warrenton. 


—76— 

No.  10.  Haw  Creek  shall  be  composed  of  the  John  Logran 
and  W.  \V.  Sheppard  leagues  and  all  of  the  J.  P,  Gill,  David 
Shelby  and  W.  Sutherland  leagues  in  Fayette  County.  All  the 
elections  hereafter  held  in  said  Precinct  shall  be  held  at  Men- 
sing's  store. 

No.  11. — Round  Top  shall  be  composed  of  the  following 
leagues  and  surveys  :  The  James  Winn,  A.  Baker.  Jesse  Ward, 
J.  Schultz,  W.  S.  Townsend,  W.  H.Jack  and  that  part  of  the 
John  Townsend  and  Joshua  Fletcher  surveys  in  Fayette  County. 
All  elections  hereafter  held  in  said  Precinct  shall  be  held  at  the 
town  of  Round  Top. 

No.  12. — Carmine  shall  be  composed  of  the  Mary  Pheljjs 
and  James  Beardsbee  leagues  and  Chas.  Fleasner  survey  in 
Fayette  County.  All  elections  hereafter  held  in  said  Precinct 
shall  be  held  at  Carmine  Station. 

No.  13. — Ledbetter  shall  be  composed  of  the  following 
leagues  and  surveys  :  The  heirs  of  UeWitt,  N.  C.  Taylor,  M. 
Wood,  A,  P.  Thompson,  Early  Robins,  H.  R.  Craig,  John  Pain, 
E.  Gilpin,  J.  Mulin,  F.  Darby,  heirs  of  Green  DeWitt,  Jas. 
Morrow  and  M.  H.  Winburn.  All  elections  hereafter  held  in 
said  Precinct  shall  be  held  at  the  town  of  Ledbetter., 

No.  14. — Waldeck  shall  be  composed  of  the  Wm.  William- 
son, John  Vander  Worth  leagues  and  the  Chas.  Mason  and  K. 
G.  Bough  surveys  and  all  elections  hereafter  held  in  said  Pre- 
cinct shall  be  held  at  Waldeck. 

No.  15. — Nechanitz  shall  be  composed  of  the  following 
leagues  and  surveys:  The  J.  G.  Wilkerson,  J.  Longley,  W. 
Barnum,  B.  White,  C.  F.  Weber,  M.  Holmes,  Wm.  Goodwin, 
S.  McDade,  G.  W.  Brazel,  W.  Nabers,  and  all  of  the  J.  W. 
Russel's  lying  north  of  the  present  Houston  &  Bastrop  road. 
All  elections  hereafter  held  in  said  Precinct  shall  be  Jield  at 
Nechanitz. 

(In  Justice  Precinct  No.  4). 
No.  1(3. — Warda  shall  be  composed  of  the  following  leagues 
and  surveys:     The  George  Riddle,  Thomas  Green,    S.    Shelton, 
Jas.  Blair,  Ed.  Powitzki,  A.    Milde,    G.    W.    Singelton,    Henry 


Dibble,  Fayette  County  school  land  on  Rabb's  Creek,  J.  C. 
Tanahill,  F.  Keller,  \V.  Southerland,  J.  F.  EUender,  Thos. 
Berry,  1).  G.  Green,  heirs  of  A.  Dixon,  J.  S,  Lester,  \V.  Nevv- 
ford,  \\ .  Tryon,  D.  Cornway,  Alex  Reid,  G.  E.  Boom,  li.  M. 
Clements  and  W.  Lewis.  All  elections  hereafter  held  in  said 
Precinct  shall  be  held  at   Warda. 

No.  17, — Winchester  shall  be  composed  of  the  following 
leagU9s  and  surveys:  The  Wm.  Kabb  Mill  tract  west  of  Rabb's 
Creek,  J.  R.  J.  Ross,  S.  VV.  Williams,  J.  Price,  J.  Ingram, 
J.  A.  Wells,  J.  Bogel,  Ingram,  J.  F.  Berry,  E.  Campbell,  J.  A, 
Thomson,  J.  F.  Tinsley  and  Cunningham,  Whiteside  and  Green 
in  Fayette  County.  All  elections  hereafter  held  in  said  precinct 
shall  be  lield  at  the  town  of  Winchester. 

(In  Justice  Precinct  No.  5.) 

No.  18. — The  boundaries  of  West  Point  voting  Precict  No. 
18  injustice  Precint  No.  5  shall  be  composed  of  the  following 
leagues  and  surveys:  N.  Woods,  Reuben  Fisher,  Thos.  Alley, 
M.  Woods,  J.  Sheam,  D.  Berry,  T.  Cochran,  W.  Barton, 
r.  H.  Grassmeyer  which  are  in  Fayette  County,  and  that 
part  of  the  Jolm  Cook  league  west  of  the  Chandler  reser- 
vation, all  that  part  of  the  J.  P.  McFarland  league  owned 
Darby  Brothers  and  the  B.  J^.  B.  &  C.  R.  R.  survey  lying 
north  of  the  Dalrymple.  All  elections  hereafter  held  in  said 
voting  Precinct  shall  be  held  in  tne  town  of  West  Point, 

No.  lO. — Muldoon  shall  be  composed  of  the  following 
leagues  and  surveys:  The  Pat  Breedy,  John  Dalrymple,  Mul- 
doon No.  5,  Muldoon  No.  0,  E.  Devers,  heirs  of  S.  C^ottle,  L, 
Woods,  F.  A.  Bettinger,  John  Vivian,  J.  B.  Tatum,  L.  W.  T. 
Peebles,  W.  M.  Evans,  Walter  F.  Hamilton,  Wm.  Higgins,  all 
of  the  ,1.  Barlett  north  of  Huckner's  Creek  and  all  of  that  part 
of  tlie  B.  B.  B.  &  C.  R.  R.  lying  between  the  J.  J)alrymi)le  and 
W.  F.  Hamilton  surveys.  All  elections  hereafter  held  m  said 
Precinct  shall    be  held  at  Muldoon. 

No.  20. — Blackjack  shall  be  composed  of  tlie  following 
leagues  and  surveys:  S.  M.  Williams  Nos.  1  and  2,  W.  11. 
Toy,  T.  0.   Berry,  Noah  Carnes,  E.  Y,  Kean,  D.  Berry,  (i,    W. 


—78— 

Keene,  lieirs  of  M.  Smith,  J.  Harper,  the  part  of  the  J.  Bartlett, 
south  of  Buckiier's  creek.  All  elections  hereafter  held  in  said 
Precinct  shall  be  held  at  Black  Jack  Spring  church  and  sciiool 
house. 

(In  Justice  Precinct  No.   6.) 

No.  21. — Cistern  shall  be  composed  of  the  following  named 
leagues  and  surveys:  The  fe.  Millett,  all  that  part  of  the  J.  CI. 
W,  Pierson  kague  not  lying  north  and  east  of  Pin  Oak  Creek, 
P.  Broun.  J.  T.  Whiteside,  J.  H.  Whitehurst,  T.  B  Beck, 
James  Robinson,  M.  V.  Salinas,  J.  Ellender,  C.  H.  Welborn,  P. 
M.  Welborn,  J.  A.  Weir,  F,  George,  J.  McCoy,  parts  of  F. 
Kestler,  T.  Zumwalt,  C.  McKinney,  S.  M.  Williams,  J.  Beldin, 
C.  Mason,  H.  King,  T.  B.  Beck  in  Fayette  County,  the  James 
Seaton,  S.  Darling,  J.  Thompson,  W^  M.  W.  Thompson,  and  all 
land  lying  between  J.  Stifler  and  J.  Robison  leagues.  All  elec- 
tions hereafter  held  in  this  Precinct  shall  be  held  at  Cistern- 
No.  22. -"Colony  shall  be  composed  of  the  following  leagues 
and  surveys:  The  M..  Walton,  S.  St.  John,  M.  B.  Tatum,  J, 
McGown,  J.  Stifler,  A.  Zumwalt,  J.  Livergood,  J.  Shaw,  J. 
Seaton,  W.  Cummins.  W.  Kuykendall,  M.  C.  Salinas,  J.  Mene- 
fee,  M.  DeLaGarza,  A.  Weaver,  S.  Nettle,  G.  Hernandez,  H.  S. 
Gnge,  J.  Parrot,  F.  E.  Sellers,  E.  S.  Powell,  R.  liigsby,  E, 
Whitehead,  J.  Dodd,  J.  Marshall,  J.B.  Tatum,  J.  Schroeder  and 
James  Gibson.  All  elections  hereafter  held  in  tiiis  Precinct 
shall  be  held  at  J.  A.  Young's  store. 

No.  22. — Fhitonia  shall  be  composed  of  the  following 
named  leagues  and  surveys  :  The  J.  M.  Molina,  J.  D.  Elliot: 
Ben  Green,  Muldoon  No.  14,  Chas.  F.  Wright,  W,  A.  Faires, 
G.  W  .  Cottle  Jesse  Richards,  J.  Murphy, Jas.  H.  Ryan,  P.  Hcpe, 
Thos.  Rumley,  W.  A.  Mathews,  T.  H.  Harris  and  Christopher 
Williams.  All  elections  hereafter  held  in  tiiis  Precinct,  shall  be 
held  at  the  city  of  Flatonia. 

No.  24  — Praha  sliall  be  composed  of  the  following  leagues 
and  surveys  :  The  Muldoon  No.  13,  J.  C.  Duff,  W.  K.  Paulding. 
Wade  Horton,  Norman   Woods,  and  W.  D.  Lacy.     All  elections 


-79- 

hereafter  iield  in  this   Precinct   shall  be    held   at   Praha  school 
house. 

(In  Justice  Precinct  No.    VII.) 

No.  25. — Anirnannsville  shall  be  composed  of  the  following 
leagues  and  surveys  :  Fayette  County  school  land  tracts  Nos. 
11,  12,  13,  14,  15,"  28,  29,  80,  31,  32,  33,  34,  35,  36,  37,  52,  53, 
54,  55,  56,  57,  58,  59,  78  and  79  ;  W.  A.  Hall  league,  J.  JVIul- 
lins,  James  Hunley,  Dave  Berry,  J.  Barden,  J.  M.  Ferrill, 
Peter  Lopez,  B.  Kuykendall,  all  of  the  R.  JM,  Cravens  south  of 
Williams  Creek  and  all  lands  between  school  land  and  L.  Lopez 
and  other  surveys.  AH  elections  hereafter  held  in  this  Precinct 
shall  be  held  at  Ammannsville  school  house. 

No.  26, — Pecan  shall  be  composed  of  the  following  leagues 
and  surveys  :  The  part  of  the  John  Alley  south  of  Williams 
Creek,  S.  A.  Pugh,  J.  Gomez,  W.  M.  Eastland,  H.  Austin,  F. 
Pettus  and  J.  Burnham,  and  all  land  between  H.  Austin,  Max- 
well O'Bar  and  Harper  surveys.  All  elections  hereafter  held  in 
this  Precinct  shall  be  held  at  Pecan  school  house. 

No.  27. — Swiss  Alp  shall  be  composed  of  Fayette  County 
school  land  tracts  Nos.  1  to  10  ;  16  to  27  ;  38  to  51  ;  60  to  77  ; 
122  to  128  inclusive  J.  Townsend,  F.  C.  Powell  and  H.  T. 
Thayer  surveys  and  the  north  ])art  of  John  Paine  and  northeast 
part  of  R.  Smith  leagues  lying  north  of  Beat  line  7  and  8  and 
east  of  the  so  called  Walker  Branch  of  the  west  Navidad.  All 
elections  hereafter  held  in  this  Precinct  shall  be  held  at  Swiss 
Alp. 

(In  Justice  Precinct  No.  VIII.) 

No.  28. — Mulberry  shall  be  composed  of  the  following 
leagues  and  surveys:  P.  Allison,  W.  Gorham,  James  Bell, 
T.  Taylor,  K.  Crier,  L.  Bostic,  E.  Anderson,  J.H.  Whitehurst  west 
of  Peeler  road,  M.  M.  Gillespie,  Wm  Nabers  and  Thomas 
Green,  and  to  exclude  all  of  the  territjry  formerly  belonging  to 
said  Mulberry  Precinct  No.  29  east  of  the  Peeler  road  beginning 
at  the  Lavaca  County  line  at  (Tolson)  McKinnon's  place  ;  thence 
Dorth  to  Chris.  Bautngarten's  place.  The  Chris.  Baumgni-tcn 
and  the  McKinnon  place  shall  belong  to  Schulenburg  Precinct 


—80— 

No.  30.     All  elections  hereafter    held  in  this    Precinct    shall  he 
held  in  the  Kaznicov  school  honse. 

No.  29. — Schulenburg  shall  be  composed  of  the  following 
leagues  and  surveys;  All  of  the  Jessie  Burnham  and  J.  G. 
O'Farrell  and  J.  A.  Sergeant,  south  of  the  railroad  and  east  of 
East  Navidad,  all  of  the  O'Farrell,  Sergeant,  W.  Brookfield 
and  B.  Perr}'  west  of  East  Navidad,  all  of  the  E.  Anderson  east 
of  J^"orster's  Creek  and  south  of  the  Columbus  and  Gonzales  roads, 
all  of  1.  Almansur  east  of  Schulenburg  and  LaGrange  road,  all 
of  the  K.  Cryer  and  T.  Taylor  east  of  West  Navidad  and  south 
of  Forster's  Creek  and  all  of  the  territory  formerly  belonging  to 
Mulberry  Precinct  No.  29  east  of  the  Peeler  road  ;  beginning  at 
the  Lavaca  County  line  at  (Tolson)  McKinnon's  place,  thence 
north  to  Chris.  Baumgarten's  place,  and  to  include  the  last  two 
named  places  in  Voting  Precinct  No.  30.  All  elections  hereafter 
held  in  this  Precinct  shall  be  held  in  tiie  town  of  Schulenburg. 

No.  30. — Dubina  shall  be  composed  of  the  foUowmg  leagues 
and  surveys  :  All  of  B.  Perry,  \V.  Brookfield,  J.  A.  Sergeant 
and  J.  O'Farrell  east  of  the  Navidad  and  north  of  the  railroad, 
R.  Maxwells,  J.  O'Bar,  .J.  Gomez,  .J.  Harper  ami  F.  \V.  Grass- 
meyer.  All  elections  held  hereafter  in  this  Precinct  shall  be 
held  at  Dubina. 

No,  31. — Hig  Hill  shall  be  composed  of  the  following  leagues 
and  surveys:  All  of  the  E.  Anderson  and  K.  C'ryer  east  of  the 
Navidad  and  north  of  the  Columbus  and  Gonzales  road,  east  of 
Forster's  Creek;  all  of  the  I.  Almansur,  west  of  the  LaGrange 
and  Schulenburg  road  and  all  of  the  John  Paine,  south  of  line  of 
Justice  Precinct  No.  7,  all  of  the  Counsel  and  R  Smith  leagues 
east  of  tlie  Navidad  and  Walker  branch  and  south  of  Justice 
Precinct  No.  7.  All  elections  hereafter  held  in  tliis  Precinct 
shall  be  held  at  some  suitable  place  in  the  village  of  High  Hill. 

No,  32. — Thulemeyer  shall  be  composed  of  the  following 
leagues  and  surveys  :  All  of  the  R.  Smith  and  J.  S.  Counsel, 
west  of  the  West  Navidad  and  Walker's  branch,  the  S.  F.  Knight 
and  J.  A.  Harmon,  and  all  of  the  J.  H.  Whitehurst  and  E.  An- 
derson,   north    of    Ujjper    Pocky  and  west  of  the  Navidad.      All 


—81— 

elections    hereafter    held    in    this    Precinct    shall  be  held  at  the 
M.  E.  school  house. 

No.  83. — Stella  shall  be  composed  of  the  following  leagues 
and  surveys  :  ('.  VVestner,  A.  Walker,  L.  M.  Stewart,  J.  Mc- 
C'aliister,  M.  Woods,  Z.  Woods,  A.  Cook,  J.  A.  Wells,  F.  W. 
(xrassmeyer,  J.  P.  McFarland  (except  all  lands  owned  by  J.  A. 
Darby  and  Darby  brother  on  said  league)  and  tliat  portion  of 
tiie  T.  Thompson,  A.  (Iraham  and  Wm.  Medford  wliicli  is  in 
Fayetle  County,  also  all  that  portion  of  the  J.  (r.  W.  Pierson 
league  north  and  east  of  Pin  Oak  Creek.  All  elections  hereafter 
held  in  this  Precinct  shall  be  held  at  K.  Breeden's  store. 

Note. — Stella  Voting  Precinct  No.  38  belongs  to  Justice 
Precinct  No.  5. 

Mkmi'.krs  of  Commissioni^rs'  Court, 

The  names  of  the  present  members  of  the  Commissioners' 
Court  are  :  Joseph  Eljlinger,  presiding  officer  ;  Clias.  F.  Hacke- 
beil,  Commissioner  lor  Beat  No.  1  ;  Kossuth  Zapp,  Commission- 
er for  Beat  No.  2  ;  C.  A.  Young,  Commissioner  for  Beat  No.  8  ; 
Joseph  Fietsam,  Commissioner  for  Beat  No.  4. 

Precinct  Officers. 

The  following  are  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  of  the  county  : 
H.  C.  I.edbetter,  of  Precinct  No.  1  ;  Tom  Hruska,''of  Precinct 
No.  2;  Charles  Schiege,  of  Precinct  No.  G;  Alex.  Ramsey,  of 
Precinct  No.  4  ;  (J.  W.  Cole,  of  Precinct  No.  5  ;  Bob  Menefee,  of 
Precinct  Nt).  (3;  V.  J.  Jnnacek,  of  Precinct  No.  7,  and  C.  T. 
Willrich,  of  Precinct  No.  8. 

The  fi)llowing  are  the  Constables  in  these  respective  i)re- 
cincts:  Lee  Smith,  of  Precinct  No.  1;  F.  C.  Knippcl,  of  Prf^- 
'•inct  No.  2  ;  Adolph  Becker,  of  Precinct  No.  3  ;  Sam  Kedfield. 
ol  Precinct  No.  4  :  N.  Pv.  Cole,  of  Precinct  No.  5  ;  Tom  Sellers, 
of  J'recinct  No.'G  ;  Robert  JMc(iill,  of  Precinct  No.  7,  and  Robt. 
^\'illiams  of  Precinct  No.  8. 


PART  11. 

HISTORY    OF    FAYETTE 
COUNTY. 


HISTORY    OF     FAYETTE     COUNTY. 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  great  state  and  national  questions  which  agitated  tlie 
people  of  Texas  found  their  rettex  also  in  Fayette  County.  To 
treat  of  them  more  extensively  would  be  to  write  their  history, 
but  not  that  of  Fayette  C'ounty.  They  are  limited  to  a  short 
mention  to  explain  the  effects  which  they  produced  on  Fayette 
County.  A  history  of  Fayette  County  will  be  a  history  of  her 
development,  a  record  of  how  a  wilderness  was  changed  into  a 
prosperous  commonwealth,  a  record  that  should  fill  a  patriotic 
citizen  with  just  pride  and  satisfaction  and  with  hope  for  bright 
prospects  in  the  future.  To  record  these  events  in  chronologic- 
al order  would  be  confusing  and  would  give  no  clear  conception 
of  the  several  problems  that  were  solved  in  the  development  of 
the  county.  To  treat  of  the  development  of  the  several  interests 
from  beginning  to  end  would  ensure  clearness  to  the  subject, 
but  would  not  give  a  clear  picture  of  the  times.  The  subjects 
therefore  have  been  arranged  with  the  view  of  giving  a  clear 
picture  of  the  several  periods  and  stages  of  development  in  Fay- 
ette C'ountv. 


—SB- 
FIRST  PERIOD. 


FROM  THE  EARLY  SETTLEME:^T  OF    FAYETTE   COUKTY   TO 
THE  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  COUNTY.   (1821-18^8) 


Arrival  Of  The  First  White  Settlers. 

The  history  of  Fayette  Couiity  beghis  with  the  arrival  of  the 
first  white  settlers  under  Stephen  F.  Austin,  who  settled  on  the 
rich  lands  of  the  Brazos  and  Colorado  Rivers.  It  is  doubtful, 
if  before  their  arrival  the  foot  of  a  white  man  ever  crossed  the 
boundaries  of  Fayette  County.  If  it  did,  tlie  record  of  a  trans- 
itory stay  of  a  white  hunter  or  trader  would  be  of  no  import  •  it 
left  no  impression  on  the  history  of  the  county  ;  the  history 
begins  with  the  arrival  of  the  first  white  settlers.  The  names 
of  the  first  men  wlio  settled  in  Fayette  County  were  Bnckner, 
Powell  and  Jessie  Buruham.  Thev  settled  on  the  banks  of  the 
Colorado  River,  1822.   ..- 

Indian  Tribes. 

Before  tiiat  time,  some  Indiai'  tribes  inhabited  the  county, 
the  Lipans  east  of  the  Colorado  River  and  the  Toncahuas  west  of 
it.  Indian  relics  ihat  have  been  found  at  LaClrange  and  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Round  Toj)  [loint  to  the  fact  that  the  Indians 
had  camps  at  these  two  places.  The  Indians  lived  principally 
from  hunting  and  fishing;  the  cultivation  of  the  soil  was  very 
primitive.  Thus,  the  first  white  settlers  found  the  country 
nearly  as  (lod  made  it,  a  wilderness  without  roads,  crossed  only 
by  some  Indian  trails.  They  had  to  share  it  with  Indians  and 
wild  beasts. 

Character  Of  The  First  White  Settlers. 

The  character  of  the  first  white  settlers  was  like  that  of  all 
other  men  who  undertake  to  wrest  a  country  from  a  wilderness  : 
adventurous,  energetic,  brave  and  self-reliant.  No  other  men 
would  undertake  hard  jobs  like  that.  Men  who  look  to  friends, 
relatives  and  the  government  for  su|)port  and  comfort,  or  men 
who  appreciate  the  bonds  ol  frienddhip  and  aflection  higher  than 


—87— 

the  excitement  to  risk,  act  and  conquer,  men  who  prefer  i)eaca- 
ble  pursuits  to  a  life  of  toil  and  danger  are  not  elements  that 
undertake  to  settle  anew  country.  They  were  not  needed  here, 
and  they  did  not  come.  But  from  all  parts  of  tlie  United 
States  , especially  from  the  Southern  States,  there  came  an  influx 
of  a  sturdy,  sell-reliant  race.  Either  they  had,  according  to 
their  view,  not  enough  elbow  room  in  the  older  states,  because 
the  next neigbor  lived  hardly  two  miles  from  them,  or  they 
were  dissatisfied  with  the  progress  of  established  government 
and  order;  in  their  opinion,  they  were  in  the  older  settlements 
already  too  much  ruled  and  governed.  A  great  many  of  the 
lir?t  settlers  were  well  educated  men  and  of  high  intelligence. 
To  all  new  countries  there  comes  with  or  soon  follows  this  class 
of  settlers  a  number  of  public  spirited  men  and  politicians  who 
have  been  unsuccessful  in  public  life  in  tlieir  home  country  or 
found  no  good  chance  for  their  abilities  there  and  now  they 
came  here  to  offer  their  services  in  building  up  this  country 
with  a  better  chance  for  acceptance  of  their  services.  A  class, 
by  no  means  to  be  undervalued  ;  a  class  that  had  experience  in 
affairs  of  state  and  foresight  in  governing  people.  It  should  also 
not  be  forgotten  that  together  w-ith  these  good  classes  of  ])eople, 
there  also  came  a  lawless  element,  an  element  which  found  it 
too  hot  for  themselves  in  their  home  country,  As  a  boiling  pot 
throws  the  scum  and  impurities  to  its  rim,  so  civilization  also 
throws  the  lawless  elements  to  its  borders.  Troublesome  as 
this  class  may  have  been,  they  soon  had  to  submit  to  law  and 
order.  A  large  proportion  of  thp  first  settlers  were  men  of  high 
intelligence,  of  great  foresight  and  ability  of  governing  and  knew 
how  to  deal  with  these  elements  and  even  made  use  of  them. 

Nativity  Of  The  First  White    Settlers. 

The  first  settlers  came  mostly  from  the  Southern  States,  a 
great  many  of  them  from  the  states  of  Tennessee  and  Alabama. 
Very  few  of  the  descendants  of  these  old  families  still  remain 
now  in  Fayette  County;  most  of  them  have  sold  their  property 
and  moved  further  West  ;  since  the  Civil  War  a  new  class  of 
people  has  taken  possession  of  the  county.  Almost  simultane- 
ously with  the  first  settlers  from  the  United  States  there  came  a 


-88- 

good  spi'inklinff  of  Germans  who  settled  in    the   county.     Bohe- 
mian settlers  came  to  the  county  in  the  early  fifties. 

MUNICIPALITIKS, 

Texas  was  at  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  first  settlers  in 
the  year  1821  connected  with  the  Mexican  State  C'oahuila  for 
government  purposes.  The  country  was  divided  into  munici- 
palities for  the  purpose  of  local  self-government.  The  head 
officer  of  a  municipality  was  called  alcalde.  Parts  of  Fayette 
County  helonged  to  the  municipality  of  Colorado  (the  present 
Colorado  County),  parts  of  it  belonged  to  the  municipality  of 
Mina  (the  present  Bastrop  County.) 

Indian  Maraudini;  Expeditions. 

The  Mexican  government  at  first  welcomed  the  American 
settlers;  it  was  very  liberal  to  them  in  its  land  grants,  but  it  left 
them  without  protection,  it  left  them  to  show  what  they  could 
do.  And  soon  they  did  show  what  they  could  do  and  made  a 
pretty  showing  for  themselves.  As  stated  before,  the  country 
was  a  wilderness  occupied  by  wild  Indians.  Especially  the 
Comanche  and  Keechi  tribes  of  Indians  made  depredating  ex- 
cursions into  Fayette  County  which  was  then  a  frontier  county. 
The  life  of  the  settlers  on  the  frontier  at  tiiat  ilme  was  unsafe 
and  I'emained  so  during  the  early  days  of  the  republic.  In  1833 
one  Earthman  was  murdered  by  Indians  near  Nechanitz.  A 
white  trapper  by  the  name  of  Alexander  was  killed  near  the 
Ledbetter-LaGrange  road  in  a  branch  which  later  was  named  af- 
ter him  Alexander  Branch.  A  Mr.  Lyons,  the  father  of  Warren 
Jjyons,  was  killed  by  Comanche  Indians  on  the  present  J.  Rus- 
sek  place  near  Scliulenburg  in  the  latter  part  of  the  thirties. 
The  Indians  attacked  him  about  sundown,  killed  him  and  cap- 
tured his  boy  Warren,  then  eight  years  old.  They  took  the  boy 
along,  and  the  latter  lived  for  twelve  years  amongst  the  Indians. 
A  surveyor's  party  in  the  West  who  knew  the  boy's  family  found 
him,  told  liim  about  his  mother  and  induced  him  to  see  her. 
He  got  leave  from  the  Indians  for  forty  days  to  see  his  mother. 
He  found  her  sick,  and  as  she  entreated  him  to  stay  with  her, 
be  stayed  beyond  his  stipulated  time.     At  first,  it   had  been  his 


— SO— 

intention  to  return  to  the  Indians  ;  but  gettine;  accustomed 
again  to  the  manner  and  habits  of  his  race  and  having  stayed 
beyond  tlie  stipulated  time,  he  was  afraid  to  return  to  them  and, 
therefore,  remained  with  his  mother.  In  1887  the  father  of  Joel 
W.  Uobison,  his  son  Walter  and  a  negro  servant  were  murdered 
bv  Imliaiis  on  their  return  trip  from  business  near  the  ])resent 
W'airenton.  A  negro  woman  walliing  with  her  boy  from  Town- 
sculI's  to  the  present  Warrenton  was  killed  by  Indians  who 
were  iiidden  in  a  large  livo-oak  tree  ;  tlie  boy  was  taken  along 
hy  them.  Just  half  an  hour  before  the  killing,  some  wliite  men 
had  passed  them  unbanned,  witli  a  large  ox-wagon  which  had 
high  side-boards.  The  Indians  did  not  attack  tliem,  very  prub- 
ably  fur  the  reason  that  they  supposed  some  men  hidden  behind 
the  high  side-boards  of  the  wagon  and  that  they  feared  to  be 
outnumbered  by  them.  Nearly  all  ttie  old  wliite  settlers  of 
Favette  County  with  whom  the  writer  has  had  the  pleasure  to 
talk  characterize  the  Indians  as  cowardly  and  treacherous  who 
would  waylay  an  unsuspecting  traveler,  but  who  were  afraid  to 
light  in  the  open  witli  tlie  least  chances  against  them. 

InD1.\N    FlfUiTS. 

Figlits  and  punishing  expeditions  ensued.  There  was  (piite 
a  galaxy  of  daring  men  in  Fayette  County  who  made  reputations 
as  great  Indian  fighters  ;  the  greatest  of  them  were  Jessie  Burn- 
ham,  Col.  John  H.  Moore  who  had  come  from  Tennessee,  and 
('apt.  ^Vm.  J.  Russell  from  North  Carolina.  It  followed  what 
always  happened  in  the  colonization  of  a  wild  country  :  the  sav- 
age and  uncivilized  tribes  were  tramped  down  by  the  march  of 
civilization.  In  a  short  time  the  frontier  was  moved  further 
West. 

Tlie  writer  ijuotes  two  of  tliese  Indian  fights  conducted  by 
Fayette  County  men  in  both  of  \vliich  Col.  John  H.  Moore  was 
the  leader  from  John  Henry  Brown's  History  of  Texas,  Vol.  11, 
pages  182,  183. 

"On  the  12tli  of  February  ISH',),  Col.  John  H.  Moore  at  the 
head  of  ilfly  five  Tcxans,  forty  J^ipan  and  twelve  Toncahua  Ind- 
ians—a   total    of   lOU — made    a  daylight  attack  on    a  large  Co- 


—90— 

manche  euccampinent  ou  the  San  Saba  Uiver.  He  killed  a  large 
number,  while  the  Lipans  stampeded  and  drove  in  a  thousand  or 
more  Comanche  horses,  safely  reaching  the  settlements.  Bui 
after  a  contest  of  an  hour  Colonel  Moore  found  himself  sur- 
rounded by  such  an  overwheming  force,  down  from  the  villages 
extending  five  or  six  miles  up  the  river  that  retreat  became  a 
necessity,  which  he  effected  with  great  coolness  and  caution. 
His  horses,  having  been  left  a  short  distance  in  tiie  rear,  were  all 
captured  by  the  enemy.  Six  of  his  men  (wounded)  had  to  be 
borne  in  on  litters.  After  fighting  long  on  the  detensive,  the  re- 
treat was  begun,  and  attended  by  much  suffering,  their  route 
passing  a  hundred  miles  through  mountains.  They,  however, 
safely  reached  the  settlements. 

"John  H.  jMoore  was  not  a  man  to  forget  such  a  repulse. 
In  the  great  invasion  of  August,  1840,  it  has  been  shown  that 
he  lost,  by  several  hours,  an  o])portunity  to  balance  accounts 
with  the  Comanches  (this  refers  to  the  interception  of  the  Indians 
by  General  Felix  Huston  at  Plum  Creek  in  Gonzales  County,  Aug. 
12,  1840  where  the  Indians  on  the  return  from  their  marauding 
expedition  to  Victoria  and  Linnville  were  defeated),  but  he  was 
resolved  that  the  balance  should  be  made.  To  this  eiid,  about 
the  first  of  October,  he  left  Austin  with  tw'o  companies  of  citi- 
zen volunteers,  commanded  by  Capts^JThonia^sJ.  Rabb  and 
Nicholas  Dawson,  both  of  Fayette  County,  with  anaggreg;ts 
force  of  ninety  men,  besides  twelve  Lipans  under  their  principil 
chief.  Col.  Castro.  He  bore  directly  up  the  Colorado  about 
throe  hundred  miles,  to  the  region  where  now  stands  Colorado 
City.  The  Lipans,  as  scouts  discovered  in  advance  a  consider- 
able Coman-^he  village,  in  a  small  bend  on  the  east  bank  of  the 
river,  opposite  a  bluff  on  the  west  bank.  Sending  thirty  men, 
under  Lieutenant  Clark  L.  Owen,  to  occupy  the  bluff"  across  the 
river,  he  made  an  attack  as  soon  as  daylight  fully  appeared, 
charging  directly  into  the  camp.  Though  surprised,  warriors 
and  squaws  fought  with  desperation.  Only  two  warriors  es- 
caped, on  the  only  two  horses  immediately  at  hand.  A  bund 
red  and  thirty  Indians  were  left  dead  on  the  field.  Thirty-four 
squaws  and  children  and    several  hundred   horses  were  brought 


-91— 

in.  A  few  old  men  and  women  were  released  on  the  gr()uiul. 
Among  the  tropliies  were  goods  taken  from  Linnville.  (iuite  a 
number  of  Moore's  men  were  wounded,  but  none  killed.  Col. 
Moore  doubtless  felt  tliat  his  ill  success  on  the  San  Saba  was 
counterbabmced  by  the  terrible  punishment  indicted  by  luin  on 
tlie  Colorado.'" 

Fayictte  County's  Share  in  the  W'ah  of  IndivI'kndknci:. 

The  Mexican  government  had  left  the  American  settlers  not 
only  without  protection  against  tiie  Indians,  but  soon  should 
give  them  more  cause  for  alarm  than  these  savage  tribes.  The 
Mexican  government  was  unstable  ;  that  revolutionary  country 
was  in  tlio  throes  of  another  revolution.  Ijustainento  led  a 
strong  faction  against  Santa  Anna,  the  head  of  the  Mexican  gov- 
ernment who  was  in  favor  of  the  Constitution  of  1824.  The 
l)eople  of  Texas  declared  in  favor  of  Santa  Anna.  Bustaniento 
was  del'eated.  But  little  good  did  the  American  settlers  reap 
from  their  declaration  in  favor  of  Santa  Anna  and  Bnstamento's 
defeat.  The  just  demands  of  tlie  settlei'S  were  refused  by  the 
Mexican  government.  Instead  it  attempted  to  suppress  further 
American  immigration  and  to  oppress  those  settlets  then  living 
In  Texas.  War  between  Texas  and  Mexico  ensued,  'i'he  glori- 
nus  achicveiuents  of  tlie  early  settlors  in  this  war,  and  the  gain 
of  independence  for  themselves  and  their  posterlt}^  are  recorded 
in  the  annals  of  Texas  History.  Fayette  County  largely  iiartici- 
jiated  in  these  stiiring  events  wbicli  achieved  the  independence 
of  Texas. 

In  the  very  first  encounter  between  Americans  and  Mexicans 
at  tlie  battle  of  Velasco  (June  2G,  J8o2),  Fayette  County  people 
acted  a  conspicuous  jxirt  Capt.  Wm.  J.  Russell  of  Fayette 
County  commanded  the  schooner  Brazoria,  in  that  battle,  attack- 
ing the  Mexican  garrison  at  Velasco.  In  tlic  attack  on  land 
John  (t.  Robison  (later  member  of  ihe  first  Texas  Congress  in 
1836,  killed  by  Indians  near  W'arrenton  in  1887)  and  his  sou 
Joel  W.  Robison  took  a  prominent  part.  Before  the  bt-ginning 
of  the  battle,  Father  Miguel  Muldoon,  a  resident  of  Mexico  and 
grantee  of  f)ur  leagues  of  land  in  Fayette,  popular  with  the 
Mexican  goxernment  and  esteemed  by  tlie  settlers,  tried  to  medi- 


_'J2— 

ate  between  Col.  Ugartechea  in  command  of  the  Mexican  force 
and  the  settlers,  but  with  no  success.  In  the  ensuing  battle, 
C'ol.  Ugartechea  was  completely  vanquished.  This  first  success 
of  the  American  arms  inspired  the  settlers  with  confidence  and 
just  pride. 

The  battle  of  Gonzales,  the  Lexington  ofTexas,  (October  2, 
1835)  was  won  under  command  of  a  Fayette  man,  the  distin- 
guished Indian  fighter  Col.  John  H.  Moore. 

In  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto  Fayette  County  furnished  a 
cavalry  company  of  scouts  under  command  of  Capt.  Henry  W. 
Karnes.  Thus,  in  all  engagements  with  Mexicans,  Fayette 
County  people  always  took  a  prominent  part.  Her  name  is  in- 
separably linked  in  the  annals  of  Texas  History  to  the  schieve- 
ment  of  independence.  One  of  Fayette  county's  citizens,  Joel 
W.  Robison,  distinguished  himself  as  one  of  the  captors  of  Santa 
Anna  after  the  battle  of  San  Jacinto,  (April  21,  1836).  A  letter 
from  him  published  in  Life  and  Literary  Remains  of  Sam 
Houston  by  William  Carey  Crane,  D.D.,  LL.  D.,  President  of 
the  Baylor  University,  Independence,  Texas,  (1884)  which  ex- 
plains the  eyents  incident  to  the  capture  of  Santa  Anna,  is  here 
given  as  a  matter  of  interest  and  of  pride  to  every  patriotic  citi- 
izen  of  Fayette  County. 

Letter  ok  Joel  \V,   Robison. 

"Roundtop,  August  5,  188L 
"I  have  received  a  letter  requesting  me  to  give  you  the  par- 
ticulars of  the  capture  of  Santa  Anna  in  1836.  It  was  as  fol- 
lows :  On  the  morning  of  the  22nd,  the  day  after  the  battle,  a 
party  was  detailed  and  sent  out  under  command  of  Gen.  Burle- 
son. This  party  |)roceeded  m  the  direction  of  the  bridge  on 
Vince's  Bayou.  One  object  was  to  pick  up  any  Mexicans  we 
could  find  who  had  Med  from  the  battle  the  evening  before,  and 
particularly  to  search  for  Santa  Anna  and  Cos.  When  we 
reached  the  bayou  we  divided  into  squads  of  five  or  six  persons 
in  each,  and  went  in  different  directions.  The  party  I  was  with 
consisted  of  six,  all  privates,  so  far  as  I  know.  Their  names 
were    as    follows  :     Miles,    Sylvester,    Thompson,     Vermillion, 


—03— 

another,  whose  name  I  do  not  recollect,  and  myself.  From  the 
bridn;e  we  started  down  the  bayou.  After  traveling  about  two 
miles,  we  saw  a  man  standing  on  the  bank  of  a  ravine,  some  live 
or  six  hundred  yards  from  us.  He,  no  doubt,  saw  us  first,  for 
when  we  started  towards  him,  he  sat  down  on  a  high  place  and 
waited  till  we  came  up.  It  proved  to  be  Santa  Anna.  I  was 
the  only  one  of  the  party  that  spoke  the  Mexican  language.  I 
asked  him  if  he  knew  where  Santa  Anna  and  Cos  were.  He 
said,  he  thought  tliey  had  gone  to  the  Brazos.  I  asked  him 
if  he  knew  of  any  other  Mexicans  that  had  made  their 
escape  from  the  battle.  He  said  lie  thought  there  were 
some  up  the  stream  in  a  thicket.  I  told  him  we  would  take 
liim  to  the  American  camp.  He  was  very  willing  to  go,  but  com- 
plained of  being  very  tired.  I  asked  it  he  was  an  officer.  No, 
he  said  ;  that  he  belonged  to  the  cavalry  and  was  not  accus- 
tomed to  being  on  foot  ;  that  he  was  run  very  close  by  our  cav- 
alry the  day  before  and  was  compelled  to  leave  his  horse. 
When  we  started  with  him  one  of  our  party  dismounted  and 
went  up  the  ravine  to  look  tor  the  Mexicans  spoken  of  by  Santa 
Anna,  and  Santa  Anna  rode  his  horse  some  two  miles  up  the 
road.  The  man  that  went  up  the  road,  finding  no  Mexicans, 
then  came  and  told  Santa  Anna  to  dismount.  He  refused  to  do 
it,  and  the  man  then  leveled  his  gun  at  him,  when  he  dismount- 
ed, and  asked  me  how  far  it  was  to  camp.  I  told  iiim  eight  or 
nine  miles.  He  said  he  could  not  walk  so  far.  Tlie  young  man 
then  wanted  to  kill  him,  and  1  told  him  so.  He  then  said  he 
would  try  and  walk,  but  would  have  to  go  slow  ;  and  so  we 
started  for  camp,  and  the  man  got  behind  and  would  prick  him  in 
the  back  with  his  spear  and  make  him  trot  for  some  two  or  three 
miles.  Santa  Anna  tlicn  stoi)ped,  and,  appealing  to  me,  said  if 
he  wanted  to  kill  him  to  do  so,  but  he  could  not  walk  any  furth- 
er. I  then  took  him  up  behind  me  and  carried  him  to  camp, 
some  five  or  six  miles  farther.  After  lie  got  U|)  behind,  we  en- 
tered into  a  general  conversation.  He  asked  me  if  (ien.  Hous- 
ton commantled  in  person  at  the  battle  ;  how  many  we  killed, 
and  how  many  prisoners  we  had  taken,  and  when  they  would 
be  shot.  I  told  him  1  did  not  think  they  would  be  shot  ;  that  I 
had  never  known  Americans  to  kill  prisoners   of   war.     He  said 


—94— 

the  Americans  were  a  brave  iind  prenerons  i)eople,  and  a&ked  me 
what  I  thought  would  be  done  with  the  prisoners.  I  told  him 
that  I  did  not  know,  but  the  Americans  would  like  the  younger 
ones  for  servants.  He  said  that  would  be  very  kind.  He  asked 
me  how  many  were  in  our  army  at  the  battle.  I  said,  some  six 
or  seven  Inmdred.  He  thought  I  was  mistaken  ;  that  there  must 
be  more.  I  said,  No  ;  and  that  two  hundred  Americans  could 
whip  the  whole  Mexican  army.  'Yes,'  said  he,  "the  Americans 
are  great  soldiers.'  I  asked  him  if  he  was  not  sorry  he  had 
come  to  fight  the  Americans.  'Yes,'  he  said,  but  he  belonged 
to  the  army,  and  was  compelled  to  obey  his  officers.  I  asked 
him,  if  he  was  back  in  Mexico  if  he  would  come  to  Texas  any 
more,  He  said,  No  ;  he  would  desert  first.  This  brought  us  to 
camp,  when  the  Mexicans  immediately  announced  his  name. 
He  asked  to  be  taken  to  (len.  Houston,  and  was  taken  to  him. 
If  you  think  tliese  facts  of  sufiicient  interest,  you  can  put  them 
in  such  shape  as  you  think  best.     1  am  vours 

Very  respectfully. 

Joel  W.  Robison. 

Joel  W.  Robison  had  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  the 
present  site  of  the  town  of  Warrenton  in  1833  and  resided  in 
that  section  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  Aug.  4,  1889.  His  son, 
the  present  tax  collector  of  Fayette  County,  Neal  Robison,  told 
this  writer  that  Santa  Anna  had  given  to  his  father  as  a  sign 
of  gratitude  for  letting  him  ride  behind  him  on  his  horse  a  gold 
brocaded  vest.  It  became  the  fad  of  the  young  people  in  those 
days  to  get  married  in  Santa  Anna's  vest.  No  doubt,  then  tliere 
beat  truer  hearts  behind  it  than  when  Santa  Anna  wore  it.  This 
vest  was  lost  in  lending  it  to  the  young  people. 

An  Act  Of  Cjnorkss  Establishing  Fayette  County. 

As  a  result  of  this  war  Texas  achieved  independence  and 
became  a  republic.  The  progressive  American  race  took  the 
place  of  the]  slovenly  Mexican  and  became  the  molder  and 
t^liaper  of  the  destiny  of  Texas.  Following  the  custom  of  the 
I'liited  States,  counties  were  established  in  place  of  the  old 
Mexican  numicipalities.  Fayette  County  was  created  out  of  the 
municiitalities  of  Colorado    and    Mina,     (the    present    Bastrop 


—95— 

County).  An  act  to  establish  the  same  was  passed  by  the  Con- 
gress of  the  Republic  of  Texas  Dec.  14,  1887.  By  a  later  act  of 
that  body,  May  8,  1888,  the  southwestern  boundary  of  the  coun- 
ty was  more  clearly  defined. 

The  act  by  which  the  county  of  Fayette  was  established 
reads  as  follows  :      "An  Act  to  establish  the  county  of  Fayette. 

"Be  it  enacted  : 

"§  1.  That  the  territor}^  embraced  within  the  following 
boundaries  shall  constitute  one  of  the  counties  of  this  republic, 
and  be  called  the  county  of  Fayette  :  Beginning  at  Grass- 
meyer's  ferry  on  the  Colorado,  thence  in  a  nortiieasterly  direc- 
tion at  right  angles  with  the  general  course  of  the  Colorado 
River  to  the  divide  between  the  waters  of  the  Cororado  and  the 
Brazos  ;  thence  down  said  divide  in  a  soutlieasterly  direction  to 
the  st)uthwest  corner  of  a  league  of  land  granted  to  Wm.  Bur- 
nett ;  thence  southwestwardly,  crossing  Colorado  River  where 
the  upper  line  of  a  league  of  land  granted  to  J.  Duty,  corners 
upon  same  ;  thence  continuing  the  same  course  to  the  Lavaca  at 
the  upper  corner  of  the  league  of  land  granted  to  William  Por- 
ton  ;  thence  up  the  Lavaca  with  the  line  between  Austin  and 
DeWltt's  colony  to  the  head  of  said  stream  ;  thence  in  a  north- 
easterly direction  to  the  place  of  beginning  so  as  to  leave  Grass- 
meyer's  in  the  county  of  Mina.* 

"§  2.  That  the  seat  of  justice  for  said  county  shall  be.  and 
is  hereby  established  at  the  town  of  La(irange,  on  the  east  side 
of  (he  Colorado  River,  near  the  [^aBahia  crossing  of  the  same. 

"§  3.  Provides  fur  the  organization  of  the  county. 

"§  4.  Provides  for  holding  courts. 

"§  5.  Attaches  the  county  to  the  fifth  judicial  district. 

"§  V).  Fixes  the  re[)resentation  in  congress. 

"§  7.  Provides  how  election  returns  shall  be  made. 

*Noto.  The  county  line  with  Lavaca  County  was  surveyed  in  1848;  with  Gonzales 
County  in  1851;  with  Bastrop  County  in  UTk);  with  Vv'a&hington  County  in.  1871;  with 
Austin  County  in  1870;  with  Colorado  County  in  1877;  the  Lacaca  County  lino  was  re- 
survoyed  in  ISTS;  the  Colorado  Countylinc  in  1879;  the  Bastrop  County  line  in  1870;  the 
Lo3  Couaty  lir.e;  surveyed  in  1833;  the  Washington  Cpunty  line,  resurveyed  in  18Sj, 


-DO- 
SECOND    l^KRTOIl. 


FROM  THE  ORaAISriZATIO:X   OF  THE  COUISITY   TO   THE   CIVIL 
\VAR.     (1833— 1801.) 


Orcanization  of  the  County. 

According  to  the  Act  of  Congress  of  the  Republic  of  Texas, 
Fayette  County  was  organized  January  18,  1838.  This  was  the 
birth-day  of  Fayette  County  when  it  stepped  into  the  world  as  a 
body  politic  with  head  and  trunk.  T  ho  birth-day  of  a  body  pol- 
itic always  being  an  important  event,  the  record  thereof  may  fol- 
low in  the  words  as  recorded  in  the  Minutes  of  the  Commission- 
ers' Court  of  Fayette  County  : 

Republic  of  Texas,     )  ^    ^  ^  ,„    ^^„„ 

'-  LaGran(!e,  January  18,  1838. 

County  of  Fayette.    V 

The  Chief  Justice  together  with  the  several  Justices  of  the 
Peace  for  said  county  having  met.  his  Honor,  Andrew  Rabb, 
Esq.,  administered  the  oath  of  office  to  the  following  persons  as 
Justices  of  the  Peace  for  said  county,  to-wit  :  Christopher  Fitz- 
gerald, Samuel  Alexander,  John  Lewis  and  Bernhard  Sherrer, 
(I.  S.  Sister  being  called  on  acted  as  clerk  pro  tem)  and  pro- 
ceeded to  elect  from  their  nuniber  two  Associate  Justices,  which 
resulted  in  the  election  of  Ciiristopher  Fitzgerald  and  John 
Lewis,  after  which  they  proceeded  to  organize  a  board  of  Count}' 
Commissioners  and  passed  the  following  resolutions  : 

Resolved,  that  a  County  Tax  of  twelve  and  one-iialf  cents 
be  levied  and  collected  on  every  hundred  dollars  worth  of  prop- 
erty of  all  and  every  kind  subject  to  stale  lax. 

Resolved,  that  the  following  roads  be  considered  highways 
of  this  county,  to-wit  : 

Tlie  road  from  this  i)hice  to  Bastrop  by  Grassmeyer's  Ferry, 

The  road  from  this  place  to  San  Feli[)iie   by  S.  Alexander. 

The  road  from  this  place  to  Washington. 


—97— 

The  road  from  this  place  to  ColunUni.s  by  Eiunham's. 
The  road  from  this  place  to  (lonzale?. 

And  there  shall  be  cleared  out  a  road  from  this  place  by- 
way of  Rabb's  Prairie  up  the  Uiver  as  far  as  the  county  line  near 
I.  C.  Cunningham's. 

(Road  overseers  were  appointed  by  other  resolutions.) 
I.  S.  81STER,  A.  Raivh, 

Clk.  C.  C.  Fayette  Co.  pro  tem,  Pres.  at  Bo.  Comm. 

LaCtRaxge  as  Competitor  fur  the  Capital. 

Tlie  foundation  of  the  republic  and  the  subse(]uent  organi- 
zation of  counties  were  the  fruits  of  American  bravery  in  the 
Mexican  contest.  The  contest  was  exciting;  it  stands  singular 
in  the  history  of  the  world.  The  subsequent  history  of  the 
times  of  tlie  Republic  of  Texas  is  none  the  less  exciting  and  in- 
teresting. Internal  questions  and  dissensions  and  dangers  which 
threatened  the  young  republic  fro:-:i  Mexico  kept  all  public  spir- 
itcfl  men  and  ])atriots  in  a  wliite  heat  of  excitement. 

On  account  of  Mexican  invasions,  the  capital  of  tlie  republic 
was  temporarily  located  further  from  the  Mexican  boundary, 
and  Houston  was  selected  therefor.  LaGrange  was  a  competitor 
for  the  capital.  In  the  vote  of  Congress  taken  for  that  purpose 
it  lost  by  one  vote.  The  grand  jury  of  the  county  deuounced 
this  action  of  Congress  iu  a  document  entitled,  "Republic  of 
Texas  versus  Inconsistent  Legislative  Acts."  (See  Appendix  A.) 
They  arraigned  in  that  document  Congress  and  the  administra- 
tion for  the  sale  of  Galveston  Island  at  too  low  a  price,  for  the 
temporary  location  of  the  capital  at  Houston — made  only  as  they 
declared  to  enable  Sam  Houston  and  his  friends  to  sell  their 
c^ty  properly  ;it  h;i.h  prices— and  for  the  levying  of  import  du- 
ties instead  of  levying  a  direct  tax.  For  the  latter  charge  they 
givo  a  very  plausible  reason.  They  ])ointed  out  that  the  coUec- 
tiju  of  imi)ort  duties  along  the  extensive  border  at  the  Ked  and 
Sabine  Rivers  would  be  impossible  while  the  population  of 
South  Texas  which  had  stood  the  burden  of  the  war  received 
their  necessaries  via  Galveston  and  had  no  chance  to  evade  the 


_98— 

revenue  laws  of  the  Republic.  Tlie  writer  whose  attention  had 
been  called  to  this  document  found  same  in  the  vaults  of  the 
district  clerk's  office.  The  document  is  signed  by  William 
lifookfield,  foreman  of  the  grand  jury,  and  is  written  in  his 
handwriting.  The  writer  showed  it  to  several  prominent  gentle- 
men of  LaGrange.  Their  opinions  about  its  value  greatly  vary. 
Mr.  J.  v.  Brown  said  that  he  had  known  William  Brookheld, 
that  the  latter  was  a  disappointed  politician  and  that  this  way  of 
getting  up  such  documents  was  at  that  time  the  way  of  politic- 
ians in  venting  their  spleen  and  disappointment,  and  that  such 
documents  were  issued  in  preparation  for  a  future  campaign. 
Judge  A.  Haidusek  held  it  a  very  singular  document,  written  in 
crude  English,  a  document  that  could  not  have  had  any  results, 
but  that  was  written  witli  some  S[iirit.  Judge  W.  S.  Robson 
held  that  it  showed  the  interest  the  people  of  those  times  took 
in  public  affairs  and  their  spirit  of  independence.  These  opin- 
ions are  not  necessarily  conflicting  with  each  other  ;  the  writer 
considers  them  ratiier  supplementary  to  each  other. 

The  Dawson  Massacre. 
The  question  of  the  possession  of  Texas  had  been  setled  in 
the  battle  of  San  Jacinto.  The  Republic  of  Mexico  was  too 
weak  and  too  much  disrupted  by  internal  dissensions  to  make 
anotlier  effort  for  the  con({uest  of  Texas,  but  the  Mexicans,  too 
weak  to  conquer  Texas,  harassed  the  settlers  living  on  the 
frontier.  They  made  several  expeditions  for  that  purpose  into 
Texas.  In  one  of  these  expeditions  the  Mexicans  under  General 
Woil  came  as  far  as  San  Antonio.  They  were  met  by  three  hun- 
dred mounted  Texans  under  command  of  Col.  Matthew  Caldwell 
at  the  Salado.  They  were  defeated.  Rut  a  company  of  fifty  three 
men  from  Fayette  County  who  had  been  mustered  in  at  the 
public  S(|uaro  at  l.aGrange,  (the  large  live-oak  under  which  they 
gathered  still  stands  there  opposite  tlio  Schuhniacher  bank)  under 
command  of  Nicholas  Dawson  who  came  to  Col.  Caldwell's 
succor  were  annitiilated  (1842).  Of  the  fifty-three  men,  forty- 
one  wc'i'e  left  dead  on  the  ground,  two  escaped,  and  ten  were 
taken  prisoners  four  of  whom  were  wounded.  Oneoftliem, 
Norman    R.  Woccls  who  liacl  received  severe  wounds  died  after- 


-on- 
wards in  the  prison  of  Peroto.  "Among  the  ten  prisMiers  were.: 
Nat  W.  1^'aison,  Edward  T.  Manton,  Norman  P>.  Woods,  James 
Joseph  Shaw,  Joseph  ('.  liobison,  VVni.  Trimble,  J.  E.  Kornegy, 
Richard  Barclay,  and  Allen  li.  Morrell.  Among  the  slain  were  : 
Ciipt.    Nicholas    JJ.iwson,    the    venerable     Zadock    Woods    aged 

nearly  eighty  years,    Jerome    Alexander, Cnmmings,  

Farrls,  and  David  Berry,  oyer  seventy  years  of  age."  Of  the 
iifly-three  men  only  two  made  their  escape  :  Gonzalvo  Woods 
of  Fayette  and  a  nian  fron)  Gonzales.  'AVoods  had  suvrendered 
to  a  Mexican  wiio  had  attempted  to  pierce  him  with  liis  lance. 
Woods,  ah-cad}'  wounded  m  three  ])!;ices,  seized  tlie  lance, 
jerked  the  Mexican  to  tlie  ground,  drove  the  lance  through  his 
iieart,  mounted  tlie  Mexican's  horse  and  made  his  escape." 
(Brown's  History  of  Texas,  Vol.  II,  p.  22i').)  Tiie  massacre  of 
the  Dawson  men  occurred  while  Col.  Caldwell  was  engaged  witli 
General  Woll.  In  the  pursuit  of  WoU's  ariny  he  was  joined  by 
that  old  fighter  from  Fayette  County,  Col.  Jolni  H.  Moore,  who 
came  to  him  witii  eiglity  men  from  the  Colorado  and  twenty 
Irom  l!ie  Lavaca. 

Battle  of  Fort  Mier. 

Iletaliatory  expeditions  into  Mexican  territory  made  against 
the  advice  of  Sani  Houston  followed,  lu  one  of  these  expedi- 
tions, the  one  against  Fort  JMier,  a  largo  number  of  Fayette 
Cuunty  men  took  i):irt.  They  gave  battle  to  tlie  Mexicans,  but 
limilly  surrendered.  Being  taken  into  Mexico  as  prisoners, 
t'ley  over[)o\vered  their  guard,  but  being  recaptured,  every  tenth 
;:>.m  of  them,  seventeen  in  number,  was  shot  b  ,•  order  of  Santa 
Anna.  The  prisoners  had  to  draw  beans.  White  beans  meant 
life,  black  ones  death.  They  were  shot  at  the  hacienda  of  Sala- 
do,  110  miles  distant  from  Saltillo,  Capt.  Wm.  M.  Eastland  of 
Fayette  was  amongst  those  wlio  drew  the  black  bean  and  were 
shot. 

In  the  Mexican  war  between  the  United  States  and  Mexico 
following  the  annexation  of  Texas  (ISob),  Mnjor,  afterwards 
(Tcneral  Walter  P.  Lane,  on  a  scouting  expedition  to  San  Luis 
Potosi  made  a  detour  to  the  liaeiencla  of  Salado,  had  the  bones 

L.ofC. 


—100— 

of  the  seventeen  men  exiiumed  and  brought  under  escort  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Quisenburg  to  LaGrange.  Here  they  were 
interred  and  placed  with  military  honors  in  a  cemented  vault  on 
Monument  Hill  or  Kreische's  Bluff,  opposite  LaGrange,  in  the 
presence  of  a  crowd  of  thousands  who  had  gathered  there  on  this 
solemn  occasion.  In  the  early  eighties  a  joint  monument  was 
erected  on  the  public  square  of  La  Grange  to  the  memory  of  the 
Dawson  men  and  the  Mier  prisoners  who  drew   the  black  be-in.* 

State  of  the  County  at  the  Time  of  Organization. 

In  a  preceding  paragraph  the  writer  has  told  of  the  organi- 
zation of  the  county.  The  part  which  Fayette  County  has  taken 
in  the  struggles  and  tights  of  Texas  as  a  nation  has  been  men- 
tioned in  succeeding  paragraphs.  The  reader  may  now  pay  his 
attention  to  county  affairs,  pure  and  simple, and  follow  the  writer 
in  his  exposition  of  the  development  of  this  grand  county. 

Only  seventeen  years  liad  passed  since  the  arrival  of  the 
first  white  settlers,  before  the  county  was  organized.  Their  num- 
ber must  have  been  very  small  at  the  time  of  the  organization  of 
the  county.  The  first  census  taken  of  the  inhabitants  of  Fay- 
ette County  in  1847  gave  the  county  2886  inhabitants.  At  the 
time  of  the  organization  of  the  county  their  number  must  have 

*NoTE. — The  cemented  vault  on  Monument  HiJl,  in  the  course  of 
time,  got  into  a  dilapidated  condition;  the  last  resting  place  of  these 
heroes  was  disturbed,  and  their  bones  were  desecrated  by  the  ruthless 
hand  of  curiosity  seekers.  This  was  so  much  the  case  that  the 
Court  called  the  attention  of  the  public  to  this  condition  of  affairs  by 
the  following  statement  (1893) :  "The  attention  of  the  Court  having 
been  called  to  the  bad  condition  of  the  Vault  on  Monument  Hill  con- 
taining the  remains  of  Dawson's  men  and  the  Mier  prisoners,  and  this 
Court  having  no  right  to  make  any  appropriation  for  the  preservation 
and  repairs  of  said  vault,  the  Court  takes  this  method  of  calling  pub- 
lic attention  to  the  fact  that  said  vault  is  in  a  very  dilapidated  condi- 
tion and  that  the  bones  of  these  men  who  gave  their  lives  for  Texas 
are  desecrated  by  the  careless  hand  of  curiosity  seekers,  and  are  now 
reported  to  be  scattered  around  their  tomb  in  the  most  wanton  and 
rackless  manner.  We  think  that  this  notice  will  be  sufficient  to  cause 
the  liberty  loving  citizens  of  our  county  to  take  such  steps  as  will  pre- 
serve the  security  of  the  last  resting  place  of  the  then  heroes  and 
prevent  any  further  desecration  thereof."  The  Twenty-Seventh 
Legislature  appropriated  the  sum  of  One  Thousand  Dollars  to  erect  a 
new  vault  over  the  bones  of  these  heroes,  but  as  the  ground  on  which 
the  vault  stands  is  private  property,  satisfactory  arrangements  have 
not  thus  far  been  made. 


—  101— 

been  considerably  less.  Though  an  energetic  race,  much  could 
not  have  been  done  by  thetn  in  tlie  short  period  of  seventeen 
years.  The  county  was  still  a  wilderness.  Much  had  to  be 
done. 

The  county  government,  the  fathers  of  the  county,  had  to 
face  an  uninviting  situation.  They  knew  that  it  takes  money  to 
run  the  government  and  that  taxes  procured  this  money.  But 
how  much  could  this  be?  Tlie  first  statement  from  the  asses- 
sor's rolls  on  record  is  that  of  the  year  1847,  The  total  value 
of  the  assessed  property  of  the  county  was  $1,138,696,  but  it 
may  be  assumed  that  at  tlie  time  of  the  organization  of  the 
county,  it  was  considerably  less.  The  taxes  for  county  purposes 
which  the  Commissioners'  Court  ordered  to  be  levied  were  122 
cents  on  the  Iiundred  dollars  worth  of  property.  Even  at  the 
assessment  of  1847  the  proceeds  from  the  taxes  could  amount 
only  to  about  $1,400;  but  in  1838  they  must  have  been  consid- 
erably  less,  probably  little  more  than  half  of  this  amount,  say 
$700. 

And  tliere,  with  this  meagre  revenue,  the  court  sat ;  no  court 
house,  no  jail,  no  bridges  or  ferries  and  lew  public  roads.  All 
these  had  to  be  created  from  a  revenue  of  about  $700.  Besides, 
the  official  family  had  to  be  fed  from  this  amount.  Surely,  their 
salaries  and  fees  were  not  extravagant. 

Taxation, 

In  those  early  days  the  rate  ot  taxation  for  county  purposes 
was  very  low.  As  we  have  s:een,  it  was  12 2  cents  on  the  one 
hundred  dollars  worth  of  property  in  1838.  Up  to  the  year  1860 
it  never  rose  higher  than  one-fourth  of  one  percent  on  the  hun- 
dred dollars  worth  of  property,  but  generally  was  fixed  at  half 
the  amount  of  the  state  taxes,  Since  1856  li(}uor  licenses  were 
granted  by  the  county.  The  court  then  levied  a  license  tax,  but 
it  appearing  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  court  that  it  was  not  author- 
ized to  levy  an  additional  license  tax,  this  tax  was  ordered  re- 
funded to  tlie  parties  who  had  paid  it.  It  was  as  late  as  1860 
when  a  license  tax  to  the  amount  of  one-half  of  the  state  t;ix  was 
ordered  to  be  levied  by  the  Commissioners'  Court.     The  increase 


—102— 

in  the  rate  of  taxatiun  ke[)t  even  pace  with  the  gradual  develop- 
ment of  the  county. 

Not  oniy  wa.s  the  amount  of  taxes  in  those  years  very  small, 
but  their  collection  caused  also  a  s^reat  deal  of  trouble.  A  great 
many  people  had  left  the  older  states  and  come  to  Texas,  be- 
cause in  their  opinion  there  was  too  much  government  ;n  (he 
older  states.  They  held  it  wiser  to  keep  what  they  had  than  to 
give  it  to  tiie  government.  Frequently  tax  delinquents  were 
fined  twenty-five  dollars  and  process  of  scire  facias  was  issued. 
On  the  payment  of  taxes  this  line  was  remitted.  Too  glad  only 
the  county  government  was  to  receive  the  taxes.  A  great  deal 
remained  unpaid  in  spite  of  fines.  The  county  treasurer  in  his 
report  for  18o3  stated  in  rei)ly  to  several  questions  asked  by  the 
Commissioners'  Court  that  from  1845  to  1851  at  least  $l,070.'.»o 
remained  uncollected  ;  considering  the  low  taxes  at  those  times, 
a  proportionately  large  amount.  The  unwillingness  of  some 
settlers  to  pay  the  same  was  one  reason  for  the  delinquency  of 
taxps  ;  another  important  one  was  the  scarcity  of  money  in  those 
early  times.     And  still  there  remained  so  much  to  be  done. 

Fij;sT  AND  Second  Court  House. 

()ne  of  tlie  lirst  things  that  had  to  be  done  was  the  procur- 
ing of  a  court  house.  It  was  no  ])alatial  structure  which  the 
fathers  of  tlie  county  procured.  A  house  was  purchased  from 
Lester  and  Eastland  which  had  been  formerly  occupied  by  B.  F. 
Nabors  as  a  grocery  for  the  sum  of  $250.  Ct.  S.  Kornegay  was 
authorized  to  contract  for  the  moving  of  this  house  to  the  public 
square,  to  put  it  in  good  rejjair  at  the  expense  of  the  county  to 
serve  as  a  court  house.  There,  in  that  poor  shanty,  the  Com- 
inissioners'  Court  sat  for  years  and  transacted  the  business  of 
the  county.  INlost  of  tlie  county  otiicers  had  no  o'lice  rooms  in 
the  court  house.  District  Court  was  Jield  in  rented  (juarters; 
the  highest  rent  paid  for  a  room  for  that  purpose  was  fifty  dol- 
lars. The  inadequacy  of  the  building  for  the  transaction  of  the 
county's  business  was  dee[)ly  felt.  The  Commissioners'  Court 
longed  for  a  new  court  house  that  afforded  more  accommodation 
for  the  transaction  of  business  and  reflected  better  on  the  dignity 


—103— 

of  their  office.  For  long  years  they  sat  in  that  poor  shanty  and 
employed  themselves  in  making  plans  for  a  new  court  house. 
They  appointed  agents  to  contract  for  the  building  of  a  new- 
court  house  (1839)  ;  then  commissioners  to  draw  a  draft  for  a 
court  house.  In  .1840  they  even  went  so  far  as  to  appropriate 
$10,000  for  the  building  of  a  new  court  house.  They  appointed 
a  committee  to  advertise  in  the  Austin  Gazette  for  bids,  to  solicit 
subscriptions  from  citizens,  and  to  contract  for  the  building  of  it. 
13ut  finding  that  there  was  and  came  no  money  into  the  treasury 
fi'om  which  to  pay  such  a  large  appropriation,  tliey  finally  can- 
celed it  in  1844.  That  grand  effort  of  four  years  for  a  new 
court  house  with  tiiat  fine  appropriation  of  §;10,000  that  were  not 
in  and  came  not  into  the  treasury  had  failed.  But  other  eiforls 
followed.  "C'an''t  we  get  then  at  least  a  court  house  two  stories 
high,  with  two  floors,  five  windows  and  three  doors?"  they  said, 
and  appointed  one  Irvin  Drake  as  treasurer  for  the  court  house 
funds.  Surely,  my  friends,  your  demands  are  very  modest  ; 
you  ought  to  have  a  new  court  house.  Still,  it  lasted  till  1847 
before  their  wishes  were  fullilled.  Finally,  in  that  year,  they 
made  another  plan  :  to  build  a  court  house  30x40,  two  stories 
high,  the  walls  to  be  of  brick  and  to  have  a  stone  foundation. 
A  committee  for  building  a  court  house  was  appointed.  This 
committee  modified  the  original  plan  for  the  court  house. 
Their  modifications  were  accepted.  It  was  ordered  by  the  Court 
that  the  claims  for  court  house  building  have  precedence  above 
all  other  claims  against  the  county  ;  that  they  be  paid  in  install- 
ments as  the  work  progressed  and  that  the  revenues  of  the 
county  be  pledged  for  the  payment  of  the  same.  A  contract 
was  entered  into  with  P.O.  Beall  for  building  a  court  house,  and 
contract  and  his  bond  were  filed.  In  1848  the  building  was  ac- 
cepted and  thanks  were  returned  to  the  building  committee  ft)r 
superintending  this  work.  A  bell  for  $100,  to  which  the  citizens 
of  LaGrange  contributed  $20,  was  bought  and  now  the  court  had 
a  building  with  more  commodious  quarters  and  of  better  aspect. 

This  building  served  the  county  as  a  court  liouse  till  180."), 
when  a  new  court  house  was  built.  It  was  sold  to  Jas.  A. 
Haynie  for  $1180  and  removed  from    the    public  square.     This 


_104— 

builcling  still  exists.  It  now  stands  on  the  southeast  corner  of 
the  public  square  and  is  owned  by  Judge  A.  Haidusek  and  oc- 
cupied by  hinj  as  the  printing  office  of  his  paper  'Svoboda.' 

First  and  Second  Jails. 

As  early  as  July  1888  the  county  possessed  a  jail.  A.  Uabb 
and  I.  S.  Sister  who  had  been  appointed  as  commissioners  b}' 
the  good  people  of  the  county  (1  guess  that  the  bad  people  did 
not  wish  a  jail)  to  contract  for  and  sup^rintenci  the  building  of 
a  jail,  presented  a  report  stating  "that  said  jail  had  been  finish- 
ed according  to  contract  and  that  the  same  had  cost  f460." 
This  structure  was  sufficient  for  the  safe-keeping  of  prisoners  in 
those  early  times  ;  for  prisoners  were  ironed  and  chained  ihen. 
But  such  a  cheap  building  could  not  last  forever.  Ten  years 
later  this  jail  was  advertised  to  be  sold,  ''it  appearing  to  the 
satisfaction  of  the  court  that  the  jail  is  oi"  no  service  to  the 
county."'  Still,  like  in  the  case  of  the  court  house,  several  ap- 
propriations and  plans  for  a  new  jail  were  n)ade  and  again  can- 
celed, before  they  succeeded  in  building  a  new  jail.  Mean- 
while, the  jn-isoners  of  the  county  were  given  in  charge  and 
board  to  difTerent  persons.  The  charges  for  boarding  a  prisoner 
were  extraordinarily  high,  $3.00  per  day.  This  must  have  in- 
cluded their  safe-keeping,  else  this  price  would  be  (|uite  out  of 
proi)ortion  to  other  services  rendered.  Of  the  expenses  of  the 
county  actually  paid  out  during  the  year  1852,  viz  $109b  the  ex- 
traordinarily large  amount  of  $622  was  paid  out  for  keeping  pris- 
oners from  November  1851  to  November  1852.  (From  County 
Treasurer  B.  B.  Hudnall's  Report.)  No  economical  administra- 
tion could  stand  this  rate  of  expenses  for  any  length  of  time. 

The  following  case  made  the  necessity  for  a  new  jail  still 
more  deeply  felt.  A  prisoner  by  the  name  of  John  H.  Vaughn 
was  in  the  jail  on  the  charge  of  murderg(1852).  It  would  have 
cost  about  $800  to  guard  and  feed  him  till  the  time  of  his  trial. 
Ihe  question  of  placing  him  in  the  jail  of  Travis  County  with 
the  approval  of  the  sheriff  of  that  county  was  considered  and  a 
petition  was  addressed  to  the  district  judge  to  authorize  his 
removal.  Then  it  was  considered  to  bring  him  to  the  Brenham 
jail   instead  of  the    Austin  jail.     Several   appropriations    were 


A 


—105- 

made  to  carry  him  to  that  jail  and  pay  his  expenses  overthere. 
He  \va5  carried  from  jail  to  jail.  The  last  heard  of  him  was 
tliat  he  was  carried  to  the  jail  of  Austin  County  and  that  that 
county  received  $111  for  keeping  him.  This  was  as  late  as  the 
fall  of  1854.  For  two  years  he  had  been  carried  from  jnil  to  jail 
at  llie  expense  of  the  count}-.  What  surprises  is  that  under 
such  cireumslances  it  took  two  years  to  dispose  of  his  case.  A 
new  jail  ft)r  the  county  had  become  a  necessity.  In  1852  the 
phvn  of  William  Lewis  for  a  new  jail  was  ado[)ted.  Thejail  was 
to  be  32x2o  feet  and  two  stories  high  with  two  rooms  in  each 
slory.  One  cf  tije  cells  was  to  he  made  secure  by  lining  it  wilh 
boiler  iron  or  by  bar  iron  crossed  and  riveted.  Tlie  jail  shculd 
also  have  a  cliimney  and  (ire  flue.  An  advertisement  for  sealed 
proposals  was  to  be  published  in  the  Texas  Monument,  tne  (Gal- 
veston News  and  a  Houston  paper.  The  njaker  of  tliis  grand 
plan  received  twenty-five  dollars  for  it.  In  1853  two  lots  for 
$40U  were  bought  from  C.  S  Longcope  to  build  a  jail  on.  In  the 
same  year  A.  Animann  and  H.  L.  Kreische  entered  into  a  con- 
tract with  the  county  to  construct  a  new  jail.  The  same  year 
thejail  was  finished  and  accepted  by  the  county  from  the  con- 
tractors. A.  Ammann  and  H.  L.  Kreisclie  were  comi)limentcd 
on  their  work  "done  in  a  good  and  workmanlike  manner." 
The  next  year  the  city  council  of  LaGrange  received  perniissimi 
to  [)ut  i)ersons  for  confinement  in  that  jail.  The  county  was 
heavily  in  debt  to  thejail  contractors  on  the  com^oletion  of  the 
jail.  A  law  provided  that  the  state  taxes  should  be  relin(]uished 
to  counties  building  jails.  To  liave  the  taxes  relimiuislied,  the 
county  treasurer  was  re(iuested  to  call  on  the  assessor  and  col- 
lector of  taxes  for  a  statement  in  writing,  in  conformity  to  law, 
relinquishing  to  the  county  the  State  taxes  for  the  years  1852  and 
1853. 

C'rkdit  of  thk  County. 

We  have  seen  what  effort  it  took  to  replace  the  lir.'st  shanty 
that  served  as  a  court  house  by  a  very  modest  building  for  that 
purpose,  also  how  long  it  lasted  until  that  $4(50  jail  was  replaced 
by  another  one  that  was  two  stories  high  and  had  two  rooms  in 
each  story  and  a  chimney  and  a  flue.    The  revenue  of  the  county 


— 1U(5— 


a 


was  exceedingly  small,  her  credit  very  poor.  When  in  18o*J 
new  ferry  boat  had  to  be  built  for  the  ferry  at  LaGrange  across 
the  Colorado  River,  Hiram  Ferrill,  a  county  commissioner  ap- 
pointed to  procure  a  ferry  boat,  submitted  his  report  that  he 
"could  not  get  a  boat  built  on  the  faith  of  the  county  at  a 
reasonable  price." 

Public  Ferries. 
The  establishment  of  ferries,  ferry-boats  and  ferry-ratcs  oc- 
cupied a  great  deal  of  the  time  and  attention  of  the  commission- 
ers' court.  Tiie  lirst  ferry-boat,  at  the  LaBahia  crossing  near 
LaGrange,  was  '"donated"  to  the  county  by  Jolm  li.  Moore. 
For  this  "a  compensation  of  $98  was  voted  to  him,  to  bo  jjnid 
out  of  any  money  in  tlie  treasury  not  otherwise  appropriated." 
As  this  boat  proved  unfit  and  a  new  one  could  not  be  built  on 
the  faith  of  the  county  at  a  reasonable  price,  the  court  finally 
succeeded  in  ir.aking  arrangements  with  John  H.  Dancy  for  the 
use  of  a  ferry-boat.  In  the  next  year  (1840)  a  new  ferry  boat  at 
the  cost  of  $250  could  be  built.  A  ferry-house  out  of  logs  with 
dimensions  of  ten  by  fourteen  feet  and  a  proportionate  height 
was  built.  The  ferry-man  had  to  make  weekly  settlements  with 
tlie  county  treasurer.  The  boat-building  business  in  the  county 
must  have  been  at  a  very  low  stage  of  development.  For,  already 
in  the  short  time  of  two  years,  a  new  one  had  to  be  built,  and  the 
old  one  was  sold  on  credit  of  six  months  with  bonds  and  approv- 
ed security.  The  next  boat  was  boit  in  1846.  This  time  ar- 
rangements were  made  with  the  ferry-man  that  he  should  build 
the  boat,  that  he  should  dig  out  the  roads  on  each  side  of  the 
ferry  and  pay  $530  rent  for  the  ferry  to  the  county.  VVlien  an- 
other new  boat  was  built  in  1850,  this  contract  was  changed. 
The  ferry-man  had  to  build  a  ferry  boat,  "good  and  seaworthy;" 
one-half  interest  hi  the  ferry-boat  was  to  belong  to  the  county. 
This  half-interest  was  rented  to  him  for  the  term  of  five  years  for 
the  sum  of  $2000.  Other  ferries  at  LaGrange  were  to  be  discon- 
tinued. Some  specified  persons,  also  jurors  and  commissioneis 
were  to  have  tlie  privilege  of  crossing  the  ferry  free.  The  col- 
lecting of  the  rent  from  the  ferry-man  often  caused  trouble.  Ar- 
rangements for  the  ])ayment  thereof  had  often  to  be  made  and 
the  ferry-inan  had  to  be  given  time  to  pay  his   rent.      Li  liie  No- 


—107— 

vember  term  of  1844  the  commissioners'  court  took  a.  great  step. 
They  decreed  that  for  ttie  year  of  1845  the  ferry  should  be  free  to 
all  persons,  but  this  order  was  revoked  before  it  took  effect.  The 
citizens  of  the  county  generally  i)aid  only  one-half  of  the  ferry- 
rates  which  citizens  of  other  counties  were  required  to  pay. 
The  county  paid  the  ferriage  of  the  commissioners  from  tlie 
west  end  of  the  county  at  tlie  end  of  the  year.  For  iiorse  and 
rider  from  Fayette  County  tlie  ferry-rate  was  live  cents,  rates  fur 
teams  were  higher  in  proportion.  Other  ferries  that  were  es- 
tablished during  tliesc  j^eriods  in  the  count}'  were  :  at  Kock 
liliiff,  below  LaGrange,  in  1844;  at  Wood's  prairie,  ten.  miles 
above  LaGrange,  in  1846;  at  Burnhain's  in  1847. 

The  First  Bridges  i\  thi':  CorxTr. 
The  revenue  of  the  county  was  not  large  enough  to  buihl  a 
l)ridge  across  the  Colorado,  fetill,  bridges  over  the  larger  creeks 
v.-ere  built  as  early  as  in  the50's.  The  first  bridge  built  was  tlie 
one  over  Barton's  Creek  on  the  LaGrange-Bastrop  road.  The 
funds  for  said  bridge  were  raised  by  public  subscription  by 
F.  W.  (irassmeyer  and  others.  They  were  authorized  to  build 
said  bridge  which  was  to  form  i)art  of  the  public  road. 

In  1854  bids  were  advertised  for  in  the  Texas  Monument 
fur  building  two  bridges  across  Cumming's  Creek,  one  across 
Buckner's  Creek  and  one  across  Rabb's  Creek.  The  bridges 
were  to  be  live  feet  above  high  water  mark,  of  six  inch  oak 
jjlanks  alternating  in  thickness,  one  jdank  to  be  1.'  inches  ia 
thickness,  the  next  one  two. 

h\  1859  $2000  were  appropriated  to  build  a  bridge  across 
Cumming's  Creek  and  $1100  to  build  one  across  Buckner's  Creek. 
Tlie  contract  for  the  first  bridge  nas  awarded  to  Harwell  and 
Jrloppe  ;  for  the  other  one,  to  J.  K.  Lamb.  These  bridges  were 
completed  in  the  following  year.  But  m  18G1  the  bridge  across 
Cumming's  Creek  was  waslied  auay  by  high-water  and  the  tim- 
bers and  iron  of  this  bridge  were  ordered  to  be  sold.  This  was 
the  lirst  attempt  of  the  county  at  bridge  building. 

County  Finances  and  County  Scrip. 

For  quite  a  number  of  years  the  county  did  not    know   how 


—1  OS- 
she  stood  financially.  Some  accounls  were  paid,  but  more 
were  not  paid.  How  much  the  county  owed  nobody  knew. 
As  late  as  I80G  county  scrip  dated  as  far  back  as  18iO  was  pre- 
sented for  payment.  This  scrip  had  generally  gone  into  the 
hands  of  other  parties  ;  it  was  largely  bought  up  by  some 
county  ofBcers  who  took  this  chance  of  making  an  lionest  pen- 
ny to  increase  their  meagre  salaries. 

How  long  payment  often  was  deferred,  and  how  long  a 
patient  creditor  had  to  wait,  show  the  following  cases  :  James 
P.  Hudson  had  sold  to  the  county  a  county  map  for  lilty  cU)l- 
lars  ;  this  claim  was  audited  in  1848,  but  no  appropriation  made 
to  pay  the  same.  He  had  died  before  his  claim  was  ))aid.  His 
executors  received  payment  of  same  in  1855.  C.  S.  Longcope 
was  chief  justice  in  1848.  His  claim  for  oflticial  services  to  the 
amount  of  fifty  dollars  was  previously  refused.  But  m  1854  he 
iiad  become  county  commissioner  and  succeeded  in  getting  his 
claim  paid.  At  the  same  time  the  unsettled  claim  of  N,  W. 
Eastland  for  services  rendered  as  chief  justice  in  the  years  1840, 
1841,  1842  and  1843  to  the  amount  of  $300  was  allowed  and 
ordered  paid.  Surely,  the  reward  to  this  faithful  servant  came 
rather  late. 

The  first  step  to  bring  light  and  order  into  the  state  of  fi- 
nances of  the  county  was  taken  in  1843,  At  that  time,  the 
couuty  government  was  already  in  the  fifth  year  of  its  existence. 
Three  commissioners  were  appointed  to  examine  into  the  state 
of  the  county  treasury  with  power  to  call  for  persons  and  papers. 
They  reported  in  J 844.  Their  efforts  were  highly  appreciated 
and  astonished  the  court,  The  report  v;as  looked  at  as  a  won- 
der of  financial  knowledge.  The  following  resolution  of  thanks 
was  passed  and  ordered  published  in  the  Houston  Telegraph  and 
LaGrangG  Intelligence  to  let  the  world  know  what  progress  in 
the  knowledoje  of  the  county's  finances  had  been  made  in  Fay- 
ette County: 

'^Resolved  that  the  thanks  of  this  court  be  returned  to 
t'le  commissioners  for  tiie  able  manner  m  which  they  Jiave  re- 
ported upon  the  state  of  the  county  treasury  and   that    their    re- 


—109— 

port  be  received  and  annexed  to  the  minutes  of  this  court  and 
that  the  clerk  forward  an  extract  to  tlio  Houston  Telegraph  and 
LaGrange  Intelligence  for  publication.'' 

When  in  1847  a  new  court  bouse  was  to  be  built,  it  became 
very  important  to  know  the  indebtedness  of  the  county.  A  res- 
olution was  })assed  to  ascertain  the  indebtedness  of  the  county 
and  her  means  to  liquidate  ihe  same.  From  this  time  on,  all 
county  scrip  holders  were  requested  to  present  their  claims  for 
certification  to  the  county  clerk.  This  notice  was  to  be  pub- 
lished in  the  LaGrange  paper,  the  ''Far  West,"  for  eight  con- 
secutive weeks.  How  little  wisdom  it  requires  to  govern  people! 
Eight  years  had  passed  before  county  scrip  was  required  to  be 
certified.  This  step  had  not  the  desired  result.  County  scrips 
were  not  presented  as  expected,  there  being  in  the  opinion  of 
the  court  a  larger  amount  outstanding.  The  chief  justice  and 
two  commissioners  weie  appointed  to  act  as  a  board  to  ascertain 
the  amount  of  the  county  debt  and  to  adjust  the  value  of  the 
county  scrip  ;  for  instance,  A  has  recived  a  certificate  for  $100 
which  at  the  time  it  was  issued  and  in  payment  of  accounts  for 
services  rendered  was  valued  at  Twenty  Dollars,  but  owing  to 
the  depreciation  of  the  value  of  the  county  scrip,  it  was  issued 
for  One  Hundred  Dollars.  For  these  old  obligations  new  certif- 
icates were  issued  after  report  made  by  said  conimittee.  This 
looks  like  repudiation. 

This  question  of  ascertaining  the  amount  of  tlie  county  debt 
should  trouble  and  exasperate  the  court  for  several  years.  In 
1852  the  order  was  passed  that  the  payment  of  all  claims 
against  the  county  of  Fayette  incurred  previous  to  July  1,  1847, 
should  be  postponed  till  the  }'ear  1870.  This  order  was  revoked 
at  the  same  term.  Finally,  in  the  May  term  of  18oG,  it  was 
ordered  and  decreed  that  till  the  August  term  of  tliat  year  all 
claims  against  the  county  dated  before  1850  were  to  he  registered 
and  certilied  to  by  the  county  clerk;  those  not  registered  and 
certified  to  by  the  county  clerk  were  to  be  declared  barred  ; 
notice  of  this  order  was  to  be  published  in  the  'True  Issue,' 
a  LaGrange  ])aper,  for  six  consecutive  weeks.  This  order  set- 
tled the  presentment  of  claims  dated  before  1850. 


—110— 

The  presentment  of  these  early  claims,  the  ij^norance  of  the 
court  in  regard  to  tlie  county's  finances  and  the  amount  of  the 
county's  deht  caused  enough  trouble  and  confusion.  They  had 
learned  that  they  could  not  transact  business  without  keeping  a 
record  thereof.  Thus,  in  1847,  a  finance  ledger  was  ordered  to 
be  kept  in  whicii  all  appropriations  made  by  the  county  court 
should  be  registered  and  those  that  had  been  ]jaid  should  le 
registered  and  marked  as  canceled.  To  prevent  any  further 
confusion  in  the  presentment  i^f  claims  and  in  order  to  trace 
their  correctness,  certificates  were  to  be  signed  from  that  date 
(1847)  by  the  chief  justice  and  to  be  countersigned  by  the 
county  clerk. 

In  1856  enough  progress  was  made  in  bringing  clearness 
and  order  into  the  county's  finances  so  that  the  court  could  come 
before  the  people  and  show  the  state  of  the  county's  finances. 
In  that  year  the  first  annual  statement  of  the  county's  finances 
was  published.  The  same  could  be  read  in  the  columns  of  the 
"True  Issue,  the  LaGrange  newspaper,  in  which  it  stood  for 
three  successive  weeks. 

Defalcations  and  Suits  of  the  County, 

These  were  not  the  only  troubles  of  the  county.  Troubles 
everywhere.  So  much  had  to  be  done  ;  everything  had  to  be 
built  or  created.  And  the  revei'Ue  was  so  small  and  a  great 
many  people  were  so  unwilling  to  contribute  tileir  share  of 
taxes.  And  after  taxes  were  collected,  then  came  the  trouble  to 
get  them  out  of  the  hands  of  the  collector  again.  The  collectors 
did  not  always  turn  over  all  the  monf?ys  collected  to  the  use  of 
the  county.  Nor  did  the  sheriff  always  turn  ov2r  the  amount  of 
fines  which  he  had  collected.  The  maxim  in  those  times  seems 
to  have  been  to  lake  all  you  can  get  and  to  keep  all  you  got. 

The  first  case  of  this  kind  is  a  very  interesting  one.  It  was 
that  of  sheriff  A.  A.  Gardiner,  He  did  not  lack  in  cunning  and 
must  have  been  a  very  astute  man.  He  first  appears  to  the 
readiu-  in  the  garb  of  a  patriotic  citizen.  The  cjuit  had  rented 
from  him  a  room  for  holding  district  court.  He  graciously  do- 
nated to   the  court  the  rent,  sending  a  receipt  in  full..     Such  a 


—  Ill- 
man  had  to  be  rewarded  and  a  grateful  pcojile  elected  him  sher- 
iff. Here  he  excelled  in  presenting  to  the  court  extraordinarily 
large  accounts  for  boarding  and  keeping  prisoners,  which  the 
court  ordered  to  stand  continued  to  the  next  term  as  the  best 
means  they  could  think  of  to  make  Inni  come  down  m  his  de- 
mands. Sonie  of  his  accounts  stood  this  way  contiinied  till  after 
his  death,  liut  he  was  a  man  with  resources,  ingenious  to  find 
ways  and  means  to  sec  his  accounts  ])aid,  the  continuing  order 
of  the  Commissioners'  Court  notwithstanding.  He  made  him- 
self paid  out  of  the  fines  which  he  collected,  and  failed  to  turn 
them  over  to  the  court.  When  after  his  death,  his  executor  T. 
Weaver  presented  to  tlie  court  (1847)  two  accounts,  one  for  $2G8 
and  one  for  $80. ."iO,  the  court  admitted  the  correctness  of  the 
second  account  (which  was  probably  made  out  by  the  executor) 
but  in  regard  to  the  first  account,  which  was  probably  made  out 
by  the  patriot  sheriff  himself,  they  declared  that  charges  for 
ironing  and  boarding  prisoners  were  unreasonable  and  unjust, 
that  only  $141  were  just.  They  refused  payment  of  both  ac- 
counts on  the  ground  that  sheriff  A.  A.  Gardiner  was  a  defaulter 
to  the  county,  and  ordered  that  they  should  not  be  paid,  until 
the  amount  for  which  A.  A,  Gardiner  was  a  defaulter  to  the  coun- 
ty was  paid.  In  1849  the  county  settled  with  his  executor  for 
1192. 

In  1849  a  commissioner  was  appointed  to  make  a  settlement 
with  VV.  G.  Webb,  administrator  of  William  Nabors,  former  as- 
sessor and  collector,  and  to  ascertain  the  amount  of  fun  is  col- 
lected by  said  Nabors  as  tax  collector  for  the  county  of  Fayette 
and  not  paid  over  as  directed  by  law. 

In  1850  John  A.  Green  was  authorized  to  make  a  settlement 
with  or  bring  suit  against  the  secnritioj  of  John  \V.  McKissick, 
late  asseossor  and  collector  of  taxes,  for  defalcations  during  the 
years  1845  to  1848.  He  made  an  agreement  with  one  of  the  se- 
curities, W.  L.  Adkins,  to  give  his  note  to  the  court  for  the 
amount  defalcated.  But  W.  L.  Adkins  failing  to  give  his  note, 
Green  was  authorized  to  bring  suit  ngainst  said  Adkins  at  the 
next  term  of  the  district  court.  But  before  suit  was  instituteti, 
Adkins  came  forward  and  gave  his   promissory  note  for  §oOO  for 


—112— 

the  one-half  of  the  defalcation  of  I.  H.  McKissick  which  he  paid 
during  the  same  year.  Of  this  amount  Green  received  ten  per- 
cent or  $30  as  commission. 

In  1856  suit  was  brought  against  \V.  B.  McClellan,  former 
assessor  and  collector,  and  against  the  sureties  on  his  bond  for 
$1870.60  wljich  never  liad  been  paid  over  by  said  assessor  to  the 
county.  In  1859  this  suit  was  finally  decided  in  favor  of  the 
county  and  her  attorneys  L.  F.  and  \V.  B.  Price  were  paid  the 
balance  of  fees  due  them. 

In  1857  suit  was  brought  against  I.  C.  Stribling,  former  as- 
sessor and  collector,  for  $212.08,  amount  not  paid  over  by  him. 
It  was  won  by  the  county  and  the  amount  finally  paid  by  I.  C. 
Stribling. 

A  very  interesting  character  who  had  a  constant  wrangle 
with  the  county  was  sheriff  I.  A.  Fitz.  The  county  did  not  al- 
ways get  the  best  of  him.  At  times  the  county  would  not  allow 
his  accounts  in  full,  he  agreed  to  reduce  them  ;  at  times  lie  in- 
sisted on  their  full  payment,  brought  suit  against  the  county  and 
won. 

A  Faithful  Officer. 

Oonsidering  these  petty  troubles  with  unfaithful  servants  of 
the  people  it  is  the  more  pleasant  to  mention  a  faithful  one.  In 
1851  resolutions  of  respect  were  presented  to  the  Commissioners' 
Court  by  General  1.  S.  Mansfield  on  the  death  of  Albert  L.  Vail, 
late  treasurer  of  the  county.  They  were  unanimously  adopted, 
entered  in  the  minutes  of  the  court  and  published  in  the  Texas 
Monument. 

Fees  of  Officers. 

The  fees  of  county  oflicers  in  those  early  times  were  exceed- 
ingly small.  No  wonder  that  part  of  them  turned  an  honest 
penny  by  buying  up  county  scrip  and  others  amended  their 
poor  salary  in  a  less  honest  way  by  keeping  collected  moneys 
which  belonged  to  the  county.  The  salary  of  the  county  clerk 
for  instance,  including  stationery  and  bookcase  amounted  to 
$273.10  (in  J847).     County  Commissioners  received  Two  DoU 


—113— 

lars  per  clay  ;  this  was  reduced  in  1818  to  One  Dollar  (ifty  cents 
per  day,  and  in  1855  raised  to  the  present  rate  of  Three  Dt)llars 
per  day.  Bailiffs  and  prisoners'  guards  received  One  Dollar  and 
fifty  cents  per  day.  The  assessor's  fee  in  1858  was  $357  45  for 
assessing  taxes  and  1359.48  for  collecting  taxes. 

Prices, 

Prices  were  different  in  those  days  from  prices  nowatlays. 
The  price  of  a  ferry-boat,  for  instance,  was  $250;  surveying  a 
road  was  worth  $50;  surveying  a  league  of  land  $125.  The 
l)ainling  of  the  then  courtliouse  and  the  present  "Svoboda" 
))rinting  office  cost  $51  for  paints  and  oils  and  $40.85  for  work. 
A  copy  of  the  standard  weiglits  and  measures  for  the  use  of  the 
county  cost  1172.55.  For  translating  the  railroad  tax  law  into 
German  Five  Dollars  were  paid. 

Justices  ok  the  Peace. 

The  number  of  the  justices  of  the  peace  varied  greatly  ;  they 
also  acted  as  commissioners  up  to  1848.  In  1839  they  were  five 
in  number  ;  since  1842  there  were  one  cliief  justice  and  nine'jus- 
tices  of  the  peace.  From  1848  on  there  were  two  justices  of  the 
peace  in  eacli  election  precinct,  and  in  1860  they  were  classified 
by  the  chief  justice  into  class  first  and  class  second.  It  did  not 
fail  those  early  settlers  considering  the  scarcity  of  population  a 
frequent  and  favorable  chance  to  obtain  a  public  office  ;  but  it 
may  be  assumed  that  the  great  number  of  justices  were  recpiircd 
o.i  account  of  the  turbulent  timss  among  the    negro    population. 

Commissioners'   Court. 

In  1839  the  commissioners'  court  consisted  of  the  chief  jus- 
lice  and  five  commissioners  who  were  called  associate  justices 
and  also  acted  as  justices  of  the  peace,  Since  1812  it  consisted 
of  the  chief  justice  and  nine  commissioners,  one  from  each  elec- 
tion precinct.  Since  1848  it  consisted  of  the  present  number  of 
fjur  commissioners. 

County  Records. 
The  records  of  the  conntv  were  kei)t  with  csre  ;  onlyfew  of 


—114— 

them  bad  to  be  transcribed.  The  minutes  of  the  commission- 
ers' court  proceedings  to  the  year  1847  were  transcribed.  In 
185G  and  1857  books  in  the  assessor  and  collector's  office  were 
destroyed  by  fire. 

Several  record  books  in  the  district  and  county  clerk's 
office  were  in  a  dilapidated  condition.  The  representative  of 
the  county  was  asked  to  have  an  act  passed  in  the  legislature 
authorizing  the  transcribing  of  these  bonks.  This  was  done. 
The  records  then  were  transcribed  according  to  acts  of  legislature 
and  approved  and  certified  to  as  correct. 

On  Nov.  15,  1856,  a  fire  in  the  surveyor's  office  destroyed 
the  records  and  field  notes  of  said  office.  They  were  transcribed 
and  certified  to  by  the  commissioner  of  the  general  land  office 
and  an  act  was  passed  in  the  legislature  to  legalize  said  trans- 
cript. 

Public  Roads. 

The  public  roads  have  been  a  matter  of  consideration  by  the 
court  since  the  earliest  times.  Uoads  were  continually  opened, 
reviewed  and  remarked.  As  early  as  1846  tlie  court  decreed 
that  sign  posts  should  be  erected  at  roads  on  the  county  line 
and  at  the  intersection  of  the  roads.  Still,  a  great  many  years 
from  that  time  to  the  present  time  have  passed  and  yet  the  trav- 
eler hardly  ever  passes  a  signboard  in  Fayette  County.  The 
necessity  for  them  failed  to  create  them  up  to  the  present  date. 
The  first  damages  for  laying  out  new  roads  were  paid  in  1848. 
In  the  year  1856  the  court  undertook  to  classify  the  roads  and 
passed  the  following  order. 

"It  is  ordered  that  the  following  public  roads  in  the  County 
of  Fayette  shall  be  and  are  hereby  declared  roads  of  the  first- 
class,  to  wit :  Ihe  stage  road  leading  from  the  town  of  LaGrange 
in  the  direction  of  Breuham  by  Rjund  Top  to  the  county  line  ; 
the  road  leading  from  Li  Grange  in  the  direction  of  San  Felipe 
by  the  town  of  Fayetteville  to  the  county  line  ;  the  road  leading 
from  La  (Jrange  to  the  county  line  in  the  direction  of  Gonzales  ; 
the  roid  leading'  from  LaGrange  in  the  direction  of  liastrop  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Colorado  River  to  where  said  road  intersects 


—115— 

the  Z3astrop  and  Houston  road  ;  the  road  from  the  Bastrop 
cjunty  line  near  Cunningham's  by  Henry  Earthmann  and  Wil- 
low Springs  to  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  county  ;  the  road 
leading  from  LaGrange  to  Columbus  on  the  east  side  of  the  Col- 
orado River  to  the  county  line  ;  the  road  leading  from  LaGrange 
to  Columbus  on  the  west  side  of  the  Colorado  River  to  the 
county  line  ;  the  road  from  LaGrange  running  in  the  direction 
of  Hallettsville  b}--  McKennon's  store  to  the  county  line  ;  the 
stage  road  leading  from  the  town  of  LaGrange  to  liastrop  by 
William  Scallorn  and  SorrelTs  ferry  to  tlie  county  line;  and  all 
other  public  roads  in  said  county  shall  be  known  as  class  No.  2."' 

In  the  following  year,  1857.  the  public  roads  were  divided 
into  road  overseer  precincts  :  2'.)  of  the  first,  and  24  of  the  second 
class.  They  must  haye  been  very  large  precincts  at  first ;  they 
constantly  increased  in  number,  in  1858  there  were  30  first  and 
28  second  class  precincts. 

Election  Precincts. 

A  very  im|)ortant  subject  for  the  consideration  of  the  com- 
missioners' court  was  the  establishment  of  election  precincts. 
They  increased  during  this  period  from  four  in  the  year  1838  to 
twelve  in  the  year  1801. 

The  first  four  election  i)recincts  were  established  in  1838, 
to-wit  ;  in  Wood's  settlement  at  the  house  of  Zadoc  Woods,  in 
the  city  of  Colorado  at  the  house  of  Henry  Manton,  in  LaGrange 
at  the  office  of  the  Clerk  of  the  County  Court,  on  Cumming's 
Creek  at  the  house  of  David  Breeding. 

In  1839  the  following  three  election  precincts  were  added  : 
one  at  the  house  of  Jasper  A.  Sargeant  on  Navidad,  at  the  house 
uf  ,lohn  Ingram  in  Lucas  prairie,  at  the  town  of  Rutersville. 

in  x\pril,  1846,  eight  election  precincts  were  established  ac- 
cor.ling  to  an  act  of  the  legislature  of  the  State  of  Texas,  ap- 
l)roved  April  11,  1846,  to-wit:  1,  LaGrange;  2,  House  of  John 
Ingram  ;  3,  Rutersville  ;  4,  Stephen  Townsend  ;  5,  House  of 
Sam  Alexander ;  6,  House  of  Mrs.  Lyons  ;  7,  House  of  Leroy  T. 
Crisweil  ;  8,  House  of  H.  S.  Wood?. 


— IIG- 

In  1855  the  beats  were  reorganized  and  the  boundaries  more 
clearly  defined.  At  that  time  there  were  eleven  election  pre- 
cincts established,  but  the  citizens  of  beat  No.  10  having  failed 
to  organize,  this  beat  was  attached  to  No.  5,  so  that  there  re- 
mained ten  election  precincts.  In  1857  beat  11  was  established, 
a  school  house  near  the  residence  of  Richard  A.  Burkley  being 
the  voting  phace.  In  LaGrange  })olis  were  opened  at  two  dis- 
tinct places.  No.  1  at  the  assessor  and  collector's  office,  No.  2 
at  the  sheriff's  office  (1858).  In  1861  election  beat  No.  12  was 
established  at  Nordhausen's  store. 

Citizen's  Papers. 

In  those  early  days  fm-eigners^^applied  for  citizen's  papers 
to  the  commissioners'  court  and  the  pages  of  the  minutes  of  the 
court  are  full  of  grants  of  citizen's  papers  in  those  times.  The 
first  citizen's  papers  were  granted  by  the  court  to  R.  Stahmer 
from  Holstein  and  Chas.  Bauer  from  J*russia  in    1857. 

Paupers. 

The  taking  care  of  paupers  was  early  considered  by  the 
court.  They  decided  as  early  as  1840  to  build  a  poorhouse.  Of 
course  the  structure  was  to  ha  in  harmony  with  tiie  simplicity 
of  the  times.  It  should  cost  $180  and  was  to  be  16  feet  square 
with  a  floor  and  a  chimney,  a  shutter  to  the  door  and  a  window. 
But  as  there  never  came  any  funds  into  the  treasury  that  could 
be  applied  for  that  purpose,  .this  appropriation  had  to  go  tlie 
way  of  a  great  many  other  good  things  and  finally  was  canceled 
in  1844. 

It  seems  that  in  those  early  days  very  few  {)eople  had  to  be 
taken  care  of  by  the  county.  The  first  instance  on  record  was 
as  late  as  1852.  An  interesting  case  wa.s  that  of  one  Michael 
Short.  He  was  the  owner  of  a  two-thirds  league  of  land  and 
asked  the  county  for  relief.  He  was  required  to  mortgage  liis 
land  for  the  advancement  of  money  (185o).  In  the  fuUuwmg 
year  lie  received  $25  for  support.  In  1856  his  petition  for  suj)- 
port  was  overruled  and  rejected.  The  court  was  frequently  pe- 
titioned  by  citizens  for  the  sup[)ort  of  paupers.  They  granted 
generally  from  twenty  to  thirty  dollars  per  (piarier  of  a  year. 


1 


-11  r- 

Apportionment  of   School  Fund  to  Fayette  County. 

In  1854  Fayette  County  received  her  first  apportionment 
from  the  public  sciiuol  fund.  Tlie  amount  was  small, 
$709.42.  During  this  period  up  to  the  Civil  War  the  highest 
amount  was  received  in  1859,  viz:  $1,954  04.  In  those  early  and 
unsafe  times  of  stage  coaches  the  county  treasurer  generally 
went  personally  to  Austin  to  receive  the  apportionment  for  Fay- 
ette County. 

Fayette  County  [school  Lands. 

The  founders  of  the  Republic  of  Texas  were  not  unmindful 
of  the  interests  of  education.  As  land  was  plentiful,  they  donat- 
ed large  tracts  to  the  several  counties.  The  iirst  time  the  Fay- 
ette C'^unty  school  land  was  mentioned  in  the  minutes  of  the 
conimissioners'  court  was  in  1848.  Then  it  was  found  that 
school  land  surveys  made  in  1840  conllicted  with  other  suiyevs 
and  they  were  ordered  resuiveyed.  In  1852  a  patent  for  11005 
acres  of  school  land  and  a  patent  for  1203  acres  were  ordered  re- 
corded. In  1854  another  league  of  school  land  was  to  be  locat- 
ed, and  the  job  was  given  to  the  county  surveyor,  J.  13.  Arm- 
strong, for  $100.  Up  to  1850  this  league  was  not  located  and 
the  couuty  judge  was  authorized  to  procure  another  person  or  to 
do  what  he  deemed  right  and  proper.  In  1857  a  patent  for 
.785,200  Labor  of  school  land  on  Kabb's  (Jreek  was  received  by 
the  county  surveyor  and  ordered  to  be  recorded.  In  1801  the 
balance  of  Fayette  County  school  land  was  located  and  the  field 
notes  thereof  presented  to  the  commissioners'  court. 

As  the  school  land  was  not  fenced  in,  depredations  of  the 
timberlands  occurred  frequently.  But  there  is  only  one  in- 
stance where  a  person  paid  a  fine  of  $7.50  for  cutting  timber 
on  the  scliool  land. 

County  Attorney's  Office. 

In  those  early  days  the  people  of  Fayette  County  lived  hap- 
py without  the  protection  of  that  dignified  oflicer  of  county  at- 
torney, the  terror  of  evil-doers  But  in  1858  the  people  thought 
that  they  could  not  live  without  one  and  thus,  on  the  petition  of 
many  citizens,  asking  the  appointment    of  a  county  attorney  in 


—118— 

order  to  suppress  lawlessness  and  Crime,  Fred  Tate  was  ap- 
pointed county  attorney  for  the  term  of  one  year  to  strilie  terror 
into  tlie  hearts  of  evil-doers  at  the  rate  of  $500  a  year.  He 
must  have  been  very  successful;  for  in  the  following  year,  the 
wrong-doers  were  so  much  scared  that  this  ofiice  was  not  deemed 
any  longer  necessary  and  therefore  abolished.  It  seems  that 
the  people  can  do  very  well  without  such  an  office;  these  little 
petty  offences  amount  to  nothing  and  only  provoke  petty  legisla- 
tion and  spite  in  neighborhoods.  At  least,  county  attorneys 
should  rather  receive  a  salary  and  no  fees. 

County  Assessments  and    Negro  Population. 

As  stated  before,  at  the  beginning  of  this  chapter,  the  in- 
come of  the  county  at  the  time  of  the  organization  of  tlie  county 
was  very  small.  It  will  be  a  more  pleasant  task  of  the  reader 
to  note  the  gradual  increase  of  the  county's  wealtli  and  her  in- 
come. While  in  1847 — taken  from  the  first  record  of  the  as- 
sessor's rolls — the  county's  assessed  property  amounted  to  only 
$1,138,690,  and  the  proceeds  of  the  county  taxes,  to  onl}^  $1,280.- 
11,  the  property  had  during  the  following  years  up  to  18(J0  in- 
creased to  $5,115,382,  more  than  quadrupled  the  assessment  of 
1847,  and  the  county  taxes  instead  of  $1,230.11  now  yielded  a 
revenue  of  $2,958.48  (amount  of  taxes  of  the  year  1858,  the 
highest  of  that  period).  A  poll  of  the  slaves  was  also  taken,  and 
we  notice  tlieir  rapid  increase,  which  was  mainly  due  also  to  the 
increase  of  the  material  wealth  of  the  county.  In  1853  there 
were  1422  slaves  in  the  county  ;  in  185G,  three  years  later,  their 
number  amounted  already  to  2135.  From  that  date  their  valua- 
tion is  only  given,  but  frora  the  increase  of  their  value  it  may  be 
assumed  that  their  number  also  had  increased.  In  185G,  they 
were  valued  at  $1,214,625  ;  in  1860  their  valuation  had  risen  to 
$2,021,650.  They  amounted  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War 
to  two-iifths  of  the  total  value  of  the  assessed  property  of  the 
cou-nty. 

Third  Court  House  in  Fayette  County. 

Such  a  large  negro  population  was  a  constant  cause  of  alarm 
to  the  county,  but  before  this  subject  be  approached,  we    may 


-4— ' 

c 

O 


CD 


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CD 
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—120— 

first  mention    the  building    of  tlie   tlnrd  Fayette  County    court 
liouse. 

As  said  before,  a  new  jail,  built  out  of  brick,  had  been  ac- 
cepted in  1853.  The  new  jail  therefore  looked  better  than  the 
court  house;  the  prisoners  of  the  county  had  quarters  of  better 
aspect  than  the  county  government.  This  was  not  to  be  stood, 
and  at  least  as  elegant  offices  for  the  county  officers  had  to  be 
procured  as  the  prisoners  had  quarters.  Tluis,  in  ISCo  it  was 
resolved  to  build  a  new  court  house,  though  the  old  one  would 
have  seemed  still  sufficient. 

With  the  building  of  the  third  court  house  the  era  of  hard- 
ships, financial  embarrassments  and  makeshifts  was  closed. 
The  building  of  the  third  court  house  was  begun  in  1855  ;  it 
was  completed  in  1856  and  cost  $14,500.  This  building  served 
the  county  as  court  iiouse  to  the  year  1890.  It  was  built  by  PI. 
L.  Kreisclie,  according  to  a  draft  made  by  William  Rosenberg. 
It  was  a  two-story  building,  built  of  rock  and  cement;  the 
county  oifices  were  downstairs  ;  upstau's  was  the  court  room. 
It  was  not  an  elegant,  but  a  substantial  building  and  showed  in 
comparison  to  the  first  court  house  that- the  wealth  of  the  county 
had  materially  increased  so  as  to  grant  a  revenue  large  enough 
to  procure  commodious  quarters  for  the  county  otficers. 

Many  instances  of  orders  of  the  court  and  negotiations  with 
the  city  council  of  LaGrange  showed  the  pride  the  citizens  took 
in  the  new  court  house.  The  court  room  was  granted  to  citizens 
of  La(Trange  to  hold  a  party  in  comuiemoration  of  the  battle  of 
New  Orleans.  Many  were  the  instances  where  this  court  room 
served  for  festive  occasions.  In  18G0  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Ma- 
sons of  the  State  met  here  and  held  their  meetings.  Ihose 
were  gay  times  in  those  days.  The  cold  wave  of  abstinence  fa- 
naticism from  the  North  had  not  yet  chilled  the  Southern  heart, 
and  the  Southern  gentlemen  of  those  days  were  the  last  to  give 
up  their  gaiety,  chivalry  and  light-heartedness  for  the  sternness, 
awkwardness  and  often  hypocrisy  of  Northern  zealots.  It  was 
not  until  after  tlie  Civil  War  that.Jijs  chilly  doctrine  of  abstin- 
ence v\as  imported  by  carpet-baggers  and  Northern  immigration 
into  Tex:as.     It  never  gained  a  firm  hold  in  Fayette  County. 


-121- 

Patrol  Companies. 

In  another  paragraph  the  increase  of  the  negro  population, 
the  cause  of  alarm,  trouble  and  excitement  tliey  gave  to  the 
wliite  population  lias  been  deferred  as  subject  to  be  treated  of 
at  a  later  time.  It  now  becomes  apjiropriate  to  treat  of  the 
same.  All  great  events  cast  their  sliadows  ahead.  It  did  not 
lack  of  warnings  that  foreboded  the  outbreak  of  the  great  ("ivil 
War.  Statesmen  like  Thos.  Jefferson  had  foreseen  it  already  in 
their  time  and  counsele  1  against  it.  liut  more  passionate  minds 
should  bring  things  to  a  focus.  Writers  of  the  Beecher  Stowe 
type  appealed  with  their  false  and  fanatical  writings  to  the  ])ve- 
judices  o(  the  North.  Northern  missionaries  and  preachers  tra- 
versed the  Soutii  and  preached  to  the  negro  population  not  the 
teachings  of  brotherly  love,  but  those  of  revolt  against  their 
w.hite  masters.     This  justly  embittered  the  people  of  the  South. 

Tiiey  had  to  protect  themselves  and  their  families.  L\\ 
1817  the  negro  population  had  become  so  uncjuiet  that  measures 
had  to  be  taken  to  keep  them  in  check.  Patrol  Companies 
were  formed  in  the  several  beats.  A  letter  of  instruction  ad- 
dressed by  the  commissioners'  court  in  1817  to  the  Captains  of 
Patrol  of  Beat  No.  1  which  explains  itself  is  here  givc-n. 

"To  the  Captains  of  Patrol  of  said  Beat  No.  1.      Greeting: 

CJentlemen: 

In  view  of  the  emergency  now  existing  for  a  strict  Patrol 
the  causes  of  which  are  so  well  known  that  the  court  does  not 
deem  it  necessary  to  enumerate  them,  it  is  strictly  enjoined  on 
you  as  commanders  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of  the  act  regu- 
la,ting  Patrols  ;  you  will  perceive,  Gentlemen,  by  a  reference  to 
it  which  is  annexed  that  you  are  required  to  patrol  as  often  as 
may  be  deemed  necessary  in  order  to  promote  the  general  wel- 
fare and  tranijuillity  of  the  community.  In  view  of  the  present 
state  of  trouble,  alarm  and  excitement  caused  by  the  running 
away  of  several  slaves  as  also  the  general  loose  and  disorderly 
conduct  of  the  slave  population  generally,  it  is  expected  of  you 
and  your  command  as  patrols  that  you  will  by  active  and 
strenuous  exertions  as  good  citizens  empowered  to  act  lawfully 
by  this  Court,  proceed  at  once  to  remed}'-  the  evil ;  for  this  pur- 


—122— 

pose  it  is  recommended  that  you  have  your  men  in  service  at 
least  twice  a  week  and  also  op  the  Lord's  day  dividing  them  in- 
to divisions  as  you  may  see  fit ;  your  attention  is  further  direct- 
ed to  the  taking  up  of  any  white  person  that  may  be  found 
among  any  unlawful  assemblage  of  negroes.     See  Section  4. 

The  Court  in  pursuance  to  tlie  object  it  has  in  view  viz:  to 
preserve  order  and  insure  tranquillity  and  security  to  property 
refer  you  to  the  act  to  prevent  slaves  from  hiring  their  own  time 
or  their  owners  from  hiring  them  to  other  slaves,  free  negroes  or 
mulattoes.  Such  act,  if  strictly  enforced,  is  calculated  to  i  tlVct 
much  good.  It  will  be  perceived  by  reference  to  this  act  tliat 
the  owners  are  subject  to  a  tine  of  One  Hundred  Dolhirs.  It 
is  hoped  that  the  laws  wliich  are  amply  su.'iicient  for  the  pur- 
pose will  be  carried  out  througii  the  respective  agents  of  wljich 
\'0U  form  a  permanent  one. 

Charles  S.  Longcote,  Chief  Justice, 
David  R.  Stout,  ^ 

John  S.  Black,  [-  Comm. 

Stephen  Townsend,     ) 

From  this  tin^e  on  it  was  a  constant  task  of  the  court  to  ap- 
point Patrol  Comuanies.  The  white  people  of  the  South  had  to 
protect  themselves,  their  families,  and  their  property.  Patrol 
Companies  were  the  result  of  the  stirring  up  of  the  negro  popu- 
lation by  northern  preachers  who  counseled  them  to  either  run- 
away or  revolt  against  their  white  masters.  Those  times  lay  al- 
ready in  the  shadow  of  tliat  coming  dramatic  event,  the  great 
Civil  War. 


—123— 

THIRD    PERIOD. 


FAYETTE  COUNTY  DURINO  THE  CIVIL  AVA  K 

fl861-18Go). 


Secession. 

Tlie  election  of  Abraliam  Lincoln  to  the  oflice  of  i)resident 
of  the  United  States  was  the  signal  of  agitation  for  the  ({uestion 
of  secession,  a  movement  planned  long  ago  in  case  of  his  elec- 
tion. The  question  was  voted  upon  in  Fayette  County  on  Feb- 
ruary 23,  1801.  The  secession  movement  was  defeated  in  Fay- 
ette County  ;  580  votes  were  cast  for  and  ()2()  votes  were  ca.st 
against  secession,  liut  secession  carried  in  the  State.  Other 
imj)ortant  historical  events  followed  in  rapid  succession. 

7  he  bombardment  of  Fort  Sumter  (April  12,  18G1)  was  tlie 
signal  of  rally  that  echoed  throughout  the  youthern  States  and 
gathered  the  South  under  the  flag  of  the  Southern  Confederacy. 
The  cooler  heads  that  still  counseled  peace  or  neutrality  were 
pushed  aside.  Governor  Sam  Houston,  refusing  to  take  the 
oath  of  allegiance  to  the  Constitution  of  the  Confederate  States 
was  ejected  from  his  office  of  governor.  Jjieutenant-dovernor 
Hon.  Edward  Clark,  more  in  harmony  with  the  views  of  the 
people,  took  the  prescribed  oath  and  succeeded  Sam  Houston  in 
otiice.  Everywhere  troops  were  levied  and  ordered  out  in  de- 
fence of  the  Southern  Confederacy  by  proclamation  of  the  gov- 
ernor of  the  state. 

Companies  Raised  in  Fayette  County. 

The  first  companies  that  responded  to  tliis  call  in  Fayette 
County  were  the  F'ayettc  Guards  under  command  of  Cajjt. 
A.  U.  Gates,  the  Hough  and  Ready  Rebels  under  command  of 
Capt.  Ben  Shropshire  and  a  company  of  artillery-men  raised  by 
J.  F.  Ernst  and  E.  Creuzbauer.  $350  were  appropriated  for 
them  (.June  22,  1851).  At  the  end  of  1861  Capt.  Ira  G.  Kil- 
lough's  company  was  mustered  in  at  San  Antonio.  At  the  be- 
ginning of  1802  other  companies  were  raised  and  various  appro- 
priations were  made  for  them.  The  companies  then  raised 
were:     B.  Timmon's  company,  commaDded  later  by  S.  C.  Izard; 


—124— 

J.  Duff  Brown's  company  ;  Capt.  M.  Cook's  company  ;  Capt.  S. 
Alexander's  company  of  conscripts,  and  Capt.  Victor  Sladczyk's 
company  of  conscripts. 

Problems  to  Solve  at  Home. 

The  battles  these  troops  were  engaged  in  during  the  Civil 
War,  their  lieroic  struggles  and  daring  feats,  their  hardships 
and  sutfcriugs  are  a  part  of  the  history  of  that  war.  Tiiis  gigan- 
tic struggle  between  the  North  and  the  South  has  been  repeat- 
edly related  by  able  historians,  but  much  less  attention  has  been 
paid  by  writers  to  the  condition  of  t  lie  people  at  home.  Thi'ill- 
ing  as  a  narration  of  the  daring  feats  in  this  war  may  be,  a 
record  of  the  problems  which  the  people  left  at  home  had  to 
solve  is  none  the  less  interesting.  To  this  aspect  of  the  Civil 
War  the  reader  is  requested  to  pay  his  attention.  The  people  of 
the  South  had  to  solve  in  this  war  three  important  questions: 
t)  provide  supplies  for  the  soldiers  in  the  field  ;  to  take  care  of 
destitute  families  of  soldiers  and  to  hold  in  check  an  untrusty 
negro  population.  They  were  embarassed  in  the  solution  of  the 
first  two  questions  by  alack  of  currency  which  became  a  ques- 
tion for  solution  itself.  How  the  South  solved  these  questions, 
the  reader  will  catch  a  glimpse  of  by  perusing  the  succeeding 
pages  in  wliich  the  author,  on  the  hand  of  records,  shows  how 
the  people  of  Fayette  County  tried  to  solve  them.  The  perusal 
of  these  pages  also  will  show  the  reader  conclusively  that  the 
deliciency  of  specie,  of  hard  coin  money  that  kept  its  value 
everywhere  had  more  than  anything  else  to  do  with  the  defeat 
of  the  Confederacy.  The  genius  of  the  South,  the  daring  of  her 
sons  were  equal  to  compete  with  the  greater  numbers  of  the 
North  ;  it  was  the  lack  of  specie,  of  hard  coin  money  that  could 
have  procured  her  the  much  needed  supplies  in  the  market  that 
defeated  her.  At  the  very  beginning  of  the  war  this  deficiency 
of  specie  becanae  apparent.  Fayette  County  issued  bonds  to 
pay  for  the  supplies  and  equipments  of  her  soldiers.  This  was 
the  way  in  which  she  solved  the  first  question.  She  solved  the 
second  question,  the  care  of  destitute  families  of  soldiers,  by 
levying  a  war  tax  and  issuing  scrip,  called  'war  tax  scrip,'  for 
same.     To  supply  a  currency  they  again    issued    paper   money, 


—125- 

called  'Change  Notes.'  Thus,  all  transactions  were  conducted 
on  credit  with  paper  mone}',  a  business  ir.ethod  that  necessarily- 
resulted  in  its  depreciation  in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  notes 
issued,  until  paper  money  could  not  procure  anything  at  home 
much  lesss  abroad.  The  third  problem  :  to  hold  in  check  an 
untrusty  negro  population,  they  solved  by  a  strict  control  over 
them.  The  reader  interested  in  these  subjects  will  lind  a  more 
explicit  exposition  of  them  in  the  succeeding  pages. 

Bounty  War  Scrip. 

The  first  question  tlie  county  had  to  solve  was  to  furnish 
aiid  equip  soldiers.     In  the  October  Term  of  ISOl    Nine  Thous- 
and Dollars  were  voted  to  furnish  and  equip  soldiers  that  may 
be  raised  in  the  county.       County    Bonds    were    issued    for  this 
amount,    receivable  for  taxes.     A  committee  was  appointed  to 
distribute   these    bonds.     The  provisions    of  the   order   explain 
ihemselves  and  the  order  of  the  court  is  therefore  here  given  : 
"October  Term,  1861,  Called  Session.     It  is  ordered  by  the  Court 
that  the  Sum  of  Nine  Thousand  Dollars  or  so  much  thereof  as 
may  be  necessary  be  and  the  same  is  hereby  appropriated  for 
the  purpose  of  furnishing  and  equipping    such  soldiers  as  may 
be    raised    in    this    county  ;   Provided   that  no  company  of  One 
Hundred  men  shall  receive  more  than  Three  Thousand  Dollars 
and  companies  of  a  less  number  to  receive  a  pro  rata  payment. 
Such  payments  to  be  made  in  County  bonds  to   be  issued  as  fol- 
lows :  Three    Thousand    Dollars    payable    on   the   Isi.  of  March, 
18(J2,  without  interest,  to  be  receivable  for   the   taxes   of  1861; 
Three    Tiiousand    Dollars    payable    on  the  first  of  March,  18(53, 
bearing   interest    at    the   rate  of  10  percent  and  to  be  receivable 
for  the  taxes  of  1862,   and  Three  Thousand  Dollars  payable  on 
the  first  of  March,  1864,  b?aring  interest  at  the  rate  of  12  per- 
cent and  to  be    receivable   for    the    taxes    of   1863.     Said  bonds 
shall  be  signed  by  the  Chief  Justice  and   attested  by  tlie  Clerk 
and  siiall   be   issued   in   bonds  of   Five  and  Ten  Dollars.     Said 
bonds  shall  be  delivered  as  they  may  be  required  to  an  Execu- 
tive Committee  to  be  appointed  by  the  Court  whose  duty  it  shall 
be  to  attend  to  the  disbursement  of  said  bonds  for  the  benefit  of 
the  different  companies  that  may  reciuire  such  aid,    and  shall 


-^126- 


take  the  receipt  of  the  Captain  of  the  Company  and  file  the  same 
with  the  (Mel'k  of  this  Court.  Provided  however  tliat  it  is  nut 
intended  to  fiiniisli  horses  in  any  instance, 

"It  is  further  ordered   that   John   H,  Moore,  L.  P.  Webb, 

A.  Ammann,  Ed.  Manton, 
and  J.  L.  D.  Blackburn  be 
and  they  are  hereby  ap- 
pointed said  Conunittee. 
Signed  J.  B.  McFarland, 
Ch.  J.,  F.  Co." 

Supplies  were  bought 
with  these  bonds  by  said 
committee  ;  in  part,  tliese 
B  bonds  were  used  to  pay 
(B  the  expenses  of  conveying 
^  the  baggage  of  companies 
ir-  to  their  places  of  deatina- 

0  tion.  Some  clothing  for 
"$  soldiers  was  actually  trans- 
^  ported  to  Bowling  Green, 
cB    Kentucky  and  to  Virginia, 

1  as  shown  by  an  appropria- 
"2   tion  to  pay  an  account  of 

!  5  one  J.  S.  Powell  for  his 
^  traveling  expenses  and  for 
transporting  clothing  for 
soldiers  to  said  place.  In 
the  beginning  of  18G2  said 
committee  that  had  been 
appointed  to  represent  the 
county  in  the  purchase  of 
supplies  for  soldiers  re- 
ported and  asked  to  be 
dipcharged.  They  received 
the  thanks  of  the  court  for  the  faithful  and  impartial  manner  in 
which  they  had  performed  the  labors  assignect  them,  were  furn- 
ished vvith  a  cprtified  copy  of  thi^  prder  s^\\^  then  discharged. 


—127— 

In  the  August  Term  of  18(33  another  amount  of  Four  Thous- 
and Dollars  of  these  County  Bonds  that  went  by  the  name  of 
"Bounty  War  Scrip"  was  issued  by  llie  court  to  meet  the  bal- 
ance of  the  claims  on  the  county  due  to  the  soldiers  at  the  rate 
of  Fifteen  Dollars  per  man.  Of  this  amount  up  to  Feb.,  1804, 
only  Three  Thousand  Six  Hundred  Dollars  were  used  ;  the  bal- 
ance of  Four  Hundred  Dollars  that  still  remained  in  the  treas- 
urer's hands  was  ordered  to  be  burned  in  the  presence  of  the 
court.  As  early  as  1862  the  county  treasurer  was  authorized  to 
redeem  the  county  bonds  with  Confederate  Notes  that  came  into 
the  treasury. 

Probable  Numbp:r  of  Levied  Men. 

Thus,  the  sum  of  $12,600  was  disbursed  to  soldiers  raised  in 
Fayette  County.  If  the  share  of  a  soldier  was  $15  of  this  money, 
about  800  men  must  have  been  levied  in  Fayette  County.  This 
seems  to  be  quite  probable  and  is  supported  by  comparing  the 
number  of  votes  polled  in  the  county  before  and  during  the  Civil 
War.  The  number  of  votes  polled  fell  off  about  GOO,  notwith- 
standing that  at  this  period  there  came  a  large  number  of  citi- 
zens of  other  states  to  the  county. 

Change  Notes. 

We  have  seen  that  at  the  very  beginning  of  the  Civil  War 
there  was  no  specie  money  ;  even  supplies  for  soldiers  were  paid 
for  with  bonds.  The  war  had  the  effect  to  drain  the  whole 
country  of  what  coined  money  there  was  in  it.  This  lack  of 
money,  of  hard  coin,  was  the  prii-cipal  reason  for  tlie  defeat  of 
the  Confederacy.  Still,  the  people  had  to  have  money  to  trans- 
act business.  At  lirst,  individual  notes  took  the  place  of  money 
and  circulated  as  such  in  the  county.  This  was  fraught  with 
danger  and  to  remedy  the  evil  the  CDunty  like  other  counties 
had  done  concluded  to  go  into  the  banking  business  and  issue 
paper  money.  These  notes  were  called  Change  Notes  and  wore 
redeemable  in  Confederate  treasury  notes,  whenever  presented 
to  the  amount  of  'i'wenty  Dollars  for  redemption.  An  amount 
of  Ten  Thousand  Dollars  of  these  Change  Notes  was  issued. 

The  order  providing  for  the  issuance  of  these  Change  Notes 


—128— 

was  passed  in  August,  1862,  and  reads  as  follows  :  "Whereas,  it 
lias  become  ap})arent  to  the  County  Court  that  the  circulation  of 
individual  notes  in  the  county  intended  to  represent  money  and 
which  as  a  matter  of  necessity,  in  the  absence  of  soniething  more 
reliable  has  actually  taken  the  place  of  money  thereby  produc- 
ing great  detriment  and  danger  to  the  interests  of  our  public. 
And  whereas  our  sister  counties  have  adopted  measures  calcu- 
lated to  protect  their  citizens  from  the  evil  the  effect  of  which 
we  feel  will  inevitably  be  to  increase  the  evil  among  us  so  long 
as  we  neglect  to  adopt  similar  measures  of  relief.  The  County 
Court  therefore  feel  that  they  can  no  longer  delay  the  adoption 
of  such  measures  as  in  their  judgment  will  most  etfectually  pro- 
tect the  interest  of  the  county  against  the  evils  of  which  we  com- 
plain and  at  tlie  same  time  supply  a  sound,  reliable  and  uniform 
circulating  medium.  It  is  therefore  ordered  and  decreed  by  the 
County  Court  of  l^■ayette  County  now  in  session  at  the  Regular 
Term  in  August,  A.  D.  1862,  that  the  said  court  do  in  the  name 
and  behalf  of  said  county  issue  County  Treasury  Notes  to  the 
amount  of  Ten  Thousand  Dollars,  and  that  the  Chief  Justice  of 
said  county  be  and  he  is  hereby  authorized  and  empowered  to 
contract  for  and  superintend  the  preparing  of  said  Treasury 
Notes  in  the  manner  and  according  to  the  directions  hereinafter 
ordered. 

"Be  it  ordeieJ  and  decreed  that  said  Treasury  Notes  shall 
be  of  the  following  denominations  and  m  the  following  propor- 
tions, towit  :  For  every  Twenty  Dollars  of  said  notes  there 
shall  be  eight  notes  of  twenty-five  cents,  eight  notes  of  fifty 
cents,  four  notes  of  One  Dollar,  two  notes  of  Two  Dollars  and 
two  notes  of  Three  Dollars  each,  be  put  up  in  packages  of 
Twenty  Dollars,  and  each  package  to  contain  ttie  number  and 
deiDmination  of  said  notes  herein  specified,  the  aggregate  amount 
endorsed  en  each  package  with  the  number  from  one  to  the 
highest  number  inclusive,  made  redeemable  at  the  county  treas- 
ury in  the  Treasury  Notes  of  the  Confederate  States,  when  the 
amount  of  Twenty  Dollars  is  presented,  and  issued  by  the  treas- 
urer alone  upon  tiie  dejjosit  of  a  corresponding  amount  of  con- 
federate treasury  notes." 


—129— 

Depreciation  of  the  Currency. 
As  we  have  seen,  these  Change  Notes  were  redeemable  in 
Confederate  Treasury  Notes,  but  even  the  hitter  could  not  be  re- 
deemed in  hard  money  or  coin.  As  a  consequence,  they  depre- 
ciated very  rapidly  ;  lor  the  most  simple  articles  exorbitant 
prices  were  paid  ;  the  fees  and  salaries  of  county  officers  rose  in 
proportion.  In  April,  18(14,  Confederate  money  had  depreci- 
ated to  this  extent  :  an  account  of  $7.25  for  repairing  jail  was 
paid  with  Fifty  Dollars  in  Confederate  money.  Bailiff  Brown 
received  P'ifty  Dollars  for  three  days'  services  waiting  on  the 
grand  jury  at  the  spring  term  of  the  district  court.  'J"he  chief 
justice  received  One  Hundred  and  Twenty  Dollars  for  two  days' 
services  in  the  commissioners'  court.  The  commissioners  re- 
ceived the  same  amounts. 

In  December,  1864,  the  old  Confederate  Treasury  Notes 
were  sent  to  the  depository  agent'  at  Houston  in  order  to  ex- 
change them  for  a  "New  Issue"  of  Confederate  notes.  But  they 
did  not  prove  any  more  valuable  than  the  old  ones  and  their 
market  value  at  the  beginning  of  18G5  was  twenty  for  one  dollar 
in  specie. 

Of  the  amount  of  $84,821.91  reported  to  be  on  hand  by 
county  treasurer  B.  B.  Hudnall  at  the  September  Term  of  the 
Commissioners'  Court  in  18(54  only  Nine  Dollars  and  eighteen 
cents  were  in  specie,  the  balance  was  paper  money.  This 
was  not  a  healthy  financial  condition.  Paper  money  tliat 
could  not  be  redeemed  in  hard  coin,  had  become  worthless  and 
c  juld  not  buy  any  supplies  to  carry  on  the  war.  As  stated  be- 
fore, it  was  the  lack  of  hard  money  that  did  more  to  defeat  the 
Confederacy  than  anything  else. 

Destitution  A.monc;  Families  of  Soldiers. — War  Tax 
AND  War  Tax  Scrip. 
If  we  consider  the  sad  state  of  the  finances  of  the  South, 
the  lack  of  reward  for  the  services  of  the  soldier,  the  inability  of 
the  government  to  provide  him  with  supplies,  we  must  pay  our 
tribute  of  respect  to  those  brave  men  wlio  left  their  homes  and 
tbeir  families  and  stood  up  so  nobly  for  the  cause  of  ihe  South, 


—130— 


I>f^ 


As  the  government  could  not  sufficiently^  provide  them  with 
supplies,  the  question  of  what  had  become  of  their  families, 
Iiow  they  were  taken  care  of,  no  doubt,  very  often  agitated  their 
minds.     They,  the  support   of  their  families,    had   gone   to  the 

scene  of  war  to  fight  for  the 
rights  of  their  native  land  ; 
weak  women  and  children 
were  left  to  battle  for  them- 
selves. To  quiet  the  fears 
of  the  soldiers  for  their 
home  people,  the  question 
of  providing  for  destitute 
families  of  soldiers  was 
.    considered  very  early. 

j|       The  county  court  decreed 

^    in     September,     18G2,    to 

^    loan  Three  Thousand  Dol- 
es 
^    lars  from  the  county  treas- 

o    urer  to   buy   cotton    there- 

0.' 

^  with  and  to  send  the  chief 
^  justice  to  Mexico  with  this 
^  cotton  to  exchange  it  for 
"2  cotton  and  wool  cards  and 
-3  such  other  supplies  for  des- 
^  titute  families  of  soldiers 
as  the  court  may  deem 
proper.  But  before  this 
order  went  into  effect,  it 
was  rescinded  at  the  Nov- 
ember Term  of  ],862.  At 
the  August  election  of  1862 
the  people  of  Fayette 
County  voted  m  accord- 
ance with  an  act  of  legisla- 
ture a  war  tax  of  twenty  cents  on  the  One  Hundred  Dollars' 
worth  of  })roperty  ;  property  below  Two  Tiiousand  Dollars 
was  exempt  from  this  tax.  The  itroceeds  of  this  tax  con- 
stituted   the  War  Tax  Fund.      Destitute    families    of    soldiers 


I 


—131— 

who  had  enlisted  in  the  Confederate  or  state  service  for  three 
years  or  during  the  war  were  entitled  to  the  benelits  tliereof. 
This  tax,  in  the  opinion  ot  the  court,  would  have  realized 
$8,011.66;  this  amount  was  deemed  insufficient  to  provide  for 
destitute  families  of  soldiers.  The  tax,  therefore,  was  raised  by 
the  court  to  twenty-fiye  cents,  the  limit.  At  a  later  and  more 
careful  calculation  of  the  court  this  tax  was  computed  to  yield 
$12,098.48.  For  this  amount  scrip  of  One,  Two  and  Three  Dol- 
lar.? denomination,  called  "War  Tax  Scrip,"  was  issued.  The 
same  was  receivable  for  county  dues.  This  tax  was  annually 
levied  to  the  close  of  the  war. 

To  distribute  tliis  War  Tax  Scrip  amongst  the  destitute 
families  of  soldiers,  agents  were  apppointed  in  each  Beat.  They 
liad  to  furnish  the  court  with  a  list  of  destitute  families.  The 
following  agents  were  appointed:  in  Beat  1,  .1.  C  Stiehl  ;  Beat 
2,  JNlartin  D.  Ramsey  ;  Beat  3,  C.  L.  Schulz  ;  Beat  4,  Edward 
Henkel ;  Beat  5,  G.  T.  Haswell  ;  Beat  6,  Neill  McKinnon  ; 
Beat  7,  William  Gorham  ;  Beat  8,  T.  C.  Moore;  Beat  0,  W.  P. 
Darby  ;  Beat  10,  .John  Y.  Criswell ;  Beat  11,  .Joshua  T.  Moore  ; 
Beat  12,  I.  B.  McFarland  ;   Beat  13,    Robert  Zapp. 

In  addition  to  this  the  legislature  provided  for  destitute 
families  of  soldiers  and  apportioned  to  Fayette  County  $*.),363.5D 
in  paper  money.  This  money  was  received  by  the  chief  justice 
in  March,  1863.  Another  apportionment  of  paper  money  to  the 
amount  of  $6,191  00  was  received  by  the  county  in  the  next  year. 

Now,  tliere  was  enough  money  for  destitute  families  of  sold- 
iers, but  there  were  no  supplies.  With  this  War  Tax  Scrip 
some  cotton  was  bougiit,  sent  to  Mexico,  and  exchanged  there 
for  supplies.  Other  supplies,  viz:  cotton  cards  were  bought  with 
this  War  Tax  Scrip  from  tlie  military  board  at  Austin  as  per 
letter  of  advice.  The  county  also  purchased  a  large  amount  of 
iunmunition  which  ohe  obtained  in-incipaliy  from  citizens.  The 
latter  had  bought  it  either  at  Austin  or  in  Mexico. 

Thk  Cow  Order. 

One  order  of  the  court  in  behalf  of  destitute  families  of 
soldiers    gave    general    dissatisfaction    througiiout     the    county 


—132— 

(1863).  It  was  the  order  in  regard  to  a  plan  for  the  marking 
and  branding  of  unmarked  and  unbranded  cattle,  generally 
known  as  the  "Cow  Order.''  In  printed  hand  bills,  posted  in 
public  places,  the  court  had  recommended  to  the  citizens  that 
unmarked  and  unbranded  cattle  be  branded  in  the  presence  of 
two  witnesses,  that  half  of  tlie  proceeds — for  a  yearhng  Ten 
Dollars,  for  cow  and  calf  Twenty-One  Dollars — be  turned  over 
to  the  county  to  provide  for  destitute  families  of  soldiers.  By 
this  method  of  marking  and  branding  unmarked  and  unbranded 
cattle  a  great  many  people  have  become  wealthy  and  prominent 
citizens.  But  the  grand  jury  of  the  county  did  not  hold  this 
industry  legal  and  feared  that  the  order  of  the  court  would 
rather  have  the  effect  to  encourage  this  illegal  industry,  while 
it  should  be  stamped  out.  Therefore,  the  order  of  the  court 
was  denounced  by  them  in  unmistakable  terms,  and  the  court 
was  asked  to  rescind  their  order,  which  they  did.  The  language 
of  the  document  is  clear,  forceful  and  indignant  at  the  order  of 
the  court.  The  document  was  found  by  the  author  on  tile  in  the 
district  clerk's  office  and  is  here  given  in  full  as  a  matter  of 
probable  interest  to  the  reader.  It  is  entitled  on  the  back 
"Memorial"  and  filed  May  22,  1863.     It  reads  as  follows  : 

MEMORIAL. 
Filed  22nd  May,  1863. 

K.  iS.  Bennett, 

Dep'ty  C,  D.  C. 

State  of  Texas,  ")        District  Cotrt — Sprino  Term, 

County  of  Fayette.  |  May  22nd,  A.  D.  1863. 

Wherkas,  we,  the  Grand  Jury  for  said  County  and  term  ; 
In  extraordinary  m:^eting  find,  That  the  Hon.  County  Court  for 
said  County,  did  on  the  23d  day  of  April,  A.  D,  1863,  being  as- 
sembled in  their  court  room,  in  the  town  of  LaGrange  and 
County  aforesaid  ;  tlien  and  there  make, pass,  —  "recommend," — • 
enact  and  promulgate  what  is  commonly  denominated  and  known 
as  the  "Cow  order,"  And  where^is  said  court  was  beyond  all 
contradiction  actuated  by  the  most  pure  and  patriotic  motives 
and  had  the  interest  and  good  of  "Soldiers'  Wives"  and  Widows 
a-nd    Orphans    generally   at    heart,       Still,   we    are    humbly    of 


100 
OO 

the  opinion  that  this  recommendation  in  its  tendency  is  cal- 
culated to  excite  and  jnit  in  active  operation !  rather  than 
check  the  "cupidity''  of  the  unscrupulous  '-Yearling  brander  !!" 
We  further  believe,  that  there  are  parties  who,  if  they  have  not 
already  done  so,  will  band  themselves  together,  and  under  the 
flimsy  and  gossamer  texture  of  this  County  Court  order,  go  into 
distant  neighborhoods,  and  drive  indiscriminately  all  that  they 
can  find  unmarked  and  unbranded,  whether  strays  or  not,  to 
distant  pens,  in  other  sections  of  the  (Jounty,  and  then  and 
there  mark  and  brand  and  appropriate  to  themselves  such  stock. 

We  are  further  of  opinion,  that  some  honest  correct  men 
who  may  be  like  "Ciesar's  wife"  above  suspicion,  believing  that 
this  "County  Court  order"  had  the  sanction  of  legality  in  it, 
liave  inadvertently  and  without  due  consideration  marked  and 
branded  stock  under  its  recommendation. 

[The  following  words  are  stricken  out  again  in  the 
document:  "We  further  find  under  the  advice  and 
opinion  of  the  Hon.  13istrict  Court  and  the  Slate's  at 
torney:  that  indictments  would  not  |)robably  be  sus- 
tained before  the  Court,  against  such  unlawful  marking 
and  branding.  Therefore,  and  only  upon  this  advice 
and  opinion  we  refrain  from  finding  indictments  against 
all  such  markers  and  branders."] 

Therefore  for  these  causes  and  others  uliich  we  are  not  at 
liberty  to  state,  we  most  seriously  recommend  the  Hon.  County 
Court  to  meet  at  once  and  revoke  said  order  and  thereby  put  a 
stop  to  this  unlawful  "war"  upon  unmarked  and  unbranded 
cattle. 

[Stricken  out :  "and  that  they  now  })ass  an  order, 
recommending  all  persons  who  have  marked  and  brand- 
ed under  said  previous  order  to  counter-brand  all  tliey 
have  branded,  drive  them  back  to  where  they  found 
tliem,  and  discharge  them  from  their  illegal  ownership 
of  the  same,  and  that  they  be  recjuested  to  donate  the 
amounts  which  they  have  {)aid  into  the  County  Court 
as  a  fund  for  destitute  soldiers'  wives  and  families  and 
"go  in  peace  and  sin  no  more.'"]  » 

We  request  the  papers  of  I.1P Grange  to  publish  this  paper. 


—134— 

Most  respectfully  submitted    with   the    request    that    it    be 
spread  upon  the  minutes  of  the  Hon.  District  Court. 
Wm.  W.  Ligon.  N.  Thomas. 

W.  S.  Pope.  Joshua  I.  Moore. 

Albert  A.  McClatchy.  C.  P.  Flack. 

A.  K.  Jones.  James  I.  Ross. 

E.  S.  Cochran.  B.  Sherrer. 

I.  L.  Smith.  John  D.  A.  Blackburn. 

Thos.  C.  Moore.  Haydn  Huut. 

Thos.  Secrest. 

The  undersigned  subscribed  to  the  foregoing  paper,  but  be- 
lieves that  every  man  who  branded  cattle  under  the  County 
Court  order  should  have  been  indicted.  E.  S.  Cochran. 

A  Tax  Paid  in  Provisions. 

Meanwhile,  destitution  increased  and  almost  became  un- 
bearable. The  Federals  had  become  possessed  of  Brownsville, 
the  market  place  for  Texas  cotton  where  supplies  could  be  ob- 
tained for  the  people  at  home.  A  great  many  people  were  with- 
out the  most  necessary  means  of  support.  There  was  enough  of 
paper  money,  but  this  was  worthless  and  could  not  procure 
anything.  And  there  was  the  question  now  to  take  care  of 
these  indigent  families  when  destitution  and  desolation  were 
spreading.  In  December,  1864,  the  court  decreed  that  the 
special  war  tax  be  raised  to  the  rate  of  the  state  tax,  which  was 
75  cents  as  authorized  by  act  of  legislature  in  extra  session  of 
1863.  This  tax  was  to  be  levied  in  specie  according  to  an  act  of 
the  legislature  approved  Nov.  15,  1864.  As  there  was  no  specie 
in  the  country,  the  tax  payers  were  allowed  to  pay  it  in  provis- 
ions at  the  following  prices  and  in  the  following  proportions, 
to-wit :  Corn  50  cents  per  bushel  ;  Bacon  12j  cents  per  pound  ; 
fresh  Beef  2?  cents  per  pound  and  salt  7  cents  per  pound.  One- 
fourth  of  this  tax  was  to  be  levied  every  three  months  at  such 
time  and  place  as  was  designated  by  the  county  court  or  their 
agent  in  the  following  proportions  :  t  in  corn,  I  m  bacon,  i  in 
beef  and  Kin  salt.  This  order  of  the  court  was  carried  over  the 
protest  of  Commissioner  C.  J.  E.  Graham  Who  went  on  record 


—135— 

as  being  in  favor  of  levying  only  a  tax  of  one-fourth  of  one  per- 
cent and  allowing  the  tax  payer  to  pay  the  whole  amount  of  his 
tax  at  one  time  instead  of  paying  one-fourth  of  the  tax  every 
three  months.  In  the  light  of  the  present  times  and  in  view  of 
the  destitution  at  that  period,  his  protest  records  for  the  reader 
only  his  narrow-mindedness  and  his  pride  therein  that  even 
went  so  far  as  to  wish  to  see  them  recorded. 

Doubtful  Characters  at  Home. 
The  Civil  War  witnessed  a  great  many  heroic  actions  of 
heroic  people.  In  fact,  the  whole  war  was  a  continuous  heroic 
fight  of  a  heroic  nation.  It  was  a  time  when  man's  character 
was  tested  ;  hut  it  cannot  fail  that  even  among  those  patriotic 
people  of  that  trying  epoch  some  were  found  wanting.  The 
currency  had  depreciated,  it  was  almost  wortiiless.  destitution 
at  home,  the  confederate  army  hard  pressed,  the  outlook  sad 
and  unpromising.  In  this  general  break  up  like  in  a  storm- 
wrecked  sliip  aside  of  heroism  strode  utter  selfishness.  A  char- 
acter that  raises  at  least  a  very  reasonable  doulit  in  regard  to 
honesty  in  the  mind  of  an  unprejudiced  reader  was  that  of  a  lead- 
ing citizen  whose  name  is  here  omitted.  He  was  employed  by 
tlie  count}^  in  1803  to  liaul  32  bales  of  cotton  from  Fayette  Coun- 
ty to  Brownsville  at  12?  cents  per  lb.  freight.  According  to  his 
tale  of  woe  to  the  commissioners'  court  he  met  at  King's  Ranch 
General  Bee's  army  which  had  evacuated  Brownsville  on  ac- 
count of  the  enemy.  He  was  forbid  to  carry  said  cotton  any 
further  for  fear  of  its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  His 
wagons  and  teams  were  impressed  by  the  government,  and  he 
was  forced  to  sell  said  cotton  at  50  cts.  per  pound  in  confederate 
money.  His  tale  of  woe  induced  the  court  to  allow  him  to 
retain  the  amount  realized  for  freight. 

Another  action  of  his  that  gives  still  more  cause  to  arouse 
the  suspicions  of  a  critical  reader  in  regard  to  his  honesty  is 
this.  He  had  bought  with  the  county's  money  of  E.  Nichols 
16  bales  of  cotton  at  70  cts.  per  ))ound  and  the  obligation  to 
procure  an  exemption  permit  for  an  equal  number  of  bales, 
The  permit  was  granted  by  Col.  W.  J.  Hutchius,  but  revoked 
by  —   Broadwell,  the  Chief  of  the    Texas   Cotton  Office.     This 


—136— 

bargain,  therefore,  had  to  be  re3cinded,  as  the  county  could  not 
keep  part  of  her  obligation.  E.  Nichols  had  received  $5,780.60 
for  his  cotton  ;  he  was  to  pay  back  this  sum  in  specie  at  the  rate 
of  One  Dollar  in  specie  for  twenty-five  in  (Confederate  Treasury 
Notes,  that  is  to  say,  |;231.25  in  specie  for  S5,780.60  in  confed- 
erate money.  This  whole  business  transaction  looked  to  Com- 
missioner L.  Franke  so  doubtful  that  he  requested  to  go  on  re- 
cord as  disapproving  said  order. 

The  Ne(;ro  Population  During  the  War. 

We  have  seen  the  brave  soldiers  in  the  field  poorly  e(juip- 
ped,  still  worse  supplied,  except  what  their  own  bravery  pro- 
cured from  the  enemy,  their  services  unpaid  or  paid  with 
a  valueless  currency,  their  families  destitute  at  home,  it  now 
remains   to    consider   another  cause  of  alarm. 

The  country  was  almost  drained  of  its  able-bodied 
men  ;  a  large  negro  population,  the  bone  of  contention 
and  the  cause  of  the  fight,  were  left  at  home.  If  they  caused 
any  trouble,  cannot  be  said  ;  still,  it  was  worth  while  to  watch 
them  and  keep  them  in  strict  order  in  these  trying  times.  As 
early  as  September  186ii  the  court  passed  an  order  to  prevent 
their  roaming  about  at  night  which  probably  might  produce  an 
outbreak  at  a  very  importune  time.  This  they  prevented  by 
measures  taken  in  the  following  order  of  the  court  :  "It  is 
ordered,  adjudged  and  decreed  by  the  court  that  the  following 
rules  and  regulations  be  and  they  are  hereby  adopted  for  the 
government  of  patrols  of  the  county  and  for  the  proper  police  of 
said  county  ;  to-wit,  1st,  Any  male  slave  above  the  age  of  16 
years  who  may  be  found  by  the  patrol  on  any  night  visit  to  be 
absent  from  the  premises  of  his  master  or  the  person  having 
charge  of  such  slave  without  a  lawful  pass  in  writing,  shall  be 
liable  to  be  punished  with  not  more  than  twenty-five  lashes  to 
be  inflicted  by  the  patrol  of  said  beat  at  any  time  whenever  such 
slave  can  be  found.  2nd,  That  each  owner  and  person  hayiiig 
charge  of  slaves  shall  furnish  the  patrol  of  the  proper  beat  with 
the  list  of  the  names  of  all  the  male  slaves  in  his,  her  or  their 
charge  above  the  age  of  sixteen  years  and  such  patrol  shall  upon 


—137— 

each  night  visit  call  for  each  slave  belonging  to  the  place  and  on 
failure  ot  any  to  appear,  such  patrol  shall  then  inquire,  if  guch 
slave  has  a  lawful  pass  to  be  about  as  aforesaid,  and  if  not,  then 
such  slave  shall  be  punished  as  aforesaid.  If  any  such  person 
shall  refuse  to  furnish  such  list,  the  patrol  may  obtam  it  from 
any  source  they  can.  3d,  That  the  patrol  of  each  beat  shall 
immediately  notify  each  owner  and  person  having  charge  of  such 
slaves  of  these  resolutions  and  from  and  after  such  notice  they 
shall  be  in  full  force  and  effect.  4th,  The  clerk  shall  furnish  each 
beat  patrol  with  a  certified  copy  of  this  order."  These  meas- 
ures seem  to  have  been  quite  sufficient.  The  negro  population 
did  not  cause  any  troubles  in  those  times. 

Prohirition  in  LaG range. 

On  account  of  the  troubled  times,  very  probably  also  on  ac- 
count of  large  bodies  of  levied  men  often  passing  through  La 
Grange  with  which  the  police  of  the  county  would  not  have  been 
able  to  compete,  the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors  was  stopped  by 
the  Provoat  Marshal  in  LaGrange  on  the  18th  day  of  June, 
1862.  A  proportionate  part  of  the  license  tax  that  had  been 
paid  by  one  Jonas  Forsberg  was  paid  back  to  him  and  his  per- 
mit canceled.  How  long  this  order  remained  in  effect,  cannot 
be  said  ;  very  probably  to  the  close  of  the  Civil  War;  for,  dur- 
ing this  period  there  is  no  other  issuance  of  a  permit  to  sell 
spirituous  liquors  on  record. 

Physician's  Certificates. 

The  attention  of  the  reader  may  now  be  called  to  some 
minor  items  of  interest  that  occurred  during  the  Civil  War.  In 
1863  the  legislature  had  passed  a  law  according  to  which  physi- 
cians had  to  procure  a  certificate  to  practice  medicine  from  the 
commissioners'  court.  In  accordance  with  this  law,  certificatea 
were  granted  in  1864  to  the  following  physicians  :  Dr.  John  B. 
Taylor,  Dr.  Thos.  C.  Cook,  Dr.  C.  P.  Rankin,  Dr.  H.  D.  Shaw 
of  Cuniming's  Creek,  Dr.  ReubenWilkinson,  Dr.  J.V.  Huff,  Dr. 
Bird  Moore,  Dr.  J.  R.  Dodge,  Dr.  F.  A.  Dycus,  Dr.  T.  S.  Jar- 
mon,  Dr.  R.  S.  Shannon  and  Dr.  H.  Fahnert. 


—138- 


Election  Contest. 

During  the  Civil  War  the  county  also  witnessed  an  election 
contest  between  P.  J.  Shaver  and  G.  F.  Has  well.  The  latter 
was  elected,  but  failed  to  give  bond  within  the  prescribed  twenty 
days.  The  suit  was  dismissed  at  the  cost  of  both  parties  and  a 
new  election  was  ordered  September.  1864. 

Road  Precincts. 

Of  road  precincts  there  were  daring  the  CUvil  War  thirty- 
one  of  the  first-class  and  thirty-six  of  the  second-class  (I8O0). 
Election  precincts  were  thirteen. 

This  closes  the  epoch  of  the  Civil  War.  The  same  ended 
witli  the  surrender  of  Lee's  army.  The  battle  worn  soldiers  re- 
turned to  their  desolate  homes  to  start  life  anew  again.  For  a 
time  their  reigned  confusion,  but  soon  order  was  restored.  From 
April  to  September  1,  the  comi-nissioners  court  held  no  session. 
Tliey  then  came  again  together  mainly  to  approve  the  bonds  of 
newly  elected  officers.  The  large  amount  of  ammunition  that 
had  been  procured  was  ordered  to  be  sold.  But  before  this 
order  took  effect,  the  same  was  seized  by  the  federal  authorities. 

It  remains  to  remark  that  tlie  State  of  Texas  which  was  not 
able  to  care  for  the  destitute  families  of  soldiers  who  battled  for 
her  in  the, field,  gratefully  remembered  their  services  at  a  later 
period.  An  act  of  the  legislature  was  passed  and  approved 
April  9,  1881,  p.jjpviding  tliat  old  Confederate  soldiers  who  were 
disabled,  and  widows  of  Confederate  soldiers  who  died  or  were 
killed  during  the  Confederate  war — if  they  remaimed  unmarried 
and  possessed  less  than  one  thousand  dollars  worth  of  property — • 
should  receive  a  certificate  of  1280  acres  of  land.  The  first  ones 
wfio  received  these  certificates  were  Clarissa  Anne  Anselin, 
widow  of  Julius  Anselin,  Reuben  Phares  who  lost  an  arm  in  the 
Confederate  war  and  Geo.  Birkelbach. 


—139— 

FOURTH    PERIOD. 


FAYETTE  COUNTY   DURING  THE  ERA  OF  RECON- 
STRUCTION  (1 865-1 87G). 


Condition  of  the  South,  and  Especially  of  Fayktte 

County. 

The  South  had  been  defeated  in  her  great  struggle.  Ex- 
hausted by  it,  she  still  liad  to  bear  its  expenses.  Texas,  like 
the  other  States  of  the  Confederacy,  was  placed  under  military 
rule.  It  belonged  to  the  Fifth  Military  District.  Troops  held 
tlie  exhausted  country  in  check.  Elections  were  lield  at  county 
seats,  and  voters  were  under  police  supervision,  but  the  people 
submitted  to  this  insult  knowing  that  liberty  was  at  stake.  The 
negroes,  the  former  slaves  of  the  South,  had  been  set  free  and  even 
were  made  citizens.  A  great  many  adventurers  from  the  North 
who  carried  their  whole  property  in  a  carpet  bag  liocked  to  the 
South,  allied  themselves  to  the  negro  elements  and,  by  their  aid, 
took  the  reins  of  governtnent  from  the  borne  people  and 
enriched  themselves  at  their  expense.  Colored  men  now  served 
on  the  jury  and  grandjur}^  and  sat  often  on  the  cases  of  their 
erst-while  masters  (1870).  All  this  aroused  the  southern  blood  ; 
an  organization,  called  the  Kuklux,  was  formed  to  fight  these 
northern  adventurers,  who  were  nicknamed  carpet-baggers  ;  tlie 
career  of  many  an  adventurer  was  brought  to  a  sudden  close  by 
a  bullet.  It  was  at  this  time  that  a  pistol  law  was  passed  ;  as  it 
seems  in  the  opinion  of  the  writer,  to  a  great  extent  for  tlie  i)ro- 
tection  of  these  adventurers  (1871).  The  county  court  was 
called  court  of  police  and  the  cliief  justice  often  went  by  the 
title  of  chief  of  police. 

Many  were  the  instances  where  county  otiicers  were  deposed 
by  military  orders.  They  constantly  changed;  sometimes  two 
and  even  three  different  persons  tilled  a  county  office  during  one 
year.  Even  accounts  were  often  ordered  paid  by  military 
orders.  There  was  a  constant  interference  in  county  afiairs  from 
military  headquarters. 

la  obedience  to  Gen'l.  Order  No.  27  issued  from  the  Head- 


— uo^ 

quarters,  5tii  Military  District,  bearing  date  March  27,  1869,  to 
give  effect  to  Sec.  19  and  21,  Art.  5  of  the  Judicial  Department 
of  the  Constitution,  the  County  of  Fayette  was  divided  into  five 
Justice's  Precincts  by  the  Police  Court. 

A  special  county  tax  of  twenty-five  cents  for  a  more  efficient 
administration  of  justice  was  levied  by  authority  of  general 
order  No.  41  of  the  Fifth  Military  District,  State  of  Texas, 
issued  March  5,  1869. 

No  doubt,  these  uncertain  times  furnished  a  great  many  in- 
teresting topics  of  conversation  to  the  news-monger  of  those 
days.  The  writer  will  name  a  few  of  them  that  may  be  still  in- 
teresting. First,  we  have  an  instance,  seldom  as  such  an  in- 
stance may  be,  where  a  citizen  of  Fa3^ette  County  was  elected  to 
office,  but  refused  to  qualify  and  give  bond  as  required  by  law. 
His  name  was  L.  M.  Mays  ;  he  had  been  elected  on  June  25, 
1866  to  the  office  of  assessor.  Then  we  have  the  case  of  Sheriff 
N.  B.  Ferguson.  One  of  his  securities  on  liis  bond,  Malcomb 
H.  Hill,  had  become  entirely  insolvent,  Ferguson  hustled  to 
make  up  another  bond,  but  was  unable  to  make  it  up,  and  final- 
ly, to  his  eminent  grief  and  regret,  had  to  depart  from  liis  office 
(1868).  That  Fayette  County  is  not  without  her  impeachment 
of  officers  show  the  Minutes  of  the  Police  Cou  t  (Book  C,  page 
149),  There  a  lover  of  queer  records  may  find  a  suit, 
styled  A.  F.  Dornwell  vs,  M.  Zwernemann,  Impeachment  in 
office,  entered  on  the  Minutes  of  the  Court.  But  like  most  im- 
peachments, it  was  no  sucess  ;  the  complaint  was  dismissed 
(1871.)  During  this  period  there  was  also  an  election  contest  in 
the  county  ;  it  was  for  the  office  of  county  treasurer  ;  li.  T. 
Bradshaw  contested  the  election  of  A.  L.  Moore  (1872).  The 
case  was  finally  decided  in  favor  of  II.  T.  Bradshaw  who  assumed 
charge  of  the  office  of  county  treasurer  in  February,  1874. 

The  talk  of  LaGrange  for  some  time  was  also  the  protest  of 
two  commissioners,  B.  F,  Dunn  and  S.  C.  Ferrill,  against  an 
order  of  the  court.  The  county  again  enjoyed  the  services  of  a 
county  attorney  who  had  been  appointed  by  the  commissioners' 
court  at  a  salary  of  $2.30  per  year  (1867),  The  appointee's 
name  was  B.  Timmons.     He  had  secured  a  great  many  convic- 


—♦141— 

tions,  and  it  was  ordered  by  the  police  court  that  the  convicts  be 
hired  to  the  corporation  of  LaGranf2;e  or  to  private  individuals 
and  that  tiiey  sleep  at  night  in  jail.  Against  this  order  com- 
missioners B.  F.  Dunn  and  S.  C.  Ferrill  protested,  unless  the 
consent  of  the  convict  or  convicts  could  be  obtained  in  all  cases. 
All  credit  to  their  humanity  ;  but  as  far  as  the  consent  of  the 
convicts  to  work  was  concerned,  the  court  might  have  waited 
forever. 

Taxes,  Finances,  and  Salaries  of  County  Officers. 

To  conclude  on  the  general  situation  of  the  county,  a  few 
remarks  may  here  follow  on  the  taxes,  finances  and  salaries  in 
the  county.  The  taxes  amounted  generally  to  one-half  of  the 
State  tax.  Since  1807  a  special  tax  of  five  cents  on  the  One 
Hundred  Dollars  worth  of  property  for  repairs  on  court  house 
and  jail  was  levied.  In  1868  and  following  years  a  tax  of  fifty 
cents  was  levied  on  man's  most  faithful  friend,  the  dog.  Dogs 
for  which  taxes  were  paid  were  furnished  with  brass-plates  ;  all 
others  were  to  be  killed.  This  tax  yielded  a  revenue  of  $890  ; 
there  were  at  least  seventeen  hundred  and  eighty  animals  of  the 
howling  tribe.  The  writer  cannot  state  how  their  owners  liked 
this  tax,  but  it  seems  to  him  that  if  the  dogs  had  joined  tneir 
owners  in  a  protest  against  this  tax,  the  court  might  have  re- 
scinded their  order.  At  least,  they  could  have  set  up  a  howl 
as  the  court  had  never  heard  before. 

Inspite  of  taxes  the  treasury  remained  in  a  depleted  con- 
dition. In  18G7  County  Treasurer  A.  L.  D.  Moore  reported  that 
there  were  no  funds  in  the  treasury  and  that  he  had  advanced 
$27.35  for  the  use  of  the  county.  Tliis  was  a  sad  condition.  If 
there  came  money  into  tlie  treasury,  the  salary  of  county  officers 
was  increased  ;  county  commissioners  received  Four  Dollars  per 
<lay ;  the  judge's  salary  during  this  period  was  increased  to 
Four  Hundred  Dollars  per  year. 

Yellow  Fever. 

In  Ihe  midst  of  these  corrupt  political  conditions,  in  the 
midst  of  the  general  destitution  of  the  country  when  everything 
fell  short  of  the  least    hope,    other    great   calamities    struck    the 


—142  — 

people.  In  18G7  a  yellow  fever  epidemic  broke  out  in  La- 
Grange.  The  same  was  said  to  be  brought  there  by  a  peddler. 
Another  version  is  that  the  j^ellow  fever  germs  were  imported 
into  Fayette  County  in  a  box  of  books  that  was  sent  from  New 
Orleans  to  Markmann  and  Richers,  then  living  near  LaClrangc. 
These  were  the  first  ones  to  die  in  this  epidemic.  Fearful  were 
the  losses  of  life,  some  families  were  eniireiy  destroyed  ;  people 
who  could  fled  from  town  and  lived  in  tents  in  the  country. 
Those  ))risoners  who  were  at  that  time  in  tlie  county  jail  were 
either  removed  or  discharged.  The  Commissioners'  or  rather 
the  Police  Court  held  no  session  from  July,  1867,  to  January, 
1808.  The  town  looked  like  a  grand  funeral  place  ;  the  empty 
houses  stood  as  grand  monuments  of  wrecked  business  and  for- 
tunes. The  town  was  not  cleaned  of  weeds,  they  emitted  a 
fearful  stench  ;  infected  bed  cloths  were  scattered  over  town. 
Funerals  were  not  conducted  any  more  with  decency  ;  the  sup- 
])ly  of  coffins  in  the  town  had  given  out,  and  corpses  were 
placed  for  burial  in  hastily  made,  rough,  wooden  boxes.  The 
names  of  the  physicians  who  attended  the  people  during  their 
sickness  were  Drs.  Blackmore,  McGowell  and  White.  Never- 
theless the  mail  went  regularly  to  and  from  LaGrange  during 
this  time  ;   it  was  carried  by  Chas.  Helmcamp. 

Overflows  of  1869  and  1870. 

It  may  be  asiiumed  that  on  account  of  these  conditions  the 
crops  were  not  well  gathered.  Destitution  may  have  been  more 
felt  then  than  during  the  war.  To  make  matters  still  worse, 
the  Colorado  River  overflowed  in  1869  and  destroyed  a  large 
amount  of  property  and,  to  a  large  extent,  the  crops  of 
tliat  year.  It  was  the  greatest  overflow  that  ever  happened  in 
its  valley.  In  LaGrange  the  backwater  stood  about  five  feet  in 
the  court  house  yard.  In  1870  there  was  another  overflow  that 
largely  ruined  the  crops  of  the  Colorado  valley.  The  water 
did  not  rise  as  higli  this  time  as  the  previous  year,  but  came  up 
almost  to  the  court  house  square.  It  rose  high  enough  to  enter 
tlie  blacksmithshop  now  occupied  by  Mr.   Koenig. 

Smallpox. 
In  1873  smallpox  broke  out  in    the    county.     A    citizen    of 


—143— 

Fayetteville,  one  G.  F.  Steves,  died  thereof.  •  In  that  year  the 
first  quarantine  regulations  were  passed  and  ordered  enforced. 
In  1875  smaUpox  brolie  out  in  the  Pecan  neighborliood,  and 
the  R.  IC.  Hollovvay  farm  and  the  Pecan  Grove  schooihou'se 
neighborhood  were  quarantined. 

Minor  Details. 

It  now  becomes  necessary  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
reader  to  some  minor  changes  that  took  place  in  the  county 
government.  Snice  18()7  butciier  reports,  together  with  accom- 
panying bills  of  sale,  were  required  to  be  filed;  the  first  one  filed 
was  that  of  G.  M.  23ehrens  and  Henry  Homutb.  Since  1870  an 
animal  and  hide  ins])ector  appointed  by  the  governor  supervisied 
the  stock  interests  of  the  county.  It  was  again  made  the  duty 
of  the  court  to  grant  citizens'  papers  to  foreigners  and  the  first 
grants  of  this  kind  again  on  record  date  January  Term,   18G8. 

First  Board  of  Medical  Examiners. 

In  1873  the  first  board  of  medical  examiners  was  api>ointed 
by  the  commissioners'  court.  Drs,  T.  M.  Yates  and  H.  B.  Ilen- 
fro  of  LaGrange  and  J.  M.  Horns  of  Fayetteville  were  appointed. 
Dr.  T.  M.  Yates  declined  to  act,  and  Dr.  R.  A.  McKinney  was 
appointed  in  his  place,  and  Drs.  F.  Warrenmote  and  S.  C.  Tut- 
wiler  were  added  to  this  list. 

Road  Precincts.  : 

In  18G9  the  road  precincts  had  increased  to  ;>3  of  the  first 
and  41  of  the  second  class.  In  1871  a  road  overseer  over  all  tlie 
roads  of  the  county  was  api^ointed.  He  entered  with  the' county 
into  a  contract  and  gave  bond.  Both,  contract  and  bond  w^re 
filed.     The    first    road    oversver    over    all   the  county  roads  was 

Henry  B'edsoe.  "  • 

"■^''  .   ■  . 
Election  Piu-:cincts.  , 

!"^  In  1807  the  number  of  election  precincts  had  increased,  to 
fifteen.  A  new  division  of  election  precincts  was  made  in  1871  ; 
their  number  was  reduced  to  live.  In  1873  this  order  was  again 
changed  and  20  election  precincts  were  established.  ^ 


—144^ 

Transcript  of  County  Rp:cori)s. 

In  1866  some  transcripts  of  public  records  were  ordered  to 
be  made  by  the  county  clerk,  viz  :  the  original  three  Books  of 
Marks  and  Brands.  He  had  completed  his  labors  in  1868  and 
received  $170.20  as  compensation  for  his  services.  These  books 
were  transcribed  by  R.  L.  Shepherd. 

Paupers. 

We  may  now  devote  a  few  remarks  on  the  care  of  paupers. 
From  appropriations  on  record  we  find  that  a  great  many  old 
and  indigent  colored  men,  called  then  freedmen,  received  sup- 
port from  the  county.  The  county  also  paid  considerable  sums 
of  money  for  conveying  insane  persons  to  the  state  lunatic 
asylum  in  Austin,  also  for  their  board  and  clothing.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1875,  the  county  supported  twenty-one  indigents  at  the 
expense  of  $229  per  quarter  of  a  year. 

School  Affairs. 

In  regard  to  school  affairs  we  learn  by  gleaning  over  the 
records  that  in  the  year  1867  there  were  1819  school  children 
between  the  ages  of  six  and  eighteen  years  in  Fayette  County. 
The  schools  were  managed  since  1870  by  school  trustees  who 
had  to  report  to  the  police  court.  In  1872  a  board  of  school 
trustees  took  charge  of  school  affairs  in  the  county.  A  school 
tax  of  12^  cents  on  the  One  Hundred  Dollars'  worth  of  property 
was  levied  at  that  time  in  the  county. 

Fayette  County  School  Lands. 

It  was  not  a  favorable  time  to  sell  the  school  lands  of  Fay- 
ette County  for  the  reason  that  money  was  still  scarce  in  the 
country.  If  it  was  done  with  the  view  of  procuring  money,  it 
must  have  failed,  because  there  was  no  money  in  tlie  country. 
In  1867  the  question  of  selling  the  school  land  of  Fayette  County 
was  submitted  to  the  people.  The  vote  was  cast  for  the  sale  of 
the  lands.  N.  W.  Faison  was  therefore  appointed  to  contract 
for  the  survey  of  the  school  lands.  Several  orders  of  the  court 
were  passed  in  1868  in  regard  to  the  sale  of  these  school  lands. 
Five   hundred   posters    were    printed   and    distributed  over  the 


—145— 

county  ;  the  expenses  of  sale  were  to  be  paid  out  of  the  interest 
accruing  from  the  notes  on  the  school  land.  But  all  these  orders 
in  regard  to  the  sale  of  the  school  land  had  to  be  rescinded  by 
the  court.  The  state  convention  in  g-ession  at  Austin  declared 
the  sales  already  made  null  and  void,  and  postponed  the  sale  of 
the  lands  indefinitely.  Therefore,  the  court  passed  the  follow- 
ing order  in  accordance  with  the  act  of  the  state  convention  at 
Austin:  "Whereas  the  state  convention  now  in  session  at  the 
city  of  Austin,  Texas,  has  declared  null  and  void  all  the  sales  of 
public  school  lands  heretofore  made  by  the  Police  Courts  of  the 
different  counties  of  this  state  under  the  act  of  the  Eleventh 
Legislature  of  said  state  of  Texas,  approved  November  1,  1866, 
and  whereas  said  Convention  has  ordered  that  all  further  sales 
of  said  Public  Lands  be  suspended  indefinitely, — It  is  therefore 
ordered  by  this  court  that  all  proceedings  in  reference  to  the 
sale  of  lands  aforesaid  be  indefinitely  suspended."  This  order 
withdrew  the  school  lands  of  Fayette  County  for  an  indefinite 
time  from  the  market  (1868). 

In  the  same  year  of  1868  a  league  of  Fayette  County  school 
land  was  located  by  David  Thomas  on  Little  Wichita  in  Baylor 
County.  In  1877  the  question  of  locating  Fayette  County  school 
lands  in  outside  counties  was  again  considered  by  the  court. 
Col.  N.  Thomas  was  appointed  to  do  this  work.  The  same  above 
mentioned  lands  in  Baylor  County  were  again  located  by  him 
and  the  thanks  of  the  court  were  voted  to  him  for  performing 
this  work. 

Suits  of  the  County. 

The  question  of  the  sale  of  school  lands  should  cause  the 
county  also  a  suit.  N.  W.  Faison  had  been  employed  to  survey 
and  divide  the  Fayette  County  school  lands.  This  he  had  done. 
But  as  the  county  was  enjoined  from  selling  the  lands,  she  re- 
fused to  pay  his  claims.  His  executors  brought  suit  against  the 
county  for  $1130  for  the  survey.  H.  Teichmueller  and  W.  H. 
Gazley  were  appointed  by  the  county  to  defend  her  in  this  suit 
(1872).  This  suit  was  won  by  N.  W.  Faison's'cxecutors  ;  it  was 
carried  on  appeal  to  the  SupremejCourt ;  this  court  affirmed  the 


—140- 

decision   of  the   lower  court  and   in   1876  an   appropriation  of 
$1602.15  was  made  to  pay  N.  W.  Faison's  claim. 

Another  suit  during  this  period  may  here  also  be  mentioned. 
It  was  likewise  decided  against  the  county.  The  court  had  al- 
lowed the  sheriff  as  charges  for  boarding  a  prisoner  sixty  cents 
per  day.  Sheriff  R.  O.  Faires  charged  the  county  one  dollar  per 
day  for  boarding  a  i)risoner.  He  brouglit  in  his  account  for 
$1254;  this  was  $533  in  excess  of  the  county's  allowance.  The 
county  refused  to  pay  his  account  and  employed  attorneys 
Delany,  Teichmueller  and  Dunn  to  defend  her  in  this  suit.  The 
suit  was  decided  against  the  county  in  the  district  court  and  was 
carried  on  appeal  to  the  Supreme  Court.  Here  it  was  lost  also 
by  the  county. 

In  1871  there  was  some  trouble  with  Washington  County  in 
regard  to  the  county  line.  Taxes  had  been  collected  by  Wash- 
ington County  oliicers  in  territory  that  properly  belonged  to 
Fayette  County  ;  also  cases  that  came  within  the  jurisdiction  of 
Fayette  County  were  tried  in  Washington  County  and  fines  were 
collected  thereon.  A.  F.  Dornwell  was  appointed  by  the  court 
to  make  a  settlement  with  the  treasurer  of  Washington  County 
in  regard  to  these  unlawfully  collected  taxes  and  fines. 

The  Southkrn  Pacific. 

Diflerent  epochs  can  never  be  distinctly  separated  ;  events 
thnt  belong  to  one  will  reach  into  the  other.  As  remarked  at 
tlie  close  of  the  second  epoch,  coming  events  forecast  their  shad- 
ow s.  But  in  this  case  the  attention  of  the  reader  is  turned  to  a 
more  propitious  event  than  tlie  one  of  the  second  epoch.  As 
tlie  estabiisliing  of  jiatrol  companies  foreshadowed  the  great 
Civil  War,  so  there  was  not  an  event  missing  at  this  time  which 
foretold  a  bright  and  prosperous  future.  In  1871  tlie  Southern 
Pacific  was  granted  the  right  of  way  over  the  school  lands  of 
F.iyette  County.  (The  road  was  not  built  over  the  school  lands 
of  the  county;  anotlier  route  was  chosen.)  In  tiie  following 
year,  1S72,  its  track  was  built  througii  the  county.  Flourishing 
towns  sprang  up  along  its  track,  viz.:  Schulenburg  and  Flatonia. 
Both  places  were  incorporated,     The  election  for  incorporating 


—147— 

the  town  of  Schiilenburg  was  held  March  16,  ISTo  ;  the  town 
was  proclaimed  incorporated  May  24,  1875.  The  incorporated 
town  embraced  one  square  mile.  The  election  for  incorporating 
the  town  of  Flalonia  was  held  November  8,  1875  ;  November  10, 
it  was  proclaimed  incorporated,  and  on  tlie  sixth  day  of  Decem- 
ber, 1875,  the  first  election  for  mayor  and  aldermen  was  held  by 
John  Cline. 

As  a  factor  in  building  up  and  advancing  a  country  the  rail- 
roads stand  unequaled.  Their  arrival  announces  the  coming  of 
an  era  of  industry  and  development.  The  hopes  that  the  citi- 
zens of  the  county  placed  in  their  arrival  were  rather  surj)assed. 
With  the  arrival  of  the  Southern  Pacific  into  Fayette  County 
as  forerunner  starts  the  last  and  brightest  epoch  m  the  history 
of  the  county. 

The  minutes  of  the  court  of  this  epoch  were  closed  by  the 
Court  with  the  following  order  :  "The  foregoing  minutes  being 
read  and  found  correct,  it  is  ordered  that  the  same  be  approved 
and  that  the  old  county  court  adjourn  to  give  place  to  the  New 
Board  that  is  waiting  to  qualify  and  go  to  work.  Signed  Isaac 
Sellers;  J.  R.  Scates,  J.  P.  No.  1;  E.  Henkel,  J.  P.  No.  2;  C. 
Luck,  .J.  P.  No.  3;  Chas.  Welhausen,  J.  P.  No.  4;  R.  T.  Brad- 
shaw,  Treas.  Fayette  Co.;  Louis  Jost,  Sheriff;  Thos.  Q.  Mullin, 
Co.  Clk  Elect  F.  Co.  Written  across  the  last  page  stands  the 
following  remark:  ''Here  ended  the  last  lesson  of  the  Old 
County  Court  on  the  18th  day  of  April,  A.  D.  187G,  at  12  M. 
Signed  Thos.  Q.  Mullins. 

This  ended  the  era  of  reconstruction.  The  carpet-bagger 
regime  was  defeated  and  again  the  whites  managed  the  affairs  of 
government  in  nearly  all  the  counties  of  the  state. 


—148— 

FIFTH  PERIOD. 


ERA  OF  DEVELOPMENT.  (1876-1902). 


Railroads  Built  in  the   County. 

Having  concluded  the  last  chapter  with  some  remarks  on 
railroad  building,  the  writer  very  appropriately  may  continue 
his  remarks  on  this  subject.  The  rich  lands  of  Fayette  County, 
the  promising  chances  of  their  development  could  not  escape 
the  attention  of  railroad  companies.  The  Houston  and  Texas 
Central  had  been  built  even  before  this  period.  It  had  paid 
taxes  for  its  line  of  railroad  track  through  Fayette  County  in 
Washington  County  on  the  claim  that  its  track  did  not  run 
through  any  portion  of  Fayette  County.  The  reader  remem- 
bers well  that  taxes  from  this  portion  of  the  county  were  paid 
in  Washington  County  and  that  our  friend  A.  F.  Dornwell  had 
been  appointed  by  the  court  to  make  a  settlement  with  the 
treasurer  of  Washington  County  in  regard  to  these  unduly  col- 
lected taxes  (1871).  From  the  year  1877  on  the  Houston  and 
Texas  Railroad  Company  was  required  to  pay  taxes  in  Fayette 
County.  In  1883  the  Southern  Pacific  built  a  branch  from  Co- 
Inmbus  to  LaGrange,  the  citizens  of  Fayette  County  having 
given  to  the  company  the  right  of  way  through  the  county  and 
a  bonus  of  $40,000.  This  was  the  first  railroad  connection  of 
LaGrange  with  the  outer  world.  Other  railroads  followed  ;  in 
1886  the  Taylor,  Bastrop  and  Houston  Railroad  was  built  to  La- 
Grange. This  road  was  sold  to  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas 
Railroad  Company.  The  latter  company  built  the  line  beyond 
the  limits  of  Fayette  County  to  Houston  (1892)  so  that  La- 
Grange now  lies  on  the  trunk  line  of  that  company  from  Hous- 
ton to  St.  Lou'S.  In  1888  and  succeeding  years  the  branch  of 
the  Aransas  Pass  from  Yoakum  to  Waco  was  built  through  the 
western  portion  of  the  count3^ 

The  building  of  railroads  in  Fayette  County  gave  a  great 
impetus  to  the  general  development  of  the  county.  Fayette 
County  people  were  in  constant  contact  with  the  outer  world. 
A  large  immigration  came  into  the   county   to    make    this    their 


-Up- 
borne. Private  and  public  improvements  sprang  up  eVer'y- 
where.  Most  noticable  were  the  improvements  in  public. build- 
ings. A  new  jail,  a  new  court  bouse  and  a  poor  bouse  wer« 
built;  instead  on  a  ferry-boat  the  Colorado  was  crorsxl  on  an 
iron  bridge.  Numberless  bridges  over  small  streams  and  ra- 
vines were  built.     The  public  roads  were  improved. 

Sale  of  Fayette  County  School  Lands. 

Before  we  treat  of  all  these  subjects,  we  must  permit  a 
paragraph  to  the  fund  which  enabled  the  county  to  make  all 
these  improvements,  if  for  no  other  reason  than  that  in  treatinty 
of  these  subjects  this  fund  must  conslanlly  be  referred  to.  It 
was  the  school  fund.  The  proceeds  of  the  sales  of  the  Favette 
County  school  lands  were  invested  largely  m  these  improve- 
ments, thereby  effecting  several  benehcial  objects.  1.  The 
county  was  improved.  2.  This  attracted  immigration.  3. 
The  school  fund  did  not  lie  idle,  but  circulated  and  bore  inter- 
est.    4.     This  accrued  to  the  benefit  of  schools  and  education. 

The  reader  remembers  that  during  the  reconstruction  period 
in  1867  the  question  of  selling  the  Fayette  County  school  lands 
was  considered  by  the  police  court,  that  the  i)eople  of  the  coun- 
ty were  in  favor  of  it,  but  that  the  sale  of  the  school  lands  had 
to  be  postponed  indefinitely  on  account  of  an  act  of  the  state 
convention  postponing  the  sales  of  these  lands.  Soon  after  the 
era  of  reconstruction  this  question  was  again  considered  by  the 
court  and  with  better  success  (1876).  A  committee  of  eleven 
Fayette  County  citizens  was  appointed  to  make  a  plan  for  sel- 
ling the  Fayette  County  school  lands.  The  committee  reported 
and  the  following  were  the  main  provisions  of  their  plan: 

Five  appraisers  were  to  be  a^^pointed  to  value  the  land. 
The  sales  thereof  were  to  be  made  at  public  auction  to  the 
highest  bidder  at  the  court  house  door.  If  the  bid  fell  below 
the  appraiser's  price,  the  land  was  to  be  withdrawn  lo  a  later 
time  for  sale.  Notices  of  the  sale  were  to  be  published  in  the 
Galveston  News,  Texas  Post  and  Fayette  County  Record  ;  also 
hand  bills  regarding  the  sale  were  to  be  published  in  English 
and  German  and  to  be  distributed  over  the  county.  Settlers 
that  had  settled  on  school  lands  should  have  the   right   of  pre- 


—150— 

emption.  Only  the  school  lands  situated  in  Fayette  County 
were  to  be  sold  ;  the  sale  of  school  lands  situated  in  other  coun- 
ties was  to  be  postponed.  The  center  tract  of  36  sections*  of 
prairie  land  was  also  to  be  reserved  ;  the  outside  sections  sur- 
rounding this  tract  were  to  be  sold  first. 

Tliis  plan  seems  to  the  writer  and  perhaps  also  to  the 
reader  very  carefully  drawn  up  and  appears  very  reasonable. 
Still,  not  all  of  the  committee  concurred  in  it.  L,  W.  Moore, 
one  of  the  committee,  entered  the  following  protest:  "1 
protest  against  the  whole  system  of  public  sales  as  delaying  the 
sales  and  in  fact  making  the  appraisers  the  selection  of  whom 
was  in  no  manner  submitted  to  the  consultation  of  the  citizens 
of  the  county  the  arbitrary  disposers  of  this  valuable  trust  prop- 
erty given  by  our  forefathers  to  their  children.  In  fact  this 
pretended  consultation  with  a  committee  was  a  farce  as  two  of 
the  committee  are  commissioners  who  said  that  they  had  already 
determined  the  matter.  My  convictions  of  duty  impel  me  to 
protest  against  this  mode  of  disposing  of  this  valuable  land. 

ResDectfully, 

L.   W.   Moore." 

The  following  were  the  Fayette  County  School  lands:  A 
large  tract  of  prairie  land,  a  timber  tract  north  of  the  Colorado 
River,  and  land  on  Rabb's  Creek. 

Of  these  lands  the  following  sales  were  made  :  1,  as  per  re- 
port of  John  E.  Moore,  auctioneer  of  these  school  lands,  report 
made  November,  1876  :  Seventy-seven  tracts  of  prairie  land 
were  sold  at  prices  ranging  from  $2  to  $20.30  per  acre  and 
brought  $40,773.62.  Six  tracts  of  Rabb's  Creek  survey  were 
sold  at  prices  from  $2.55  to  $12.05  per  acre  and  brought  $4537.85. 
JSineteeu  tracts  of  timber  land  were  sold  at  prices  from  $3.30  to 
$16  per  acre  and  brought  $2,403.55.  The  Grand  Total  of  the 
proceeds  was  $47,715.02. 

*NoTB.  From  Minutes  of  the  Commissioners'  Court.  "That 
thirty-six  sections  of  the  prairie  land  in  the  form  of  a  square,  consti- 
tuting the  center  of  the  land  according  to  the  plot  prepared  by  N. 
W.  Faison  and  L.  W.  Alexander,  be  reserved  and  that  the  sections 
surrounding  said  body  of  land  be  first  offered  for  sale." 

The  school  land  was  divided  into  128  subdivisions  of  various  size, 
and  by  a  section  a  subdivision  of  the  survey  is  meant. 


—151— 


2.  On  November  18  and  19,  1878,  as  per  report  of  John  1^. 
Moore,  auctioneer,  forty-five  tracts  of  prairie  land  at  prices 
ranging  from  $4.85  to  S12  30  per  acre  were  sold  and  brought 
835,853.66. 

In  1879  a  committee  was  appointed  to  invest  tins  money, 
realized  from  the  s.^le  of  the  Fayette  County  school  lands,  in  in- 
terest-bearing bonds, 

3,  In  1880  an  appointed  committee  recommended  the  fur- 
ther sale  of  Fayette  County  school  lands,  and  in  that  year  John 
E.  Moore  reported  the  following  tracts  of  Fayette  County  school 
lands  sold  :  Twenty-one  tracts  at  prices  from  75  cts.  to  $5.15  per 
acre  brought  $855.76  ;  four  tracts  of  prairie  land  at  prices  from 
$10,15  to  $12.50  per  acre  brought  rf 4, 561. 86  ;  nine  tracts  of  tim- 
ber land  at  prices  from  $1,25  to  $11  per  acre  brought  $587,98, 
The  Grand  Total  realized  by  the  sale  of  these  school  lands  was 
$6,005.02. 

4,  In  1890  nine  tracts  of  Fayette  County  school  timber 
land,  containing  106|  acres,  were  sold  to  John  Grant  for  $533,75. 

5.  In  1891  R.  T,  Bradshaw  was  authorized  to  sell  the  Fay- 
ette County  school  lands  ;  if  sale  were  confirmed  by  the  court, 
the  judge  should  draw  a  deed  for  same.  R.  T.  Bradshaw  sold 
the  entire  school  timber  land,  187.^  acres,  at  $2.50  per  acre.  The 
sale  realized  $468.75.     It  was  confirmed  by  the  court. 

Besides  these  public  sales  where  the  lands  were  bid  in  by 
an  agent  of  the  county,  if  they  did  not  realize  enough,  a  great 
number  of  sales  of  small  tracts  of  land  to  single  individuals  took 
place  by  special  order  of  court. 

In  1894  county  treasurer  R,  T.  Bradshaw  made  to  the  court  a 

Consolidated  and  Complete  Statement  and  Report  of  the 
Permanent  School  Fund  of  Fayette  County. 


Total  Number 

Total  Num- 

Av'ge Price 

Total 

of  Tracts. 

Kind. 

ber  Acres. 

Per  Acre, 

^$77391^ 

Value. 

128 

Prairie 

10970 

$81,103,31 

6 

Rabb's  Creek 

951 

4  77^ 

4,537.84 

85 

Timber 

1302 

4.80 

5,770.28 

15  percen 

t  Premium  ( 

3n  Bonds  so 

Id,  $4,650.00 

Total,  $96,061.44 


—152— 

B}'  Expenses,  Surveying,  Advertising,  Selling,  etc.    |3, 115.27 

By  Expenses,  Purchasing  Premiums  on  Bonds. 890.35 

Invested  in  5  percent  Bonds 85,500.00 

Invested  in  6  percent  Bonds 5,000.00 

Cash  on  hand 1,555.82 

,  $96,061.45 

Thus  it  will  be  seen  that  the  school  lands  in  Fayette  County 
realized  clear  of  expenses  $92,055.82.  Of  this  amount  $90,500 
were  invested  in  bonds.  As  there  was  a  constant  and  dangerous 
risk  that  these  bonds  which  were  made  payable  to  bearer  might 
get  into  the  hands  of  a  wrong  party,  they  were  ordered,  together 
with  the  coupons  attached  thereto,  to  be  stamped  "non  negotia- 
ble ;"  they  could  be  sold  only  by  special  order  of  court  (1895). 

Jail  and  Jail-Bonds. 

The  reader  remembers  that  in  1853  a  jail  was  built  for  the 
county  by  A.  Ammann  and  H.  L.  Kreische.  This  jail  served 
the  county  for  a  great  many  years.  It  was  remodeled  in  1876. 
Though  it  was  a  solid  building,  it  was  deemed  that  it  did  not 
meet  the  demands  for  the  safe  keeping  of  the  modern  criminal. 
With  the  improvement  of  jails  the  ingenuity  of  the  criminal  to 
break  them  had  equally  increased  and,  therefore,  this  old  simple 
structure,  though  solid,  was  not  deemed  sufhcient  to  baffle  the 
hopes  of  escape  of  the  ingenious  prisoner.  In  1881  a  committee 
was  appointed,  one  from  each  justice  precinct,  with  power  to  ad- 
vertise and  receive  bids,  plans  and  specifications  for  the  build- 
ing of  a  new  jail.  A  majority  of  the  committee  should  make  a 
quorum.  The  committee  consisted  of  Chas.  Michelis,  Max 
Meitzen,  Geo.  Weyand,  Alex  McDow,  J.  C.  Melcher,  II.  0. 
Faires,  A.  Ammann  and  Geo.  Knippa.  The  bid  of  F.  Schulte 
to  build  a  jail  for  $22,075  was  accepted.  An  additional  appro- 
priation of  $3,000  for  the  building  of  a  new  jail  was  made  in  the 
same  year.  Architects  Andrewarthe  and  Wahrenberger  were 
appointed  as  supervisors  of  the  building  of  the  new  jail  at  a  salary 
of  1550.  A  contract  was  made  between  county  judge  J.  Stiehl  and 
F.  Schulle  ;  the  latter  gave  bond  in  the  sum  of  Five  'I'housan(f 
Dollars.     The  building  of  the  jail  should  commence  immediately 


—153— 

and  was*to  be  ready  for  occupancy  by  January  14,  1882.  The 
jail  was  not  completed  by  F.  Schulte  at  the  stipulated  time. 
The  county  took  charge  of  completing  the  jail,  but  had  to  pay 
for  its  completion  a  larger  amount  than  she  had  contracted  for 
with   F.  Schulte.     The    county    sued    F.    Schulte,    also  jointly 


Tae  New  Fayette  County  Jail  at  LaGrange. 

with  him  his  bondsmen,  R.  Wolters,  F.  W.  Turner,  Chr.  Baum- 
garten,  J.  Kinkier  and  C.  Kruschel  for  the  amount  she  had  to 
pay  over  the  sum  contracted  for  with  F.  Schulte  for  building  the 
jail.  The  county  employed  the  attorneys  W.  H.  Ledbetter,  J, 
W.  Hill,  \V.  S.  Robson  and  A.  J.  Rosenthal  to  bring  suit  against 
these  parties  at  a  fee  of  Eight  Hundred  Dollars  ;  Four  Hundred 


/ 


—154— 

Dollars  were  to  be  paid  on  filing  said  suit  and  Four  Hundred  as 
soon  as  said  suit  was  tried  and  disposed  of  (1884).  This  suit 
was  not  tried,  but  compromised  by  H.  J.  Hildebrand  with  F. 
8cbulte's  bondsmen  (1885).  The  latter  agreed  to  pay  the  sum 
of  $1250  and  costs  of  suit  and  paid  same  to  the  county  treasurer 
resp.  district  clerk  in  the  same  year. 

The  new  jail  is  a  solid,  substantial,  modern  building  with 
■  all  the  appliances  for  safely  keeping?  prisoners.  A  pretty  iron 
fence  was  built  around  it  at  a  cost  of  $2,078  in  1884.  In  tiie 
same  year  a  sewer  pipe  of  eiglit  inch  terra  cotta  piping  was  laid 
from  the  jail  to  the  riyer  on  the  east  side  of  Main  street  for  a 
distance  of  3, GOO  feet,  To  insure  the  still  better  safe  keeping  of 
prisoners  the  sheriff  was  allowed  a  guard  at  a  salary  of  Forty  Dol- 
lars per  month. 

At  the  completion  of  the  jail,  the  county  was  in  debt.  The 
money  to  buifcl  the  jail  had  been  largely  borrowed  from  the 
school  fund  of  Fayette  County  at  five  percent  interest  and  deb- 
ited to  the  general  fund.  To  liquidate  this  indebtedness  a  spe- 
cial tax  of  three-twentieths  of  one  percent  was  levied  for  jail  and 
court  house  purposes.  In  the  year  1884  twenty-two  jail  bonds 
of  One  Thousand  Dollars  each,  running  for  fifteen  years  from 
April  15,  1884,  and  bearing  five  percent  interest,  were  issued  ; 
the  bonds  were  taken  up  by  the  school  fund.  As  early  as  1887 
five  of  these  bonds  were  paid;  there  are  still  three  remaining  out- 
standing (February  10,  1902).  But  the  patriot  may  justly  hope 
that  these  bonds  will  be  paid  before  the  county  starts  building  a 
new  jail. 

i 

Colorado  River  BRiDciE  and  Bridge  Bonds. 

The  completion  of  the  jail   was  soon   followed    by  anotiier 

improvement.     In  1883  people  of  La  Grange  formed  a  company 

and  decided  that  the  ferry  boat  had  to  give  way  for  abridge  over 

the    Colorado    at    LaGrange.     It    was   the    same  year  when  the 

/'  Southern  Pacific  built  its  branch  from  Columbus  to  LaGrange. 

./  There  was  a  stirring  activity  all  around  LaGrange  in  those  times. 

/  The  bridge  was  completed  in  1883  ;  it  wrs  first  mentioned  in  the 

Commissioners'  Court  proceedings  in  February,  1884.     , 


/ 


—155- 

In  1887  tlie  following  proceediugs  led  to  the  assumption  of 
this  bridge  by  the  county.  A  committee  was  appointed  to 
ascertain  and  report  upon  the  practicability,  necessity  or  im- 
practicability of  erecting  a  bridge  across  the  C'olorado  River  at 
the  city  of  LaGrange  by  the  following  order  of  court  :  "It 
is  ordered  by  the  court  that  a  committee  of  sixteen,  two  mem- 
bers from  each  Justice  Precinct  of  Fayette  County,  with  the 
County  Judge  as  chairman  of  said  committee,  be  and  they  are 
hereby  appointed  for  the  purpose  of  investigating,  ascertaining 
and  reporting  to  this  court  as  early  as  practicable  upon  the  prac- 
ticability, necessity  or  impracticability  of  erecting  a  bridge 
across  tiie  Colorado  River  at  the  city  of  LaGrange,  and  if  they 
find  that  a  bridge  across  said  river  is  necessary  and  practicable 
that  they  also  ascertain  the  kind  and  style  of  bridge  and  the 
probable  cost  at  which  a  bridge  can  be  obtained  or  erected, 
and  to  do  any  and  all  other  acts  that  they  deem  necessary  to 
reach  the  purpose  for  which  they  are  appointed  and  Max  Meit- 
i'.on,  Ed.  Manton,  B.  Sherer,  Fred  Luecke,    G.    C.    Thomas,    A. 

E.  Falke,  A.  C.  Lenert,  Adolph  Groos,  James  Marburger,  B. 
Foster,  Hermann  Loessin,    Flem.    Moore,    Chris,    Baumgarten, 

F.  Thulemeyer,  C.  L.  Melcher  and  Nat  Holman  are  hereby  ap- 
pointed the  members  to  constitute  said  committee,  and  they  are 
liereby  authorized  to  call  to  their  assistance  some  practicable 
civil  engineer  to  assist  them  if  necessary  in  ascertaining  the" — 
(Thus  closed  in  Minutes). 

This  appointed  committee  reported  that  it  was  necessary  to 
have  a  free  bridge  across  the  Colorado  River.  They  called  to 
their  assistance  Civil  Engineer  B.  A.  Watham  to  ascertain  tlie 
condition  of  the  bridge  of  the  LaGrange  Bridge  Company  and  its 
value.  He  reported  the  same  in  safe  condition  and  worth 
$49,500.  Thereupon  J.  C.  Brown,  A.  T.  Bradshaw  and  VV.  S. 
Uobson,  on  the  part  of  the  LaGrange  Bridge  Company,  sold  this 
bridge  to  the  county  and  the  city  of  LaGrange  for  said  amount. 
The  county  agreed  to  pay  of  this  amount  $41,500  and  issued 
coui)on  bonds  for  the  latter;  the  city  of  LaGrange  assumed  to 
pay  the  balance  of  this  amount  and  also  issued  bonds  therefor. 
When  the  question  came  for  decision  before  the  commissioners' 
court,  Commissioners  Geo.  Mauer  and  T.  J.  Ivey  voted  for  the 


—156— 

purchase  of  the  bridge;  Commissioners  John  C.  Speckels  and  F. 
G.  Seydler  against  it;  the  vote  resulting  in  a  tie,  Judge  A.  Haidu- 
sek  voted  in  favor  of  the  purchase,  and  thus  the  purchase  was 
completed. 

We  now  have  to  refer  back  to  the  school  fund.  The  sale 
of  the  school  lands  had  realized  a  large  amount.  This  amount 
was  invested  in  bonds,  partly  in  state  bonds.  A  committee  was 
appointed  to  negotiate  the  sale  of  thirty-one  state  bonds  of  One 
Thousand  Dollars  each  held  by  Fayette  County  and  in  which  the 
permanent  school  fund  was  partly  invested;  these  bonds  were 
dated  July  1,  1879,  and  made  payable  and  registered  to  Fayette 
County.  A  committee  was  also  appointed  to  buy  twenty  of  the 
bridge  bonds  of  the  LaGrange  Bridge  Company  of  Five  Hundred 
Dollars  each  and  invest  in  said  bonds  the  permanent  school 
funds  of  Fayette  County  then  on  hand  in  the  treasury.  Both 
these  committees  consisted  of  Geo.  Mauer,  J.  C.  Speckels,  Thos. 
J.  Ivey,  A.  Haidusek  and  John  Lane.  They  reported  that  the 
eighty-three  bridge  bonds  of  live  hundred  dollars  each,  held  by 
the  LaGrange  Bridge  Company,  had  been  bought  by  the  county 
for  Forty  Thousand  Dollars  and  that  the  thirty-one  state  bonds 
of  One  Thousand  Dollars  each  had  been  sold  at  a  premium  of 
fifteen  percent,  amounting  to  $35,650.  The  clerk  was  instructed 
to  draw  a  warrant  in  favor  of  the  LaGrange  Bridge  Company  on 
the  county  treasurer  for  $i,350,  payable  out  of  the  Permanent 
School  Fund  then  in  the  treasury,  to  cover  the  balance  of  tbe 
purchase  money  for  the  eighty-three  bridge  bonds,  the  latter 
amount  being  the  difference  between  the  money  realized  by  the 
sale  of  the  thirty-one  state  bonds  and  the  purchase  money  of  the 
eighty-three  bridge  bonds. 

The  city  of  LaGrange  issued  for  her  share  of  the  purchase 
money  of  the  bridge,  viz.,  Eight  Thousand  Dollars,  also  bonds. 
The  permanent  school  fund  of  the  county  was  invested  in  these 
bonds  (1887).  In  1892  the  attention  of  the  court  was  called  by 
the  State  Superintendent  of  Instruction  lo  the  fact  that  this 
investment  of  the  permanent  school  fund  of  the  county  in 
LaGrange  City  bonds  was  illegal.  No  action  seems  to  have 
been  taken  on  this  notice. 


—157— 

LaGrange  now  had  a  free  bridge.  A  toUkeeper  was  appointed 
for  the  bridge  from  March  11  to  November  11,  1887,  but  after 
that  the  bridge  was  free.  In  1897  the  bridge  approaches  were 
turned  over  to  the  city  of  LaGrange  by  order  of  the  court.  In 
1899,  a  steel  structure,  instead  of  the  wooden  approach  on  the 
e?st  side  of  the  Colorade  bridge,  two  hundred  feet  in  length,  was 
to  be  built  by  the  Wrought  Iron  Bridge  Company  of  Canton,  O. 
L.  M.  Raphael,  a  civil  engineer  of  Houston  who  had  made  the 
plans  and  specifications  for  this  steel  structure,  was  appointed 
to  superintend  the  work  for  the  county.  The  company  entered 
into  contract  with  the  county,  but  the  price  of  steel  having  risen 
in  the  market,  the  company  objected  to  building  the  bridge 
approach  according  to  Raphael's  plans  and  backed  out  from  its 
agreement  with  the  county.  New  bids  were  then  called  for  and 
the  several  bridge  companies  notified  thereof.  The  contract 
was  awarded  to  the  New  Jersey  Steel  and  Iron  Company. 

Paupers  and  Poorhouse. 

Another  improvement  the  need  of  which  was  felt  as  early 
as  1840  followed  close  after  the  purchase  of  the  iron  bridge  by 
the  county.  It  was  the  building  of  a  poor  house.  Fayette 
County  had  always  been  liberal  in  providing  for  the  support  of 
her  poor.  But  the  expenses  incurred  in  the  support  of  paupers 
had  increased  at  a  rapid  rate. 

From  $229  per  quarter  of  a  year  for  twenty-one  paupers  in 
1875,  the  expense  rose  in  1877  to  $483  per  quarter  for  twenty- 
five  paupers  ;  the  expenses  were  more  than  doubled  in  two 
years;  still,  three  years  later  (J88U)  even  this  amount  was  almost 
doubled,  viz.,  $838  per  quarter  for  fifty  paupers.  Therefore,  the 
expenses  for  the  support  of  paupers  amounted  in  that  year 
(1880)  to  over  Three  Thousand  Dollars. 

To  retrencli  the  expense  account  for  the  support  of  the  poor, 
the  court  passed  in  1879  several  orders,  viz..  That  no  more 
money  should  be  appropriated  for  pnupers  unless  on  personal 
appearance  before  court  or,  in  case  of  inability,  on  the  testimony 
of  one  or  more  reliable  witnesses;  that  a  person  should  be 
ap|)ointed  to  take  care  of  an  indigent  and  that  the  money  should 


—158— 

be  appropriated  to  his  use;  that  physicians  must  swear  to  their 
bills  and  wait  only  on  paupers  at  the  request  of  a  person  having 
charge  of  a  pauper  or  at  the  request  of  the  commissioner  in 
whose  beat  the  pauper  resides;  that  doctors'  bills  on  prisoners 
must  be  approved  by  the  sheriff,  deputy  or  constable  having 
said  prisoners  in  charge.  This  order  was  of  no  avail,  for  the 
expense  account  for  the  support  of  I'aupers  kept  on  swelling. 

In  1881  the  court  tried  another  plan  for  tiie  care  of  paupers. 
The  court  advertised  for  bids  to  take  care  of  all  the  paupers. 
The  bid  of  John  T.  Rankin  to  take  care  of  the  paupers  in  the 
county  for  three  years  was  accepted.  He  entered  into  contract 
with  the  county  and  gave  bond  for  the  performance  of  his 
contract.  His  bid  was:  For  keeping  the  first  ten  paupers  per 
annum  $1249,  for  each  additional  pauper  per  month  Eight 
Dollars,  and  for  the  burial  of  each  pauper  that  died  Nine  Dollars. 
This  seems  to  the  writer  a  rather  large  amount;  for  the  highest 
monthly  average  of  expenses  for  a  pauper,  including  clothing 
and  medical  attendance,  had  been  before  only  $5  93  to  the 
county.  Still,  this  contract  had  one  beneficent  result;  it  decreased 
the  number  of  paupers;  either  they  must  have  died  under  his 
care  or  must  have  preferred  not  to  be  under  it.  At  the  expira- 
tion of  his  contract  in  1884,  he  could  afford  to  take  care  of  all 
the  paupers  in  the  county  for  the  small  sum  of  $990;  his  bid 
was  then  accepted  for  a  term  of  five  years.  It  may  be  said  also 
tliat  a  great  many  people  were  supported  Vjy  the  county  who 
were  not  in  need  of  support,  and  when  they  were  placed  on  the 
farm  of  John  T.  Rankin,  near  Buckner's  Creek,  to  work,  they 
l)referred  to  forego  the  county's  hospitality. 

Finally,  after  some  previous  futile  attempts  in  1877  and 
1880,  a  poor  house  was  built  in  1888,  In  that  year,  twenty-four 
acres  of  the  J.  Eblin  league  were  bought  by  the  county  from 
the  Fayette  County  Stock  and  Fair  Association  for  the  sum  of 
One  Thousand  Dollars.  This  land  should  be  the  poor  farm  of 
the  county  ;  the  deed  therefor  was  giyen  May  24,  1888.  A 
poor  house  and  county  hospital  were  erected  on  this  land  b}'' 
II.  Mebus  for  $8,070  under  supervision  of  J.  T.  Campbell.  The 
building  was  completed  in  the  same  year,  accepted,  and    Mebus 


—159— 

paid.  In  1892  another  house  was  built  on  the  poor  farm  for 
$475,  In  1893  two  acres  of  the  poor  farm  were  sold  to  the  city 
of  LaGrange  which  erected  a  pest  house  thereon.  The  poor 
house  is  now  under  the  management  of  a  keeper  and  a  matron 
who  receive  salaries.  It  was  for  a  number  of  years  under  the 
management  of  keeper  L  Y.  Kennedy  who  was  complimented 
at  every  term  of  the  grand  jury  by  that  body  on  the  nice  and 
clean  condition  in  which  he  kept  the  poor  house.  The  present 
keeper  is  A.  F.  Dornwell.  In  comparison  to  the  plan  of  the 
poor  house  that  was  to  be  built  in  1840,  to  be  sixteen  feet  square 
and  with  one  window,  a  shutter  and  a  door,  the  present  poor 
house  is  a  palatial  structure.  The  county  has  done  her  full 
duty  in  caring  properly  for  her  poor,  and  if  they  are  not  proper- 
ly cared  for,  the  fault  will  be  with  those  who  have  charge  of  its 
management. 

Fourth  Court  House. 
At  this  period  a  desire  to  make  public  improvements,  to 
liave  the  prosperity  of  the  county  also  represented  by  its  public 
buildings,  made  itself  generally  conspicuous.  The  next  public 
building  erected  was  the  new  court  house.  It  may  be  remarked 
here  that  the  iron  fence  around  the  court  house  square  was  built 
eleven  years  previous  to  the  court  house  by  one  Wra.  Raalz 
at  a  cost  of  $1.80  per  running  foot  (1879.)  Some  minor  im- 
provements may  also  be  mentioned  here.  In  1883  the  city  of  La 
Grange  got  permission  to  dig  a  well  and  erect  a  windmill  and 
tank  pipes  for  fire  protection  on  the  public  square.  In  1SS4  the 
city  erected  a  house  for  sheltering  a  hook  and  ladder  truck  on 
the  north  side  of  the  public  scjuare. 

The  building  of  the  new  court  house,  the  fourth  court  house 
of  Fayette  County,  was  commenced  io  1890,  In  that  year  the 
grand  jury  of  the  county  reported  the  old  third  court  house  in 
unsafe  condition  and  recommended  the  appointment  of  ex))erts 
to  examine,  investigate  and  pass  upon  the  condition  of  the  court 
house  building.  In  accordance  with  their  recommendations  the 
following  committee  was  appointed  for  this  purpose:  George  F. 
Sacrey,  United  States  superintending  architect  of  the  United 
States  custom-house  and  postollice    building   at    San    Antonio, 


—160— 

Texas  ;  C.  Michelis  of  LaGrange  and  Robert  Albert  of  Flaionia. 
In  their  report  to  the  commissioners'  court  they  condemned  the 
old  building  and  advised  the  building  of  a  new  one.  A  great 
many  citizens  in  the  county  regretted  to  see  this  old  landmark 
go  to  which  so  many  memories  of  good  and  evil  times  were 
linked, 

Th3  plans  of  Riley  Gordon,  an  architect  of  San  Antonio, 
were  adopted  and  he  was  selected  as  superintending  architect  of 
the  new  court  house  building.  The  contract  was  awarded  to  the 
firm  of  Martin,  Byrnes  &  Johnson  of  Colorado  City.  The 
building  was  accepted  December  1,  1891  and  cost,  accordinoj  to 
the  treasurer's  report,  $87,356,10;  together  with  salary  of 
supervising  architect,  vault  funiture,  plumbnig  and  court  house 
funiture,  $95,646,39.  The  court  house  clock  was  procured  by 
R.  F.  Day  for  $725. 

The  present  court  house  is  an  elegant  three-story  structure. 
Inside  it  has  an  open  court  with  fountain  ;  cemented  walks  lead 
from  eacli  side  ot  the  public  square  to  its  grand  portals.  Its 
solidity  and  massiveness  are  coupled  with  elegance.  It  is  furn- 
ished with  water  works  and  electric  lights. 

For  this  building  Ninety  Thousand  Dollars  Courthouse  bonds 
bearing  six  percent  interest  were  issued  and  taken  up  by  the  Per- 
manent School  Fund  of  the  state  (1890).  In  1895  seventy-five 
of  these  bonds  of  One  Thousand  Dollars  each,  bearing  six  per- 
cent interest,  were  refunded  in  bonds  bearing  five  percent  inter- 
est;  they  were  to  run  for  forty  years  from  May  15,  189.5,  with 
ten  years  option  :  a  tax  often  cents  on  the  One  Hundred  Dollars 
was  levied  to  provide  a  sinking  fund  for  these  bonds  ;  they  were 
taken  up  by  I.  B.  Thurman  &  Co.  of  Chicago,  111.,  who  agreed 
to  pay  one  hundred  dollars  premium  and  pay  all  the  expenses 
incidental  to  tlie  issuance  of  the  bonds. 

Public  Roads, 

It  may  be  certain  that  in  this  busy  period  of  material 
development  another  subject  matter  of  importance  which  always 
had  received  the  careful  consideration  of  the  court  did  not  now 
lack  its  proper  care  and  attention,  viz,,  the  public  roads.    If  the 


—  101— 

court  failed  to  consider  this  subject,  petitions  always  caroe  in  to 
remind  them  thereof.  As  early  as  18.S2  citizens  of  Flatonia 
petitioned  thf?  court  to  appropriate  ^2,500  to  macadamize  (the 
minutes  have  it  "acadamize")  the  Faires  lane  on  the  LaGrange 
Gonzales  road.  This  petition  was  dismissed,  but  in  1884  the 
Faires  lane  on  the  LaGrange  Bastrop  ro?d,  west  of  the  Colorado 
Uiver,  was  graded  at  one  dollar  per  yard  of  lineal  measure  in  a 
width  of  sixteen  feet  by  one  J.  F.  McClutchy.  This  was  the 
lirst  road  grading  done  in  Fayette  County.  A  great  many  road 
contracts  were  now  made  for  grading  and  graveling  the  public 
roads  ;  team  and  driver  were  employed  at  the  rate  of  $;).75  and 
$4  per  day.  Especially  was  there  a  great  amount  of  road  work 
done  in  1889.  The  people  having  learned  to  appreciate  the 
value  of  good  roads,  the  court  thought  it  the  proper  time  to  sub- 
mit to  them  the  question  of  levying  a  special  road  tax  of  fifteen 
cents  on  tlie  One  Hundred  Dollars  for  the  purpose  of  extending 
the  work  of  road  improvement.  An  election  for  this  purpose 
was  held  on  March  14,  1893,  but  the  road  tax  was  defeated  by  a 
vote  of  (Jol  votes  for  and  1582  against  it.  After  the  defeat  of  the 
road  tax,  the  constant  improvement  of  the  public  roads  still  was 
not  lost  sight  of.  In  1895  the  court  tried  another  plan.  It 
appointed  a  special  committee  to  establish  a  permanent  system 
of  road  working.     This  committee  sent  in  the  following  report: 

"To  the  Hon.  Commissioners*  Court  of  Fayette  County: 

"Your  committee  to  examine  into  and  pass  upon  the  recom- 
mendation of  the  county  judge  concerning  a  system  of  road 
working  in  this  county,  met  at  LaGrange  during  the  month  of 
October  and  after  due  deliberation  passed  the  following 
resolutions: 

"llesolved  1.  That  owing  to  the  present  financial  condition 
of  our  county  we  deem  it  unwise  to  spend  the  sum  of  $25,000 
in  establishing  a  permanent  road  plant  in  Fayette  County  as 
suggested  by  County  Judge  llobson. 

"Resolved  2.  That  in  the  opinion  of  this  committee  it 
would  be  to  the  advantage  of  the  county  to  adopt  some  perma- 
nent road  system  by  which  the  labor  of  the  county  convicts 
would  be  secured  on  the  public  roads  and  made  self-sustaining, 


—162— 

and  to  this  end  we  suggest  that  you  make  some  suitable  arrange- 
ment with  some  competent  person  for  a  definite  period  of  years 
to  work  said  convicts  upon  the  roads  under  such  rules  and  regu- 
lations as  to  you  may  seem  expedient. 

Natt  Holm  an, 
f.  a.  schlick, 
Chas,  Bittner, 
Wm.  Voelkel." 

Bids  to  work  the  public  roads  were  called  for.  The  bid  of 
Plomuth  &  Cornelsen  to  work  the  public  roads  for  a  term  of  five 
years  from  January  1,  189G  to  December  31,  1900.  at  an  average 
price  of  $3.37*  for  team  and  driver  i)er  day  and  $1.25  for  labor 
of  extra  hands  per  day,  with  at  least  twenty  teams  during  six 
months  of  the  year,  was  accepted.  They  hired  the  county 
convicts  from  the  county  at  $7.50  pfer  month  and  board.  The 
county  had  to  furnish  gravel  pits  and  improyed  road  machinery, 
as  graders,  rollers,  steam  crushers  and  engines. 

During  the  term  of  this  contract  for  five  years,  the  county 
spent  $73,005.71  for  road  improvement;  of  this  amount,  there 
were  $55,979.85  for  team  hire  and  $17,025.86  for  extra  liands. 
In  commissioner's  precinct  No.  1,  there  were  expended  of  this 
money  $16,964.61;  in  No.  2,  117,924.42;  in  No.  3,  $19,896.77; 
in  No.  4,  $17,295.71. 

In  1901  the  Legislature  passed  a  special  road  law  for  Fay- 
ette County.  During  that  year  the  question  of  levying  a  special 
road  tax  was  again  submitted  to  the  jjeople  on  November  5,  1901. 
The  vote  stood  508  for  the  tax  and  1135  against  it.  Thus  the 
road  tax  was  again  defeated. 

Bridges  and  Bridge  Bonds. 

In  this  period  of  general  activity  and  development,  the 
bridge  building  of  the  county  kept  equal  pace  with  the  road 
improvement.  After  the  lapse  of  thirty  years  the  county 
started  again  in  the  bridge  building  business.  Even  before  the 
assumption  of  the  Colorado  River  bridge  by  the  county,  some 
smaller  bridges  over  the  minor  waters  of  the  county  were  built. 
After  several  orders  and  decisions  in  regard  to  building   bridges, 


—163— 

the  first  bridge  actually  bnilt  was  the  one  across  Buckner'a 
Creek  on  the  LaGrange-Lockharc  road.  It  was  built  of  wood 
by  W.  Stoermer  and  Jesse  Blackwell  for  One  Thousand  Dol- 
lars (1884).  In  the  f(jllo\ving  year  the  first  iron  bridge  was 
built  in  the  county  across  Cuniming's  Creek  within  one-half  a  mile 
of  Breeding's  Crossing  by  the  King  Iron  Bridge  Company  of 
Cleveland,  0.,  at  a  cost  of  Three  Thousand,  Eight  Hundred 
Dollars.  A  great  many  petitions  for  bridges  from  all  parts  of 
the  county  now  followed. 

To  meat  the  demands  and  wishes  of  the  people  for  increased 
bridge  building  the  court  decided  to  issue  bridge  bonds.  The 
following  bridge  bonds  were  ordered  to  be  issued  at  the  following 
dates:  Bridge  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $10,000  on  February  15, 
1884;  bridge  bonds  to  the  amount  of  S6000  on  May  16,  1885; 
eleven  bridge  bonds  of  One  Thousand  Dollars  each  on  February 
10,  1S8G;  eighty-three  bridge  bonds  at  Five  Hundred  Dollars 
each  for  purchase  of  river  bridge  on  May  9,  1887; — they  were 
taken  up  by  the  school  fund  (August  15,  1887), — and  thirteen 
bridge  bonds,  dated  April  10,  1898,  bearing  five  percent  interest, 
redeemable  in  forty  years,  with  five  years  option.  A  sinking 
fund  was  to  be  procured  by  levying  a  one  and  one-half  cents  tax 
on  the  One  Hundred  Dollars.  These  bonds  were  not  approved 
by  the  attorney  general  on  tlie  ground  that  the  one  and  one-half 
cents  tax  exceeded  the  fifteen  cents  tax  authorized  to  be  levied 
for  road  and  bridge  puposes.  The  previous  order,  therefore, 
was  rescinded,  the  bonds  were  cancelled,  and  a  new  order  was 
made  as  per  advice  of  the  attorney  general. 

We  may  now  mention  here  some  of  the  larger  bridges  that 
were  built  by  the  county.  The  bridge  across  the  East  Navidad 
on  the  Morgan  and  High  Hill  road  crossing  was  built  by  the 
King  Iron  Bridge  Company  of  Cleveland,  0.,  at  a  cost  of  Three 
Thousand  Dollars  (1885);  the  building  of  the  Buckner's  Creek 
iron  bridge  was  decided  in  188G;  two  years  later  iron  bridges 
were  built  across  Clear  Creek,  Williams  Creek,  West  Navidad 
River  and  Rabb's  Creek  by  the  Missouri  Valley  Bridge  Company 
of  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  across  Live  Oak  and  Barton's  Creek 
by  the  King  Iron  Bridge  Company  of  Cleveland,  O, 


—164  — 

Interesting  Incidknts. 

Of  course,  the  county  government  had  in  these  times,  as  in 
previous  times,  its  petty  troubles  that  furnished  subjects  for  the 
people  to  talk  upon.  Too  extravagant  accounts  were  rejected; 
heat  and  town  o'Hcers  were  fined  for  failure  to  report,  but  their 
fines  were  remitted  on  reports  made;  persons  were  fined  for 
various  reasons  for  contempt  of  court.  In  the  matter  of  a  peti- 
tion of  the  Town  of  Roundtop  vs.  the  Town  of  Warrenton  as  to 
where  justice  court  should  be  held,  the  court  decided  that  it 
should  be  held  as  formerly  in  Warrenton  (1881),  In  18SG  the 
court  passed  an  order,  rejecting  the  election  returns  of  Unters- 
ville,  Aschen's  Store,  West  Point,  Ammannsville  and  Schulen- 
burg,  but  this  order  was  rescinded.  In  1892  the  office  of  county 
clerk  held  by  J.  T,  Rankin,  on  the  petition  of  J,  Schuhmacher, 
F.  C.  Carter,  J.  C.  B,  Renfro  and  forty-nine  others,  was  declared 
vacant,  as  he  was  adjudged  by  the  court  not  to  be  a  resident  of 
Fayette  County.  J.  P.  Ehlinger  was  appointed  county  clerk  by 
the  court.  The  county  convict  question  was  once  solved  by  the 
court  in  a  manner  not  quite  in  harmony  with  the  views  of  the 
writer.  In  glancing  over  the  records,  he  finds  that  in  188o  they 
worked  on  the  labor  farm  of  J.  E,  &:  R,  J.  White  in  Grimes 
county.  In  other  words,  they  received  the  same  punishment 
for  a  misdemeanor  as  the  state  convicts  received  for  a  felony, 

A  Friendly  Spar  With  Colorado  County, 

An  interesting  trouble  of  the  county  which  did  not  lack  in 
humor  was  her  altercation  with  Colorado  County  in  regard  to 
the  claims  of  the  latter  county  incurred  in  running  the  line  with 
this  county.  The  order  of  the  court  in  regard  to  it  breaks  so 
pleasantly  the  monotony  of  the  routine  business  that  the  writer 
greatly  enjoyed  reading  it,  and  it  is  iiere  given  in  full  as  a  possible 
source  of  enjoyment  for  the  reader:  ''Be  it  rememembered  that 
on  this  the  sixleentli  day  of  February,  A.  I),  1882  there  came 
on  to  be  heard  the  certified  copy  of  a  decree  entered  on  the 
Minutes  of  the  Commissioners'  Court  of  Colorado  County,  Slate 
of  Texas,  in  regard  to  the  amount  allowed  by  this  Fayette  County 
to  Colorado  County  on  the  claim  of  Colorado  County  in  having 
the  line    run  between  said  counties    in  which  Colorado    County 


—165— 

claimed  the  sum  of  $l2i».12  and  in  wliicli  after  a  lawful  exauii- 
nation  bv  tii#  Commissioners'  CJourt  of  this  County  and  tl)e 
calculation  of  the  several  committees  it  was  found  that  tlie 
amount  due  Colorado  County  was  1^20. 22^V  whereupon  a  draft 
was  issued  for  said  sum  of  ^20.22^  in  favor  of  Colorado  County, 
and  whereas  tiie  Commissioners'  Court  of  Colorado  County 
caused  to  be  entered  in  its  mniutes  a  decree  donating  to  Fayette 
County  said  sum  of  $20.22i,  settin<i  forth  that  it  would  cost  said 
Colorado  County  more  in  the  way  of  attorneys'  fees  etc.  to  collect 
the  amount  claimed  as  the  reason  of  sucli  donation  and  to  show 
their  appreciation  of  such  a  liberal  donation  and  believing  in 
the  old  maxim  "It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive" 
that  this  Court  in  behalf  of  Fayette  County  extend  to  Colorado 
County  a  vote  of  thanks  with  a  rising  vote  which  was  unani- 
mously carried.  It  is  further  ordered  that  tlie  Clerk  furnish  the 
Commissioners'  Court  of  Colorado  County  with  a  certilied  copy 
of  this  decree."     (iuite  an  interesting  exchange  of  courtesies. 

Another  quite  amusing  circumstance  may  be  mentioned 
here.  \'ery  often  collector  J.  U.  Scates  had  to  pay  back  amounts 
of  taxes  wrongly  collected.  Amongst  others  he  had  collected 
poll  taxes  from  a  Mrs.  Mary  J?arbay  and  a  Mrs.  E.  A.  Basford. 
Surely,  a  county  oilicer  ought  to  know  better  and  that  ladies  are 
not  on  the  poll. 

SaLAKIKS    and    FeKS    ok    SoMK    CotTN'TV    C)l'FI(EUS. 

It  is  natural  that  with  the  increase  of  the  county's  business 
the  salaries  and  fees  of  her  oHicers  rose  in  proportion.  This 
was  not  more  than  right,  for  their  offices  entailed  more  labor  and 
demanded  greater  attention.  >'ayette  County  had  passed  the 
stage  of  being  a  frontier  county  when  an  assessor,  for  instance, 
handed  in  the  following  bid  :  "1  agree  to  assess  the  property  of 
Fayette  County  for  the  sum  of  $100.  B.  F.  Nabors."  Still,  the 
fees  and  salaries  had  by  far  not  risen  to  such  a  lieight  as  the 
people  generally  thought  they  had.  Assessor  G.  A.  Heilig's 
commission  from  the  county  during  the  eighties  for  instance 
never  reached  to  Eight  Hundred  Dollars  ;  in  this,  his  commis- 
sion from  the  state  was  not  included.  As  the  increase  of  the 
county's  business  largely  fell  on  the  judge's  office,  his  salary  wa^ 


—166— 

increased,    in    1886   to   Eight  Hundred  Dollars,  in  1888  to  Nine 
Hundred  Sixty  Dollars. 

In  1891  treasurer  R.  T.  Bradshavv  made  a  report  on  the 
salaries  and  fees  of  some  county  officers.  According  to  it,  the 
sheriff  had  received  in  fees  and  for  expenses  of  boarding  prison- 
ers and  paupers  $5,622.60  ;  the  county  judge,  salary  and  fees 
$1,801.65  ;  the  assessor,  $1,967.65  ;  the  county  cierk,  salary  and 
fees,  $696.35  ;  the  district  clerk,  $250-  These  were  the  fees  and 
salaries  paid  to  these  officers  by  the  county,  but  it  did  not  in- 
clude the  fees  collected  by  them  from  private  persons. 

The  Prohibition  Question. 
A  great  question  agitated  the  people  in  1887,  the  question  if 
Texas  should  become  a  prohibition  state  or  not.  The  people  of 
the  county  took  great  interest  in  this  question.  Public  meet- 
ings were  held  everywhere  and  addressed  by  prominent  speak- 
ers. The  county  government  had  the  same  views  on  prohibition 
as  the  overwhelming  majority  of  the  people  in  the  county.  The 
following  order  shows  this  .  The  district  and  county  clerks 
were  instructed  to  record  in  well  bound  books  and  properly 
index  all  the  old  declarations  of  aliens  for  naturalization  papers 
that  may  be  on  file  in  their  offices  which  have  not  been  hereto- 
fore recorded  by  their  predecessors.  For,  tlie  foreign  element 
was  to  a  man  against  the  proposition.  However  well-meaning 
the  intentions  of  the  advocates  of  prohibition  may  have  been, 
the  morals  of  a  people  are  never  improved  by  law.  History 
teaches  this  fact  without  exception.  Besides,  in  the  opinion  of 
the  writer,  prohibition  is  a  greater  evil  than  the  one  it  seeks  to 
remedy.  Even  before  the  great  state  prohibition  campaign  the 
question  of  prohibition  was  discussed  and  voted  upon  in  local 
option  elections  in  the  then  beat  No,  4.  It  was  defeated  every 
lime  :  in  1877  by  a  vote  of  53  for  and  90  against;  in  1880  by  a 
vote  of  66  for  and  115  against.  After  the  state  campaign  for 
prohibition,  another  local  option  election  was  held  in  West  Point. 
This  resulted  also  in  defeat  by  a  vote  of  91  for  and  100  against  it. 

Epidemics. 
During  this  period  several  epidemics  fell  on  tlie  people  of 
Fayette  County.     Smallpox  broke  out  near  Fayetteville  (1881). 


—167— 

Dr.  H.  D.  Shavr,  Max  Meitzen,  Franz  Baca,  Aue;ust  Baca  and 
Hugo  Zapp  were  appointed  a  committee  with  full  power  to  at- 
tend smallpox  cases  around  and  near  Fayetteville  and  to  estab- 
lish a  quarantine. 

In  1891  smallpox  broke  out  in  the  gravel  pit  on  the  Austin 
Branch  of  the  Texas  Central  Railroad,  near  Ledbetter.  J)r.  W. 
H.  Walker  was  appointed  health  officer  with  full  power  to  act 
and  employ  guards  to  isolate  infected  persons. 

In  18'J5  the  town  of  Ledbetter  quarantined  against  all  in- 
fected points  in  this  state  where  smallpox  existed  and  especially 
against  the  town  of  Giddings  in  Lee  (Ji)unty.  Dr.  W.  \V.  Lunn, 
the  county  physician,  was  api^ointed  to  take  the  necessary  steps 
to  carry  out  said  quarantine. 

In  1897  diphtheria  broke  out  on  the  Joiner  farm  near  Joiner 
Station  on  the  LaGrange  Branch  of  the  Galveston,  Harrisburg 
and  SanAntonio  Railroad  in  Fayette  County.  Dr.  E.  D.  Lunn 
and  the  commissioner  of  that  beat  were  authorized  to  act,  isolate 
the  infected  persons  and  furnish  tents  to  them. 

Yellow  Fever  Quakamtime, 

The  reader  has  not  forgotten  the  fearful  yellow  fever  epi- 
demic of  1867  in  LaGrange,  the  great  death  rate  and  the  con- 
sternation of  the  people  at  that  time.  Wlien  thirty  years  later, 
in  1897,  yellow  fever  came  again  into  Texas  and  several  cases 
occurred  in  Galveston,  the  court  took  the  most  strenuous  meas- 
ures to  prevent  its  reaching  this  county.  The  following  order 
was  passed  :  "In  the  matter  of  declaring  and  establishing  quar- 
antine throughout  the  County  of  Fayette,  State  of  Texas,  against 
all  yellow  fever  districts  in  the  State  of  Texas,  in  other  states 
and  foreign  countries  and  to  guard  against  tlie  introduction  and 
dissemination  of  said  dangerous  or  infectious  disease  known  as 
yellow  fever.  Dr.  E.  D.  Lunn,  County  Physician,  Chairman  ; 
Dr.  C.  J.  Schramm,  Fayetteville  ;  Dr.  E.  Knolle,  EUinger  ;  Dr. 
Peare,  Carmine;  Dr.  M.  E.  Clary,  West  Point ;  and  Dr.  1. 
E.  Clark,  Schulenburg,  are  appointed  a  County  Board  of  Health 
to  meet  in  LaGrange  and  to  establish  rules  and  regulations  for 
quarantine;  the  county  physician  to  advise  when  necessary  the 


— 1G8— 

appointment  of  guards  to  establish,  maintain  and  supply  stations 
or    camps    for   those    held  in  quarantine  ;  to  isolate  all   infected 
cases  ;  to  advise  with  the  commissioner  of   the   infected    district 
to  employ  guards.     The  County    Physician    with    the    Board  of 
Health    to    have    power  to    prevent  the  running  of  all  passenger 
and  freight  trains  or  the  distribution    of   freight,    express    pack- 
ages, mails  and  household  goods   that    come    from    infected  dis- 
tricts ;  to    prevent    persons    to   come   from   infected  districts  by 
private  conveyance.     The  County   is    divided    into    four  Police 
Districts:  1st,  LaGrange,   Fayetteville,    EUinger  ;  2nd,  Carmine, 
Ledbetter,  Warrenton,  Roundtop  ;  3d,  Winchester,  West  Point, 
Muldoon  ;  4th,    Flatonia,    Engle,    Schulenburg.     The  Commis- 
sioners are  declared  chiefs    of   the    respective    guards    or  police 
force  that  may  be  appointed  throughout    the    county."     Excite- 
ment prevailed  throughout  the  county.     The   lesson    which  had 
been  taught  by  the  great  yellow  fever  calamity   of  1867   had  not 
been  forgotten.     It  justified  these  preventive  steps.     Passenger 
trains  and  freigljts  were  actually  prevented  from  stopping  in  the 
county.     This   lasted   only   for  several  days.      Letters  and  pack- 
ages received  from  yellow  fever  districts  came  on  in  a  perforated 
condition,  the  mails  having  been  fumigated.     But  as  the  author- 
ities in  the  yellow  fever  districts  soon  had  control  of  the  epidem- 
ic, excitement  soon  subsided.     The  people   had    recovered  from 
the  scare,  without  being  visited  by    this    infectious    disease  and 
soon  the  quiet  order  of  things  prevailed  again. 

In  1899  smallpox  broke  out  in  Carmine  ;  in  1900,  in  La 
Grange.  But  the  infected  persons  were  promptly  isolated  in 
both  places,  and  a  further  spread  prevented. 

Overflow  of  1900. 

Another  calamity  may  here  be  mentioned.  It  occurred 
during  the  same  year  of  1900.  The  writer  means  the  overtiow 
of  the  Colorado  River.  In  that  year  the  dam  at  Austin  was 
broken.  A  large  volume  of  water  rolled  down  the  river,  inun- 
dated its  valley  and  ruined  the  planted  corn  and  cotton  crops 
(April  19,  1900).  The  water  did  not  rise  as  high  as  in  1869 
when  it  w'as  five  feet  high  in  the  courthouse  yard,  nor  even  as 
high  as  iu  1870,  but  it  still  reached  within  one  block  of  the  court 


—170— 

house  square.  Great  excitement  prevailed  that  day  in  La 
Grange.  People  in  the  overflowed  and  threatened  district  were 
busy  moving  their  household  goods.  Even  some  merchants  on 
the  square  contemplated  moving  their  goods.  A  large  railroad 
force  was  employed  on  the  railroad  bridge  to  loosen  and  start 
again  the  drift-wood.  A  great  many  people  from  the  country 
came  in  to  witness  the  scene.  Small  boats  were  rowed  m  the 
overflowed  districts  and  through  the  lower  streets  of  La  Grange. 
A  humorous  incident  may  be  mentioned  here.  Several  negroes 
in  a  small  boat  tried  their  oarsmanship.  They  could  not  m;isler 
the  current  and  were  thrown  with  their  boat  against  a  wire  fence. 
The  boat  capsized  and  they  received  a  ducking.  They  el  mbeil 
the  posts  of  the  wire  fence,  not  daring  to  go  into  the  forceful 
current.  The  one  nearest  the  dry  land  straddled  the  wire  fence 
and  tried  to  walk  on  the  wire  to  the  land.  All  went  well,  until  a 
staple  got  loose.  He  fell  with  the  wire  and  hung  there  in  a 
helpless  position,  until  he  was  rescued  by  one  of  his  colored 
brethren  who  carried  him  under  the  applause  of  the  spectators 
on  his  shoulders  to  the  dry  land.  Kayette  County  was  not  dam- 
aged by  this  overflow  as  much  as  the  neighboring  Colorado 
County.  She  did  not  lose  her  iron  bridge  nor  was  the  railroad 
bridge  at  La  Grange  damaged,  while  in  Colorado  County  the 
railroad  bridge  across  the  Colorado  Riyer  and  also  one  of  the 
wagoia  bridges  across  the  river  at  Columbus  were  destroyed  by 
this  overflow. 

Storm  of  1900. 

The  year  1900  was  full  of  calamities  for  Texas.  The  great 
Storm  in  that  year  that  almost  destroyed  Galveston  and  visited 
other  parts  of  this  country,  leaving  a  path  of  destruction  behind 
it,  also  did  some  damage  in  Fayette  County  and  ruined  especially 
a  large  part  of  the  crop  in  the  Held.  But  in  comparison  to  other 
counties,  it  may  be  said  that  this  county  was  almost  spared 
by  it. 

The  writer  now  mentions  some  minor  matters  and  leaves  it 
to  the  judgment  of  the  reader  to  decide,  if  he  deems  them  worth 
reading.  But  as  notes  of  them  are  taken  by  the  writer,  their 
contents  are  here  given.  May  the  reader  decide  if  he  wants  to 
be  informed  on  these  small  matters  or  not. 


-171— 

Election  Precincts. 

The  election  precincts  were  constantly  changed  and  redis- 
tricted;  this  was  made  necessary  by  the  increase  of  population 
in  the  various  parts  ot  the  county  which  increase  was  not  always 
proportionate  in  all  parts  of  the  county.  Election  precincts 
were  added  during  the  intervals  of  redistriction.  The  voting 
])recincts  of  the  county  were  redistricted  and  their  boundaries 
defined  in  1877.  In  that  year  there  were  twenty-four  election 
precincts.  They  were  redistricted  in  1880.  Tiie  present  number 
and  bDundaries  of  the  voting  precincts  have  been  given  under  the 
head  of  Political  Divisions  of  the  County  to  which  the  reader  is 
referred.     (Page  73  et  seq.) 

School  Districts. 

Fayette  County  was  also  divided  for  the  management  of 
the  schools  into  32  school  districts  (1884).  In  1893  a  division  of 
the  county  into  school  districts  was  again  made.  It  was  made 
by  a  committee,  consisting  of  the  county  judge,  county  clerk 
and  county  treasurer  and  one  citizen  and  two  teachers  from  each 
school  district.  They  divided  the  county  into  thirty  six  school 
districts.  In  1895  Fayette  County  was  placed  under  the  district 
system  with  thirty-six  school  districts. 

Justices'  Courthouses. 

In  1888  a  justice's  courthouse  and  jail  was  built  by  the 
county  in  Schulenburg  at  a  cost  of  $800.  In  1890  courthouses 
were  built  in  all  the  justices'  precincts.  In  1898  the  county  gave 
to  the  city  of  Schulenburg  for  the  building  of  a  City  Hall  that 
was  to  be  erected  at  a  cost  of  $822  the  sum  of  $150. 

Incorporation  of  Towns. 

It  seems  that  in  1880  a  great  many  citizens  of  Flatonia  were 
tired  of  having  their  town  incorporated.  A  petition  to  abolish 
the  incorporation  re?  bed  the  commissioners'  court.  In  the 
ensuing  election  the  question  of  abolishing  the  incorporation 
was  defeated. 


—172— 

Incorporation  carried  in  the  town  of  Fayetteville  at  an  elec- 
tion held  February  8,  1882  by  a  vote  of  thirty-one  for  and  one 
against  said  incorporation.  The  town  of  Fayetteville  was 
declared  incorporated  Marcii  2,  1882. 

An  election  at  the  town  of  Ledbetter  for  incorporating  it 
for  school  purposes,  held  in  August  3896,  resulted  in  a  vote  of 
thirty  three  for  and  three  against  incorporation. 

Minor  Details. 

Since  18S3  it  was  the  duty  of  the  commissioners'  court  to 
appoint  public  weighers,  and,  therefore,  public  weigliers  \v(  ii; 
appiointed  in  accordance  with  law  at  La  Grange,  Schuh  nl)uig, 
Flatonia,  P^llinger,  and.  a  few  years  later,  at  Fayetteville  and 
West  Point. 

Looking  over  the  records  we  iind  that  in  1S02  and  181)3  there 
were  also  some  premiums  paid  by  the  court  for  the  scalps  of 
coyotes  and  wildcats. 

A  great  many  papers  in  the  assessor's  anJ  collector's  ollices 
which  had  become  entirely  worthless  and  encumbered  said  offices 
were  burned  by  a  committee  consisting  of  A.  Haidusek,  J.  B. 
Holloway,  Jos.  Ehlinger,  R.  T.  Bradshaw  and  G.  A.  lleilig 
(188S). 

Resolution.s  of  Re.^pect. 

This  period  did  not  lack  of  some  tribute  of  respect  by  ihe 
court  on  the  death  of  prominent  citizens.  In  1887  the  court 
adjourned  out  of  respect  on  the  death  of  H.  Stuedemann,  a 
member  of  the  supervising  committee  of  the  poorhouse.  In 
1888  the  court  adjourned  out  of  respect  on  the  death  of  Chas.  J. 
Bradshaw,  an  attorney.  Resolutions  of  respect  in  regard  to  his 
death  were  passed  by  the  court,  spread  on  the  minutes,  signed 
by  the  courthouse  oflicers  and  published  in  the  La  Grange 
Journal  and  Svoboda. 

In  January  1901,  the  court  adjourned  out  of  respect  on  the 
death  of  H.  Teichmueller  wJio  had  filled  the  office  of  District 
Judge  for  three  terms  and  other  offices  of  public  trust  with 
great  honor. 


—its- 
Companies  Raised  in  Fayette  CountV'  for  the 
Spanish  War. 

When  in  1998  war  with  Spain  broke  out,  Fayette  County 
again  sustained  her  reputation  of  being  foremost  in  the  defense 
of  her  country.  A  large  number  of  young  men  of  prominent 
families  volunteered  their  services.  Three  companies  were 
raised  in  Fayette  County;  a  fourth  one  which  it  was  intended  to 
raise  was  not  accepted  as  Fayette  County  had  furnished  already 
mjre  than  her  quota  of  men.  The  companies  raised  in  Fayette 
County  for  this  war  were:  Company  H,  1st  Texas  Infantry  ; 
Troop  H,  1st  Texas  Cavalry  and  Troon  C',  1st  Texas  Cavalry. 

This  closes  the  liistory  of  Fayette  County.  Some  minor 
events  are  purposely  omitted,  for  the  people  have  not  yet  given 
their  verdict  on  them  and  though  the  writer's  attention  has  been 
repeatedly  called  to  them,  he  respectfully  declines  to  blotch  his 
work  with  partisanship. 

The  reader  can  contemplate  the  development  of  this  great 
country  only  with  the  deepest  interest.  Eighty  years  ago  the 
country  was  a  wilderness;  only  a  few  log  liouses  were  hidden  in 
the  woods.  Now  the  whole  county  is  studded  with  many  pros- 
perous towns  and  villages.  The  period  of  hardships  and  strug- 
gles was  succeeded  by  a  period  of  prosperity  and  comfort,  ivike 
tlie  Two  Hundred  and  Fifty  Dollars  shanty  that  served  as  the 
first  courthouse  of  Fayette  County  has  given  place  to  a  more 
commodious  building,  this  to  a  substantial  rock  building,  and 
this  again  to  an  elegant  structure,  so  the  simple  log  huts  have 
given  place  to  frame  buildings  and  these  to  elegant  residences. 
The  pioneer  who  lived  chiefly  by  hunting  was  followed  by  the 
cattle  raispr,  lie  again  by  the  farmer  and  the  latter  by  tlie  farmer 
with  improved  methods.  The  reader  who  reviews  the  progress 
made  in  this  county  in  the  short  period  of  eighty  years  will  feel 
confident  tiiat  she  has  a  great  future  before  her.  The  descend- 
ants of  the  men  who  built  up  this  county  are  men  who  success- 
fully continue  the  work  of  their  fathers. 

The  grand  old  county  of  Fayette  has  taken  a  prominent 
part  in  the  fights  for  independence  against  Mexico.       More  than 


—174— 

once  her  sons  were  leaders  in  thes«  fights,  evincing  their  love  of 
liberty  and  their  spirit  of  independence.  But  not  only  on  the 
field  of  battle,  in  the  arena  of  politics,  she  has  manifested 
the  same  love  of  liberty.  Since  the  early  times  she  has  been  a 
bulwark  for  the  doctrines  of  Thomas  Jefferson,  a  stronghold  for 
the  doctrines  of  local  self-government  and  personal  rights,  the 
foundation  principles  of  democracy.  Reviewing  the  prosperity 
she  has  achieved  by  following  these  doctrmes,  she  has  come 
forth  more  than  once  under  able  leaders  as  their  defender.  If 
ever  a  county  was  proof  of  what  prosperity  might  be  achieved 
under  these  democratic  fundamental  principles  of  local  self- 
government  and  personal  rights,  she  is  the  county.  True  as  she 
always  has  been  to  these  principles,  there  is  no  doubt  that  when 
another  attack  is  made  on  them  in  the  future  she  will  rush  to 
their  defense  under  able  leaders. 


—175— 

APPENDIX. 

The  writer  here  gives  several  documents  for  which  he  could  not 
find  a  proper  place  in  this  history.  They  are  self -explanatory  and 
give  a  valuable  key  to  the  character  of  the  timei  in  which  they  were 

written. 

•'A." 
REruBLic  OF  Texas  versus    Inconsistent    Legislative  Acts. 

The  following  is  tiie  document  referred  to  on  page  97. 
(Endorsement.) 

Republic  of  Texas  versus  Inconsistent  Legislative  Acts. 
Prosecutors  :  Grand  Jury  of  Fayette  County. 
Witnesses :   Grand  Jury. 
We  the  Grand  Jury  find  a  true  bill.  * 

William  Brookfield,  Foreman. 
Filed  October  25th,  1839. 

J.  B.  Alexander, 

Clerk  D.  C.  F.  C. 

Republic  of  Texas,  Public  weal 

County  of  Fayette.  versus 

Inconsistent  Legislative  Acts. 
We  the  Grand  Jury  being  about  to  end  the  business  as 
respects  the  County  of  Fayette  specially,  are  conscious  of  noth- 
ing more  which  we  are  bound  to  do,  as  it  regards  ourselves  ; 
but  we  do  feel  it  to  be  incumbent  on  us  to  present  before  the 
tribunal  of  enlightened  public  opinion  the  inconsistency  of  some 
of  the  acts  passed  since  Nov.  1838  up  to  Dec.  1838.  Viz, — the 
= 'Bargain  and  Sale"  of  the  Island  of  Galveston  to  M.  Menard  for 
50,0U0  dollars!  For,  of  a  truth,  said  Island  of  Galveston  either 
belonged  to  the  "Republic  of  Texas,"  or  it  belonged  to  Mr. 
Menard  :  if  it  of  right  belonged  to  the  former,  the  "bargain  and 
sale"  to  M.  Menard  was  indeed  a  bargain  by  which  this  Govern- 
ment chiselled  itsejf  out  of  $2,000,000  minus  $50,000  !  If  it 
were  a  vested  right  m  Michael  Menard,  then  this  Government 
in  chiselling  Michael  Menard  out  of  $50,000  violated  that  sacred 
instrument  by  which,  and  on  which  all  legislative  acts  are,  or 
ought  to  be,  graduated  !  again, — the  temporary  location  of  the 
seat  of  Government  at  Houston,  to  promote  individyal  interest, 


— I7t5- 

and  this  too  without  any  regard  to  Public  good,  by  wnich  the 
Republic  has  lost  from  half  a  million  to  one  million  of  dollars, 
Aq^ain,  the  exercise  of  a  veto,  to  prevent  the  permanent  location 
of  the  seat  of  Government  at  LaGrange,  as  it  might  seem,  only 
to  afford  the  j)roprietors  of  the  City  of  Samuel  the  First,  and 
some  of  his  friends  suflicient  time  to  sell  their  unsold  lots  ! 
Admirable  and  Sublime  P]xercise  !  and  also  the  creation  of  a 
Tariff  in  Texas  !  An  act,  vvhicli,  for  principle,  is  unparalleled 
in  the  records  of  Legislations  from  the  birth  of  "old  Time"  him- 
self down  to  the  present  day  !  Most  assuredly  it  is  not  to  be 
justified  by  example  from  the  British  tariff  statutes,  for  these 
liad  for  their  object  to  prohibit  the  introduction  of  manufactured 
fabrics  for  clothing  from  the  continent.  This  object  only  can 
be  inferred  from  the  .i»igh  duties  imposed.  Again, — imme- 
diately after  the  commencement  of  the  late  war  between  the  U. 
States  and  Great  Britain  all  commerce  ceased.  In  this  condi- 
tion of  the  nation  the  army  and  people  must  be  clothed.  And 
how  accomplish  this  great  object?  there  was  but  one  way,  and 
this  was  taken  by  capitalists,  the  Patriotic  Capitalists  of  the 
land.  Tliey,  with  full  confidence  in  the  justice  of  the  cause  in 
which  they  were  engage*d,  and  also  in  the  integrity  and  good 
faith  of  their  Government,  hesitated  not  to  advance  their  all  in 
manufacturing  establishments  :  And  most  of  them,  if  not  all, 
were  in  the  flood  tide  of  success,  when  peace  was  made  in  1815. 
At  this  time  commerce  revived,  and  the  United  States  were  im- 
mediately inundated  with  European  maij-jfactures  at  prices 
so  low  as  to  ruin  the  American  Manufacturer  provided  he 
was  not  shielded  by  Government  protectiori.  And  that  shield 
was  a  Tarifl'.      Where  then  is  the  parallel?     None! 

We  say  "for  principle."  Let  us  examine  and  we  shall  see 
that  th3  proprietors  of  vast  landed  estates  are  made  to  pay  a 
direct  tax  of  only  one-half  per  cent  ad  vaUjrem  on  these  estates 
towards  the  support  of  government.  And  the  person  who  owns 
but  one-fourth  of  a  sitio  paV^  'the  same;  ami  the  whole  amount 
so  produced  falls  far  sliort  of  the  required  stnai.  To  supply  this 
deficiency  it  was  deemed  expedient  to  levy  an  indirect  tax  or 
tariff.  Now  is  it  presumable  that  members'of  Congress  did  not 
know  that  such  a  tax  could  not  be   made  to    operate   on  all    the 


J 


—177— 

good  people  of  Texas?       Dirt  not  the  idea  of  the  utter  impossi- 
hility  of  enforcing  a   due  collection   of  tariff  duties,  in    Eastern 
Texas,  once  occur  to  their  minds  when  this  act  was  passed?       If 
not,  it  is  truly  surprising.     Did  they  not  know  that  this   section 
is  bounded  by  from  6  to  800  miles  of  the  Red  and  Sabine  rivers? 
Did  they  not  know  that  Southern  and  Western   Texas   bore  the 
burthen  of  invasion  and  war,  and  consequently  stood  in  need  of 
almost    everything    to    be    imported,  and    this,  too,    by    vessels 
entering  port,  when  there  could  be  no  evasion  by  smuggling?    If 
these  things  were  not  then'  known,  we   are  truly   sensible  that 
they]   are    now   known  !         And   we   do   believe  that   our   next 
congress    will    consider    this    matier    away.       Now,    to     con- 
clude, suppose  "the  powers  that   were"  prompted  by  different 
notions  of  legislation,  had  sold  the  Island  of  Galveston  for   One 
and   a  Half  Million  of  Dollars,   the    temporary   location   of  the 
government  seat  for   three   years,  by   Government,  reckoned   at 
the  least  half  a  million,  the   permanent   location    of  the   seat  of 
government  at  La  Grange  One  Million;  and  only  one  kind  of  tax 
and  that  a  direct  one  of  one  percent  ad  valorem  for  3  years,  (and 
no  tariff)   government   would   have   received   between   3   and  i 
millions  of  dollars  with  which  the  public  debt  could   have   been 
wholly   paid;    and,    consequently   our   "currency"    would   have 
been  at  par,  and  no  need  of  a  "'Five  Million"'  loan, 

JSow  in  coming  to  a  final  close  we  feel  it  our  duty  to  tender 
to  his  Hon.  Judge  Mills  our  cordial  thanks  for  the  very  prompt 
able  and  faithful  discharge  of  his  judicial  duties,  only  regretting 
that  we  could  not  haye  been  benefited  by  his  attendance  on  the 
first  and  second  days  of  our  Court  term.  We  add  further  that 
the  solicitor  is  entitled  to  our  very  high  regard  for  the  true  and 
able  discharge  of  his  duties. 

Wm.  Brojkfip:ld,  Foreman, 

Grand  Jury  Room  Fayette  County,  Oct,  25th,  1831). 


— ITS— 

Affidavit  of  District  Attorney  Thomas  Johnson  to  procure 
warrant  to  arrest  James  S.  Mayfield  and  Edmund  Burleson  on 
the  charge  of  fighting  a  duel. 

This  document  gives  an  insight  into  the  lighting  spirit  of 
the  early  times  when  people  very  often  on  slight  provocation 
engaged  in  deadly  duels.  The  peace  otficers  were  not  always 
successful  in  preventing  them. 

The  Republic  of  Texas.  ^  To  the  Hon.  R.  E.  B.  Baylor,  Judge 

V      of   the   Third    Judicial    District    of 
Fayette  County,  Texas.   )      the  Republic  of  Texas. 

Thomas  Johnson,  District  Attorney  Third  Judicial  District 
of  the  Republic  of  Texas,  states  on  oatli  that  he  has  just  and 
probable  grounds  to  suspect  and  verily  does  suspect  and  believe 
that  James  S.  Mayfield  of  the  county  of  Fayette  and  Edward 
Burleson  of  the  county  of  Bastrop'are  about  to  engage  in  a  duel 
which  duel  he  is  informed  and  believes  is  to  be  fought  in  the 
county  of  Fayette  within  a  few  days. 

Therefore  he  prays  Your  Honor  to  issue  the  necessary 
warrants  to  take  the  bodies  of  the  said  James  S.  Mayfield  and 
Edward  Burleson  so  as  ^to  have  them  before  ynu  forthwith  to 
answer  the  above  charge  and  to  be  dealt  with  according  to   law. 

Thomas  Johnson,  Dist.  Alt'y 

3rd  Jud.  Dis.  R.  T. 

The  Republic  of  Texas,  ) 
Fayette  County,   Texas.  J 

This  day  personally  appeared  before  the  undersigned 
authority  Thomas  Johnson,  Dis.  Att'y  Third  Jud.  Dis.  R.  Texas, 
and  made  oath  that  the  matter  and  tilings  set  forth  in  the  above 
petition  as  far  as  within  his  own  kn.iwledge  are  true  ;  those 
derived  from  the  information  of  others  he  believes  to  be  true. 

Thomas  Johnson,  Dist.  Att'y 

3rd  Jud.  Dist.  Republic  of  Texas. 
Sworn  to  and  subscribed    before   me    this    the    25tli    day    of 
September,  A    D.   184q. 

R.  E.  B,  Baylor, 

Judge  D, 


—179— 

"C."' 

.  'I 
Administrator's  Bond  of  N.  W.  Eastland  on  thk  Estate   of 

Nicholas  M.  Dawson. 

Republic  of  Texas,  | 
County  of  Fayette.  ) 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  we,  Nicholas  VV.  East- 
land as  principal,  .James  S.  Lester,  Aaron  A,  Gardiner  as 
securities  are  held  and  bound  unto  II,  E.  B.  Baylor,  Judge  of 
the  Third  Judicial  District  and  his  successors  in  office  in  penal 
sum  of  Fourteen  Hundred  Dollars  for  the  payment  of  which  we 
bind  ourselves  and  each  of  us  and  each  of  our  heirs,  our  execu- 
tors and  administrators  firmly  by  these  presents  signed  with  our 
hands  and  sealed  with  our  seals  this  Twenty-seventh  day  of 
February,  A.  D.  One  thousand  eight  hundred  and  forty-three. 

The  condition  of  the  above  obligation  is  such  that  whereas 
the  above  bound  Nicholas  VV.  Eastland  has  been  duly  appointed 
Administrator  of  the  Estate  of  Nicholas  M.  Dawson,  Now  if  the 
said  Nicholas  W.  Eastland  shall  well  and  truly-  perform  all  the 
dutie?  that  may  be  required  of  nim  as  such  administrator,  then, 
the  above  obligation  to  be  null  and  void,  otherwise  to  remain  in 
full  force  and  virtue. 

Signed,  sealed  and  delivered-the  day  and  date  above  written. 

N.  W.  Eastland. 
J.  S.  Lkster. 
Approved:  A.  A.  Gardiner.- 

R.  E.  B.  Baylor, 
Judge  etc. 
Edorsed: 

N.  W.  Eastland,  Bond  as  Administrator  on  the  Estate  of 
N.M.Dawson.  Filed  Feby  27th.  1843.  Attest:  James  P. 
Longley,  Clk  D.  C.  F.  Co. 

'•D  " 
List  of  Freeholders  in  Fayette  County  DuRiN(i  the  Time 

OF  the  Republic  of  Texas. 
i"T    The  following  list  of  Freeholders>f  Fayette  County  during 
the  time  of  the  Republic  of  Texas   was«  found   by  the  writer  iu 


—180— 

the  district  clerk's  office.  He  cannot  say  whether  it  was  an 
official  list  or  a  list  compiled  by  some  officer  of  the  court  for  his 
private  use.  The  copy  is  exact  and  follows  the  original  even  in 
the  mistakes  made  in  the  spelling  of  names. 


Republic  of  Texas, 
County  of  Fayette. 

Aaron  A.  Gardiner. 
Robert  Sellers,  sen. 
James  Green. 
Vincent  L.  Evans. 
Lyman  M.  Stewart. 
James  xMorrow. 
Alfred  Morrow. 
James  Hodges. 
John  O'Bar. 
James  A.  Wits. 
Socrates  Darling. 
Richard  L.  Breeding. 
Richard  Breeding,  sr. 
Napoleon  B.  Breeding. 
David  Breeding. 
John  Engram. 
James  S.  Lester. 
John  H.  Moore. 
William  Lewis. 
Jasper  A.  Sargeant. 
Henry  Manton. 
Michael  R.  Goheen. 
Charles  Dancy. 
William  A.  Farris. 
John  Dancy. 
Aaron  Monroe. 
William  Thompson. 

Taylor. 

Robert  Hellers. 

Scallorn. 

George  Lyon. 
Sam'l  Fitzgerald. 

Maxwell. 

Hezekiah  Smith. 

i  Wall  ace. 

Packston. 

Daniel?. 


List  of  Freeholders. 

David  Berry. 
George  W.  Speer. 
Thomas  Thompson. 
John  Y.  Cryswell. 
Lee  Cottle, 
Zadok  Woods. 
Norman  Woods. 
Montville  Woods. 
Gonzalvo  Woods. 
Jesse  Burnam. 
William  Townsend. 
Jesse  Cliff't. 
Joel  W.  Robison. 
James  Caldwell. 
James  Stephens. 
Joseph  Beagle. 
Christian  Westner. 
Leroy  Cryswell. 
James  Ragsdale. 
Redden  Andrews. 
Nicholas  W.  Eastland. 
William  Eastland. 
William  Fitzgerald. 
Jesse  Sannehill. 
Michael  Andrews. 
B.  W.  Hopson. 

O'Daniel. 

Wm.  Primm. 
Henry  Earthman. 
John  Rabb. 
John  Crownover. 
Neither  Crownover. 
John  A.  Fox. 

Ferell. 

Toland. 

George  W.  Brazil. 


—181— 

"  E." 

List  of  Persons  Who  Paid  Occupation  Tax  in  Fayette 
County  in  1838-39. 
Nothing  will  show  the  reader  the  development  of  this  great 
county  more  clearly  than  a  glance  at  the  list  of  persons  who 
were  engaged  in  business  and  paid  a  license  tax  during  the  years 
of  1838-9  and  1840-41.  To  him  who  knows  the  large  extent  of 
this  county,  this  list  sliows  how  sparsely  settled  the  county  was 
at  that  time.  It  speaks  to  him  who  combines  tiie  list  of  names 
with  the  size  of  the  county,  to  some  extent,  of  the  condition  of 
the  country  and  not  that  alone,  it  sjjeaks  to  him  also  of  the 
habits  and  the  manners  of  those  times,  how  far  the  people  had 
to  travel  to  get  their  necessaries  from  a  store,  how  secluded  they 
lived,  how  seldom  they  saw  each  other,  how,  for  that  reason,  a 
visitor  was  welcomed  with  the  greatest  cordiality,  etc. 

Republic  of  Texas,  ]  District  Court, 
County  of  Fayette.  J  Fall  Term,  1839. 

To  the  Grand  Jury,  Greet. — 

I  furnish  you  with  the  following  list  of  all  persons   comply- 
ing with  the^reveuue  lawb  living  in  said  County  of  Fayette  : 

1838 
April.      Lester  &  Eastland,  Merchants. 

Jerome  B.  Alexander,  Liquor,  etc. 

Gerret  E.  Boern,  Liquor  and  Merchant. 

Hugh  Trenoo,  Peddler. 

J.  C.  Ragsdale,  Merchant. 
May  1.    McGovern  &  Houston,  Merchants. 
June.       S.  Toland  &  Co.,  " 

Isaac  McGary,  Liquors  and  Merchant. 
August.  G.  Sanders,  "         "  " 

J.  &L.  Cronkright"         "  " 

Griffin  &  Galaspie  "         " 

1839 

April.      Reddin  Andrews,  Tavern  and  Liquors. 
Asahel  Savery, 
W.  Thompson,  Merchant. 


—182— 

Wen.  Fitzgerald,  Tavern. 

Lester  &  Eastland,  Merchants. 

F.  Chenalt,  Tavern. 
.July.        J.  VV.  Posten,  Peddler.  ^ 

J.  &  J.  Shaw,  Merchants. 

Ct.  Suider,  Merchant. 
August,   Asa  Hill,  Tavern. 

Andrews  J.  Ivy,  Liquors. 

Lee  M.  Gray,  Liquors. 

CI.'G.  Blackwell,  Merchant. 
June.       Lester  &  Eastland,  Liquors. 

The  foregoing  list  I  certify    to   be  a  true  copy  of  memoran- 
dum and  account  curi-ent  kei)t  in  this  office  for  the  government. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  in   La  Grange  this  24tli  ot 
October,  1839. 

D.  S.   KOKNEGAY, 

Clerk  CD. 


"F."' 

List  of  Persons  to  Whom  Lk^ensks  Were  Issued  in  1840-41. 

Date  of  Receipt.        To  whom  issued.  '        For  what  purpose. 

1840 


Nov.  5. 

Sam  Crawford, 

Tavern. 

"    6. 

Frede  &  GoUrad, 

Merchants. 

11                  11 

Retailers     of     spirituous 
liquors  in   quantities  of 
a  quart  &  upwards. 

"  13. 

Warren  I.  Hill, 

Tavern. 

Dec.  11. 

V.,V.  Poinsett,  L 

Wines   &   spirituous    liq- 

Manford  &  L.  S. 

ors  in    quantities    of  a 

Bissett. 

quart  &  upwards. 

1841 

Jan. 

8. 

( t 

8, 

Mar 

.  18. 

( ( 

22. 

Ap. 

10. 

a 

14. 

May 

4. 

—183— 


N.  VV.  Faison,  Retailer  of  wines  S:  .spir- 

ituous   li((uor8   by    the 
drink,  etc. 
Jesse  liurnam,  Merchant. 

Charles  Howard,  Peddler. 

Martin  &  Stubblefield, 
Jos  Angalo  &  Ant  Rnoz,        " 
Robt.  S.  Alwfy,  Merchant. 

James  Patrick,  Peddler. 

"       7;  Richard  A.  Magee,  Merchant. 

"  "  Wines  &   spirituous   liq- 

uors in  quantities  of   a 
quart  &  upwards. 
May  8.  John  H    Harry,  Peddler. 

June  30.  Henry  Caselaine,  " 

July  8.  Patrick  Mackin,  " 

Aug,  20,  G.  Schneider,  Merchant. 

"  Wines   &  spirituous   liq- 

uors  in   quantities   of  a 
quart  &  upward. 
Sept.  18.  Enoch  Jones,       "  Peddler. 

Oct.  20.  Jesse  Burnnam,  Tavern. 

Nov.  G.  Frede  &  Honsman,         Merchants. 

"    10.  Lyman  M.  Stewart,         Peddler. 

"    12.  John  I    Jacobs,  Merchant. 

I  do  hereby  certify  the  foregoing  to  be  a  true  transcript  of 
the  names  of  the  persons  to  whom  Licenses  have  been  issued 
since  the  31st  of  October,  1840,  up  to  this  date. 

Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  of  office  at  La  Grange  this 
15th  day  of  Nov.  1841. 

[sKAL.]  Jerome  B.  Alexaander, 

Deputy  Clerk  C.  C.  F.  County. 

Endorsement:  Names  of  persons  who  have  obtained  Licenses 
in  Fayette  County  since  the  olst  of  October.  1841.  For  the 
Grand  Jury  Fall  Term  of  the  District  Court  1841. 


—184— 

An  Agreenent. 

A  document  that  breaks    very    pleasantly  the  monotony  of 
recorded  mortgages  and  bills  of  sales  is  the  following  :  — 

The  State  of  Texas,  ) 
County  of  Fayette,   j 

Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  we  the  undersigned 
subscribers  do  hereby  contract  and  agree  that  the  first  one  of  us 
who  shall  engage  himself  to  be  married  will  furnish  to  T.  Q. 
Mulliu,  T.  T.  Alexander,  Wm.  M.  Lewis,  Wm.  S.  Robson  R.  S. 
Homuth,  F.  C.  StreithofF,  John  VVertz,  Sam  Alexander,  J.  E. 
Rogers,  J.  B.  HoUoway  and  L.  S.  Wallace  two  baskets  of  cham- 
))agne  and  cigars  in  sufficient  number,  in  the  District  Clerk's 
office  within  two  days  after  said  engagement  has  been  made 
known. 

Given  under  our  hands  and  scrolls  this  the  18th  day  of  Jan- 
uary, A.  D.  1875. 

F.  C.  StreithoflF. 
R.  S.  Hormuth. 
Wm.  M.  Lewis. 
J,  E.  Rogers. 
Jno.  B.  Holloway. 
Jno.  Wertz,  Jr. 
S.  Alexander,  Jr. 

Properly  acknowledged,  filed  and  recorded  January  21, 
1875,  in  Record  of  Mortgages  and  Bills  of  Sale,  Fayette  County. 
Book  A.,  pp.  473  and  474. 

The  lucky  one  who  became  engaged  first  and  had  to  propi- 
tiate the  envy  of  his  comrades  was  Mr.  Jno.  B,  Holloway.  The 
day  was  celebrated  in  good  fashion.  Champagne  could  not  be 
obtained  in  LaGrange  ;  therefore,  other  wines  were  chosen.  The 
occasion  was  celebrated  in  Schulze's  cellar  in  which  his  friends 
and  their  friends  had  assembled  and  which  became  the  scene  of 
joy  and  merriment.  The  sober  cashier  of  the  First  National 
Bank  at  LaGrange  was  young  once,  too. 


—185- 


'H/  = 


List  of  County  Officers 
Since  the  Organization  of  the  County  in  1838. 
In  compiling  a  complete  and  correct  list  of  the  county  offi- 
cers since  the  organization  of  the   county   in    1888,    the    Official 
Bonds  of  said  officers  filed  in  the  county  clerk's  otfice,  the  Min- 
utes of  the  Proceedings  of  the  Commissioners'  Court  of  Fayette 
County  so  far  as  they  treat  of  the  approval  of  said  bonds  and  the 
Record  of  Election  Returns  have  been  used.     The  official  bonds 
are  not  complete,  a  great  many  bonds  of  the  county  otlicers  are 
missing,  neither  are  tlie    Minutes   of  the  Commissioners'   Court 
complete  on  that  subject;  the  Record  of  Election  Returns  before 
1848  is  missing  ;   may  be  a  record  thereof   was  never    kept;  and 
since  that  time,  leaves  of  same  are  missing  ;   at  times  the  office 
for  which  the  several  candidates  ran  lias  not  been  named.     Fre- 
quently the  election  records  are  not  dated  ;  sometimes  the  ofRce 
for    the    performance    of  the    duties  of   which  bonds  have  been 
given  is  not  named  therein  as,  for  instance,  in  the   bond   of  Dis- 
trict Clerk  T.  T.  Alexander  the  office  to    which  he    was    elected 
was  not  named.     Official  writings   were  astonisliingly  simple  in 
those  old  times.     The  tollou^mgis  a  bid  of  one    Wm.  Nabors  to 
assess  the  taxes  of  Fayette  County  in  1889  :    "I  propose  to  assesa 
the  Taxes  for  Fa3^ette  County  for  the  Sum  of  One  Hundred  Dol- 
lars.   \Vm.  iS'abors."  Not  dated.     Official  business  was  conducted 
in  an  accomraodating  way,  the  bond  of  sheriff  McAhron  who  was 
elected  July  13,  1846,  was  not  filed  before  January  14,  1848,  in 
the  county  clerk's  office.     The  bonds  were  generally  written  out 
in  full ;  for  a  great  many  years  the   bond  of  assessor  W.  B.  Mc- 
Clellan    remamed    the    only    one    written    on    a    printed  blank. 
Ihus,  all  three  of  these    records    are    very    incomplete,   but  by 
using  all  three  of  them  a   nearly  correct  list  of  county  officers 
may  be  compiled. 

The  old  records  are  yellowed  by  age  and  dusty,  they  are 
buried  and  stowed  away  in  out  of-the-way  corners  of  the  vault, 
dead  as  the  people  wlio  wrote  them,  shoved  away  and  forgotten 
like  them,  still,  they  bring  back  the  old  times  when  the  early 
settlers  of  Fayette  County  were  living  beings,  they  speak  of  their 


—186— 

fears  and  hopes,  of  their  plans  and  ambitions.  Now  a  new  gen- 
eration has  taken  their  place,  new  in  every  respect ;  the  descend- 
ants of  the  early  settlers  have  mostly  moved  away  to  other  parts 
of  the  state,  and  now  the  very  names  of  the  old  settlers  are  hardly 
ever  heard  in  the  county.  The  reader,  looking  over  the  official 
bonds,  will  find  two  of  them  besmeared  with  blood  ;  an  emphatic 
reminder  that  the  men  of  the  past  were  living  beings  of  flesh  and 
blood.  Did  a  tragedy  happen?  Most  likely  not;  for  long  afU-r 
the  filing  of  their  bonds  they  were  acting  again  in  an  official 
capacity  ;   probably,  nose  bleeding. 

The  size  of  this  book  prohibits  to  give  of  these  county  offi- 
cers more  than  their  names  ;  space  prohibits  to  represent  them 
in  flesh  and  blood,  but  people  who  knew  them  might  recall  their 
life  pictures,  their  hopes  and  ambitions  and  reflect  over  their 
dead  friends. 

After  the  close  of  the  Confederate  War  in  1865  a  great  many 
county  officers  were  appointed  by  A.  J.  Hamilton,  Provisional 
Governor  of  Texas.  From  this  time  on  (1866)  the  bonds  of  the 
county  officers  all  bore  U.  S.  internal  revenue  stamps  to  the 
amount  of  $1.05  and  upwards.  This  lasted  to  the  year  1873.  The 
internal  revenue  stamps  were  called  U.  S.  Exchange.  During 
this  period  county  officers  were  appointed  and  removed  by  mili- 
tary orders  of  Major  General  J.  J.  Reynolds.  Resignations  had 
to  be  mailed  through  the  county  judge  to  the  post  commandant 
at  Brenham.  During  1872  and  several  years  thereafter  the 
county  was  under  the  cattle  inspection  law  ;  the  cattle  inspectors 
were  appointed  by  the  Governor  ;  the  first  one  appointed  in 
Fayette  County  was  R.  J.  Carr. 

County  Judge's  Office. 
It  appears  that  in  early  times  county  judges  were  not  re- 
quired to  give  bonds.  The  first  bond  given  by  the  county 
judge  that  is  on  record  was  the  one  given  by  Reinhardt  Hille- 
brandt  in  the  year  I860.  It  was  the  duty  of  county  judges  in 
conjunction  with  the  commissioners  to  approve  bonds,  and  from 
the  signatures  of  the  county  judges  on  these  approved  bonds,  a 
list  of  them  may  be  compiled.  Up  to  the  year  1866  the  conuty 
judge  was  called  chief  justice  of  the  county  ;  in  the  latter  part  of 


—187— 


the  60's  the  terms  presiding  justice  and  county  judge  were  used 
promiscuously  ;  since  1876  the  term  county  judge  is  only  used. 

County  Judges. 


1838         A.  Rabb. 
1838-44  N.  W.  Eastland. 
1844-48  J.  S.  Lester. 
1848-50  J.  li.   McFarland. 
1850         N.  Ro bison. 
1850-55  Jno.  C.   Cabaniss. 

1854  Jno.   \V.  Chandler. 

1855  Jno.  McHandun. 
1855-56  L.  S.  Munger. 
1856-58  Chas.  S.  Longcope. 
1858-62  J.  B.  McFarland. 
1862-66   Wm.  J.   Russel. 


1866         VV.  B.  Price. 
1866-69  J.  C.  Stichl. 

1869  Reinhardt  Hillebrandt. 
1869-70  H.  Teichmueller. 

1870  Wm.  Lewis. 
1870-74  P.  Y.  McAshan. 
1874-76  Isaac  Sellers. 
1876-84  John  C.  Stichl. 
1884-90  A.  Haidusek. 
1890-96  W.  S.  Robson. 
1896-to    present     time,     Jos. 

Ehlinger. 


County   Clerks, 

Like  the  county  judges,  the  county  clerks  were  not  requir- 
ed to  give  bonds  in  early  times  ;  most  of  their  bonds  are  on 
record  since  1876.  In  this  office  there  have  been  deputies  at  as 
early  a  date  as  1841.  The  first  deputy  county  clerk  on  record 
was  S.  B.  Alexander. 


1885         1.  S.  Sister. 
1838-44  D.  S.  Kornegay. 
1844-46  Jas.  P.  Hudson. 
1846-54  N.  W.  Faison. 
1854-66  Z.  M.  P.  French. 
1866-(;9  N.  C.  Joiner. 


1869-76  S.  L.  Smith. 
1876-82  Thos.  Q.  Mullin. 
1882-90  Jos.  Ehlinger. 
1890-92  Jno.  T.   Rankin. 
1892  J.  P.  Ehlinger  (appointed) 
1892  to  Pres.  Time,  R.   Klatt. 


County  Attorneys. 

This  office  was  established  in  1876.  Before  that  time  tlie 
county  throu2[h  the  commissioners'  court  chose  and  employed 
lawyers  in  certain  cases  at  stipulated  rates.  In  1858  the  com- 
missioners' court  appointed,  on  the  petition  of  many  citizens, 
'Fred  Tate  as  county  attorney  for  the  prosecution  of  criminals. 
But  this  office  was  abolished  again  the  following  year. 


-188- 


1876-78  R.  H.  Phelps. 
1878-80  L.  Lindsay. 
18SO-81  B.  D.  Shropshire. 
1881-86  J.  W.  Hill. 
1886-90  Geo.  VVillrioh. 


1890-92  C.  E.  Lane. 
1892-94  J.  F.  Wolters. 
1894-00  Percy  Faison. 
1900  Pres.  time  Sam  C.  Lowrey 


Sheriffs. 

Up  to  1847  the  sheriff' of  the  county  was  also  at  the  same  time 
tax  collector;  since  that  time  the  collector's  office  was  connected 
with  the  assessor's  office.  In  the  early  70's  these  two  offices  of 
collector  and  sherifi'  were  again  connected.  Since  1876  each  of 
these  offices  is  kept  separate. 

1838-41 
1841-44 


VVm.  Nabors. 
1854-45  John  W.  McKissick. 
1845-46  A.  A.  Gardiner. 
1846-48  William  McAhron. 
1848-49  Dave  Grady.* 
1849-52  Lovick  D.  Webb.* 
1852-55  Jeremiah  Moore.* 
1855         J.  A.  Fitz.t 
1855-57  S.  Alexander  Iriwn. 
1858-60  J.  A.  Fitz. 
1860-61  Albert  T.  Smith. 
1861-63   Wm,  M.  Davidson. t 
1863  64  James  I.  Patton. 


1864-65  L.  P.  Webb. 
1865-66  John  L.  Smith. 
1866-67  Thos.  W.  Smith. 
1867         T.  P.  Hood. 
1867         N.  B.  Ferguson. 
1868-73  A.  T.  Smith. 
1873-67  Louis  Jost. 
1876-80  U.  Rabb. 
1880-82  Nat.  C.  Rives. 
1882-86  Jno.  T.  Rankin. 
1886         Wm.  A.  Rankin. 
1884-94  B.  L.  Zapp. 
1895  to  Pres.  time-Aug  Loessin. 


Notes — *Dave  Grady,  Lovick  D.  Webb  and  Jeremiah  Moore  died 
during  their  term  of  office. 

tJ.  A.  Fitz,  appointed  by  District  Judge  Jno.  Hancock. 
+  Wm.  M.  Davidson,  resigned  during  his  term  of  office. 


County  Teeasurp:rs. 

Since  1855  the  county  treasurer  gave  also  bond  for  the 
school  fund  of  the  county  of  which  he  took  charge  as  county 
treasurer  in  provision  with  "An  Act  to  establish  a  System  of 
Schools,  appr.  Jan  31,  1854."  Bonds  for  school  funds  and 
county  funds  had  to  be  given  separately. 


—189— 

1838-40 1856-58  Edmund  V.  McAshan. 

1840-43  Jerome  B.  Alexander.  1858         Sam  M.  McAshan. 

1843         James  P.  Longley.  1858-64  R.  S.  Carter. 

1843         VV.  B.  Meriwether.  1864-65  B.  B.  Hudnall. 

1844-45  G.  W.  Sinks.  1865-66  R.  P.  Decherd. 

1845-51  A.  L.  Vail.  1866-74  A.  L.  I).  Moore. 

1851-52  J.  B.  McFarland.  1874  to  pres.  time.   R.  T.   Brad- 
1852-56-B.  B.  Hudnall.  shaw. 

County  Assessors. 

From  1847  to  1870  the  office  of  assessor  was  connected 
with  the  office  of  collector,  in  the  year  1847  Assessor  J. 
W.  McKissick  was  appointed  to  take  the  census  of  the 
county,  the  first  census  taken  of  Fayette  County.  In  1858 
Assessor  N.  B.  Yancy  had  to  giye  bond  to  take  the  census  of 
Fayette  County  correctly  in  accordance  with  an  Act  ap])roved 
January  18,  1858,  entitled  "An  Act  to  provide  for  an  enumera- 
tion of  the  inhabitants  of  the  State  of  Texas  for  the  year  1858." 
1838-39  Michael  R.  Gohen.  1865-66  \Vm.  Lewis,  Sr.  ' 
1839-40   Wm.  Nabors.  1866  69  R.  J.  Goode. 

1840-46  S.  S.  B,  Fields.  1869         Henry  Renick. 

1846-49  J.  VV.  McKissick.  1869-76  Reinhardt  Hillebrandt. 

1849-54  \V.  B.  McClellan.  1876-80  VV.  S.  Kobson. 

1854-56  J.  C.  Stribbling.  1880-82  U.  Rabb. 

1856-60  Napoleon  B.  Yancy.      1892-96  G.  A.  Heilig. 
1860-65  Jno.  C.  Cabaniss.  1896  to  pres.  time.  C.  H.  Stein- 

man  n. 
Tax  Colleotors. 

This  office  was  connected  till  1847  with  the  sheriff's  office, 
then  up  to  1870  with  the  assessor's  office,  then  to  187(5  again 
with  the  sheriff's  office  and  since  1876  it  is  established  separately. 
1876  82  J.  R,  Scates.  1882  to  pres.time.  Neal  Robison. 

County  Suiiveyors. 

1838-42  D.  Green.  1877-86  Richard  A.  Doss. 

1842-44  James  P.  Hudson.  1886-88  R.  Koper. 

1844-48   VV.  Lindsay.  1888-90  E.  R.  Vogt. 

1848-52  Z.  M.  P.  French.  1890-96   Wm.  Menefee. 

1852         J.  B.  Armstrong.  1896-98  J.  D.  Romberg. 

1873-76  Richard  A.  Doss.  1898-1900  Theo.   Dieckert. 

1876-77  Homer  B.  Hill.  1900  to  pres.  time.   E.  R.    Vogt. 


—100— 

County  School  Superintendents. 

There  was  an  office  of  county  superintendent  also  during 
some  time  of  the  era  of  reconstruction.  This  office  was  abol- 
ished in  1876.  The  last  superintendent  of  that  period  was 
Fred  Seydler.  His  books  were  found  correct.  At  his  departure 
from  tiiis  office,  he  was  commended  by  the  court  for  faithful 
performance  of  duty  and  furnished  with  a  copy  of  this  order. 
The  office  of  county  school  superintendent  was  again  created  by 
the  commissioners'  court  in  1895.  In  1898  the  question,  if  the 
county  superintendent's  office  should  be  abolished  was  submitted 
at  the  general  election  to  the  vote  of  the  people.  They  decided 
for  the  continuance  of  this  office. 

1894  96  E.  Heimann.  1998  to  pves.  time.   G.  A.  Stifr- 

1896-98  J.  H.  O'Bar.  ling. 

District  Clerks. 

1838-42 1865-66  \Vm.  B.  McClellan. 

1842-46  James  P.  Longley.  1966         Theo.  Carter. 

1846         M.  H.  Sellers.  1867         Elijah  Hanbrough. 

1846-47  James  S.  Woolley.  1873-76  T.  T.  Alexander.* 

1847-54  Theodore  Carter.  1776-94  Jno.  B,  HoUoway. 

1854-65  R.  S.  Carter.  1894-98  C.  L,  Neese. 

1858-65  Theo.  Carter.  1898  to  pres.  time.  J.  E.  Baker. 

Note. — *T.  T.  Alexander  who  was  again  elected  to  office  in  1876 
did  not  qualify  and  district  judge  L.  H.  Moore  appointed  J.  B.  HoUo- 
way. 


—  191— 


COUNTY  OFFICERS. 


Joseph  Echols  Baker. 

Joseph  Echols  Baker,  the  district  clerk  of  Fayette  County, 
belongs  to  some  of  the  oldest  families  of  the  United  States. 
His  ancestors  on  both  sides,  on  his  father's  side  as  well  as  on 
his  mother's  side  were  in  America  already  "in  good  old  Colony 
Times."  His  ancestry  on  both  sides  were  patriots  and  the  male 
part  distinguished  themselves  on  the  fields  of  battle,  sometimes 
as  "'rebels,"  but  always  in  the  right.  J.  E.  Baker,  their  son, 
proved  himself  worthy  of  his  ancestry.  He  served  during  the 
entire  war  in  the  confederate  army,  and  after  the  close  of  the 
war,  he  was  denied  for  years  the  right  of  suffrage  on  account  of  his 
war  record.  But  he  remained  faithful  to  his  convictions.  His 
reward  came  too.  After  the  overthrow  of  the  carpet-bag  govern- 
ment, the  wliite  people  rewarded  his  sterling  worth  and  elected 
him  to  ofEce.  He  has  served  tiie  people  in  some  public  capaci- 
ty for  the  last  thirty  years,  principally  as  justice  of  the  peace 
and  city  secretary  of  La  Grange.  He  has  been  deputy  district 
clerk  since  the  adoption  of  the  constitution  in  187().  He  was 
elected  district  clerk  in  1898  in  which  office  he,  on  account  of 
his  long  experience,  served  the  people  with  great  ability. 

His  parents  were  Leonard  and  Lamira  (Garner)  Baker;  his 
father  was  a  native  of  Virginia;  his  mother,  a  native  of  Tenn- 
essee. Joseph  Echols,  their  son,  was  born  May  9,  1845,  in 
Nashville,  Tenn.  After  the  war  he  came  to  Texas.  In  October 
he  married  Miss  Patti  Davidson  of  the  Davidson— Caldwell 
family  who  has  resided  in  Texas  over  fifty  years.  They  came 
from  Bedford  County,  Tennessee,  and  still  further  back  from 
"Quid  Ireland."  The  children  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Baker  are: 
Mrs.  Jose])hine  Thompson,  Lieut.  Leonard  Baker,  U.  S.  A.,  and 
Miss  Tibbie  Hay  Baker. 


—192— 


Sam  C.  Lowrey. 

A  proof  that  the  people  of  Fayette  County  welcome  a  new- 
comer, provided  he  is  of  the  right  kind,  gives  the  career  of  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  Sam  C.  Lowrey.     He  came  to  this  county 

in  1896,  and  four  years 
later  he  was  popular  enougli 
to  be  elected  by  the  peo- 
ple as  county  attorney  by 
a  very  fine  vote. 

Sam  C.  Lowrey  is  a  na- 
tive of  the  state  famous  for 
fair  women,  good  whiskey 
and  fine  horses.  He  was 
born  August  26,  1868,  in 
Troy,  Woodford  County, 
Kentucky,  right  in  the 
heart  of  the  blue  grass  re- 
gion. His  parents  are  Dr. 
John  C.  Lowrey  and  Jane 
Guyer  Lowrey.  He  was 
educated  at  the  Central 
University  of  Richmond, 
Ky. ,  and  received  the  de- 
gree of  A.  B.  of  that  institution  in  June,  1892.  He  then  entered 
the  Washington  and  Lee  University  of  Lexington,  Va.,  graduated 
in  law  in  June,  1895,  and  received  his  diploma  as  L.L.B.  He 
was  admitted  in  Lexington,  Va.,  to  the  bar  of  Virginia  in  1895  and 
in  Nicholsville,  Ky.,  to  the  bar  of  Kentucky  in  1896.  During  the 
same  year  he  came  to  Texas.  He  first  struck  LaGrange,  and  as 
he  liked  the  place,  he  did  not  look  out  for  a  second  location,  but 
located  right  here.  He  opened  a  law  office  and  practised  law. 
In  April,  1899,  he  was  elected  city  attorney  of  LaGrange.  April 
15,  1899,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Carrie  McKinney  of  this  city. 
Li  1900  he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  county  attorney. 

The  people  did  not  misplace  their  confidence.  He  has  prov- 
en an  efficient  and  faithful  officer  and  thereby  increased  consider- 
ably the  number  of  his  friends. 


I 


Sam  C.  Lowrey, 


—193— 


RuD,  Klatt. 

All  the  people  who  have  had  business  in  the  county  clerk's 
office  speak  in  words  of  high  recommendation  of  the  efficiency 
and  accommodation  of  its  popular  occupant.  Rud.  Klatt  has 
held  this  office  for  five  terms  and  during  that  time  has  constantly 
increased  his  reputation  for  accuracy,  carefulness  and  faithful- 
fulness.  The  duties  of  a  county  clerk  are  various,  very  arduous 
and  require  great  ability.  An  inexperienced  man  might  create 
in  that  office  a  world  of  con- 
fusion. The  people  are  gen- 
erally glad,  if  they  have  elected 
to  that  office  an  efficient  man. 
If  he  has  proven  efficient,  if 
he  is  accommodating  and  un- 
assuming as  the  present 
incumbent,  he  becomes  so 
solid  with  the  people  that  an 
opponent  does  not  offer  to  run 
against  him,  he  very  rightly 
])resuming  the  verdict  of  the 
])enple  to  be  in  the  incum- 
bent's favor.  The  career  of 
Rud.  Klatt  has  not  always 
been  without  its  thorns  and 
reverses.  At  the  youthful  age 
i)f  six  years  he  lost  his  fatiier. 
at  the  age  of  nine,  his  mother. 
An  older  sister  took  care  of 
him.  Later  he  had  the  mis- 
fortune to  lose  his  left  arm  in  a  cornshucker  and  sheller.  Rut  we 
always  find  him  undaunted  at  his  post  of  duty,  doing  his  duty 
toward  himself  and  his  fellow-citizens. 

The  parents  of  Rud.  Klatt  were  Andreas  and  Anna  Klatt, 
nee  Krause.  They  were  farmers  in  the  county  of  Wongrovie, 
l)rovince  of  Posen,  Germany.  Rudolph  was  born  there  July  12, 
1858  and  came  with  his  parents  to  the  United  States  in  185G. 
They  settled  at   Welcome,  Austin  County,  Texas.       His  fatlier 


Rud.  Klatt. 


—194  — 

died  when  Rudolph  was  only  six,  his  mother,  when  he  was  nine 
j^ears  old.  Thus,  he  was  left  an  orphan  in  a  hard  world.  His 
older  sister  took  care  of  hini.  He  was  educated  at  private 
schools  in  Berlin,  Washington  County,  and  High  Hill,  B'ayette 
County.  All  his  spare  time  he  emyloyed  in  getting  a  better 
education,  studying  by  himself.  He  farmed  till  the  age  of 
tvvent3'-one  years.  He  than  clerked  for  Roos  Bros.,  Brenham, 
Texas,  for  one  year.  We  next  hear  of  him  as  manager  of  the 
cotton  gin  and  oil  mill  at  High  Hill.  Here  he  lost  his  jeft  arm. 
After  farming  in  the  year  1879,  he  passed  his  teacher's  exami- 
nation in  the  fall  of  that  year,  and  followed  the  profession  of 
teaching  for  a  period  of  thirteen  years.  From  1879  to  1881  he 
taught  at  Sedan,  from  1881  to  1S85,  at  Middle  Creek,  from  1885 
to  1887  at  the  La  Grange  High  School,  from  1887  to  1892  at 
Koundtop.  He  was  recognized  ns  an  able  and  efficient  teacher 
throughout  the  county  and  served  from  1885  to  1890  on  the 
board  of  examiners. 

He  was  married  in  1875  to  Miss  Marie  Hillje  of  High  Hill. 
His  children  are  Miss  Selma,  at  home;  Arthur,  assistant  mana- 
ger of  the  Weimar  Oil  works;  Paul,  rice  farmer  and  manager  of 
a  large  rice  farm  near  Lane  City,  Wharton  County;  Hedwig  and 
Annie,  at  home. 

August  Loessin. 

There  is  no  man  in  the  county  who  is  liked  better  by  part 
of  the  population  of  this  county  and  feared  and  hated  more  by 
the  other  part  than  August  Loessin.  The  law-abiding  citizens 
look  with  with  confidence  and  pride  upon  him,  the  lawless 
element  gives  him  a  wide  berth  and  prefers  very  much  not  to 
be  in  his  august  presence.  Not  that  he  is  not  a  sociable,  unas- 
suming gentleman,  but  the  criminally  disposed  have  every 
reason  to  shun  him.  As  sheriff  of  the  county  he  has  made  a 
record  for  fearlessness  and  energy  not  surpassed  anywhere  in 
Texas.  Numerous  are  the  instances  where  he  has  arrested 
criminals  who  had  escaped  the  clutches  of  the  law;  very  often 
he  reached  into  his  own  pocket  to  effect  their  arrest  in  order  that 
the  people  might  be  protected  in  their  lives  and  properties.       It 


—195— 

is  largely  due  to  his  efforts  that  this  county  enjoys  a  reputation 
for  law  and  order  hardly  equaled  anywhere  in  the  state. 

August  Loessin  was  born  February  19,  1853,  in  Prussia  and 
came  with  his  parents,  Fritz  Loessin  and  Frederike  Loessin,  nee 
Ramthun,  when  he  was  only  three  weeks  old,  to  the  United 
States.  The  healthy  sea-breeze  was  no  doubt  favorable  to  the 
development  of  his  strength.  He  is  now  considered  one  of  the 
strongest  men  in  the  county.  His  parents  first  settled  near 
Fayetteville  and  in  1865  they 
moved  to  Black  Jack  Springs. 
Here  his  fatiier  died  in  1809; 
his  mother  is  still  living  on 
the  old  homestead. 

August  Loessin  was  edu- 
cated in  the  private  and  public 
schools  at  Faj-etteville  and 
Black  Jack  Springs.  Up  to 
1882  he  farmed  at  Black  Jack 
and  Swiss  Alp.  In  1875  he 
married  Miss  Louise  Stege- 
mann  at  the  latter  place.  In 
1882  he  went  into  the  mercan- 
tile business  at  Cedar  in  which 
he  was  engaged  till  1894.  In 
that  year  he  was  elected  sher- 
iff. Since  tliat  time  he  has 
lilled  this  office  to  llie  general 
satisfaction  of  the  people.  august  loessin. 

In  his  arduous  duties  as  sheriff  he  is  very  ably  and  faithfully 
assisted  by  his  two  brothers,  Willie  and  Hermann  Loessin. 


K.  T.  Bradshav^'. 

If  a  name  has  ever  been  popular  in  the  county,  if  a  name  has 
ever  been  mentioned  with  words  of  praise  and  respect,  if  a  name 
has  ever  stood  as  the  emblem  of  faithfulness  and  honesty,  it  is 
the  name  of  the  treasurer  of  Fayette  County,  R.  T.  Bradshaw. 


— 1^)0— 


For  nearly  thirty  years  he  has  been  at  the  head  of  the  financial 
department  of  the  county,  the  best  proof  of  the  implicit  confi- 
dence the  people  place  m  his  honesty  and  reliability.  If  a 
stranger  should  meet  this  unassuming  gentleman,  he  most  likely 
would  take  him  for  a  substantial,  well-to-do  farmer.  The  fact 
that  his  success  has  not  affected  in  the  least  his  modest,  unas- 
suming manners,  that  he  is  still  the  quiet,  friendly  gentleman  he 
used  to  be  in  days  gone  by,  that  he  is  still  the  faithful  friend 
and  servant  of  the  people  thoroughly  identified  with  their  in- 
terests, taking  a  sympathetic  share  in  their  joys  and  sorrows 
has  given  him  a  hold  on  tlieir  affection  so  that  they  look  upon 

him  rather  as  an  aged  relative 
than  as  the  treasurer  of  this 
county.  Thus,  ''Uncle  Bob" 
in  Fayette  County  means  R. 
T.  Brads  haw. 

Mr.  R.  T.  Bradshavv  was 
born  November  6,  1839,  in 
Bedford  County,  Tennessee. 
His  parents  were  Amsi  and 
Hannah  Bradshaw  ;  the  form- 
er, a  Presbyterian  minister.  In 
1857  the  family  moved  from 
Bedford  County,  Tennessee, 
to  LaGrange.  Here  his  par- 
ents remained  till  their  death. 
Mr.  R.  T.  Bradshaw  started 
in  the  general  merchandise 
business  in  LaGrange  in  the 
year  1859.     Three  years  later 

he  entered  a  cavalry  regiment 
R.  T.  Bradshaw.  ,  ,  •       ,       i       • 

and  served  as  a  private  during 
the  Civil  War.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  La 
Grange,  clerked  there  for  Carter,  Webb  &  Co.,  then  for  Capt.  S. 
Alexander  and  later  for  White  &  Bradshaw.  He  was  elected 
county  treasurer  in  1872.  but  the  former  incumbent  of  the  office 
making  a  contest,  it  was  as  late  as  February  11,  1874,  before  he 
qualitied   and    assumed  charge  of  the  office,     This  office  he  has 


-197— 


filled  to  such  satisfaction  to  the  people  that  he  has  been  elected 
generally  without  any  opposition,  opposing  candidates  oiiering 
themselves  only  at  great  intervals  not  for  election,  but  only  for 
defeat. 

jMr.  R.  T.  Bradshaw  was  married  in  August,  1860  to  Miss 
Anna  L.  Cook  of  Fayette  County.  To  their  union  were  born 
three  children:  Anna,  wife  of  Mr.  lilackstone  White  of  I^a 
Grange  ;  Amsi  Bradshaw,  farmer  in  Wharton  County ;  Miss 
Mabel,  attending  school  at  Dallas. 

C.  H.  Stein  MANN. 

The  following  is  a  sketch  of  the  popular  and  efficient  as- 
sessor of  this  county,  C.  H.  Steinmann.  He  is  a  native  Fayette 
County  boy  and  by  his  affable 
and  gentlemanly  manners  has 
acijuired  a  wide-spread  [)opu- 
larity  in  the  county  of  his 
birth.  On  account  of  this  pop- 
ularity he  was  elected  asses- 
sor of  the  county  at  the  youth- 
ful age  of  twenty-three  years. 
His  devotion  to  his  work,  his 
faithful  performance  of  the 
duties  of  his  office  have  met 
with  the  general  approval  of 
the  people  ;  and,  therefore, 
the  number  of  his  friends  has 
considerably  increased. 

C.  H.  Steinmann  was  born 
at  the  East  Navidad  on  Aug. 
15,  1873.  His  parents  are 
Chris,  and  Louise  Steinmann, 
They  came  to  this  county 
when  quite  young.  Chris. 
Steinmann  came  to  this  country  in  1849  and  settled  on  the 
Bluff;  later  he  moved  to  the  East  Navidad,  six  miles  north  of 
Schulenburg  where  he  is  still  engaged  in  farming  and  stock 
raising. 


C.  H.  Steinmann. 


— 19g— 


C.  H.  Steiumanu  attended  the  public  schools  of  Walker 
Branch,  Middle  Creek  and  Schnlenburg.  He  then  studied  at  the 
A.  and  M.  College  and  at  HilPs  Business  College  at  Waco. 
After  graduating  at  the  latter  college  he  accepted  a  position  as 
bookkeeper  for  M.  M.  Kemp  &  Co.,  Cameron,  Texas.  From 
1893  to  1895  he  kept  books  for  P.  B.  Stephenson  in  Yoakum, 
Texas.  In  1896  he  returned  to  his  native  county,  made  the 
race  for  assessor  and  was  elected  by  a  nice  vote.  His  work  has 
met  with  the  general  approval  of  the  people,  and  he  has  been 
re-elected  to  that  ofhce  twice  without  opposition,  the  best  proof 
of  his  efficiency  and  popularity. 

Neal  Robison. 

The  name  of  Robison  has  more  than  once  adorned  the  pages 
of  Texas  History.     The  reader  remembers  of  having  found  the 

name  of  the  father  of  tlie 
present  tax  collector  in  a  pre- 
vious part  of  this  history  as 
one  of  the  captors  of  Santa 
Anna.  Other  men  may  be 
proud  of  the  feats  of  their 
ancestors,  but  Neal  Robison, 
in  his  simple  democratic  way, 
holds  that  the  reputation  in- 
herited from  one's  ancestors 
must  be  acquired  by  proving 
one's  self  worthy  of  it.  The 
merit  of  the  ancestors  must 
shine  also  in  their  descend- 
ants, if  they  shall  have  the 
right  to  be  proud  of  it.  And 
Neal  Robison  has  proved  him- 
self worthi''  as  a  chip  of  the 
old  block.  For  twenty  years 
he  has  filled  the  office  of  tax 
collector,  the  repeated  verdict 
of  the  people  being  the  very  best  proof  of  his  high  standing 
amongst  them. 


NEAL  ROBISON. 


—199— 

The  parents  of  Neal  Robison  were  Joel  W.  and  Emily 
Robison,  nee  Alexander.  l£is  fatlier  was  born  in  Georgia,  tl)en 
moved  to  the  southern  portion  of  Florida  and  came  from  that 
state  to  Texas  in  1829.  Neal's  mother  came  to  Texas  in  1830 
from  Paducah,  Kentucky.     They  were  married  in  1838. 

Their  son  Neal  was  born  July  6,  1848  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  present  VVarrenton.  He  was  educated  in  private  schools 
of  that  neighborhood.  From  1860  to  1862  he  was  a  student  in 
Prof.  Dechard's  Academy  at  La  Grange,  Texas.  In  1863  he 
entered  the  Bastrop  Military  Institute,  then  in  charge  of  Col. 
R.  T.  1.  Allen,  a  West  Point  graduate.  There  he  remained 
until  1865.  After  the  war  the  present  Governor  J.  D.  ISayers 
was  one  of  the  teachers  of  the  Institute,  and  Neal  Robison 
received  the  benetit  of  his  instruction.  From  1867  to  1869  he 
was  a  student  in  the  law  class  of  the  University  of  Virginia,  of 
which  institution  he  became  a  graduate  in  International  and 
Constitutional  Law  (1869).  In  that  year  he  returned  to  Texas 
and  in  1872  he  went  into  the  general  merchandise  business  with 
his  father  at  Warrenton.  There  he  remained  till  1878.  In  the 
following  year  he  came  to  La  Grange,  where  he  married  Miss 
Hallie  P.  Carter,  the  daughter  of  John  H.  Carter,  a  successful 
merchant  of  La  Grange.  From  1880  to  1882  he  was  engaged  in 
buying  cotton  in  La  Grange.  In  the  fall  of  the  latter  year  he  was 
elected  tax  collector,  which  olHce  ha  has  held  ever  since. 

His  son,  Joel  Rush  Robison,  was  born  at  La  Grange  in  1883. 
He  stays  at  home  with  his  father  and  assists  him  in  his  work. 

G.  A.  Stierling. 
The  reader  will  now  be  made  acquainted  witli  a  few  data  in  ' 
the  life  of  our  Public  School  Superintendent.  When  in  ihe 
year  1898  the  voice  of  the  people,  on  account  of  his  long  experi- 
ence in  teaching,  called  him  to  that  office,  it  hardly  could  have 
secured  a  better  man  for  that  position.  Conservative,  attentive 
to  his  duties,  he  silently,  but  steadily  works  for  the  good  of  the 
schools  ;  a  work,  not  much  noised  about,  but  none  the  less 
valuable  ;  a  work  in  which  more  hard  work  is  to  be  done,  more 
judgment  and  common  sense  to  be  employed  than  glory  to  be 
earned. 


—200— 


Mr.  G.  A.  Stierliiig,  the  son  of  E.  G.  Stierling,  an  owner  of 
privileged  estate,  was  born  in  1850  on  the  estate  of  Kressin, 
Mecklenburg — Schwerin,  Germany.  He  received  a  superior 
education  at  the  gymnasium  of  Klausthal,  Hanover,  a  school 
famous  for  classical  learning.  In  1868  he  entered  the  90th  regi- 
ment as  one  year  volunteer  for  military  service.  In  1869  we 
find  him  far  away  from  the  fatherland  engaged  in  the  mercantile 
branch  of  the    tobacco    business    at    Dunedin,     New    Zealand. 

During  the  Franco-German 
war  he  went  back  to  Ger- 
many and  entered  the  84th 
Schleswig-Holstein  bataillon. 
In  December  1871  he  came 
to  Texas.  Here,  he  lirst 
entered  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness and  secured  a  position 
with  H.  Miller  in  Bellville, 
next  he  was  employed  by  H. 
Knittel  in  Burton.  In  1874 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Exa 
Moses.  1879  was  the  first 
year  he  engaged  in  teaching; 
he  has  taught  with  great  suc- 
cess in  Washington,  Austin, 
Bastrop  and  Fayette  Counties 
and  established  a  reputation 
as  a  thorough  and  competent 
teacher.  In  1898  he  was 
elected  to  the  office  of  public 
school  superintendent  of  Fayette  County.  His  work  in  this 
office  has  deserved  and  also  met  with  the  approval  of  the  people. 

His  two  oldest  sons  haye  chosen  their  father's  profession 
of  teaching.  His  oldest  son,  Mr.  John  L.  Stierling,  is  principal 
of  the  Shiner  school  and  has  been  elected  this  year  as  principal 
of  the  Germania  school  in  Fayettevilie.  His  second  son,  Mr. 
Hubert  F.  Stierling  was  engaged  as  teacher  of  the  Bluff  school ; 
both  gentlemen  are  successful  teachers. 


G.  A.  Stierling. 


—201— 


THE    BENCII    AND    BAR     OF 
FAYETTE    COIT]NrTY. 


There  has  been  no  iieriod  in  the  History  of  Texas  when 
Fayette  County  has  not  played  a  leadinof  or  at  least  prominent 
part  in  tlie  affairs  of  this  state.  She  owed  her  prominence  largely 
to  that  galaxy  of  superior  minds  who  as  her  citizens  adorned  the 
bench  and  bar  of  the  state.  These  public-spirited  citizens  dis- 
tinguislied  themselves  not  only  as  lawyers,  but  also  as  patriots 
and  history  makers  of  the  country,,  The  reader  understands  the 
inlluence  which  Fayette  County  exerted  in  the  afiairs  of  Texas 
when  he  looks  at  the  list  of  n?mes  of  lawyers  who  have  practiced 
in  La  Grange  and  adorned  the  bar  of  Fayette  County,  viz..  A, 
J.  Hamihun,  J.  W.  Stajton,  Fred.  Chandler,  \V.  G.  Welsli,  Vu\. 
B.  Timmons,  H.  Teiclmiueller,  Vol.  Ellis,  Major  Jarn.on,  Capt. 
11.  H.  Thelps,  Capt.  \V.  H.  Ledbetter,  Major  B.  F.  Dunn  and 
a  great  many  others.  They  are  dead,  but  their  patriotic  spirit 
lives  after  them  in  the  present  Fayette  County.  Bar  who  have 
ciiosen  their  shining  examples  to  guide  their  conduct  and  inspire 
their  ambition. 

Many  of  the  district  judges  who  had  occupied  tlie  bench 
of  Fayette  County  distinguished  themselves  later  on  as  mem- 
bers of  Congress  and  influenced  and  shaped  national  legisla- 
tion. Fayette  County  belonged  during  the  days  of  the  Republic 
of  Texas  to  the  Third  Judicial  District;  the  judges  of  that  dis- 
trict were:  U.  M.  Williamson,  October  1838-39;  John  T.  Mills, 
October  1839-41;  Robt.  E.  B.  Baylor,  October  1841  to  fall  of  184G. 
In  the  latter  3'ear  Texas  was  admitted  to  the  Union;  the  judi- 
cial districts  were  redistricted  and  Fayette  County  was  placed  in 
the  Second  Judicial  District.  The  judges  of  this  district  were: 
From  fall  1846  to  May  18.j2  Hon.  Wni.  E.  Jones;  from  May 
1852  to  March  1856  John  Hancock;  from  March  1S56  to  Novem- 
ber 1856  Thomas  Duval.  In  the  year  1856  the  judicial  districts 
of  Texas  were  again  redistricted  and  Fayette  County  now 
belonged  to  the  First  Judicial  District.  The  judges  of  this  dis- 
trict were:     From  November  lS56-59(?)  James  M.   Bell;  1859-65 


—202— 

George  W.  Smith;  ]865-66  Ben  Shropshire;  Oct.-Dec.  1867  J.  B. 
McFarland.  During  the  era  of  Reconstruction  district  judges 
were  appointed  by  military  orders.  After  the  adoption  of  the 
constitution  of  1876  Fayette  County  was  placed  in  the  Twenty- 
second  Judicial  District.  The  district  judges  of  this  district 
were:  From  November  1876  to  1884  L.  W .  Moore;  1884-1901  H. 
Tbichmueller,  and  since  then  again  L.  W.  Moore. 


The  writer  could  not  obtain  data  on  the  life  of  all  the  dis- 
trict judges  who  occupied  the  bench  of  Fayette  County.  He 
therefore  gives  to  the  reader  those  skezches  which  he  was  able 
to  obtain. 


R.  M.  Williamson. 


The  first  man  called  to  preside  in  the  District  Court  was 
Robert  M.  Williamson,  one  of  the  historical  characters  of  the 
Republic  of  Texas.  He  resided  at  that  time  in  the  old  town  of 
Washington  on  the  Brazos.  He  was,  upon  the  organization  of 
the  judiciary  of  the  Republic,  selected  Judge  of  the  Third 
Judicial  District,  of  which  Fayette  County  was  a  part.  He  held 
this  important  position  from  October  1838  to  October  1889  when 
he  resigned  and  again  took  up  liis  practice.  He  was  born  in 
Georgia  in  1806,  and  came  to  Texas  in  about  1826.  Early  in 
life  he  was  attacked  by  white  swelling  in  one  of  liis  legs,  which 
stiffened  his  knee  and  made  it  necessary  for  him  to  wear  a 
w.ooden  leg,  and  thus  he  acquired  the  sobriquet,  "Tiiree  Legged 
Willie,"  by  which  name  he  was  universally  known  in  Texas. 
Judge  Williamson  was  a  great  lawyer.  He  was  famed  for  his 
eloquence  and  bright  flashes  of  wit.  Like  all  truly  great  lawyers 
and  judges,  he  was  always  kind  and  courteous  to  the  young  men 
at  the  bar.  He  died  at  Independence,  Washington  county,  in 
December  1858. 


—203— 

R.  E.  13.  Baylor. 

The  third  man  to  occupy  the  bench  hi  Fayette  County  was 
a  Fayette  County  man.  R.  E.  B.  Bayh)r  was  born  in  Kentucky 
in  1813  and  came  to  Fayette  Countv,  Texas,  in  1839.  He  was  a 
law3'er  and  a  preacher.  He  was  appointed  District  Judge  in  1841 
and  for  a  while  was  a  member  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the 
Republic.  His  decisions  would  indicate  that  he  followed  the 
dictates  of  his  own  judgment  as  to  what  was  justice,  rather  than 
precedents  of  the  courts  of  older  jurisdiction.  However,  he 
was  a  good  judge  and  very  popular  with  the  people.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1845,  and,  notwitli- 
standing  that  he  was  a  preacher,  framed  the  clause  excluding 
ministers  of  the  gospel  from  holding  civil  office.  Those  old 
Texans  were  very  jealous  of  the  liberty  they  had  achieved,  and 
everything  was  done  tliat  man  could  do  to  prevent  a  possible 
union  of  Church  and  State.  This  man's  character  was  good  and 
pure;  by  his  example  he  did  much  to  elevate  and  purify  the  bar. 
Baylor  University  was  named  after  him.  He  died  at  Independ- 
ence in  December,    1878. 

He  was  the  last  judge  to  preside  over  the  courts  of  Fayette 
County  during  tlie  existence  of  the  Republic  of  Texas. 

John  Hancock. 

Judge  John  Hancock  was  born  in  Jackson  County,  Alabama, 
October  24lli,  1824.  In  early  life  he  worked  upon  a  farm,  but 
soon  left  it  to  take  up  the  study  of  the  law.  In  1847  he  came  to 
Texas,  locating  at  Austin.  He  made  friends  by  his  frugal  and 
industrious  habits  and  in  1851,  when  not  quite  27  years  of  age, 
was  elected  Judge  of  the  2nd  Judicial  District  of  Texas,  of  which 
Fayette  County  was  a  part.  He  was  undoubtedly  the  youngest 
man  who  had  ever  been  called  to  the  bench  in  Texas.  If  there 
were  those  in  Fayette  County,  who  doubted  the  wisdom  of  his 
selection  because  of  his  youth,  their  doubts  were  soon  dispelled. 
He  opened  court  one  beautiful  May  morning  in  1852  at  La 
Grange,  and  announced  that  no  lawyer,  witness  or  juror  would 
be  called  from  the  court  house ;  they  must  be  on  hand  or  pay  a 


—204  — 

fine.  This  was  the  firot  time  this  time-saving  rule,  now  so  com- 
monly in  vogue  in  District  Courts,  was  announced.  In  those 
days  the  District  Court  had  jurisdiction  of  misdemeanors,  and 
the  one  most  commonly  violated  and  at  that  time  generally  pros- 
ecuted was  the  violation  of  gaming  laws.  Prior  to  the  advent  of 
Judge  Hancock,  it  had  been  customary,  when  the  boys  were 
fined,  for  the  sherifi'to  turn  the  boys  loose  and  let  them  settle  up 
when  they  got  ready.  The  result  was  that  very  few  fines  were 
paid.  Judge  Hancock  put  a  stop  to  this  and  the  boys  had  to 
pay  up  or  go  to  jail.  He  was  a  hard  worker,  conscientious  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duties  and  proved  to  be  an  able  judge. 

In  1856  he  retired  from  the  bench  and  returned  to  his  [)rac- 
tice.  The  records  of  Texas  Courts  show  that  few  men,  if  any, 
appeared  in  more  cases  than  Judge  Hancock.  He  was  said  to 
be  the  ablest  lawyer  in  the  state.  He  was  not  an  orator  in  the 
common  acceptation  of  that  term  ;  he  was  not  a  brilliant  man, 
but  he  worked  constantly  at  whatever  there  was  to  do.  His 
mind  was  a  powerful  one.  It  is  said  that  he  was  never  known  to 
spend  an  idle  moment  upon  the  streets  during  his  over  forty 
years'  residence  in  Austin.  His  rule  was  to  be  never  away  from 
his  office,  unless  he  was  engaged  in  the  court  room,  or  elsewhere 
on  business.  He  was  never  known  to  break  an  engagement  of 
any  kind. 

He  was  a  democrat,  although  a  strong  Union  man.  In  1870 
the  democrats  of  this  Congressional  District  tendered  him  tlie 
nomination  for  Congress.  He  declined  it  because  of  professional 
duties  that  required  liis  attention.  But  in  1872,  tne  democrats 
practically  compelled  him  to  accept  the  nomination.  He  was 
elected  until  18<7,  when  he  was  defeated  for  the  nomination, 
through  the  efforts  of  certam  politicians.  The  people  so  resented 
this  treatment  of  this  popular  man,  that  they  defeated  the  nom- 
inee who  succeeded  him.  In  all  Texas  there  were  probably  no 
more  interesting  and  exciting  campaigns  than  those  between 
Judge  Hancock  and  Col.  "Wash."  Jones  for  Congress  in  Fayette 
County. 

He  died  in  Austin.  His  fame  as  a  judge  and  lawyer  will 
live  and  grow  brighter  as  the  years  pass  away. 


—205  — 

Thomas  H.  Duval. 

Thomas  H,  Duval,  one  of  the  brightest  minds  that  ever 
graced  the  bench  of  Texas,  succeeded  Judge  Hancock.  He 
served  only  for  a  short  time,  holding  but  one  term  of  Court  in 
Fayette  County,  he  leaving  the  bench  of  the  District  Court  to 
accept  the  position  of  Federal  Judge  for  the  Western  District  of 
Texas. 

Judge  Duval  was  born  in  Buckingham  County,  Virginia, 
removed  to  Kentucky  and  from  there  to  Florida  with  his  father's 
family,  and  in  1845  he  came  to  Austin,  Texas.  He  died  October 
10th,  1889,  at  the  age  of  G7. 

James  H.  Bell. 

James  H.  Bell,  who  succeeded  Thomas  H.  Duval  as  Judge 
of  the  District  Court  in  185G,  was  the  first  and  strange  to  say, 
is  the  only  native  Texan  who  has  ever  presided  over  the  District 
Court  of  Fayette  County.  He  was  born  in  the  town  of  Colum- 
bia, in  Brazoria  County  on  January  21,  1820.  It  is  claimed 
that  he  was  the  first  white  child  born  in  Austin's  colony.  Be 
tliis  as  it  ma3\  he  was  surely  the  first  white  child  born  in  Texas, 
who  grew  to  manhood  to  become  one  of  Texas'  ablest  jurists. 
Young  Bell  was  sent  to  Braidstown,  Kentucky,  where  he  was 
educated.  In  1843  he  attended  Cambridge  Universit}'-,  Mass., 
where  he  finished  his  studies  in  the  law,  commenced  prior  to 
that  time  in  the  law  otlice  of  William  H.  Jack.  In  1852,  at  the 
age  of  32,  he  was  elected  District  Judge,  and  in  185G,  bv  a  redis- 
tricting  of  the  State,  Fayette  County  was  placed  in  his  District. 
In  1858  the  people  of  the  State  called  this  gifted  son  of  Texas 
trom  the  District  Court;  bench  to  a  seat  on  the  Supreme  C  )urt  of 
Texas,  where  he  remained  until  1864  when  he  returned  to  his 
practice.  In  1873  when  the  people  of  Texas  by  a  decisive  vote 
elected  Coke  Governor  and  thus  undertook  to  oust  the  carpet- 
bag regime  of  E.  J.  Davis,  it  will  be  remembered  that  the  latter 
attempted  to  hold  onto  the  office.  It  was  then  that  James  H. 
Bell  went  to  Washington  and  interviewed  President  (Irant  and 
induced  the  president  to  decline  to  interfere.  And  Coke  was 
installed  as  Governor. 

Judge  Bell  was  one  of  the  most  eminent  Judges  Texas  has 
produced.  Many  old  citizens  of  La  Grange  and  Fayette  County 
remember  him   and  are  his  ardent  admirers  to  this  day.  J.  F.\\\ 


—206- 

MEMBERS  OF  FAYETTE 
COUNTY  BAR. 


J.  C.  Bkown. 


The  surroundings  of  a  man  furnish  very  often  a  key,  if  not 
to  his  character,  at  least  to  his  likes  and  dislikes.  The  building 
in  which  he  dwells  is  in  many  cases  a  criterion  of  his  taste. 
One  of  the  oldest  building!  in  La  Grange  is  the  Masonic  Tem- 
ple, a  simple,  solid,  massive  structure.  It  recedes  somewhat 
from  the  line  of  buildings  fronting  the  street  as  if  to  indicate 
that  conscious  of  its  strength  it  can  do  without  the  attention  of 
the  public.  There,  in  that  simple,  solid  building  has  been  for  a 
generation  the  office  of  the  oldest  practising  lawyer  of  the  La 
Grange  bar.  His  professional  work  in  that  office  has  made  its 
impress  on  the  pages  of  the  reports  of  the  higher  Texas  and 
United  States  courts.  The  solving  of  legal  problems  in  that 
office  has  done  its  full  share  in  directing  the  current  of  public 
opinou  and  giving  line  to  the  channels  of  business  in  Fayette 
County.  Very  much  like  the  building,  its  occupant  keeps  out 
of  the  public  throng.  He  has  made  the  study  of  law  his  life 
work  aud  devoted  all  his  energy  to  it.  His  motto  is  that  per- 
severance will  reach  the  furthest  goal, 

.1.  C.  Brown  is  the  descendant  of  one  of  the  oldest  families 
in  the  United  States.  His  great-grandfather  on  the  paternal 
side  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War  under  General 
Gates.  His  great-grandfather  on  the  maternal  side  was  also 
a  soldier  in  the  Revolutionary  War  and  was  wounded  in  the 
battle  of  Bunker  Hill. 

His  father's  parents  were  Kilbey  and  Rachel  Jackson  Brown. 
The  former  was  born  near  Danville,  Va.,  May  1,  1787  and  died 
in  Houston  County,  Ga.,  on  October  5,  1856.  The  latter,  nee 
Rachel  Jackson,  was  born  in  North  Carolina  March  27,  1788  and 
died  in  Fayette  County,  Texas,  December  5,  1858.       Their   son 


-207— 

was  W.  A.  (William  Anderson)  Brown,  the  father  of  J.  C. 
Brown,  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

His  mother's  parents  were  John  and  Hannah  Shields  Jen- 
kins. The  former  was  born  in  Holland  January  7,  1789  and 
died  in  Mobile,  Ala.,  May  13,  1858.  The  latter,  nee  Shields, 
was  born  September  17,  1791  and  died  April  12,  1866  in  Fayette 
County,  Texas.  Their  daughter  was  Celiua  Jane  Jenkins,  the 
mother  of  J.  C. 

The  father  of  Mr,  Brown  of  LaGrange,  William  Anderson 
Brown,  a  well  known  surgeon  and  practitioner  of  medicine  in 
Fayette  County  from  the  winter  of  1856  until  the  spring  of  1882, 
was  born  in  the  state  of  Georgia  July  27,  1818;  his  mother, 
Celina  Jane  Jenkins  was  born  in  Georgia  May  3,  1825.  They 
wfre  marred  July  16,  1843  in  Houston  County,  Ga.  His  father 
died  March  10,  1898  in  Los  Angeles  County,  California;  his 
mother  is  yet  living  in  Los  Angeles  County,  Cal. 

J.  C.  Brown,  the  eldest  child  of  W.  A.  and  C.  J.  Brown, 
was  born  in  Houston  County,  Ga.,  September  12,  1845.  His 
parents  moved  to  Texas  in  the  winter  of  1856  and  settled  in 
Fayette  County,  Texas,  near  the  present  town  of  Winchester 
and  close  to  the  Bastrop  County  line.  J.  C.  was  educated  at 
private  country  schools  at  and  about  Winchester  and  later  in  the 
school  in  La  Grange  taught  by  Prof.  R.  P.  Dechard.  In  the  fall  of 
1863  he  enlisted  in  Company  C,  19th  Texas  Cavalry,  and  served 
there  to  the  close  of  the  civil  war.  He  took  part  in  the  battle  of 
Willow  Bayou  in  1864.  After  the  war  he  stayed  at  home  and 
studied  again  for  about  one  and  a  half  years  in  the  Winchester 
school.  In  1867-68  he  was  a  student  in  the  law  class  of  the 
University  of  Virginia.  He  returned  to  La  Grange  and  obtained 
licence  to  practise  law  in  August  186S  and  since  has  devoted 
himself  exclusively  to  the  practise  of  his  profession.  As  Hon. 
L.  W.  Moore,  who  was  practising  law  when  he  came  to  the 
bar,  is  now  on  the  bench,  Mr.  Brown  is  the  oldest  practising 
lawyer  at  the  La  Grange  bar.  He  has  occupied  his  present 
law  oflfice  since  July  10,  1869.  a  period  of  thirty-three  years. 

He  married  Miss  Olivia  J.  Dancy  of  La  Grange  January  21, 
1871.       She  was  the  second  daughter  of  Col.  John  W.  Dancy,  an 


—208— 

early  settler  and  a  prominent  man  in  the  public  aflairs  of  Fayette 
County  up  to  the  time  of  his  deatli  in  1864,  and  the  latter's 
wife,  Mrs.  Lucy  A  Dancy.  To  the  union  of  Mr.  J.  C.  lirown 
and  Miss  Dancy  were  born  live  children  of  whom  Leon  Dancy 
Brown,  now  a  student  in  the  Ihiiversity  of  Texas,  alone  survives. 
His  wife  died  February  19,  1882  at  La  Grange. 

Ne  again  married  on  October  1.  1884,  choosing  for  his  life's 
partner  Miss  Mallie  Hill,  daughter  of  M.  H.  and  Mary  Jane 
Hill  of  Fayette  County.  Tliis  union  has  been  blessed  by  three 
children;  the  eldest  of  these,  Joe  C.  Brown,  Jr.,  is  now  attend- 
ing Major  Bingham's  school  at  Asheville,  N.  C,  the  second, 
Master  Mills  Brown,  and  the  youngest,  Mildred  Knox  Brown, 
are  yet  pupils  in  the  LaGrange  School. 

J.  T.  Duncan. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  J.  '1.  Duncan,  is  an  old  member 
of  the  Fayette  County  bar,  a  law3'^er  of  repute  and  extensive 
practice.  For  years  he  has  studied  constantly  all  new  questions 
of  law  as  soon  as  they  arose,  paid  the  closest  attention  to  busi- 
ness and  served  successfully  his  large  clientage.  Besides  being 
a  master  in  his  profession,  he  has  acquired  by  extensive  reading 
a  liberal  education.  He  takes  an  interestin  all  public  questions, 
but  not  to  such  an  extent  as  to  push  himself  into  the  front  as  a 
leader.  In  fact,  he  admitted  to  this  writer  tiiat  he  had  made 
only  one  political  speech  in  his  life  and  that  was  fifteen  years 
ago.  He  is  the  descendant  of  an  old  family  of  Washington 
County,  Texas.  His  father  belongs  to  one  of  the  first  and  earli- 
est families  of  Kentucky,  his  mother  to  an  old  family  of  Pitts- 
burg, Pennsylvania, 

His  maternal  grandfather  Dallas  came  to  Texas  in  18oo  and 
settled  near  Independence,  Washington  County.  His  father, 
George  J.  Duncan,  also  came  to  that  county  and  settled  there  in 
1839;  he  took  part  in  Somervell's  mismanaged  expedition, 
but  went  only  as  far  as  Laredo  with  him,  when  he  and  two 
hundred  others,  having  no  faith  in  Somervell,  made  use  of  his 
permission  to  return  home  and  marched  oft'  under  Colonel  Ben- 
nett, thus  escaping  the  disaster  that  overtook  the  balance  of  the 


—209— 

expedition  at  the  battle  of  Mier  (Dec.  19,  1842).  On  his  return 
to  Washington,  he  resumed  blacksmithing  as  his  occupa- 
tion. In  1851  he  was  married  to  Miss  Bettie  Dallas  of  Washing; 
ton  County.  He  resided  in  Washington  County  to  1880,  when 
he  moved  to  Milam  County;  there  he  died  at  a  ripe  old  age  in 
1893.  His  union  with  Miss  Dallas  was  blessed  with  five 
children. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch,  their  son,  J.  T.  Duncan,  was 
born  in  Washington  County,  Texas,  in  1851.  He  was  educated 
in  Baylor  University  at  Inde- 
pendence, then  an  institution 
of  great  repute,  and  graduated 
in  1877.  It  was  there  that  he 
acquired  a  love  for  self-study 
a  n  d  investigation  w  h  i  c  h 
should  prove  such  a  great 
advantage  to  him  in  after  life. 
Immediately  after  graduation 
he  entered  the  law  office  of 
Timmons  &  Brown  of  J^a 
Grange  as  a  law  student.  He 
was  admitted  to  tiie  practice 
of  law  in  June  1878  and  sub- 
sequently formed  a  partner- 
shii)  with  R.  J.  Ajjdrews 
which  lasted  till  1881  when 
the  latter  died.  He  was  ap- 
pointed Mayor  of  La  Grange  [| 
in  1878  and  was  then  elected 
and  served  in  that  office  till 
1882.  Since  that  time  he  has  not  aspired  to  public  positions. 
He  is  attorney  for  the  San  Antonio  &  Aransas  Pass  Railway 
Company,  a  position  he  fills  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the 
people  interested.  In  January  1885  he  formed  a  partnership 
with  Judge  L.  W.  Moore,  distinguished  as  xMember  of  Congress 
and  District  Judge,  under  the  firm  name  of  Moore  &  Duncan. 
In  1897  the  partnership  was  dissolved,  and  in  the  same  year  he 


f .  T.  DUNCAN. 


—210— 

formed  a  partnership  with  \V.  S.  Robson,  which  is  continued  to 
tlie  present  time. 

He  was  married  January  11,  1881  to  Miss  Genelle  Harris  of 
Bellville,  Texas,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Ben  T.  Harris,  deceased. 
This  union  was  blessed  with  three  children.  Miss  Josephine, 
Miss  Frankie  and  Douglass,  all  at  home. 

Mr.  Duncan  is  a  member  of  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  and  Knights 
of  Honor. 

Hon.   H.   M.  Garwood. 

Such  readers  as  are  not  personally  ac(|uainted  with  Hon. 
H.  M.  Garwood,  have  at  least  often  heard  of  him  as  an  eloquent 
speaker,  an  able  debater  and  a  close  reasoner.  Hon.  Garwood 
is  a  member  of  the  old  established  law  firm  of  Brown,  Lane  tk 
Garwood  and  a  member  of  the  Bastrop,  LaGrange  and  Houston 
Bar.  lie  is  a  resident  of  Houston,  but  is  called  to  practice  in 
the  courts  of  South  Texas  generally.  He  has  repeatedly 
been  elected  to  or  honored  with  public  offices.  His  present 
office  is  regent  of  the  State  University, 

The  })arents  of  H.  M.  Garwood  were  C.  B.  and  Frances 
Garwood,  nea  Walker.  His  father  was  a  prominent  merchant  of 
Bastrop,  where  he  died  in  18S(J.  His  aged  mother  still  resides 
there.  H.  M.  was  born  January  11,  1804.  He  was  educated  at 
the  University  of  the  South  at  Sewanee,  Tennessee,  and  grad- 
uated in  that  institution  with  the  degree  of  Bachelor  of  Science. 
After  his  return  from  the  university  he  studied  law  at  Bastrop 
in  the  office  of  present  Governor  J.  D.  Sayers.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  bar  November  4,  1885.  He  began  the  practice  of 
law  witf>  R.  L.  Batts  of  Austin,  Texas,  was  associated  with 
lion.  G.  W.  Jones  and  Capt.  B.  D.  Orjain  at  Bastrop,  Texas, 
and  on  August  1,  1899,  formed  partnership  with  J.  C.  Brown 
and  Jonathan  Lane  at  LaGrange.  Hon.  H.  M.  Garwood  has 
taken  a  great  interest  in  all  public  questions  ;  he  has  studied 
and  discus.sed  them  before  the  people.  He  is  exceedingly  pop- 
ular and  has  secured  every  office  f)r  which  he  went  before  the 
people.  From  18SG-8S  he  represented  Bastrop  County  in  the 
Lower  House  of  the    Twentieth    Legislature;  from  18S8  to  1890 


—211— 

lie  served  as  county  judge  of  Kastrop  County  ;  from  1S90  to 
1892  he  represented  Bastrop  County  in  the  Senate  of  tlie  Twen- 
ty-Second Legislature.  In  all  these  offices  his  eminent  services 
attracted  the  attention  of  the  people  and  gained  him  a  wide- 
spread reputation. 

lion.  H.  M.  Garwood  was  married  August  8,  1890  to  Miss 
Hettie  Pag3,  daughter  of  Col.  P.  D.  Page  of  Bryan,  Texas, 
They  are  the  parents  of  three  children:  Calvin  Garwood,  age 
seven;  St.  John  Garwood,  age  live,  and  Louise  Garwood,  age 
two  and  a  half  years. 

Judge  Auuustinf  Haidusek. 

Judge  A.  Haidusek  is  known  generally  throughout  the  state, 
but  his  peculiarities  are  known  only  to  his  intimate  friends. 
As  these  peculiarities  constitute  the  man,  some  of  them  may  he 
mentioned.  He  possesses  a  wonderful  perseverance  and  inde- 
fatigable energy  ;  hence  his  efi'orts  have  been  crowned  with  suc- 
cess ;  is  of  strong  will  power,  but  not  obstinate  — and  of  decided 
views  on  all  questions  which  he  never  hesitates  to  express  if  re- 
quested to  do  so  ;  but  generally  keeps  bis  own  counsel,  knows 
wliat  be  wants  and  bow  to  obtain  it;  is  very  liberal,  generous 
and  always  ready  to  help  the  needy.  Has  many  warm  friends, 
but  also  some  bitter  enemies.  Maybe  pronounced  a  self-made 
man.  Speaks  P^nglish,  German  and  Bohemian  and  is  possessed 
of  fair  general  information. 

His  i)arents  were  Valentine  Haidusek,  m-e  Kladiva.  They 
as  well  as  their  ancestors  were  tillers  of  the  soil  and  resided  at 
]\Iii.si— a  village  in  the  northeast  of  Moravia  near  the  Carpathian 
Mountains  wiiere  they  owned  considerable  land  whicl)  Valentine 
Haidusek  inherited  from  his  fr.ther,  Georse  Haidusek,  This 
was  the  birth  place  of  A.  Haidusek  (born  September  184G). 
His  mother  died  in  the  first  part  of  1847— leaving  surviving  her 
three  children  and  her  husband  ;  tlie  oldest,  Theresa,  now 
Lebeda,  residing  in  Fayette  County  ;  the  next,  John  who  died 
in  Capt.  Alexander's  Comi)any  at  Browsville,  February  14,  18153, 
and  tlie  youngest,  Augustine.  After  the  death  of  his  mother  he 
was  placed  in  the  care  of  Mrs.  Macliacek,  his  aunt,  who  kept  him. 


—212- 


until  his  father  married  Miss  Mary  Broz  in  184S,  who  resides 
with  her  son  Hynek  Haidusek  on  the  family  homestead,  three 
miles  west  of  Schulenburg. 

In  September,  1856,  his  father  left  the  old  country  with  his 
family  for  Texas  and  in  November  landed  in  Houston.  From 
there  they  traveled  in  an  ox  wagon  to  LaGrange  where  they  re- 
sided two  weeks,  then  settled  on  East  Navidad,  now  Dubina, 
with  six  other  Bohemian  families.  They  were  the  first  Bohem- 
ians that  settled  west  of  tlie 
Colorado  River.  From  that 
place  her  father  moved  on  the 
farm  west  of  Schulenburg  and 
died  there  December  23,  18G7. 
Augustine  had  some  knowl- 
edge of  the  Bohemian  before 
leaving  the  old  country,  and 
in  this  country  iiis  father  be- 
came I) is  teacher.  Of  the 
PiMglish  language  he  knew 
notliing  until  the  beginning 
of  the  C^onfedetate  war  when 
fie  went  to  school  to  old  man 
Black.  In  LSGo  he  went  witli 
a  drove  of  beeves  to  Louisiana 
wiiich  swam  the  Mississippi 
at  Fort  Hudson  and  were  sold 
to  the  confederate  government. 
Upim  his  return  he  enlisted  in 
Company  F,  Bates'  Regiment, 
stationed  at  Velasco.  June  G,  18G5,  he  returned  home  and 
helped  his  father  to  make  a  crop.  In  18G6  farmed  and  went  to 
school  to  old  man  Mays  below  Weimar.  In  18G7  clerked  for 
G.  W.  White  in  LaGrange  for  several  months,  then  went  home 
and  in  the  fall  cut  and  split  4000  post-oak  rails  for  George 
Morysak  and  studied  English  by  firelight. 

In  1868  he  farmed  and  during  the    summer    taught    school, 
and  in  1869  settled   in    La   Grange,  read    law    in    the    office    of 


Judge  A.  Haidusek. 


—213— 

Messrs.  Jarmon  &  Cross  and  on  December  22,  1870, was  admitted 
to  the  bar.  He  was  the  first  Bohemian  to  be  admitted  to  prac- 
tise law  in  tlie  United  Slates.  Duruig  the  congressional  cam- 
paign between  John  Hancock  of  Austin  and  Degner  of  San 
Antonio  and  between  Giddings  of  Brenham  and  Clark  of  Gal- 
veston, he  worked  hard  for  democracy.  Both  democrats  were 
elected.  Those  were  trying  days  for  democracy  in  Texas. 
Elections  were  held  at  county  seats  and  voters  were  under  police 
supervision,  but  they  submitted  to  it,  knowing  that  liberty  was 
at  stake.  In  1872  he  taught  school  at  Ross  Prairie,  near  Fay- 
etteville,  and  in  May  of  that  year  married  Miss  Anna  Beckn,  a 
daughter  of  John  and  Catherine  Becka.  wliu  resided  at  liot^s 
Prairie.  Miss  Anna  Becka,  now  Mrs.  A.  Haidusek,  was  born 
near  Bellville,  Austin  County,  Texas,  in  June  1856.  Five  chil- 
dren were  born  to  A.  and  Anna  Haidusek,  of  wiiom  Jerome, 
George  and  Vlasta  are  living.  Tlieir  first  child,  a  boy,  and  the 
last,  a  girl,  are  dead.  Jerome  married  Miss  Fannie  Mosig  and 
Vlasta  married  Joseph  Koss.  George  is  a  student  of  the  State 
University  at  Austin,  Texas. 

In  1874  A  Haidusek  wss  elected  cliairman  of  the  demo- 
cratic executive  committee  of  Fayette  County.  At  tlie  city 
election  of  1875  he  was  elected  mayor  of  LaGrange,  defeating 
Mr.  A.  H.  Brandt.  He  was  the  lirst  Bohemian  mayor  elected 
in  the  United  States.  Re  elected  in  1877,  defeating  P.  Y.  Mc- 
Ashan.  During  the  campaign  of  1878,  he  ran  for  the  office  of 
county  judge  against  Hon.  J.  C.  Stiebl,  but  was  defeated. 

In  1880  the  democrats,  assembled  in  convention  in  Giddings, 
nominated  him  as  a  candidate  to  represent  the  counties  of 
Fayette  and  Lee  in  the  Seventeenth  Legislature.  He  accepted 
the  nomination  in  an  open  letter  in  which  he  stated  that,  if 
elected,  he  would  advocate  the  measures  of  the  minority  plat- 
form which  had  been  rejected  by  the  democrats  at  a  state  con- 
yention  held  at  Dallas.  He  was  elected,  defeating  Jolni  L. 
Smith  by  over  2000  majority.  In  the  legislature  he  introduced 
two  amendments  to  the  state  constitution,  one  to  amend  the 
immigration  clause  so  as  to  authorize  the  dissemination  in  for- 
eign countries  of  the  revenues  and  benefits  of  Texas,  one  to 
autliorize   the    investment    of  tho   permanent   school   fund     iu 


—214— 

county  bonds,  etc.  Both  ])ropositions  were  defeated.  He 
opposed  the  amendment  to  the  constitution  proposing  to 
require  voters  to  pay  their  poll  tax  before  allowing  them  to  vote 
which  was  introduced  by  ('.  L.  VVurzbach  of  San  Antonio,  and 
secured  the  amending  of  the  law,  compelling  county  convicts  to 
work  public  roarls.  In  1882  he  was  urged  by  some  of  his  friends 
to  run  as  an  independent  candidate  for  the  office  of  representa- 
tive in  congress,  to  which  he  replied  in  an  open  letter  that  he 
was  a  democrat  for  principle,  not  for  office,  that  he  proposed  to 
stand  by  the  democracy  because  the  party  in  185G  wlien  "know- 
nothingism"  was  rampani  stood  by  the  foreigners.  In  1884  he 
was  elected  county  judge  of  Fayette  County,  defeating  Hon.  J. 
C.  Stiehl.  Served  six  years  as  judge.  Worked  zealously  to 
improve  the  public  schools  and  especially  the  teachers.  Required 
the  school  trustees  to  eniploy  teachers  able  to  teach  the  Englisii 
language,  urging  the  teachers  to  make  English  the  language  of 
tlie  school.  For  this  he  was  pronounced  a  renegade  by  nearly 
all  the  Bohemian  papers  in  the  United  States.  Particularly 
the  Slovan,  a  Bohemian  weekly,  published  and  edited  by  Joseph 
Cida  at  La  Grange,  Texas,  very  much  incensed  the  Bohesiiians 
of  Texas  against  the  judge  and  they  held  indignation  meetings, 
condemning  his  efforts  in  trying  to  make  English  the  language 
of  the  school-room  in  Bohemian  localities.  To  counteract  the 
evil  tendencies  of  the  Slovan,  the  friends  of  the  judge  started 
another  Bohemian  paper,  the  Svoboda.  It  was  a  joint  stock 
company,  consisting  of  about  fifty  members.  A  man  from  New 
York  was  employed  to  run  the  paper.  The  Svoboda  was 
started  December  1885,  and  in  1887  had  about  400  subscribers 
aiid  $2400  indebtedness.  The  New  York  man,  Mr.  Chudoba, 
was  discharged  and  A.  Haidusek  took  charge  of  the  paper. 
Under  his  management  the  number  of  subscribers  increased 
rapidly  and  the  debt  was  paid  off  in  two  years.  In  1890  the 
judge  became  the  owner  of  the  paper;  since  then  he  has  devoted 
to  it  his  entire  time  and  made  it  one  of  the  best  paying  papers 
iri  the  country.  Its  circulation  is  about  4000.  It  has  subscribers 
in  sixty-four  counties  in  Texas,  besides  in  other  states  and  in  the 
old  country.  It  is  a  Bohemian  paper,  but  thoroughly  American 
in  sentiment. 


-216— 

During  the  administration  of  Judge  Haidusek  public  roads 
were  graded  and  macadamized.  JNineteen  iron  bridges  were 
built  and  the  bridge  spanning  the  Colorado  River  at  I^a  Grange 
was  bought  which  required  the  deciding  vote  of  the  judge.  For 
this  act  he  was  condemned  by  many  citizens  of  the  county. 
Some  also  condemned  his  efforts  to  grade  public  roads,  claiming 
that  it  would  bankrupt  the  county.  The  contract  to  build  the 
present  court  house  wps  m;  de  and  the  foundation  laid  for  the 
same  during  his  administration.  In  1890  he  was  defeated  for 
re-election  by  Hon.  W.  S.  Robson. 

in  the  split  of  the  democracy  into  Hogg  and  Clark  factions, 
Judge  Haidusek  espoused  the  cause  of  Judge  Clark.  Althougli 
an  advocate  of  tlie  gold  standard,  he  supported  Bryan  at  both 
elections,  evidently  not  wishing  to  abandon  democracy.  But  in 
the  congressional  light  lietvveen  11.  J],  llawley,  ihe  republican 
nominee,  and  VV.  S.  Robson,  the  democrat,  the  judge  siii)ported 
Hawley,  and  it  is  claimed  that  on  this  account  Robson  was 
defeated.  When  the  First  National  Bank  of  La  Grange  was  in 
a  depressed  condition,  the  judge  became  associated  with  it;  later 
on  was  elected  its  presi<lent  which  position  lie  now  holds.  Since 
then  the  bank  not  only  overcame  its  depression,  but  has  been 
paying  its  stockholders  semi-annual  dividends  for  several  years. 

The  judge  is  a  member  of  the  K.  of  H..  A.  O.  V.  W.  and 
an  honorary  member  of  the  C  8.  P.  S.,  a  Bohemian  order,  the 
same  as  K.  of  H.  All  the  members  of  his  family  as  well  as 
himself  are  communicants  of  the  Catholic  Church. 


C-  D.  Krause. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  young  man  of  great  promise. 
After  passing  a  very  creditable  examination,  he  was  admitted  to 
the  bar  on  November  22,  1895,  but  did  not  engage  in  actual 
practice  until  five  years  later;  he  remained  with  his  employers — 
then  the  firm  of  Brown,  Lane  &  Jackson,  by  whom  he  was  era* 


—216— 


ployed   as   stenographer — and  continued  to    lay   the  foundation 
for  his  future  professional  career. 

Carl  Krause  received  his  rudimental  education  in  Germany; 
after  coming  to  his  adopted  country,  he  attended  the  public 
schools  of  the  city  of  Houston  and  also  received  private  tuition, 
and  then  attended  the  Conyngton  Business  College  in  said  city, 
where  he  learned  the  mysteries  of  stenography. 

Carl  David  Krause  was  born  on  July  23,  1874  at  Cassel, 
Germany,   where  his   parents,   Frederick   Reinhart   Krause  and 

Fredericka  Krause  nue  Ker- 
sting,  resided.  His  parents 
died  while  he  was  yet  in 
early  childhood.  He  came 
to  the  United  States  during 
the  month  of  May,  1885,  re- 
siding at  Houston,  Texas,  with 
his  nncle,  Ci)as.  F.  Ziuke,  un- 
til June,  1891,  when  he  came 
to  La  Grange  to  accept  tiie 
position  of  stenographer  with 
the  firm  of  Brown,  Lane  & 
Jackson,  with  whom  and 
their  successors  he  remained 
until  June  1,  1900,  at  which 
date  he  formed  a  paitnersiiip 
with  Hon.  C.  E.  Lane,  under 
the  firm  name  of  Lane  & 
Krause.  This  hrm  in  Sep- 
tember, 1901,  consolidated 
with  the  firm  of  Brown,  Lane 
&  Garwood,  of  which  he  is  now  the  junior  member. 

On  January  4,  1899  Carl  Krause  was  married  to  Miss  Lena 
Scholz  of  La  Grange.  They  are  the  parents  of  a  boy — Hilmer 
by  name — born  on  November  25,  1899. 

He  at  present  is  W.  M.  of  Lafayette  Lodge  No.  34,  A.  F.  & 
A.  M.,  is  a  Past  Sachem  in  the  Order  of  Red  Men  and  a  K.  of  F. 


D.  KRAUSE. 


—217— 


Hon.  J.  Lane. 

There  is  hardly  a  man  in  Fayette  County  wlio  does  not 
know  or  is  not  familiar  with  the  name  of  Hon.  Jonathan  Lane. 
Hon.  J.  Lane  is  now  a  resident  of  Houston.  Before  his  re- 
moval to  that  city,  he  was  one  of  Fayette  County's  leading 
citizens.  Bein;?  of  strong  conviction?,  he  very  often  declared 
them  in  unmistakable  language,  in  the  prohibition  campaign 
of  1887  he  was  the  ablest 
anti-prohibition  speaker 
in  the  county.  His  able 
campaign  gained  him  a 
large  crowd  of  enthusi- 
astic friends.  There  is 
lio  man  who  is  more 
popular  with  the  (ier- 
man  Bohemian  eienientfi 
than  he.  He  still  ex- 
erts a  strong  inliuence 
in  the  ccninty,  tlie  num- 
ber of  his  friends  having 
rallier  increased.  Hon. 
J.  Lane  is  an  advocate  of 
the  fundamental  demo- 
cratic doctrine  of  per- 
sonal riglits  and  local 
self  -  government.  He 
believes  that  those  peo- 
ple are  the  best  governed 
who  are  the  least  governed  and  he  holds  that  the  powers  of  the 
government  should  be  limited  as  much  as  possible  or  at  least 
as  far  as  is  consistent  with  government. 

Hon.  J.  Lane  was  born  October  15,  1853,  in  Alabama. 
He  went  to  private  country  scliools  of  the  Oso  neighborhood  in 
Texas  whereto  his  parents  had  moved  from  Alabama,  when  he 
was  only  one  year  old.  His  parents  were  C.  J.  and  E.  E.  Lane, 
and  he  is  a  brother  of  C.  E.  Lane  and  Thos.  \V.  Lane.  He  en- 
gaged in  merchandising  in  1880  and  later  associated  himself  with 


Hon.  J.  Lane. 


—218— 

Mr.  Arnim  of  Flatonia  under  the  firm  name  of  Arnim  &  Lane, 
of  which  firm  he  is  still  a  member.  He  studied  law  from  1880 
to  1882.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  Was  a 
member  of  the  Senate  of  the  Twentieth  and  Twenty-First  Legis- 
latures (1886-90),  having  drawn  a  four  year's  term. 

He  was  married  in  1876  to  Miss  Alma  Harrison  of  Flatonia, 

Hon.  Jonathan  Lane  is  a  leading  lawyer  of  the  stale.  ILs 
practice  extends  throughout  South  Texas.  He  is  a  meoiber  uf 
the  firm  of  Brown,  Lane,  Garwood,  Lane  &  Krause,  with  oftices 
in  Houston,  La  Grange  and  Bastrop.  Mr.  .1.  Lane  is  mm 
eloquent  sp?aker.  Following  the  dictates  of  his  own  conscience, 
he  chooses  on  every  public  question  the  side  which  his  convic- 
tions tell  him  to  be  the  right,  and,  believing  his  position  to  be 
right,  he  maintains  it  with  great  ability,  in  genera]  not  waiting 
to  be  attacked,  but  rather  leading  an  attack  on  his  opponents. 
He  is  equally  brilliant  in  his  utterances  of  defense  and  attack. 
In  preparing  political  campaigns  and  in  their  management  he 
evinces  a  dash  and  daring  that  surprise  and  confuse  his  pjlitical 
opponents.  ♦ 

Hon.  C.  E.  Lane. 

As  is  the  case  with  all  Lanes,  the  name  of  C.  E.  Lane  is 
noted  for  energy,  ability  and  hone&ty.  He  is  outspoken  in  his 
likeo  and  dislikes — either  a  warm  friend  or  an  honest  enemy. 
He  does  not  iiold  back  with  his  views,  leaving  the  people  in  the 
dark  about  them.  But  sincerely  convinced  of  their  correctness 
and  noting  the  dangers  of  the  opposite  views,  he  manfully  takes 
Jiis  stnnd  and  explains  his  ideas.  A  man  of  such  courage  and 
^.incerity  has  his  enemies  and  he  also  has  his  warm  friends. 
However  enthusiastic  the  praise  from  his  friends,  however  bitter 
the  censure  of  his  enemies,  to  the  people  he  always  appears  as  a 
sincere  and  truthful  man  who  has  the  courage  of  his  convictions. 
For  thirteen  years  he  has  been  a  practicmg  lawyer  of  the  county 
and  is  now  connected  with  the  old  reliable  firm  of  Brown,  Lane 
&  Garwood. 


-219— 


He  was  born  January  20,  3  856  at  Oso,  Fayette  County, 
Texas,  three  miles  northwest  of  Flatonia.  He  went  to  private 
schools  at  Oso,  then  engaged  in  farnnn<jj  till  1877  and  moved  in 
tliat  year  to  Flatonia.  Here  he  clerked  for  a  number  of  years. 
In  18S1  he  became  a  partner  in  the  mercantile  firm  of  Harrison 
&  Lane.  In  this  firm  he  stayed  till  188;]  when  he  dis.solved 
partnershi[)  and  traveled  as  a  salesman  for  T.  \V.  House  of 
Houston,  Texas,  a  wholesale  grocer  and  cotton  factor.  He  trav- 
eled for  this  firtn  eight  months  and  in  the  same  year  (1883), after 
the  death  of  his  father  he  again  engaged  in  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness under  the  hrm  name  of  C.  J.  Lane  &  Co.  In  1889  he  accepted 
a  position  as  traveling  sales- 
man for  Wallis,  Landis  &  Co. 
During  all  this  time  as  clerk, 
merchant  and  salesman  he  had 
studied  law  at  home  as  well 
as  on  the  load  whenever  he 
hati  a  chance.  In  18S9  he 
I'cceived  his  license  to  practise 
law.  After  the  resignation  of 
(reorge  Willrich  as  county 
attorney  in  1890,  he  was  ap- 
l)oiiited  to  lliat  ofHce  by  tlie 
commissioners'  court.  In  (he 
fall  of  that  year  he  was  elected 
to  that  office  and  served  in  it 
for  one  term.  In  1898  and 
litOO  he  was  elected  to  the 
legislature  by  decided  majori- 
ties. He  has  been  a  practis- 
ing lawyer  of  La  Grange  since 
1889  and  now  enjoys  an  ex- 
tensive practice.  On  February  6,  1884  he  married  Miss  C.  T. 
Cox  of  Flatonia.  They  are  the  parents  of  six  children  :  Edna 
and  Earl,  twins,  17  years  old;  C.  J.,  12  years  of  age;  Alma,  9; 
Floyd,  7;  Gessner,  2.  They  all  stay  at  the  home  of  their 
parents. 


HON.  C.   E.   LANE. 


—220  — 

Thomas  W.  Lane. 

Thomas  \V.  Lane  deservedly  has  a  host  of  friends  in  all 
parts  of  the  county.  He  is  a  gentleman  of  (juiet  and  unassuming 
manners,  an  able  lawyer  and  a  true  friend.  By  his  congenial 
ways  he  soon  gathers  friends  around  him  wherever  he  goes.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  law  firm  of  Wolters,  Lane  &  Lenert,  a  well 
known  law  firm  which  transacts  as  much  legal  business  as  any 
other  firm  in  the  county. 

His  parents  were  C.  J.  and  E.  E.  Lane,  nee  Crockett.  They 
were  married  at  Decatur,  Morgan  County,  Ala.  His  f.itlur  was 
engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  that  place.  Li  ISVl  he 
moved  with  his  family  in  ox  wagons  across  the  country  lu  TexMS, 
bringing  along  with  him  his  negroes.  He  settled  in  tlie  neigh- 
borhood of  the  fornjer  town  of  Oso.  a  name  that  has  now  disap- 
peared from  the  ma})  of  Texas.  (Oso  was  situated  about  three 
miles  northu- est  of  Flatonia  )  There  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  preaching  up  to  iy75.  Then  he  started  in  the  general  mer- 
chandise business  in  Flatonia  which  he  managed  till  the  time  of 
his  death  in  1883.     His  wife  died  in  Flatonia  in  18SS. 

Thomas  VV.  Lane  was  born  at  Oso  December  7,  18(35.  He 
was  educated  in  the  jjublic  schools  of  Oso  and  Flatonia  ami  in 
the  tSoulhwestern  Universiiy  at  Georgetown,  Texas,  After 
graduating  in  that  institution  he  studied  law  under  Pheips  A 
Lane  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  (Dec.  7.  1888).  From  1888 
to  1893  he  practised  law  in  Flatonia.  In  1893  he  moved  to  La 
Grange,  where  he  formed  a  partnership  witli  Hon.  J.  F.  Wolters 
(in  1898).  December  28,  1891  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jessie 
J.  Drake  at  La  Grange. 

He  resides  at  present  at  Beaumont  as  the  manager  of  .sev- 
eral oil  companies  and  as  the  superintendent  and  secretary  of  the 
Jjondon  Oil  ik  Pipe  Line  Company  with  headquarters  at  Beau- 
mont, Texas. 

Thomas  VV.  Jjane  is  a  comparatively  young  man  with  the 
brightest  prospects  before  him.  There  is  no  doubt  in  the  mind 
of  this  writer  that  a  succeeding  biographer  will  have  to  devote 
to  his  life  considerably  more  space,  if  for  no    other   reason    than 


—221— 

to  record  the  successes  which  he  is  about  to  achieve  in  connection 
with  the  Beaumont  oil  business. 

Geo.  E.  Lenert. 

A  more  polite,  affable  and  accommodating  gentleman  than 
Geo.  K.  Lenert  would  be  hard  to  find  in  this  county.  Mr.  Len- 
ert enjoys  the  advantages  of  a  superior  education,  having  been  a 
student  at  the  Davis  Military  School  at  Winston,  ]S.  C,  and  an 
alumnus  of  the  Wasliington  and  Lee  University  at  Lexington, 
Va.  He  has  traveled  extensively  in  Europe  and  visited  most  of 
the  l.'^^.rger  cities  of  (Jermany,  France  and  England,  His  talks 
on  the  nianners  and  habits  of  these  different  peoples  are  certainly 
more  interet^ting  than  any  book  ever  written  on  these  subjects. 
Mr.  Lenert  is  very  sociable  and  takes  a  great  interest  in  all 
society  affairs.  He  is  the  junior  member  of  the  reliable  law  firm 
of  W'olters,  Lane  &  Lenert,  and  pays  a  great  deal  of  attention 
also  to  the  fire  insurance  business. 

The  pnrents  of  Geo.  E.  Lenert  are  A.  E.  and  Emilie  (.Schub- 
mann)  Ijcnert.  His  fatiier  was  born  at  Klausthal,  Hanover,  his 
moth'-'r  was  born  on  board  a  ship.  His  fattier  came  to  Warren- 
ton  antl  was  for  a  long  time  engaged  as  clerk  at  the  store  of  Wm. 
Neese.  Later  he  established  himself  in  the  mercantile  business 
and  conducted  it  for  a  number  of  years,  acquirmg  n  reputation 
for  honesty,  reliability  and  hard  business  sense,  lie  married 
Miss  Emilie  Schuhmann  of  Warrenton. 

Their  son,  Geo.  E.  Lenert,  was  born  December  31,  1871,  at 
Warrenton,  Texas,  and  received  there  in  the  public  schools  his 
first  instruction.  After  completing  the  course  of  that  school,  he 
attended  for  two  years  the  Davis  Military  School  at  Winston, 
N.  C.  (1889-91),  In  1891  he  entered  the  Washington  and  Lee 
University  of  Lexington,  Va.  He  attended  this  institution  for  four 
years  (1891-95).  After  graduating  in  that  institution  he  was 
adcnitted  to  the  bar  of  Virginia  in  1^95  and  to  the  bar  of  Texas 
in  1896.  He  located  in  LaGrange.  Soon  after  hanging  out  his 
shingle  as  a  practising  lawyer,  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
Sam  Lowrey  under  the  firm  name  of  Lenert  &  Lowrey.  This 
partnership  lasted  till  1898,  when  it  was  dissolved.     In  1900  Mr, 


—222— 


Lenert  made  a  trip  to  Europe,  vi?iting  all  the  larger  cities  of 
Germany,  France  and  England.  After  liis  return  from  Europe, 
he  again  started  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  and,  in  Novem- 
ber, 1900,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Wolteis  and  Lane  under 
the  firm  name  of  VVolters,  Lane  &  Lenert. 

Mr,  Lenert  has  proven  himself  in  every  way  worthy  of  the 
high  reputation  fur  honesty  and  reliability  inlierited  from  his 
father.  He  is  a  painstaking  lawyer  who  sifts  his  cases  to  liie 
bottom  and  on  these  accounts  he  is  steadily  gaining  recognition 
as  a  lawyer  in  the  front  rank  of  his  profession. 

Hon.  L.  W.  Moore, 
No  history  of  Fayette  county  w^ould  be  complete  without  at 
least  a  brief  biography  of  Lyttleton  W.  Moore,  judge  of  the  22nd 

Judicial  District  of  Texas,  of 
whicli  Fayette  is  a  part.  Judge 
Moore  was  born  on  March  2o, 
1835,  in  Alabama.  P]iglit  years 
later  his  fatiier  removed  his 
family  to  Mississippi.  Young 
Lyt  Moore  attended  the  l^iu- 
versity  of  Mississippi,  wliere 
he  graduated  m  law  with  the 
highest  honors  of  his  chiss 
In  1857  he  married  Miss  Anna 
Dunn  Wright,  daughter  of  Dr. 
Wright  of  Cowal  Couiit3\  In 
the  same  year  lie  brought  his 
young  bride  to  Texas,  locating 
m  Bastrop  County.  Th.e 
bride  of  his  youth  is  still  willi 
him,  the  wife  of  his  age,  and 
the  mother  of  a  large  family 
of  most  interesting  daughters 
and  sons.  The  eldest,  Mrs. 
\V.  H.  Tliomas,  is  the  wife  of  a  prominent  planter.  Miss  Lylie 
enjoys  the  distinction  of  ranking  among  the  ablest  primary 
teachers  in  Texas.     It    is    more   than   an   acquired   talent   that 


JUDGE  L.    W.    MOORE. 


—223— 

makes  of  a  person  a  success  as  a  primary  teacher — it  requires  a 
genius  endowed  by  nature.  This  talent,  so  notably  possessed  by 
Miss  Moore,  can  be  easily  traced  as  an  inheritance  from  her 
father,  for  Judge  Moore  is  never  so  happy  as  when  surrounded 
by  a  rollicking  jolly  se.t  of  little  children.  Miss  Lottie,  another 
dau_sfhter,  enjoys  the  reputation  of  being  a  pianist  of  rare  ability, 
with  the  talent  to  teach  music  to  others.  Captain  Wright  Moore 
and  Dr.  Walton  Moore  are  twin  sons.  The  former  was  a  captain 
in  the  First  Texas  Volunteer  Infantry  during  the  ISpanish- 
American  War,  later  a  captain  of  infantry  in  the  38th  Regi- 
ment, U.  S.  v.,  and  served  with  distinction  in  the  Philippines. 
He  was  rewarded  for  his  services  by  being  appointed  First  Lieu- 
tenant of  Cavalry  in  the  regular  army  of  the  United  States.  Dr. 
Walton  Moore  is  a  prominent  physician  at  La  Grange.  The 
youngest  son.  Dr.  Clay  Moore,  is  a  physician  located  in  Mata- 
gorda County. 

Like  most  men  who  have  succeeded  in  life  Judge  Moore 
owes  much  of  his  success  to  his  wife. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  between  the  States,  Judge  Moore 
became  a  captain  in  Col.  Flournoy's  regiment.  In  18G5  upon 
his  return  from  the  war,  lie  removed  to  La  Grange.  In  1875  be 
was  elected  to  the  Constitutional  Convention,  which  drafted  our 
present  State  Constitution.  He  was  conspicuous  as  a  leader  in 
tiiat  body  of  able  lawyers,  and  soon  enjoyed  the  confidence  of 
the  people  of  his  section  to  such  an  extent  that  he  was  elected 
District  Judge  in  1876,  which  office  he  held  for  eight  years.  In 
1880  he  was  elected  to  Congress,  where  he  remained  until  1892. 
He  again  commenced  the  [)raotice  i^f  law.  In  March  i9f)l  U[)on 
the  death  of  Judge  Teichmueller,  Gov.  Sayers  appointed  Judge 
Moore,  Judge  of  the  22i!d  Judicial  District,  which  office  he  now 
holds. 

Edward  H.    Moss. 

The  picture  below  is  the  likeness  of  Edward  H.  Moss,  a  young 
man  of  sterling  worth  and  great  promise.  He  is  a  man  of  great 
energy,  industry  and  perseverance.  It  is  such  kind  of  material 
the  coming  men  of  our  country  are    made    of,      While    teaching 


-224- 


school,  he  studied  law,  which  instance  proves  his  willingness 
to  make  the  best  of  his  opportunities.  The  people  have  recognized 
his  merit  and  after  his  admittance  to  the  bar  he  soon  acquired 
a  nice  practice  which  is  constantly  growing. 

The  parents  of  Edward  H.  Moss  were  J.  C.  and  Louise 
Moss,  nee  Fink.  His  father  was  born  in  New  York.  His 
mother  was  born  in  Germany,  but  came  to  Fayette  County  while 
an  infant  and  was  reared  in  the  Kutersville    neighborhood.     His 

fither  was  a  prominent  farm- 
er and  stockman  in  this  coun- 
ty. He  died  in  1897.  His 
widow  is  now  living  in  La 
Grange. 

Edward  H.  Moss  was  born 
July  14,  1874,  on  the  farm  of 
his  hither  near  Ledbetter. 
He  received  instruction  at  the 
public  school  of  Fjedbetter  and 
at  the  high  school  of  Giddings. 
After  c()mi)leting  his  educa- 
tion, he  passed  the  examina- 
tion as  school  teacher  and 
during  the  next  three  years 
(18U4  97)  taught  school  in  Lee 
County.  During  his  spare 
time  he  read  law  while  thus 
engaged  as  school  teacher.  To 
complete  his  studies   in    law, 

EnwARD  H.  Moss. 

he  entered  the  well  known 
Jaw  office  of  Brown  &  Lnne,  and  studied  there  under  their  direc- 
tion. In  May  1898  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar.  His  sterling 
worth  aud  ability  were  soon  recognized  by  the  people  and  before 
long  he  had  acquired  a  nice  promising  practice.  The  confidence 
the  people  placed  in  his  ability  was  further  shown  by  his 
appointment  as  city  attorney  of  La  Grange  in  November  1900 
and  by  his  election  to  that  office  in  1901. 

Mr.  E.  H.  Moss  is  a  pleasant  speaker,  deservedly  liked  and 
popular  with  all  classes  of  people. 


—225— 


Robert  Moss. 

This  young  man  is  like  his  brother,  P^dward  H,  Moss,  res- 
pected for  his  sterling  worth,  reliability  and  honesty,  and  is 
popular  on  account  of  his 
pi  easing,  quiet,  gentleman-like 
manners.  He  is  a  y^ung 
lawyer  of  great  promise  with 
a  steadily  growing  practice. 

Robert  Moss  was  born 
January  H,  1876,  on  the  farm 
of  his  father  near  Ledbetter, 
Texas.  He  was  instructed  in 
the  public  school  of  that  phice 
and  completed  his  education 
at  J.  F.  Draughon's  Business 
College  at  Galveston  (in  1898). 
After  completing  a  course  in 
bookkeeping,  he  clerked  for 
one  year  lor  Mr.  \Vm.  Krause 
of  Ledbetter  in  1899.  He 
then  studied  law  in  the  well 
known  and  successful  firm  of 
Wolters  &,  Lane  and  was 
admitted  to  the  bar   on    June 

10,  1901.  He  is  now  a  practicing  lawyer  of  l^a  Grange,  well 
liked  by  all  who  know  him  and  with  the  brightest  i)ros'|vects  of  a 
successful  future  before  him. 


Robert  Moss. 


Method  Pazdkal. 

There  never  came  a  foreigner  to  the  United  States  who 
acquired  a  thorough  mastery  of  the  English  language  in  shorter 
time]  than  Method  Pazdrai.  He  came  to  the  United  States 
in  1893  and  within  the  short  space  of  five  years  he  was  able  to 
pass  a  creditable  examination  as  a  lawyer  and  to  obtain  his 
license  to  practice  in  the  courts,  a  fact  that  speaks  more  for  his 
energy,  perseverance  and  ability  than  any  recommendation  from 
any  source.     His  energy  and  ability  recommend  themselves  and 


—226— 


he  18  now  a  young  lawyer  of  great  |)romise  in  La  Grange,  highly 
respected  by  all  who  know  him.  He  enjoys  a  steadily  growing 
practice. 

His  parents  were  Uev.  Vaclav  and  Josephine  Pazdral  (nee 
Voge!).  His  father  was  a  preacher  at  Tabor,  Bohemia,  and 
came  witli  his  family  to  the  United  States  in  1893.  He  first 
located  in  Chicago,  but  was  sent  by  the  Board  of  Home  Missions 
of  the  North  Presbyterian  Church  to  Fayetteville  in  1894. 

Method  Pazdral  was    born   March   29,  1877,  in    M.  Ostrava, 

Moravia.  He  attended  the 
college  of  Kladno,  Bohemia, 
where  he  graduated  with  first 
honors  in  1891.  From  1891 
to  1893  he  was  bookkeeper  in 
a  book  store.  In  the  latter 
year  he  came  with  his  parents 
to  tlie  United  States.  Here 
he  went  to  night  schools  in 
Chicago  ami  U)  the  public 
schools  of  Fayetteville  to 
study  the  English  language. 
From  1895  to  1897  he  attended 
the  Glen  Rose  CoIIegiatw 
Institute  whicli  institute 
tute  is  managed  under  Presby- 
ti  rian  nuspiei-s.  He  graduated 
in    1897.  Next    he    was    a 

student  in  the  .lunior  Law 
Class  of  the  University  of 
Texas,  also  a  student  of  the 
Academic  Department  of  this  institution  in  the  session  of 
1897-98.  The  balance  of  the  year  l89S  he  studied  law  under 
Robson  &  Duncan,  lie  obtained  license  to  practise  law  Novem- 
ber 11,  1898.  From  July  1899  to  September  1900  he  i)ractised 
law  in  Houston  in  connection  with  George  A.  Byers.  He  then 
came  to  Fayetteville  where  he  was  appointed  city  attorney.  In 
February  1901  he  was  appointed  assistant  county  attorney  and 
jiioved  to  La  Grange. 


Mrthod  Pazdral. 


—227— 

He  was  married  June  30,  1901,  to  Miss  Susan  Norton  Little 
of  Denison,  Texas,  the  daughter  of  Rev.  H.  S.  Little,  D.  D. 
Tliis  union  was  blessed  with  a  baby  daughter,  Sue  Josephine. 

Energy  and  ability  are  characteristic  of  the  Pazdral  family. 
His  younger  brother,  Dr.  George  A.  Pazdral,  is  a  young  physi- 
cian of  Fayetteville  with  a  bright  career  before  him. 


VV.    S.    ROBSON. 

Judge  W.  S.  Robson  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  widely 
known  throughout  the  United  States.  In  1898  he  was  elected 
Supreme  Master  Workman  of  the  A.  O.  U.  VV,  of  the  United 
Ft  ites  and  Canada  and  tliereby 
became  know  to  the  members 
of  that  order  throughout  the 
whole  country.  It  is  needless 
to  dwell  on  the  ability,  hon- 
esty, and  popularity  of  Judge 
Rohson  ;  tlifcv  are  l)oriie  out 
by  higher  testimony  than  thai 
of  this  writer  :  the  repeated 
vnrdict  of  the  pe()[>Ie  at  the 
ballot-box.  He  sufftred  only 
one  defeat,  in  181/8  he  was 
defeated  in  his  race  fur  Con- 
gres-s  as  democratic  nominee 
I  f  tlie  then  tentii  congression- 
al district.  It  is  the  per.'-onal 
(•pinion  of  tiiis  writer  that  the 
])olitical  situation  in  the  dis- 
trict was  unfavorable  to  the 
democrats  and  that  at  that 
time  no  man  could  have  car- 
ried the  district  for  the  democrats.  Nevertheless,  his  race 
strengthened  the  democratic  ranks  and  smoothed  to  some  extent 
the  paths  of  the  succeeding  nominee  to  success. 


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Hon.  W*  S.  hobson. 


—228— 

The  parents  of  Judge  Robson  were  John  R.  and  Ann  K. 
Robson,  residents  of  Mudison  County,  Ga.  They  canoe  to  Texas 
in  the  year  1854  and  settled  in  the  neighborhood  of  Roundtop 
where  they  farmed.  His  moiher  died  at  Roundtop  in  1860.  In 
1868  his  father  moved  with  his  family  to  La  Grange  where  in 
1867  he  died  of  yellow  fever. 

Judge  \V.  S.  Robson  was  born  in  Madison  County,  Georgia, 
February  1,  1851.  In  April,  1854,  he  moved  with  his  father  to 
Texas,  who  settled  at  Roundtop.  Ln  1863  after  the  death  of  his 
mother  he  caine  with  his  fatiier  to  La  Grange.  W.  S.  Robson 
was  educated  in  the  public  schools  at  Roundtop  and  La  Grange. 
In  later  years,  he  constantly  perfected  his  education  by  exten- 
sive reading  and  study.  After  the  death  of  his  father  he  started 
life  as  a  butcher.  Already  then,  Judge  L.  Moore,  recognizing 
his  ability,  suggested  to  him  the  study  of  law.  But  first  he  had 
to  make  a  living.  Then  he  lirsl  filled  several  offices,  before  he 
commenced  the  study  of  law.  la  1872  he  was  elected  Animal 
and  Hide  ln?pectcr  in  which  office  he  served  to  1874.  From 
1874:  to  1876  he  served  as  DajjUty  District  Clerk.  In  February, 
1877,  after  the  adoptiim  of  the  Constitution  pf  1876,  he  was 
elected  assessor  and  reelected  in  1878.  Daring  these  two  terms 
as  assessor  he  studied  law  under  Timmons  and  Brown.  He  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  in  1881.  In  1884  and  188Q  he  was  elected 
chairm  in  of  the  democratic  executive  coa^mittee  of  the  county. 
In  1885  he  was  elected  messengei-  to  carry  the  presidential  vote 
to  Washington.  In  1890  he  wis  elected  county  judge  which 
office  he  held  fur  three  terms  till  1896.  In  that  year  he  also 
was  a  member  of  the  democratic  state  executive  committee  and 
delegate  to  the  democratic  national  convention.  In  1898  he  was 
elected  Supreme  Master  Workman  of  the  A.  0.  U.  W.  of  the 
United  States  and  Canada.  This  order  numbers  over  450,000 
members.  Judge  Robson  is  still  the  chairman  of  the  Committee 
on  Laws  of  the  order  and  life  member  of  the  Supreme  Lodge. 

Judge  Robson  was  married  to  Miss  Lucy  Pretorious  of  La 
Grange  in  1876.  They  have  eight  ciiildren,  of  whom  two  sons 
aod  two  daughters  are  grown. 


—229- 


IIoN.  Hans  Teichmueller. 

The  people  of  Fayette  County  gratefully  remember  the  late 
Judge  Teichmueller  wlio  for  nearly  a  generation  was  a  prominent 
citizen  of  the  county  and  who  served  them  as  district  judge  for 
a  period  of  nearly  seventeen  years.  Judge  H.  Teichmueller 
possessed  the  advantages  of  a 
superior  education  and,  i  n 
consequence  showed  those 
traits  of  character,  namely. 
reserve  and  even  modesty, 
coupled  with  a  self-conscious- 
ness which  are  tlje  cljaracter- 
istics  of  the  classical  scholar. 
In  his  early  youth  he  was 
imbued  with  high  ideals  of 
life  and  duty  and  lie  was 
guided  by  them  in  his  conduct 
to  his  very  death.  He  was  an 
optimist,  a  firm  believer  in 
the  goodness  of  mankind  and 
in  the  mora)  and  intellectual 
l)rogress  of  the  human  race. 
He  admired  the  early  times  of 
the  republic  when  (]uestions 
involving  the  highest  of  liu- 
man  rights  were  solved,  and 
he  rather  regretted  that  in  these  latter  days  the  parties  were 
more  guided  by  policies  than  b}'  principles.  Of  practical  poli- 
tics he  was  ignorant.  He  was  continuously  elected  district  judge 
without  opposition — not  on  account  of  his  knowledge  of  elec- 
tioneering, but  because  the  people  held  him  in  high  esteem  on 
account  of  his  elevated  character.  The  judge,  though  a  (lermau 
by  birth,  gained  such  mastery  of  the  English  language  that  the 
style  of  his  essays  on  various  legal  subjects  is  pronounced  classic 
by  competent  critics.  His  is  an  intellectual  style.  The  clear 
light  of  reason  shines  with  a  steady  light  from  the  pages  of  his 
writings.     Tne  warmth  of  passion  and  sentiment  is  missing. 

Hans  Teichmueller  comes  from  ?   respected  family.       His 


Hon,  H.  Teichmueller. 


—230— 

parents  were  August  and  Charlotte  Teichmueller,  nee  von 
Gnrsewald.  His  father  was  an  officer  in  the  Brunswick  army. 
Hans  Teichmueller  was  born  on  March  7,  1837  at  Brunswick, 
Germany,  and  attended  the  public  schools  of  that  city  and  the 
gymnasium  of  Blankenburg,  where  he  graduated.  Like  all 
German  boys,  he  loved  adventure  and  travel,  and  when  fifteen 
years  old,  he  went  with  his  father's  consent,  nicely  equipped,  as 
a  sailor  to  New  York.  But  the  life  of  a  sailor  is  in  reality  differ- 
ent from  the  one  we  read  of  in  books.  Naturally,  a  boy,  raised 
in  a  refined  family,  could  not  like  the  rude  jokes  and  the  rough 
ways  of  a  sailor  crew.  Thus,  when  the  ship  arrived  in  New 
York,  he  deserted  the  ship,  went  to  a  hotel,  gave  his  trunk  in 
pawn,  wrote  to  his  father  for  money  to  return  and,  when  he  had 
received  same,  went  home.  After  graduation,  he  intended  to 
study  theology,  but,  after  the  death  of  his  father,  the  family 
came  into  straitened  circumstances  and  as  a  way  out  of  them  he 
concluded  to  emigrate  to  the  United  States  and  try  his  luck  over 
here  (1856).  The  first  man  he  got  intimately  acquainted  with 
was  old  man  Fordtrau  of  Industry  who  gave  him  advice  as  to 
the  condition  of  the  country.  He  first  came  to  Shelby,  from 
there  he  went  to  Postoak  Point  and  from  there  to  High  Hill 
(18(31).  In  the  latter  place  he  farmed  that  year  (1861), 
but  as  a  farmer  he  was  not  a  success.  Many  are  the  good-natured 
funny  stories  that  still  circulate  about  his  innovations  and  ways 
of  farming.  He  finally  sold  his  crop  and  yoke  of  oxen  for 
Thirty-six  Dollars  and  engaged  in  teaching  school.  He  taught 
school  during  the  Civil  War  at  New  Ulm  and  at  the 
same  time  read  law.  In  1866  he  studied  law  with 
Judge  Lindsay  and  Judge  Shropshire.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  and  formed  a  partnership  with  them.  In  1869  he  was  county 
judge,  but  in  the  following  year  he  was  deposed  by  military 
order.  He  then  formed  a  partnership  with  Major  Phelps  and  later 
with  Major  Dunn  which  firm  afterward  took  in  Mr.  Meerscheidt 
as  a  partner.  In  1884  he  was  elected  district  judge  which  posi- 
tion he  held  with  honor  continuously  till  the  time  of  his  death 
(February  17,  1901). 

He  was  married  June  10,  1858  to  Miss  Augusta  Kellner  of 


—231— 

Postoak  Point,  the  daughter  of  a  highly  educated  teacher  of 
modern  languages.  Colonel  Henderson,  then  justice  of  the 
peace,  performed  the  marriage  ceremony.  To  this  union  were 
born  five  children.  Mrs.  May  Mattingly,  wife  of  the  assistant 
cashier  of  the  First  National  Bank,  died  two  years  ago;  Misses 
Minetta  and  Anna  stay  at  the  home  of  their  mother,  Mrs.  Teich- 
mueller. 


Hon.  Jacob  F.  Wolters. 

In  Texas  more  than  in  any  other  country  within  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  author,  it  is  customary  to  call  men  identified  with 
public  affairs  by  their  given  names.  Hence,  should  the  reader 
chance  to  hear  in  Fayette  or  adjoining  counties  people  speak  of 
"Jake,"  he  may  be  certain  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  referred 
to.  Jake  Wolters  has  had  a  remarkably  successful  career  in  iiis 
profession,  the  law,  as  well  as  in  politics.  If  the  writer  were 
required  to  give  him  an  attribute,  he  would  call  him  "the  lucky," 
an  attribute  coveted  by  some  of  the  world's  greatest  men. 

Pe  was  born  near  New  I'lm,  Austin  County,  Texas,  on 
September  2,  1871.  His  parents  are  Tiieodore  H.  and  Margaret 
(Wink)  Wolters,  both  native  Texans,  but  of  German  parents. 
Jacob  Wolters,  the  grandfather  of  our  Jake,  came  from  Germany 
in  1883,  and  in  May  1834  came  to  Texas.  His  maternal  grand- 
parents, Richard  and  Catherine  Wink,  came  to  Texas  from  the 
village  of  Bingen  on  the  Rhine  in  1848.  Richard  Wink  was  a 
revolutionist  against  the  German  government  in  that  year  and 
after  the  failure  of  the  revolution  escaped  to  Texas.  He,  how- 
ever, remained  in  Germany  long  enouorh  to  wed  his  chosen 
bride;  their  wedding  tour  was  a  hasty  departure  from  the  old 
country  and  a  three  months'  vo3^age  in  a  sail  boat  to  Texas, 

Jacob  F.  Wolters,  with  his  parents,  removed  from  Austin 
County  Lo  Moulton,  Lavaca  County,  in  1878  and,  in  the  following 
year,  to  Schulenburg,  Fayette  Count}'-,  where  his  parents  still 
reside.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools  of  Schulenburg. 
During  the  vacation   months   he    did    hard   manual    labor,  thus 


HON.  J.  F.  WOLTERS. 


—233— 

earning  some  money  for  himself.  There  is  an  old  negro,  still 
employed  at  the  Schulenburg  compress,  who  tells  with  evident 
pleasure  how  "Mister  Jake,  what  is  a  lawyer  now  at  La  Grange, 
use  ter  truck  cotton."  He  spent  two  terms  at  Add- Ran  College, 
when  that  institution  of  learning  was  located  at  Tliorp's  Spring, 
Hood  t-'ounly. 

On  May  20,  1892,  he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  La  (i range. 
In  November  of  tlie  same  year  he  was  electa  I  county  attorney 
of  Fayette  County  over  a  strong  and  popuhir  gentleman.  There 
is  where  iiis  luck  came  in.  He  was  a  beardless  boy,  barely 
twenty-one,  and  the  people  of  Fayette  County  could  not  have 
known  much  of  his  qualilicatians  for  the  otiice.  However,  he 
soon  satisfied  his  friends  tliat  thny  iiad  made  no  mistake  in 
electing  him  to  this  office,  for  he  made  an  able  and  fearless  prose- 
cuting officer.  On  April  25,  1893,  he  njarried  Miss  Saliie  Drane 
of  Colun)bus.  He  declined  to  stand  for  re-election  to  the  olhce 
of  county  attorney,  but,  Ibrming  a  [)artnership  with  Captain  li. 
H.  Pnelps,  entered  fully  into  tiie  practice  of  iiis  ijrofession.  On 
January  1,  1897,  tbe  partnership  was  diojolved  by  mutual 
consent. 

In  189fj  he  was  nominated  by  the  democrats,  together  with 
Captain  F.  A.  Schlick,  and  in  November  elected  to  the  25th 
Lea[islature  by  an  overwhelming  mijority.  The  author  repre- 
sented Austin  County  in  the  same  legislature  and  there  hrst  met 
Jake  Wolters,  In  many  resj^ects  tiie  25th  Legislature  was  one 
of  the  stormiest  in  the  history  of  Texas  since  tlie  war  between 
the  states.  Jake  soon  became  identilied  as  one  of  the  leaders  of 
the  liberal  element  in  the  Ht)use.  He  was  always  alert  and  ready 
to  combat  the  efforts  of  certain  members  to  enact  sumptuarv 
legislation.  Under  his  leadershii)  a  bill  prohibiting  baseball 
playing  on  Sunday  was  defeated.  A  bill  was  reported  which  in 
etfecl  would  have  taxed  social  clubs  out  of  existence.  A  majority 
of  the  members  seemed  to  favor  the  [lassage  of  the  bill.  Fayette 
County  is  full  of  social  clubs  and  the  proposed  measure  would 
have  closed  them  all  up.  The  young  man  from  Fayette  County 
took  the  lead  in  opposition  to  the  measure.  A  small  but  com- 
pact minority  stood  by  him.      In  this  fight  he  demonstrated  his 


—234— 

abilities  as  a  leader  of  men.  Ihe  minority  stood  opposed  by  a 
majority,  led  by  able  and  resourceful  men,  principally  from 
North  Texas.  Wolters  resorted  to  all  parliamentary  tactics 
ever  known  to  exist,  and  even  invented  some  new  ones.  The 
idea  was  to  delay  action.  Action  was  delayed,  until  a  part  of  the 
majority  became  converted  to  the  minority  and  the  measure  was 
defeated  by  a  small  majority.  As  in  this  contest,  so  in  every 
important  one  that  came  up  he  took  a  leadino  part. 

Since  1896  Mr.  Wolters  has  not  sought  office,  although  he. 
in  1900  was  elected  as  a  Democratic  Presidential  Elector,  and  in 
that  year  as  Chairman  of  the  Democratic  Executive  Committee  of 
Fayette  County  managed  the  democratic  campaign  with  much 
success.  He  loves  politics  and  delights  to  help  bis  friends.  In 
fact,  one  of  his  cardinal  virtues  is  his  loyalty  to  his  friends.  It 
cannot  be  said  that  he  loves  his  enemies,  for,  of  course,  like  all 
men  of  his  aggressive  temperament,  be  has  them  too.  But  it  is 
to  his  credit  that  such  enemies  as  he  has  he  made  helping  his 
friends  in  politics.  He  has  never  been  known  to  "straddle  a 
fence"  on  any  public  question.  He  has  always  fearlessly  advo- 
cated what  to  him  seemed  right  and  to  the  best  and  lasting 
benefit  of  a  majority  of  the  people.  As  in  politics,  so  is  he  in 
the  pursuit  of  his  profession — energetic  and  fearless,  always 
jealously  upholding  a  high  professional  standard  of  ethics. 

In  1897  he  formed  a  partnership  with  John  A.  Kerr,  Esq., 
which  was  dissolved  upon  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Kerr  from  the 
profession  to  enter  into  the  mercantile  business  at  Muldoon. 

.  When  war  was  declared  in  1898  against  Spain,  Mr.  Wolters 
tendered  his  services  to  the  government  and  was  commissioned 
as  1st  Lieutenant  of  Cavalry  and  assigned  to  Troop  H.  (Lane 
Kangers)  1st  Tex.  Vol.  U.  S.  Cavalry,  commanded  by  the  gallant 
Col.  Luther  li.  Hare. 

In  1899  he  formed  a  partnership  with  T.  W.  Lane,  which 
firm  George  E.  Lenert  joined  in  1901,  the  iirm  now  being  Wol- 
ters, Lane  &  Lenert, 

Jake  Walters  is  an  American    by    birth    and    in    sentiment, 


-23^— 

and  of  German  descent.  It  is  especially  gratifying  to  tiie  writer 
to  be  able  to  note  that  this  man,  American  by  birtli  and  in  sen- 
timent, has  shown  to  a  certain  class  of  Germans,  who  look  down 
on  the  country  of  their  birth  or  ancestry  in  a  mistaken  belief 
that  thereby  they  become  better  Americans, — that  he,  con- 
scious of  the  virtue  of  his  ancestry,  cherishes  and  respects  their 
memory.  Indeed,  a  respect  for  our  parentage  never  detracts 
from  one's  worth  as  an  American  citizen  ;  nay,  those  men  are 
the  very  best  citizens. 

His  fearlessness,  his  uprightness  in  the  advocacy  of  the 
people's  rights  have  endeared  him  to  the  hearts  of  the' people. 
He  may  be  called  the  advocate  of  the  people's  rights.  Jealous 
of  the  rights  of  the  people  and  of  his  own,  he  neyer  fails  to  stand 
in  defence  of  those  rights.     Of  him  it  may  be  repeated   that  he  : 

"Knows  his  rights 
And  knowing  dares  maintain  them." 


—236— 

LEADING  CITIZENS  OF 
FAYETTE    COUNTY. 


Chris.  Eaumgarten,  Sr. 

Schulenbiirg  is  proud  to  number  among  her  many  useful 
citizens  a  man  who,  by  his  inventive  genius,  lias  lastingly  bene- 
fitted a  whole  industry  and  placed  it  on  a  paying  basis  :  Mr. 
Chris.  Baumgarten.  The  industry  benetitted  by  his  inventions 
is  the  cotton  seed  oil  industry.  Mr.  CUiris.  Baumgarten  has  in- 
vented  and  taken  out  patents  for  the  following  inventio'nls  : 
Hydraulic  Cotton  Baling  Press,  Plate  System  for  Hydraulic  Oil 
Presses,  and  Linting  Piocess  of  the  Delinter  for  removing  the 
last  remnants  of  cotton  from  the  seed  after  passing  through  a 
linter.  All  these  inventions  are  now  in  general  use  in  all  first- 
class  oil  mills  throughout  tlie  United  States.  There  is  no  man 
living  who  knows  more  about  the  process  of  manufacturing 
cotton  seed  into  oil,  meal,  hulls,  etc.,  than  Mr.  Baumgarten. 
He  is  the  proprietor  of  the  Schulenburg  Oil  Mill.  This  mill  is 
a  model  oil  mill.  As  soon  as  a  new  invention  is  made  in  the 
processes  for  crushing  cotton  seed — and  proves  to  be  good — it  is 
adopted.  He  has  constantly  and  unceasingly  labored  to  make 
his  oil  mill  a  model  establishment  and  he  has  succeeded  in  this 
better  than  any  man  in  the  United  States.  Like  all  men  of  in- 
ventive genius,  he  is  modes-t  and  unassuming  and  a  stranger 
would  hardl}^  know  that  he  is  the  man  who  caused  a  revolution 
in  the  manufacture  of  cotton  seed  oil.  Though  he  pays  his 
greatest  attention  to  the  oil  business,  he  does  by  no  means  stop 
there  ;  he  is  forward  in  promoting  all  enterprises  that  tend  to 
develop  the  industries  of  this  county. 

The  parents  of  Mr.  Chris.  Baumgarten  were  Christian  and 
Maria  (Burgemeister)  Baumgarten.  Their  son  Chris.  Baumgar- 
ten wsis  born  March  13,  1836,  at  Tartun,  Province  Saxony, 
Prussia.  He  went  to  the  public  schools  of  his  birthplace  and 
after  completing  his  education  there,  he  learned  the  trade  of  car- 


—237— 

penter.  He  came  to  Texas  in  1854  and  first  landed  at  Galves- 
ton. There  he  worked  seven  months  at  his  trade.  He  next 
worked  in  a  great  many  parts  of  the  state.  In  1856  he  came  to 
Fayette  County  and  first  stayed  at  Ross  Prairie.  He  then  went 
to  La  Grange  where  he  married  Miss  Ernestine  Pannewitz  of 
that  city  (1859).     The  same  year  he  moved  to  High  Hill.     Here 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chris.  Baumgarten,  Sr. 


he  had  bought  a  place  where  now  the  western  half  of  Schulen- 
burg  stands.  He  followed  the  occu})ations  of  farming  and  carpen- 
tering. In  1867  he  built  a  small  oil  mill  for  F.  llillje  in  High 
Hill,  In  1882  he  built  the  Schulenburg  Oil  Mill.  In  1890  he 
organized  companies  in  the  state  and  built  eight  oil  mills  in.  aU 


—238^ 


of  which  he  retained  stock.  He  also  remodelled  his  Schulen- 
burg  Oil  Mill  which  has  become  a  model  oil  mill  in  the  United 
States. 

His  children  are  :  Mary,  deceased  ;  Ernst,  in  the  lumber 
business  at  Schiilenburg  ;  Alma,  deceased  ;  Gus.  A.,  manager  of 
the  Schiilenburg  Oil  Mill  ;  Emil,  dealer  in  furniture,  hardware, 
wagons,  buggies  and  lumber  at  Schulent>urg  ;  Annie,  wife  of  Max 
Wolters,  merchant  at  Shiner  ;  Lillie,  deceased  ;  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Gus.  Ruhmann,  dealer  in  hardware  and  furniture  at  Shiner; 
Christian,  bookkeeper  for  E.  Baumgarten  &  Bro.  at  Schulen- 
burg;  Charles,  assistant  in  oil  mill  of  Schulenburg;  Heinrich, 
deceased  ;  William  and  Fritz,  at  home. 

G.  A.  Baumgarten. 
Gus  Bdumgarteti,  son   of  Mr.    Chris.    Baumgarten,  Sr. ,  is, 
like  ills  father,  an  autlinrity  on   all   questions  in   regard   to    the 

cottonseed  oil  industry. 
His  thorough  knowledge 
of  this  subject,  his  ability 
and  fuergy,  are  recog- 
nized tlironghout  the 
whole  South.  For  a 
number  of  years,  the  Oil 
Mill  Superintendents' 
Association  of  Texas 
elected  him  for  their  sec 
retary  and  treasurer, 
knowing  that  they  coukd 
not  lind  an  abler  man 
who  was  better  qualilied 
and  more  willing  to 
faithfully  work  in  their 
interest  than  liim.  'i'liis 
/^position  he  resigned  on 
account  of  his  many  ar- 
Gus.  Baumgarten.  duous   dulies    in    the    oil 

business,  but  that  association  honored  him  for  bis    eminent  ser- 
vices in  their  behalf  during  his  term  as  secretary  by  electing  him 


—239— 

as  vice  president  in  1901.  Mr.  Baumwarten  is  the  leading  spirit 
of  that  association  and  of  tlie  whole  oil  industry  in  Texas.  His 
opinions  and  recommendations  are  highly  regarded  through- 
out the  state.  Men  in  the  oil  business,  iti  looking  for  managers 
of  their  mills,  very  often  ask  hiin  to  recommend  them  competent 
men  for  the  position.  A  great  many  young  men  whom  he  had 
instructed  in  the  oil  business  in  the  oil  mill  at  Schulenburg  he 
recommended,  and  they  are  now  earning  salaries  of  from  $1800 
to  $5000  per  year.  As  is  the  case  with  all  men  who  do  not 
divide  their  energies,  but  direct  them  all  to  one  single  point,  I\Ir. 
Baumgarten  is  a  master  in  his  line  of  business.  For  the  last 
twenty  years  he  has  been  the  superintendent  and  manager  of  his 
fa-ther's  oil  mill  at  Schulenburg. 

Gus.  Baumgarten  was  born  February  14,  1866  at  his  father's 
house  which  stood  then  in  the  prairie,  but  now  belongs  to  the 
western  part  of  Schulenburg.  He  was  instructed  in  the  public 
schools  (.>f  that  place.  After  coni|)letii)g  his  common  school 
education,  he  attended  f)r  two  se.>;sion-,  the  Gjiyi  C'ity  Business 
College  of  (i'.iiney,  111  Cl8S:vl89D  )  He  became  a  graduate  of 
ihat  institution.  In  189  )  lie  returned  to  Texas  and  l)uilt,  in 
company  with  his  father,  eight  o  1  mills  in  the  state.  He  was 
tlie  moving  s|)irit  in  the  organization  of  the  Oil  Mill  Superin- 
teuilents'  Association  of  Texas,  w  is  elected  their  secretary  and 
treasurer,  and  in  1901  vice  i)resident  of  that  association. 

Mr.  G.  A  B.iumsarten  was  married  on  June  22,  1892  to 
Miss  Ida  Wallace,  daughter  of  Frank  Wallace,  a  conductor  on 
the  Southern  P.iciHc  Riilroad.  Their  union  wa-s  blessed  by  two 
children,  Wallace  and  U  ly. 

H  i:\RY    I'kmikkr. 

Schulenburg's  reputation  for  the  splendor  of  its  festivities  is 
largely  due  to  the  unceasing  elTjrts  of  Henry  Beniker.  The 
population  of  this  city  is  largely  German.  They  are  of  the 
opinion  that  each  citizen  should  enjoy  his  personal  rights  to  the 
greatest  extent  consistent  with  good  or^ler.  They  are  the 
most  outspoken  opponents  of  prohibition  and  all  sumptuary 
laws.     The  festivities  af   Schulenburg   have   the   reputation    of 


—240— 


being  conducted  with  the  greatest  treedom,  combined  witii  the 
most  congenial  and  orderly  behavior.  The  leading  spirit  of 
these  festivities  is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  Henry  Beniker. 
His  jolliness  and  congeniality  are  as  if  especially  made  for 
such  festive  occasions.  To  sustain  the  reputation  of  Schulen- 
burg  as  the  jolliest  old  town  in  Texas,  he  spares  neither  time  nor 
money.  He  believes  m  the  doctrine,  enjoy  life  while  it  lasts, 
or,  as  the  poet  says, 

"Let  us  have  wine,  women,  laughter; 
Sermons  and  soda  water  the  day  after." 

The    parents    of    Henry    Beniker    are    Henry    and    Helene 
(luergens)    Beniker,   living  at    Nordenhaus,    Oldenburg,       His 

father  was  a  seaman. 

Henry  Beniker  was  born 
at  Grossensiel,  Oldenburg,  on 
A])ril  28,  1858.  He  went  to 
school  at  Abbehausen  and, 
alter  completing  his  education, 
lie  learned  the  joiner's  trade 
ill  Breraerhaven.  To  become 
proficient  in  his  trade,  he  trav- 
eled, as  is  the  custom  in  Ger- 
many, throughout  that  coun- 
try, working  in  his  trade 
under  different  masters.  He 
established  himself  as  master 
in  his  trade  at  Abbehausen, 
and  on  November  2,  1883,  he 
married  Miss  Sophie  Sommer. 
He  came  to  the  United  States 
in  the  fall  of  1888  and  landed 
at  Galveston.  From  there  he 
went  to  Sweet  Home  and 
In  1889  he  established  himself  as 
He  was  very  successful   in  his 


Henry  Beniker. 


worked  there  as  a  carpenter. 

a  building  contractor  at  Wied 

business.     In  1893  he  moved  to  Schulenburg  and  remained  there 

in  the  3ame  business.     He  had  very  often  as   many   as   twenty 


—241— 

carpenters  under  him,  a  work  that  required  great  skill  in  man- 
agement. In  1899  he  went  with  John  Oltmanns  in  the  saloon 
business,  in  which  he  remained  until  his  partner's  death.  In 
1901  he  established  himself  in  the  same  business  in  company 
with  his  brother  Anton  at  the  same  old  stand.  He  is  also  the 
popular  agent  of  the  New  Orleans  Brewing  Association,  whose 
interests  he  serves  with  ability  and  success. 

To  his  union  with  his  wife,  the  following  children  were 
born:  John,  Henry,  Willie,  Herbert,  Mary  and  Erna.  They 
all  stay  at  the  home  of  their  father. 

A.  VV.  Beniker. 

Of  A.  W.  Beniker  the  same  may  be  said  as  of  his  brother. 
He  takes  great  interest  in  feasts  and  all  social  affairs.  His  jovial 
face,  his  timely  jokes,  his  pleasant  words  for  everybody,  soon 
bring  the  visitors  at  feasts  into  good  humor.  If  you  want  to 
find  him  on  the  feast  ground,  you  may  just  e;o  to  where  the 
largest  crowd  is;  not  that  he  follovvs  tlie  largest  crowd,  but 
wherever  he  goes,  on  account  of  liis  jollity,  he  soon  gathers  a 
crowd  around  him.  Like  his  broliier,  he  spares  neither  time, 
money  nor  efforts  to  make  the  feasts  of  bchulenburf^  a  success. 
His  presence  and  liis  aid  at  these  feasts  have  become  a  necessity 
for  their  success.  He  also  takes  a  leading  interest  in  all  theatri- 
cal performances  arranged  by  the  citizens  of  Schulenburg. 

Anton  Wilhelm  Beniker  was  born  August  2(j,  1866,  at 
Grossensiel,  Oldenburg.  His  father,  Henry  Beniker,  was  a 
seaman  and  perished  in  a  storm  at  sea,  when  Anton  was  only 
two  years  old.  His  mother  is  still  living  at  Bremerhaven.  He 
went  to  school  at  Atens,  and  after  his  school  years  learned  the 
trades  of  saddler  and  paper  hanger.  He  traveled  extensively 
in  Germany  to  complete  his  trade  education.  In  1886  he  entered 
the  German  army  and  absolved  his  three  years'  militar}-  service, 
as  is  the  law  in  that  country.  He  entered  the  nineteenth  regi- 
ment of  dragoons  which  was  stationed  at Osternburg,  Oldenburg. 
Though  he  was  a  splendid  soldier,  and  well  liked  by  his  officers 
on  account  of  his  efficiency  and  ability,  his  convictions  were 
against  this  form  of  government  that  required  the  best   years  of 


—242— 


a  man's  life  in  order  to  train  him  to  fight  for  and  support  a 
monarchical  and  oppressive  form  of  government.  He  therefore 
left  the  fatherland  for  the  United  States  as  a  country  more  in  har- 
mony with  his  political  convic- 
tions. He  first  came  to  Sweet 
Home  and  followed  the  occu- 
pation of  painting.  From 
there  he  went  to  Shiner  and 
in  1894  he  came  to  Schulen- 
burg.  Here  he  was  a  leading 
painter,  biing  quite  successful 
in  this  business.  In  December 
1901  he  established,  in  cum- 
pany  with  his  brother  Henry, 
a  saloon  at  the  old  John  Olt- 
manns  stand.  The  strict 
attention  of  the  brothers  to 
business,  their  jolliness  and 
congeniality,  have  made  their 
business  place  the  most  popu- 
lar establishment  in  Schulen- 
burg. 

Mr.  Anton  Beniker  was 
married  to  Miss  Louise 
Schlottmann  of  Schulenburg,  Texas,  in  June  1897.  This  union 
wag  blessed  with  one  boy,  Anton,  now  four  years  old. 


Anton  "W.  Beniker. 


Rev.  J.  Chromcik. 

Dextera  praecipue  cai^it  indulgentia  mantes; 
Asperitas  odium  saevaque  bella  movet. 

—Ovid. 

Rev.  Father  Chromcik  is  a  man  whose  presence  commands 
respect  everywhere.  He  understands  the  art  of  guiding  man 
without  wanting  to  rule.  No  man  has  followed  better  the  line 
of  conduct  laid  down  in  the  above  lines  of  the  great  Latin  poet 
than  he.  His  timely  tolerance  has  conquered  him  the  hearts  of  all 
he  came  into  contact  with,  and  he  carefully  has  avoided  off"end- 
ing  anybody  by  untimely  severity.       Like  all  Catholic   priests, 


—243- 


versed  in  the  classical  languages,  he  possesses  that  reserve 
coupled  with  urbanity  and  a  spirit  of  self-consciousness  which 
are  the  characteri5tics  of  the  gentleman  and  classical  scholar. 
Though  a  firm  Catholic,  his  broad  mind  takes  a  sympathetic 
interest  in  all  humanity.  When  he  first  came  to  Texas,  there 
were  not  as  many  Catholic  priests  then  as  there  are  now,  and  he 
went  on  mission  in  eleven  different  communities,  amongst  them 
La  Grange.  The  communities  not  being  connected  then  by  rail 
as  they  are  now,  he  had  to  make  long  trips,  mostly  on  horseback, 
and  very  often  in  bad  tempes- 
tuous weather.  Once  he  had 
to  be  in  Industry,  Austin 
County,  for  Sunday's  service. 
It  rained  for  twenty-four 
hours;  the  creeks  were  high, 
especially  the  C  u  m  m  i  n  g  s 
Creek,  and  he  had  to  cross  it. 
His  feet  got  wet  and  he  con- 
tracted a  severe  attack  of 
rheumatism  with  which  he  is 
still  troubled.  He  has  done  a 
world  of  good  everywhere.  In 
Fayetteville,  he  restored  the 
Catholic  Church  building,  one 
of  the  oldest  and  largest  in 
the  state.  His  deep  interest 
in  education  induced  him  to 
build  the  Chromcik  school  in 
the  latter  place  in  which  he 
taught  for  fifteen  years  under 
a  first  grade  certificate.  The  Catholic  priests  generally  are  noted 
for  their  great  accomplishments  and  splendid  education,  but 
even  among  this  highly  educated  class  he  has  but  few  erjuals. 
Father  Chromcik  is  a  linguist  and  has  a  perfect  knowledge  of 
several  languages.  Men  of  his  character  do  not  care  for  the 
applause  of  the  world;  they  have  resources  in  their  own  minds 
and  the  consciousness  of  having  lived  a  useful  life  which  are 
sufficient  for  them.       Still,  his  friends  and  the  reader   will  feel 


Rev.  J.  Chromcik. 


—244— 

glad  to  hear  that  his  sterling  merits  have  been  highly  honored 
by  his  church.  He  was  diocesan  consulter  at  the  synod  to  help 
and  assist  the  bishop  of  Galveston  in  ruling  the  whole  diocese, 
representing  the  German  and  Bohemian  nationalities  and  their 
affairs;  he  is  now  ecclesiastical  judge  (judge  for  the  clergy  in 
ecclesiastical  cases),  besides  fiscal  attorney,  i.  e.  prosecutor  and 
defendant  in  ecclesiastical  cases. 

Rev.  J.  Chromcik  was  born  January  25,  1845,  at  Olmuetz, 
Moravia,  Austria.  He  finished  his  course  of  studies  in  Olmuetz 
and  graduated  there  in  186G.  After  ordination  he  was  assistant 
priest  at  Lichtenau,  Moravia.  He  then  became  administrator  of 
the  parish  of  Senftleben,  Moravia.  Having  been  assigned  to  the 
diocese  of  Galveston  by  Bishop  Dubuois,  he  went  to  Texas  and 
arrived  there  on  Christinas  eve,  1872.  He  was  sent  to  Fayette- 
ville  where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  In  1894  he  made  a  trip 
to  Europe  to  celebrate  the  jubilee  of  the  twenty ^fifth  anniversary 
of  his  ordination.  On  hh  return  he  brought  with  him  four 
worthy  young  clergym  !n  :  Rsv.  8kocek,  Rev.  Sebik,  Rev.  Ma- 
han  and  Rev.  Kacer. 

Dr.  I.   E.  Clark. 

Whenever  in  election  years  democracy  raises  its  banner  to 
fight  monopoly,  paternalism,  imperialism  and  republican  mis- 
rule. Dr.  I.  E.  Clark  is  always  found  in  the  front  ranks  fighting 
its  battles,  a  trusted  and  able  captain  of  that  party.  It  is  large- 
ly also  due  to  his  unceasing  efforts  that  his  home  place,  Schu- 
lenburg,  though  the  population  is  largely  German  and  inclined 
to  be  independent,  has  become  a  stronghold  of  democracy  of  the 
county  and  generally  gives  decided  democratic  majorities.  He 
is  a  patriot,  always  placing  the  welfare  of  his  party  above  per- 
sonal ambition.  To  his  fellow  citizens  he  has  been  of  the 
greatest  benefit  in  paying  his  attention  to  improved  stock  and 
importing  same  to  this  county.  His  Bermuda  Valley  Stock 
Farm  where  he  raises  the  best  kind  of  thoroughbred  and  stan- 
dard horses  and  Red  Poll  and  Holstein  cattle  has  acquired  a  rep- 
utation beyond  the  limits  of  this  state. 

Dr.  Clark  is  one  of  the    finest   surgeons    in   the   state.     He 


—245— 


was  the  first  one  in  Fayette  County  that  operated  for  gunshot 
wounds  of  the  intestines  where  several  holes  had  been  made  in 
the  intestines  ;  the  patient  recovered.  He  removed  an  ovarian 
tumor  weighing  sixty-six  pounds  from  an  old  lady  sixty-three 
years  of  age  ;  she  was  well  in  three  weeks.  He  has  performed 
successfully  many  dangerous  operations,  a  great  many  of  them 
for  appendicitis.  He  is  the  local  surgeon  for  the  Southern  Pa- 
cific Railway  Company. 

The  parents  of  Dr.  I.  E.  Clark  are  Dr.  H.  S.  Clark  and 
Mrs.  Clio  A.  (Robertson)  Clark.  They  catne  from  Tennessee  to 
Texas  in  1854  and  first  settled 
in  Polk  County.  In  1861 
they  moved  to  Gonzalts 
County  and  in  1865  to  Mixen 
Creek  near  Kinkier,  Lavaca 
County,  where  his  fcither  still 
resides,  a  practising  physician 
of  Lavaca  C  o  u  n  t  y.  His 
mother  died  there  in  1877. 

Dr.  I.  K.  Clark  was  born 
December  23,  1860,  in  Polk 
Counly,  Texas.  He  first  at- 
tended the  public  schools  of 
Lavaca  County  and  later  from 
1875  to  1879  Judge  Byars' 
High  School  of  Covington, 
Tennessee,  where  he  also 
studied  Latin,  Greek  and 
French.  He  received  a  cer- 
tificate of  thoroughness  from 
that  institution.  In  1879  he  read  medicine  for  four  months 
under  his  father  and  from  1879  to  18S2  he  studied  his  profession 
at  the  Jefferson  College  of  Philadelphia.  After  graduation  he 
completed  the  practical  side  of  his  professional  studies  as  resi- 
dent physician  in  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital  of  Philadelphia. 
In  1890  he  visited  a  great  many  medical  schools  in  the  United 
States  and  wound  up  by  a  one  year's   course   in   the  Polylinic  of 


Dr.  1.  E.  Clark. 


—246— 

New  York.  There  are  few  physicians  in  the  state  who  have 
prepared  themselves  with  so  much  thoroughness  for  the  practice 
of  their  profession  as  Dr.  Clark.  He  started  the  practice  of  his 
profession  at  Moravia,  Lavaca  County,  in  1883,  and  in  1887  he 
moved  to  Schulenburg  where  he  nas  been  a  resident  ph3'sician 
ever  since. 

In  1888  he  married  Miss  Ella  Wolters,  daughter  of  R. 
Wolters,  sr.,  one  of  the  most  prominent  business  men  of  Schul- 
enburg. Their  children  are:  Clio  A.  Clark,  born  1889,  and 
Harvey  U.  Clark,  born  in  1891. 

Lately  Dr.  I.  E.  Clark  has  taken  great  interest  in  Beaumont 
oil.  He  has  been  elected  president  and  manager  of  the  Borealis 
Oil  Company,  the  business  affairs  of  which  company  he  manages 
with  great  ability  and  success. 


Henry  Eelers. 

Amongst  the  peace  officers  of  the  state  who  were  instrumen- 
tal in  establishing  law  and  order,  Henry  Eilers,  the  popular 
marshal  of  Schulenburg,  Texas,  is  found  in  the  front  rank.  He 
first  served  the  county  as  constable.  At  that  time,  a  gang  of 
horse  and  cattle  thieves  who  resided  about  four  miles  east  of 
Schulenburg  operated  in  the  neighborhood  and  when  in  town 
very  frequently  played  the  hell-roaring  desperado.  Henry 
Eilers,  under  Sherifis  John  T.  Rankin  and  B.  L.  Zapp,  did  some 
first  class  detective  work  to  discover  and  convict  the  guilty 
parties.  In  a  short  time,  the  whole  country  around  Schulen- 
burg was  cleared  of  this  undesirable  element,  and  the  indus- 
trious farmer  was  assured  that  he  could  retain  the  fruits  of  his 
enterprise  and  industry.  His  services  in  this  line  were  highly 
appreciated  by  the  citizens  of  Schulenburg,  who  rewarded  them 
by  a  repeated  bestowal  of  their  confidence  in  liis  ability  in  con- 
tinuously electing  him  to  the  marshalship. 

The  parents  of  Henry  Eilers  were  Hinrich  and  Auguste 
(Frels)  Kilers.  They  were  natives  of  the  grand  duchy  of  Olden- 
burg,       His  father  came  to  this  country  in    1846.      The   latter 


—247— 

married  Miss  Augnste  Frels  at  La  Grange  and  thereafter  moved 
to  Ross  Prairie  where  he  was  one  of  the  best  known  leading 
settlers  of  that  section.  He 
was  largely  interested  in 
drawing  German  and  Bohe- 
mian immigrants  to  this  fer- 
tile county.  He  brought  the 
first  Bohemian  immigrants 
into  tliis  county  and  more 
immigrants  to  this  section 
than  any  other  two  men.  He 
died  respected  by  his  fellow- 
citizens  at  a  ripe  old  age  in 
1899.  His  wife  had  preceded 
him  in  death  in  1895.  He 
left  the  following  children: 
(1)  Gerhard,  merchant  in 
Yoakum;  (2)  Henry,  the  sub- 
ject of  our  sketch;  (3)  William, 
teacher  at  Fayetteville;  (4) 
August,  farmer  near  Hallets- 
ville;     (5)    Fred,    farmer    at 

-r.  •■-.-.        ^r,     r^        ,  Henry  Eilers. 

Koss  Prairie;  (6)  fcirnst,    part- 
ner in  the  saloon  business  with  Kaiser  at  Yoakum,  died  in  1902; 
(7)  Auguste  and  (8)  Annie,  staying  with  (heir  brother    William. 


Henry  Eilers  was  born  July  11,  1857,  at  Ross  Prairie  ;  went 
to  school  at  Fayetteville,  Rutersville  college  and  St.  Mary's  uni- 
versity, Galveston,  Texas.  He  went  to  Schulenburg  in  August, 
1880  and  established  himself  in  the  saloon  business  in  which  he 
remained  for  three  years.  In  November,  1882,  he  was  elected 
constable  in  which  office  he  served  the  people  till  April,  188G, 
when  he  resigned  on  assuming  the  duties  of  the  office  of  city 
marshal.  He  became  so  popular  ia  this  office  that  the  people 
of  Schulenburg  have  elected  him  as  city  marshal  ever  since. 
Besides  this  office  he  holds  the  office  of  city  assessor  and  collec- 
tor. He  has  been  a  deputy  sheriff,  deputy  collector  and  deputy 
assessor  of  the  county  since  1882.  the   best    proof  of  the   couti- 


—248— 

dence  the  people  and  the  officers  place  in  his  integrity  and 
ability. 

Mr.  Eilers  is  an  outspoken  democrat  and  has  always  taken 
a  leading  interest  in  the  advocacy  of  his  party's  principles.  His 
services  to  the  party  have  been  eminent  and  unselfish,  and  his 
influence  in  that  party  is,  therefore,  accordingly  great. 

He  married  Miss  Dora  Williams  of  Schulenburg  in  1885. 
This  union  was  blessed  with  five  children  :  Lillie,  Henry, 
Adele,  Dora,  and  Erna. 


Prof.   Wm.  Eilers. 

As  is  always  the  case,  if  a  man  does  not  divide  his  energy, 
but  directs  it  to  one  single  object,  he  will  be  successful  in  liis 
aim.  Prof.  Eilers  has  devoted  all  his  time  and  energy  to  pre- 
pare himself  thoroughly  for  the    profession  of  teaching.     He  is 

one    of  the  most   progressive 


teachers  in  the  state.  He 
stands  high  among  jiis  col- 
leagues, and  his  devotion  to 
teaching  and  his  ability  havo 
often  been  recognized.  Hr 
was  president  of  the  Teachers' 
Institute  of  Washington  Coun- 
ty ;  twice  secretary  of  the 
(South  Texas  Teachers'  Asso- 
ciation ;  vice-president  and 
secretary  of  the  Fayette  Coun- 
ty Teachers'  Institute ;  in- 
structor for  two  years  in  that 
institute  ;  member  of  the  Fay- 
ette County  board  of  examin- 
ers ;  member  of  the  state 
board  of  examiners  (1901)  and 
is  now  conductor  of  the  La 
Grange  Summer  Normal. 
The  success  of  this  normal  is 
largely  due  to  his  unceasing  efforls.     The  school  has  an  enroll- 


Prof.  Wm.  Eilers. 


—249— 

meut  of  fifty-six  students,  by  far  the  largest   enrollment   of  any 
summer  normal  ever  held  in  Faj^ette  County. 

William  Eilers  was  born  in  Ross  Prairie  near  Fayetteville 
on  October  5,  1863.  Up  to  1881  he  was  educated  in  the  public 
and  private  schools  of  Fayetteville.  He  then  passed  his  exam- 
ination as  teacher  and  obtained  a  first  grade  certificate.  He 
taught  school  for  six  years  in  Kinkier,  Lavaca  County,  and  one 
year  in  Schulenburg.  From  1889-1891  he  attended  the  Sam 
Houston  Normal  of  Huntsville,  Texas,  of   which    institution   he 


The  home  of  Hinrich  Eilers,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Ross  Prairie. 

became  a  graduate  in  1891.  He  next  taught  school  again  in 
several  towns,  viz:  In  ElJinger,  LaGrange  and  Fayetteville  for 
seven  years,  and  in  Burton,  Washington  County,  for  three  years. 
In  all  these  schools  he  attracted  by  his  skillful  manage- 
ment and  his  able  instruction  public  attention.  He  has  estab- 
lished a  reputation  for  being  a  successful  teacher  beyond  the 
limits  of  his  county.  On  account  fof  his  recognized  profession- 
al ability  he  may  be  called  at  any  moment  to  larger  fields  of 
usefulness. 


—250— 


Hon.  a.  E,  Falke. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  on  the  27th  day  of 
October,  1842,  near  Weissenberg,  in  Saxony,  Germany.  In 
1854,  at  the  age  of  twelve  years,  he  came  to  America  with  his 
parents  and  first  settled  at  New  Ulm:  later  he  and  his  parents 
moved  to  this  county  and  settled  on  Rabb's  Creek.  In  1861  Mr. 
Falke  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Allen's  regiment,  Captain  Patty's 
company  "F."  After  about  fourteen  months  of  active  service  to 
the  Lost  Cause,  he  was  captured  at  Millican's  Bend,  La.,  and 
taken  north  to  Young's  Point  and  Memphis,  Tenn.,  where  he 
was  kept  as  a  prisoner  of  war;  he  was  finally  taken  to  Cairo,  111., 
where  he  was  released.  After  working  on  a  farm  near  Cairo  for 
some  time,  he  returned  to  Texas  with  $10  in  cash,  a  mustang 
pony  and  no  saddle. 

Landing  in  Texas  without  means,  he  engaged  in  farming  for 

halves,  and,  by  diligence  and 
strict  economy,  ho  managed  to 
save  a  little  money  and  in 
1868  he  was  enabled  to  pur- 
chase a  sawmill  on  Rabb's 
Creek.  In  the  same  year  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Wilhel- 
mina  Peter  of  Ingram's  Prai- 
rie, a  poor,  but  beautiful  and 
highly  respected  young  lady. 
This  union  was  blessed  with 
fourteen  children,  nine  of 
whom  are  living.  In  1874, 
Mr.  Falke,  having  accumu- 
lated about  $2000,  engaged  in 
the  general  merchandise  busi- 
ness at  VVarda.  A  year  later 
he  was  appointed  postmaster 
and  established  the  post  office 
at  that  place. 

In  1894  he  was  elected  as 
a  member  of  the  24th  Legislature  by  the  democratic  party 
with  a  handsome  majority. 


Hon.  a.  E.  Falke. 


—251— 

la  1897  Mr.  Falke  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  wife, 
probably  the  hardest  ordeal  during  his  whole  life.  In  1899, 
after  a  career  of  a  quarter  of  a  century  as  a  successful  merchant 
and  financier,  he  retired  from  the  mercantile  business,  turning 
over  his  large  stock  to  his  sons,  C.  A.  and  E.  A.  Falke.  Mr. 
Falke,  though  a  man  of  limited  education,  is  eminently  practi- 
cal, posse:?ses  sound  judgment  and  an  excellent  natural  business 
talent.  By  liberal  donations  to  various  churches  and  schools 
and  other  charitable  institutions,  he  has  shown  himself  to  be 
very  liberal  to  worthy  enterprises. 

He  is  one  of  the  principal  originators  of  the  oil  mill  and 
compress  at  Giddings.  The  old  axiom,  "Great  oaks  from  little 
acorns  grow,"  can  justly  be  applied  to  Mr.  Falke.  From  a 
small  beginning  he  has  by  thrift,  honesty  and  perseverance 
accumulated  a  considerable  fortune. 

LORENZ    FUCHS, 

The  life  of  Lorenz  Fuch^  furnishes  an  example  where  per- 
severence,  industry,  economy  and  keen  business  sense  were 
crowned  with  success.  Of  all  the  Germans  who  immigrated  to 
this  county  there  was  none  more  successful  and  none  worthier 
of  success.  He  is  an  example  of  the  German,  as  a  better  one 
could  not  be  found  anywhere  who  by  perseverance  and  industry 
has  reached  the  summit  of  his  ambition  and  on  account  of  his 
accumulated  fortune  secured  himself  and  his  family  against  the 
adversities  of  life.  But  Lorenz  Fuchs  was  not  only  a  success- 
ful man,  he  was  also  a  good  man.  Therefore,  no  one  envied  his 
success  ;  his  friends  rather  enjoyed  it.  He  invested  his  savings 
iu  land  and  as  the  value  of  the  latter  steadily  rose,  his  fortune 
rose  with  it.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  his  estate  was  valued  at 
$65,000.  His  children  have  inherited  the  keen  business  sense 
of  their  father  and  number  amongst  the  most  successful  farmers 
in  the  state. 

Lorenz  Fuchs  was  born  in  Pegnitz,  Bavaria,  on  May  11, 
182G.    He  went  to  the  public  city  schools  of  that  place.     In  184G 


—252— 


he  immigrated  with  his  parents  to  the  United  States  and  land- 
ed at  Gralveston,  Texa?.  His  father  Wolfgang  Fuchs  bought  a 
farm  near  Bucknorn,  Austin  County,  Texas.  One  month  after 
their  arrival  at  Buckhorn  his  father  died.  The  next  year  (1847) 
Loreuz  Fuchs  married  Miss  Frederike  Kiel,  a  native  of  Wuerz- 
low,  Hanover,  Germany  and  assumed  the  management  of  his 
father's  farm. 

In  1851  he  went  on  account  of    bad    health    to    La    Bahia 
Prairie,  bought  a  farm  there  and  has  resided  there  ever  since  till 

the  time  of  his  death,  August 
2,  1900.  He  had  reached  the 
ripe  old  age  of  seventy-four 
years  after  a  useful  life  of  toil 
and  lobor.  It  may  be  re- 
marked yet  that  during  the 
Confederate  War  he  was  gov- 
verntnent  teamster.  His  wife 
survives  liim. 

He  left  his  children    all    in 
prosperous  circumstances. 

The  following  are  his  chil- 
dren: 1  Henry,  at  Burton, 
Washington  County,  Texas  ; 
2.  Wilhelm,  at  Burton  ;  8. 
Emily,  wife  of  Penry  Broe- 
sche,  at  Burton  ;  4,  Fritz  at 
Carmine,  Fayette  County, 
Texas  ;  5,  James,  at  Manor, 
Travis  County,  Texas  ;  6, 
Lina,  wife  of  John  Ebner,  at 
Page,  Bastrop  County,  Texas  ;  7,  Mary,  wife  of  William  Seidel, 
at  Brenham,  Washington  County,  Texas  ;  8,  Lorenz,  at  Buck- 
holts,  Milam  County,  Texas;  9,  August,  at  Page,  Bastrop 
County,  Texas  ;  10,  Charles,  at  Burton  ;  11,  Laura,  wife  of 
Alfred  Homeyer,  at  Burton ;  12,  Alfred,  at  Page;  13,  Otto  at 
Carmine,  Texas. 


Lorenz  Fuchs. 


—253— 


,'^' 


Prof.  Julius  Hansen. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  well  known  to  the  devotees  of 
music  throughout  the  state  as  a  master  of  the  highest  of  human 
arts,  the  art  of  music.  Not  only  has  he  become  a  master  in  this 
art  himself,  but  he  has  also  devoted  a  large  part  of  his  time  and 
ener^^y  to  teaching  it  and  to  the  organization  of  musical  societies 
and  singing  clubs.  He  organized  the  Concordia  Singing  Club 
of  Fredericksburg,  Texas,  and  became  the  leader  of  the  Mixed 
Chorus  of  that  city;  was  leader  of  the  Mixed  Chorus  of  Comfort; 
supervisor  of  singing  in  the  city  public  schools  of  Austin  (1890- 
1891);  organized  the  Cedar  Maennerchor  (Dec.  3,  1891);  later 
on  the  Cedar  Mixed  Chorus; 
he  is  now  leader  of  the  Fay- 
etteville  Saengerbund. 

The  parents  of  Julius 
Hansen  were  Peter  Hansen  of 
Handerup,Sch]es  wig- Hoi  stein 
(born  1813)  and  Anna  Doro- 
thea Hansen,  nee  Andreson, 
born  in  Ladelund,  Schleswig- 
Holstein.  His  father  was  the 
proprietor  of  a  tannery  and 
shoe  factory.  This  union  was 
blessed   with    three    children: 

(1)  T.  Heinrich  Hansen,  who 
died  in  the  MO's  and  left  three 
children,  Julius,  Maria  and 
Louise,  who  are  now  living  in 
Niesgran,    Anofeln,   Denmark; 

(2)  Johann  Theodor  Hansen, 
landlord  of  the  inn  Zur  Hei- 
math  in  Tundern,  and  Julius. 

Julius  Hansen,  born  August  31,  1851,  in  Ladelund,  Schles- 
wig-Holstein,  attended  the  public  schools  of  his  native  city  until 
his  sixteenth  year.  Then,  against  his  will,  he  was  apprenticed 
in  the  trade  of  dyeing  in  Foehr.  The  trade  not  suiting  him,  he 
eturned  home  and  stayed  there  till  January  2,  18G9.       He  then 


Prof.  Julius  Hansen. 


_254— 

volunteered  and  enlisted  in  the  84th  regiment.  In  this  regiment 
he  served  during  the  Franco-Prussian  War  of  1870-71,  and  took 
part  in  the  battles  of  Gravelotte,  St.  Privat,  Metz,  Noisseville 
and  Crozelles.  During  the  siege  of  Metz  he  became  sick  and  was 
sent  to  the  hospital  of  Sachsen-Altenburg.  After  his  dismissal 
from  the  hospital,  he  again  went  to  the  front  and  participated  in 
the  battle  of  Le  Mans.  After  his  return  from  the  war,  he  taught 
in  several  small  schools  from  1872  to  1874.  From  1874  to  1877 
he  was  an  alumnus  of  the  Normal  at  Tundern;  he  graduated 
there  in  1877  in  German  and  Danish.  Till  the  autumn  of  that 
year  he  taught  m  the  public  school  of  Keitum,  Sylt. 

In  November,  1877,  he  went  to  New  York  and  in  1878  from 
there  to  Mexico.  In  the  autumn  of  1878  he  returned  to  the 
United  States  and  taught  school  in  New  Fountain, Medina  County; 
in  1879-81  he  wns  teacher  of  German  in  the  Fredericksburg 
College;  from  1881  to  188G,  princijjal  of  the  Comfort  school;  in 
1886  he  became  proprietor  of  a  tinshop  in  that  place  which  he 
sold  in  the  fall  of  1887;  in  January  1888  he  accepted  a  position  as 
tutor  in  the  family  of  Mr.  E.  Engle,  Bluff,  Fayette  County;  from 
18S8  to  1895  he  was  teacher  in  Ce''ar  with  the  exception  of  the 
year  1890-91,  when  he  was  supervisor  of  singing  in  the  public 
schools  of  Austin,  Texas;  in  1895  he  opened  a  private  school 
in  La  Grange,  Texas;  from  189G  to  January  1897  he  was 
teacher  of  German  in  the  La  Grange  city  schools.  Then  he 
moved  to  Fayetteville  and  became  the  proprietor  of  the  tinshop 
in  that  place.  On  February  22,  1898,  he  was  appointed  post- 
master at  Fayetteville,  which  office  he  still  holds. 

He  married  Miss  Fernandine  Schulze  of  Comfort,  Texas,  on 
June  3,  1882.  His  wife  died  in  Comfort  in  1896  and  left  an 
only  daughter,  Hedwig  Hansen,  who  stays  with  her  grandmother 
in  Comfort.  On  August  26,  1897,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ji^lla 
Vetter  of  Fayetteville,  Texas. 

A.  Heintze,  Sr. 

If  I  ask  the  reader  it  he  remembers  the  tall,  sturdy  figure  of 
an  old  jnan,  head  still  erect,  hair  white,  eye  still  keen  and  pene- 


—255— 


Irating,  standing  in  the  neighborhood  of  Mr.  Heintze's  store  in 
the  afternoons,  the  German  reader  in  the  county  knows  that  I 
mean  old  Mr.  Heintze.  Old  Mr.  Heintze  is  a  fine  specimen  of 
the  robust  health  and  sturdiness  of  the  northern  German.  There 

is  still  the  youthful  fire  in  his 
eyes  that  was  there  when  he 
joined  in  the  effort  of  the  Kiel 
students  to  separate  from  Den- 
mark and  join  the  glorious  old 
fatherland,  when  he  served 
under  Major  v.  Vasmer  and 
General  v.  der  Tann  in  that 
war.  Men  in  the  forties  very 
often  show  less  physical  and 
mental  vigor  than  he  does  at 
eighty.  Yes,  that  is  his  pres- 
ent age.  After  a  well  spent 
life  of  work,  he  now  enjoys 
a  happy  repose  in  his  old  age, 
visiting  his  children,  of  whom 
his  son  August  in  l^a  Grange  is 
(juite  a  favorite  with  him, 
staying  with  them  and  par- 
taking in  their  success.  His 
steady  good  humor,  still  show- 
ing the  lio^htheartedness  of  youth,  his  jovial  manners  have  made 
a  lasting  impression  and  secured  him  a  kind  memory  in  the 
hearts  of  his  friends. 


A.  Heintze,  Sr. 


Mr.  August  Heintze,  Sr. ,  was  born  in  June  1820  in  Eckers- 
forde,  Holstein,  Germany.  He  was  a  commission  merchant  in 
stock,  cattle  and  country  produce  from  his  early  youth  till  1885, 
when  he  retired  from  business.  He  was  married  in  1848  to  Mrs. 
Ricklefsen,  a  widow,  nee  Wilhelm.  Three  children  blessed  this 
union:  August  Heintze,  a  merchant  in  J^a  Grange;  Miss  Sophie, 
who  is  married  to  Mr.  C.  A.  Honig  employed  in  the  banking 
business  at  Flensburg,  and  Dorothea.  Mr.  Heintze  makes 
frequent  trips  to  Germany. 


—256— 


A  Heintze,  Jr. 

The  ear  of  the  reader  is  well  familiar  with  the  sound  of  the 
name  of  A.  Heintze.  Not  only  in  the  confines  of  this  county. 
but  beyond  them,  in  the  surrounding  counties,  his  name  may  be 
heard  when  mercantile  affairs  are  discussed.  Mr.  Heintze  re- 
ceived a  thorough  mercantile  training  in  his  early  youth  in  Ger- 
many. No  doubt,  after  he  came  to  this  country,  the  comparison 
of  the  mercantile  conditions  in  this  country,  new  to  him,  with 
those  of  the  fatherland,  well  known  to  him,  suggested  many 
original  and  practical  ideas  to  his  trained  judment.  He  paid 
his  especial  attention  to  the  cotton  trade.  This  writer  and  per- 
haps some  of  his  readers  re- 
member how  in  the  hitter  part 
of  the  eighties  large  proces- 
sions tif  wagon  trains  loaded 
witli  cotton,  laige  slieeting 
printed  \\i\h  the  lirm  nnine  of 
A.  Heintze  being  lacked  to 
both  sides  of  the  wagons, 
made  their  rounds  through  La 
Grange,  a  very  ex[)ensive 
mode  of  advertising,  but  a 
very  striking  one.  It  mav  be 
said  tliat  no  man  has  done 
more  to  attract  tiie  attention 
of  the  people  to  La  Grange 
and  make  this  city  a  popular 
market  than  A.  Heintze.  Nor 
was  this  the  only  gain  La 
Grange  derived  trom  his  es- 
tablishment in  that  place. 
While  he  aimed  at  success 
for  himself,  he  did  not  neglect  the  interest  of  the  farmer.  It 
should  not  be  forgotten  mat  he  was  the  first  one  who  bought  all 
kinds  of  country  produce  for  which  the  farmer  could  not  find 
any  market  before,  at  a  time  when  such  a  trade  was  deemed  any- 
thing but  profitable.     He  thus  gave  an   impetus   to    developing 


A.  Heintze,  Jr. 


—257— 

a  new  industry  and  opening  new  avenues  of  trade,  and  bore  the 
charges  for  this  solely  by  himself. 

Mr.  A.  Heintze,  jr.,  was  born  in  the  year  1850  in  Kappeln,' 
Schleswig,  Germany.  He  was  educated  by  a  private  tutor.  He 
received  his  commercial  trainnig  in  Flensburg  and  Hamburg  in 
large  manufacturing  establishments.  Having  been  sph.-ndidly 
educated  by  his  tutor,  he  passed  his  examination  in  1868 
for  the  one  year  voluntefr  service.  The  time  of  military  ser- 
vice in  Germany  for  every  able  subject  is  three  years  ;  but  ' 
the  educated  who  stand  a  severe  test  in  regard  to  their  scien- 
tific qualifications  enjoy  the  privilege  of  serving  only  one  year. 
But  in  that  case  they  have  to  furnish  their  own  equipments  and 
accoutrements,  keep  a  body  servant  and  live  in  the  style  of  an 
officer.  This  causes  an  expense  of  about  ^100  a  year.  When  in 
the  Franco-German  war  the  fatherland  needed  his  services,  he 
volunteered  and  served  his  year  in  the  84th  infantry,  ^ih  Army 
Corps.  He  was  with  Prince  Frederick  Carl  before  Metz  and  par- 
ticipated in  the  battles  of  Orleans  and  LeMans.  He  was  slightly 
wounded  in  the  foot.  In  1871  he  re-entered  the  same  business 
and  in  1873  he  came  to  the  United  States.  There  he  associated 
himself  with  his  half-brother,  \V.  R«cklefsen,  at  Rancho  Los 
Olmos,  one  mile  from  ths  llio  Grande  frontier,  'i'lie  country 
being  unsafe  on  account  of  marauding  Mexicans  he  left  and  came 
to  Warrenton  where  in  1870  he  took  charge  of  the  store  of  Wm. 
Neese,  deceased.  He  married  in  1878  Miss  Johanna  Speckels 
of  Warrenton.  1  heir  only  son  Alfred  is  now  in  the  mercantile 
business  with  his  father.  In  188S  Mr.  Heintze  moved  to  La 
Grange  in  which  place  he  became  the  leading  cotton  buyer.  He 
for  a  time  was  a  senior  member  of  three  mercantile  lirms  :  Heintze  ' 
&  Co.,  La  Grange  ;  Asclien  &  Heintze,  Oldenburg,  wiiich  latter 
])lace  he  founded  in  company  with  Gus.  Steenken  ;  and  E.  A. 
Froehlich  &  Co.,  Warrenton.  In  the  fall  of  1901  Mr.  Heintze 
opened  his  present  large  department  store  which  in  an  exceeding- 
ly short  time  has  become  the  leading  mercantile  establishment 
of  La  Grange. 


—258— 

Jno.  B.  Holloway. 

The  writer  presents  to  the  reader  in  the  following  a  bio- 
graphical sketch  of  Mr.  Holloway  written  by  the  latter  at  the 
request  of  the  writer.  lie  only  wants  to  add  that  Mr.  Holloway 
is  known  throughout  the  state  as  a  successful  and  solid  business 
man.  His  energy,  economy,  sound  judgment  and  a  good  knowl- 
edge of  human  nature  laid  the  foundation  for  his  success  which 
in  every  way  he  has  merited.  He  is  now  the  cashier  of  one  of 
the  most  substai.ti  il  finance  institutions  in  the  state,  the  First 
National  Bank  of  La  Grange.     But  here  is  the  sketch: 

La  Grange,  Texas,  June  4,  1902. 
Mr.  Frank  Lotto, 

La  Grange,  Texas. 
Dear  Sir: 

As  requested,  I  hand  you  a  short  biographical  sketch  of  my 
life  to  this  date,  including  my  photograph  that  may  appear  in 
your  book,  "Fayette  County,  Her  History  and  Her  People," 
to- wit: 

I  was  born  in  Person  County,  N.  C,  on  March  30,  1847,  and 
I  was  the  third  child  of  William  Dixon  Holloway  and  Elizabeth 
Holloway,  nee  Woods,  one  of  eleven  children — seven  boys  and 
four  girls;  1  had  two  half-brothers  and  one  half-sister.  There 
were  in  all  fourteen  children.  My  father,  after  the  death  of  my 
mother,  married  Miss  Edith  Day.  My  parents  moved  to  Wake 
County,  N.  C,  while  I  was  quite  young  and  settled  near  Fish- 
dam  on  a  farm  where  I  grew  to  manhood. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year  1864  I  joined  the  Confederate 
army  as  a  private.  I  belonged  to  the  N.  C.  Junior  Reserves, 
First  Regiment,  Company  ""D,"  doing  principally  detached 
service,  until  the  Rarly  part  of  the  year  1865,  when 
the  regiment  was  attached  to  Hooker's  Brigade,  Johnston's 
Army.  I  took  part  in  the  battles  of  Kingston  and  Bentonville, 
and  was  paroled  near  Durham,  N,  C,  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

Returning  home,  1  lived  on  the  farm  with  my  parents  till 
January  1,  1868,  when  I  was  employed  as  a  clerk  in  a  country 
fjtore  at  $16.66§  per  month  until   the   early   part  of   1870.       In 


—259— 


November  1870  I  came  to  Texas  visiting  relatives.  For  a  while 
I  made  my  home  with  the  family  of  Major  B.  F.  Dunn  of  Fay- 
etteville,  Texas,  who  had  married  m}'  first  cousin,  Miss  M.  F. 
Holloway.  (Her  brothers  are  J.  J.  Holloway,  J.  B.  HoUoway 
and  R.  E.  Holloway.)  ■ 

In  February  1871  I  moved  with  the  family  of  Major  B.  F. 
Dunn  to  La  Grange,  Texas.  Some  time  during  the  year  1871,  I 
commenced  working  as  deputy 
sheriff  under  R.  0.  Faires  and 
remained  with  him  at  a  salary 
of  Thirty  Dollars  per  month 
and  board,  until  his  term  of 
office  had  expired,  except  for 
the  short  time  I  clerked  for 
M.  Cockrell  at  Cistern  and  for 
G.  Friedberger  at  La  Grange, 
Texas. 

In  the  early  part  of  the  year 
1874  I  was  appointed  by  the 
commissioners'  court  consta- 
ble of  Precinct  No.  1,  Fayette 
County,  Isaac  Sellers  then 
being  the  justice  of  the  peace. 
In  this  office  I  served  till 
1876,  when  on  May  15,  1876, 
I  was  appointed  clerk  of  the 
district  court  of  Fayette 
County  by  Hon.  L.  \V.  Moore, 
the  district  judge.  This  office,  through  the  goodness  of  the 
voters  of  this  county,  I  held  till  tlie  general  election  in  1894. 
Having  accepted  the  position  of  cashier  of  tiie  First  National 
Bank  of  La  Grange,  Texas,  on  January  8,  1894,  I  did  not  offer 
for  the  office  of  clerk  again.     I  am  still  the  cashier  of  said  bank. 

I  was  married  on  the  28th  day  of  September,  1876,  to  Miss 
Lizzie  B.  Robertson,  a  daughter  of  W.  C.  and  S.  C.  Robertson  and 
9,  niece  of  A.  T.  and  R,  T.  Bradshaw  of  La  Grange,  Texas.    The 


■^ 

■ 

Hh    /Ji 

^^^^^B  7^  ^^MUHk 

c 

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^K      ^m^ '  MS 

^^ 

^^^^^^H^^^^^L  \ 

1 

John  B.  Holloway. 


—260— 

result  of  said  marriage  to  date  are  ten  children,  seven  boys  and 
three  girls,  all  of  whom  are  living  except  two  boys  who  died 
quite  young,  viz:  J.  W.  HoUoway,  Thornton  Holloway(deceased), 
William  floUoway,  Tom  B.  HoUoway,  Carrie  M.  Holloway, 
Ijizzie  May  Holloway,  Charles  K.  Holloway,  Leslie  Holloway, 
Joseph  Holloway  (deceased),  and  Mary  Emma  Hollowav. 

Respectfully, 

Jno.  B.  Holloway. 

Geo.  Huebner. 

This  country  has  furnished  numerous  instances  where  men 
with  only  limited  education,  but  with  practical  sense  have  risen 
to  the  highest  walks  ot  life.  Not  schooling,  but  practical  com- 
mon sense  is  the  key  to  success.  Geo.  Huebner  is  an  eminent- 
ly practical  man.  During  his  early  years  as  teamster  lie  had 
the  chance  to  become  acquainted  witli  the  ways  of  life.  His 
shrewd  observation  developed  in  him  a  sound  judgment.  On 
the  road,  from  his  fe.lowmen  and  from  nature,  but  nut  from 
books,  he  gathered  his  information.  His  knowledge  comes 
from  tlie  first  source.  And  he  not  only  lias  a  fund  of  practical 
knowledge,  but  also  knows  how  to  express  liis  views  with  energy 
and  clearness.  He  is  an  interesting  talker.  The  writer  bas 
heard  with  deep  interest  his  views  on  road  building  and  road 
improvement  and  he  must  confess  that  h3  never  has  heard 
sounder  views  on  this  subject  than  those  expressed  by  Geo. 
Huebner.  But  not  only  on  this,  he  has  sound  views  on  almost 
any  question.  From  1898  to  1900  iie  served  one  term  as  county 
commissioner.  When  he  retired  from  this  oflTice,  declining  to 
stand  for  re-election,  it  was  the  general  verdict  of  the  people  that 
they  never  had  had  a  better  commissioner.  The  writer  agrees 
fully  to  their  verdict  and  is  of  the  opinion  that  a  better  man,  a 
man  with  sounder  judgment  and  greater  common  sense  can  not 
be    found  for  that  office. 

Geo.  Huebner  was  born  at  the  Bluff  settlement  August  IG, 
1851.  His  parents  were  John  A.  and  Pauline  (Willrich)  Hueb- 
ner. They  came  to  this  county  from  Germany  while  quite 
young.  His  father  came  from  Bavaria,  and  first  immigrated 
to  Texas  in  1836,  but  on  account  of  Indian  raids  lie    went  back 


-261— 


to  New  Orleans  without  settling  in  Texas.  He  returned  in  the 
early  40's  and  then  settled  in  the  Bluff  settlement  where  both 
parents  remained  till  their  death. 

Geo.  Huebner  worked  with  his  father  on  the  farm,  went  to 
school  and  drove  team.  He  acquired  quite  a  reputation  as  one 
of  the  most  skillful  teamsters  of  the  county,  for  it  required  skill 
to  handle  six  to  eight  teams  of  oxen.  After  the  war,  lie  married 
Miss  Lisette  Warnken,  the  dauglUer  of  a  prominent  old  settler 
at  the  Bluff.  This  union  was  blessed  with  six  children  :  Louis, 
Helene,  Annie,  George,  Ellie  and  Augusta. 

George  Huebner  is  a  prominent  successful  farmer  of  the 
county.  From  18;)8  to  1900  he  served  the  county  as  commis- 
sioner  which  offiice  he  filled  with  great  efficiency  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  the  people. 

Hon.  a.  B  Kekr. 
Success  is  an  accepted  criterion  of  a  man's  worth  of  char- 
acter; by  it,  we  are  all  judged  and  sized  up.  A  great  many 
succ?ssful  people  are  only  the  makings  of  chance;  but  such  can 
not  be  said  of  Hon.  A.  13.  Kerr,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He 
started  with  nolliing  in  Texas,  but  lie  had  those  traits  of  char- 
acter which  are  the  foundation  of  success,  viz:  Honesty,  perse- 
verance, economy  and  above  all  a  keen  penetration  into  the 
chances  of  business  which  [iromised  to  turn  out  a  success. 
Endowed  with  these  superior  qualities,  he  was  destined  for  suc- 
cess. For  a  number  of  years  he  has  been  the  largest  taxpayer 
in  Fayette  County.  He  owns  50.00  acres  of  land  in  Texas, 
of  which  4000  acres  are  under  cultivation.  He  also  owns  a 
50,000  acres  ranch  in  Mexico.  He  is  the  owner  of  the  Muldoou 
rock  quarries  from  which  he  has  shipped  for  years  on  an  average 
thirty-five  to  forty  cars  per  day.      He   is    extensively    interested 


in  the  Rockdale  coal  mines  and 
A  man  who  worked  himself  u 
station  is  worthy  to  be  held  u 
generation  that  they  may 
succeeded. 

Hon.  A.  B.  Kerr  has  kept  out  of  politics  and,  although    be 
served  the  people  as  justice  of   the  peace  (1870-1S75),   as  cora- 


numberless  other  enterprises, 
his  brawn  and  brain  to  such  a 
an  example  to  the  younger 
those  qualities   by  which   he 


-262— 


missioner  (1870-1874)  and  also  as  school  director,  these  offices 
were  not  sought  after  by  him,  but  rather  accepted  by  him  on  the 
demands  of  his  friends.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Senate  of 
the  Twenty-fifth  and  Tsventy-sixth  Legislatures,  representing  in 
tliat  body  Fayette,  Colorado  and  Lavaca  Counties.  He  occupied 
a  high  place  in  the  councils  of  that  body,  not  so  much  on  account 
of  his  oratorical  talent  as  on  account  of  his  business  acumen, 
keen  insight  and  the  wisdom  of  his  utterances.  Men  like  he  are 
the  anchors  that  save  a  commonwealth  in  stormy  times.     There 

is  no  man  who  is  worthier  to 
be  entrusted  with  the  interests 
of  others  than  Hon.  A.  13. 
Kerr,  his  conservative  charac- 
ter being  the  best  pledge  for 
their  safety. 

The  Y^arents  of  A.  B.  Kerr 
were  Robert  G.  and  Cassandra 
C.  Kerr,  nee  McCutchen,  na- 
tives of  Virginia.  Hon.  A.  B. 
Kerr's  grand-parents  distin- 
guished themselves  as  soldiers 
during  the  Kevolutionary 
War,  viz:  On  the  paternal 
side,  William  Kerr:  on  the 
maternal  side,  Downey  Mc- 
Cutclien,  known  as  Captain 
McCutchen. 

A.  B.  Kerr  was  born  March 
4,  1832,  in  Augusta  County, 
Va.  He  attended  the  common 
schools  and  the  high  schools  of  that  country.  When  twenty 
years  of  age,  he  started  out  for  himself.  He  went  to  Charleston, 
W.  Va.,  and  from  there  down  the  Ohio  and  Mississppi  Rivers  to 
New  Orleans.  Many  were  taken  sick  with  cholera  on  the  boat. 
Boats  were  not  allowed  to  stop  in  the  towns,  but  they  would 
land  at  wood  yards  and  other  places  and  there  the  passengers 
would  dig  pits  in  the  sand  for  the  corpses   of  their  unfortunate 


Hon   a.  B.  Kerr. 


—263— 

comrades.  On  this  boat  was  a  lady  going  south  with  her  little 
boy  to  join  her  husband,  a  New  Orleans  merchant.  The  lady 
promenaded  the  deck  with  Mr.  Kerr,  seemingly  in  the  best  of 
health,  but  before  morning  she  was  a  corpse.  Tbe  child  would 
not  go  with  anyone  else,  but  clung  to  Mr.  Kerr,  and  thus  he 
took  charge  of  the  forlorn  child  until  it  reached  its  father  in  New 
Orleans.  From  New  Orleans  Mr.  Kerr  went  to  Indianola  and 
from  there  by  ox  team  to  Gonzales.  He  secured  a  position  as 
clerk  and  bookkeeper  with  one  Mr.  Gishard,  a  Frenchman,  at  a 
salary  of  $51  per  month.  After  one  month  he  became  sick, 
having  contracted  pleurisy,  and  came  near  dying.  On  recovery 
he  had  to  pay  all  his  money  to  the  doctors.  Left  without  money, 
without  a  position  and  witliout  friends  and  too  proud  to  write 
home  for  money,  he  took  the  tirst  job  he  could  get  and  worked 
as  hod  carrier  for  the  masons  on  the  tirst  brick  building  in  Gon- 
zales, which  was  then  being  built  for  one  Kaiber,  at  seventy  cents 
a  day  and  board  himself. 

At  that  time  Major  Neighbors  raised  a  company  of  rangers 
to  guard  a  surveyor's  party  which  was  going  north  to  survey 
land  in  Peters  Colony,  north  of  where  Dallas  now  stands.  As  a 
ranger  he  had  to  equip  himself,  and  as  he  had  no  money,  some 
of  his  friends  who  had  watched  his  industry  trusted  liis  honesty 
and  one  furnished  him  with  a  horse,  another  with  a  saddle,  and 
a  third  one  with  a  pistol.  While  with  the  surveyor's  party,  he 
and  one  Gibbons,  on  their  trip  to  Fort  Belknap  to  liave  their 
guns  repaired,  struck  an  Indian  party  and  were  attacked  by 
them.  Mr.  Kerr  had  a  very  narrow  esoa])e.  On  November  ol, 
1852,  he  was  transferred  from  the  ranger  service  to  the  surveying 
corps  and  here  he  received  twice  big  former  salarv,  namely 
Sixty  Dollars.  Still  later,  he  was  transferred  to  the  transcribing 
department  of  the  general  land  office  at  a  salary  of  Seventy  Five 
Dollars  per  month.  He  stayed  there  till  November  1,  1853, 
then  went  back  to  Gonzales  and  paid  off"  his  debts.  The  last  of 
January,  1854,  he  went  to  Cibolo,  near  Selma,  Bexar  County, 
and  purchased  a  small  herd  of  cattle  and  a  tract  of  land  from  J. 
M.  Hill.  He  made  considerable  money  out  of  this.  During  the 
fall  of  1854  he  met  his  first  wife,  Miss  May  Mercer,  and  while 
she    was    attending  school,  they    were  married,  August  2,  1855, 


— 2G4— 

Mrs.  Kerr  was  the  daughter  of  Levi  Mercer,  a  wealthy  sugar 
merchant  at  Egypt.  During  the  fall  of  1855  Mr.  and  Mrs  Kerr 
loaded  their  household  goods  in  an  ox  wagon  and  moved  to  Fay- 
ette County  on  a  tract  of  two  hundred  acres  of  land  that  her 
grandfather,  Judge  Menefee,  had  given  her.  He  engaged  in 
farming  up  to  the  outbreak  of  tl}e  war.  Then  he  took  charge  of 
his  father-in-law's  stock  and  together  with  his  own,  moved  tliem 
to  Colorado  County  where  he  remained  for  two  years.  During 
the  balance  of  the  Civil  ^Var  he  served  in  Shaw's  Regiment, 
Carter's  Brigade,  as  a  private.  After  b.is  return  to  Fayette 
County,  he  engaged  largely  inland  speculation,  buying  and  sell- 
ing large  tracts  of  land,  and  accumulated  considerable  property. 
B-y  his  first  union  Hon.  A.  B.  Kerr  became  the  father  of 
four  childi-en,  as  follows:  Tliomaa  0.,  on  his  ranch  in  Frio 
County;  James  L.,  in  business  at  Muldoon  ;  William  B.,  in 
wood  and  coal  business  at  San  Antonio  ;  and  R.  E  ,  (deceased). 
Mrs.  Kerr  who  was  a  most  estimable  lady,  and  an  earnest  mem- 
ber of  the  Baptist  chui'ch,  died  in  18(38.  In  1870  Mr.  Kerr  mar- 
ried Miss  Bettie  Ragsdale,  a  native  of  Texas,  and  daughter  of 
Charles  C.  and  Sarah  (nee  Scallorn)  Ragsdale.  l^'our  children 
were  born  to  his  second  union  :  John  A.,  a  graduate  of  the  Law 
Department  of  the  University  of  Texas,  now  in  the  mercantile 
business  at  Muldoon  ;  Charles  (I.,  also  m  the  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  Muldoon  ;  Miss  Mary,  died  in  1882  ;  and  Miss  Lila  in 
San  Antonio,  at  the  home  of  her  father. 

Anton   Legler. 

Mr.  Anton  Legler  is  known  throughout  the  count}'  as  the 
leader  of  the  famous  Bridge  Valley  music  band.  In  1892  his 
band  received  the  first  prize  at  the  Battle  of  Flowers'  festival  at 
San  Antonio. 

He  was  born  August  6,  1848,  at  Neustadtl  on  Tafelfichte 
Mount  in  Bohemia.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  school  of 
that  place  and  then  learned  the  weaver  trade.  He  early  loved 
music,  showed  a  great  talent  for  it,  studied  it  and  soon  became 
an  accomplished  musician.  Bohemia,  his  home,  is  world-famous 
for  good  musicians.     In  1871  he  married  Miss  Anna  Hanisch  in 


—265— 

that  country.  He  immigrated  with  his  family  to  the  ITnited 
States  in  1873,  worked  first  in  the  La  Grange  brewery  on  the 
Bluff' and  then  settled  on  the  school  land  on  the  Bluff.  He  had 
a  small  farm  of  only  fifty  acres.  But  hy  thrift  rnd  industry  he 
saved  money  and  in  1S85  he  bought  a  large  phce  in  Bridge 
Valley.  In  181)8  he  established  a  saloon  and  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  that  place.  As  a  business  man  he  has  been  yery  success- 
ful and  established  a  reputation  for  honesty  and  reliahilil3^  He 
was  also  appointed  postmaster  of  tliat  place.  Lately  he  has 
also  bought  a  place  at  Plum  where  he  intends  to  o))en  a  mercan- 
tile estabiisliment. 

The  life  of  Mr.  A.  Legler  furnishes  one  of  tlie  many  ex- 
amples where  a  German,  though  landing  in  this  country  with 
very  limited  means,  by  industry,  economy  and  business  talent 
has  worked  himself  u))  to  a  station  wiiich  coinmands  th(j  respect 
of  his  fellow  citizens.  Mr.  j.egler  is  one  of  those  immigrants  of 
whom  one  may  truthfully  say  that  they  are  an  acquisition  to  this 
country.  He  is  a  good  citizen  and  takes  a  great  interest  in  pub- 
lic affairs.  Very  often  he  has  taken  a  leading  i)art  in  the  dis- 
cussion of  public  (juestions.  and  he  explains  his  views  with  an 
ability  and  force  possessed  only  by  a  man  of  honest  convictions. 

Aug.  F.  Loessin. 

Aug.  F.  Loessin  is  the  popular  postmaster  of  La  Grange. 
He  is  an  ardent  republican,  never  tired  of  making  converts  lor 
his  party  and  of  advocating  its  principles.  The  principles  and 
policy  of  the  republican  party  have  never  been  explained  and 
defended  in  this  county  with  greater  ability  and  with  greater 
courage  than  by  young  August  F.  Loessin.  He  takes  a  great 
interest  in  all  questions  affecting  the  welfare  of  his  party.  His 
politeness  and  attention  to  the  duties  of  his  office  have  made 
^  him  popular  with  the  people  whom  he  serves. 

i  His  parents  are  Hermann  Ludwig  and  Maria  (Sauer)  Loessin. 

They  were  both  born  in  Prussia,  his  father  in  the  province  of 
Pommern  and  his, mother  in  Verona,  Prussia.  His  father  came 
to  Texas  in  1853  and  first  settled  in  Ross  Prairie.      His   mother 


—266- 


came  with  her  parents  to  Postoak  Point  and  moved  near  Black 
Jack  Springs  in  1857.  His  father  moved  to  Black  Jack  Springs 
in  1865  and  two  years  later  he  married  Miss  Maria  Sauer  of  Pin 
Oak  and  made  Black  Jack  Springs  his  permanent  home,  where 
he  still  resides  with  his  wife  on  their  farm.  This  union  was 
blessed  with  ten  children. 

The  eldest,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  August  F.  Loessin, 
was  born  January  14,  186S,  at  Black  Jack  Springs,  Texas.  He 
went  to  the  public  school  of  that  place  till  the  age  of  fourteen; 
then  he  received  private  instruction  for  two  years   from   Prof.  J. 

DuUjeatPiu  Oak.  He  worked 
on  the  farm  and  in  the  gin 
till  1890.  Then  he  went  to 
Muldoon  and  clerked  for  one 
year  for  Ivey,  Stagner  &  Co. 
In  1891  he  went  to  Seguin  as 
manager  of  the  ice  plant  and 
water  works  which  position 
he  held  five  months.  He  then 
accepted  a  position  as  clerk  in 
the  saloon  of  F.  Klem  and 
remained  there  till  1893,  In 
the  fall  of  1893  he  went  to 
Galveston  and  established  a 
grocery  business.  He  was 
married  in  the  same  year  1894 
to  Miss  Mathilde  v.  Rordorf 
of  La  Grange.  The  next  year 
he  moved  to  La  Grange  and 
accepted  a  position  in  the  sa- 
loon of  F.  V.  Rosenberg  which 
position  he  held  till  April  19L)0,  when  he  resigned  it  to  accept 
his  appointment  as  postmaster  of  La  Grange.  He  was  appointed 
postmaster  under  McKinley  April  15,  1900,  and  re  appointed 
under  T.  Roosevelt. 

Being  an  ardent  republican  and  an  able  defender  of  the  re- 
publican policy,  his   party   has   honored   him    very   often  with 


Aug.  F.  Loessin. 


—267— 

positions  of  public  trust.  He  was  elected  Chairman  of  the 
Republican  League  of  the  Tenth  Congressional  District  at  Fort 
Worth  (1898)  and  re-elected  at  Houston  (1900).  He  has  been 
a  member  of  the  Republican  Executive  Committee  of  the  county 
as  Chairman  of  Precinct  No.  1  since  1898.  His  eminent  services 
to  the  republican  party  have  been  rewarded  by  his  appointment 
to  the  Postmastership  of  La  (orange.  In  case  of  the  success  of 
his  party  his  prospects  for  further  promotion  are  on  account  of 
his  great  efHciency  and  ability  very  bright. 

Will  Loessin. 

If  the  writer  says  :  Fayette  County  can  boast  of  a  man  who 
has  done  excellent  detective  work,  every  Fayette  County  reader 
can  supply  the  name  to  this,  viz.,  the  City  Marshal  of  La 
Crange,  Will  Loessin,  the  brother  of  our  sheriff.  To  unravel 
the  clew  to  mysterious  crimes  which  leads  to  the  detection  of  the 
criminal  is  a  special  gift  of  nature,  and  Will  Loessin  possesses 
this  gift  in  the  highest  degree.  From  a  rapid  combination  of 
circumstances  and  an  inspection  of  the  situation  he  unfailingly 
points  out  tlie  criminal  and  soon  brings  convincing  proof  of  the 
correctness  of  his  opinion.  When  the  negro  Clay  Ford  had 
murdered  a  negro  woman  living  alone  in  a  house,  every  clew 
was  missing.  The  crime  was  committed  at  night  and  there  was 
not  even  a  witness  who  had  seen  the  negro  enter  the  house  or 
be  about  the  premises  on  that  night.  Still,  as  soon  as  Will 
Loessin  was  notitied,  he  inspected  the  j)lace  of  the  crime, 
saddled  his  horse  the  same  night,  rode  some  twelve  miles  by 
himself,  arrested  the  negro  at  night  in  a  crowd  of  other  negroes 
and  brought  him  handcutied  to  La  Crange  next  morning.  A  feat 
that  can  hardly  be  e(iualled  in  detective  stories  Tlie  negro 
was  legally  tried,  convicted  and  hung  at  La  Grange,  Texas.  On 
April  15,  1902,  there  was  a  considerable  sum  of  money  (over 
$1,700)  stolen  from  Mr.  D.  M.  Croft  of  Winchester.  There  was 
no  clew  to  the  theft  whatever.  But  there  is  no  suspicious  cir- 
cumstance which  escapes  the  watchful  eyes  of  Will  Loessin  and 
on  May  29,  1902,  he  had  the  thief  arrested  and  nearly  the  whole 
sum  recovered.     Slight  circumstances  which  would  ixot  even  be 


—268— 


.noticed    by   others    lead   him    to    the   detection  of  the  criminal. 
He  excels  not  only  in  shrewdness,  but  is  also    one    of  the  most 
fearless  men  living.     If  nothing    else — but    there  are  many  in- 
stances of  his  personal  bravery — his    arresting    the    negro  mur- 
derer Clay  Ford  in  a  bunch  of 
negroes    at    night    by  himself 
would    be    suflicient    proof  of 
his  fearlessness.     His  services 
as  detective  have  been  of  im- 
mense   value    to    the    county. 
His  shrewdness   and    cournge 
are  not  only  recognized  in  this 
county,    but     throughout    the 
state.     In  1900  he    went  with 
II.  S.  Marshal  Geo.  Siebrecht 
of  San  Antonio  to  Havana  and 
arrested  there  one  Borkey  for 
postofHce    forgery    committed 
in    Gonzales   County.      Space 
does  not  permit   the  writer  to 
mention  any  more  of   his  dar- 
ing feats.   It  may  be  remarked 
that    no    man    in    the    county 
holds  the  lawless    and    turbu- 
lent  negro    element  better  in 
check  than  he.     His  very  name    inspires   the   negro    with    fear 
and    prompts  him   to  obey.     But  not    only    the    negro    element 
fears  him,  his  courage  and  daring  command  respect  everywhere. 
Will  Loeasin  is  the  brother  of  our  sheriff,  August    Loessin, 
and  was  born  August  20,  1872,  at  Black  Jack  Springs.       There 
he  went  to  school   and  stayed   and   worked  on  the    farm    of  his 
father.     From  1892    to   1894   he   attended  the  Blinn    Memorial 
College  at  Brenham.     In  the  latter  year  he  was  appointed  deputy 
sheriff  by  his  brother.  He  was  elected  city  marshal  of  La  Gi-ange 
in  April  1900  and  re-elected  to  that  office  without  opposition  in 
1902.     He  has  the  name  of  one  of  the  shrewdest  and  most  fear- 
less and  efficient  peace  officers  of  the  state. 

He    was    married     to   Miss   Katie   Stiehl   of    La   Grange, 


Will  Loessin. 


—269— 

the  daughter  of  the  well    known  judge  of    that  name   on   April 
14,  1901. 

Carl  Luecke. 

Industry,  economy  and  perseverance  pave  the  road  to  suc- 
cess. The  life  of  Mr.  Carl  Luecke  is  an  exemplification  of  this 
fundamental  truth.  Pie  has  seen  in  his  youth  much  of  hard  life, 
but  tliis  only  spurred  him  in  his  efforts  to  achieve  success.  He 
has  grappled  successfully  with  life's  difficulties  and  come  out 
ahead.  Having  provided  for  old  age.  he  now  can  look  with  con- 
fidence into  the  future. 

Tlie  parents  of  Mr.  Car)  Luecke  were  Wilhelm  Luecke,  a 
native  of  Hanover,  and    Jol)anna  lAiecke,    nee   Raabe.       Their 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Carl  Luecke. 
union  was  blessed  with  six  children:  (1)  Wilhelm,  now  living  in 
Moulton;  (2)  Johanna,  wife  of  George  Frels,  a  farmer  near  War- 
renton,  deceased;  (3)  August,  died  in  Nechanilz;  (4)  Augusta, 
wife  of  Gerh.  Bohms;  (5)  Friedrich,  farmer  at  Rutersville;  and 
(())  Carl,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  in  the  gin  business  at  Schu- 
leuburg.  His  parents  came  to  the  United  States  in  1845  and 
landed  in  Galveston.  After  remaining  there  for  some  time,  they 
went  to  Houston  in  tho  following  year.       From  there  they  went 


^270— 

to  Ross  Prah-ie,  where  his  father  died  (1849)  when  Carl  was  only 
three  years  old.  After  his  father's  death,  his  mother  married 
Mr.  Heinrich  Muecke  of  Ross  Prairie.  !She  died  in  that  settle- 
ment in  1853  when  Carl  was  only  seven  years  old,  leaving  him 
alone  in  the  world. 

Carl  Luecke  was  born  Februarys,  1846,  in  Houston.  As 
we  have  seen,  his  father  died  when  Carl  was  only  three  years 
of  age.  Thus,  he  was  left  alone  in  the  world  to  hustle  for  him- 
self. For  that  reason,  he  received  very  little  schooling.  He 
had  to  work  to  make  his  way  through  life.  On  November  11, 
1870,  he  married  Miss  Gesine  Muelker  of  Roundtop  and  then 
stayed  there  the  next  seven  years.  In  1877  he  bought  a  farm  on 
Middle  Creek  where  he  farmed  till  1895.  In  that  year  he  moved 
to  Schulenburg.  Since  1900  he  is  in  the  gin  business  with  his 
son-in-law,  Mr.  Chas.  Windel.  They  have  made  a  fine  reputation 
for  fair  dealing,  honesty  and  business  ability,  and  on  that  account 
enjoy  a  very  large  custom.  They  are  the  most  popular  ginners 
of  Schuienburg. 

Mr.  Luecke  is  the  father  of  four  children:  Laura,  wife  of 
Mr.  Chas.  Windel;  Lina.  wife  of  Mr.  Rich.  Alirens,  farmer  near 
Schuienburg;  John  and  Cliaiies,  proprietors  of  the  Scl.ulenbur^ 
soda  factory. 

Hon.  Wenzel  Matajowski. 

Hon.  Wenzel  Matajowski  is  highly  respected  throughout  tlie 
county.  He  is  the  proprietor  of  one  of  the  oldest  rnerciintile 
establishn  eats  in  Fayette  County  and  in  conducting  it  has 
acquired  a  high  reputation  for  hjnesiy,  fair  dealing  and  reliabilty. 
He  is  one  of  the  oldest  living  settlers  in  the  county  and  still 
takes  an  interest  in  public  affairs.  During  the  Civil  War  he  was 
a  strong  Union  man  and  as  such  he  became  allied  with  the 
republican  party.  For  quite  a  number  of  years,  he  was  one  of 
the  ablest  republican  leaders  in  the  county.  During  the  Civil 
War,  he  served  as  constable  in  his  precinct  (1862-64).  In  1886 
he  was  honored  by  the  people  in  being  elected  representative  to 
the  Twentieth  Legislature,  which  held  the  first  session  in  the 
new  capitol  building.  Here  he  represented  faithfully  the  inter- 
ests of  his  constituents.     Most  probably  he  is   the  oldest  post- 


-271- 


master  in  the  county,  having   held   the   office   of  postmaster  in 
Nechanitz,  this  county,  since  1873. 

Hon.  Wenzel  Matajowski  comes  from  a  highly  respectable 
family.  His  father,  Anton  Matajowski,  born  in  1800,  was  a 
merchant  and  mayor  of  the  Bohemian  city  of  Nechanitz; 
his  mother  was  Barbara  Matajowski,  nee  Hermann.  This  union 
was  blessed  with  four  children,  of  whom  Wenzel  Matajowski, 
the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  the  second.  His  oldest  brother 
Anton  was  royal  and  imperial 
landrath  (an  officer  invested 
with  the  powers  of  district 
judge  and  the  commissioners' 
court  combined)  of  Prague, 
Bohemia.  His  younger 
brothers,  Eduard  and  Theo- 
dore, were  merchants  in  Nech- 
anitz, Bohemia.  Each  of 
them  served  in  that  city  as 
mayor. 

Wenzel  Matajowski  w  a  s 
born  in  Nechanitz,  Bohemia, 
in  1829;  he  received  his  edu- 
cation at  the  gymnasium  of 
Trautenau.  In  1850  he  came 
to  the  United  States  and 
landed  at  Galveston.  He  first 
farmed  on  the  Bernard.  From 
there  he  moved  to  Bastrop 
and  established  a  cigar  fac- 
tory in  the  latter  place  (1852).  In  the  following  year  he  niarried 
Miss  Christiana  Dietrich  of  Bastrop.  In  1855  he  moved  to 
Long  Prairie  and  farmed  there  till  1867,  when  he  bought  the 
mercantile  business  of  Robert  Zapp,  which  he  still  manages. 
He  has  been  postmaster  of  Nechanitz  (formerly  Long  Prairie) 
since  1878, 

The  following  children  were  the  fruits  of  this  union  with  his 
wife :    (1)    Edward,    merchant    at    Birch,     Burleson   County ; 


Hon.  "Wenzel  Matajowski. 


^272—- 


(2)Mary,wife  of  Gustav  Franzo. farmer  in  Cumming's  Prairie  near 
Ledbetter,  Fayette  County;  (3)  Anna,  deceased  ;  (4)  Ottilie, 
wife  of  Louis  Kruse,  fanner  and  butcher  near  Ledbetter  ;  (5) 
Clementine,  deceased  ;  (G)  Gustav,  merchant  in  Warda,  Fayette 
County  ;  (7)  Wenzel,  merchant  in  Yellow  Prairie,  Chrisman 
P.*  0.,  Burleson  C.iunty  ;  (8)  Auguste,  wife  of  Wm.  Kruse,  mer- 
chant in  Ledbetter ;  (9)  Clara,  wife  of  Geo.  Kruse,  stockman 
and  farmer  near  Ledbetter  ;  (10)  Anton,  merchant  near  Dime 
Box,  Lee  County  ;  (11)  Laura,  wife  of  Joe  Dullye,  farmer  and 
stockman  near  Giddings,  Lee  County  ;  (12)  Antonia,  wife  of 
Albert  Speckels,  farmer  near  Giddings  ;  (13)  Charles  and  (14) 
Paul,  at  home  in  the  business  of  their  father, 

Geo.  Mauer,  Sr. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Mr.  Geo.  Maaer,  ar.,  stands  high 
everywhere  in  the  county,     Llis    honesty    and    business    ability 
are  recognized  throughout  the  county    by    the    people,  and  they 

have  repeatedly  elected  him 
to  positions  of  |)ublic  trust. 
Frcm  1S80  to  ISIJO  he  served 
tlie  county  as  commissioner. 
Iw  this  office  he  was  far-see- 
iiig,  of  broad  vitnvs  and  stood 
above  petty  chicanes.  Ho 
iidvocatHd  several  measures 
that  have  proveMl  of  lasting 
l,(Mie(it  to  the  county,  lie 
r  f  s  i  d  e  s  now  ;it  Kutcrs- 
v;llf  and  is  one  of  Hit-  most 
successrul  farmers  of  the  coun- 
ty. 

Me  was  bom  in  ISpj  in 
Liegnitz,  Silesia,  Germany, 
His  parents,  Georg  and  Emi- 
lie  Mauer,  came  to  the  United 
States  in  1850,  when  their 
son  was  eight  years  old. 
They  settled  in  Biegel  settle- 
ment, and  George  went  to  private    schools    in    Biegel   and  Fay- 


Geo.  Mauer,  Sr. 


—273— 

etteville.  When  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  he  entered  Capt, 
Alexander's  Company,  Third  Texas  Regiment,  as  a  private  and 
served  during  the  war.  hi  18G6  he  married  Miss  Sophia  Steves. 
This  union  was  blessed  with  nine  children,  live  boys  and  four 
girls  :  (1)  Louis,  architect,  now  in  San  Francisco  ;  (2)  George, 
proprietor  of  a  saddlery  in  La  Grange  ;  (o)  Penry,  architect,  inV 
Beaumont  ;  (4)  Charles,  merchant  in  Marlin  ;  (5)  John,  clerk  in 
Rutersville  ;  (6)  Emily,  wife  of  John  Niederauer,  proprietor  of 
a  vineyard  at  Brenham  ;  (7)  Anna,  wife  of  Alex  Schuech,  farmer 
at  La  Grange  ;   (8)  Sophie,  teacher,  and  (9)  Lydia,  at  home. 

His  son,  George  Mauer,  jr.,  is  a  popoular  business  man  of 
La  Grange,  liberal,  accommodating,  reliable  and  honest,  and  on 
account  of  these  qualities  is  bound  to  make  a  success.  In  li*OL 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Kainer  of  of  La  Grange.  He  is  the 
proprietor  of  a  first-class  saddlery  and  a  (irst-class  workman,  and 
deserves  for  these  reasons,  the  patronage  of  the  people  of  La 
Grange  and  neighborhood. 


J.  C,  Melcher. 

Mr.  J.  C.  Melcher  is  a  man  who  deserves  the  most  credita- 
ble mention  by  this  writer  ;  he  is  one  of  the  few  in  this  county 
who  have  excelled  in  the  field  of  invention.  He  has  taken  out 
seven  patents  and  received  eight  diplomas  and  medals.  Among 
others,  he  possesses  four  patents  for  insect  destroyers  and  one  for 
a  center  and  extension  table.  Besides  these  he  invented  very 
many  ingenious  contrivances  for  which  he  did  not  take  out  any 
patent.  At  the  Texas  State  Fair  in  Houston  in  187i>,  he  was 
awarded  the  first  prize  for  the  best  sample  of  tobacco.  He  is 
observant,  a  sharp  thinker  and  pays  his  closest  attention  to  im- 
proved methods.  He  was  the  first  one  to  «eall  the  attention  of 
the  public  to  the  mineral  resources  of  Fayette  County.  The 
reader  will  read  Ids  article  on  Minerals  of  Fayette  County  with 
interest  and  be  benefitted  by  the  valuable  information  it  con- 
tains. 

Mr.  Melcher  belongs  to  one  of  the  oldest  families  in  Fayette 


—274— 

County.     His  father,    Johann    Friedrich,    came    in    1846   from 

Preussisch  Minden,  Germany, 
to  La  Grange,  At  that  lime 
there  were  only  two  stores  in 
La  Grange. 

Mr.  J.  C.  Melcher  was  born 
in  the  town  of  La  Grange 
March  19,  1849.  In  1857  he 
moved  with  his  fatiier  to 
OHJuinn.  He  went  to  private 
schools,  practiced  self  educa- 
tion, and  pursued  farm  work 
and  ranching.  In  1870  ha  es- 
tablished a  mercantile  busi- 
ness at  O'Quinn  and  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Clementine  Geb- 
ert.  The  oldest  children  of 
this  union  are  :  (1)  Louis,  in 
business  at  Engle  ;  (2)  Anna, 
wife  of  Mr.  C.  J.  Luck  ;  (3) 
Minna,  wife  of  Mr.  Fritz  Otell; 
(4)    Amalia,    wife    of   Mr.    A. 

Lampe  ;   (5)  Edward,  who  helps  his  father    in    the    store.     The 

smaller  ones  attend  school  and  stay  at  the  home  of   their   father 

and  help  on  the  farms  and  attend  to  the  cattle. 


J.    C.    MELLHliU 


C.  L.  Melcher. 

Inventive  genius  seems  to  be  a  kind  of  hereditary  natural 
gift  in  the  Melcher  family.  Like  his  brother  Charles,  Mr.  C.  L, 
Melcher  is  an  observant  man  with  a  clear  head  and  clear  ideas. 
He  is  the  inventor  and  patentee  of  an  improved  road  grading 
machine  (patented  Ju«e  2,  1891)  and  of  a  cotton  baling  appara- 
tus (patented  September  14,  1897).  Like  his  brother  Charles, 
he  has  also  paid  great  attention  to  the  mineral  resources  of  the 
county,  and, therefore,  is  a  most  interesting  talker  on  this  subject. 

Mr.  C.  L.  Melcher  was  born  September  19,  1851,  at  La 
Grange.  Texas.     He  went  to  the  private   school   of  Miss   Annie 


—275— 


C.  L.   Melcher. 


Perlitz  in  the  Lewis  settlement  and  later  to  the  school  of  Captain 
Eiswald  on  the  Kraerner  place. 
He  was  confirmed  by  Rev.  C. 
C.  Rudy  in  the  Pliiladelphia 
Church  (Lutheran)  on  the 
East  Navidad.  Later  he  also 
went  one  year  to  the  nic;ht 
school  of  Prof.  E.  Heimann. 
In  18G2-G3  he  made  a  trip  as 
government  teamster  to  Mex- 
ico; after  that,  he  was  a  private 
teamster.  Next,  he  farmed 
till  the  year  1873,  when  he 
entered  into  partnership  with 
his  brother  Charles  in  the  Jat- 
ter's  mercantile  business  at 
O'Quinn;  in  this  business  he 
remained  for  two  years.  After 
his  withdrawal  from  this  business,  he  established  himself  as  a 
carpenter.  In  1880  he  built  the  gin  in  Swiss  Alp  where  he  still 
resides,  highly  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 

Mr.  C.  L.  Melcher  was  married  January  25,  1877,  to  Miss 
Anna  Gebert  of  O'Quinn.  This  union  was  blessed  with  thirteen 
children,  of  whom  one  died.  The  four  oldest  are:  (1)  Laura, 
wife  of  Theodor  Boiling,  farmer  at  Swiss  Alp;  (2)  Heduig,  wife 
of  Louis  Boiling,  farmer  at  Swiss  Alp;  (3)  May,  teacher  in  Black 
Jack  Springs;  (4)  Emil,  bookkeeper  for  Perlitz  Bros  ,  Schulen- 
burg.     Tlie  rest  of  the  children  are  at  liome. 

As  remarked  before,  Mr.  C.  L.  Melciier  is  the  pro[jrietor  of 
a  gin  at  Swiss  Alp,  furnished  with  the  latest  improvements.  He 
pays  close  attention  to  business  and  on  account  of  his  watchful- 
ness and  observation  produces  a  model  staple.  Observation  and 
inventive  genius  pay  in  any  kind  of  business.  Besides  this,  he 
serves  the  people  as  a  notary  public. 

Julius  Meyknbek(;,  Sr. 
In  this  picture  of  the  venerable  old  man  the  people  of  Fay- 
ette County  recognize  at  once  one  of  the  oldest  men   and  one  of 


—276^ 


the  oldest  settlers  in  this  county,  Mr.  Julius  Meyenberg,  sr. 
Mr.  Meyenberg  is  now  in  his  eighty. third  year  and  has  seen  life 
in  all  its  phases. 

He  was  born  in  1819  at  Celle,  Hanover,  and  received  a  classi- 
cal education  in  the  gymnasium  of  that  city.  In  1844  he  immi- 
grated to  the  United  States   and    landed   in    New  Orleans.     He 

went  to  Frelsburg  in  Colorado 
County  and  bought  a  farm 
there  in  1845.  He  next  went 
with  his  brother  Franz  Lud- 
wig,  a  former  captain  of  the 
Portuguese  army  in  Brazil,  to 
New  Braunfels.  In  1850  he 
returned  to  Fayette  County, 
bought  a  farm  on  the  Bluff 
and  settled  there.  He  was 
married  in  that  year  to  Miss 
Kunigunde  Oske,  born  March 
14,  1828,  in  the  Province  of 
Saxony,  Prussia.  This  union 
was  blessed  with  eight  child- 
ren all  of  whom  were  born  on 
the  Meyenberg  farm  on  the 
Bluff:  (1)  Helene,  born  July 
18,  1851,  resides  on  the  Bluff; 
(2)  Max,  born  September  2, 
18.53,  died  September  14,  1867, 
of  yellow  fever  in  La  Grange  ;  (3)  Franz,  born  June  25,  1855, 
diad  September  13,  1S67,  of  yellow  fever  in  La  Grange  ;  (4) 
Selma,  born  March  2,  1857,  wife  of  F.  Streithofi';  (5)  Edmund, 
born  Januarv  25,  1859,  proprietor  of  a  saddlery  in  Pecos  City  ; 
(6)  Elise,  born  February  14,  1861,  died  October  15,  1866,  on 
the  Bluff;  (7)  Alexander,  born  March  17,  1863,  died  Septem- 
ber 6,  1867,  of  yellow  fever  at  La  Grange  ;  (8)  Julius,  born 
August  17,  1865,  proprietor  of  a  drug  store  at  La  Grange. 

In  1865  Mr.  Meyenberg  went  with  his  family  to  La  Grange 
and  established  a  drug  business,     A  hard  blow  struck  him   dur- 


JuLius  Meyenberg,  Sr. 


--277— 

ing  the  yellow  fever  epidemic  in  La  Grange  in  1867.  He  lost 
his  wife  and  three  children.  In  lonely  hours  he  still  cherishes 
their  memory. 

Mr.  Meyenberg  was  in  his  earlier  days  a  sympathizing  friend 
and  true  adviser  to  the  German  immigrant.  He  is  gratefully 
remembered  by  a  great  many  of  them.  He  has  gained  the  high 
respect  of  his  fellow  citizens  and  a  great  man}--  of  them  speak  of 
him  with  veneration. 

It  may  be  remarked  here  that  he  possesses  one  of  the  finest 
collections  of  insects  and  butterllies  as  is  hardly  equalled  by  the 
great  institutions  of  learning  in  this  country. 

Years  ago,  he  retired  from  the  drug  business.  Tlie  same  is 
now  conducted  by  his  son  Julius  and  is  the  leading  drug  busi- 
ness in  La  Grange. 

Prof.  AI.  W    Meyer. 

It  is  a  pleasure  to  this  writer  to  present  to  the  readv:;r  a  sketch 
of  a  countryman  of  his.  Pruf.  M.W.  Meyer,  a  native  of  East  Prus- 
sia. East  Prussia  is  tlie  native  country  of  ujhu  like  Kant,  Herder 
and  Koch,  men  who  have  revolutionized  science,  opened  nesw 
channels  of  thought  and  started  new  epochs  of  science;  names  that 
are  not  only  known  tliroughout  Germany,  but  that  shine  briglit- 
est  on  the  pages  of  universal  history  of  phih)sophy.  Perha[ts 
it  is  due  to  these  great  men  tliat  the  East  Prussian  enjoys  a  repu- 
tation for  clearness  of  mind.  The  career  of  Prof.  M.  \V.  Meyer 
furnishes  an  example  of  the  steadfastness  of  purpose,  the  pese- 
verauce  and  judiciousness  of  the  German  mind.  When  he 
came  to  this  country,  he  first  worked  on  the  farm  and  earned 
some  money  to  attend  a  business  college.  He  then  taught  school 
for  five  years  and  saved  money  to  attend  the  Sam  Houston 
Normal.  He  graduated  in  that  institution.  Since  then  he 
taught  school  again.  Prof.  Meyer  takes  a  great  interest  in  edu- 
cational afl'airs  and  is  now  recognized  as  one  of  the  leadmg 
educators  of  the  county. 

The  parents  of  Prof.  Meyer  were  Nathaniel  and  Antonie 
(Brannies)  Meyer.     His  father  owned  a  shoe  factory  near  Tilsit, 


I 


—278— 

Kast  Prussia.  M.  \V.  Meyer  was  born  Dec.  10,  1870,  near  Tilsit, 
East  Prussia,  and  attended  the  public  schools  of  that  place.  In 
October  1885,  he  immigrated  to  the  United  States  and  came  to 
his  uncle,  William  Brannies,  at  Seguin.  He  stayed  there  five 
years  and  worked  on  liis  uncle's  farm.  In  1890-01  he  took  a 
course  in  the  Blinn  Memorial  College  at  Brenham,  Texas.  He 
graduated,  in  the  commercial  course.  After  that,  he  taught 
school  for  five  years  m  Guaglalupe  County.  From  1890  to  1898 
he  attended  the  Sam  Houston  Normal  at  Huntsville,  Texas.  He 
graduated  in  tiiat  institution  (189S)  and  accepted  tiie  position  of 
superintendent  of  the  Sehulenburg  city  schools,  to  which  position 
he  has  been  continuously  re-elected  by  the  trustees.  His  services 
as  an  educator  have  been  eminent,  and  his  ability  and  success  in 
his  profession  have  acquired  him  a  reputation  as  a  leading  teacher 
of  the  county. 

He  married  Miss  Bertha  Nitsch  of  Segnin,  on  December  6, 
1892,  This  union  is  blessed  with  one  child,  Lillie,  two  years 
old. 

It  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  schools  of  our  country  may  secure 
more  such  men  as  Prof  Meyer,  and  that  his  services  as  a  public 
teacher  in  his  city  may  continue  for  many  more  years,  for  it  is 
only  through  such  men  that  our  public  schools  will  reach  the 
eminence  to  which  they  justly  and  deservedly  strive. 


Mrs.  Maria  Muklker. 

More  and  more,  the  old  pioneers  of  the  county  disai)pear; 
only  a  few  of  them  who  have  lived  in  the  early  times  and  can 
talk  of  them,  are  still  surviving^.  One  of  the  oldest  settlers  of 
the  county,  still  living,  is  Mrs.  Maria  Muelker,  widow  of  John 
Muelkerj  deceased.  Mrs.  Maria  Muelker  belongs  to  the  Aschen 
family,  a  family  noted  for  long  life.  Her  brothers  have  all 
attained  an  old  age  and  are  still  living:  Johann  Aschen,  eighty- 
nine  years  old;  Anke,  wife  of  Recklefs  Meiners,  eighty  six  years 
old;  Reinhard  Aschen,  eighty-three  years  old,  and  Heinrich 
Aschen,  eighty-two  years  old.  She  is  the  youngest  and  is  eighty 
years  old.     Mrs.  Muelker  is  of  great  vitality;    her  hair  is  still 


—270— 

black,  and  one  who  sees  her  would  hardly  judge  her  to   be  over 
fifty. 

Mrs.  Muelker  was  born  June  G,  1.S22,  near  Oldenburg,  Ger- 
many. She  njarried  there  Mr.  John  .Muelker,  a  farmer  in  that 
country  in  1843.  In  1847  they  came  to  Te.xas  and  lauded  at 
Galveston.  On  the  voyage  over  the  ocean,  their  only  child,  two 
years  old,  had  died  on  board  the  shij).  From  Galveston  they 
moved  to  Houston  where  they  stayed  one  vear.  Here,  their 
other  child,  Gesine,  wife  of  Carl  Luecke,  was  born  to  them.  In 
1848  they  moved  from  Houston  to  Industry,  Austin  County.    At 


Mrs.  Maria  Muelker  and  Her  Husband,  John  Muelker,  Deceased. 

that  time,  there  were  no  railroads  in  Texas  and  one  could  not 
travel  then  with  as  great  convenience  as  now.  The  family  moved 
to  Industry  in  an  ox  wagon  drawn  by  one  yoke  of  oxen  and  one 
team  of  horses.  Mrs.  Mu'^lker  laughingly  recalls  her  appear- 
ance in  those  days,  in  boots  and  with  a  Mexican  sombrero.  One 
morning  on  their  journey  the  horses  were  lost.  It  was  a  winter 
morning.  A  norther  with  rain  made  it  disagreeable  outside. 
The  men  went  off"  to  look  for  the  horses.  She  was  left  by  iierself 
on  the  open  prairie.  Little  did  she  sleep  that  night,  listening 
to  the  blowing  norther  and  the  falling  rain.       Next  morning  the 


—280— 

men    returned    with    the   horses,    having    found    them    in     the 
Bernard. 

In  1850  they  moved  from  Industry  to  Roundtop,  Fayette 
County,  where  they  farmed  till  1877.  In  that  year  Mr.  Muelker 
bought  a  farm  on  Middle  Creek  and  moved  upon  it,  where  he 
died  in  1883.  His  widow  stayed  on  this  farm  witli  her  son-in- 
law,  Mr.  Carl  Luecke,  till  the  year  1895.  In  October  of  that 
year  they  moved  to  Schulenburg,  where  she  still  resides. 

Marshall  B.  O'Bar. 

Marshall  B.  O'Bar  is  known  throughout  the  count}^  for  his 
honesty  and  reliability.  As  the  saying  is,  he  is  as  honest  as  the 
day  is  long,  reckoning  twenty-four  hours  to  the  day.  To  ihose 
people  who  are  acquainted  with  him,  he  is  known  as  a  gentle- 
man of  irreproachable  character  ;  people  who  make  his  acquain- 
tance soon  recognize  him  as  one.  Mr.  O'Bar  is  a  man  of  marked 
ability.  This  was  never  more  conspicuous  than  as  when  he 
served  the  couniy  as  commissioner  of  his  precinct  (1892-1890). 
It  was  the  unanimous  verdict  of  the  people  that  the  county 
never  had  a  better  commissioner.  M.  O'B.n-  is  this  year  a  can- 
didate for  tax  collector  and  there  is  no  doubt  that  his  honesty, 
reliability  and  business  capacity  will  receive  their  due  considera- 
tion from  the  people. 

The  family  of  Mr.  O'Bar  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  county. 
His  uncle  John  O'Bar  established  the  first  blacksmith  shop  in 
La  Grange.  His  family  was  the  third  family  that  settled  there. 
His  grandmother  reached  the  age  of  one  hundred  and  four  years. 
The  first  marriage  license  on  record  in  Fayette  County  was  is- 
sued to  Mr.  O'Bar's  aunt.  Miss  Lottie  0"Bar,  who  married 
Napoleon  Breeding. 

Mr.  O' Bar's  grandfather  John  O'Bar  was  a  native  of  Irehmd, 
being  born  in  the  neighborhood  of  Dublin.  He  came  from  that 
country  to  Virginia,  where  he  died  in  1806. 

John  O' Bar's  son,  Alexander  O'Bar,  also  a  native  of  Ireland, 
the  father  of  Marshall,    settled    in    Marshall  County,  Alabama, 


—281— 

and  was  married  there  to  Miss  Nancy  Burks.  Their  son  Mar- 
shall O'Bar  was  born  there  Januar}^  1,  1844.  In  1852  Alexander 
O'Bar  moved  to  Fayette  County,  Texas,  and  settled  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  present  site  of  Warrenton,  April  3,  1852. 
He  died  there  November  1,  1856. 


Marshall  was  raised  on  the  farm  and  went  to  fjrivate 
country  schools.  During  the  Confederate  War,  he  entered 
Cook's  regiment  of  heavy  ar- 
tillery as  a  private  and  was 
promoted  during  the  war  to 
the  first  lieutenancy.  After 
the  war,  he  was  in  the  gin 
business  with  Wm.  Neese  till 
the  year  1873,  when  he  bought 
the  property  where  he  still 
lives. 

Mr.  O'Bar  was  married  io 
Miss  Mary  McCord  of  Rusk, 
Cherokee  County,  formerly  of 
Fayette  County.  Tliis  union 
was  blessed  with  three  child- 
ren who  were  all  born  at  War- 
renton :  (1)  John  H.,  born 
October  25,  1871,  former 
county  superintendent  of  Fay- 
ette County,  now  cotton  buyer 
under  Tally  of  La  Grange  for 
Crawford  &  Byrnes  of  Austin, 
Texas;  (2)  Miss  Emma  M.,  born  April  11,  1873,  staying  with 
her  parents  at  Warrenton  ;  (3)  Oliver,  born  February  11,  1875, 
went  to  the  public  schools  at  Warrenton  to  the  age  of  sixteen, 
two  years  to  the  A.  and  M.  College  at  Bryan,  studied  three  jears 
at  Medical  College  of  Galveston  and  one  year  at  Tulane  Univer- 
sity of  New  Orleans  the  profession  of  medicine  ;  graduated  there 
May  3,  1899  and  is  now  a  practicing  physician. 


Marshall  B,  O'Bar. 


—282- 


JOHN   OlTMANNS. 


The  memory  of  John  Oltmanns  is  chet^islied  deservedly 
by  the  Schnlenburg  people.  Tliere  never  lived  a,  more  patriotic 
and  public  spirited  man  than  he.  Unceasingly  he  worked  for 
the  interests  of  iSchulenburg,  sparing  neither  time  nor  money  to 
advance  them.  As  a  member  of  the  city  council,  he  improved 
the  streets  of  the  city  and  advocated  a  number  of  measures  and 
improvements  that  proved  of  lasting  benefit  to  the  city.  In 
social  affairs  he  was  the  leading  spirit,  constantly  arranging 
concerts,  balls  and  theatrical  performances  that  young  and  old 
might  enjoy  themselves.  It  is  due  to  his  efforts  that  Schnlen- 
burg l)as  acquired  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  most  soc  able 

and  entertaining  cities  of  the 
state.  John  Oltmanns  wa3 
also  a  good  man.  There  never 
was  a  man  who  applied  for 
help  to  him  sent  away  with- 
out having  received  tlie  solic- 
ited aid.  P^specially  beat  his 
warm  heart  fur  his  country- 
men who  had  just  immigrated. 
He  assisted  them  with  his 
advice  and  his  purse.  Of  John 
Oltmanns  it  may  be  truthfully 
said  tliat  the  good  he  has  done 
was  liot  interred  with  liis 
bones,  but  lives  in  the  memory 
of  all  those  he  befriended. 

John  Oltmanns  was  born 
May  17,  1852.  at  Hankhausen, 
near  Rastede,  Oldenburg, 
Germany.  His  parents  were 
Eilert  Gerhard  and  Helene 
Oltmanns,  nee  v.  Esten.  They  owned  considerable  real  estate. 
John  went  to  school  at  Hankhausen,  and,  after  his  school  years, 
learned  the  baker's  trade.  In  1874  he  established  himself  in 
the  hotel  business  and  also  ran  a  water  power  mill  and   bakery, 


John  Oltmanns. 


—283— 

being  the  owner  of  all  tliree  establishments.  On  May  15,  1S74, 
he  naarried  INliss  Anna  Clode,  born  April  15,  1851,  at  Holler 
Wuestino;,  Oltlenburg.  He  came  to  the  United  States  in  1883, 
and  in  the  following  year  liis  family  followed  him.  He  lirst 
worked  in  a  bakery  in  Galveston,  then  id  1884  he  worked  some 
months  in  the  saloon  of  Joe  Kainer  at  High  Hill.  The  same 
year  he  opened  a  saloon  in  Schulenburg.  He  was  ver}^  success- 
ful in  this  business,  and  remained  there  till  the  time  of  his 
death,  October  22,  1901. 

His  wife  and  four  children  survive  him:  (1)  Hermine,  wife 
of  John  H.  Maliler,  clerk  in  San  Antonio;  (2)  Helene,  wife  of 
F.  F.  Schaefer,  formerly  in  the  saloon  busines-s  at  Schulenburg; 
(.'))  Martha  and  (4)  Jolin,  at  the  home  of  their  mother. 

John  Dltmanns  was  a  member  of  the  order  of  the  Sons  of 
Herm.ann,  O.  D.  II.  S. 

F.   Pkesun. 

The  name  of  the  subject  of  this  sketcli  is  well  known 
throughout  this  and  adjoining  counties:  F.  PreSun.  In  wliatever 
business  he  was  engaged,  whatever  position  he  has  lilled,  he 
everywhere  established  a  higli  record  for  industry,  honesty  and 
reliability.  13eing  atfcible  and  sociable,  he  is  well  liked  by  a 
Jiost  of  warm  friends  in  all  parts  of  the  county. 

Mr.  F.  Presun  was  born  September  19,  1851,  at  J^emgo, 
Lil)pe-Detmold,  Germany.  His  parents  were  Franz  and  Pauline 
Presun.  His  father  held  the  high  office  of  auditor  of  the  custom 
house.  A  sister  of  his  is  still  Hying  in  Germany.  Mr.  Presun 
was  educated  at  the  gymnasium  in  Lemgo  and  received  in  that 
school  a  classical  education.  In- 1871  he  came  to  Texas  and  first 
stayed  with  his  uncle,  VVilhelm  Lange,  in  Welcome,  Austin 
County.  In  1872  he  entered  the  commission  house  of  Robert 
Leisewitz  in  Brenham,  a  cotton  receiving  and  forwarding  busi- 
ness. Here  he  stayed  for  nearly  four  years.  In  1875  we  find 
him  in  the  employ  of  a  wholesale  wooden  and  willow  ware  busi- 
ness in  St.  Louis.  In  the  same  year  he  came  back  to  Texas  and 
clerked  in  the  general  merchandise  store  of  Hillman  &  Gans  in 
Giddings.     Here  he  was  also  assistant  postmaster  with  G.  Pauli. 


-284- 


From  Giddings  he  went  back  to  Brenham  and  there  took  charge 
of  the  business  of  Robert  Leisewitz,  his  former  principal.  He 
was  married  in  October  1876  to  Miss  Ella  UjfFy  of  La  Grange. 

In  1878  he  opened  up  a  general  merchandise  business  in 
Welcome,  Austin  County,  where  he  remained  till  1882.  He 
then  went  to  Houston  and  served  in  the  cotton  business  of  Ull- 
mann,  Lewis  it  Co.  In  ISSo  he  took  the  position  as  chief  clerk 
in  the  track  department  of  the  auditor's  office  of  the  Southern 
Pacific  Railroad  in  Houston,  Texas,  He  was  transferred  as  chief 
clerk  in  the  division  roadmaster's  department  and  left  Houston 
for  Schulenburg  in  charge  of  this  office  in  1884.      The  same  year 

he  went  with  his  family  to  Ger- 
many on  a  visit.  He  returned 
to  Schulenburg  in  September 
1884  and  opened  a  commission 
business  in  1885  which  he  sold 
in  1890  to  Meyer  &  Stanzel  to 
take  a  position  as  bookkee[)er  in 
t  h  e  business  of  H.  Horner. 
After  the  death  of  his  wife  he 
moved  to  La  Grange  and  was 
there  for  three  years  the  agent  of 
the  New  Orleans  Brewing  Asso- 
ciation. He  married  jNliss  Anna 
Stuedemanu  of  LaGrange  in  1895. 
In  1897  he  established  the  Crown 
Soda  Factory  which  he  sold  to 
the  La  Grange  Ice  and  Cold  Storage  Company.  He  is  now  sec- 
retary and  treasurer  of  said  company  and  ships  to  Taylor,  New 
Ulm,  Columbus,  Weimar  and  Fayetteville. 

His  children  are  Henry  and  Arthur  Presun.  The  former 
travels  for  the  Buck's  Stove  and  Range  Company  of  St.  Louis 
in  the  state  of  Illinois;  the  latter  works  in  the  jewelry  business 
of  Dietrich  &  Krengel  in  La  Grange. 

Mr.  F.  Presun  is  a  public  spirited  man,  not  in  a  political 
sense,  but  in  a  commercial  and  social  way.      He  is  unceasing  in 


F.  Presun. 


—285— 

his  efforts  to  advance  the  commercial  and  social  interests  of  La 
Grange.  His  ability  and  energy  in  this  line  have  been  recognized 
by  the  various  lodges  and  clubs  of  which  he  is  a  member  and 
he  serves  as  secretary  respectively  secretary  and  treasurer  in  the 
following  organizations:  Secretary  of  Post  L,  T.  P.  A.;  treasurer 
of  La  Grange  Lodge  565,  Knights  of  Honor;  secretary  and 
trensiirer  of  Endowment  Ring,  K.  of  P.,  Section  1477;  secretary 
Bismarck  Lodge  No.  8,  0,  D.  H.  S.,  and  secretary  Bluff 
Schuetzen  Verein. 


Chas.   H.  Schaefer. 

"Let  us  step  into  the  County-Seat  Saloon,"  is  a  well  re- 
ceived suggestion.  No  wonder.  In  this  popular  resort  the  best 
whiskies,  finest  liquors,  cool  beer  and  other  refreshments  are 
served  by  a  popular  barkeeper,  fHs  friends  have  nicknamed 
him  '"boss,", not  because  he  bosses  so  much,  but  because  he 
bosses  so  little.  He  much  prefers  to  receive  your  order,  of 
course,  for  refreshments.  His  politeness  and  the  good  service 
in  his  place  always  attract  customers  ;  people  who  have  been 
there  once  will  also  call  there  again.  The  owners  of  this  pop- 
ular place  are  Chas.  H.  Schaefer  &  Son. 

The  Schaefer  family  is  counted  among  the  oldest  families  of 
Fayette  County.  Mr,  Schaeier's  parents,  Carl  Friedrich  and 
Jolianna  Schaefer  and  with  them  their  son  Chas.  H.  Schaefer 
(born  in  the  city  of  Hanover  Nov.  9,  1839)  came  to  La  Grange, 
Texas,  in  the  year  1847.  His  father  was  a  teacher  of  languages 
in  the  city  of  Hanover.  At  that  time  the  German  governments 
were  very  oppressive  ;  it  was  the  time  of  the  Holy  Alliance. 
The  more  energetic  who  also  were  a  highly  educated  class  left 
the  fatherland  for  the  home  of  the  brave  and  the  free.  Hard 
times  also  awaited  them  here.  Unused  to  manual  labor,  they 
had  to  learn  it  to  make  a  living.  Mr.  Schaefer  sawed  logs  into 
planks  for  one  month  and  received  as  compensation  a  cow.  He 
bought  a  small  farm  near  Cedar  where  also  Bill  and  John  Lewis 
had  settled  before.  In  1853  he  bought  a  farm  on  the  Bluff  in 
company    with    Mr.    Carl    Otto.     After  the  death  of  his  wife  he 


—286— 


took  very  little  interest  in  life  ;   he    became    very    meloncholy  ; 
he  followed  her  in  1874. 

Schools  at  that  time  were  not  as  numerous  as  now.  Charley 
went  to  private  teachers,  Mrs.  Grasshoffand  Mrs.  Knobelsdorf 
who  taught  school  on  the  Bluff.  During  the  Civil  War,  Mr, 
Chas.  Schaefer  served  in  the  4th  Texas  Mounted  Volunteers, 
Sibley's  Brigade — afterwards  Green's  Brigade — from  1861-1865. 
He  took  part  in  the  engagement  at  Monac's  Ferry  and  several 
minor  engagements.  He  was  not  wounded  during  the  war,  but 
lost  his  brother  Fritz  in  the  battle  of  Glorietta,  N.  M.  Jn  1868 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Louise  Helmcamp  of  Bluff  settlement. 
In  December,  1896,  he  came  to  La  Grange  and  engaged  in  the 
saloon  business  in  which  he  is  still  engaged.  His  three  oldest 
children  are  married,  their  names  :  Mrs.  Elise  Prilop,  Cedar  ; 
Mrs.  Louise  Eck,  Bluff',  and  George,  in  the  saloon  business 
witli  his  father;  his  youngest  children,  Misses  Mary  and  Alvine 
and  Ciiarles   Schaefer  s^ay  at  the  home  of  their  father. 

Max  ane  Julius  Schwartz. 
Messrs.  Max  and  .Julius  Schwartz  number  amongst  Schuien- 
burg's  most  successful  business  men.     They  are  the  well-known 
proprietors  of  the  I.  X   L.  Livery  Stable  and  conduct   this    busi- 
ness   in    a   popular  manner.     Tliey  keep  a  great  number  of  fast 

horses  and  all  kinds  of  vehi-i 

cles  S)  that  tli^y  ca:i  suit  any 

taste    and    all    djininds    aiide 

on  them  in  thiir  liao   of  busi- 
ness.     Especially   drummers, 

as  also  the  traveling   public  in 

general  speak    of  the   obliging 

and    accomtnnd  iting    brothers 
'  in  words  of  highest  praise.   In 

connection    with    their   livery 

and    feed    business    they   also 

Max  Schwartz.  ,  in,  i      Julius  Schwartz. 

purchase  and  sell  horses  and 

mules.  Well  knowing  the  qualities  of  good  animals,  they  pur- 
chase only  first-class  animals  and  thus  are  able  to  suit  their 
customers  to  satisfaction.     They  also  pay  their  closest  attention 


—287— 

to  the  real  estate  business  and  persons  wishing  to  sell  or  buy 
land  will  do  well  in  securino;  their  services.  Being  well  ac- 
quainted, on  account  of  their  long  residence  and  their  business, 
in  this  and  adjoining  counties,  they  understand  the  wishes  of 
their  customers  and  always  know  what  place  will  suit  them  best. 

Messrs.  Max  and  Julius  Schwartz  are  botli  natives  of  the 
Khinepfalz,  Cxeriaany,  Max  having  been  born  at  Pirmasens, 
Germany,  July  17,  1865  and  Julius  at  Busenberg  on  June  IG, 
1872.  In  1876  they  came  from  Germany  to  this  country  and 
have  resided  now  for  over  a  quavter  of  a  century  in  Schulenburg. 
Both  gentlemen  are  known  throughout  the  county  as  great 
hustlers  and  men  of  keen  business  sense.  They  have  made  a 
success  in  their  busuiess.  The  1.  X.  L  Livery  Stable  is  eiiual  in 
equipment,  if  not  superior,  to  the  best  livery  stables  in  South 
Texas. 


Chaeles  and  Gustav  Sengelmann. 

A  visitor  in  Schulenburg,  walking  down  Main  street,  will 
be  struck  by  the  elegant  appearance  of  a  massive,  substantial 
two-story  brick  building,  the  property  of  the  Sengelmann  broth- 
ers.    It  is  known  through- 


out  the  county  as  the  "Two 
Brothers  Saloon,"  the 
most  elegantly  equipped 
saloon  in  the  county.  Upon 
entering  he  finds  a  large, 
roomy  hall,  the  nigh  ceil- 
ing being  supported  by 
massive,  elegantly  worked 
pillars.  Billiard  and  pool 
tables  and  tables  with  the 
leading  newspapers  and 
the  county  papers  invite 
the  visitor.  The  Sengel- 
maim  brothers  were  the 
first  who  introduced  this  feature  of  holding  a  fine  line  of  news- 
papers for  the  entertainment  of  their  patrons  in  this  county.    In 


;:?■     The  Two  Brothers  Saloon. 


-288- 

connection  with  the  bar  is  a  first  class  cuisine  under  the  manage- 
ment of  Mr.  David,  It  may  be  said  that  so  far  as  meeting  the 
wishes  of  their  patrons  is  concerned,  the  Sengehnann  brothers 
have  no  superiors.  The  line  of  liquors,  wines  and  cigars  which 
they  handle  corresponds  with  the  other  metropolitan  equipment 
of  their  bar.  Upstairs  is  a  first  class  hall  which  serves  for 
public  balls,  meetings,  entertainments  and  theatrical  perform- 
ances, it  has  an  elegant  hard  polished  floor  and  measures  in 
dimensions  fifty  by  eighty-five  feet. 

Both  gentlemen  are  natives  of  Holstein,  Germany.  The 
elder,  Mr.  Charles  Sengelmann,  came  to  this  country  with  his 
brother  August  in  1871,  when  he  was  sixteen  years  of  age. 
They  first  located  in  Columbus,  Texas,  and  in  1877  they  moved 
to  Schulenburof.  In  1885  their  brother,  Gustav  Sengelmann, 
also  a  native  of  Holstein,  Germany,  came  to  this  country  and 
two  years  later  in  1887  purchased  the  interest  of  his  brother 
August  who  returned  to  Germany  and  established  himself  in 
that  country  in  the  saloon  business  at  Garden-by-Kiel. 

The  Two  Brothers  establishment  was  burned  out  in  1893, 
but  with  tiie  energy  characteristic  of  the  Sengelmanns  they  at 
once  commenced  rebuilding  and  early  in  1894  had  their  present 
elegant  building  completed.  Both  brothers  are  recognized  lead- 
ers of  Schulenburg  society,  stand  well  socially  and  financially, 
and  have  a  higii  rejjutation  for  reliability  throughout  the  county. 

John  Speckels,  Sr. 
The  memory  of  good  men  is  not  interred  with  their  bones, 
but  lives  after  tliem.  The  friends  of  John  Speckels  cherish  liis 
memory  and  love  to  recall  his  sterling  merits.  11  is  life  was  a 
success;  under  the  most  unfavorable  circumstances,  he  grai)pled 
with  life's  ditficulties  and  came  out  ahead.  In  his  old  age  he 
could  with  pride  looli  back  on  the  early  struggles  of  his  youth 
and  enjoy  their  well  earned  fruits.  At  the  time  of  his  death, 
he  left  his  children  all  well  provided  and  in  prosperous  circum- 
stances. 

John  Speckels  was  born  in  1817  in  Germany  and  married 
in  that  country  to  Miss  Marguerite  Imken.       In  1847  they  came 


>-289— 


to  the  United  States  and  settled  at  Frelsbnrg,  Colorado  Connty< 
Texas,  where  they  remained  for  one  year.  In  1849  they  came 
to  this  county  and  settled  on  a  farm  near  the  present  Warrenton 
where  they  followed  agricultural  pursuits  till  1891.  Their 
finances  were  at  a  low  ebb  when  they  came  to  this  county,  and 
for  some  time,  until  they  could  open  up  land  and  build  a  log 
house,  they  lived  in  a  lent.  Mr.  Speckels  made  his  own  house- 
hold furniture  in  those  days.  The  family  experienced  a  great 
many  hardships  and  was  wholly  without  Hour  during  the  first 
year.  They  finally  got  a  start,  and  Mr.  8[)eckels  became  a 
prominent  stockman  of  his 
section,  owning  large  herds  of 
cattle,  sheep  and  horses.  He 
had  managed  to  buy  two  or 
three  negroes  previous  to  the 
war,  and  although  he  was  too 
old  for  service,  his  oldest  son 
Clerhard  served  throughout  the 
war.  Mr. Speckels  was  success- 
ful in  his  farming  pursuits  and 
at  one  time,  owned  950  acres 
of  rich  prairie  land.  In  1891 
he  and  his  wife  moved  to  La 
Grange,  where  they  purchased 
a  fine  residence.  He  died  in 
1894  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven.  His  wife  is  still  living 
at  La  Grange,  ,over  eighty 
3'ears  old. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  .Speckels 
were    the    parents    of     eleven 

ciiildren,  five  sons  and  six  daughters,  three  of  whom  died  young. 
The  names  of  their  children  are:  (1)  Gerhard  ;  (2)  John  G.,  at 
Warrenton,  Texas;  (3)  George,  in  the  saloon  business  at  J. a 
Grange,  Texas;  (4j  Johanna,  wife  of  Mr.  A.  Heintze,  Jr.,  mer- 
chant in  La  Grange;  (5)  Meta,  wife  of  Louis  Walter,  saddler  in 
La  Grange;   (G)  Mary,  wife  of    William   Neese,  farmer    in    Wal- 


JOHN  Spkckels,  Sr. 


—290— 

halla,  Texas;  (7)  Anna  (deceased),  wife  of  R.    Aschen,  Jr.,  now 
of  Coupland,  Williamson  County,  and  (8)  H.  VV. 

Henry  \V.  Speckels,  the  youngest  son,  was  born  in  18G4. 
He  was  educated  in  the  country  schools  of  Fayette  County,  and, 
when  eighteen  years  of  age,  started  out  for  himself,  although 
(luring  a  portion  of  each  year,  he  stayed  with  his  parents.  He 
followed  clerking  and  bookkeeping  till  1887,  when  he  came  to 
La  Grange  and  aocepted  the  management  of  Mr.  Heintze's  busi- 
ness which  consisted  of  dry  goods  and  groceries.  Mr.  Heintze 
was  also  a  large  cotton  buyer  or  cotton  broker,  and  of  this 
department  Mr.  Speckels  was  general  manager.  In  1891  Mr. 
Heinlze  sold  his  business  to  Speckels  &  Shaw,  and  Mr.  H.  W. 
Speckels  assumed  the  management  of  their  immense  business. 
In  1893  he  was  elected  mayor  of  La  Grange.  In  1894  he  was 
elected  by  the  ice  and  soda  water  manufacturers  as  manager  of 
their  business,  and  as  such  he  also  handled  the  well  known  W . 
J.  Loiiip's  beer.  He  continued  as  manager  of  the  La  Grange 
Ice  &  Beer  Company  till  the  fall  of  1899,  when  he  established  a 
grocery  business  with  Mr.  F.  G.  Heim  under  the  firm  name  of 
Speckels  &  Heim.  The  same  has  become  the  leading  grocery 
business  of  La  Grange. 

Mr.  W.  H.  Speckels  was  married  to  Miss  Alma  Meerscheidt 
of  La  Grange,  daughter  of  Arthur  and  Lena  Meerscheidt,  nee 
von  Ri)senberg.  This  union  was  blessed  with  two  children, 
Lillian  and  Gilbert.  His  wife  died  in  189G.  In  189S  Mr.  Speck- 
els married  Miss  Mary  Karges,  tlie  daugliter  of  one  of  the  oldest 
settlers  in  La  Grange.      Tlieir  only  cliild  is  nan>ed  Irwin. 

Mr.  Speckels  ii*  a  member  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias,  the 
K.  &  L.  of  H.  and  the  Sons  of  Hermann. 

G.  E.  Speckels. 

The  life  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  furnishes  an  example 
of  what  a  man  of  industry,  perseverance  and  economy  can 
accomplish  in  this  countr3^  Mr.  G.  E.  Speckels  has  followed 
the  rule  that  a  dollar  saved  is  a  dollar  made.  Nevertliele&s,  he 
was  never  so  economical  as  to  deprive   hiiiiself  or  his  family    of 


-201— 


the  comforts  of  life.  He  started  with  small  means,  worked 
hard  and  saved  his  money,  every  dollar  of  which  was  honestly 
earned.  Now,  in  his  old  age,  he  can  look  back  with  satistaction 
on  the  struggles  of  his  early  manhood,  having  provided  against 
the  contingencies  of  old  age. 

Mr.  G.  E.  Speckels  is  the  eldest  son  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John 
Speckels,  Sr.,  whose  biography  the  reader  just  has  perused  in 
the  preceding  pages.  He  was  born  January  8,  1843,  in  Olden- 
burg, (lermany,  and  came  to  thi,  country  with  his  parents  when 

he  was  four    years    old.        He  __^ 

received  his  education  in  the 
public  schools  of  the  Warren- 
ton  neighborhood.  In  1861 
he  enlisted  for  the  Civil  War 
in  Captain  Alexander's  com- 
pany, Ostwald  Battalion. 

The  company  had    enlisted 
for    six    months;     they     were  ,  ,^ 

two  raontlis  on  board  a  man- 
of-war  near  Galveston;  the 
other  four  months  they  were 
stationed  at  San  Jacinto  where 
they  were  discharged.  Mr.  < 
G.  E.  Speckels  next  enlisted  |. 
for  three  years  in  Captain  Led-  j,^ 
better's  company  of  infantry 
winch  belonged  to  WauTs  | 
legion.  They  were  stationed  [  --m 
at  Brenham.  They  received 
orders  to  march  to  Kansas; 
after  having  marched  about  one  hundred  miles,  they  were 
recalled  to  Mississippi.  The  route  was  by  way  of  Shreveport 
and  across  Red  River.  In  Louisiana  they  struck  a  railroad 
which  for  a  distance  of  three  hundred  miles  carried  them  into 
Mississippi.  It  took  them  three  days  to  make  the  three  hundred 
miles  by  rail,  as  the  engine  had  much  ditliculty  m  overcoming 
the  hills.     Thev  arrived  one  day  too  late  for  the  battle  of  Holly 


G.  E.  Speckels. 


—292— 

Sprinos  whereto  they  had  been  ordered  as  reinforcem3nts.  The 
enemy  drove  them  from  place  to  place.  Sometimes  they  had  a 
small  engagement.  They  were  constantly  marching,  sometimes 
for  two  or  three  days  without  anything  to  eat.  Finally  the 
enemy  drove  them  into  Vicksburg  where,  with  twelve  days' 
rations,  they  stood  a  siege  of  forty-eight  days.  On  July  4,  1863, 
Vicksburg  wns  surrendered.  On  July  12,  the  Confederate  troops 
were  marched  out  of  Vicksburg  into  camp.  Krom  here  Mr.  CI. 
E,  Speckels  left  for  home  without  money  and  without  provisions 
and  reached  home  sick  on  August  6,  1863.  After  the  lapse  of 
three  mouths,  he  was  mustered  into  CaptainWickland's  company, 
Waul's  Legion,  Captain  L'^dbstter's  company  having  been 
almost  completely  annihilated.  Here  he  served  one  year.  After 
having  served  the  three  years  for  which  he  enlisted,  he  got  one 
month's  leav.  Early  in  18()5  he  went  to  Mexico,  wherefrom  he 
returned  on  August  7.  In  18(j(3  he  made  a  crop  on  his  father's 
farm.  That  year  he  received  fur  his  cotton  thirty  cents  per 
pound  in  Galveston. 

After  the  war  he  was  married  in  1867  to  Miss  Maria  Frels 
of  Warrenton,  Texas;.  He  t\)llowed  the  pursuits  of  a  farmer  and 
carpenter,  and  by  industry  and  economy  he  succeeded  in  acquir- 
ing a  nice  fortune. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  G.  E.  Speckels  are  the  parents  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  (1)  Anna,  wife  of  Mr.  E  A.  Froehlich,  in  busi- 
ness at  Shiner,  Texas;  (^2)  Lucy,  wife  of  Henry  Lefzerich.  salooii 
and  groceries  at  La  Grange;  (3)  Emma,  wife  of  Fritz  Wessels 
in  the  saloon  business  at  La  Grange  ;  (4)  Laura,  wife  of  Charles 
Amberg,  in  the  •mercantile  business  at  La  Grange;  (5)  Rudolph, 
farmer  at  Uutersville,  and  (6)  Edwin,  clerk  in  La  Grange. 

Mr.  G.  E.  Speckels  is  now  a  resident  citizen  of  LaGrange  and 
lives  from  the  interest  of  his  capital  whicli  he  acquired  in  his 
youth  and  manliood  by  industry  and  economy.  He  is  proud 
that  every  cent  of  it  is  honestly  earned,  Being  used  to  an  active 
life,  he  assumed  in  March,  1896,  the  position  as  traveling  agent 
for  Mr.  O.  E.  Stolz's  marble  yard  in  La  Grange,  an  estal>lish- 
ment  which  is  known  to  turn  out  masterpieces  of  art  at  very 
reasonable  prices.  This  occupation  gives  him  the  chance  to  see 
his   friends    in    all    parts  of  the  county.     By  fair  dealing  he  has 


—293— 

acquired  for  the  firm  a  large  custom  and  become  very  popular  as 
well  witii  the  firm  as  with  its  customers. 

Hon.  J.  C.   Speckels. 

Hon.  J,  (!.  Speckels  is  known  to  the  people  of  Fayette 
County  as  a  successful  farmer,  a  successful  business  man  and  a 
successful  politician.  He  is  a  prominent  republican  leader  who 
ranks  high  in  the  counsels  (jf  his  party  and  whose  opinion  carries 
with  the  republican  leaders  the  weight  of  a  successful  campaigner. 
For  ten  years,  from  18.S0  to  1800,  he  served  the  county  as  com- 
missioner of  his  precinct.  Tliough  tlie  county  generally  goes 
democratic,  in  1894  he  was  elected  as  a  republican  member  to 
the  Twenty-B'uurth  Legislature  by  an  overwhelming  majority. 
Here,  as  before,  he  served  his  constituency  faithfully  and  dis- 
tinguished himself  by  his  conservative  views  on  tiie  measures 
before  the  house. 

Hon.  J.  C.  Speckels  is  the  second  child  of  John  and  Mar- 
guerite Speckels,  whose  biogra[)iiy  the  reader  has  just  perused 
in  the  preceding  pages.  J.  C.  was  born  September  20.  1847,  in 
Oldenburg,  (lermany,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  this  country 
when  he  was  ou\y  ten  days  old.  He  went  to  private  schools 
near  Warrenton,  Waldeck  and  Frelsburg.  For  some  time  (until 
23  years  old)  he  worked  on  his  father's  farm.  During  the  (Uvil 
War,  at  the  age  of  fifteen  years,  he  was  a  government  teamster, 
hauling  cotton  to  Mexico,  serving  as  a  substitute  for   his   father. 

February  9,  1871,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Pauline  Aschen 
of  Waldeck  and  established  himself  as  a  farmer  near  W^arrenton. 
From  1880  to  1890  he  served  as  commissioner  of  his  i)recinct, 
the  repeated  verdict  of  the  people  in  electing  him  showing  but 
their  approval  of  his  views  on  public  (jueslions.  In  1891  he 
established  a  mercantile  business  at  La  Grange  in  partnership 
with  Mr.  VV.  L.  Shaw  under  the  linn  name  of  Speckels  &  Shaw, 
he  being  the  senior  member  of  the  firm.  The  firm  did  an  im- 
mense business  till  1895,  when  he  sold  it  to  Heilig  t*c  Co.  In 
1894  he  was  elected  on  the  republican  ticket  as  representative 
from  Fayette  County  to  the  Twenty-Fourth  Legislature. 

Hon.  J.  C.  Speckels  and  wife  are  the  parents  of  eight  child- 


—21)4— 

ren  :  (1)  Clara,  wife  of  Joe  Weikel,  now  farmer  near  Edna, 
Jackson  County,  Texas;  (2)  Johanna,  wife  of  Dr.  T.  J.  Carter, 
Walhalla  ;  (8)  Albert,  farmer  near  Giddings,  Lee  County;  mar- 
ried Miss  Antonia  Matajowski  ;  (4)  Otto,  at  home;  (5)  John,  at 
home;  (C)  Alwin,  attending  the  Blinn  Memorial  College  at 
Brenham  ;  (7)  Gustav,  attending  the  Blinn  Memorial  College  at 
Brenham.  and  (8)  Allan,  at  home.  Hon.  J.  C.  Speckels  resides 
at  his  old  home  near  Warrenton. 

Joseph  George  Wagner. 

Those  readers  who  have  known  Joseph  George  Wagner  will 
no  doubt  be  glad  to  have  recalled  to  their  metnory  the  picture 
and  life  of  this  good  man.  For  nearly  half  a  centuiy  Joseph 
George  Wagner  has  been  a  resident  of  Fayette  County.  He 
belonged  to  that  class  of  citizens  which  are  an  acquisition  to  any 
country;  he  had  the  same  spirit  of  independence,  the  same  love 
of  liberty  and  the  same  courage  of  his  convictions  which  charac- 
terized the  early  settlers  of  this  country.  Mr.  Wagner  was  a 
native  of  Germany.  Tliere  he  had  learned  the  trade  of  shoe- 
maker and  established  himself  in  that  trade  in  the  city  of  Bres- 
lati,  the  capital  of  the  province  of  Silesia,  Germany.  He  took 
an  active  part  in  politics  and  was  the  founder  of  many  labor 
organizations.  He  was  an  American  citizen  already  by  senti- 
ment in  that  country,  deeming  liberty  as  the  highest  of  human 
rights.  Therefore,  it  was  only  natural  that  he  emigrated  to  a 
country  more  in  harmony  with  his  opinions. 

Joseph  George  Wagner  was  born  February  12,  1821,  in  the 
county  of  Giatz,  Silesia.  He  was  educated  in  the  public  schools 
and  then  learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker.  On  January  8,  1849, 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Maria  Pochales  at  Breslau,  where  he 
established  himsell  as  shoemaker.  He  left  the  old  fatherland  for 
the  home  of  the  free  and  the  brave  in  1858.  His  wife  ?nd  family, 
i.  e.  his  wife  and  two  children  who  were  born  in  the  old  coun- 
try, Oscar  and  Paulin3,  now  the  wife  of  Mr.  Christian  Guggolz, 
afarmer  near  Gatesville,  Coryell  County,  came  with  him.  They 
landed  at  Galveston,  and  in  November,  1853,  they  came  to  La 
Grange.  In  the  following  year  they  went  to  Roundtop  where 
Mr.  Wagner  established  himself  in  his  trade  of  shoemaker.     He 


I 


—295— 


mmw9^- 


m^ 


followed  this  pursuit  until  the  year  1859,  when  he  bought  a  part 

of  tlie  Nassau  farm.    From  that  time  he  followed  the  occupation 

of  farminji;,  acquiring  by  industry  and  economy   a  nice  fortune. 

In  1882  he  bough.t  in  addition   to    his    Nassau    farm    the   Lewis 

farm.     In  1899  he  was  fortunate  enough  to  celebrate   his  golden 

wedding.       The   same   was    a 

reunion    of    all    his    children 

and    grandchildren.       A    few 

months   later   he  died.       His 

wife   survives    him    and   still 

lives  on    the    old    homestead. 

iie    left    ail    his    children     in 

good  circumstances.      Besides 

the  two  born  in  the  old    conn 

try    mentioned    before,    there 

are:     (1)    (leorge,    farmer    on 

Nassau     farm;     (2)    Wilhelm, 

mechanic  on  the  International 

&   (h-eat    Northern;     (3)   Ma- 

thilde",  wife  of   Geo.    Krengel, 

jeweler  in  La  (i range;  (4) Paul, 

farmer    at    ►Shelby,    Austin 

C'ounty,  Texas;     (/>)    (Charles, 

druggist  in  Carmine;  (6)Anna, 

wife  of  Turk    Brown,    farmer 

and  stock    raiser    near    ({ates- 

ville,  Coryell  County;  -and  (7)  Josej^Ii,  farmer  on  the  Lewis  farm, 

near  Roundtop. 

Mr.  Charles  Wagner  is  the  seventh  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
J.  G.  Wagner  and  tneir  fifth  one  born  in  this  country.  He  was 
born  July  11,  ISGi,  on  the  Nassau  farm;  attended  the  public 
schools  at  Nassau  and  later  the  Normal  Department  of  the 
Alamo  City  Business  College  under  W.  C.  Buckman;  graduated 
and  came  to  Carmine  where  he  followed  the  profession  of  teach- 
ing for  three  years  (1890-1893);  from  1893  to  1S9G  he  was  in  the 
general  merchandise  business  at  Carmine  in  partnership  with 
his  brother  Wilhelm;  189C-98,  justice  of  the  peace  in   Carmine 


Joseph  George  Wagner. 


—296— 

precinct;  189S-1900,  editor  of  the  Carmine  Enterprise.  Since 
1900  in  the  drug  business  at  that  place.  Is  one  of  the  leading 
democrats  of  the  count}'. 

Robert  Wolters,  Sr. 

Robert  Wolters  is  one  of  the  few  men  whose  fortune  it  was 
to  witness  the  development  of  an  infant  struggling  republic  into 
a  great  state,  the  coming  empire  state  of  the  Union.  He  has 
lived  under  the  flag  of  the  Republic  of  lexas,  under  the  Union 
flag  when  Texas  became  one  of  the  states,  under  the  Confederate 
Hag  and  again  under  the  Union  liag.  Just  pause  and  think  of 
the  different  phases  of  development.  Texas,  an  infant  republic, 
in  dire  distress,  the  country  harrassed  by  marauding  Indians 
when  he  was  a  youth,  and  Texas  grown  to  full  manhootl,  the 
wonder  uf  the  world  as  to  the  possibilities  of  future  development. 
If  he  looks  back  to  liis  own  life,  he  finds  an  analogy  there. 
Robert  Wolters,  the  struggling  boy  and  Robert  Wolters,  the  old 
man,  one  of  the  capitalists  and  most  respected  men  of  the  county. 

Mr.  Robert  Wolters  was  born  September  20,  lS20,  in  Elber- 
feld,  Prussia,  and  came  with  his  father,  Jacob  Wolters,  his 
mother  and  three  sisters  to  the  United  States  in  1834.  His 
father  had  left  the  old  country  on  account  of  his  political  con- 
v4etions.  Tlie  family  lauded  in  New  York  and  after  a  short 
time  went  to  Philadelphia  where  his  father  established  a  bakery. 
But  the  Yankees  of  those  times  did  not  put  on  as  much  style  as 
their  descendants,  they  generally  baked-  their  own  bread,  and 
under  these  circumstances,  his  father  found  it  a  hard  task  to 
provide  for  his  family,  much  less  to  make  any  headway.  There- 
fore the  family  went  to  New  Orleans  in  the  spring  of  1835  and 
in  May  of  that  year  they  came  to  Texas  and  landed  at  Velasco. 
There  they  took  a  little  steamboat  which  carried  them  up  the 
Brazos  River  to  Brazoria.  From  the  latter  place  they  traveled 
in  ox  wagons  to  where  now  Frelsburg  stands  and  settled  on  the 
Piper  league.  They  built  the  first  log  house  in  the  Frelsburg 
neighborhood  in  the  fall  of  1835,  but  before  the  house  was  ready, 
his  mother  died  under  a  tree  in  July  1835.  There  were  very 
few  settlers  at  that  time  in  the  country.     The  comforts  were  very 


—297  — 

primitive.  His  father  acquired  a  skill  in  manufacturing  raw- 
hide chairs  for  which  there  soon  was  a  great  demand.  He 
brought  and  sold  them  as  far  as  to  the  Cole  settlement  in  Wash- 
ington County.  One  time,  on  his  return  trip  from  Cole  settle- 
ment, a  band  of  hostile  Indians  camped  near  Postoak  Point  be- 
tween him  and  his  home.  To  wait  in  a  safe  place,  until  tliey  had 
withdrawn  was  a  great  inconvenience,  to  pass  by  there  a  still 
greater  risk.  His  father  chose  the  risk  to  pass  by,  passed  them 
in  tlie  middle  of  the  night  and  young  Robert  had  to   walk  along 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Wolters,  Sr. 

With  a  piece  of  bacon  skin  and  every  once  in  a  while  grease  the 
axles  of  the  ox  wagon  to  keep  them  from  squeaking.  They 
reached  their  home  safely  without  having  encountered  the 
Indians.  His  father  married  again  ni  1838  and  then  moved  to 
the  Mill  Creek  near  Industry.  Robert  and  his  brother  August 
remained  on  their  father's  farm  near  Frelsburg,  until  his  father 
had  sold  the  same.  After  this,  young  Robert  worked  for  some 
years    on    the    farm,  until    he  had  money  enough  to  buy  a  team 


—208— 

and  then  he  traveled  for  three  or  four  years  as  a  teamster. 
December  25,  1849,  he  married  Miss  Adolphina  Wellhausen  of 
Cat  Spring,  Texas.  Ho  bouglit  400  acres  of  the  Pettus  league  in 
Austin  County  and  farmed  there  till  1858  with  his  brother. 
In  that  year  he  moved  to  Cypress,  Blanco  County,  a  county 
still  harrassed  by  Indians.  In  1865  he  bought  a  farm  two  miles 
east  of  High  Hill,  Fayette  County,  and  moved  to  his  place  in 
the  same  year.  In  the  fall  of  1866  he  established  a  store  iu 
High  Hill  and  in  1872,  when  the  Southern  Pacific  came  t^  Fay- 
ette County,  he  moved  to  Schulenburg  where  he  still  resich^s. 

Mr.  Wolters  is  now  eighty-two  years  old,  still  of  good 
health,  and  a  fine  example  of  the  vigor  of  the  nortliem  (TiM-niMii. 
He  has  a  number  of  ciiildren,  a  great  many  grandciiildrrii  and 
great-grandchildren,  and  a  great  host  of  warm  friends  wijo  all 
wish  him  a  continuuice  of  his  good  health  and  prosperity. 

On  Chrii-tmas  day  ISUO  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wolters  celebrated 
their  golden  wedding,  which  festive  occasion  was  a  grand  reunion 
of  their  children,  grandcliildren  and  great-grandchildren. 

Thi::,).  Wolters. 

When  the  witor  of  songs  penned  the  line,  "And  he  is  a  jolly 
good  fellow,"  he  ver}^  probably  would  have  thought  of  the 
mayor  of  Schulenburg,  had  he  ever  been  acquainted  with  him. 
Theo.  Wolters  is  known  to  almost  everybodj'  throughout  the 
county  as  a  man  of  wit  and  jovial  disposition.  On  account 
of  liis  congenial  disposition,  our  mayor  numbers  liis  friends  by 
the  hundreds.  He  is  a  man  whom  all  people  like  to  see  come 
rather  than  go.  Pie  is  also  of  kind  disposition.  Pie  takes  a  deep 
interest  in  the  welfare  of  his  friends  and,  in  case  they  have  the 
blues,  as  most  men  sometimes  will  have  them,  he  cures  tliem 
thereof  by  liis  jokes  and  soon  they  are  "o'er  a'  the  ills  of  life 
victorious." 

His  parents  were  Jacob  and  Louise  (May brink)  Wolters. 
His  father  was  the  manager  of  a  large  bakery  at  Duesseldorf, 
Germany,  successful  in  business,  but  being  of  independent  dis- 
position, his  political  convictions  did  not  agree  with  those  of  the 
government.  He  could  not  stand  the  oppression  of  the  govern- 
ment which  was  especially  oppressive  in  those  days,   and  inimi- 


-299— 


grated  to  the  United  States  as  a  country  more  in  harniony  with 
his  convictions  (1834).  He  first  settled  near  Industry,  Austin 
County,  in  1835.  In  1838  he  married  Miss  Louise  iMay brink  of 
Houston,  Texas.  His  wife  died  at  Industry  in  1802;  he  followed 
her  in  death  in  1805. 

Their  son,  Theodore  WoUers,  was  born  near  Industry,  Austin 
County,  Texas,  April  15,  1840.  He  went  to  private  kcIiooIs 
such  as  they  were  at  that  time.  When  the  Civil  War  broke  out, 
he  went,  only  seventeen  years  of  age,  as  a  private  into  the  Con- 
federate Army  and  entered 
Creuzbauer's  company  ot  liglit 
artillery.  After  the  close  o( 
the  war.  he  clerked  one  year 
for  his  brother,  Robert  Wol- 
ters,  Sr.,  in  High  Hill  (1807) 
In  tlie  following  year  he  wen! 
to  New  Ulm  and  learned  ihi- 
wagon  maker's  trade.  On 
January  7,  1871,  he  married 
Miss  Margaret  Wink  of  New 
Ulm.  He  farmed  there  until 
1879.  In  that  year  lie  went 
to  Moulton,  Lavaca  C)unty, 
and  the  year  after  he  came  to 
Schulenburg  and  engaged  in 
the  saloon  business.  On 
April  1,  1902,  he  bought  the 
cotton  platform  in  Schulen- 
burg and  he  is  now  public 
weigher  of  that  place. 


. 

^  »•/ 

> 

M^*^^. 

B^"^' 

^ 

^^V''-^~-^^v     i 

^^^H 

^■r'-'^^J 

^^^H 

H^^H       ^^^  4 

^^^^^^H 

^^A'      -^^^1 

^^^^H 

^^^^-    v^J 

miiH 

Theodore  Wolters. 


His  children  have  all  had  great  success  in  life.       They  are: 

(1)  Hon.    J.    F.    Wolters,     a    leading    lawyer    of    La    Grange; 

(2)  Eduard,  clerk  in  the  law  oflice  of  Wolters,  Lane  &  Len- 
ert;  (3)  Mrs.  Ottilie  Baumgarten,  wife  of  Mr.  Chris.  Baumgarten, 
Jr.,  bookkeeper  for  Baumgarten  Bros,  at  Schulenburg;  (4)  Misa 
Katie  Wolters,  in  the  millinery  business  at  Schulenburg,  and  (5) 
Wallace,  at  home. 


—300— 

Mr.  Theo.  Wolters  is  a  public  spirited  man  and  takes  a 
great  interest  in  public  affairs.  He  was  elected  alderman  of 
Schulenburg,  and  his  services  in  tliat  office  met  with  tbe  general 
approval  of  the  people.  In  1889  he  was  elected  Mayor  of  Schu- 
lenburg, which  office  he  has  held  ever  since  except  in  the  year 
1890.  As  mayor  of  Schulenburg,  he  has  been  progressive;  tlie 
attractiveness  of  the  city  and  her  commercial  influence  are 
largely  due  to  liis  untiring  efforts.  He  is  a  staunch  true  demo- 
crat, always  found  in  the  front  ranks  of  that  party  where  the 
ffght  is  hardest.  He  is  proud  of  never  having  sfralcbed  a 
democratic  ticket  in  his  life,  even  if  the  party  nominees  were 
not  personally  agreeable  to  him. 

Hut;o  Zapp,  Sk. 

The  writer  gives  liere  to  the  reader  a  biographical  sketch  of 
one  of  the  oldest  living  settlers  of  Faj^ette  County.  Mr.  Hugo 
Zipp,  sr.,  is  one  of  those  sturdy  German  settlers  who  through 
all  kinds  of  iiardships  and  reverses,  by  business  talent,  industry 
and  economy  achieved  success.  In  his  ripe  old  age  he  may 
look  back  now  on  a  usefully  spent  life,  on  a  life  of  toil  and 
danger.  He  has  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  his  children  well  pro- 
vi  led  and  in  good  circumstances.  The  following  talk  on  his 
life,  written  down  by  his  son,  H.  W.  H.  Zapp,  is  here  given  in 
full  as  the  same  tells  very  interestingly  of  some  incidents  of  his 
life  which  are  characteristic  of  the  early  times  of  Texas. 

My  parents,  John  Hy.  Zjpp  and  Elizabeth  Zapp,  nee  Besen- 
bruch,  lived  in  Elberfeld  during  their  lifetime.  My  father  was 
in  the  mercantile  business.  I  was  born  September  6,  1822,  in 
Elberfeld,  Germany,  raised  and  educated  there  as  merchant. 
In  my  twenty-fifth  year  I  emigrated  with  my  brother  Hermann 
to  this  country,  landing  in  New  Orleans,  La.,  in  December,  1847. 
I  had  several  good  positions  offered  me  there,  also  in  St.  Louis, 
Mo.,  but  I  declined  them.  From  New  Orleans  I  went  to  Gal- 
veston and  further  on  to  Industry,  Texas,  where  I  bought  me  a 
small  farm  between  the  town  of  Industry  and  the  banks  of  Mill 
Creek.  In  the  banks  of  same  there  was  a  lovely,  very  strong, 
cold  and   clear   spring   of  water,    gushing   through    the   rocks. 


—301  — 


[Tnderneath  them  I  made  a  fine  bath  basin  and  tliere  I  enjoyed 
many  a  cool  bath  the  first  year  in  our  warm  climate.  I  chose 
farming  as  my  occupation  to  make  a  living,  as  1  wanted  to  lead 
an  independent  and  free  life  when  1  adopted  this  country  as  my 
future  home.  My  nearest  neiglibors  lived  only  a  few  hundred 
yar  Is  distant ;  they  were  Mr.  Jacob  Wolters,  Herr  von  Wedel 
and  Mr.  Ernst,  sr.  Here  I  had  m.y  first  experience  in  farming  ; 
the  lirst  time  in  my  recollection  that  I  ever  touched  a  plow  or 
hoe  or  even  saw  one.  My  good  readers  can  therefore  well 
imagine  how  well  I  succeeded 
at  first  with  my  new  vocation, 
but  as  1  was  determined,  I 
soon  learned.  In  1849  my 
brother  Hermann  started  with 
a  party  for  California  where 
he  remained  a  couple  of  years 
and  then  returned  to  Elber- 
feld,  where  he  now  resides. 
In  1850  I  bougiit  a  tract  of 
timber  land,  about  four  miles 
west  of  Fayetteville,  near  Clear 
Creek,  which  1  began  to  im- 
prove with  the  aid  of  some 
good  friends  and,  by  years  of 
hard  toil,  I  got  a  nice  field. 
Ln  the  first  y.^.ir  I  built  a  gen- 
uine Texas  house  tliereon  ; 
perliaps  some  of  your  readers 
will  hardly  know  what  a  gen- 
uine Texas  house  is  ;   hence  I 

will  explain  :  It  is  a  log  tiouse, 'covered  with  split  sliingles  with- 
out the  use  of  a  single  nail;  as  the  latter  were  a  scarce  article  in 
Texas  in  oltl  times,  the  citizens  were  forced  to  make  inventions. 
1  lived  there  a  couple  of  years  as  bachelor  and  many  an  interest- 
ing episode  as  well  as  hardship  1  went  through  durmg  this 
period.  In  185')  I  married  near  Uoundtop  my  wife,  Caroline 
Bode,  and  spent  the  liappiest  part  of  my  life  right  on  this  little 
farm  ;   always  raised  enough  cuttow  to    ipake  a  good    living    anc^ 


Hugo  Zapp,  Sr. 


plenty  of  corn  so  that  I  could  raise  good  stock  of  which  I  had  at 
all  times  an  abundance.  After  some  years  when  my  children 
began  to  grow  up,  I  concluded  to  get  near  a  town  so  as  to  give 
them  schooling.  I  chose  Fayetteville  whereto  I  moved  in  1865, 
and  there  I  have  lived  ever  since.  Began  merchandising  which 
I  followed  up  to  1890,  with  success,  although  my  means  for  the 
lirst  years  were  very  limited.  I  have  never  run  for  an  office, 
neither  have  I  ever  taken  much  stock  in  politics  in  this  my 
adopted  country,  I  was  not  admitted  as  a  soldier  in  the  Civil 
War  on  account  of  my  poor  eyesight,  1  being  nearsighted.  In 
the  fali  of  ISOl  a  band  of  robbers  attacked  me  at  my  house  at 
night  for  money  ;  as  I  had  none,  th'ey  attempted  to  hang  me  ; 
1  had  already  the  rope  around  my  neck  and  over  the  limb  of  a 
tree,  when,  at  a  proper  moment,  I  quickly  loosened  the  rope 
from  my  neck,  sprang  behind  the  tree  and  ran  for  dear  life,  they 
tiring  six  or  eight  shots  after  me,  when  I  fell  over  a  log  an! 
they,  sui)posing  that  tliey  bad  killed  mo,  ran,  jumped  on  tlieir 
horses  and  escaped.  This  v.'as  the  third  time  I  had  a  narrow 
escape  for  life. 

We  raised  a  family  of  nine  children,  six  daughters  and  three 
sons:  My  eldest  daughter,  Mary,  born  June  11,  1854,  married 
H.  J.  Meitzen,  a  school  teacher  wlio  lives  three  miles  west  of 
here;  (2)  my  son,  H.  W .  H.  Zipp,  l)orn  Mav  7,  1857,  a  mer- 
chant here  in  Fayetteville;  (o)  my  son,  C.  T.  Zapp,  born  Jan.  11. 
185'.),  a  speculator  and  investor  at,  Zi|)p  P.  0.,  Texas;  (4)  my 
daughter  Ciroline,  born  August  o,  l^ol,  married  Ad.  Z  )ll,  mer- 
chandising here;  (5)  my  son,  H  C  Z:ii)p,  born  Aug.  17,  18G2, 
uierchandi'^ing  at  Ben  Arnold,  Milam  County,  Texas;  (0)  my 
daughter  Mathilde,  born  A[)ril  4,  18G4,  married  E  T.  Pagel, 
merchandising  here  with  my  son,  II.  W.  Zipp;  (7)  my  chiughter 
Julia,  born  IV'bruary  11,  180G,  married  Rud.  Franke,  a  book- 
kee|)pr  at  Houston,  Texas;  (8)  my  daughter  Louise,  born  March 
13,  1869,  died  May  9,  189'J,  and  (9)  my  daughter  Ida,  born, 
August  28.  1871,  married  D:-.  H.  E.  Gaedcke  of  Fayetteville. 
Died  October  25,  1900.  leaving  four  little  children. 

In  1897  my  eyes  began  bothering  and  paining  me  very  much 
and  grew  worse  from  time  to  time,  until  in  1900  I  went  totally 
blind.     The  only  comfort  and  company  was  my  dear  wife  up  to 


—303— 

the  18th  day  of  March,  1902,  when  it  pleased  our  Father  above 
to  also  take  her,  my  last  support,  from  me  and  leave  me  alone 
with  my  good  children  who  try  to  do  for  me  all  they  can. 

Respectfully, 

Hugo  Zapp,  per  II. 


Robert  Zatp. 

The  name  of  Robert  Zapp,  whenever  mentioned,  is  forever 
linked  with  steadfastness  of  purpose,  unimpeachable  honesty 
and  the  hishest  order  of  moral  courage.  He  was  firm  in  his 
convictions.  No  matter  what  the  clamor  of  excited  citizens,  no 
matter  what  their  threats,  no 
matter  what  mi^iit  be  tlie  con- 
sequences of  resisting  an  un- 
reasoning mob,  he  could  not 
be  moved  a  step  from  the  line 
of  conduct  his  conscience  and 
ripe  judgment  had  dictated  to 
him.  There  never  was  a  for- 
eigner who  on  account  of  Ihe^e 
virtues  was  more  respected  by 
liis  American  fellow  citizens 
than  Robert  Zapp.  He  was 
a  power  for  good,  a  man  wlio 
set  a  shining  example  by  his 
conduct  for  posterity  to  walk 
the  line  of  rit;ht. 

Ivobert  Z  tpp  was  born  at 
Elberfeld,  Germany,  in  1818. 
In  tliat  country  he  received  a 
splendid  education,  and,  after 
learning  the  trade  of  engraver, 
he  established  himself  in  that  business.  On  account  of  iiis  revo- 
lutionary views,  in  which  he  advocated  a  republican  form  of  gov- 
ernment, he  came  into  conflict  with  the  ruling  powers.  He  left 
Germany  in  1847  and  arrived  that  year  in  Texas.  The  United 
States  were  then  in   a  state  of   war    with   .Mexico.       Hs  served 


Robert  Zapp. 


-304— 

several  months  as  a  governiDent  teamster,  but  became  sick  of 
fever  and  was  sent  to  the  New  Orleans  hospital.  After  his  dis- 
missal from  the  hospital  he  returned  to  Texas.  Here  he  made 
tlie  acquaintance  of  Miss  Johanna  Hubertina  Huepgens  (born 
June  14,  1826,  at  Eupen,  Germany,)  and  was  married  to  that 
iady  in  the  same  year  (1847)  at  Liverpool,  near  Galveston.  In 
1848  he  moved  to  La  Grange.  Here  he  wori^ed  for  about  seven 
years  as  a  carpenter.  He  then  established  a  mercantile  business 
at  La  Grange  in  1855.  It  burned  up  on  the  night  of  Buchanan's 
election.  He  was  then  a  democrat.  When  his  friends  expressed 
their  sympathy  to  him  about  his  loss,  he  answered  coolly: 
"Never  mind.  This  was  a  bonfire  for  Buchanan's  victory." 
The  course  pursued  by  Buchanan's  administration  did  not  meet 
his  approval;  Robert  Zapp  changed  his  party  affiliations  and 
became  an  ardent  republican.  Daring  the  Civil  War  he  was  a 
strong  Union  man.  lie  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Twelfth 
Legislature.  When  Coke  was  elected  governor  and  Davis 
intended  to  resist  him  in  assuming  charge  of  this  office,  when 
partisan  feeling  ran  so  high  that  bloodshed  seemed  to  be 
unavoidable,  he  was  one  of  the  republican  leaders  who  counseled 
moderation  and  agreement  to  the  verdict  of  the  people  as  given 
at  the  last  election.  His  influence  in  his  party  and  the  conddence 
they  |)Iaced  in  the  suundness  of  his  judgment  carried  so  much 
weight  witli  them  that  his  party  appr.jved  his  counsel,  and 
bloodshed  was  thereby  averted.  During  Davis'  ad:uinistratinn, 
he  also  held  the  office  of  superintendent  of  county  sciionls.  la 
188)  he  ran  against  Miller  for  Coni^i-ess  on  the  republican  ticket, 
and,  though  defeated,  he  had  the  consolation  of  cai-rying  his 
Jiome  county,  where  he  was  best  known  and  where  his  high 
qualities  and  principles  were  m):it  apprnniuted,  by  a  two-tliirdi 
vote. 

In  185()  he  built  np  his  burnt  business  in  La  Grange,  He 
stayed  there  until  18 jU.  In  that  year  he  opened  a  general  mer- 
chandise business  at  Long  Prairie  (the  present  Waldeck).  In 
1857  he  opened  branch  stores  at  Ledbetter  and  Roundtop.  He 
sold  his  business  at  Long  Prairie  to  Matajowski  &  Aschen  and 
moved  that  same  year  to  Roundtop.     Here  he  remained  m  busi- 


-305— 


ness  till  one  year  before  his  death.  He  then  sold  the  same  to 
Alex  y.  Rosenberg.  He  died  in  1885  at  his  home  in  Roundtop, 
after  a  useful  life,  honored  and  remembered  not  only  by  his 
friends  and  neighbors,  but  also  by  the  people  at  large.  His 
name  until  today  stands  as  a  byword  for  sternness  of  character, 
unimpeachable  honesty  and  unwavering  constancy.  His  beloved 
wife  followed  him  in  death  in  1897. 

B.  L.  Zapp. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  son  of  the  man  whose  biog- 
raphy the  reader  has  perused  just  before.  He  has  proved  liim- 
self  a  chip  of  the  old  block  and  worthy  in  every  respect  of  the 
reputation  established  by  his  father.  During  his  terms  as  sheriff 
of  the  county  from  1886  to  189i,  he  has  established  a  reputation 
for  fearlessness  and  efliciency 
well  known  throughout  South 
Texas.  By  the  faithful  dis- 
charge of  his  duties  in  that 
office  he  has  made  a  great 
number  of  strong  friends 
throughout  the  county. 

Brutus  L.  Zapp  was  born 
August  15,  1851,  at  La  Grange, 
He  received  only  ten  months' 
schooling  in  his  life,  but  in 
later  years  he  acquired  a  fair 
education  by  self- study.  After 
iiis  father  had  moved  to 
Roundtop  (1SC7),  he  worked 
on  the  latter's  farm  staying  at 
his  home.  His  fearlessness 
and  efficiency  had  already 
attracted  the  attention  of  his 
fellow  citizens,  so  that  they 
elected  him  marshal  of  Round- 
top.  In  1882  he  went  to  La  Grange  and  served  as  chief  deputy 
sheriff  under  John  T.  Rankin  up  to  1882.  In  that  year  he  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Wertz  of  La  Grange.   The  following  year  he  was 


B.  L.  Zapp. 


elected  sherifTof  the  county.  In  this  oflice  he  served  four  terms 
till  1894,  when  he  declined  to  run  for  re-election.  He  was  in  the 
gin  business  since  1890,  He  started  mercantile  business  in  1896 
in  which  business  he  sliil  remains,  enjoying  the  implicit  confi- 
dence of  his  customers. 

To  the  union  with  his  wife  ^were  born  two  children,  Violet 
L.  and  Robert  Lee.     Both  stay  with  their  father  at  home. 

[Note. -^  By  oversig^ht,  in  the  hurry  of  work,  the  following  biogra- 
phies were  not  put  in  thsir  proper  places.  Tne  writer  begs  to  be  ex- 
cused for  his  oversight.  Tha  first  should  follow  the  biography  of 
Hon.  A.  B.  Kerr  on  page  284,  and  the  second  the  biography  of  Chas. 
H.  Sehaefer  on  page  286.] 

H.   1j.    Kreische. 

H.  L.  Kreische  was  one  of  the  first  and  best  architects 
who  ever  came  to  Fayette  County.  He  was  the  builder  of  tlie 
third  Fayette  County  Court  House,  a  solid,  substantial  structure 
which  at  the  time  it  was  buiU,  was  one  of  the  finest  court  houses 
in  the  state.  The  reader  will  find  a  picture  of  this  court  house 
on  paore  118.  There  are  a  great  many  citizens  in  the  county 
who  preferred  this  court  house  to  the  more  elegant  new  building 
and  who  regretted  to  see  this  substantial  building  in  which  they 
had  gathered  in  good  and  evil  times,  torn  down  to  give  place  to 
a  new  building.  The  court  house  built  by  him  in  1855  was 
demolislied  in  1890.  Prior  to  185o  he  had  built  the  second  Fay- 
ette County  jail  in  company  with  Mr.  A.  Ammann.  They  were 
complimented  by  the  commissioners'  court  on  this  work  "done 
in  a  good  and  workmanlike  manner,"  and  this  resolution  was 
spread  on  the  minutes  of  tlie  court  (see  page  195).  The 
buildings  erected  by  H.  Ij.  Kreische  excelled  by  their  solidity 
and  massiveness.  The  rock  building  on  the  131uff  now  occup.ed 
by  his  family,  and  the  brewery  nearby  are  specimens  of  his  ex- 
quisite workmanship  and  give  fnir  promise  to  stand  for  ages. 

H.  L.  Kreische  was  a  perfectly  honest  man  who  judged 
other  people  by  his  own  standard  of  honesty.  It  could  not  fail 
that  such  a  man  sometimes  misplaced  his  confidence  and  tliis 
embittered    the    last   years    of  the  life  of  this  good  mau-     H.  L, 


I 


—307— 

Kreische  was  also  a  public  spirited  man  and  bore  his  full  share 
in  advancing  and  developing  Fayette  County. 

Mr.  Kreische  was  born  at  Goetschen,  Saxony,  and  was 
educated  there  as  an  architect.  He  came  to  Texas  in  1840.  In 
1855  he  was  married  to  Miss  Josepha  Appelt  who  had  come  to 
this  country  with  her  brother  Franz  Appelt  in  1853.  H.  L. 
Kreische  died  in  1882.  His  widow  and  six  children,  three  sons 
and  three  daughters,  are  surviving  him.  They  are  the  owners  of 
the  Bluff,  the  mo8t  beautiful  spot  in  Fayette  County, 

Lours    SCHLOTTMANN. 

The  genial  disposition,  the  big-heartedness  and  the  irre- 
proachable honesty  of  L.  Schlottman  are  well  remembered  by  the 
people  of  Schulenburg.  He  was  a  man  who  had  seen  much  of  life, 
who  had  met  with  reverses  as  every  man  has,  and  finally  reached 
a  secure  port  in  the  position  of  bookkeeper  for  the  oil  mill  and 
lumber  business  of  Chris.  Baumgarten,  Sr.  This  position  he 
filled  ably,  faithfully  and  honestly  for  a  period  of  twenty  years, 
leaving  to  his  children  as  the  best  inheritance  a  good  name. 

Louis  Schlottman  was  born  on  January  13,  IS-']?,  at  Ham- 
burg, Germany.  In  1853  he  came  with  his  father,  Dr.  Adolphe 
Schlottmann,  a  very  highly  educated  gentleman,  from  Germany 
to  the  United^ States  and  first  settled  near  Uoundtop,  Texas. 
Here  they  farmed  for  a  number  of  years.  At  the  beginning  of 
the  Civil  War,  his  father  opened  a  drugstore  at  lloundtop  and 
conducted  same  during  the  war.  Love  of  adventure  and  travel 
and  a  longing  to  see  the  world  caused  Louis  to  leave  home  and 
thus  we  find  him  working  in  Nicaragua  on  the  first  railroad  built 
in  that  country.  He  also  bought  some  real  estate  there.  But 
after  a  time,  he  became  tired  of  Nicaragua  and  made  several  sea 
voyages,  one  of  which  brought  him  to  Liverpool,  England. 
Here  he  met  the  wife  of  his  choice,  Miss  Lucy  Marten,  became 
ac(iuainled  with  her  and  was  married  to  her  on  July  3,  1SG5, 
in  J.iverpool.  The  same  year  he  returned  to  lloundtop  and 
assumed  the  management  of  his  father's  drug  business  at  that 
place,     Later  ou  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at)Uouudtop.     la 


--308- 

1880  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Schulenburg,  Texas.  Here 
he  worked  lirst  as  a  carpenter,  but  soon  secured  a  position  as 
bookkeeper  for  the  oil  mill  and  lumber  yard  of  Mr.  Chris. 
Baamgarten,  Sr.,  which  position  he  held  for  a  period  of  twenty 
years  to  the  time  of  his  death  on  August  30,  1901. 

He  left  three  children  :  Louise,  wife  of  Mr.  A.  W.  Beniker, 
in  the  saloon  business  at  Schnlenburg;  Bismarck,  employed  at 
Mr.  Chris  Baumgarten's  oil  mill  oat  Schulenburg,  and  Wilhelm, 
a  farmer  near  Schulenburg. 


STATISTICS    OF   FAYETTE 
COUNTY. 


Increase  of  Population. 

The  Census  Reports  show  that  the  i)opulation  of  Fayette 
County  in  1850  was  3,756;  m  1860,  11,604;  in  1870,  16,863;  in 
18S0,  27,996;  in  1890,  31,481,  and  in  1900,  36,542. 


(Figures  obtained  through  kindness  of  Hon.  Geo.  Burgess, 
M.  C.) 


—30^— 


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-310- 

NOTES. 

1.  Election  held  for  coroner,  Oct.  1848.  The  Rutersville  candi- 
date D.  G.  Gregory  elected. 

N.  E.  no  election  held.     N.  R.  no  returns. 

2.  Nov.  7,  1848  was  election  for  Presidential  Electors.  L.  Cass 
Pres.     Al.  O.  Butler  Vice  Pres.  received  of  267  votes  that  were  cast  175. 

3.  Election  for  State  officers  and   Representatives  Aug.  6,  1849. 

4.  For  Seat  of  Government  Austin  received  409  votes,  Ruters- 
ville 1,  Washington  2.  For  a  special  Jail  Tax  35  votes  were  cast  for 
and  284  against,    i;  March  4,  1850.) 

5.  On  order  of  Chief  Justice  an  election  was  held  at  the  Court 
House  in  LaGrange  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  act  in- 
corporating the  town  of  La  Grange  for  one  mayor,  five  aldermen  and 
one  constable  on  the  4th  day  of  March  1850,  51  votes  were  cast  ;  B. 
Townsend  was  elected  mayor  ;  Francis  Frede,  P.  C.  Beall,  P.  V.  Shaw, 
James  Murphy  and  Lewis  Williams  were  elected  aldermen  and  E.  P. 
Howland  constable, 

6.  Leaves  on  General  Election  of  Aug.  5,  1850  are  missing. 

7.  Election  held  1st  day  of  August,  1853  for  Gov.,  Lieut.  Gov., 
liand  Com.  and  Representatives  (State  and  LT.  S.)  Constitutional 
amendment  relating  to  River  appropriation  and  Court  House  resolu- 
tion was  defeated. 

8.  Elections  for  State,  County  and  Beat  officers.  Aug  7  1854 
for  and  against  the  Liquor  License  785  votes  were  cast  in  this  election  ; 
of  these  only  114  voted  for  and  270  against  the  liquor  license  ;  the  bal- 
ance not  voting.  For  Free  Ferry  182.  against  fiee  Ferry  voted  69.  The 
County  Commissioners  were  voted  for  by  the  whole  county.  In  this 
year  there  were  9  justice  and  election  beats.  9  Justices  of  the  Peace 
and  9  constables  were  elected.  The  same  day  was  also  first  election 
for  School  Trustees  ;  the  county  was  divided  into  18  school  districts. 
Also  election  for  mayor,  aldermen  and  town  constable  in  La  Grange. 
Mayor  Charles  Longcope  elected. 

9.  Elections  for  county  officers  and  beat  officers  were  ordered 
by  chief  justice  of  the  county  to  fill  vacancies. 

10.  El,  Aug.  7,  1855  for  Gov.,  Lieut.  Gov.,  Land  C,  Member  C. 
and  State  Senator  and  Repres. 

11.  El.  Aug.  4,  1856  for  State  and  county  officers  Beat  No.  4  is 
the  first  time  called  Roundtop,  No.  5,  Fayetteville,  No.  6  Lyons,  No.  7 
Black  Jack,  No.  8  Scallorn,  No.  9  Burleson,  No.  10  is  skipped.  No.  11 
Mulberry.     This  election  10  Justices  and  constables  were  elect8d. 

12.  In  this  year  5  justices  of  the  peace  having  failed  to  qualify 
after  the  Electoral  Election  they  were  voted  for  again;  then  for  one  no 
returns  were  made  ;  3  again  failed  to  qualify.  Elect,  held  Nov.  4,  56 
also  for  Presidential  Electors. 

13.  In  a  special  election  for  an  Associate  Justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court  to  fill  the  vacancy  occasioned  by  the  death  of  Hon.  A.  S.  Lips- 
comb only  136  votes  were  cast,  three  precincts  only  making  returns. 
The  returns  certified  to  by  county  commissioners  William  Hunt  and 
William  Young,  probably  in  the  absence  of  the  county  judge,  but  the 
latter  made  a  like  return  as  the  above  commissioners  and  wrote 
across  the  first  certification  the  words:  Null  and  Void.  In  a  special 
election  for  representative,  held  August  27,  1851,  there  having  been  a 
tie  at  the  election  held  August  3,  1857,  two  county  commissioners  cer- 
tified again  to  the  returns  of  the  election  viz.,  Joel  W.  Robison  and 
William  Young,  but  this  time  the  judge  seems  to  have  accepted  their 
certificate  as  valid. 


311— 


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— 3J2— 


Notes. 

1.  Election  held  for  Gov.,  Land  Comm.  and  Repr.  (U.  S.  and 
Statej  11  Justices  of  the  Peace. 

2.  Election  for  State  Officers:  Chief  Justice  S.  C,  Ase.  Justice, 
Att'y.  Gen'l.,  Comptroller  of  Accounts,  Treasurer,  Diet.  Att'y.,  Coun- 
ty and  Beat  Officers. 

3.  Election  for  Presidential  Electors. 

4.  Election  for  Gov.,  Lieut.  Gov.,  Land  Com.  and  Repr.  Aug. 
1,  1859. 

5.  At  an  election  hold  March,  19,  1860  upon  the  proposition  to 
levy  a  special  tax  to  aid  in  the  construction  of  the  B.  B.  B.  &  C.  Rail- 
road, tax  proposition  received  516  votes  ;   against  286. 

6.  Elect.  Aug.  6,  1860  for  State,  county  and  beat  officers. 

7.  The  23d  day  of  February  1861  the  question  of  secession  was 
voted  upon.   580  votes  were  cast  for  and  626  votes  against  secession  in 

the  county. 

8.  Aug.  6,  1861  election  was  held  for  Gov.,  Lieut.  Gov.,  Land 
Com.  and  State  Representatives. 

9.  El.  held  Nov.  6.  1861  for  Electors  for  Pres,  and  Vice  Pres.  of 
the  Confederate  States  and  for  Member  of  Congress  of  the  Confeder- 
ate States. 

10.  Elect,  held  Aug.  4,  1862  for  State  and  connty  officers,  2  jus- 
tices of  the  peace  and  one  constable  in  each  beat,  13  beats;  for  War 
Tax  372  ;  against  154. 

11.  Elect.  Aug.  3,  1863  for  Gov.,  Lieut.  Gov.,  Land  Com.,  Att'y. 
Gen'l.,  Member  of  C,  State  Sen.  and  Rep. 

12.  Elect,  held  Aug.  1,  1864  for  State,  County  and  beat  officers, 
5  justices  of  the  Peace  and  1  constable  for  each  precinct.  There  were 
not  candidates  enough  for  five  justices  in  each  precinct.  County  Com. 
elected  by  the  whole  county  (4  Comm.) 

13.  Elect,  held  Jan.  8,  1866  by  order  of  Andrew  J.  Hamilton, 
Provisional  Gov.  for  one  delegate  to  a  State  Convention  for  the  pur- 
pose of  altering  and  amending  the  constitution.      484  votes  were  cast. 

14.  Elect,  held  June  25,  1866  for  Gov.  and  all  State  officers,  all 
County  officers  ;  2  justices  of  the  peace  and  1  constable  for  each  of 
the  14  beats. 

Elections  During  Reconstruction. 

During  the  era  of  Reconstruction,  election  records  were  kept 
very  carelessly.  For  some  time  elections  were  held  only  at  the 
county  seat.  Voters  had  to  register  and  pass  in  line.  Some 
notes  are  here  given  on  elections  during  these  times. 

In  the  election  of  1874  there  were  elected  five  justices  of  the 
peace  and  five  school  directors.  The  whole  county  voted  for 
them.  In  that  year  the  first  vote  in  Fayette  County  for  state 
superintendent  of  public  instruction  was  recorded. 

For  a  constitutional  convention,  1091  votes  were  given  in 
Fayette  County;  against  it,  945. 


—sis- 
Statistics  OF  Vote  of  Fayette  County,  Texas, 

No.  of  Year,  Year. 

Precinct.                    Place  of  Election.  1876  1876 

1.  La  Grange 460  486 

2.  '     Rutersville 121  ISl 

3.  Bluff 146  138 

4.  Fayetteville 357  384 

5.  Live  Oak  Hill 97  100 

6.  KroU's  Store 97  101 

7.  Kock  House 33  45 

8.  Round  Top 223  263 

9.  Warrenton 376  181 

10.  Aschen's  Store 135  134 

11.  Ledbetter 28  28 

12.  Haw  Creek 92  100 

13.  Falke's  Store 41  43 

14.  Winchester 216  208 

15.  Ivey's  School  House,  called  also  Grey's.  64  69 

16.  Black  Jack , 230  224 

17.  Cistern 113  116 

18.  West  Point 209  215 

19.  Flatonia 290  317 

20.  Pecan 207  209 

21.  Schulenburg 397  401 

22.  High  Hill 118  117 

Total 3850  4010 

Note.— The  first  election  in  1876  was  held  on  February  15,  1876, 

in  regard  to  the  adoption  of  the  constitution.    1969  votes  were  cast  for 

the  adoption  of  the  constitution  and  1921  were  cast  against  it.  The 

second   election  in   1876   was  held   for  electing  state,  national  and 

county  officers.    Neither  date  nor  offices  for  which  the  various  candi- 
dates ran  is  given. 


— 3U— 

Statistics  of  Vote  of  Fayette  County,  Texas. 

Vote  of  1878.  Vote  of  1880. 

1.  La  Grange 4o4       1.  La  Granie 508 

2.  Rutersville 140       2.  Kutersville IGl 

8.     Bluff 147       8.  Bluff IGO 

4.  Fayetteville  ........   200       4.  Engel 67 

5.  Ehlinger 158       5.  Fayetteville 20i) 

6.  KroH's   120       0.  Live  Oak 140 

7.  Rock  House 72       7.  Kroll's J 24 

8.  Roundtop 281       8,  Rock  House 07 

0.     Marburger 84       0 40 

10.  Aschen's 80     10.  Koundtop 272 

11.  Ledbetter 82     11.  Haw  Creek 08 

J2.      Warrentoii 180     12.  Aschen 60 

13.  Nechanitz 80     18.  Ledbetter 45 

14.  Winchester 10-5     14.  Warrenton 101 

15.  Falke 47     15.  Nechanitz lUl 

10.     Blackjack 217     16.  Winchester \>06 

17.  West  Point 250     17.  Falke  50 

18.  Ivey  School  House. .      68     18.  Blackjack 222 

10.     Flatonia 877     10.  West  Point 278 

20.  Cistern 188     20.  Ivey's  School 71 

21.  Pecan 181     21.  Flatonia 880 

22.  Amtnannsville 04     22.  Cistern 162 

28.     Schulenburg 467     23.  N.  P 117 

24.     High  tlill 115     24.  Pecan 106 

25.  Amniannsville 107 

26.  Schulenburg 402 

27.  High  Hill 108 


Total 4148  Total 4642 

Note— In  the  election  of  1880  the  question  for  locating  Main 
University  and  Medical  department  was  voted  on.  The  vote  went 
against  separation  of  the  Medical  Department  from  the  Main  Univers- 
ity, and  Austin  was  selected  as  the  place  for  the  University  by  an 
overwhelming  vote. 


—sis- 
Election  Returns. 
Votes  Cast.              1882  1884  1886  1888  18!»0  18!»2 

La  Grange 532  535  555  OGl  653  751 

Rutersville 149  167  174  16l>  170  167 

Bluff" 142  136  113  1G2  140  140 

Engel's  Store 68  81  72  70  55  05 

Fayetteville 212  203  1;>!»  233  271  26() 

EUiiiger  Depot 181  198  209  195  19:>  17C 

KroU's  Store  (Biegel) 117  134  142  137  158  168 

Iloekhouse  (Zapp) 67  68  82  119  101  95 

WeikersMill 49  ()3  64  79  79  82 

Koundtop 269  28i  275  215  192  175 

Haw  Creek  86  93  !»4  86  81  86 

Asclien's  Store  (Waldeck)     60  73  70  73  67  64 

Ledbetter 61  57  57  57  59  64 

Warrenton 142  175  150  223  222  221 

Nechanitz  76  68  65  50  62  50 

Winchester  196  203  191  196  219  256 

Ealke's  Store  (Warda) 77  99  106  113  113  120 

Black  Jack  Springs 207  197  228  163  152  149 

West  Point ...265  27l  271  159  207  241 

Ivey's  Scliool(Muldoon) 83  97  118  118  131  130 

Flatonia 399  439  416  350  350  425 

Cistern 165  l9l  187  97  140  146 

New  Prague  (Praha) 85  89  111  ll!>  123  110 

Pecan  < 176  193  184  167  149  178 

Ammannsville 112  165  158  133  117  88 

Schulenburg „ 451  286  352  346  334  365 

High  Hill 80  130  83  76  87  89 

Mulberry 117  107  122  11^  127 

Moravia  (Dubina)  113  106  91  118  114 

Thulemeyer's 70  95  81  87 

Plum . — 152  160  188 

Colony 140  141  151 

Swiss  Alp 66  74  86 

Stella — 34 

4507  4925  5009  5232  5319  5654 


— 31G— 

Statistics  of  Vote  of  Fayette  County,  Texas. 

1894  1896  1898  1900 

La  Grange 832  913  875  786 

Bluff 148  172  141  126 

Moravau 63  49  43  44 

Rutersville 174  179  153  165 

Biegel 167  185  162  149 

EUinger 202  239  210  215 

Fayetteville 274  313  316  352 

Zapp 101  lOG  94  92 

VVarrenton 230  268  220  275 

Haw  Creek 73  96  92  87 

Round  lop 199  221  207  191 

Carmine 108  127  130  123 

Ledbetter 73  81  68  78 

Waldeck 80  90  72  85 

Nechanitz  63  61  54  55 

VVarda 134  150  119  130 

Winchester 264  244  212  237 

West  Point 235  217  201  210 

Plum  200  223  173  171 

Muldoon 179  192  173  220 

Black  Jack 196  182  1C6  182 

Cistern 155  150  138  134 

Colony 178  164  154  140 

Flatonia    423  491  422  434 

Praha 127  138  108  107 

Ammannsville 121  132  123  120 

Pecan 202  245  195  165 

Swiss  Alp 82  97  87  97 

Mulberry 93  91  99  111 

Sclmlenburg 434  507  453  497 

Dubina Ill  145  120  116 

High  Hill 81  91  89  73 

Thulemeyer 104  98  98  96 

Stella 34  33  32  35 

Totals  6140  6690  5998  6098 


—317— 

Growth  of  Value  of  Taxable  Property. 
The  earlier  records  on  Uiis  subject  are  stored  away  in  the 
cellar  of  the  court  house  and  in  a  dilapidated  condition.  The 
amounts  of  the  taxable  property  assessed  in  tlie  county  from 
18-47  to  1860  are  taken  from  the  Minutes  of  the  Commissioners' 
Court.  It  is  sufficient  for  this  book  to  show  the  increase  in 
taxable!  property  since  1878  as  found  in  the  records  at  the  tax- 
collector's  office.  JiOoking  at  the  increase  of  taxable  property, 
there  is  nothing  unreasonable  about  it.  A  disaffected  politician 
may  find  here  a  chance  to  speak  of  the  increase  of  taxes  anil  of 
the  tax-ridden  people,  but  it  should  be  borne  in  mind  by  the 
reader  that  three  railroads,  the  branch  of  the  Galveston,  Har- 
risburg  and  San  Antonio  Railway  Company  from  Columbus  to 
La  Grange,  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas,  and  the  San  An- 
tonio and  Aransas  Pass  (branch  from  Yoakum  to  Waco)  have 
been  built  since  that  time.  Not  only  did  their  property  add  to 
the  wealth  of  Fayette  County,  but  they  also  enhanced  the  value 
of  the  farm  lands. 

(From  Minutes  of  Commissioners'  Court.) 
Year,  Taxable  Property.  Year.  Taxable  Property. 

1847 $l,i;58,  ('.!)('.  1857 $3. 007, 280 

1853* 2,026,872  1858 4  272,402 

1855* 2,942,288  1860 5,115,302 

1856* 3,183,472 

[*NoTE.— In  1853  the  number  of  neojroes  was  1422;  in   1855  it  was 
2072:  in  1856  it  was  2255,  they  were  valued  at  .^1,214,625.] 

(From  the  Assessor  and  Collector's  Rolls.) 

Year.             Taxable  Property.  ,  Year.             Taxable  Property. 

1878 S5, 123,748  18'.)0 $8,283,720 

1879 4,939,143  1891 7,952,410 

1880 5,080,885  1892 8,235.230 

1881 5,361,658  1893 8,418,643 

1882 5,523,365  1894 8,474,690 

1883 6.009,430  1805 8,317,310 

1 884 6, 745, 430  1 896 8, 223 ,030 

1885 7,033,720  1897 8,476,760 

1886  7.234.910  1898 8,551,050 

1887 7,482,554  J899 8,434,870 

1888 7,932,105  1900 ,,.,..,-,,,,.,  8,482,134 

1889 8,049,240 


Total  Amount  of  Taxes  Levied  From  1847  to  18G0. 

(From  Minutes  of  Commissioners'  Court.) 
1847  $3689.43  1857  S9523.56 

1853  5821.50  1858  8875.74 

1855  7240.32  1860       9183.22 

1856  7849.70 

Total  Amount  op  Taxes  Levied  From  1880  to  1900. 
(From  Tax  Collector's  Rolls.) 


1880 

$43,980.77 

1891 

$73,796.84 

1881 

42,147.82 

1892 

74,689.61 

1882 

42,539.54 

1893 

75,582.72 

1883 

43,389.18 

1894 

76.676,59 

1884 

49,483.66 

1895 

91,178.39 

1885 

58,789.17 

1896 

84,725.82 

1886 

60.832.09 

1896 

97.827.44 

1887 

62,424  15 

1898 

88,283.23 

1888 

51,352.00 

1899 

85,904.61 

1889 

62,454.24 

1900 

83,205.69 

1890 

68,185.39 

Number  of 

Polls  on  the  Assessor' 

s  List  From 

1891  to  1900 

1891 

6203 

1896 

7061 

1892 

6218 

1897 

7357 

1893 

6499 

1898 

(383 

1894 

6285 

1899 

6545 

1J»95 

G960 

1900 

6506 

Growth   of    Numi?er   of    School   Children,    Accordinc;    to 
Scholastic  Census. 

A  record  of  the  growth  of  the  number  of  school  cliiklren 
h;is  not  been  kei)t  by  the  preceding  superintendents.  What 
purports  to  be  this  record  may  be  clear  to  the  individuals  who 
have  written  it  as  notes  to  make  a  report  from,  but  to  no  one 
else.  The  reader  will  notice  in  the  table  below  the  sudden  falling 
oflffrom  9762  children  in  1898  to  7401  in  the  year  1899.  This  is 
due  to  the  stricter  methods  now  employed  in  taking  the  gcho- 
lastic  census.     Still,  in  a  great   many   instances,  these  methods 


—310— 

cause  a  great  deal  of  confusion  and  oversight  on  account  of  the 
unfamiliarity  of  the  people  with  them.  The  present  incumbent, 
Superintendent  Stierling,  states  that  in  spite  of  all  efforts  to  take 
a  correct  and  complete  census,  the  figures  for  the  number  of 
school  children  during  the  last  two  years  have  fallen  to  about 
500  below  what  they  should  be.  Superintendent  Stierling  was 
kind  enough  to  furnish  the  following  information  as  regards  his 
term  of  otiice. 

Number  of  School        Available  School  Funds  Pro- 
Year.  Children.  portioned  to  F.  Co. 

1897  1)401  $42,409.98 

1898  «»762  48,022.!»5 

1899  7401  30,4G6.00 

1900  7499  40,445.71 

LENGTH  OF  Railroads,  Telegraph  axd  Telehhone  Lines  in 
Fayette  Counny,  and  Their  Assessments. 

The  main  line  of  the  Galveston,  Harrisburg  and  San  Anto- 
nio Railway  Company  passes  througli  the  southern  part  of 
Fayette  County,  through  Schulenburg  and  Flatonia,  for  a  length 
of  22  miles,  and  is  assessed  at  $198,092.  The  branch  road  of 
this  company  from  Columbus,  or  rather  from  Smith  Junction,  to 
LaGrange  runs  through  the  county  for  a  distance  of  13  2  miles, 
which  are  assessed  at  S79,865.  The  proportionate  amount  of 
rolling  stock  of  this  railroad  company  is  assessed  at  $45,44o. 
Thus,  the  total  value  of  the  property  of  this  company  is  assessed 
at  $;523,400.  On  this  the  company  i)ays  $2788.12  state  and 
county  taxes.  These  assessments,  as  well  as  the  subse(iuent 
ones,  have  been  taken  for  tlie  year  lllOO. 

The  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texa.s  Railway  Comi)any  passes 
through  the  center  of  tiie  county  and  through  the  county  seat. 
La  Grange.  It  assesses  in  the  county  '-VA  miles  of  railroad  track 
at  $280,500;  its  proportionate  amount  of  rolling  stock  at 
$23,886.  Thus  the  assessment  of  this  company  amounts  to 
$804,386,  on  which  it  pays  $2576.71  state  and  county  taxes. 

The  Aransas  Pass  Railway  Company  assesses  30.8   miles   of 
railroad  track  running  through  the   western   ptvrt   pf  the    county 


—320— 

at  $215,900;  the  proportionate  amount  of  rolling  stock,  at 
$24,111.  The  total  value  of  the  assessed  property  ia  $240,011, 
on  which  $2032.09  state  and  county  taxes  are  paid. 

The  Houston  and  Texas  Central  Railroad  Company,  whose 
railroad  line  passes  through  the  northern  part  of  Fayette  County, 
through  Carmhie  and  Ledbetter,  assesses  its  6  miles  of  railroad 
track  at  $48,090;  the  proportionate  amount  of  rolling  stock  at 
$9,727,  the  total  assessment  being  $57,817,  on  which  $489.52 
state  and  county  taxes  are  paid. 

The  Southwestern  Telephone  and  Telegraph  Company  owns 
76  miles  of  line  m  the  county,  assessed  at  $4000,  and  pays 
$33.87  state  and  county  taxes  thereon. 

The  Western  Union  Telegraph  Company  owns  110.4  miles 
of  line  in  the  county,  assessed  at  $0430  and  pays  $54.44  state 
and  county  taxes  thereon. 

The  Postal  Telegraph  and  Cable  Company  owns  33  miles  of 
line  in  the  county,  assessed  at  $2150,  and  pays  $18.20  state  and 
county  taxes. 

The  total  value  of  the  property  of  the  Railroad,  Telegraph 
and  Telephone  Companies  in  Fayette  Ci^unty  is  assessed  at 
$938,144  ;  the  taxes  paid  thereon  amount  to  $7,942.95.  A  glance 
at  this  statement  shows  that  whatever  prejudices  against  the 
railroads  some  people  may  have,  they  must  admit  that  the  rail- 
roads are  well  taxed.  Their  property  amounts  to  about  the 
ninth  part  of  the  property  of  the  whole  county  and  the  taxes 
paid  thereon  to  nearly  the  tenth  part  of  the  taxes.  The  differ- 
ence between  the  part  which  their  property  forms  in  relation  to 
the  property  of  the  whole  county  and  the  part  whic'i  the  taxes 
collected  thereon  amount  to  in  relation  to  the  taxes  of  the  whole 
county,  their  property  being  the  ninth  part  of  the  whole  part  of 
the  county  and  the  taxes  paid  thereon  only  the  tenth  part  of  the 
taxes  collected  in  the  county,  is  due  to  the  amount  of  poll  tax 
collected  in  the  county  besides  the  tax  on  property.  As  the 
taxes  paid  by  the  Railroad,  Telegraph  and  Telephone  Companies 
amount  to  $7,942.95  per  year,  pro  rated  per  day  their  taxes 
amount  to  $21.21  ;  an  amount  of  taxes  paid  only  by  the  county's 
substantial  farmers. 


CITIES    AND    TO  WIN'S 

OF 
FAYETTE    COIJ^STTY. 


LA    GRANGE. 

(THK    COUNTY      SEAT.) 


La  Grange  lies  in*a  big  bend  of  the  Colorado  River.  For 
about  a  mile,  the  Colorado  rnns  due  south  until  it  (strikes  the 
Blul!"  mount,  opposite  La  Grange  ;  here  its  course  is  turned 
eastward  so  that  it  encloses  in  this  angle  the  city.  West  and 
south  of  La  Grange  rises  the  Blutf,  north  of  La  Grange  abruptly 
rises  a  high  plateau,  while  towards  the  east  tlie  land  rises  grad- 
ually. La  Grange,  therefore,  lies  in  a  deep  basin,  sheltered  on 
all  sides  against  storms.  It  is  said  that  the  Indians  always  built 
their  camps  in  storm-proof  localities  and  for  this  reason  the  pres- 
ent site  of  La  Grange  was  the  former  location  of  an  Indian  camj). 

La  Grange  is  a  beautiful  city.  The  best  view  of  it  may  be 
had  from  the  Bluft'.  Two  hundred  feet  below,  at  the  feet  of  the 
spectator,  flow  the  red  waters  of  the  Colorado,  enclosing  from  two 
sides  a  fertile  bottom  checkered  by  corn  and  cotton  fields,  a 
beautiful  foreground  for  a  picture  of  the  city.  Tiie  court  house, 
the  steeples  of  churches  and  the  red  roofs  of  some  larger  resi- 
dencfs  break  pleasantly  through  tlie  green  of  liveoak  groves. 
To  the  left  the  bridges  and  waterworks,  to  the  right  the  compress 
and  the  railroad  wagon  park  give  this  picture  a  fitting  termina- 
tion. The  high  wood-covered  hills  rising  back  of  La  Grange 
form  an  appropriate  background  with  Chalk  Bluff  to  the  left  and 
the  town  of  Rutersville  to  the  right  as  a  close  of  the  background. 
What  strikes  most,  is  the  harmony  and  symmetry  of  the  picture. 
An    artist  could   not    arrange   his   subject  more  artistically  than 


—325— 
fly  \» 

1 1   UAe  S^irst  9?ationai  ^ank  If 

}^    3 ! a^    yf> 

m  \«> 

^  o/  o^or  Sran^e,   Uexas.  |K 

<»  Sl» 

<ft  -  \» 

Sis  STOCKHOLDERS   OF   THE   BANK  :  W 

<ft  ^!? 

flV    John  W.  Taylor,  B.  White,  Dr.   Otto  Witte,   Jonathan    Lane,  Wm.   Ilcrmes,    W 

^  A.  C.    Lenert,   Jno.  B.  Holloway,   R.  T.  Bradshaw,  Aug.  Warnken.  ^j^ 

'^  A.  Haidusek,   Dr.  C.    Gevers,    W.   A.    Brown,    Mrs.    R.  \^ 

«S                                     H.    Phelps,   C.  Letzerich  and  J.  C.Brown.  <g 

<l>  W 

fl>  «> 

%  DIRECTORS :  \ 

(Hi  >» 

%  A.  Haidusek,   R.  T.  Bradshaw,   Aug.  Warnken,   B.  White,    t 
i  Dr.  Otto  Witte,  J.  W.  Taylor,  J.  B..Ho]lo\vav.  % 

<»>  f 

I  OFFICERS  :  W 

^  A.   Haidusek,  President.  ^ 

S  R.  T.  Bradshaw,  Vice  President.  % 

Jno.  B.  Holloway,  Cashier.  ^ 

Ed.  Mattingly,  Ass't  Cashier.  ^ 

^  Lad.    V.    Vanek,    liookkeeper.  i)^ 

<^  — >p 

<»  ^^^ 

<ft  The  Safest  Place  to  Deposit  Your  Money.  | 
$  \»> 

I  Make  Collections  through  Banks  in  I 

I  any  part  of  the  United  States  ....  « 

JJI  fi@"Money  sent  to  any  place  in  the  United  States,  as  well  as   ^ 

%   to  any  place  in  Europe.  vV 

*  I 


—326^ 

I  Svoboda  Job  Office....     I 


A.  HAIDUSEK,  Proprietor. 

t — r»  -^'^  Sran^o,    Uexas, 

Job  Work  Done 
j^         in  All  Modern 
*  languages,.. 

Programs,  Letter  Heads,   Enveloiies,  Circulars,  Cards,  Checks 
and  Drafts— all  work  done  in  this  line  finished  better  than   can 
%   be  done  in  any  inland  office. 

^  Commercial  ^ob  iPrinii'nff  a  Speciaiti/. 

^  i^^lWW^  www  ftWWAWWM^WAWMM^^ 

nature  has  done  here.  Fitting  foreground  and  background  for 
the  mahi  picture  of  the  city,  with  appropriate  beginning  and 
end. 

The  principal  streets  of  La  Grange  are  those  leading  from 
the  public  square.  Most  of  the  streets  are  nicely  graded  and 
graveled.  The  residences  are  elegant,  with  beautiful  gardens 
and  lawns  in  front,  What  strikes  the  stranger  most  upon  visit- 
inf  La  Grange  is  the  great  number  of  large  and  beautiful  live- 
oak  trees,  veterans  of  the  wood  that  reach  back  into  past  centu- 
ries. Of  the  more  noticeable  buildings  may  be  mentioned  the 
court  house,  the  jail,  the  First  National  Bank  Building, the  Schuh- 
macher  Bank  building,  the  Heintze  building,  the  Rooenberg 
building,  the  Meyenberg  building,  the  Casino,  the  Opera  House, 
the  school  and  the  compress. 

La  Grange  was  settled  in  the  latter  part  of  the  twenties  on 
land  granted  to  John  H.  Moore.  It  was  for  a  long  time  a  very 
inconsiderable  place.  The  first  settlers  had  come  from  Tenne.-- 
gee  and  named  their  new  home  after  their  old    home,  LaGrange 


!27  — 


LOUIS  RICE 


The  Photographer, 


Has  his  Studio  at  the  Southeast  Corrior  of  the  Public  Square.  A  nice 
picture  of  yourself,  taken  with  artistic  taste,  is  a  most  acceptable 
and  cherished  gift  to  your  friends.  L.  Rice  is  sure  to  please  you. 
Come  and  call  on  him  "at 

r,A     GR.ANGE,    TEXAS. 


W.  S.  ROBSON.  J.  T.  DUNCAN. 

ATTORNEYS  AT  LAW. 

[Office  in  Schuhmacher  Building.] 
LA     (i  R  A  N  G  K ,     TEXAS. 

Will  practice  in  all  State  and  United  States  Courts. 


in  Tennessee,  (La  Grange  is  French,  the  name  of  La  Fayette's 
estate,  and  means  "the  mansion.") 

The  Census  of  L)()0  gives  La  Grange  2400  inhabitants.  Its 
population  is  American,  German  and  Bohemian.  About  one- 
tliird  of  the  population  are  negroes. 

La  Grange  is  an  independent  school  district;  it  lias  two 
schools,  one  for  white  and  one  for  colored  pupils.  Tlie  school 
for  white  pupils  is  managed  by  Prof.  C.  A.  Brown  with  the  assis- 
tance of  an  able  corps  of  teachers  and  visited  by  251  pupils.  The 
colored  school  is  visited  by  106  pupils  and  managed  by  Prof. 
.  Jefferson.     The  city  levies  a  district  school  tax. 

The  lodge  brother  has  a  large  choice  of  lodges  to  join  to. 
There  are  not  less  than  nine  lodges  in  La  Grange  :  Odd  Fellows, 
Knights  of  Honor,  Knights  and  Ladies  of  Honor,  Free  Masons, 
Knights  of  Pythias,  United  \Vorkmen,  Sons  of  Hermann,  Fra- 
ternal Mystic  Circle  and  A.  L.  of  H.  Some  of  these  lodges  in- 
sure the  lives  of  their  members,  others  aid  them  in  case  of  sick- 


—328— 


M.  J.Connell. 


J.  W.  Holloway.       I      C.  J.  von  Rosenberg. 

1  Alex.  E.  von  Rosenberg. 


Gonnell  &  Holloway,    Rosenberg  &  Co. 


.Dealers  in 


Hardware 
Crockery 
Chinaware 
Cutlery,.. 

Charter  Oak  Stoves, 

Glassware,  Tinware  and  Ammu- 
nition, Rubber  Belting,  Hose 
and  Cotton  Gin  Supplies. 


LA  GRANGE, 


TEXAS. 


Dealers  in 


..and 


General 
Merchandise 
Agricultural 
Implements 


Buyers   of   Cotton     and 
Country  Produce. 


LA  GRANGE, 


TEXAS. 


ness.     Besides  these  lodges,  the  Fayette  County  German  Mutual 
Aid  Society  pursues  the  same  object. 

The  city  ot  La  Grange  has  made  a  reputation  for  sociability 
over  the  whole  State.  The  principal  gathering  place  is  the 
Casino,  Here  the  whole  town,  enforced  by  a  great  many  out- 
siders, gathers  on  festive  occasions.  The  building  is  owned  by  a 
club,  the  Casino  Club.  Another  club  that  contributes  its  share 
to  entertainment  is  called  "the  La  Grange  Froesch,"  a  German 
singing  club  which  repeatedly  has  earned  ppplause  at  feasts  by 
their  songs,  Traveling  theater  troops  generally  find  large  aud- 
iences in  this  social  city. 

La  Grange  lias  a  fertile  surrounding  country  that  contrib- 
utes to  its  trade,  it  has  the  rich  Colorado  bottom  land  north- 
west and  southeast  of  it,  the  fertile  Rutersville  prairie  to  the 
northeast  and  the  rich  Navidad  prairie  to  the  southwest.  Only 
very  little  land  around  La  Grange  is  not  fit  for  cultivation.  The 
county  being  one  of  the  oldest  in  the    State,  one    of  the  original 


—  329— 
^       fytf  ±         "y/*      •       i  farmers' 

^uffust  Jteintze....    je^^.^uanors. 

Xa  (3ranoe 
I  Store— -^^x  I 

^  Men's,  Boys'  and  (Children's  Suits  exceedingly  cheap.  % 

3;   Receives    daily    new    goods,    as    Shoes,  Hats,   Underwear,  ^ 

%  Cloth,  Porcelain  Ware,  Notions,  (iroceries,  etc.,  etc.,  which  p 

%  he  sells  at  exceedingly  low    prices.       Cotton    and    Country  ^ 

3  Produce  are  bought  at  highest  cash  prices.  Come  and  see  ^ 
%  our  immense  stuck  of  brand  new  goods,  before  you  buy  % 
%  elsewhere.  % 

1  LA     GRANGE.     TEXAS.  I 

counties,  a  great  many  small  places  in  the  county  sprang  up 
before  the  arrival  of  the  railroads.  The  stores  and  sliops  in 
these  places  are  a  great  convenience  for  their  neighborhoods,  but 
impair  the  otherwise    brilliant  business  prospects  of  La  Grange. 

La  Grange  is  situated  on  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas 
Railroad  and  on  a  branch  of  the  Southern  Paciiic  from  Colum- 
bus. There  are  two  express  companies  in  La  Grange,  the 
American  and  the  Wells  Fargo.  By  telegraph  it  is  connected 
with  the  outside  world  through  the  Western  Union  and  the  Pos- 
tal Telegraph  Cable  Company.  La  Grange  is  the  headquarters 
of  the  Southwestern  Telephone  Company,  a  local  system. 

The  main  pursuit  of  the  citizens  of  La  Grange  is  the  mer- 
cantile business,  supplying  the  farmers  of  the  neighborhood  and 
purchasing  their  products.  There  is  one  wholesale  grocery 
business  in  La  Grange  ;  there  are  7  general    merchandise  stores, 

4  groceries,  5  dry  goods  stores,  3  hardware  stores,  3  furniture 
houses,  two  saddleries,  2  jewelry  stores,  3  drugstores,  11  bar- 
rooms, 2  beer    agents,    3  blacksmith  shops,    3    shoemakers,    2 


—  330— 

©uv  2)v^  (3oobs  lEnipoviunv 

furnishes  its  customers  the  very  latest  styles  of  Dress 
Goods,  Millinery,  etc.  Nowhere  else  will  ihv  purchaser 
find  a  firm  who  takes  such  pride  to  keep  up  with  the  times 
and  the  changes  of  fashion.  If  you  wish  to  be  dressed  in 
up-to-date  style,  examine  our  dress  goods  and  millinery, 
always  of  the  lateat.  We  will  suit  you  in  styles  and  in  prices. 

CARL  MOSie,  Proprietor. 

LA     GRANGE.   TEXAS. 


T.  ^Y.  MOOR}!),  M.  D., 

Ipb^eician  anb   Suvgcoii, 

LA    GRAjSTGE.    TEXAS. 

tailors,  1  millinery,  2  restaurants,  3  hotels,  1  lumberyard,  2 
livery  stables,  2  granaries,  1  marble  yard,  1  English,  1  German 
and  1  Bohemian  newspaper,  16  lawyers,  2  dentists,  5  physicians, 
2  banks,  2  meat  markets  and  two  photograph  galleries  in  La 
Grange. 

Of  industial  establishments  of  greater  importance  are  the 
waterworks  and  electric  light  plant,  a  cotton  oil  mill,  a  cotton 
compress,  a  soda  and  ice  factory  and  two  gins. 

The  writer  will  now  mention  some  of  the  business  men  of 
La  Grange  to  whom  he  is  obliged  for  patronage  of  his  book.  It 
may  be  said  that  these  gentlemen  take  some  pride  and  interest 
in  their  county  and  do  not  look  only  on  dollars  and  cents,  but 
are  public  spirited  enough  to  give  their  support  to  a  worthy  en- 
terprise. In  the  writer's  judgment,  such  men  who  feel  an  interest 
in  their  county  are  worthier  to  be  patronized  than  those  who  do 
not,  who  live  only  in  the  county  to  accumulate  all  the  dollars 
they  can,  who  show  no  other  interest  for  the  people  among  whom 
they  live  as  gathering  from  them  dollars  first,  last  and  all  the 
time.  A  man  who  deals  with  people  to  whom  he  presents  only 
dollars  and  cents  never  will  receive  as  fair  treatment  from  them 


—331- 


%/%/%/%/%/%.  >t,/%/%^/%^^ -W%/%/%/% 'V%^%/%/%A> '%/%''<*/% 


..Particular  Printers.. 


refuse  to  use  cheap  inks, 
shoddy  papsr  and  old  type. 
There  is  nothing  that  is  so 
critically  examined  as  job 
printing.  It  always  shows 
the  kind  of  stuff  it  is  made 
of  at  a  glance. 


t 


We    are   Particular 
Printers 


because  we  take  a  pride  in 
the  product  of  our  shop 
and  because  experience 
has  proven  that  good  print- 
ing brings  more  printing 
to  do. 


..., 


Establislied  in  1880 


n 


and  publshed  continuously 
since,  the 


La  Grange  Journal 


is  recognized  as  the  lead- 
ing English  paper  in  Fay- 
ette County  and  is  read  by 
2000  people.  "Tne  Old 
Reliable"  is  a  weekly 
gu^st  of  the  intelligence 
of  Old  Fayette. 


t 


B.  F.  Haripl,  Prop. 


■  f 


^/^^^/%/%/^^'^^^'%,^^/%/^^/^/S^'%^/%/%/^k^^^^/%/%/^^/^^'%r<4 


as  frotn  men  who,  on  account  of  their  station  in  life,  feel  obliged 
to  evince  an  interest  in  the  advancement  of  the  community 
where  they  live.  It  is  only  natural  for  the  writer  to  wish  that 
the  latter  may  reap  benefits  from  their  liberality  towards  him 
and  he  takes  this  occasion  to  bespeak  tlie  jiatronage  of  the  friends 
of  this  book  for  those  business  men  wlio  enabled  him  by  their 
support  to  get  out  this  work. 

Judge  A.  Haidusek,  the  owner  of  the  Svoboda  and  president 
of  the  birst  National  Bank  of  La  Grange,  has  established  a  rep- 
utation for  liberality  throughout  the  state.  Tliere  never  has 
come  a  literary  man  or  printer  who  solicited  his  aid  and  who  did 
not  receive  his  hearty  support.  There  is  no  man  who  takes 
greater  pride  in  Fayette  County  than  the  judge  and  it  was  most 
natural  that  he  gave  his  aid  to  this  writer  in  getting  out  this 
book.  The  writer  only  hopes  that  his  work  may  meet  his  ex- 
pectations. 

The  first  National  Bank  of  La  Grange   with  Judge  A,    Hal- 


—332— 

DR.  R.  A.  McKINNEY, 

Physician 
and  Svirgeou 

La.  Gra-ngo,  _  -  .  Texas, 

AUe.  STBSITHOPr 

• DKAT.KR  INi 


7Jm,  Sranite  and  ^yate  Ware 


SUCK'S    STOVES     AND     RANGES^ 


S/^oofin^,    Sutterin^    and    Salvanized    Sron     'Double   ^lues 

made  to  order  on  short  notice.    Customers  treated  with 
promptness  and  dispatch. 

LA    GRANGE,  -  -  -  -  TEXAS. 

dusek  as  president  and  John  B.  Hollovvay  as  cashier  is  the  most 
solid  financial  institution  in  the  county  and  debervedly  enjoys 
the  fall  confidence  of  the  people.  The  Schuhmacher  Bank  is 
the  other  financial  institution  of  La  Grange  and  shares  with  the 
First  National  Bank  tlie  patronage  of  the  capitalists  of  the 
county. 

Of  the  merchants  of  La  Grange  August  Heintze,  jr.,  is  un- 
doubtedly the  leading  one.  There  is  not  a  more  liberal,  more 
energetic  and  more  accommodating  merchant  living  in  La 
Grange  than  he.  Since  he  has  opened  his  large  department 
store,  a  great  many  faces  of  people  who  traded  before  elsewhere 
have  appeared  again  to  trade  in  that  city.  He  carries  an  im- 
mense stock  of  goods. 

Rosenberg  &  Co.  are  the  owners  of  an  elegant  store  and  car- 
ry an  immense  stock  of  goods.  In  the  dry  aoods  line  Carl 
Mosigis  up-to  date  and  keeps  up  with  the  fashion.  Friedberger 
&  Johnson  are  their  able  competitors. 

Frank  Reichert  and  A.   Harigel  have  well  stocked  furniture 


-333— 


FURNITURE! 


There  is  no  place  like  home  when  it  is  cosy  and 
comfortable,  and  there's  no  place  like  A.  Hariget's 
Furniture  Emporium  to  get  the  means  to  make  it  so. 

IN    BURYINO    THE    DEAD 

aniceCo'flnor  basket  is  essential  to  public  opinion. 
Ourline  of  Undertaker  Goods  is  in  keeping  with  the 
times. 


Vexus. 


.  HARIGEL 


FRIEDBERGER    &.     JOHNSON. 


0/y  Soocis 


Notious,  Fancy  Goods,  Shoes,  Trunks  and  Valises,  Carpets 
and  House  Furnishing  Goods. 

m^%  r  1     GRANQE,    TEXAS. 

stores  and  treat  their  customers  liberally.  Aug.  Streithoff  and 
Connell  k,  Holloway  are  the  hardware  firms  in  La  Grange  and 
also  do  first-class  work  in  roofing,  guttering,  etc. 

The  marble  yard  of  0.  E.  Stolz  has  a  reuutation  for  turning 
out  masterpieces  of  art  in  the  monumental  line,  well  established 
throughout  South  and  Central  Texas,  and  is  assisted  l)y  a  corps 
of  able  agents. 

The  most  popular  saloons  are  the  County  Seat  Saloon  owned 
by  Chas.  Schaefer  k.  Son,  and  the  Diamond  Saloon  owned  by 
Hackebeil  &  Wefseis. 

In  the  hotel  business  Joe  Kainer  ranks  in  the  front  as  well 
for  accommodations  as  for  liberal  rates.  No  hotel  in  South 
Texas  furnishes  its  patrons  ao   many   accommodatiQ,ii»  aa  tela- 


— oo4 — 
Hermann  Hackebeil,  Fritz  Wessels. 

DIAMOI^D  SAUOOPi 

HACKEBEIL  &  WESSELS,  Proprietors. 

East  Side  of  Public  Square,  -  -  La  Grange,  Texas. 

Finest  Wines,  Liquors 
and  Cigars 

constantly  in  stock.    Ice  Cold  Beer  always  on  tap.    New  Billiard   and  Pool  Tables  for 
the  entertainment  of  our  esteemed  patrons. 


^ 


CBO     MAUBB,  Jr.p 


jfor 


fine  Sabbles  anb  THavneee  | 

^  A  full  assortment  of   Collars,  Bridles,    Hames,  Chains,  ^ 

§  Collar  Pads,  Whips  and  Lap  Robes.     Hand  Made    Work  p 

^  and  Repairing  a  specialty.  ^ 

I   South  Side  of  Public  Square.  LA  GRANGE,  TEXAS.    I 

phone,  bathrooms,  electric    lights,    elc.,    at    such    liberal    rates. 
The  rooms  and  the  board  cannot  be  surpassed. 

B.  White,  Wm.  Hermes,  jr.,  and  J.  Meyenberg,  jr.,  are  en- 
gaged in  the  drug  business  and  share  the  patronage  of  La  Grange 
and  neighborhood  with  each  other. 

Drs.  T.  W.  Moore  and  II.  A.  McKinney  have  a  large  prac- 
tice and  are  known  for  their  liberal  rates.  They  do  not  cure  a 
man  first  to  kill  him  with  their  bills  for  medical  attendance 
afterward. 

Dr.  .J no.  Baur,  an  erstwhile  pupil  of  the  writer,  is  a  consci- 
encious  young  man,  engaged  in  tlie  practice  of  dentistry. 

Louis  nice  is  engaged  in  photography  and  turns  out  first- 
class  i)icture3. 

The  lawyers  of  La  Grange  are  a  class  any  city  may  be  proud 
of.     The  writer  refers  tiie  reader  to    their    biographies. 

The    history    of  the    La  Grange  Journal,  tUe  Syoboda  and 


—335- 

T    T^  A  T  TT?  ^^^""^  '"'^''  ^"^^  omce. 

Dentist, 

Serman   spoken   here.  ^^  Sra/l^Cj    TjGXaS, 

I       WM.   HER.MES.  Jr.,     j 

^  DEALER     IN    ^ 


^ruffSy  7/^eciicmes^  Stationeri/  | 

T(3ilet  Articles.  School  Books,  | 

Paints  and  Oils.  | 

LA  GRANGE,  -  -  .  .  -  TEXAS,    g 

the  La  Grange  Deutsche  Zeitung  will  be  found  under  the  head 
of  "Newspaper  Press  of  the  County." 

La  Grange  is  well  protected  against  fire.  As  stated  before, 
it  has  a  good  waterworks  system.  A  volunteer  lire  company 
does  eflicient  service  in  case  of  fire. 

While  La  Grange  has  not  increased  very  rapidly  in  popula- 
tion, it  has  been  on  a  constant,  steady  growth.  Wliile  in  1880 
there  were  only  two  storehouses  on  the  public  scjnare,  in  1850 
it  was  large  enough  to  be  incorporated.  During  the  last  decade 
its  population  increased  thirty-five  percent.  In  18!)0  it  l.ad 
according  to  the  U.  S.  census  ISOO  inhabitants,  now  their  num- 
ber is  2400.  The  increase  of  its  business  kept  pace  with  the  in- 
crease of  its  population. 

During  the  last  few  years  the  farmers  around  La  Grange 
made  only  little  more  than  half  of  the  usual  crop  on  account  of 
the  boll  weevil  plague,     This  vyfts  ^  great  drf^wtlvick  to  t|je  Uusi- 


—836- 

^    Leo  Frede,  Cashier.    John  Schuhmacher.  H.  C.  Schuhmacher,  Ass't  Cashier.    ^ 

i  /...„.k1|    '^obn  Qcbubniacbev, 

I     >^l.      S^'^-       .j^ 

1  ,f^*^^^#=:*^  R^esponsibility,  SI50.000.00.  g 


BANKER. 


'^"""uJ'n'drdT''*"'  L^  Graiig-e,  Texas.  | 


GEORGE    AYILERICH, 


Lawyer, 


LA    GRANGE.    TEXAS. 


ness  of  La  Grange.  There  also  being  a  large  number  of  pros- 
perous, thriving  villages  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  La  Grange, 
doing  a  general  merchandise  business  and  thereby  curtailing 
that  of  La  Grange,  it  may  be  said  that  for  its  present  po})ulation 
and  its  tributary  country,  the  mercantile  business  is  overdone  in 
La  Grange,  l^a  Grange  is  favorably  situated  for  the  manufac- 
turing business.  If  it  shall  not  remain  at  a  standstill,  it  must 
engage  in  these  pursuits.  Lately,  the  establishment  of  a  cotton 
factory  has  been  much  talked  about.  It  should  be  the  time  udw 
to  start  this  enterprise,  before  Texas  is  overcrowded  with  estab- 
lishments of  this  kind.  The  conditions  for  a  market  of  the 
manufactures  may  then  be  less  favorable  than  now.  The  mar- 
ket may  then  be  overcrowded. 

HISTORICAL    NOTES. 

La  Grange  was  built  about  the  year  1828  on  land  belonging 
to  J  no.  H.  Moore,     In  1838  it    had    only    very   few  stores.     In 


—337— 
J.  F.  WOLTERS.  T.  W.  LANE.  GEO.  E.  LENERT. 

u/olters,    jCane   dc    jCenert, 

Stitornej/s  at  ^aw. 

Serynan  spoken  in  this  office. 

Practice  in  all  courts,  write   deeds, 
last  wills  and  other  legral  documents. 


Office  over  First  National  Bank. 


roe  JriCi 


^oe 


ainer  s 


LA  GRANGE,  TEXAS. 


Jro/e/j 


La  Grange,  Texas. 


My  new  hotel  is  furnished  with  all  modern  equipment.s  for  tha 
accommodation  of  the  traveling  public,  viz.,  Electric  Lights,  Hot  and 
Cold  Baths,  etc.  Airy  Rooms,  Good  Table,  Prompt  Service,  Liberal 
Rates.     Your  patronage  solicited. 


Streot  I'ro.ii  Mohrhusen's  corner  to  the  River  in  the  Overflow  of  April,  19i)0. 


-338  — 


7)ietrich  dt   j^renffcL.. 


jCa  Srani^e,   Tjexas. 


TJhe    Watchmakers 
jewelers  and  Opticians 
of  J'ai/ette    Countt/ 


The  most  reliable  firm  to  supply  your 
wants  in  Watches,  Jewelry,  Clocks, 
Silverware,  Spectacles,  etc. 


that  year  the  location  of  the  future  capital  of  the  Republic  of 
Texas  was  considered  by  congress  ;  La  Grange  was  a  competitor 
for  obtainnig  the  seat  ;  the  bill  making  it  the  capital  of  Texas 
carried  in  congress,  but  was  vetoed  by  President  Houston.  In 
1850  La  Grange  was  incorporated.  In  18BU  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Free  Masons  held  its  session  in  La  Grange.  In  1862  the  sale  of 
spirituous  liquors  was  stoppcid  in  La  Grange  by  order  of  the 
Provost  Marshal.  In  1867  a  yellow  fever  epidemic  broke  out 
in  La  Grange.  In  1869  and  1870  the  Colorado  River  overflowed 
considerable  portions  of  the  city.  In  1900  another  overflow  of 
the  Colorado  inundated  portions  of  La  Grange.  The  picture  of 
the  strvet  going  west  towa^rds  the  river  from  Mohrhusen'S  (for- 
merly Wm.  Haase's!'corner)  gives  an  idea  as  to  how  far  the 
water  went.  In  1901  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the  Order  of  the  Sons 
of  Hermann  held  its  sessions  in  La  Grange.  The  oldest  building 
in  La  Grange  stands  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  public  square. 
It  is  a  two  story  building,  known  as  the  Fink  building  and  built 
in  1810. 


—339— 


LA  GRANGE, 

TEXAS. 


KEEPS  IN  STOCK 


B.  ^WHITE 

KEEPS  IN 

»,,»,, ^resh  and  S^ure  ^ru£fs 

Medicines,  Patent  Medicines,  Perfumery,  Fancy  Goods,  Toilet 
Articles,  Stationery,  Cigars,  etc.,  in  fact,  eve'rythins:  that  is 
usually  carried  in  a  first-class  drug  store.  Physicians'  prescrip- 
tions filled  with  care  and  dispatch.    Your  patronage  solicited. 


jr 


rati k  IReicbe tt ^^^y% '""  -^-^-^^--^ 

Dealer  in   F    Urn  itUi'^p 

Tapestry,  Ste» 

Keeps  constantly  in  stock  a  large    selection   of   Furniture  at  low 
prices;  also  Baby  Carriages,  Window  Curtains,  etc.,  etc. 


,^^      ^%^v  LA  GRANGE  ^ 

€'^^'"-"--"'"\  Marble  Works 

>K     and  ^^ui/dina     ^l 

V^<  ^   W  O.  E.  STOLZ,  Prop., 

^f  Stone.  W 

.^kl  wC  Manufacturer  and  Dealer  in 

^^  utatuary 

ilfarblef  SranitOf  jrfeac/stones  \ 

Vases,  Coping  and  Iron  Fencing. 
^  Correspondence  solicited.        La  Grange,  Te.xas.  ^ 


The  following  gentlemen  constitute  the  present  city  govern- 
ment:  Robert  Sample,  mayor;  Will  Loessin,  marshal;  Ed. 
Mattingly,  treasurer;  Frank  Rosenthal;  secretary;  E.  H.  Moss, 
attorney. 

Aldermen  of  the  first  ward,  B.  L.  Zapp  and  Win.  McKin- 
ney  ;  second  ward,  L.  Rosenthal  and  Gus  Werth  ;  third  ward, 
Chas.  Helmcamp  and  Lotliar  Rose  ;  and  fourth  ward,  F.  H. 
Wagner  and  J.  M.  Byrnes. 


T  X  C  O  R  P  C)  R  A  T  E  D      CITIES. 

FAYETTEVILLE. 


Located  on  the  eastern  edge  of  the  rich  and  fertile  Ross 
Prairie,  lies  one  of  the  most  beautiful  little  cities  of  Kouth  Texas, 
the  City  of  Fayetteville.  All  around  Fayetteville  lie  fertile 
prairie  lands  ;  one  mile  east  of  it,  postoak  begins,  about  three 
miles  west  of  it,  the  timber  lands  of  Cumming's  Creek  limit  the 
prairie.  The  substantial  farms,  the  beautiful  gardens  and  the 
fruit-bearing  fields  speak  of  the  industry  and  the  wealth  of  the 
population  and  are  the  delight  of  the  traveler.  Faj^etteville  is 
situated  about  twelve  miles  east  of  La  Grange  on  the  Missouri, 
Kansas  and  Texas  railroad.  Occupying  the  slopes  of  a  hill,  it  is 
of  picturesque  appearance.  In  the  middle  of  the  large  public 
square  stands  the  court  house,  which  was  erected  there  by  the 
county  to  serve  as  the  justice's  court  house.  Of  the  more  no- 
ticeable buildings  may  be  mentioned  the  Chromcik  school,  the 
Germania  school,  the  Catholic  church,  the  Presbyterian  church 
and  tlie  Z:rpp  building,  the  latter  a  handsome  brick  building  at 
llie  northwest  side  of  the  public  square, 

Fayetteville  is  a  very  old  place.  It  used  to  be  called  in  the 
early  times  Sam  Alexander's,  thus  named  after  the  first  settler  in 
that  country  who  had  come  there  during  the  early  days  of  the 
republic.  In  the  year  1847  it  was  laid  out  by  P.  J.  Shaver  who 
owned  the  land  on  which  it  is  now  situated  as  a  town.  Tlie 
population  of  the  to\yn    and  surrounding    country    was    at    that 


—342- 

|C.  J.  SCHRASVSSV 

I  S^hi/S(cian 

I  """'  Surgeon. . . . 


FAYETTEVILLE,   TEXAS. 


3  Dealer  in  Drusrs   and    Medicines,  Sponges,  Brushes,  Perfumery,  Sj 

%  Fancy  and  Toilet  Articles.       Prescriptions  carefully  ^ 

«S  compounded.  g 

"*  ^^ 


PATRON  I  ZE^^.,.raiaCZZZ^ 
We  J* 


Fo 


jFanc^  anb  Staple  Groceries 


Crockery  and  Hardware.  He  also  keeds  Fresh  Beer  on  tap  and  invites 
your  custom.  Call  on  him  and  you  will  call  again.  Pays  highest  mar- 
ket lirice  for  country  produce. 

FAYETTEVILLE,  TEXAS. 

time  mostly  American  and  German,  but  iu  the  early  fifties  a 
large  number  of  Bohemians  comnienced  to  como  in.  The 
Bohemian  element  is  now  in  the  majorily,*  or,  at  least,  the 
numerically  strongest.  Tlie  (irst  settlers  of  Fayetteville  were  : 
S.  S.  Munger,  Panchard,  Dr.  Gregory,  Wm,  Wade,  Dr.  Manly, 
J  no.  Flnm,  Henry  Kurtz  and  Ad.  Kauffmann,  The  oldest 
settlers  now  living  in  Fayetteville  are  Pliigo  Zapp,  C.  J^anglotz, 
J.  M.  T.  Webb,  Hon.  Max  Meitzen,  H.  Steves  and  Ed.  Sarrazin. 

Tiie  people  of  Fayetteville  are  a  free  and  open  hearted  |)eo- 
ple.  They  are  known  throughount  the  cotinty  as  a  jolly  set, 
and  are  therefore  accordingly  popular  The  entertaiinnents, 
bal!s  and  festivities  which  the  people  of  this  city  arrange  have 
become  famous  throughout  South  Texas.  Tlie  easy  manners, 
the  cordiality  with  whicii  a  visitor  is  received  by  these  generous 
people  are  not  the  least  attraction  which  these  festivities  ofier. 
The  Fayetteville  music  band  furnishes  delightful  music  and  has 


i 


-343— 

I  KUBENA  *&  CO.,  I 

^  DEALERS  IN ^ 

:»    j^ic/Uest  Prices  S,- 

I     ^..v^/.r     (Seneral  nftercbanbise,  | 

^  Cotton  ^ 

^     and   other    country  Wines,  Whiskies,  Beer  g 

^  produce.  and  Fine  Cigars.  ^ 

August  Heinsohn . .. 

Dealer   in  Rough  and  Dressed 

Texas 
^'^-^^  Yellow  Pme 
Lumber^-^^- 

Shingles,  Sash,  Doors  and  Blinds,  Barbed  Wire,  Nails   and  Hardware, 
Office  on  North  Side  Depot,  Fayetteville,  Texas. 

come  out  victor  in  more  than  one  band  contest.  The  Fayette- 
ville Saengerbund  under  the  leadership  of  Prof.  J.  Hansen  has 
repeatedly  received  recos;nition  and  applause  at  state  "saenger- 
feasts."  A  club  that  deserves  favorable  mention  for  tlie  balls 
and  entertainments  it  arranges  is  the  Germania  Verein  with 
Hon.  Max  Meitzen  as  president  and  Mr  H.  W.  H.  Zapp  as  secre- 
tary. The  Verein  owns  a  fine  large  two  stor}^  building  which 
also  serves  as  a  school  house. 

Fayetteville  has  quite  a  number  of  lodges  which  to  tlie 
mystically  inclined  offer  chances  to  be  initiated  in  lodge  secrets 
and  degrees  and  to  ride  the  goat.  They  are  :  the  Woodmen, 
A,  T.  Thanheiser,  C  C,  Henry  Hotmann,  clerk-;  Knights  of 
I'^thias,  John  R.  Kubena,  C.  C,  Dr.  C.  J.  Schramm,  K.  of  K. 
i&  S.;  Masons,  Henry  Gloeckner,  \V.  M.,  William  Eilers,  sec- 
retary ;  Knights  of  Honor,  Max  Meitzen,  president,  William 
jiiler.s,   secretary;  Hermann  Sons,    Julius    Hansen,    president, 


—344- 

AdoIfZoll,  secretary;   S.  P.  J.  S.  T.  (a  Bohemian  organization), 
Toni  Hruska,  president,  John  Slavik,  secretary. 

Of  the  religious  side  of  life  two  churches,  the  Catholic  with 
Rev.  Father  J.  Chronicik,  and  the  Presbyterian  with  Rev.  Wen- 
zel  Pazdral  take  care.  There  are  a  great  many  Bohemian  Catho- 
lic Societies  under  the  auspices  of  the  Catholic  Church.  They 
have  associated  then:iselves  to  promulgate  the  teachings  of  that 
church  and  to  serve  in  the  interest  of  hum mity  and  religion. 
Tiieir  names  are:  St.  Joseph's,  Father  J.  Chromcik,  presitlent, 
Valentine  Michalsky,  secretary,  Frank  Machala,  corresponding 
secretary  ;  St.  John's,  Aug.  Pavel,  i)i'esident,  Roiidan  Kallus, 
secretary  ;  Bohemian  Catholic  Workmen  Society  (Benevolent 
Association),  Rohdan  Kallus,  president,  Jgnaz  Rek,  secretary  ; 
Bohemian  Catholic  Young  Men's  Society  (Stanislaus),  Joseph 
Slansky,  president,  Louis  \V .  Machala,  secretary;  Altar  Society, 
Mis.  Mary  Wichita,  president,  Mrs.  Agnes  Kubena,  secretary. 


Corpus  Christi  Day  at  Fayettevillo. 

One  of  the  gala  days  of  the  Catholic  Church  and  of  Fay- 


—345— 

etteville  is  Corpus  Christi  Day.  A  long  procession  led  by  the 
Catholic  priest  starts  in  the  morning  from  the  Catholic  diurcli, 
walks  around  the  square  and  stops  at  each  corner  to  hold  ser- 
vices. Very  often  thousands  come  to  Fayelteville  from  far  and 
wide  to  witness  this  impressive  ceremony.  The  reader  finds  a 
picture  of  this  attractive  scene. 


Germania  ScHool. 

Fayetteville  has  two  schools,  the  Chromcik  school  and  the 
Germania  school.  The  Chromcik  school  was  founded  by  Faither 
Chromcik  and  named  after  him.  It  is  under  the  management 
of  Mrs.  \Vm.  Langlotz.  The  Germania  sciiool  has  been  for 
a  n'lmber  of  years  under  the  able  management  of  Prof.  Wm. 
Eilers,  a  teacher  of  great  reputation  ;  this  year  it  will  be  taught 
by  Prof.  John  L.  8tierling,  former  superintendent  of  the  Shiner 
schools.  The  school  is  taught  in  the  building  of  the  Germania 
Verein,  a  large  two  story  frame  building  of  which  a  picture  is 
given  in  ihia  book. 


—346  — 


UtUffO    otapp     S   OOnS  ^Propneior. 

:i-Gener©Ll  MerchoLndise 


tSfiiTvrii  i 


Dry  Goods,  Clothing,  Hats,  Shoes,  Notions,  Drugs,  School 
Books  and  Supplies  of  every  description.  Handle  the  Cele- 
brated Standard  Cultivators  and  Implements,  Newton 
Wagons,  New  Home  Sewing  Machines,  etc.  Highest  prica 
paid  for  cotton  and  country  produce. 


.J'ayeiio-jiiie, 

TJexas. 

is  the  place  to  go  for 

.(3roceine6.,.. 


Fine  Whiskies  and  Liquors,  Do^^93tic  and  Imported  Cigars  and   Fresh 
Beer.  It  is  the  most  popular  resort  of  Fayetteville  and  neighborhood. 

The  business  of  FayelteviUe  is  mostly  merchandising.  The 
city  consists  of  4  ^zeneral  merciiaudise  stores,  5  groceries,  2  dry 
goods  and  notions  stores,  4  full  saloons,  5  beer  saloons,  2  black- 
stnilii  and  wlieelwright  shops,  2  fiirnitore  and  hardware  stores, 
1  tin  and  hardware  store,  1  saddkr,  2  gins,  2  beef  markets,  2 
beer  agencies,  1  Jivery  stable,  2  hotels,  2  drug  stores,  5  physi- 
cians, 1  lawyer,  and  1  lumber  yard.  Among  the  business  men 
of  Fayplleville  the  writer  especially  mentions  H.  \V.  H.  Zapp, 
the  owner  of  the  oldest  and  largest  mercantile  establishment  in 
Fayetteville;  Dr.  C.  J.  Scliramm,  a  physician  of  fine  learning 
and  widespread  reputation  and  ))roprietor  of  the  leading  drug 
store  in  Fayetteville;  August  Heinsohn,  the  proprietor  of  an 
immense  lumber  yard,  the  largest  in  Fayette  County;  Otto  A. 
Vetter,  the  jovial  proiirietor  of  a  saddlery  ;  F.  Kallus,  merchant 
tailor,  equal  in  skill  and  workmanship  to  the  best  in  any  city  ; 
C  J.  Klimicek,  F,  J.  Piwetz  and  Kubena  &  Co.  are  successful 
business  men,  they  are  in  tlie  saloon  and  grocery  business. 

Fayetteville  is  an  energetic  town  and  makes  laudable  efforts 
to  get  out  of  the  ruts.     Jn    11)01    a   creamery    was    built  in  Fay- 


cr 


r^ 

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(T) 

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liiUii?  "^wit 


WJBiiMBi^iirii  ■  ^mii.  ■/- 


—348  — 

Por  Saddles,  Harness 


Bridles,  Hames,  Whips.  Robes  and  Collars,  call  on 


FAYETTEVILLE.    TEXAS, 

He  carries  a  complete  assortment  ill  this  lino   and   sslls  his   gjols   at 
live-and-let-live  prices.     Give  liim  a  trial. 

etteville,  the  same  is  at  present  not  in  operation.  People  as  is 
always  the  case  have  to  n\y  fur  their  experience  in  business  whi'jh 
they  do  n  )t  know.  Bat  tliere  is  no  reason  why  a  ci'i'a  n.-i-y 
under  proper  management  should  not  prove  a  success. 

Fayetleviile  is  a  husilin^  town.  In  1882  it  was  incorpo- 
rateil  for  the  purpose  of  improving  the  town.  Hon.  JNIax  Meitzen 
was  the  lirst  in:iyor  uf  the  to.vn.  In  October.  1S87,  the  Taylor, 
Bastrop  and  Houston  railroad — which  later  on  was  bought  by 
the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas — came  into  the  city,  and  since 
tlien  Fayeltevilie  lias  been  on  a  steady  and  healthy  growth. 
'J'here  is  now  quite  a  difference  between  the  city  of  Favetteville 
of  to-d.iy — a  thriving  railroad  station  of  the  M.,  K.  &  T. — and 
the  sleepy  countr}^  town  of  seventeen  years  ago.  The  reader 
will  lind  a  picture  of  Fayetteville  seventeen  j'ears  ago  and  make 
tlje  comparison,  in  1S93  four  business  houses  burned  down 
and  elegant,  substantial  buildings  were  erected  in  their  stead. 

Fayetteville  is  well  protected  against  fire.  A  well  and 
windmill  and  a  large  water  tank  have  been  erected  on  the  public 
square.  Mains  have  b.^en  laid  over  the  largest  portion  of  the 
town  with  hydrants  at  convenient  distances.  A  volunteer  fire 
company  under  command  of  Captain  Henry  Steves  is  prepared 
to  do  efficient  service  in  case  of  fire.  ] 

Below  follows  a  list  of  the  oldest  settlers  of  Fayetteville, | 
prepared  by  Prof.  VVm.  Filers,  and  a  list  of  the  oldest  Bolieniian' 
settlers,  prepared  by  Judge  Tom  Hruska.  They  will  no  doubt 
be  most  acceptable  to  the  readers  and  recall  to  a  great  many  of 
them  the  memory  of  their  dead  friends. 


F.  KALLUS 

Is  the  popular  place  for 

Dry  eoodS,  Croeeries,  Goots, 

Shoes,  Hats,  Sewing  Machines, 
Jewelry,  Notions,  etc. 

Give  him  a  trial  and  you  will  obtain  the  most  surprising  bargains. 
FAYETTEVILLK,  TEXAS. 

First  settlers  of  the  Fayetteville  neighborhood : — Jack 
Crier,  was  assassinated,  when  he  was  over  one  hundred  years 
old,  near  EUinger  ;  Sam    Ross,    after    whom    Ross    Prairie  was 

named;  Grover,  son-inlaw    of  Jack    Crier;     JNeil   Munn  ; 

Klave  Jarmon  ;  Jim  Gay  and  U,  Gay,  after  whom  Gay's  Hill 
was  named;  Sidney  Gregory;  Kidd  Chirk;  W.Cook;  tlie 
breeding  family  which  numbered  thirty-seven  members  ;  Nie. 
Ware,  relatives  to  Tanner;   the  Barnetts,  near  Biegel  settlement; 

Geo.    Turner  ;    Jim    Groce  ;    Thompson  ;   Markham  Hill  ; 

Monroe  Hill  ;   S.  Zeal  ;  J.  E.  Pearsall  ;    F.   iMunger  ;  Don- 

athan  ;  J.  P.  Schaefer  ;   Frels  (184S)  ;    Beyer;   Wash. 

Cummings,  after  whom  Cutnming's  Creek  was  named;  G.  M. 
T.  Webb;  J.  F.  Johnson  ;    A.  B    F.  Kerr,  a  justice  of  liie  peace; 

Jacob  F.Dlrr;    Wilhelm    Wiedemann;    Ellerbuscii  ;  Henry 

Birkmann  ;  Hermann  Hildebrandt  ;  Hillebrandts  at  l^iegel  ; 
Hermann    Hillmann  ;     Budwig    Hillmann:     C.    H.    Hillmann  ; 

Henry    Kiesel  ; Maschek  ;    Wm.  Buecke  ;   Chas.  Luecke  ; 

Capt.  Fisher;  R.J.Zimmerman;  Dr.  Benno  Matthes.  ]\B)St 
of  these  parties  iiave  died  or  moved  away  to  other  places. 

First  Bjliemian  settlers  : — Tom  Batla;  deceased,  came  to 
Fayetteville  in  lS5o  ;  Vine.  Rypel  in  BSjI  ;  both  came  from 
Bohemia;  Jos.,  John  and  Baul  Wychopen,  Jos.  Bastovica,  Jos. 
Jecmenek,  Paul  .Jecnienek,  all  deceased,  and  Jos.  Hlawaty,  still 
living,  came  from  i\B)ravia  to  Fayetteville  in  BS5.")  ;  John 
Hruska,  John  Odlozelik,  Frank  Horak,  Jos.  Horak,  tlie  latter 
still  living,  came  from  Moravia  to  Fayetteville  in  LS5(). 

The  present  officers  of  Fayetteville  are  :  Henry  Tftuch, 
mayor;  Conrad  Bertsch,  marshal  :  Dr.  C.  J.  Schramm,  O.  A. 
Veiter,  John  R.  Kubena,  Geo.  Z)ll  and  John  IJelble^  alderiiieu, 


—350— 
NOTES 

Ov  Some  of  thr  Or^T>  Settlers  in  the  FAYETTEVitri-.w  IVeighbor- 

llOOD,  PROCURED   THROUGH    KINDNESS    OF  I*ROF.  ^V^r,  ElL-E-RS. 

Old  Settlers  of  Ross  Prairie. 
(Ross  Prairie  lies  between  Fayetteville  and  Ellinger.) 

Hinrich  Eilers,  born  Nov.  24,  1820,  in  the  Grand  Duchy  of  Olden- 
burg. He  came  to  Texas  in  1845,  lived  at  Warrenton  two  years  and 
then  moved  to  Ross  Pi-airie  where  he  lived  continuously  until  his 
death  Jan.  23,  1899. 

H.  G.  Cook,  born  March  12,  1824,  in  the  Gx-and  Duchy  of  Olden- 
burg. He  came  to  Fayette  County  in  1845.  He  died  at  his  old  home 
in  Ross  Prairie  March  16,  1880. 

Dietrich  Hattermann  came  to  Ross  Prairie  from  the  Grand  Duchy 
of  Oldenburg  in  1845.     He  died  at  his  old  home. 

Henry  William  Luecke  came  to  Ross  Prairie  from  Westfeld,  Han- 
over, in  1845.     He  died  there  two  years  after  his  arrival. 

Jacob  Laferre  was  born  in  Germany  Sept.  23,  1828.  He  came  to 
Ross  Prairie  in  1847.  Left  for  the  gold  fields  in  California  in  1849,  re- 
turning to  Ross  Prairie  after  an  absence  of  several  years,  and  lived 
there  to  the  time  of  his  death,  Aug.  28,  1901. 

Joseph  F.  M.  Sarrazin  came  to  Cat  Spring,  Austin  County,  in  1834, 
from  Westphalia.  He  moved  to  Ross  Prairie  in  1843  and  Jived  there 
up  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

John  H.  Meyer  settled  in  Ross  Prairie  in  1842.  He  came  from 
Hanover  and  lived  there  until  his  demise. 

John  F.  Meyer  arrived  from  Hanover  in  1850,  settling  in  Ross 
Prairie  and  living  there  to  the  time  of  his  death. 

Henry  Kurtz  came  to  Ross  Prairie  from  Germany  in  1847.  He 
died  at  Fayetteville  in  1901. 

Other  old  settlers Neimann,  Neumann, Wacker, ■ 

Baumbach,   Sommer.    Anton    Sommer,     G.  Mueller,    Doni, 

August  Beyer, Girndt, Ze:llitz,  and Dirr. 

Old  Settlers  of  Fayetteville. 

Sigbert  Frank  Steves,  born  at  Crefeld,  Kreis  Geldern,  Prussia,  in 
1808.     Came  to  Fayetteville  in  1853.     Died  there. 

Chas.  Aug.  La  ^g'.otz  was  born  at  Schoenfeld,  Saxony,  Feb.  23, 
1826.  He  came  to  Housron  in  1848,  and  moved  from  there  to  Fayette- 
ville in  1850,  where  he  still  lives. 

Other  old    settlers    were:     Brandt, Wink, • 

Kaufmann,  Hugo  Zapp,  Sr., Dietrich, Meyer, 

Kirsch, Gloeckner, Schaefer,   Dr. Mathis, 

Donaldson,  and Donath. 

Old  settlers  in  the  Fayetteville  vicinity: Meitzen, Meit- 

zen, Stelzig,  Dr. Shaw. 

Old  settlers  of  Biegel  P.  O  :  Mr.  B.  Schcrer  came  to  Biegel  in 
1834  from  Switzerland. 

K  John  Christodemus  Helble  settled  at  Biegel  in  1844.  He  left  for 
the  gola  fields  in  California  in  1849  and  returned  in  1851.  He  died 
some  years  ago  over,  80  years  of  age. 

Other  old  settlers   were:       —   Biegel,   —   Andre, Meyer, 

Tschiedel  (still  living). 


—351— 

FLATONIA 


Flatonia  is  situated  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  county 
on  the  crossing  of  the  Southern  Pacific  and  the  San  Antonio  and 
Aransas  Pass  Railway.  East  and  south  of  it  are  rich  black 
prairie  lands,  west  and  north  is  postoalc.  Flatonia  is  favorably 
situated,  in  the  best  part  of  the  mineral  region  of  Fayette  County. 
In  its  neighorhood  are  tine  kaoUn  and  clay  beds  ;  coal  may  also 
be  found  in  the  neighborhood  of  Flatonia.  While  none  of  these 
mineral  resources  are  developed  right  now,  there  is  a  chance  of 
their  future  development  on  account  of  tlie  city  being  situated 
at  the  crossing  of  two  important  railroads. 

Flatonia  stands  on  a  bed  of  rich  black  clay.  In  wet  weather 
the  streets  are  muddy  and  cause  a  great  deal  of  inconvenience. 
There  are  several  substantial  brick  buildings  in   Flatonia. 

The  land  on  which  Flatonia  stands  was  owned  by  \Vm. 
Ferris  and  bought  of  him  by  the  Southern  Pacific  Railway  Com- 
pany which  laid  out  the  town  on  its  arrival  in  that  section  of 
country,  early  in  1878.  One  mile  southeast  of  Flatonia  was  sit- 
uated old  Flatonia  (a  place  that  has  now  disappeared  from  the 
surface),  and  three  miles  northwest  of  Flatonia  was  the  town  of 
Oso  (no  trace  of  that,  town  is  left).  The  people  of  these  towns 
moved  on  the  arrival  of  the  Southern  Pacific  to  the  new  town 
and  in  a  very  short  time  it  was  a  thriving  little  city.  It  soon 
was  incorporated.  The  election  for  incorporating  the  town  of 
Flatonia  was  held  November  8,  1875  ;  November  10  it  was  pro- 
claimed incorporated  and  on  the  sixth  day  of  December,  lS7o. 
the  first  election  for  mayor  and  aldermm  was  held  by  John 
Cline. 

The  oldest  settlers  m  that  ])art  of  the  county  are  the  Har^ 
risons,  Cockrill,  Yaeger,  Flato,  Sloma,  Ferris  and  Menefee 
families. 

The  population  of  and  about  Flntonia  was  originally  en- 
tirely American,  but  after  the  Civil  War  a  great  many  Germans 
and  Bohemians  have  been    attracted    by   the   fertile    lftnc]g    ^nd 


-  352— 

I  ERNST  OLLE, 


-PROPRIETOR— 


%  FriATONIA,     TEXAS. 

S  y^/ne  Ql^his/cies  direct  from  ^t'st/iler^, 

^    Smporied  cl^i'nes  and  Ct'^ars.  -'.-  ^rosA  S/Jeer  on  (Jap, 

p  Lunch  Stand  in  Connection  with  Bar 

C.    STOl'FERS, 

The  old  reliable  dealer  in 

Saddles,  J^arness,  S^ridiesj  J^ameSj  Tl^hips,,  S^obes 

and  Collars, 

has  added  to  his  complete  stock  of  elegant  goods  in  the  Saddlery  line 

^     ^     Vehicles    ^     ^ 

A  carload  of  Buggies,  Surries  and  Farm  Wagons  just  come  in. 

Will  sell  at  Reasonable  Prices. 

FLATONIA,     TEXAS. 

settled  there.  Now  Ihe^'  form  the  tnnjority  of  the  population. 
During  the  last  ten  years  a  great  many  Greeks,  Arabians  and 
Italians  liave  settled  in  Flatonia  and  established  themselves  in 
business,  selling  pea-nuts  by  the  pack. 

The  summit  of  the  nourishing  times  in  Flatonia  was 
reached  before  the  arrival  of  tiie  San  Antonio  and  Aransas  Pass. 
Those  were  lively  times  then.  C  .tton  was  carried  then  to  P^la- 
tonia  fronj  as  far  as  Yoakuu).  At  that  time  the  country  w:is  a 
stock  country.  The  cowboys  held  their  rendezvous  m  Flatonia 
and  very  often  made  times  too  lively  for  peaceable  citizens. 
But  those  times  liave  ])assed.  Since  the  arrival  of  the  San 
Antonio  and  Aransas  Pass  Railway,  Flatonia  had  an  energetic 
competitor  in  tlie  thriving  town  of  Moulton,  Its  trade  was  cut 
off  from  all  sides  and  tlie  disappointment  of  having  lost  it  which 
could  not  be  helped,  still  reflects  from  the  business  attitude  of 
its  citizens.     Puringtbe  last  decade  it  not  only  not  gained,  but 


—353— 

^W^M.  FritscheJ 

THE    FLATONIA  | 

BOOT  AND  SHOE  MAKER.  I 

I 

.♦'Any   style   Shoe  in   toe  or  otherwise  for  I 

Men  or  Ladies  made  to   order  on   short  ^ 

notice.     Nothing  but  the  best  material  I 

*used.     Repair  work  of  every  description  ^ 

neatly  and  promptly  done.  | 

Cowboj/  Scoots  a  Speciaiti/.       Satisfactioit  Suaranieed.    ^ 
f-^^    FLATONIA,  TEXAS.  *  i 

even  lost  in  population  ;  according  to  the  census  of  1900  nearly 
two  hundred. 

r 

Of  the  business  men  who  treated  this  writer  with  kindness 
and  patronized  him  in  spite  of  the  hard  times— which  kindness 
for  that  reason  he  appreciates  the  more — he  mentions  tiie  former 
mayor  of  Flatonia,  the  jovial  and  popular  Stotfers,  the  proprietor 
of  a  iirst-class  saddlery  ;  Mr.  Win,  .Stein  who  excels  in  Jiis  line 
of  work  in  rooting  and  guttering,  and  who  is  prepared  to  do  all 
kinds  of  tin  work  ;  Wm.  Fritsche,  the  artistic  shoe  maker,  and 
last  but  not  least,  Ernst  Olle,  who  keeps  in  his  popular  barroom 
the  purest  and  best  brands  of  whiskies,  liquors,  wines,  beer  and 
cigars.     In  connection  with  this  business  he  runs  a  restaurant. 

The  city  of  Flatonia  has  two  able  newspapers  which   have 
^  been    spoken   of  under  the    iiead    of    "Newspaper    Press  of  the 
County."  The  [)eople  are  public  spirited  and  take  a  great  interest 
,  in  .county  alLiirs.      On  all  public  questions  Flatonia  is  generally 
heard  from.     The    late    crop    failures   have    to   some  extent  de- 
pressed the  spirit  of   her    citizens,    but    there    is    no   doubt  that 


—354— 


Mm.  Stein, 

Dealer  in~'^-',.^aiiiUSSS^ 

JVardware,  Stoves  and  Zj  in  ware. 

Agent  for  the 
and  the 

AERMOTOR  WIND  MILLS. 


ealvanized  Iron  Tanks, 
Plues,  Troughs. 

And  Everything  in  the  Tin  and  Sheet 
Iron  Line  made  on  short  notice. 

REPAIRING    DONE    PROMPTLY. 

FI.ATONIA,        -         -         -        TEXAS. 


Flatonia  some  of  these  days  will  awaken  and  regain  some  of  her 
former  prosperity. 

There  are  two  churches  in  Flatonia:  the  Methodist  with 
Rev.  W.  T.  iMcDonald,  and  the  Baptist  with  Rev.  J.  M.  Sallee. 
The  people  of  Flatonia  are  religious  and  earnest  members  of 
their  churches. 

The  following  lodges  are  represented  in  Flatonia :  Knights 
of  Pythias;  VVoodmen  of  the  World,  J.  H.  Murphy,  C.  C,  H. 
R.  Thulemeyer,  clerk  ;  Woodmen  Circle,  Miss  Maud  Murphy, 
clerk  ;  Knights  of  Honor;  A.  O.  U.  W.;  Hermann  Sons;  R.  A. 
M.;  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  J.  F.  Mulcahey,  W.  M.,  F.  P.  Yaeger, 
secretary;  Odd  Fellows,  J.  H.  White,  N.  G.,  W.  A.  Beckham, 
secretary  ;   Royal  Society  of  Good  Fellows. 

The  following  gentlemen  are  the  city  officers  :  Mayor,  J.  D. 
Bunting;  Secretary,  H.  R.  Thulemeyer;  Treasurer,  B.  A. 
Kempe ;  Attorney,  Chas.  Nesrsta ;  Marshal,  W.  O.  Goode  ; 
Aldermen,  J.  H.  White,  F.  P.  Yaeger,  Wm.  Stein,  R.  L.  Sim- 
mons, Frank  Worley,  C.  Stoffers,  Albert  Kubjana,  and  J.  A. 
Ce^dwel}. 


^355— 


ROUIN^D    TOP. 


This  little  city  is  quite  an  historic  place.  It  was  formerly 
calledTownsend's.  Two  miles  from  it  is  the  former  colony  of 
the  "Nassau  Adelsverein,"  founded  in  the  forties. 

Round  Top  is  situated  about  sixteen  miles  from  La  ({range 
on  the  Ija  Grange-Breniiam  road.  It  is  built  on  top  of  a  hill 
which  overlooks  the  Cumming's  Creek  bottom  lands.  Northeast 
is  the  rich  La  Bahia  prairie.  North  towards  Ledbetter  is  post- 
oak. 

Round  Top  used  to  be  in  olden  times  (juite  a  considerable 
l)lace.  Even  afier  the  arrival  of  the  Texas  Central  and  the 
building  of  Carmine,  it  held  its  own  f)r  a  long  time.  Lately, 
Carmine  being  situated  on  the  railroad,  has  cut  off  some  of  the 
trade  of  Round  Top  on  account  of  its  more  favorable  location. 
Still,  the  traditions  and  old  established  business  relations  of  the 
place  will  always  retain  for  it  a  considerable  trade. 

The  population  of  Round  Top  is  now  entirely  German,  very 
few  of  the  old  American  settlers  .having  remained  in  its  neigh- 
borhood. Among  the  old  settlers  of  Round  Top  may  be  men- 
tioned Geo.  Fricke,  a  vetcan  of  the  Mexican  War  who  served  in 
that  war  under  Gen.  Wintield  Scott ;   C.  E.  Bauer,    the   Weyand 

family.  Dr.  Rankin,  White,  Taylor,  John  Bell,  I.  C. 

Hill,  Joel  W.  Kobison,  Wm.  v.  Rosenberg,  Ferd.,  Henry  and 
Ad.    Kneip,    C.    W.  Runimel,    ('has,    Schiege,    Robert  Zapp,  C. 

Henkel,  Weikel,  Rev.  A.  Neuthard.  the  late  ])astor  of  the 

Lutheran  church  who  for  a  generation  worked  faithfully  at  that 
place  in  the  vineyard  of  Our  Lord,  higlily  respected  and  beloved 
by  all  who  knew  him. 

Round  Top  has  two  churches,  the  Lutheran  and  a  colored 
Baptist  church. 

The  city  of  Round  Top  was  known  in  earlier  times  for  the 
splendor  of  its  feasts.     Governors  and  staie  officers  thought  the 


--356— 

ERNEST  FR.ICKE. 


DEALER     IN 


^Fancy  and  Staple  Groceries,* 

Crockery,  Glassware,  Hardware 
and  l^oodenware. 

jg@°'PAYS  Highest  Market  Price  for  Country  Produce  and 

Cotton. 


ROUND  TOP, 


TEXAS. 


^ 


DR.  A.  POSCH. 

PHYSICIAN. 
Round  Top,   Texas, 


place  important  enough  to  deliver  their  public  addresses  there 
before  intelligent  audiences.*  These  feasts  are  still  very  famous 
and  always  attract  a  large  crowd.  They  are  generally  arranged 
by  the  Round  Top  Shooting  Club,  an  organization  known 
throughout  South  Texas,  The  president  of  this  organization  is 
Fritz  Fricke,  the  secretary  is  Hy.  Pochmann. 

There  are  two  lodges  at  Round  Top  :  Knights  of  Honor,  G. 
Froehlich,  sr.,  secretary  ;  and  Sons  of  Hermann,  H.  C.  Ruramel, 
president,  Fritz  Fricke,  secretary,  (membership  32). 

The  Round  Top  school  has  been  for  a  number  of  years 
under  the  able  management  of  Prof.    G.    Froelilich   and   has  re- 

*NoTB. — In  those  early  times  Round  Top  was  quite  apolitical  cen- 
ter. It  was  the  home  of  the  two  leading  politicians  of  the  north  side 
of  the  county,  Judge  C.  Henkel,  a  democrat,  and  Robert  Zapp,  a  re- 
publican. Both  took  an  active  interest  in  politics  and  were  great 
campaigners. 


—35?— 

I  uhe  oCone  Star  Saloon  I 

5  is  known  throughout  the  whole  northern  section  ^ 

^  of  the  county  for  its  ^ 

I  Bj^^^^o^ Whiskies,  Liquors  and  Wines.  \ 

^  'Domestic  and  imported  Ci^fars.  5^ 

^  Call  on  us  and  you  will  call  again.  t 

i    GUS.  BENDER.,         -  -  -  Round  Top,  Texa.s.    % 

DEALER     IN 

STOVES,    RANGES, 

(jin,    Salvanized  jron  and  J^ardivare, 
if.    KEEPS    A    FIRST-CLASS    ASSORTMENT    IN     HIS    LiNE.iSa' 

Aj-  Cisterns,  Roofing,  Guttering,  and  Galvanized  Iron 

..^■■BSi^KA^Double  Flues  made  to  order  at  Reasonable  Prices. 

Ml  Work  Guaranteed,         -:-  -:-  -:-  ROUND  TOP,    TEXAS. 

tained  uuder  him  its  old  established  reputation  for    high    grade 
of  scholarship. 

As  remarked  before,  Round  Top  is,  for  a  town  not  connected 
by  any  railroad,  on  account  of  its  surrounding  rich  agricultural 
country,  a  very  considerable  trading  place.  Of  the  business 
men  who  appreciated  the  work  of  the  writer  on  their  home 
county  to  such  an  extent  as  to  plac3  with  him  a  small  ad.  and  to 
whom,  therefore,  the  friends  of  the  book  should  feel  kind,  be- 
cause it  enabled  the  writer  to  get  out  such  a  work,  he  mentions 
Ernst  Fricke,  the  accommodating  postmaster  of  Round  Top,  who 
is  the  proprietor  of  a  good  sized  mercantile  establishment,  deal- 
ing in  groceries,  crockery  and  hardware;  W.  J.  Dippel  & 
Bro,  in  the  general  merchandise  business  ;  \Vm.  Ginzel,  the 
old  popular  tin  man  of  Round  Top  ;  O.  H.  Helmecke,  who  is 
the  proprietor  of  one  of  the  largest  blacksmith  and  whcelwrigiit 
shops  in  the  county  and  a  skillful  workman;  Gus  Bender,  whose 


—358- 

O.  H.  HELMECKE, 

Dealer  in 

jfarntinG  Implements. 

My  Blacksmith  and  Wheelwright  Shop  is  prepared  to  turn  out  first- 
class  work.     All  kinds  of  Machinery  Repaired. 

WaLgorvs  a-nd    Fa.rmirvg    Implements    Made    to    Order. 

,tll    tt'ork    till  a  I'd  III  ml  ti.t    ^''trsl-t'lass. 
ROUIVD    TOI».     TEXAS. 


W.  J.  DIPPEL  &  BRO., 

^afc...  /» Generg^l  MercheLndise 

Dress   Goods,   Cassimeres.   Domestics,   Trimmino^s, 
Boots  and  Shoes,  Hats  and  Caps, 

LADIES'    MISSES'     AN1>     CHILDREN'S      HATS. 

We  pay  highest  prices  for  Cotton,  Bacon,  Lard,  Chickens  and  Eggs. 
ROUND    TOP,    TEXAS. 

saloon  is  the  popular  meeting  place  of  the  Round  Top  people  ; 
and  Dr.  A.  Posch,  a  skillful  and  learned  physician  and  surgeon, 
a  man  of  high  standing  among  his  colleagues  and  the  people. 
Round  Top  has  lour  stores,  three  saloons,  one  drug  store,  one 
tinsmith  shop,  one  gin,  one  blacksmith  shop,  one  cigar  factory, 
one  photograph  gallery,  one  physician  and  one  shoemaker. 
Quite  a  considerable  place.  It  is  the  seat  of  justice  for  the  pre- 
cinct. A  nice  court  house  and  calaboose  stand  on  the  public 
square. 

Round  Top  has  daily  mail,  a  money  order  postoffice,  and  is 
connected  with  the  outside  world  by  telephone. 

A  fire  company  has  been  organized  to  protect  the  city  against 
fire.  The  president  of  the  fire  company  is  Hermann  Rummel, 
the  captain  of  the  hook  and  ladder  company  Otto  Poppe. 

The  town  was  incorporated  in  1865.  Otto  Poppe  is  the 
present  mayor  of  the  town  ;  P.  Klar,  marshal.  The  population 
numbers  about  250. 


—6b\)— 


HCHULENIUjRG. 


No  city  in  Texas  has  a  greater  reputation  for  the  congenial- 
ity of  its  people  than  Schulenburg.  The  free  and  easy  and  yet 
refined  manners  of  its  inhabitants  never  fail  to  make  the  stranger 
feel  at  home.  The  splendor  and  the  tasty  arrangements  of  its 
festivities  have  made  for  Schulenburg  the  name  of  the  festive 
city  of  South  Texas. 

Schulenburg  is  situated  in  the  soutiiern  part  of  Favette 
County  on  the  Southern  Pacific  Uiilroad.  It  is  at  a  distance  of 
eighteen  miles  from  the  county  seat.  It  lies  in  the  rich  black 
land  Navidad  prairie,  one  of  the  richest  agricultural  sections  in 
the  state.  The  elegant  farm  residences,  the  beautiful  gardens  in 
front  of  them,  the  rolling  prairie  laid  out  into  fertile  corn  and 
cotton  fields,  speak  of  the  industry  and  energy  of  its  people  and 
leave  on  the  traveler  a  pleasing  impression.  The  section  is  tra- 
versed by  the  Navidad  and  its  tributary  the  Mixen  Creek. 

One  mile  southeast  of  Schulenburg  lie  the  grounds  of  the 
Schulenburg  Live  Stock  and  Fair  Association.  The  semi-annual 
races  held  there  attract  the  sporting  element  of  the  wliole  state. 
Dr.  I.  E.  Clark,  Mr.  \Vm.  Cornelson  and  Mr.  H.  (Iraf  may  be 
mentioned  as  the  principal  promoters  of  the  races.  One  mile 
northwest  of  Schulenburg  is  the  Filers  Park.  The  same  is  not 
yet  finished,  but  gives  promise  to  become  one  of  the  most  attrac- 
tive spots  in  Texas.  A  sixteen  feet  high  dam,  forty  feet  widp 
at  the  foot  and  thirty  feet  wide  at  the  top  has  been  built  across 
a  creek.  On  the  lake  which  this  dam  will  hold,  two  boats  will 
invite  the  visitor  to  take  a  row  along  its  beautiful  banks  covered 
with  verdure  and  interspersed  with  liveoak  groves.  This  park, 
the  writer  predicts,  will  become  a  very  popular  resort  for  the 
Schulenburg  people  and  their  guests. 


-360— 

If  you  are  looking  for  Good  Bargains  in 

SaLddles,     Bridles,    Collars,    Ha^ri\ess,    Lap    Robes, 
B^g^y  Whips,  Curry  Combs,  Brushes,  etc.,  go  to 


Schulenburg,       -        -       Texas. 

He  keeps  a  complete  assortment  of  first-class  goods   in  this   line. 
Repairing  done  promptly  at  reasonable  prices.     5     ^     ?     ^ 

JOHN  VAOEIK, 

SCHUL.ENBURG,    TEXAS, 

■    It  you  want  to  take  a  drink  of   tlrst-class   liquor 
with  a  friend  come  to  our  Saloon  and  try  our 

....Wliiskies,  Liquors  and  Wines,... 

We  keep  only  the  best  brands,  also  fresh   beer,   and 
domestic  and  Imported  cigars. .--^^^ 

Not  less  attractive  t,han  its  surroundings  is  the  city,  itself. 
A  stranger  walkine:  through  its  streets  will  be  , impressed  by  the 
solid  and  substantial  business  houses  and  the  elegant  residences. 
In  the  fall  of  the  year,  the  business  streets,  viz  ,  Main  street 
— which  presents  quite  a  metropolitan  appearance — and  Lyons 
and  Upton  Avenues  are  crowded  willi  wagons,  buggies  and 
other  vehicles,  and  give  a  good  idea  of  the  extent  of  Schulen- 
burg's  business.  Of  tlie  more  noticfable  buildings  may  be  men- 
tioned the  Sengelmann  Building,  tlie  most  elegant  saloon  in  the 
county;  the  Perlitz  Building  ;  the  R.  A.  Wolters  Building;  the 
Ilussek  Bank  Building  ;  the  Schaefer  Building,  and  the  Wolters 
Business  Buildings.  The  Southern  Pacific  owns  a  fine  garden, 
nicely  laid  out,  in  front  of  the  depot. 

Schulenburg  is  named  after  Louis  Schulenburg  who  owned 
a  four  hundred  and  fortv  acre  farm  south  of  the,  railroad.  trp,ck 
which  he  sold  to  W.  Pierce.  Schulenburg  stands,  on  the;  l^nd; 
owned  by  him,  on  sixty  acres  of  Mr.  Chris.  Baumgarten's  land, 


-361— 


I 


Boettcher  Bros  Co., 

SCHULENBUEG,   TEXAS, 

Constantly  Carry  a  Complete 
Line  of 

(3eneral 
/II^crcban6l6c 

which  is  offered  their  patrons  upon  most  reasonable  terms. 
They  pay  the  highest  value  for  country  produce  and  always 
offer  more  for  cotton  than  can  be  obtained  elsewhere. 


A  Trial  Will  Convince  You 
and  Save  You  Money. 


on  one  hundred  acres  of  Frank  and  Rosine  Stanzel's  land,  on 
liftcen  acres  of  John  Wittbecker's  land  and  on  cue  and  a  half 
acres  of  Franz  and  Rosine  Stanzefs  land.  All  these  parties  gave 
one-half  of  their  lands  to  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad  Com- 
pany as  an  inducement  to  locate  the  town  thereon.  fSchuIen- 
burg  was  built  in  1873.  A  great  many  Higli  Hill  jjeople  moved 
to  Schulenburg  on  the  arrival  of  the  Southern  Pacific  and  built 
up  the  latter  place.  The  city  grew  rapidly  ;  May  24,  1875,  it 
was  incorporated. 

Of  the  old  settlers  of  Schulenburg  may  be  mentioned  first 
Mr.  Chris.  Baumgarten  who  by  a  great  many  ])eople  is  called 
"The  Father  of  Schulenburg,"  not  only  on  account  of  his  age, 
but  because  there  wab  no  man  who  took  more  interest  in  build- 
ing up  Schulenburg  and  promoting  its  industrial  enterprises 
than  he.  Other  old  citizens  of  Schulenburg  are  Krnst  Baum- 
garteu  who  established  Uie  first  lumber    yard    in    Schulenburg, 


I 


C 


> 


—363- 


Bermuda  Valley  Stock  Farm 

'Dr.  S.    C.    C/arA;    Proprietor. 


-THIS  IS- 


One  of  the  Finest 

Stock  Farms 

IN  TEXAS. 


\W 
\«/ 
\»> 
\»/ 
\f/ 
\l» 

vW 
\«/ 
\»/ 
\»> 
\»> 

«/ 

v»/ 

\»/ 

<•> 
v«/ 

\«/ 
\»/ 
\»/ 

v/ 

\»/ 

v»/ 

\»/ 
\»/ 

v«/ 

\l/ 
\V 

l)y  King  J;iy  ISird.  dam  Daisy  B,  w 
(lam  of  Aslilaiul  Wilkes.  ti)e  sire  of  yi, 
•lohn  U.  Gentry.  J.  B.  is  one  of  jj< 
the  best  bred  trotters  in  Texas  and  vV 
is  sire  of  extreme  speed,  having  \v 
sired  Louise  \\'.,  record   2:28   as    a   % 


it  consists  of  oUO  acres  of  FincBotlom  Land.  The  Navi- 
dad  River  runs  through  the  farm,  of  wliich  one  hundred 
acres  is  well  set  with  iJerniiKhi  (ira>^s  and  JJiirr  Clover. 
Alfalfa  grows  finely  on  this  farm,  an  1  in  fact  is  the  only  hay 
fed  on  the  i)remises.      'J'here   are  two  stallions  on  the  farm, 


yearling. 


by  Tenny,  dam  Queer  (iirl    by   ^ 
Himyar,    is    a     descendant 
stake  winners  from  the  time  Moses  was  a  baby. 


of  f 

The  excellent  herds  of  Red    Polled   and   Holstein    Cattle,  w 

^    always  to  be  peen  grazing  on   the   green   pastures   of  the   farm  ^{j| 

/|\    invariably  attract  the  attention   and    inspire   the   admiration  of  <t> 

fl^    the  observer.     Only  registered  stock  is  permitted   on    the   farm  <•/ 

2x    which  has  always  for  sale  trotters,  runners,  fine  milch  cows  and  ^ 

^\   registered  bulls,  ^ 

j«L  ^   ,  ^         •'* 


—364  — 

IL.  A.  Wolters...  ^"'"T' , 

y  V        Proprietor  of  the 

Scbulenbutg 

department 

Stove 

Men's,    Boys'    and   Children's    Suits   exceedingly   cheap.        We 

receive  daily  new  goods   such   as    Shoes,  Hats,    Underwear, 

Cloth,  Porcelain  Ware,  Notions,  Groceries,  etc.,   which 

we  sell  at  exceedingly  low  prices. 

Cotton  and  Country  Produce  are  bought  at  Highest  Market 
Prices.  Come  and  see  our  immense  stock  of  brand  new  goods  before 
you  buy  elsewhere.  SCHULENBURG,  TEXAS. 

R.  Wolters,  sr.,  the  capitalist,  M.  C.  Levey,  H.  P.  Schaefer, 
Max  and  Julius  Schwartz,  I.  Russek,  H.  Graf,  W.  D.  Keuper 
and  a  great  many  others.  Of  those  who  have  died  may  be 
mentioned:  Heinrich  Schaefer  (came  to  the  United  States  in 
185G,  first  settled  at  Round  Top,  came  to  Schulenburg  in  1872, 
died  in  1885;;     Henry  Perlitz  and  Paul  Breymann,  sr. 

The  population  of  the  town  is  nearly  entirely  German  ; 
with  a  sprinkling  of  Americans  and  Bohemians.  Like  ail  towns 
of  South  Texas,  it  has  its  share  of  negroes.  The  population 
numbers  about  1200  inhabitants. 

It  has  been  remarked  before  that  Schulenburg  has  a  wide 
reputation  for  sociability  and  the  splendor  of  its  festivities. 
People  who  do  not  approve  of  feasts  and  tlie  drinking  incident 
thereto  speak  of  this  city  as  the  "Free  Republic  of  Schulen- 
burg," a  name  that  rather  pleases  the  burghers.  If  people  of  a 
prohibition  stamp  who  condemn  such  feasts  would  only  once 
visit  a  Schulenburg  feast,  the  orderly  behavior  of  the  guests, 
the  innocent  enjoyment  of  life  with   many  harmless,    humorous 


—365— 

H.  P.  Schaefer, 


1^.^ 


W!S^!l^^^^:H!!^  :  dealer  m- 


>:ms 


rr"    -^f 


Hardware 

Stoves 
Wind  Mills 
Pumps... 
^"^  House 
Furnishings 


Agent  for  All  Kinels  of  Machinery. 

SCHULENBURG,  TEXAS. 

incidents  would  convince  the  most  scrupulous  that  these  feasts 
are  really  necessary  to  build  up  an  independgnt,  contented, 
happy  and  strong  race  of  people.  Tlie  Turn  Verein  is  an  ardent 
promoter  of  these  festivities. 

A  literary  society  which  owns  a  fine  library  attends  to  tlie 
pertaining  of  a  higher  education  and  to  elevating  the  moral  tone 
of  JSchulenburg  society  to  a  higher  plane. 

The  Schulenburg  school  is  under  the  superintendence  of 
a  line  teacher,  Prof.  M.  W.  Meyer,  who  has  prepared  himself 
thoroughly  for  his  work. 

There  are  live  lodges  in  Schulenburg:  Odd  Fellows, 
Joseph  Berger,  N.  (1.,  M.  T.  Everton,  Secretary;  Knights  of 
Pythias,  Joseph  Stanley,  C.  C,  CJus  Ulrich,  Secretary;  I'nited 
Workmen  (Robert  Blum  Lodge),  M.  C.  Levey,  M.  W.,  \Vm. 
Keuper,  jr.,  recorder  ;  Hermann's  Sons,  EmilSciuilz,  President, 
H.  Beniker,  Secretary  ;  Masons,  Dr.  1,  }<^.  Clark,  W.  M., 
Fred.  Ebeling,  Secretary. 


C 

a 

CO 

4— ' 

CD 
<L) 

^- 
-(— ' 
CO 

_c 


— SG7— 

M.  C.  Levey's 

^  Notary  Pviblic  Office  ^ 

is  on  Main  Street,  just  Opposite  the 
Passenger  Depot  at  Schulenburg. 

He  will  promptly  write  out  his  Official  Certificate  and  Seal 
every  Legal  Document  you  may  present  to  him.  He  will  aJso 
write  for  you  Land  Deeds,  Releases,  Bills  of  Sale,  Powers  of 
Attorney,  Wills  and  anything  else  in  that  line,  in  English,  Ger- 
man or  French.  If  you  have  any  land,  houses  or  any  property 
to  sell,  give  a  description  of  it — price,  locality  and  so  on — to  M. 
C.  Levey  and  he  will  look  up  a  purchaser  for  you;  or  if  you 
want  renters,  he  will  hunt  them  for  you;  if  you  want  to  buy  land 
or  other  property,  go  right  away  and 

Tell  Levey  About  It. 

And  that  very  same  M.  C.  Levey  also   runs  a  store  just  across 
from  the  depot,  where  he  offers  for  sale 

Staple  and  Fancy 
roceries 


The  old  fellow  is  not  noisy;  he  will  not  pull  you  in  by  the  coat 
collar,  but  if  once  you  buy  of  him,  you  will  always  do  so.  He 
carries  as  a  specialty  the  most  popular  brands  of  Chewing  and 
Smoking  Tobaccos,  the  Best  of  CofTees— green,  roasted  or 
ground,  the  Choicest  Stock  of  Candies,  Fruits,  Nuts  and  Pastes. 
Also  a  complete  assortment  of  Notions,  Overalls,  Jumpers, 
Socks,  etc..  Toys,  Dolls  and  Christmas  Goods,  Fancy  Vases, 
Fancy  Cups  and  Saucers. 


JB^i°'And  then  if  you  want  anythmgfrom  New  York,  Chicago 
or  any  other  big  city,  simply  leave  your  order  with  the  man 
who  will  attend  to  it  right;  his  name  is 


C.  LEVEY. 


— 3G8— 


^^         >  *A  ^7^  Cotton,    Srain  and 

. , .  jDcaters  in, . . 

Seneral  7/ferchanciise 

Pay  Highest  Prices  for  Cotton  and  Country  Produce. 

^-^     SCHULENBURG,  TEXAS. 


Schulenburg,  Tex,  ^^f^J^iH:^"^  | 

EVERY      SATURDAY.     ^     $1.00     A      YEAR.  0 

ESTABLISHED      APRIL     21,      1901.  OO  THE    SUN     SHINES    FOR    ALL-     S 

Most  of  the  people  of  iScliulenburg  and  neighbjrhood  are 
communicant&  of  tlie  Catholic  cluirch.  Schulenburg  has  a  fine 
Catholic  church  of  which  Kev.  Father  Madiis  is  the  priest. 
The  otlier  denominations  ;  Lutheran.  Christian,  Methodist, 
Baptist,  etc.,  own  togetiier  a  church  building,  called  the  Union 
church,  in  which  preachers  from  otlier  communities  explain  the 
scripture  of  Our  Lord  and  show  the  audience  liow  to  walk  tlie 
way  of  righteousness. 

Schulenburg,  in  the  center  of  tlie  richest  ngncuUural  sec- 
tion of  the  county,  is  a  great  trading  jjoinl.  Perhaps  its  mer- 
chants do  more  business  than  tliose  of  any  other  town  in  tlie 
county.  Schulenburg  has  nine  general  merchandise  stores, 
four  groceries,  one  hardware  store,  one  jewelry  store,  two  sad- 
dleries^ two  blacksmith  shops,  one  livery  stable,  two  lumber 
yards,  one  furniture  stoie,  one  buggy  and  wagon  business,  three 
bjilding  contractors,  one  joiner,  two  newspapers,  one  bank,  one 
opera  •-hous'e^  two  dancing  halls,  six  full  saloons,  two  beer 
saloons,  two  hotels,  two  restaurants,    three    meat    markets,    one 


-369— 


WE  ARE 


BRING 
US  YOUR 

PRESCRIPTIONS 


Scrupulously  Careful 


in  the  selection  of  any  drugs  to 
get  the  very  purest  arid  freshest 
and  also  to  use  the  exact  amoant 
called  for  by  the  doctor. 


If  You  Want  It 


whether  it  be  Drugs,  Patent 
Medicines,  Stationery,  Rubber 
Goods,  Sundries,  Toifet  Articles, 
Infants'  Supplies  or  Trusses, 


We   have    it  at 
most  pleasing 
prices 


bakery,  three  physicians,  two  drug  stores,  one  dentist,  one 
photographer,  three  beer  agents,  one  tailor,  three  shoemakers, 
two  millineries,  three  gins,  one  oil  mill  and  one  compress. 

The  oil  mill  is  the  property  of  Mr.  Chris.  Baumgarten,  sr., 
and  under  the  able  management  of  his  son,  Gus-  Baumgaiten. 
It  is.a  model  oil  mill  and  hardly  e([ualed  anywhere  in  the  United 
States. 

Of  the  business  men  to  wliom  the  writer  is  obliged  for  their 
patronage  he  names  Boettcher  Bros.  Co.,  Perlitz  Bros.,  and  U. 
A.  Wolters  in  the  general  merchandise  business,  H.  P.  Schaefer 
who  is  the  owner  of  a  lirst-class  hardware  store,  the  largest  be- 
tween Houston  and  San  Antonio,  Schwartz  J5ros.,  the  proprie- 
tors ot  a  lirst-class  livery  stable  and  successful  horse  traders, 
Dr.  I.  E.  Clark,  the  widely  known  owner  of  the  Bermuda  Valley 
Stock  Farm,  a  farm  as  famous  as  the  blue  grass  region  of  Ken- 


—370— 


e.    J.    SUULY 

SCHULENBURG,  TEXAS, 

Invites  the  public  to  try  his'  noted  fine  brands  of  Whiskies, 
Liquors,  Wines  and  Cigjars.  Fresh  Beer  always  on  tap.  Call 
on  us,  you  will  be  pleased  and  call  again.  Fine  Restaurant  in 
connection  with  the  bar. 


Jt.  */*  Okarke..., 


^Proprietor  of 


Zj/ie  Ounni/  South  Saloon 


Keeps  in  stock  the  Finest  Brands  of  Whiskies,  Wines  and 
Liquors,  especially  the  Famous  Saratoga,  Pennland,  Met- 
ropolitan Club  and  Old  Reserve.  Keeps  the  choicest 
brands  of  Cigars.  The  famous  New  Orleans  beer  always 
on  Tap.  SCHULENBURG,  TEXAS. 


tucky  for  breeding  fine  horses,  Paul  Breymann,  -the  proprietor 
of  a  drug  store  of  metropolitan  style,  0.  Kallus,  who  does  a 
large  business  in  the  saddle  and  harness  line,  Sengelmann  Bros,, 
Beniker  Bros.,  E.  J.  Gully,  John  Vacek  and  H.  F.  Skarke  in 
the  saloon  business,  F.  M.  VVilks,  the  popular  jeweler  of  Schu- 
lenburg.  VVm.  Tauch,  who  makes  as  fine  a  photograph  of 
yourself  as  can  be  made  in  any  city  as  large  as  San  Antonio  or 
Houston  and  not  to  forget,  M.  C.  Levey,  real  estate  agent, 
notary  public  and  leading  grocer  and  contributor  of  original 
writings  to  the  county  papers.  The  writer  found  him  a  well 
educated  gentleman  and  most  interesting  talker.  In  his  writings 
there  breathes  a  spirit  of  true  iiuman  kindness  that  attracts  and 
pleases  the  reader. 

The  writer  may  mention  once  more  the  two  newspaper  men  of 
Schulenburg  to  whom  he  is  indebted  for  many  interesting  hours. 
With  Mr.  \V.  R.  King  he  was  in  business  relations  in  regard  to 
printing  his  book  which  relations  haye    been    altogether   pf   the 


—371- 


F.  M.  Wilks....        Jewelry 


Stofe 


-SCHULENBURG,  TEXAS- 


1  keep  in  stock  a  large  assortment  of  the  latest  and  most  fashiona- 
ble styles  of  Jewelry  which  I  sell  at  the  very  lowest  prices.  If  you 
need  any  jewelry  for  presents  to  your  family  or  friends,  you  will 
obtain  better  and  more  satisfactory  bargains  by  dealing  with  a  relia- 
ble home  firm  than  by  sending  money  away  to  fraudulent  concerns 
and  receiving  shoddy  goods.  Repairing  of  Watches  and  Jewelry  a 
specialty. 

Wm.  Tauch's  Photographic  Studio 

SCHULENBURG,  TEXAS, 

is  prepared  to  take  your  photo  in  the  latest 
style  on  the  best  material. 

Platino  aristo  and  platinitc  photos  in  the  latest  and  most  fashion- 
able styles  are  guaranteed  to  meet  the  most  exacting  demands. 

most  pleasing  nature.  The  priming  entailed  a  great  amount  of 
very  particular  work  and  the  style  in  which  it  is  done  is  a  credit 
to  the  Sticker  and  will  no  doubt  meet  tho  approval  of  tiie  reader 
as  it  has  met  that  of  the  writer. 

To  Mr.  Frank  Miller  the  writer  is  obliged  for  repeated  kind 
mention  in  that  lively  paper,  the  Schulenburg  Sun,  of  his  book 
on  Fayette  County.  It  would  be  hard  to  iind  a  more  accomo- 
dating and  pleasing  gentleman  than  Mr.  Miller. 

Schulenburg  is  on  a  steady  growth.  It  numbers  about 
1200  inhabitants.  Its  business  is  steadily  spreading  out  in  an 
enlarging  circle, 

Schulenburg  has  for  fire  protection  seven  wells  and  water- 
tanks.  It  has  a  fire  department  with  one  engine  company  and 
one  hook  and  ladder  company,  consisting  of  about  36  members. 
The  officers  are  Henry  Eilers,  President  and  Gus.  Depmore, 
Chief.  The  latter  is  a  very  experienced  lire-man,  having  been 
lor  a  number  of  years  chief  of  the  Columbus  fire  department  and 


—372— 

having  served  also  in  the  St.  Louis  and  Galveston  fire  depa:rt- 
ments.  The  city  voted  to  issue  $11,500  in  bonds  for  erecting  a 
stand-pipe  and  laying  mains  through  Schnlenburg  for  its  protec- 
tion against  fire.  Tlie  proposition  carried  and  the  bonds  have 
been  approved  by  the  Attorney  General.  As  soon  as  they  are 
sold  the  work  will  start.  This  thriving  little  city  will 
then  be  protected  against  fire  as  few  cities  in  the  state. 

The  city  officers  are:  Mayor,  Theo.  Wolters  ;  Marshal, 
Hy.  Eilers;  Aldermen,  H.  Bohhnann,  Dr.  I.  E.  Clark,  Chas. 
Windel,  F.  F.  Schaefer,  serving  also  as  city  secretary  and  R. 
A.  Wolters,  serving  also  as  city  treasurer  ;  \V.  R.  King,  City 
Attorney, 


TOWNS    AND    SETTLEMENTS. 

AMM  ANNS  VILLE . 


Ammannsville,  the  seat  of  the  justice  court  of  precinct  No. 
7,  Fayette  County,  is  one  of  the  most  thriving  lit'tle  country 
towns  in  the  county.  It  is  situated  in  a  rich  blackland  prairie 
on  the  Fa3'-ette  County  school  lands,  about  eleven  miles  south  of 
La  Grange.  It  is  a  nice  handsotne  place;  the  population  is 
German  and  Bohemian  and  as  liberal  and  generous  as  can  be 
found  in  the  county.  Most  of  the  people  are  communicants  of 
the  Catholic  Church.  They  own  a  fine  church  building  in 
which  their  resident  priest.  Rev.  Joe  Szimanski,  preaches  to 
large  and  attentive  audiences.  The  town  has  two  schools,  one 
under  the  management  of  Prof  A.  Pastusek,  the  other  under 
the  management  of  Miss  M.  A'razel. 

Ammannsville  does  a  considerable  business.  It  has  three 
stores  and  saloons,  two  blacksmith  shops,  one  drugstore, 
one  physician  and  two  gins.  The  business  men  of  Ammanns- 
ville showed  themselves  most  liberal  in  their  patronage  of  the 
work  of  the  writer,  and  the  latter,  therefore,  wishes  them  abun- 
dant success  which  in  every  way  they  merit.       The   writer  had 


— 3/8 — 


*•  Oexas, 

invites  the  people  of  this  neighborhood 
and  the  public  in  general  to  try  his 

Pine  Whiskies  and    Liquors 

Domestic  and  Imported  Cigars.    Fresh  Beer  always  on  tap.      One  of 
the  finest  halls  for  dancing  in  connection  with  the  business. 

Joseph  Vaccek,  Jr.,       ^"^rxSr"'^- 

recommends  to  the  public  his  Thorough-bred  Stallion 


and  his  Kentucky  Jack,  SANDY.     Rates  reasonable. 


F.  F.  OHNHEISER, 

Ammannsville,  Texas, 
recommends  himself  to  the  public  for 

Moving  Houses  and  All  Kinds  of  Carpenter  Work. 

Satisfaction  Guaranteed. 
Ammaunsville,  TexaSj 


T.  R.  HELLER. 
J.  P.  HELLER. 


Established  in  tlie  Gin  Business 

for  twenty-three  years,  enjoy  the  reputation  of  satisfying  their  cus- 
tomers and  turning  out  a  first  class  long  tibi-e  cotton  that  receives  the 
highest  price  in  the  market.     Your  custom  solicited. 


—374— 

(f        (T    Of  i       Oddest  Senerat  77/ercantile  !^usi^ 

jT^    Jt'      i^ClCQK  „^^^    -^  J^mmannsville. 

A  First  Class  Saloon 

and  a  Fine  Hall  for  dancing  and  theafrical  performances  have  estab- 
lished a  reputation  in  the  southern  part  of  Fayette  County.  Agent 
for  F.  Lotto's  Book  on  Fayette  County,  Her  History  and   Her  People. 

AMMANNSVILLE,  TEXAS. 

AMMANNSNILLE,  TEXAS, 

Ss  prepared  to  treat  cases  of 
S^icokoli'sm  and  'Diseases  of 
^l/omen  at  his  residence 

Telephone  Connection  with  all  points  in  county  and  state. 
^7'      9^<f      C?  J^mmannsvilie, 


Proprietor  of  a 
First  Class  .  .  . 


Blacksmith  i  Wheelwright  Shop 


All  worlj:  guaranteed.      Keeps  in  stock  all  kinds  of  Agricultu- 
ral Implements.     Come  and  see  him. 

the  pleasure  of  becoming  acquainted  with  Dr.  .John  S.  Zvesper, 
a  learned  Bohemian  physician;  Mr.  J.  J.  Vacek,  the  jovial  post- 
master of  Ammansville;  F.  J.  Parma,  one  of  the  most  successful 
pushing  business  men  in  the  county;  Joseph  Vacek,  Jr.,  owner 
of  fine  thoroughbred  stallions;  F.  F.  Ohnheiser,  the  Ammanns- 
ville  architect;  T.  R.  Heller,  J.  P.  Heller  and  J.  J.  Munke,  the 
popular  ginners,  of  solid  standing  and  reliability;  F.  A.  Ganzer, 
the  blacksmith  whom  it  would  be  hard  to  beat  in  his  line  of 
work. 


—  375- 


.  J.  Parma... 


Ammannsville, 
Texas. 


-DEALER  IN- 


Staple  and  Fancy  Groceries 


Drugs,  Paints,  Oils,  Toilet   Articles,  Dry  Goods,   Boots,   Shoes, 
Hats,  Hardware,  Crockery  and  Glassware. 


A  Saloon  in  connection 
with  the  business 


^ 


5  Cotton  and  country  produce  bought  and  the  highest  market 

5   price  paid  for  cotton.      Invites  the  custom  of  the  neighborhood.    ^ 

T.  R.  HELLER.  J.  J.  MUNKE. 

J^eller    dc    T/funke, 

Proprietors  of  a 

FIRST  CLASS  COTTON  GIN 

with  the  latest  and  most  modern  improvements  which  turns  out  a 
first  class  long  fibre  staple.  They  run  in  connection  with  the  gin  a 
corn  and  grist  mill.      Come  and  see  them.      You  will  find  them  O.  K. 

AMMANNSVILLE,   TEXAS. 

Ammansville  was  located  on  the  Fayette  County  school 
lands,  which  became  settled  in  the  early  seventies.  Tlie  place 
was  named  after  old  man  A.  Ammann,  one  of  the  oldest  settlers 
of  the  county,  a  man  who  was  widely  knosvn  as  an  excellent 
architect.  Other  old  settlers  were  F.  Kossa,  Sr.,  J.  Vacek,  Sr., 
F.  Sobolik,  deceased,  J.  Heller,  Sr.,  deceased,  P.  Fiser,  Jno. 
Stefek,  Aug.  Pauler,  J.  J.  Fietsam,  Jos.  iMunke,  Chas.  Munke, 
Jno.  Lewis,  deceased,  Jos.  Bartas  and  his  brother  and  Henry 
Holster. 


—376— 

Theo.  Kroll ...  I 


General  Merchandise 

I  Established  1866. 

I  BIEGEL,  ...  -  TEXAS. 


BIEGEL. 

Biegel  lies  about  eight  miles  east  of  La  Grange  on  the  La 
Grange-Fayetteville  road,  between  Cedar  and  Baylor  Creek. 
The  surrounding  country  is  sandy  and  gravel  postoak.  The 
better  portions  and  the  creek  bottom  lands  are  cultivated,  the  bal- 
ance serves  for  pasture  Biegel  settlement  is  one  of  the  oldest 
settlements  in  Fayette  County.  It  was  founded  by  Joseph  Biegel 
in  1832.  It  is  a  voting  precinct  and  since  1875  a  post-office. 
Mr.  Theo.  Kroll  is  the  postmaster  and  merchant  in  that  place. 
This  mercantile  business  was  established  by  his  father,  Mr.  H. 
Kroll,  in  1866,  and  is  the  oldest  mercantile  business  in  the 
county.  From  1862  to  1866  Mr.  Kroll  also  ran  a  distillery,  the 
only  distillery  ever  run  in  Fayette  county,  to  the  knowledge  of 
the  writer.  In  the  earlier  times  Biegel  used  to  be  quite  a  prom- 
inent place.  The  dances,  balls  and  feasts  that  were  arranged 
there  acquired  quite  a  reputation  and  attracted  guests  from 
miles  afar.  The  feasts  now-a-days  are  given  under  the  auspices 
o/  the  Biegel  shooting  club,  which  was  organized  in  1872.  The 
founders  of  this  club  were  Theo.  Kroll,  Geo.  Siebrecht,  Louis 
Struve  and  (ieo.  Mauer.  Its  officers  now  are  R.  December, 
president,  and  Otto  Kirscb,  secretary. 

Among  the  first  settlers  of  Biegel  were:  B.  Sherer,  the  first 
commissioner  of  that  precinct  (deceased);  his  son,  August;  C. 
Hallinger,  J.  0.  Tschiedel,  Carl  Wolle  and Struve,  a  Rus- 
sian oflicer  who  publishtd  his  autobiography,  full  of  adventures. 


—377—     . 
BLACK    JACK    SPRINGS, 


Black  Jack  Springs  is  situated  about  ten  miles  southwest  of 
La  Grangfi  on  the  La  Grange-Flatonia  road,  on  tlie  north  side  of 
the  rich  and  fertile  Navidad  Prairie.  Nortli  of  Black  Jack 
Springs  is  postoak.  Black  Jack  Springs  is  the  name  of  a  post 
office  and  a  voting  precinct  of  Fayette  County.  It  was  settled 
in  the  early  fifties.  Among  the  first  settlers  were  the  Gorham, 
Dr.  Routh,  J.  P.  Romberg,  G.  W.  Tuttle,  Jones  and  O.  B.  Fitz- 
gerald families.  The  population  is  American,  German  and 
Bohemian.  There  is  a  Lutheran  Church  in  the  settlement  with 
Rev. Kern  as  preacher. 


BLUI^^F. 


Opposite  La  Grange,  across  the  Colorado  River  and  south 
of  Buckner's  Creek,  begins  the  Bluff  settlement,  extending  as 
far  as  Williams'  Creek.  The  bottom  lands  of  Buckner's  Creek 
and  Williams'  Creek,  the  blackland  liveoak  sections  in  the 
western  part  of  the  settlement  and  the  blackland  i)ortions  of  the 
Navidad  Prairie  are  very  fertile.  It  contains  also  a  great  many 
gravel  hills,  covered  with  postoak.  Of  these  latter  lauds  only 
the  better  portions  are  used  for  fields,  the  balance  remains  as 
pasture  land.  The  Bluff  is  the  most  picturesque  section  of  tlie 
county;  in  fact,  there  is  found  nowhere  in  Southern  Texas  more 
beautiful  scenery.  First,  there  is  the  road  leading  up  to  the 
Bluff  between  hills  and  valleys,  nicely  graded  and  graveled. 
This  excellent  piece  of  road  work  was  the  first  road  work  done 
in  Fayette  County;  it  was  done  under  Judge  A.  Haidusek's 
administration  and  still  remains  a  model  piece  of  road  work.  If 
the  traveler,  after  reaching  the  summit,  takes  the  first  road  to 
the  left,  it  leads  him  to  Kreische's  Blulf.  From  this  i)lace  the 
best  view  of  the  city  of  La  Grange  may  be  had.      Precipitately 


•       —378— 


q. 


@)o§eph  p\Qu§mann %i4i,  3"exa 


General  Merchandise,  Boots, 
Shoes  and  Hardware 


5       First  class  gin  witli  all  improved  appliances.  Blacksmith  work   ^ 
5   done  promptly.  ^ 


the  bluff  falls  about  two  hundred  feet.  Its  foot  rests  on  tlie 
river  bottom  surrounded  by  trees  that  vainly  try  to  reach,  its 
summit. 

On  top  of  the  Bluff  is  the  vault  that  holds  the  bones  of  the 
Dawson  men  and  the  Mier  prisoners  who  died  for  their  country 
in  expeditions  against  Mexico.  Here  is  also  the  beautiful  pavilion 
of  tlie  Bluff' shooting  club,  and  the  residence  of  Mr.  Kreische,  a 
solid  two  story  brick  building.  A  fine  building  that  at  present  is  not 
used  is  the  brewery  built  by  Mr. H.L. Kreische, three  stories  high, 
built  of  rock  and  picturesquely  situated.  In  earlier  times  it  was 
a  popular  resort  of  the  La  Grange  people  and  perhaps  in  time  it 
may  be  so  again.  If  the  traveler  descends  the  sloping  sides  of  the 
Bluff  and  walks  along  its  base,  he  finds  huge  rocks  that  have 
solved  themselves  from  the  Biuff"  and  fallen  down.  To  notice 
their  shapes  and  how  they  are  piled  upon  each  other  is  quite  a 
pastime.  On  some  of  these  rocks  a  little  dirt  and  the  seeds  of 
trees  have  gathered,  and  good  size  trees  have  grown  on  them, 
their  roots  having  split  the  rocks.  There  are  a  great  many 
springs  on  the  Bluff  with  the  choicest  water. 

The  Bluff  settlement  is  one  of  the  oldest  settlements  in  the 
county.  It  was  settled  in  the  thirties  and  named  after  the  bluff. 
A  great  many  of  the  old  settlers  are  Germans  who  left  their 
country  on  account  of  the  revolution  in  Germany  of  1848.  They 
were  a  highly  educated,  intelligent  class  of  immigrants,  friends 
of  liberty  and  democrats  at  heart.  A  superior  class  of  immi- 
grants lias  never  reached  the  shores  of  this  land  from  any  Euro- 


—379— 

> 
pean  country.  Among  the  oldest  settlers  are  the  Huebner 
Willrich,  Richers,  Helmcamp,  Kreische,  Otto,  Tell,  Hausmann, 
Kraemer,  H.  Loehr,  Wildner  and  Hinke  families.  The  popu- 
lation is  German  with  a  sprinkling  of  Bohemians  and  Ameri- 
cans. 

Two  clubs  which  own  fine  halls  take  care  of  the  social 
side  of  life,  the  Bluff  Shooting  Club  at  the  Blufi"  pavilion  and 
the  Teutonia  Club  at  the  Teutonia  hall. 

Bluff  is  a  voting  box  of  the  county  and  a  post  office,  it  has 
two  stores,  a  blacksmith  shap  and  agin.  The  reader  will  find 
Mr.  Joseph  Hausmann,  the  proprietor  of  a  store,  a  fine  black- 
smith shop  and  a  first-class  gin,  a  very  accommodating  gentle- 
man. 


BRIDGE    VALLEY. 


Picturesquely  situated  on  the  base  of  a  large  bend  of 
Buckner's  Creek,  lies  the  Bridge  Valley  settlement.  West  and 
south  of  it  is  Buckner's  Creek.  Behind  Buckner's  Creek  to  the 
south  rise  the  wood-crowned  hills  of  the  Bluff.  It  is  situated 
on  the  La  Grange  Flationia  road,  about  three  miles  west  of  La 
Grange.  The  land  is  the  fertile  Buckner's  Creek  bottom,  black- 
land,  and  to  the  north  sandy  postoak. 

The  population  is  German  and  American.  The  first  settlers 
were  Col.  John  Daucy,  Farquhar,  Ed.  Miiuton  and  the  Kirks. 
It  was  settled  in  the  forties.  The  German  and  Bohemian  pop- 
ulation came  there  in  tJie  eighties.  In  1898  it  became  a  post- 
office.     The  voting  is  done  at  La  Grange. 

Bridge  Valley,  being  so  near  to  L?  Grange,  is  a  small  place. 
It  consists  of  a  store  and  saloon,  a  blacksmith  shop  and  a  school. 
in  A.  Legler,  the  jovial  postmaster  and  mercliant  of  this 
place,  the  visitor  will  find  a  very  entertaining  talker. 


—380— 
CARMINE. 


Carmine  lies  in  tiie  northeastern  part  of  Fayette  County, 
right  on  the  Washington  County  line,  on  the  Austin  branch  of 
the  Houston  and  Texas  Central.  South  of  it  lies  the  rich  La 
Bahia  prairie,  north  of  it  is  sandy  postoak. 

It  is  a  thriving  business  town.  It  consists  of  four  general 
merchandise  stores,  four  saloons,  two  blacksmith  shops,  one 
lumber  yard,  two  drugstores,  one  millinery,  one  furniture  house, 
one  livery  stable,  two  gins,  two  meat  markets.  The  town  has  a 
newspaper,  the  New  Century,  edited  by  Messrs.  iMenn  and 
(loerdel,  two  enterprising  gentlemen  who  promise  to  make  a 
success  of  their  paper.  There  live  three  resident  physicians  in 
the  town. 

Of  the  business  men  who  treated  the  author  of  this  book 
with  kindneas,  he  mentions  Mr.  Chas.  Wagner,  a  public-spirited 
citizen,  well  known  not  only  in  Carmine,  but  in  the  county,  the 
proprietor  of  the  leading  drugstore  in  Carmine;  Umland  & 
Hoppe;  A.  M.  Weyand  &  Bro.,  proprietors  of  large  general  mer- 
chandise stores,  and  E.  F.  Hetzel,  a  worthy  ypung  man  from 
Austin  County,  who  has  established  himself  in  the  butcher 
business  at  Carmine. 

There  is  a  Union  Church  at  Carmine  in  which  Lutheran 
and  Methodist  preachers  liold  services. 

Carmine  has  two  lodges,  the  Woodmen  of  the  World  and 
the  Sons  of  Hermann.  In  the  VV^oodmen  lodge,  C.  Gillespie  is 
presiding  oflicer  and  Henry  Menu  secretary.  In  the  Sons  of 
Hermann  lodge,  Hermann  Wendorf  is  president  and  Julius 
Menke,  secretary. 

Carmine  was  built  in  the  year  1884.  It  lirst  went  by  the 
name  of  Sylvan.  After  the  establishment  of  the  post  office  at 
that  place,  it  took  the  name  of  Carmine.  The  first  settler  in  the 
town  was  Dr.  B.   J.   Thigpen,  who    owned    the    land    on    which 


—381— 

I QUESTION^^^  I 

A\i              Do  you  look  for  good    bargains  in   Staple  Groceries,   Dry  Goods,   Boots,  ;^ 

^\,  Shoes,  Hats,  Hardware,  Cutlery,  Glassware  and  Crockery  ?    Then  go  to  yu 

I             UJVIUAIVD  &  HOPPe  I 

^  CARMINE.     TEXAS, 

<)> 

fl\  who  keep  the  largest  depot  of  General  ;\Iorohandise  in   Carmine.     They    also  ^ 

<^\  pay  the  highest  market  price  for  cotton,    and    country  produce.        Leaders  in  ^!> 

fl\  bargains  for  Garland  Stoves.  ^ 


%$$€«€€$$;€€€$€€^€6S€^ 


If  You  Want  tlie  Best  Beef....  i 

and  other  Meats,  go  to  Sp 

E.F.HETZEL  | 

He  is  a  buyer  of  the  choicest  cattle  and  pays  the  best  price  for  ^ 

them.  t 

CARMINE,  TEXAS.  p 

A.M.WSYAI^S  &  SBO., 
^„<.../,.  Generivl  Merch©.ndise 

Staple  Groceries,  Dry  Goods,  Boots,   Shoes,    Hats, 
Caps,  Hardware,  Cutlery,  Crockery  aud  Glassware. 

Highest  Prices  Paid  for  Cotton  and  Produce.  CARMINE,  TEXAS. 

Carmine  was  built.    Almost  contemporary  with  him  were  Henry 
Weyand,  Phil.  Saunders  and  J.  Hill. 

Old  settlers  of  the  Carmine  neighborhood  are  the  L.  Fuchs 
family,  C.  Krueger,  F.  Hermann,  Hermann  Eichler,  Wm.  Johle, 
Ed.  Garland,  Wm.  Krause  and  Chas.  JNIeinicke. 

The  population  of  Carmine  is  American  and  German, 


—382— 
CEDAR. 


About  five  miles  west  of  La  Grange  lies  the  Cedar  settle- 
ment. It  lies  on  the  La  Grange  Flatonia  road  on  the  north  edge 
of  the  fertile  Navidad  Prairie.  The  name  of  Cedar  was  given 
to  the  settlement  on  account  of  the  many  cedars  planted  in  its 
neighborhood.  In  old  times,  it  used  to  be  a  very  popular  resort 
for  amusement  and  it  was  known  as  such  throughout  the  county. 
The  laud  around  Cedar  is  very  fertile.  The  first  settlers  in  the 
Cedar  district  were  Bill  Lewis,  John  Lewis,  Ferrill,  Dr.  Denker, 
Franke  and  Allen.  They  settled  there  in  the  forties.  Cedar 
consists  of  a  store,  saloon  and  postoffice  combined,  also  of  one 
large  hall.  It  has  a  physician.  It  is  not  a  voting  place,  but  is  a 
post-office.  The  people  vote  at  the  Bluff  box.  The  Cedar 
Macnnerchor  which  holds  its  meetings  at  O'Quinn  takes  care 
of  the  social  side  of  life.-  Cedar  also  has  a  lodge  of  the  Sons  of 
Hermann.     The  population  of  Cedar  is  mostly  German. 


CISTERN. 


Cistern  is  situated  in  a  fertile  mesquite  prairie  of  a  rich 
brown  chocolate  color.  Parts  of  the  prairie  are  mixed  with  post- 
oak.  A  great  deal  of  fine  pasture  land  is  still  lying  outunfenced. 
About  two  miles  west  of  Cistern  runs  the  Peach  Creek  through 
fertile  bottoms.  The  Peach  Creek  is  a  tributary  of  the  Guada- 
lupe River.  Cistern  is  at  a  distance  of  twelve  miles  northwest 
of  Flalonia,  at  the  same  distance  northeast  of  VVaelder,  Gonzales 
county;  ten  miles  west  of  Muldoon,  nine  miles  east  of  Rosanki, 
Bastrop  county,  and  sixteen  miles  south  of  Smithville,  Bastrop 
county.  Therefore,  it  has  several  market  places  situated  on 
diverse  railroads  to  bring  its  products  to. 

It  is  located  on  the  top  of  a  hill  which  commands  a  wide 
sweep  of  surrounding    country.     The    buildings    are   around   a 


—383- 


WM.  MENNIKE 


-Carries  One  of  the  Largest  Assortments  of 


Pure  Drugs 
Gtiemicals 


AND 


Patent    Medicines,   Toilet  Articles, 
Perfumery,  Garden  Seed,  etc. 

Prescriptions  carefully    and 
accurately  prepared. 


The  Best  Brands 


and   Liquors, 'Domestic  and 
Imported  V.'ines  and  Cigars.  ^''' 

Fresh  Beer  on  Tap. 


Invites  your  trade  and  custom.      Telephone  Exchange  for 
Local  and  Long  Distance  Telephone. 

P  CISTERN,  TEXAS. 

public  square.  It  was  settled  in  the  latter  part  of  the  fifties. 
First  it  went  by  the  name  of  Whiteside's  Prairie,  then  by  the 
name  of  Cockrill's  Hill,  and  since  1863  it  went  by  the  name  of 
Cistern.  The  latter  name  was  given  to  the  place,  because,  on 
account  of  minerals,  the  wells  did  not  furnish  good  tasting  drink- 
ing water,  and  the  people  all  built  cisterns  for  water.  The  water 
from  the  wells  generally  contains  iron  and  sulphur.  The  water  of 
Slack's  well  was  especially  noted  for  its  health-producing  and 
curing  properties  and  was  used  by  a  great  roany  patients.  The 
first  settlers  were  the  Cockrills;  other  old  settlers  were  C.  H. 
Wellborn,  deceased;  Ira  Mullen,  deceased;  William  Brown, 
Adam  Zumwalt. 

Cistern  has  a  population  of  about  150  inhabitants.  The 
population  consists  of  Americans,  Cermans  and  Bohemians. 
They  live  in  the  greatest  harmony. 

The  religious  side  of  life  is  taken  care  of  by  Rev.    L.  P, 


—384— 


Alfred  Egg— -^       ^'^*%"exas. 

Blacksmith  and  Wheelwright 

Does  your  work  in  his  line  promptly  and  cheaply.  Keeps  in 
stock  Plows,  Middlebreakers,  Cultivators,  Cotton  and  Corn  Planters 
and  Cornstalk  Cutters.  Wagons  and  Buggies  made  to  order.  Horse 
shoeing  a  specialty.     Your  custom  solicited. 


F.  Knight—^         ^'"^T^ 


Texas. 


-PROPRIETOR  OF  A- 


First  Class  Cotton  Gin 


with  all  modern  equipments.  Best  gin  in  that  section  of  country. 
Prepared  to  gin  forty- five  bales  per  day.  Corn  Mill,  Corn  Crusher 
and  Grisl  Mill  in  connection. 


Netardus,  of  Praba,  who  holds  services  in  the  Catholic  Church, 
and  by  Rev.  Kern,  of  Black  Jack  Springs,  who  preaches  to  a 
Lutheran  congregation  in  the  Cistern  schoolhouse. 

The  social  life  of  Cistern  centers  in  the  Harmony  Club.  Its 
membership  consists  of  Germans  and  Americans.  The  founder 
of  the  club  was  Ad.  Plentl.  The  club  owns  a  tine  hall  with  a 
beautiful  park  of  four  acres.  The  president  of  the  club  is  Jacob 
Marburgor. 

There  are  two  lodges  in  Cistern:  Cistern  Lodge  No.  155,  O. 
D.  H.  S.,  with  Leopold  Michalski,  president,  and  Carl  Rietz, 
secretary,  and  a  lodge  of  the  Woodmen  of  the  World. 

Cistern  has  a  general  merchandise  store,  a  drugstore  con- 
ducted by  Mr.  Wm.  Mennike;  a  saloon  also  conducted  by  him; 
a  blacksmith  shop  conducted  by  Mr.  Alfred  Egg;  agin  conducted 
by  Mr.  Felix  Knight,  and  a  physician. 


—385— 
COLONS. 


Colony  is  situated  eight  miles  northwest  of  Flatonia.  The 
surrounding  country  is  sandy  and  loamy  postoak.  It  has  one 
store,  a  blacksmith  shop  and  three  churches.  The  l>aptist 
Chnrch  is  in  charge  of  Rev.  J.  M.  Fricrson,  the  Cliristian  Ciiurch 
in  charge  of  Rev,  G.  M,  D.  Thomason,  and  the  Methodist 
rhurch  is  at  present  without  a  preacher.  It  was  settled  in  1880 
by  Mississippians;  it  was  named  by  them  Colony  as  colony  of 
Mississippians.     The  population  is  American. 


I  Joseph   Peter^^     ''■"^"\..A 

/{;                                                          PROrRIETOR  OF  A  % 

%                         .....J'/rsi   Class  Cotton  Oi'n  % 

I                                             Corn  and  Sr/si  Tl^ill.  | 

fl>   Also  keeps  in  Stock  Staple  and  Fancy  Groceries.      Owns  a   full   vj> 

Jj^                         first  class  saloon — Domestic  and  Imported  ^{J 

/j\                                       Liquors,  Wines  and  Cigars.  \\t 

«^_  /f> 


DUBINA. 


Dubina  lies  about  fourteen  miles  south  of  La  Grange  m  a 
rich,  fertile  country.  The  hind  is  postoak  and  liveoak  and  black 
prairie.  It  lies  on  Hedden  Creek  and  one  mile  from  the  Navidad 
Creek.  Hon.  Josei)h  Peter  is  the  proprietor  of  a  large  store  and 
barroom,  of  a  gin  and  of  a  l)lacksmith  shop  in  Dubina.  Dubina 
has  a  hue  Catholic  Church  building  and  a  hall  for  public  meet- 
ings and  entertainments.  Dubina  is  a  Bohemian  name,  meaning 
in  Englisii  ''oak  grove."  The  name  was  given  to  the  place  by 
Judge  A.  Haidusck,  whose  father,  Valentine  llaidusek,  and 
Joseph  Peter  were  the  first  settlers  in  that  j)art  of  the  country. 
The  population  is  German  and  Bohemian. 


— 38G— 
ELLINGER. 


EUinger  is  situated  on  the  branch  road  of  the  Southern 
Pacific  Railroad  from  Columbus  to  La  Grange,  about  twelve 
miles  southeast  from  La  Grange.  It  is  located  on  the  W.  0. 
Burnham  league;  one  hundred  acres  of  its  present  site  belonged 
to  John  H.  Meyer  and  one  hundred  to  Henry  Fordtran  of  Gal- 
veston. The  name  of  EUinger  was  given  to  the  place  by  a 
Bohemian  named  Andreas  Ondrey,  who  suggested  the  name  to 
James  Converse,  superintendent  of  the  Southern  Pacific  Rail- 
road, while  in  conversation  with  him.  It  was  laid  out  in  1883 
and  the  first  men  who  opened  up  business  in  EUinger  were  Fritz 
Hotmann,  Charles  and  Dan  Meyer,  Chas.  v.  Rosenberg  and  Hill 
&  Hill. 

North  of  EUinger  lies  the  rich  black  land  Ross  prairie, 
south  of  it  the  productive  bottom  lands  of  the  Colorado  River. 
These  rich,  fertile  lands  are  separated  from  each  other  by  a  sand 
and  gravel  ridge  covered  with  postoak.  Therefore  the  surround- 
ing country  of  EUinger,  with  the  exception  of  said  gravel  ridge, 
is  a  rich  agricultural  section. 

EUinger  has  two  churches — a  Lutheran,  with  Rev.  Robert 
Heise,  who  also  preaches  in  Fayetteville  and  Haw  Creek,  and  a 
Catholic,  situated  about  one  mile  north  of  EUinger  at  a  place 
called  Live  Oak  Hill.  The  Catholic  Church  is  under  the  care 
of  Rev.  Father  Cblapic. 

The  school  of  EUinger  is  under  the  able  management  of 
Prof.  Dippel,  a  conscientious  and  faithful  teacher. 

EUinger  has  four  lodges:  The  Sons  of  Hermann,  C.  F. 
Steves,  president.  A.  F.  Weber,  secretary;  Woodmen  of  the 
World,  E.  J.  Weber,  presiding  officer,  A,  F.  Weber,  secretary; 
Odd  Fellows,  and  C.  S.  P.  S.,  a  Bohemian  lodge. 

A  large  public  hall  serves  as  meeting  place  for  public  gath- 
erings and  for  festive  occasions. 

Before  the  building  of  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  l^ail- 


— 3S7— 


ri^_r-%-=m-,^-^ 


C.  %/.  Steves 


DEALER  IN 


Doors,  Sash,  Blinds,  Deere  Implements, 
Buggies,  Grub  and  Stump  Machines, 
Window  Glass,  Wagons,  McCormick 
Mowers,  Well  Tubing,  Pipe  Fittings, 
Paints  and  Oils,  Rubber  Belting. 

g@^Conneeted  by  Fayette  County  and  Lon^^   Distance   Tele- 
phone Systems.      Pi-oprietor  of  line  \o  Halsted. 

ELLINGER,  TEXAS. 


Scheel  Bros.,  ^'""fe'L.  I 

is  the  popular  meeting  place  of  all 
connoisseurs  of 

Fine   whiskies,  Liquors 

Wines,  Domestic  and  Imported  Cigars.      Call  and  j'ou   will  find    « 
^   good  company.  ^ 


— — — r^  ";^    ;  \ 

road  to  Fayetteville  the  business  of  P]l linger  was  considerably 

larger.      This   road,  running   at   a   distance  of  about   four   miles 

from  Ellinger,  has  cut  off  a  large  part  of  its  trade.      Still,  as  it 

lies  in  a  rich  agricultural  section,  which,  year  by  year,  becomes 

more  developed,    it  maintains  the    volume  of  its  old  trade  and 

does  as  much  business  now  as  ever,  though  the  scope  of  country 

\v"hicli"was  tributary  to  Ellinger  has  been  somewhat  reduced.    ;t^ 

'^~^"  Ellinger  consists  of  four  general  merciiandise  stores,  three 


—388— 

I  J.  &  B.  Wacker     ^"  "Ss 

( Established  in  1884.) 


DEALERS    IN- 


Fancy  and  Staple  Groceries         I 
[Jardware,  Crockery  and  Glassware  i 

Notions,  Boots  and  Shoes.  i 

Make  a  specialty  of  Flour,  Sugar,  Salt  and  Coffee,  jg 
Keep  in  stock  a  complete  assortment  of  Guns,  Pistols  and  g 
Ammunition.  Buy  Cotton,  Cottonseed  and  all  kinds  of  < 
Country  Produce  at  highest  market  prices.  Come  and  see  % 
them.  ^ 

groceries,  two  furniture  houses,  three  hardware  stores,  one  im- 
plement and  carriage  house,  one  drugstore,  two  gins,  two  black- 
smith shops  and  four  saloons. 

The  writer  is  obliged  to  the  following  gentlemen  who  took 
some  interest  in  his  work  on  their  home  county  for  their  patron- 
age and  hopes  that  the  bestowal  of  their  confidence  may  have 
been  placed  on  a  worth3'-  enterprise  and  that  his  work  may  meet 
their  approval. 

The  oldest  business  men  in  P^llinger  are  Messrs.  J.  and  B. 
Wacker,  who  established  themselves  in  business  at  Ellinger  in 
1884.  They  carry  a  large  stock  of  staple  and  fancy  groceries, 
hardware  and  crockery,  and  especially  a  fine  assortment  of  pis- 
tols, guns  and  ammunition.  They  are  reliable  gentlemen  and 
substantial,  solid  business  men.  Their  father,  Mr.  Dietrich 
Wacker,  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Ross  prairie.  C.  F.  Steves 
has  a  lumber  and  hardware  business  of  the  most  extensive 
assortment,  carrying  everything  from  a  nail  to  a  stump-pulling 
machine.     A   customer  can   get  there    articles   which   he  often 


—389— 


I  J.  Y.  Machalek     ^^^''^fx'As.  ' 
Furniture,  Stoves 


Dealer  in 


Tin  and  Agate  Ware,    Keeps  a  complete  stock  in  his  g 

line.     CISTERNS  matte  to  order.      Call   on  him  and  g 

you  will  get  first  class  bargains.  t 


■^i^^^^^^^^^^ii^i^^i^^i^^^^^i^^i^^^^^^^^^ 


/»> 


\i/ 


|W.  F.  Burow         ^"^'Ss.i 

/{\  Proprietor  of  a ^|^ 

I     First  Class  Improved  Douglass  Gin    | 

%  with  four  70-8aw  giii  stands,  with  Kingsland   &   Douglas    Pneu-  -{-I 

iH\  matic  Elevator  and  all  the  latest  modern  improvements.       Gins  \J/ 

^j^  the  cotton  clean  and  produces  a  long  valuable  fiber  which  never  '^•^ 

/}\  fails  to  bring  the  highest  price.     Your  custom  solicited.  j'jl 

would  fail  to  get  in  large  size  cities.  E.  J .  Weber  keeps  in  his 
elegant  drugstore  pure  and  fresh  drugs  and  other  lines  of  goods 
that  are  usually  kept  in  a  first-class  drugstore.  He  also  serves 
the  public  as  notary  public  and  sets  up  all  legal  documents 
in  binding  shape  and  style.  W.  F.  Burow  owns  a  first-class  gin 
and  turns  out  a  superior  class  of  cotton.  He  constantly  studies 
how  to  improve  his  machinery,  and  on  account  of  his  close  atten- 
tion to  business  has  become  a  model  ginner  in  the  county,  J.  Y. 
Machalek  is  a  popular  young  merchant  in  the  furniture  and 
hardware  business  at  EUinger,  and  a  skillful  mechanic.  Scheel 
Brothers  are  the  proprietors  of  a  first-class  barroou],  which  has 
become  the  headquarters  for  the  farmers  of  Kllinger. 

In  Live  Oak  Hill,  one  mile  north  of  Eiliuger,  Mr.  Aug. 
Girndt  welcomes  in  his  elegant  saloon  his  guests  from  near  and 
far,  keeps  the  purest   whiskies  and  other  liquors.     He  is  the 


—390— 


-■»ai..».L«i-i 


Aug.  Girndt's  Saloon 

Live  Oak  Hill.  Texas, 

is  the  popular  meeting  place  of  all  who  appreciate 

J'ine     il/hiskiesy    u/inej    and    jCiquors 

Domestic  and  Imported  Cigars.  A  fine  hall  with  one  of 
the  best  floors  in  the  county  gathers  young  and  old  for 
amusement. 


£,  5.  rnnebcr,,. 


Notary 
Public, 


DEALER    IN- 


iJruffs  and  i/^edicines 

Toilet  and  Fancy  Articles,  Musical  Instruments,  Wall 
Paper,  Paints  and  Oils. 

jg@°^  Writes  all  kinds  of  Legal  Instruments. 
ELLINGER,  TEXAS. 

proprietor  of  a  fine  hall  with  one  of  the  best  floors  for  dancing 
that  can  be  found  in  the  county.  Young  and  old  gather  there  for 
amusement  and  recreation. 

The  population  of  EUinger  is  German  and  Bohemian. 
Among  the  first  and  the  oldest  settlers  of  the  Ellinger  neighbor- 
hood may  be  mentioned  Dietrich  Wacker,  Dan  Meyer,  John 
Meyer,  Aug.  Beyer,  Joseph  liaabe,  Chas.  Ehlinger,  8arrazin, 
Dohm,  Jacob  Dirr,  Peter  Koelil,  Joe  Koehl,  Jacob  Koehl,  Andreas 
Schreiner,  Muegge,  Henry  Cook.  Jos.  Sommers,  Wm.  Hoelscher, 
Anton  Hoelscher,  Fietsam,  Hy  Fattmann. 


—301— 

Louis  Melcher, 

PROPRIETOR  OF 

A  First=Class  Photograph  Gallery. 


¥I*oj*A-    twnaraiilfftl   to   hr   xatixt'tiftorf/. 


Proprietor  of  a  tirst-class  Saloon.    Call  on  him  for  line  Whiskies 
and  Li(juors,  Domestic  and  Imported  Cigars. 

ENOLE,  TEXAS. 


I.  J.  GALLIA. 

V        DEALER   IN        V^ 

GeneroLl  Merch©Lndise. 

Oldest  mercantile  business  at  Engle.     Office  of  Notary  Public. 

Writes  all  kinds  of  Legal  Documents.     Land  and  Real 

Estate  Agent.     Has  always  a  great  number  of 

valuable  places  at  low  prices  on  his  list. 

ENGLE.    -    TEXAS. 

ENGLE. 


Engle  lies  midway  between  Schulenburg  and  Flatonia  on 
the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad.  North  of  it  is  postoak,  south  of 
it  rich,  fertile  prairie  land.  It  is  a  thriving  little  town;  has  a 
postoffice.  The  voting  is  done  at  Mulberry,  a  schoolhouse  thus 
named  in  its  neighborhood.  It  consists  of  two  general  merchan- 
dise stores,  three  saloons,  one  blacksmith  shop,  one  photograph 
gallery,  one  tinsmith  shop  and  one  lumber  yard.  The  popula- 
tion is  German  and  Bohemian.     Amongst  the  first   settlers  of 

the  place  are  I.  J.  Gallia, Bucek,  L.  Melcher.     Old  settlers 

in  the  neighborhood  are  Chas.  Hertel,  Chris.  Brueggemann  and 

Olle.     Mr.  I.  J.  Gallia  is  an  old  poi)ular  merchant  of  that 

place,  deals  also  in  real  estate  and  serves  as  notary  public.  Mr. 
Louis  Melcher  has  a  first-class  saloon  and  a  fine  photograph  gal- 
lery. Mr.  1.  J.  Gallia  was  the  first  merchant  in  that  place  and 
bailt  his  business  there  in  18'JU. 


—392— 

I  e.    P.    THULBMSYSB  [ 

THE    UP-TO-DATE  3^ 


I 

Y  will  supply  you  at  the  most  reasonable  prices   with 

>  everything   you   may   need  in   the   line   of  general 

^  merchandise. 


^  '^yvGr)iicfr)    V^Gr)fupy    /"iepcr)ar)l 


^ 


FREYBURG, 


Freyburg  is  situated  about  seven  miles  north  of  Engle.  one- 
half  a  mile  east  of  the  East  Navidacl  in  a  tine  looking  jjrairie.  It 
lies  in  one  of  the  richest  agricultural  sections  of  the  county. 
It  is  a  postoffice  and  a  voting  place.  As  voting  place  it  goes  by 
the  name  of  Thulemeyer's.  A  tine  M,  E.  Church  building 
gathers  in  its  roomy  aisle  a  devoted  Methodist  conoregation. 
Rev.  F.  Bomfalk  is  the  preaclier  in  that  church.  The  mercantile 
business  of  that  place  was  established  in  the  year  18G(S  by  Mr, 
F.  Thulemeyer;  it  is  now  ownfd  by  Mr.  C.  F.  Thulemeyer. 
There  are  also  a  gin  and  a  blacksmith  shop  close  to  the  place. 
The  population  is  German  and  Bohemian.  Among  the  first 
settlers  were  F.  Thulemeyer,  B.  Warnken,  Fr.  Burns,  J.  Rom- 
berg, Bernh.  Romberg,  F.  \V.  Richter,  John  Czichos,  Aug,  Hahu, 
Fritz  Laux. 


HALSTJBD. 


Halsted  is  the  name  of  a  station  about  six  and  a  half  miles 
east  of  La  Grange  on  the  Missouri,  Kansas  &  Texas  Railroad 
and  two  miles  and  a  half  north  of  the  Colorado  River.  The 
immediate  surrounding  country  is  sandy  postoak  and  gravel  and 


—  oUo — 

I  J.    H.    WBSSSLS,  I 

•2  Headquarters  for  S 

§  Sroceries    and    Senega/  97f ere  hand ise,  | 

5  fodder  in  J'/our  and  Sra/n,  t 

^  Dealer  in  Lumber  and,  in  fact,  everything  you  call  for.  Pro-  ^ 
^  prietor  of  a  First  Class  Gin  and  Mill.  g 

I        HALSTED,  -  -  -  -  -  7'fJr45.        I 

serves  mostly  for  pasture,  but  a  short  distance  soutli  of  it  lies 
the  fertile  Colorado  River  bottom  and  north  of  it  the  very  fertile 
liutersville  prairie.  In  its  immedtate  neighborhood  lie  also  some 
very  fertile  bottom  lands  of  Baylor  and  Wuerzner's  Creek.  Hal- 
sted  is  a  pnstoffice  and  has  telephone  connection,  daily  mail  and 
freight  and  passenger  service.  Mr.  .J.  H.  VVessels  established 
his  mercantile  business  at  that  place  in  1S*)0.  He  is  also  the 
proprietor  of  a  saloon,  a  large  lumber  yard  and  a  first-class  gin, 
equipped  with  all  modern  improvements,  In  fact,  he  and  his 
employees  are  Halsted.  In  1900  it  became  a  postoftice.  The 
voting  is  done  at  Biegel.  The  neighborhood  of  Halsted  was 
settled  long  before  the  place  was  established.  Among  the  oldest 
settlers  of  the  neighborhood,  P.  Heller,  C.  Halfinger,  B.  Decem- 
ber, L.  Struve,  Kobt.  Fohl,  Mrs.  A.  VVoUe  may  be  mentioned. 
The  population  is  German  with  a  sprinkling  of  Bohemians.     , 


HAW    CREl^^K. 


Haw  Creek  is  situated  about  ten  miles  in  a  northerly  direc- 
tion from  Fayetteville  on  the  William  H.  Sheppard  league.  It 
has  a  rich  agricultural  surrounding  country  with  the  Haw  Creek 
and  Cummings  Creek  bottoms  in  its  immediate  neighborhood. 
It  is  a  postoffice  and  a  voting  precinct  and  consists  of  a  store,  a 
gin  and  a  blacksmith  shop.  Among  the  oldest  families  and  set- 
tlers in  that  neighborhood  may  be  named  the  Menking  family, 
the  Aschenbeck  family,  L.  Bartliugk,  Draws  and  Voelkel. 


—394— 


Theo,  Helmcamp 

Proprietor  of  a  First  Class  Saloon, 
invites  the  public  to  try  his 

Pine  Whiskies  and  Liquors 

Imported  and  Domestic  Cigars.     Fresh  Beer  always  on  tap.     In 
connection  with  the  business  a  fine  liall  for  Dancing. 

High  Hill,  Texacs. 


© 


HIGH    HILL. 


Before  the  arrival  of  the  Southern  Pacific  into  Schulenburg 
High  Hill  was  quite  an  important  place.  At  that  time  it  con- 
sisted of  six  stores — some  of  them  made  of  self-made  brick — 
and  three  blacksmith  and  wheelwright  shops.  It  was  built  in 
two  different  localities  at  a  little  distance  apart.  The  upper  part 
of  the  town  had  the  name  of  Oldenburg,  but  now  the  name  of 
High  Hill  stands  for  the  whole  place. 

High  Hill  is  situated  about  three  miles  north  of  Schulen- 
burg on  top  of  a  hill  and  its  buildings  and  the  tall  steeple  of  its 
fine  Catholic  Church  building  can  be  seen  in  clear  weather  from 
Schulenburg.  It  is  built  on  the  E.  Anderson  league.  West 
Navidad  and  Forster's  Creek  gre  in  its  neighborhood. 

High  Hill  is  a  postoffice  and  a  voting  precinct  of  the  county. 
It  has  a  fine  Catholic  Church  which  was  built  in  1870  and  of 
which  Rev.  Father  H.  Gerlach  is  the  priest. 

Theo.  Helmcamp  is  the  proprietor  of  a  first-class  saloon  and 
also  of  a  fine  hall  where  the  people  of  High  Hill  gather  for 
amusement  and  entertainment.  John  Wick  is  the  postmaster 
and  merchant  of  that  place.  There  is  also  a  gin  and  blacksmith 
shop  at  High  Hill. 

High  Hill  is  an  old  place.  The  oldest  settlers  of  that  place 
were  Eckert,  Hermann  Bauch,  the  Fahrenthold  and  Eschenberg 
families,  F.  CI.  Seydler, Perkins, Green, Adamek 


—395— 

JOHN   WICK 


LEADER  IN 


J'anci/  and  Staple  Sroceries 

Dry  Goods,  Boots,  Shoes,   Hats,   Caps,  Hardware,   Crockery.   Glass- 
ware and  Saddlery.     Keeps  a  first  class   assortment  in   these 
lines.     Highest  prices  paid  for  country  produce. 
HIGH  HILL.  -59955  TEXAS. 


A.  Bilamek,  Franz  Wick,  Anton  Bednarz,  Joseph  Hollas,  Joseph 
Heinrich,  sr. ,  F.  Kleinemann,  Geo.  Herder,  Gerh.  Siems,  P. 
Stuelke,  Gerh.  Nordhansen,  Chas.  Hiukel,  Edward  Schubert, 
Capt.  Chas.  Wellhansen,  Aug.  Knechler,  Ernst  Goeth,  J.  F. 
Hillje,who  built  the  first  cotton  gin  and  oil  mill  in  the  High  Hill 
neighborhood. 

The    population  is   German    and    Bohemian.     Most  of  the 
High  Hill  people  belong  to  the  Catholic  Church. 

Kristek  Bros,  ---^^ 

Have  been  established 

In  the  Sin  Susinoss 

for  eight  years  and  have  ginned  on  an  average  1425  bales  of  cotton 
per  year,  notwithstanding  bad  years.  They  have  the  latest  and  most 
modern  gin  improvements,  enjoy  the  confidence  of  the  neighborhood 
and  run  in  connection  with  their  gin  a  corn  and  grist  mill.  They  have 
electric  lights,  are  progressive  and  always  meet  the  demands  for  first 
class  work.  — 1».   HOLMAN,  TEXAS. 


Holman  is  picturesquely  situated  on  Pecan  Creek,  about 
thirteen  miles  southeast  from  La  Grange  on  the  La  Grange- 
Weimar  \'alley  road,  two  miles  distant  from  the  Colorado  in 
Mullins'  Prairie.  North  of  it  are  the  bottom  lands  of  Williams 
Creek.  The  country  is  very  rich  and  fertile  blackland  prairie. 
The  population  is  American,  German  and  Bohemian.  First 
settlers,  G.  W.  Lewis,   Nat  Holman,  J  no.   Ossina,   Lott  Fisher 


—396  - 

and  the  Seydler  family.  It  consists  of  two  stores  and  saloons,  a 
blacksmith  and  wheelwright  shop.  Kristek  Bros,  are  the  pro- 
gressive owners  of  a  first-class  gin  which  gins  on  an  average 
1425  bales  per  year.  At  night  the  gin  building  is  illumed  by 
electric  lights. 

Holman  is  also  called   Pecan  after  tiie  creek  by  that  name. 
It  is  a  postofiice  and  a  voting  precinct. 


LEDBETTER. 


Ledbetter  lies  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county  on  the 
Houston  &  Texas  Central  about  one  mile  north  of  Cummings 
Creek  on  the  watershed  between  the  Colorado  and  Brazos  Rivers. 
The  surrounding  country  is  postoak.  In  its  neighborhood  are 
gravel  pits  and  rock  quarries  tiie  rock  of  which  was  used  for  the 
construction  of  the  Galveston  jetties. 

To  the  traveler,  coming  from  La  Grange,  Ledbetter  presents 
a  pretty  appearance.  A  small  prairie  lies  in  front  of  it,  forming 
a  lawn  for  the  town.  The  pretty  red-roofed  residences  are 
pleasantly  set  off  by  the  green  of  the  postoak. 

The  town  has  a  Union  Church,  in  which  Rev.  B.  W .  Allen 
of  Giddings  preaches  to  a  Methodist  and  Rev.  Coupland  of 
Rockdale  to  a  Presbyterian  congregation.  The  Baptists  also 
own  a  church  building.  Rev.  F.  H.  Morgan  is  the  preacher  of 
their  church. 

The  town  is  incorporated  for  school  purposes.  The  princi- 
pal of  the  school  for  this  year  will  be  Prof.  Saunders,  who  for- 
merly taught  at  Walhalla. 

Ledbetter  is  a  postoflice  and  a  voting  precinct  of  the  county. 
It  consists  of  four  general  merchandise  stores,  two  lumber  yards, 
two  drugstores,  two  saloons,  one  blacksmith  shop.  There  are 
two  resident  physicians  in  the  town.  While  in  Ledbetter,  the 
writer  became  acquainted  with  T.  M.  Vernon,  the  leading  drug- 
gist in  Ledbetter,  Wm.  Kruse,  a  popular  merchant  of  that  place 


—397— 

Ledbetter  Go-operative  Lumber  Association, 

[Organized  1888.  J 
P.  OF  H.  AND  F.   A. 

"  The  Farmers'  Lumber  Yard," 

Lumber,  Shingles,  Doors,  Sash, 

J^uilders'  Hardware,  Oils,  Paints,  etc. 

L.  0.  EUMMEL,  Agent-  Highest  market  price  paid  for  Dry  Hides. 

LEDBETTER.    TEXAS. 

T.  n.  Vernon...       '-^^''^^Ix'as. 

DEALER  IN 


2)ruo3t  ^ebicines 


stationery,  Toilet  Articles,  Paints  and  Oils.      Prescriptions  filled  with 
care  and  dispatch. 

WM.  KRUSE^-^^      ''^•"^"^flxAs. 

—  — DKALKR    JX 

^^^— General  flUetcbanbise 

Dry  Goods.  Boots,  Shoes,  Hats,  Notions,  Hardware,  Crockery,  Sad- 
dlery, etc.  My  motto  is:  Quick  sales  and  small  profits.  Highest 
prices  paid  for  cotton  and  country  produce. 


and  he  was  also  patronized  by  his  friend  L.  C.  Rummel,  the 
eflicient  and  successful  manager  of  the  Ledbetter  Co-operative 
jAimber  Association,  an  association  of  substantial  farmers  who 
invested  their  surplus  capital  in  this  lumber  business.  It  was 
organized  in  1888.  The  officers  of  the  company  are  J.  C.  Specks 
els,  president,  B.  E.  Siegmund,  secretary,  and  \V.  13.  Barnes, 
\Vm.  Peters,  Fritz  Knoche,  Paul  Schuhmanu  and  J.  H.  Hushing, 

directors, 

i 


—398— 

Thfe  population  of  tlie  town  and  neighborhood  is  American, 
German  and  Wendish.  Amongst  the  oldest  settlers  of  the  town 
may  be  mentioned  J.  C.  Hillmann,  L.  C.  Kummel  and  K.  Albers; 
of  the  neighborhood,  John  Rost,  Geo.  Eschenberg,  Friedrich 
Mueller,  Fritz  Rethke, Tabken,  and Kruse. 


Notes.— The  Houston  &  Texas  Central  Railroad  came  to  Ledbetter 
in  1870.  A  few  miles  south  of  Ledbetter  is  Alexander  Branch,  thus 
named  after  a  white  trapper  who  was  killed  there  by  Indians. 


MORAVAN. 


The  Moravan  settlement  lies  in  Navidad  Prairie,  about 
seven  miles  southwest  of  La  Grange  and  two  miles  south  of  the 
La  Grange- Flatonia  road.  It  consists  of  a  fine  Catholic  Church, 
a  store  and  saloon.  The  land  is  fertile  and  occupied  mostly  by 
Bohemian  settlers.  Moravan  has  no  postoffice.  It  used  to  be  a 
voting  precinct  of  the  county.  The  first  settlers  in  that  settle- 
ment were  W.  Brookfield.  John  A.    Huebner,   Evans    and 

Will  rich.     It  was  settled  in  the  forties. 

In  Moravan,  the  K.  J.  T.,  a  Bohemian  Roman  Catholic 
Benevolent  Union  of  Texas,  was  organized  and  incorporated  on 
August  15,  1895.  It  consists  of  3f5  lodges  and  does  an  insurance 
business,  limited  to  Texas.  Most  of  its  members  live  in  Fayette 
County.  The  total  insurance  in  force  amounts  to  $617,400. 
The  society  commenced  business  in  July,  1899.  Last  year  they 
paid  out  $9000  in  death  claims.  The  officers  of  the  organiza- 
tion are:  Rev.  J.  Chromcik,  Spiritual  Director,  Fayetteville;  F. 
A.  Parma,  President,  Praha,  Texas;  F.  C.  Janda,  Secretary,  La 
Grange.  These  data  speak  better  of  the  energy,  ability  and 
solid  standing  of  its  officers  than  any  words  of  the  writer.  They 
speak  for  themselves  and  are  a  high  credit  to  the  energy,  will 
power  and  business  talent  of  the  Bohemian  element. 


—399— 

H.H.MITCHELL,  M.  D., 
PhysiciaLi\    ak.i\d  Surgeon. 

Office  hours,  9  to  11  a.  m.  and  2  to  4  p.  m. 
Piione  2.     All  calls  promptly    attended. 

Muldoon,  _  _  _  -  Texas. 


MULDOON. 


Muldoon  is  a  railroad  station  on  the  Waco  branch  of  the 
San  Antonio  &  Aransas  Pass  Railroad,  midway  between  Flatonia 
and  West  Point.  In  its  neighborhood  are  the  large  rock  quarries 
of  Hon  A.  B.  Kerr,  from  which  rock  was  shipped  to  Galveston 
for  the  construction  of  the  jetties.  The  surrounding  country  is 
mostly  postoak.  The  Buckner's  Creek  bottom  in  its  neighbor- 
hood is  very  fertile,  Muldoon  is  a  postoffice  and  a  voting  pre- 
cinct of  the  county.  It  consists  of  one  general  merchandise 
store,  conducted  by  Kerr  Bros.,  one  saloon,  one  hotel,  one  black- 
smith shop.  In  Dr.  H.  H.  Mitchell,  who  has  been  a  resident 
physician  ot  Muldoon  since  1891,  the  writer  found  a  pleasant  gen- 
tleman, a  physician  of  fine  standing  among  the  people  with 
whom  he  lives. 

The  Muldoon  country  was  settled  in  the  thirties.  It  was 
named  after  Rev.  Fatlier  JMiquel  Muldoon,  a  resident  Catholic 
priest  of  Mexico,  to  whom  the  Mexican  government  had  granted 
four  leagues  of  land  in  Fayette  county.  On  one  of  these  leagues 
the  town  of  JMuldoon  is  situated.  It  was  built  in  188G.  The 
population  of  town  and  neighborhood  is  mostly  American,  witb 
a  sprinkling  of  Germans  and  Bohemians.  Among  the  old  set- 
tlers may  be  mentioned  Alex.  St,  Clair,  li.  Leitenberg,  Chas. 
Luck,  Jesse  Parker,  W.  P.  Ivey,  Jesse  Blackvvell,  J.  J.  Sullivan, 
Herm,  Loessin,  Bennett  Ilay,  J.  M.  Ray^  II.  Harkins. 


—400— 
NECHANITZ. 


Nechanitz  lies  eleven  miles  north  of  La  Grange  and  nine 
miles  south  of  Ledbetter,  on  the  La  Grange-Ledbetter  road  in 
Long  Prairie.  This  prairie  extends  to  Waldeck  and  is  fertile 
land.  Nechanitz  is  a  voting  jjrecinct  and  a  post  office.  It  was 
named  after  Nechanitz,  Bohemia,  the  home  of  Hon.  Wen^el 
Matejowski,  one  of  the  oldest  and  most  reliable  merchants  in  the 
county.  He  owns  tlie  store  and  gin  at  Neclianitz.  The  post 
office  was  established  in  1873.'  The  population  is  now  German. 
Old  settlers:  Wenzel  Matejowski,  Recklefs  Meiners,  Frank 
Ahlhorn,  Julius  Weisshuhn,  Anton  Weber,  Chas.  Oeser,  William 
Peters,  John  Marquardt,  Christian  Marquardt  and  others. 


OLDENBURG. 


Oldenburg  is  the  name  of  a  settlement  about  ten  miles 
northeast  of  La  Grange  on  the  La  Grange-Round  Top  road  on 
the  banks  of  Clear  Creek.  The  surrounding  country  is  rich  black 
land  prairie. 

The  town  consists  of  two  stores,  a  saloon,  a  physician's 
office,  a  blacksmith  shop,  a  tin  shop  and  a  gin.  Louis  Vodkel 
is  the  leading  merchant  of  the  whole  neighborhood,  who  has 
been  in  business  at  Oldenburg  for  sixteen  years,  and  Muesse 
Bros,  are  the  popular  young  saloon  men  of  the  town.  They  own 
a  fine  hall  in  a  beautiful  grove  of  liveoaks.  The  entertainments 
given  in  the  park  are  very  popular. 

Oldenburg  is  a  postoffice,  but  not  a  voting  precinct  of  tlie 
count}^;  the  people  do  their  voting  at  Rutersville  and  Warrenton. 
It  was  founded  in  IBSO  by  Gus.  Steenken,  in  company  with  A. 
Heintze,  and  named  Oldenburg  because  a  great  many  people  of 
the  neighborhood  had  come  from  that  country,  their  native 
home,  and  settled   here.     The  population  is  German  and   Bohe- 


—101— 


^,  6c   ucf,  Jr.  7/fuesse,.. 


Olcienburff, 
JJexas. 


Hpadqiiariers  U)v 


Fine  Whiskies  and  Wines 
Domestic  and  Imported  Cigars 

Fresh  Cool  Beer.     Finest  Park  in  the  County,  Beautiful   Live-oak 
Grove.     Large  Hall  serves  for  festive  occasions  and  public   meetings. 

LOUIS    VORLKETi.  .Tr. 

(General  /llbercbanbtsc 

^oo/Sj    Shoes,   jVats,   J^ardivare, 

and  iJ'arminff  implements. 

Cotton  and  Country  Produce  bought  and  sold. 

OLDENBURG,  TEXAS. 

niian.  Among  the  old  settlers  may  be  named  Gerh.  Belirens, 
F.  Oppermann,  John  Imken,  Aug.  Gan,  Hy.  Alhorn,  Albert 
Meinardus,  J.  B.  Meinardus, 


O'QUINN, 


The  O'Quinn  settlement  is  situated  seven  miles  southwest 
of  La  Grange  on  the  La  Grange-Flatonia  road  on  OHiuinn's 
Creek.  South  of  0"(iuinn  is  the  rich  Navidad  Prairie,  nortli  of 
it  the  sandy  postoak  of  Buckner's  Creek  mixed  with  loam.  The 
Biickner's  Creek  bottom  lands  are  very  fertile.  It  was  settled 
mostly  by  Germans  as  early  as  1850.  Among  the  first  families 
who  settled  there  were  the  Sellers,  Luck,  Sample,  Duellberg, 
Melcher,  Bruns  and  John  Voigt  families.  The  settlement  was 
named  after  an  Indian  chief  by  the  name  of  O'Ciuinn;  another 
version  is  that  it  was  named  after  an  Irishman  by  that  name. 
O'Quinn   is  a  postoflice,    but  not  a  voting  place.     The  people 


—402— 

I  T.  A.  Dieckert^^^  '"'^Ml^.c.  j 

general  Merehandise.        | 

Agent  for  all  the  Leading  Newspapers  and  Periodicals.  % 

Buys  cotton  and  all  kinds  of  Country  Produce.  ^ 

3   O'Quirvrv,  -  -  -  -  -  Texa.s.   g 

mostly  vote  at  Black  Jack  Springs.  O'Quinn  has  two  stores — one 
conducted  by  Mr.  J.  C.  Melcher,  the  other  one  by  Mr.  T.  A. 
Dieckert,both  popular  gentlemen — a  gin  and  a  blacksmith  shop. 
It  has  two  lodges,  the  Knights  of  Honor  and  the  Fraternal 
Mystic  Circle. 


oso. 

The  old  settlement  of  Oso  is  situated  about  three  miles 
northeast  of  Flatonia.  It  used  to  be  quite  a  town,  but  nothing 
has  renaained  of  it  but  the  name  retained  by  the  neighborhood. 
After  the  Southern  Pacific  passed  through  the  county  the  town 
of  Oso  was  deserted  and  its  people  settled  in  Flatonia.  Once 
there  were  three  stores,  a  mill  and  a  gin,  a  tannery  and  a  black- 
smith shop  at  Oso.  In  old  times  it  was  a  voting  precinct,  but 
after  Flatonia  was  built  the  latter  city  became  the  voting  precinct 
of  that  section  of  the  county.  Among  the  first  settlers  were  the 
Menefee,  Lane,  Harrison  and  Cobb  families.  The  population  is 
American  and  German, 


PRAHA 


Praha  is  situated  about  three  miles  east  of  Flatonia,  south 
of  the  Southern  Pacific  Railroad,  on  the  Jesse  Duff  league. 
Located  on  a  hill  in  a  beautiful  liveoak  grove,  it  presents  a  very 


—403— 

I  Anton  Jezek — "^^       ''""\l^.^.s.  | 

%  Proprietor  of  a  First  Clas'a  % 

^  .  A  ^ 

I  Jalacljsn^ifl^N  w^celyv^piqljf  ©l^op  | 

5  All  work  in  these  lines  satisfactory.    Keeps  Buggy-tops.  p 

g  Paints  buggies  at  reasonable  prices.  ^ 

IF  YOU    WANT  ^^^.^atzsz^" 

Fine  Whiskies,  Wines 
Liquors,  Cigars 

and  Fresh  Cool  Beer,  always  go   to 

FRANK   VYVJALA. 

A  fine  floor  for  dancing  in  connection  with  the  business. 
I'RATIA.    TKXAS. 

fine  view.  The  high  steeple  of  the  Catholic  Church  may  be 
seen  for  miles,  reminding  the  faithful  of  the  place  of  worship. 
The  Catholic  Church  of  Praha  is  the  finest  in  the  county,  nay, 
even  in  the  state — a  very  majestic  structure.  It  is  a  solid  rock 
building.  Che  aisle  of  the  building  is  very  high  and  makes  a 
most  solemn  impression  (jn  the  beholder.  The  altar  is  a  master- 
piece of  artistic  carving  and  construction.  The  imposing  glass 
windows  contain  paintings  representing  scenes  from  the  Holy 
Scripture.  Rev.  Father  L.  P.  Nethardus  is  tlie  priest  of  tlie 
church. 

Praha  is  a  nice  town,  being  built  around  a  public  square.  It 
consists  of  two  stores,  two  saloons,  one  blacksmith  and  wheel- 
wright shop,  a  meat  market.  It  has  a  resident  physician.  Jos. 
A.  Drozd  ftnd  F.  A.  Parma  are  tlie  leading  merchants  of  the 
place.  Frank  Vyvjala  is  the  popular  proprietor  of  a  first-class 
saloon  and  owns  also  a  fine  platform  and  hall  for  dancing. 
Anton  Jezek  is  the  proprietor  of  a  blacksmith  and  wheelwright 
shop  and  is  prepared  to  do  all  kinds  of  work  in  tiji-top  style. 


-  404- 
Jos.  A.  Drozd.  F,  A.  Parma. 

DBOZD    &    PARMA, 

DEALERS  IN 

General  Merchandise 

Buyers  of  Cotton  and  Country  Produce.  PRAHA,  TEXAS. 

The  population  of  Praha  and  neighborhood  is  entirely  Bohe- 
iiiian.  The  Bohemians  commenced  settling  in  this  neighborhood 
in  the  fifties.  First  settlers:  M.  Novak,  F.  Branitzky,  Jos. 
Vyvjala,  Geo.  Morysek,  Jos.  Hajak,  M.  Jares,  Jno.  Baca.  The 
place  was  named  Praha  by  Postmaster  J5.  Knesek  in  187G.  It 
was  formerly  called  Mulberry.  The  first  Catholic  Church  in 
Praha  was  built  of  wood  in  1868.  In  1875  anew  church  was 
built.     The  present  rock  building  was  completed  in  1891. 

There  are  two  schools  in  Praha.  Tlie  public  school  has 
been  for  over  twenty-five  years  under  the  able  management  of 
Prof.  A.  Nesrsta,  a  highly  educated  gentleman  and  a  thorough 
teacher.  The  sisters'  school  was  organized  in  181»6,  is  taught  by 
three  Sisters  of  Divine  Providence,  and  has  actually  enrolled 
from  1111  to  120  pupils. 

In  Praha  are  two  lodges  of  the  K.  J.  T.,  a  Bohemian  Roman 
Catholic  Union  of  Texas,  a  benevolent  society,  which  was  organ- 
ized in  181)5  at  Moravan,  Texas.  (See  Moravan.)  F.  A.  Parma 
is  the  president  of  this  union.  The  president  of  one  of  the 
Praha  lodges  of  the  K.  J.  T.  is  Chas.  Lev,  the  secretary,  John 
Vanek;  the  president  of  the  other  is  Vine.  Darilek,  the  secretary, 
Anton  Jezek.  The  total  membership  of  the  two  Praha  lodges  is 
from  80  to  1>0. 

The  Catholic  Young  Men's  Society  is  composed  only  of 
unmarried  persons.  They  pay  to  each  member  at  his  wedding 
a  marriage   portion.     Quite  an   inducement,  though  it   may  be 


Catholic  Church  at  Praha, 


—  40G  — 

presumed  that  the  lady  is  the  highest.     The  society  has  about 
thirty  members. 

Other  societies  are  the  Christian  Society  of  Married  Women 
(over  thirty  members),  Altar  Society  of  Virgins  (twenty  mem- 
bers) and  a  Reading  Club.  All  these  societies  are  Bohemian 
Catholic  Societies;  they  are  associated  for  worthy  objects  and 
tend  to  elevate  and  educate  the  character  of  young  men  and 
women  to  a  higher  plane. 


PLUM. 


Plum  lies  eight  miles  from  La  Grange  on  the  Missouri,  Kan- 
sas ik  Texas  Railroad.  The  surrounding  country  is  prairie  and 
postoak.  It  is  a  postoltice  and  a  voting  precinct  of  the  county 
and  consists  of  two  stores,  one  saloon,  two  gins  and  iwo  black- 
smith shops.     There  is  a  resident  physician  in  Plum. 

Plum  has  a  Baptist  C'hurch,  called  Plum  Grove  Church,  of 
which  Rev.  (i.  T.  Simpson  is  the  pastor.  Theie  is  also  a  Cattiolic 
Church  at  the  place. 

The  ]:)opulation  is  American,  German  and  Bohemian.  Old 
settlers:  Buck  Drisdale,  Ed.  Manton  (deceased),  Jno.  Drisdale 
(deceased),  Jim  O'Donnell. 


ROZNOV. 


Roznov  is  about  three  miles  east  of  Warrenton  in  the  eastern 
portion  of  the  county.  The  land  is  sandy  postoak  with  a  great 
many  fertile  lands  in  the  Clear  Creek  and  Cummings  Creek  bot- 
toms. The  population  is  largely  Bohemian  with  some  Germans 
among  them.  It  is  a  postoffice,  but  not  a  voting  precinct  of 
the  county.  The  people  of  Roznov  vote  at  Warrenton.  It  con- 
sists of  a  store  and  saloon  and  a  blacksmith  shop.  The  oldest 
settlers  of  the  neighborhood  are  .Joe  Weikel,  John  Halamicek, 
FredKnutzen,  Bernhard  Cordes,  Joseph  Orsak,  Joseph  Cerveuka. 


— 407— 

G»  D.  Wessers  Saloon... 

Is  known  throughout  the  county  as  a  popular  meeting 
place  of  all  connoisseurs  of  Fine  Whiskies  and  Wines,  Im- 
ported and  Domestic  Cigars. 

-..The    Fine   Hall^-^^ 

with  the  finest  dancing  floor  in  the  county,  situated  in  a  beautiful 
park,  is  the  most  popular  resort  of  the  young  people  of  La  Grange, 
Rutersville  and  surrounding  towns.  RUTERSVILLE,  TEXAS. 

R  UTERSVILLE. 


Rutersville  lies  about  six  miles  northeast  of  La  Crrange  in 
the  fertile  Rutersville  prairie,  hoji;  wallow  land,  near  the  banks 
of  Rocky  Creek.  It  is  located  on  the  Franklin  J^ewis  league. 
Rutersville  is  an  old  historic  place.  In  the  early  days  it  was  a 
competitor  for  the  capital  of  the  Republic  of  Texas.  At  that 
time  there  was  a  military  school  owned  by  the  state  under  the 
management  of  Prof.  Forshea  and  a  female  college  under  the 
management  of  Supt.  Thrall  at  Rutersville.  On  account  of  these 
schools,  the  town  was  a  local  option  precinct.  These  schools 
were  closed  during  the  Civil  War  and  not  reopened  thereafter. 
A  stock  company  bought  the  college  and  sold  it  to  the  Lutheran 
congregation;  they  sold  it  to  the  Methodists,  who  for  a  long  time 
used  it  for  a  school. 

Rutersville  consists  or  a  store,  a  saloon,  a  gin  and  a  black- 
smith and  wheelwright  shop.  It  is  a  voting  place  of  the  county 
and  a  postoffice.  Mr.  G.  D.  Wessels  is  the  owner  of  a  fine  hall 
for  dancing,  the  best  in  the  county.  He  also  is  the  owner  of  a 
first-class  saloon. 

The  Rutersville  country  was  settled  by  Americans  and  Ger- 
mans, but  now  thi  country  is  almost  entirely  German  with  a 
sprinkling  of  Bohemians.  Old  settlers:  C.  Amberg,  sr.  (de- 
ceased), Geo.  Mauer,  J3.  \V.  Hobson  (deceased),  F.  Luecke,  VV. 
Hancord,  the  Mohrhusens,  H.  Harms,  Carl  Schulz,  R.  Pohl,  L, 
Struve,  Joe  Brendel. 


—408— 
STELLA. 


Slella  lies  about  eight  miles  southwest  of  VVcft  Point.  It 
is  a  postoffice  and  ^a  voting  precinct  and  consists  of  one  store. 
The  surrounding  country  is  postoak.  The  population  is  Amer- 
ican. 


SBO.    VOST"-^^^  ^T^x^s'^.^''' 


Dealer  in 


Staple  anb  fm\c^  (Suoceiiee 

Dry  Goods  and  Notions,  Hardware 
Crockery  and  Glassware 

Country  Produce  bought  at  market  prices.     Come  and  give  him  a 
trial. 

Chas.  Bruns ^Tex'as^'" 

"^J^^ZJlLSeneral  9?/erchancii'se 

tPaj/s  J^i^^hest  Cash  ^Prices  for  Country   ^Produce. 

A  fine  hall  and  a  saloon  In  connection  therewith  gather  young  and 
old  for  amusement. 

SWISH    ALP. 


Swiss  Alp  is  one  of  the  most  picturesque  and  fertile  sections 
of  the  county.  The  rolling  prairie  is  studded  with  elegant  resi- 
dences surrounded  by  gardens  and  trees.  The  blackland  is  very 
rich  and  productive;  the  population  well-to-do,  substantial  farm- 
ers; they  are  progressive  Germans.  It  is  a  comparatively  new 
country,   situated  on  the  Fayette  county   school   lands,   about 


—409— 

eleven  miles  from  La  Grange  and  seven  miles  from  Schuleuburs. 
It  is  a  voting  precinct  of  the  county  and  a  postoffice.  Geo.  Vogt 
and  Chas.  Bruns  are  popular  young  merchants  of  Swiss  Alp;  L. 
C.  Melcher,  the  proprietor  of  one  of  the  finest  gins  in  the  county. 
There  is  also  a  blacksmith  shop.  It  was  settled  in  the  seventies. 
Among  the  first  settlers  are  Chris  Steinmann,  A.  Franke  and 
Mrs.  Au^i^uste  Boiling.  At  Swiss  Alp  there  are  large  bone  depos- 
its, found  especially  in  Mr.  Knigge's  pasture.  They  have  been 
described  by  Mr.  L.  C  Melcher  in  his  essay  on  minerals  of  the 
count  V. 


WALDECK. 


Waldeck  lies  about  fourteen  miles  north  of  La  Grange 
on  the  La  Grange-Ledbetter  road.  The  country  is  black  land 
and  post-oak.  The  population  is  German.  It  is  a  voting  pre- 
cinct of  the  county  and  a  post  office.  It  consists  of  a  store,  a 
saloon,  a  gin,  a  blacksmith  shop  and  a  JAitheran  church,  of 
which  Uev.  Chas.  Baer  is  pastor.       Old    settlers:     Fritz    Weber, 

Friedrich    Schuhmann,  A.  F.  Dornwell,  Meiners,  Traugott 

Sommer.  Gerh.  Albers,  (deceased),  Carl  Schuhmann,  (deceased), 
Dietricli  Ahlrich. 


AVALIJALLA. 


Walhalla  lies  fourteen  miles  in  a  northerly  direction  from 
La  Grange.  It  is  situated  in  Cottonwood  prairie,  fertile  black- 
land.  It  is  a  post-otiice  and  a  voting  precinct  of  the  county, 
and  consists  of  a  store,  a  saloon  and  a  blacksmith  shop.  A 
physician  resides  there.  The  population  is  (German.  Old  set- 
tlers: William  Koepke,  (ierhard  Imken,  John  H.  Bluhme,  Geo. 
Oetken,  sr.,  Hon.  J.  C.  Speckels,  Hy  Alhorn,  Chas.  Meinhold, 
Carl  Sump,  Carl  Schubert,  Louis  Heller,  Tom  Heller,  Dick 
Meinen  and  L.  F.  Tiemanu. 


—410- 
WARDA. 


Warda  lies  about  twelve  miles  north  of  La  Grange  on  the 
La  Grange-Giddings  road,  not  far  from  the  banks  of  Rabb's 
Creek.  Tlie  bottom  lands  of  this  creek  are  very  fertile.  The 
balance  of  the  land  is  postoak  and  pinewood.  In  the  early  days 
tliere  was  a  sawmill  on  the  banks  of  Rabb's  Creek  that  furnished 
lumber  to  a  great  scope  of  surrounding  country.  These  lands 
were  settled  very  early,  about  the  year  1830.  In  the  early  thir- 
ties a  Mr.  Earthman  of  that  place  was  killed  near  the  present 
Nechanitz  by  marauding  Indians.  The  population  is  mostly 
Wendish,  a  Slavic  tribe  that  has  become  almost  completely  Ger- 
manized under  the  rule  of  the  German  government.  They  are  a 
very  religious  people.  A  fine  German  Lutheran  Church  under 
the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Buchschacher  is  the  center  of  religious  life 
of  that  neighborhood.  Said  congregation  supports  also  entirely 
by  private  means  a  school  under  the  management  of  Prof.  G.  M. 
Schleyer,  where  the  children  are  taught  to  walk  in  ways  pleasing 
to  God. 

The  public  school  of  that  place  is  under  the  able  manage- 
ment of  a  thorough  and  conscientious  teacher,  Prof.  J.  H.  Merz. 
There  are  few  teachers  in  the  county  who  are  his  equal  m  schol- 
arship and  there  is  none  who  takes  a  greater  interest  and  devotes 
more  care  to  the  progress  of  his  pupils  than  he.  He  is  a  born 
educator,  a  gentleman  of  unassuming  manners,  of  broad  views 
and  of  high  moral  character. 

Warda  is  situated  twelve  miles  from  L?  Grange  and  ten 
miles  from  Giddings.  The  whole  surrounding  country  is  tribu- 
tary to  its  business.  Falke  Bros,  are  the  leading  merchants  of 
Warda.  They  are  the  proprietors  of  a  large  department  store 
hardly  equaled  anywhere  in  the  county.  Their  store  contains 
anything  you  may  call  for  from  a  six-penny  nail  to  a  mowing 
machine,  from  a  spool  of  thread  to  an  elegant  suit,  from  a  shoe- 
peg  to  a  fashionable  set  of  furniture.  They  are  wide-awake, 
liberal   and  sell  cheap,  with   very  small  profits.     They  take  a 


—411— 
C.  A.  FALKE.  E.  A.  FALKE. 

C.  ^.  J'alke  d  ^ro. 

DEALERS    IN 


I 


Sonera/  i/ferchandise 

Warda,  Texas. 

This  business  firm  was  established  by  A.  E.  Falke  in  the 
year  1875.  It  has  been  conducted  by  members  of  this  family 
for  27  years.  Therefore,  it  is  one  of  the  oldest — most  probably, 
the  oldest— business  firm  in  Fayette  County.  Not  only  is  it 
noted  for  its  age,  buf  also  for  its  reliability,  financial  standing 
and  solidity.  It  is  one  of  the  very  largest  department  stores  of 
the  whole  county — equal  to  any,  excelled  by  none. 

The  large  buildings  of  this  firm  are  stored  with  the  most 
complete  assortment  of  the  most  various  kinds  of 

Staple  and  Fancy  Groceries 

Dry  Goods,  Boots, 

Shoes 

Hats,  Caps,  Hardware,  Cutlery. 
Glassware,  Crockery,  Furniture^ 
Saddlery,  Buggies,  Wagons  and 
All  Kinds  of  Farming  Implements 


In  low  prices,  promptness  and  polite  ti'eatment  of  customers 
it  is  a  successful  competitor  with  the  largest  department  stores 
in  any  part  of  the  county.  Its  sales  are  not  excelled  anywhere 
and  it  purchases  at  highest  market  prices  its  full  share  of  cotton 
and  country  produce.  It  enjoys  the  perfect  confidence  of  its 
customers  and  the  respect  of  its  competitors.  u 


—112— 

J  a.  Jtotnmann ..«.  ^r^^^^  I 

^j\i  — Proprietor  of yj^ 

I         ...Blacksmith  5hop  I 

(^  v»/ 

^{^  All  work  in  his  line  done  in  first-class,  workman-like  manner,  vj/ 

^{y  All  work  guaranteed,  and  nothing  but   first-class    work  turned  ^{J 

/jv  out  of  the  shojD.  vj/ 

I  ^.  ^roehlic/i  &  Son,         '^"uZ.s.  \ 

S  are  the  Proprietors  of  a  ^ 

I  ,,,,»J'irst   Class  Cotton  Sin  | 

5  witli  all  the  Latest  and  Most  Modern   Appliances.  g 

^  In  connection  therewith  they  run  a  grist-raill  and  p 

5  saw-mill.     They  insure  their  customers  good   and  p 

%  prompt  service  and  invite  your  trade.  % 

friendly  interest  in  their  customers  and  are,  on  that  account, 
exceedingly  popular.  In  fact,  the  writer  would  like  to  be  shown 
better  merchants  than  they  are.  He  has  not  found  them.  They 
have  money,  they  have  strong  financial  backing,  they  have  suc- 
cess and  they  deserve  it.  Sometimes  merchants  are  called  in 
newspapers  in  a  kind  of  flattery,  merchant  princes.  If  any  mer- 
chants in  Fayette  county  deserve  this  title,  they  are  the  men. 
The  writer  has  found  so  seldom  wealth  coupled  with  liberality 
and  the  feeling  of  obligation  which  wealth  and  high  station  im- 
pose on  a  man;  here  they  are.  Thus,  the  writer  considers  that 
the  title  of  merchant  princes  of  Fayette  county  is  one  to  which 
they  have  a  just  and  right  claim.  They  are  worthy  of  their 
wealth. 

Gus.  Matejowski  is   the  other   merchant  of  Warda,    jovial, 
jolly  and  popular.     He  does  a  large  business,  and  to  be  a  com- 


—413— 


O/ ^■^.^■^^■^.^-    •    ..    •■    -^j 

t  DR.  P.  BECKMANN.  t 

«>  \«/ 

I  p)h\|§ieian  and  (^^urqeon,  % 

/ft  >» 

i\\  Sraciuaie  "Uuiane  1/niversitt/  H? 

I  of9/ew  Orleans,    Xa.  | 

$  WARDA,               -               -           -               TEXAS.  t 

I  *7i/j  iTfatejowskif  | 

&«                                                         Dealer  in  ^ 


I  Groceries,  Dry  Goods,  Hats,  Boots,  | 

5  Shoes,  Hardware,  (iueensware,   Crockery,    J)rngs,  ^ 

5  Patent  Medicines,  Farming  Implements.       Fresli 

%  Beer  always    on    tap.       Buys    Country    Produce. 

%  Your  custom  invited.  Warda,  Texas. 

petitor  with  the  Falkes  and  to  do  good  business  in  competition 
with  them  is  a  credit  to  any  man. 

G.  Rothmann  is  a  line  blacksmith,  a  very  skillful  workman 
who  would  be  a  credit  to  any  city. 

C.  Froehlich  &  Son  are  tirst-class  ginners.  Their  gin  is  as 
well  equipped  as  any  in  the  county.  They  pay  close  attention  to 
business  and  turn  out  a  fine  staple.  They  do  the  best  work  in 
that  whole  section  of  the  country. 

Last,  but  not  least,  may  be  mentioned  Dr.  Paul  Beckmann, 
one  of  the  finest  physicians  and  surgeons  in  the  county.  He  is 
a  graduate  of  Tulane  University,  the  finest  medical  school  in  the 
South,  excels  in  his  profession  and  has  effected  wonderful  cures, 

Warda  has  dail}^  mail  and  telej)iione  connection.  The  oldest 
settlers  now  living  are  the  Falke  family,  Carl  Teinert,  tiie  flerhig 
family,  ,J.  G.  Neitsch,  Mr.  AI.  Moerbe,  .John  Lorenz,  M.  Doinasch, 
tJ.  Krakoski,  Ernst  Kunze. 


—414— 

oCeffal  TJencier  Oaloon, . . 

is  one  of  the  most   popular  resorts 
of  the  county.    The  finest  brands  of 

jCiquorSj   Wines,    C/^ars  and  ^eer 

are  always  kept  in  stock.       Remember  that  the  Harmonia  Hall 
has  one  of  the  best  floors  for  dancing. 

Wm.  Trueper,         -         -         Warrenton,  Texas. 


DR.  ROBT.  H.  SEYMOUR, 
PhysicisLii  ©Lnd   Surgeon, 

Warrenton,  Texas. 

TV^ARREIVTON. 


Warrpnton  lies  about  thirteen  miles  northeast  of  La  Grange 
on  the  La  Grange  Round  Top  road.  It  is  located  on  the  J.  Shaw- 
league.  The  surrounding  country  is  rich  blackland  prairie,  one 
of  the  linest  agricultural  sections  of  the  county.  The  town  was 
founded  in  the  early  sixties  and  named  after  Warren  Ligon  War- 
renton. The  Warrenton  school  is  under  the  able  management  of 
Prof.  Meitzen. 

There  are  two  churches  in  the  town,  the  Lutheran,  of  which 
llev.  Grosse  is  the  pastor,  and  the  Catholic,  in  which  Rev.  J. 
Chromcik  of  Fayetleville  preaches.  Two  lodges  are  at  the  place: 
\\'oodmen,  Wm.  Neese,  M.  W.,  Chas.  Brendle,  secretary,  and 
Sons  of  Hermann. 

Warrenton  consists  of  two  stores,  two  blacksmith  shops,  one 


—415— 

BOBBRT    VOSLKBL  I 

Proproietor  of 1 


I         Meat  ilarkets         | 

i  t 

I      in  l^arrenton  and  Oldenburg.      Fresh   Beef      | 

I  twice  a  week.  | 

Cherries  Fra^nz....      "'"''"'"rixas. 


Dealer  in. 


General  Merchandise 

Dry  Goods,  Boots,  Shoes,  Hats,  Hardware,  Crockery  and  Saddlery. 
Cotton  bought.  Highest  prices  paid  for  Country  Produce.  Call  on 
us  and  examine  our  goods.     You  will  obtain  fine  bargains. 

gin  and  one  saloon.  Two  physicians  reside  there.  Of  the  gen- 
tlemen who  thought  well  enough  of  the  aim  of  the  author  to  edit 
a  book  on  Fayette  county  to  the  extent  of  patronizing  him  with 
an  ad,  he  names, Chas.  Franz,  the  popular  postmaster  of  War- 
renton,  who  is  0.  K.  and  treats  you  0.  K.  Dr.  Robt.  II.  Sey- 
mour is  a  learned  physician,  an  old  resident  of  VVarrenton,  and 
stands  well  among  the  people  as  well  as  among  his  colleagues. 
He  is  an  Irishman,  a  good  scholar  and  one  of  the  few  who  are 
still  versed  in  the  Gaelic  language.  He  is  a  leading  democrat  of 
that  section  of  the  county.  VVm.  Trueper  is  the  proprietor  of  an 
up-to-date  saloon  and  a  fine  hall  that  serves  for  balls,  theatrical 
performances,  public  meetings,  etc.  The  hall  is  situated  in  a 
beautiful  park.  Robert  Voelkel  is  the  proprietor  of  two  meat 
markets,  one  at  Warrenton  and  one  at  Oldenburg.  He  supplies 
these  two  communities  with  fresh  meat  twice  a  week.  Marshall 
B.  O'Bar  is  the  ginner  of  the  place  and  has  been  in  the  business 
for  about  thirty  years. 

Warrenton  was  first  named  lN>ese's  Store,     Mr,  Win.  j^eese, 


—416— 

sr,,  the  proprietor  of  the  store,  was  killed  by  a  negro  burglar  in 
1872.  After  his  death  the  Lutheran  Church  of  that  place  was 
built  and  the  place  received  its  present  name  Warrenton,  after 
Warren  Ligon,  an  old  settler. 

The  population  of  the  place  is  now  German  and  Bohemian, 
with  a  sprinkling  of  Americans  among  them.  First  and  old 
settlers:  Joel  W.  Robison  (deceased),  D.  Ahrens,  Warren  Ligon 
(deceased),   John   Speckels,    sr.  (deceased),  John   White,  W.  S. 

Rose,  Randall,  Spencer,   H.   Moellenberndt,    Conrad 

Tiemann,    Conrad   Moellenberndt,   Albert  Kaltwasser,  Dr.  Mc- 

Gown,  C.  Letzerich,  Friedr.  Oetken,  Rev.   Rich.   Atkinson, 

Bohms,  Martin  Dippel,  Weikel,   M.  B.  O'Bar,  Bell. 


^"EST    POINT. 


West  Point  lies  on  the  Missouri,  Kansas  and  Texas  Railroad 
and  the  Waco  branch  of  the  Sun  Anlonio  and  Aransas  Pass  Rail- 
way, about  twelve  miles  from  La  Grange.  The  section  from 
which  West  Point  draws  its  main  trade  is  the  rich  fertile  Colo- 
rado bottom,  deep  alluvial  soil.  The  town  consists  of  three 
stores,  one  drug  store,  two  physicians,  three  hotels,  two  black- 
smith shops,  two  cotton  gins,  one  molasses  press  owned  by  Mr. 
House  who  turns  out  a  superior  molasses  known  over  the 
county,  and  one  cannery.  The  latter  is  owned  by  a  stock  company 
of  enterprising  citizens  and  was  completed  this  year  at  a  cost  of 
$6500.  The  rich  surrounding  country  has  various  kinds  of  soil, 
mostly  rich  loam  beds.  It  is  very  favorable  to  the  raising  of 
fruits  and  vegetables.  West  point  deserves  the  credit  of  starting 
the  industry  which  (the  conditions  warrant  the  belief)  promis*-s 
to  become  a  success.  Other  sections  of  the  county  may  follow 
the  example  set,  quite  increasing  thereby  tlie  income  of  the 
farmer  and  making  him  independent  of  the  staple  article, 
cotton. 

S.  A.  Shelburne,  a  native  of  Austin  County,  has  been  for 
the  last  nine  years  \n  the  general  merchandise  business  at    West 


417— 


c5l  ^.  uhelburne 


litest  iPoint, 
Uexas. 


[Established  in  1893. 
Dealer  in 


General   Merchandise 

keeps  in  his  department  store  a  full  line  and  a 
large  assortment  of  Faijcy  andlStapie  Groceries, 
Drnojs  and  Patent  Medicines,  Dry  Goods, 
Ready  Made  Suits,  Shoes,  Roots,  Hals,  Hard- 
ware, Tinware,  Saddles,  Harness,  Crockery, 
Glassware,  Furniture,  Coffins  and  First  Class 
Undertakers'  Goods,  and  a  complete  line  of  the 
Latest  Improved  Farming  Implements.  This 
reliable  firm  sells  its  first  class  goods  at  low 
prices.  It  enjoys  tlie  confidence  of  its  patronsi 
and  is  always  able  to  offer  them  specially  good 
bargains. 


DR..  M.  E.  CLARY 

Physician  and   Surgeon, 

Diseases  of  Women  and 
Children  a  specialty. 

Cures  Cancer  without  the  knife.  Consultation  Free. 

WEST    POINT,  TEXAS. 

Point  and  is  the  leading  merchant  of  that  place.  F.  J,  Johnson 
is  the  postmaster  at  West  Point,  a  druggist  and  a  grocer.  Mr. 
Shelburne  is  a  leading  democrat  and  Mr.  Johnson  a  leading 
republican.  0.  L.  Lee  is  the  proprietor  of  a  first  class  saloon 
and  keeps  the  purest  and  best  brands  of  whiskies.  Dr.  M.  E. 
Clary  is  a  resident  pliysician  of  West  Point.  He  has  practiced 
there  since  1891,  is  a  fine  physician  and  is  regarded  as  such  by 
the  people  and  by  his  colleagues. 

There  are  two  churches  in   West  Point,  a  Baptist  Church, 


-418— 

'.  L.  Lee's  Bar...  "^tZT"'  I 

is  the  only  place  in  West  Point  wliere  j^ou  can  ^ 

get  drinks  of  the  best  brands  of  :^ 


I         Whiskies,  Liquors  and  Wines        | 

I  % 

3   Fine  Cigars  and  a  Fresh,  Cool  Glass  of  Beer.      Don't  forget  the   g 
p  place  and  call  when  in  West  Point.  ^ 

¥.   J.    JOHNSON    ^    SON. 

DEALERS  IN  


Pure  Drugs,  Medicines,  Toilet 
Articles,  Jewelry,  Notions,  etc. 

Prescriptions  carefully  and  promptly  filled.      Keep  also   on  hand 
Fancy  and  Staple  Groceries  and  Garden  Seed.    Your  custom  solicited. 

West  Point,  Texats. 

Rev.  VV.  M.  Daniels,  pastor,  and  a  Methodist  Church.  Rev.  J.  J. 
Calloway,  pastor. 

The  first  settlers  in  the  West  Point  settlement  arrived  about 
the  year  1840.  The  town  is  located  on  land  that  formerly  be- 
longed to  Bill  Young.  It  is  a  postoffice  since  1872.  The  popu- 
lation is  American  with  a  few  Germans  among  them.  Prominent 
settlers:  J.  Darby,  C.  W.  iMoore,  J.  L.  House,  A.  W.  Young 
(deceased),  T.  C.  Moore  (deceased),  W.  A.  Young  (deceased), 
J.  H.  Baker,  Seth  Green,  F.  J.  Johnson  and  others. 


WINCHESTER. 


Winchester  is  situated  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Fayette 
county  on  the  Waco  branch  of  the  San  Antonio  &  Aransas  Pass 
Railroad.     It   is   about   twenty  miles   distant   from    La  Grange. 


—419— 


Sam.  F.  Drake...  '^^V"±f  ^'' 

Proprietor 


Texas. 


Bepartment  Store. 


The  Largest  and  Leading  Mercantile  Establish-   W 
ment  in  Winchester.  jj 


Solid,  reliable,  enterprising,  receives  daily  freight 
consisting  of  Staple  and  Fancy  Groceries.  ]Jry  Goods, 
Hardware,  (."rockery,  Glassware,  etc.  On  account  of 
immense  sales,  all  our  goods  are  fresh,  new  and  up-to- 
date.     They  are  sold  at  snaall  profits. 


The  fertile  Colorado  River  bottoms  close  by  are  tributary  to  its 
bisiness.  Part  of  the  land  is  fertile  mesquite  prairie.  There  is 
also  a  great  deal  of  postoak  near  Winchester.  The  Ingram  prai- 
rie and  the  Cunningham  prairie, lithe  latter  in  Bastrop  county, 
are  in  its  neighborhood. 

The  teacher  of  the  Winchester  school  is  Miss  Gillespie.  Of 
lodges  there  are  the  Odd  Fellows,  Knights  of  Honor  and  \\'ood- 
men  of  tlie  W'orkl. 

The  town  has  a  Lutheran  Church,  Rev.  A.  L.  Grasens,  pas- 
tor; a  Baptist  Church,  Rev.  Duke,  pastor;  a  Presbyterian  Church, 
Rev.  J.  W.  Montgomery,  pastor;  and  a  Methodist  Church,  Rev. 
C.illoway,  pastor. 

The  town  of  Winchester  was  founded  and  laid  oil'  about  the 
year  1857  by  John  Frame,  who  now  lives  in  Falls  county.  It 
consists  of  seven  general  merchandise  houses,  one  hotel,  one 
butcher  shop,  two   drugstores,  two   physicians,  one  saloon,  one 


—420— 


I  Dr.  A.  P.  Verdery,  I 

I       Ipb^sician   anb    SuvGCon       | 


i  WINCHESTER,  TEXAS.  | 

H.  F.  LITTLE.  J.   F,   MOHLER. 

Little  &  riohler 

Tl^inchesierf   XJexas. 

own  the  most  popular  and  favorably  known  resort 
in  the  northern  section  of  the  county.  They  keep 
the  finest  brands  of  Whiskies,  Liquors  and  Wines, 
Cigars  and  Fresh  Cool  Beer.    Your  custom  invited. 

lumber  yard,  one  blacksmith  shop,  one  gin  and  one  barber  shop. 

Of  all  the  towns  of  Fayette  county  which  are  not  incor- 
porated Winchester  does  the  largest  business.  It  has  become  a 
lively  town,  due  to  the  energy  and  business  talent  of  her  mer- 
chants, of  whom  Messrs.  Sam  F.  Drake,  W.  A.  Giles  and  E. 
Zilss  may  be  mentioned  as  the  most  enterprising.  Little  cfe 
Mohler  is  the  only  saloon  in  the  town;  they  are  liberal  and  pop- 
ular men  and  do  as  much  business  as  any  saloon  in  the  count}^ 
Dr.  A.  F.  Verderi  is  an  old  resident  eminent  physician  of  Win- 
chester, who  has  effected  a  great  many  cures. 

The  settlement  is  one  of  the  oldest  in  the  whole  county.  As 
early  as  1822  John  Ingram,  after  whom  Ingram's  Prairie  is 
named,  came  into  tliat  neighborhood  and  settled  on  the  prairie. 
John  C.  Cunningham  was  another  old  settler  of  the  Winchester 
neighborhood,  but  he  settled  in  Bastrop  county  on  the 
prairie  named  after  him.  The  oldest  settler  of  the  Win- 
Chester  neighborl^ood  now   living  is   A.  D.  Saunders.     He  has 


-421-- 


P      711    CC  ^  IsTinchester, 


Texas  .  . 

DEALER  IN 


Staple  and  Fancy  Groceries 

Dry  Goods,  Boots,  Shoes,  Hats,  Caps,  Hardware,  Cutlery,  Crockery 
and  Glassware,  invites  your  custom.  He  pays  the  highest  market 
prices  for  cotton  and  country  prodace. 

^W.  A.  GILES, 


DEALER    IN 


General     Merchandise 

I  do  not  pretend  to  compete  with  "Cheap  John"  goods.  I  handle 
the  best  makes,  brands  and  productions  and  sell  them  as  cheap  as  they 
can  be  sold  in  any  market. 


come  there  in  the  early  forties  and  still  remembers  the  last 
Indian  raid  in  that  neighborhood.  Other  prominent  settlers  are 
J.  H.  McCullom,  Paul  Haske,  Dr..A.  F.  Verdery,  G.  C.  Thomas, 
Mrs.  James  roung,  Joseph  Mohler,  sr.,  Mrs.  T.  T.  Parr.  - 

The  population  of  the  settlement  is  largely  American.  Of 
late  a  great  many  Germans  have  come  in.  Winchester  is  a  rail- 
road station,  postoffice  and  voting  precinct  of  the  county. 


ZAPP. 


Zapp  is  situated  about  seven  miles  north  of  Fayetteville  in 
the  extreme  eastern  portion  of  the  county  on  Willow  Spring.  A 
more  jdeasing  landscape  can  hardly  be  found  in  the  slate.  The 
elegant  white  painted  farmhouses,  tiie  substantial  large  barns,  in 
the  midst  of  verdant  fields,  speak  of  the  industry  of  its  people. 
The  people  rre  well-to-do,  independent  and  contented.  They 
enjoy  life,  being  well  fixed  against  any  contingencies,     The  pop- 


422 


Ad.  Weig:e.^^^  ^Te 


Texas. 


Proprietor  of  a  First  Class 


. , .  Blacksmitii  and  Wtieelwriglit  Shop 

Agricultural  Imjilemenls  and  Wagons  made  to 
order.  Repairing  done  promptly.  Horse-shoeing 
a  specialty.     All  work  guaranteed  first  class. 

IS    THE    PROPRIETOR  OF  A 

Kirsf  olass  v^offor)  fer) 

Corn  and  Grist  Mill,  furnished  with  the  latest  improved  equipments. 
He  respectfully  invites  the  custom  of  the  neighborhood. 

C.  F.  Garlin ''°"TZ''L.s. 

offers  to  the  public  first  class  bargains  in 

©fdple    ar)a    K(2[r)CY    trrocenes 

Dry  Goods,  Hardware  and  Crockery.  Patronize  him  and  you  will  be 
pleased  with  your  bargains  and  your  treatment.  Buys  country  pro- 
duce at  market  prices. 

ulation  is  German  and  Bohemian.  The  place  was  named  after 
C.  T.  Zapp,  who  was  the  first  postmaster  in  that  place  (1881.) 
Zapp  is  also  called  Willow  Sprino^s,  after  the  school  hy  that 
name,  which  for  the  last  few  years  has  been  under  the  able 
direction  of  a  thorough  and  conscientious  teacher,  Prof.  Wm. 
Haverlah. 

C.  F.  Garlin,  a  very  accommodating  gentleman,  is  the  pres- 
ent postmaster  and  merchant  of  that  place.  His  reliability  and 
congenial  ways  deserve  the  custom  of  the  neighborhood.  Ad. 
Weige  is  a  youno-  blacksmith   at   that  place,  a  skillful  workman 


-423— 


I  The  Mutual  Life  Insurance  Co.  i 

I  OF  NEW  YORK,— .s^.  | 

;i  «> 

Jj  is  the  Oldest  and  Most  Conservative  Insurance  Company  V{<' 

'/^\  in   America,   and   sells   a  More     Attractive   Policy    for  ^{J 

*\\  smaller  premiums  carrying  a  higher  guarantee  than  any  SI/' 

J|^  other  large  company  in  the  world.  V{^ 

?j  «> 

/}x  2^.    ^.    J^in£i,    ^ffent.  Schuionbure^,   ZJexas.  % 


XTbe  Scbulenburg  Sticker... 


W.  R.  KI^G, 
Editor. 


-Official  Organ  of  Fayette  County, 


Is  the  most  extensively  read  English  paper  published  in  this  community. 

^-"^"^ —  Book  Printing  and  Job  Work  a  specialty. 


and  a  good  honest  man-     L.  C.  Muenzler  owns    a   very  fine  gin, 
does  very  good  work  in  his  line  and  satisfies  his  customers 

Zapp  is  a  very  old  settlement.  It  was  settled  early  in  the 
thirties  and  as  early  as  1839  it  is  spoken  of  in  the  minutes  of  the 
commissioners'  court  as  the  German  settlement.  Old  settlers 
are  F.  Garlin.  Ad.  Schuiz,  Wra.  Krebs,  Gerh.  Peinsohn,  VVm. 
W'eidemann,  V.  Scharnberg,  Mrs.  Johanna  Heinsohn  (age  96 
3^ears),  Julius  Krebs.  Among  the  old  settlers  who  have  passed 
from  life  and  gone  to  whence  there  is  no  return  Carl  Albrecht,  A. 
Muenzler,  F.  Pagel,  Christian  Henniger  may  be  named. 


ADDENDUM. 


The  following  letter  of  Mr.  J.  C.  Melcher  contains  additional 
valuable  information  in  regard  to  minerals  of  Fayette  county.  It 
was  received  after  his  article  had  been  printed.  It  is  here  given 
in  full  as  addendum. 

O'QuiNN,  Texas,  July  30,  1902. 
Prof.  F.  Lotto, 

SCHULENJUTRG.    TexAS. 

Dear  Sir  and  Friend: — Since  reporting  for  you  last  on  your 
valuable  book  on  Fayette  county,  some  new  discoveries  in  the 
mineral  line  have  been  made,  as  follows: 

A  large  bed  of  natural    volcanic  pumiceous  dust,   near  the 


—424— 

great  kaolin  deposits  on  the  J.  Bartlett  league.  The  stuff  is 
nearly  pure  white,  comparativeh^  clean,  over  nine  teet  thick  and 
is  quarried  like  common  soft  sandstone.  Pumiceous  dust  is  used 
for  tooth  polish,  for  polishing  all  kinds  of  metals,  glass  and 
chiuaware  and  for  healing  powders.  Baked  into  soft  bricks,  it  is 
used  for  water  filters,  candlesticks,  oil  torches,  glycerin  sticks, 
artificial  madstones,  fire  brick,  boiler  covers,  porous  water  ves- 
sels and  decanters. 

Last  month  I  accidentally  came  across  a  vein  of  metallic  ore 
on  top  of  a  high  hill  on  tlie  No.  4  S.  F.  Knight  league.  The  ore 
seems  to  be  valuable  and  contains  silver,  lead  and  iron. 

Last  week  1  received  the  new  map  of  the  U.  S.  geological 
survey  ot  Texas.  Upon  this  map  is  marked  a  mineral  field  of 
o0x30  square  miles,  covering  part  of  Fayette  county.  The  east 
boundary  line  of  this  mineral  field  runs  north  from  near  Engle 
Station  to  West  Point  and  thence  to  Winchester. 

There  are  sixty-one  such  mineral  fields  marked  down  on  the 
map  of  Texae.  Texas  will  be  a  great  mineral  state  in  the  future. 
This  latest  map  was  a  consolation  to  me,  because  ic  proved  that 
I  was  right  in  claiming  that  parts  of  Fayette  county  are  mineral 
sections.  Yours  respectfully,  J 

J.  C.  Melcher. 


IFayette   CouisrTY,| 

:  HER    HISTOKV     AND     HEK    PEOPLE.  ^ 


By  F.  LOTTO. 


Price.  S:2.50. 


Agents  wanted.  Write  for  terms,  i 

Address  your  orders  for  books  to  % 

F.  LOTTO,  La  Grange,  Texas.  | 


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