Fayette County, Her History and Her People . By F. Lotto . Published by the author at Schulenburg, Texas, 1902. 8vo. Cloth. Pp. xxi+424.

If there is any portion of our State that is more intimately than another connected with the beginning of the institutions Texas now has, and with their subsequent development, it is that group of counties carved out of Austin's first grant—Washington, Austin, Fayette, etc. Notwithstanding this fact, the present volume is the first to undertake the delightful task of setting forth at some length the rôle played by one of the divisions of this historic section. The book may be divided into three parts, corresponding to the three main heads in the title. The first 80 pages are devoted to a description of the physical features, natural resources, industries, productions, population, social life, politics, newspapers, and possibilities of Fayette county. It was perhaps this part that the writer had in mind who said, “Mr. Lotto has given to his county what many counties in Texas are trying to get; that is, just such a write-up to be put in book form and distributed through the country to prospective homeseekers. This book properly distributed ought to result in the location of several hundred families in Fayette county.”

Under the second head a brief account of the history of the county is given. Of the 120 pages covered by this sketch, Chapters I and II cover 35 pages. Only 10 pages are devoted to the history of the county up to the time of its organization, January, 1838. Indian tribes, the arrival, character, and nationality of the first white settlers, Indian fights, and the county's share in the War of Independence are touched upon. Few readers will be satisfied with this not only brief but lean sketch of the beginnings of “the grand old county of Fayette.” Chapter II is somewhat richer in materials, and covers the period from 1838 to 1861. In 1838, Fayette county was a competitor for the permanent seat of government of the Republic, and a bill locating the capital at La Grange, says the author, actually passed congress but was vetoed by the president. The Dawson massacre, the execution of the Mier prisoners, and the removal to and interment of the remains of both on Mounment Hill opposite La Grange are recounted. The remainder of the Chapter deals with the organization of the county, and with such subjects as taxation, county scrip, credit of the county; jails and courthouses, paupers, ferries, bridges, and roads, election precincts, county officers, and officers' fees—materials which are gleaned from the records of the county clerk's office and which are kiln-dried in character. The location of the school lands and the amount of the county's share of the first apportionment of the public school fund—$769.42 in 1854—are the only facts mentioned touching the state of education in Fayette county previous to 1861; churches fare even worse; and the early newspapers are almost as badly neglected. Not even the published material relating to these subjects has been indicated by the author. Most disappointing of all, however, is his treatment of that phase of the county's history which he refers to on page 44 as follows: “The early settlers of Texas came from different parts of the United States, mostly from the southern states; already, at a very early date, a large German immigration, supplemented later on by a Bohemian immigration, came to this county. How they amalgamated to a harmonious union; how far the individuality of the early settlers impressed its stamp on them, to what extent the character of the descendants of these settlers was influenced 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 consideration.” The author does not even attempt to develop the subject broached, but dismisses it wrapped in all possible obscurity.

Chapter III—The Civil War, Chapter IV—Reconstruction, and Chapter V—Development, deal almost exclusively with the dry bones of administrative affairs of the county.

“Her People” may be taken as the title for the second half of the book. About 100 pages are filled with biographical sketches of people now living in Fayette county; an equal space is devoted to descriptions of the present state of forty cities, towns, and settlements, and to business advertisements. In a few instances a list of old settlers is given, but the dates of their location are omitted.

Numerous as the shortcomings of this book are, one must commend the frankness which prompted the author to present his readers by way of a preface with “a history of the preparation of this book.” (P. iii.)

E. W. Winkler .

How to cite:
Winkler, E. W., "Fayette County, Her History and Her People", Volume 007, Number 3, Southwestern Historical Quarterly Online, Page 236 - 238. http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/publications/journals/shq/online/v007/n3/review_9.html
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