TEXAS COLLECTION
In order to crystallize growing popular interest in local his-
tory, a Committee to Publicize American History has been ap-
pointed by Edward P. Alexander, president of The American
Association for State and Local History. Christopher Crittenden
is chairman, and the following are members: Herbert A. Kellar,
Douglas C. McMurtrie, S. K. Stevens, Mrs. Herbert P. Gambrell,
David C. Duniway, William G. Roelker, Culver H. Smith, Roy
F. Nichols, Lester J. Cappon, Bertha E. Josephson, Floyd C.
Shoemaker, George N. Fuller, H. Bailey Carroll, Dorothy C.
Barck, Arthur Pound, and Morris Bishop.
The Committee seeks practical suggestions from all interested
persons as to how it may be of service to the local historian, so
that he may better present his subject to the public. The follow-
ing methods have been suggested as workable means of pub-
licizing American history.
1. By more and better teaching of local history in the schools, colleges
and universities.
2. Through the newspapers.
3. By magazine articles.
4. By radio.
5. Through historical displays.
6. Through historical museums.
7. By the preservation and restoration of historic buildings, and the
marking of historic sites.
8. Through historical plays and pageants.
Any comments on this program should be addressed to Chris-
topher Crittenden, Chairman of the Committee to Publicize
American History, Box 1881, Raleigh, N. C.
Through the kindness of Miss Elizabeth G. Patterson, 2 Elm
Street, Cooperstown, New York, there has been presented to
the Association a beautiful copy of the General
Regulations
for
the
Government
of
the
Army
of
the
Republic
of
Texas
(Houston,
1839). The book was presented as a gift from the library and
collection of the late Brigadier General John H. Patterson of
the United States Army, a resident of Cooperstown. This is a
valuable addition to Texiana and to the rare book collection. A
more extensive note on General Patterson will appear in the
April Quarterly.
Each year a large number oí the members of the Association
request information on the Junior Historian writing- contest.
The following announcement will make it possible for adults
to explain the contest to young persons and local school au-
thorities and to invite their attention to the essay contest and
its opportunities.
The Junior Historian Writing Contest for 1944
$445 Offered in Prizes
The Junior Historian Writing Contest for 1944, sponsored by The Texas
State Historical Association, will close on April 1, 1944. The prizes offered
for writings on Texas subjects are as follows:
First prize $100.00
Second prize 75.00
Third prize 50.00
Fourth prize 25.00
Fifth prize 20.00
Sixth prize 15.00
Six honorable mention prizes 10.00 each
A part of each award will be made in good current Texas books. Any prize
award will carry with it a signal distinction.
Again, as in the past, students may write upon any topic in Texas his-
tory, but contestants are urged to work upon some subject related to their
community or local history. The following paragraph will suggest some
topics that will be suitable subjects, but this list is suggestive and not
definitive.
For example, papers may be written upon cattle, cattle trails, ranching,
cowboy amusements, cattle rustling, fencing, saddles, boots, Stetsons,
Indians, Indian depredations, sheep and goats, nesters, the packing indus-
try, cutting horses, oil booms, the oil industry, farming, lumbering, busi-
ness enterprises, early industries, newspapers, transportation, exploration,
wildlife, flora, circuit riders, early churches, pioneer settlements, forts,
missions, stage stands and stagecoaches, sea stories, air stories, marine
life, natural history, expeditions, descriptions of scenic places, state parks
(any one), place name studies, grass (varieties and usage), timber, horses,
home life, social life, Texas artists, musicians, writers, or a biographical
sketch on any worth while, interesting, or picturesque Texan. The biograph-
ical sketch need not be of a historically prominent person but can be of
someone who has been significant or interesting to some local area.
The Association offers a special prize of $25 for the "best paper having
to do with the Texas Gulf Coast area. This paper should tend to make
Texans conscious of our great extent of sea coast and its possibilities.
Another way of expressing the Association's interest is to say that we
have the feeling that Texans should no longer be insular in their thinking.
Papers here may deal with marine life, ships, canals, Texas foreign
trade, etc.
Also, another prize is offered through The
Junior
Historian
by the Texas
Folk-Lore Society. This prize is for the best folk-tale or legend of Texas
submitted or for the best story of observations of animals or natural
objects in Texas. The only restriction in subject here is that the story
of animals must not be a glorification of slaughter. The first prize award
will be $10 worth of good Texas books; second prize $7.50 worth; third
prize $5.00 worth; and fourth prize $2.50 worth.
Special prizes of $25 each are offered for the best acceptable papers
dealing with the history of La Grange, Texas, and with the history of
Lampasas, Texas.
Papers may compete in any combination of the contests but the same
paper is not eligible for two awards.
The closing date of this contest is April 1, 1944; all papers considered
must be postmarked not later than midnight of that date. Any young
person, under the age of twenty-one, who is a regular member of a Junior
Historian Chapter or who has become a Member-at-large through sub-
scription to The
Junior
Historian
is eligible for competition. This means
that the contest is open to more than half a million boys and girls in Texas.
As far as possible papers should be on typewriter size paper (8 1/2 x 11
inches), typewritten on one side only, double spaced, numbered, with
writer's name and school or address on the top right corner of each page.
Maps and pictures pertaining directly to the manuscript may be submitted.
The above is suggestive, and no paper will be refused consideration for
some slight technical flaw or omission. If paper is not typewritten, it
must, however, be clearly legible. From five to ten pages of double-spaced
copy may be considered average length for the papers; those in excess
of twenty-five hundred words will be handicapped in selection for publica-
tion in The
Junior
Historian.
The finished manuscript should be clipped
or bound together.
The judges will be advised that it is not necessary for the papers to
deal with a well-known place or incident. Papers will be ranked for clarity,
unity, accuracy, interest, and the picturesqueness of detail.
Young people or their sponsors are invited to write: The Editor, The
Junior
Historian,
Box 2145 University Station, Austin 12, Texas, concern-
ing any question that may arise regarding the contest. The winners will
be announced in the May number of the magazine. All entries become
the property of the Texas State Historical Association.
"Early Criminal Law in Texas" by Charles S. Potts in the
Texas
Law
Review,
XXI, 394-406, discusses the early criminal
law in Texas and the development of the criminal code. There
is an excellent discussion of the situation in Texas prior to the
Revolution, showing the work of Stephen F. Austin, the diffi-
culties inherent in the Mexican judicial system, and the efforts
of the colonists to secure reform. Dr. Potts traces the action
taken during the Revolution by the Consultation and General
Council to set up the common law of crime in Texas. "In three
successive solemn documents adopted within a period of less
than fourteen months--the Plan and Powers for a Provisional
Government, the Constitution of the Republic of Texas, and the
Act Punishing Crimes and Misdemeanors--the fathers of Texas
turned from the chaos of colonial days [Spanish Civil Law]
to the harsher but more familiar system [English Common Law]
they had known in the States." The Act of 1836 "formed the
basis of the criminal law for twenty years" until it was sup-
planted by the Penal Code in 1857. This article is urgently
recommended, for it clearly demonstrates how closely legal de-
velopment is connected with the history of a people.
Some six months ago the suggestion was made by Judge
Hobart Huson of Refugio that the Association compile a list
of all persons known to be interested or informed on the history
of some Texas county. Requests were made through the news-
papers of the state, to the membership, county officials, etc.,
and a file of the responses has been prepared in the office. In-
formation received to date is given below. This present list is
incomplete, but it is hoped that its publication will stimulate
others to send information of this type to the Association.
ANDERSON COUNTY
Dr. Bonner Frizzell
Palestine, Texas
ANGELINA COUNTY
Mr. I. A. Coston, Supt. of Schools
Lufkin, Texas
ARANSAS COUNTY
Mr. Fulton
Corpus Christi, Texas
Mr. W. H. Gray
Rockport, Texas
Judge Hobart Huson
Refugio, Texas
Mr. George C. Martin
5627½ S. Flores St.
San Antonio, Texas
Mrs. Norvell
Rockport, Texas
Mr. Ed Peets
Rockport, Texas
Mr. D. R. Scrivner
Rockport, Texas
Mr. J. M. Sparks
Rockport, Texas
Judge James A. Steele
Burnet, Texas
ARMSTRONG COUNTY
Miss Inez Christian
Claude, Texas
BEE COUNTY
Mr. George H. Adkins
Editor, Bee
Picayune
Beeville, Texas
Mr. Raymond Dixon
Great Southern Bldg.
Houston, Texas
Mrs. I. C. Madray
Beeville, Texas
BELL COUNTY
Dr. C. C. Cline
University Station
Austin, Texas
Mr. H. L. De Golyer
S. M. U.
Dallas, Texas
Mr. William Seymour Rose, Sr.
Salado, Texas
BEXAR COUNTY
Mr. C. Stanley Banks
230 Mary Louise Drive
San Antonio, Texas
Dr. P. I. Nixon
1022 Medical Arts Bldg.
San Antonio 5, Texas
BORDEN COUNTY
Editor of the Borden
County
Sun
Gail, Texas
Judge L. A. Pearce
Court House
Gail, Texas
BOSQUE COUNTY
Mr. J. B. Barry
Walnut Springs, Texas
Hon. H. J. Cureton
Meridian, Texas
Mr. Ed Nichols
Morgan, Texas
BROOKS COUNTY
"Captain" Brooks
Falfurrias, Texas
Mr. Ed Rachal
Falfurrias, Texas
BROWN COUNTY
Dr. T. R. Havins
Howard Payne College
Brownwood, Texas
Mr. James C. White
Editor, Brownwood
Banner
Brownwood, Texas
BURNET COUNTY
Mr. L. C. Chamberlain
Editor, Burnet
Bulletin
Burnet, Texas
Mrs. Alta Holland Gibbs
Burnet, Texas
Mrs. Mary Johnson Posey
Austin, Texas
CALDWELL COUNTY
Mr. J. Henry Martindale
P. O. Box 67
Lockhart, Texas
CALHOUN COUNTY
Miss Rebecca Rupert
Port Lavaca, Texas
CAMERON COUNTY
Judge Harbert Davenport
Brownsville, Texas
CHEROKEE COUNTY
Mr. E. W. Cole
Alto, Texas
CLAY COUNTY
Mrs. Katie Christian Douthitt
Henrietta, Texas
Mrs. Lillie S. Graves
Henrietta, Texas
Mr. W. C. Kimbrough
Haskell, Texas
COLLIN COUNTY
Capt. Roy F. Hall
Box 105
McKinney, Texas
Mrs. Stella Wheelis McMurry
RFD No. 1
Leonard, Texas
COLLINGSWORTH COUNTY
Mr. C. C. Bishop
Wellington, Texas
COMAL COUNTY
Mr. E. R. Dabney
University of Texas
Austin, Texas
COMANCHE COUNTY
Hon. George Black
President, Texas Rangers Assoc.
Comanche, Texas
CROCKETT COUNTY
Mr. Will Baggett
Ozona, Texas
Mr. Claude S. Denham
Ozona, Texas
DALLAS COUNTY
Mrs. Thomas Bond Griffith
3411 University Blvd.
Dallas, Texas
Mr. Herbert P. Gambrell
Hall of State
Dallas, Texas
DAWSON COUNTY
Mr. W. V. P. Baker
Lamesa National Bank
Lamesa, Texas
Mr. J. Hardy Morgan
Lamesa, Texas
DENTON COUNTY
Mr. William Lee McCormick
915 West Highland St.
Denton, Texas
Mrs. Will Williams
516 West Oak Street
Denton, Texas
DEWITT COUNTY
Dr. W. A. McLeod
Cuero, Texas
Mrs. Julia Sutherland
Cuero, Texas
Mr. C. T. Traylor
Cuero, Texas
EASTLAND COUNTY
Mr. Ed T. Cox
Eastland, Texas
ECTOR COUNTY
Mr. Carl Akin, County Clerk
Odessa, Texas
Mr. W. T. Henderson, Postmaster
Odessa, Texas
Mrs. R. T. Waddell
c/o Mayor R. T. Waddell
Odessa, Texas
ELLIS COUNTY
Mr. Jake Reagor
Georgetown, Texas
EL PASO COUNTY
Mr. C. H. Rhodes
3108 Pershing Drive
El Paso, Texas
FANNIN COUNTY
Dr. Rex W. Strickland
College of Mines
El Paso, Texas
FAYETTE COUNTY
Mrs. George Wilrich
La Grange, Texas
Mr. Richard Henniger Monroe
Route 6, Box 108U
San Antonio, Texas
Mr. Houston Wade
Route 5, Box 247
Schulenburg, Texas
FLOYD COUNTY
Mr. R. E. L. McLain
3925 Avenue M
Fort Worth, Texas
FORT BEND COUNTY
Miss Lee Nesbitt
Columbus, Texas
GALVESTON COUNTY
Mr. Walter E. Grover
2520 Avenue 0½
Galveston, Texas
Mr. J. S. Ibbotson
c/o Rosenberg Library
Galveston, Texas
Mr. William M. Morgan
2600 Avenue O½
Galveston, Texas
Dr. Edward Randall
900 American Nat'l Insurance Bldg.
Galveston, Texas
GILLESPIE COUNTY
Mr. E. R. Dabney
University of Texas
Austin, Texas
Miss Esther Louise Mueller
2626 Speedway
Austin, Texas
Miss Julia Estill
Fredericksburg, Texas
GOLIAD COUNTY
Mr. Wallace Fowler
Goliad, Texas
Mr. J. Littleton Talley
Goliad, Texas
Judge J. A. White
Goliad, Texas
GONZALES COUNTY
Mr. B. B. Hoskins, Jr.
City Tax Collector
Gonzales, Texas
GRAY COUNTY
Mrs. Edna Carr Vincent
Lefors, Texas
GREGG COUNTY
Mr. W. E. Jones
Longview, Texas
HALL COUNTY
Mr. John Thomas Duncan
2208 Pearce St.
Austin 21, Texas
HARRIS COUNTY
Miss Julia Beazley
4515 Walker
Houston, Texas
Mr. Tracy Clark
Galena Park, Texas
Mr. Herbert Fletcher
Fletchers' Book Store
403 Fannin
Houston, Texas
Mrs. Pearl Hendricks
1810 Rutland
Houston, Texas
Mr. L. W. Kemp
214 Westmoreland
Houston, Texas
Mr. Ike Moore
San Jacinto Museum of History
San Jacinto Monument, Texas
Mrs. Hally Bryan Perry
Plaza Hotel
Houston, Texas
Mr. Jesse Ziegler
Olive Hotel
Houston, Texas
HARRISON COUNTY
Mr. Robert M. Sikes
P. O. Box 605
Marshall, Texas
HAYS COUNTY
Mr. Dudley Dobie
San Marcos, Texas
HILL COUNTY
Mrs. Ella Stevens Watson-
Hillsboro, Texas
HOOD COUNTY
Mrs. Mary Berry Gardner
2121 Bolsover
Houston, Texas
HOUSTON COUNTY
Judge A. A. Aldrich
Crockett, Texas
Mr. J. B. Lightman
4701 Caroline Street
Houston, Texas
HOWARD COUNTY
Mr. John R. Hutto
University Place
Abilene, Texas
JACKSON COUNTY
Mrs. Edwards
c/o The Alamo
San Antonio, Texas
Mr. E. T. Rose
Edna, Texas
Mr. George F. Simons
Edna, Texas
Dr. I. T. Taylor
Edna, Texas
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Mr. J. Austin Barnes
Calder Place
Beaumont, Texas
Mr. Harvey Gilbert
Gilbert Building
Beaumont, Texas
Mrs. R. F. Pray
P. O. Box 1058
Lufkin, Texas
Mrs. C. C. Roberts
1710 Sabine Pass Avenue
Beaumont, Texas
JOHNSON COUNTY
Mrs. Frances D. Abernathy
Cleburne, Texas
Mrs. V. M. Fulton
Carnegie Library
Cleburne, Texas
Mrs. J. D. Goldsmith
Cleburne, Texas
KERR COUNTY
Mr. Henry M. Nowlin
Center Point, Texas
Mr. Jim Starkey
Kerrville, Texas
KING COUNTY
Mrs. Mary Berry Gardner
2121 Bolsover
Houston, Texas
LAMAR COUNTY
Mr. A. W. Neville
Paris, Texas
LAMPASAS COUNTY
Mrs. Julia A. McAnnelly
Lampasas County
Lometa, Texas
Prof. J. J. Montgomery
Lometa, Texas
MASON COUNTY
Mr. E. R. Dabney
University of Texas
Austin, Texas
McCULLOCH COUNTY
Mr. Hardin Jones
Brady, Texas
Mr. A. B. Reagan
Brady, Texas
Mr. Clarence Snider
Brady, Texas
McLENNAN COUNTY
Miss Lucy A. Erath
1304 N. 13th St.
Waco, Texas
Prof. Guy B. Harrison, Jr.
Baylor Univ.
Waco, Texas
Judge W. M. Sleeper
Box 529
Waco, Texas
MEDINA COUNTY
Judge Herman Haass
Hondo, Texas
Julis Nott Waugh
601 Camden St.
San Antonio, Texas
MITCHELL COUNTY
Mrs. J. Lee Jones
Colorado City, Texas
MORRIS COUNTY
Mr. Charles Howard Floyd
Cason, Texas
NACOGDOCHES COUNTY
Mr. R. B. Blake
1910 Wichita Street
Austin, Texas
Mrs. Guy Blount
Stephen F. Austin State Teachers
College
Nacogdoches, Texas
Mr. Charles Kinchloe Chamberlain
1002 North Fredonia
Nacogdoches, Texas
Miss Vergia Sanders
Nacogdoches, Texas
NOLAN COUNTY
Judge R. C. Crane
President of the West Texas His-
torical Association
Sweetwater, Texas
NUECES COUNTY
Miss Marie V. Blucher
123 North Carrizo St.
Corpus Christi, Texas
Judge Edward R. Kleberg
Corpus Christi, Texas
Mr. Coleman McCampbell
Corpus Christi, Texas
Mrs. Howell Ward
1900 Stillman
Corpus Christi, Texas
Mrs. Dee Woods
Corpus Christi, Texas
PARKER COUNTY
Mr. G. A. Holland
Weatherford, Texas
Mr. A. A. Patrick
Herald Publishing Company
Weatherford, Texas
Mr. R. K. Phillips
Weatherford, Texas
Judge T. F. Temple
Weatherford, Texas
POTTER COUNTY
Miss Laura Hamner
Amarillo, Texas
Dr. Ernest Charles Shearer
2605 Van Buren St.
Amarillo, Texas
Mr. Earl Vandale
1010 Jefferson St.
Amarillo, Texas
Mrs. Lucile Goodman Moreland
1000 Sunset Terrace
Amarillo, Texas
RAINS COUNTY
Miss Annie May Schrimser
Box 204
Emory, Texas
RANDALL COUNTY
Dr. L. F. Sheffy
W. T. S. T. C.
Canyon, Texas
Mr. Boone McClure
P. P. Hist. Society
Canyon, Texas
REFUGIO COUNTY
Mr. E. W. Bartholomae
Bayside, Texas
Mr. Sam Chamberlain
Refugio, Texas
Judge Hobart Huson
Box 54
Refugio, Texas
Judge Frank Low
Refugio, Texas
Mr. George C. Martin
567¼ S. Flores St.
San Antonio, Texas
Judge T. W. McGuill
Refugio, Texas
Rev. Father William H. Oberste
Refugio, Texas
Mrs. Thomas O'Connor
Victoria, Texas
Mrs. Mary A. Simmons
Refugio, Texas
ROBERTS COUNTY
Judge J. A. Mead
Miami, Texas
RUSK COUNTY
Judge R. T. Brown
Henderson, Texas
Dr. J. Ed Watkins
Henderson, Texas
SABINE COUNTY
Judge W. F. Goodrich
Hemphill, Texas
Mr. Alford Palmer Stark
Dept. of State
Washington, D. C.
SAN AUGUSTINE COUNTY
Mr. William G. Sharp
San Augustine, Texas
Mr. Ray Stripling
San Augustine, Texas
SAN JACINTO COUNTY
Miss Ruth Hansbro
Cold Springs, Texas
SAN PATRICIO COUNTY
Mr. John D. Cochran
Sinton, Texas
Mr. B. S. Cornett
Beeville, Texas
Miss Ruth Dodson
Mathis, Texas
Mr. James R. Dougherty
Beeville, Texas
Miss Lida Dougherty
RFD
Mathis, Texas
Mr. Harwood
Taft, Texas
Mrs. May Mathis Watson
Gregory, Texas
Mr. Phillip G. Young
Refugio, Texas
SAN SABA COUNTY
Mrs. J. R. Bannister
Santa Anna, Texas
Dr. Walton Hinds
Supt., Galena Park High School
Galena Park, Texas
Mr. Edgar T. Neal
Box 736
Galena Park, Texas
SHACKELFORD COUNTY
Miss Etta Soule
237 Broderick St.
San Francisco, California
Mr. J. R. Webb
Albany, Texas
SMITH COUNTY
Miss Adele Henderson
Tyler High School
Tyler, Texas
Dr. W. A. Woldert
Tyler, Texas
STEPHENS COUNTY
Mr. C. L. Peeler
Peeler Printing Co.
Breckenridge, Texas
TARRANT COUNTY
Mrs. J. E. Taulman
3430 Avenue G
Fort Worth, Texas
TAYLOR COUNTY
Mr. John R. Hutto
University Place
Abilene, Texas
TRINITY COUNTY
Capt. C. A. Brannen
Groveton, Texas
Miss Adele Mansell
Trinity, Texas
UPSHUR COUNTY
Mrs. B. A. Miller
Gilmer, Texas
UVALDE COUNTY
Miss Florence Fenley
Uvalde, Texas
Mr. Ike Moore
San Jacinto Museum of History
San Jacinto Monument, Texas
VICTORIA COUNTY
Mr. Leopold Morris
Victoria, Texas
Mrs. Thomas O'Connor
Victoria, Texas
WALKER COUNTY
Prof. J. L. Clark
Sam Houston State Teachers College
Huntsville, Texas
Mrs. Mae Winne McFarland
1313 Castle Court
Houston, Texas
WASHINGTON COUNTY
Mr. W. F. Tottenham
Brenham, Texas
WEBB COUNTY
Mr. Seb S. Wilcox
Box 573
Laredo, Texas
WHARTON COUNTY
Mr. Raymond Dixon
Great Southern Bldg.
Houston, Texas
WICHITA COUNTY
Mr. Mart Banta
Plectra, Texas
Mrs. N. D. Cooper
c/o Electra
News
Electra, Texas
Mrs. L. P. Douglas
Electra, Texas
Miss Louise Kelly
Kemp Kort
Wichita Falls, Texas
Mr. J. W. Williams
2220 Piedmont Place
Wichita Falls, Texas
WILBARGER COUNTY
Mrs. Bertha Doans Ross
c/o Vernon
Times
Vernon, Texas
YOUNG COUNTY
Dr. M. H. Chism
1421 W. 15th Street
Huntsville, Texas
ZAVALA COUNTY
Mr. Ernest Holdsworth
Crystal City, Texas
Professors William Curry Holden and Ernest Wallace, of
Texas Technological College, are at present collaborating on
the preparation of a manuscript of an ethnological nature,
dealing with the Comanche Indians.
Wanted: Information on "Texas" poker. What are the facts
regarding the form of poker which was traditional in Texas in
the days of the Cattle Kingdom? There seems to be no doubt
that Texas had its own distinctive poker "which was not ac-
cording to Hoyle." It has been suggested that the straight flush
never had any recognized standing in the Texas gambling houses
or with Texas cowboys except as an ordinary flush. The ex-
pression in the cattle country seems to have been: "Four aces
is the best hand in Texas." Vague stories go the rounds of
trouble in Dodge City where professionals would try to cheat
the Texans with a straight flush cold hand. Who can give all
the facts regarding "Texas" poker? Please write directly to
the Association.
Dr. Ralph A. Smith, Assistant Professor of History in
Hardin-Simmons University, has been granted a leave of absence
to enter military service.
W. M. Pearce, Jr., Instructor of History at Texas Technologi-
cal Calloge, is now on leave, and is a lieutenant in the Tank
Corps, serving at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Professor Samuel Wood Geiser of Southern Methodist Uni-
versity, Dallas 1, Texas, sends to the Texas Collection a note
of inquiry on and information relating to two early Texans,
both of Polk County in the 1860's.
Col. Lewis M. Henry Washington (d. 1857)
And
In the Official
Records
[Civil War] (ser. I, v. 26, pt. 2, p. 191-93) is
printed a Report on the Iron Region of Northeastern Texas. This report
(dated at "Smithfield P. 0., Polk County, Texas, Aug. 31, 1863") was
written by one "H. Washington," who was a volunteer aide-de-camp, with-
out compensation, to General J. B. Magruder. Later in the same year
(1863) he was at headquarters in Houston, to give, as needed, informa-
tion on the East Texas terrain, etc.
This excellent, brief report was made directly to Capt. Edmund P.
Turner, A.A.G., C.S.A., in anticipation of the arrival in East Texas of
Gen. Benjamin Huger (then inspector of artillery and ordnance in the
Trans-Mississippi Department.) The paper has escaped the eyes of Darton
and Nickles, both of whom have published very comprehensive bibliogra-
phies of North American geology, in the bulletins of the U. S. Geological
Survey.
I need to know who this "H. Washington" was. Certainly he was not
Col. Lewis M. Henry Washington, a warm friend of Sam Houston [see
Williams & Barker, The
Writings
of
Sam
Houston.
. ., III, 1940, 16n, et
passim], for he died in 1857. Colonel Washington was "one of those brave
and daring spirits who came to Texas in her darkest hours, and shared
all the hardships, perils, and dangers of a soldier's life. . . . He was the
life of society, full of anecdote, humor, and wit. . . . He was charitable,
humane, and kind in disposition." (Austin Southern
Intelligencer,
May 6,
1857.) Colonel Washington lived on the Trinity River, on land which he
bought before
1840,
for in that year, one of the leagues of land granted
to the Coushatti Indians was found to be on land to which he had a prior
title. He was friendly to the Indians and was willing that they should
stay there and cultivate their fields. Col. Washington in an evil day fili-
bustered with Gen. Walker in Nicaragua, and on 19 February, 1857 was
wounded at Castillo Viego on the Río San Juan, was captured by the
Costa Ricans, and later shot. The notice of his death in the Intelligencer
mentions that he was a talented newspaper writer, and that "he edited
several newspapers in Texas, and was well and favorably known." Doubt-
lessly: but it seems almost impossible to secure extended information of
him today. Jim Dan Hill (The
Texas
Navy
.
. .,
1937, 169) in speaking
of the purchase of the S.S. Merchant
for the Texas Government, does not
choose to mention Washington, who was co-purchaser with E. W. Moore,
they advancing their personal credit for the purchase, (v.
Claim Papers,
Texas State Archives.)
There has been confusion of the two Washingtons in the minds of even
the best students and archivists, as I know from correspondence. After
the death of Col. Washington, "H. Washington" of my first paragraph
seems to have entered into his estate. The 1860 Census for Polk County
includes him as "Hamilton Washington, age 35, nativity Kentucky, lawyer,
personal property $32,900, real property $41,000." He seems to have
continued the friendly attitude of his ?uncle toward the Indians: "in
1867, Gov. J. W. Throckmorton made him Agent of the Coushattis, and
Washington advocated the transfer of the Indians to the guardianship of
the United States. The Indians, who had remained landless through the
years, had their village on his land, during the period of his agency.
A number of his letters are in the Indian Papers and Governors' Letters
in the Texas State Library. He died about 1870." [Miss Harriet Smither.]
Two papers, which I surmise are by Hamilton Washington, are pub-
lished in the Texas
Almanac
for 1861: "Trinity River and its Valley"
(pp. 122-26), and "The Friendly Indians of Trinity River, in Texas"
(pp. 126-31). Hamilton Washington is also credited with four poems,
printed in Francis D. Allan's Lone
Star
Ballads,
1874, a collection of
Southern patriotic songs made during Confederate times. His address is
given as "Cold Springs, Polk County, Texas" [now Coldspring, San Jacinto
County]. But the 1870 census schedules of Polk County give no Hamilton
Washington, all the Washingtons (six in number) being colored.
I should like to learn the familial relationship and anything available
on the early years, education, and careers in Texas of both Col. Lewis
M. Henry Washington and Hamilton Washington. Any scrap of informa-
tion will be of value.
"The Banks Expedition of 1862," by George Winston Smith,
in the Louisiana
Historical
Quarterly,
April, 1943, states that
the object of the expedition was to conquer Texas. Its support-
ers in the East counted on the aid of the German settlers of
West Texas. Unionist refugees from Texas like A. J. Hamilton,
William A. Alexander and E. J. Davis supported the plan.
"Sam Houston's Brother," by Frances Shiras is the title of
a sketch of John P. Houston, clerk of Izard County, Arkansas,
in the September, 1943, Arkansas
Historical
Quarterly.
Mr.
E. W. Winkler points out that this seems to be a case of mis-
taken identity. Sam Houston had a brother John, but so far
as is known he did not live in Arkansas. See Brief
Biographi
-
cal
Accounts
of
Many
Members
of
the
Houston
Family
accom
-
panied
by
a
genealogical
table,
compiled by Reverend Sam'l
Rutherford Houston (Cincinnati, 1882), p. 25.
The
Future
of
the
Great
Plains
is the title of the report of
the Great Plains Committee (75th Congress, Ist Session, House
document no. 144. U. S. serial no. 10,117). Rupert N. Richard-
son calls this report "the best resume of the natural resources
of the Great Plains and their utilization that has yet appeared."
He has annotated the "Summary Foreword" with a bibliography
of recent literature. A real service was rendered by the re-
printing in the Mississippi
Valley
Historical
Review,
June, 1943.
S. S. McKay, Professor of History at Texas Technological
College, whose Seven
Decades
of
the
Texas
Constitution
of
1875
was recently published, is now preparing a biographical study
of W. Lee O'Daniel.
The
Panhandle
Plains
Historical
Review,
1942
(L. F. Sheffy,
editor) contains Estelle D. Tinkler's "The History of the Rock-
ing Chair Ranche." The English spelling of ranch in the title
indicates that the account goes back to those early days of the
inclosed range when the capital for many of the early ranches
came from England and Scotland. This was the case with the
Rocking Chair. This number of The
Review
will be a "must"
item with collectors of county histories, for it contains a well-
written chapter on the organization of Collingsworth County.
Probably any person having even the least interest in Texas
history will find the piece of cartography on the opposite page
intriguing. The map was furnished Professor Webb by Mr.
E. N. Noyes, 2204 Tower Petroleum Building, Dallas, Texas.
Mr. Noyes, however, had only a photostat and had no knowledge
of the original source of the photostat. The map is dated Sep-
tember 23, 1851, and the title shows it to be, "Map of the Coun-
try from Austin to El Paso: Sketch and Observations taken
by F. B. E. Browne." Internal evidence on the map, however,
brings up questions as to whether the trip was made in 1849
or in 1851. Several persons have thought the map might possibly
have been made by a member of the Robert S. Neighbors--John
S. Ford party. Captain Roy F. Hall of McKinney leans to this
position and sends the following note on this expedition:
In 1849 the citizens of Austin, in conjunction with the U. S. Government,
organized an expedition to explore a route from Austin to El Paso for a
proposed trade route. It left Austin March 23, under joint command of
Maj. Robert S. Neighbors and Dr. John S. Ford, going via the Concho-
Horsehead Crossing-Pecos upper watershed, thru the Carrizo Pass to El
Paso, where it arrived May 2. On May 6 started back, coming by way
of the Guadalupe Mountains to the Pecos at Horsehead arriving there
on June 2, 1849. No difficulties experienced on the whole march.
Circulation through The
Quarterly
will probably find the
person who knows all the answers to the questions raised by
the map. Who was F. B. E. Browne? What are the facts re-
garding his travel? Who was Glanton? Has anyone found the
gold indicated as positive on the map? What of Thompson and
party? The map invites possibly a full-length article on identi-
fication.
The latest addition to Judge O. W. Williams' remarkable
collection of pamphlets on Texas and the Southwest is entitled
Alsate:
The
Last
of
the
Chisos
Apaches.
This pamphlet gives
the story of the capture of the last of the wild untrammeled
Indian tribes of Texas. Living principally in the Trans-Pecos
triangle of Texas, the Chisos Apaches, pressed from time to
time by Rangers in Texas or Rurales in Mexico, moved back
and forth from the Chisos Mountains in Texas to the Carmel
Mountains in Mexico.
Oddly enough it was the Mexican government which struck
the last blow at these Texas Indians. In 1882 the Apaches were
in Mexico, and Diaz, motivated more strongly by a desire to
keep troops along the Rio Grande border region--the hotbed
of
revolution--than by outrage at the scattered and infrequent
Apache raids, determined to exterminate the band.
The plan centered around Lionecio Castillo, a Mexican
"ratero" or petty thief, who was used as stool pigeon. Castillo
knew Alsate, the most important of the three Apache chiefs,
and pretending to be a representative of the Mexican govern-
ment, Castillo went into the mountains, found a group of the
Apaches, and persuaded them that the Mexican government
planned to take them as wards and treat them in the same
manner as the United States treated the Indians under treaty
agreement. After much palaver and show of gold seals and
tinsel, the Indians were convinced, and arrangements were made
for every Apache--man, woman, and child--to come to the
Presidio of San Carlos, where the treaty would be signed and
each Apache would be given a red blanket, a belt, and provisions.
When the appointed day arrived, the Indians came in, and
were royally treated to a feast in the plaza. Barrels of different
kinds of "fire water" were brought out. The Indians, thrown
off their guard, soon became drunk, and early the next morning
a band of soldiers came in and captured the entire group. The
Apaches were then marched to southern Mexico and put into
slavery.
Alsate, however, escaped and became a "ghost" about his
former haunts. Years later his mummified remains were found
by hunters in a cave. The last of the Chisos Apaches had lived
free unto death.
A letter from Mrs. John T. Dyche of the Fort Stockton Public
Schools reveals how the Association is frequently of service
through bringing members with information to the attention of
those who have a particular problem in Texas history.
Our Texas history department will be forever grateful to the Association
for the assistance you have given us in suggesting good material for our
library shelves. I received most interesting letters from Miss Grace Bitner
of the San Angelo Schools, Miss Grace Matthews of Austin, Miss Llerena
Friend of Wichita Falls, and Miss Frances Donecker of San Antonio.
Each submitted a valuable "bibliography with annotations and told in detail
the interesting projects and activities she was undertaking. Many pub-
lishing houses sent me price lists and descriptive detail on their Texas
books for my grade level. I was surely happy and grateful for so many
excellent suggestions.
Already we have ordered and received about fifty books which were
selected from the bibliographies suggested by your members. Next yeai
I hope we can add still more to our Texana shelves.
Robert M. Webb, Domestic Relations Court, City of New
York, 111 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, New York, writes
as follows:
I am interested in securing information which will be of assistance to
me in writing a biography of General John B. Hood. I have found little
information about his private life although I am reasonably familiar with
his military career. Since General Hood commanded Texas troops, I have
thought it possible that some members of the Association could supply
me with the facts of his life or direct me to materials from which
I can secure the facts.
Information on General Hood's private life should be sent
directly to the inquirer.
Professor Samuel Wood Geiser of Southern Methodist Uni-
versity, Dallas, Texas, also contributes to this Texas Collection
a valuable note on an early Texas engineer and railroad build-
er. The conclusion which he draws regarding the importance
of The
Handbook
of
Texas
to all who are interested in the his-
toric past of Texas is inescapable.
The negative results of the biographical footnote on "A. M. Gentry" in
The
Writings
of
Sam
Houston,
1818-1863,
VIII, p. 30, drives home again
to one how scanty our knowledge is of the lives of early Texans in non-
political and non-military fields of work. From my own specialized view-
point, it seems impossible that two such careful and tireless scholars as
the editors of that work could not have been aware of Gentry's very im-
portant part in the planning and construction of the Texas & New Orleans
Railroad (Houston to Orange) before the Civil War. S. G. Reed, in his
fine History
of
the
Texas
Railroads,
84-87, has written briefly of this
road, of which Gentry was president. The present instance merely points
the emergent need for the projected Handbook
of
Texas,
which shall in-
clude historical, biographical, and statistical information on all
phases
of
Texas, written by specialists. It also points the need of adequate biograph-
ical information on such important engineers
of early Texas as James
Converse, Caleb G. Forshey, Albert M. Lea, William C. McKinstry, Gus-
tavus Schleicher, and Tipton Walker--to name but a few. Physicians have
written on early Texas physicians, and lawyers, ministers, and teachers
on pioneers in their respective professions; but not so the engineers, so
far as I know. To put on record data on the life of this early and im-
portant engineer and railroad builder, I subjoin a brief abstract of my
data:
was born m Brookville, Indiana, 14 May, 1821, and died in Huntington,
Long island, N. Y., 20 February, 1883. He was the son of Joseph Gentry,
Virginian, and Mary VanMeter, of Brownsville, Pa. A. M. Gentry came
to Houston, Texas, in 1838, and engaged in merchandising. In Houston he
married (29 Oct., 1844) Mary Frances Rather (1828-1917). They lived at
first principally in Houston, and for short periods in New Orleans and
Galveston. The Texas & New Orleans Railroad (chartered 24 December,
1859), whose prosperity the Civil War interrupted, was mainly Gentry's
enterprise. He carried his surveys as far as New Iberia, La., and his con-
struction from Houston to Orange—a distance of 106 miles. The railroad
was in operation at the beginning of the War. Gentry was frequently in
New York City during the period of construction, both before and after the
War. In some way, he was connected with the supply and commissary
department of the Confederate States Army. After the War, Gentry lived
in New York City and Huntington, Long Island, where he had property,
although he always maintained his residence at Houston. He had a wide
acquaintance in Philadelphia and New York City, where he spent much
time in his last years, trying to finance the Texas Western Narrow Gauge
Railroad, out of Houston. This road (chartered 18 January, 1875) be-
came the Texas Western Railroad (of which U. S. Grant and his son
F. D. Grant were directors), which was chartered 28 April, 1881. By 1881,
the T. W. N. G. Railroad was built as far as Sealy; but it is said that the
draw-bridge across the Brazos was never operated, since it was never
paid for (fide
Wilmer Waldo, engineer, of Houston). Today, scarcely a
vestige of the bridge construction is left; and the low-graded road-bed has
been plowed out. Here and there at old bridge sites one can identify a
head of the embankment for the approaches. Mrs. Gentry died at the age
of 89, on 31 July, 1917: she was a native of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and had
come with her parents to Houston in 1840. Abram M. Gentry was buried
in Glenwood Cemetery at Houston.
Miss Mary C. Pierson, Box 178, Marathon, Texas, would like
to know the location of Deer Creek, near which the Battle of
Deer Creek was fought between Indians and Rangers, probably
in the seventies.
* * *
John Hutchinson Cook, 333 West State Street, Trenton 8, New
Jersey, a new member of the Association, writes regarding his
interests in Texas:
As to my interests in Texas history, I should say that I am mainly
interested in the period extending from Texas' entry as a state into the
Union until the end of the Reconstruction Period. Of course, I cannot be
too dogmatic about the exact years in which I am interested, as so much
of what happened in the years following 1845 can only be explained by
the history of the Republic of Texas and even by the Mexican period.
Then, too, the effects of the Civil War outlasted Reconstruction and can
be found in the turbulent period of the eighties. My interest, however,
mainly centers about the War and the period directly before and after it.
I am also interested in early Western expansion, in which Texas played
such an important part. We have spoken before about the various theses
on Wigfall, Texas and the Crisis of 1850, and Texas in the War for South-
ern Independence, which so much need to be published. I am wondering
whether there has ever been a full length study on the Secession Move-
ment in Texas. I should think that this would make an excellent study
for publication.
Mr. Woldemar Kuhlmann, Route 4, Fredericksburg, Texas,
writes that there are a number of historic graves in the Oak-
wood Cemetery in Austin, some of which are as follows:
Governors James Stephen Hogg, Andrew Jackson Hamilton, Oscar
Branch Colquitt, Elisha M. Pease and Oran M. Roberts; Mrs. Susannah
Dickinson and her daughter, Angelina, "Babe of the Alamo" (who sur-
vived the Alamo massacre); William Henry Huddle; Ethel Estes Porter
(wife of 0. Henry); Mrs. Thomas F. (Bride Neill) Taylor, eminent
Austin humanitarian and author of Elisabet
Ney:
Sculptor.
Also, in the
Taylor lot with Mrs. Taylor is the grave of Cresencia ("Cencie") Simath
faithful friend and housekeeper of the sculptress, Elisabet Ney, and her
husband, Dr. Edmund Montgomery. Miss Simath was a native of the
Austrian Tyrol.
Mr. Kuhlmann suggests that since the graves are so difficult
to find signs should be placed at the main entrance of the ceme-
tery indicating the location of the graves. Probably the most
enduring marker that any of these persons could have would be
a biographical sketch in The
Handbook
of
Texas,
in which we
hope to indicate the places of interment of significant Texans.
Mr. L. H. Elkins, Española, New Mexico, has presented to
the Association copies of the Corsicana
Semi-Weekly
Light,
containing Judge C. L. Jester's "Short History of Corsicana
and Navarro County." This was in response to a request in
the October Texas Collection. Mr. Elkins, by his donation,
performs a real service for the preservation of a valuable piece
of writing on Texas history.
Dr. J. E. Watkins, First National Bank Building, Henderson,
Texas, whose father came to the Rusk County area in 1836,
writes regarding an interesting coin, which was picked up years
ago on the Trammel Trace in East Texas. The coin was of
copper, about the size of a half dollar, and had on it the follow-
ing Latin inscription:
Dr. Watkins would be glad to hear from any numismatist
who can identify the coin.
Ray Wood of Raywood, Texas, has received national recogni-
tion for his books, Mother
Goose
in
the
Ozarks
and The
Amer
-
ican
Mother
Goose.
He is now gathering copy for yet another
book. His newest project is to prepare a volume of singing
games used by American school children, with music, descrip-
tions, and illustrations. Mr. Wood desires to secure versions of
traditional games as currently played or as they have been
played within the memory of contributors. He is particularly
interested in games whose text or music indicate American or
Southwestern invention. Mr. Wood will be glad to hear from
instructors, folk lore collectors, historians, teachers, or camp
and playground counsellors who can give him information as
desired above.
George G. Umstead, 4724 Chester Avenue, Philadelphia 43,
Pennsylvania, wishes to obtain a photograph, postcard, or clear
picture of any statues or monuments to the memory of Indian
chiefs or Indian subjects in Texas. Mr. Umstead would like to
know the name of the sculptor and the location of the statues
and monuments together with any other references or data
which the informer may be able to furnish. The photograph or
information should be sent directly to the inquirer.
The Sons of the Republic of Texas conduct an annual essay
contest among the students of high schools in Texas. The sub-
ject this year is "The San Jacinto Campaign from March 11
to April 21, 1836, Inclusive." Houston Wade, treasurer of The
Sons of the Republic, suggests that the subject will call for
much use of Dr. Barker's "San Jacinto Campaign" in Volume
4 of The
Quarterly.
We can supply the high school libraries
a limited number of copies of this volume. Prices for back
numbers of The
Quarterly
are given on the back page of the
cover on each issue of the magazine.
The West Texas Historical Association, because of wartime
conditions, missed its annual meeting this year for the first
time since it was organized in 1924. The Yearbook
of the As-
sociation will, however, be published as usual.
Two theses dealing with Texas subjects have recently been
completed at Texas Technological College. They are "The His-
tory of Terry County" by 0. S. Buckner, and "The History of
Brownfield, Texas" by Mrs. 0. S. Buckner.
J. W. Williams, 2220 Piedmont Place, Wichita Falls, Texas,
sends to the Texas Collection an interesting list dealing with
ghost towns. Williams states that the list is probably not com-
plete but that it may be useful in connection with the Handbook.
We should like to list in the Handbook
all the ghost towns of
Texas and should like to request all persons having information
on this topic to send in lists similar in form to the one below:
1. Red River Station
2. Eagle Point, about seven miles northeast of Nocona
3. Uzz, south of Forrestburg in Montague County
4. Pella, about five miles southeast of Sunset, just south of the Monta-
gue County line
5. Queen's Peak, some six miles northwest of Bowie, near the present
Ringgold Road
6. Tiger Town, some six miles northwest of Bowie, on the present
Wichita Falls Road
7. Old Buffalo Springs, twenty miles south of Henrietta and one mile
northeast of the present village of Buffalo Springs—first proposed
site for the fort finally built at Jacksboro
8. Cambridge, three miles east of Henrietta; it had six hundred popu-
lation in 1879
9. Wichita City, about six miles northeast of Henrietta
10. Hogeye, on the Butterfield Trail, fifteen miles northeast of Jacks-
boro
11. Thrift, some five miles northwest of Burkburnett—it was an oil
town of the 1918-1920 period
12. Bradley's Corner, about two miles northwest of Thrift
13. Bridgetown, on the south side of Red River, near the end of the
bridge that was due south of Granfield, Oklahoma: 1918-1920
14. Doan's
15. Tee Pee City, northeast of Matador
16. Otta, on the north branch of Wichita River, north of Gutherie
17. Belknap, at the old fort by that name
18. Fort Griffin, at the old fort by that name
19. Nesterville, just south of Burkburnett
20. Gertrude, in northwest Jack County, about two miles west of the
bridge over Cambron Creek on the paved road from Wichita Falls
to Jacksboro
Probably the most important of these towns were Red River Station
Buffalo Springs, Cambridge, Belknap, Fort Griffin, and Doan's.
Mr. Clyde Wantland spoke to the San Antonio Historical
Society on October 15. His address dealt with frontier life and
characters.
The Institute of Latin-American Studies of The University
has recently published Marcus S. Goldstein's Demographic
and
Bodily
Changes
in
Descendants
of
Mexican
Immigrants,
a study
which makes physical comparisons between Mexicans in Mexico
and Mexicans in Texas. Among other things "a substantial
increase in stature" is noted for the Mexicans in Texas—"in
other words, the children probably had more of a chance to
grow and grow up than was the case with the elders."
The following communication is from Dr. Charles C. Carroll,
202 Washington Avenue, Natchitoches, Louisiana.
As a former Texan, for many years a resident of Louisiana, I should
like to say a word in appreciation of the letters of Dr. John Sibley of
Natchitoches, Louisiana, now being printed in The
Southwestern.
Historical
Quarterly
and edited by Dr. Kathryn Garrett. To my mind Dr. Garrett
is making a distinct contribution to the historical data concerning early
Texas history. If I am not in error, Dr. Garrett discovered the seventy-
five letters, written by Dr. Sibley in the years 1808 to 1814, in the Old
Records Division of the Adjutant General's Office in the Department of
War, at Washington, D. C, and her work with them is of especial interest
to me personally as I have made some research in the relationship of
Natchitoches to the colonization of Texas. Beyond some twelve or fifteen
letters from Dr. Sibley, reference to which has been made at various times
in Louisiana publications, Dr. Garrett's discovery of the additional letters
from Sibley carries the exploration of the decade following the Louisiana
Purchase into an unknown, but rich mine of information. The Local
Chapter, the St. Denis of the National D. A. R., began an endeavor to
get the letters of Dr. Sibley published, but through correspondence with
Dr. Garrett received assurance of her intention of publication. As a
matter of fact, the copies of the photostats of the letters have been
promised to the St. Denis Chapter of the D. A. R. I do congratulate
The
Quarterly
and Dr. Garrett on the publication of these letters.
J. Frank Dobie's syndicated newspaper article, regarding
David Crockett's rifle, has aroused the interest of several Texans
in that celebrated shootin' iron. Dobie points out that the rifle
was presented to Crockett at Philadelphia in the spring of 1834.
Crockett's own words are, "there was no mistake in Betsey."
Crockett had Betsey with him in the Alamo, and Joseph E. Field
reported that Crockett came near taking the life of Santa Anna
with a long shot on the day before the Alamo fell. The gun
dropped out of history for about twenty-five years, after which
time it was reported by Lieutenant (afterwards Major Gen-
eral) Zenas R. Bliss as being in the hands of Jack Woodland
at Fort Davis. Shortly after 1861 Woodland was attacked by
Indians somewhere along the Rio Grande, and, after being
seriously wounded, passed Betsey over to a Mexican boy, who
took the rifle to Presidio del Norte. In his unpublished memoirs
in the Archives of the University, Bliss tells that the rifle was
still in "a little town in Mexico." Professor Dobie suggests that
the rifle probably could still be located somewhere across the
border in Mexico. It would be a prized piece of Texiana and
is worth serious effort to effect its recovery.
Mrs. G. C. Baum, 307 W. Water St., Whitesboro, Texas,
writes:
I have received a copy of The
Junior
Historian,
September, 1943, from
Jane Combs, who won the state prize on "Pattern for a Hero." The hero
is my son, Charlie Baum, now a prisoner of the Japanese. I appreciate
this for my son's sake.
I want to compliment The Texas State Historical Association and the
editorial staff on this very fine work among our young people. After being
Junior Historians, they will cherish the history of our forefathers who
did such a fine job of pioneering this Land of Freedom. I think we have
all learned in our duties to be loyal to the principle of brotherhood among
all peoples. May God continue to bless us and may our leaders always be
true to obligations of duty to God and man.
Mrs. Baum is the granddaughter of Captain Ambrose B.
White, founder of the town of Whitesboro and the person from
whom the town took its name. No one can deny that she writes
an inspiring letter, like a true daughter of a great Texas her-
itage.
Dr. Rupert N. Richardson, author of the much acclaimed
recent history, Texas,
The
Lone
Star
State,
is now acting presi-
dent of Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene.
Frank 0. Skidmore, 1206 Galloway Avenue, El Paso, Texas,
writes that he has recently acquired a farm near Presidio,
Texas, upon which the remains of old Fort Leaton are to be
found. Mr. Skidmore reports that the old building has some
thirty-two rooms, and that it is at present in a bad state of re-
pair; especially is a new roof needed and also some restoration
on the walls. He states that he is personally unable to finance
the restoration but feels that some department of the State of
Texas should do so.
Mr. Skidmore states a specific problem but it is one from
which some general problems may be raised. We have not done
enough in Texas toward the marking and preserving of his-
toric sites.
A recent communication from the Committee to Publicize
American History of the American Association for State and
Local History makes the following recommendation:
The preservation, restoration, and marking of historical sites . . . [is
much to be desired.] During the past twenty-five years a wave of interest
in work of this kind has swept the country and a great deal has been
accomplished, with the National Park Service showing the way. As a
matter of fact, however, the surface has barely been scratched, for there
are still tens of thousands of historical houses, water wheels, old bridges,
battlegrounds, and other historical sites which are crying out for proper
attention. The historic site is something which people can actually see and
touch—not merely something they read and hear about. The restoration
of colonial Williamsburg is an object lesson of what can be accomplished
in this field. Obviously we all can not develop Williamsburgs, but every
one of us can accomplish a great deal in a more limited way along the
same lines.
The marking of historic spots is closely connected with restoration and
preservation. Certain states, such as Virginia, have pioneered in this field
and the program has aroused considerable interest. A great deal more,
however, needs to be done.
Somewhere in Texas there should be a definite board set up
to handle problems such as Mr. Skidmore presents. This might
be the State Board of Parks or the Highway Commission. In
either case, these groups should probably work officially or un-
officially with the Association. In passing through Kansas, I
have observed that splendid work has been done throughout
that state in the preservation of historic sites by the joint
efforts of the Kansas Historical Society and the Kansas High-
way Commission. In all probability the Texas Legislature would
be inclined to be as generous in preservation of our historic
sites as the Kansas legislature has been. Texas seems to need
a specific board, created to take care of such problems.
Bus patrons of San Antonio, Texas, packed into every availa-
ble inch of transportation space, were glad to see even the
ancient buses of several years ago revived to relieve crowded
transportation conditions. That, however, did not make riding
in them any easier.
Then the rumbling old vehicles began to appear on the streets
of San Antonio wearing names right out of the family album
with a little accompanying phrase calculated to bring a smile
and a stir of patriotism to the most harassed bus rider, proving
that a Texas sense of humor is not out of place even in times
of global war.
Some of the names are:
"Methuselah"—To be laid to rest after Victory.
"Cinderella's Coach"—Will vanish when the clock strikes
Peace!
"Yehudi"—Here today, gone tomorrow.
"Old Gray Mare"--Ain't what she used to be.
"Old Man River"--Just keeps rollin' along.
"Rip Van Winkle"--Revived for the duration
"Spirit of '76"—Still good for '43.
Joe B. Frantz, who was just a short time ago Assistant Di-
rector of the San Jacinto Museum of History, writes a most
interesting letter from "Ha'va'd" where he is now Ensign
Frantz, USNR, Mass A-33, NTS, Harvard University, Cam-
bridge, Massachusetts, and engaged in naval communications
work. He thinks that in December he will be leaving "the land
of ivy, ancestors, and muggy coolness." He writes of Texas
with a nostalgic stroke.
Frank Goodwyn, who became known to many members of
the Association through his services as auctioneer at last year's
book auction, is soon to become a full-fledged author. Goodwyn
hails from Kenedy County down in the South Texas brush coun-
try. His book, The
Wizard
of
Los
Puentes,
is a novel telling the
story of a plain brush country vaquero who was forced by the
superstitions of his associates to become a brujo
or wizard. The
book will be published by Farrar and Rinehardt in April or
May, 1944.
The Texas Institute of Letters selected as the best Texas
book for 1942-43 Kendall
of
the
Picayune
by Fayette Copeland.
Savoie Lottinville, Director of the University of Oklahoma
Press, spoke in Austin in November on "University Presses."
He dispersed a delightful sense of humor among thoughtful
considerations for the culture of the Southwest. An advocate
of things having value in a regional culture, Lottinville pointed
out that in many ways it would be advisable for the Southwest
to hold together rather than tear itself apart internally. In a
good-natured coming to grips with Texas-Oklahoma differences,
he pointed out that, although some existed, they did not appear
to be insurmountable. Lottinville's solution regarding Red
River questions which might separate Texans and Oklahomans,
as the river does in a physical sense, brought forth hearty
Texan laughter from his audience.
There are differences of opinion about . . . whether the Red River should
flow through Texas instead of Oklahoma, and if not through Texas, then
why can't it be dammed up so it will flow over Oklahoma?
Judge Hobart Huson of Refugio was a visitor in Austin
during the early days of November, doing a little check-up
work which looked toward the completion of his manuscript on
the history of Refugio County. The work which he is doing
gives every promise of becoming the most extensive county his-
tory ever done in Texas. It was my pleasure to see the complete
outline of the book and to go over a part of the manuscript.
While the judge is doing primarily the history of a county, he
is at the same time doing a sectional and regional history. Not
only does Refugio County appear, but there is also much on
Aransas, Bee, San Patricio, Goliad, and Victoria counties, as
well as on the Gulf Coast region in general. Occasionally the
story goes into Mexico. I do not know that it will be a com-
plete history of Corpus Christi, but there is certainly much on
that Texas city. Judge Huson goes far in telling the story of
Fannin's and Dimmitt's commands. He deals with the Mexican
local government system, the functioning of the ayuntamiento,
and the story of Mexican land grants. There is a section on the
Republic of the Rio Grande and a detailing of Hobby's and
Ford's regiments and their part in the Civil War. From my
necessarily brief inspection of the manuscript, I feel confident
that it will give the people of Refugio County a new apprecia-
tion of their part in the story of Texas, and that it will be
warmly welcomed by the Gulf Coast area in general as well
as the general followers of Texas history. Some idea of the
scope of the work may be had when one realizes that at the
present time the manuscript consists of 1600 pages done in
élite type.
Mrs. Marcelle Lively Hamer of the Texas Collection in the
University Library sends the following book note:
The most noteworthy achievement in the Texas Collection in The Univer-
sity of Texas Library, is the cataloguing and placing on the shelves of
approximately twelve hundred items from the McKie Collection. The ap-
pearance of so many beautifully bound books gives added distinction to
the Texas Collection. Several hundred McKie Collection books have recently
been catalogued and are ready to be placed on the shelves within the near
future.
As you have remarked in previous issues of the Texas Collection, this
addition to the Library's Texas Collection will make it the most inclusive
and distinctive, perhaps, of any collection of Texas material in existence.
How many of the readers of Texas Collection know what a
herpetologist is? Next, how many know that Texas has long
been known as the herpetologist's paradise? Frankly, I did
not know the answer to either query until I encountered re-
cently Samuel Wood Geiser's article, "Dr. Benno Matthes: An
Early Texas Herpetologist," in Field
and
Laboratory,
IX, Num-
ber 2, (May, 1941). I admit to quite an acquaintance with
Texas rattlesnakes, but I did not know that a herpetologist was
one who studied the structure, classification, and habits of rep-
tiles. In the article Professor Geiser gives an excellent account
of the work of Dr. Matthes in Texas. Matthes, a Silesian phy-
sician, was "the earliest devoted herpetologist who worked in
Texas." He arrived in Texas in August, 1853, and resided here
until his death on April 30, 1911, with several trips to Germany
in the interval. "Matthes wrote at least five herpetological
papers of merit all dealing with Texas animals." Also he found
a new species of salamander, now known as Ambystoma texa-
num (Matthes) in Fayette County. Dr. Geiser's entire note is
interesting to any person concerned with Texas history, and the
resume of Matthes's works, particularly of "Reise-Bilder von
Dr. Benno Matthes; Bilder aus Texas," leads one to agree with
Dr. Geiser that a translation would be valuable.
Frances Donecker, member of the Executive Council of the
Association and Junior Historian Sponsor at Harris Junior
School of San Antonio, spoke to the San Antonio Historical
Association November 19 on: "A Search for Quivira in Texas."
Miss Donecker's sixth grade workbook in Texas history, The
Story
of
Texas,
was recently published by Steck and Company.
The
Story
of
Texas
is not only excellent for classroom work
but any adult interested in Texas history will find the answer-
ing of the questions therein a stimulating enterprise.
In the Fredericksburg jubilee memorial volume, Fest-Ausgabe
zum
.
.
.
Friedrichsburg,
compiled and published by Robert
Penniger in 1896, occurs the following advertisement of a
distinctive Texas hostelry:
Strikt Erster Klasse, und für ausgezeichnete
Aufwartung seiner Gäste im ganzen Staat bekannt
Hauptquartier aller Reisenden und Sommergaeste
C. H. Nimitz, Eigenthuemer
FOOTNOTES:
is included in the 1858 Texas Almanac as in Polk County. The village is
now known as "Ace"; it is in the extreme southwestern part of present
Polk County, near the Liberty County line, between Menard and Long
King creeks. (It should be remembered that the Polk County of the
'fifties to 'seventies comprised, roughly, present Polk and San Jacinto
counties.)