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LETTER SUMMER 2005 More Settlers Than Did Stephen Travels Attracted Thousands of F

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LETTER SUMMER 2005 More Settlers Than Did Stephen Travels Attracted Thousands of F LETTER SUMMER 2005 more settlers than did Stephen travels attracted thousands of F. Austin. As a leader, he was Americans and Europeans to the equal of Austin; as a Texas in the period following statesman, comparable to Sam the revolution. Houston who presented Texas to America.” De Cordova was born in Kinston, Jamaica on June 6, Jacob Raphael De Cordova 1808 to Joshua Raphael De literally put Texas on a map. Cordova and his second wife He not only published the first Judith. She was English and Jacob De Cordova official map of Texas, but also died at the birth of Jacob. Bosque County’s the first Texas encyclopedia and Joshua refused to recognize Jacob De Cordova two of the first newspapers in Jacob because he felt the baby Bosque County land owners the Lone Star State. Sam was responsible for his mothers’ who take time to examine their Houston delivered a speech on death. During his early abstracts of title are likely to the floor of the U. S. Senate childhood, he was raised by an find the name of Jacob De praising the map and obtained a aunt in England who had no Cordova at the beginning. government purchase of five sons. She was who fostered his hundred copies. During the education. Bosque County is not the only speech, Houston stated, “on county that owes a debt to Jacob account of the character of the When he was old enough to De Cordova but the state as a individual who has been realize his mother died giving whole. Harold Preese in an engaged in preparing it,” it was him birth, he would not article written for the Congress the “most correct and authentic celebrate his birthdays in the Weekly back on August 20, map of Texas.” Jacob, who usual way. Instead, he would 1956 wrote that “Jacob De called himself “the wanderer”, always fast and keep the day Cordova deserves greater spent years traveling all over sacred. His fasting was known recognition in the history of the Texas, working on his map, and only to his immediate family Southwest that is presently on it all future Texas and close relatives. accorded him, certainly more cartography is based. than some of the synthetic While Jacob was still a boy, the coonskin heroes resurrected for Through maps, newspapers, family moved from Kinston to popular adoration. For one pamphlets and books, Jacob Philadelphia. Young Jacob thing, he explored more played a prime role in “Selling” liked the small town and lived territory of Texas than its first Texas to the world in the ear there for the next fourteen European discoverer, Cabeza de following the battles for Texas years. During these formative Vaca. He also brought to Texas independence. His writings and years he obtained an education 1 far superior to most in those Jamaica both for his health and commissioners was Stephen F. days. He could read and write to escape the cholera epidemic Austin, with whom Jacob English, Spanish, French, in Philadelphia in 1932. became a close friend and later German and Hebrew. Jacob De had dealings with in Texas had Cordova became very much in Never one to remain idle, he commissioners was Stephen F. demand at all the social learned the printing business Austin, with whom Jacob functions in Philadelphia in that from a student who he had became a close friend and later time shortly after the American helped through school. At that had dealings with in Texas had Revolution. His manner and time the Jamaican newspapers had dealings with in Texas graces were said to be refused to print a Monday Austin’s untimely death in impeccable. edition. Jacob took advantage December. While in New of the situation, and on Orleans, Jacob was debating It was probably at one of these September 13, 1834, he started where he would like to settle social events that he met a daily newspaper, naming it permanently. He read a Rebecca Sterling, the daughter The Gleaner. He established document which not only of a very prominent the newspaper on a firm changed the course of his life, Philadelphia English merchant. foundation for it is still in but also gave the American They were married on the business today. It is published pioneer direction. This September 24, 1829. The under the same name he gave it, document was the Texas marriage was performed on by relatives who remained in Declaration of Independence. Vine Street by Rev. Grant, a Jamaica. Presbyterian minister, even Jacob followed the Texas though Jacob was Jewish and Jacob De Cordova could not freedom campaign with keen Rebecca a Baptist. Jacob once stay away from America long. interest from the tragic said that no man had ever been He and his wife Rebecca massacre at the Alamo to the able to describe Rebecca and do returned to Philadelphia where decisive battle of San Jacinto. her justice because she had she gave birth to a son who they While waiting for the conflict in more charm than mere physical named after his father Joshua Texas to end he became a beauty; she possessed a Raphael. This baby would merchant. He was one of the beautiful soul and a marvelous become the great grandfather of first merchants to begin personality. Ronita De Cordova Miller. shipping merchandise to the Texas colonists during the war. Shortly after their marriage, When Rebecca and the child All types of cargo were shipped Jacob was confined to his home were able to travel, the family to Galveston for the citizens of because of an illness which the moved to New Orleans. They the new Republic. He was so doctors diagnosed as “lung arrived in New Orleans amid impressed with the amount of fever”, the nineteenth century much enthusiasm for the Texas business that he decided to term for tuberculosis. Later cause. One can be sure that move to Galveston himself. He Jacob was told by his Jacob was present when the and his family arrived in physicians that he should leave three commissioners from Galveston in June of 1937. He the cold climate. He and his Texas spoke at the Bishop Hotel (See De Cordova Continued Pg. 6) family returned to sunny in 1936. One of those In Memory of Walter L. May Walter L. May, 85, of Clifton passed away at his home on May 21, 2005. He was born on October 30, 1919 in Clifton, Texas to Adam & Mary Alice (Pollard) May. He was the youngest of eight children. Walter was a member of Clifton Methodist Church, Scottish Rite, Karem Shrine, Eastern Star, Bosque Valley Golf Club, Texas Woodcarvers Guild, Nolan River Chippers of Cleburne, Squaw Valley Woodcarvers of Glen Rose and Masonic Lodge where he held many offices. In addition, he served on the Clifton City Council and was even Mayor Pro Tem from 1993 to 2001. He was well loved and will be greatly missed. 2 Spring Creek, then to Iredell company for 30 years, sold it to and finally to Meridian. The his son, Charles “Cole” Word. second County Judge was Cole and his wife Sonja are now Burrell Franklin Word who owners and operators of served from 1926 to 1936 and Meridian Abstract and Title 1945 to 1946. He married Company. Stella Rundell of Walnut Four Word’s Springs and they had one son Following in his father’s “Chock” C. K. Word, Jr., Burrell Burrell Nelson Word, the glider footsteps, C. Cole Word was Nelson “Tex” Word, C. “Cole” Word pilot. elected Bosque County Judge in and James Powell “J. P.” Word standing in front of the Word Building 2003, becoming the firth on the Square in Meridian James Powell Word, County Bosque County judge from the Words of Bosque County Judge from 1959 to 1963, also Word family. The Bosque County Historical served in the Texas State Senate Commission was pleased with from 1963 to 1973. J. P. credits This family has made history in the attendance of 118 who his mother, a school teacher the county and we wanted to registered for the open house on with his becoming a politician. honor them with the exhibit. June 10, 2005 at the Bosque He practiced law in Meridian The exhibit is housed in a large County Collection for the new and still handles real estate law display case and includes many exhibit “Word’s of Bosque a few days a week at Meridian photos, family records and County”. This exhibit was Abstract Company. He and his memorabilia. It will continue to conceived by Jo Ann Word, wife Bobbye reside in Austin. be on display at the Bosque wife of Chock Word, after the County Collection for a year. sudden death of the late Burrell The fourth, Charles K. “Chock” We invite those of you who Nelson ”Tex” Word. Burrell Word, Jr. was appointed to fill could not make it to the participated in all four invasions an unexpired term as County opening, to come by and view of Europe during World War II Judge and was re-elected twice, the exhibit. with a glider unit. We wanted serving until 1982. He also to chronicle the history of an served one term as a Texas extraordinary family that House of Representative from produced five Bosque County 1983 to 1984. Chock began his Judges. Pictures and career in the abstract business in information was furnished by Jo 1965, with his brother J. P. in Ann, and helped Jo Meyer and the family business, Meridian Corinne Brandt put the exhibit Abstract and Title Company. together. It was truly a team This was a business that their effort.
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