Calendar of Events 2015 Quarterly Meetings The Texian Sept. 11-12, 2015 La Quinta Inn & Suites Belton, 229 West Loop 121, The Official Publication of The Sons of the Republic of Belton, TX 76513; (866) 527-1498, Room Rate $101 + tax, cut off date August 21, 2015; Please identify yourself as SRT. VOL VIii NUMBER 3 August 2015 Hampton Inn & Suites, 7006 Navarro, Victoria, TX 77904; Dec. 4-5, 2015 nd (361) 573-9911, Room Rate $99 + tax, 1 King or 2 Queen News Release for the 202 Anniversary of the Battle of Medina cut off date November 18, 2015; Please identify yourself as August 15, 2015 SRT. The public is invited to attend our 15th annual ceremony commemorating the Battle of Medina, this being the 202nd anniversary of the bloodiest battle in Texas history! The Battle of Medina occurred on August 18, 1813 2015 SRT Events between the Royal Spanish Army and the Republican Army of the North when between 800 and 1,300 Ameri- March 2 Texas Independence Day March 6 Fall of the Alamo cans, Tejanos, Indians, and Spanish soldiers died in this all but forgotten battle which historians have named March 27 Goliad Massacre the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition. Since August 18th is on Tuesday this year, we will hold our normal com- April 21 San Jacinto Day memorative ceremony beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2015 under the large Oak trees on Old September 19 Texian Navy Day on the Battleship Texas Applewhite Road. We will have a Color Guard representing the U.S.A., Spain, Texas and Mexico, plus descen- October 2 Battle of Gonzales dants of the men who fought and died in this battle. Due to the heat, we will try to keep this ceremony as short November 3 Stephen F. Austin’s Birthday (Father of Texas) as possible, and adjourn to the nice cool meeting room at the First Baptist Church located at 400 North Reed Street in Pleasanton, Texas, for an afternoon seminar beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, courtesy of 2015 Quarterly Meeting Barbara Westbrook, Atascosa County Historical Commission Chairman. Sept. 11-12, 2015 La Quinta Inn & Suites Belton, 229 West Loop 121, Belton, TX 76513; Our feature speakers this year include Caroline Castillo Crimm, Ph.D., Professor of History at Sam (866) 527-1498, Room Rate $101 + tax, cut off date August 21, 2015; State University History Department. Dr. Crimm spoke last year at the 201st Anniversary seminar, and you Please identify yourself as SRT. will not want to miss what she has to say about this all but forgotten event in Texas history. Dr. Bill O’Neal, the Texas State Historian, appointed by Governor Perry, will speak on the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition. Al McGraw will be back this year and will discuss the historic pattern of Spanish colonial ranchos, river cross- ings and early roads. Jessie Villarreal will bring his second book that discusses the Tejanos involved in events cont. pg. 3

President General’s Message 1717 Eighth Street Bay City, TX 77414 I know that historical happenings The Saturday meeting went well. Return Service Requested slow down during the summer. I The agenda moved along. One item hope that all of the members and that was discussed again was the chapters are doing well. use of the SRT logo. If anyone has questions on this, please contact the Contact us at: We had a nice quarterly meeting in Logo committee. Over the summer, SRT Office: www.srttexas.org Email: [email protected] June at Waco. Thanks to Curt Os- an item was brought up in the media, 1717 Eighth Street, Bay City, TX 77414 Phone: (979) 245-6644 Fax: (979) 244-3819 borne for setting up the hospitality a certain flag. Gentlemen if anyone room. Everyone had a good time. cont. pg. 3 Robert Kendall, KSJ I hope everyone is having a won- What’s Inside derful summer. In May I went to Battle of Medina...... 1, 3 Historical Marker...... 8 the Lone Star chapter lunch. I gave President General’s Message.....1, 3 In Memoriam...... 9 a talk about the SRT organization Janet’s Korner...... 2 New SRT Members...... 10, 11 Chapter News...... 4, 5, 7 Calendar of Events...... 12 and my ancestor General Sidney Texian Navy Day...... 6 Sherman. It was a very nice time. Executive Committee Ja n e t ’s Korner 2015 - 2016 By: Janet Knox Administrative Assistant New SRT MEMBERS email: [email protected] 1717 Eighth Street Bay City, Texas 77414 (979) 245-6644 Name Chapter ancestor Hometown Michael Ray Turner 32 Robert White Deer Park, TX • The next Quarterly Meeting is Sept. 11-12 Jeffrey Phares Bobo 33 Hardy Pace Pineland, TX La Quinta Inn & Suites Belton, 229 West Loop 121, Belton, TX 76513; Kevin Skyler Cato 36 Christian Smith Mansfield, TX (866) 527-1498, Room Rate $101+Tax, cut-off Darrell Ray Dunlop 36 Samuel Chelton Inman Euless, TX date August 21, 2015; Please identify yourself as SRT. Michael Robert Miller 36 Calvin Gage Idaho Falls, ID Left to right front row: Peter Gage Molino 36 Calvin Gage Idaho Falls, ID • You can view “The Texian” newsletter on the David Stone, Chaplain General; Edward Heath, James Burl Cox 39 John Jennings III Abilene, TX website for free. You may also purchase “The Second Vice President General; Robert Kendall, Texian” and it will be mailed to you for a fee of KSJ, President General; Bob Steakley, KSJ, First George Robert Chall, Jr. 40 John Padre McCoy San Antonio, TX $20.00 a year. Please contact the National office. Vice President General; William D. Power, Secretary Norman Forrest Porter, Sr. 40 George Joseph Blackman Pleasanton, TX General. Hillard Martin Soward III 40 George Joseph Blackman San Antonio, TX • Those members that have not paid their 2015 dues Left to right back row: are now considered delinquent and must pay a David Hanover, KSJ, PPG, Executive Committeeman; Robert Marvin Gillespie 47 Joshua Wright Young Granbury , TX $50.00 reinstatement fee plus the $40.00 dues fee L. Clay Fisher, Executive Committeeman; Kenneth Mason Harrington-Hensley LeBlanc 48 Arabella Gray Deve Harrington Blanco, TX for the current year. You can mail or go to website Pfeiffer, Treasurer General, Randy Pollard, Historian to pay your dues with PayPal. General. Scott Alan Schriewer 50 Ludwig Jauer Seguin, TX George Marvin Cunyus 52 dickson H. Dyer Kilgore, TX • The editor welcomes all submissions of news William Bruce Kitchen 52 Thomas Jefferson Foster, Sr Wake Village, TX articles and photos for “The Texian”. Please District Representatives submit electronic data using the following 2015 - 2016 John Patrick McCoy 56 david Baugh Lufkin, TX guidelines. 1. Submit text in WORD document John Patrick McCoy II 56 david Baugh Lufkin, TX format; articles may be edited due to space limitations. 2. Submit photos as separate Daniel Joseph Hollmann 57 Lawrence Frank Odessa, TX attachments in .jpg/.eps, or tif format. Caption Robert Emmett Hollmann 57 Lawrence Frank Odessa, TX for each photo or after the article’s text. Identify William Kipling Coe 58 isaac Decker Pinehurst , TX the placement of people (e.g.L to R, center, front row, back row), with a corresponding key that Ronald Lee McAnear 58 John B. McAnear Livingston, TX matches the name of the file attachment. Please John Davis Morton, Jr. 58 norman Austin Conroe, TX limit the number of photos submitted per article. Benjamin Fontaine Swank IV 58 William Rodney Baker Tomball, TX • Remember: All active duty personnel, your dues Mark Allen White 58 isaac Guest Katy, TX are waived. Please notify the SRT Office by Jimmy Lynn Ferguson 59 daniel Gilleland McKenna, WA email, postal service or telephone. Left to right front row: Arthur Evans, Gulf Coast • I would like to thank you for the articles and District; George Nelson, Brazos Valley District; pictures you are sending for your newsletter; they William D. Power, North East District; Bob Steakley, have been GREAT. I need YOUR help with KSJ, Frontier District. articles and pictures. If your chapter has or will (Not pictured: John Knox, Post Oak District) be celebrating any events PLEASE email me at: [email protected]. I will be submitting the Left to right back row: October issue for publication; the deadline for Tim Gibson, North Central District; John Meredith, submissions is Sept. 25, 2015. Lone Star District; Jim Massingill, Heart of Texas District; Ronald W. Brown, San Jacinto District.

2 11 cont. from pg. 1 News Release for the 202nd Anniversary of the Battle of Medina August 15, 2015 New SRT MEMBERS in Texas that connect to the American Revolution. We always invite representatives of both the Texas General Land Office, and the Texas Historical Commission, and William McWhorter will tell us what the THC has done this past year. I have invited Dan Arellano, who has organized the Battle of Medina Association to tell us what he has been doing this past year. Doc L’Herisson from Louisiana, will speak again this year, and tell us what he Name Chapter ancestor Hometown has found about the men from Louisiana who came to fight in Texas. We always invite award winning author, Andrew Patrick Thomas Byford Teliha Kirby Ferguson Womack Oklahoma City, OK Robert Thonhoff, Teacher, Administrator, County Judge, who spent years researching this all but forgotten Leo Mitchell Etienne iii John W. Smith III Austin, TX battle. However, due to health reasons, Professor Thonhoff probably will not be able to attend. If it were not John David Phillips, Jr. John Bryan Boyce, LA for Bob Thonhoff most of us would not know about the Battle of Medina. The Battle of Medina was between approximately 1,800 men in the Royal Spanish Army and approximately Robert Don Powell isaac Guest El Paso, TX 1,400 men in the Republican Army of the North, which included about 400 Spaniards, 400 Tejanos, 200 Native Christopher Michael Pryor John Berry Washington, DC Americans, and about 400 men from the USA. In fact we have identified 5 men who fought in the American Luther Hugh Soules, Sr. nelon Soules San Antonio, TX Revolution who were involved in some way in the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition, with only one Patriot of the Travis Barret Fite 1 John W White Houston, TX American Revolution, Peter Sides having been proven to have fought in both the American Revolution and also Michael John Harris 1 Squire Aathan Cruse Cameron, WI fought and died in the Battle of Medina. Direct descendants of Peter Sides are eligible for membership in the John Carl Harris 1 Squire Aathan Cruse Cameron, WI DAR, the SAR, the DRT and the SRT, and descendants directly related to any of the 3,200 men who fought in William Wallace Hunter III 1 Johnson Calhoun Hunter Cypress, TX this battle on either side are eligible for membership in the SRT. Over the past 14 years the SAR, DAR, SRT, Tom Cornelius Lane, Jr. 1 Alfred Lane Perry, OK DRT, Mayflower Society, the Daughter of the War of 1812, and descendants of the men who fought here have dedicated markers to the men who fought and died in this battle, and these descendants will rededicate their Stephen Wayne Rogers, Sr. 1 James Rogers Houston, TX markers at the Saturday morning ceremony under the large Oak Trees. Everyone interested in history is invited Joseph Hamilton Tennant 1 John Pettit Borden Houston, TX to attend. Thomas Boake Ball 7 Evin Corner McAllen, TX Signs will be placed where you turn to the west off Highway 281 onto the Old Pleasanton Road about 15 Murf Christopher Troutz 7 Christopher Troutz Eugene, OR miles south of San Antonio, and 10 miles north of Pleasanton. Signs will again be placed where Bruce Road William Clyde Kerley 8 William Sweeney Frisco, TX branches off Old Pleasanton Road to the west. Signs will also be where Old Applewhite Road branches off Brian Lee Lenhart 8 Peter Cauble Allen, TX Bruce Road to the west. The afternoon seminar will begin at 1:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon at the Pleasanton J.D. Humber II 10 Robert Orson William McManus dayton, TX First Baptist Church located at 400 North Reed Street, in Pleasanton, Texas. For additional information or direc- David A. Fenili 12 Richard H. Chisholm Killeen, TX tions, contact Tom Green at [email protected] or 713-340-1965. Seldon Bain Graham, Jr. 12 John C Struwe Austin, TX Ralph Anthony Pacheco 12 Jose Pacheco Lago Vista, TX Levi Rhett Hagerman 14 Joseph Squyres College Station, TX Tanner Leon Hagerman 14 Joseph Squyres College Station, TX cont. from pg. 1 President General’s Message Howard S. Motley, Jr. 16 Charles Stanfield Taylor victoria, TX Walter Edward Rabke 16 Petersin Clinton Beall Fredericksburg, VA of you are asked about this issue or any political issue you may decide to answer or not. If you do reply, you will William Weathers Christopher, Jr. 25 Jane Dickens Stepp Goliad, TX do it on a personal level. You will not answer as a representative of the SRT. The President General is the only person that represents the SRT.

I am looking forward to the September quarterly meeting in Belton. There will be a lot to be discussed. Please make your reservations and enjoy a weekend of great friendship.

Robert Kendall President General The Sons of the

10 3 James Pinckney Henderson

Judge Holland, commissioners, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for inviting me to be with you today. It is truly my pleasure.

As we all know, Henderson County was organized in 1846 out of Houston and Nacogdoches Counties. But some of you may not know that when organized, Henderson County contained all of what is present day Henderson County, Van Zandt County, Wood County, Rains County, Kaufman County, Rockwall County and the southern half of Hunt County. This

The county seat of this large county alternated between Centerville and Buffalo and it was not until 1850 that Athens became the county seat when the county was scaled could have been down to its present size. And our town of Athens was not named “Athens” until 1850. Prior to that time, our little town was called “Alfred”, named for our first postmaster, Alfred Mallard.

James Pinckney Henderson was elected the first governor of the new state of Texas in 1845 and took office in February19, 1846, just a few months before Henderson County was organized. It seemed fitting to name this your chapter’s new county for the first and so Henderson County was named in honor of James Pinckney Henderson.

Gov. Henderson was born in North Carolina in 1808, grew up there and studied law at the University of North article Carolina. He was admitted to the bar in 1829 at the age of 21 and began his legal career in Salisbury, NC.

Beginning his military service the following year, he was appointed a major in the North Carolina militia and later was promoted to the rank of colonel.

In 1835 James Pinckney Henderson moved to Mississippi and while there became increasingly interested in the news of the Texas Revolution. He began enlisting men for service in Texas and he and several of his recruits sailed to Texas, arriving in Velasco in June, 1836, shortly after the Texas victory at San Jacinto.

In Texas he was commissioned a brigadier general in the army of the Republic of Texas by David G. Burnet who was the interim President of the Republic, and who sent him back to the United States to recruit for the army of the Republic. He recruited and organized a company of men in North Carolina and sent them to Texas, reportedly at his own expense. In Memoriam Upon his return to Texas later in 1836, he was appointed Attorney General of the Republic under who had been elected President and in December, 1836, he succeeded Stephen F. Austin as secretary of Name Chapter hometown state, Austin having just died. Sam Houston said of Henderson, “An individual possessing moral worth, genius and talents proper to the discharge of the duties of that office.” Donald Lee Clark 48 Llano, TX Bill Cox 1 Houston, TX But Texas had major problems: huge debts, trouble securing loans from the U.S. and from Europe and diffi- culty acquiring recognition as a sovereign state. Otto Gregory Crona, Jr. 56 Lufkin, TX Charles Lewis Garrett 8 Garland, TX Early in 1837, Gov. Henderson was appointed Texas minister to England and France to secure recognition and treaties for commerce between those countries and Texas. England was skeptical that Texas could defend Philip Alwin Guittard 16 Victoria, TX itself against Mexico and Texas supported slavery, which England had abolished. France also had serious Gilbert Isaac Patino 40 San Antonio, TX reservations since it had good relations and trade agreements with Mexico. Ronald Roy Woods 6 Clute, TX But after three years, through Henderson’s persistence and perseverance, England and France eventually Carroll Clarke Cook, Sr. 1 Austin, TX entered into trade agreements with the Republic and ultimately recognized Texas independence. Homer Calvin Kelton 36 Henrietta, TX While in France, he met Francis Cox and they married shortly thereafter in London. She was born in Phila- 4 9 Progress Report for Replacement James Pinckney Henderson of Stolen Texas Historical Marker By: David Hanover, KSJ delphia and was educated in Europe and after Henderson’s death, lived most of the remainder of her life in Europe.

As stated in the SRT Constitution, Section 4.3. Goals: “The Henderson returned to Texas in 1840 and set up a law office SRT shall organize and promote public recognition of dates in San Augustine. In 1844 he was sent to Washington to nego- tiate a treaty of annexation with the United States but the treaty and places of historical significance to the Republic of Texas was originally rejected by the U.S. Senate and Sam Houston, with monuments and other appropriate signage or events.” much to Henderson’s dismay, ordered him to return home. The saw serious problems with possible annexation: A probable war with Mexico, Texas’ huge debts, a At the time of this publication, Piney Woods Chapter #52, southern border in dispute (Nueces River or Rio Grande?) and Tyler, President Sam Hopkins is working with Smith County an ill-defined western border. Historical Commission (SCHC) Chairman, Rob Jones (also Henderson again returned to his law practice in San Augus- a member of SRT since 2014), and Tx DOT, in replacing tine and went into partnership with Kenneth Anderson. Fol- a 1975 historical marker and pullout location immediately lowing annexation (which closely followed the terms negotiated by Henderson), Anderson decided to run for south of the Sabine River bridge on U.S. Hwy. 69, in north- governor but died unexpectedly, and Henderson was persuaded to take his place. 1936 Texas Centennial historical marker located at ern Smith County. The marker recognized that 3.5 miles Burleson Lake in northern Smith County, south of the Sabine James Pinckney Henderson was elected governor of Texas in November, 1845 and took office in February, River. A 1975 Texas historical marker, stolen 3 times over west of the marker location was the “Last Camp of the 1846. With the start of the Mexican War in 1846, he was asked by the legislature to take personal command of the past 40 years and to be replaced on U.S. Hwy. 69, 3.5 Republic of Texas Army after the Battle of the Neches” in the troops in the field. He led the 2nd Texas Regiment at the battle of Monterrey and negotiated the surrender of miles east of the 1936 marker, is an ongoing project of that city. Later he was appointed a Major General in the United States Army. several interested groups determined to preserve Texas July 1839. Over the past 40 years, the 1975 marker has history, including the SRT Piney Woods Chapter. been stolen three times, and through the combined efforts of After the war, he resumed his duties as governor but refused to run for a second term. He returned to his the SCHC, SRT Piney Woods Chapter and DRT Charles G. private law practice in 1847. Ten years later, in 1857, Gov. Henderson was elected to the U.S Senate to succeed Davenport Chapter, the interested historical organizations are determined to make this FOURTH marker at that Thomas J. Rusk, his law partner who had committed suicide. Henderson served in the senate until his death on June 4, 1858, at age 50. He was buried in the in Washington, but in 1930 his remains location more difficult to steal. The replacement marker is on order from the foundry, due to be completed in were moved to the State Cemetery in Austin where they lie today. several weeks. Chapter President Hopkins is working with a local memorial company to mount the marker into A little bit about his personal life. a piece of granite, instead of on the traditional historical marker pole. When the marker was last stolen in 2003, - Married Frances Cox in 1839 in London. - She died in 1897 and was buried in NJ. highway workers watched during the day as thieves loaded the historical marker into the back of a pickup. De- - Five children. Three died in infancy. spite the thieves’ license plate being turned into the sheriff’s office, no charges or marker recovery were made. - Martha, died unmarried at age 18. Since that last time to be stolen in 2003, Hwy. 69 has been widened from 2 to 4 lanes, completely eliminating - Fanny, married into Austrian aristocracy. (Lived in Europe) - Julia, married Edward Adams and lived in NJ. the pullout location of the 1975 historical marker. The challenge of creating a new pullout will be handled by James Pinckney Henderson was quite a man. Tx DOT. Watch for updated progress of this preservation project in a future issue of The Texian. - Lawyer - Colonel in the North Carolina Militia - Brigadier General in the Army of the Republic of Texas In a related matter, SRT Past President General David Hanover, KSJ, Piney Woods Chapter President Hopkins - Hero of Mexican War. and SCHC Chairman Jones took a field trip to Burleson Lake, the site referenced in the text of the three stolen - Major General in the U. S. Army 1975 historical markers. Located inside privately owned Burleson Wetlands, the Last Camp of the Republic of - Served as Attorney General and as Secretary of State of Republic of Texas - Served as Emissary to England and France and secured their recognition of Texas independence and Texas Army (after the Battle of the Neches with Chief Bowles in Van Zandt County on July 16, 1839) is marked negotiated trade agreement with them. by a 1936 Texas Centennial historical marker. Past President General Hanover had been fortunate enough to - Negotiated treaty of annexation with the United States. make contact with one of the owners of Burleson Wetlands and was allowed to enter the property for the pur- - Served as first governor of the State of Texas. - Served as a U. S. Senator. pose of assessing the condition of the marker. Badly vandalized over the past 79 years, the marker has come to the attention of the Texas Historical Commission; hopefully, in the next couple of years, the 1936 marker can I think we should all be extremely proud to have our county named for such an outstanding man. receive the restoration needed to preserve Texas history. Thank you for your attention. Wayne Stafford Photo and edited photo courtesy of David Hanover, KSJ

8 5 Greetings: Members of the San Jacinto Chapter had a very nice trip to our State Capitol on Tuesday, the 21st of July.

We were proud to induct Justice Jeffrey V. Brown as the newest member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas, and a member of the San Jacinto Chapter.

Justice Brown is a member of the Supreme Court of Texas. We performed the ceremony in the old Supreme Court on the third floor of the State Capitol. We learned that this room is quite historic, having been used from 1888 to 1959. It can now only be allowed use with the permission of a State Senator. Left to right: Maurice Nassar, Randy Pollard, Ed- ward Heath, Joe Davidson, KSJ, Curt Osborne, Ron San Jacinto Chaplain, Joe Davidson, KSJ said the in- 2015 Brown, Justice Brown, Robert Kendall, KSJ, and vocation and Tom Green, KSJ led the pledge. Mr. Ron Tom Green, KSJ. Texian Navy Day Brown, District Rep. introduced President General, Robert Kendall, KSJ who inducted Justice Brown into Honoring The Texian Navy the SRT. As President of the San Jacinto Chapter, I welcomed him into our Chapter.

Saturday, September 19, 2015 11:00 AM Justice Brown expressed his true pleasure and pride in becoming a member of “The Sons”.

Battleship Texas After Mr. Davidson gave the benediction, we all left to USS TEXAS – BB-35 have a great lunch at the Driskill Hotel.

Battleship Texas State Historic Site 3523 Independence Parkway South Curt Osborne, President La Porte, Texas 77571 San Jacinto Chapter The Sons of the Republic of Texas

Ceremony organized and hosted by: The Sons of the Republic of Texas

SRT sponsored by: The Battleship Texas Foundation With assistance from the staff of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

Contact: Ronald W. Brown / 713 621 5660 / [email protected] (www.srttexas.org for additional details)

Come see the U S Coast Guard and Rolling Thunder

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