' TH E H I STO RY O F BR EN HAM

AND WASHI NGTON COUNTY

BY M R P R . E . EN I T S . N NG O N

B R E N HAM TE "A S ,

STA N D A R D P RI N TI N G 8: LI TH O G R A P H I N G C O M P A N Y

H O US TO N TE "A S

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M R S . P N R . E . E NIN G TO N

T H E HISTO RY O F BRENH AM

AND WAS HINGTO N COUNTY

H T HI T RY F S OR S O O TE"AS . Vivid in coloring and wonderful in action are the moving p ictures which H istory throws upon the screen of Time . ’ Th e first films in the long reel unroll with creation s dawn . The soft pastel shades appearing after " the Spirit moved upon the waters and said , Let there be light . These are followed by films depicting the lovely rose pinks and delicate blues of the golden sk y that arched the Garden of Eden , where Adam and Eve wandered in perfect peace and happi ness in the beautiful green valley through which flowed the sparkl ing waters of the E uphrates . And then comes war , grim visaged war , with its crimson carnage , and dull blues and browns of sorrow . Beginning with the killing of Abel

by Cain , and ending with th e present E u ropean struggle

for supremacy , the dramatic action is based upon war . All through the fascinating reel some nation is warring with

some other nation , for the pu rpose of changing conditions for the betterment and advancement of mankind . In the

filmed pictu res , since Adam and E ve were driven from

E den , there is no record of universal peace . B ut ever through History ’ s scenario shines the Master’ s holy white

l ight , leading each human being to the peace which pass ” eth all understanding .

’ Time s motion pictures of Texas , Washington County , and i B renham , are very likely , of greater interest to B ren h am t e s

- than any other historical photo play in the world . The long reel opens with

T E"AS . Texas dates its individual history with the signing of the Declaration of Independence at ol d Washing ton on the

Brazos , March 2 , 1 836 . Prior to that period the changes through which it passed were marvelous . Indians , French men , Spaniards , Mexicans , Texans , Americans , Confederates and Americans , each in turn have controlled for a time its

destinies .

Robert Cavalier , Sieur de la Salle , conducted the first

Europeans to Texas . He commanded the squadron of four 9 vessels and 3 00 men wh o landed near the entrance t o Mata 1 6 gorda Bay February 8, 1 85 . Later the colonists bu ilt on the Lavaca River a fort which they called Saint Lou is . La t o fo r Salle went search the M ississippi River , and was killed 1 68 in 7 by his own men . The Indians attacked Fort Saint

Lou is and killed and scattered the colonists , thus ending

French rule in Texas .

Little was done after this t o settle Texas until 1 7 1 5 . Per manent occupation by Spain may date from this year . La 1 7 1 6 i ' Bahia was settled in , Nacogdoches n 1 732 , and Vic toria soon after . M issions were built ; and each mission had a presid io , for church and fortress , cowl and carbine were ever together for mutual protection . Spain held Texas fo r u pwards o f 1 5 0 years .

o f Following the revolt Mexico from the rule o f Spain , the first grant from the Mexican government to found an

American colony in Texas was dated January 1 7 , 1 82 1 . It was given to Moses Austin , a native of Connecticut , and o f father Stephen F . Au stin . The father , Moses Austin , dying suddenly, the so n undertook the work o f carrying o u t ’ ’ his father s plans . Au stin s first colonists arrived on the

Brazos River late in December , 1 82 1 . On the first o f Jan 82 2 uary , 1 , Austin named the creek upon which he and his ’ party had camped New Year s Creek . The country watered by the Guadalupe , Colorado and Brazos rivers was explored , and the town o f San Felipe de Austin was laid out o n the

Brazos in 1 82 3 . In the spring the emigrants real ized that they had found a most beautiful country . There was plenty o f fish and game , and great herds o f deer and buffalo grazed peacefully upon the prair ies . The thickly wooded forests , where wild birds warbled , were equally divided with the boundless prairies where innumerable wild flowers bloomed in profusion . Even at this early period the myriads of blue bonnets that carpeted the broad prairies and faded into the cerulean distance , wonder and admiration ; and ‘ excited ’ they were known as the colonists loveliest flowers . The fi rst settlements were made over an area o f ground from the Lavaca River to the San Jacinto River , and ex tend ing from the Old San Antonio road t o the Gulf o f Mexico . ' This scope o f country embraced what is n o w known as

Austin , B razoria , Brazos , Bu rleson , Colorado , Fort B end , Grimes , Harris , Jackson , Lavaca , Lee , Mfiatagorda , Waller , Washington , and Wharton Counties . The rst Mexican civil government was organized by Do n Juan Antonio Sancedo ,

Pol itica l Chief o f the Province o f Texas . He assumed co m mand Of the colony , May 2 0, 1 82 4, and his proclamation is brief and sensible . Sancedo appointed Stephen F . Au stin

Political Chief and Judge , until the Ayuntamiento should be

1 0 ‘ ‘ organized . Baron de Bastrop was the first surveyor , and ‘ Horatio C'hriesman was employed and made most of the

original surveys in Washing ton County . The first settlers

' n ot i n this section did establish a town , b u t opened up farms .

P . Judge John Coles , Col . Jared E . Groce , D r . Colbert Baker and Andrew Robinson came to th e west side of the 2 1 - 1 2 2 1 8 . Brazos in the winter of 8 Sam , Will iam and Amos

Gates , James Whitesides , M . Bi rd , James Lynch , Abner 1 2 2 - 1 2 Kuykendall and Josiah H . Bell arrived in 8 8 3 . The

first child born in this settlement was Mariah Coles , the h n win daughter of Judge and M rs . JO P . Coles , born in the

ter of 1 82 2 . The Mexican government passed colonization laws and

held out inducements to the citizens of the United States . Immigration began to flow in and spread itself over the

provinces of Texas and Coahu ila , as by decree May they had been provisionally united to form one of the con

st it u e n t and sovereign states of the Mexican Confederacy .

Forests were felled , wild prairies were broken , and farms

established . In nine years the Americans had explored the whole southern portion of the provinces and redeemed it

- from wild beasts and Indians . Colonists came faster than provision could be made for their support ; and the first sett lers were often reduced to the necessity of subsisting

w . entirely on ild game , and clothing themselves with skins

Buckskin was the common dress . Blessed indeed was the woman who had brought a supply of wearing apparel from

the States , for even calico was hard to obtain and found a

- r ‘ ready sale at seventy five cents pe yard . These pioneers

suffered greatly from Indian depredations .

On April 6 , 1 83 6, an arbitrary law was passed prohibiting further immigration of American settlers into Coahuila and au th o ri Texas . M ilitary posts were established and the civil ties were trampled under foot . The Texans held a gen eral

consultation in 1 835 at San Felipe de Austin . Harry Smith

was elected governor , and James W . Robinso n lieutenant h m governor of t e provisional government . S a Houston was made commander in chief of the Texas army. Bran ch T.

Archer , William A . Wharton and Stephen F . Austin were appointed to seek aid from th e United States . The appeal to arms in behalf of the constitution of 1 82 4 rallied the r whole people of Texas like o n e man , to the p otection of an d their rig hts liberties . 2 6 h At Washing ton on the B razos , M arch , 1 83 , t e famous Declaration of Texas ‘Independence was signed by the fifty eight delegates .

’ " ~ a t xi - Santa Ann , President of Me co , and the self styled

' ” ‘ o t h e West o n th e Am e ri Nap leon of , resolved driving out 1 1 o r cans i n Texas , crushing their spirit o f independence , at o f 8000 the head men , marched into the city o f San Antonio .

The Texans , passing the San Antonio river , took refuge in the Alamo . Here Travis , aided by Bowie , Bonham and o f Crockett , and a handful men , made that memorable stand ’ whose watchword was Victory o r Death . H istory s pages perpetuate the record o f many an heroic achievement upon the field o f battle ; and there have been displays o f exception al and pre - eminent courage which stand o u t conspicuou s in f o . the annals valorous deeds In the pass o f Thermopylae , Leonidas and his brave Spartans set the standard o f valor fo r ’ many centuries ; at Wagram , M c D o n ald s legions made a wonderful charge that thrills the heart like a bugl e call to arms ; into the j aws o f death at Balaklava rode the six — ’ hundred , the flower o f England s chivalry , and ever since their sublime courage has inspired the pen o f historians and poets ; Pickett and his devoted followers at Gettysbu rg o n wo n mocked at danger and death , and that fateful field o f the laurels a fadeless fame . The leader and men alike wh o came al ive from that carnival o f death carried pass ports to immortal ity . H istory will not willingly let these illustrious names die , but though glorious were their deeds , the grandest example o f unselfish heroism and fidelity to duty even unto death , was when , within the consecrated 6 83 6 walls o f the Alamo , o n Sunday , March , 1 , a l ittle band ’ o f Texans taught mankind the lesson of earth s loftiest martyrdom . Then came the massacre of Fannin and his men on their retreat from Goliad o n Palm S unday ; at the sunrise hou r these brave patriots , with few exceptions , who had sur rendered with honorable terms, with stipulations written in the English and Spanish languages , were shot in cold blood " o by order f the usurper . Remember the Alamo , Remember ” Goliad , the cry for j ust vengeance went u p to H eaven . It i was avenged at San Jac n t o . Houston and his gallant army o f about 783 men defeated Santa Anna and his legions num 1 6 bering about 1 5 00 veteran soldiers on April 2 1 , 83 . The ’ battle began at 3 o clock in the afternoon and most au th o ri ties agree that it lasted about fifteen or twenty minutes . S idney Sherman commanded the extreme left ; Edward Bu r leson the center ; on the right was placed the artillery under George Hockley ; fou r companies of infantry were com man d e d - by Millard , and the sixty one cavalrymen were u nder M irabeau B . Lamar . In the history of Texas two 2 2 1 st 1 83 6 a dates , March d and April , , will st nd forever l ike imperishable marble monuments to the giant int ellects of the Americans ; at Washington in convention assembled they announced with their pens that they were free , sov 1 2 e re ig n and independent, and by force of arms on San ’ Jacin t o s glorious battlefield they ratified this declaration of i Texas Independence . Never s nce the morning stars sang together has such a magnificent country been gi ven to crown the efforts of men .

The presidents of the Republic of Texas were David G .

Burnet, president ad interim , March 1 6 or 1 7 , 1 83 6 , to Octo 2 2 1 83 6 ber ; Sam Houston , October 2 2 , 1 83 6 , to D ecember 1 0 1 838 , ; Mirabeau B . Lamar , December 1 0, 1 838, to Decem 4 ber 1 3 , 1 841 ; Sam Houston , December 1 3 , 1 8 1 , to D ecember 44 9 1 844 9 , 1 8 ; Anson Jones , D ecember , , to February

' 1 6, 1 846 . The first an d last presidents were both in h au g u rat ed at old Washington on the Brazos . In t e spring of 1 845 the United States Congress passed resolutions ad mitting Texas into the Union ; and while President Jones surrendered his authority to J . Pinckney Henderson , who had been elected governor , and announced at Austin that " the first act in the great drama is performed . The Republ ic ” of Texas is no more , the Republic really died at Washing ton when the last C ongress passed the resolutions of an i n exat o n . The story of Texas under the long line of governors who succeeded Henderson is of prosperity and happiness , and is quite familiar to every one .

1 3 SOM E H I STORI CA L FACTS ABOUT WAS H I G C U Y N TON . O NT

The municipal ity o f Washington embraced a large terri

tory . The county o f Washington , o n e of the Oldest and most i historic n the State , was created March 1 7 , 1 836 , and organ 4 ize d 1 . f r December , 1 837 I t has been occupied o nearly ’ ' - ninety fou r years , the first settlers being Austin s colo m s 2 - 2 ist , who arrived in 1 8 1 2 . The average body of land

on its whole surface is , very l ikely , better than any other

county in the State . The men who owned its soil originally were among the first Texans to do valiant work for the

cause of civilization .

In the early history of Texas , the town of Washington

stood as o n e of the leading centers o f business , politics ,

education and social culture . Today this ancient place is

deserted and well nigh forgotten . Changed conditions have caused the decay and death o f a number o f other Washington

Cou nty towns and settlements , once inhabited by peopl e

who were p rosperou s and happy . Some of these places

have disappeared completely from the face o f the earth , and so long have they been numbered with the things

that were , that it is d ifficult t o locate them and determine wli e n and where they existed . This list will probably be o f int e re s t :

JAC K SO N VI LLE .

Jacksonville , which took its name from Terrell Jackson .

a wealthy planter o f that settlement , was one of the oldest

towns in Washington County , and was situated about three

or fou r miles north o f Chappell H ill . It i s said that well

educated and good people l ived there , and that there were prosperous merchants whose bu siness houses were well

bu ilt . Most o f the commerce was carried o n by steamboats ,

which plied u p and down the Brazos River . Qu ite a broad and straight street was laid o u t through the main part o f the town and this was called the avenue . Only the very oldest inhabitants are able t o recall the days o f Jackson ’ — ville s departed glory fo r there is n o t a vestige of the Old town left .

K TUR EY CREE K .

’ Turkey Creek was s o named by a family of Guytons way ’ 4os back in the , and was o n e of the fou r candidates for

1 4 the county seat of Washington County in 1 844. Every t own w s year somebody plows over the place where this a , " — six miles east o f B renham and every year somebody gath on and w h ers cott co rn here it on ce flouris ed , and nobody m c a remembers u h bout Turkey Creek .

I

ROC K ISLAND .

At R ock Island , once a promising village , j ust a few n miles south of Graball , was a fine educati o al institution ,

known as the . Rock Island Academy , and the y outh for many

- I n . miles around went there to have their. minds trained 1 83 7, .legislation having been had providing for the selection e t of county seats by the vote of the people , Chi f Jus ice John

P . Coles ordered an election to be held to locate the county

seat of Washi ngton . Rock Island was a candidate against

Washington for the honor . At Pecan Grove , the p olling h place half way between t e rival towns , Washingt on was

chosen . When the Houston Texas Central Railroad wanted to cross the Brazos River at Rock Island and bu ild into 1 1 Washington for a bonus of $ 000. 00, Washington refused ,

and this was the death o f Rock Island , and the death of ash in g t o n also . Rock Island was given its name by Amos gates

M USTANG .

Seventy- eight years ago Mustang was a trading point three miles east of B renham . Mustang Gray , the celebrated

Texas ranger , lived here and clerked i n a store , and the

'

. . f W. a O place was named for him B Tr vis , the hero the ’ Alamo , lived in Mustang and practiced law in t h e alcalde s

’ ‘ court in the early 30s . Its end is shrouded in obscurity

M OUNT VERNON .

' " h e co n d co u nt M ount Vernon , t e S y seat of Washington ' o in h o n o r County , was named by Judge J hn Stamps of George Washington ’ s home— which is so beautifully situ — ated on the classic Potomac River when he laid out the

town in 1 841 . A log courthouse was bu ilt , and at the sug

gestion of Judge R . E . B . Baylor , was dedicated to j ustice .

' Under a spreading live oak tree about one hundred yards from the courthouse the learned j udge s Often retired to 1 844 deliberate over their verdicts . In , in an election for

the county seat between Turkey Creek , Independence , Mount

Vernon and Brenham , Mount Vernon dropped out of the

- Of . a contest . After the removal the county seat to Brenh m

the town went rapidly to decay, and its beautiful site , upon m a high knoll , about six miles west of B renha , is likely

unknown to the folks who cultivate the land above its grave . 1 5 TIGER POI NT .

Tiger Point received its cognomen from Phil Co e in the ’ 3os , because he said it was full o f men who led fast and

f . fu riou s lives . It was a town o some importance But it went down before the pitiless decree of fate , and the site , six miles south o f Brenham , is j ust an ordinary Washington

County farm .

OLD GAY H ILL AND OTH ER TOWNS . f Old Gay Hill was once a place o note , Rev . James Weston o M iller establ ished , in 1 85 0, there an excellent sch o l for ak girls , entitled the Live O Female Seminary . For many l years it was an important seat of lea rning . O d Gay H ill o f boasted fine Baptist , Cumberland and Old School Presby terian churches , and Rev . M iller was pastor of the latter . f It was a place o matchless natural beauty , situated u pon an eminence dotted with l ive oak trees ; its people were elegant , refined and humane as any who ever l ived . All that is left i s the Old colonial home o f D r . M iller and a recently erected Presbyterian church . E o r vergreen , Waco Spring , was noted chiefly as th e place where the To n k away and Waco Indians had a battle in 83 1 7 . It was a small settlement .

The Old town of Union H ill , three miles nort h of Burton , had its site selected by a local physician , D r . Gant , who al so suppl ied its name . Near this place the Gocher family was massacred by the Ind ians in 1 838. Lots were laid o ff for a town in a settlement known as ’ Warren , at the mouth o f New Year s Creek ; but as there were few buyers , the plan of making a city was soon aban d o n e d , and th e land revert ed to the original owner , who was named Warren . t o R . E . B . Baylor and Rufus C . Burleson used preach fe w occasionally at Mount Gilead , where there were a Bap

. t ist s . Th e town o f Ayers was named for David Ayers

Little is known o f these two places , save that they once existed .

CITIES AND TOWNS OF TODAY .

Besides Brenham , the prominent towns of Washington m County at the present ti e are Chappell Hill , Independence ,

Bu rton , Gay H ill , G reenvine , William Penn , and a number o f lesser importance . h o n Independence was first known as Coles Settlement , 4 wh 1 82 . oring John P . Coles , o first settled there in It t o was given its present name by D r . Asa H oxie , commem I t orate the Texas Declaration o f Independence . has been

1 6 memorable for the number of distingu ished people that

have lived within its precincts , and for the great educa tio n al zeal of its pioneer citizens . The first school was n u 1 1 45 taught in 1 838 by J . D . Giddings . O Febr ary , 8 , the charter for Baylor University , named for R . E . B .

Baylor, was granted by the Congress of the Republic of

Texas , and this famous educational institution was located

at Independence . Among the first presidents were Henry

L . Graves , Rufus C . Burleson , Geo rge W . Barnes , and Will

iam Carey Crane . Baylor Femal e Coll ege was founded in 1 866 . These two schools became very famous ; and it was a 1 8 sad day, in 86, for Washington County , when lack of rail

road facilities caused their removal to Waco and Belton .

Independence was incorporated August 1 , 1 85 9 , and T . T .

Clay was elected mayor . The city government was of short

duration .

C HAPPELL H ILL .

Chappell H ill , named for Robert Chappell, a pioneer , was known as early as 1 849 as a trading point . Among the first people were Robert Alexander , o ne of the founders

of the Methodist Episcopal church in Texas ; H . S . Thrall ,

who wrote a history of Texas ; 0 . Fisher , B . T . Kavanaugh ,

F . C . Wilkes , George W . Carter , William Halsey , C . C .

Gillespie , J . E . C arnes , F . A . Mood , W . G . Conner, John C .

Moore , C . G . Forshey , Pinckney Hill , Williamson S . Oldham ,

Gabriel Felder , W . W . B rowning, R . T . Swearingen and

Terrell Jackson . It came into prominence with the estab lish me n t of Soule University , which was chartered in 1 85 6 , and the founding of Chappell Female College a few years later . This University was consolidated with the South western University at Georgetown in 1 875 ; and the Female

College was discontin u ed a few years ago . Chappell Hill

was incorporated April 7 , 1 85 6 , and John D . Wallis was

. h elected mayor T is form o f govern ment , however , was

abandoned within a few years .

BURTON . When the Houston Texas Central Railroad was extend i ed n 1 87 1 to Austin , the settlement in the Burton neigh b o rh o d o assumed commercial importa nce , and was named

for John M . Burton . Washington Cou nty has been the home of a greater num

ber of men of distinction than any other county in Texas . i r This incomplete list of their names , without their b o g a

phies , will prove this statement : Sam Houston , Mirabeau

B . Lamar , Anson Jones , Martin Ruter, W . M . Tryon , R . E .

B . Baylor , Robert Alexander, W . Y . Allen , John Hemphill , 1 7 A . S . Lipscomb , R . M . Williamson , Jack Hall , Barry G il l e s pie , James H . Willie , W . P . Rogers , B E . Tarver , W . Y .

rlan d . M c Fa , William Pinckney H ill , A . M Lewis , G . W .

Ho rton , Anthony Butler , J ohn T . M ills , Richardson Scu rry , o e F . W . Adams , J Crosby , James Weston Miller , W . H .

Ewing , J . D . and D . C . Giddings , J . E and C . B . Shepard ,

John Sayles , B . H . Bassett , T . W . Morriss and Seth Shepard . ’

. n Dr G ideon Lincecum , o e o f the State s first naturalists , o l ived at L ng Point , where the most o f his investigations d were ma e .

Washington County ha s had only two C ongressmen , Col .

D . C . Giddings ; and the present Congressman , Hon . J . P .

Buchanan , who was elected to fill the unexpi red term o f

Postmaster General Albert S . Bu rleson , and is now serving his first regular term .

1 8

1 83 6, his name undoubtedly woul d be enrolled among the immortals who participated in that memorable confl ict . The record s in . the General Land Office at Au stin show that a bounty warrant was issued Richard Fox Brenham for 32 0 acres o f land , by the Secretary o f War for services in the m ar y of Texas from June 1 5 to September 1 5 , 1 83 6 , said land being located in Cooke County . H is first place of resi dence in Washington County was with Sanford Woodward , ’ on Woodward s Creek , about three miles east o f the City of Brenham . This was his home up to 1 839 , when he went to Au stin . He never l ived in what is called B renham , for the place was not named for him until 1 844, about o n e year after his death .

All nature combined to make D r . B renham a model man ; and physically , intellectually , and morally his l ife is worthy of emulation by the youth of B renham . He was a strikingly handsome man , of tall and command ing physiqu e ; around his broad forehead were masses of light brown hair ; and his classical features were lighted by dark brown eyes in which gleamed the fires of intell igence . He possessed superior edu cation , magnetic personality , a cheerful disposition , a rare gift of oratory , and being naturally witty always pleased a crowd . Many incidents ill ustrating the st erl mg character of D r . B renham were told by the early settlers . When he lived in Washington County he had many friends among the men , women , and l ittle children ; and they so loved this bright and skillful physician , that when the time came to name the town of B renham the brave and good man and his services were n o t forgotten ; for with one accord the p a t rio t ic women o f the settlement paid tribute to the dead

- soldier surgeon , and christened the little place , B renham , in his honor . An authentic account of this talented physician i s o h t ain ed from the Austin City Gazette of October 1 7 , 1 839 . H e was vice president of the d inner given President Mira beau B . Lamar in honor of his arrival at the new seat of government in Austin . D r . Brenham responded to the " toast : The government of Texas ; may it always be ad ministered by honest and capable men fo r the interest of the whole people , and never be used as an instrument in the hands o f unprincipled and designing politicians for personal ” aggrandizements and the advancement of party pu rposes .

D r . B renham practiced medicine in Au stin about two years , and served in his professional capacity some of the most prominent men and women , among the number being fo r President Lamar . In 1 841 he treated , a badly shattered ankle , and inj uries to his back , George W . Kendall , who " wrote The Narrative o f an Expedition Across the Great 2 0 Southwestern Prairies from Texas to Santa Fe and he and. Mr . Kendall became fast friends , and were comrades in the Santa Fe Expedition .

Pol itics interested Dr . Brenham an d h e was a candidate for member of the House of Representatives for Travis

County in 1 840, but was defeated by Dr . G . S . Haynie . An index to the mental caliber of this pioneer is fu rn ished by a 2 San Jacin t o address which he delivered in Austin , April 1 ,

1 840, and which was printed in the Austin City Gazette May

1 3 . . th , of that year ( A copy of this speech is appended ) This speech is one of the most brilliant orations e ver de livered upon an occasion of this kind , and proves the great literary ability of the bright and brainy Dr . Brenham . President Lamar found a kindred spirit in the peculiarly winning manners , courtly carriage , and remarkably fine literary taste of D r . Brenham ; and , he delighted to honor his friend with appointments on important committees . Lamar sent him as one of the three commissioners of the Santa Fe Expedition to Open commercial intercourse with

Santa Fe ; the other commissioners being William G . Cooke and Jose Antonio Navarro . The expedition started from

Brushy C reek near Austin , June 2 0, 1 841 ; and there were 2 70 soldiers under General Hugh M cLeo d . Many merchants and pleasure seekers also went along . M iss Cazn eau of

Austin gave the expedition a beautiful flag , and , at the pre s en t at io n ceremonies , Dr . Brenham made a most eloquent speech of acceptance . The disastrous failure of the Santa

Fe Expedition is a matter of history ; however , Brenham suffered all the horrors of a long imprisonment in a Mexican dungeon , and like a philosopher he faced his fate, and often ’ cheered his fellow prisoners . Even Santiago s grim prison awe 2 1 1 842 walls did not his brave spirit ; for , on April , , he made an impressive speech to his sad comrades in which ’ he recounted the glories of San Jacin t o s battlefield , where liberty unfurled the flag with a single star . Release came in 1 842 h - , and wit comrades of the ill fated expedition , he re turned to Austin by way of San Antonio . The citizens of Austin gave an entertainment honoring these soldiers who had been mourned as dead .

Almost immediately , D r . B renham j oined Alexander ’ S o mervell s Expedition ; and on November 1 8 1 842 , started to the Rio Grande River . However , having arrived at La redo , S o me rvell issued orders for the soldiers to return to

Gonzales to be disbanded . Brenham with 2 9 9 others flatly

- refu sed , and went with Captain William S . Fischer, of

Washington County , to a point opposite the Mexican town " ” of Mier . D r . Brenham was surgeon of the flotilla , or navy which descended the Rio Grande to Mier . At Mier t h e ex 2 1 p e dit io n was defeated by General Pedro Ampudia with an army o f 2 000 men . At the hacienda de Salado beyond Sal tillo , where their captors had corralled them l ike sheep , T B renham with others perfected plans to escape . O gain freedom it was necessary t o charge through a narrow door to the cou rtyard where guards were stationed with fixed n o o f bayonets . As the prisoners had absolutely means de f n s n o t e e , even a club , it was obviou s that the foremost man would perish . D r . B renham volunteered for this fatal post ; he said that he was unmarried , and being a soldier Of fo r tune was practically alone in the world . He led the dash fo r l iberty , and killed two o f the guards , and had severely wounded the third , when he stumbled and fell directly on the

‘ bayonet of his falling enemy . Thus , February 1 1 , 1 843 ,

- - rific in with Christ like nobility , did the self s ac g and chival ’

rous Dr . Brenham walk i n the Divine Master s footsteps , and give his l ife that his fellow men might have l ife and liberty .

H istory presents but few parallels to the l ife o f D r . B renham ; and historians agree that he was talented and patriotic upon principle fo r the love o f country and the love of liberty , and that he was brave to a fault . Thomas J .

Green places him among the patriots , along with M ilam ,

Travis , Grant , Ward , Bowie , Crockett , Fitzgerald and

Fannin . H is friend Kendall said when he heard of Bren ’ " ham s death , Thus died Brenham ; and in him Texas lost ” o n e o f her bravest and most generous spirits .

f wh o Captain Claudiu s Buster , o Washington County , went with the M ier Expedition , and was released from the 4 r Mexican dungeon in 1 84 , upon his return to Brenham e lated many interesting stories o f the valor o f D r . B renham .

H e said his high calling made him a very valuable man , and that he ministered to the sick and dying soldiers with all the tenderness o f a woman . He told that Dr . Brenham led the charge at the hacienda de Salado , and rushed through a small door , d isa rming a sentinel as he went . With the bayonet wrested from his enemy this athlete killed two o f the guards and had mortally wounded the third , when death stilled his brave heart .

t o . Ho n . Guy M . Bryan in a letter Mrs Rosa Freeman

Ferrell o f Anson , Jones County , Texas , who is a relative

: . o f D r . B renham , has this to say At Salado D r B renham led the attack u pon his guards with the expectation of

. being killed , that his comrades might escape I remember h o w he was spoken of with love and admiration by all o f Texans . The town B renham , Texas , is named in his ’ h o n o rfi

2 2 This man was a hero ; and at every turn in his illustrious life there is some reminder ample enough to stimulate the loftiest patriotism , and to make his memory loved and ven erat e d with pride by every loyal citizen of Brenham . May the name , Brenham , be spoken as a household word for cen

t ri . u e s to come .

S AN JACI NTO ORATI O N DELIVERED BY DR . RIC HARD Fo x 4 AM I N 2 1 1 8 0. BREN H , AUSTI N , APRIL ,

Fellow Citizens :

The love of power is a principle inherent in man , and from the remotest period Of antiquity to the present time, no age has passed without an exhibition of its baneful influence , to the destruction of the liberty and happiness of some por tion of mankind . Had human nature been untainted with n this dangerou s passion , the pages of history would be u stained by the record o f national turpitude and civil com motion . But the annals of every nation worthy of the re cording testimony Of historians , conclusively illustrate the dangerous tendency of misdirected ambition , and present abundant examples to teach us that no people have ever achieved pol itical greatness and national renown without passing through the fiery ordeal of revolution , and resisting with the energy of free men the ru de assaults and alarming encroachments o f despotic power . The attainment of civil liberty and establishment of national independence by a people whose rights have been trampled upon by tyrannical rulers , and whose persons and property have been sacrificed without regard to law or j ustice , has ever been attended by scenes of danger , tumult and disaster . In addition to the examples of past ages , Texas presents to the world another instance of emancipation from arbitrary thralldom to brighten the galaxy of existing nations , and enlighten pos t e rity upon the value of pol itical freedom . She has emerged from the darkness of despotism in which she was shrouded , and now basks in the radiance of liberty . She has cast off the bonds that fettered her people , and assumed the lofty attitude of an independent republic . N0 longer are our peo ple goaded by the taunts , and afflicted by the harsh domina tions of usurping authorities . No longer do we see the myrmidons of oppression enforcing partial and unj ust laws , f and harassing our citizens with of icial rapacity . No " A change has come over the scene , the corrupt and mercenary brigands who sought to fasten upon this country the galling yoke of a barbarous government have been d isco mfitt ed and driven back to the land from whence they came with shame and dishonor . Broken , humiliated and dismayed , they fled in consternation to their own land , but carried with them in 23 their retreat a lesson of Texas valor and mercy , wh ich neither time n o r circumstances can obl iterate . We are assembled this day to commemorate the closing act o f that national drama which terminated in the erection of a new and independent state , and gave to u s a separate political existence . We are met here t o honor an achieve ment that in future ages will rank among the brightest deeds o f chivalry . An event that sealed the triumph o f int elligence and civil freedom over the grovelling prej udices o f ignorance o u r and superstition . An action that elevated country to a l evel with the proudest republ ics of antiquity— whose citi zens made every town a fortress and every plain a battle

fi eld rather than submit to the d ictation of arbitrary power . The battl e of San Jacin t o concluded a controversy in which the great principl e o f human rights was involved . How ever interesting the subj ect , it cannot be expected that I should o n this occasion indulge in a minute detail o f all the incidents which preceded that brilliant consummation . They n n are before the world , and o o e in the sound o f my voice can be ignorant of the circumstances o f that glorious strug gle . I will speak , however , o f the condition o f Texas pre vio u s t o — , and at the time o f the revolution Of the leading causes which produced that event and changed the destiny a o f a people , and o f the character o f those who by their p tient su ffering , fortitude , and valor achieved the rights and privileges which we n o wenj oy . B ut a few years since this — rich domain the fairest portion o f the universe— was hel d in possession by a degenerate race , incapable o f estimating their inheritance , o r d eveloping the resources with which it was so richly endowed by nature . The Mexican population wh o then inhabited the province o f Texas were sunk to the lowest stage o f human existence . Without a commerce t o profit by an intercou rse with other countries , without agri cultural industries t o unfold the latent resou rces o f thei r w o n land , unrefined by education and the arts that elevate f and give tone t o the character o man , they were scarcely raised above the cond ition o f the untutored savage who roams over the western plains unchecked , and uncontrolled o by the laws f Go d o r the spirit o f human ity . The country was exposed o n every s ide ' to the constant depredations of f the various hordes o Ind ians which infested its borders . Only the shadow o f a government existed here then ; anarchy and l icentiousness reigned supreme over the land , and tu mult and d isorder marked the conduct of the people . The Mexican authorities with the V iew of improving the co n o f d ition the citizens inhabiting this territory , and giving them protection from hostile barbarians , invited immigra

tion from abroad . They promised t o those who came an 24 equal participation in the government, and the u nrestricted enj oyment of the same rights and privileges they had pos sessed in their native land . B ut how was that pledge ful filled " The events which rapidly followed the settlement of

- the country by the , Anglo Americans have demonstrated to the world the perfidy of that government which induced them to leave their homes and embark in the perilous adventure of colonizing a frontier country . B ut they came ; and they n brought with them the courage , energy and spirit of e t erprise that has ever distingu ished their race . They brought with them the principles of free government, and the same ardent love of l iberty that impelled their ancestors to fly from the oppression of British tyranny, and plant th e standard of civil and religious liberty in the wilderness of America . Pursu ing the system of their fathers they soon redeemed th e country from the state of degradation and barbarism to which it had been reduced by a reckless , ignorant and disorderly community . They spread the light of intelligence over the land ; the arts were put in successful operation ; and the hand of industry was rapidly displaying the wealth of a soil which nature had so lavishly gifted with

the elements of fertility . The chaotic gloom that pervaded and almost overwhelmed the country with despair was soon dispelled ; organization was effected and the future beamed

upon the people with the rich promise of prosperity . B ut the hopes entertained by those who had risked their all in reliance on the pl e dg e s o f a faithless government were

doomed to early disappointment . The guarantee which was h proffered them for t e preservation of their political rights , the promotion of domestic tranquillity and individual in t e rest s fidin , was only given to delude a generous , co n g and

unsu specting people . The elements which then composed the community of Texas were of a conflicting character and

could not commingle in harmonious action . Ignorance and depravity must ever yield t o the supremacy of intelligence V and irtue . No two distinct races of men , divided as the

poles are asunder, in all the attributes that form human

character , can ever be reconciled to peaceful union . The

laws of nature are fixed and unchangeable, and cannot be

varied from their course by the dictum of any earthly power . As well you might attempt to pluck one of the shining lights that glitter in the firmamen t of heaven from its place as to endeavor to unite in concord and congeniality the base and

degraded spirit of the degenerate Mexican , with the proud , an d - free untrammelled soul of the legitimate white man . The past history and p rese n t co n ditio n of the Mexican na tion clearly proves their incapacity to appreciate republican

principles , or to exist in quietude under a free government . 2 5 Whilst every other people have been gradually advancing in the scale o f civilization and refinement , they have scarcely o f moved a single degree , in the course time , from the de based condition in which they were found by the Spanish conqueror in the sixteenth century . Could such a people ex peet t o hold in pol itical bondage a race o f men who inhaled " at their birth the atmosphere o f liberty and whose fathers successfully resisted the oppression of the most powerful f w kingdom o Eu rope , and erected a government that is n o " the admiration o f the world The rapid advancement o f the Texans in all that tends t o elevate and dignify the character o f a community, t o gether with the dissemination of the principles inherited from their ancestors , soon aroused the j ealousy and mis trust Of the Mexican government , which looked with dread and apprehension o n everything calculated t o awaken their abj ect populace t o a sense of their political disfranchise ment and moral degradation . The u surping faction then holdi ng sway over Mexico , determined to maintain their t o supremacy at all hazards , resorted unconstitutional and o f arbitrary measures to check the tide improvement , and crush the spirit o f l iberty which was fast elevating Texas above the rank Of the neighboring provinces . NO means that tyranny could adopt in the subversion Of the liberties f o a people were neglected by the party in power . Every f f principle o constitutional liberty was violated , the rights o the people disregarded , innovation succeeded innovation , wrongs accumulated , until the government which was insti t u t e d t o promote happiness of all was changed into an in o f strument tyranny in the hands Of a few , and its power abused fo r the infliction o f calamity on those whom it was t o intended protect . The peaceful means o f petition and remonstrance fa iled to produce a change in the conduct of the rul ing powers . Their purpose was fix ed and they heeded n o t the voice of o r supplication the claims of j ustice . The representative o f

Texas , who traveled through toil and danger to the d istant seat o f government t o Obtain a redress o f grievances and a o f revocation unj ust enactments , was received with con tempt and contumely— insulted with publ ic scorn— deprived o f personal liberty , and incarcerated in a dungeon . It will n o t be improper here t o speak o f that man , who by his enthusiastic zeal and unconquerable energ y , raised a coun try from a state of vassalage and subj ection to an inde pendent sovereignty , and fixed his name high in the cata o f o f logu e the benefactors mankind . Where will you find a t o o f firm parallel the character Stephen F . Austin " His ness , constancy and fortitude in pu rsuing the ends dictated

2 6

wi ih foes t the delusive hope of conquest of ou r country , it r roused the spirit of avenging j ustice th oughout the land , which was n o t still until ample retribution was made upon the altar of liberty . The bloody scenes which occurred during the march of the enemy through Western Texas are fresh in the reco llec tions o f all who now hear me . They have stamped the

Mexican name with infamy throughout the civilized world , and guaranteed to them the execration o f mankind as long as remorseless treachery , cruelty and mu rder are held in detestation by the human race . Every principle o f civil ized warfare , and every feeling o f humanity were repudiated by the advancing legions of Santa Anna . Thei r progress was marked by rapine and massacre , unredeemed by a singl e f act o conciliating mercy . With vandal fury they came sweeping on in the might of numbers and pride of victory , breathing the spirit of slaughter , and avowing the purpose o f extermination to all who were a rm ed in defense of the in vaded country . B ut their victorious career was destined soon to receive a check , their pride to be humil iated , and their power to be destroyed . On the plains o f S an Jacin t o they were encountered by that small but gallant band of patriots upon whose exertions were then depending the — l iberty , the very existence o f the country . Every o n e here must be famil iar with the circumstances of that battle , and many are present who participated in the engagement , and can testify as l iving witnesses to the glory of the achievement . In that brief but glorious conflict the power o f the invader was broken never t o be resuscitated ; their boasting leader made captive in the hands of those whom he sought to enslave , and the gaudy banner o f tyranny trampled under the feet of free men ; then the star o f Texas , o f f gl ittering with the effulgence victory , rose to the point o culmination , throwing the light of l iberty wide over the " ” land , broad and general as the casing air .

I have thus , in obedience to custom , briefly sketched forth the progress o f our country to the conclusion o f the time in which the political destiny o f Texas was involved , and the termination of which gave to o u r government a permanent existence . We are n o w l iving under the b en e ficen t influence o f a written constitution , emanating from ourselves , and enj oy ing the p rotection of laws framed in accordance with the principles o f that sacred charter . And it now becomes us t o consider the dangers which may hereafter threaten ou r

institutions , and the means by which they may be preserved and transmitted t o o u r successors unpolluted by the breath o f friction , or the d isorganizing spirit o f ambition . 2 8 It has been customary on occasions like th e present for the speakers to dilate upo n the characters and censure or condemn the actions of those men who have been dis t in g u ish e d in history as the destroyers of the liberty of their countries . Caesar , Cromwell , Bonaparte and others , whose names have been rendered famou s by thei r deeds , which are familiar to all who are conversant with the past , have long been presented to the gaze of the world as warnings against the influence of tyranny . Time after time have execrations been heaped upon their memories , and their examples preached forth as lessons of instruction to guard the people against the encroachments of despotism . But however much we may condemn the conduct of those men , it is not to them alone that we should charge the calamities which their careers inflicted upon mankind . Every one who is acquainted with human nature is well aware that the predominant and most dangerous passion of man is ambition . And I hold and avow the doctrine th at no single individual is to be held responsible alone for the subversion of the liberties of his country . Unless the great maj ority of the national community are poisoned by the cor ru t in p g influence of faction , and bow with tameness and submission to the advancing strides of usurpation , no u n principled , factious and ambitious citizen can elevate him self to the pinnacl e of power and triumph over the ruins of the constitution of his country . The power of government is m derived fro the people , and if they are so bl ind to their own essential interests as to delegate that power into the hands of men unworthy of the trust, they must be held accountable for the disastrous consequences which may result from its abuse by th e agents whom they have clothed with authority . You are the source from whence all official authority emanates , and for the protection of you r property and the promotion of you r interests and happiness , it is you r im perio u s duty as citizens of a free republic to understand the constitution and laws of your country , to appreciate the rights with which you are vested , and to guard them with untiring vigilance against every assault that may endanger their safety . In the formation of ou r government we have benefited by the experience of past ages— incorporating into ou r system those principles of the ancient republics that tend to the preservation of human liberty , and at the same time we have discarded those features of their con st it u t io n s which militate against the spirit of republican equality . No ranks of distinction exist in the political organization that we have established to disturb the harmony and excite

2 9 dissension in the national community . All possess the same freedom , all enj oy the same privileges , and upon all rests the same degree o f responsibility to sustain the g o v e rn me n t they have adopted . The time has gone by when the position o f nations was governed by the action o f physi — cal power alone when the fate o f empires was decided o f w by the strife battling legions . The influence that n o controls the mass o f mankind is mightier than the armed hosts that in former times shocked the worl d w it h their collisions . Public opinion , enlightened by intelligence , and based u pon the broad principles of equality and rational n w l iberty , is o the great lever which moves and governs f the destiny o nations . Texas has n o wnothing to dread fromthe force o f external powers ; whilst the integrity o f o u r government is main t ain e d unimpaired— o u r intercourse with foreign nations conducted in accordance with the established principles o f national law , and o u r pol icy dictated by j ustice and gu ided — by wisdom we must ever command the respect o f the world , and reap the rich reward o f a reciprocity Of inter ests . The storms o f faction engendered by the destructive spirit o f party are n o wthe only cau se t o excite app re h e n sions in the mind o f the reflecting patriot . When that dan gero n s evil that has crumbled into ru ins the proudest m o n u me n t s Of human wisdom is subdued by the purification f o public sentiment , and the whole mass Of society moves o n in harmoniou s concord , giving t o o u r government by their united action stability, dignity and power , then , and n o t until then , will Texas be free , prosperous and happy . Then when in future ages the transactions o f o u r country are recorded fo r the instruction o f posterity , let the his torian tell t o the world , in characters o f blazing light , and in t ell i in the language o f truth and j ustice , that by the gence , virtue and patriotism o f her people was reared the prosperity , the greatness and the glory o f Texas .

3 0 BREN H AM '

- wo s o t l rI u Nearly seventy t year ag , in h e g o o s spring

time , when Texas was a republic , life began for B renham

in a beau tifu l post oak grove , where native song birds sang wonderful melodies to fragran t flowers that bloomed o n u the surro nding prairies , and where quail , wild turkeys ,

prairie chickens and deer scu rried away , frightened at the

s t . Th o approach of the e tlers e gr ve was a princely gift , anwd good women honored a hero when they gave the new to n the name of Brenham . Peopl e with inherent love of

liberty , the Christian religion , education and progress came an d e h built hom s and were blessed wit , health , happiness

and prosperity . The l ittle place advanced along steady and

sure lines , but with all the sunshine there were some shad

. ows , too During, the civil war many husbands , fathers and sons donned the Confederate gray and marched away ; and some o f them never returned to th e fire s ide s where

afterwards sat the sad widows , mothers , daughters and

sweethearts . Those who came back had to rehabilitate their

broken fortunes and establish anew their households . Great

calamities c ame with the awful yellow fever , and with the and big fires two storms . The sturdy city overcame its difficulties ; and with unfaltering cou rage has forged to the front until it can p o mt with pride to commercial connec tions , railroads , modern stores , industries , estimable women e o f and busin ss men unquestioned integrity . It is one of s t e in the mo t importan littl cities the interior of Texas ,

and physically, financially , intellectually and religiou sly it e is really a B autiful Brenham .

SELECTED COUNTY SEAT .

an d After the Republic of Texas was . established , a con o f st it u t io n had been adopted , the Mexican plan govern

o . ment was discarded , and c unties. were organized The iz in 1 835 municipal ity of Washingt on was o rg an e d July , ; and o f this territory the counties of Washington , Mont , gomery , Brazos , Burleson , Lee , Grimes , Madison , Walker and San Jacinto were created . Washington County was created March 1 7 , 1 83 6 , an d according to records in the

A u st in ' as w d 1 4 1 8 . capitol at organize December , 37 The h B r first c ounty seat was . Washington on t e azo s . In Sep

1 841 n - tember , , the co u ty s eat was removed to Mount Ve r non .

31 Between 1 83 6 and 1 844 the population in the southern and southwestern parts of Washington County increased so rapidly that a change in the seat o f government was agitated , and the settlement where Brenham now stands was suggested as being more centrally locat ed . Jesse Farral and James H urt aided the cau se of the settlement by the promise o f 1 00 acres of land for a townsite . On Jan 4 ua ry 3 1 s t , 1 8 4, Congress , which was then in session at

Washington , responded to the popular appeal and ordered f r an election o the selection of a permanent county seat . This act also specified that a maj ority o f all the votes cast was necessary to elect . Mount Vernon , Independence,

Tu rkey Creek and B renham announced . In the contest neither town received a maj ority , and another election was ordered . Turkey Creek and Mount Vernon dropped o u t o f the race , leaving the field clear for B renham and Inde e n de n ce p . After an extremely exciting race B renham was victoriou s by three votes . H er su ccess she owed to the — ability and masterly management o f J . D . Giddings one of the brightest and most influential citizens in the whole country . On horseback he visited every community and made eloquent speeches in behalf of the place so recently named B renham .

TOWN CO M M ISSI ONERS .

Congress designated William W . B uster , George W . Gen

. try , Ephriam Roddy , James L . Farquhar , Asa M Lewis ,

William Jackson , James Cooper and Joshua Graham as town commissioners of the new county seat ; and they were authorized to su rvey and sell lots in the local ity donated by o f the generosity o f Farral and Hurt . The deed Farral 1 8 and Hu rt of 1 00 acres o f land was executed April ,

1 844. The gift was a part of a tract of land which Farral

and Hu rt had acqu ired by purchase from Mrs . Arabella : Harrington , the boundary l ines being as follows Begin

n ing at the northwest corner o f the First Baptist chu rch , thence with ea c t line o f Market street to the northwest

corner o f Germ a nia l o t , thence west with the street from

Germania to West street, thence with West street north to a point running a parallel l ine with south line o f 1 00 acres

to the place o f beginning .

AUCTI ON SALE OF LOTS .

An auction sale o f town lots the latter part of April

attracted many peopl e to the new seat o f j ustice . The lots o n the corners o f the square brought only to and some excellent sites were pu rchased at 32 FIRST I NHABITANTS OF THE SETTLE MENT .

44 o n In February , 1 8 , there was no e living in the original townsite of 1 00 acres donated by Farral and Hu rt ; and there were few people residing in the settlement . In the rear of the Anthony hotel, outside of the townsite , was the rudely constructed house in which Jesse Farral , James ’ Hu rt and their families lived . Joseph Ralston s store was north of this dwelling . Ralston owned a number of goats , and as they were continuously around his place of busi ” ness , the inhabitants dubbed the street Goat Row , and it was so known until its name was changed to Market, June 4 ’ 1 3 1 8 . , 7 Adj oining Ralston s , and on the north also , was a small log house in which the papers of the county were kept by District Clerk J . D . Giddings , pending the building of the cou rt house .

A list of those living in the settlement , including the farmers who resided within a radius Of three or four miles , 4 in the spring of 1 84 , as nearly as can be ascertained , is as follows : Mrs . Arabella Harrington , whose leagu e of land 2 2 1 83 1 r was granted March , , unde the colonization laws of

Coahuila and Texas , and upon which the whole of Bren ham , and much of the surrounding country , is situated , - lived in the most beautiful part of her possessions , i. e on the branch which runs past the home in South B renham of Mrs . Ida Dawson , and j ust a little removed from Mrs . ’ Dawson s present ho me . Dennis Harrell l ived in the west on the left hand side of the present H . T . C . railroad ’ bridge . ~Henry Higgins was at Fireman s Park , with James M cR ea j ust across the branch from him . B illie and John To m ’ owned the land where Mrs . Anna Hermann s home , is situated . John B rown lived where Dr . S . Bowers resides . ’ B illie Norris home was in the east o n the branch which ’ -s . . . M c I n run past Mrs Ida Dawson s residence H C . t yre t 1 839 set led on his farm in . Dr . Payne , when he was not practicing medicine or farming , operated a grist mill on the ’ branch which runs through B urney Parker s present farm .

. L P . Rucker and B . E . Tarver had farms to the north o f ’ ’ . wa B renham Joseph Ralston s farm s on Ralston s Creek . ” Jesse Johnson , or Tub Johnson , had a grist mill on Wood ’

. . ward s Creek Rev John W . Kenney lived at Kenney .

Elliott Allcorn , B illie Cole , James Clemmons , O . H . P . Gar ‘ rett, Sam Lusk and Sandford Woodward were farmers also .

THE FIRST BUILDI NG . The first bu ilding to be erected in the original townsite

- was the court house . It was a small two story wooden c r l stru tu e , situated o n the o t where stands the present court

” . T m house J e o , Jo e Miller and Hugh S h e rro ld were the

33 architects . The first county j udge Of Washington County wh o presided in Brenham was William H . Ewing . The

fi rst d istrict cou rt was held by Judge R . E . B . Baylor , with ”

Ramrod Johnson as district attorney, and J . D . Gid d ings district clerk . The first sheriff was James W . Mc

Dade . Among the first county clerks were John G ray and M D . c ad e Sam Lusk ; and the early sheriffs were James W ,

James L . Dallas and Van Irons . The prominent lawyers w . . . ere R E B Baylor , J . D . G idd ings , Asa M . Lewis , J .

. . . . l F r . M A H Willie , W H H iggins , John Say es , W Y . c a la n d , Jo e . . Crosby , G W Horton , W . H . Ewing , Barrey Gillespie ,

. . B E Tarver , J . E . C . B . Shepard , W . P . Rogers .

FIRST H O M E .

o f 44 Asa M . Lewis , in the spring 1 8 , bu ilt a hand some home , fo r those times , o n the vacant l o t opposite the residence of Mrs . Julia R . Simon . This was the second f bu ilding to be erected in the town , and it was a matter o great pride that it was cemented inside and out , and was equ ipped with glass windows— the only ones in the whole settlement .

EAR LY SETTLERS .

’ ’ At the close o f the 4os and the beginning of the 5 os

Brenham had a roster o f citizens which included J . D . Gid

. dings , Sam Lu sk , John B . Wilkins , D . D Crumpler , George M c R e a B . Cooke , C . F . Barber , James , William Pressley ,

. . W . H . Ewing , David E stes , Jones Rivers , J C Mundine ,

n . . . William and Joe McC u t ch e o , G . W Buchanan , W W Hack ‘ He flin t o n worth , L . D upuy , James Stockton , James G . g , l o e Hugh S h e rro d , Jo e M iller , J and John Tom , Bill ie Nor ris , John Day , Vardeman Lee , Dr . Blake , D r . Ware , D r .

J . P . Key , Captain Early and their families ; Mrs . Jame

s o . s o n n , Mrs . Gray , Mrs Ewing and her , Wash Ewing ,

~ u n m a r M rs . P arit z and daughters . Among the young and ried men were Robert D . Harris , Johnson Hensley , Alex

S imon , James A . Wilkins , W . G . Wilkins , W . H . Higgins ,

Rafe Fuller , John Brophy , Charles G . Stockbridge , Dr . A . H .

Rippetoe , D . C . Gidd ings , Thomas W . Morriss , J . E . G ray ,

. . e J C Cade , John Petty , the Bassetts , J . N . Houston , Georg

lh n . Wilson , Edmondson , M c I e n ey , Mu rdock , J . S Young and

D r . Noel . D r . Blake was a homeopathic , and D rs . Rippetoe ,

Noel and Key were allopathic physicians . The prominent B s h young lad ies were M isses Malinda , e r e b a and Myra Lusk , M c I n t re Sallie and Harriet y , Mary Porti s , Mary Pressley ,

Sallie and Mary Cooke .

34

. r ia was invariably met at the gate with a co d l welcome , and

he was gladly entertained , without money and without price ,

as long as he chose to stay .

RAI LROADS . The great trouble and expense incident to haul ing mer

ch an dis e , supplies , etc . , by wagons from Washington and B n h am it e s Houston , brought re to the early realization of the necessity o f establ ishing railroad communication with

outside points . The first advocate and the most earnest

advocate of a railroad , was J . D . Giddings , and with the patriotism that characterized his every movement where

B renham was concerned , he endeavored to build it . With

the aid of his brother , D . C . Giddings , he organized the its Washington County Railroad Company , which received 2 charter February , 1 85 6 ; and he was the fi rst president

of the organization , with A . G . Compton as secretary . The

contract was awarded King , Sledge Company . J . D . Gid

dings made several trips to New York and Pennsylvania , where he personally purchased the rolling stock and all

the supplies . Among the purchases was a big engine , ” named the J . D . Giddings , which was considered the

finest in Texas . Jacob Fetterly was the first engineer , and

after a short service he was succeeded by W . F . Ray . In 1 85 8 o f May , , miles the railroad were completed , and

beginning with October 1 , 1 860, trains were operated from

Hempstead to B renham , a distance of 2 1 miles . In 1 87 1

the Houston Texas Central bought this short line , which they extended t o Au stin ; the first train arriving in the cap o n ital city Christmas day . The machine shops and ter min al s were removed from B renham at that time . ’

Brenham s second railroad , the Gulf , Colorado Santa

Fe , was built in 1 879 .

CON FEDERATE SOLDIERS . 6 Patriotism asserted itself in 1 8 1 , and many veterans who had helped Texas wrest her freedom from despotic Mexico shouldered their o ld muskets and marched side by ’ side with bea rdless youths , at the Southland s call to arms . I t l was a sad crisis in the l ife o f the little town . An o d newspaper o f this period states that Washington County 1 86 had , in June , 1 , an army Of men , all tolerably well armed ; and that a camp o f 600 men drilled daily during that month near Brenham . The La Bahia Rifles o f 1 00

men , with Captain Lauderdale commanding , were from Gay

H ill , and they carried a silken banner made by the young o f lad ies that vicinity , which was presented by Miss Lucie

' Atkinson at a camp drill held at o ld Mount Vernon in 1 86 1 o f J uly , . Some the companies that went from Bren 36 ham and Washington County , in which Brenham citizens ’ 5 th were enlisted , included : For Green s B rigade , Texas h il Cavalry , Company E , of Brenham , with H ugh M cP a cap tain , and Company F , with George W . Campbell , of Long ’ Point , captain ; in 5 th Texas Infantry , Hood s Brigade , " were the Dixie Blues , John D . Rogers of Washington , captain ; Company I , of 5 th Texas Infantry , J . B . Robert ’ Of son , Independence , captain . T . N . Waul s Legion company ’ was organized on New Year s Creek , about six miles from

Brenham . Col . D . C . Giddings went with the 2 1 st Texas

Cavalry to Arkansas . Captain Claudius B uster of Chappell ’ Hill took a company to Galveston , where it j oined Elmore s

Regiment . Marold was captain of Company E , 1 6th Texas ’ Infantry . Qu ite a number of B re n h amit e s j oined Terry s

Texas Rangers . . The soldiers of Washingt on County were brave to a fault , and j ust as true as steel , and the war o n e record of each is above reproach .

RECONSTRUCTI ON DAYS . f o . Reconstruction came with the end . the awful war In 1 865 wa July , , B renham s made a military post , and the Federal soldiers were camped at Camptown ; from which circumstance this colored addition to Brenham derives its name . Commanders were changed many times . Post and " ” Sanders were respectable ; but House B urning Smith , as he was called , gave much trouble . The soldiers and the _ young men of the town became involved in a controversy at a ball on the evening of September 7 , 1 866 . The sol diers intruded into the ball room , and tried to bring some negro women with them . This the fiery Southerners re

‘ sented , with the result that a man named Wyatt wounded two Federal soldiers and killed a third . John A . Shep ard and H . K . Harrison counseled peace without avail .

Late that night the soldiers , in revenge , burned the block of buildings in which was situated the hall where the ’ dance occurred . The Brenham Banner s plant , owned by M cGar Daniel y and John G . Rankin , was also destroyed , but in settlement of another score . M c Gary, the editor , was made a prisoner because he had exposed the Freed ’ ” men s Bureau , in charge of S . A . Craig , and denounced the Federal soldiers in the columns of the paper . From his cell in the j ail , where he suffered imprisonment for 1 4

days , the intrepid newspaper man continued to write fiery

"

editorials , with the result that many wrongs were redressed . This combination of affairs led to the formation of the

Ku Klux Klan , of which a lawyer named Adams was the

captain , and the organization of the Hook and Ladder — Company ostensibly a volunteer fire company , but in real

ity a military company , whose duty was to protect the lives 3 7 f and property o the citizens from the Federal sold iers . r f 9 M ilita y rule lasted u ntil the latter part o 1 86 , when the

Federal soldiers were removed .

o l . . . During his services as Representative , C D C G id d ings introduced a bill in Congress asking that the Bren wh o ham citizens , suffered property losses by this disas trous fi re , and by another fire , in 1 867 , i n which the Federal soldiers again bu rned a section o f B renham , be reimbursed o f fo r their losses . He filed the original l ist clWaimants ; noth ing , however , was accomplished . E fforts ere made by f later Congressmen to secure the passage o this bill , but 4 1 1 without avail . On December 1 , 9 5 , Representative A . w W . Gregg again placed the B re n h am ar claims before Co n gress . These claims growing o u t o f the wanton destruction by fi re ( originated by the Federal soldiers ) o f sections o f the town of Brenham , now amount to

FIRST BAN K . It became necessary at this period to establish a bank to handle the commercial interests o f the peopl e ; and in 1 886 the bank o f Giddings Giddings opened its doors f o r . business . J . D and D . C . Giddings constituted the firm .

TH E YELLOW FEVER EPIDEM IC .

Next to the civil war , the saddest and greatest trouble ever visited upon the city was the yellow fever scourge o f 1 867 . The town was almost devastated , and many vic tims were interred in the old Masonic Cemete ry . The death list of the Federal soldiers was very great . Among the brave citizens who did valiant service in this time o f great distress was Co l . D . C . Gidd ings . He nursed the sick and dying , shrouded the dead , comforted the l iving , and always his purse was open to the poor and needy . The noble physicians who labored night and day were John P .

Key , A . H . Rippetoe , A . G . Gilder , Stockbridge , John L .

Watkins , J . T . Norris and Ashbel Smith . Death claimed

D r . Key and Dr . Watkins . It took B renham many years t o recover from this blow .

BIG FIRE .

Another affliction came with the big fire of 1 873 , in which all the build ings lying between Baylor and St . Charles e streets , from the T . C . railroad on the south to S hir ’ macher s drug store o n the north , were totally destroyed .

All o f these buildings were constructed o f wood .

GERMANIA VEREI N . 4 1 870 The Germania Verein was organized December , ,

itt e b o r . S ch e u t ze . . . W by C g , C , F Gehrmann , R Hoffmann , 38 H . Levy , A . G . Koenig , L . Zeiss , J . C . Neumann , Theodore

Giesecke and H . S ch e u ch s . The charter was granted in n e October , 1 87 1 . It is o of the oldest purely social organ izat io n s in Texas ; and for forty - five years it has made life

pleasant for its various members and for many other people .

The capacious grounds were acquired in 1 870, and each

year something has been done to improve the place , until Germania Park ” is known as one of Brenham ’ s beauty

spots . It is a great social center .

BAN K S .

In 1 866 B . H . and Jefferson Bassett organized the Bank 4 1 88 . of Bassett and Bassett , which was discontinued in ’ 70s The F . A . Engelke Bank , organized in the , became the First National Bank in 1 883 , with F . A . E ngelke pres ” ident and J . N . B rown cashier . The Heber Stone Bank ,

which had been founded in 1 889 , was consolidated with the First National in 1 89 0, and Heber Stone, who owned the controlling interest , was made president . H . F . H ohlt th e is at head of this banking hou se now, and C . L . Wilkins I S cash Ier .

On August 1 5 , 1 9 05 , the Washing ton County State Bank

opened for business , with H . K . Harrison as president and

Th ffice rs . . J . S . Giddings cashier . e o at present are F H ‘

Bosse , president, and James S . Harrison , cashier . These

two banks , with the Giddings Giddings Bank , constitute ’ the city s financial institutions .

SOM E PIONE E R ME RC HANTS . A list of the merchants who were in business in Brenham

du ring and immediately after the war , reconstruction days

and yellow fever epidemic , included Wilkins Brothers ,

Thomas H . Dwyer , Robert Crow and Atreus M c Crary ,

Wood and Green , Harmon and Levinson , William Zeiss , M .

. r A Healy , Alex Simon , Hen y E . Lockett , William Axer and r Peter D iller , John Lusk , Carring ton and Brophy , John No

ton , Bolling Eldridge , R . Hoffmann , Watkins and Wright , " ” S . S . H osea , Henry Wood , Bud Chadwick and M iesner .

The bank of Giddings ' Giddings was established in 1 ‘ 866 . The only hotel in th e town at this period was the McI n t re - y Hotel , a two story frame structu re situated on

" the lot where the Anthony H otel now stands . In 1 873 , H . M n . cI t re C y built what is now the Anthony Hotel , at a cost of and it rented for the first year a t per

w r f . month . There ere ve y ewbrick store houses

' h e " n a Of t es merchants there are four only livi g , i . e . , J mes

A . Wilkins , William Zeiss , M . A . Healy and Bolling Eld

39 w t o . ridge ; , James A Wilkins and Wil liam Zeiss have re w , t o . tired . and , M A . Healy and Bolling Eldridge , are still in business .

JA M ES A . W IL K I N S .

’ s e James A . Wilkins work in the mercantile bu sine s b 1 44 gan in January , 8 , when he was nearly thirteen years — o f . o f age , i n the store his father , John B Wilkins then the second store in the settlement which became Brenham and when he was n o t attending school at the H ickory Grove i School , h e was clerking . As soon as he attained h s ma rit w f r m j o y he ent into business o himself , and at the co m e n ce me n t o f the war between the States he had the big gest general merchandise store in B renham . H is love o f h m t o country caused i enter the army , and he enl isted i n ’ ’ in . . On s Captain I M Company , Colonel George Gidd ings art rm c Battalion , serving fou r years as qu e as t r. At the o f o cl ose hostilities he returned t Brenham , and associated w , ith his brothers , John and W . G . Wilkins , agai n em in barked the mercantile business . D uring the close o f the ’

70s . M r Wilkins retired , and i n 1 883 was elected mayor o f

o f f r - w the city Brenham , serving o twenty t o years in that I n . 1 9 05 o n o f capacity , account advancing age , he de cl in e d t o fo r re - become a candidate election . He is an Odd

fif - Fellow , and holds a ty yea r medal in that organization ;

- has been a Mason since he was twenty o n e , and is a charter o f member Brenham Royal Arch Chapter .

James A . Wilkins is well preserved fo r a man o f eighty o ld four ; and , even though he is , he still has the clear head , ‘ the strong arm , and true heart that helped h im conquer fo r adversity and win himself honors among his fellowmen .

T H O MAS DWYER .

Few merchants in the early days o f Texas achieved a o f w greater degree success than did Thomas D yer . This p ioneer was a member o f a prominent Irish family . Upon the death o f his parents he decided t o leave hi s beloved I re o f n o mit land . Though scarcely sixteen years age , the i d able will power and self- rel iance that characterized his whole life was fully developed , and unafraid he went forth t o find a home and a fortune in America . H e landed at

Boston , and later found work in a logging camp in Maine .

The extreme cold necessitated a change o f climate , and he

' n same South t o Texas , and opened a small store i B razoria 1 49 . in 8 Trade increased , prosperity came , and another store was established at Quintana and still another in w , Columbia . This ork requ ired many trips t o remote points , o f over rarely traveled roads , in the del ivery goods , and 40 sometimes the pay was cash , sometimes in cotton or corn , and one time a drove o f Spanish ponies was taken in ex change for a big bill of j ewelry , which the purchaser traded to the Indians . Mr . Dwyer cleared on his horses in this single deal .

In 1 85 8 he disposed of his holdings in t h e lower country and came immediately to B renham , and opened a general H . e merchandise store invested heavily in real estate , and 1 874 in built the big brick building on Main street , which he occupied for many years . c Mr . Dwyer was twi e married ; his first wife was Theresa H in B raz o ria 1 85 5 ealy , to whom he was married , in , and the children by this union were Mrs . Mary D wy er Ross ,

E . H . William , Charles G . , Thomas , M rs . Emma Kiber and

. . t Mrs Felix H Rober son . Mrs . Dwyer died in 1 872 ; and 1 874 in he was united in marriage to Mrs . Sarah Diller . He was very influential in the Republ ican councils o f the

State , and his views on pol itical questions were Often fol t lowed . At one time he was complimented by the par y with the nomination as candidate for the high Office of GOV

’ e r rn o Of Texas . The D emocratic maj ority , however , that has prevailed in Texas for many decades made his election ‘ impossible .

1 9 1 8 6 . Thomas Dwyer died January , 7 He was a very prominent and influential citizen , and his death was deeply deplored . His fine business ability had enabled him to amass a fortun e , which was equally divided among his six children . M rs . Mary Dwyer Ross is the only representative of this family living in Brenham . She has inherited the ex l n ce l e t business qualifications o f her father , and has more than doubled her share of the estate . She manages her property personally , and is one of the wealthiest , and most capable and efficient women in the city .

BOLLI NG ELDRIDGE . This estimable man has been in the merchandise busi 1 ness in Brenham since May , 867 . He came with his par id rid e ents , M r . and Mrs . John C . E g , to Washington County w in 1 849 from Virginia , where he as born in Hal ifax Coun ty . H e was educated at Independence , and there received ’ his first experience in commercialism . At th e Southland s call to arms he , like the rest of the patriots , abandoned his business an d fought for fou r years in the Confederate

Army .

H is enlistment was with the Fifth Texas Infantry , Com ’ pany E , which was a part of Hood s Texas B rigade , and in all o f its awful battles he was a gallant and c o urageous

41 e soldier . Among the ngagements in which he participated w t ’ ere West Poin , Seven Pines , Gaines M ill , Second Manas

sas , Gettysbu rg , Chickamauga , Knoxville , the Wilderness , S o t t s lva n ia p y Cou rthouse , Cold Harbor , Fort Harrison , — Darbytown and many others o f lesser note twenty - eight

in all . At Chickamauga he was wounded , and at the Wil

derness was shot in the left shoulder . Capta i n Eldridge su rrendered his company at Appomattox Courthouse . Two years after the expiration o f hostilities Bolling Eld in f r ridge located B renham , and o nearly half o f a cen tury has conducted a mercantile business , most o f the time w in the big brick store house which he n o occupies . He has seen Brenham grow from a small place o f 7 00 o r 800 t o o f people a city over inhabitants , and he has as sisted i n its growth , giving freely at all times o f his time , talents , and money in its development . As a business man t o he is honest the core ; and , as a loyal citizen he is ever o n o f the side right , following always the laws o f Go d and his country . This typical Southern gentleman , and genial ex

Confederate soldier has a host o f true friends .

M . A . H EALY .

M . A . Healy , the veteran hardware man , was born in Ire

t o . land , and came America in his youth For some years 1 t o he had employment in B razoria , coming in 866 Bren fo r 49 co n se c ham . He immed iately opened a store , and utive years he has been o n e o f the most prominent mer chant s . H is wa r record measures u p to the standard Of an intre — ab so pid Confederate sold ier honorable t o a fault , and ’ l u t ely fearless . H is enl istment was with George Giddings ’ n in s Regiment , in Captain I . M . O Company , with services ’ extending throughout the four years strife ; and , even after ’ the war was ended , fo r G idd ings Regiment fought the last 1 i battl e May 3 , 1 865 , down o n the R o Grande River , sev ’ eral weeks after Lee s su rrender at Appomattox ; and he was a brave soldier in this final engagement .

Mr . Healy married Lou ise Fordtran , daughter o f Charles o n o Fordtran , e f the first German settlers in Texas . Du r ing thei r long residence in Brenham , he and his wife have helped t o work o u t many p roblems whose solution meant o the advancement f Brenham morally , intellectually and

financially .

W ILLIA M ZEI SS .

This staunch G erman was born in H esse Cassell , Sep tember 1 9 , 1 833 , and came t o Houston when nineteen years o f age , arriving afte r th ree years in Brenham . He opened

are over volumes o n the shelves in the library rooms

in the City Hall . Miss Annette Ray , the l ibrarian , i s o n

duty every day , and there are many calls fo r books .

C ITY A DM INISTRAT IO N .

' The plan o f incorporation became very popular in 1 85 8, and o n May 2 9 th o f that year an election was held t o deter

mine the question Of incorporating the town o f B renham , o n the same being e square mile , the lines running due north

fo r . and south , east and west , with the court house center Fifty - o n e votes were cast fo r the incorporation and fifteen

against . Claudius Bu ster , Chief Justice Of Washington

County , opened the returns , and ordered an election Sat u rd a 1 9 1 85 8 f r y , June th , , o a mayor , constable and five

aldermen . A count o f the votes d isclosed the fact that M I n r fo r f W . H . Cammack and H . C . c ty e had tied the Of ice f 1 o mayor , with 5 votes each . Adrian Testard was elected

constable , and the successful aldermen were William Davis , ff A . H . Rippetoe , J . P . Pressley , Je Bassett and Hugh Mc

Phail . The next city officials were elected August 2 n d , 1 85 8 , and were W . H . Cammack mayor , James F . E stes

constable , and William F . Jarrell , John P . Key , G . M . Buck

hanan , James L . Dallas and Sam Lu sk aldermen . On the 2 1 s t o f day Augu st , 1 85 9 , Sam Lusk received 80 votes and

was elected mayor , R . E . Hardin constable , A . G . Gilder ,

H . Levinson , J . A . Wilkins , O . P . Carrington and E . F .

Ewing constituted the board o f aldermen . E . D . Tarver ,

chief j ustice , approved this election During the war between th e States the city government

was abandoned , and was n o t resumed until 1 866 , when M c I n re H . C . ty became the mayor . He served from that 1 69 year until 8 , when Peter D iller , the mil itary appointee , qualified in accordance with an order issued by General 1 8 0 J . J . Reynolds . D iller resigned in 7 , and Captain James o f S . B iddle assumed control . Upon the resignation Biddle ,

2 1 1 8 . May , 70, S S . Hosea served as mayor until December 2 f 0 o that year , when he , t o o , resigned . H is successor

4 1 . . was N . W . Bu sh , who resigned March , 1 87 . F A Wil

1 3 . mans . appointed by E . J . Davis , served from 1 87 1 t o 87

Russell Shipley served from 1 873 until his death , June 1 7 , 1 1 87 6 1 87 6 . M . P . Kerr served from July , , until October M Farl n d 1 9 o f . . c that year , when he resigned J a served ’ Rio rdan 3 1 a short while ; J . T . J . O took charge October , fli 5 1 878 1 87 6 , and his tenure o f o ce lasted until April , ,

" ’ his successor being M . P . Kerr . Kerr s administration

continued until April , 1 883 , when James A . Wilkins was

elected . 44 - For twenty two years James A . Wilkins gu ided the des tiny o f Brenham . When he was first called to serve as mayor city scrip was worth only forty cents on the dollar ; it soon advanced to par , where it has ever since remained . 1 9 The system of water works was purchased November ,

1 89 4, for a consideration of cash , and bonds

C I TY HA L L

Old were issued for this purpose . To replace the city hall , which was burned , a new one was erected , during the close ’ of Mr . Wilkins administration .

In April , 1 9 05 , William Lusk was elected mayor , and for eight years the city made great progress . Among the im 45 porta nt improvements may be cited the bu ild ing o f many miles Of concrete sidewalks , the removal o f all wooden bridges , which were replaced with concrete arches ; the f establishment o a sewerage system , and the pu rchase o f fo r better equipment the fire departme n t , including the

fi re automobile engine . The water works bonds were bear 6 ing per cent interest , and Mayor William Lu sk arranged with the State School Fund t o take over these securities 4 at per cent , thus saving Brenham by this o n e transaction

The High School bu ilding was erected in 1 9 07 , the Alamo was bu ilt in 1 9 1 3 , and the East End colored was school hou se remodeled in 1 9 1 3 . The water works property was improved by the installation of better ma cl1 in e r y , and the bu ilding of a new brick house for the 1 p ant .

Alex Griffin became mayor in 1 9 1 3 , and served two years .

He continued the good work on the public thoroughfares . The city authorized the issuance o f worth Of bonds for the purpose o f improving the water works and sewerage system . Plans for these improvements were for ’ m u lat e d du ring Mayor Griffin s term o f office . 9 1 5 William Lu sk was re elected mayo r in 1 , and he is the present incumbent . Under his direction the contem plated improvements o f the water works and sewerage sys tems have become accomplished facts . He is devoting his energies to t h e advancement o f B renham along all l ines .

1 9 . . The City Ordinances were compiled in 8 5 , by R E Pen n in g t o n , Of the law firm of Campbell Pennington .

B RE NHAM VO LUNTE E R FI RE D E PA RTM E NT .

Serious trouble with the Federal soldiers , stationed at w Campto n , and the burning o f a pa rt of B renham , April 2 5 th , 1 867 , resulted in the organization of the Brenham

Volunteer Fire Department , which was in real ity a military organization , whose duties were to protect the l ives and property of the citizens during the reconstruction days . 2 2 The Hook and Ladder Company , numbering men , came into existence May 2 8, 1 867 ; Col . D . C . Giddings was fore a man , J . R . Thomson and R . D . Harris were assist nt fore men , W . H . Terrill treasu rer , and John A . Shepard secre tary . B renham Protection Fire Company presented its ffi : organization at the same time , with the following o cers

u . . I . M . " ins , president ; C R B reedlove , vice president ;

W . H . Chadwick , secretary ; Ed Rundell , foreman , and J . co m Wa rd , J . Tom and J . Smith , assistants . These two pan ie s constituted the original fi re department . Public cisterns were bu ilt o n the square t o conserve the water

46 9 1 868 supply for use during fires . On March , , the mem , bers of the Brenham Fire Protection failed in their organ

izat i n t . o , and the city took charge of heir fire engine For almost half of a century the Fire Department has ’ ‘ been one of Brenham s most valuable assets . Beginning r as soldiers , and continuing as p otectors of l ife and prop e rty , the record of active service of its members is . a nobl e and enduring one . The department has not only discharged every duty faithfully and well , but it has provided more pl easu re f o r a greater number o f people than any o ther organization in the city . The annual Mai Fests are spring

festivals. of great moment , and have a statewide import 1 874 ance . These celebrations had their commencement in ,

- when the German citizens o f Washington C ounty , under the auspices of Haru g ari Lodge , held the first Volksfest 1 8 6 1 877 in Brenham ; Volksfests were held in 1 875 , 7 and , 8 1 77 . and the first queen , Betty E ngelke , was crowned in

Augusta Minkwitz was ‘ qu e en in 1 878; Selma Engelke in

1 879 , and Lou ise Hoffmann in 1 880. At this time some financial diflicu lt ie s caused the Haru g ari Lodge to turn its holdings over to the Brenham Fire Department, and the first real Mai Fest was held at the o l d Fair Grounds May

- 1 3 1 4, 1 881 , with Frankie A . Foote as May Queen . A tabulated list o f the succeeding May Queens is as follows : 2 1 883 o f 1 88 , Annie Spencer ; , no record any Mai Fest being 4 held ; 1 88 , Emily Harris , who was the fi rst Queen whose ’ coronation took place at the Fireman s Park ; 1 885 , Ida 1 8 P am ell Bassett ; 1 886, Lizzie Lindemann ; 8 7 , Nettie p ;

1 888, Nannie Clemmons and Eula Gee ; 1 889 , Nettie Estes ; 1 89 1 1 89 0, Ethel Muse ; , Flowers , represented by Lillian 1 89 2 Lindemann , Ella Werner and Jessie Shepard ; , Lillian 1 89 4 1 89 5 Engelke ; 1 89 3 , Hettie Harrison ; , Hester Abbott ; marks the date o f the building of the Summer Theatre , and the production of the Operetta written by W . P . Ewing and

H . H . R . Hertzberg , and set to music by W . A . Jakel . The " ” 1 89 6 To leading character was Mrs . L . J . Lockett ; , y Shop , written by W . P . Ewing , and set to music by W . A . Jakel , was presented , with Mrs . Lou is M . Simon as the most prominent character ; 1 89 7 , Julia Epstein ; 1 89 8, B ertha Becker ; 1 89 9 , 1 9 Mary Stone ; 00, Julia Epstein ; 1 9 01 , Lillian Lindemann 1 9 02 4 , Alita Gardner ; 1 9 03 , Susan Shepard ; 1 9 0 , Elise 1 9 05 M ack a Lockett ; , d ee Barnett ; 1 9 06 , Julia Salley ; 1 9 07 ,

Therese Dee Ross ; 1 9 08, Florence Seward; Bertha S ch u er

enberg , Louise Giddings , Ethel Tucker , Olga Van Hutton ,

Annie Marek , Corinne H u ett ig and Minnie S e elh o rst were 9 1 9 1 0 queens o f the nations ; 1 9 0 , Minnie Lee Gehrmann ; , 2 Lila Shepard ; 1 9 1 1 , Lou ise Stone ; 1 9 1 , Florence S immons ; 4 1 9 1 3 , Susie Lipscomb ; 1 9 1 , Edna Buck ; 1 9 1 5 , Gladys

Baumgart . 47 Fireman ’ s Park was purchased by the department in 4 1 88 , and each year succeed ing some improvements have been made . Many notable events have taken place within its confines .

E D UCATIO N .

Inattention t o the importance o f educational interests cannot be charg ed t o B re n h amit e s ; for even before Bren " ham became the county seat , H ickory Grove School was known far and wide as an excellent school for boys and girls , and there were pupils from many su rrounding places . The school house was situated in a h ickory grove— from which — it derived its name about 1 00 yards south o f the J . B . 1 4 Wilkin residence in North Brenham . It was built , in 8 0, of cedar logs prepared with a whi p—saw and had a puncheon

floor , puncheon benches , but no desks . The first teacher was

James M itchell , who had an enviable reputation as an edu cator . Many years ago he moved to Fort Worth , where h e d ied . Rev . L . P . Rucker was the second , and General

John Sayles was the third teacher . After the Masons took " ” charge o f H ickory Grove School , they changed the name " 1 4 o r 1 49 to the Masonic Academy , and in 8 8 8 they bu ilt " ” a n e wand larger house o f cedar . H ickory G rove School o f was used as a chu rch du ring the early history Brenham , and m inisters o f every denomination p reached within its at walls . When free schools were opened i n B renham the tendance at the Masonic Academy declined , and it was closed 2 0 in 1 875 , when Graham Lodge No . presented the property o f t o the city B renham .

Mrs . W . H . Ewing , who afterwards became M rs . Horton , ’

4os . taught a private school during th e late M rs . Fannie o n Cooke was also o n e o f the early teachers . When the C stitution o f 1 869 d irected that there should be maintained free schools throughout Texas , D . D . Crumpler and M rs .

Asa M . Lewis opened the fi rst free schools , which they suc ces s fu lly conducted until the advent o f the Brenham Public

Schools .

BREN HAM P UBLIC SCHOOLS . 2 1 5 The 1 4th Legislature passed a bill , March 5 , 87 , which authorized the amendment o f the charters o f towns and s t o t o cities , o as give the city councils the power collect a special school tax fo r the maintenance o f the public schools co n within their corporate limits , and giving them excl usive o f trol thereof . Acting under this new law the council the 2 1 7 5 ac city o f B renham o n April 6 , 8 , passed resolutions c e pt in g the benefits o f this new law , and levied an annual ’ ad valorem tax o f o n e - fourth o f o n e per cent o n each dollar s 48 t . S wor h of taxable property chool began September 6 , 1 875 , 4 Th 0 . e was and lasted weeks first superintendent W . C .

Rote of Pennsylvania , and the teachers were A . C . Jessen ,

. . . r who taught German ; Mrs W A Lockett, Miss Ma y Rial e and Miss Kate Saunders , their certificates havi ng be n is sued by Russell Shipley , the mayor . The free sch o ol for w as w . negroes opened on the sam e date , ith J H . M o rriss

. l in charge School was conducted in th e O d Key home , on

w . the site of the Sacred Heart convent , then o ned by E . P n d D avis , a a monthly rental of was paid until th e h d 2 city pu rchased t e lan from Davis , October 2 , 1 877 , for a consideration of The new two - story brick build ing , costing was constructed during 1 878, by popular subscription , and with th e addition of , a derived from the sale of th e old M sonic Academy lot, do n at ed by Graham Lodge . Rote m ade his last report to th e 2 council May 0, 1 878, giving a total registration o f 605 pupils , 340 white and 2 65 colored . The superintendents

' after W . C . Rote were C . P . E still , J . T . Hand , Jay E . Mc l n n b . . F Gu ire , R . Stan ery , W H y e , E . W Tarrant , Peyton T . e Irving , Jr h present incumbent is W . D . Notley .

To accommodate th e ever- increasing attendance the pres ent handsome , mission style , High School bu ilding was erected in 1 9 07 , at an approximate cost of an d the Alamo bu ilding was constructed in 1 9 1 2 , with an exp en d it u re of about These two structures are equ ip ped with all modern conveniences . The attendance for the

' wh i u il s opening in September , 1 9 1 5 , was , t e p p , 600. B renham has one of the finest systems of public schools in Texas , and they are really the first to be established in the State . Superintendents Of _ great abil ity and teachers o f culture and refinement have labored intelligently and earnestly for their advancement . Among the men of supe rior education who have guided the destiny o f these sch o o ls — , W . D . Notl ey must be ranked with th e best in some re s p ect s he is the p eer o f his predecessors— for his methods are more modern , and he has a beautiful way of reaching the hea rts , and touching the ambition of the boys and girls

and arousing their interest in the school work . The list of graduates with the dates of graduation is as follows ( Those marked are deceased ) 1 877— e O Kat Allen , ffa E ddins and Robert Tarver . 1 878— Eliza ( Baker) Wessend orf of Fort Worth , Mary * i M cI n t re ( Dash ell ) y , Mattie ( Dashiell ) B ryan o f Abi * ' , M lene ary Tarver , Tannie Loui s F . H * Ammons , Thomas arris , William Thompson of Dallas and

James A . Wilkins .

49 1 — w A 879 Charles Grattan D yer , U . S . . , New York C ity ; o Rosa ( Simon ) Rubenstein f New O rleans , and Annie * ( Spencer ) Cochran . — * 1 880 . Jul ia A Dashiell , E ula ( Will iams ) Krug , and

Josie ( Wood ) Ray o f Waco . * 1 1 — l s k e 88 Leanora Mc C u y , May ( Williams ) Pennington .

1 2 — P am e ll 88 Nettie ( p ) Lochridge o f Austin , and Kate

( Robertson ) Watson o f Stone . — 1 883 No graduates repo rted . — * 1 884 Emma Harris , Nettie Testard . 1 — 885 No graduates report ed . 1 88 — t 6 Lucile Beaumon , Lizzie ( Dwyer ) Robertson of

Crawford , Hannah ( Simon ) Folz o f Kalamazoo , M ichigan ;

E ugenia G ray , Lula Cu rry , Lula ( D unlap ) Williams , R . J . * * Swearingen , Allen Swearingen , Travers Dashiell of Jew * ett , Cha rles Spann . 7— 1 88 Callie ( Hutchinson ) Scott of San Antonio , Hettie

( Ha rrison ) Curry , Genevi eve Muse , Dora Cleaves , Emma * Na w r k f ( Beauchamp ) u e c , Fannie ( Kennedy ) Schenk o

Oklahoma , Mallie ( Hutchinson ) Minor , Mamie Allison ,

Sudie Cu rry , Ma rnie Crosson , B en Bassett , John Watson

Of Lockport , New York , and Hen ry Gleiss .

1 — l n 888 Sadie McC u g o f Los Angeles , Californ ia ; Lou h arsk e E C , Loula Cross , Olivia Bowers , Nettie ( stes )

Fischer , Cora ( Harrison ) Levy of Oklahoma City , Ethel

( Morriss ) Franklin , Janie ( H ughes ) Sallis , Hester ( Ah bot) Smith , Rosa Will iams , Fred W . Ma rtin and John Asa

Wilkins of H ouston .

— Ah re e k E Emma n b c , Jessie Cleaves , Kate ( stes )

McAdam , E dna Kennedy of M ineral Wells , Annie Johnson ,

Ma ry Elizabeth Rouse o f Houston , Annie ( Vinson ) Betti son , David Allen , Arthu r E . Knolle , J . L . Neu and Hugh

Lusk ( certificate ) .

— r h 1 89 0 Sophie Ah ren b eck , Sophie B ickler , Katie Ca o t ers , Ophelia ( Hutchinson ) Schulz , Johnnie ( Hughes ) Bu rns f o f Caldwell , Elma Morriss , Virginia Thomas o El Paso ,

Fred L . Amsler , Cal G . Botts , W . J . Bassett, K . P . Giesecke and Edwin J . Healy . — B il h mwl 1 89 1 Susie ( atta e ) S c e e l , Fannie ( Budd ) Meyer o f ff Clebu rne , Annie Hill , Daisy Eldridge , Lillian Ho mann , * - M cNe al Walln e G race Slater , Ellie ( Pennington ) , Ada y,

Hettie ( Wilkins ) Garrett, B eulah ( Burke ) Cunningham of V ardell Ardmore , Oklahoma ; Highland ( Gee ) of Dallas ,

o t . . E . . Courtney ( Williams ) Styles f Wharton , C Abbo t , H L f Ga rrett o f Galveston , R . A . Harrison o B ryan , Hen ry Ray r ( ce tificate ) . 5 0 t o n , Ravenal Luhn , E rnest A . Robbins of Hou ston , J . Lester f Lo u Wroe o f Au stin , Harry Pennington o Houston , ( Jack " son ) Booth , Louis Gidd ings , August Lindemann , Lou is Rial ,

Jr. r . J . R . Williamson , , Ralph M udgett , Hen y S Thornhill and Mary Sallis . — 1 89 9 Mattie ( Shepard ) Amsler of Dallas , Selma ( Tie mann ) D ippel , Ella Wern er , Nellie ( Abbott) Wilkins , Hat * Han b e lt o f . tie Mae Allcorn , Mamie , Willie Creekmore St f Fo w Louis , Bessie ( Eldridge ) G illespie o Houston , Flora ler , Bessie ( Wilkins ) Farley , Jerry J . Marek , Albert G id dings , Elsie ( Garrett) Townes o f Beaumont , Lou ise ( Good h lett) Ell is o f Temple , Loula ( Healy ) Fe re n t z of Chicago ,

Annie Lemm , Lillian ( Lindemann ) Meyer o f Sealy , Mary Li r k f eb o o , Rosa ( Langhammer ) Sanders o Somerville , Sadie * Ta h n M iller , Fann ie Pace , Kati e Stein , Hugo u t en h a and

G eorge S . Wright . — * 1 9 00 Annie Marie A ffleck , Add ie Lou ise Clonts , Mary

( Dever) Price o f Georgetown , El izabeth ( D obert ) Schmid ,

M u s ado ra Irby , E sther Lewis , Annie ( Shepard ) Winston o f , Vlasta Wo t i Smithville , Byron Couch Beauchamp , Louise p k a a w , Nett Botts , Loula Hack orth , Mattie ( Harrison ) West

of Uvalde , Annie ( Hermann ) Wheat o f Galveston , Francis Hau b elt o f , Selma Sch ramm , Thetis Clay ( Thornhill ) King

Dallas , Edward Luhn . 1 01 — 9 Mabel ( Carring ton ) Brown Of Austin , Ione Chil

dress , Bessie ( Goodlet) Cu rry , Isabel Ha ring , Ida Mae Lind eman n Mc Farlan d P fl u h au t , Myrtle , Ida g p , Jennie Tarrant ,

Lillian Ca rrington , Mary Childress , Maude Hardy , Annie

Portia ( Healy ) Smith o f Corsicana , E lise ( Lockett ) Wil liams o n , Jonnie Mae ( Pennington ) Sm ither o f H untsville . f m Susan ( Shepard ) Wood o Houston , E rma ( Tiemann ) S o e r , E dward Lewis Marek , Sarah Gross o f New York City

( certificate ) , Thomas Bowers and Hen ry M ueller .

1 9 02 — r Bessie ( Barber) G ilbert , Ella ( G iesecke ) Mu e y , T n h h n Emily Hardy , Anna Mulhern , Leonora au t e a , Mary

Goldie Fink , Bessie Sloan , Lizzi e ( Irby ) Blanks o f Edna , Bo ze n a Wo t i k a M inn ie ( Sonnenberg) Dobert , p , Lena Sus n it sk o u s y , Kleberg Langhammer , Rufus Nicholson o f H t o n , Thomas B . Botts , Frank Leo M inkwitz , Robert Lee

Young . 1 9 03— E f N w Aileen Brown , sther Gross o e York City ,

Hattie ( Pa rks ) Stone , Lill ian Quebe , Annie H ouston Tar

rant , Bessie Lee ( Williamson ) Moore o f Houston , Marj orie

( Harrison ) Coale o f Chicago , Louise ( Langhammer) H ill o f a Somervill e , M innie Lee ( Sloan ) Bettis , Norm ( Tie o f mann ) Lehmann , William H . Campbell Beaumont , Reyn

o r. o f old Luhn f Taylor , 0 . A . Seward , J , Beaumont , and

E rnest Farmer o f Beaumont .

5 2 ‘ — 1 04 e1ask a . . 9 V ( Heinecke) Adams of La Grange , Kitty

Buchanan , Mabel ( Wright) Blake , Henriet ta. ( Teagu e) * Kanady , Lessie Meyer , Mary B ielefeldt, Anni e ( Dawson )

. E a e Becker , Kenneth E Krug , mil Marek of G lv ston , S olo.

mon Harrison E ndel , U . S . N Thomas B uchanan , Forrest

' B tt is an d e Walter M inkwitz of Sugarland . — l 1 9 05 M iladi ( Hau b e t ) Seidel , Lena ( Marek ) Malina ,

Mamie ( Searcy ) Kleberg of Kingsville , Ethel ( Tucker) Wo t i k a Smith of Taylor , Millie p , Nettie Griffin , August E H einecke of Seguin , Will iam J . mbrey , Clay Seward and

Louise Gidd ings . — 1 9 06 Carolyn H einecke , Dessie Lagle , Spencer Tarrant, Elsie Quebe Mattie Colbert ) Wood of Granger Benita , ( , fi M inkwitz of Richmond , Amelia ( Hyman ) S t u bbl e el d of i Houston , Winnie ( Davis ) Rogers , Irene Reynolds , Lu del a

Wallace and Fred Heinecke . — D eWare Bertha ( Schuerenberg) , Nettie Mae ( Ral e idelman n a e ston ) Booth , D ora S , Myrtle M tth ws , Myra E ( Barnett) Krug, sther Brewer; Adele Lindemann , Flor lk ence S t u en , Gertrude Hermann , Vera ( Van Hutton )

Stuckert , E mm a Mueller . Jessie Dawson and E rnest Seel horst . 9 08— w 1 Florence ( Se ard ) D enson , Honolulu , Hawaiian a Islands ; M innie Lee Gehrm nn , B elle Hyman , Alfred Buch i r r anan , Carl N ede au e , Robert Stuckert .

1 — - M c o r 9 09 B ell e Hyman ( post graduate ) , Ella Boyce C

- mick , Robert Stuckert ( post graduate) , and G erald Wag non of Cameron . 1 9 1 — 0 Marion Barnett of Davis , Oklahoma ; Alma Herbst i and E va S u sn t sk y . — i 1 9 1 1 D orothy Chisolm , Mamie Schmid , Allyne ( Jae g g l )

Thompson , B enita Hoffmann , Louise ( Styles ) Pier, Ira 0 .

Pier , Julia Rankin , Robert P . Thompson , Henry Tucker and

'

Hermann L . Zs ch app ell . 1 1 2 — 9 Oscar R . Hoffmann , Gus Fink , Bessie H ill Bu rnes .

Flora S u sn itsk y an d Ione Kenney . — 1 9 1 3 Will M . Giddings , Schuerenberg Z sch appell , Mar zee Thiel , Lau ra ( Styles ) Schmid , Emily ( Sallis ) H erbst , de ra r D ella Nie u e , Blanche Beaumier, Mary Simmons , Mary

Louise Will iams . 1 1 — 9 4 . L r w. . S D . W . o , J , Gustav Heinecke , E ugene Tie mann , Thelma Amsler, Ella Suter , Clarence Stuckert , Win ona Prinzing of Victoria , Julia Wade, Pauline Sallis , Ethel

Collins and Rosa Levine . 1 9 1 5 — Mattie Reeves Wood , Gladys Griffin , Ileane B eau T t . r. mier, ina Grebe , Mary Pa terson , J P . Buchanan , J , a h k George Hoffm nn , Rheinhardt Ja n e , Herbert Fischer and

E rnest Sehawe .

5 3 W . D . NOTLEY . The present superintendent of the Brenham public schools is W . D . Notley . He was born in Lamar County , Texas , near o f the village B rookston , where he received his early school ing under the excellent instruction of Prof . J . P . Cooper and wife . He was induced at the age o f 1 1 to study for the o f profession teaching . With that one great aim , h e set about studying with a gladness , and a zeal and determina tion seldom found in a youth yet so young , to fulfill a mission which to him seemed greatest of all .

H is schooling , extended over many years of hard study and diligent application , has assured his success as a school man . H is education was received at B rookston H igh School , the North Texas State Normal , University of Chicago, and

Columbia University , New York City . His experience in teaching has extended over a period o f twelve years , during which time he has served as teacher of ru ral schools , principal of ward and high schools , county

’ superintendent and city superintendent . Mr . Notley came - a li to his present position , the choice o f seventy three pp cants , July 1 , 1 9 1 1 .

During the fou r and one - half years he has been s u p e rin tendent of the Brenham public schools he has proved him self a safe and sane leader and a man o f broad visions . He immediately proved himself worthy o f the esteem and wh o confidence o f his board o f trustees , gave him freedom

- t o in the choice o f his co workers , the extent that B ren ham today has o n e among the strongest faculties in the

South for her publ ic schools .

The schools have improved in thoroughness , and con t in u e to grow in the esteem o f the leading un iversities and colleges , where the Brenham students attend in increasing numbers . The cu rriculum has been widened , admitting of a broad elective system in the selection o f studies . The community , t o o , has been committed t o a broad educational pol icy , advocating a balance o f practical and cultural sub

e ct s . d o j Manual training , agriculture , domestic science, me s t ic t o art , music and drawing , have been added the curriculum along with foreign language , English , mathe e mati s , history and science . Increasing attention is being t o given physical education also , a physical director having been recently appointed .

o f Student life has been greatly enhanced , by means athletic associations , glee clubs , literary societies and Boy

Scout and Camp Fire organizations .

Publ ic opinion and school and community co - operation have been secured through the Brenham Home and School 64 ’

W. . D NO T LEY o w o f 2 Association , n with a membership more than 00. A lecture course and a monthly school social have been '

instituted , thus su pplying pleasu re , and giving the public

contact with brilliant minds . Fo r upwards o f forty years learned men have s u pe rin

tended the B renham public schools , and their growth has

been steady and su re . The administration o f the present

superintendent has been an era o f wonderful progress , the

enrollment has increased , the work Of the teachers and

student body has been very gratifying , an d the schools f have risen t o their highest degree o excellence . These great improvements are the results o f the well directed

o f . efforts the man at the head He is a brilliant scholar , has quick and generous sensibilities and most gentl emanly characteristics ; is thoroughly familiar with all modern

school methods ; and , as an educator , stands in the foremost place among the very best superintendents in Texas .

M r . Notley is true t o his youthful ideals , and the ambition which urged the 1 1 - year - o ld b o y to become a teacher i s f fully realized in the man , o r he is devoting his l ife t o the education o f children . In the wide field o f educational endeavor he faithfully gu ides the student - laborers ; he teaches the l ittle people t o s o w the tiny seeds o f knowl edge ; he encourages those older grown in the cultivation o f f the young and tender plants o learning , and when there o f o f i s full fruition the hopes the toilers , he rej oices in o f the educational harvest the youthful men and women .

OTHER SC H OOLS .

H o llm e a fo r J . R . y t ught an excellent private school a " number o f years . M iss Mary Rial founded the Mary Rial ” H igh School , wh ich grew and flou rished during the closing - t years o f the last Century . The German American Institu e was establ ished and successfully conducted fo r ten years by

Klae rn e r. C .

. The Lutheran College , originally the Phillip B ickler n w fo r school , o at Segu in , was located in Brenham a short while . I n 1 9 09 the D ominican S isters came from Galves ton and opened the Sacred Heart Convent in the o ld publ ic school building wh ich had been purchased from the city authorities , and from the beginning this educational venture has been a success .

BLI N N M E MORIAL COLLEGE . h Beautiful Blinn M emorial College , situated o n one o f t e h ighest h ills in B renham , is the especial pride o f Brenham ites . This fin e educational institution fo r boys and gi rl s had its beginning at the annual session o f the German Confer

5 6

NE U J. L . d e st e in the study of American History, especially o f Texas

o . history , and is librarian of the scho l

For n ineteen years J . L . Neu has b een connected with r h Blinn Memorial C oll ege , se ving for t e past six years as

the capable and efficient president . Under his careful guidance the school has grown and prospered until it is on an equal footing with th e best coll eges in the State . He is

- an ideal educator, scholarly , hard working , courageous , hon

est and sincere , and is devoted to his profession from the

love of it . One of the supreme elements of his character is

force , and this , added to earnestness , is the secret of his suc cess in the management of the affairs of Blinn Memorial

College .

RELIGIO N . When the l iberty loving men came to settle Texas they ' brought their B ibles with them , and they came with the full determination of worshiping God according to their own consciences .

M ETH ODIST C HURC H . 44 Methodism was established in Brenham in 1 8 , in the ” Hickory Grove school house, under the leadership of J .

D . Giddings . Some of the names on the first church roll

were J . D . Giddings , Mrs . A . M . Giddings , Mrs . Arabella

Harrington , John Elgin , Mrs . Elgin , Prosper Hope , James

H flin n . Clemmons , John G . e g t o , E D . Tarver , Rev . John

W . Kenney and R . B . Wells . A Sunday School was organ iz e d . , and J D . Giddings was the first superintendent . On 1 1 4 July , 8 8, the church purchased one acre of ground where the Christian Church now stands , from Jesse Farral , for a consideration of It took time to build the

church , as the cedar logs had to be felled and hauled , and

- sawed with a whip saw . All the timbers , weatherboarding

and ceiling were hewn , sawed and planed by hand , and it was in 1 85 1 or 1 85 2 before the sacred edifice was finally

. completed . It was 30 by 5 0 feet , had two doors in front ,

- three glass windows on each side and two in the north end . The pulpit was high and had to be reached by two o r three

steps ; it was boarded round , so that when the preacher

sat down he was almost out of sight o f his congregation . A spire and a sweet- toned bell completed this house of wor

e . ship . Robert Alexander , B . H . Pe l , John W Kenney , filled

regular appointments, and Rev . Lewis was the local pastor .

J . D . Giddings was the superintendent of the Sunday School 1 44 from 8 to 1 878, the year of his death . The Texas Con was 1 868 ference held in Brenham in , and F . C . Wilkes h was the local past or at t e time . He was succeeded b y 61 F . A . Mood and B . D . Dashiell . G idd ings Memorial M eth odist Church , so named in memory o f J . D . Giddings , was erected in 1 879 , when F . A . M itchell was pastor . The present pastor is E rnest G . Cooke . The presiding elder of the Brenham d istrict is S . W . Thomas .

EPISCOPAL C H URC H .

’ H . N . Pierce of New York organized St . Peter s Parish o f the Protestant Episcopal Church prior to November 1 , 4 o f 1 8 8. He received a pledge , from Trinity Church New

York , of for an E piscopal Church building in B ren ham , conditioned o n the fact that the citizens would raise

more . The public S pirited citizens gave the requ i site amount . H . N . Pierce was the first rector . He after wards became B ishop of Arkansas . The second rector was

L . P . Rucker . The Old church bu ilding o f brick gave way 1 9 01 i n to the present church . The lot was bought May 6 , 1 85 2 , from A . G . Compton , fo r a consideration o f Fo r the past eleven years S . Moylan B ird has served this chu rch faithfully and well as rector .

BAPTI ST C HURC H .

Interest in the Baptist Church was aroused in November , 1 84 8, by Rufus C . B urleson , who held a very su ccessful " ” revival in the H ickory Grove school house . Many people j oined the church , but u ntil 1 85 1 the B renham Baptists " ” were known as an arm o f the Mill Creek Baptist Church . In December of that year the First Baptist Chu rch of B ren ham was organized , and Rufus C . Burleson preached the

first sermon . Among the early preachers who filled appoint ments were Z . N . Morrell , William Melton Tryon , Elder

Noah T . Byars and Elder Hosea Garrett . The l o t u pon which the present church stands was acqu ired by purchase from a free negro named " E nos ” — the price was

The original church was built in 1 85 2 o n this lot , and noth ing but cedar was used in its construction . In 1 884 a new chu rch was erected , largely through the efforts o f Mrs .

Myra Graves . The o l d cedar edifice was sold to James A . fo r Wilkins W . R . B rown is the pastor at the present time .

’ S T. PAUL S EVANGELI CAL LUTHERAN C H URC H .

This chu rch was organized in 1 89 0 by G . Langner , who served as its pastor until 1 9 1 3 , when he resigned . The

fi rst chu rch bu ilding was constructed in 1 89 1 , but was de mo l is h e d 1 9 by the 00 storm , and the present edifice was a ab iel bu ilt immediately afterwards . Edward A . S g , the present pasto r , organized the first Luther League in Texas

62 in Brenham in 1 9 1 3 . This league has a membership of

about 1 75 .

GERMAN METH ODIST C HURC H .

' Carl Urb an tk e organized t h e Ge rman Methodist Church

in 1 873 and was its first pastor , in which capacity he served

u ntil his death about 1 9 09 . He assisted in the construction

of the first church building, which was built by F . B .

Wiebusch , one of the most devout members . In 1 9 1 3 a

new chu rch was erected , when W . A . Moers was the pastor .

Today A . A . Leifeste has charge of this church

C HRISTIAN C H URCH .

’ The Christian Church was established during the 80s , and the first services were held in the old church which was bought from the Methodists and was situated upon the lot where is standing the present church . The burning in 1 884of the building necessitated the construction of the

new sacred edifice . For a long term of years A . D . Milroy has been doing a wonderful work for the Master in this

religious organization .

’ S T. MARY S CATH OLI C C HURC H .

In 1 870, B ishop N . A . Gallagher of Galveston purchased ’ the ground upon which i s located St . Mary s Catholic

Church , and it was about this year that the chu rch was

organized and a church bu ilding erected . Some years ago

a new church was built . Father M . J . Tabor is in charge

- fi . at present . For over fo rty ve years Mrs Mary Dwy er Ross has been one of the most active an d influential mem

bers . The German Baptist Church was establ ished many years

ago . Rev . Vo igt is the pastor .

Through the instrumentality of Mrs . J . F . Schramm the

Seventh Day Adventist Church was organized in Brenham .

She is one of the most active and faithful members . Sev

eral years ago the church was erected in South Brenham .

63 TH E GI DDI NGS ’

o NO n e family in the history o f Texas , from the time it was under Mexican rule t o the present period , has planted a higher standard of excellence than that raised and main t ain e d by the Giddings ; and n o o n e family in Washington

County has been more prominent and influential . Giles A .

G idd ings , the fi rst o f six illustrious brothers , the patriot and sold ier , who was mortally wounded at San Jacinto , 1 8 a rrived in Texas in 35 . J . D . Giddings , the Texas Vet i n eran , came 1 838. H e was followed in 1 848 by James J .

Giddings , the civil engineer , and George H . Gidd ings , the

Confederate Colonel . The year 1 85 2 marked the advent o f D . C . Giddings , the Confederate lieutenant colonel , the congressman and banker ; and Frank Gidd ings , the physi c ian and su rgeon . The G iddings o f today is D . C who is at the head o f the vast estate and the private bank o f

Giddings G iddings . He i s a worthy representative o f his distingu ished ancestors ; and , when his useful l ife is ended , s r he will be succeeded by his young o n , D . C . Giddings , J . , in whom the leading characteristics o f the bold and enter prising Giddings are very pronounced .

B renham owes an everlasting debt o f gratitude t o J . D .

s o n . . Giddings , his brother , D . C . G iddings , and , D C Gid dings ; fo r in every epoch - making event during the past - o n e seventy years they have been central figures .

JABEZ DE M M I NG GIDDI NGS .

Many bright men helped t o form , inaugurate and wield the affairs o f Brenham in the constructive period of its t o history ; but t o J . D . Giddings , more than any other man , must be given the credit o f having founded the City o f

Brenham .

fo r Primarily , it owes its very existence to him ; it was through h is efforts that it became the county seat in 1 844. H is experience as a teacher guided him in the promotion ’ Of Brenham s educational interests . He helped the cause

o f religion by assisting in the establishment o f Method ism .

With the aid Of hi s brother , D . C . G idd ings , he virtually

built the Washington County Railroad . Upon his advice o f Brenham was incorporated . He was a member the

legislature in the reconstruction days , and introduced meas

u res that were beneficial t o B renham . In 1 866 , in copart 64

’

w . h ership ith D . C . G idd ings , he established the fi rst bank He a ided in the removal o f the Federal soldiers from Camp town . He was a lead ing lawyer .

J . D . G iddings was born in Susquehanna County , Penn sylvania ; James G iddings and Lucy Demming Giddings were his parents . H is father fi rst entered the merchant 2 o f marine , and at 1 was a captain with the full charge o ff a cargo . A shipwreck the Carolina coast destroyed the labor of a l ifetime . He abandoned the sea and went into the wilderness Of Western Pennsylvania and establ ished a farm . H is mother was a beautiful character , and her l ife was spent in rearing her sons and training them t o w f alk in the paths o honor and virtue . She laid the foun o f dations the excellent educations o f her children .

o f 1 838 . o In the spring , J . D Giddings came t Texas , seeking information about his brother , Giles A . Giddings , wh o died from wounds received at the battle of San Ja cinto . Giles A . Giddings , being a civil engineer , came t o 1 835 Texas in , to survey a land grant fo r the purpose o f establishing a colony . Twelve days before Sam Houston met Santa Anna his patriotism caused him to abandon the surveying and Indian fighting , in which he was then e n gaged , and enlist in Company A , Captain William Woods o f command ing , the First Regiment o f Texas Volunteers ,

Of which E dward Burleson was colonel . The night before the engagement at San Jacinto Giles A . Gidd ings wrote his parents a loving letter ind icative o f subl ime cou rage and an inborn love o f liberty . This valuable document reads as follows :

- Texas , Fou r Miles from Head quarters . 6 April 1 0, 1 83 .

Dear Parents — Since I last wrote yo u I have been e n wh o gaged in arranging an expedition against the Indians , have committed many depredations against the frontier .

On my return to the settlements , I learned that ou r country f wh o was again invaded by a merciless horde o Mexicans , were waging a war o f extermination against the inhabit fo r o f t o ants . A call was made all friends humanity rise

- in arms and resist the foe . Men were panic stricken and

fl ed , leaving their all beh ind them . I could not reconcile it t o my feelings t o leave Texas without an effort t o save fo r it . Accordingly , I bent my course the army and a r rived last evening at this place . I shall enter camp this morning as a volunteer . The army , commanded by Gen . o f 2 0 Houston , is lying on the west side the Brazos . miles w from San Fill ip pe . The enemy is in that place aiting I w an attack . t is reported Houston ill attack them in the

66

o remember G iles still loves y u . G ive my love t o my sis

ters , brothers , friends and neighbors . I would write more fo if time would permit , but its fleeting steps wait r none . Y o u n o t t o I d o n o t need write me , as know where I shall be . o f o u With sentiments sincere respect I bid y farewell .

s You r affectionate o n ,

G . A . GIDDI NGS .

’ J . D . Giddings first vocation in Washington County was f o . that teaching He was considered a very fine educator . l H e taught school near Independence , in a o g house with

a puncheon floor , and numbered among his pupils grown

men and women . Before opening school he directed the ' o f build ing the school hou se , and was assisted by a few o f

wh o - the:students , helped him operate the whip saw with

wh i ch the cedar logs were prepared . The love o f adventure and hunting caused this pioneer t o make many excursions into the wilds o f the forests . 1 839 o n D uring , while an exped ition Of this kind , between

Cummings Creek and Rutersville , he and his companion were chased by Indians and narrowly escaped with their

l ives .

When volunteers were called fo r in 1 843 t o avenge the o f W011 raids Vasquez and , and to rescu e prisoners held l ’ in Mexico , he promptly enlisted in Alexander S o me rve l s army , and remained until the disbanding o f the maj ority o f x the soldiers , thus escaping the horrors o f the Mier E pe dition .

1 844 fo r When Congress ordered an election in , the estab l is h m e n t o f a permanent seat o f j u stice fo r Washington su c County , J . D . Giddings was vitally interested in the

cess Of Brenham . He traveled n ight and day , and made speeches in every town and settlement , with the gratifying o f result that Brenham was elected . The people the time ’ ascribed B renham s su ccess t o the untiring labors o f J . D . l o t Giddings . He cast his , heart and soul , with the infant

fo r . town , and formulated plans its upbu ilding Realizing that religion was the foundation o f good citizenship , his fi rst thought was the establishment Of a church ; and he interested the good men and women in this laudable under taking , t o the end that Rev . Robert Alexander responded t o an appeal , and the Method ist Church was organized in

1 844in the H ickory Grove school house . A Sunday School was started , and J . D . Giddings was the first superintend

ent , serving in this capacity u ntil he d ied . Methodism in Brenham fo r the fi rst 37 years is closely interwoven with the life Of this devout Christian .

68 M . When Graham Lodge , A . F . A . , was organized , this good man became a charter member . His religion enabled him to fully appreciate the sublime beauties of the Masonic ritual , and at different times he held the highest 1 4 offices in the three grand divisions of Masonry . In 8 8, o when the Masons took charge Of the H ickory Grove Scho l , he was a potent factor in the building o f the Masonic Academy and in the introduction of new methods of teach

Ing .

B eing sensible o f the beneficial effects of railroads . and assisted by his brother , D . C . Giddings , he organized the " Washington County Railroad Company , for the purpose of building a railroad . As promoters of the second rail road to be built in Texas , these patriotic brothers displayed ability, energy and courage in surmounting the difficulties with which they were confronted . TO prevent the failure of the enterprise they virtually bu ilt the road themselves .

It ran from Brenham to Hempstead , a distance of 2 1 miles . This line was but a short one , yet its construction during these pioneer days elevated the bu ilders to the high Of est plane business capacity , and laid the foundation fo r ’

Brenham s commercial importance . Following his policy of advocating every measure con

civ . d u e to the improvement o f his home town , J D . Giddings suggested that Brenham be incorporated , and an election fo r this purpose was held May 2 9 , 1 85 8, duly incorporating the city .

In 1 866 , when problems Of vital interest to the peace and happiness of the people ‘ of Texas came up for solu tion in the first legislature to assemble during the recon

struction period , this statesman , as representative . from

Washington County , served o n many important commit tees , and was chairman o f the j udiciary committee . At the close of his term of service he was offered other polit

ical honors , which he declined . Commercial conditions in 1 866 made the establishment

of a bank a necessity , and J . D . D . C . Giddings founded

the first financial institution o f Washington County , under

the firm name of G iddings Giddings . J . D . Giddings

was the senior member o f the firm .

The encampment o f t h e Federal soldiers at Camptown

having become a trouble and annoyance to the citizens , J . in st ru D . Giddings , with his brother , D . C . Giddings , was mental in having these Obj ectionable soldiers removed in 6 1 8 9 .

In 1 844 J . D . Giddings was united in marriage to Miss

f . Ann M . Tarver , daughter o Edmund T Tarver , a prom

69 w t o o f in e n t farmer h o had moved the Republic Texas , in

1 841 , from Tennessee . Of this union there are only two chil dren l iving , Mrs . Heber Stone and Charles G iddings . M rs . ’ r Stone s children are G iddings , Heber , Albe t , Mary , the ’

f . . wife o R . E . Nicholson , and Louise At J . D Giddings

w - o f home , a t o story residence constructed cedar , in North o n B renham , the latch string was ever the outside ; and

- the poor . way worn traveler , and the famous men and women Of Texas , were welcomed alike , with true Southern hospitality . A few years prior t o his death , he built the o n palatial country residence e mile south Of the city . The o f 1 844 f fall marked the bu ilding o his law Office , which was constructed Of logs on the spot where n o w stands the brick building owned by Charles Giddings . Though numbering among his competitors some Of the brightest minds in Texas , he achieved signal success as a lawyer . He was a great student , a l ifelong hard worker , and an ex h au s t ive speaker , being always prepared . With strict in t e rit t o g y and fidelity the cau se of his clients , he soon had a greater law practice than he could manage , so in 1 85 2 he became associated with his brother , D . C . Gid d ings ; and fo r many years they were among the most prom m ent and influential practitioners in the State .

Giddings , the county seat o f Lee County , was so named o f in honor J . D . Giddings . The Giddings Memorial Meth odist Church is a monument t o his memory , and tells silently and eloquently o f the work he did t o advance the cause o f

Christ .

While he was a teacher of rare attainments , a Texas f Veteran o f unquestioned bravery , a lawyer o great bril lian ce , and a business man o f sound j udgment , it was as a devout Christian that the character of J . D . Giddings shines with great splendor . Into his daily life he carried religion , and in deal ing with his fellow men j ustice was tempered o f with mercy , fo r always he followed the lead the Man " ”

w o n . o f Galilee , h o said , Love ye e another At the time 2 5 1 878 in o f his death , which occurred June , , following j u ries sustained by a fall from his buggy , few citizens in this section o f Texas were more beloved and certainly none had truer friends than this noble character . The highest tribute that can be paid a good man when he enters into everlasting rest is t o say that he lived and died a Christian .

CO L . D . C . G ID D INGS .

s o n Even in a family l ike the Giddings , where every is o n e d istingu ished , it usually follows that achieves more renown than all the others . D . C . Giddings lived and w breathed in an Alpine atmosphere , here his lofty ideals .

70 brilliant intellect and rugged personality towered above o f the maj ority his contemporaries . He never ceased to call to the weary travelers in the dark valleys below , and encourage them l ikewise to climb the bright mountain heights where bloomed the edelweiss flowers of faith , and hope , and love .

In the same country farm house in Su squehanna County ,

Pennsylvania , where his brothers first saw the light of day , L D . C . Giddings , the youngest son of James and ucy Dem 2 ming Giddings , was born , July 1 8, 1 8 7 . As one by one hi s Older brothers received their educations and attained their maj orities they left the parental roof to make their homes in Texas , the new country whose wonderful resources had s o been much exploited . Letters received from them fired so u l o f the ambitious the younger brother , and the lure f o the great , throbbing , pulsating world urged him on , and impelled him to seek a more liberal education . He taught rural schools to earn the money with which to defray ex penses , and at the early age Of twenty years became a civil engineer for a railroad , and three years later he was found reading law in the office of Earl Wheeler , one of the most prominent Pennsylvania lawyers , whose home was in Hones dale .

Fully equipped , both mentally and physically , for the 1 85 2 battle of life , D . C . Giddings arrived in B renham in , and went at once into the law Office of his brother , J . D .

Giddings . S O well informed was he upon the vital ques tions Of the times , and upon the salient points of law , that he soon ranked as a leading citizen and influential lawyer .

’

6 1 . . When the war clouds gathered in , D C Giddings , b e being a conservative , opposed the secession of Texas , lieving that Southern rights could best be served through the Union ; but when the Lone Star State j oined the Con federacy , he went , heart and soul , with his adopted State , and immediately entered the 2 l st Texas Cavalry as a pri vate . He was soon elected captain , and shortly afterward s h l ieutenant colonel . Owing to the absence o f Cart er , t e superior officer , he was virtually colonel , and commanded the regiment in all of its engagements in the trans - Missis sippi department . While on a scouting expedition near

Helena , Arkansas , he was taken prisoner and sent to St .

Lou is , after a fight in which he , with 60 Of his men , had i 9 f . ex killed , wounded or captured 8 o the enemy At the p ration o f six weeks he was exchanged and rej oined hi s command in time to be with Marmaduke when he made his famous raid into Missouri . He also participated in most of the battles in the Lou isiana campaign . Through ’ the four years strife , and as long as he lived , his men

7 1

honored and loved him , and those above him in milifitary circles admired and respected him . The following of cial order from Ge n e ral Wharton pays tribute to the talented

officer and heroic soldier , who was as brave as a lion :

’ Headquarters Wharton s Cavalry Corps , " 4 4 In the Field , May 2 , 1 86 .

General Order NO . 8. ‘The Maj or General Commanding takes pleasure in call ing the attention of the troops under his command t o the f l gallant conduct o Lt . Co . D . C . Giddings , and four com an ie s - first p of the Twenty Texas Cavalry , under his com o n 2 l st 1 864 mand , the April , , two miles this side of Clou i ill ’ t erv e , La . l On this occasion Lt . Co . Giddings , with these four com i pan e s , made a most gallant charge against the enemy , greatly superior to him in number and strongly posted behind fences and houses , driving them from their posi tions and holding it until reinforcements were sent him . No t only on this , but o n several other occasions , has the

l ~ ll chivalry and daring of Lt . Co . Giddings b e en p e rso n a y

marked with pleasure by the Maj or General Commanding . By order of ’

n o . . . ( Signed ) Maj . Gen l J A Wharton " ’ - A . n B . H Davis , A . A . Ge l .

Official . Cowles A . A . A . G .

There is a massive bronze tablet in the museum of the

United Daughters o f the Confederacy at Austin , which

pays tribute to this daring Confederate soldier , and the " inscription reads as follows : Erected by B renham Tom

f . o . Green Chapter , U . D . C . , in loving memory D C Gid

2 l . dings , Lieutenant Colonel , st Texas Cavalry A brave

soldier , loyal citizen and faithful public Officer .

At the close of the terrible war , D . C . Giddings , with

the energy and fortitude o f a dauntless young man , began

life anew in Brenham , resuming the practice of law , and bending his best efforts t o the improvement o f demoralized

conditions , and to the upbuilding Of his home town . He was elected in 1 866 and served as a member of the State o n e o f Constitutional Convention , and was known as the most aggressive and influential men of Texas during the fo r o n reconstruction period . The democratic nomination C

gress was tendered him at the Houston convention in 1 870, and in V iew of the power o f the republ ican party and its a black cohorts , and the popularity o f Gen . William T . Cl rk ,

- the carpet bag nominee , his election was deemed well n igh

impossible . It was necessary fo r some patriot t o break the

73 o f republ ican rule ; and , as D . C . G idd ings was made stern o n o t material and feared n living thing , even assassins , he very promptly , in a buggy . canvassed the entire district .

- comprising then nea rly o n e quarter Of the State , and in forty days delivered sixty rousing speeches . This was truly a remarkable record in oratory and traveling , as f w railroads were e , and the swift locomotion afforded by automobiles was unknown . A negro company Of the Da ” vis police Often preceded the speaker , and daily threat t o ened arrest and place him in irons . H is scathing ar r i a g n me n t o f the admin istration o f Governor E . J . Davis , w ho ever , rallied the good people t o his cause , and he was victorious by a good maj ority , notwithstanding which the f o . certificate election was given t o Clark Co l . G idd ings contested fo r the seat before the national House Of R e p re s e n t at ive s , and so eloquently and earnestly did he plead the cause o f his constituents that he was seated by a u nanimou s — Of vote an unusual occurrence , as it was a republican body men . This first fight against republican misrule virtually Co n terminated their authority in Texas . Of his services in o n e o f gress it has been said : Co l . Giddings was a con s p ic u o u s grou p o f Southern men whose sturdy bravery and tactful resistance against the overwhelming reconstruction forces defended the South from yet greater evils than those which did befall . The seat Of government at Washington at that time was the source o f the greatest evils which the defeated South would yet experience , and in staying the ruthless and arrogant power o f a Northern Congress , o l o f C . Giddings and his associates earned a meed lasting ” renown .

t o o f During the war , in order secure a supply arms and ammunition , Texas sent worth of United States o f bonds to E urope to be sold . Part these securities were d isposed of , and the proceeds invested in war supplies ; but when the fall Of the Confederacy came , some bonds and money n o t expended were o n deposit with the bank o n ers . The Un ited States refu sed payment of the interest o f the bonds that had been sold , and the holder the bonds attached the unsold bonds and enj oined the bankers against o v paying the money o n deposit t o the State Of Texas . G e rn o r Coke appointed the firm o f J . D . D . C . Giddings t o as agents fo r Texas , and after great labor , and a trip

Eu rope , Co l . D . C . Giddings brought back and turned into the treasury When the Brenham Volunteer Fire Department was o r

fo r , g an ize d in 1 867 , ostensibly protection against fire but in reality as a military company t o suppress the lawless

ness o f the Federal soldiers then camped at Camptown ,

7 4

1 3 o f . 8 6 , j ust after the battle San Jacinto had been fought w s She a a singularly beautiful character in every respect , w s re and a very prominent in the social , ed ucational , and l ig io u s life o f Brenham . Being gifted with a lyric soprano o f voice wonderful range and volume , she was naturally the leader in musical circles , and in the Baptist Church choir , fo r fo r every entertainment o f note , and the pleasure o f her friends , she sang divinely . The poor and needy found in her a true friend , and when she died there was u m ve rs l a grief . The death o f his beloved wife was the greatest sorrow that came t o C01. Giddings ; but with his usual cou rage and fortitude he faced this irreparable loss . He devoted the remainder o f his l ife t o rearing his three motherless chil

r . . dren , D . C . G iddings , J , Mary Belle and Lillian Even after his niece , Mrs . Foote , and her daughter , Miss Frankie Of A . Foote , upon his invitation , had taken charge his t o f household , he never ceased o discharge the duties both father and mother ; and at no time during his career was t o o t he busy to listen o the appeals , o r to fulfill the wishes Of the little ones that were s o near and dear t o his great heart . The Giddings home became a social center fo r small 01 children , with C . Giddings as chief entertainer and char

- acter builder , and they always found the beautiful side o f his — fo r rugged natu re he loved them and they loved him . Often in the evenings he told stories t o his children and their little playmates ; and many a moral lesson -d id he teach with f some interesting account o his travels , o r some finely

o n - pointed talk the principles Of right living .

’

1 03 o l . In 9 C Giddings health failed , and the fine gray head sank lower as the weeks went by , and the kindly eyes began to look u pon the world with lessening interest from day to day ; and at the last , when death touched the eyelids w ’ do n , the classic face took o n the philosopher s welcoming smile . Under his o wn roof and surrounded by those who knew him best and loved him most , he met his fate like the brave sold ier that he was . From every viewpoint , as a good citizen , renowned lawyer , gallant Confederate sol dier , peerless statesman and able congressman , and as a banker Of strict integrity and an honest man , Co l . Gid n f d ings was decidedly o e o the most eminent men o f Texas .

RESOLUTI ON S OF BAR ASSOCIATI O N OF WASH I NGTO N COU NTY TH E . . S . O N DEAT H OF COL D C . GIDDI NG

Judge C . C . Garrett presented and read the following report o f the committee :

Mr . President : The committee appointed at a meeting Of the Ba r Association o f Washington County t o prepare

7 6 h . resolutions concerning t e death of the Honorable D C . Giddings submit the following : Dewitt Clinton Giddings died at his home in Brenham ’

1 . on August 1 9 , 1 9 03 , at 0 o clock p m . 1 8 1 82 7 He was born July , , in Susquehanna County , 1 85 2 Pennsylvania , and moved to Texas in and settled in

Brenham , Washington County , where he resided until his death . Dewitt Clinton Giddings was descended from a sturdy stock of pioneers in America , and belonged to a family well known in the history of this country since Colonial days for patriotism and moral and material strength . Before coming to Texas he had studied law , and on his arrival was admitted to the bar and entered upon the practice of his profession in partnership with his brother , J . D . Giddings , who had preceded him to Texas a number of years . When he came to the bar of Wash in g t o n County h e found lawyers practicing here whose names then and afterwards were famous in the history of the State . It is only necessary to name them in order to show the school of learning and ability which young Giddings e n t e re d . Of the older set there were Asa M . Lewis , W . Y .

M cFarl an d , J . D . Giddings , Chauncey B . and James E .

Shepard , Judge Horton , James Willie , B . E . Tarver an d

John Sayles . Among the young men were B . H . Davis ,

Ben H . and Jefferson Bassett , Josiah Crosby and Asa H .

Willie . The law firm of Giddings Giddings soon acquired an extensive practice and became well known throughout the State for ability and high character . Afterwards changes were made in the firm by the introduction of other " ” " members , and Giddings On in s , and Giddings M o r ” ris , appeared on dockets of the courts and in the Supreme

Court reports in many important cases .

’ Col . Giddings was a State s rights democrat . He b e l ieve d in the preservation of the Union , but when Texas seceded he went with his State . From the ranks he was advanced to the grade of l ieutenant colonel , and distin u ish e d g himself in the battles of the Confederacy . H is standard having gone down in defeat, he devoted himself o f to the patriotic duty the restoration of his people . He served in the Constitutional Convention o f 1 866, and in 1 872 , when others held back , he entered the contest against

- the carpet bagger Clark , in the Old Third congressional dis t rict , during the darkest days of reconstruction , an d made the breach in the ranks of the republican party Which opened the way to its destruction in Texas . After some years of service in Congress , Col . Giddings returned to private life , and on the death of his brother gave up the 77 practice Of lawand devoted himself to banking . The bank ing firm o f G idd ings Giddings was established soon after fo r the war , and for many years has been well known its financial strength and conservative methods Of bu siness .

Endowed with a sound j udgment and a public spirit , he was ever ready t o aid and foster the business enterprises t o ad of his city , and generously contributed its material vancement . I n 1 860 he married M iss Malinda Lusk . the n o f o f Co n daughter o f Sam Lusk , o e the framers the st it u t io n o f the Republic o f Texas . Of the marriage there

1 869 . . were five children . Mrs . Giddings d ied in . D C r Two Gidd ings , J . , is the only survivor Of the children . daughters , Mary Belle and Lillian , were married and died , o f leaving children , Hallie B . Cooke , the daughter Mary B e ll e ; and Mabel , Marion and Lillian Wilkin , daughters o f l Li lian .

o f Col . Giddings was a man firm conviction and tenacity o f o f purpose . He was j ust and fearless in the discharge co n his duty , his conclusions were reached after matu re sideration and he was seldom wrong . Sternly honest and f o n sincere and plain o speech , he gave utterance t o his c vict io n s n n ai in o u ce I t n words , and there was never any doubt as t o h o whe stood u pon any question that came up fo I r solution , o his views as t o the character o r policy o f any action . He was a safe co u n s e IOI and a g e n e I o u s fI ie n d . is the man whose memory this Association would 1 Sounchor .

: Therefore , Be it resolved

o f 1 . That the members the Bar Association Of Wash in t o f g n County deplore the loss o their deceased brother ,

. f D C . Giddings , and j oin the people o Texas in mou rning his death . The State has lost an eminent citizen , fifty years o f whose life were spent in the advancement o f its political and material prosperity ; and the people o f Washington County have lost a friend whose devotion t o their interests o f has been attested by many acts public spirited generosity .

A good citizen , a j ust man and a generous friend has gone o u r from midst .

2 . o f r o f In the memory o u deceased brother , the Court o f Records Wash ington County , the Court o f Civil Appeals fo r f the First District and the Supreme Court o this State , t will be requested o take appropriate notice o f his death , and make such orders as may be deemed su itable fo r the Fo permanent record thereof . r that pu rpose , these resolu o tions will be presented t the County Court by the Ho n .

. t o n Ben S Rogers , and the District Court by the Ho . W . W .

Ho n . Searcy , and the Thos . B . Botts . The Ho n . F . Chas . H ume is requested t o present them t o the Court o f Civil 78 Appeals , and the Hon . W . M . Walton is requested to present them to the S upreme Court . To the family of the deceased we tender ou r respectful sympathy in their grief for the death of their beloved father and head , whose l ife of love , strength and devotion attached them to him by the tenderest and dearest ties . Their con solation is that he l ived to a ripe old age and departed after a well spent life , full of honors , beloved and respected . That the members of the Association attend the funeral of the deceased in a body . The secretary will record these resolutions and send copies thereof to D . C . Giddings , E . H . Cooke , J . L . Wilkin and Mrs . Heber Stone . H e will furnish copies to the news papers fo r publication .

C . C . Garrett, Chairman ,

Ben S . Rogers ,

W . W . Searcy ,

W . B . Garrett,

J . M . Mathis .

On motion of Maj or Thos . B . Botts , the resolutions as presented were unanimously adopted . A motion was made and unanimously carried that all members of this Association , meet at the Office of Maj or

Botts at p . In . for the purpose of attending in a body the funeral of ou r late lamented brother , Col . D . C . Gid

. s dings There being no further busines , the Association adj ourned .

W . W . Searcy , President . ’ R . J . Swearengen , S e c ty

D . C . GID D INGS .

D . C . Giddings , the son of Col . D . C . Giddings and Ma l inda C . ( Lusk ) Giddings , was born in Brenham , Texas ,

January 2 7 , 1 863 . H is education was acquired in the Bren

ham Public Schools , at A . M . College , the Southwestern

University at Georgetown , and at the University of Vir

ginia . In 1 881 , when 1 8 years of age , he entered the banking house of Giddings Giddings , and has been con t in u o u sl 4 y identified with this institution for 3 years . He

received his interest in the business in 1 884; and -since the i death of his father , in 1 9 03 , he has been the act ve head of

1 66 . . the banking house established in 8 by J . D and D . C

Giddings .

Mr . Giddings fills many prominent positions in Bren o f ham , being president the Brenham Compress Oil and ' li Manufacturing Company , which is a co n so dat io n o f the

79 D . C . Gl DDl NGS i Brenham Oil M lls , the Brenham Electri c Light Company and the Brenham Ice and Cold Storage Company ; president of the Brenham Compress Company , and president of the

South Texas Cotton Mills . Since 1 9 05 he has been city treasurer . Politically , Mr . Giddings is a staunch democrat, and was , as long as he desired the honor , chairman of the

Washing ton County Democratic executive committee . In 1 89 5 he was elected a representative to the 2 4th State legislature . He is a charter member , and was the first exalted ruler of Brenham Lodge NO . 9 79 , B . P . O . E .

As president of the bank of Giddings Giddings , his work requires in a constant degree the courage born of clear thinking, and the capacity for rendering manifold forms of human service . Great wealth carries with it grave responsibilities ; and under his careful control this business institution has grown beyond the most sanguine hopes and wishes of its founders . It has passed safely

- through every financial crisis , and for forty nine years its doors have never been closed . In addition to being a mon r et a y center , it is a bank of noble principles , where every moral obligation is faithfully fulfilled .

D . C . Giddings and Miss Carrie Bassett were united in ’ marriage in Brenham in 1 884. Mrs . Giddings father ,

William H . Bassett, was an extensive planter and successful merchant of Evergreen , Louisiana . He was a bold and r daring Confederate soldier . He mother , Mrs . Caroline

Bassett , was descended from a fine old Southern family .

Upon the death of her beloved companion she came to Texas , and for many years this sweet and gentle Christian woman was closely identified with the charitable and religious life

o f . Brenham Mr . and Mrs . Giddings have three children ,

Linda , who married E . P . Anderson ; D . C . Giddings , Jr . , o f the firm of Giddings Giddings ; and Carolyn , the wife f O . John D Rogers o f Allen Farm .

D . C . Giddings is true to his illustrious ancestry ; and no o n e wh o views the tall , commanding figure can help being impressed with the tranqu illity , serenity and firmness of the man , and the fact that he is o f a race of men of superior m e n t al physical and endowments . He is true to the highest ideals , and is governed by no customs , conventionalities , or arbitrary man - made rules that are not based upon the loftiest principles . Strong in purpose , shrewd in foresight , of stout courage and independent spirit , he is a great factor in every phase of life in Washington County , and is one of the most prominent men in Texas . In the democratic councils o f the State his advice and Opinions are always sought , and are highly valued . He has steadily declined all high political Offices .

81 - As a citizen he stands pre eminent , encouraging and sup porting every public enterprise that in his sound j udgment is ind icative o f the advancement and betterment of Bren ham along moral , intellectual and financial lines . No sub scription l ists of great moment , and few o f any other kind , are circulated without his name at the head . He never o f o f speaks his acts charity , however ; but many a d is tressed business man has been saved from bankruptcy, and many a widow ’ s mite has brought su rprisingly large interest through trust in him . Daily he sows the seeds o f service in the soil of human hearts , and he is reaping the j oy Of l iving which this work imparts .

’ With h i m it s n o gre at rari ty ' To s o o s w o s lighten m eb dy e , By l ittl e act s o f ch a rity o o O f w h ich n b dy kn o w s . P rincely deed s o f kindne s s H o s s s d a e d e every ble ed y , To help s o me s o u l s i n bl indne s s o a o wa G r ping l ng the y .

' W it s a a s s o o ith h i m l w y under t d , a v o an d Th t in e ery th ught deed , H s s O f o o o e give the ervice br therh d , I n the fi eld O f h u m an need ; a s h is s o w And when h e l y b u rden d n , To o s o o g m e ther wh ere , ’ s a s h is o w The re ll be t r in brigh t cr n , a s a Bec u e he pl ced them th ere .

D . C . G ID D INGS , J R . f r. o D . Clinton Giddings, J , i s a member the firm of Gid

dings Giddings , having been given a copartnership by No his father , D . C . Giddings , in 1 9 1 3 . young man in the t o State has a greater futu re before him , and few have been given greater opportunities fo r achieving success . Socially he is quite popular ; and in spite Of his youth he wields a

strong influence in commercial circles . H e is glad to l ive

because o f the chance to work and play , to make people happy , and t o find the most beautiful things in the world .

While gazing at the mountain peaks , he smells the roses

blooming in the valleys , and there is ever the song Of a true manhood in his heart . He hates nothing save false

‘

hood and meanness , and he fears nothing but cowardice .

t o D . Clinton Giddings , Jr will add largely the estate w t o that ill come him by inheritance , and no doubt will be

as great a factor for good in Brenham as i s his father , w D . C . Gidd ings ; and he ill unquestionably give new lustre

t o the al ready d istinguished family name Of Giddings .

CHAUNCY B AME AND J S E . SETH S H EP ARD

Two brothers , C . B . and J . E . Shepard , were closely f identified with the legal practice in the early days o Texas . These able practitioners were members o f the Washingt on County Bar when that organization proudly boasted a c o t e rie o f lawyers second to none in the State ; and , at a period when the ethics o f this old court circl e demanded that a lawyer should possess merit , personal honesty , fidelity and h a B integrity in the highest degree . C u n cy . , a brill iant 1 840 lawyer , came in ; and James B . , an equitable j udge and brave Confederate lieutenant colonel , arrived in 1 846 .

P JAMES E . SH E ARD .

James E . Shepard was born in Mathews County , Vir

2 4 1 1 . . ginia , April , 8 7 H is father was Dr Seth Shepard , and his mother was Mary Founta in Williams . At the age 6 o f 1 years young Shepard went to Lewis County , Ken

o h a n . tucky , t make his home with C u cy B Shepard , a bach . lo r e uncle . His legal education was acquired in the law 1 83 8 ffi o f o f re e n u s b u r . o ce William R . Beatty , G p g In he was admitted t o the bar , graduating that same year from the Cincinnati Law School , after which he entered the active practice at Flemingsburg . Stories o f the marvelous resources o f the new Sta te of

Texas interested J . E . Shepard , and its great possibilities s o attracted him , j ust as other pioneers were attracted . he im 4 . came in November , 1 8 6 , and located in B renham He mediately formed a copartnership with his brother , C . B .

wh o . Shepard , had arrived five years before His first f thought was the u pbu ild ing o his adopted town , then n o scarcely three years old , and man gave more freely of his time and talents to this worthy cause than d id he . 1 1 848 l o t On January , , he purchased the u pon which now stands the Brenham H igh School , and this home , presided o over by his estimable wife , became the center f hospitality , and many o f the leading men o f Texas were entertained within its walls . M r . and M rs . Shepard were instrumental f ’ in the establishment o St . Peter s Episcopal Chu rch and were charter members .

o f - Du ring his residence twenty eight years in Brenham ,

. n J E . Shepard was o e o f the most honorable and infl u ential 84 citizens . That he had the trust and confidence of the people of Washington County was shown by the many public offices 1 85 0 which he filled . H e was a member of the legislature of 6 and served a subsequent term prior to the war . In 1 8 1 he was a delegate of the secession convention . A fiery

Southerner in his views and sentiments , he very promptly offered his services to the Confederacy , enl isting in the 1 6th

Regiment of Texas Infantry , being made l ieutenant colonel .

This regiment fought in Arkansas and Louisiana ; and , while still at its head , he was elected , without his knowl edge , j udge of the Third J udicial District , which honor

- he accepted . He was re elected to this responsible position 1 866 in , but was removed in 1 867 by the military powers as an impediment to reconstruction .

As dean of the third law faculty , composed of J . E . Shep ard , R . T . Smith , John Sayles an d B . H . Bassett , of Baylor

University , when that famous seat of learning was located at Independence , J . E . Shepard gave instructions in the rudiments and fundamental principles of law that were of incalculable value to the students . H is law office was always open to these students , and to every young practitioner at the bar , and he was never t o o preoccupied to encourage and assist them . 1 874 In , to the keenest regret of his friends in Brenham , this prominent citizen and j ust j udge removed to Austin , where he continued his activities in the law profession , and served as o n e of the commissioners of the State Peni t en tiaries four years later retiring from active practice .

Judge Shepard had a State - wide reputation as a lawyer o f force , ability and rare learning , and he had the power to convert this extensive knowledge o f law into special knowledge when the occasion demanded , for he was a mas ter of legal tactics , a skillful j ury lawyer and an equitable " j udge . H is l ife was distingu ished for public service and eminent integrity

A CH UNCY B . SHEPARD .

The elder of these two brothers , C . B . Shepard , was born in 1 81 2 in Mathews County , Virginia . H e was educated in some o f the best schools and colleges of the Ol d Dominion special attention being given to his training for the pro fe s 1 1 842 sion o f law . At Lou isville , Kentu cky , August 0, , he was united in marriage to Mary Hester Andrews .

Conditions were extremely unsettled in 1 840, when this

pioneer arrived in Washington County , and being a man of

great intell igence and courage , and a lawyer of outspoken

candor and honesty , he soon became the leader in many

85 public affairs . H is opinions and advice aided in the adj ust

ment o f importa nt questions concerning governmental rule . During the first year of his practice he attended cou rt at

Washington , and when Mount Vernon became the county

1 841 . . seat , in , he argued his cases before R E . B Baylor , w h o was then the j udge . Upon the removal o f the county 44 seat of j ustice to Brenham in 1 8 , he establ ished a per ffi manent o ce here . Before the advent o f his brother and

partner , James E . Shepard , he had built up an extensive

and lucrative practice , over a wide territory , numbering

prominent and influential citizens among his clients . Prior to the war between the Sta tes he served several times in

the Texas senate , and his great ability and learning were recognized in the number and importance of the commit o f tees which he was chairman .

In connection with the work in town , C . B . Shepard super f intended his big plantation eight miles west o Brenham . i He introduced mproved agricultural methods , and had a fo r fondness raising fine stock and thoroughbred horses . H is home was the rendezvous o f people o f culture and re fin e wh o ment ; and , people were in need and d istress were n o t fo r turned away empty handed , he was liberal t o a fault ,

and charitable above all things .

n As o ld age crept o , C . B . Shepard relinquished the law

and retired to his country home , where the declining years of his long and u seful life were sweetened with the knowledge f that he had the love and esteem o his fellow men . H is 2 o f death occu rred December 3 1 , 1 89 . He was a man fine

presence , gracious manners , generous impulses , and his beautiful character summed up all that was idyllic in chiv al r y , scholarly attainments and Christian fortitude .

SETH SHEPARD .

o f o f Chief Justice Seth Shepard , the D istrict Columbia . the eldest son o f Ch au n cy B . and Mary Hester Andrews 2 1 84 o n t h ~S h e ard Shepard , was born April 3 , 7 , e p planta

o f . tion , eight miles west Brenham H is elementary school

ing was obtained under Rudolph Krug , a learned teacher , 6 wh o conducted a fine school at Greenvine . I n 1 8 8 he was o graduated with the degree f LL . B . from Washington n w 1 9 5 College ( o Washington and Lee University ) , and in 8 w was honored with the degree of LL . B . from the Georgeto n o f law University at Washington . He began the practice 1 869 in at Brenham , subsequently moving t o Galveston , and o later t Dallas . In 1 89 3 President Cleveland appointed Seth Shepard associate j ustice o f the Cou rt o f Appeals of the D istrict o f f Columbia , and he remained as one o the associates until

86 h im January 5 , 1 9 05 , when President Roosevelt advanced 1 89 5 to his present position of chief j ustice . Since he has l w been lecturer on constitutional a , equity , j urisprudence, and law o f corporations at the Georgetown University . At the early age of 1 7 years Judge Shepard entered the 5 th Confederate army , enlisting in Company F , Texas 64 1 8 . Mounted Volunteers , his services dating from July , u n su r Although a mere youth , his record for bravery was passed by that o f older soldiers .

In 1 874he was a member of the Texas senate . Beginning with 1 883 he served eight years as a member of the board of regents o f the University of Texas , then in its infancy . His wise counsel at this period iri the early l ife o f the

University is largely responsibl e fo r its present usefulness . He was one o f the builders of the sol id foundation that is now upholding this splendid temple o f learning erected by f the people o Texas .

Texas history has ever interested this loyal Texan . He

is an author o f note . The graphi c and interesting story " o f The Alamo , in the Comprehensive History of Texas , was written by him . To Ju dge Shepard the State owes a lasting debt o f gratitude fo r having found the original man f u s cript o f the Declaration o Texas Independence , which was lost fo r more than sixty years . H e discovered it in the archives o f the State Department at Washington , D . C . , and returned it June 1 1 , 1 89 5 , to the Lone Star State . The famo us document bears the following indorsement : Left

f 2 8 1 8 6 . at the Department o State , May , 3 , by Mr . Wharton ” Original . Judge Shepard has membership in many prominent o r

g an izat io n s , among the number being the American Bar

Association, Sons o f American Revolution , the Mayflower

Society , United Confederate Veterans , and Southern His

"

tory Association . He is a. Fellow in the State H istorical

Association , and is president o f the Southern Educational

Society . Judge Shepard requirin g a broader law field fo r the development of his talents than that afforded by the small a o city o f Brenham , moved away many years g . He was popular and commanded the inviolable esteem of every cit f izen o f the county , and his going was the source o deepest

regret . H is brilliant career has been viewed with pride and l gratification by his o d friends , and the memory o f the dis in i t g u sh e d man is held in affectionate regard yet, and Wash in t o n n g County still claims him as o e o f her favorite sons . Y . C W W . SEAR

’ One of B renham s chief claims to recog nition in the his tory of Texas is fu rnished by its eminent lawyers . The l ist extending through more than seventy- o n e years is a long and illustrious one o f men o f great mental endowment and

legal equ ipment . Som e o f them have l ived o n surrounding o n fa rms , and some have resided in the city , but each e has

practiced in B renham . The different epoch s include names l ike these : J . D . Giddings , W . H . Ewing , Asa M . Lewis , J . M Fa lan d A . H . Willie , W . H . H iggins , John Sayles , W . Y . c r ,

o . J e Crosby , G . W . Horton , Barry Gillespie , B . E Tarver , W .

P . Rogers , J . E . C . B . Shepard , R . E . B . Baylor ( l ived near o Gay H ill but spent much f his time in Brenham ) , of the i N o rr ss . . . . fi rst period ; D . C . Giddings , T . W . , J T P H

Swearingen , E . F . Ewing , C . R . B reedlove , B . H . Bassett,

Jefferson Bassett , B . H . Davis and Isham G . S earcy of the

second period ; Seth Shepard , T . B . Botts , C . C . Garrett ,

M c I n r . Goss , Dan ty e , L . R Beauregard Bryan , J . C . E . B .

M use , O . L . Eddins , H . E . Williams , W . P . E wing , W . W .

Searcy and W . B . Garrett of the third period . The last period w and those of the present day a re J . D . Campbell ( n o of

Beaumont) , R . E . Pennington , J . P . Buchanan , J . M . Mathis , w n o . H . O . Schul z ( o f Rosenberg ) , W . R . Ewing , L E . Ras berry , T . B . Botts , Albert Stone , W . H . Bassett and W . J .

Embrey . Connecting the past with the present stands the l ife of f W. . o W Searcy , a l iving example the cou rtly gentleman of th e o l d school who helped the cou rts dispense speedy and substantial j ustice to the citizens without embarrassment , r d elay o chicane ry . H e is dean of the legal practitioners at n the Brenham bar , and o e of the most prominent lawyers in

Texas . H e was bo rn August 1 , 1 85 5 , in Lavaca County ,

Texas . H is parents were Albert Wynne Searcy and Ma ry

Lou ise Searcy , descendants from distinguished ancestors . H is father was a brave and gallant soldier who gave his life to the cause of the Confederacy . H is bel oved mother faced the loss o f her cherished companion with Ch ristian fo rtitude and devoted her life to rearing their child ren .

’ s e n t a t The early part of M r . Searcy s life was p Halletts ville ; and he was educated at the M ilitary Institute in Aus tin , Texas . Later he went to Lebanon , Tennessee , where he was graduated with h igh honors in the law depa rt ment

88 of Cumberland University . In January , 1 877 , he settled in Brenham , and since that time has been closely identified with the legal profession not only in the city of his adop tion , but in the Lone Sta r State .

Close application to his law p ractice has caused M r . Searcy

f . to decline many o fers o f political preferment Occasionally , however , when his patriotism has been touched , and he has seen where he could advance the bes t interests of Brenham and Washing ton County , he has accepted positions of public a trust . H e was elected , at the solicit tion of many friends , chairman of the Democratic Executive Committee in 1 880, and for twelve years discharged the duties of the office faithfully and well . An uncompromising advocate of the principles and policies o f the Democratic party , he was an active and influential factor in all local councils ; and du r ing his administration the political situation in the county became thoroughly democ ratic . H e was city attorney for six years , from 1 880 to 1 886 , and gave legal advice backed o f o r by sound j udgment , which resulted in the adoption 1 89 2 d in an ce s that improved cond itions in various ways . In w he as elected t o the State Senate , where his great ability as a law maker , and his extensive knowledge of the law made him the peer of his colleagues .

w o The State Bar Association , esta blished a fe years ag , o f o f o r is composed some the leading minds f Texas . This o an iz at io n o f g brilliant lawyers paid tribute to Mr . Searcy by selecting him as president . He presided at the meeting held 9 1 4 in Dallas in June , 1 , and delivered an eloquent address in which he gave an exhaustive analysis of the laws passed by the last Legislatu re , and outlined plans for obta ining much needed reforms in the statutes of Texas . This speech was highly compl imented by the Association and by the public press . Fo r many years this talented lawyer served as a very valuable member o f the board o f trustees of the Brenham public schools . H e encou rages education among the masses , and is a strong bel iever in modern methods . It was largely through his efforts that the B renham High School and the

Alamo build ings were erected . The high esteem in which he is held by the children o f the school is evidenced by the fact that the Junior grade selected him as sponsor . H e i s actively interested in the work that is going forward at w Blinn Memorial College ; and , hen B renham was confronted with the serious question of the removal o f this educational institution , no man labored more diligently or successfully to meet the requi rements o f the C ollege officials than did

M r . Sea rcy . H is time , professional services and money , w ere given freely and cheerfully to this worthy cau se .

Ell i

A LO T . . W

w Theodore Augu stus Lo was born near Concord , Ten

2 1 49 s o n o f . h essee , May 0, 8 , and was the General Sam D o w o f W . Low and Amanda Matlock L , both whom were born Lo w in the Commonwealth . Samuel D . W . was a farmer and a general in the Tennessee State M il itia . ‘w Mr . Lo was associated with farm life until the age

of 2 1 , in the meantime attending school , and later becoming a student in the E wing and Jefferson college o f Blount C oun 1 87 1 ty, Tennessee . H e arrived in Austin , Texas , in , but o after six months came t Brenham , Texas , embarking in the machinery and implement business . In 1 87 6 he fo rmed

- a co pa rtnership with W . A . Wood in the lumber and farm machinery business , the relationship continuing until 1 887 . Tw o years later M r . Low again entered into the lumber business , this time with Rudolph Stucke rt, and this firm ’ L w s im . o w . was succeeded by T . A Sons M r . Low s t o e t able sons had attained their maj ority , and he began t o teach them the principles o f commercialism wh ich he s o . well understood . In 1 9 04, having been elected president of the L w First National Bank , M r . o tu rned the full control o f the L w lumber ya rds to his sons , S . D . W . o and T . A . Low , Jr .

. w T A . Lo was united in marriage in 1 873 t o Cecelia

. wh T Baine , daughter o f M oses Baine , o came to Texas in

1 833 . Lo w Three child ren were born o f this u nion , S . D . W . , L w r . . o J . . o f re T A , , and M rs William M orriss , all whom

side in Brenham . This good man entered into everlasting

rest in 1 9 1 1 . This statement o f facts gives but l ittle idea o f the im L w portant part M r . o took in the commercial , pol itical and

religiou s l ife of B renham an d of Washington Cou nty . As a business man he possessed the executive ability and power

as an organizer that are chief factors in success . As a citi zen and social unit h is charity embraced all who were

wo rthy , and h is popularity made his loss felt beyond the o circles of his own family and associates . He was t o young to j oin the Confederate army , but most o f his rela t ive s f part icipated . In h is youth the stories told o the valor o f those wh o wore the gray perpetuated in his soul a desi re t o honor and revere the illustrious dead . When the question came u p at the Hou ston Convention o f the United D au g h o f f ters the C onfederacy , to have the anniversary o the birth

9 2 Lo w T. A . o f Jeffe rson Davis observed in Texas , M r . Low was deeply impressed with the idea . Upon the return of M rs . James f B . Williams , president of B renham Tom G reen Chapter , o

B renham , from the H ouston conclave , he , at her s u g g es tion , took u p the noble work of having Texas pass a law setting aside June 3 rd forever as a legal holiday in memory of Davis .

o f At this period time M r . Low was a d istingu ished member of the Legislatu re . Gu ided by h is earnest wish t o honor the fi rst and last president of the United Confed L w n 5 e racy of the Southern States , M r . o , o January 1 3 , 1 9 0 , 1 introduced house bill No . 9 , page 9 2 , of the H ouse Journa l f 2 t o the 9 h Legislatu re entitled , An act t o amend Article 2 9 3 9 , of the Revised Civil Statutes of the State of Texas , relating to l egal hol idays , and amend ing the statutes so as t o make June 3 rd a State holiday in honor of Jefferson

Davis , president of the Confederate States o f America , the ” same being the ann iversary o f his birth . This bill was read three times and passed the House o f Representatives 1 05 and the Senate , and was approved Februa ry 9 , 9 , and became a l aw 9 0 days after the adj ou rn ment of the 29 th

Legislatu re . Thu s did o n e influential and estimable man honor the ’ o f immortal Davis , and perpetuate the l ife story the South s great Chieftain , in whom intellec tual and moral worth strug w gled for supremacy , and who has had but fe peers u pon the face o f the earth . T o m . . B renham Green Chapter , U . D C , claims at least a part of the credit for it was at the request of its capable ‘ Lo w and efficient president , M rs . J . B . Williams , that M r . r had the bill passed making June 3 d a legal hol iday . And o b every year when time bring s June 3 rd , the pe ople will serve the anniversary o f th e birth o f the great Davis ; an d they will honor , too , the memory of the good and lovable rd man , T . A . Low , who had June 3 made a legal holiday in

Texas . Patriotism ever finds an abiding place in the human breast , and man natu rally loves his fellow men . for

All th a t h ath be en m aj e s ti c al I n l o r a s a ife d e th . in ce ti m e b eg n . l s a a o f a l l n t iv e in th e s i m pl e s t h e rt . - a o f a n Th e a ngel h e rt m . LO A D . W S M W .

Sam D . W . Low , the worthy son of his patriotic father , 4 T . A . Low , was born in B renham , in 1 87 . He was educated in the public schools and at Daniel Baker College , Brown wood . When scarcely twenty years o f age he was given a co partnership in the lumber bu siness of his father , the firm being styled T . A . Low Sons . In addition to the duties at the lumber yard he superintended the farming, and took care of the stock on the farm . These avocations were pur w sued ithout interruption until the death o f T . A . Low and the sale of the lumber yard . Since that time he and his r b other , T . A . Low , have established lumber yards in some of the surrounding towns . Mr . Low is also actively engaged in farming and raising registered Jerseys . His influence i s felt in commercial circles ; and he is ever on the alert to

find improved agricultural methods for the country , and to aid in civic betterment for the city .

Political affairs have interested Mr . Low since he was sixteen years of age ; and , as a private citizen and as county and precinct chairman , he has been zealous in the pursu it of measures that had for their end the advancement an d improvement of the democratic party . He declined all offices until his friends , without his solicitation , secu red his elec tion to fill the unexpired term of J . P . Buchanan in the 33 r d Legislature . It was an exceedingly fortunate occur rence for Washington County , for Mr . Low , in connection with variou s duties , introduced and had passed a piece of legislation that writes forever his name on patriotism ’ s honor roll , and gives recognition to the important place that o ld Washington on the Brazos fills in the history of the

Lone Star State .

H IS ACCOMPLI SH MENT . 1 84 Beginning in 5 with the first legislature , and ending with the present time , there have been senators and repre s en t at ive s o f marked ability and unquestioned patriotism ; but it remained for Sam D . W . Low , of the 34th Legislature , to honor the spot where liberty was declared , the Republic o f Texas was born , and the place where the great Republic died . This patriotic work was accomplished when he had 4 . 6 6 bill No passed , known as State Park Bill for Wash in t o n g County at Old Washington o n the Brazos , which

9 5 A w S M D . W . Lo provided for an appropriation of for the establish " i ment and maintenance of Wash ngton Park .

In view of the fact that the people , not only in Washing co - ton County , but all over Texas , are equal in the ownership of this public park , the story of how it was obtained will prob ably be of interest . So a review of the circumstances leading up to the purchase o f the park is given .

When E . W . Tarrant was superintendent of the Brenham Public Schools he suggested to the school children of Wash re ct e d at in g t o n County that a monument be e Washington , o n the spot where was s igned the Texas Declaration of

Independence . Time had dealt unkindly with the ancient ’

E . . town , and every vestige of lder N T Byars blacksmith shop , in which this famous document was signed , had dis appeared ; however , after some difficulty , the exact spot was located , and the 1 3 foot 9 inch stone was placed by the children July 4, 1 89 9 . The inscriptions on the gray shaft " of Texas granite are , on the west surface , On this spot ” was made the Declaration of Texas Independence ; east , " Erected by the school children of Washington County , " - July south , The necessity of self preservation , ” therefore , now decrees our eternal political separation ; " north , Here a Nation was Born . The unveil ing was delayed by heavy rains , and did not take place until April 2 1 1 9 , 00, when Mollie White Harrison removed the Lone

Star flag , and Frank H . Dever accepted the monument . These two children were students of the Brenham H igh

School . This monument was placed on private property .

’ On April 1 4, 1 9 1 4, the Young Men s Business Association , o f which Frank Eberle was the secretary , passed resolu ‘ tions asking that the legislature appropriate s u flicie n t funds for the establishment and maintenance of a State Park at

Washington , to perpetuate the series of historical facts that cluster around the o ld town . W . D . Notley , who suc ce e d e d Frank Eberle as secretary of the Y . M . B . A . , gave material aid in this work . The history of Washington was published in the Galveston News , March 3 , 1 9 1 5 .

Mr . Low offered the Washington Park B ill in the 34th

Legislature for the first time on March 6, 1 9 1 5 , and it failed of passage for lack of time . At the extra session , called 2 9 1 9 1 5 April , , Mr . Low again submitted the bill . Gov ern o r James E . Ferguson sent the following beautiful and patriotic message to the legislature :

Executive Department ,

Austin , Texas , May 5 , 1 9 1 5 . During this special session I shall assume the initiative in reco mmen dmg for your co n s1 de rat io n and passage variou s 9 7 and sund ry measures , having for their purpose the mate rial and cultural advancement of our State . I want especially to ask this legislatu re to assist in this latter regard by providing for the pu rchase and improve ment of certain lands in Washington County , on which was located the first capitol o f Texas , and which i s now marked by a shaft o f stone , thoughtfully erected by the school chil 1 9 dren of that section , in 00. Time lays as destructive a hand upon that which is an historic as upon that which is uninteresting ; d we , as patriotic Texan s, should save to posterity the beauty and glory of this memorable spot , where first the birt h of a new nation was announced to the world— where met the last

Congress , that terminated the Lone Star Republic , and merged it into the sisterhood of these United States . " I admonish you , therefore , as legislative representatives of this great Commonwealth , to do that which is necessary a n d practicable to preserve and beautify this hallowed o f ground , this altar Texas independence , where citizen and alien may gather in the years to come , and from the white dust o f travel find rest and recreation in the contemplative shade of this shrine of Texas liberty .

Respectfully submitted ,

James E . Fergu son , Governor o f Texas .

46 Washington Park Bill No . 6 was duly passed by the

House of Representatives and signed May 1 9 , 1 9 1 5 , by the speaker , Hon . John W . Woods . Washington Park B ill No .

1 1 was submitted t o the Senate by Paul D . Page of Bastrop .

It was adopted May 1 8, and the day following Lieutenant

Governor W . P . Hobby attached his signature . On May 2 0 1 9 1 , 5 , Governor Fergu son approved the measure with personal pride and satisfaction . The historic facts warranting this tribute t o Washington on the Brazos are related in the appended story .

9 8

were farmers . The first colonist who came to the west o f side the Brazos was William Dever . Andrew Robinson

s o n - in - and his law , John W . Hall , settled o n the west sid e o f o the Brazos , opposite the mouth f the Navasota River , o n o f and the site Washington . Robinson built the ferry

boat in 1 82 2 which carried so many famous men and women , 2 4 and only succumbed to decay in 1 882 . In 1 8 Austin and Baron de Bastrop gave Robinson a formal conveyance o f a league of land as a colony , the grant incl uding his ferry and the land on which the town of Washington is situated . Robinson gave 640 acres of this land to Hall and his wife ’

Patsy . Hall s greatest ambition was to build a town ; and in 1 833 he had the site surveyed and platted and named " Washington , by D r . Asa Hoxie , after Wash ing ton ,

Wilkes County, Georgia . The following year Hall pu r ’ chased the remainder o f Robinson s land fo r and set the pace in land deals for future generations by organ ” f izing the Washington Town Company , composed o him m r l o e ve l . self , D r . Asa H oxie , Thomas Gay and M iller and S M uch enterprise was u sed in exploiting the advantages of ’

Washington over its rival , San Felipe ; and Hall s dream o f of building a town came true , for in a short period time 2 2 lots were sold for and from these sales may be dated the growth of the place . The navigation of the

B razos River , which began in 1 833 , advanced the commer c ial interests very materially . Unsuccessful efforts were made to have the general co n s u lt at io n o f 1 83 5 meet in Washington , but when the con s u lt at ion adj ourned at San Felipe , it fixed Washington as the place o f holding the convention which drew up the declaration o f independence and the constitution o f the f Republic o Texas . The delegates met promptly o n the o f n fi rst day March , 1 83 6, all of them coming o horseback , and many riding from great distances . These men were o f the most conscientious and honorable type . Most o f them were refined , well educated , and prepossessing in appearance and speech . The youthful town then contained only o n e house large enough to accommodate this body o f

— w - 2 5 d istingu ished men a t o story blacksmith shop , about by 5 0 feet , which was built a n d owned by Elder N . T .

Byars o f the Baptist Church , and located a short distance from the ferry , on what was known as Main street ; a

- - structure framed and weather boarded with clap boards , with wooden shutters and a double door for the front e n trance . Richard Ellis was made president , and H . S . Kim a r ble secret ry of the convention . The declaration was w it ’ ten by George C . Childress , and followed closely Jefferson s o f 1 6 learned document 77 . On motion o f Sam Houston , it

1 00 2 1 83 6 ’ was adopted , and on March , , at four o clock in the afternoon , the delegates signed it , thereby solemnly de cl arin g the political connection of Texas and Mexico forever ended ; and as representatives of the pioneer colonists , they constituted Texas a free s o vereig n and independent R e / public , fully vested with all the rights and privileges which

. k properly belong to independent, nations The next wor of the convention was the framing of a constitution to be adopted by the people , and the election and installation of r the following o flice s : David G . B urnet , president ; Lorenzo

- D e Zavala , vice president ; Sam Houston , commander in chief of the army . The men who composed President Bur ’ net s cabinet were Samuel P . Carson , secretary of state ;

Bailey Hardeman , secretary of the treasury ; Th o mas J.

Rusk , secretary of war; Robert Potter , secretary o f the navy , and David Thomas , attorney general .

The day of the installat ion , March 1 7th , a courier arrived from Sam Houston bearing bad news . As the convention was ready to adj ourn some alarmists rode through the Main " street at full speed shouting in stentorian tones , Santa

" Anna and the whole Mexican army are within a few miles , ” and rapidly advancing o n the town ; flee fo r your lives "

These men were evidently thieves , whose purpose was to frighten the people away and then rob their homes ; but the effect was disastrous . The panic became general . Every man , woman and child who could obtain an animal o r vehicle o f any kind j oined the procession that hurriedly moved

- eastward across the Brazos River , carrying luggage of every description . The cows lowed restlessly , the horses neighed ‘ and sniffed the air , and the very dogs tucked their tails and whined as if in realization o f the danger which threat ened the country . It is said that every citizen fled , save o n e Jesse Lott, who kept the tavern . This was the most hopeless time in the early history of Washington .

Confusion was created in the convention hall , and the delegates left hastily , without a formal adj ournment . In the excitement the original manuscript of the declaration of independence was lost, but was found by Chief Justice

Seth Shepard , formerly of Washington County , in the n archives of the state department at Washing ton C ity , a d by him returned to Texas , June 1 1 , 1 89 6, when Culberson was governor . The famous document is endorsed as fol " : at 2 lows Left the Department of State , May 8, 1 83 6, by ” Mr . Wharton . Original . It was in this year that Col . Wharton was sent to Washington for the purpose o f nego t iat in g the recognition of Texas independence .

Fortunately , Washington did not long remain in the " ” chaotic condition in which it was left by the stampede ,

1 01 fo r the people grad ually returned ; and with the fall of ’ 2 6 n fi Santa Anna s army at San Jacinto , April 1 , 1 83 , co dence was qu ickly restored , and it came into prominence again as a candidate for the capital in 1 837 . The first anniversa ry celebration of the signing of the declaration of independence was given at Washington , and took the form of a ball , in the convention hall . Invitations to this affair , some of which are still extant , read : Washington ,

2 8th of February , 1 837 . The pleasure of you r company is respectfully solicited at a party to be given in Washington 2 on Thursday , March n d , to celebrate the birthday of ou r national independence . Devereau J . Woodlief , Thos . Gay ,

. x R Stevenson , W . B . Scates , Asa Ho ey , James B . Cook

W . W . Hill , J . C . Hunt , Thos . P . Shapard , Managers .

People came from great d istances to this enterta inment .

The blacksmith shop was illuminated with sperm candles , and the music was supplied by a few stringed instruments , to which the merry company danced the Virginia reel ,

- r - knocked the back step , o cut the pigeon wing , j ust as they saw fit .

In 1 842 , when Washington became the capital for the second time , many people of note l ived within its confines . Sam Houston and h is family were residents fo r a short while ; and Anson Jones lived a few miles o u t in the country " ” at Barring ton . Nearly every p rominent man in Texas

came to Washington du ring this period . Rel igiously , edu c a i n l t o al y , socially and commercially it forged rapidly to the

front . A great volume of business was transact ed , and o brick buildings , some f them three stories high , were

1 37 . erected . M rs . Jack Hall taught , in 8 , the first school

In 1 839 Judge W . H . Ewing opened a school in a double f l . . o o g hou se . Rev L P . Rucker , the E piscopal Chu rch , in 1 841 establ ished an academy in a beautiful post oak grove

in the western part of the town . This school was under w the control of the Masons , and was kno n all over Texas as

an excellent educational institution .

The newspapers were creditable to the craft , as evi

1 839 . . d e n ce d by copies still in existence . In Rev A Buf " ” fin n g t o began the publication of The Tarantula , the fi rst newspaper ; which was followed in different years by the " ” " Texas and Brazos Farmer , by G . Harrison ; the National ” " ” Vindicator , by Ramrod Johnson ; The National Register ,

1 845 . by Miller and Cu s h n e y . In Judge William H Ewing commenced the editions of " The Lone Sta r and Southern " 4 1 8 7 . Watchman . The Texas Ranger was published in ” The Washington American was edited by W . J . Pen "

d le t o n in 1 85 2 . D . H . Rankin published The Southern

1 02

H ugh Kerr , o f Washington County , says in his Poetical 1 838: Description o f Texas , published in

F o G a s o a s s r m lve t n we t we tend , The R i ve r B ras s o s c o me s in vi ew ; C o s t o G o s l e the ul f i t d e extend ,

There is n o b ay t o enter th ro ugh . A ve s s e l pa ss ing in fro m s e a S o n o t a a h uld dventure , i f her d r ft s ix an d s E xceed feet , wel l there be , m o Ac ro s s the b a r s h e ay n t w a ft .

’ ar i as s d B ut when the b s p indeed , N o o ther d anger then t o fea r ; Thence fifty m il e s s h e m ay pro ceed a I n an y s e as o n o f the ye r . At cert ain ti me s s m a l l s te a mb o at s m ay o One hundred m i le s s ti l l furthe r g , o o o n wa At s und ry t wn s t uch the y , a an ro Freigh t an d p s s engers t o d f .

The n ame s o f t o wn s up o n it s b ank s s o o a re a : We h ere in ert , th ugh n ne l rge a s o a s a s a o a s V el c e p rt r nk ,

a a a o s fo r s a . "u int n , w reh u e d i ch rge ’ a o re s u m d One h und red m i le s b ve , p , a o r o o Old S n fel i pe Au s tin s t d .

S o o s a o o r o me f rty m i le b ve m re , We find the t o wn o f W as h ingt o n ; wa s o o And h i gher up he ret f re , o a — o ld a o Ten xti tl n , g rri s n .

Th i s river b o rders o n e ach s ide an d a E xceed i ng rich fertil e l nd , a s a s W i th he vy ti mber , p r i rie w ide , a a o n a And m ny f rm s ei ther h nd . ' as s o s s o i fa r a o e The Br urce s b v , ’ N o t yet e xpl o r d th ro ugh it s extent B u t Tex as enterpri s e w i l l pro ve a t o it s a o E q u l cc mpli s hment .

42 River traffic assumed business importance about 1 8 , which year witnessed the appearance o f the stern wheeler . " ” Mu stang . Some dozen steamboats were put regularly o n the river , and it was no uncommon sight t o see as many as three boat , all being docked at the large wharves at " ” " Washington . The two side wheelers , Brazos and Wash ” ’ in t o n g , were put in commission du ring the late 408. The " ” finest boat that ever sailed the river was the Fort Henry . Thousands o f bales o f cotton and much produce were o shipped t Velasco and Qu intana , and many passengers made trips back and forth . River traffic improved with a n 44 4 r rapid ity u paralleled from 1 8 t o 1 85 , but from abou 1 2 o f 1 85 4 s o the th May , , when the Brazos was full that o n e o f the boats ran clear o u t o f the banks o f the river into rac t i a la rge plantation , and there remained , navigation p HM cally ceased . By common consent the people concluded that

their only hope was in railroads , and railroads alone .

According to the records in Austin , Washington County 4 was organized December 1 , 1 837 . The first county seat

was Washington , which afterwards became a great polit ical center ; and the first county officers under the R e : public were John P . Coles , chief j ustice ; R . Stevenson ,

clerk ; J . P . Sheppard , clerk of the district court ; and R .

Merritt, clerk of the county court . Washington continued 1 41 to be the county seat until the fall of 8 , when the records

were removed to Mount Vernon . In 1 844 Brenham was

elected the county seat .

The maj ority of the citizens of Texas favored annexation , and at a mass meeting held in Washington in the spring 1 84 of 5 , strong resolutions were passed urging President

Jones to convene Congress . Pursuant to his proclamation , 4 the Congress of the Republic of Texas met , June 1 6, 1 8 5 ,

for the last time , at Washington . Both houses unanimou sly

consented to the Joint Resolution o f the United States . Thus it will be seen that old Washington witnessed the assembling of the convention which made the Declaration o f f Independence , and the last session o the Congress which

terminated the Lone Star of the Republi c , and added Texas

to the United States of America .

’ ’ At the close of the 40s and in the early 5 0s this almost

extinct town reached the zenith of its glory , and attained

its greatest commercial importance . With a population of

over souls it was o n e among the larger towns in Texas . The fine water facilities made it a distributing point for l Middle Texas . The o d place was prospering and building on

safe and sure l ines , until 1 85 8, when it made the fatal mis take o f refusing to give a bonus of to the Ho u s

ton Texas Central Railroad . The railroad officials then abandoned the route which had been surveyed through the

Brazos bottom , and b u ilt the road to Navasota . There were only two or three people in Washington who favored the f advent of the railroad . A maj ority o the citizens claimed that it would interfere seriously with their river navigation

and trade . One man , with wisdom beyond his fellow towns

men , pleaded with them to raise the bonus . He walked the streets entreating the inhabitants to accede to the de o f mands the railroad officials . Finally , seeing how utterly

futile his efforts were , he cursed the town , and in his wrath i o f prayed that he might live to see the day when the s t e .

Washington would be planted in cotton . This prayer has been very nearly granted , for today there is nothing left

but a few old buildings fast tottering to the end , and one

store , which supplies the wants of the adj acent farmers .

1 05 Around the once proud old town are farms , but the site is s o thickly studded with brick foundations , old cisterns and the debris of what was once a commercial center , that it is impossible to plow or cultivate it . We e s ach e grows in every nook and corner ; nothing remains but the shadowy mem o rie s f of a haunted past , and a shaft o gray Texas granite erected at the suggestion of Superintendent E . W . Tarrant o f by the school children Washington County in 1 9 00, April " ” 2 l s t t o , tell that Here a nation was born .

o w w azo s s s a l o w s w s o D n here the Br ing , eet ng , Of t he gl o ry o f the v a n i s hed ye a r s When W as h ingt o n wa s o n ce s o gre at a n d s tro ng a n o a s And f ced the futu re wi th fe r , There s t a nd s a m o n ument o f gr a nite gray To a a s o o f a o a m rk p t h l l wed e rth , And tel l o f Tex as I ndependence D ay a a o h ad it s o o When n t i n gl ri u s b irth .

’ t s n o o - a o o s I cl ud c pped , l fty , t wering pi re , s a a o f o s a Bu t j u t s h ft m de t gr y , ’ E rected t here by the ch il dren s gre at des i re To o o a d a c mm em r te the l iberty y . I t m a rk s the t o m b o f a n ati o n th at is de ad ; F o r as is n o o the Tex Republ i c m re , o s s a a And her her e s the i r i len t tent h ve s pre d , al s o o With l the h o s t l ng g ne befo re .

S ad s o a o s a o s s o de l ti n re i gn r und th i p t , Twice the c api t a l o f a n ati o n ; ’ I t s o o o e o gl ri u s s t ry ne er w il l h f rgo t , F o r i a it s o f br ve men o f every s tati o n . S a s a s s a o s s o tr ight t nd the h ft , w h ile Ti me unr l l her cr ll And al l al o ne ; fo r everyth ing h as go ne ; ’ ’ s o F a s o o o The re n th ing l eft but me bright h n r r ll , s a t o a a o wa And the h ft , tel l n ti n s b o rn .

O n it s wa t o G azo s o s y the ul f the B r R iver g e , I s an d s an d a n pring um me r , w inter f l l ; o it s a s s o we e s ac h e o w s Ar und b nk h igh the gr , o a o a s a an d a And h ry k s t nd grim t l l , o s w a an d d a Wh il e th e m n um ent keep tch by n ight y , ' O e r the l o ne ly pl ace wh ere me m o ries tre ad ; ' t h e s s a o it s wa And e er ri ve r ing l ng y ,

A req uie m fo r the to wn th a t is de a d .

1 06

The first German t o locate permanently in Washington E ic h h o lt C ounty was H enry , the father o f Lou is and Wil i h h l f liam E c o t o Cedar H ill . The place o f his nativity was

B rocken , nea r Berlin . He a rrived at Washington in the o f 1 846 spring , with j ust fifty cents in his pocket . Unable t o speak English , and in a strange country where no one spoke his native tongue , the inflexible will o f the poor Ger b o man y was undau nted , and with the determination t o overcome obstacles that has ever marked the Teutonic race , u he bravely set o t t o find work . I n his heart there was the o f o d fo love and fear G , r he was a Christian . H is fi rst work o f o x was that driving an team , and cutting hay . H e after wa rds engaged in farming . In 1 847 he was united in mar ria e g to Louise Roehling , who came with her pa rents , M r . and Mrs . H . Roehl ing , that year from Germany . Upon a o f 2 00 o n fa rm acres , bought the installment plan , nea r n w w where William Penn is o located , they built a t o room o f - - cabin cedar logs , with stick and mud chimney and dirt

floor , that was comfortable in summer , but scarcely suffi o cient t keep o u t the sleet and snow o f winter . Their bed wa a - stead s home made affair , o n e side o f which was nailed to and supported by the wall . A big trunk brought by Mrs .

E ich h o lt from across the wat er served as the dining table . It having become necessary t o have a wagon fo r his team o f oxen , M r . E ich h o lt very ingeniously made o n e of hickory , fash ion ing the great wheels o f solid hickory logs . There was an abundance of prairie chickens , wild tu rkeys , wild ’ f o . hogs and deer , a supply t always reward the hunter s ef ort w Life as peace , contentment and happiness for the youth ful couple ; and they made good friends , who appreciated them for their true worth . Being deeply religious , M r . and 1 0 a M rs . E ich h o lt helped Rev . Kraft , in 86 , to est blish the third Lutheran church in Washington County , at William

n o w . Penn , o n the same l o t where the present church stands

They were charter members . About this time he pu rchased a fa rm near Ceda r H ill , and operated a grist mill for the soldiers and the public during the war between the States . Of and was thus excused from army service . The death

H enry E ich h o lt occu rred September 1 3 , 1 9 00; his wife died 2 1 9 . July , 8 9 In modern poetry there is n o avocation that has been graced and dign ified more than that which in real l ife is most prosaic . Lowell , Whittier , Burns and others have cast the veil o f romance around the stu rdy form o f the fa rmer , as well as the occupation which he follows , and o f b have made him honored men . The example set y this n fi rst German farmer was o e o f economy , energy and hon esty , added to which was a deep and abid ing faith in the

Christian religion , and this example is today being followed by the G erman citizens o f Washington County .

1 08 ’ HE E I C HHO LT M R S . M R . AN D N RY

TH E FI RS T G E R M A N S E TT LE R S l N

WA S H I NGTO N C O UNTY The love of adventu re that is inherent in every strong and

happy young man caused three boys , with ages ranging from 1 7 to 1 9 , to seek dwelling places and search for fortunes in the new world . William Bohne , William Schlottmann and Frederick E ic h h o lt arrived at Old Washington on the Brazos f 1 o in the spring o 847 . The fires f hope and love bu rned brightly in thei r souls and hea rts , for they came to prepare

r - - homes fo three beautiful , blue eyed , golden haired girls to We s t h a whom they had plighted thei r troths in far away p lia . Being superior farmers they soon found employment

o r. o f . r the fa rm John H Seward at Independence , and fo t wo long , wea ry years they toiled and saved , until sufficient funds were accumulated to pay the passages o f their loved ones across the ocean . No greater example of trust and devotion may be found than that displayed by these pu re and innocent German gi rls , Elizabeth Pieper , Elizabeth M e rn it z R ichter and Louise , the eldest being scarcely nine teen , who forsook home , parents and friends , and made the long voyage to j oin those whom they had ch osen as life com panions . The vessel in which they sailed having anchored at the mouth of the Brazos , they came up the river to Colum I n d u s r bia in a steamboat , and thence by wagon to y . As the girls could not speak English they had d ifficulty in mak ing themselves understood , until they found Charles Ford tran , the fi rst German settler . H e came gallantly t o the rescue , sent for the young men , secured the l icenses , and j oyously attended the weddings of Elizabeth Pieper to Will iam Bohne ; of El izabeth Richter to Will iam Schlottmann , and o f Louise M e rn it z to F rederick E ich h o lt . These happy ma rriages were solemnized in Brenham . Some of the most prom inent citizens in Washing ton County are direct de s ce n d an t s of these worthy people .

H . Roehling and family came to this county in the fall o f 1 847 ; fi rst stopping near the trad ing point which is now l- d Chappell l ill , later going to work o n the J ohn H . Sewar farm near Independence .

F . F . Sprain and wife , Henrietta Pieper Sprain , and fou r child ren , M inna , H en rietta , Henry and William , left the o f province Westphalia , Germany , October 4, 1 85 0, and 2 2 n landed in Galveston November d . On the way the b o y l l e n r y d ied and was bu ried in the ocean . Among the cher s h d i e possessions of this family were four wagon wheels . wh ich they brought with them from the Fatherland . At

H ouston M r . Sprain made the rest o f the wagon , mounted o n it the wheels , pu rchased a yoke of oxen , and made the long j ourney to Independence , wh ich consumed two weeks .

Their first crop was made on land rented from John H .

Sewa rd . As M r . Sprain had some money he fared better

1 10

o f 1 5 6 their first farm acres , fo r which they paid 1 9 For yea rs they toiled together , and reared and educated

their six child ren , until death ended the l ife o f the good hus 1 band and ind ustrious father September , 1 87 1 , at the age f 1 o 7 . I n 1 85 4 years , Mr . and M rs . Hoffmann assisted Rev . E binger i n the organization o f the Eben - E zer Chu rch— the fi rst Lutheran chu rch t o be esta blished in Washington

County .

Few people live to reach the allotted three score and ten , o t and fo r the century t o be rounded u is truly rema rkable . 1 02 o Maria Katherina H offmann lived to be years f age , having retained her health and faculties until within a few o months f her dem ise , which occu rred October 8, 1 9 07 . At 7 0 her eyesight failed and she had t o u se glasses ; at 80 it t o was restored , and she was able read the l ittle old German

B ible , wh ich she had brought with her from Germany , with n her natu ral eyes . Beginning with childhood her chief c o

solation was i n this divine book , and it sustained and co m

forted her all through he r long , useful and beautiful life ,

and was her rod and staff when the sad end came . f These pioneers taught their ch ildren , J . J . H o fmann , John

I l o ffm an n , R . Hoffmann , Mrs . Mary Catherin e Struwe , M rs . B r s . . o ch e Mary Margaret Harriss and M rs W . C e , the prin i l s o f o r c p e right living , thus exemplifying the foundation much of the frugality and honesty that characterizes so markedly the Germans o f today in Washingt on County .

Wh e n the 1 00t h bi rthday anniversary o f M rs . Hoffmann ’ was celebrated , March 3 1 , 1 9 05 , at St . Paul s E vangelical o f Lutheran Chu rch , she had the extreme satisfaction know ing that her descendants had profited by her wise counsel , and that among the 1 46 child ren , grandch ildren and great was grandchild ren and great , great grandchild ren , there not o n e wh o was unworthy o f their ancestry .

wo t o Of the sons , t answered the call arms at the begin ’ ning o f the four years strife between the North and South , T ’ and served as members o f Company E , o m G reen s B rig ade , until the close o f the wa r . They are J . J . and John ff . war Ho mann John died soon after the and J . J . returned t o his farm near Berlin , where he operated a gin , an d steam and corn grist mill .

s n R . Hoffmann , the third o , established a mercantile busi 1 ness in Brenham in 867 , and fo r over forty yea rs was o n e o f the most successful merchants and most prominent men o f . Hit s c h e r o f the town He married Dorothy Anna , and this union there were born three daughters , Louise , the wife o f . . wh o Ha R A Schuerenberg ; Emma , ma rried mp u s Roos , and Lillian , and three sons , Reinhardt , Edwa rd F . and John ,

1 1 2 ff ' all of whom are now dead . R . Ho man n die d February

2 8, 1 9 09 . This pioneer family of Hoffmanns became allied in 1 886 ch u e ren b e r s with the S g , another family of early settlers , by the marriage of Louise Hoffmann and R . A . Schueren berg . This last named family , which added so much t o the good qualities of the German element in Washington County , 1 48 had its origin with the coming, in 8 , of Captain Freder ick William Schuerenberg . H e was born at Kettwig on the

Ruhr , Province of the Rhine , and was graduated from D u es r seld o f University . H is first location was at Chappell H ill , and he engaged in blacksmithing until the beginning of the war between the North and South . In 1 861 he e ntered the army as a captain under John Sayles , and was assigned to o f duty as a drillmaster . At the close the war h e went to

Independence , and later t o Berlin , where he farmed , raised stock and operated a blacksmith shop . In 1 85 5 he married

Lou ise Mueller , a native of Perleberg , Pro vince of B ran n de b u rg . In company with relatives , she came to Texas in h 1 849 , and with them settled in Brenham , where t e wedding took place . They were blessed with five children , only two 5 of whom , R . A . and F . W . Schuerenberg , are living . In 1 87 Captain Schuerenberg moved to B renham and opened a blacksmith shop , in connection with which h e subsequently began the manufactu re of plows and farming implements . This business he conducted successfully up to the tim e of his death , laying solidly and well the foundation for th e vast business which his energetic and enterprising sons have since built . 1 882 At the death of Captain Schuerenberg , March 1 7 , , the management of the estate devolved upon R . A . and F . W .

Schuerenberg . The younger son had learned the blacksmith ’ trade in his father s shop , so he took charge of that depart ment ; the elder , being an expert accountant and good buyer , assumed control o f the office .

Robert Alexander Schuerenberg was born in Berl in , Tex

2 . as , Augu st 1 , 1 85 9 , and was educated in the public schools

In 1 886 he married Lou ise Hoffmann , daughter of R . Hoff mann , and they have one daughter , Lillian , who became the " 1 1 1 5 . wife of Tom A . Adams November 1 , 9

Frederick William Schuerenberg was born in Berl in , 1 1 2 Texas , January 7 , 86 ; he al so received his education in the free schools . H e was married in 1 886 to Bertha , the n daughter of E . Reichardt, and they have two children , Be

f . . ita , the wife of J . J . Marek , and Bertha , the wife o C A

Deware . When their mother died the S ch u e re n b e rg s became sole heirs to the property . Trade increased , close application

1 1 3 C . KLAE RN E R

ployment o f good teachers . The district system was intro ’ d u ce d , local Teachers Institutes were conducted at stated ’ n intervals , pupils examinations were held , and a school a

nual was published . Old school houses were repaired , new ‘ ones built , the playgrounds were made more attractive , and

in many communities the school became the social center . f w The study o music as encou raged , the children were taught

t o sing , and in some instances pianos or organs were pur

chased . After seven years o f arduous toil , he volunta rily

retired to resume teaching , the avocation which he preferred

to all others . A valuabl e treatise o n Proportion and Percentage was l n r f published in 1 9 04 by Prof . K ae r e . Fo r a number o " ” years he was o n the staff o f the Texas Volksbote , and his

editorials , written with profundity o f thought and brilliancy o f metaphor , ca rried messages which , rightly interpreted ,

brightened the l ives o f those to whom they were del ivered .

Prof . Klaern e r is a member fo r life o f the German ia

Verein , which organization he served for several terms as w e r president . H e was musical director o f the V o r a t s Sing ’ ing Society , and master o f the choir at the St . Paul s Evan li g e cal Lutheran Chu rch . As an eloquent orator , a talented m i 1 u s c an , and o n e who is passionately fond of poetry and

song , he has ever done a wonde rful work in encou raging the m u study o f the most beautiful things in l ife . H is abil ity , l s ica ly , is known all over Texas , and at the State Saenger fests his knowledge of mu sic is valued and h is ifin e voice

is appreciated . When D r . Johannes Hagen resided in Wash in g t o n C ounty he paid a high tribute to this gifted man by dedicating a series o f poems to him . I n recognition o f true worth the State Historical and

Library Commission , unsolicited by h im , appointed Prof . Kl ae rn e r State Librarian in the spring o f 1 9 1 5 , and the duties of this high office are being faithfully and co n sc ie n t io dsly discharged to the em inent satisfaction o f the people 0f r xa e s . Upon his removal to Austin friends arranged a reception that was ample evidence of his popularity and p rominence

in Brenham .

H . F . H OH LT .

H . F . Hohlt , president o f the First National Bank , and o o n e f the most prominent merchants in Brenham , was born 1 5 in Washington County , December 1 6 , 8 9 . H is parents

were L . F . H ohlt and Dorothea Hohlt , and they came from

5 1 o . Hanover , Germany , in 1 8 t this county

’

H . F . Hohlt was reared o n his father s farm , and that was where he developed the strong body , and acqu ired the

1 1 6 H HO . F . H LT

H UGH KERR

One of the most conspicuous literary men in the early history o f Washingt on County was H ugh Kerr , who wrote ” A Poetical Description o f Texas . This poem is a narra tive of many interesting events in Texas , embracing a period o f several years , interspersed with moral and polit ical impressions ; and also an appeal to those wh o opposed f the union o the Republ ic of Texas with the United States , and the anticipation of that event . These verses were pub li s h e d in New York by the author in 1 838.

H ugh Kerr was a native o f Ireland , and he and his family resided some miles from Independence , near Captain Cris ’ man s . He was affiliated with Prospect Presbyterian church , being a charter member . H is death occurred in ’ 1 843 o f this county in . Copies Kerr s poem are very rare ; the history o f Texas , which is embodied , is skillfully and interestingly handled— the fall of the Alamo and the battl e 1 of San Jacinto being very graphic . The story of the latte reads as follows :

an d - s ix E ighteen h und red th i rty ,

o o f - firs t The m nth Apri l twenty , a a The d te in ful l we here ffi x , A rec o rd o f th at s t o rm w h i ch bu r s t ’ U o a m u rd ro u s p n gui l ty crew , By in s trumen t s o f pro vidence ; S o a a o s o s t o o m e g l l nt freemen c n ci u , .

- Th at they then ac t in s el f defen s e .

a a s a o o At h l f p t th ree , th e ftern n , a s o a a The Te x n m ve i n fi rm rr y , a s s s o o The Mex ic n e py t hem n , o o Beh ind thei r bre as tw rk s f r t hem s t ay . The Tex a s line wh en fo rmed a d v ance I o t o fo e n d uble q uick ti me the , s s a Re e rve the i r fire but ternly gl nce . w o F s a n d as o . The rd i re ri ng , d h they g

Then s o und s o f te rr o r an d d i s m a y a s n 10 Affri gh t the Mex ic n , a d , I o a s s a n l ud cry , the Te x n y , n o w a o Remem be r th e Al m . — a C o t o o R emember Tr vi s r cket t , : Fa s Remem be r nn in , t i l l they cry ; N o a s o s o a n b re tw rk t p s . d they purs ue Th e s a a o s l i n r und in h und red l ie .

1 2 0 w N o l ike a raging to rrent fo rce , a as an d a The Tex s rifle s s l h s l y , s s o s And l ike the tree in tempe t c ur e , a a d a S o fe ll the Mexic n s th t y . o a s A very s h rt time did tr n pire , F o o o f r m the c mm encement the fight , The r o uted Mexic an s enti re o o r t o Were k il led , w unded put flight .

S a d a ix h undred th i rty ki lled th t y , Two o f w o hundred eight unded men , S a a even h undred th irty c ptured , s y , A few e s caped p ur s uer s th en ; o a d is Am ng the c pture thei r chief , o C o s s o t o o The n ted , Al m nte , a o t o rl e f And m ny ther s be b , l e as a s o d an d w . Th ir tre ure , tr pping , ne

d a S a a a s s Next y nt Ann in di gui e , w a was o A ndering fugitive , f und ; ’ He tried t o s h un h is capto r s eye s o n B y cr o uch ing pro s trate th e gr o und . When fo rced fr o m th ere in m ea n attire He wo uld n o t yet h is n a me di s cl o se ; F o r H o s o o s u t n , then , he d e in q uire ,

And thence t o h im the p arty go e s .

He h ad attempted t o ev ade By cr o s s ing where the b rl d g e h ad b e e n o h ad t o o a On f o t h e retr gr de , s h i o s wa And unk i n mu d s h r e s s een . ’ A s as s o n t o H o s o s they p u t n tent , a s a o a The Mex i c n r und excl im , o S a a a " I Beh ld , nt Ann n he went, t o o o h i a And there H u s t o n t ld s n m e .

H a a o e dded in f ltering t ne , The br a ve are a lw ay s f o und h um ane a h is o a o And cr ved l ife fr m h im l ne , h o o a Ws o the s hi m in a gentl e s tr in . n o w ma a s And h u n ity ttend , F o r th o ugh they might retal i ate The murder o f thei r fa ith ful friend s n a Such gui lt they wi l l o t i mit te .

1 2 1 S PRING .

L o s at a ittle cl ud d yl igh t , o s k B l o wn ab ut the y , L s s o a an d W ike butte rflie g y h ite ,

- Are flying he aven h igh .

a a o s Li ttle fr gr nt fl wer , M a o o o o Wi th y c m e int bl m , And a l l t he w o o dl and b o wers

Are reeking with perfume .

Littl e bi rd s a re s ingi n g Of a a s h ppy s pringtime d y , And the a mbien t air is ringing o With their s ngs o f pr ai s e .

PEAC E AND GOOD WILL .

' St ra ight fro m b righ t Bethl ehem s s h i n ing s t a r al l H a a s are Where th e er ld nge l , o s s s o a s o D wn the w intry k i e me nge l c m e , o an d s o s W ith s ft n wy w ing un furled ,

‘ s o a o And the m u ic fr m thei r he ven ly h m e , ’ o a u o e a Sweetly fl t s o t r t he we ry w o rld .

’ They re b ri nging fo r y o u an d m e go o d chee r o t o as fo r a o a E n ugh l t n ther ye r , ’ o a a a Wh en they ll be c m in g b ck g in , S sa o l d inging the me s weet refr a i n , ' a s o a s s Th t ringing d wn the ge til l , a o n a t o o o O f pe ce e rth , men g d w il l .

T H E ANGE L O F D EAT H .

a a a s s a W ith a radi n t f ce , l ike h inin g t r , a - s s o And s and l feet in s w iftne s h d , o a o s a s a a O ut f the v lley f re t th t l ie f r , — ’ C o me s the angel o f de ath b e l o vd o f G o d ; a s a s W here the w tchers d thei r vigi l keep , H s an d o s s o w e bend t uche th e eye l id d n , a s o o f s s s And pl ce the fl wers endle leep , a - Where s h ine s the wel l e a rned h l o cro wn .

H a s s o o f a o e g ther t he t ry l ife c mplete , L a o o an d o s man ed by g d h ne t , o s a an d o an d a s w W h e f ith , h pe , ch rity eet , Were ever after the be a ut i fu l pl an ; A s s o o s t o a s o a a he t p be r the u l w y , ’ J s a t s e t o f a u n u t the the li fe s l s t s , Y o u can a as s o s a h e r the M ter ft ly y , " o an C o o d a s a , w o . me , g d f ith ful e rv nt el l d ne — R P o . . E . enn ingt n

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