Grimes County Historical Commission Issue 9 Volume 2 September 2016

Meetings of the Grimes County Historical Commission are held on the Second Monday of the Month at 7:00 pm in the Courthouse Annex in Anderson, Texas

For more information call 936-873-4422

Email: [email protected]

Grimes County Historical Commission Executive Board Photo of the Month Chairman Vacant

Vice Chairman Joe King Fultz

Secretary Vanessa Burzynski

Treasurer Joe King Fultz

COMMITTEES

Historical Markers Denise Upchurch

Heritage Preservation Sarah Nash

Newsletter & Publicity Vanessa Burzynski

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The Eagle (Bryan, Texas) 1 Mar 1930 Complete Program for Unveiling of La Salle Monument at Navasota is Issued; Many Abilene Reporter News (Abilene, Texas) 2 Bryanites to Attend Mar 1930 The Texas Society of Daughters of the Mrs. O. E. Baker Principal Speaker at American Revolution, Robert Raines Unveiling of Statue of La Salle Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and the citizens of Navasota Mrs. O. E. Baker, state historian for the have issued invitations to members of Wm. Daughters of the American Revolution and Scott Chapter D.A.R., the Chamber of professor of Latin in Simmons University Commerce and members of other civic will leave here Wednesday for Navasota groups in Bryan to attend the unveiling and where she will deliver the main address at dedication of a monument placed on the the unveiling of a statue of La Salle, early Esplanade opposite the public school Texas explorer, which is to be dedicated by building at Navasota, through the efforts of that organization, Thursday, March 6. the D.A.R. chapters of Texas and The State D.A.R. cooperating with the civic interested citizens of that city as a clubs of Navasota, and the chamber of memorial to Rene Robert Cavelier Sieur De commerce, is honoring the explorer with a La Salle, the French explorer who died in giant equestrian statue, states Mrs. Baker. the vicinity of Navasota. The statue, according to Mrs. Baker, is Official guests for the day will be being placed at Navasota because, as near entertained at a luncheon at the home of as it can be learned, that town is near the Senator and Mrs. H. L. Lewis, with the spot where La Salle died, as he was Navasota Civic Club acting as hostess assassinated by one of his men. body. “La Salle brought the attention of all At 1:30 pm the public ceremony of Europe to Texas” said Mrs. Baker, “and we dedication will be held on the Explanade, felt that it was time he was honored by this with Mrs. James T. Rountree of Paris, state state and section.” regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution presiding. At 4 o’clock pm there will be a tea at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Baylor with Robert Raines Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution acting as the hostess camp.

Dedication of the La Salle statue on Washington Ave. in Navasota in 1930.

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The Llano News (Llano, Texas) 6 Mar 1930 La Salle Memorial will be unveiled in Navasota Today Mr. Frank Teich and Mr. and Mrs. Linden Foster left yesterday for Navasota, where they will attend the unveiling of the La Salle memorial today, and where Mr. Teich will be the honored guest of the occasion. This costly memorial, purchased by the Texas Daughters of the American Revolution was designed and carved by Mr. Teich, one of America’s foremost sculptors in his studio at the Teich Monument Works here. Mr. Teich spent much time on this memorial which was seen by many people before it left the Teich plant and was pronounced as one of the outstanding memorials of the State.

Some time ago it was shipped from Llano to Navasota where it was erected on the site near the place where this noted The Llano News (Llano, Texas) 12 Jun 1930 French explorer meet his death at the Frank Teich Receives Bronze Medal in hands of one of his own men in 1687. Recognition of Work The memorial fund was financed by the Tuesday, Mr. Frank Teich received a Daughters of the American Revolution and beautiful bronze medal from the La Salle the business men of the town of Navasota. Memorial Committee of Navasota. One It is a figure of some seven feet in height side of the medal carried a likeness of the and is mounted on a Llano granite base of famous memorial of LaSalle, which Mr. some six inches higher than the monument Teich recently carved and erected in that proper. city. On the reverse is the inscription, “To After executing this work in plaster parts, Mr. Frank Teich from the LaSalle Memorial Mr. Teich sent it to New York where the Committee for his skill and interest.” Mr. bronze memorial was cast from the original Teich has carved some of the finest work done here. memorials in America and this is one of his best pieces of work which places him in the Navasota and surrounding towns have very front with the sculptors of our been busy for some time making country. No man has done more in bringing preparations for this occasion, when many Llano before the eyes of the world than has of the most prominent people of the State Mr. Teich, because his work is recognized will be present to take part in the program. all over the land as being superior to most of the artists in his profession.

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seven others were killed in an uprising of La Salle his own men. Back at Matagorda Bay, the Robert Cavalier, Sieur de La Salle, was remaining colonists also fared poorly; born in Rouen, France in 1643. As a young except for a few children, they were man, La Salle planned to enter the massacred by the Karankawa Indians in priesthood, but found himself unsuited to December 1688. the life. At the age of 24, he followed his brother to Canada, where he entered the fur trade. La Salle was soon captivated by the opportunities available in the largely unexplored lands of North America. In 1669, he launched his first expedition, discovering the Ohio River. Over the next several years, he combined exploration with his business ventures. In 1682, he descended the Mississippi and claimed for France all of the lands that were drained by the river, a vast territory that he named “Louisiana” after the French King Louis XIV. In 1683, Robert La Salle obtained royal support for a venture to travel to the mouth of the Mississippi through the Gulf of Mexico and establish a colony for France. From this base, France would be able to strike at Spanish Mexico, harass Spanish shipping, and block English-American expansion in North America. La Salle’s La Salle’s activities had far-reaching fleet of four ships and 280 men and consequences for the future of Texas. colonists was plagued with problems from Spain increased its own exploration of the the start, culminating with the failure to Texas coast and advanced the timetable find the mouth of the Mississippi, landing for its own occupation in order to stave off instead at Matagorda Bay in present-day French claims. As for France, it continued Texas on February 20, 1685. One of his to claim Texas, a claim that was ships had already been seized by Spanish transferred to the United States after the pirates; by the end of 1686, a second ship Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and remained had been lost, and a third taken back to a sore point until the boundaries were France with some disenchanted colonists. settled by treaty in 1819. In late winter 1686, the last remaining ship, One of La Salle’s men, Nicolas de La Salle the Belle, was wrecked by a squall. (no relation), kept a journal of this In spite of the severe setbacks, La Salle expedition. He recorded a detailed daily accomplished a great deal of exploration. It chronology, as well as priceless is believed that he explored the Rio Grande information about the Indian cultures that as far west as the Pecos River near the the party encountered. He completed this present-day town of Langtry. On March 19, journal in 1685 after returning to France, 1687, while on a march to try to find the but the whereabouts of the original Mississippi and resume the original manuscript are unknown. Only two copies mission of the expedition, La Salle and are known to exist, one at the Newberry

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Library in Chicago and the other recently discovered at the Texas State Library and Archives. The provenance of this document is uncertain, but it is believed to have been acquired by the Archives sometime in the late nineteenth century. For more information and the English translation of this remarkable document, see William C. Foster's La Salle Expedition on the Mississippi River: A Lost Manuscript of Nicolas de La Salle. In addition to literature, public monuments at various places in the United States have registered the shifts in public perception of La Salle. A plaque erected on the site of Fort Niagara by the state of New York in 1934 refers to La Salle as "Author of Great Beginnings" and a "Dreamer of Dreams," two titles which place La Salle firmly in the context of American history. The "Great

Beginnings" clearly do not refer to the beginnings of, say, the province of Quebec, Statue of La Salle in Chicago, Illinois but of the United States of America. La Salle's "Dreams" also seem suspiciously A more recent plaque, at Starved Rock, like the American Dream. once the site of a fort built by La Salle's The plaque reads, "Through his courage, men and now an Illinois State Park, retains suffering and endurance came Christianity the heroic sense of La Salle, while and Civilization." Parkman might balk at accommodating him to more contemporary the reference to Christianity, since he had sensibilities. "La Salle was a man of vision no use for that religion. The shade of La and courage," the plaque reads. "He Salle, however, might be pleased, since he established contact with Native Americans was a serious Catholic, despite his and brought European culture to this area, antipathy to Jesuits, and no doubt thought while acting as a peacemaker in his of himself as more than a mere wholesaler actions with local Indian peoples. His of beaver pelts and buffalo hides. explorations were responsible for expansion of the Western Frontier into this area of Illinois." While few would view La Salle primarily as a "peacemaker," this label is a reminder that La Salle, in all of his adventures, was guiltless of Indian blood. The contrast is striking with his Spanish counterparts, such as De Soto, and surely forms a basis for an eventual upward appreciation of La Salle's heritage "value."

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The grandest monument to La Salle was erected in 1939 on Indianola beach, not far from the site of La Salle's Texas settlement on Garcitas Creek. La Salle stands about eight feet high, with flowing hair and a massive sword, like an Arthurian knight. His head, however, is not raised in triumph. Rather, he gazes downward, as if in sad recognition of his failure. The quotation on the monument is from Parkman: "America owes him an enduring memory for in this masculine figure she sees the pioneer who guided her to the possession of her richest heritage." It's as if the creators of the monument wanted to console La Salle for the terrible debacle of his Texas expedition by granting him honorary American status, accompanied with a bouquet of gratitude.

Monument à Cavelier de La Salle, Navasota, Texas

The oddest monument to La Salle can also be found in Texas. It's a life-sized statue of La Salle on the main street of Navasota, Texas, where many historians believe that La Salle was killed. This 1930 statue refers to La Salle as a "frontier statesman, empire builder, a nobleman in rank and character," It shows him holding out a friendly hand to a local Indian. Again, this is pure Parkman, although Parkman would not be quite so sentimental about the local Indian. Added interpretation of the statue is offered in an essay entitled “A History of the La Salle Monument at Navasota,” by a Monument à Cavelier de La Salle, Indianola man named Loyal V. Norman. The essay (Matagorda Bay), Texas can be found in the Navasota public library. Norman writes, "La Salle has been classed with the Heroes of the Alamo, as a martyr to the advancement of Texas."

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Mance Lipscomb Park The bust of LaSalle was moved to August Horst Park in 2011 and has been replaced by a bronze statue of blue’s legend Mance Lipscomb.

Buste de Cavelier de La Salle, Navasota, Texas This is perhaps the unlikeliest role La Salle has ever been cast in. Still, the comment does show a certain elasticity in La Salle's image, by no means a bad thing for a heritage asset. It should also be noted that Navasota contains another memento of La Salle. Next to a parking lot of a Chinese restaurant called the Golden Palace is a bust purportedly of La Salle - he has a very unpleasant expression on his face - donated to the citizens of Navasota by a body called the French Committee of the Bicentennial of the United States and another body called the Association France-Amerique.

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TEICH, FRANK (1856–1939). Frank Teich, Scottsville cemetery near Marshall, a sculptor and stonecutter, was born in carved Italian marble altar in a Durango, Lobenstein, Germany, on September 22, Mexico, church, the Governor Pease 1856, the son of the poet Frederick and monument in Austin, and two Confederate Catherine (Horn) Teich. At the age of eight statues in Dallas. He did much work in the he began painting, and after his graduation San Antonio area, including the Mahncke from the University of Nuremberg he was Memorial in Brackenridge Park and the apprenticed to the German sculptor altar in St. Mary's Church. He was the Johannes Schilling; he probably worked on sculptor of the bronze statue of René the German national monument, The Watch Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle in on the Rhine. He then studied a year under Navasota and the monument to Abel the Franciscan Brothers at Deddelbach am (Shanghai) Pierceqv near Blessing, Texas. Main. Teich immigrated to the United Teich was in an indirect way responsible States in 1878 and traveled in Illinois, for bringing the sculptor Pompeo Coppini Michigan, Wisconsin, Missouri, and to Texas. Frank Teich married Elvina Lang California. In Chicago in 1879 he of San Antonio on October 12, 1887; they contributed to the stone carving on the had three daughters. He died January 27, Cook County courthouse. By 1883 he was 1939, in Llano and was buried there. He in Texas, locating first in San Antonio but has been called the father of the granite working on different projects across the industry of Texas. state. Teich worked under Gustav Wilke, BIBLIOGRAPHY: superintending the granite cutters and inspecting the granite used in the state Esse Forrester-O'Brien, Art and Artists of capitol building at Austin, and he also Texas (Dallas: Tardy, 1935). San Antonio worked on the Tarrant County courthouse. Express, March 31, 1937. Clarence R. In San Antonio in 1885 Teich opened a Wharton, ed., Texas under Many Flags (5 marble yard on the present site of the vols., Chicago: American Historical Medical Arts building, across from the Society, 1930). Witte Museum Files, San Alamo, and worked on the construction of Antonio. several buildings in the city including the city hall and the Kampman building. Shortly

afterwards, for health reasons, Teich left San Antonio for the hills around Fredericksburg. In Llano County Teich discovered a granite deposit and opened a quarry, but he soon left to spend time in Europe gathering ideas. He returned around 1901 and opened Teich Monumental Works two miles from Llano. Teich was responsible for, or worked on, many monuments throughout Texas and other states, many of them Confederate monuments in the southern states. He completed the Confederate monument and the Fireman's monument on the capitol grounds at Austin, the Sam Houston monument in Houston, the Luther Memorial Church in Orange, the statue "Grief" over the grave of Will Scott Youree in the

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The bronze equestrian statue of General Sam Houston is the most iconic piece of Houston civic art. It has stood in the traffic

circle just inside the entrance to Hermann Park since its unveiling on August 16, The statue of Dick Dowling which guards 1925. It stands on a gray granite arch the entrance to Herman Park on constructed by Frank Teich (1856-1939). Cambridge Street in Houston dates to 1905 The general points from atop his horse, and is the work of Frank A. Teich. It Saracen, toward the plains next to the San represents Dowling in his Confederate Jacinto River where he ultimately defeated uniform, and is carved from white Carrara the army of Mexican General Antonio marble. It stands on a pedestal incised Lopez de Santa Anna, winning with the names of the Confederate soldiers independence for Texas. Enrico Filiberto who took part in the Battle of Sabine Pass Cerrachio created the sculpture in 1924 in 1865. after it was commissioned by the Women’s Club of Houston. The club raised the funds

for the Sam Houston Monument after a March 1, 1917 newspaper article called for a monument to the founder, first president, and first governor of Texas.

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History of Asafoetida The common name “asafetida” is derived from the Farsi word aza (resin) and the The Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Latin foetidus (smelling, fetid). Many Texas) Nov 2, 1867 unusual medical claims have been made THE FEVER IN NAVASOTA – Mr. D. C. Fink for the resin, most stemming from the has published a record of the epidemic of belief that its fetid odor acts as a deterrent yellow fever in Navasota, which contains a to germs. The shock of the sulfurous smell mortuary report extending from the first was once thought to calm hysteria and in appearance of the disease, in July, to the the days of the American Wild West, th 28 of October. We learn from this asafetida was included in a mixture with valuable publication that there were two other strong spices as a cure for deaths in Navasota from fever in July; alcoholism. Asafetida has been used for fifteen in August; one hundred and abdominal tumors and as a carminative, eighteen in September; and thirty-four in intestinal spasmodic, abortifacient, October. aphrodisiac, diuretic, sedative, and When the alarm was first given, the people stimulant. Use in respiratory conditions fled, until not more than four hundred such as asthma, bronchitis, and whopping persons were left. And yet, there were one cough, and in 1918 asafetida was used in hundred and seventy deaths. Most of the the Spanish influenza pandemic. Today, names are the dead are given, but a few asafetida is commonly used as a fragrance are marked as “unknown”. component in perfumes and in minute quantites in Asian vegetarian cooking. The We are glad to quote the following from the antiflatulent qualities are utilized in dishes Record: “Our streets begin to be more containing large quantities of pulses such lively, and business is assuming a brighter as beans or lentils. It is sold as a spice and face. The stores are beginning to be food preservative and at very low levels opened, convalescents are appearing on has been used in candies, beverages, the streets, and soon we hope to see relishes and sauces. Navasota the thriving, busy little commercial city of yore.” Yellow Fever The Galveston Daily News (Galveston, Yellow Fever is a viral infection transmitted Texas) September 19, 1867 by a bite from infected mosquitoes most Over sixty-one have died of yellow fever at commonly found in parts of South America Navasota. The News Letter says: “Beneath and Africa. When transmitted to humans, many of the houses there are pools of the yellow fever virus can damage the liver stagnant water.” The same paper says the and other internal organs and be stampede from Millican on account of the potentially fatal. The CDC has identified 44 fever was immense; all sorts of vehicles countries with a risk of yellow fever were pressed into service and men, transmission, many of them with tropical women and children, pots, pans, skillets, climates. While the actual number of dogs, beds and mattresses promiscuously yellow fever cases among US and mixed up, evacuated the town in great European travelers to these at-risk disorder. Tar was burning before the countries is low, vaccination is advised doors, asafoetida suspended beneath the because yellow fever has no cure and can noses of those remaining behind. be deadly.

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Victims of Yellow Fever in Navasota from Donnelly, Capt. B. August, September and October of 1867 Dunaway, George Many of these victims were buried in a Farley, ? mass grave inside the Navasota City Fisher, Ella Cemetery, now called Oakland Cemetery. Fox, Charles Freeman, Eugene Geisler, John Ackerman, E. George, Jim, freedman Adams, Pickney Gibbs, Mrs. Willie Ade, John, Gillen, Mrs. Alston, E. B. Godsey, Mrs. Ashforth, Mrs. Godsey, Mrs. Mary Atchinson, Mrs. Lucy Godwin, Jessie Ballinger, H. Goodman, child of Mrs. Goodman Bannerman (a stranger) Goodman, J. Baptiste, Charles (a German) Goodman, Mrs. Bass, C. C. Goodwin, J. R. Bass, William Goodwin, Millie Beasley, Dr. Greer, D. D. Beasly, Mrs. Greer, Miss Ann Betts, Hannah, freed woman Hamilton, L. F. Black, child of Mrs. Black Harris, B. E. Black, child of Mrs. Black Harris, Belle Black, Mrs. Harris, China Blackburn, Col. E. P. Harris, E. E. Blackburn, Tommie Harris, John Blackshear, Gen. T. E. Harris, Lucy Brown, Mrs. Harris, Mrs. Susan Brown, Sarah A. Hart, John Brown, Sol Huckaby, Calvin Brown, T. W. Huckaby, Mrs. Buffington, Cornelia Huckaby, 5 children of Mrs. Huckaby Campbell, Dr. A. Ireson, Annie N. Clark, ? Ireson, Robbie Clark, Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. E. D. Clark, Mrs. Tom Jones, Dr. J. N. Clune, D. D. Jones, W. J. Cole, Jack Jones, W. R. Cook, James Kintz, child of Mr. Kintz Cook, John W. Lewelyn, Mrs. Cook, Miss Ann Lyle, Thomas Cook, Sam McCann, John Cook, Thomas McCann, Mary Cook, William McCann, Neal Cook, David Sr. McCarthy, Miss M. Cordios, Mercer McEachern, Eppie Davis, Kate McEachern, Mrs. Davis, Mr. (a writing master) Miller, Ferdinand Dixon, Robert Miller, Kate (a child of F. Miller)

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Miller, Mr. (a German) Unknown, Jacob, freed man Miskell, Mrs. J. Unknown, Jerry, freed man Moore, Miss Jennie Unknown, Kidd, freed boy Morris, Dick (barber) Unknown, Martha, a freed woman Morse, Col. Unknown, Mary, German girl Morse, Rufus Unknown, Peggy, freed woman Musgrove, Mr. Unknown, Peyton, freed man Musgrove, Mrs. Unknown, Frenchman Nettles, Mrs. T. S. Unknown, German Nettles, Robert Unknown, colored child Nettles, Tom Unknown, colored child Nettles, William Unknown, freed boy Post, Allen Unknown, a negro girl Priest, Charles Unknown, Child of Bunting's Pye, Mr. Vergal, Franklin, Rainey, L., freed man Vergal, Hermann, Ringgold, Mrs. Wadlington, Mr. Roberts, Mr. (of telegraph office) Wadlington, Mrs. Roberts, Mrs. Walker, Mrs. Ross, Mrs. Jane Waller, 2 children of J. Waller Russell, Dr. J. W. Walthall, Mr. Schrader, Gustave Wharton, Mr. Shelton, William H. Williams, J. E. Singletary, L. L. Williams, Miss Jessie Smith, Dr. Paul Williams, Mrs. E. Smith, Dr. Pryor H. Williams James, Jr, Smith, Frank Winders, J. A. Smith, John, freed man Wohl, Eugene Smith, Miss Carrie Woodward, Mrs. Smith, Miss Jessie Woodwin, Mrs. J. R. Smith, Mrs. P. H. Smith, Stanhope Stacey, child of William W. Stacey Stevens , Mollie Stevens , A youth at Dr. Cades' Stewart, child of Mr. Kintz Swift, Hy Tabb, Noah, freed man Taylor, Mr. Thompson, P. Thorn, Thomas Treson, A. Tubb, Mrs. Tulob, Jr. Jesse Unknown, 2 Mexicans Unknown, 5 Freedmen Unknown, George Unknown, Griffe, colored child Unknown, Jack, freed man

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NEY, ELISABET (1833–1907). Franzisca the next fifteen years she completed a Bernadina Wilhelmina Elisabeth Ney, one number of portrait busts as well as statues of the first professional sculptors in Texas, of Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston, was born in Münster, Westphalia, on now in the state Capitol, and a memorial to January 26, 1833, to Johann Adam and Albert Sidney Johnston, in the State Anna Elizabeth (Wernze) Ney, a Catholic Cemetery. Copies of the Austin and stonecarver and his wife. Ney enrolled at Houston statues are also in the United the Munich Academy of Art in 1852 and, States Capitol. One of her few ideal pieces, after her graduation two years later, a depiction of Shakespeare's Lady moved to Berlin, where she studied with Macbeth, was also a major project during Christian Daniel Rauch, one of the her Austin years; the marble is now foremost sculptors in Europe in the mid- displayed in the Smithsonian's National nineteenth century. Under Rauch's Museum of American Art. In addition to her tutelage, Ney developed a classical style in sculpting, Ney took an active role in artistic the German tradition, with a tendency and civic activities in Austin, where she toward realism and faithfulness to died on June 29, 1907. Four years later a accurate scale. Through Rauch, she also number of her supporters founded the became acquainted with Berlin's artistic Texas Fine Arts Association in her honor. and intellectual elite and sculpted her first works, among them portraits of such luminaries as Jacob Grimm and Alexander von Humboldt. During the late 1850s and 1860s Ney led a peripatetic life, traveling around Europe to complete portraits of intellectual and political leaders. Among her best-known works from this period are portrait busts of Arthur Schopenhauer, Giuseppi Garibaldi, and Otto von Bismarck and a full-length statue of King Ludwig II of Bavaria.

On November 7, 1863, in Madeira, Ney married Edmund D. Montgomery, a Scottish physician and scientist. They left Europe in 1871 and settled briefly in Thomasville, Georgia, where their two sons were born. In 1872 Ney moved with her family to Texas and purchased Liendo Plantation in Waller County, where Ney, for much of the next twenty years, managed the plantation while Montgomery busied himself with his scientific work. After visiting Austin at the invitation of Governor Oran M. Roberts in the 1880s, Ney decided to resume her artistic career. She built a studio (now the Elisabet Ney Museum) in the Hyde Park area of Austin in 1892 and began lobbying notable citizens and the state legislature for commissions. During Elizabet Ney

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Liendo Plantation Liendo was also occupied by world Liendo Plantation, a beautiful Greek renowned sculptress Elisabet Ney and her Revival style plantation home, was built in husband Dr. Edmond Montgomery from 1853 as the centerpiece to one of Texas’ 1873 to 1911. She and her husband had earliest cotton plantations. Today, Liendo immigrated years before from Europe to still stands, lovingly restored and the United States but had never found a maintained as a National historic new home until they found Liendo. It is landmark, a private home and a working reported that Elisabet, upon arriving at cattle ranch. A true gem of historical Liendo, walked out on the balcony, threw preservation in modern day Texas, Liendo out her arms and said “This is where I will has stood the test of time. From tours and live and die.” She lived out her life at living history events to weddings and Liendo, commuting to her art studio in corporate events, guests can share in Austin. She and Dr. Montgomery are buried more than 160 years of Texas history at the on the Plantation grounds. She sculpted lovely Liendo Plantation. many notable works, two of her most The name Liendo Plantation honors Justo recognized pieces being the statues of Liendo, the owner of the orignal land grant Stephen F. Austin and Sam Houston which on which the home was built. The land was now stand in the state capital in Austin. later purchased by Leonard Groce, one of the most respected land owners in early In 1960 Carl and Phylis Detering purchased Texas, and became the ideal location to Liendo from Miss Willene Compton and build his new home Liendo Plantation. It began their 10 year job of restoring the was considered to be the social center of plantation home. Traveling throughout the state at the time, receiving and lavishly deep South and Europe, the Deterings entertaining early Texas dignitaries. acquired period furnishings and faithfully Frequent guests included many of the restored Liendo to its former glory. Liendo founding fathers of our great state. Liendo is recognized as a Texas historic landmark was considered a typical Southern and is listed on the national register of plantation, built by slave labor and historic places. Today, Will Detering owns sufficient in all its needs, it was a self and operates Liendo Plantation and contained community. Like most Southern continues the work of preserving and plantations, Liendo fell on hard times after sharing this Texas landmark. the Civil War and changed owners several http://liendoplantation.com/liendo/ times thereafter. Liendo had always been recognized for its warm Southern hospitality, but few people know that this same tradition of generosity probably saved it from destruction. Among the more notable statesmen and historical figures that have spent time at Liendo was George A. Custer. At the end of the Civil War, he was stationed at Liendo. It is said that both Mr. Custer and his wife were so impressed with the plantation and the gracious hospitality shown to them during their stay that they made sure Liendo was not harmed in any way in appreciation.

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Russell Cushman Russell Cushman is an artist, historian and community leader who has established a massive legacy in American art. A graduate of Sam Houston State University, Russell has worked over thirty years as a free lance artist, book illustrator and wildlife and history muralist. He has traveled and painted on location throughout the American West, the Caribbean, and New Zealand. When you look at his work you will see a rare diversity of subjects, including cowboys, wildlife, nautical, portraits, seascapes and A longhorn sculpture commissioned by landscapes. Still, Russell's favorite Stelzig Ranch western wear store, at subjects are those relating to his Texas Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport. heritage, such as his thirty foot long Battle of Galveston diorama at Houston Baptist University. Born in Houston, Russell has been married for over thirty years to Linda, and they have lived in Navasota for twenty years, where they raised their daughter Raegan, now 22. They love the beauty and heritage of the Brazos Valley, and have been perfectly matched to this inspiring community. Russell has been instrumental in local historic preservation organizations, and has been elected twice to the Navasota City Council. A master artist with rare versatility, he is a devoted scholar who can be counted on to create truthful and timeless imagery. Russell works equally well in oils, watercolor, acrylics and sculpts in clay, bronze, epoxy and steel. His monumental sculptures and epic-sized nature and historical murals are landmarks in the Brazos Valley of Texas. His most famous is a 140 foot mural depicting virgin Texas in 1845, which surrounds the second story interior of the Star of the Republic Museum at Washington on the Brazos. One of his recent sculptures, a life-sized Texas longhorn steer, greets tourists at Terminal D in Houston's Bush Intercontinental Russell Cushman created this life sized Airport. Visit http://russellcushman.com bronze statue of Texas Ranger Frank for more information. Hamer in front of the Navasota City Hall building in 2012.

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The Grimes County Heritage Book is a

great addition to your family library. It contains the history of our county as well We have copies of the Navasota as family histories of Grimes County Bluebonnet on sale for only $30 each. This Residents. Each book is $75 each. book has 100 years of newspaper articles from 1854-1954 in Navasota.

We also have the Grimes County Cemetery Books Volumes 1 thru 4. They are $30 each or you can purchase all 4 for $100

Volume 1 - North (Bedias/Iola/Keith)

Volume 2 - Central (Anderson/Shiro/Roans Prairie/Singleton)

Volume 3 - South (Courtney/Plantersville)

Volume 4 - Navasota