Bastrop County, TX
established 1836

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Biographies

Gleanings from area newspapers:

Judge R. L. Batts B. 11/1/1864 in Bastrop the son of Andrew Jackson and Julie Rice Batts. Married 11/12/1889 to Harriet Fiquet Boak of Austin. Survived by daughters Mrs. Sawnie Aldredge of Dallas, Mrs. Edgar Tobin of San Antonio, R. E. L. Batts of Fort Worth; and five grandchildren, Sawnie Aldredge Jr, Mary Lynn Aldredge, Margaret Douglas Batts, R. E. L. Batts, Jr, and R. E. L. Batts Tobin. Appointed Federal Judge of the US Circuit Court for the fifth federal circuit on 3/1/1917 and resigned 8/13/1919. Has two sisters, Mrs. H. N. Bell and Mrs. Gus Willace. Theodore A Hasler born in Switzerland 1847. When 13 he started out to seek his fortune alone in the world. He landed in New York during the Civil War. He arrived in Bastrop in 1865 and worked at Higgins mill, then the butcher shop operated by Bob Gill. Took partner Joe Jung until Jung's death in 1898. Hand made the bricks to his store with Mr. Jung. Helped organize the First National Bank in 1889. Member of the Masonic Lodge and Odd Fellows.

John W Bunton came to Texas from TN in 1833, at the age of 25 and settled near his friend, Edward Burleson. His effects are at the University of Texas Library. He belonged to the TN state militia. Was a signer of the TX declaration of independence. Was held in Mexico for 3 months with other settlers coming from TN, returned to TN, then back to Bastrop County. Elected a member of the First Congress of the republic and the 3rd congress. Died about 1872.

Capt J. J. Moncure, came from VA to TX in 1852. B. 1829 to William A Moncure who was State Auditor of VA, his mother was the daughter of Capt James Gatewood. Married to Julie Decherd being the mother of Mrs. W. M. Norment and Cassius Moncure and Ann Decherd, the mother of Mrs. Lee Simmons, Walter and Ben Moncure. He died 7/1/1909.

Capt. James Burleson and wife of TN came to TX in 1829. General Edward Burleson came in 1831 and was in the battle of San Jacinto. Jonathan Burleson came in 1830. Edward Blakely Burleson, son of Jonathan and Mary Burleson was the first white child born in Bastrop County. He participated in the Battles of Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Yellow Bayou, and others. He died on his farm west of Bastrop and his daughters, Mattie and Ula, and son, Robert lived there.

Mr. and Mrs. James Eggleston came in 1831.

Mr. Christian came in the spring of 1832 and built the fifth house in Bastrop. He was killed by the Comanche. His daughter, Martha, 4 yrs old, later married Sherman Reynolds.

Joseph Burleson came in 1833 and his and Mr. Christian's families were in the runaway scrape in 1836.

The Erhard brothers, Adolph and Caton, came in 1835. Henry Cochern and Mr. Burch were merchants in 1837. James O Rice, the only prisoner to escape after the Mier Expedition came to Bastrop.

William A Clopton, came to Crockett, TX in 1837, and started the San Antonio Rd, found his brother on the road and they came to Bastrop in 12/1838. Wlm drew the white bean as a Mier prisoner. He was in the Plum Creek Battle and the San Saba Battle.

Mr. W. Wilke came to Bastrop in 1885. His parents settled in Fredericksburg, Gillespie County.

Mr. Wilke came to Bastrop, moved to Austin, then returned to Bastrop in 1895. He married Lena Pfeiffer in 1901, had a daughter, Mrs. Ola Mae Chambers.

Noah Smithwick cut the first seals of office for Bastrop used by County Judge Andrew Rabb; Sheriff Richard Vaughn and County Clerk William Gorham. He attended the wedding of Claudice Thompson, step-daughter of Sammie Craft.

Col. J. C. Higgins in 1840, was engaged to run a sawmill east of Bastrop and bought it in 1842.

Mr. Kenneth Murchison in 1842, manufactured hats.

Mr. Hugh K McDonald ran a ferry in 1851. 9/16/1834 in Mina, the Ayuntamiento of the Municipality of Mina met. Present: R. M. Coleman, Alcalde; Joseph Rogers, Regidore; and James Smith, Sindico procuradore.

Charles William Stone b. in Bastrop 1/3/1842. His father was Samuel Theopilus Stone, born in PA in 1797 and his mother was Mary Ann Chun Stone b. in Baltimore, MD in 8/22/1801, moving to TX in 1839. In 1844 the family moved to Austin. Charles joined the 8th TX CAV, Terry's Rangers in 9/61. Shortly after the war in 1866, Mr. Stone went to live with his brother Thomas, who had married Miss Adaline Martindale in the town of Martindale. He married Judge William Ellison's daughter Martha Elizabeth Ellison 1/19/1869 of Lockhart, Caldwell Co, TX. Had 9 children, Mary Itasca, Charles Austin, Ona Alice, William Albinus from Hondo, Medina Co, Willie Kate (Mrs. D B McManus) of Thomaston, DeWitt Co, Miss Stella Eliza Stone, Lena Maude (Mrs. Charles William Martindale), Clyde Withers Stone (wed Mary Agnes Murphy) of Gainesville, Allie Roy (wed Ida Wallace) of Cuero. Charles lived four miles south of Lockhart, part of William Elison tract, then moved to Lockhart 1/1879, then moved to Hondo, Medina. He died 7/7/1919 in Thomaston, TX, and wife died 3/3/1817 with both buried in Lockhart, TX.

Paul Dewitt Page, b. Evergreen, AL, son of Attorney and Mrs. Patrick D Page. Moved to Bryan TX. 9/1/1895, he came to Bastrop.

William Simpson Wallace, b. 2/7/1818 in TN, came to TX in 1838. 11/28/1839 he was elected and commissioned County Surveyor. 1841 he married Mary Ann O'Connell, who with her four brothers, John, William Maurice and Thomas O'Connell came from Montgomery AL in 1837. Wlm had John E, William S Jr, Thomas, and Mary Elizabeth Wallace (wed a Cooper). Son Thomas E was born in Bastrop, wed Helena Bakersfield in Lampasas, TX and he died 2/3/1902.

James Louis Freeman of MS came to Bastrop in 1847, went back to MS and married Rebecca Doyle and returned in 1854. Was the slave overseer on the Trigg plantation for 3 yrs. Moved to Watterson Community then. Went to the civil war, came home a widow and married Susie Purcell. Died 3/14/1892. Children Amanda Thubert of Rosanky, and Sarah McCleskey of Cisco.

Samuel Theophilus Stone born PA 10/23/1797, and they moved to Bedford Co, VA that year. Enlisted in Army in 1814, moved to TN in 1817, to Alabama in 1824, to MO in 1829 and TX in 1839. In TN wed Mary Ann Chun. Had 7 children. Martha Ann, John B, Richard C, Thomas H, Samuel Theophilus, Charles William and Mary Ophelia (wed Billie Boyce near Manor). Taken prisoner in 1842, escaped after two years. Built the first ferry in Austin in 1845. Went to California in 1849, returned to Austin in 1851 and died 10/23/1857. Wife died 8/22/1892 in Martindale, Caldwell Co at age of 91.

Burleson: Welsh origin from Sir Edward Burleson in Jewett City, Connecticut in 1716 and Aaron Burleson, from NC in 1726. Aaron settled in Buncombe, Mitchell Co, NC and raised 7 sons and 6 daughters. Aaron was in the Revolutionary war. Thomas stayed in NC, Jesse went to Mobile AL, Aaron joined his friend Daniel Boone and was killed in Clunch River TN. Aaron's son James Burleson located in AL and owned a ferry. The family moved to MO but returned to TN in Hardeman Co. Then moved to Bastrop Co in either 1827 or 1830. Aaron Burleson, the youngest son, was born in AL 10/10/1815. He was the brother to Edward Burleson. In 1838 returned to TN and married Minerva J Seaton. They settled in Travis County where Minerva died in 1855. Had 6 children, John died in Union prison camp of Camp Butler, Jefferson W of Manor, Nannie (Mrs. John Taylor of Webberville), Vollie wife of Edd Taylor of Austin, and two that died in infancy. 5/15/1856, Aaron married Jane Tannehill, daughter of J. C and Jane Richardson Tannehill. J. C. and Jane were married in TN, came to TX in 1829 settling in LaGrange, then near Austin. J. C. died in 1863 and Jane in 1855 having children Francis who died from wounds in Battle of Mansfield; Cynthis who was Mrs. Joel Minors; Jesse J, deceased; Jane wife of Burleson; and William J of Burnet Co, TX. Aaron and Jane had Edward who lived near Webberville; Lillie who married D. B. Matthews; Janie wife of Robert Dears; Rufus of Webberville; Libbie; and Tinnie, wife of C. W. Hill of Bastrop Co. Aaron died 1/13/1885 in Govalle, Etc, near Austin. Had a 1/2 sister, Mrs. Texas Burleson Brooks, wife of C. W. Brooks of Georgetown, TX. Edward Burleson b. NC 1798, moved to VA, then TN. In 1831 moved to TX. John Aldridge, b. near Louisville, KY 1820. Fell in disfavor with his father when he aided his sister in running away to marry. John went to TN and would not accept any part of his father's estate. In 1844, Manchester, TN married Eliza Hickerson Thompson. 1853 came to Bastrop with wife, 5 kids and slaves. Had 6 children: Maria wed T. J. Smith native of NC, John, Nannie wed Cap Hill of Smithville, Walton, Will and Mattie who wed Edward Oliver.

Colonel Josiah Pugh Wilbarger of MO and KY. Went to school in Bourbon Co, KY where he was b. in 1801, the son of John Wilbarger and Ann Pugh. He wed Margaret Barker of MO 1827, coming to TX at that time. He was killed in 1850 on the Rio Grande as a Ranger. He was buried at the Barker place by his brother James Harvey Wilbarger. Built the first grist mill and cotton mill in Bastrop. His second son, Daniel Webster Wilbarger died at age 17 of pneumonia. Son James Harvey Wilbarger married Durothy Olive, daughter of James Berry Olive and wife Nancy Utley Olive of Raleigh, NC. Utley is named for his wife. Oldest daughter of James Harvey Wilbarger, named Mary, wed J. N. Price; Josephine married William P Haymond; Annie and Laura, wives of J. N. Gilbert; Kate married L. B. Pipkin; James Lee wed Emily Harris; Claudia wed Lipscomb Norvell. Charles Kuhn attended school in Moulton, moved to Warrenton and Zionsville, then Round Top. With brother Fritz J purchased a mercantile.

John H Jenkins Sr. b. Meringo Co, AL 1822, came to TX in 1828. Moved to Hills Prairie in 1829 with father Edward Jenkins who got the Mexican land grant in 1831. John was 10 when his father died by being scalped. Dictated to his daughter-in-law Emma Holmes Jenkins, Texas Reminiscences found in the Archives of State University. His mother married James Northcross who died at the Alamo. Wed Mary Jane Foster in 1845 and had 6 sons and 1 daughter. Some children Joe, Anne, William Edward, John Holland Jr, James Northcross Jenkins. James died in a auto accident with wife dying 9/1931. His children were John H, Howard S, Price Jenkins and Kate Decherd. Son Bob Jenkins wed Scottie Chambliss, now Mrs. Davis. Son Cicero Jenkins died in early manhood.

Judge Dyer Moore second oldest son of Col T. C. Moore. Wed Marion Heise McRay of Columbia SC in 1870. Two children Mrs. O. P. Jones of Bastrop and Elwood Moore of Little Rock, AR. They moved to Bastrop in 1872. Wife died 1910 and he 1919.

Henry Willis Hill, MD (09 Jan-02 Feb 1904) Dr. Henry Willis Hill, born in Wilkes County, Georgia, was second cousin to the three Hill brothers who came to Bastrop in 1835 and bought half of the old Jenkins League: Abraham Wylie Hill, Middleton Milledge Meade Hill, & Thomas Abraham Wylie Hill. Dr. Hill, his wife, and his only child came to Texas from Grenada and Blackhawk, MS, after Dr. Hill served as a surgeon in a Mississippi unit until the end of the Civil War and spent one year operating a drug store in Memphis, TN. He, his third wife, and his only surviving child then spent two years (1869 and 1870?) in Texas before going back east, eventually settling in Mooresville, Limestone County, AL, in 1881. There he set up in joint medical practice with his son, Dr. James Abram Hill, child of his second wife, Ann Temperence Hall. Dr. James Abram Hill married Sarah Elizabeth Woodroof, daughter of a local planter in Mooresville, Alabama.

I received a few pages from the 1867/8 Tax lists that is on microfilm and thought I'd pass it along. Name/Length in State/Length in County/Signature Robert F Campbell, 17y, 12 mo, signature William C Powell, 13y, 5y, signature William C. Moore, 15y, ?mo, signature Rufus A Green, 9y, 12m, signature Edward H McGehee, 30y, 12mo, signature lined through James M Stagner, 10y, 12mo, signature Charles Kleinert, 15y, 12m, signature Benjamin F Jones, 18y, 12m, signature Tom Green, 4y, 12m, his mark William C Smith, 15y, 12m, signature John B Rector, 20y, 12m, signature Name/no/yrs residence/Native of/Signature William W Walker, no1, 27y, Alabama Hector Glass, no1, 12y, Tennessee Edward Irvine, no1, 12y, New York Duncan C Campbell, no1, 14y, North , Made his mark Bernardin G. Procop, no1, 15y, Austria Matthias Hoffman, no1, 14y, Germany John R Dowough, no1, 13y, Georgia William Simmons, no1, 30y, Georgia Edward Taylor, no1, 4y, Alabama, made his mark Buckner Hancock, no1, 27y, Texas, made his mark Precint#2 1/31/1868, Bastrop County 1672, Johann Bartsch, no?, 1yr, ? 1673, J. A. Rogers, no4, 16y, ? 1674, J. S. Jopling, no4, 20y, Missouri 1675, R. C. Spann, no4, 3y, Arkansas 1676, Thos. J Floyd, no2, 9y, Alabama 1677, John Petty, no2, 14y, Tennessee 1678, Henry Baker, no5, 12y, Tennessee 1679, Henry Schulz, no5, 12y, Baden 1689, Andreas Mattijetz, no5, 16y, Prussia August 9/10, 1867 1441, Harry Jordan, no1, 15y, Georgia, his mark 1442, Ferderick Kiel, no1, 11y, Austria 1443, Stephen Woehl, no1, 11y, Austria 1444, George Pfeiffer, no1, 14y, Germany 1445, Louis Wolf, no1, 12y, Prussia 1446, James M Bullock, no1, 22y, NC 1447, Joel Petty, no1, 17y, Tenn 1448, Max Maas (scratched out), no1, 9y, Germany, scratched out 1449, William Kesselus, no1, 14y, Prussia 1450, Joseph ? Binton, no1, 27y, Texas Walnut Creek, Bastrop Co James M Petty, 12y, Arkansas Samuel Ingram, 10y, Tenn Norman S Staten, 17y, SC, scratched out John Scruggs, 8y, SC William W Knowles, 16y, Ohio Daniel Schwann, 20y, Prussia Samuel Dunn, 11y, Maryland, his mark George W Hendrix, 10y, SC Benjamin F Catching, 12y, TN George W Ingram, 12y, Illinois Harvey Ingram, 12y, Illinois Joseph R Petty, 12y, AR, his mark William Ingram, 12y, Illinois Charles Kelon, 19y, Ireland Thomas G Gilmore, 10y, Miss John W Gilmore, 10y, MS Vanburen N Smith, 13y,VA, his mark John Stabaugh, 12y, Tenn John Faulkner, 16y, TN Washington G Fellers, 25y, Alabama, his mark Ashley R Lentz, 15y, Alabama Bradley G Stone, 2y, Tenn William W Watson, 27y, Texas Jesse M Bell, 21y, Georgia, his mark Nathias Sarrell, 15y, Tenn Carin W Gilmore, 12y, Miss John B Rein, 13y, Prussia Francis Winan, 24y, Texas, his mark John Moore, 4y, Virginia, his mark William E Cox, 18y, Alabama, his mark Philipp Goertz, 30y, Prussia Andrew Meuth, 30y, Prussia William M Awalt, 30y, Miss Daniel Awalt, 30y, Arkansas William Thomas, 30y, Virg, colored voter, his mark Jonathan Frazier, 30y, Ohio Abraham Ferrell, 30y, SC, colored voter, his mark Charles Wesley, 30y, Georgia, his mark Joseph Octlow, 30y, Texas, his mark Alfred Williams, 30y, NC, his mark Rufus Ingram, no4, 12y, Ill William C. Cantwell, no4, 20y, Ark John W Bowen, no4, 16y, Tenn James S Dodd, no4, 25y, Tenn. John T E Lehman marked through, no4, 20y, Prussia, by citizenship of his father Samuel D Petty, no4, 12y, Ark William U Black, no4, 5y, GA Adolph Voigt, no4, 19y, Germany, Dist court Austin Co Anderson Petty, no4, 18y, TN Levi S Fowler, no4, 13y, Ill Ferdinand Voigt, no4, 19y, Germany, Act of congress at Annexation of TX Charles M Purcell, 12y, Indiana Charles Schoepp, 30y, Germany Anderson Qualls, 44y, TN, his mark Jacob Sarrell, 14y, NC James S Sarrell, 14y, TN James E McGowen, 16y, MS Caswell Brooks, 25y, NC, his mark, colored voter Francis Yoast, 26y, VA Michael C Callahan, 22y, TN Thomas D Watson, 16y, TN William W Jones, 15y, NC, his mark Harmon W Basford, 16y, Vermont Perry U Colwell, 12y, MS Robert A Harl, 2y, MS Austin Grimes, 17y, AR, his mark, colored voter Harry Smith, 18y, TN, his mark Gabriel M Lentz, 14y, Alabama Joshua W Collom, 39y, Texas Robt. Hemphill, 13y, Ark, his mark, colored voter Roden Hemphill, 17y, Ark, His mark, colored voter Robt. Haines, 13y, Ark, His mark, colored voter Abner Williams, 13y, NC, his mark, colored voter Joseph Swane, 12y, Ark, his mark, colored voter Roden Swane, 13y, Ark, his mark, colored voter Richard Hix, 13y, VA, his mark, colored voter Albert Stone, 8y, Ark, his mark, colored voter Wesley Miller, 7y, Kentucky, his mark, colored voter Juy Wolfenberger, 23y, Texas Samuel J Lentz, 14y, Alabama

I looked at the 1860 census for John Killian. Here is the information: Killian, John 40 m Farmer Germany Killian, Mary 37 f Germany Killian, Gerrard 8 Germany Killian, Terresa 3 F TX Killian, Bernhard 2 m TX Killian, Herman 6/12 m TX Shalla, Mattine 26 f Germany At the courthouse are Naturalization records where a John Killian got naturalized 3/1857, filed 5/31/1861. In it he denounced Frederick William, 4th King of Prussia. Nothing more than standard wording. It's in the Minutes, D33 and E169. I couldn't find the certificate since it was 1857. They have them for 1900+. Is this your John? There is a Daniel Killen b. Alabama with family, including a John. Now, lets suppose that the John Killian above is the one you are searching. John Killian was the Pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Serbin, Texas (Pin Oak area). There is a book called "Baptismal Records of St. Paul Lutheran Church, Serbin, Texas 1854-1883" printed by the Southern Historical Press, Inc., c/o The Rev. Silas Emmett Lucas, Jr. PO Box 738, Easley, SC 29641 in 1985. In 1854 a group of six hundred Wendish-German members emigrated to Texas. There is also a book titled the Wends of Texas that talks about Serbin. Anyway, they gathered in Hamburg and were transported to Liverpool, England where they boarded the Ben Nevis to America. Cholera struck and they were taken to Ireland, where they boarded another ship, Inconstant, until the Ben Nevis was cleaned up. They landed in Galveston after 70 people died. John went by Jan in Wendish, Johann in German and John in English. This book is his journal of births, deaths, parents, witnesses, baptismals, etc and a must for those descendants of these people, especially John Killian. Johann's wife was Maria Groschel from Sarke in the Kingdom of Saxony. At daughter Theresia's baptism are Agnes, surviving youngest daughter of the late Andreas Groschel, garden owner in Sarke, and Magdalena, surviving 2nd daughter of Andreas, and August Groschel, farmer in the Lower Pin Oak Settlement. There is a Hanna, mentioned as surviving 3rd daughter of Andreas as a witness to another baptism. Johann died in 1884 and his son Hermann took over the book but was not as thorough. The original book is at Concordia Historical Institute in St. Louis. You could build a family tree from the information in this book.

This is what I found at the courthouse just looking at probate records, commitment papers and military records under Hardee. C. E. Hardee had 88 1/2 acres in the James Burleson Survey. Had kids Earl Hardee, Nora Hardee, Irma Hardee, Eunice Hardee, and Evadean Jackson, listed in his will. He died 10/10/1946 in San Antonio, Bexar Co. Will dated 7/31/1943, filed 10/15/1946. Witness to will Wanda Glenn. Earl Hardee was in WWII, enlisted 6/25/1918, member of Evac Hospital #26 Med Corp, #3505913 Pvt. 5' 7", brown eyes, brown hair, dark complexion. Left USA 10/17/1918, arrived France 10/24/1918, Left France 7/23/1919, arrived USA 8/1/1919. Born in Smithville. Farmer. Maureen Hardee, 33, American, White, housewife. 90 commitment to State Hospital. Married. Witness Elvin Hardee. Mr. & Mrs. S. T. Love gave history. 10/25/1948. Had 4 children ages: 4, 6, 9, 11. Not dangerous.

From Mrs. Dan B. Hemphill, 1007 West 15th, Odessa, TX 70760 The Huntsville (Texas) Pictorial, Wednesday, August 19, 1964, page 5:

KIN FINDS 114-YEAR OLD GRAVE OF ANCESTRY AT DODGE-UNCOVERS HISTORICAL MYSTERY For the past 114 years, a lonely grave has rested, undisturbed, on a clearing in the timberlands near Dodge. The tall moss-covered pines have watched as sentinels over the stone slab where lies "Eliza Hemphill, wife of J. B. Hemphill. Died 22 August, 1850. Age 26 years, 4 months and 10 days." Mr. E. R. Wright, Huntsville attorney who has owned this land since 1941, has also guarded this grave and seen to its upkeep. He and his wife, Maude, have felt a natural curiosity about this pioneer woman who had died in the spring of her years. They have surmised from a pile of rubble that a house once stood nearby, and that a well had been dug near a natural spring to provide this early family with water. A huge pecan tree several yards away was surely planted by some member of the family, for it's growth indicates an age of 75 to 100 years, perhaps more. The Wrights have heard that there were once several small graves, perhaps of children, near that of Eliza but time has obliterated their presence. And so they have wondered over the years who the family might have been and if they left any descendants. Certainly as far as they know, none have ever inquired, though several years ago, without Mr. Wright's knowledge, someone had repaired some rocks that had crumbled beneath the slab. It was quite a surprise when recently, Mr. and Mrs. Dan B. Hemphill of Odessa knocked on the Wright's door. They had been to Shockle Chapel Cemetery in search of the grave of Mr. Hemphill's great grandfather who died in Dodge in 1879. Their search had been to no avail and they had been about to return to their motel when they decided to make a few more inquiries and were directed to "the old Hemphill place" which Mr. Wright now owns; and there, through the kindness of the Wright's, they found the grave of Mr. Hemphill's great grandmother, Eliza Sorrell Hemphill, who they had been told by relatives was buried in DeQueen, Arkansas. Mr. Hemphill's great grandfather, James Bird Hemphill, was the son of John and Mary Dixon (Nancy Lawson) Hemphill who came from SC to what is now Arkadelphia, Arkansas; and established a salt works about 1811. In 1840 in Sever County, Arkansas, James B. Hemphill married Eliza Sorrell, daughter of Jacob Sorrell of TN. They had three children, William L, Jacob and Nancy Jane when they decided in 1848 to move to Walker Co, TX where they could raise cotton as approximately 900 acres of land (1849 he bought from John Stubblefield for $1500), of which part was an original land grant to John Caruthers. Tradition tells that Eliza Hemphill, whose grave is on this land, was killed when she unthinkingly opened her parasol after mounting her horse. The frightened horse reared and threw her sending her to her untimely death. (Not true. It was the wife of Nor Sorrells who was killed. Eliza died in childbirth). Dan Hemphill faintly remembers his grandfather Jacob, telling him about someone who loved his dead wife so well that he had a stone hauled all the way from Houston to the site of her grave by wagon. (Editors Note: The slab is engraved with the name, "T.L. Brynes, Houston." who is thought to be the manufacturer of Memorials). James Bird Hemphill later married Mary Wyatt, also of Arkansas. It is not known who her father was but the names of Abner and J. W. Wyatt were on many of the Hemphill court records. Other names on records of J. B. Hemphill as witnesses and executors were P. S. Leigh, Russell Roark, T. B. and G. Roark, T. F. White, and Wm. Palmer. Mr. Hemphill's will was probated in 1879 but it is not known when Mary Hemphill or their son, James M. died (1884). The land passed from their ownership sometime between 1880 and 1890. (Editor's Note: Ab Wyatt is a grandfather of Huntsville's Insurance Executive Cecil W. Murray). The sons, William and Jacob served in the Civil War. William was with Company I, Debray's Brigade and McGruder's Division of the TX CAV. Jacob Hemphill enlisted from Polk Co and served in Co H, 5th Reg, of Hood's Brigade. He was one of nine men cited for bravery to receive a gold star which was sent to Gen. Robert E. Lee by a young woman from Texas who had melted her jewelry to make the Stars. Both brothers walked from Appomattox Court House at the war's end to Dodge, where their wives were staying with James and Mary Hemphill. Both brothers had sons they had never seen and each knew his own, according to tradition. The daughter of James B. Hemphill and Eliza, Nancy Jane, married Fred H. Talley and moved to Bastrop Co where she lived and raised a large family at Smithville. William and Jacob also moved to Bastrop Co about 1868 where they too had large families; William settling in the old Watterson Community and Jacob later moving to Georgetown. William-......Texas who was born on the "old Hemphill place" in 1868 and to whom Mrs. Wright so graciously sent a pint of blackberry preserves "grown on the land where she was born", and Mrs. Ida Miller of Lubbock, Texas. (Editors Note: It was a blistering hot day that Wednesday, August 5, when this reporter accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Dan B. Hemphill to Dodge where Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Wright were to direct us to the 114 years old grave of Hemphill's grandmother. The woods were full of chiggers and seed ticks and the gravesite was several hundred yards from where we were to leave the air-conditioned automobile and tramp through the woods, heavy camera and equipment in hand. But I enjoyed every minute of it. Our hosts, Attorney and Mrs. Wright, graciously went along with our curiosity. Crossing Hemphill creek with their cocker "Wiggles" in the lead, we came upon the gravesite which had been placed between a giant oak. The slab, with the identifying inscription, rested on rocks which apparently had first been cemented with mud. Wright said that about 8 years ago, someone unknown to him had repaired the grave, mortared the multicolored rocks into a mass, and replaced the slab. Bits of blue and pink china as well as heavy pottery were scattered in a pasture nearby and around the grave and homesite on the creek. After a refreshing drink of cold well-water at the Wrights, this reporter accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Hemphill to Shockle Chapel Cemetery near Dodge. Badly in need of repair and upkeep, the sprawling cemetery listed the ancestry of many residents of Dodge on headstones ranging from pure marble to unpolished rocks and chunks of cement. On one of these rocks, "J.B. H" was crudely engraved. Is this the grave of J. B. Hemphill? The following story leaves many questions unanswered. Who made the repairs to the grave? Was it a relative, a descendant? If so, the Hemphills cannot find them. Was it a descendant of a slave? Are the chips of china a symbol of prestige as tradition has it? Did J. B. Hemphill re-marry only six months from the death of his beloved for convenience? The widower had three children to tend. Half a child's toy china plate was found near the old homesite. Who loved Eliza so much that a granite slab would be hauled overland from Houston to be placed on her grave? The mystery, still unsolved, has taken the Hemphills through court records in many Texas counties and as far as the Carolinas, Arkansas and Tennessee.

** Here's some newspaper tidbits: 7/15/1899 Bastrop newspaper: On Thursday Hon. and Mrs. J. P. Fowler received a telegram from their son, Attorney Maynard Fowler, at Goliad, conveying the sad intelligence of the death of their little child, aged about 10 months. The many Bastrop friends of the grief-stricken parents tender Maynard and wife deep-felt sympathy in their great distress. "Suffer little children to come unto Me," sayeth the Lord. Also:

SHOOTING ON PINEY CREEK On Sunday a shooting occurred on Piney Creek, between Cedar and Walnut Creek, south-west of Bastrop, with the two Hemphill Brothers on one side, Charley Lee and Carl Eastland on the other. There are conflicting reports as to the origin of the shooting. It seems, from what we can gather, all four emptied their pistols. Charley Lee being the only one hit, he was shot in the leg; breaking the bone, the same shot killing his horse, which ran a few hundred yards after receiving the fatal shot and fell. Examination was waived and all parties placed under bond. (Don't know what Hemphill Brothers this article is talking about. There are two Hemphill families in the area probably related way back as they both use the name Zeno in their lines)

A 7/15/1899 newspaper reports: The new time card on the Smithville and San Marcos branch of the M. K. & T. R'y, which went into effect Sunday last, will be a great advantage to the traveling public, especially from Bastrop to Lockhart. By this change, there will be two trains a day from Smithville to San Marcos, one train making close connection with the 5 o'clock pm south-bound from Bastrop.

Another is 6/20/1913: John T. Kelly, Boiler Inspector is in Trinity this week inspecting engine at that point for the M. K. & T, also the B. G. N. Ry. E. E. Hanna, division engineer for the Katy at this point, has been named as Superintendent of the Houston and Brazos Valley branch of the Katy and has left for Freeport to assume his duties.

Another: 11/7/1909 New Katy Schedule. There is lots of railroad news scattered in the papers during the early 1900's. Smithville was a very large hub and had a revolving track. The M. K. & T and Katy were the railways or rail lines.

9/20/1912 Smithville newspaper: Homer Scallorn, age 16 years, writes from Upton enclosing a year's subscription to the Times. Homer is one of our youngest, if not the youngest subscriber and we are glad to add his name to our big list.

Newspaper article: JESSE BILLINGSLY ONE OF THE EARLY POLITIAL LEADERS Submitted by Mrs. H. A. Gordon Hatter On October 10, 1810, in Saragusa Valley, Tenn., Jesse Billingsley was born to Jeptha and Miriam Randolph Billingsley. They were pioneers at heart and after listening to the glowing accounts of the new territory called Texas; they loaded their household goods in their covered wagons and after a perilous journey reached Cedar Creek, or Mina Community, in 1834. War with Mexico was eminent and a group of fearless young men organized themselves to be known as the Mina Volunteers on February 28, 1836 under the leadership of young Jesse Billingsley, who was elected their captain. He had already won fame as a fearless Indian fighter. The company had marched to Gonzales and were well organized when Sam Houston arrived to organize the army in Texas. Captain Billingsley's company then became Company C of the First Regiment of Texas Volunteers. They were commanded by General Burleson at the Battle of San Jacinto. Billingsley realized that he was leading his eager band of men into a battle for revenge. The majority had suffered from the treachery of Santa Anna and none would hesitate at the hardships entailed to make Texas a free land. They spent two days without food and very little water, while on their march to San Jacinto. They held hands and tried to sleep as they marched along, and when a herd of cattle were seen they killed several and had the meat partly cooked when word was received that the Mexicans were near. They hastily abandoned their meat and hurried on but saw nothing of their enemy. The men were weak from hunger, so killed several more cattle and again the meat was partly cooked when word came to form a line, but a second time; they formed in line instead of abandoning their food with gun in one hand and meat in the other and answered to their names and received orders to advance. They must have presented an unusual sight to their enemy. Billingsley urged his men into battle with a stirring speech and when his cry of "Remember the Alamo. Remember Goliad" rang out nothing could hold them back. They fought until their powder grew low and used their guns as clubs and finally drew their Bowie knives. His men were fighting with such intensity that General Houston sent him word to "slow down," the Mexicans wanted to surrender, but the fiery young Captain replied to the messenger, "Present my compliments to General Houston and tell him to go to Hell!" Captain Billingsley received a bullet wound in his left hand which rendered it practically useless for the rest of his life. Instead of settling down after the war as an ordinary citizen; he enrolled in the army in July 1, 1836 and became captain of a ranger company which he commanded for several years. He engaged in several encounters with Indians. When General Adrian Woll of the Mexican Army marched to San Antonio in 1842, Billingsley joined Andrew Caldwell at Salado Creek and helped claim San Antonio for Texas. After the war one heard many reports of abandoned gold mines and buried treasures. Captain Billingsley heard a preacher recount his experiences of being held prisoner by a band of Indians and claimed to know the whereabouts of the lost Bowie mine. It was a simple matter to organize a company of adventurous men and with the minister acting as guide they set out in search of wealth, but alas they were attacked by a roving band of Comanche Indians. The minister was killed and Billingsley's men considered themselves fortunate in escaping alive. During one year Billingsley supported a company of eighty men on the Texas frontier. With wild game the men killed and made their own clothing from skins of wild animals. At the end of the year they were chargeable to the Government for one sack of coffee and one sack of salt. He received bounty certificate No. 3442 for 320 acres of land for serving in the army from November 17, to December 17, 1835; certificate No. 3054 for 320 acres for serving from February 28 to June 1, 1836 and certificate No. 3056 for 320 acres of land for services from July 1st to October 1st., 1836. He was elected to serve Mina (now Bastrop) Community as a member of the House of Representatives of the First Texas congress October 3, 1836 to June 13, 1837. He presented a picturesque figure as he appeared in a buckskin suit he had captured from an Indian. He slept on his blanket on the floor of the old Capitol at Columbus, Texas. In September 1837, he was reelected to the Second Texas Congress at Houston, as a member of the House of Representatives he represented Bastrop County in the Senate in the fifth and eighth Legislatures. He also served as a member of the Constitutional Government of the Republic of Texas and was a member of the First Constitution of 1845 when Texas became a part of the United States. He married little blue eyed Eliza Ann Winans, daughter of a pioneer family in Bastrop County. The young couple settled on Cedar Creek and lived there until 1842, when they moved to McDade and settled near Captain Billingsley's brother Buck (William) Billingsley, who had also fought at the Battle of San Jacinto. The young soldier settled down long enough to build a comfortable home of six rooms with a wide hall dividing the house, and enclosed at the north end by double doors. A wide porch, shaded by vines was built across the front of the house. The Young wife soon had a beautiful garden of flowers and a grove of flowering and fruit trees. Thus she contented herself while her soldier husband was helping to shape a state from the wilderness. He returned from one of his expeditions, bearing a Mexican parrot which he presented to Eliza Ann. It made it's home in the grape arbor and knew the names o the children and later the grandchildren who played in the shade beneath the arbor. In his late years, Captain Billingsley remained at home and was contented in building up his farm. He was fond of all animals and one cold day, cut an opening in his bedroom door for his pet cat to come and go at will to the warmth of the fireplace. There were still frequent uprisings from theft and slaughter of cattle, by the Mexicans. Eliza Ann's family suffered heavy losses. The settlers filed a claim against the Mexican Government for illegal theft and killing of cattle between July 4, 1868 and end of the year 1873. The claim of Francis, Edward and William Winan has never been settled, but within the past few years the American Agency has attempted to bring these claims up to date and reach an agreement with the Mexican Government. Captain Billingsley died October 1, 1881 and was buried, according to his wishes, under a grove of trees in the front yard of the home he loved so well. He left three children, Jeptha, Francis and Miriam. His wife made her home with her son Francis for a number of years. At her death she was buried beside her husband. We like to believe that these old heroes are nodding their heads in approval at the younger men who are carrying on with the task the older patriots began so long ago. We also feel sure they are gracefully accepting the ovation of appreciation being extended to them by our State, this year. In September 1927, the remains of Captain Billingsley were removed and reinterred in the State Cemetery at Austin near the grave of Stephen F. Austin. His grandsons were pall bearers.

Bastrop Advertiser, Bastrop, Texas, Thursday, September 19, 1935 ADDITONAL HISTORICAL SKETCHES The following sketches of Bastrop County pioneers are used as supplementary material to the Special Historical Edition which the Advertiser issued on August 29. We suggest that these, and any other articles of historical which may appear from time to time, be clipped and filed away with your copy of the Historical Edition.

L. S. CHALMERS L. S. Chalmers was born in North Carolina, in 1826. He moved to Alabama in the early forties, where he was married to Rebecca Clark. He came, with his wife to Leon County, in Texas, shortly after, where his wife died. To this union were born three children. Mr. Chalmers then moved to Travis County in 1841. He married Sofia Franks, there, and brought her with him to Bastrop County, settling in Watterson, in 1851. While he was in training at Camp Mabry in Austin, for the confederacy, he was stricken with the measles, and was sent home to recover. His wife, who nursed him back to health, contracted the malady and died; leaving one child. In 1871, Mr. Chalmers married Mrs. Mary Jane Tittle, who was Miss Mary Jane Cope, a widow with three children and to this union three more children were born. Mr. And Mrs. Chalmers spent the remainder of their lives in Watterson, active in the community circle, where Mr. Chalmers was prominent as a farmer, and extensive cattleman. Mrs. Chalmers died in 1904, and was followed in death by her husband in 1909. Of the Chalmers family, eight children are living today; Mrs. M. A. Smith, Austin; Mrs. Mary Bernard, Austin; Mrs. Mary Alice Lee, Austin; Mrs. Kizzie Harper, Houston; S. P. Tittle, Brownwood, Mrs. Lula A. Lee, Dallas; Mrs. Charlie Wallace, Bastrop; and Mrs. Lelia Gray, Goose Creek. Mrs. Wallace who was born and reared in Watterson, lived there from 1874 until 1924, when she moved to town, where she has lived since. She and her husband are the parents of four children, all boys. They are Cope Wallace, who is manager of a Gulf Station in Austin; Townsend Wallace who is employed by the Standard Oil Company at Beaumond; Jack Wallace, who is employed by the same company in High Island; and Cecil Wallace, who is in Bastrop at the present, an instructor in the C. C. C. night schools here.

EDWARD BLAKEY BURLESON Mattie Burleson Edward Blakey Burleson was born in Bastrop County, Texas on July 28, 1838, about one mile north of Bastrop near the Colorado River. Part of his fathers old log house stands today, and probably the room of his birth. It is now owned by Eugene Perkins. A few years later, his father and mother moved about three miles west of Bastrop, on what is still known as the Blakey League. His mother was Nancy Blakey, and was married to Jonathan Burleson in 1834. Jonathan Burleson was a brother of General Edward Burleson, the noted Indian fighter, while his (Jonathan's) best friend was Plasado, the Indian Chief. Edward Burleson attended school in Bastrop, at the Bastrop Military Academy, and also at Independence, in Washington County. He joined Company K, 17th Texas Infantry, under Captain John Tarbor and Col. R. T. Allen, serving in the Trans Mississippi Department. He was afterwards transferred to Company D 12th Texas Cavalry under Col. W. H. Parsons, and was in the Battles of Mansfield, Pleasant Hill and Yellow Bayou. In 1860 on February 14, Edward Blakey Burleson and Mattie Margaret Dorn of Luling were married. She was the youngest daughter of Robt. And Mary Carson Dorn. She was born on November 25, 1842, near Charleston, Mississippi, on the Dorn Plantation. When she was ten years old, the family moved to Texas. They settled on a farm near Luling. There Mr. And Mrs. Dorn lived until their deaths, and they were buried on the Dorn farm. The first few years of their married life was spent near Luling on a farm, and after the war, they moved to Lockhart, where Mr. Burleson was in the mercantile business. In 1869, they moved back to Bastrop, his old home place, and lived there until their deaths. The old homestead is still standing and owned by the children.

BURLESON FAMILY AMONG THE EARLY DEVELOPERS OF BASTROP'S PROMINENT IN TEXAS HISTORY From the writings of Rev. Rufus C. Burleson of Waco, Texas, the following is culled: The Burleson family is of Welsh origin, and derives its name from two brothers, Sir Edward Burleson, who located in Jewett City, Connecticut, in 1716, and Aaron Burleson, who settled in North Carolina in 1726. The latter's descendants have always emigrated south of Mason Dixon Line, except in one or two instances. Aaron came to find his brother, Edward, but not successful in his efforts, settled in Buncombe, Mitchell county, North Carolina. He raised seven sons and six daughters. The former, Aaron, entered the Revolutionary War and four perished. Of the three survivors, Thomas remained in North Carolina, Jesse went to Mobile, Alabama, and Aaron started to join his intimate friend, Daniel Boone, in Kentucky, but was murdered by the Indians in crossing Clunch River, Tennessee. He left a large family, of whom Captain James Burleson, father of our subject, was a member. Captain James Burleson, was the special and confidential commissary of General Andrew Jackson at the 1812 battles of Horse Shoe Bend and New Orleans. He afterward located in Alabama, on the Tennessee River and owned the ferry where the Memphis and Charleston Roads now cross. Becoming involved with the Indians at that point, the family moved to Missouri, but after a few years, returned to Tennessee, locating in Hardeman County. From there they came to Bastrop County Texas, some in 1827, and others in 1830-31 Aaron Burleson, the youngest son of the family was born in Alabama, October 10, 1815. coming to Texas with the family in 1830 or 31, when a young man, he endured all the trials and dangers of that early period. He was a brother of the noted Indian fighter, Gen. Edward Burleson, and was frequently with him in his expeditions against the red men. He also fought bravely under him at the capture of the Mexican army in San Antonio, December 5, 1835, and at the Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1835. In 1838, he returned to Tennessee and married Minerva J. Seaton, who returned with him to his home on the Colorado, through a wilderness of 800 miles, riding the entire distance on horse back. They settled at the mouth of Walnut Creek Travis County, where the wife died in 1855. There were six children of Mr. And Mrs. Aaron Burleson, namely, John, who enlisted in the Confederate Army, was captured at Arkansas Post, and died in the Union prison of Camp Butler; Jefferson W, of Manor, Texas; Nannie, now Mrs. John Taylor of Webberville; Vollie, wife of Edd Taylor, of Austin; and two deceased in infancy. May 15, 1856, Mr. Burleson married the lady who now survives him, Miss Jane Tannehill, a daughter of J. C. and Jane (Richardson) Tannehill. The parents of Jane were married in Tennessee, came to Texas in 1829, and were members of Austin's second colony at Bastrop, where the father built the first house in that town. He served in many positions of trust and responsibility and acquired the title of Judge. They lived there until the "Runaway Scrape" of 1836, and then located in LaGrange. In 1839, Mr. Tannehill, settled on his headright which joined the city of Austin on the east. The mother died there in 1855, and the father in 1863. He was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity. They were the parents of the following children; Francis, who died from wounds received at the Battle of Mansfield; Cynthis was Mrs. Joel Minors; Jesse J., also deceased; Jane, wife of our subject, and William J of Burnet County, Texas. Mr. And Mrs. Burleson had six children namely: Edward engaged in agricultural pursuits, near Webberville; Lillie married D. B. Matthews, also of this city, died April 2, 1898 leaving five small children; Janie, wife of Robert Dears; Rufus of Webberville; Libbie at home; and Tinnie, wife of C. W. Hill of Bastrop County. Aaron Burleson died January 13, 1885, near Austin, and his widow now makes her home with her children near Webberville. From an obituary notice which appeared in the Austin Statesman the following is taken: Aaron Burleson one of the oldest and best known citizens of this county, died suddenly at his home near Govalle, Etc. In 1849, he and his wife were happily converted and although Baptists in sentiment, from great attachment to the pastor, Rev. Finis E. Foster, Alford Smith, and others, they joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In 1859, impelled by early conviction and mature investigation to admit that the Baptists were right, he had bade a respectfully and tender farewell to his beloved Presbyterian brothern, and was baptized into fellowship of the Austin Baptist Church by the pastor, the Rev. Woodlief Thomas. He was ordained a Deacon in 1860 and served faithfully in that important office twenty-five years. He was the last of his noble father's fourteen children, except one half sister, Mrs. Texas Burleson Brooks, wife of C. W. Brooks of Georgetown, Texas. Ed (Edward) Burleson was born in North Carolina, 1798. When a mere lad he went with his father, a captain in the Creek War. His father was uneducated, and took young Ed along to act as secretary and keep the muster roll of the company. He thus received his first lesson in military life under General Jackson. The family removed to Virginia, where he was elected Lieut. Col. Of the Militia. They next removed to the western district of Tennessee, where he was elected Colonel of a regiment of the militia. In 1831, he removed to Texas and settled in Bastrop County. This was then one of the extreme frontier, and Burleson was soon called upon to lead his fellowmen to repel parties of marauding savages. This courage and ability soon inspired confidence, and the people upon the frontier learned to repose with security when Burleson was between them and the hostile Comanche's.

FAMILY HAS BEEN ACTIVE IN DEVELOPMENT OF THE COUNTY AND CITY SINCE ITS FOUNDING By Kate Jenkins Decherd John H. Jenkins, Sr., was born in Meringo County, Alabama, in 1822, and came to Texas with his parents at the age of six, in 1828. The following year the family moved to the municipality of Mina in what is now Hills Prairie, Bastrop County, and there Edward Jenkins, the father, received the league of land from the Mexican government in the summer of 1831, one of the first titles given to any one in what is now Bastrop County. When John Jenkins was ten years old, he was left the head of the family, for his father, Edward, having gone out to look after some cattle, was found sitting under a pecan tree, dead and scalped. Moccasin tracks gave proof of the fact that Indians had perpetrated another one of their dastardly deeds. Savages continued to take toll of the early settlers until they were driven out of the country or killed. As best he could the boy, John, took his father's place and became the main stay of his mother, left with two others sons and a daughter in the wilderness of Texas. When he was fourteen the Texas war for independence began and John was not allowed to go at first because he was needed at home and was so young. But when General Billingsley camped near his home with a company of soldiers, John and a few older friends persuaded his mother to let him enter the army. John had some very thrilling experiences and tells the story of them in his "Texas Reminiscences" dictated to his daughter-in-law, Emma Holmes Jenkins, and found in the Archives of the State University. William Zuber of Iola, Texas, authority on early Texas days, in writing about John H Jenkins, says: that after securing his mothers consent to enter the army he "cheerfully, faithfully and efficiently 'performed the duties of a soldier - But after the fall of the Alamo, Colonel Burleson detailed him with others to go home and remove families to places of safety, if such could be found. This was an act of absolute necessity. The Alamo had fallen. Our army was retreating, Our merciless enemies were in pursuit. The families were thus in great peril and unable to move without help, Mr. Jenkins' mother was in great distress. Her second husband (James Northcross), had fallen in the Alamo. John was her oldest child and her only one able to help or protect her. It was imperatively necessary that he should go home and help her and the younger children to escape. Detailed by his superior officer, he went home on this mission of mercy and love, accomplished it , returned to the army and at the close of the campaign was honorably discharged. But his necessary absence from the files occurring at this critical time deprived him of the glory of the victory at San Jacinto. Nevertheless, he was serving under official instructions whither duty had called him. He was, therefore, none the less in the most honorable sense a San Jacinto soldier. He is believed to have been the youngest boy in service at the date of that victory." With General Ed Burleson, Captain Billingsley, and Samuel Highsmith, and others, Mr. Jenkins fought the Indians and helped make stable the "frontier" as Bastrop and surrounding country was known in the 1840's. On his own place, he and his younger brother, William scared off a band of thieving Indians, and killed one of them. He took part in the war with the Mexicans again in this decade. In closing his Reminiscences, Mr. Jenkins says; Suffice it to say that my life has been a most entirely that of a Texas soldier. Entering service in my fifteenth year, against Mexico, I have tried to be faithful to Texas throughout her troubles. I belonged to the very first company of "Rebels" who left Bastrop for the Confederate War in 1861, and reached home with the last band of troops after engaging in the last skirmish of "The Lost Cause," which occurred on Texas soil at what is called Palmeto Ranch, about fifteen miles below Brownsille, on the east side of the Rio Grande." Mr. Jenkins tells how General Slaughter was the nominal commander and Ford the real head, and how after Lee's surrender, before this division had heard of it, a great deal of cotton was coming in at Brownsville and Ford wanted to save it from the Yankees who came in to Brownsville. Then Ford decided to drive them out and the last skirmish was fought, with no Confederates killed, very few wounded, and 130 Yankees taken prisoners, and Brownsville in the hands of the Confederate army. This it is seen by his own account, Mr. Jenkins was a man of war, but strangely enough, he was judged a man of peace by his friends. Colonel Wash Jones in writing of Mr. Jenkins said: "As a peacemaker he had few peers and no superior. In his simple, unpretentious life, he never failed to improve an opportunity to repress strife and to promote good will amongst men. As a soldier, valor united with humanity characterized his conduct. In civil life he was without reproach, and his pre-eminent characteristic was the law of peace." In 1845, Mr. Jenkins married Miss Mary Jane Foster and six sons and one daughter were born to them. Of these children, only two survive, Miss Anne, and Joe Jenkins, who live in Bastrop at the present time. There are nine grandchildren and sixteen great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren. John H. Jenkins' services to his country did not end with his death on November 30, 1890. A roll call of his children and grandchildren will reveal that they have had devotion and loyalty to their duty as citizens. First his oldest son, William Edward Jenkins served the county as sheriff and County Clerk for about thirty years continuously. T. W. Cain, now of Austin, but formerly of Bastrop, editor of the Bastrop Advertiser for many years says: "Mr. Billie, as everyone called him, certainly did a great deal for Bastrop during his long years of public life. He was about the most popular man in the county, and always stood for law and order and the right." John Holland Jenkins, Jr, second son of the pioneer, also served Bastrop in official positions for many years. The latter part of his life was spent in the employ of the Federal government as Chinese and Immigrant Inspector, in which office he traveled from Maine to California, and from Mexico to Canada. His son, Jack Jenkins was County Attorney of Bastrop County and then District Attorney until his death several years ago. Hartford Jenkins, the youngest son of Holland Jenkins, lives in Bastrop at the present time. He was District Clerk without opposition for a number of years, and is at present serving the County in the capacity of County Judge. Hartford Jenkins owns an interest in the Bastrop Abstract Company and an interest in the Round Bale Gin and is prominently connected with all of the forward movements of Bastrop. Other children of Holland Jenkins are Tom Jenkins, bookkeeper of Beaumont; Mrs. Lou Crow, San Antonio; and Mrs. Lena Kershner, Houston. Mrs. Lena Kershner is a dramatic soprano of ability and is well known as a radio artist and voice teacher. James Northcross Jenkins, third son of John H Jenkins, Sr., served as Mayor of Bastrop and Justice of the Peace of Precinct No. 1 for twenty or more years and then as County Commissioner for four years, holding that office at the time of his death in an automobile accident a few years ago. His wife, Emma Holmes Jenkins, died in September, 1931. His children, all of whom survive, are John H Jenkins, Howard S. Jenkins, and Price Jenkins and Mrs. Kate J. Decherd, (Mrs. Will T) The three sons of James N Jenkins volunteered for service in the World War. John and Howard attended the first Officer's training Camp at Camp Travis and were commissioned Captain and Second Lieutenant, respectively. John served as Senior Captain at the second training Camp and in other camps throughout the war. Howard was soon promoted to a First Lieutenant and being en route to France when the Armistice was signed, was made Personnel Officer on the transports conveying the soldiers home, in which capacity he served for some time. Price entered a later Officer's Training Camp and was commissioned and after qualifying as a sharpshooter was placed in replacement battalion. All three were honorably discharged at the close of the war. Mrs. Bob J. Rogers, (Mrs. Will), of Bastrop is a grand-daughter of still another son, Bob Jenkins, who married Miss Scottie Chambliss, now Mrs. David Cicero Jenkins, who died in early manhood, was the son, affectionately known as "Cid." Henry Van Dyke has said: "Four" things a man must learn to do If he would make his record true: To think without confusion clearly; To love his fellow men sincerely; To act from honest motives purely; To trust in God and Heaven securely." And it appears from a study of the life of John H. Jenkins, the pioneer, Indian fighter, veteran of several wars, farmer and peace loving neighbor and friend, that he most surely made his record true.

SOME OF EARLY FAMILIES LIVE IN CITY TODAY BY Mrs. W. J. Miley Wayman F. Wells, Billy Barton Leman, Jess Barker, Josiah Wilbarger, Reuben Hornsby, and others came to Bastrop in 1827, when the town site was inhabited by Indians, and wild animals of many species were plentiful. Captain James Burleson and wife of Tennessee came to Texas in 1829 and were members of Austins second colony at Bastrop where Captain Burleson built the first house in the town. General Edward Burleson came in 1831 and was in the battle of San Jacinto. Jonathan Burleson came in 1830, and only three of four families lived in Bastrop at the time. After the fall of the Alamo, Gen. Burleson sent Jonathan to Gonzales to take women and children to safety. The trip was made on foot and through a country covered with Indians. He brought them to Fort Bastrop in 1836. Edward Blakely Burleson, son of Jonathan and Mary Burleson, was the first white male child born in Bastrop in 1838 in a log room which now stands in the George Perkins yard on Piney Creek. Mr. Burleson participated in the Battles of Mansfield, Pleasant Hall. Yellow Bayou, and others. He died just a few years ago on his farm west of Bastrop, and his daughters, Mattie and Ula, and son, Robert, still live there. Mr. And Mrs. James Eggleston came in 1831, and 1838 Mr. Eggleston, hearing a noise, thought it stepped out the door, he was fired upon by an Indian. This happened in the corner, where the fence divides the present home of Mrs. J. S. Jones and Mr. D. H. Bell. Mr. Christian came to the newly located town of Bastrop in the spring of 1832, and built the fifth house in the settlement. Later he was killed by the tomahawks of the Comanche's. His daughter, Martha, then four years of age, afterwards married Mr. Sherman Reynolds, and she loved here till her death a few years ago. Joseph Burleson came in 1833, and both his family and that of Mr. Christian were in the "runaway scrape" of 1836. The Erhard brothers, Adolph and Caton, came in 1835, and their descendents are at the present time residents of this city. Mr. Henry Crocheron and Mr. Burch were prominent merchants here in 1837. James O. Rice, the only prisoner to escape after the Mier expedition came to Bastrop. William A. Clopton came to Crockett, Texas, in 1837, and started out deer hunting, and while on the San Antonio road, met some Wagoner's and on inquiring, found that his only brother whom he had mourned as dead, was one of them, so he joined them, and they came on to Bastrop in December 1838. Mr. Clopton was one of the Mier prisoners who drew a white bean and was Lieutenant Colonel in the Texas army. He was active in the Plum Creek Battle with the Indians and also the San Saba Battle. He went to the sand hills east of Bastrop to kill a deer, which had and got off of his horse and saw a carcass of a deer which had been stripped, hanging on a small sapling. On looking around, he saw tracks and came to town and warned the people of the approach of Indians, and Mr. Eggleston was killed that night. Sam Houston and Big Foot Wallace, pioneer and great Indian fighter spent many nights in his home. About the year 1842, two carpenters from New York, each having a complete carpenters outfit, were killed by the Indians on main street near where the new Methodist church now stands. Their tools were auctioned to defray the burial expenses and Mr. Clopton bought a set of them. They are now in the possession of Mr. William A. Clopton, his son, a resident of our town.

ROYAL MUTUAL IS BLESSING TO ITS POLICY HOLDERS Organized in September 1924, the Royal Mutual Life Insurance Association has been a blessing to this community and the territory it has served. It was organized by Mr. And Mrs

E. R. Carter, citizens of Elgin, who have given it such close attention and have managed its affairs so efficiently that it has already achieved top place among the 120 mutual insurance companies filing reports with the state department of insurance in size, in lowest per capita cost and record for prompt payment of claims. Through the recent period of financial depression the company continued to advance, maintaining a policy of economy in administration expenses while climbing to heights in writing policies.

GRANDFATHER OF LOCAL WOMEN WAS SURVIVOR ILL-FATED MIER EXPEDITION Mexico never recognized the independence of Texas and as late as 1842 sent military expeditions into the state. In March of that year San Antonio, Goliad, Refugio, Victoria and several other smaller towns were infested and held for a short time, the Mexicans retiring below the Rio Grande when a show of resistance was made. In September of 1842 a Mexican army of 1500 men under command of General Adrian Woll, marched upon and captured San Antonio. Although General Woll's army retired after a few days, public sentiment was aroused to such an extent that an expedition was formed under command of Gen. Alexander Somerville and marched to the Rio Grande with the object of administering a decisive defeat to the Mexican troops to end for all time the menace of invasion from the south. The expedition met with no resistance and halted at the Rio Grande and after a few days was ordered to return when no show of hostilities was forth coming from the Mexicans, however, a group of 300 adventurous men under command of Col. W. S. Fisher detached themselves from the Texas Army and started an independent move against the Mexicans by crossing the Rio Grande and attacking the important and strategic town of Mier. After a bitter battle the little band was surrounded and captured and started as prisoners of war to Mexico City. At Salado the prisoners made a break for liberty but were soon recaptured and as punishment for the escape the Mexican commander ordered every tenth man shot. To decide who should die beans were placed in a jar, a bean for every man in the little band. Every tenth bean was black and the men drawing the black beans were summarily shot. The bodies of the men shot were later returned to Texas and buried in a single grave at a spot on the bluff of the Colorado river overlooking LaGrange. Today a monument and state park marks the grave. The remaining members of the little army were marched to Mexico City and imprisoned, with the exception of Capt. Ewan Cameron, who was ordered shot for leading the men in the escape at Salado. Later thirty-five of the men were released and made their way back to their homes in Texas. Among the survivors of the expedition was Col. W. A. Clopton, grandfather of Mes. I. J. Dawson and J. J. Sapp. Col. Clopton lived to a ripe age and lies buried now in the Oak Hill cemetery.

****** HAVE BEEN IN BUSINESS AT SAME LOCATION SINCE FOUNDING. OLDEST STORE HERE REPLETE WITH INCIDENTS EARLY MERCHANDISING EXPERIENCES. It is not the privilege of many business organizations in Texas to reflect upon eighty years of continuous operation and faithful service, but such is the pleasure of M. A. Prokop & Sons. This store is the oldest business organization actively engaged in the business of its founders serving this county today. Scarcely a person who has lived in this section during nearly a century but who has aat one time or another worn boots or shoes either made by or sold by M. A. Prokop & sons. Many families in this section have been buying shoes from this reliable old business house for two, three and even four generations. The founding of this business dates back to 1855 when Michel August Prokop opened his little shop on the site of the present store and started making boots and shoes from native cowhides. Mr. Prokop left his native Bohemia when a young man of 21. He had mastered the shoemakers trade in his home country and came to the "land of liberty and promise" to seek his fortune. He landed at Galveston in December of that year 1853, unable to speak a word of the language of the land of his adoption, but with the vigor of youth and the determination to succeed and make his way in what then was practically virgin country. Galveston at that time, as it is today, was a thriving seaport town, but Mr. Prokop was unable to find employment at his trade so he took whatever was offered in the way of work, spending s

veral months as a dock hand, handling bales of cotton and other freight destined for shipment to eastern seaboard points and abroad. December in his native Bohemia meant winter with its heavy snows and bitter cold and naturally the mildness of the climate and the beauty of the flora and the fauna of his new home. But all was not beauty and perpetual bliss. Yellow fever, that dreaded scourge of the last century, broke out in Galveston in the summer of 1854 and to escape the plague Mr. Prokop moved inland, landing at Washington on the Brazos in the summer of 1854. At that time Bastrop was enjoying the heydey of prosperity. Lumber mills were running full blast supplying a high grade of pine lumber for the building up of Austin, San Antonio, Houston and many other towns in the southwest as well as for local consumption. Long strongs of ox and mule teams lined the roads in all directions out of Bastrop. All lines of industry felt the impetus to trade afforded by the general activity. After a year at Washington on the Brazos, Mr. Prokop was attracted to Bastrop by the unusual commercial activity. His cousin, B. G. Prokop was prospering here in the jewelry business, having come here a few years prior to the arrival of M. A. Prokop at Galveston. When he landed in Bastrop he took employment with Mr. A. Knettle, father of the present Mr. Knittle, father of the present Mr. Knittle who conducts a shoe business here today. For six months he plied his trade of shoemaker in the employ of Mr. Knittle and then set up his own shop on the site now occupied by the store that bears his name on main street. In the year 1855 and for many years after practically all the boots and shoes worn by the people of this section were handmade by either Mr. Prokop or Mr. Knittle. In those days most of the men wore boots of calfskin, all handmade and with little variety of style. There was no general traffic in ready made shoes as there were no shoe factories in this part of the country, so each person had his boots or shoes made to his individual measure. The cost of a pair of boots ranged from $10 to $12, depending upon the size and tastes of the buyer. Low shoes, made from the same materials as used in boots were a little higher than the average low quarter shoe of today and a little lower than the high laced shoe so popular a few years ago. The tops usually came to about the ankle joint and were usually blunt toe with the uppers cut from soft, unfinished calfskin and sewed to heavier soles. These shoes ranged in price from $4 to $5 and like boots were made to individual order. The handmade shoes were often embellished with high heels that would take a polish and these were the "Sunday shoes" of the period. Shoes of this type were made for the entire family, and were at once durable and comfortable. A brogan shoe, made from rough leather for heavy duty was made for field use and sold at from $1.50 to $2. About a year after settling in Bastrop Mr. Prokop married a distant cousin, Annie Mary Prokop and decided to make his permanent home here and build for the future. He was a hard working and thrifty man and by the diligent application of his talents and business ability laid the foundation for the successful business enterprise that grew into the substantial organization that bears his name today and has endured through more than eighty years of changing times and conditions. Soon after his marriage Mr. Prokop began to acquire real estate. First he purchased the lot upon which the present store stands and later acquired other property on Main street. Five children were born to this happy union but only two of them lived to maturity, Frank, the present owner of the store and his brother, Amil, who died last year. As the sons grew old enough to be interested in the business the father taught them the shoemaking trade and they were4 taken into the firm when they were old enough to handle the business and the firm name became M. A. Prokop & sons. In 1887 the building now occupied was built and stocked with a line of merchandise similar to that sold by the store today. In that year the railroad reached Bastrop which facilitated shipments of all kinds of merchandise. That year practically gave birth to the modern merchandising establishments insofar as Bastrop was concerned. Prior to the coming of the railroad all merchandise was freighted here in ox and mule wagons at great expense and quite naturally most of the merchandise brought here consisted in the great part of essentials and very few luxuries because the long, slow hauls were expensive. More often than otherwise the dress of the average man was a hickory shire and homemade jean pants tucked into a pair of Mr. Prokop's boots. Only those with considerable wealth wore "store clothes" and then only on special occasions. Long after ready made shoes made their appearance generally in the stores the demand for the more substantial handmade footwear continued. Prokop & sons made boots and shoes up until as late as 1915 when the World War boosted leather prices beyond the reach of the average person. Good leather was hard to procure and the price of the limited supply reached such a high mark that it was impossible to make and sell a pair of boots for less than a price of $25.00. Thousands upon thousands of pairs have been turned out by the skilled hands of the Prokop family. At first nearly every operation was made with hand tools but later sewing machines and other pieces of machinery helped to facilitate the operation but always the same painstaking care was exercised in the making of boots and shoes and every pair turned out was a product of which both the maker and the wearer were justly proud. Mrs. Annie May Prokop died in 1887. Her husband never remarried and died at the age of 85, in 1916. A man respected and honored by his neighbors and friends. A man who had contributed his time and talent to the up building of the home of his adoption. A citizen who never shirked his duty to his friends and his home. He lead an exemplary life of sobriety and honor and went to his final resting place in the cemetery here full of years of a life that had been devoted unselfishly to his community and his family. A man loved by those who knew him intimately and honored and respected by all. Sons Carry On Business Frank and Amil Prokop became associated with their father when very young men. These gentlemen grew up in the business and have spent their life time in helping their father build up the business until it became one of the most important merchandising agencies serving Bastrop County. Bastrop at one time was the leading trade center of a wide area in the valley of the Colorado and customers came to the stores here from comparatively great distances. Twenty-five years ago before the advent of the automobile hitch rails were all along Main street and feed lots occupied much of the vacant space in and around the town. Before the bridge was built across the Colorado in 1890 many of the teams halted on the west bank of the river and came across on the ferry to do their trading. In those days it was no uncommon occurrence for a family living in the vicinity of Red Rock, Rosanky or some other part of the contry to get up and have breakfast at one in the morning and drive to Bastrop, arriving here about ten in the morning. They would sell their produce and do their trading until about four in the afternoon and then start for home, arriving around midnight if the weather was good, but if a rain came up they would likely be on the road all night. This meant tht average farmer lost a whole day and nearly all of two nights in making a trip to town. The time between trips was necessarly from six weeks to two months which prevented the sale of such products as butter and eggs in great quantities. Butter and eggs could not be kept fresh for that length of time and eggs kept for several weeks brought only a very low price if there was a market at all. The coming of the automobile and better roads changed this condition. Mr. Frank Prokop recalls an experience with one lady who lived in the Rosanky community. Her mules were frightened by an automobile on the bridge here and she expressed the fear that she could never return to Bastrop as the automobiles was sure to frighten teams so badly that they would jump into the river and she prophesied that many would be drown in the river. She was positive that the "fool buggy" was just a novelty that would do nobody any good and would destroy a number of lives before the fad was abandoned. A year later this same lady drove to town in an automobile of her own, and needless to remark her entire attitude had changed. Now she could leave home after regular breakfast and offer her produce on the early morning market, do her shopping and return home in time for dinner. She got a far better price for her produce because it was fresh and was better satisfied in every particular. Leading Shoe Merchants Today M. A. Prokop & sons is considered one of the leading shoe merchants of this county. In addition to the line of shoes which has been the stock in trade of this store for over eighty years, they carry a full line of men's furnishings and high grade work clothing. They feature Peters Weatherbird shoes for the entire family. The store keeps pace with the modern trend and offers all the latest styles in footwear for men, women and children at prices consistent with good business at small profit. The store today is owned and operated by Mr. Frank Prokop and his son, Merl Arnold Prokop. The same find traditions that have characterized this business since its founding are part and parcel of the policy of the owners today. Both Mr. Frank Prokop and his son are substantial business men. They are a credit to the social and commercial life of the community in which they and their forefathers have resided for nearly a century. Both these fine gentlemen enjoy the esteem and good will of their fellow citizens and are carrying on the unblemished record of honorable dealings this business organization has enjoyed since 1855.