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Major James Kerr |
Sons of Dewitt Colony Texas
Oral History Interview with Ruth Simons Kerr Ray, Great-Great Granddaughter
of James Kerr
Major
James Kerr 1790 - 1851
A Texas Family by
James Kerr Crain 1957
DeWitt Colony
Papers--Documents and Correspondence
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Born in Danville, Ky.; served in War of 1812 and
as sheriff, state representative, state senator in Missouri. Came
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Lieutenant in the War of 1812 |
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Major James Kerr, the subject of the following brief remarks, departed this life at his residence on the Lavaca river, Jackson county, Texas, on the 25th day of December, 1850, aged sixty years and three months. The announcement of his death will be heard with sorrow by almost every old Texian west of the Trinity, to whom the deceased was universally known, as one of the oldest settlers, boldest pioneers, and most valuable and patriotic citizens and public servants of the province and republic. A brief capitulation of the prominent incidents in his eventful life, is offered as an homage due from a friend--one who knew him long and well. Major Kerr was born near Danville, Kentucky, on 24th September, 1790, and grew up on his father's farm. His father, (Rev. James Kerr), was a Baptist minister, and visited upper Louisiana (now Missouri) with his wife in 1799, four or five years before the change of government from Spain to the United States, and was the first protestant that ever preached west of the Mississippi. During his visit in that wild region, his wife died, eighteen miles west of St. Louis. In 1808, the father, with all of his sons and daughters, removed from Kentucky to St. Charles county, Missouri, where they resided till about 1819. During the War of 1812, '13 and '14, the Indians were numerous and warlike in that region. The deceased, together with his brothers, Richard, William, and Thomas, were conspicuous through that dark period, as bold and efficient young men, and served in various stations in the ranging service with credit. James, the deceased, was a lieutenant in the company of Capt. Nathan Boone, (the son of Col. Daniel Boone), and as such was in Boone's defeat in 1813, in Illinois. The defeat was complete, and the escape of the company almost miraculous. In that affair he was highly complimented for his cool intrepidity and readiness in danger. On another occasion, in 1813, he signalised himself as a man of remarkable courage, self-reliance and adroitness. He was sent as a messenger from Fort Mason, near Salt river, on the Mississippi, to St. Charles, and had charge of two disabled men, with but one horse among them.---They were waylaid in the Mississippi bottom by 12 or 15 Indians. On the first fire his horse was wounded and his hat shot off. Then commenced a series of retreats, halts, firings, etc., which continued for six miles, Kerr covering the retreat of the sick footman, and finally, by a stratagem worthy of of a veteran, put the Indians to rout, having his horse shot under him near half-a-dozen times, and finally killed. On various occasions he displayed the same daring spirit and readiness in the hour of extreme peril. After the war, his reputation attracted the attention of Col. Rufus Easton, a politician and lawyer of high standing, at whose earnest persuasion he devoted some two years in the study of the law, but from various causes beyond his control, abandoned the idea of perfecting his course. He was then elected several times as sheriff of St. Charles county. In 1819 he married and settled in Ste. Genevieve county. In 1822 he was elected to the State Senate, beating his father-in-law, Gen. Caldwell, one of the leading men of the State, and for many years previous speaker of the House. As a Senator, he sustained a high character for practical business matters, and is believed to have been the first legislator who proposed to encourage, by legislation, the Santa Fe trade. In February, 1825, he resigned his seat as Senator, and at the earnest solicitation of Stephen F. Austin and Green De Witt, removed to Texas. He and his brother-in-law, Capt. Henry S. Brown, landed at Brazoria early in the spring of that year. Mrs. Kerr, and all of his children, except one little girl, died in a short time. He was appointed immediately surveyor-general of De Witt's embryo colony, and in the fall of 1825, with his servants, and several men, settled at Gonzales, being the only American family, except his neighbor, Berry, west of the Colorado. He then began his official duties, and devoted his whole energies to the interest of the future colony. His situation was entirely exposed to attacks from the Indians, and in June, 1826, while he was absent on the Colorado, his house was attacked, robbed of all his worldly goods, papers, etc., and burned to the ground, and one of his young men, named Wightman, or Whiteman, killed. His friend Durbin, now of Jackson county, who also lived in his house, was at that time on his way with young Mr. and Mrs. Oliver, and several Negroes, to a barbecue on the Colorado, and when encamped on Peach creek on the night of the day on which the house was burned, they were attacked, routed, and Durbin badly wounded. Thus broken up and unprotected, he selected a new location, and in the fall of 1826 located at his present residence, in Austin's colony, and thus was the first settler on either the Navidad or Lavaca rivers, but still continued his official connection with De Witt's colony. In 1827 he was sent by the authorities of Austin's colony as one of the three commissioners to remonstrate with, and endeavor to reconcile the leaders of what was known as the Fredonia war, at Nacogdoches, in which important mission they succeeded. He was specially commissioned by Gov. Gonzales to lay out and name the capital? of De Witt's colony, which he did, and named it in honor of the Governor, Gonzales, At a later? periond, he resigned the office of surveyor in De Witt's colony, and was appointed as surveyor of De Leon's colony, in which part he continued till the Revolution. In the agitations of 1832 and '33, he was elected a delegate in each year to the respective conventions for forming a State Constitution, and in the latter, we think, was on the principal committee for drafting a constitution. He was also one of the Ayuntamiento of the Municipality of Matagorda, to which district he belonged till the creation of Jackson county. In 1833 he was married a second time. When the revolution broke out in 1835, he was elected from the same municipality a delegate to the consultation, but being on a campaign west, he did not return in time to take his seat. He was in the battle of Lipantitlon, on the Nueces, on the 4th of September, 1835, and was specially complimented by Commander Westover for his services on that occasion. He then took his seat as a member of the General Council, and perhaps did as much, if not more, than any man in that body, to aid, encourage, and sustain the great struggle of the day, and introduced a resolution urging the storming of San Antonio. He was then elected a member of the Convention which declared Texas independent, but from the imminent peril in which his family would have been placed, he did not reach the Capital in time to take his seat. In that dark hour he was appointed a Major in the Texian army, by President, Burnet. In the spring of 1837, he paid a short visit to his friends in Missouri, whither he had sent his family, in the invasion of 1836, and received many testimonials of esteem from his old friends. In 1838 he was elected to Congress from Jackson county, and while there, accomplished much for western protection, and also introduced the first bill in that chain of excellent measures to prevent dueling. During the last eighteen months, he has been discharging the duties of United States Deputy Marshal for this State. His death has been sudden. He has died as he has lived through life, respected by all who knew him, and loved by a host of persona friends and kindred. As a man of nature, he was certainly talented--in education, limited to plain English--by practical experience, his mind had grown ripe. His mind was remarkable for its clearness, its comprehensiveness, its boldness and energy. He grasped a subject with unusual vigor, and arrived at conclusions with remarkable readiness and correctness. As a man of sound penetration and discrimination, he had few equals; and as a historical man, in western and Texian affairs, he perhaps had no superior, and in many respects no equal. He doubtless had faults--he grew up and lived through times, trials and scenes, well calculated to display whatever of weakness he may have had--but we feel justified in saying of our lamented friend, that he was high-minded and honorable, charitable and liberal; that he was faithful in all his public trusts, and a true patriot, and that he was an honest man. His youngest brother, Thomas, aged 55, died two years ago--of a large family of brothers and sisters, he leaves but two of each. He leaves, however, to weep over his grave, a tender wife, three young children, and his daughter who was left motherless in 1825, in the wilderness of the Brazos, besides numerous kindred in Texas, Missouri and Illinois. If affection has prompted an overdrawn picture of the character of the deceased, it is to be regretted--we have endeavored faithfully to sketch his character in colors of truth--no more. Peace to the ashes of an honored pioneer. January 1, 1851. A FRIEND.
Texian Advocate, Victoria, Texas, January
9, 1851 |
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Edna--The Jackson County Historical Survey Committee Tuesday night set Aug. 6 as date for the dedication of a historical marker for the Major James Kerr grave, and will announce the principal speaker and program in the near future. Major Kerr, one of the outstanding pioneers of South Texas, eventually settled in what is now Jackson County, and is buried in the Kerr family cemetery about seven miles north of Edna. The roadside type marker, already secured by the committee, will be installed by the Highway Department on Farm Road 822 (Navidad Road), near the old cemetery. Brownson Malsch, chairman of the survey committee, noted Kerr came to Texas in 1825 as surveyor-general for DeWitt's colonies and some of DeLeon's on the Guadalupe. He had been an officer in the War of 1812, then returned to his native Kentucky and eventually was elected to the Senate there. In Texas, he first settled on the Guadalupe near present Gonzales, and laid out that town, and also later surveyed DeWitt County. After losing home and everything in an Indian raid, he moved to what is now Jackson County and settled on the Lavaca River. He raised the first crops by an American in current Jackson County, became an area leader and continued doing surveying. He was a delegate to the conventions in San Felipe of 1832-33, and was chairman of the Milligan Gin meeting on the Navidad in 1835, the meetings that led to the Texas Declaration of Independence. He helped organize the county under the republic, and was elected to the Texas Congress in 1838. He died here in 1851. While his family pronounced their name "Carr," years later the county of Kerr and the City of Kerrville, using the current pronunciation were named in his honor. Malsch, who will secure a speaker for the dedication, said the program will be held at 4 p. m at the site of the roadside marker. Mrs. Howard Tanner is chairman of the marker committee which selected the Kerr grave as one of the priority sites for the markers.
Victoria Advocate, Thursday, July 20,
1972 |
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Edna--The Jackson County Historical Survey Committee has selected county judge Sam Seale to make the dedication address for the Texas Historical Marker honoring Major James Kerr, to be placed on Farm Road 822 near his grave in the Old Kerr Cemetery seven miles north of Edna. Brownson Malsch, chairman of the survey committee, will be master of ceremonies at the dedication set for 4 p. m. Aug. 6. He said descendants of Major Kerr and his first and second wives have been invited to attend. The Rev. I. E. Walker will give the invocation and the Rev. Wesley Schulze the benediction. Major Kerr was one of the outstanding pioneers of the Jackson County area of South Texas. He first came in 1825 as a surveyor for the DeWitt colonies. HE worked for the independence of Texas, and thereafter helped build the Republic of Texas, and later served in the Texas Congress.
Victoria Advocate, Friday, July 28, 1972 |
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Edna--The Jackson County Historical Survey Committee has postponed the dedication of the historical marker honoring Major James Kerr until Sunday, Aug. 13. The program had been set for this Sunday. Brownson Malsch, chairman of the survey committee and for the dedication program, said Thursday the area of the proposed dedication will be too muddy from the recent rains to hold the program this Sunday. The roadside marker will be on Farm Road 822 near the Old Kerr Cemetery where Major Kerr is buried, about seven miles north of Edna. Kerr was one of the outstanding pioneers of the Jackson County area.
Victoria Advocate, Friday, August 4,
1972 |
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Edna--The Jackson County Historical Survey Committee will dedicate a state historical marker for the Maj. James Kerr grave at 4 p. m. Sunday, with Jackson County Judge Sam Seale making the dedication address. A number of descendants of the famous South Texas pioneer are expected to attend the program. Brownson Malsch, chairman of the committee, invites the area public to the event. The roadside type marker is on Farm Road 822 (also called the Navidad Road), about nine miles north of Edna, and is located a short distance from the historic Kerr family cemetery, in which the pioneer is buried. The dedication had been scheduled Aug. 6, but was postponed one week due to the rain weather. The chairman said the program will be held this Sunday "rain or shine." Malsch will be master of ceremonies for the event. The Rev. Joe Webb of First Baptist Church will give the invocation, and the Rev. William F. Halata of St. Agnes Catholic Church will give the benediction. A native of Kentucky and an officer in the War of 1812, Maj. Kerr, also a qualified frontier doctor and often called Dr. Kerr, first came in 1825 as surveyor for DeWitt. He surveyed most of DeWitt's colonies and some of DeLeon's. He first settled near Gonzales and then laid out that historic town. Later, after losing his home there in an Indian raid, he moved to what is now Jackson County and settled on the Lavaca River. He raised the first crops by an American in the present Jackson County area. He became a leader in the community and in the fight for Texas independence, and later served in the Republic of Texas congress. He died here in 1851. While the family pronounced their last name "Carr," the county of Kerr and city of Kerrville are named in his honor, using the different pronunciation.
Victoria Advocate, Saturday, August
12, 1972 |
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By Hal Cherry Edna--Twenty-three descendants of Major James Kerr, one of the more prominent Texas pioneers, were among the more than 50 persons at the Sunday afternoon dedication of the roadside State Historical Marker near Major Kerr's grave, secured by the Jackson County Historical Survey Committee. County Judge Sam Seale, who made the dedication address, paid tribute to the courage, dedication and abilities of Major Kerr "who served in an outstanding way as a soldier, surveyor, attorney, physician and statesman." The judge pointed out that "our limited histories feature a few heroes, such as the governors and martyrs of the Alamo, and it is unfortunate that more was not written and preserved to the credit of other pioneers such as Kerr, who contributed so much to the development of our state. "He added tribute to the large number of Kerr descendants who became prominent citizens. Seale enlarged on the biographical sketch on the marker, noting that Major Kerr was born in Kentucky, a son of a Baptist minister. He was an officer in the War of 1812, then went to Missouri and served as a senator. He said Kerr came to Texas in 1825 as surveyor for DeWitt, and settled near Gonzales, and after his home was burned out there, moved to what is now Jackson County, and settled on the Lavaca River. He was the first American to plant crops in the county. His first wife, Angeline Caldwell from Missouri, died near Gonzales. Later in the Jackson County area he married Sarah Fulton. He had several children by each marriage. The speaker noted Major Kerr's service for the cause of Texas Independence; that he was a delegate at the conventions of 1932-33 and at the Lavaca-Navidad protest meeting. He said Kerr served in the Republic of Texas congress in 1838-39, and then retired from public life to practice medicine in Jackson County. He died here in 1851. Brownson Malsch, chairman of the county historical survey group, presided at the program held under large oak trees between the highway marker and historic Kerr family cemetery, about 50 yards from the marker located on Farm Road 822 nine miles north of Edna. Malsch briefly paid tribute to the contributions of the pioneer and his descendants, then introduced the 23 descendants present from seven cities, and then presented the guest speaker. It was brought out by the speakers that the family originally pronounced the name "Carr." However Kerr County and the city of Kerrville are named in honor of Major Kerr, using the modern pronunciation. These Kerr descendants signed the register: George Simons, and Jana, Laurie and Stewart Simons, all of Houston; Frank Crain Schleischer of Austin; James Kerr Crain II, James Kerr Crain III, Patrick George Crain and Christopher Mitchell Crain, all of Cuero; Judge Frank H. Crain, Julie Kerr Crain, Mrs. Hugh Lowery and Kathryn Lowery, all of Victoria; Mrs. Ruth S. Ray and Annie Denise, Cary, David K. and Karon Ray, all of Yoakum; T. K. (Kerr) Simons, C. S. Simons Jr., Mike Mitchell, Stephen and Vance Mitchell, all of Edna. The Rev. Joe Webb of First Baptist Church gave the invocation, and the Rev. William Halata of St. Agnes Catholic Church, the benediction. [The wording of the marker at the top of this page was included in this portion of the article.]
Victoria Advocate, August 14, 1972 |
 Pioneer's Descendants--Five direct descendants of Major James Kerr, prominent Jackson County pioneer, are shown at the roadside marker honoring Kerr, secured by the Jackson Historical Survey unit and erected near his grave nine miles north of Edna. Twenty-three descendants attended the marker dedication Sunday. From left are C. S. Simons Jr. and T. K. "Kerr" Simons Edna, great-grandsons of Major Kerr and his second wife, Sarah Fulton Kerr; then Frank Crain Schleicher of Austin, great-great grandson, Miss Kathryn Lowery of Victoria, great-great-great-granddaughter and Judge Frank Crain of Victoria, great-great grandson of Kerr and his wife, Angeline Caldwell Kerr.
Victoria Advocate, Tuesday, August 15,
1972 |
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Present by source newspapers |
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| Created Feb. 25, 2019 |
Updated Feb. 25, 2019 |
