Issue 2 Volume 2 February 2016

Photo of the Month

Roans Prairie, Texas Post Office

Grimes County Historical Commission

Grimes County Historical Commission

Executive Board Chairman Russell Cushman Vice Chairman Joe King Fultz Secretary Vanessa Burzynski Treasurer Joe King Fultz

COMMITTEES Historical Markers Denise Upchurch Heritage Preservation Sarah Nash Newsletter & Publicity Vanessa Burzynski

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

Contact Information Russell Cushman 403 Holland Navasota, TX 77868 (936) 825 8223 rcush403@aol.com Visit us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GrimesCountyHistoricalCommission Online Website (coming soon) www.grimescountyhistoricalcommsion.com

PAGE 2 GRIMES COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016

The Central Texian Saturday, March 7, 1857 To the Public: With this number the publication of the “Texian” is indefinitely postponed, after an eventful life of near three years. It has battled the adverse storms of poverty and non-appreciation, with tenacity and manliness; yet we deem it time that it should be content “to shuffle off its coil” and be numbered with the things that were, for it seems to us that when a community ceases to extend material aid to an enterprise of more benefit to them, collectively and individually, than they seem willing to admit, and are careless whether it is sustained, it is high time that their wish should be complied with. Many individuals have acted nobly in sustaining us, but many again have not only been content to withhold their patronage, but sought every means to discourage us. They have succeeded. To those whose subscription does not expire until the end of the volume, we will supply the “Texas Baptist” instead of the “Texian” and will also transfer advertisements to the same paper. We hope our friends will come up and settle their accounts, as we are in need of money. R. A. Van Horn

The Central Texian Saturday, February 28, 1857 The election on last Saturday resulted as follows: Mayor: J. R. Kennard; Aldermen: J. P. Schaefer, A. S. Richarson, Frank Brigance, J. W. Hutcheson, and E. W. Cawthon: Constable W. Roan

Education in Anderson

Anderson offers inducements to parents and guardians who wish to bestow good substantial educations on those under their charge, unsurpassed by any interior town in Texas. Having now three first class institutions, established upon firm foundations, and under control of persons of fine scholastic abilities, our citizens should extend to them sufficient encouragement. It is exceedingly difficult to obtain good teachers, and, when once obtained, it is important that we retain them. The citizens of our place are aware of the importance of sustaining first class institutions of learning, and we hope they will profit themselves of the facilities presented. Railroads tend to make a prosperous people. Schools are equally important, and the only way we can sustain them, and thus add to the prosperity of our town is by extending to them all the aid in our power. Parents would study their interests best, if instead of sending their children abroad to obtain an education, they would keep them at home, where they could be taught lessons of usefulness which are scarcely ever lost. The young mind requires a great amount of cultivation, care and solicitude, for “tis education forms the common mind – just as the twig is bent, the tree’s inclined.” And can the twig of the human tree be better cultivated in foreign, than in its virgin soil? How many parents, cherishing in their hearts a glorious future for their children, have had the sorrowful sight presented, of their loved ones returning from distant schools with ruined health and damaged reputations? Of course there are exceptions to this rule, but how “far and few between!” We would remark that the best arrangements have been made to board children on the most accommodating terms, in private families here, so our country friends need be under no apprehension as regards to suitable accommodations.

PAGE 3 GRIMES COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016

Hon. Jesse Grimes The subjoined sketch of our venerable Senator we clip from the Galveston Civilian. It is a tribute to honest worth and well merited by a faithful service of over a quarter of a century. Though in the “sere and yellow leaf” of life, the Judge nevertheless enjoys as much of the juvenescence of old age as any gentleman of our acquaintance, and has yet, to all appearance, many years remaining to devote to the service of his beloved Texas. His counsel was heard and appreciated when the war cloud hovered o’er this fair land, and is none the less valuable now that our “swords have been changed into pruning hooks” and all “the pomp and glorious circumstance of war” has given place to the piping times of peace. The hopes engendered in the troublous times of the revolution have ended in full fruition and the old veteran beholds now in the advancing prosperity of Texas, a full consummation of the wishes and desires which the labors of his more vigorous years were spent to realize. May he long live to enjoy the fruits of his toil. Jesse Grimes, the patriarch of the Senate, from the county which perpetuates his own name, is one whose age, unsullied patriotism, residence and long public service merits and receives the respect of every one acquainted with him. He has some eccentricities and peculiar notions on the subject of religion not recognized as orthodox. He was born in North Carolina in the year 1792, but early in manhood removed to Washington County, Alabama, where on returning from a hunt one day, he found his hotel and furniture in ashes; and to the surprise of his neighbors, took it very kindly and proposed to close the day with some amusement, as if nothing unusual had transpired. At the close of 1827, he entered Texas and settled where he now lives, in Grimes’ prairie. In 1835,

when the colonies determined to resist the tyranny of Mexico, Mr. Grimes was chosen to the Consultation; thence he entered the General Council; next in the Convention of Independence; thence into the first Senate of the Republic; and from that time to the present he has been in all but two or three of our legislative bodies, serving several times as President pro tem of the Senate. Without the advantage of education – dependent in youth and early manhood upon his own exertions – Judge Grimes affords a pleasing example of laudable perseverance and gratifying triumph over multiplied obstacles – till in the evening of a well spent life, he commands the respect and esteem of his State, and will leave his name honorably impressed on the pages of her history. He is emphatically a working man; exceedingly jealous of public expenditures, and a watchful guardian of the treasury. Indeed it has become well nigh proverbial, that a proposed appropriation which has received the approval of Judge Grimes, cannot be far wrong. On all the leading questions of the country, from the first germ of the revolution to this date, he has taken part in no equivocal manner; but his attention has been more particularly given to the subject of our finances and public debt.

Jesse Grimes

PAGE 4 GRIMES COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016

OLD OAKLAND CEMETERY

Historical Marker 8607 Roan's Prairie, Texas Erected 1968 From the intersection of SH 90 and SH 30 in Roans Prairie take SH 30 E approx. .6 mile to FM 2562; take FM 2562 S approx. .2 mile to CR 219; then W on CR 219 approx. 1.2 mile to cemetery.

Founded in 1867 in connection with the Oakland Baptist Church, which stood here until moved to Roans Prairie in 1913. Graves of many pioneers are located here. Oakland was once a popular way-station for the Bates and Black Stagecoach Lines, which ran from Austin to Huntsville until 1880. This road, known as Coushatta Trace, was originally a trail of the Coushatta Indians, a friendly tribe that hunted in this territory. In 1838, a Mrs. Taylor, the last known person killed by Indians in Grimes County, was murdered not far from this site.

Note: Historical marker states that cemetery was founded in 1867, but we found some death dates earlier than this - one in 1858 and one in 1861. Could this have been a private cemetery before this? The church was founded in 1854 (on sign at Baptist Church in Roans Prairie).

PAGE 5 GRIMES COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016

Joshua Hadley

He died from a fall from his horse. Buried on a hill, site of Joshua Hadley's fort very close to the Ratliff Cemetery. First Wife: Obedience Grantham Hadley is also buried there. Member of the Convention of 1832, the Consultation of 1835, Alcalde of Washington Municipality 1835, Soldier in the Army of Texas 1836. Second wife: Joyce Vickers Floyd Hadley later married Hugh McGuffin. At his death he left 3 children, Joshua, William and Anthony D. Two stepsons, David B. Floyd and James Vickers Floyd.

HADLEY CEMETERY & FORT

On this hill once stood a small fort built by Joshua Hadley and used by the settlers in the community as a place to gather for protection during an Indian raid. In 1840, on one such occasion, a young woman, Mrs. Taylor, took refuge here with her two children. Her husband was at the home of Anthony D. Kennard about 2 miles east of here. She became hysterical and set out with her two children to join her husband. The indians captured her within sight of the fort, killed and scalped her taking the children with them. The settlers pursued and succeeded in recapturing the children unharmed except that one had an arrow through his hand. The lady was buried at the site of her death with only a broken rock mark the spot. The exact location is unknown. She was the last person to be killed by Indians in Grimes County. The old fort later became the home of the Ratliff family.

Obedience Grantham Hadley

Born in either North Carolina, or Tennessee. First wife of Joshua Hadley. They have 5 children, Denny Porterfield, Travis King, Caroline, Grantham H. and Henry F. She is also buried on a hill very close to Ratliff Cemetery and aka Joshua Hadley's fort site.

Besides the Hadleys there are members of the Ratliff Family buried here:

Here is the excerpt from the book "Fruits and Flowers" by Rev. Z. N. Morrell that was referenced in the Quarterly of the Teas State Historical Association July, 1898.

Ellen Ratliff

Infant Ratliff

Josephine Ratliff "The Indians still continued their savage work. A lady by the name of Taylor, living near the present locality of Anderson, was waylaid and killed by the Indians, while on her way to the place where her husband had been killed by them, only a short time before. Her friends protested against her expedition, but so anxious was she to look after the remains of her husband that she risked and lost her life in the effort. She was killed near the spot now occupied by the Oakland Baptist house of worship in Grimes County."

Lorenzo Ratliff 1868-1903

Martin Ratliff 1851-1879

Mary Ana Ratliff 1826-1912

Mary Ann Ratliff 1819-1866

Killed by Indians nearby

Eliza Taylor 1835- June 2 1837 (daughter)

Levi Taylor 1803-Mar 8 1837 (husband)

Mary Taylor 1809-June 2 1837 (wife)

PAGE 6 GRIMES COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016

HISTORY OF ROANS PRAIRIE This was taken from the book "History of Grimes County" pg. 60

Rarely has there been anything like the "roots" phenomenon. The discussion and interest which Roots generated has sent many scurrying to find out all about the different communities where their families lived for the last number of generations. We have awakened to the face that everyone came from somewhere and that our heritage is a part of who we are.

In 1831 the Mexican government granted one league of land to Joshua Hadley and his wife Obedience and their children. This headright came to be known as "Hadley Prairie". John Harris, a single man, was granted one-fourth league of land. To Anthony Drew Kennard, a league of land was also granted in this vicinity. These three men were members of the Stephen f. Austin colony.

Joshua Hadley built a large two-story house with a nearby fort for protection from the Indians on what is known as "Ratliff Hill". The garden was surounded by a rock wall and at one end was the family cemetery.

Henry Hadley was the first white child born in Grimes County and his sister, Mrs. Obedience Hadley Hill of Grimes County was said to have been a survivor of the "Runaway Scrape" when Santa Anna invated Texas in 1836.

In 1845 Willis I. Roan from Georgia moved his family from Alabama onto part of the Kennard and Harris land and from this family Roan's Prairie got its name. Florence Kilpatrick McAlpine, whose mother was a Roan, said she had always been told that W. I, came here with 160 slaves. He had a substantial log house, which stood at least into the 1920's and it had a fireplace big enough to throw cord-length wood into and a hanging kettle.

There was a stage line from Huntsville through Roans Prairie, Brenham and into San Antonio. A stage stand was located at what is now "the Farm" occupied by the owner, Mrs. J. S. Bracewell. Sam Houston surely traveled over this line many times.

A school north of Roans Prairie was established known as "Coon Ridge". Many of the McIntyre, Floyd and Weatherford children were in attendance there. Another school was established one mile west of Roans Prairie, known as Oakland. This was a two-story building. The lower floor was used as a school and the upper as a meeting place for The Grange. The Baptist Church met in this building until the present church was built and for this construction Mr. J. W. Mayfield gave $100 and a keg of nails. In 1913 it was moved to the present site.

The railroad came through in 1903 and a favorite past time was meeting the train (The Madisonville Branch). the town was named Steadmanville by the Smith Land and Improvement Co. but was later renamed Roans Prairie.

A rock quarry was operated north of Roans Prairie with a railroad spur running out from the main track to haul sand gravel and rock for the Galveston Seawall. A two-story wooden building was built in 1904 for a school. Sammy Davis, J. S. Bracewell and Randall Sanders taught there. Later it was replaced by a three-story red brick building which was torn down after consolidation.

The only landmarks left standing are the Oakland Baptist Church, the Oakland Cemetery and "the Farm". The location of Roans Prairie is now marked by the intersection of Hwy 30 and 90 and at this intersection there are a filling station, grocery, post office, cafe, tractor place, real estate office and hardware store.

A large gas storage plant is built two miles west of the town on Highway 30 and there are pipe lines criss-crossing the countryside. Cotton is no longer king, but there are a few dairies and three plant nurseries in operation.

Chataquas and circuses no longer come to town, there is no storage place with barrels of flour as at one time behind McCune's store, where one young man hid when Mr. Gavin Black, the deputy, was seen approaching when a dice game was in progress. No longer is there a home-town doctor, barber or grist mill. Caskets can not be bought here as formerly, no gin, no train to meet. "Goodby Sweet Day!". Mrs. T. J. Slaton

PAGE 7 GRIMES COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016

ROANS PRAIRIE, TEXAS

Roans Prairie is at the intersection of State highways 30 and 90, seventeen miles northeast of Navasota in central Grimes County. It was named for Willis I. Roan, who moved from Alabama to the vicinity of the headwaters of Rocky Creek about 1841. The area was first settled during the early 1830s, but it was not until the mid-1840s that a community began to develop. Roan, with a large contingent of slaves, constructed a substantial log house, opened a general merchandise store, and in 1849 became the settlement's first postmaster. A stage route from Huntsville to San Antonio passed through the town, and a stage depot was erected there. An early school, known as the Coon Ridge school, was established north of the settlement. A second school, at Oakland, was established one mile east of town on the lower floor of a two-story frame building; the local Baptist church, organized in 1854 as Oakland Baptist, used the building as a meetinghouse. The upper floor served as a Grange hall during the late 1870s.

In 1903 the International-Great Northern Railroad extended its Madisonville branch line through the community. The Smith Land and Improvement Company developed the site and renamed the town Steadmanville, but the name was soon changed back to Roans Prairie. In 1904 a new two-story frame schoolhouse was erected. The I&GN ran a spur to a rock quarry north of town, over which sand, gravel, and rock were hauled for the construction of the Galveston Seawall.

In 1915 the population of Roans Prairie was an estimated 250. By 1936 it had fallen to an estimated 100, and the town had five

businesses. In 1944 the population climbed to an estimated 150 and was reported at that level until 1969, when an estimated population of fifty-six and two accredited businesses were recorded. Through 2000 the population of Roans Prairie remained an estimated fifty-six.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Grimes County Historical Commission, History of Grimes County, Land of Heritage and Progress (Dallas: Taylor, 1982). Fred I. Massengill, Texas Towns: Origin of Name and Location of Each of the 2,148 Post Offices in Texas (Terrell, Texas, 1936).

ROCKY CREEK (Grimes County). Rocky Creek, also known as Stoney Creek, is a perennial stream that rises one mile north of Roan's Prairie in central Grimes County (at 30°52' N, 95°53' W) and flows northeast seventeen miles through mostly open country to its mouth on the Navasota River (at 30°49' N, 95°55' W). Gently sloping to nearly level terrain in the area is surfaced by clay loam that supports post oak-blackjack oak, elm-hackberry, water oak-elm, and pecan-elm timber along the banks. Anglo-American habitation in the vicinity of the stream began in the early 1830s when Anthony D. Kennard and Joshua Hadley settled with their families on the north bank near the headwaters. About 1841 Alabama planter Willis I. Roan opened a general merchandise store and soon became postmaster of the community of Roan's Prairie. Settlement of the lower creek was underway by 1843, when William W. Arrington purchased the site of a number of sulphur springs and established a health resort. In 1860 a four-story, 100-room hotel was constructed at the spa, in the vicinity of which the community of Piedmont developed following the Civil War.

PAGE 8 GRIMES COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016

KENNARD, JOHN R. (1826–1894). Major John R. Kennard, Confederate officer, was born in Alabama in 1826, the son of Anthony Drew and Sarah Sallie (Moore) Kennard. In 1832 Kennard came with his family to Texas and settled in Grimes County. Both his father and older brothers volunteered for service during the

HADLEY, JOSHUA (ca. 1786–1845). Joshua Hadley, pioneer settler and public official, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (King) Hadley, was born in North Carolina about 1786. In 1830 he moved with his wife and four children from Tennessee to Texas and settled in what is now San Augustine County. On May 7, 1831, he received title to a league of land near the source of Rocky Creek, four miles northeast of the site of Anderson in what is now Grimes County. There he constructed a two-story house and a log fort for the protection of his family and the surrounding community, which was known as Hadley's Prairie.

Texas Revolution in 1836. When the Civil War began, Kennard raised a company of infantry, known as "Grimes Boys," for service in the Confederacy. This unit was incorporated, as Company A, into the Tenth Texas Infantry Regiment, with Kennard elected captain, at Galveston on October 21, 1861. With this unit, Kennard saw action in Arkansas and Louisiana. He was captured, along with his regiment, at the battle of Arkansas Post on January 11, 1863. He was imprisoned at Camp Chase, Ohio, and Fort Delaware, Delaware, before being exchanged on April 29, 1863. Kennard received promotion to major on May 4, 1863, and returned to service when the unit was reorganized in Tennessee. On November 28, 1864, Kennard resigned his commission for medical reasons and returned to Grimes County. John Kennard served as Grimes County Judge from 1850-1851 and County Attorney in 1880. Kennard died in October 1894 and was buried in Grimes County.

Hadley represented the District of Viesca in the Convention of 1832 and in 1835 became the first alcalde elected in Washington Municipality. He served in the Texas army from June 30 to September 30, 1836, and received for his services a bounty grant of 320 acres in Grimes County. He was a Mason and a charter member of Orphan's Friend Lodge No. 17, organized at the home of Henry Fanthorp in 1842.

Hadley and his first wife, Obedience (Grantham), had five children. Obedience died in 1839, and Hadley married Joyce V. (Bostic) Floyd in 1840. They had three children. Hadley died during the summer of 1845 and was buried at his home in Hadley's Prairie.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

E. L. Blair, Early History of Grimes County (Austin, 1930). Journal of the Congress of the Confederate States of America, 1861–1865, Volume 4, SATURDAY, May 14, 1864 Wartime Letter of Capt. Jonathan R. Kennard, Commanding, Co. A, 10th Texas Infantry, contributed by: Marcus Mallard (http://www.armoryguards.org/10thtexas/letters/kennard.htm), accessed March 17, 2011.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

E. L. Blair, Early History of Grimes County (Austin, 1930). Texas House of Representatives, Biographical Directory of the Texan Conventions and Congresses, 1832–1845 (Austin: Book Exchange, 1941).

PAGE 9 GRIMES COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016

Anthony Drew Kennard

Anthony Drew Kennard was born on 9 July 1788 in Maryland. He married Sarah Moore on 16 October 1808 in Tennessee. They settled near Roans Prairie in 1832 where they were granted one league of land by the Mexican Government. The Kennard family came to Grimes County as part of Stephen F. Austin's Second Colony and settled land east of Anderson which they farmed. In 1835, the family arrived on Gibbon's Creek. The area was known as "Kennard's Prairie", today known as Roan's Prairie". A. D. Kennard joined Moore's military expedition in an attempt to council and arrange a treaty with the Tehuacana Indians.

The Kennard’s took little interest in local political affairs, but when the Revolution between Texas and Mexico broke out, four of Kennard’s sons joined the Texas Army and fought all through the war until Texas won her independence.

Centennial Marker for Anthony Drew Kennard and his wife Sarah

The Kennard home was a wooden frame 2 story house with three bay front, a gable roof, shed roofed porch at front and lean to rooms at rear and one gable end. Stone chimney at other gable. It was built in 1832.

Anthony Drew Kennard died in 1848. His wife Sarah Moore became a widow at his death. He was buried at Kennard Family Cemetery in Grimes County, Texas, six miles north of Anderson. A single grave marker identifies the graves of Sarah Moore and Anthony Drew Kennard and Michael Moore Kennard.

In the 1850 Census for Grimes County Sarah Kennard owned 10 slaves but that number dropped to 5 in 1860 but her sons also owned slaves as well.

They had 9 children: Rachael married Henry Fanthorp (Fanthorp Inn), Michael Moore married Mary Ann R. Womack, they had 4 children: John H. Kennard, married Hattie Brown; Stella married Gary Thomas;

Anthony Drew Kennard Home Lizzie married Jack Hurst; and Mary Lou.

PAGE 10 GRIMES COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016

Children of Anthony and Sarah Kennard

1. Michael Moore Kennard b. 27 July 1809, d. 7 July 1895 2. Louisiana Kennard b. 23 May 1811 d. 13 September 1822 3. Rachel Virginia Kennard b. circa 1813, d. 2 November 1867 4. William Everett Kennard b. 16 July 1815, d. 2 February 1899 5. Anthony Drew Kennard Jr. b. 8 December 1818, d. 21 October 1885 6. Marcus L. Kennard b. 24 September 1821, d. 24 April 1897 7. John Robert Kennard b. 25 July 1826, d. 27 October 1884 8. Sarah Louise Kennard b. 25 February 1829

Letter dated February 25, 1860 from Michael Kennard to his brother A. D. Kennard Jr. – Dear Brother, After a long lapse of time I have at last determined to write you. We are all well and the health of our community is tolerable, good. David’s letter to Drew was received on the Eighteenth. Drew is now going to school at Plantersville and getting along very well – Since I last wrote to you there has been some important changes in our family affairs which will no doubt be interesting to you. Mother has sold her place to Mr. Fanthorp for ($12,240) Twelve thousand, two hundred and forty dollars, and has divided out a part of her negroes among the children. Rose and her family were appraised at $3,000 and went to Mr. Fanthorp; Henrietta and Fox were appraised at $2,000 and came to me. Tom was appraised to John at $1,700. Austin was appraised at $1,500 and set apart for

you; and Abella was appraised at $1,500 and went to Mark – the appraisement was made by persons chosen by the children. Mr. Fanthorp chose Dr. Patrick, John chose Elisha Floyd, Mark chose Mr. Robert Geter for you and myself, I took the liberty on your part in your absence believing that you would sanction what I have done. The appraisers set the value on the negroes first and then mother divided them out as she wished them to go. She had given John also $1,000 in money which makes his portion amount to $2,700 and she intends making each one share equal with John’s. She intends to sell her horses and cattle as soon as she can conveniently and wishes for you and William to come down and I would like for you both to be here also. We have had a very severe winter and a great deal of the stock throughout the county around us have died from the effect of it. Mother has lost a great many and it can’t be known how many have died until spring. The corn is scarce and worth from one dollar to one dollar and fifty cents per bushel but I have abundance to supply me. As I promised you I went to Austin and attended to your business. This you have no doubt learned since. If possible don’t fail to come down soon, as I wish you to be here and see to your interests yourself, so that you will be satisfied. Mother will not commence house keeping for a year if she ever does again. I am disposed to believe that she will not keep house for herself any more. I could write you many other matters that would probably afford you some interest in relation to my own affairs but time and space will not permit at present. When you come down we can talk over all small matters of family interest. Please write to me on the reception of this and let me know how you are getting along and when you will be down, and also when William will come with you and when he will come. Write me everything interesting that is going on in your neighborhood and believe me. Your affectionate brother, M. M. Kennard

PAGE 11 GRIMES COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016

Letter from Michael Kennard to his brother A. D. Kennard Jr. dated January 4, 1861 My dear brother, a long time has elapsed since there has been any written correspondence between us and I am free to confess that at last an equal sham of the fault is mine but it is not worthwhile to fill up half a letter with apologies and excuses suffice it to say that I know that it has not been for the want of brotherly feeling on my part and have the fullest confidence that it has not been on yours. Well another year has passed away and turned its year of events into the history of the world and whether better or worse one thing is certain we are older and though there may be much to regret in the undivided history of each yet there is much to be thankful for, for what has been bad might have been worse and which a merciful providence continues to extend to us the great born life we may repent, we may improve, and we should be grateful for the opportunity to repent and to improve and use it accordingly but enough of this moralizing. We are all well and when I say we, in this context I mean the whole generation of Kennard’s and their kin in these parts. Mother is staying at Mr. Fanthorp’s and appears to be as well contented as could be expected under the circumstances. I call and spend a while with her almost every day. She has a comfortable room to herself where I most always find her alone, as I mostly make my calls immediately after breakfast or dinner, which affords me a pleasant opportunity to chat about old times or the absent ones of the hold household who are never forgotten. You know she is the same dear, good, kind old mother with a heart ever warm and beaming with love for us all, thinking of us, talking of us, and best of all, praying for us. May God always bless our dear old mother and grant her yet a long, quet peaceful evening of rest in her declining years. And may we all profit by the fine Christian example she has lived and acted before us and strive to perform the great duty that evolves on us as her children to follow her example as more calculated than

anything else to conduce to her happiness and peace at the close of her journey of life. But I am moralizing again it seems that I am in that mood tonight and can’t relish it. My family are now and have been for more than two weeks, yes almost three weeks in Houston on a visit to my wife’s parents and I have been at home almost alone during their absence. Then you think it is no wonder that I am not very lively tonight. I assure you it does go hard for the wife and little ones to be away from me, but in three or four more days I trust we will all be together at home again. I shall go down for them next day after tomorrow if nothing happens to prevent. Very poor crops were made in this part of the county last year. Mine was almost an entire failure, which you know was cultivated to discourage a new beginner in the farming business. But I shall not despair yet. I shall try again and harder this year. I have done pretty much all the law business but it has taken nearly all I could make to support my family owning to a failure in seed crop. And there is no chance now to collect what is owing to me and therefore I am like almost every body else in these parts not able to pretend to meet my debts so every body or nearly every body is pressed with the reality of hard times. Through frank providence I have enough to eat and wear for me and mine for the present and if I make a good crop I think I can straighten out next year. There is considerable political excitement here but I am happy to sat that not with standing hard times that we are nearly all about the right way of thinking politically when I say right I mean that we are in favor of secession and nothing shorter will satisfy us. I am for the old “Lone Star Republic” once more and forever. I have lost all confidence in the union and hope and trust it will be dissolved soon, very soon to sooner the better. I had rather sacrifice all that I have and my life with it than submit to a “Black Republican President.”

PAGE 12 GRIMES COUNTY HISTORICAL COMMISSION NEWSLETTER FEBRUARY 2016

Grimes County Cemetery Books Volumes 1-4. Each volume sells for $75 each or you can purchase the entire set of books for only $150. For more information Contact John Ray Maxwell at 936-394-8273.

Navasota Bluebonnet Books can be purchased for only $75 at the Blues Alley

Volume 1 – North (Bedias/Iola/Keith) Volume 2 – Central (Anderson/Shiro/Roans Prairie/Singleton) Volume 3 – South (Courtney/Plantersville) Volume 4 - Navasota

Grimes County Heritage and Progress books

are $100 each. For more information contact Russell Cushman.