Brenham Evening Press. (Brenham, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 55, Ed. 1 Tuesday, July 4, 1899 Page: 2 of 8
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£be Evening press
GEO. TUCKER, Editor and Prop.
Entered at Post Office in Brenham, Texas,
as Second Class Mail Matter.
THE OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE CITY
SUBSCRIPTION RATES:
Oae Year'.................
One Mouth...............
One Week................
Weekly Press, one year.
.$4.50
. ,.40e
...10c
.$1.00
and statesmen, our thoughts recur Tilr [
more and more to the history of lib-1 | ||L I
erty, and we draw lessons from the
progress of free government in the
civilization of the world. Our ban-
ner has been planted upon the far-
away islands of the Pacific and upon
the beautiful tropic lands of the
southern seas, as a message to the
world that the rights of man shall
I . r x
The Removal of the County Seat
From Mt. Vernon.
BRENHAM, TEXAS, JULY 4,1899.
j triumph over the wrongs of tyranny,
and that liberty’s circle is not com-
plete until the world is girdled.
Those who stand in the way of
civilization must go down before the
forces of progress. This is the dic-
tum of the ages, and cruel though it
may sound to those whose view of
history is blinded by the white light
of our own day, the survival of the
fittest is nature’s law.
America faces the future fearlessly
and with an unfaltering trust in the
Most High God, who holds the na-
OUR FLAG.
World-fashions change, Vis often said,
The race by noveltv is led.
But our old Flag, white, blue and red,
Shalljceep these tints forever.
kstsirs like burnished gold.
fold,
untold
lears
.fears
THE FIRST SETTLERS.
The City Named for Dr. Brenham, One of the
Hier Prisoners, Who was Killed in At-
tempting to Force the Guard.
Written for the Pkess by Hon. Jas. A. Wilkins,
present Mayor of this City.
Brenham was located and the
county seat moved from Mount
Vernon in April, 1844, and the
place named in honor of Dr.
Brenham, who liued at Sandford
Woodward’s, on Woodward’s
Creek. Dr. Brenham was a
Mier prisoner and was killed in
attempting to force the guard
stationed at opening of the car-
NEW YORK STORE
ClflL SALE!
"oTs " His hand and has abetted roll in which all of the prisoners
each since time began, their work in were kept and guarded b> the
perfecting man and making him Mexicans, and afterwards taken
F - to Mier.
Originally Brenham contained
only 100 acres of land and with-
in the following limits: Academy
worthy of an immortal soul.
SOME DEFUNCT TOWNS.
Kpmgrr. loyal love!
Tt iLti tutgle brain, with heart of dove.
Aspiring, tender, true, ye prove
A world-wide shelter ever.
Open thine arms unto the world!
Tyrants from thrones may yet be hurled.
Yet ne'er shall be thy pennants furled.
Our banner floats forever!
OUR SPECIAL EDITION,
The difficulty of printing a paper
like this can scarcely be appreciated
except by members of the fraternity,
and we feel sure that every one o'
these into whose hands a copy falls
will accord the need of praise that
the effort deserves. To Mr. L. A.
Fridell, foreman of the Press’ job
rooms, is due the credit for its typo-
graphical excellence. T he entire edi
tion was printed during the past
week in the job department of the
Evening Press, while the regular
run of job work was being disposec
of, together with a catalogue in Ger
man for Blinn Memorial College, one
,of the leading educational institutions
of this section. ^
In addition to a fueling of patriot-
ism inspired bv the dawning Fourth
■of July, the PRESS experiences a feel-
ing of what we trust is legitimate
ipride in presenting to its readers this
souvenir edition. Public patriotism
and private pride are swelling emo-
tions, more easily experienced than
described. In both national and lo
cal annals this F the most important
anniversary of independence since
the incubator of nations the American
eagle was hatched. In National af
fairs it marks the first celebration
our natal day, following the success
iful termination of a foreign war.
ilocal affairs it celebrates an incident
of more far-reaching importance
our history. The occasion com
memorates the second edition of in
dependence on American soil, and
recalls those early scenes in Texas
clustered around which are the most
sacred memories which history cher
i-shes, To assist in rescuing these
hallowed memories from possible ob-
livion, in so much as they apply
Washington county, is the best ex
cuse that we can offer for this edition
It will be found to contain many
facts not heretofore published, anc
will prove a handy reference in years
to come. It is in no sense a “boom
edition,” and dwells a great deal
more on our past achievements than
our future greatness.
The liberty, whose advent upon
American soil we today celebrate,
and whose principle of the greatest
good to the greatest number, making-
government the engine rather than
the lash and terror of the people, was
nourished in those dim Teutonic for-
ests where our ancestors hurled de-
fiance at the Roman legions, and diec
for the preservation of their ancient
privileges. In its feeble childhood it
needed isolation for its development,
and was transplanted by the hanc
that guides history to that mist-gird-
island, where institutional govern-
ment had an unbroken growth until
the rights of the people at last came
into conflict with an alien kingly au-
thority, and upon the field of Runny-
mede the vindication of the claim of
the common man to life, liberty and
the pursuit of happiness was main-
tained by sturdy blows and doughty
deeds.
In this crucial year of our nation’s
history, a year that marks the de-
parture from the policy that for a
century has guided our law-makers
Owing to the unsettled condition of
the country during the period of act-
ive settlement, the restless character
of the people, the unknown and un-
certain possibilities of an unknown
land, very few of the first towns
founded in Washington county have
withstood the inexorable decrees of
changing conditions. What is his-
torically true of Washington, is true
also, with an occasional exception, of
every old county in Texas. It is a
question as to whether the iitest have
survived, but not a question as to
whether the oldest towns have lived
to see Texas become a mighty em-
pire in population, wealth and produc-
tive development. Washington-on-
the-Brazos, twice the capitol of the
republic, a financial and-social center,
with a population at one time of >loo
gay and cultured people? the first Cap-
itol of the M unicipalny* the first cap-
itol of I be Jurisdiction, the first,
county site of the county, with busi-
ness houses solidly and substantially
built of brick, three stories high, and
some ISO feet long, may he said to
have passed away from toe earth, as
only a few houses now stand, wheie
once there were more than UXX).
Old Mount Vernon, located 6 miles
west of Brenham, on a high and beau-
tiful prairie, the second county site of
the county, with its public buildings,
prosperous schools and happy homes
is nowr but a memory, the last vestige
being wiped from the earth.
Tiger Point, located six miles south
from Brenliam, once the home of dis-
tinguished politicians, the center of
much influence, with its churches,
schools and business houses, is now
completely t obliterated, anp the
ground upon which it stood, [just an
ordinary Washington county farm.
Rockisland, located a few miles
south of the present location of Grab-
all, the location of Rockisland Acad-
emy, an institution known for hun
dreds of miles around? has followed
Mount Vernon and Tiger Point to a
tomb of silence.
Jacksonville, located three or four
miles north of Chappell Hill, once the
largest town in the county, Washing-
ton alone excepted, has succumbed to
the pitiless decree of fate, not one
thing remaining to recall the days of
its departed glory. There were some
large business houses in Jacksonville,
goods were received by steamers, and
a broad, straight road called the
Avenue, was laid out from the town
to the Brazos river, .where there was
a steamboat landing.
Mustang, a yillage or trading place,
less remembered fb.ap any that ever
existed in the county? was located
two and a half or three miie.s east of
Brenham, and so completely has it
been wiped from the earth’s surface,
that not a man living could perhaps
tell exactly where it stood, and yet, 65
years ago it must have been a place of
some importance, because it was to
this place that John A. Murrell, the
notorious highwayman, fled when
eluding the Tennessee officers, and
where he remained for months. It
was here that the celebrated Texas
Ranger, Mustang Gray, clerked in the
store of one Daniel Barker. It was
here that W. B. Travis, who immor-
talized himself, glorified Texas and
magnified the cause of human freedom
at the seige of the Alamo in the thir-
ties, practiced law in the Alcalde’s
court.
Turkey Creek, situated six miles east
of Brenham? a formidable candidate
for the county site in 1844, when Bren-
ham was selected, is now Mr. Abner
Roberts’ hog pasture.
Old Gay Hill, located two miles east
of the station on the Santa Fe by that
name, was once a flourishing village.
It boasted of Baptist, Cumberland and
Old School Presbyterian churches,
a strong Masonic lodge, postoffice,
hotel, blacksmith and wheelwright
shops, a saddle factory and two or
three stores, surrounded by a country
of matchless beauty, settled by a
class of people as elegant, cuitured
and relined as ever breathed the air of
this earth; now it is only a wide place
in the road.
Union Hill, located three miles
north of Burton upon a beautiful em-
inence, dotted with live oak groves,
commanding an enrapturing view of
the forest north and the undulating
prairie south, with its .sto.-es, shops,
churches, schools and comfortable
homes has passed from the tilings of
time and now fills a place in the grave
yard of towns in this historic county.
We fear lest such a necessity may
arise, hut hope it will never he in or-
der to write the obituaries of Long
Point and grand old independence,
We have naught but the highest re-
gard and best of wishes for Burton,
Brenham, Chappell Hill and all the
live towns in the county at this time.
We hope they may go on from victory
and increase in population, wealth
and commerce, but we would rejoice
if some unforeseen change in our eco-
nomic conditions should bring a wave
of resurection for these places once so
prosperous and happy, now sleeping in
the silence and stillness of death.
H, H.
street was the northjjne, We^it
Street was the west line, Ger-
mania was about the south line
and Market or “Goat Row” was
the east line The early settlers
in the immediate neighborhood
at the time the county seat was
located were as follows: Jesse
Ferrell and--Hurt who do-
nated the 100 acre town tract,
provided the county seat was
located here; Joe Ralston was a
merchant here at the time; Hen-
ry Higgins and family lived
about wffiere Firemen’s park is
now located, and James McCrea
lived on the branch this side of
him; John Tom about i of a mile
west of the court house; John
Brown ft-bout one-half mile west
an 1 Dennis Harrell Still further
west about one mile on If^rrplds
branch; Mrs. Arabella Barring,
ton, who owned the league of
land on which Brenham is lo-
cate 1, mention of which is made
elsewhere, lined just east on the
opposite side of Hog branch;
Dr. Payne about half mile below
and had a grist mill; Sandford
Woodward lived about 3 miles
east on Woodward’s Greeli.-
Some of the first settlers in
1844 and immediately after the
location of the county seat -jj
Bj**lmm ami enumerated in tl_
following list and their busipfee!'
indicated opposite:
J. D. Ghidings, district clerk.
John Gray and family? county
clerk.
John B. Wilkins and family?
hotel and merchant.
J. A. Wilkins.
W. G. Wilkins.
Col. A- M. Lewis and family,
lawyer.
Judge Wm. P. Ewing, lawyer
and editor Lone Star.
James Willie, lawyer.
Geo. W Horton, lawyer.
A. Terhard and family, baker.
Gilbert Lovezusky, bar.
O. P. Carrington, bar.
J. W. McGlade and family,
sheriff.
James L. Dallas, sheriff.
R. W. Fuller, saddler.
John Day, tax collector and
sheriff afterwards.
Dr. John P, Key.
Dr. Ware and family.
John Ware and family, teqtm
ster.
R. J. Rivers and family, law-
yer.
W. B. Pressley and family.
Williamson Price, carpenter.
Vardeman Lee, carpenter.
D. D. Grumpier, district clerk.
Edward McGowan, merchant.
A. J. Compton, merchant.
Daniel Shipman, hotel.
H. iC. McIntyre and family,
hotel,
David Estes, hotel.
Tom Early, deputy sheriff.
Joe Crosby, lawyer.
Robt. M. Elgin, deputy clerk
district court.
D. H. Rankin and -family, edi-
tor Brenham Enquirer.
Parson Johnson Hensley, beef
market and Prophet.
John Hensley, beef market.
Judge J. E. Shepa-d, lawyer.
Wm. and Joe McCutcheon,
merchants.
Capt. Frank Early, raised
company for Mexican war.
Sam Lusk? county clerk.
Thomas R. Johnson, or Ram-
rod Johnson, district attorney,
R. E, Baylor, judge of district
court.
Punch Oli pliant.
Hugh Sberrold.
D. C. Biddings, attorney and
banker.
Sliugog Wilson, merchant.
Alex Simon, merchant.
m
WE HAVE INAUG=
URATED A special
SALE FOR MONTH
JULY. BARGAINS
IN EACH DEPARTHENT
1
OUR ENTIRE STOCK
WILL BE CLOSED
OUT WITHIN THE
NEXT thirty DAYS
TO HAKE ROOM FOR
HfALLSTOCK
ATHER& BUSTER
m
fliscellaneous Stock.
50 Dozen Ladies’ Shirt Waists at the small sum of 15c.
500 yards Organdy worth 15 to 25c, will go at 5c.
50 Dozen Towels, worth 25c, will go at 10c per pair.
300 yards of Wash Silks worth 40c, go now at 25c.
Our Shoe Stock
Consists of all the new and up-to-date styles.
300 Pairs of House Slippers have been reduced to 25c.
200 Pairs of Oxford l ies, worth 75c and $1, now 25c.
100 Pairs of Tan Oxfords, worth $1.50, now 75c.
THE
Made
Our Clothing Stock
is still full of all the latest styles for spring and summer
wear, which will be included in our special sale.
Call early and get the pick of the • 0.
Our Dress Goods Stock
can only be appreciated by calling and examining same.
We have too many bargains to try to enumerate. An
early visit will enable you to secure genuine bargains.
Brenham,
Texas....,.,.
John ^
and attoy _
James C\
French
Robt. D
Brenha
achjer.
teacher
ney.
merchants.
Tis.
the time it was
located Fad only 100 acres. It
now contains within the corpo-
rate limits 15,000 acres, or four
square miles.
Following weie the district
court officers and some members
of the early bar:
R. E. B. Baylor, district judge.
J. D. Giddings, district clerk.
R M. Elgin, deputy clerk.
Van Irons, sheriff.
Hardin White, deputy.
Thomas (Ramrod.) Johnson,
district attorney.
Attorneys who attended Wash-
ington county bar:
Judge Lipscomb, Barry Gil-
lespie, Judge W. S. Oldham.
Gen. Mayfield, LaGrange.
Judge Webb, Judge Mimcon
Hunt, Col. Taylor, Judge Pills-
berry, East Texas.
Judge Smokey Henderson, of
Houston._
PROGRAMME
Texas Independence Monument Association
at Old Washington on July 26, 1899,
Invocation—pJ Rufus C. Burleson, I).
D-, of Waco. Texas.
Song—“America'”—By classes of ’96,
’97, ’98 and ’99, of Brenliam High
School.
Presentation of the Monument—By
Frank II. Dever, Class of ’90.
Reception of the Monument—By Miss
Hallie Ballinger Bryan, of Brazoria
county.
Song—‘- My Texas Land”—By Schools
of Washington ijqcl Grimes counties.
Dedicatory Poem —By Miss Margaret
Belle Houston of Dallas.
Song—By Navasota High School,
Hon. Geo. D. Neal. Master of Cere-
monies.
AT 11:30 A. M., AT HENDERSON’S GROVE
Address of Welcome—By Hon. Harry
Haynes of Brenham.
The Declarations of Independence—
•July 4. 1776—March 2,1836—By Hon.
Jolin E. Linn, of Wharton, Texas.
Oration—By Hon. A. MX Terrell, of
- Austin, Texas.
AT 2 P. M. -TEXAS BARBECUE AND
BASKET DINNER.
MEMBERS OF THE TEXAS INDEPEND-
ENCE MONUMENT ASSOCIATION.
George H. Wilson, President ; J. H.
Hutchinson, Secretary ; W. G. Wi 1-
kins. N. E. Dever, Harry Haynes,
Beauregard Bryan, John G. Rankin,
E. W. Tarrant, L. J. Lockett and H.
K. Harrison.
The association was organized
March 18, 1899, at Brpnhipn.
The idea of the monument wgs lirst
expressed by Prof. E. W. Tarrant,
superintendent of Brenham Public
Schools, and the money has been
raised by the school children,
The unveiling was to have taken
place July 4th, but was postponed on
account of heavy rains,
dding^ & Giddings,
D. C. GIDDINGS,
£>. G. §ipD|N$Sj JR.,
m i*
ESTABLISHED
1866
B
A General Banking Business Transacted.
^ ^
| Brenham, Washington Co., Tex.|
ALEX. SIMON,
DEALER IN,
AN EXCELLENT LINE OF
TRUNKS.
Dry Goods,
Clothing, Shoes
Groceries, &c.
Reichardt, Becker & Co.,
i«|
I
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K
I
1
1
m
B
m
In Gar Lots
BAGGING AND TIES,
P A C KI NG HOUSE
PRODUCTS, FLOUR,
S A L T, POTATOES,
CABBAGE, ONIONS.
ASK US FOR PRICES
i i i i i i j : :
::::::
Wholesale
| Grocers,
Brenham, Texas.
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Tucker, George. Brenham Evening Press. (Brenham, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 55, Ed. 1 Tuesday, July 4, 1899, newspaper, July 4, 1899; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth871883/m1/2/: accessed May 22, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting San Jacinto Museum of History.