History 5372 - Early National America

Discussions:

1. Forced Founders

2. Affairs of Honor

3. The Hemingses of Monticello


Review of Reviews:

The Hemingses of Monticello, by Annette Gordon-Reed

Reactions Papers:

1. God's Strange Work, by David L. Rowe

2. Trail of Tears, by John Ehle

3. Soul by Soul, by Walter Johnson

Research Paper:

1. Facts are Stubborn Things: John Adams and His Defense of the British Soldiers Charged in the Boston Massacre, by Jaycie Smith

Texas Tough - book review

Texas Tough: The Rise of America’s Prison Empire. By Robert Perkinson. (New York: Metropolitan Books, 2010. Pp. 496. Illustrations, notes, index. ISBN 9780805080698, $35.00 cloth.)


“Every human being is a potential criminal and every criminal is a potentially honest man” (161). This quote, attributed to a progressive-leaning administrator on Texas’s Board of Prison Commissioners, lies in the minority when it comes to Texas prison mottos. With its renegade persona, the Texas penal system has historically set a tough standard for American prisons. Using Texas as the backdrop, Robert Perkinson’s Texas Tough analyzes the life and times of America’s harshest and largest penal system. Perkinson claims to propose fresh ways of thinking about imprisonment and society while piecing together a more complete genealogy of the modern prison. The author is a professor of American Studies at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa and Texas Tough is his first published book. 

The author’s chief argument centers on how the prison system developed as a lingering effect of slavery. Perkinson documents nineteenth century prison arrangements that originated as convict leasing. Drawing parallels between slavery and convict leasing, he points to the horrific working conditions, the use of force and punishment that usually took the form of the whip, and the meager food allowances as indicators of how slavery and prisoners were treated similarly. Then the author skillfully describes how today’s Imperial Sugar Company was founded with slave capital and built by the convict leasing system. 

In the twentieth century Texas began moving away from convict leasing to the more profitable plantation prison system. Perkinson explains how the plantation prison system was built and thrived, again as an aftereffect of slavery. Politicians intended prisons to be self-sufficient and turn a profit without regard to convict welfare. Contemporary sources used in Texas Tough, usually in the form of jailhouse memoirs or letters, all indicate that crop yield was the most important factor evaluated by prison farm managers. 

By the 1970s Texas prisons were in no better shape than in the days of convict leasing and plantation labor. A revolution was on the way in the form of a writ writer named David Ruiz and his landmark legal case, Ruiz v. Estelle. Citing jailhouse interviews and exchanges of letters and artwork, Perkinson and Ruiz corresponded in heavy discourse on the injustices Texas inmates were suffering at the hands of the Texas prison system, building tenders, guards, and other inmates. With little other support needed, the author points to this one legal case as changing the face of not only Texas’s penal system, but of those across the United States as well. While Ruiz v. Estelle was the first and most prominent prisoner-initiated legal case over inhumane treatment of inmates, there were many other writ writers and several who influenced Ruiz while he served his prison sentences. In addition, several northern states had made sporadic attempts at prison reform for many years. Therefore, reformation of the American prison system cannot be completely attributed to Ruiz v. Estelle. 

Finally, Perkinson concludes Texas Tough with a comparison of George W. Bush’s tactics on interrogation methods of suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay with the Texan theory of punishment. The author postulates that Bush’s hard-line stance, including water-boarding and sleep and food deprivation, on suspected terrorists resulted from being brought up in Texas and exposed to the Texas justice and prison system as a citizen and then as governor. This is a broad claim, especially considering the level and type of crimes of international terrorists compared to the common Texas offender. Perkinson describes the common Texas offender as a black male in his early twenties with no job. This description gives an entirely different profile to that of an international terrorist. 

Despite his sometimes overlong critical assessment of the Texas prison system, Perkinson allows three reformative approaches to the current penal system: stay the retributive course, attempt better criminal rehabilitation, and the author’s own declaration of a War on Poverty. Texas Tough provides overwhelming evidence that the retributive incarceration method is costly and generally does not reform offenders. Criminal rehabilitation has been experimented with, namely in California, but leaves marginal hope of rehabilitating the majority of inmates. Lastly, Perkinson’s War on Poverty alternative provides the one solution to the American prison problem that involves preventative measures instead of imprisonment or retribution. 

Texas Tough goes beyond mere parochialism to explore America’s history of the penal system. No history of that system would be complete without Texas serving as the guiding light. Texas Tough is accessible to readers across the board, especially for those seeking to understand Texas’s infatuation with incarceration.


Jaycie Smith

Tomlinson Hill - book review

Tomlinson Hill: The Remarkable Story of Two Families Who Share the Tomlinson Name - One White, One Black. By Chris Tomlinson. (New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2014. Pictures, foreword, introduction, endnotes, index. $26.99 hard back). 

How does a suburban middle-class white boy have a familial connection with an at-risk black kid? Tomlinson Hill: The Remarkable Story of Two Families Who Share the Tomlinson Name - One White, One Black is Associated Press journalist Chris Tomlinson’s personal journey of discovering his white family’s slaveholding past while also uncovering NFL running back LaDainian Tomlinson’s lineage as a descendant of one of those slaves. Chris Tomlinson aims “to examine America’s history of race and bigotry through the paternal lines of” the two Tomlinson families. 

Tomlinson Hill begins with an introduction into the white Tomlinson family. The author clearly shows an enthusiasm for his Tomlinson ancestry. However, as the author delves into the story of his Tomlinson family, a crucial piece of information comes to light: Chris Tomlinson’s father was adopted into the Tomlinson pedigree. Other than stating this fact, Chris Tomlinson does not explore his true paternal lineage or mention the adoption again. An obvious first step into exploring this lost parentage would be a DNA test, something Chris Tomlinson never seems to consider, but something that would have added an extra dimension to his genealogy. 

Given the lack of written documentation of slaves and former slaves, Chris Tomlinson does an excellent job of piecing together the black Tomlinson family. While the black Tomlinson family from The Hill on is not as large as the corresponding white family, their backgrounds and stories are organized in a clear manner. The author creates a perfect blend between stories passed down by the family and the actual memories of those still living. 

Chris Tomlinson included family pictures of the two Tomlinson families who originated from Tomlinson Hill. Along with these pictures are the direct family trees of Chris Tomlinson and LaDainian Tomlinson. As helpful as these family trees are, more complete and detailed family trees would aid readers in keeping track of the many Tomlinsons. For each Tomlinson family, there are cousins, aunts, uncles, and in-laws that become muddled with the sheer size of the families of Tomlinson Hill. In fact, while reading several of the chapters it is nearly impossible to keep track of who is a cousin and who is a cousin’s cousin. It may be appropriate to note that even the author at times displays trouble in keeping the names straight.

Not many people living today can claim rich plantation owners as their ancestors. The white Tomlinson family of Tomlinson Hill were not only rich, but they left vast documentation of their antebellum lives. Chris Tomlinson wisely lets the Tomlinson family speak for themselves in the form of letters and plantation paperwork. The author organizes this information in a cogent and captivating way. Also, rather than defending his white Tomlinson family’s racist lifestyle, Chris Tomlinson condemns it. He is especially critical of his great-grandfather’s probable association in the Ku Klux Klan. It is admirable that the author is able to separate himself from his history and see the bigger race picture.

After detailing both white and black Tomlinson families and their individual family histories, Chris Tomlinson delves into a parallel look at the two Tomlinson families as he examines America’s history of race and bigotry. This split from a detailed genealogy brings up several questions: Is Chris Tomlinson writing about family history? Or about racism in Texas? Racial discrimination? Without a clear focus on family history or racism, Tomlinson Hill leaves genealogists and those interested in black/white racism expecting more. Furthermore, Chris Tomlinson sheds no new light on slavery in Texas or Texan racism, but merely regurgitates information researched and compiled by others. Many people, some Texans included, are not aware of the Lone Star state’s role as a slave state. Chris Tomlinson is able to bring this this information together, and he does so with unflinching honesty, even when his Tomlinson family members were the slave holders.

Tomlinson Hill is not just a biography of a nonpareil antebellum family. Chris Tomlinson weaves together his white slave holding family with that of their slaves. The ironic twist with these Tomlinsons is that a black son went on to earn the greatest success, upending the social strata of the Tomlinsons in the nineteenth century. Tomlinson Hill challenges the parallel histories of two families who could not have begun more differently, but whose lineages diverged during Emancipation, Reconstruction and segregation, only to reemerge with a sincere bond between Chris Tomlinson and LaDainian Tomlinson. 

Carlton - Seawell - 1910 census

1910 census
location: Dallas County, Texas
date: April 12, 1910

Rupert Carlton  head  male  white  19  single  Texas  salesman
Geraldine Carlton  sister  female  white  12  single  Texas
John P Seawell  head  male  white  77  married 2nd  50  Illinois
Mae Seawell  wife  female  white  75  married 2nd  50  12, 8  Illinois
Rollyn Seawell  son  male  white  35  married - 9 years  Texas
Jessy Seawell  daughter-in-law   female  white  25  married - 9 years  2, 2  Arkansas
Albert Seawell  grandson  male  white  8  single  Texas
Rollyn Seawell  grandson  male  white  5  single  Texas

"United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M2MS-676 : ACCESSED 03 Nov 2014), Rollyn Seawell in household of Rupert T Carlton, Dallas Ward 9, Dallas, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 70, sheet 12A, family 218, NARA microfilm publication T624, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.; FHL microfilm 1375557.

Rollyn Seawell - 1930 census

1930 census
location: Dallas, Dallas County, Texas
date: April 20, 1930

Rollyn Seawell  head  male  white  53  married  US  clothier
Jessie Seawell  wife  female  white  48  married  Arkansas

"United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/HPN7-BMM : ACCESSED 03 Nov 2014), Jessie Seawell in household of Rollyn Seawell, Dallas, Dallas, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0068, sheet 79B, family 1375, NARA microfilm publication T626, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 2342052.

Rollyn Seawell - 1920 census

1920 census
location: Dallas County, Texas
date: January 30, 1920

Roland Seawell  head  male  white  43  married  Texas  proprietor  cafe
Jessie Seawell  wife  female  white  45  married  Arkansas
Albert Seawell  son  male  white  20  single  Texas
Rollan Seawell Jr  son  male  white  18  single  Texas

"United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MC9M-NX7 : ACCESSED 03 Nov 2014), Jessie Seawell in household of Roland Seawell, Dallas Precinct 18, Dallas, Texas, United States; citing sheet 25A, family 501, NARA microfilm publication T625, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington D.C.; FHL microfilm 1821792.

Jessie Seawell - 1940 census

1940 census
location: Dallas County, Texas
date: April 11, 1940

Jessie Seawell  head  female  white  54  widowed  Arkansas
Mollie Oates  loger  female  white  65  widowed  Texas

"United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K4QR-NLX : ACCESSED 03 Nov 2014), Jessie Seawell, Tract 6, Dallas, Justice Precinct 1, Dallas, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 255-23, sheet 13B, family 319, NARA digital publication of T627, roll 4172, NARA digital publication of T627, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.

Leaton Cole Smith Martin

birth: October 12, 1895
location:
death: February 4, 1975
location:

father: Cole
mother:

spouse: Robert Ewell Smith

spouse: Martin

burial

Cyrus Delonguve Boyd

birth:
location: Alabama
death:
location: Henderson County, Texas

father: Wiley Boyd
mother: Ann

spouse: Nancy A. Collins Welch

1870 census

1900 census

1910 census

1940 census

burial

George W Murphree - 1940 census

1940 census
location: Henderson County, Texas
date: April 10, 1940

George W Murphree  head  male  white  56  married  Texas
Addie O Murphree  wife  female  white  47  married  Texas
George R Murphree  son  male  white  11  single  Texas
Cyrus D Boyd  father-in-law  male  white 83  widowed  Alabama
Pearl Darrough  lodger  female  white  40  divorced  Texas

"United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KWK6-13S : accessed 30 Oct 2014), Cyrus D Boyd in household of George W Murphee, Justice Precinct 5, Henderson, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 107-20, sheet 5A, family 78, NARA digital publication of T627, roll 4061.

Wiley Boyd - 1870 census

1870 census
location: Sanford County, Alabama
date: June 15-16, 1870

Wiley Boyd  46  male  white  farmer  Mississippi
Ann E Boyd  40  female  white  keeping house  Georgia
Eliza C Boyd  16  female  white  at home  Alabama
Cyrus D Boyd  14  male  white  works on farm  Alabama
Robert A Boyd  12  male  white  works on farm  Alabama
Leroy L Boyd  8  male  white  Alabama
Mary J J Boyd  6  female  white  Alabama
George B Boyd  3  male  white  Alabama
Samuel W Boyd  8/12  male  white  Alabama

"United States Census, 1870," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHK1-HTG : accessed 30 Oct 2014), Cyrus D Boyd in household of Wiley Boyd, Alabama, United States; citing p. 15, family 102, NARA microfilm publication M593, FHL microfilm 000545538.

Michael Mekalip - 1910 census

1910 census

location: Smith County, Texas

date: April 25, 1910

Mike Mekalip  head  male  white  55  married - 27 years  Poland  farmer  immigration year: 1884

Josie Mekalip  wife  female  white  married - 27 years 11, 9  Poland  immigration year: 1884

Mart Mekalip  son  male  white  22  single  Texas

Katie Mekalip  daughter  female  white  16  single  Texas

Texy Mekalip  daughter  female  white  14  single  Texas

Lee Mekalip  son  male  white  12  single  Texas

Joe Mekalip  son  male white  10  single  Texas

"United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M2SR-GJ3 : accessed 24 Oct 2014), Josie Mickilp in household of Mike Mickilp, Justice Precinct 4, Smith, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 81, sheet 5B, family 89, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1375602.

W. Michael Mekalip

birth: September 29, 1854
location: Poland
death: January 29, 1939
location: Smith County, Texas
burial: Wood-Verner Cemetery, Tyler, Smith County, Texas

father: W. Mekalip
mother: unknown

spouse: Josephine Fabianski

1900 census

1910 census

1920 census

1930 census

death

burial

children with Josephine:

Frank Mekalip - 1879
Mary Mekalip Frederick - 1884
Martin Mekalip - 1886
Ella Mekalip - 1888
Francis Mekalip - 1890
Johnny Mekalip - 1892
Katie Mekalip Isham - 1894
Texie Mekalip Matysiak - 1896
Lee Mekalip - 1897
Joe Mekalip - 1899

Mike Mekalip - 1930 census

1930 census
location: Smith County, Texas
date: April 2, 1930

Mike Mekalip  head  male  white  75  married  age @ first marriage: 30  Poland  farmer
Josie Mekalip  wife  female  white  73  married  age @ first marriage: 28  Poland
Lee Mekalip  son  male  white  33  single  Texas  farmer
Beatrice Stevens  granddaughter  female  white  16  single  Texas

"United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/HV8F-16Z : accessed 24 Oct 2014), Beatrice Stevens in household of Mike Mekalip, Precinct 4, Smith, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0032, sheet 6A, family 105, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2391.

Minnie Lee Clayton Kidd

Minnie Lee Clayton Kidd

birth: November 18, 1881

location: Texas

death: March 3, 1922

location: Texas

father: Columbus M. Clayton

mother: Leanna Boles

spouse: Coleman Kidd

marriage to Coleman Kidd

1900 census

1920 census

burial

children with Coleman Kidd: 

Paul Clayton Kidd - 1898
Earl L Kidd - 1901
Era Maude Kidd - 1903
Evilee Kidd - 1905
John Hollan Kidd - 1907
Elton Herman Kidd - 1908
Johnnie Mae Kidd - 1910
Neal B Kidd - 1913
Juanita Kidd - 1915
Jack Willard Kidd - 1917
Verdon Kidd - 1920

Mary Alice James Morris

Mary Alice James Morris

birth: July 11, 1859
location: Colorado, Texas
death: January 15, 1943
location: Van Zandt County, Texas

father: Nathan James
mother: Elizabeth Causey

spouse: Joseph Lumpkin Morris

1860 census

marriage to J.L. Morris

1880 census

1900 census

1910 census

1920 census

burial

children with Joseph Lumpkin Morris:

Frances Ellen Morris - 1877
Georgia Ann Morris - 1879
Oscar Otilla Morris - 1882
Wakefield Kirby Morris - 1884
Lora S Morris - 1887
Irving Morris - 1891
Sidney Morris - 1896
unknown Morris

Book Review: Babe: The Life and Legend of Babe Didrikson Zaharias by Susan Cayleff

Babe: The Life and Legend of Babe Didrikson Zaharias. By Susan E. Cayleff. Women in

American History. (Urbana and Chicago: University of Illinois Press, c. 1995. Pp. xiv, 327. $29.95, ISBN 0.252.01793-5.) 

She was arguably the greatest female athlete of the twentieth century. Babe

Didrikson Zaharias was also the media’s favorite target, in good times and bad. In Babe:

The Life and Legend of Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Susan E. Cayleff attempts to illuminate the carefully constructed private life and the flamboyant public life of one of America’s greatest female athletes of all time. Babe Didrikson was born in East Texas to working-class Norwegian immigrants. A gifted natural athlete, Babe dominated women’s track and field events at the 1932 Olympic Games. Battling gender norms of the 1920s and 1930s, Babe retired from track and field and soon began to dominate another sport: golf. Babe was known throughout her career for her self-promotion and flamboyant personality. Her marriage to wrestler George Zaharias seemed to quiet speculation of her lack of feminism, but then a close relationship with fellow golfer Betty Dodd cast doubts on Babe’s deliberate attempts to prove her womanliness. Cayleff compares the life Babe actually lived to the life Babe tried to invent through the media. Cayleff leaves readers with her interpretation of the two drastically different lives. 

Perhaps Cayleff’s greatest accomplishment in Babe is her portrayal of Babe through the years she desperately tried to create and manage her feminine character. Cayleff argues that one of the main reasons Babe took up golf was because of the sport’s notoriety as a ladylike sport. Prior to her transition into golf, Babe was repeatedly put on display by the media as a tom-boy, muscle moll, as being of a third sex, and as dressing and acting like a man. As her marriage to George Zaharias and career in golf coincided, Babe intended to show everyone that she was a lady who could compete at the highest level, but at the same time was the epitome of a womanly wife. “All the while I was enjoying being Mrs. George Zaharias. That’s what I’ve been ever since we were married, whether I was keeping house or playing in a golf tournament.” Babe proved she could play both characters. 

Cayleff makes plain the fact that Babe was a bully and mean-spirited towards most women she competed against, but what legacy did she leave competitive female athletes after her untimely death? Certainly Babe paved the way for many female athletes, especially in the realm of self-promotion, but Cayleff provides little evidence of this. Even though Babe had a significant hand in creating the Ladies Professional Golf Association, it was not created because Babe wanted to leave any kind of lasting female golf legacy. Babe helped create the LPGA because she was looking for other opportunities for competition. More exploration into what Babe accomplished for female athletes in general would have added to this work. 

Given the better acceptance of homosexuality today’s society, contemporary readers want an answer to the question: Did Babe Didrikson Zaharias and Betty Dodd have a sexual relationship? Although Cayleff alludes to such, no explicit answer is given. Cayleff should not bear the fault given Babe’s not-so-subtle measures to hide any evidence of a sexual relationship existing. The truth is that there was no answer for Cayleff to uncover. Twenty-first century readers would, however, demand an answer and find Babe lacking in this regard. 

Cayleff suggests that Babe’s intentional cover-up of her sexual life led to a generation of lesbians losing a self-proclaimed lesbian hero. Given the male/female cultural norms and Babe’s desire to appear normal, it is no surprise that she hid her private life and never gave explicit answers regarding her relationship with Betty Dodd. Cayleff rightly states that Babe was too busy shouldering other, mostly athletic, burdens. Even with all of her charisma, trophies, and championships, Babe realized society’s prejudices towards lesbians was an opponent she could not defeat. 

Babe Didrikson Zaharias left Texas with a lasting sports legacy. Indeed, her hometown proudly hosts the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum Foundation, an annual golf tournament in her name, and numerous scholarships in her name. Interestingly, in keeping with Babe’s determination to hide her sexual relationship with Betty Dodd, the Babe Didrikson Zaharias Museum website never mentions Betty Dodd’s name, and while not proclaiming an undying love between Babe and George, George’s name is mentioned in several places. 

Jaycie Smith

The Raven, by Marquis James

The Raven. By Marquis James with an Introduction by Henry Steele Commager. (Austin: University of Texas Press, 1929. Illustrations, introduction, notes, recapitulation, index. $16.64 paperback). 

In his 1929 Pulitzer Prize winning biography of Sam Houston, Marquis James sets out to provide history with an encompassing account of the life of Sam Houston. James’s Houston was a man of many titles: governor of Tennessee, brother to the Indians, Commander of the Texan Army, President of the Republic of Texas, United States Congressman and Senator, Texan trailblazer, husband and loving father. Given the year of first publication of The Raven, it is not surprising that James writes in true traditionalist form with clear biases. The Raven succeeds in giving modern readers a murky vision of the true Sam Houston. 

One of the most compelling aspects of Houston’s life is his tangled relationship with Eliza Allen. James plays the relationship out similar to a Greek tragedy. He builds up the eleven-week marriage between Houston and Allen on a swell of true love, and then lets the sudden separation crash down in secrecy. James is only able to speculate on the cause of the separation, in part because of Houston’s undying honor. However, James’s inability to ascertain more reasoning behind the failed marriage leaves a void in the biography. In addition, James’s speculation that Houston was able to visit Allen while in disguise and without her being able to recognize him on two different occasions is comical, at best.

James claims Eliza Allen changed the face of American history more than any other woman. Sam Houston did retreat into a self-imposed exile with Native American Indians after his separation from Allen. Years later Houston did leave the Indians for Texas. But, James makes a bold proclamation that the unsuccessful marriage with Allen spurred Houston’s claim on Texas. Houston had spent much time with the Indians before, and it is likely he would have again during his lifetime. Houston’s first thought was to settle in Mississippi, not Texas. No one can say what Houston might have done had the marriage lasted longer.

The Raven  is concerned more with the political climate surrounding Houston than with many aspects of Houston’s personal life. James delves into critical points when recounting in sweeping detail both the loyalties and the treacherous relationships of men involved in the United States government and in the founding of Texas. James devotes an enormous amount of space to Houston’s dalliance with Anna Raguet, but put little effort into the courtship of Margaret Lea, his future wife. Not to mention, very little is disclosed of Houston’s second wife, Talina. 

More than anything, James’s biography of Houston emanates traditionalist history. The white male, Houston, is portrayed. Events are described only from Houston’s point of view as the main character. Women play minor roles and most minorities seem non-existent. Much of The Raven centers on Houston’s Texas exploits, and gives very little consideration of his governance of Tennessee or the details of his life spent with the Indians. Slavery from the perspective of a Houston slave is non-existent. Indeed, James does not even refer to Houston’s slaves as such, but instead calls them either a driver or “a surplus negro.” This biography could be read without explicit understanding that Houston owned a single slave. 

James relies heavily on Houston’s own autobiography, Authentic Memoir, for much of The Raven. James readily admits that Houston changed or omitted facts in his Authentic Memoir. It is also common for James to cite as sources second-hand retellings of events years after they actually occurred. Houston’s daughter, Nettie Houston Bringhurst, seems to have been a wealth of information to James, despite the fact that she was a child when Sam Houston died. Other sources originate from elderly people fifty years after events took place. This type of information can not be depended upon for an accurate, balanced account of Houston’s life. A line from the introduction by Henry Steele Commager sums things up nicely: “He (James) has taken folklore and unwritten legends and transformed them into history.”

The Raven comes to an abrupt end with the death of Sam Houston. James draws no conclusions on the life Houston lived, nor the legacy he left to Texas. Where did Houston get his devotion to Texas? What was the significance of Houston’s marriage to Talina? What were the effects of Houston keeping his military plans secret? Readers desiring a better understanding of Houston’s eccentric life would be better served by reading Sam Houston, by James L. Haley. 

Leagueville Then and Now

Leagueville Then and Now

13 Sep 2008

By: Wayne Smith

A land certificate that originated in 1848 was patented in 1850 by Aaron York, surveyor for a league of land in Henderson County, TX, located west of the River Neches on Flat Creek. This area was referred to as "The League" and it is thought "ville" was added possibly to secure a post office. The record of Leagueville (formerly Hopewell) Baptist Church gives the church meeting at the League School House to organize in 1880. By 1855 the Sublett family had gained control of the land and sold it to Matthew Cartwright in 1857. In 1871 B.T. and Annie (Cartwright) Roberts had acquired rights to the property. B.T. died in1887 and Annie in 1903. In 1871 the York heirs sued to regain control of the property but lost on appeal in 1875. The Roberts deeded three acres for school purposes in 1884. Research by Historian Judy Jacobson shows a register of Doctors in the county in 1904 with Leagueville having two.

The litigation slowed the development of the area and only became a community in the late 1800s. Burials had begun on the School property as early as 1863 and it is thought the school moved across the road in the late 1800s where it remained until consolidating with Brownsboro in 1934, transportation making this possible. At the time the roads were un-paved and practically impassable in wet weather. Voluntary help was required to maintain the roads before the County assumed the responsibility. F. M. 607 was built in 1946 and F.M. 317 in 1950, greatly improving accessibility. Clint Gideon and Buell Taylor were the first bus drivers. Later ones were Jess Forrester and Howard Adair, when busses were over-nighted in the community. 1881-1884 records list Georgia Watkins, J.A. Hall, and W.H. Whatley as teachers and G.F. Brownlow, C.G. Hudson, W.R. Murphy, Phelps Smith, and John Rash, trustees.

A Post Office was established on the 30th of March 1899 and closed in 1907. Joe Shelton picked up the mail and placed it on the train at Brownsboro or Murchison. At one time there were two general stores, church, two cotton gins, blacksmith shop and grist-mill; the latter known to have been operated at one time by Rial Adair. A broken and discarded millstone remains and has been placed around the Historical Marker by the cemetery. The I.A. Barton cotton gin moved to Brownsboro about 1915 and remained in operation for many years. The cotton gins were powered by steam and two were said to have burned. Wes Adair fired the boiler for the last time in 1915. Access to the Rail Road precipitated the move and church members moved also and organized First Baptist Church as an Independent Baptist Church in 1909 as it has remained to the present. G.L. Parker was a charter member of both Leagueville and Brownsboro churches.

The blacksmith shop was run by Black Dean and stores were operated by John Adair, J.D. Browning, Will Cooper, John I. Hollingsworth, and Vern Massey. Later owners were Dee Richardson, George Hudnall, Wood McQueen, Garrett Darden, Alfred Kirkpatrick, Russell Williams, Durward Dingler, Robert Tillison, Harrison Arnett, Dewey Williams, Doug Williams, Gip Nichols, Elliout Reagan, Preston Gideon, Horton Epperson and Jack Poore. The old store building burned in 1978 and the church bought the property. The store is now a Kidd-Jones .02 east of the church.

The coming of the Rail Road through Brownsboro in the late 1800s left Leagueville off the beaten path. Highway 31 was built alongside the railroad and Leagueville's hey-day was over. The old deeds call the road through Leagueville the Athens to Tyler road.

The cemetery was expanded in 1946, 1960, and 1998 and contains approximately four acres. There are 800 known graves which include 10 veterans of the Civil War, 7 W.W.1, 46 W.W.2 and 15 Korean, Viet-Nam, and other conflicts. For many years the grounds were hoed and the graves mounded up, but because of erosion and time required in maintenance, mowing was begun in the late 50s or early 60s. Sam Reagan, grandfather of former County Judge Winston Reagan, kept the cemetery for many years and recalled helping dig the first grave. There are many un-known graves as well as some possibly un-marked. An Historical Marker has been placed largely through the efforts of Fran (Adair) Bethea and the Henderson County, Historical Commission. A Memorial Day is observed on 2nd Sunday in June each year. A board of trustees is responsible for the up-keep. The cemetery was incorporated in 1998. The cemetery was recently transcribed by Don Adair, grandson of Rial Adair, and included in the Henderson County, web-site directed by Bunny Freeman. C.L. Gideon compiled a list of the known veterans and flags are placed and re-placed for Memorial Day in May and Veterans Day in November by the Athens Post of the V.F.W. The cemetery maintenance is funded through donations. During the time of the last expansion an old Dipping Vat was found. This was used by the community for tick control in cattle.

The church, begun as "Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church of Christ" in 1880, remains in the original location and was preceded by Rock Hill and New York churches. Charter members were: G.L. Parker and wife, C.G. Hudson and wife, R.O. Echols and wife, J.M. Echols and wife, B.B. Mitchell, Texana Echols, S.E. Parker, Ann Garrett, F.L. Shelton, Susan Lawrence, and M.R. Hopson. Organized as part of Saline Baptist Assn., forerunner of the Southern Baptist Convention chose to become Independent in 1905 and has remained so to the present time. The church currently has 200 members on the rolls with attendance at 150-200. A Parsonage was erected in 1958 and continues in use. With the last addition the plant contains approximately 20,000 sq. ft. at an estimated value of $ 1,000,000.00. Tom Bragdon serves as pastor, with Justin Bragdon as youth pastor and Selman Parker as music director.

Malachiah Reeves, an early settler and Civil War veteran was well known in the area and served as Postmaster in 1906 and 1907, when it closed. He was licensed to preach at Leagueville Baptist Church and was the first pastor of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Black Jack. He is interred in Leagueville Cemetery.

Henry Jackson Fulgham - World War I draft card

"United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KZFM-NMT : accessed 29 Sep 2014), Henry Jackson Fulgham, 1917-1918.

Henry Jackson Fulgham - death

location: Van Zandt County, Texas
date: June 23, 1931

"Texas, Deaths, 1890-1976," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K337-W5T : accessed 29 Sep 2014), Henry Jackson Fulgham, 23 Jun 1931; citing certificate number 31063, State Registrar Office, Austin; FHL microfilm 2135602.

Henry Jackson Fulgham

birth: February 1, 1873
location: Cass County, Texas
death: June 23, 1931
location: Van Zandt County, Texas

father: Marquis de Lafayette Fulgham
mother: Catherine Smith

spouse: Frances Ellen Morris

1880 census

marriage to Frances Ellen Morris - 1896

1900 census

1910 census

World War I draft card

1920 census

1930 census

death

burial

children with Frances Ellen Morris:

Ollie Frances Fulgham
Lillie Sadie Fulgham
Artie Lee Fulgham
Onie Fulgham

Phelps Smith - 1830 census

1830 census
location: Giles County, Tennessee

1 white male under age 5
1 white male of five and under 10
1 white male of 30 and under 40
1 white female under age 5
2 white female of five and under 10
1 white female of 20 and under 30

"United States Census, 1830," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-267-12163-73531-39?cc=1803958 : accessed 26 Sep 2014), 004409557 > image 352 of 911; citing NARA microfilm publication M19, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.

Phelps Smith - 1820 census

location: Giles County, Tennessee

Phelps Smith

1 male of 26 and under 45
1 female of 16 and under 26
1 persons engage in agriculture

"United States Census, 1820," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-266-12406-14515-56?cc=1803955 : accessed 26 Sep 2014), 004433291 > image 33 of 210; citing NARA microfilm publication M33, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.

Elizabeth Johnson Smith - death

death: May 18, 1945
location: Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama

spouse: Gaines C Smith
father: Unknown Johnson
mother: Unknown Thomas

"Alabama, Deaths, 1908-1974," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/JK3H-54N : accessed 23 Sep 2014), Gaines C Smith in entry for Elizabeth Johnson Smith, 18 May 1945; citing reference 10873, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1908796.

Riley Hopson

Riley Hopson

birth: 1900

location:

death: 1979

location:

Father: William H. Hopson
Mother: Julie Pearl Davis Hopson McKay

spouse: Gladys Carver

spouse: Retta Venable

spouse: Roxie Louise Allison

spouse: Eunice Inez Terrell

birth

1910 census

World War I - draft card

marriage to Retta Venable - 1920

marriage to Gladys Carver - 1922

marriage to Retta Venable - 1925

Bigamy Charges - 1930

Dr. Rahm Released on Bond - 1960

Photo with sisters, Ella Mae Hopson Smith and Willie Hopson Kidd

death

burial

obit

children with Retta Venable:

1. Billy R Hopson - 1926

children with Roxie Louise Allison:

1. Glen Ogden Hopson - 1928

children with Eunice Inez Terrell

1. Mary Ann Hopson - 1940
2. Jackie Hopson
3. Riley Sue Hopson - 1946
4. Judy Dian Hopson - 1949

Riley Hopson and Retta Venable - marriage

location: Henderson County, Texas

date: March 7, 1925

"Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F61L-Y8H : accessed 08 Sep 2014), Riley Hopson and Retta Veneable, 07 Mar 1925; citing Henderson Co., Texas, , reference bk11 p249; FHL microfilm 1481022.

Riley Hopson and Retta Venable - marriage

location: Athens, Henderson County, Texas
date: December 24, 1920

"Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FXSP-74V : accessed 08 Sep 2014), Riley Hopson and Ritta Venable, 24 Dec 1920; citing Athens, Henderson, Texas, , reference It3 p383; FHL microfilm 1481021.

Jim Riley Hopson - World War I draft card

"United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918", index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KZX6-TYR : accessed 08 Sep 2014), Jim Riley Hopson, 1917-1918.

Riley Hopson and Gladys Carver - marriage

location: Wichita County, Texas
date: October 9, 1922

"Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FX9F-D2L : accessed 08 Sep 2014), Riley Hopson and Gladys Carver, 09 Oct 1922; citing , Wichita, Texas, License date, reference LN10308; FHL microfilm 1420841.

Riley Hopson - death

location: Tyler, Smith County, Texas
date: June 1979

"United States Social Security Death Index," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/J5QK-GTP : accessed 08 Sep 2014), Riley Hopson, Jun 1979; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

Riley Hopson - birth

location: Henderson County, Texas
date: September 16, 1900

"Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F6G2-7MZ : accessed 08 Sep 2014), Riley Hopson, 16 Sep 1900; citing Henderson, Texas, reference ; FHL microfilm 1481004.

Riley Hopson - obituary

Services for Riley Hopson, 78, Tyler, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday in Eubank Funeral Home Chapel in Canton with the Rev. Mike Smith officiating.
Burial will be in Oak Lawn Memorial Park in Athens.
Mr. Hopson died Sunday in a Tyler nursing home after a long illness.
A native and longtime resident of Henderson County, he was a retired farmer and a member of Calvary Baptist Church of Brownsboro.
Survivors include one son, Billy R. Hopson of Koske, Idaho; three daughters, Mrs. Mary Ann Viken of Chandler, Mrs. Jackie Shaddox of Richardson, and Mrs. Judy Tidmore of Athens; two brothers, Walter Hopson of Ben Wheeler, and Henry Hopson of Brownsboro; two sisters, Mrs. Ella Smith of Leagueville, and Mrs. Willie Kidd; 10 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Bobby Hopson, Dick Rash, Barry Murphy, Tim Worthen, Bill Terrell and Jackie Grier.

Unknown Source

Jim Hopson

Jim Hopson

birth: September 1898
location: Texas
death:
location:

Father: William H. Hopson
Mother: Julie Pearl Davis Hopson McKay

1900 census

I am not sure about Jim Hopson. I have seen Riley Hopson's birthdate as 1898 and 1899 and 1900. I wonder if Riley Hopson was Riley Jim Hopson or if Jim Hopson is a separate boy. Marvene Hopson Lewis remembers Julia Hopson McKay talking about "Little Jim."

Tina Lee Hopson Powell

Tina Lee Hopson Powell

birth: August 20 1896
location: Henderson County, Texas
death: July 31, 1971
location: Tyler, Smith County, Texas

Father: William H. Hopson
Mother: Julie Pearl Davis Hopson McKay

spouse: Clark Powell

birth

1900 census

1910 census

1920 census

1930 census

1940 census

burial

children with Clark Powell:

1. Marley Clark Powell

Julia Hopson - 1910 census

1910 census
location: Henderson County, Texas
date:

Julia Hopson  head  female  white  39  widowed  Texas  farmer
Ella M Hopson  daughter  female  white 16  single  Texas
Tiny L Hopson  daughter  female  white  14  single  Texas
Riley Hopson  son  male  white  11  single  Texas
Walter Hopson  son  male  white  8  single  Texas
Henry Hopson  son  male  white  6  single  Texas
Elmer Hopson  son  male  white  2  single  Texas
Willie D Hopson  daughter  female  white  4/12  single  Texas

"United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MK1L-N38 : accessed 08 Sep 2014), Tiney L Hopson in household of Julia Hopson, Justice Precinct 4, Henderson, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 16, sheet 9A, family 174, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1375576.

Tina Lee Hopson - birth

location: Henderson County, Texas
date: August 20, 1896

"Texas, Births and Christenings, 1840-1981," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F6G2-977 : accessed 03 Sep 2014), Tina Lee Hopson, 20 Aug 1896; citing Henderson, Texas, reference ; FHL microfilm 1481004.

Clark Powell - 1930 census

1930 census
location: Wilbarger County, Texas
date: April 21, 1930

Clark Powell  head  male  white  34  married  Texas  oil field hand
Tina L Powell  wife  female  white  33  married  Texas
Marley C Powell  son  male  white  14  single  Texas

"United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/HLPL-9N2 : accessed 08 Sep 2014), Tina L Powell in household of Clark Powell, Precinct 2, Wilbarger, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0008, sheet 17A, family 361, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2410.

Clark Powell - 1920 census

1920 census
location: Cottle County, Texas
date: February 24-25, 1920

Clark Powell  head  male  white  23  married  Texas  farmer
Tina Powell  wife  female  white  23  married
Marley Clark Powell  son  male  white  4  single  Texas

"United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHTQ-W64 : accessed 03 Sep 2014), Clark Powell, Justice Precinct 4, Cottle, Texas, United States; citing sheet 11B, family 89, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1821788.

Halcum Rash - 1910 census

1910 census

location: Henderson County, Texas

date: April 25, 1910

Halcum E Rash  head  male  white  28  married  Texas  farmer

Ida M Rash  wife  female  white  19  married  1, 1  Texas

Odia Rash  daughter  female  white  6/12  single  Texas

"United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MK1L-3K5 : accessed 03 Sep 2014), Ida M Rash in household of Halcom E Rash, Justice Precinct 4, Henderson, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 16, sheet 7A, family 131, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1375576.

Halcum Rash - 1920 census

1920 census

location: Henderson County, Texas

date: January 12-13, 1920

Halcum Rash  head  male  white  37  married  Texas  farmer

Ida Rash  wife  female  white  29  married  Texas

Odie Rash  daughter  female  white  10  single  Texas

Johnnie Rash  daughter  female  white  8  single  Texas

Eva Rash  daughter  female  white  5  single  Texas

"United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MHYH-NVL : accessed 03 Sep 2014), Ida Rash in household of Halcom Rash, Justice Precinct 4, Henderson, Texas, United States; citing sheet 5A, family 84, NARA microfilm publication T625, FHL microfilm 1821818.

Halcum Rash - 1930 census

1930 census
location: Henderson County, Texas
date: April 8, 1930

Halcum Rash  head  male  white  47  married - @ age 27  Texas  farmer
Ida B Rash  wife  female  white  39 - @ age 18  Texas
Eva Rash  daughter  female  white  16  single  Texas

"United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/CMSK-VMM : accessed 03 Sep 2014), Ida B Rash in household of Halcom L Rash, Precinct 4, Henderson, Texas, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0015, sheet 4A, family 61, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 2355.

Ida Hopson and Halcum Rash - marriage

location: Ellis County, Texas
date: November 21, 1908

"Texas, Marriages, 1837-1973," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F6BX-NL9 : accessed 03 Sep 2014), Halcum Rash and Ida Hopson, 21 Nov 1908; citing Ellis, Texas, , reference Vol O pg 333; FHL microfilm 1034623.

Ida Belle Hopson Rash

Ida Belle Hopson Rash

birth: September 12, 1890
location: Henderson County, Texas
death: October 7, 1931
location:

Father: William H. Hopson
Mother: Julie Pearl Davis Hopson McKay

spouse: Halcum Rash

1900 census

marriage to Halcum Rash

1910 census

1920 census

1930 census

burial

children with Halcum Rash:

1. Odie Rash
2. Eva Rash
3. Johnnie Rash