The Texian. Calendar of Events. What s Inside. News Release for the 202 nd Anniversary of the Battle of Medina August 15, 2015

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1 205 Quarterly Meeting Sept. -2, 205 La Quinta Inn & Suites Belton, 229 West Loop 2, Belton, TX 7653; (866) , Room Rate $ 0 + tax, cut off date August 2, 205; Please identify yourself as SRT. 77 Eighth Street Bay City, TX 7744 Return Service Requested Calendar of Events 205 Quarterly Meetings Sept. -2, 205 La Quinta Inn & Suites Belton, 229 West Loop 2, Belton, TX 7653; (866) , Room Rate $ 0 + tax, cut off date August 2, 205; Please identify yourself as SRT. Dec. 4-5, 205 Hampton Inn & Suites, 7006 Navarro, Victoria, TX 77904; () , Room Rate $ 99 + tax, King or 2 Queen cut off date November 8, 205; Please identify yourself as SRT. March 2 March 6 March 27 April 2 September 9 October 2 November SRT Events Texas Independence Day Fall of the Alamo Goliad Massacre San Jacinto Day Texian Navy Day on the Battleship Texas Battle of Gonzales Stephen F. Austin s Birthday (Father of Texas) Contact us at: SRT Office: aa-srt@son-rep-texas.net 77 Eighth Street, Bay City, TX 7744 Phone: (979) Fax: (979) The Texian The Official Publication of The Sons of the Republic of Texas VOL VIii NUMBER 3 august 205 News Release for the 202 nd Anniversary of the Battle of Medina August 5, 205 The public is invited to attend our 5th annual ceremony commemorating the Battle of Medina, this being the 202nd anniversary of the bloodiest battle in Texas history! The Battle of Medina occurred on August 8, 83 between the Royal Spanish Army and the Republican Army of the North when between 800 and,300 Americans, Tejanos, Indians, and Spanish soldiers died in this all but forgotten battle which historians have named the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition. Since August 8th is on Tuesday this year, we will hold our normal commemorative ceremony beginning at 0:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 5, 205 under the large Oak trees on Old Applewhite Road. We will have a Color Guard representing the U.S.A., Spain, Texas and Mexico, plus descendants of the men who fought and died in this battle. Due to the heat, we will try to keep this ceremony as short as possible, and adjourn to the nice cool meeting room at the First Baptist Church located at 400 North Reed Street in Pleasanton, Texas, for an afternoon seminar beginning at :00 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, courtesy of Barbara Westbrook, Atascosa County Historical Commission Chairman. Our feature speakers this year include Caroline Castillo Crimm, Ph.D., Professor of History at Sam Houston State University History Department. Dr. Crimm spoke last year at the 20st Anniversary seminar, and you will not want to miss what she has to say about this all but forgotten event in Texas history. Dr. Bill O Neal, the Texas State Historian, appointed by Governor Perry, will speak on the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition. Al McGraw will be back this year and will discuss the historic pattern of Spanish colonial ranchos, river crossings and early roads. Jessie Villarreal will bring his second book that discusses the Tejanos involved in events Robert Kendall, KSJ I hope everyone is having a wonderful summer. In May I went to the Lone Star chapter lunch. I gave a talk about the SRT organization and my ancestor General Sidney Sherman. It was a very nice time. President General s Message I know that historical happenings slow down during the summer. I hope that all of the members and chapters are doing well. We had a nice quarterly meeting in June at Waco. Thanks to Curt Osborne for setting up the hospitality room. Everyone had a good time. Battle of Medina..., 3 President General s Message..., 3 Janet s Korner...2 Chapter News...4, 5, 7 Texian Navy Day...6 What s Inside The Saturday meeting went well. The agenda moved along. One item that was discussed again was the use of the SRT logo. If anyone has questions on this, please contact the Logo committee. Over the summer, an item was brought up in the media, a certain flag. Gentlemen if anyone Historical Marker...8 In Memoriam...9 New SRT Members...0, Calendar of Events...2 cont. pg. 3 cont. pg. 3

2 Executive Committee Janet s Korner By: Janet Knox Administrative Assistant aa-srt@son-rep-texas.net 77 Eighth Street Bay City, Texas 7744 (979) New SRT MEMBERS Name The next Quarterly Meeting is Sept. -2 La Quinta Inn & Suites Belton, 229 West Loop 2, Belton, TX 7653; (866) , Room Rate $0+Tax, cut-off date August 2, 205; Please identify yourself as SRT. You can view The Texian newsletter on the website for free. You may also purchase The Texian and it will be mailed to you for a fee of $20.00 a year. Please contact the National office. Left to right front row: David Stone, Chaplain General; Edward Heath, Second Vice President General; Robert Kendall, KSJ, President General; Bob Steakley, KSJ, First Vice President General; William D. Power, Secretary General. Those members that have not paid their 205 dues are now considered delinquent and must pay a $50.00 reinstatement fee plus the $40.00 dues fee for the current year. You can mail or go to website to pay your dues with PayPal. Left to right back row: David Hanover, KSJ, PPG, Executive Committeeman; L. Clay Fisher, Executive Committeeman; Kenneth Pfeiffer, Treasurer General, Randy Pollard, Historian General. District Representatives The editor welcomes all submissions of news articles and photos for The Texian. Please submit electronic data using the following guidelines.. Submit text in WORD document format; articles may be edited due to space limitations. 2. Submit photos as separate attachments in.jpg/.eps, or tif format. Caption for each photo or after the article s text. Identify the placement of people (e.g.l to R, center, front row, back row), with a corresponding key that matches the name of the file attachment. Please limit the number of photos submitted per article. Remember: All active duty personnel, your dues are waived. Please notify the SRT Office by , postal service or telephone. Chapter Ancestor Hometown Michael Ray Turner 32 Robert White Deer Park, TX Jeffrey Phares Bobo 33 Hardy Pace Pineland, TX Kevin Skyler Cato Christian Smith Mansfield, TX Darrell Ray Dunlop Samuel Chelton Inman Euless, TX Michael Robert Miller Calvin Gage Idaho Falls, ID Peter Gage Molino Calvin Gage Idaho Falls, ID James Burl Cox 39 John Jennings III Abilene, TX George Robert Chall, Jr. 40 John Padre McCoy San Antonio, TX Norman Forrest Porter, Sr. 40 George Joseph Blackman Pleasanton, TX Hillard Martin Soward III 40 George Joseph Blackman San Antonio, TX Robert Marvin Gillespie 47 Joshua Wright Young Granbury, TX Mason Harrington-Hensley LeBlanc 48 Arabella Gray Deve Harrington Blanco, TX Scott Alan Schriewer 50 Ludwig Jauer Seguin, TX George Marvin Cunyus 52 Dickson H. Dyer Kilgore, TX William Bruce Kitchen 52 Wake Village, TX John Patrick McCoy 56 David Baugh Lufkin, TX John Patrick McCoy II 56 David Baugh Lufkin, TX Daniel Joseph Hollmann 57 Lawrence Frank Odessa, TX Robert Emmett Hollmann 57 Lawrence Frank Odessa, TX William Kipling Coe 58 Isaac Decker Pinehurst, TX Ronald Lee McAnear 58 Livingston, TX John Davis Morton, Jr. 58 Norman Austin Conroe, TX Benjamin Fontaine Swank IV 58 Tomball, TX Mark Allen White 58 Isaac Guest Katy, TX Jimmy Lynn Ferguson 59 Daniel Gilleland McKenna, WA Thomas Jefferson Foster, Sr John B. McAnear William Rodney Baker Left to right front row: Arthur Evans, Gulf Coast District; George Nelson, Brazos Valley District; William D. Power, North East District; Bob Steakley, KSJ, Frontier District. (Not pictured: John Knox, Post Oak District) I would like to thank you for the articles and pictures you are sending for your newsletter; they have been GREAT. I need YOUR help with articles and pictures. If your chapter has or will be celebrating any events PLEASE me at: aa-srt@son-rep-texas.net. I will be submitting the October issue for publication; the deadline for submissions is Sept. 25, 205. Left to right back row: Tim Gibson, North Central District; John Meredith, Lone Star District; Jim Massingill, Heart of Texas District; Ronald W. Brown, San Jacinto District. 2

3 cont. from pg. New SRT MEMBERS Name Chapter Ancestor Hometown Andrew Patrick Thomas Byford Teliha Kirby Ferguson Womack Oklahoma City, OK Leo Mitchell Etienne III John W. Smith III Austin, TX John David Phillips, Jr. John Bryan Boyce, LA Robert Don Powell Isaac Guest El Paso, TX Christopher Michael Pryor Washington, DC John Berry Luther Hugh Soules, Sr. Nelon Soules San Antonio, TX Travis Barret Fite John W White Houston, TX Michael John Harris Squire Aathan Cruse Cameron, WI John Carl Harris Squire Aathan Cruse Cameron, WI William Wallace Hunter III Johnson Calhoun Hunter Cypress, TX Tom Cornelius Lane, Jr. Alfred Lane Perry, OK Stephen Wayne Rogers, Sr. James Rogers Houston, TX Joseph Hamilton Tennant John Pettit Borden Houston, TX Thomas Boake Ball 7 Evin Corner McAllen, TX Murf Christopher Troutz 7 Christopher Troutz Eugene, OR William Clyde Kerley 8 William Sweeney Frisco, TX Brian Lee Lenhart 8 Peter Cauble Allen, TX J.D. Humber II 0 Robert Orson William McManus Dayton, TX David A. Fenili 2 Richard H. Chisholm Killeen, TX Seldon Bain Graham, Jr. 2 John C Struwe Austin, TX Ralph Anthony Pacheco 2 Jose Pacheco Lago Vista, TX Levi Rhett Hagerman 4 Joseph Squyres College Station, TX Tanner Leon Hagerman 4 Joseph Squyres College Station, TX Howard S. Motley, Jr. 6 Charles Stanfield Taylor Victoria, TX Walter Edward Rabke 6 Petersin Clinton Beall Fredericksburg, VA Jane Dickens Stepp Goliad, TX William Weathers Christopher, Jr. 25 News Release for the 202nd Anniversary of the Battle of Medina August 5, 205 in Texas that connect to the American Revolution. We always invite representatives of both the Texas General Land Office, and the Texas Historical Commission, and William McWhorter will tell us what the THC has done this past year. I have invited Dan Arellano, who has organized the Battle of Medina Association to tell us what he has been doing this past year. Doc L Herisson from Louisiana, will speak again this year, and tell us what he has found about the men from Louisiana who came to fight in Texas. We always invite award winning author, Robert Thonhoff, Teacher, Administrator, County Judge, who spent years researching this all but forgotten battle. However, due to health reasons, Professor Thonhoff probably will not be able to attend. If it were not for Bob Thonhoff most of us would not know about the Battle of Medina. The Battle of Medina was between approximately,800 men in the Royal Spanish Army and approximately,400 men in the Republican Army of the North, which included about 400 Spaniards, 400 Tejanos, 200 Native Americans, and about 400 men from the USA. In fact we have identified 5 men who fought in the American Revolution who were involved in some way in the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition, with only one Patriot of the American Revolution, Peter Sides having been proven to have fought in both the American Revolution and also fought and died in the Battle of Medina. Direct descendants of Peter Sides are eligible for membership in the DAR, the SAR, the DRT and the SRT, and descendants directly related to any of the 3,200 men who fought in this battle on either side are eligible for membership in the SRT. Over the past 4 years the SAR, DAR, SRT, DRT, Mayflower Society, the Daughter of the War of 82, and descendants of the men who fought here have dedicated markers to the men who fought and died in this battle, and these descendants will rededicate their markers at the Saturday morning ceremony under the large Oak Trees. Everyone interested in history is invited to attend. Signs will be placed where you turn to the west off Highway 28 onto the Old Pleasanton Road about 5 miles south of San Antonio, and 0 miles north of Pleasanton. Signs will again be placed where Bruce Road branches off Old Pleasanton Road to the west. Signs will also be where Old Applewhite Road branches off Bruce Road to the west. The afternoon seminar will begin at :00 p.m. Saturday afternoon at the Pleasanton First Baptist Church located at 400 North Reed Street, in Pleasanton, Texas. For additional information or directions, contact Tom Green at TBGreen3@gmail.com or cont. from pg. President General s Message of you are asked about this issue or any political issue you may decide to answer or not. If you do reply, you will do it on a personal level. You will not answer as a representative of the SRT. The President General is the only person that represents the SRT. I am looking forward to the September quarterly meeting in Belton. There will be a lot to be discussed. Please make your reservations and enjoy a weekend of great friendship. Robert Kendall President General The Sons of the Republic of Texas 0 3

4 James Pinckney Henderson Judge Holland, commissioners, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for inviting me to be with you today. It is truly my pleasure. As we all know, Henderson County was organized in 846 out of Houston and Nacogdoches Counties. But some of you may not know that when organized, Henderson County contained all of what is present day Henderson County, Van Zandt County, Wood County, Rains County, Kaufman County, Rockwall County and the southern half of Hunt County. The county seat of this large county alternated between Centerville and Buffalo and it was not until 850 that Athens became the county seat when the county was scaled down to its present size. And our town of Athens was not named Athens until 850. Prior to that time, our little town was called Alfred, named for our first postmaster, Alfred Mallard. James Pinckney Henderson was elected the first governor of the new state of Texas in 845 and took office in February9, 846, just a few months before Henderson County was organized. It seemed fitting to name this new county for the first governor of Texas and so Henderson County was named in honor of James Pinckney Henderson. Gov. Henderson was born in North Carolina in 808, grew up there and studied law at the University of North Carolina. He was admitted to the bar in 829 at the age of 2 and began his legal career in Salisbury, NC. This could have been your chapter s article Beginning his military service the following year, he was appointed a major in the North Carolina militia and later was promoted to the rank of colonel. In 835 James Pinckney Henderson moved to Mississippi and while there became increasingly interested in the news of the Texas Revolution. He began enlisting men for service in Texas and he and several of his recruits sailed to Texas, arriving in Velasco in June, 8, shortly after the Texas victory at San Jacinto. In Texas he was commissioned a brigadier general in the army of the Republic of Texas by David G. Burnet who was the interim President of the Republic, and who sent him back to the United States to recruit for the army of the Republic. He recruited and organized a company of men in North Carolina and sent them to Texas, reportedly at his own expense. Upon his return to Texas later in 8, he was appointed Attorney General of the Republic under Sam Houston who had been elected President and in December, 8, he succeeded Stephen F. Austin as secretary of state, Austin having just died. Sam Houston said of Henderson, An individual possessing moral worth, genius and talents proper to the discharge of the duties of that office. But Texas had major problems: huge debts, trouble securing loans from the U.S. and from Europe and difficulty acquiring recognition as a sovereign state. Early in 837, Gov. Henderson was appointed Texas minister to England and France to secure recognition and treaties for commerce between those countries and Texas. England was skeptical that Texas could defend itself against Mexico and Texas supported slavery, which England had abolished. France also had serious reservations since it had good relations and trade agreements with Mexico. But after three years, through Henderson s persistence and perseverance, England and France eventually entered into trade agreements with the Republic and ultimately recognized Texas independence. While in France, he met Francis Cox and they married shortly thereafter in London. She was born in Phila- In Memoriam Name Chapter Hometown Donald Lee Clark 48 Llano, TX Bill Cox Houston, TX Otto Gregory Crona, Jr. 56 Lufkin, TX Charles Lewis Garrett 8 Garland, TX Philip Alwin Guittard 6 victoria, TX Gilbert Isaac Patino 40 San Antonio, TX Ronald Roy Woods 6 Clute, TX Carroll Clarke Cook, Sr. Austin, TX Homer Calvin Kelton Henrietta, TX 4 9

5 Progress Report for Replacement of Stolen Texas Historical Marker By: David Hanover, KSJ As stated in the SRT Constitution, Section 4.3. Goals: The SRT shall organize and promote public recognition of dates and places of historical significance to the Republic of Texas with monuments and other appropriate signage or events. At the time of this publication, Piney Woods Chapter #52, Tyler, President Sam Hopkins is working with Smith County Historical Commission (SCHC) Chairman, Rob Jones (also a member of SRT since 204), and Tx DOT, in replacing a 975 historical marker and pullout location immediately south of the Sabine River bridge on U.S. Hwy. 69, in northern Smith County. The marker recognized that 3.5 miles 9 Texas Centennial historical marker located at Burleson Lake in northern Smith County, south of the Sabine River. A 975 Texas historical marker, stolen 3 times over west of the marker location was the Last Camp of the the past 40 years and to be replaced on U.S. Hwy. 69, 3.5 Republic of Texas Army after the Battle of the Neches in miles east of the 9 marker, is an ongoing project of several interested groups determined to preserve Texas July 839. Over the past 40 years, the 975 marker has history, including the SRT Piney Woods Chapter. been stolen three times, and through the combined efforts of the SCHC, SRT Piney Woods Chapter and DRT Charles G. Davenport Chapter, the interested historical organizations are determined to make this FOURTH marker at that location more difficult to steal. The replacement marker is on order from the foundry, due to be completed in several weeks. Chapter President Hopkins is working with a local memorial company to mount the marker into a piece of granite, instead of on the traditional historical marker pole. When the marker was last stolen in 2003, highway workers watched during the day as thieves loaded the historical marker into the back of a pickup. Despite the thieves license plate being turned into the sheriff s office, no charges or marker recovery were made. Since that last time to be stolen in 2003, Hwy. 69 has been widened from 2 to 4 lanes, completely eliminating the pullout location of the 975 historical marker. The challenge of creating a new pullout will be handled by Tx DOT. Watch for updated progress of this preservation project in a future issue of The Texian. In a related matter, SRT Past President General David Hanover, KSJ, Piney Woods Chapter President Hopkins and SCHC Chairman Jones took a field trip to Burleson Lake, the site referenced in the text of the three stolen 975 historical markers. Located inside privately owned Burleson Wetlands, the Last Camp of the Republic of Texas Army (after the Battle of the Neches with Chief Bowles in Van Zandt County on July 6, 839) is marked by a 9 Texas Centennial historical marker. Past President General Hanover had been fortunate enough to make contact with one of the owners of Burleson Wetlands and was allowed to enter the property for the purpose of assessing the condition of the marker. Badly vandalized over the past 79 years, the marker has come to the attention of the Texas Historical Commission; hopefully, in the next couple of years, the 9 marker can receive the restoration needed to preserve Texas history. Photo and edited photo courtesy of David Hanover, KSJ delphia and was educated in Europe and after Henderson s death, lived most of the remainder of her life in Europe. Henderson returned to Texas in 840 and set up a law office in San Augustine. In 844 he was sent to Washington to negotiate a treaty of annexation with the United States but the treaty was originally rejected by the U.S. Senate and Sam Houston, much to Henderson s dismay, ordered him to return home. The United States Senate saw serious problems with possible annexation: A probable war with Mexico, Texas huge debts, a southern border in dispute (Nueces River or Rio Grande?) and an ill-defined western border. Henderson again returned to his law practice in San Augustine and went into partnership with Kenneth Anderson. Following annexation (which closely followed the terms negotiated by Henderson), Anderson decided to run for governor but died unexpectedly, and Henderson was persuaded to take his place. James Pinckney Henderson was elected governor of Texas in November, 845 and took office in February, 846. With the start of the Mexican War in 846, he was asked by the legislature to take personal command of the troops in the field. He led the 2nd Texas Regiment at the battle of Monterrey and negotiated the surrender of that city. Later he was appointed a Major General in the United States Army. After the war, he resumed his duties as governor but refused to run for a second term. He returned to his private law practice in 847. Ten years later, in 857, Gov. Henderson was elected to the U.S Senate to succeed Thomas J. Rusk, his law partner who had committed suicide. Henderson served in the senate until his death on June 4, 858, at age 50. He was buried in the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, but in 930 his remains were moved to the State Cemetery in Austin where they lie today. A little bit about his personal life. - Married Frances Cox in 839 in London. - She died in 897 and was buried in NJ. - Five children. Three died in infancy. - Martha, died unmarried at age 8. - Fanny, married into Austrian aristocracy. (Lived in Europe) - Julia, married Edward Adams and lived in NJ. James Pinckney Henderson was quite a man. - Lawyer - Colonel in the North Carolina Militia - Brigadier General in the Army of the Republic of Texas - Hero of Mexican War. - Major General in the U. S. Army - Served as Attorney General and as Secretary of State of Republic of Texas - Served as Emissary to England and France and secured their recognition of Texas independence and negotiated trade agreement with them. - Negotiated treaty of annexation with the United States. - Served as first governor of the State of Texas. - Served as a U. S. Senator. I think we should all be extremely proud to have our county named for such an outstanding man. Thank you for your attention. Wayne Stafford James Pinckney Henderson 8 5

6 Greetings: Members of the San Jacinto Chapter had a very nice trip to our State Capitol on Tuesday, the 2st of July. We were proud to induct Justice Jeffrey V. Brown as the newest member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas, and a member of the San Jacinto Chapter. Justice Brown is a member of the Supreme Court of Texas. We performed the ceremony in the old Supreme Court on the third floor of the State Capitol. We learned that this room is quite historic, having been used from 888 to 959. It can now only be allowed use with the permission of a State Senator. 205 Texian Navy Day Honoring The Texian Navy Saturday, September 9, 205 :00 AM Battleship Texas USS TEXAS BB-35 Battleship Texas State Historic Site 3523 Independence Parkway South La Porte, Texas 7757 Left to right: Maurice Nassar, Randy Pollard, Edward Heath, Joe Davidson, KSJ, Curt Osborne, Ron Brown, Justice Brown, Robert Kendall, KSJ, and Tom Green, KSJ. San Jacinto Chaplain, Joe Davidson, KSJ said the invocation and Tom Green, KSJ led the pledge. Mr. Ron Brown, District Rep. introduced President General, Robert Kendall, KSJ who inducted Justice Brown into the SRT. As President of the San Jacinto Chapter, I welcomed him into our Chapter. Justice Brown expressed his true pleasure and pride in becoming a member of The Sons. After Mr. Davidson gave the benediction, we all left to have a great lunch at the Driskill Hotel. Curt Osborne, President San Jacinto Chapter The Sons of the Republic of Texas Ceremony organized and hosted by: The Sons of the Republic of Texas SRT sponsored by: The Battleship Texas Foundation With assistance from the staff of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department Contact: Ronald W. Brown / / ron@ronwbrown.com ( for additional details) Come see the U S Coast Guard and Rolling Thunder 6 7