Mariann Fisk Laughlin Judge John Greenleaf Fisk 1807-1888 Born in Albany, New York, Greenleaf, "Leaf," Fisk, came to Texas in 1834 in search of land and adventure. He married Many Ann Manlove, daughter of Colonel Bartholomew Manlove, in 1835. Greenleaf was a lawyer, surveyor, land speculator, rancher and San Jacinto veteran. During his lifetime, he held the office of clerk of the district court of Bastrop County, member of the House of Representatives from Bastrop County, mayor of Bastrop, Chief Justice of Bastrop County, Supreme Court Judge of Texas, first county judge of Williamson County, first county judge of Brown County, District Clerk, County Surveyor, County Clerk, County Treasurer, and Justice of the Peace. He is also known as the "Father of Brownwood."   Bartholomew Manlove 1775-1855 Bartholomew Manlove came to settle in Texas in 1832. He had lived off and on in East Texas for several years prior to his move from Kentucky, with some of his family, to Bastrop. He was thus, much older than he appears in this picture and beginning a second career. He helped organize the Committee on Safety and Correspondence, was a member of the First Consultation, and served as mayor of Bastrop in 1837, 1838, 1842 and 1845. During the First Runaway Scrape, he saved the Milam Colony land records by taking them to San Augustine.

Alyce Annette Boscamp Clarke Ferguson Nathaniel R. Brewer A natural adventurer, Nathaniel Breuyer ran away from his home in Paris to keep from becoming a Catholic priest. He landed in Augusta, Maine, changed his name from Breuyer to Brewer and married Mary Ann Smith. Feeling Maine too cold, the young couple migrated south, and their first child was born in Bexar. Nathaniel made regular trips to the courthouse steps, shrewdly buying properties auctioned off for unpaid taxes, and in time, he became a large landowner. He had goods shipped to Camargo from New Orleans, and soon the family began selling merchandise far into Mexico. Although officials confiscated their goods, Nathaniel refused to give up and went deeper into the jungle to the Istmo de Thuantepec, where officials would not bother his family that had grown to four daughters. Nathaniel died there of unknown causes while Mary and the girls remained for several years, battling to get documentation of ownership of their homestead. Eventually they relocated to Goliad, Texas, to be near Mary's sister, Jane. A picture of Nathaniel survived a bad storm in Goliad, the pieces lovingly put back together by a family who never forgot the daring French runaway.

JoNell Majors & Kay Valenta George "Shorty" Allen 1819-1907 A native of New York, George Allen arrived in Galveston as a boy of seventeen in 1836. He established himself as a tailor in Bastrop, in 1839 receiving a land grant of 320 acres in what is now Travis County. However, he sold the land and remained in Bastrop, was appointed constable and later elected alderman. In 1846, he was elected mayor from 1846-1848 and 1850-1852. From 1862-1867 he was the tax assessor, and in 1866 he served as county judge. He married Margaret Anderson, whose family, the Carter Andersons, had arrived in Bastrop in 1832 from Missouri. George and Margaret eventually had six children: Benjamin, Richard, Ruth, Lou Ellen, Hanna, and Lucy. An Indian fighter, George organized raids against marauding Indians. Aldermen appointed George as chairman of a committee to build roads. In 1851, George contracted with the city to build a picket fence around the cemetery now known as Fairview, built high on a hill to protect mourners from lurking Indians. In lieu of some of the payment, George asked for 280 acres northeast of Bastrop near Mount Bethel Cemetery. He and his family lived there until 1900, at which time they moved to the Oak Hill community, 5 miles southeast of McDade. George died in 1907, and he and his wife are buried in the cemetery he fenced - a man short in stature but tall in action.

Willie Dee Scott Gattis Hannah Idella Gattis Grothues Patti Mauck Gordon C. Jennings 1782-1836 Born in Windham, Connecticut, the eldest son of a Revolutionary War soldier, Gordon C. Jennings moved to Missouri in the early 1820s. There he met and married a young woman with two children from previous marriages, Catherine Cynthia Overton Avery McCutcheon. Four more children were born to the couple, and desiring free land in Texas, Gordon took his family, and along with his brothers, moved to Bastrop, Stephen F. Austin's "Little Colony," in 1833. Incensed that the Mexican government had, among other things, failed to provide a system of public education, trial by jury, and freedom of religion, Texans revolted. Further enticed by the promise of land grant compensations, Gordon enlisted in the Texas militia in July of 1835 under Captain R.M. (Three-Legged Willie) Williamson in the command of Col. John H. Moore. In December, Gordon re-enlisted under Colonel William B. Travis. At the Alamo, Gordon, as the oldest soldier there, could have left without taint to his reputation, but he elected to stay to the end. As a corporal in Captain William R. Carey's artillery company, Gordon was probably manning the artillery when following a thirteen day siege, the Mexican army, after being hurled back twice by furious artillery and rifle fire, stormed the garrison. At the end of an hour and a half of brutal hand-to-hand combat, Gordon and his fellow soldiers lay dead. Later that month, Gordon's brother Charles would die at the massacre at Goliad. His contemporaries regarded Gordon Jennings as a kind, respectable man--a man who only wanted to provide a better place for his family. He did that and more, leaving behind a legacy of bravery that will endure as long as the spirit of the Alamo lives in the hearts of men. Catherine Cynthia Overton Jennings 1790-1867 Born in Perquimans County, North Carolina, at age 18, Catherine Overton married seaman Vinson Avery, and her sister Alice married his brother Frederick. Catherine and Vinson had one son, Willis, but Vinson died at sea soon after their marriage. Desiring to be near her sister and brother-in-law, Catherine and Willis joined a wagon train for Tennessee. There she married William McCutcheon and bore two more sons, William and Collin. The marriage was not a happy one, however, and ended in divorce six years later. Catherine took her two oldest boys and once again followed her sister and brother-in-law, this time to Missouri. In Lincoln County, she met and married Gordon C. Jennings. Four children were born to them there, but the lure of Texas was strong, and in 1833, the blended family traveled three months through Arkansas, Nacogdoches, and on to the town of Bastrop, or Mina, as it was called then. Situated on the banks of the Colorado River, Bastrop was constantly beset by Indians who raided and plundered, and many nights Catherine and her family listened to the screams of war whoops. Catherine lost her husband Gordon at the Alamo. Her sons William and Willis were Texas "Mina Volunteers" with Captain Jesse Billingsley, and Willis fought at the Battle of San Jacinto. An uncommon woman in so many ways during her lifetime, Catherine died at the age of 99 at the home of her son, William McCutcheon, in Williamson County.

Willie Dee Scott Gattis Hannah Idella Gattis Grothues Patti Mauck The Ride of Katy Jennings by Linda Sioux Henley Catherine Jennings Lockwood 1825-1911 In 1833, at the age of seven, Catherine Jennings settled in Bastrop, Texas, with her parents Gordon Jennings and Catherine McCutcheon. Three years later, her father joined Colonel Wm. B. Travis in San Antonio. When news reached the family that the Alamo had fallen, and Santa Anna and his army were marching through Texas to attack Sam Houston and his men, Catherine's mother placed her on a horse to warn their neighbors. At age ten, riding bareback, Catherine made her way for miles, warning terrified settlers of the coming of the Mexican army and Santa Anna's edict of "no quarter." Six years later, Catherine married Casper Whistler and moved north to Fannin County. Indians attacked the cabin they occupied with two other families, killing and scalping Catherine's husband and another man. Catherine went for help, walking miles through brambles, her clothes torn almost off, sustaining cuts that would leave scars for the rest of her life. One of her rescuers was Sylvester Lockwood, whom she later married. Unhappy staying in the area, the couple moved south to Manor in Travis County. After raising many children and adopting several orphans, Catherine died at the age 85, a woman of incredible courage and fortitude. Sylvester Lockwood 1813-1889 Born in Kentucky in 1813, Sylvester Lockwood so disliked the man his mother married after his father's death, he ran away from home. In 1841, he ended up in Texas. Two years later, he met and married a young widow, Catherine Jennings Whistler. Selling the land they owned in North Texas, the couple moved south, settling near Austin in the community of Manor. Despite not being able to write, Sylvester became a successful businessman. He owned a freight line, moving goods between Houston, Austin and New Orleans. Although he also owned half interest in the C.W. Lucas Distillery, most of Sylvester's wealth came from the large tracts of land he owned and farmed for cotton. Overcoming the drawbacks in his life-orphaned by the death of his father, an unhappy childhood, and being unable to write-Sylvester found success in Texas. He married and built a large family, and became an accomplished business entrepreneur and farmer. He is buried next to his wife, Catherine, in Lockwood Cemetery near Manor.

Jo Garoutte Rebecca Jane Coleman Derrick 1833-1927 Rebecca Jane Coleman was born in Washington County, Texas and died in Burton, Texas. Rebecca was the daughter of Green H. and Sarah Henderson Coleman. Green and Sarah moved to Austin’s Colony just after the Old 300 in 1831. Rebecca married William Harvey Derrick on March 26, 1861. They built a cedar log house within two miles of both of their parents and had nine children. Rebecca died within sight of her birthplace. She is buried in the Derrick Family Cemetery near Burton in Washington County, Texas. Washington County is often called the birthplace of Texas because it was here that 59 men under the leadership of Sam Houston drafted the Declaration of Independence from Mexico.

Lucinda Wilcoxen Jacob G. Lentz ca 1797 - 1840 Born in North Carolina, Jacob G. Lentz was the son of Revolutionary War veteran John Henry Lentz. After residing in Limestone Co. Alabama, Jacob moved to the St. Louis area and married Sarah Emerson. In March of 1831, Jacob and his family migrated to Texas as one of Stephen F. Austin's original "Old Three Hundred" settlers. The land grant given to him, shown at right, is for a league of land on Walnut Creek in the area of present-day Red Rock. With good horses from Missouri and some Durham cattle, Jacob cleared 15 acres and built a large 2-story home, planting his first crop of corn in 1831. Jacob and other settlers made trips to Vicksburg and Monterey to obtain supplies, going in together on a grist mill that was used for many years. In 1840, Tonkawa Indians made a raid on the small settlement, stealing many horses. Jacob joined his neighbors in going after the horses. They were ambushed near what is now known as Lentz Branch, and Jacob was among those killed by the Tonkawa group. Jacob's widow, Sarah, and their children remained on the property; some of it still remains in the hands of his descendants. Amanda Horton Lentz 1835-1880 Amanda Horton Lentz was born to Jacob G. Lentz and his wife Sarah (Emerson) in 1835 in Bastrop County, Texas. She was a great help to her mother after her father's death at the hands of Indians. In 1859 she married to M. L. Burton, who deserted his pregnant wife shortly before the birth of their son Thomas Jefferson Burton the following year. In 1866, Amanda remarried a first cousin, Gabriel Moore Lentz, and they made their home on part of the original league granted to Jacob G. Lentz. They had six children together, only two of whom lived to maturity. Amanda died in 1880 and is buried in an unmarked grave somewhere on or near the Jacob Lentz property. The picture above is her home with Gabriel Lentz. Gabriel is on the far right, the two women are her daughters Frances Louise (left) and Amanda Eliza (right).

Rene' Tiroff David Strickland ca 1759 - ca 1825 David, a Revolutionary War veteran from New England, moved with his Indian wife, Mary, to Missouri Territory sometime before 1802. David had a lead mine at Mine Au Breton near Potosi. Moses Austin petitioned the government for the land, claiming no one lived on it, and began a struggle between the two that lasted for years, although the courts eventually ruled in favor of the Stricklands many years after David's death. To complicate matters, David's wife, Mary, became involved with Austin and accompanied him to Texas on his quest to petition the Mexican government for the right to bring in settlers David immigrated to Texas in 1821, placing him in the state before Stephen F. Austin and the original Old Three Hundred. As acrimonious as David and Moses Austin were to one another, their sons, James Samuel Strickland and S. F. Austin, became good friends.

Anita Duty Glass Solomon Duty ca 1770 - ca 1829 Solomon Duty born ca 1770 in Louden Co., Tennessee, and died ca 1829 in Bastrop, Bastrop Co., Texas Wife: Susannah Whitmore Sons: Matthew, George, Joseph, William & Richard Daughters: Martha, Mary, Anne, Elizabeth & Mildred Joseph Duty 1801 - 1855 Born in Tennessee, Joseph Duty was one of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred settlers, receiving title to a league of land on the east bank of the Colorado River near the northwest boundary of what is now Colorado County in 1824. He farmed, raised stock and was a tanner. Later granted a labor of land in Bastrop County, he eventually settled with his wife, Louisa Turner, his brother George Duty and three other brothers at Webberville, becoming one of Travis County's first settlers. He was a Travis County delegate to the Democratic state convention in 1851. He recommended the establishment of the Sevier Academy in 1853. He died at the age of 54, and is buried in the Old Webberville Cemetery. The Dutys were known for their bravery. Solomon's son Matthew saved young Billy Hornsby's life during an Indian attack. Billy was the only one afoot when a group of men out hunting were attacked by Indians. The other men fled, but Matthew put his horse between Billy and the Indians. Matthew knew if he fired, the Indians would be upon them before he could reload, so he just held the gun on them, backing up slowly until he and Billy could escape. The Dutys had a horse that became as well-known as they were. After Matthew was killed in a later Indian battle, his brother Joseph began riding his horse, what became known as the "Duty roan." Joseph was wounded in another Indian skirmish. Joseph escaped, but the roan was captured. In the 1840 Battle of Plum Creek, one of the Burlesons killed the Indian riding the roan. He re-captured the horse and the Burlesons rode the Duty roan in many another Indian scrape. At left is the 1826 Austin Colony Census, the original list of the Old Three Hundred, Austin's first colony. Joseph Duty and his brother George's names are highlighted in red. Written in Spanish, it states that Joseph and his brother are farmers. This is a secretary's handwriting--Austin's writing was sprawling. Copies of this document can be obtained from The Center for American History, U.T. Austin (next door to the LBJ Library.)

Margaret Ellis John Newton Sowell 1780-1838 John Newton Sowell moved his family from Tennessee to Missouri and then to Texas, settling in Green DeWitt's colony near Gonzales in 1830. Sowell helped his son-in-law, Humphries Branch, build the first Anglo log cabin in what is now Seguin. A blacksmith, he was one of the "Old Eighteen" in Gonzales. John, Richard Chisholm and Jacob Darst dug up the Gonzales cannon from underneath the Davis peach orchard where it had been hidden from the Mexican Army. They mounted it on a pair of wooden wheels from an Eli Mitchell's cotton wagon, cut up metal to make shrapnel, and loaded it into the cannon. "Sowell's shop was described as "….the principal blacksmith and woodworking shop town….a very busy place….fires were kept burning day and night…." Sowell had improvised "rude work benches" where he and others "….repaired rifles, molded bullets, turned out lances and cannon balls." The story was told of how "Old Man Sowell," as he was often called, knew that ammunition for the cannon was scarce and he picked up iron scraps" around his shop and told the boys that when he heard the cannon discharge he would come running" to reload it with his scraps." The cannonball John made for the little Gonzales cannon was fired by Colonel James C. Neill, the "first shot of the Texas Revolution, the shot heard round the world" In addition to fighting at the Battle of Gonzales in 1835, John fought at the Battle of San Jacinto, and was an early Texas Ranger. John is one of the quiet heroes whose name is not well known, but he was in every way a vital man to the Republic of Texas, serving to the best of his capacity in the most important areas of the struggle.

Vicky Rose Robert Hemphill Millican 1750-1836 One of Stephen F. Austin's Old Three Hundred colonists, Robert Hemphill Millican was born in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, in 1750. The Millicans, originally from Ireland, came to the Carolinas, moving later to Kentucky, and spent some time waiting in Arkansas before the Mexican government allowed them in Texas. Married to Nancy Jane McNeil in the 1770s, Robert and his wife arrived in Texas in December 1821, bringing with them an extended family of over 20 people. Farmer, stock raiser and mill owner, Robert had decisive political views, and his home in the big bend of the Brazos River served as an election site of militia officers. Although over 70 when he came to the Brazos Valley, Robert was anything but feeble, standing seven feet tall and weighing 300 pounds. The first shot in the Texas Revolution may have been fired at Gonzales, but the first recorded fight between a settler and a Mexican soldier happened when Robert struck a soldier at Fort Tenoxtitlan after catching him butchering one of his beeves. Robert died during the Runaway Scrape at age 86 of pneumonia and measles, twenty miles east of the Trinity River between Robbins Ferry and Nacogdoches. Above: Deposition of Robert Groves Millican in a lawsuit over land commissioned to his grandfather, Robert Hemphill Millican, by Baron de Bastrop. What couldn't be solved with fists and guns, the feuding, and for their day, educated Millicans often fought over in court. Friends of Sam Houston, they devoted themselves to Texas independence, serving with conspicuous courage to settle Texas before and after the Revolution. Nancy Jane McNeil Millican ca 1755-ca 1843 Of Scottish origin, Nancy bore seven sons and one daughter. Her daughter died young, and in her old age, Nancy lived with one of her sons. She turned over her property to the two sons who had been her primary caretakers, and after her death, a huge court battle ensued between those sons and the descendants of the other children. In a landmark case, the Texas Supreme Court in Austin in 1859 ruled that old age did not mean incompetency, and Nancy was free to give her estate to whomever she wished.

Undine Judy Sien Joseph B. Beitel 1806-1889 Joseph B. Beitel immigrated to Philadelphia from Baden-Baden, Germany. In 1830, his childhood playmate, Elizabeth Armburst, joined him. They married and eventually had ten children. The Beitel family headed west in 1838 for the Republic of Texas, first by ox-team, then by schooner to Galveston. Traveling by steamboat, they settled in what would later become part of Houston. Joseph established a small bakery and grocery store. Sam Houston would sit on a log in front of the bakery, discussing the affairs of the Republic while eating ginger cakes and drinking cider. The Beitel family later moved to Bastrop, then on to Cedar Creek, eventually moving south to San Antonio. In the summer of 1840, Comanches swept down from the Guadalupe valley, killing settlers, stealing horses, plundering, and burning settlements. Texans organized a volunteer army under Gen. Felix Huston, Col. Edward Burleson, Capt. Matthew Caldwell, and Ranger Ben McCulloch. They overtook the Indians at Plum Creek in the vicinity of what is now Lockhart, defeating the Comanche. Joseph was one of the brave volunteer Texas Minutemen who succeeded in decisively pushing the Comanche westward in what became known as The Battle of Plum Creek. The Beitel family also served in the Confederate Army, drove cattle up the Chisholm Trail, and became shopkeepers, ranchers, and merchants. They helped bring the Southern Pacific Railroad to San Antonio and over the years, donated land and funds for roads, churches, hospitals and charitable organizations. The descendants of Joseph and Elizabeth continue to feel gratitude to this courageous couple who helped build the great state of Texas.

Patsy White John Wylie Hodges 1801 - 1858 John Wylie Hodges was born in Smith County, Tennessee. From Tennessee he moved to Alabama, coming to Texas around 1838. He settled in Colorado County near Egypt, TX. He also had title to land in Goliad County. He lost his first wife, Talitha Morton, in Colorado County. With many children left in his care, he wrote his first wife's cousin, Susan Menefee, proposing marriage, and moved to Jackson County in 1847 to be near her people. After his marriage to Susan, he fathered many more children. Always a proponent of education, he was considered an able and efficient trustee of the Paine Female Institute in Goliad, Texas. A religious and generous man, John made his home a welcome haven to travelers. The photo at left was taken from documents in the Texas Land Office. It reads: "Mr. Wells: You will enquire at the Land office for my head right Land certificate and please forward the same to me at Goliad Tex. The certificate was issued I think in 1839 or 40 and oblige Yours. John W. Hodges Located on the Sandies waters of the Colorado."

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