The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 3, July 1899 - April, 1900 Page: 2
294 p. : ill., maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
2 Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
The facts in the case are at least partially disclosed by Mr. Lewis's ac-
count.
The initials of Mr. Lewis do not appear on the copy, nor have I been
able to learn them.
The narrative is to be concluded in the next number.-EDITon QARn-
TERLY.]
I have here set down a portion of my peregrinations and the
incidents of an eventful life, which at one time led me to become
one of Col. S. F. Austin's recruits to colonize a portion of Texas,
as early as the year 1821. A thoroughly detailed account of my
adventure and return to the then United States will be found in
the following pages.
I feel it right and incumbent upon me to allude to my parentage
and my antecedents in early life. My father was an Irishman of
education. He arrived in time to participate in the war of '76,
and was contemporary with Boone on his second trip from North
Carolina to the wilds of the "Bloody ground" in Kentucky. The
termination of the war left him, as it had done with thousands of
others, poor and destitute, with quite a large family to support;
he therefore opened a school of learning in one of the northwestern
counties. It was well patronized, for schools and learning in that
quarter had been long neglected. Many grown up boys and girls
and young men were nearly beginners in the lower and ordinary
branches, such as spelling and reading and writing. My first rec-
ollections are at some four or five years old, with Webster's spell-
ing book in my hand, on a bench with some ten or more in a like
occupation.
Some time after this my father was induced to move further
southwest into Christian county, where he again opened a semi-
nary. It was soon filled to overflowing. I had by this time grown
to 10 or 11 years of age and my improvement was far beyond my
years. I became quite an assistant to him in his daily labors in
taking charge of the less advanced pupils, at the same time ad-
vancing myself by continued repetitions of the lessons of each
pupil, there generally being twenty or twenty-five that had the
same lesson.
Our locality there was known as "The Barrens," a kind of half
prairie, but nearly as wild and unsettled as the most parts of Texas
from 1824 to 1830. The growth of population in the upper portion
of the State and along the Cumberland and tributaries had the
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 3, July 1899 - April, 1900, periodical, 1900; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101015/m1/10/?rotate=90: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.