The Quarterly of the Texas State Historical Association, Volume 7, July 1903 - April, 1904 Page: 68

68 Texas Historical Association Quarterly.
notorious Monroe Edwards, as he sat at table eating; of how his
entire meal seemed to consist of sweet potatoes, and of the huge
proportions assumed by the pile of skins at the side of his plate; of
his rich and gaudy attire, his flashing diamonds, and his gaily
caparisoned horse.
"The next stage of the journey was . . . on board the Yellow-
stone to Brazoria, where two weeks were spent at the boarding house
of Mrs. Jane Long, whose romantic history was listened to with
unflagging interest by all.
"The first congress of the Republic of Texas was in session at
Columbia, only a few miles distant, and General Sam Houston, the
President, with other distinguished men, were frequent guests at
Mrs. Long's............
"The final stage of the trip to Harrisburg was made on horse-
back, the distance being about 50 miles, and nearly every foot being
covered by water-Mrs. Harris standing in her doorway, saw them
from afar, and impatiently waited to welcome them-and such a
welcome after years of separation, hardships and dangers! ........
"A mutual affection sprang up between Miss Harris and Captain
Briscoe and on August 17, 1837, her eighteenth birthday, they were
married by Mr. Isaac Batterson, a Justice of the Peace.
"Shortly after his marriage, Captain Briscoe received an appoint-
ment from President Houston as Chief Justice of Harris county,
and this necessitated his living in the city of Houston, in view of
which he purchased a two-story house in process of building on
Main street (the first one ever built there), one block from the
Capitol. At the expiration of his term of office, Mr. Briscoe returned
to Harrisburg, built a brick house and engaged in the cattle busi-
ness. Here in the pursuit of a healthful and lucrative business, he
and his wife enjoyed, for ten years, that full measure of happiness
that comes 'to congenially mated people. Many hours were passed
in intellectual pursuits, reading together their favorite authors, and
,when desiring a change, the young wife being fond of horse-back
exercise, . . . would accompany her husband on excursions to the
prairies, when attending 'to his cattle interests. In his trips over
the unsettled country to look after land that had come to them
through purchase, or as grants from government, they often pene-
trated regions into which savage Indians made incursions every few
weeks.......