The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 37, July 1933 - April, 1934 Page: 81
330 p. : maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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A Critical Study of the Siege of the Alamo
have a long life later as Evergreen College. Alexander Travis, an
uncle of young William Barret, and a Baptist preacher of state-
wide reputation, was for many years a director of this institution,
which was always a Baptist stronghold in the state. In fact, the
Travises were all staunch Baptists, and while still a young boy
William Barret joined that church.4 In later life he was not
regarded as particularly religious, but he did much to circulate
Sunday-school literature among the colonists in Texas, a service
that was highly appreciated by the women and children of the
colonies." He studied law in the office of the Honorable James
Dellett, of Claiborne, Alabama. In this study he is said "to have
grasped the practical as well as the theoretical side of the subject."
But like many another young man, he was forced to support him-
self while preparing himself for his profession. This he did by
teaching school both at Monroeville and at Claiborne. While en-
gaged in this work, he fell in love with one of his pupils, Rosanna
Cato, a girl from one of the leading families of the district. They
were married October 26, 1828,0 and soon afterward Travis was
admitted to the bar. On August 8, 1829, his son, Charles Edward
Travis, was born.7 A short time later Travis set up his own law
office and was doing well in his profession when suddenly a blight
fell upon his life. Whether or not the tale was true, he was made
to believe that his young wife was unfaithful to him, so in anger
and despair, he left her and his infant son and came to Texas. It
is generally stated that Travis left Alabama in financial straits,
but this is probably not true, since he is known to have left a bank
account of a considerable amount for the support of his wife and
child. It is true, however, that he left all that he had for the
support of his family, and carried with him only enough to make a
start on his way to Texas.s He joined an emigrant train which
went by way of New Orleans and Nacogdoches. After reaching
4D. W. Stallworth, Waco, Texas, is a relative of William B. Travis,
and has spent considerable time and pains to gather authentic informa-
tion concerning his kinsman. He spent several months among the
Travises of Alabama, studying the family history. He has in his pos-
session a rifle that belonged to Travis when he was a boy in Alabama.
""The Reminiscences of Mrs. Dilue Harris," Texas Historical Quar-
terly, IV, 104.
'Travis's Bible, Archives of the Texas State Library.
'Ibid. These entries are made in Travis's own handwriting.
8Travis family traditions, told to me, February, 1930, by D. W. Stall-
worth of Waco, Texas.
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Texas State Historical Association & Barker, Eugene C. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 37, July 1933 - April, 1934, periodical, 1934; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101094/m1/95/?rotate=270: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.