The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 50, July 1946 - April, 1947 Page: 388
582 p. : ill. (some col.), maps ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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388
Southwestern Historical Quarterly
weather became warm and with every appearance of Spring and with
very slight varyations has continued so planting corn was done in January
by many Early Planters altho Some are planting still-the weather is very
warm but very dry no rain since the 2nd week in Jan'y."
On April 5, 1857, Z. or G. Ellison wrote from Tyler to Warren Ferris:
"This evening is extremely cold for the season & tonight may seriously
injure wheat crops. We are too dry for the season everything is wanting
rain here, & this day has been extremely blustering."
Joshua wrote on March 24, 1858: "From May 7th 1856 to Sept. 1857
there was no rain in some places some showers and consequently no crops
of importance made-some settlements some [?have] a little-corn is now
brought from Ohio to New Orleans then to Galveston then to Houston
thence scatters through the country at 2$ pr bushel other things in propor-
tion-there have been 3 bad Cotton years two bad corn years in this coun-
try. ... This spring sets in with an abundance of rain (and it has rained all
winter) and all are looking forward to better times-corn is planted and
up. Cotton is planting."
On June 3, 1858, from Washington County, Joshua wrote: "The wheat
crop was cut off about 3/4 but all else it is highly probable will be
abundant. ... There has been a five week drouth and every thing looked
gloomy-a day or two ago we had rain-at this minute it has every look
that we shall receive more."
On August 29, 1858, he said: "We have had no rain since early in June
but winter broke early and consequently planting was early and the grain
was matured by the early rains-Cotton is not a full crop but much
better than the two seasons past."
In his reminiscences, prepared for the Dallas Herald, and supplied to
me through the courtesy of Mr. Homer L. DeGolyer, I find that Warren
A. Ferris noted: "1837: There were no excessive rains this Spring; I
found all the streams low on my way, yet there was a sufficiency of rain
and crops were excellent." The journey was from Columbia on the Brazos,
via Brazoria, Galveston and Liberty to Nacogdoches. "1838: Winter past,
severe northers succeeding each other with little intermission; boys skated
on the ponds near Nacogdoches; Spring rains plentiful, not excessive,
occasional summer rains; crops good, fine fields of excellent corn, aban-
doned by the Cherokees after the fight. ... Winter wet with some snow.
1839: Rained the entire months of April and May, all the streams were
flooded. Dry summer followed, but good crops were made. 1840: Out in
June, July and August with Dr. King; East Fork dry, all streams low
... out again in the winter, snow six inches deep on Christmas ... reached
Elm Fork of Trinity in latter part of February, about fifteen miles north-
west of Dallas; every stream overflowed from prairie to prairie, rains
unremitingly 'till we reached home the first of April. ... Same Summer
went with General Smith against the Indians in the cross timbers, found
the streams low and the prairie dry and dusty. .... In the Spring of 1842,
streams again flooded. ... 1843: In the spring following visited Dallas
with Jacob Elliot, found all the streams again flooded. ... 1843: In the
Spring went to Washington on the Brazos and thence to Dallas via the
Falls of the Brazos found the Brazos overflowed, but all the smaller
streams were low and everywhere fordable. ... Found the Trinity River
at Robins' ferry from prairie to prairie, but the small streams low,
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 50, July 1946 - April, 1947, periodical, 1947; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101117/m1/468/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.