Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas Page: 364 of 372
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296
BIOGRAPHICAL
Among the many losses ancd misfortunes that attended
this family through the liostility of the
Indians was the loss of his brother, John
McLennan, Sen., who was shot by a party of Indians
from an ambush when within a short distance
from the town of Nashville.
During the winter of 1839 and spring of 1840, he
accompanied Captain George B. Erath on a surveying
tour to the Bosque country: and, being struck
with the many advantages it presented for farming
and grazing purposes, he determined to locate himself
there and nowhere else. The more his friends
remonstrated with him, pointing out to him the
madness of a man venturing nearly one hundred
miles above the extreme frontier settlement, the
more determined was he to carry out his daring
project; and in 1845 he 1nade a commiencemenlt in
improving the tract he now resides upon. In 1846,
two families accompanied him. With his knowledge
of the Indian character, he soon secured their
friendship,-in consequence of which his life was
no longer in danger; but he was continually annoyed
by the loss of his horses. His red brethren
often paid him a visit, on which occasions they
partook of his hospitality, and always had more
than their share or than they were entitled to,
It was no uncommon thing at that time to find
two or three hundred CoGmanches camped around
his house, so that it was ilmpssible for him to
move about without their consent. During their
visits of course his corn-cribs and smoke-house
were opened for their use. Still, with all these
drawbacks. in his exposed frontier home he displayed
to all visitors that real old baronial hospitality
so proverbial among the Highland Scotch.
Nor were his visitors few and far between; for the
fame of the Bosque country had spread far and
wide, and he was visited by every hunter, whether
of land or game; and we can assure our readers
that the Honorable George E. Burney did no more
than justice to the old Patriarch of Bosque, when,
the bill to create the county of McLennan being
under discussion in the house of Representatives,
on a motion to strike out the name of McLennan
county and insert another name, he paid a truthful
and handsome tribute to Neil MeLennan, which
had the desired effect of removing all opposition,about forty miles above; in consequence of which
the most hostile of the Indians ceased their visits.
Hle was ever ready to accommodate the wayfarer
or his friends,-active for his age, never calling
upon another to do that which he himlself was
able to accomplish; and very frequently, liearing of
a friend being within two nmiles of h-is house, he
would walk over to visit him, and invite him
to his home. He was blessed witli four sons and
two daughters.
A VAItRO, JOSE ANTONIO, was born in
San Antonio de Bexar, the then province
of Texas, on the 27th of February, 1795.
His father, Don Angel Navarro, .a native
of the island of Corsica, was. an officer in the Spanish
army: having. resigned his commission, he
immigrated to lMexico, and was married in San
Antonio to Donna Josepha Ruiz de Pesia, a Spanish
Creole of noble descent. The subject of this sketch,
when but ten years old, was sent by his father to
one of the best schools at Saltillo, where he remained
a few years, and then returned to San Antonio,
whlen he was placed in one of the commercial
houses there, in which he contiInued until
after his father's death. In 1813, after the disastrous
defeat of the patriot forces on the Mledina
by the Spanish General Arredondo, Jose Antonio
Navarro immigrated as a refugee to the State of
Louisiana; for, although he was theni but seventeen
years old, he had to undergo the same fate
as some of his relatives, who had taken an active
part in that revolution. After remlaining three
years in Louisiana, he returned to San Antonio,
his mother lhaving obtained the royal amnesty for
him previously to his doing so. :)n his arrival at
home, he found his mother and family in a destitute
condition: she was pale and emaciated, worn
out with cares and troubles, having been left a
widow, land had expended all the means left her
by her husband in the support of herself and
family. As some of Navarro's relatives had taken
part in the revolution of 1813, the family were
ever after treated with scorn and persecution, andI
and thus this county obtained its name. looked upon wuithl suspicion by the Spanish authorIn
1848, a ranging company, under the command ities at San Antonio. At this gloomy period of
of Captain Shapley P. Ross, was stationed a short his life, Navarro had to toil and labor exceedingly
distance b:elow the residence of McLennan. This to obtain a'scanty living; but, even in the' midst
tended to keep the Indians back, and gave the of poverty and need, all the time he could spare
young settlement peace. In 1849, General Harvey he devoted to reading. During this period, he sueremoved
the troops to Fort Graham, on the Brazos, ceeded in acquiring some knowledge of the laws of
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Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas, book, 1880; New York. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth5827/m1/364/: accessed March 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .