This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/1681.1770.1.1 Message Board Post: Where is the Sand Grove Cemetery? I went to one that had that name or a similar name a few years ago that was on a highway on the way to Milano, I think it was. It was on private property and had the name of the cemetery over the fence but it was hard to read so we almost missed it. We had to go through the big gate and way back in the pasture, passing cows and then a lot of shade trees before finding the old cemetery which was fenced and well kept. I was looking for the graves of my GGG Grandparents, Joseph and Martha Johnson but didn't find them. It is family tradition that they are buried there. If they are, I didn't find a stone. I think there maybe two cemetery's with similar names so I may have been at the other one. I think it is called Sandy Point or something like that. I have wondered if maybe Joseph and Martha Johnson are at the other one. My e-mail address is janemce@sbcglobal.net The one showing on this is my old e-mail address. I don't know why they don't have ! my new one since I go in with it. Thanks, Jane Little McEndree

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/6077.1 Message Board Post: this sounds like my great grandfather but he was married to christina nichols in 1869. i think this may be a cousin? anyones imput appreciated.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/1681.1770.1 Message Board Post: my g.f.&g.m. are burried in sand grove cem.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Bible, Gilstrap Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/9624 Message Board Post: Rockdale Reporter, Thur., 2 Feb 1995 Austin – Dorothy G. Bible, 91, of Kerrville, died Saturday, Jan. 28, at her residence. Mrs. Bible, who had resided in Kerrville for five years, was a former resident of Austin. She was born Oct. 6, 1903 in Taylor. She was a retired public school teacher. She was a member of First Baptist Church in Austin, the Women’s Golf Association and Austin Country Club, Austin Women’s Club and a member of the University of Texas Ex-Student’s Association. Mrs. Bible also attended the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. She was preceded in death by her husband Dana X. Bible. Survivors include a daughter, Barbara “Barky” Bible Michalke of Rockdale; a son Bill Bible of Palestine; a sister, Inez G. Harrison of Kerrville; a brother C. R. “Chena” Gilstrap of Stephenville; also five grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday Feb. 1 at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, Dr. Browning Ware officiating, with burial in Austin Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to the charity of choice.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Foster, Belt Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/9623 Message Board Post: Rockdale Reporter, Thur., 23 Feb 1995 Peggy Foster Belt, 78, of Houston, formerly of Milano, died Sunday, Feb. 12 in a Houston hospital. She was born in 1916 in Milam County. Graveside services were held at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 17 in the Rice Cemetery. Survivors are three sons, W. A. Belt III of Aledo, Eric Belt of Katy and John Belt of Houston; three daughters, Peggy Rae Adams of Houston, Patty Allbriton of Milano and Becky Anglemyre of Houston; three sisters, Elizabeth Worell of Cameron, Marjorie Wardlow of Cameron and Gladys Spaulding of Houston; also 11 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Barton, Schattel Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/9622 Message Board Post: Rockdale Reporter, Thur., 31 Aug 1995 Funeral service for James A. Barton, 55, were held Saturday, Aug. 26 at Holy Cross Catholic Church in East Bernard with burial in Holy Cross Cemetery. Father Tim Bucek of Sacred Heart Church in Patterson officiated. Mr. Barton died Wednesday, Aug. 23 at his home. He had lived in Rockdale for 16 years, having moved from Houston. He was born June 16, 1940 in Wharton to Joseph Francis and Clementine (Schattel) Barton. He worked as a businessman in Rockdale. He is preceded in death by his father, Joseph Francis Barton on May 27, 1989 and his grandparents Mr. and Mrs. John J. Barton and Mr. and Mrs. William J. Schattel. He is survived by a son, Stephen James Barton of Fairfield; a daughter, Crystal Dawn Barton of Fairfield; his mother, Clementine Barton of Rockdale; and three sisters, Kathleen Kucera of Lancaster, Mary Ann Ackley of New Ulm and Karen Frances Restivo of Houston. Pallbearers were Victor Kucera, Joe Kucera, Gayten Ackley, Sam Restivo, Sr., Sam Restivo, Jr., Mark Ackley, Brad Barton and Rodney Hackenmack. Honorary pall bearers were Colleen Barton Blair, Michelle Barton Ackley, Richard Barton, Jr., Melissa Barton, Mary Frances Kucera, Kaye Kucera, robin Ackley Marek, Sheila Ackley Raeke, Larry Ackley, Julie Restivo, George Hinze, W. C. Hinze, Charles Lynn Bucek, Dorris Ann Barton, Judith Matula, Jan Clark and Carolyn Buck. Mr. Barton graduated from St. Joseph School in Victoria and served in the U. S. Air Force. He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Bell Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/9621 Message Board Post: Rockdale Reporter, Thur., 31 Aug 1995 Cameron – John Vernon Bell, 79, of Tampa, FL, formerly of Cameron died Wednesday, August 23, 1995 in Tampa, FL. He was born December 15, 1915 in Cameron. He was a veteran of World War II. Memorial services were at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3 at the Marek-Burns-Laywell Funeral Home in Cameron. Rev. Maxie Stapleton officiating. The body was cremated in Florida and the cremated remains will be buried in the Little River Cemetery at Jones Prairie. He is survived by two sons, Kevin Bell of Baltimore, MD and Anthony Bell of Tampa, FL; three daughters, Cheryl Bell Patten of McLean, VA, Maria Bell of Tampa, FL, and Dora Lee Bell of Tampa, FL; one brother, Eldridge Russell (Red) Bell of Elmont, NY; four sisters, Jessie Stapleton of San Juan, Rebecca Fikes of Houston, Lillian Provost and Cecilia Figueira both of Floral Park, NY; also one granddaughter.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Haynes, Benson, Harper Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/9620 Message Board Post: Rockdale Reporter, Thur., 8 Aug 1995 Funeral services for Annie Odell Haynes Benson, 87, were held Sunday, Aug. 6 at 3 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Sinton with burial in the Sinton Cemetery. Rev. Cliff Abshier and Rev. Alexander George officiated. Mrs. Benson died Thursday in a Cameron nursing home. She was a former resident of Sinton. She was born July 23, 1908 in Karnes County to Thomas Jones Haynes, Jr. and Elvie Harper Haynes. She graduated from Runge High School in 1926 and attended South Texas Teachers College at Kingsville A&I, now A&M. She began teaching school at Nordheim at the age of 18. She married Ben F. Benson in 1933. She is preceded in death by her husband Ben F. Benson, and two sons, Benjamin F. Benson, Jr. and Bobby Larue Benson. She is survived by a daughter, Joanna Lee Benson of Austin; a sister Doris Palmer of Bossier City, LA; two grandchildren Mike Benson of Austin and Melodie Fry of Cameron; and four great-grandchildren, Courtnee and Conner Benson of Austin, and Benjamin and Trevor Fry of Cameron.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Berry, Guajardo Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/9619 Message Board Post: Rockdale Reporter, Thur., 16 June 1995 Cameron – Funeral Services for Ricky Lawrence Berry, 32, of Salado, were held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 14, in the Kathryn W. Green Chapel of Green Funeral Home in Cameron with Rev. Sheree Robertson officiating. Burial followed in Oak Hill Cemetery. Mr. Berry died Sunday, June 11, in a Huntsville hospital following an extended illness. Mr. Berry was born Dec. 23, 1962 in Temple. He did public service work for the Red Cross. Survivors are his mother, Patsy Guajardo of Salado; step-father Tony Guajardo of Salado; and two sisters, Mary Sue Hahnn of Elgin and Patricia Ann Garcia of Temple.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Beale Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/9618 Message Board Post: Rockdale Reporter, Thur., 22 June 1995 Cameron – C. D. Beale, 70, of Grand Junction, Colorado, formerly of Cameron, died June 12 at his home. He was born March 9, 1925 at Buckholts. He was a veteran of World War II. Graveside services were at 2:30 p.m. Sunday June 18, in Oak Hill Cemetery, Cameron. Rev. J. E. Lafferty officiating. He was preceded in death by three brothers, Dan Wade, Harold Wade and Woodrow Wade. Survivors include a son Mike Beale of Oklahoma; two daughters, Deanna Norris of Bodfish, CA, and Pam Beale of Henryetta, OK; four brothers, Billy Beale of The Woodlands, Howard Beale of Houston, John Beale of Abilene and Leon Beale of Kilgore; four sisters, Weegie Allen of Burnet, Annie Junek of Cameron, Mavis Hairston of Cameron and Fannie Atkinson of Titusville, FL; also eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Barrett Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/9617 Message Board Post: Rockdale Reporter, Thur., 27 July 1995 Cameron – Funeral services for Frank Barrett, 86, of Yarrellton, were held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in the Kathryn W. Green Chapel of Green Funeral Home with Rev. James E. Lafferty officiating. Burial followed in North Elm Cemetery. Mr. Barrett died Friday, July 21, in a Cameron hospital following a brief illness. He was born June 26, 1909 at Yarrellton. Mr. Barrett and his wife Opal Ophelia “Bay” Barrett were married Aug. 30, 1933. He was a farmer and a rancher. Mr. Barrett was a Baptist. He is survived by his wife Opal Ophelia “Bay” Barrett.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Barmore, Barker, Carson, Yancey, Guthrie, Gillespie Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/9616 Message Board Post: Rockdale Reporter, Thur., 26 Jan 1995 Charlie B. Barmore, 90, died suddenly Thursday, Jan. 19, while visiting a Temple hospital. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Monday Jan. 23, in the Phillips & Luckey Chapel with burial in I.O.O.F. Cemetery. Pastors Juan and Kathy Trevino of First Presbyterian Church officiated. He was born Nov. 12, 1904 in Tallulah, LA to Mr. and Mrs. Ruben L. (Idella Barker) Barmore. Mr. Barmore was a World War II veteran, retiring as a major in the U. S. Army. He was an alumni of the University of Alabama, earning a masters degree in mining engineering and worked for several coal companies in Pennsylvania before moving to Rockdale in 1952 to help set up the coal drying operations at Alcoa’s Rockdale Operations. He retired in 1970 from Industrial Generating Company. He was a charter member of First Presbyterian Church of Rockdale, a member of Rockdale Masonic Lodge, AF & AM No. 414, Noon Lions Club and the Rockdale Senior Citizens Center. Mr. Barmore worked tirelessly for charitable organizations, visiting hospitals and fixing bicycles for children. His passions were family, the stock market, planting bulbs, helping people and riding his bicycle all over town. Mr. Barmore and Claire Virginia Carson were married July 17, 1932 in Williamsburg, WV. She preceded him in death July 21, 1980. He and Mabery Yancey Guthrie were married Dec. 1, 1985 in First Presbyterian Church of Rockdale. Mr. Barmore was also preceded in death by his parents, Ruben and Idella Barmore; his step-father, Vernon Eckols Gillespie; a brother, Louis Edwin Barmore in 1964; and a sister Ruby May in 1975. Survivors include his wife Mabery Guthrie Barmore of Rockdale; a son James Carson Barmore of Winter Haven, FL; a step-son Tom Guthrie of Rockdale; a daughter Linda Diane Smithey of St. Louis, MO; a step-daughter Pat Poland of Edgewater, FL; also 14 grandchildren and several great grandchildren. Pallbearers were Masons E. L. Brannam, John Bow, B. F. Cook, Edell Kirchenwitz, Johnny Menges and Fred Morris. Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church, 1600 Alcoa, Rockdale, TX 76567.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: segars Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/9615 Message Board Post: looking for info. on segars family in milam county. my g. grandmother & grsndfather were burried at sand flat cem.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Gest, Kall Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/9614 Message Board Post: Jennifer Gest Wednesday 2PM (Rockdale) Jennifer Gest, 35 of Rockdale and formerly of Houston and New York died Sunday in a Rockdale Hospital. Services are 2PM today at Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home with cremation to follow after the service. Mrs. Gest was the owner of Mr. Gatti's and Texas Burger in Rockdale. Survivors include: Husband Bradley Gest Daughter Kaime Leigh Gest, both of Rockdale Brothers James Kall II of Sugarland Christopher Kall of Quintana Father James Kall of Quintana Mother and Father-In-Law Billy and Marie Gest of Rockdale Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Rockdale is in charge of arrangements.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Fisher, Gest Classification: Death Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/9613 Message Board Post: Updated 6:52 AM on Wednesday, June 7, 2006 Rockdale man still stable after crash Bryan/College Station Eagle Staff Report A Rockdale man remained hospitalized in serious but stable condition Tuesday following a motorcycle accident two days earlier that killed his passenger. Thomas Wayne Fisher, 40, was driving on F.M. 908 in Milam County when it ran off the road about eight miles northwest of Rockdale, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. Fisher and his passenger - Jennifer Kall Gest of Rockdale - both were ejected from the bike, trooper said. Fisher, who suffered a broken neck and spine, was taken to Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple. Gest, a 25-year-old business owner, was pronounced dead at Richards Memorial Hospital. Neither were wearing a helmet, according to the trooper's report.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/9612 Message Board Post: The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has scheduled a series of Public Hearings regarding the location of the Trans Texas Corridor TTC-35 (a 1/4 mile wide toll road, railway, pipeline, utility corridor). The TTC will roughly parallel the current I-35 and could be located in this county. Currently a 10 mile wide path and an alternate path are being studied to determine final placement of the corridor. There will be a public hearings at the Cameron ISD Performing Arts Center, 303 E. 12th St., Cameron on July 18, 2006 or the Frank W. Mayborn Civic & Convention Center, Main Hall, 3303 N. 3rd St., Temple on July 26, 2006. The hearings will begin with an open house at 5 p.m. so that residents can review maps of the preferred corridor alternative and ask questions of highway department staffers. The presentation and oral comments begin at 6:30 p.m. TxDOT is asking for input from citizens about the location of historical sites and family cemeteries among other information. Those of you doing research in this county know far more about the local and family historical sites than anyone else. You have an important chance to share your expertise with TxDOT by attending one of their meetings or completing a comment form. For further information: http://www.corridorwatch.org View the recommended preferred corridor and the complete DEIS at: www.keeptexasmoving.org http://www.keeptexasmoving.com/projects/ttc35/meetings.aspx Public libraries in the study area TxDOT district and area offices Toll-free 1-877-872-6789

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Jones Classification: Marriage Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/9611 Message Board Post: The Athenian, 13 June 1884 Athens, Henderson Co., TX Monday last Mr. J. A. Jones and his bride were welcomed to heir home in Athens. They were married in Rockdale May 28th, but the torrents of rain which had fallen had caused several washouts along the line delaying the happy couple until June 9th. = = = = Note: There is no marriage license in Milam Co., TX for this couple.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: LOCKLIN, FULCHER, FOKES, BARCLAY, GUTHRIE Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/hkB.2ACE/9610 Message Board Post: Thorndale Thorn, estimated date of publication, Fri., 22 Nov. 1901. He died on Monday, November 18, 1901 and was buried in the Locklin Cemetery in San Gabriel, Milam Co., TX. There are no surviving issues of the newspaper for 1901. The clipping was is in the records of The William Locklin Family and in 2006, the clipping is in the possession of Sarah Locklin Taylor. AGED VETERAN AT REST Alteman L. Locklin A Survivor of Two Wars and a Former Ranger, Is Dead Thorndale, Texas, November 20. -- Alteman L. Locklin, the subject of this sketch, died at his home on the San Gabriel River, six miles north of this city, late Monday morning after a lingering illness of several months. Deceased was born in Walton County, Georgia, on January 11, 1829, and moved to this county and settled in the San Gabriel valley in 1845, near the old Mercer fort, which place since then has been his home. Mr. Locklin was a survivor of the Mexican War, a State Ranger and Indian fighter in early times and also a Confederate veteran serving in the late war as a member of Captain S.P. Ross' company of Texas Mounted Volunteers. The trials and vicissitudes he encountered in his early days, when this was a wild and uncivilized country, was met with that indominable courage known only to the heroes of his time. On October 25, 1852, Mr. Locklin was married to Mrs. Mary Fulcher, surviving wife of James Fulcher, deceased, and began life on his wife's portion of the Abegail Fokes league of land, and has thereon passed his long and useful life, respected, honored, and loved by all. He leaves three children, Samuel G. Locklin and Mrs. J.K.P. Barclay, who lives on the home league, and Frank Locklin of Taylor. At a family reunion at his home a few years ago he had the pleasure of looking upon seventy-seven of his and his wife's descendants and near relations. Besides his wife and the children mentioned, he leaves a large family of brothers and sisters: W.L. Locklin of Irion County, J.Z. Locklin, T.J. Locklin, Mrs. Martha Guthrie and Mrs. Nannie Fulcher of the San Gabriel valley. Deceased joined the Baptist church in early manhood and just before the breakout of the late war he became a member of the Masonic fraternity and lived a consistent Christian life to the end. Death and the grave had for him no terrors and when the end came he passed peacefully and quietly. He suffered greatly from his sickness, which was a complication of disorders, and for which there was, from the beginning, no hope of final recovery. He realized his condition from the first, and was resigned, expressing himself as ready to go at any time. For some hours before that last his breath came easily, growing shorter and shorter with occasional stoppages of long duration, and at 5 o'clock in the morning he simply ceased to breathe. His remains were followed to their last resting place in the family burial ground on the hill just south of and overlooking the San Gabriel valley on Monday afternoon by the largest concourse of sorrowing friends and relatives ever assembled in this part of Milam County. Rev. Mr. Harold of Holland conducted the funeral services, assisted by Rev. Hamlett of Rockdale.

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/hkB.2ACE/7218.2 Message Board Post: Susan I am decended from Madison's brother James who came to Milam County after the Civil War. I don't have much on Madison but am very interested in anything you have on Jubilee. I have not been able to trace him past Itawamba Co. Ms. I will be glad to send you all I have. Thanks in advance Michael Barnett

This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/hkB.2ACE/9609 Message Board Post: THE THORNDALE THORN VOL. 2, VOL. 14 THORNDALE, MILAM COUNTY, TEXAS DEC. 26, 1902 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF ONE OF MILAM COUNTY'S PIONEERS Mrs. Mary Locklin died at the home of her son, J.H. Fulcher, six miles north of Thorndale, on Monday morning, Dec. 1, 1902 at the age of 83 years. Deceased came to this country early in 1835 and settled where she died. Her mother, Mrs. Abigail Fokes located her head-right league on the South side of the San Gabriel river and which is now in a fine state of cultivation and is owned and cultivated by her descendants. Following is a brief history of the trials of Mrs. Locklin and others who attempted the settlement of Milam and adjoining counties in the early days as told by the subject of this sketch to Mr. H.N. Roberts and published in the Cameron Herald about six years ago. Sometime in the month of December, 1834, a three-mast schooner sailed from Pensacola, Fla., bound for Texas with emigrants, some of whom were destined to figure more or less conspicuously in the early history of that region of country which afterwards became Milam and other counties of Texas. This schooner, the "Caledon [i]a," was owned in large part and commanded by Aaron C. Dodd, who eventually settled on the San Gabriel, a short distance below the site of the present village of San Gabriel. He was one of the early judges of this county, and died in Cameron. The Caledonia's passengers, all emigrants who came to settle in this then wilderness, were Daniel Robinson, Sr., Neil, John and Laughlin McLennan and their families; Abigail Fokes, a widow, and her three sons and three daughters. March 1, 1835, the Caledonia entered the mouth of the Brazos river, and sailing up the stream ended her voyage at Columbia. After a needed rest, for the voyage had been a long one, tedious and rough, these emigrants procured teams and moving westward, came to a final halt at "Sugar Loaf," since called McLennan's Bluff, not far from old Nashville, on the Brazos, near the mouth of Little River. They did not all immediately reach that stopping place, but their journey thither was devoid of interest. The heads of families lost no time in locating land and the beginning of improvements. Dan Robinson [Daniel Robertson] and Abigail Fokes located their head right certificates side by side on the San Gabriel, some six miles north of where Thorndale now stands, Neil and Laughlin McLennan settling on Pond Creek, northeast of the present site of Cameron. They build houses and went to work improving their lands. Neil McLennan afterwards moved further up the Brazos and gave his name to McLennan County. Of his children, John will be remembered by citizens of Cameron as the father of Mrs. Pinkney S. Ford.! He was one of the pioneers of Cameron, helping to make the first survey of the town site and adjacent lands. From one of the daughters of Abigail Fokes the writer received data for this bit of history. She was about fourteen years old when her mother moved to Texas, and although now well advanced in years, her memory is remarkably good, retaining in detail the occurrences of those early days. She is now the wife of Alteman L. Locklin, well known throughout the country, and still lives upon her portion of the Abigail Fokes league, one mile south of the San Gabriel village. Of the other children of Mrs. Fokes, the two daughters are living -- Catherine Anderson, with Mrs. Locklin, and Mrs. George W. Guthrie, near Lexington in Lee County. The sons are dead. John and Daniel were never married, while Charles, who died in the Confederate army, was the father of W.F. Fokes, now county judge of Irion County, and Charles H. Fokes, Still living in Milam County and well known. Present citizens of this now well settled and civilized region can scarcely realize conditions as they existed sixty years ago. Where beautiful farms, thriving cities and towns about; where railroads and telegraph lines now stretch away in every direction, and all the luxuriant beauties of a high state of civilization meets the eye, was a vast wilderness over which roamed the wild Indian, and hears of buffalo, elk and deer ranged virtually unmolested. At the time of which I write -- the summer and fall of 1835 -- the Indians were, ostensibly, at peace with the few white settlers, though this peace was deceptive and not to be depended upon, and a block house and other defences were provided at Nashville, to which the people could flee from their farms when danger threatened. While our emigrants were pursuing their works of improvement the Indians were hatching their deviltry and came down upon them without warning, burning their houses, killing stock, destroying property and murdering defenseless women and children. At a time when Dan Robinson, Mrs. Fokes and sons and others were away, looking after the location of land, a raid was made upon the Pond Creek settlement. The daughters of Mrs. Fokes were with the family of Neil McLennan, while their aged and blind grandmother, Catharine McLennan, the mother of Mrs. Fokes and the McLennans with the family of Laughlin about a mile away on the north side of Pond Creek. The first intimation the women and children at Neil's had of the trouble, was seeing a column of smoke in the direction of Laughlin McLennan's house. In absence of the men they were unable to learn the truth, but too soon it was known; the dwelling house had been fired by Indians. The red fiends first came upon Laughlin where he was at work making rails in the bottom, and shot him to death with arrows, twenty-five of which were sticking into and through his body when found. They then advanced on the house where Aunt Peggy, Laughlin's wife, her three boys and aged mother wer! e awaiting the return of the son, husband and father to dinner, and killed the old lady by a blow on the head with an axe and cast her body into the house which they set on fire. After wantonly destroying everything they could, killing cows, calves and chickens, they left, taking the distracted mother and her boys with them. When the men folks returned to Neil's house they knew that the was had begun, but knowing not the force with which they would have to contend, they could do nothing but provide for the safety of those yet unharmed, and reconnoiter the strength of the enemy. The women and children were hidden out in the bushes, only creeping back to the house and cowpen at night for food. During this time these men scouted the country for the purpose of ascertaining the extent of the calamity that had befallen the settlement. For some reason the Indians did not molest any other place in the settlement at that time, and left with their prisoners. The McLennan boys captured were John, aged 8; Neil, about 6, and Daniel, about 4 years. The mother was never recovered, but after several years died in captivity. The boys were traded from tribe to tribe and the eldest, John, was returned to his relatives after being with the Indians then years. Old citizens of Milam, Burleson and McLennan counties will remember "Bosque John," as he was called. He had become well Indianized by his long residence among the redskins, and for some time pined for his dusky 'mamma' and 'brothers' as he had been taught to call them, and for a time he strongly objected to the restraints of life among the whites, trying sometimes to run away to the tribe that had adopted him. But he finally became reconciled and his memory reclaimed. He was later employed as an interpreter for the Indians. When about thirty years of age he was killed presumably by a fall from the window of the court house in Waco, but there were many who believed that he was ! murdered for the pay for his services that he had drawn a short while before. The second son, Neil, was not returned to his relatives, or to this vicinity at least, while the younger, Daniel, died with the Indians. About the time of these raids John McLennan, with his family and others, settled on the Fokes and Robinson leagues on the San Gabriel. The Indians raided their camp, while the men were absent. They captured his wife, another Aunt Peggy, and binding her with a bridle rein, fell to work pillaging and destroying the camp. Among their effects, in boxes they had brought from Florida, there was a quantity of whiskey and strong medicines. They fell to guzzling down the spirits, and after a short season of wild orgies and demoniac yelling and capering, they were overcome by their potations and were drunk. Aunt Peggy then released herself and taking the children, who were so small the Indians had not bound them, she went across the river and found a hiding place in the top of a cottonwood tree surrounded by a luxuriant growth of weeds. Here they remained for several days and nights, afraid to return from their hiding place, except at night, when they would creep out to the ruin! ed camp and gather corn that the Indians had scattered over the ground, for food. When the men returned and found the camp dismantled and abandoned they thought the women and children had been carried away captives, and they went to the other settlements for help. Aunt Peggy saw the rescuing party when it arrived, but was so crazed by the suffering and fright she had undergone that she did not know them, but thought them enemies. They called her by name, but she ran and had to be run down and captured before she could be convinced that they were her friends. The danger of such raids was so great that the settlement on the San Gabriel had to be abandoned for some years, the settlers keeping near together at Nashville and other places. In 1844 Jesse and Peter Mercer moved on the Abigail Fokes league, mistaking that land for the Mercer location, which, in fact, was further west in Williamson county, a location that was afterwards the subject of prolonged litigation, which came to an end but a few years ago. They built what was then known as the Mercer Fort, on the bluff above the San Gabriel, near the line between the Abigail Fokes and Dan Robinson leagues, and not the line between the farms of L.L. Lee and J.H. Fulcher. Here the Indians came down upon the settlement. Peter Mercer saw them approaching and hurried his wife with Jesse's three children and some Negro children, into hiding in the bushes across the river. From their place of concealment Mrs. Mercer could hear much of what occurred at the fort, including the shots which killed her husband. As soon as Peter became certain that the Indians' intentions were hostile he fled, and as he went over the river bluff he was shot and killed. A young ma! n named Orr was killed while running through the river, and a Negro boy about 16 years old met his death a short distance south of the fort. When darkness came Mrs. Mercer took her flock of children, she and the older ones carrying those too small to travel with the speed desirable, and made their way to the settlement at Nashville. Abigail Fokes and her family moved to Burleson county, stopping on Davidson's Creek, some five miles from Caldwell, where they lived until it was safe to settle on her San Gabriel lands. There her daughter Mary, from whom this history is mainly obtained, was married to James Fulcher. Three children resulted from this union, only the eldest, J.H. Fulcher, better known as "Bud," is living, and the site of the old Mercer Fort is upon his farm and very near his residence. A daughter married Alf. B Lovelace, now living on the Fokes league, while the third child, a daughter, died at the age of 18, unmarried. After the death of James Fulcher, Aunt Mary, as she is affectionately known by a large circle of friends, married her second husband, A.L. Locklin. This is but an outline of history that she helped make. There is much more and many details that I cannot at this time undertake to relate. May who know naught of this country save its present comfortable civilization, will find it difficult to realize the dangers, hardships and privations endured by the pioneers while making this civilization possible. Leaving their homes in the older states they came hundreds of miles to this wilderness, wrenched it from the murderous savage and scarcely less cruel Mexican, and pave the way to development and subjugation of the broad land that is now the Empire State of the Union. These early settlers are now few in number, and very soon they will all be gone, and as we enjoy the blessings their bravery, toil and suffering made possible, we should not forget the debt of gratitude due them, or fail to accord their mead of respect and appreciation.