Listers, I just had to comment on the previous listers mention of ancestors that were in Texas before the Republic was formed. I had traced my line in Texas back as far as 1811 from Nacogdoches church records. The name was DEL RIO then , not RIVERS. Further back than that it is apparent that these were decendants of Spanish explorers and Apache Indians.........still working on that! Are there any more pre-republic Texans out there? BTW, also related to Sally Parrot Travis (wife of Col. William B. Travis) and numerous veterans of the Texas Revolution. McMahon's and Irvine's are those I have found. Isn't it great to have a family history from Texas? I am sure there are many others that can relate to this. Oh and I do recall the bad wells.........some were sulphur infested and others were as you said high in iron ore........guess we were just lucky 8^) Gene Rivers