Chapter IX#

Texas Fever in the Air#

During the 1830’s and from thence onward, “Texas Fever” caught hold of many Alabamians. Many pioneers left the State of Alabama and County of Fayette before they had very deep roots established there.

Three (3) of the Original BERRY settlers of Fayette county Alabama, Henry, George & John, are believed to have gone to Texas. All three of these men are on the Federal Census of Fayette County in 1830. By 1840, only George is listed. Henry & John have either died or moved away. Neither of these men are residents on the 1850 Census. John perhaps went to Burnet, Texas in 1836-37 based on the following data:

(XX; p.17)

The following account of one wagon train is typical of many that took pioneers to Texas. Moses Hughes, the first White Settler to reside in Lampasas County Texas, relates the story of one such wagon train and how it involves a particular BERRY family. This wagon train touched the life of William C. Berry, because when he went to Texas in 1871, he stayed two or three years with Moses Hughes, until he could homestead his own 160 acres of land about five (5) miles South of Lampasas, Texas. Fifteen (15) year-old Moses Hughes made the trip and relates the episode on the 50th. anniversary of his residing in Texas, 1885:

“My father & mother, with seven children, left the state of Alabama, Talledega County, on the 25th. day of November, 1834 with seventy persons, all of one connection, and landed at the mouth of the Brazos River on the 29th. day of January, 1835. We had with us tradesmen of all kinds-millwrights, wagon makers, gunsmiths, shoe & hat makers. The most of the others were farmers. There was also one Baptist preacher in the crowd by the name of Glyye, who preached one sermon in July, 1835 near where Brenham is now situated, in Austin Colony, now Washington County. I suppose that was the first Missionary Baptist sermon that was ever preached West of the Trinity River, and likely the first true Baptist sermon that was ever preached in Texas.

In 1836, when Santa Anna, with a large force of Mexican soldiers was invading Texas, my father was living in Washington County. The report came to our settlement that the Alamo had fallen, that Fannin and his men had been massacred and that the Mexicans were marching on and killing the citizens as they went, and that General Houston had retreated and had given orders for the families to cross the Trinity River in haste. The news came to us at night and by sun-up we were on the march. We had only one little Spanish mare, and we packed her up with one bed, some quilts and warm clothing. Father carried the second child and Mother the youngest. I carried the meat house, which was an old-fashioned rifle gun. All we had to eat was killed by the hunter, and if he failed, we had no supper til the next day. We went as far as the Neches River, when the news finally reached us that Sam Houston had defeated the Mexicans and Santa Anna was a prisoner. You could see families running in every way imaginable-in wagons, by foot and slides, running for life, as we thought. This is what the old Texans call the “Runaway Scrape”. My father made a corn crop on the Neches River that year, and in the Fall returned to the town of Washington…on the Brazos.

My Father’s name was Bradford Hughes, and my Mother’s name was Rebecca. In 1838, we moved to what is now Burleson County. On January 29, 1840, I was married to Hannah Berry. On the 5th. day of May following, my Father was accidentally shot & killed by his nephew, John Smith, while on a buffalo hunt in Burleson County. Burleson County was not organized at that time.

I moved to Williamson County in 1847, before the county was organized, and in November, 1853, I moved to Lampasas Springs for the benefit of my wife’s health. Myself and my brother Nimrod Hughes, were the first families that settled in the county outside the jurisdiction of Coryell County. The first town was called Burleson, and when the county was organized, the name was changed to Lampasas, and the county was called by the same name.

In 1855, I settled seven miles West of Lampasas on the San Saba Road. In 1857, the Indians became very troublesome, killing people and stealing horses and making depredations until 1866 or 1867. I have been chased by Redskins several times, and once had my horse shot from under me. I was surrounded by seven of them and run them by working in the lead for a mile and a half. Then I thought that a good thicket would beat a bad run, so I made for the thicket, and on stopping, I found that my horse had an arrow in his flank, ranging forward 18 inches. One Indian ran about 75 yards from me, when I pulled him down with a rifle, and at the crack of the gun I saw him straighten and give a yell. They all left me and went their way down the county. I led my horse to Mr. Espy’s that morning where he died. The Redskins usually came in Full of the Moon, and in squads of five, seven or nine, very seldom in large numbers. They came on foot and would conceal themselves along the roughs of the Cedar Breaks or on the hills until they got in the settlement and spied a bunch of horses, and then they would start and drive all night.”

Moses Hughes was born in South Carolina, August 23, 1819. He was married four times: (XVIII; pp.75-76)

1. Hannah Berry — January 29, 1840 — She died July 24, 1862
2. Catherine Senterfitt — November 5, 1863 — She died June 24, 1872
3. Anna Z. Walton — April 5, 1875 — She died July 16, 1876
4. J.D. Morris — May 16, 1881 — She died Winter of 1901

Many people wanted the United States to extend to the Pacific Ocean. They wanted to add those lands which were on the Frontier, and those lands beyond the Frontier, to the United States. They wanted to occupy…the Mexican borderlands in the Southwest…People who promoted the idea of expansion believed it was the “Manifest Destiny” of the United States to extend its boundaries.

Many people moved West simply because they desired to improve their lot. They wanted to find security, to start a new life, and they wanted a chance to cultivate their own land…and the Southwestern lands owned by Mexico tempted …land-hungry Americans. Soon a mass movement began that within a few years took away from Mexico …Texas, and added it to our growing country. (XIII; p.290)

Before Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821, Americans had pushed beyond Kentucky & Tennessee and settled Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Missouri. Some were near the border of Texas, wishing Spain would drop the bars and let Americans move into that part of Mexico.

Texas seemed the most desirable place into which a man could move. By 1824, Moses Austin and his son Stephen Austin had brought more than 2,000 settlers into Texas. Each married pioneer could have 4428 acres (1 league Spanish Standard) of land for as little as $200. This offer attracted Southern cotton farmers. They came to Texas in large numbers bringing their slaves with them. These settlers spread out over the rich bottom lands of the Brazos, Colorado & San Bernard Rivers. The higher lands were used for grazing herds of cattle. Soon land speculators obtained grants of land. They traveled through the Mississippi Valley looking for settlers. They told these settlers that it was not good business to pay $1.25 an acre for land when they could have a large plantation in Texas for almost nothing. All that was necessary was to drive across the rolling prairies. It was not necessary to pay any taxes for ten years nor duties on imports for seven years. People often wondered what would be the conditions of settlement. It was explained…that the requirements…were quite simple because Mexico wanted people of good habits who would obey her laws & help build up the country. (XIII; pp.293-295)

By 1830, the Mexican government became alarmed at the flood of American immigrants it had caused by opening the territory to settlers. This flood threatened to over run the area making it more American than Mexican. By the end of 1835, there were some 30,000 American settlers in Texas, as against…3500 Mexicans, and every day more…settlers came in. Great wagon trains of settlers from the Southern United States made their way across the prairies looking for land. They brought whole families, household goods & livestock. Some brought slaves. It was clear they intended to stay.

Just a little too late, the Mexican Government set about closing the gate. The immigration was at first cut down; then it was completely cut off. This was not popular with settlers in Texas. They looked forward to the arrival of friends & relatives…Americans in Texas became very uneasy.

In 1834, Mexico’s President, General Santa Anna, made himself dictator of Mexico. Word went out that he intended to drive all Americans out of Texas. Some angry American-Texans organized a force and took over a Mexican fort. Orders went out to arrest the leaders. Santa Anna sent a group of armed horsemen into Texas to keep order. They were driven back. Then some 500 Texans attacked a group of Mexican soldiers in San Antonio and defeated them. The “Texan Revolution” had begun.

Various fighting took place including The Alamo and Goliad, both in March, 1836. During this time the Texans formed a government, drafted a constitution, wrote a declaration of independence for the Republic of Texas…On April 26, 1836, at the Battle of San Jacinto River, Santa Anna was defeated and Texas was indeed a Republic…In 1845, Texas was admitted…as the twenty-eighth state. (XIII; pp.295-299)

Officials of the Republic of Texas established the General Land Office. In the Land Office are found:

1. Grants from the Crown of Spain, 1758-1821
2. Grants from Mexico, 1821-November 1835
3. Headrights granted under the laws of the Republic of Texas:
   • (A) First Class granted to those living in Texas on March 4, 1836
   • (B) Second Class were granted to those who came to Texas after March 2, 1836, but prior to October 1, 1837
   • (C) Third Class were granted to those who came to Texas after October 1, 1837, but prior to January 1, 1840
   • (D) Fourth Class were granted to those who came to Texas after January 1, 1840, but prior to January 1, 1842
4. Bounty & Donation land grants for length of service & particular service such as at the Alamo, Goliad, or San Jacinto battles
5. Colonies Mercer’s 1844; Peter’s 1841-48; German Emigration after 1849
6. Confederate Script *(To reduce square varas to acres, divide by 5.645 or multiply by 17.71 and cut off eight figures — XX; Foreword)
7. Pre-emption after 1855
8. Court of Claims

The Spanish & Mexican land measure was adopted by the 1836 Constitution of the Republic of Texas. Both English & Spanish standards were recognised: