Post City

"Lone Star Historian 2" is a blog about the travels and activities of the State Historian of Texas during his second year. Bill O'Neal was appointed to a two-year term by Gov. Rick Perry on August 22, 2012, at an impressive ceremony in the State Capitol. Bill is headquartered at Panola College (www.panola.edu) in Carthage, where he has taught since 1970. For more than 20 years Bill conducted the state's first Traveling Texas History class, a three-hour credit course which featured a 2,100-mile itinerary. In 2000 he was awarded a Piper Professorship, and in 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wild West Historical Association. Bill has published over 40 books, almost half about Texas history subjects, and in 2007 he was named Best Living Non-Fiction Writer by True West Magazine. In 2013 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by his alma mater, Texas A&M University - Commerce.

During the 1990s I began visiting Post as a research site for two books, The Bloody Legacy of Pink Higgins, A Half Century of Violence in Texas (Eakin Press, 1999), and The Johnson-Sims Feud:Romeo and Juliet West Texas Style (University of North Texas Press, 2010). I've been welcomed by the community for programs and autograph parties at Ruby Lane, a charming book store owned and operated by Rosa Latimer. I've been directed to historical locations and to men and women for interviews. My wife Karon has shopped Main Street, and one December I brought Karon and our oldest daughter and granddaughters, Lynn, Chloe and Jessie Martinez, to see the splendid Christmas art at OS Museum. 

Early this December I drove to Snyder for a speaking engagement at the Scurry County Museum. I decided to spend part of the day in nearby Post, putting together material for a blog about this historic, colorful West Texas community. Founded in 1907, "Post City" was the creation of cereal magnate C.W. Post, who had determined to build a model community in West Texas. Born in Illinois in 1854, Post was a successful salesman and inventor of agricultural machinery. In 1886 business ventures brought him to Texas, where he lived on a ranch outside of Fort Worth. By the 1890s Post was suffering health problems from overwork. While ailing, he responded to a recipe idea suggested by a ranch wife and developed a coffee substitute that he labeled Postum. He manufactured Postum at a plant in Battle Creek, Michigan. Soon he added the breakfast cereals Post Toasties and Grape Nuts. Post was an advertising genius, and by the early twentieth century he was a multimillionaire. 

The 1911 depot now houses the Chamber of Commerce.

Moved by the philanthropic impulses common to wealthy men of the Progressive Era, Post decided upon a West Texas colonization project that would offer families the opportunity to purchase homes or farms at low monthly payments. In 1906 he bought more than 213,000 acres of land along the Caprock, and began experimenting with irrigation and farming methods on land that formerly had grazed buffaloes and cattle. 

The oldest church in Post was built in 1911.

Triggered by the promise of Post's activities and advertising, Garza County was organized in 1907. Post laid out a town site near the center of the new county, and Post City became the county seat. Post erected a big department store and scores of houses: one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom residences, ranging from $800 to $6,000. One of his favorite construction projects was the thirty-room Algerita Hotel, which he provided with a chef, fine linens, and Post cereals on every breakfast table. He built, equipped, and staffed the  two-story Post Sanitarium, the finest hospital in the region. Main Street was 120 feet wide, with grass, trees, and flowers enclosed boulevard style by a white picket fence. Post had ornate curbs built, so that women could step easily from their carriages. 

A dormitory for nurses was built just
south of the Post Sanitarium.

The town was surrounded by 160-acre farms, available from Post at generous terms. To provide adequate rainfall, Post tried seeding the clouds from firing stations along the nearby rim of the Caprock. In 1912 alone more than 234,000 pounds of dynamite were detonated in generally unproductive attempts to produce rain. Post hired a geologist to locate oil, and he constructed an enormous cotton mill which would provide hundreds of jobs. He also had a recreational lake built near town, and Two Draw Lake became a regional oasis and the site of an annual Fourth of July celebration. 

The Post Sanitarium now is home to the
Garza County Museum.

The statue of C.W. Post stands
in front of the courthouse.

Post attracted a railroad which reached Post City late in 1910, permitting the regular arrival of building materials. Soon the population approached 1,000, and a school and churches were organized. Post installed a telephone exchange, while residents of Post City enjoyed running water. Across Main Street and half a block west of the Algerita Hotel stood the two-story stone courthouse. Both the Algerita and the Garza County courthouse would host dramatic scenes from the last blood feud in Texas, the Johnson-Sims conflict of 1916-1918. 

Linda Puckett, Director of the Garza County Museum,
stands amid the C.W. Post office furniture she recently
acquired from Battle Creek, Michigan.

The OS Museum is upstairs, while the J. Cruse
Christmas  Gallery is downstairs.

On my recent trip to Post I stopped first at the 1911 railroad depot, which has been handsomely refurbished as headquarters for the Chamber of Commerce. At the Garza County Museum - housed in the two-story "Post Sanitarium," the two-story state-of-the-art hospital built in 1912 by C.W. Post - I visited with the enthusiastic and resourceful director, Linda  Puckett. Linda proudly showed me her most recent acquisition, the sturdy office furnishings of C.W. Post. I also enjoyed a visit with Rosa Latimer at her Ruby Lane book shop, followed by a tour of the always fascinating OS Museum. Each Christmas season a new set of crèches is placed on display. This year's exhibit will remain on display through January, and is well worth seeing. For the history buff, so is the entire town. 

A magnificent display in the OS Museum.

The historic Algerita Hotel is at left, while the
Ruby Lane Book Store is at right.

Rosa Latimer inside her charming
Ruby Lane shop.

For more information:  http://www.postcitytexas.com/

 http://rubylanebooks.com/                                   http://pjhscyberfair.tripod.com/OS_Ranch.htm

Christmas at the Matador

"Lone Star Historian 2" is a blog about the travels and activities of the State Historian of Texas during his second year. Bill O'Neal was appointed to a two-year term by Gov. Rick Perry on August 22, 2012, at an impressive ceremony in the State Capitol. Bill is headquartered at Panola College (www.panola.edu) in Carthage, where he has taught since 1970. For more than 20 years Bill conducted the state's first Traveling Texas History class, a three-hour credit course which featured a 2,100-mile itinerary. In 2000 he was awarded a Piper Professorship, and in 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wild West Historical Association. Bill has published over 40 books, almost half about Texas history subjects, and in 2007 he was named Best Living Non-Fiction Writer by True West Magazine. In 2013 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by his alma mater, Texas A&M University - Commerce.

The Christmas dance at the Matador Ranch during the 1880s was the highlight of the year in a vast, lonely region of frontier West Texas. The historic ranch was organized in 1879, east of the Caprock Escarpment. At its height the Matador would graze 80,000 head of cattle on more than a million and a half acres of open range. An experienced trail driver, Henry Harrison "Paint" Campbell, was one of four investors who put up $10,000 each and incorporated the Matador Ranch under Texas law. Campbell was placed in charge of ranch operations, and when the ranch was sold in 1882 (for $1.25 million) to a Scottish syndicate, he was retained as ranch manager. 

One of the earliest structures at Matador
headquarters stood during the dances of the 1880s.

Mrs. H.H. Campbell, the lovely and capable wife of the Matador manager, made the ranch a social center of lonely West Texas. She happily organized dances, church services, and other activities for the cowboys, and riders from adjoining ranches. Her most popular event was the annual Christmas dance, begun in 1882 at the two-room ranch house at Ballard Springs. Mrs. Campbell assembled five other women from as far away as 100 miles, and headquarters cook Ben Brock and Jim Browning provided fiddle music. With 50 cowboys waiting in line to dance with the six women, the festivities went on for two nights. 

The main house at the Matador was built atop a hill
just south of the town that was named for the ranch.

By the next year there was a large bunkhouse and a stone mess hall, as well as more women, and in future years the two-room residence was expanded into the "White House." Mrs. Campbell soon entertained upwards of 100 people, but she demanded that there would be no liquor and no quarreling. During the summers Mrs. Campbell put up gallons of wild plum jelly to take the place of cranberries. As Christmas approached, some of the cowboys hunted deer, antelope, and turkey. A beef or two was slaughtered and barbequed, and two days of baking produced dozens of cakes and loaves of bread. There were tubs full of doughnuts and hundreds of fried dried apple pies, as well as gallons of black coffee. 

This spring-fed stone water tank towers above the
ranch site, providing Matador headquarters
with running water by gravity.

On the afternoon of the first night, guests began arriving. Matador cowboys who had been laid off for the winter always were in attendance. The women brought their party clothes in a suitcase and changed in the White House.

The party began with a supper in the mess hall, For the remainder of the two nights and a day food would be available at a serve-yourself buffet set out in the bunkhouse. When the opening supper ended the tables were removed from the mess hall, the fiddlers tuned up, and the caller directed, "Get your partners!" 

These Matador cowboys at a chuck wagon in the 1880s
could look forward to the annual Christmas feast.

The dancing went on for the next 30 hours. Women were always outnumbered at least three or four to one by the men and had a constant line of expectant partners. The men swung their partners so enthusiastically that female exertions were minimized, and occasionally ladies would slip away for a nap in the White House. Periodically, the cowboys would snack in the bunkhouse or, in discreet defiance of Mrs. Campbell's temperance edict, nip from a jug. 

These memorable Christmas celebrations continued through the 1880s, until the Campbells moved on and Murdo Mackenzie became the Matador manager for the next four decades. But during the formative frontier decade of the 1880s, there truly was a Merry Christmas, Matador style.

For information: http://matadorranch.com/ranch-history/

Radio and Gunfighterology

"Lone Star Historian 2" is a blog about the travels and activities of the State Historian of Texas during his second year. Bill O'Neal was appointed to a two-year term by Gov. Rick Perry on August 22, 2012, at an impressive ceremony in the State Capitol. Bill is headquartered at Panola College (www.panola.edu) in Carthage, where he has taught since 1970. For more than 20 years Bill conducted the state's first Traveling Texas History class, a three-hour credit course which featured a 2,100-mile itinerary. In 2000 he was awarded a Piper Professorship, and in 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wild West Historical Association. Bill has published over 40 books, almost half about Texas history subjects, and in 2007 he was named Best Living Non-Fiction Writer by True West Magazine. In 2013 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by his alma mater, Texas A&M University - Commerce.

On Tuesday, December 10, I appeared before a large, responsive crowd at the Scurry County Museum in Snyder. Museum director Daniel Schlegel had invited me to present a program on “Gunfighterology.” During recent years Daniel has hosted me for two previous programs. One presentation, on my book The Johnson-Sims Feud – a conflict which began in Snyder – attracted such a large crowd that a repeat presentation was arranged to start immediately following the scheduled program. Hoping to generate another sizable audience for “Gunfighterology,” Daniel contacted radio friends of his. Since I already had agreed to a couple of unrelated radio interviews during that period, I was - happily - busier than usual on the air during the week prior to the Snyder event.

Conducting a long-distance radio interview
from my home office

At midmorning on Tuesday, December 3, I received a phone call from Jim Baum, owner-manager of KVMC (1320 AM) and KAUN (107.1 FM) radio stations in Colorado City, south of Snyder. Jim taped a lengthy interview about the anticipated program and about the office of State Historian. In addition to replaying the interview on the eve of the Snyder program, Jim promised to use snippets as news cuts. A couple of hours later Edel Howlin, of KUHF (88.7 FM), the station of the University of Houston, called to conduct a live interview about the office of State Historian. Both Jim Baum and Edel Howlin were experienced interviewers who expertly explored the novel topic of State Historian. Two days later I was the guest on Panola Pride, a half-hour morning program on KGAS (1590 AM) in Carthage. Owner-manager Jerry Hanszen wanted the State Historian to devote the program to a discussion of Pearl Harbor, emphasizing notable Texans (such as Waco’s Doris Miller, the first African-American recipient of the Navy Cross) who were involved in the battle. The following Monday I was called at nine o’clock by Geron Scates of KGWB (91.1 FM), the campus radio station of Western Texas College. Geron is the Radio Broadcast instructor for Western Texas College, where the Scurry County Museum is located. At ten o’clock I was on the phone with “Blue,” a lady broadcaster who conducted a live interview for her morning show on KSNY (101.5 FM) in Snyder. 

Entrance to the Scurry County Museum

Within a week I had appeared on five radio stations, in Houston, Colorado City, Carthage, Snyder, and on the campus of Western Texas College. The interviews ranged from 12 to 25 minutes; three were live and two were taped. In each interview I was introduced as State Historian of Texas, and my activities in that office were discussed. I was gratified to have enjoyed the opportunity to talk about the position of State Historian to so many listening audiences.

Daniel Schlegel has utilized high energy, resourcefulness, and personal likability in his role as museum director of the Scurry County Museum. The museum boasts appealing exhibits and an impressive collection of historical artifacts, many of which are stored and cataloged in the museum’s spacious basement. Daniel offered to bring out antique firearms to supplement my “Gunfighterology” program, an offer I eagerly accepted. For this presentation I bring a varied collection of pistols (mostly replicas), along with holsters and gunbelts, to illustrate the evolution of frontier revolvers. Authentic weapons from the museum clearly enhanced my program.

With Museum Director Daniel Schlegel
and Curator Danica Galbraith , who was
on her first day at the museum

My first book, Encyclopedia of Western Gunfighters (University of Oklahoma Press, 1979) is a comparative study of 256 gunfights and 589 shootouts. It is still in print after 34 years, and there have been German and British editions. Life and death conflict in the Old West has proved to be a compelling subject, and I have researched and written a number of other related books. Texas produced more gunfighters than any other state or territory, and there were far more shootouts and blood feuds in the Lone Star State.

During the past few years I have been called upon a number of times to present programs on gunfighters and shootouts, and nowhere did the subject exert greater interest than in Snyder. Despite the freezing temperatures and icy streets, men and women crowded into the Scurry County Museum on Tuesday evening. I had the opportunity to visit with most of them before and after the program. I signed a number of books, answered a lot of questions, and joined everyone in examining the antique arsenal provided by the museum. A grand time was enjoyed by all – starting with the State Historian!

Civil War Conference

"Lone Star Historian 2" is a blog about the travels and activities of the State Historian of Texas during his second year. Bill O'Neal was appointed to a two-year term by Gov. Rick Perry on August 22, 2012, at an impressive ceremony in the State Capitol. Bill is headquartered at Panola College (www.panola.edu) in Carthage, where he has taught since 1970. For more than 20 years Bill conducted the state's first Traveling Texas History class, a three-hour credit course which featured a 2,100-mile itinerary. In 2000 he was awarded a Piper Professorship, and in 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wild West Historical Association. Bill has published over 40 books, almost half about Texas history subjects, and in 2007 he was named Best Living Non-Fiction Writer by True West Magazine. In 2013 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by his alma mater, Texas A&M University - Commerce.

Lynn, Jessie, Chloe, Bill, Karon

On Saturday morning, November 16, it was my pleasure to conduct a Civil War Conference at Panola College in Carthage. I taught history for four decades at Panola, and as State Historian I have been provided an office and financial backing by the college. Dr. Gregory Powell, President of Panola College, and Vice President Dr. Joe Shannon have graciously afforded me an institutional affiliation and constant encouragement. One of my goals as State Historian was to bring an historical event to my home campus, and last June I hosted a conference on "East Texas Gunfighters and Shootouts." Response was enthusiastic, and there were many requests for another conference. "The Civil War in East Texas" was decided upon as the next conference topic. 

I promptly contacted my oldest daughter, Lynn Martinez, an award-winning teacher with a deep interest in women of the Old South. Lynn planned an antebellum fashion show, which would include "Seven Layers of Women's Clothing," as well as the "Language of the Fan." Lynn enlisted her two daughters, Chloe and Jessie. My wife Karon joined in, and she and her mother, Louise Ashby, created a beautiful antebellum ball gown, along with the requisite undergarments. Lynn has accumulated a large antebellum wardrobe, with which she attired herself, as well as Chloe and Jessie. 
 

Through the years I've delivered several hundred lectures on the Civil War, and I've collected numerous artifacts - authentic items as well as reproductions - to illustrate and enhance my presentations. Three of my great-grandfathers - one from Georgia, one from Mississippi, and one from Alabama - were Confederate soldiers, and I have a few of their Civil War heirlooms. To the conference I brought weapons, (mostly reproductions), uniforms, miscellaneous artifacts, and wall posters. A special prize was an antique Spencer carbine, borrowed from Dennis LaGrone, a former student of mine who has generously shared this unique weapon with me on several previous occasions. 

A large number of attendees were women, who especially enjoyed the fashion show. After more than an hour of varied presentations by me and by Lynn and her ladies, we took a break to enjoy refreshments, animated conversations, and up-close examinations of the artifacts and clothing. 

A feature of the second hour was a lively rendition by our ladies' quartet of "Dixie" and "Bonnie Blue Flag." At the close of the morning many attendees visited the traveling display on Civil War Medicine in the college library, which was opened for us by Librarian Cristie Ferguson. It was an enjoyable morning, and no one enjoyed the event more than I did. 

Van Alstyne

"Lone Star Historian 2" is a blog about the travels and activities of the State Historian of Texas during his second year. Bill O'Neal was appointed to a two-year term by Gov. Rick Perry on August 22, 2012, at an impressive ceremony in the State Capitol. Bill is headquartered at Panola College (www.panola.edu) in Carthage, where he has taught since 1970. For more than 20 years Bill conducted the state's first Traveling Texas History class, a three-hour credit course which featured a 2,100-mile itinerary. In 2000 he was awarded a Piper Professorship, and in 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wild West Historical Association. Bill has published over 40 books, almost half about Texas history subjects, and in 2007 he was named Best Living Non-Fiction Writer by True West Magazine. In 2013 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by his alma mater, Texas A&M University - Commerce.

On Saturday, November 23, the Friends of the Library in Van Alstyne hosted a program and signing event for my latest book, Van Alstyne. I discovered Van Alstyne in 1967, when I came to nearby Anna as a 25-year-old head football coach. I was also the high school principal, one-man English department, speech teacher, and athletic director. There were only 75 high school students, and Anna was a farm town with a population of just 600. Today Anna is booming with 8,000 citizens, but in 1967 most of the brick buildings in the little "downtown" section were vacant. 

Van Alstyne still boasts many fine Victorian structures.

Four miles to the north, however, stood Van Alstyne, with a population of 1,500, and a business district where I could get a haircut, sit down to a meal, visit a drug store, buy groceries, and fill up with gas. I was intrigued by the two-story brick Victorian commercial buildings that dominated the business district. There were three handsome brick churches built during the second decade of the 20th century, a classic period for church construction. And there were superb Victorian homes, from Gingerbread cottages to massive frame houses with soaring turrets. Historical architecture is our most tangible connection with the past, and Van Alstyne boasts an enviable collection of vintage buildings.

Tracy Luscombe welcomes the crowd.

Through the years, while traveling north, my wife Karon and I stopped in Van Alstyne to slide into a booth at a downtown drug store and eat grilled cheese sandwiches and delicious fountain malts. Our occasional visits became more frequent four years ago when our youngest daughter, Causby O'Neal Henderson, moved to Van Alstyne with her family, husband Dusty and their daughters Bailey and Kendall. Causby teaches kindergarten, Dusty is an insurance adjuster, and Bailey and Kendall go with their mother each day to Van Alstyne Elementary School.

During our visits with the Henderson family I was able to study Van Alstyne, and I became convinced that the town was an ideal subject for the Arcadia treatment. Arcadia Publishers, located in Charleston, South Carolina, specializes in books about communities - towns, military bases, universities, counties. Arcadia has published more than 8,000 titles, each with an identical formula. Every Arcadia book is 128 pages in length and is priced at $21.99. There are 200 or more photographs in each Arcadia book. Following a two-page introduction, the story must be told through 75-word captions and, of course, the accompanying photographs (in an Arcadia book, every photo truly needs to be worth a thousand words). Van Alstyne would be my fourth Arcadia title. I telephoned acquisitions editor Laura Bruns, who shared my enthusiasm about Van Alstyne.

Bill with local historian Julie Morris

With former mayor Benny Edwards

Librarian Tracy Luscombe guided me through the rich local archives of the Van Alstyne Public Library. Former mayor Benny Edwards opened the Van Alstyne Historical Museum and the First Christian Church to me. During my research I was treated with great hospitality around town, and citizens shared information and insights with me. My daughter and son-in-law, Causby and Dusty, performed countless research chores for me. 

With Dusty and Causby Henderson

Van Alstyne was created as a railroad town in 1873. The town was surrounded by cotton farms, and by the 1880s the population reached 1,000. At the turn of the century the population doubled to 2,000. Columbia College was organized in 1890. Both Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft appeared in town. The Van Alstyne Grays, a crack semi-pro baseball team, sent players to the major leagues. Transportation was enhanced by an interurban line for 40 years. Van Alstyne was a vigorous community, thriving in an era when small towns formed the backbone of America.

With Vicki and Light Cummins

The book was released in October, and sales were brisk around town. Tracy Luscombe, who was a Hilton events coordinator before she became a librarian, arranged a book signing to be sponsored by the Friends of the Library. I donated five dollars from each purchase to the Friends. Although held on Saturday afternoon, there was an impressive turnout. Julie S. Morris, a superb local historian who produced fine articles and a book about Van Alstyne, was there. So was Rodney Williams, managing editor of the Van Alstyne Leader, and Rajonia Carnley, innovative and resourceful Texas history teacher at the local elementary school. Former mayor Benny Edwards attended, and so did others who helped me. Dr. Light Cummins, my predecessor as State Historian, and his charming wife Vicki were welcome attendees. 

Rodney Williams of the Van Alstyne Leader took this shot
of Karon and me at the book signing table.

Tracy Luscombe, who introduced me, had asked that I describe the office of State Historian as part of my program. Of course, I'm always delighted to spread news about the Texas State Historian, and Light Cummins later gave his approval of my description.  Following my remarks, the crowd enjoyed refreshments provided by the Friends of the Library. It was my pleasure to inscribe a great many books, because many people wanted multiple copies for Christmas gifts. After a busy signing, I taped an interview with a reporter from KTEN-TV in Sherman, and Karon photographed me with a number of attendees. It was a grand event, made even more pleasurable by the presence - and assistance throughout  a busy afternoon - by Causby, Dusty, Bailey and Kendall. They were our hosts for the weekend, and before leaving, Karon and I took them out for an early Thanksgiving meal at Romano's - in downtown Van Alstyne.

Taping a news piece for KTEN-TV

Long Before the Pilgrims

Long Before the Pilgrims

"Lone Star Historian" is a blog about the travels and activities of the State Historian of Texas. Bill O'Neal was appointed to a two-year term by Gov. Rick Perry on August 22, 2012, at an impressive ceremony in the State Capitol. Bill is headquartered at Panola College (www.panola.edu) in Carthage, where he has taught since 1970. For more than 20 years Bill conducted the state's first Traveling Texas History class, a three-hour credit course which featured a 2,100-mile itinerary. In 2000 he was awarded a Piper Professorship, and in 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wild West Historical Association. Bill has published almost 40 books, half about Texas history subjects, and in 2007 he was named Best Living Non-Fiction Writer by True West Magazine.  

Long before the Pilgrims celebrated Thanksgiving at Plymouth in 1621, a similar feast of thanks was conducted in a region now known as Texas. In 1598 Mexican conquistador Juan de Oñate led an expedition northward to establish the colony of Nuevo Mejico. After surviving life-threatening hardships in the deserts of northern Mexico, the expedition emerged to safety at El Paso del Norte. To celebrate their salvation, Oñate and his colonists joined Native Americans in a feast on April 30, 1598 - the First Thanksgiving.



Our little book about the first Thanksgiving
was published in hardback in 2000, and
remains in print in softcover.

Several years ago I was urged by Ed Eakin, founder of Eakin Press, and by editor Melissa Locke Roberts to write this story for fourth-graders. Melissa skillfully guided me through the process of writing history for juveniles, and Eakin Press secured an experienced illustrator, Polsky Morgan. Since the story is an Hispanic adventure, I enlisted my oldest daughter, Lynn O'Neal Martinez. Lynn is the wife of Tejano Rudy Martinez, a banker from Corpus Christi, and they are the parents of two wonderful girls, my oldest grandchildren. As a college student Lynn studied Spanish, including a term in Mexico, and she became an elementary school teacher specializing in bilingual education.



Lynn O'Neal Martinez
translated our book with
the help of her students.
This photo credit should
go to her older daughter,
Chloe, while little sister
Jessie directed her mother
to raise her head and
smile more.

We decided that this book should be bilingual, with a page of English opposite a corresponding page of Spanish. After I completed this book in English, Lynn translated it into Spanish. At that time she was teaching fifth-graders at John H. Reagan Elementary in Dallas, where she was awarded Teacher of the Year honors. She read her translation to her students, who excitedly interrupted her from time to time. "Teacher! Teacher! Here's how we say that...."

 

Throughout the book a page of English faces a corresponding page of Spanish.
Illustrations were created by Polsky Morgan.

 

      Lynn's final translation combined formal Spanish with age-appropriate vernacular that was a major strength of the book. Of course, it was a delightful experience for me to collaborate with my daughter on a book. And Lynn's Tejano students, while working with their teacher on the translation, became familiar with a story of heroism and importance in Texas history.

Juan de Oñate was one of the wealthiest men in Mexico during the late 1500s. His wife was a granddaughter of conquistador Hernan Cortes and a great-granddaughter of the great Aztec chief, Montezuma. Oñate wanted to conquer a new frontier for Mexico, and he persuaded the Viceroy of Mexico, a personal friend, to appoint him as governor and captain-general of New Mexico to the north. Governor Oñate spent three years organizing a colonization expedition. He collected wagons and carts, supplies and livestock. Peasants were enlisted as colonists with the promise of the rank of hidalgo (from hijo de algo - "son of something"). Early in 1598 Governor Oñate assembled his colonists - more than 400 men, women, children, and soldiers. In addition there were 11 Franciscan priests. On the trail the expedition stretched for four miles.

Governor Oñate intended to blaze a new route northward. But on the deserts of northern Mexico the expedition ran low on food, water, and shoe leather. As the situation grew perilous, Governor Oñate sent eight men ahead to find water. At last they came upon the Rio Grande at a passage soon known as El Paso del Norte. They fished and hunted ducks and geese, and Native Americans from a nearby village brought a supply of fish.

By April 26, 1598, the entire expedition was encamped beneath cottonwood trees beside the river. Governor Oñate proclaimed that before the column crossed the river to march into New Mexico, there should be a celebration of gratitude to God for delivery. A feast was planned, which would include the friendly Native Americans. On March 30 everyone dressed in their best clothing: soldiers donned polished breastplates, priests wore vestments laced with gold, and Governor Oñate was resplendent in full armor. At a candlelit altar, the priests sang High Mass, and Father Alonso Martinez preached an appropriate sermon.

A captain from Spain put together a pageant about the expedition, with soldiers playing the various parts. At the end of the play the Indians knelt in the sand and were baptized. Trumpets then sounded as Governor Oñate steeped forward to claim New Mexico for Spain. Finally a bonfire was started, and fish and venison and duck were roasted. A feast ended the first Thanksgiving - 23 years before the Pilgrims feasted and prayed at Plymouth.



Statue of Juan de Oñate at the El Paso Airport.

Governor Oñate led his colonists north and founded the province of New Mexico. With the passage of years the river channel changed at El Paso, and eventually the former south bank site of the 1598 event became part of Texas. By the 1750s the community of San Elizario was forming on the historic site. When El Paso County was created in 1850, San Elizario became the county seat. (In 1883 the county seat was moved to El Paso following a controversial election.) The first county jail still stands in San Elizario.

An annual celebration of the First Thanksgiving takes place at the beautiful San Elizario Chapel (the current building was erected in 1882). In front of the chapel is a charming plaza, where Los Portales Museum is housed in a long adobe structure. On a recent trip to El Paso I turned south off of I-10 and drove into San Elizario. It was Sunday afternoon and the plaza was busy. At Los Portales Museum the staff was gracious and hospitable. I donated a copy of my book Long Before the Pilgrims to the museum library, and I've since learned that the museum ordered copies to sell.

San Elizario was the scene of most of the violent events of the El Paso Salt War. Not far from the chapel stands a two-story adobe building where a special detachment of 20 Texas Rangers was besieged for three days. At the center of trouble was the county judge, who surrendered to halt the siege. But the judge and two friends were promptly shot by a firing squad of Mexican nationals who had crossed the border. San Elizario has a dramatic past, and there are significant tangible remains that will prove of great interest to history buffs. 

For more information: http://www.visitelpasomissiontrail.com/history/san-elizario-presidio-and-chapel.html

Oldest jail in El Paso County

Los Portales Museum

Site of Ranger HQ and siege

Old stagecoach station

State Historian Tour

"Lone Star Historian 2" is a blog about the travels and activities of the State Historian of Texas during his second year. Bill O'Neal was appointed to a two-year term by Gov. Rick Perry on August 22, 2012, at an impressive ceremony in the State Capitol. Bill is headquartered at Panola College (www.panola.edu) in Carthage, where he has taught since 1970. For more than 20 years Bill conducted the state's first Traveling Texas History class, a three-hour credit course which featured a 2,100-mile itinerary. In 2000 he was awarded a Piper Professorship, and in 2012 he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Wild West Historical Association. Bill has published over 40 books, almost half about Texas history subjects, and in 2007 he was named Best Living Non-Fiction Writer by True West Magazine. In 2013 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree by his alma mater, Texas A&M University - Commerce.

On Wednesday, November 6, I left Carthage for a State Historian Tour across much of Texas: seven days and five programs  from Dallas to Blanco to El Paso. On Thursday morning I entered the fourth floor of "Old Red," the 1892 Dallas County Courthouse which now houses a superb museum. Stephen Cure and JoNeita Kelly of the Texas State Historical Association have organized several conferences across the state, designed to offer hard information - rather than methodology - about Texas history to teachers. These fourth- and seventh-grade teachers form the front line of Texas history instruction for public school students. Steve and JoNeita bring a great number of speakers together for each conference, and participants may choose from an impressive variety of sessions. The overall focus was on the Republic of Texas period, and I was privileged to offer the keynote address: "Leadership Roles of Sam Houston." More than 130 teachers were present, and they received professional development credit for participating in the two-day event, which was jointly sponsored by the Texas State Historical Association and the Region VII Educational Center. My remarks opened the event, and when the participants split up to attend group sessions, I offered my thanks to Steve and JoNeita, then I departed for Mansfield. 

My brother Mike attended my address.

My oldest daughter, Lynn Martinez, teaches at the Mary Lillard Intermediate School in the Mansfield ISD. During her two decades as a teacher I have appeared with Lynn at each of her schools, and from time to time she has returned to Panola College to assist me, most notably at a day-long conference on our campus for Region XIII social studies teachers.  Lynn is quite innovative and has won many teaching awards, including Teacher of the Year at Lillard last year. It was my pleasure to present to her, in front of her colleagues and students, a Certificate of Excellence for "Exceptional Classroom Performance." 

With my daughter, Lynn Martinez

The Mary Lillard Intermediate School instructs more than 1,000 fifth- and sixth-grade students, and Lynn arranged for me to present a program on "Texas Cowboys" to the student body. This program utilizes a great many props, from saddles to spurs to branding irons, and emphasizes Hispanic contributions to the range cattle industry, as well as the great Texas ranches, epic trail drives, and the lifestyle of frontier cowboys and cowgirls. 

With Lynn and her teaching partner, J.T. Roe 

After arriving from downtown Dallas I made a quick change from suit and Texas tie to cowboy garb, and at 1:30 delivered the program to 500 well-behaved but enthusiastic sixth-graders. At 2:30 more than 500 Lillard fifth-graders - equally well-behaved and even more enthusiastic - formed the audience. The students asked many questions, and teachers and administrators were most complimentary  As State Historian I wish that I could reach 1,000 impressionable students several days a week with a colorful program on Texas history. 

Interior of the one-room schoolhouse

After spending Thursday night with Lynn and her family, on Friday I drove southwest, heading toward a Saturday engagement in Blanco. I stopped in Cleburne, where soon the centennial anniversary of the impressive Johnson County Courthouse will be celebrated. In the courthouse a county museum is maintained  and I had a delightful visit with the ladies in charge. A few miles out of town, on Highway 67, is the ghost town of Wardville, the first county seat. Today Wardville features a handful of buildings, some original and some rebuilt. A one-room school is completely furnished and equipped. Randolph Garner, president of the Johnson County Historical Foundation, frequently conducts classes for 4th-graders from area schools. I had missed him on a previous visit months ago, but on Friday he was present and in costume. Randolph had hosted students during the first three days of the week, and he eagerly shared with me what he tries to accomplish in his 19th-century classroom. 

Randolph Garner behind his teacher's desk

The Blanco courthouse

On Saturday I arrived early enough in Blanco to enjoy a repeat tour of the Victorian courthouse erected in 1885. Although the county seat later was moved 12 miles to Johnson City, the Blanco town square still is dominated by the handsome old structure  After the seat of government moved, the one-time courthouse served as a school,  a hospital, and a  bank. Today it is Blanco's Visitor Information Center, as well as a museum. When True Grit was remade starring Jeff Bridges, the courthouse scenes were filmed here, and on the Saturday that I visited,  a lovely young lady was having her bridal portrait photographed in the old courtroom. 

Courthouse interior

With Wayne Calk

Last year I spoke at a weekend writer's conference at Fort Davis, where I had the pleasure of meeting Wayne Calk, president of the American Chuck Wagon  Association. Wayne invited me to speak at the national meeting of the Association, scheduled to be held in Blanco. The meeting was conducted at the Buggy Barn resort on the outskirts of town. I encountered Wayne amid the rustic charm of the resort  and I introduced myself to as many of the chuck wagon cooks and their wives as I could reach. I had a fine time putting together a program suitable to the occasion, and it was an enjoyable meeting. 

ACWA members at the Buggy Barn resort

With Berri

It is 560 miles from Blanco to El Paso. At El Paso the annual meeting of the Texas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (TACRAO) was held from Sunday through Wednesday morning, November 10-13. There are more than 1,100 members of TACRAO, and 600 came to El Paso. Last year's meeting was in Dallas, and the president was one of my daughters, Dr. Berri Gormley. When one of her presenters unexpectedly withdrew, she asked me to fill the slot on short notice. For more than three decades in my Texas history classes I had lectured on "Education in Texas." I tweaked this lecture for the occasion, and attendees seemed to enjoy a program which provided background and perspective for educators (as contrasted with the methodology of collegiate record-keeping, which quite properly dominates the program menu). 

Sunday evening dinner at El Paso Convention Center

A few months ago I was asked to repeat the program, entitled "History of Education in Texas," at the 2013 TACRAO convention in El Paso. When I expressed surprise, I was told that a number of members had heard about the program and wanted to experience it, while others expressed a desire to hear it again. Of course, I was deeply gratified that non-historians wanted to attend a history program! I accepted with gratitude  and on Monday, November 11, I had the pleasure of again addressing a receptive TACRAO audience. 

Afterward I drove east out of El Paso. It is over 800 miles to Carthage, but I had a great many pleasant memories of the past week to savor. And I knew the long journey home would include occasional stops at historic sites.