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CHAPTER 14 WILLIAM RAGSDALE COLEMAN (Known as Buck Coleman) William Ragsdale Coleman was the eldest child of Wylie Coleman and Sarah Ragsdale. Born, Fairfield County, South Carolina, October 4, 1800. Died, near Hallettsville, Lavaca County, Texas, October 29, 1881. Resided in Winston (later Choctaw) County, Mississippi, from 1835 to 1860. by FRANK R. COLEMAN * An excellent sub-title for the life of William Ragsdale Coleman might be "The Life Story of One of the Many Colemans with Restless Feet." He first saw the light of day in the first year of the Nineteenth Century in Fairfield County, South Carolina. At the age of thirty-five, he moved to Winston (later Choctaw) County, Mississippi. At the age of sixty, he moved to Lavaca County, Texas, where he lived another twenty-one years. By modern highway, it is 1281 miles from Fairfield to Lavaca, being 624 miles from Fairfield to Choctaw, and 657 miles from Choctaw to Lavaca. When Sarah Ragsdale Coleman died on August 3, 1820, William Ragsdale Coleman was nearly twenty years of age. His brothers and sisters were Nancy Ann, age 18; Joseph Ragsdale, age 17; Sophia, age 15; Griffin Roe, age 13; Elizabeth A. and Robert F., twins, age 10; Rebecca, age 7; Wylie W., age 5; Henry Jonathan Francis Wyatt, age 2; and Sarah, age 8 months. The mother was only thirty-nine years of age when she died, leaving eleven children, of whom seven were under fifteen years of age. On January 22, 1822, Nancy Ann, then age twenty, married Richard Nolem, and left home. Wylie Roe Coleman, the father of this large family, recognized the need for a second wife. To protect the interests of his children in his estate, he entered into an ante-nuptial written contract with Mary Seymone that in the event she survived him, after the contemplated marriage, she would claim only a child's share in his estate. Because it is an interesting document, of a kind no longer used, this contract has been copied in full in the chapter on Wylie Coleman. Elihu Coleman, the only *Frank R. Coleman of Dallas, Texas is the son of Thomas Blewett Coleman and grandson of William Ragsdale Coleman. - 146 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY child of this marriage, was only nine months of age at the time Wylie died on October 16, 1824. The graves of Wylie and Sarah are located about 150 feet from his old home, about nine miles West of Woodward, in Fairfield County, but near the Chester County line. Joseph Ragsdale Coleman married Julianna Banks in February, 1824, leaving the nineteen year old Sophia as the oldest daughter and William Ragsdale Coleman as the oldest son at home. The next of the children to marry was Elizabeth A., the twin, who married John Williams, in October, 1826. Then, on January 9, 1827, Sophia married her first cousin, Williams Charles Coleman, the son of Allen Roe Coleman and Sarah Coleman, themselves first cousins. By the time the year 1830 rolled around, William Ragsdale Coleman, approaching his thirtieth birthday, was ready to set up a home of his own. On January 26, 1830, he married Miss Sarah Newport Head, a native of South Carolina, the daughter of William Head, Sr. and Susannah Gibson Harrison Head. Susannah was the daughter of Captain Burr Harrison and his wife, Elizabeth Dargon. Captain Harrison was a Revolutionary soldier and served under Lafayette at Yorktown. Captain Burr Harrison was the son of Thomas Harrison, grandson of Thomas Harrison, Sr., great grandson of Burr Harrison, and great, great grandson of Cuthbert Harrison of Virginia. Thus the descendants of William Ragsdale Coleman and his wife, Sarah Newport Head, were distant relatives of the illustrious Harrison family of Virginia, which produced two American Presidents, namely, William Henry Harrison, and his grandson, Benjamin Harrison. Sarah Newport Head was related to President Tyler. The Head family lived in Chester County, on the waters of Little Sandy River. The parents of William Head, Sr., were Richard Head and Sarah Newport. William Head, Sr. and wife, Susannah, moved to old Winston County, Mississippi, now Choctaw, where they lived about three miles East of the William R. Coleman home. The location is now about three miles South of Ackerman and immediately East of Highway 15. Their graves, marked, are now in the Tombigbee National Forest, Choctaw Unit, and are situated across the highway from the Howard McDowell residence. William Head died July 1, 1837. His wife died July 2, 1844. THE BLEWETT FAMILY Thomas Blewett received a land grant, consisting of 2000 acres, situated on the Pee Dee River in South Carolina, from King George II. - 147 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY He made extensive improvements, including a large mill, on the land. He had a son named Thomas Garton Blewett, born 4 July, 1789, at Blewett's Falls, South Carolina. Thomas Garton Blewett moved to Chester, Chester County, South Carolina, where he married Regina de Graffenried (born at Chester, South Carolina, May 8, 1799), who was a descendant of the Landgrave, and daughter of Tscharner and Eliza Allen de Graffenried. The slaves of Thomas Garton Blewett constructed a two story spacious brick mansion in the town of Chester, in Chester County, South Carolina. The family moved to Columbus, Mississippi, in 1833, where the same slaves built another two story brick residence. He named one plantation "Pee Dee," another "Chester," and a third "York." The cultivated areas included 1600 acres in cotton, 1000 acres in corn, and some 300 acres in oats, wheat, potatoes and peanuts. It is evident that William R. Coleman had great admiration for Thomas Garton Blewett, eleven years his senior. He named his third child, born in South Carolina, Thomas Blewett Coleman, and his fifth child, born in Mississippi, Regina Blewett Coleman. Griffin Roe Coleman, another brother, had reached the age of twenty-two years. He chose a wife and married Susannah Cockrell, February 9, 1830. Apparently, Wiley Roe Coleman left no will. The record shows that William R. Coleman and Henry Jonathan Coleman were Administrators of the estate. (Henry Jonathan Coleman, the youngest son of Robert Coleman who married Elizabeth Roe, to reach maturity, was a brother of Wiley Roe Coleman and an uncle of William R. Coleman). In making preparations to move from South Carolina, W. R. Coleman sold 279 acres in Fairfield County to John and William Bryce (sons of William Bryce). This land was a part of the landed estate of Wiley Roe Coleman. William R. Coleman had acquired Griffin R. Coleman's share of 95 acres, also Elizabeth's share of 94 acres and Rebecca's share of 94 acres. This conveyance is dated May 17, 1834, and was witnessed by Henry J. Coleman and William W. Head. Henry J. Coleman appeared before David R. Coleman, Justice of the Quorum, and made affidavit that he saw William R. Coleman sign, seal and deliver the deed of conveyance. In February, 1829, he had sold 50 acres in Chester County, situated at the head of Little River, to Jonathan Thomas and wife. In 1832, he sold 40 acres in Fairfield County for the sum of $1250.00 - 148 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY to Hugh Murdoch, said land known as the saw-mill tract, and was a part of the estate of Wiley Roe Coleman, his father. By this time, his brother, Robert F. (twin) had married Margaret Smith, in 1832, and his sister, Sarah (at the age of 14), had married Wiley U. Gilmar, December 8, 1833. His brother, Wiley W. W. Coleman, at nineteen, was nearing the age of maturity, and another brother, Henry Jonathan Francis Wyatt Coleman, sixteen years old, both nearly old enough to care for themselves, but the twelfth child of Wiley Coleman, Sr. (the child by his second wife), Eli, was only ten years of age. To complete the record of the children of Wiley Roe Coleman, during the succeeding years, Rebecca Coleman married John W. Robinson, in February, 1835. Wiley W. W. Coleman married Mary Coleman, in February, 1836. Eli Coleman married Elenor Beasley, in the year 1844. Henry,Jonathan Francis Wyatt Coleman married Alcy.Cockrell, an old maid, November 28, 1848. Since his obligations to his father's family had been taken care of, William R. Coleman was free to move and to satisfy his urge to settle on the virgin and fertile soil of a new State. Three children, born in South Carolina, were members of his house-hold: 1. William Head Coleman, born December 13, 1830. 2. Sarah Susan Coleman, born April 3, 1832. 3. Thomas Blewett Coleman, born October 12, 1833. William R. Coleman named his third child as "Thomas G. B. Cole- man," in his diary of 1851, thus establishing the fact this son was named for Thomas Garton Blewett, of South Carolina and Mississippi. William R. Coleman was responding to the same urge that a number of his relatives had shared. Five of his uncles, namely, John Roe Coleman, Grimn Roe Coleman, William Roe Coleman, Solomon Roe Coleman, ald Francis Roe Coleman, all sons of Robert Coleman who married Elizabeth Roe, had moved to Greene County, Alabama, along with two of his aunts, namely, Sarah Coleman and Elizabeth Coleman. This makes a total of seven persons in one family that had restless feet, and all moved to Greene County, Alabama. Five of the children of Robert Coleman, who married Elizabeth Roe, namely, David Roe Coleman (Daddy Dave), Robert Roe Coleman, Wiley Roe Coleman, Allen Roe Coleman, and Henry Jonathan Coleman, - 149 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY remained in South Carolina and reared families. The remaining two children of Robert Coleman and Elizabeth Roe died young. The Colemans in South Carolina used many nicknames. Here are nine: 1. David Roe Coleman, Senior, "Daddy" and "Daddy Dave." 2. Albert, son of David Henry Coleman, "Ob." 3. David Roe Feaster, "G. W. Punkins." 4. Trezevant D. Feaster, "Trez." 5. Wiley Coleman, "Screw." He was the son of Robert Roe Coleman and Nancy Coleman. 6. David Andrew Coleman, "The Squire." 7. Jacob Feaster, "Squire Feaster." 8. Henry Jonathan Coleman, Senior, "The Steamer." 9. William Ragsdale Coleman, "Buck." After the trip from South Carolina to Mississippi, the following children were born: 4. Eliza Jane Macon Coleman, January 30, 1835. 5. Regina Blewett Coleman, December 17, 1836. 6. Louisa Harriet Coleman, September 10, 1838. 7. Henry Jonathan Coleman, March 25, 1840. 8. Anna Rebecca Coleman, November 26, 1841. 9. Mary Anner Harrison Coleman, June 23, 1843. 10. James Burr Head Coleman, January 13, 1845. 11. Marcia Maranda Coleman, May 3, 1848. The family lived on a plantation comprised of about 1760 acres of land, and included the plantation which Williams Charles Coleman sold to William R. Coleman in 1839. Slaves were used to help cultivate the land, and the sons of William R. Coleman worked in the fields. The two story house faced west and included a two story porch, or balcony, from which William R. Coleman could watch the overseers and workers in the fields. There was a row of negro slave cabins located across the road from the residence. The doors of the slave quarters opened toward the main house where their master lived. There was a spring nearby which furnished water for all. Thomas Blewett Coleman told his children that he would play, as a boy, with the little negro slave boys on the farm. He spent most of his childhood and young manhood on the Mississippi farm, and learned how to be an excellent marksman with a gun and learned how to be a successful farmer. - 150 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY On one occasion, William R. Coleman had left the older son, "Bill" (William Head Coleman), and the younger son, "Tom" (Thomas Blewett Coleman), in the charge of a negro overseer, a slave, and gave the boys specific instructions to work all day in the field, while he would be away from home. Upon his return at the close Of the day, he asked for a report from the overseer, as to how much work the boys had done. The slave replied: "Marse William, dem two boys dun nothing but fit and fit all day long." (Fight all day long). For fear that he would become a bad example before his young children, Thomas Blewett Coleman would not talk about the following incident until his children became older. When a barefoot boy on the farm, he had disobeyed his father, while working in the field. William R. approached him to take hold of him, in order to administer the necessary punishment. Tom started running as fast as he could. Climbing over rail fences and running across the cotton field, with William R. close behind, in hot pursuit. When the chase ended, a double dose of punishment was administered. The farm provided cattle for beef and hogs for meat needed to supply both the whites and the negroes. Wild game, which included deer, squirrels and wild turkeys, became a supplementary source of meat. Tom would clear a strip, about 150 feet long, in the woods, draw a line on the ground, bait the line with shelled corn and wait for the wild turkeys to find and eat the corn. From his hiding place behind the piles of brush, he would shoot down the line of turkey heads as the corn was picked up. The young men wore long trousers, with straps at the bottoms buckled under the shoes, to keep the trouser legs down, just like the pants shown on the posters of "Uncle Sam," the well known caricature representing the United States of America. Some of the slaves were assigned work in the fields, others were to help with the housework and the care of the white children. Before Tom was old enough to be depended upon to wash behind his ears, one of the negro women slaves would bathe him. When the ordeal was over, the slave would ask: "Now, how do you feel, better or wusscr (worse)?" To this question, Tom would always reply: "Wusser (worse)." William R. Coleman's old home and plantation was sold to his first cousin, Isaiah Daniel Coleman. William Ragsdale Coleman had become restless again. Although he had become prosperous, he was interested in acquiring new land in the State of Texas. In 1851, William R., in the company of his son, Thomas Blewett Coleman, who had reached the age of eighteen, and a cousin named George Davis, made a trip to Texas and he recorded in a - 151 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY Diary, the route, the mileage and various comments on the soil, crops, the kinds of trees, and general conditions he found along this way. After traveling for fifteen days on horseback, they crossed the eastern boundary of Texas, averaging twenty-six miles per day. The travelers reached Nacogdoches, one of the three oldest settlements in Texas, and two other towns made famous in the early history of the State, namely, Washington-on-the-Brazos and Independence. The Texas Declaration of Independence was signed at Washington-on-the-Brazos, and for a time served as the Capitol of Texas. Concerning the land on the Brazos, he made the following comment in his Diary: "Rich land-through a beautiful high prairie country. A very healthy looking country. Land selling from $1.00 to $10.00 per acre. Note: It is of interest to record the fact that my mother, Martha Jane (Simpson) Coleman, was born during the year 1851 in Macon County, Alabama. Her parents were David Butler Simpson and Arabella Butler Callaway. "Fine cedar groves and plenty of pin oak and evergreens. Generally the richest country and the prettiest prairie country I have ever seen. Thickly settled with rich farmers. Plenty of cattle, horses, sheep and hogs to be seen for miles. Some droves of sheep appear to be one thousand head." He was favorably impressed that this area would be a good location for him. The travelers proceeded to Bastrop on the Colorado River, then to Austin, the State Capitol. His comment about Austin was as follows: "A very healthy place. Three female academies, with fine churches." He had seven young daughters and he was noting places where schools would be available for them in case the Move to Texas was made. After looking at the rich level land on the east bank of the Colorado River near Bastrop, he made favorable comment on the land in the Diary. At Austin, they turned north to Georgetown, and there turned east, starting the return trip to Mississippi. They passed the falls of the Brazos River below present Waco, and visited the towns of Fairfield and Palestine and went to visit Frank Coleman, living thirteen miles north of Palestine. The travelers passed through the towns of Rusk, Henderson, Elysian Fields and on to a town located on the line between Texas and Louisiana, known as Lickskillet, now called Latex, thence to Shreveport, Louisiana, and then back to Winston County, Mississippi. His impressions concerning the land on the Brazos were so favorable - 152 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY that his first decision was to settle there, but in 1860, when he moved to Texas, he bought land in Lavaca County. He had passed through Round Rock, in Fayette County, while on the inspection trip, and Fayette County lies to the north of Lavaca County, and is an adjoining County. Although the war clouds were gathering, prior to the Civil War, William R. had made plans to move to Texas in 1860, when he was sixty years of age, an age at which most people would hesitate to make a move of this kind. On December 15, 1859, he entered into a written agreement with Isaiah Daniel Coleman, his first cousin, to whom he had sold the farm, that he would vacate the premises by October 1, 1860. He sold his large walnut dining table having a seating capacity of twelve persons, and other furniture, but moved some of his furniture and equipment, horses, slaves, etc., to Lavaca County. On July 13, 1860, William R. Coleman paid cash $4,446.00 for 446 acres of land located six miles northwest of Hallettsville, and on the east bank of the Lavaca River. He purchased this land from A. W. Searcy and wife, Mary Louisa Searcy. On September 18, 1869, he purchased 377 additional acres, adjoining the first tract, from Thomas J. Ponton. He paid $100.00 cash, signed notes to pay $850.00 in gold on December 25, 1869 (Christmas Day), and $619.00 due twelve months from date of deed, a total of $1,569.00. The total acreage was 823 acres. A letter written by Eliza Jane Macon Coleman (who was an unmarried daughter and a school teacher) is addressed to Thomas B. Coleman, her brother, at Hallettsville, Lavaca County. The letter bears the date of January 29, 1861, written and mailed at Lexington, Mississippi. In the letter she expressed hope that he had recovered from his "little fit of homesickness." Homesickness for Mississippi became a serious matter, and a family conference was held to decide what should be done. Texas was a very young State, having been admitted to the United States in 1845, following a short period of existence as the Republic of Texas. Life in the new State required the endurance of hardships. The State lacked schools and cultural advantages. Life in Texas was so different from the life the children had become accustomed to on the plantation where most of the work was done by slaves, and where life was comfortable and easy in the midst of relatives and friends. Lavaca County is located in the south part of Central Texas, in the Texas Coastal Plain Area. The Lavaca River, from which the County - 153 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY derived its name, flows across the central part of the County in a southeasterly direction The Navidad River flows across the eastern part of the County. Both rivers empty into Lavaca Bay, an arm of Matagorda Bay. Gonzales, the main town in DeWitt's colony, is located about twenty-eight miles to the west of the Hallet settlement, and San Antonio de Bexar is about ninety-five miles to the west. Goliad, or Presidio la Bahia, is situated about sixty-two miles to the southwest. All of the four sons of William R. Coleman volunteered for service in the Confederate Army. Thomas Blewett Coleman was among the first recruits to drill on the streets of Hallettsville. 1. William Head Coleman served in the famous Walker's Texas Division, C. S. A., was wounded and disabled early in the war. Later, he served two terms as Sheriff of Lavaca County. 2. Thomas Blewitt Coleman enlisted in Co "A" 8th Texas Infantry and served four years, mainly in Louisiana and Arkansas under General Edmund Kirby-Smith 3. Henry Jonathan Coleman was killed on the second day of the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern, in the northwest corner of Arkansas. March 8, 1962, was the 100th anniversary of his death. The Yankees called this battle the "Battle of Pea Ridge." A comrade by the name of Newt Anderson was by the side of Henry Jonathan Coleman when he was shot down. 4. James Burr Head Coleman served in Co "D," 2nd Texas Cavalry, Pyron's Regiment. After the war, he moved to Coleman, Texas, where he was President of the First National Bank in January 1896. Also rendering service in the Confederate Army, was William Ford, who married Sarah Susan Coleman, daughter of William Ragsdale Coleman. William Ford received a wound in the arm during the war and died later from the effects of the wound. Thomas Blewett Coleman hastened home at the close of hostilities to help make a living for the family, which suffered privations and hard-ships, along with other Southern families, following the fall of the Confederacy, during the years of the Reconstruction Period. Rural churches in the State of Texas have been noted for having consecrated pastors, and congregations great in the spirit of consecration, dedication and Christian fellowship, although often limited as to numbers. The rural church known as "North Grove Baptist Church" was a - 154 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY church of this kind. Although the life of the church covered a short span of ten years, its activities comprised an important chapter in the life of William R. Coleman and his family. He came to Texas with letters for himself and family, as well as for two slaves, from the Concord Baptist Church located in Winston County, Mississippi, of which he had been one of the founders in 1837. Thomas Blewett Coleman served as Church Clerk of the North Grove Baptist Church for most of the time, and the minutes were kept in his handwriting. The Articles of Faith, Church Covenant and Rules of Decorum are in my mothers's handwriting. The minutes of the first meeting reveal a list of the fourteen charter members. On Page 3 appears the following entry: "On Saturday, the 29th of May, 1875, the following Brethern and Sisters presented themselves with letters of Recommendation for the purpose of being organized into a regular Missionary Baptist Church: J. P. and Margaret Garrison W. R. Coleman S. N. Coleman M. M. Andrews E. J. Coleman S. S. Ford T. B. Coleman W. W. and Lavina Page T. M. Tyler S. L. Tyler T. F. and T. L. Tyler "On motion, Elder B. F. Carr was called to the chair as Moderator and A. S. Bunting, Clerk. After prayer by Elder P. Harris, the Church Constitution and the Articles of Faith were read, and adopted. The right hand of Christian and Church fellowship was then exchanged, after which, the Church was de- claimed (proclaimed) duly organized. "The Church then proceeded to elect three Deacons, Brethern William R. Coleman, John F. Garrison and W. W. Page. B. F. CARR, Moderator, A. S. BUNTING, Clerk."' William Ragsdale Coleman, his wife, Sarah Newport (Head) Cole- - 155 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY man, his three daughters, Miss Eliza Jane Macon Coleman, Mrs. Sarah Susan (Coleman) Ford, Mrs. Marcia Maranda (Coleman) Andrews, with his son, Thomas Blewett Coleman, all presented themselves for membership on letters from the Hallettsville Baptist Church, to become charter members. Martha Jane (Simpson) Coleman, wife of Thomas Blewett Coleman, was accepted as a member, at the time of the second meeting of the Church, and on a letter from the Hallettsville Baptist Church. On later dates, the following relatives were received: Miss Florence N. Andrews, granddaughter of W. R. Coleman. Miss Anna B. Ford, granddaughter of W. R. Coleman. Miss Lula Ford, granddaughter of W. R. Coleman. Miss Anna Sue McLelland, relative of the wife of W. R. Coleman . Mrs. Mary Anner Harrison (Coleman) Simpson, who was a daughter of W. R. Coleman and wife of W. B. Simpson. William B. Simpson, son-in-law of W. R. Coleman and brother of Martha Jane (Simpson) Coleman. The minutes do not give a definite location for the first lot and house of worship, but on the 27th day of October, 1879, William R. Coleman signed a deed donating three acres of land, a part of the William Ponton League, and situated about five miles northwest from Hallettsville, for the establishment of a Baptist Church, with space for a cemetery, and providing that the Church building, when constructed, was to be available for use as a school. Use was made of the Church building as a school. The two oldest children of Thomas Blowett Coleman, who were David William Coleman and Ernest Head Coleman, attended school there, the school term lasting for three months during the year. In February, 1877, W. R. Coleman asked to be relieved of the duties as Deacon, and T. B. Coleman was elected Church Clerk. In July, 1877, Brother H. V. Cole was licensed to preach, and Thomas Blewett was ordained as a Deacon. The name of T. B. Coleman appears on many Committees appointed by the Church, and on the lists of delegates to the meetings of the Association, as well as to State Conventions. In the record for 1878, little "Davie" W. Coleman (David William Coleman), oldest child of Thomas Blewett Coleman, and at the age of seven years, is listed as having made a contribution to Missions. "Davie" - 156 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY has set a record for longevity for the Coleman family in Texas, having passed his 90th birthday before he departed this life on December 24, 1961. On September 5, 1885, a resolution was adopted and the church organization was dissolved at North Grove Baptist Church. William Ragsdale Coleman, the chief sponsor for the Church, had departed this life on October 29, 1881, and his widow with several members of his family had moved to Coleman, Texas. For the Spring Term of Court, 1863, William R. Coleman was summoned to serve as a Grand Juror. He was summoned again to serve on the Grand Jury March 13, 1865, and when he did not answer the summons, a One Hundred Dollar fine was levied against him for defaulting. Apparently, he had a valid excuse, for on March 16, 1865, at his request, the fine was set aside. (Vol. "C," P. 43). Page 263, Vol. "D," Minutes of District Court at Hallettsville, dated November 2, 1868. Presiding Judge, Wesley Ogden; Sam C. Lackey, District Attorney; W. H. Coleman, Sheriff; T. A. Hester, Clerk. William R. Coleman summoned as a Petit Juror-defaulted-was fined Thirty Dollars. Minutes for November 7, 1868, show "It is ordered by the Court that the fine of Thirty Dollars entered at this term of the Court against William R. Coleman be set aside." The name T. B. Coleman appears several times as having served on the Grand Jury and on the Petit Jury. DOCUMENTARY NOTES ON WILLIAM R. COLEMAN On December 30, 1835, William R. Coleman was in Winston County, Mississippi, and witnessed a deed from Abram Miller to Samuel T. Potts. On July 1, 1837, he was one of the five founders of Concord Baptist Church, then in Winston, but now in Choctaw County. 1843. Inscription on the Tombstone in Old Concord Church Ceme- tery, "Sacred to the Memory of Anna Rebecca, daughter of William R. and Sarah N. Coleman. She departed this life November 4, 1843, aged 1 year, 11 months, and 8 days." (Nov. 26, 1841-Nov. 4, 1843). - 157 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY Whision County Personal Tax Assessment Roll, 1847. "Wm. R. Coleman 1 pleasure carriage, $150 1 clock, $5 30 head of cattle 1 piano, $1,000 20 slaves under 60 years of age AUGUST 27, 1850 Family No. 17. Whistoll County, Mississippi. U. S. Census of 1850. William R. Coleman, 49, b. S. Car. Sarah, 41, S. C. William, 19, S. C. Thomas 11, S. C. (this age for Thomas appears to be error) Eliza, 15, b. Miss. Regina, 12 Louisa, 10 Henry, 9 Mary, 7 James, 5 Marcia, 2 Also residing with the family were James Williams, teacher, age 21, born in Alabama, Catherine Williams, l7, b. Ala., Jane Hudson, 40, born Virginia." 4th Sunday in August, 1853. Protracted Meeting, Concord Baptist Church. "Received for baptism, and baptized on the 1st Sunday in September, Eliza J. Coleman, Francis Coleman (son of Griffin Coleman), Thos. B. Coleman. P. 121 of the Minute Book. U. S. CENSUS OF 1860. Winston County. Enumeration of June 20, 1860. WM. R. COLEMAN, born in South Carolina, value of personal estate, $34,000, value of real estate, $10,800. S. N. Coleman. Wm. H. Coleman, personal property valued at $3,300. - 158 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY Thomas B., 24, personal property, $2,300. E. J., female, age 23, school.teacher. L. H., 20, music teacher. There are other names after L. H. too dim to read. Louisville, Miss. May 2, 1860 Rec'd of Edward Foster Twelve Hundred and Fifty Six dollars for a steam mill I have this day sold him for sixteen hundred dollars leaving bal due me of Three Hundred and forty four dollars. And should I.htm#N007014">I fail to furnish said mill I am to pay him 10% interest on the amt. paid me until I refund it. The said mill to be 18 Horse Power. W. R. Coleman (Evidently, William Ragsdale was here selling his steam mill in contemplation of his forthcoming move to Texas). Saturday before the second Sunday in September, 1860. Page 167 of the Concord Church Minutes. "Granted letters of dismission to Bro. W. R. Coleman, T. B. Coleman, and Sisters S. N. Coleman, E. J. Coleman, Susan Ford, Louisa Coleman, and servants Sam & Abram." May 15, 1882, Lavaca County, Texas, Last Will and Testament of William R. Coleman proved. Will dated April 3, 1879. Mrs. S. N. Coleman Executrix. Owned 575 acres of land, about six miles North of Hallettsville, valued at $6,900. January 12, 1885. Will proven for Mrs. Sarah N. Coleman, dated the Unknown day of October, 1882. Named daughter, Mary A. Simpson, wife of W. B. Simpson; daughter, Marcia M. Andrews; son, James B. Coleman; granddaughter, Florence Andrews; son, W. H. Coleman; daughter, Regina B. Lemman, wife of Dr. D. S. Lemman; Louisa H. Wilkins, wife of Dr. B. B. Wilkins. Thos. B. Coleman, Executor. The Estate settlement shows that the land was sold and bequests were paid. Original Invitation in the possession of J. P. Coleman by the courtesy of Mrs. Robert Stainback, 631 North President, Jackson, Mississippi: "Mr. Andrew Hemphill The pleasure of your company is respectfully solicited at W. R. - 159 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY Coleman's to attend a Quilting Party on Friday the 23rd of Dec. 1853. W. H. COLEMAN" WILLIAM R. COLEMAN FAMILY RECORD Copied from William R. Coleman Family Bible by Frank R. Coleman on July 13, 1954, through the courtesy of Mrs. Mary Coleman Johnson, and through the kindness of Mrs. Hampton Cottar, 135 Roberts Cut Off Road, Fort Worth, Texas. The Bible is large, old-fashioned, with heavy covers, large print and made by the New York Bible Society. One of the pages near the front cover has the following words in Old English lettering: WILLIAM R. COLEMAN'S BOOK The handwriting for the first part of the family record is old style showing the use of a pen with a very fine point. The handwriting appears to be feminine; it does not have bold masculine strokes. The letters are small but formed with accuracy, beauty, skill and uniformity that made it a wonderful document to read. Then in later years, others added entries with marked contrasts in the handwriting. WILLIAM RAGSDALE COLEMAN, Son of Wiley Snr. and Sarah Coleman, Born in South Carolina on the Fourth day of October AD 1800. SARAH N. COLEMAN, daughter of William Snr. and Susan G. Head, Born in South Carolina on the Twenty-first day of June AD 1809. BIRTHS WILLIAM HEAD COLEMAN, Son of William R. and Sarah N. Coleman, Born in South Carolina on the Thirteenth day of December AD 1830. SARAH SUSAN COLEMAN, daughter of William R. and Sarah N. Coleman, Born in South Carolina on the Third day of April 1832. THOMAS BLEWIT COLEMAN, Son of William R. and Sarah N. Coleman, Born in South Carolina on the Twelfth day of October AD 1833. ELIZA JANE MACON COLEMAN, Daughter of William R. and - 160 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY Sarah N. Coleman, Born in Mississippi on the Thirtieth day of January AD 1835. REGINA BLEWITT COLEMAN, Daughter of William R. and Sarah N. Coleman, Born in Mississippi on the Seventeenth day of December AD 1836. LOUISA HARRIETT COLEMAN, Daughter of William R. and Sarah N. Coleman, Born in Mississippi on the Tenth day of September AD 1838. HENRY JONATHAN COLEMAN, Son of William R. and Sarah N. Coleman, Born in Mississippi on the Twenty-fifth day of March AD 1840. ANNA REBECCA COLEMAN, Daughter of William R. and Sarah N. Coleman, Born in Mississippi on the Twenty-sixth day of November AD 1841. MARY ANNER HARRISON COLEMAN, Daughter of William R. and Sarah N. Coleman, Born in Mississippi on the Twenty-third day of June AD 1843. JAMES BURR HEAD COLEMAN, Son of William R. and Sarah N. Coleman, Born in Mississippi, on the Thirteenth day of January AD 1845. (In different handwriting.) MARCIA MIRANDA COLEMAN, Daughter of W. R. Coleman and S. N. Coleman, was born on the 3rd of May, l 848. FLORENCE NEWPORT ANDREWS, Daughter of P. A. & M. M. Andrews, was born on the Sixth of March, 1868. SUSAN FRANCES HEAD, Daughter of William W and Mary A Head, Born in Mississippi on the Thirteenth day of November AD 1837. A MELVINA WlLLIAMS, Daughter of John Jr and Elizabeth Ann Williams, Born in South Carolina on the Twenty-second day of January AD 1829. NANCY CATHERlNE WILLIAMS, Daughter of John Jr and Elizabeth Ann Williams, Born in Alabama on the Twelfth day of April AD 1833. FAMILY RECORD MARRIAGES WILLIAM RAGSDALE COLEMAN and SARAH NEWPORT HEAD, Married Twenty-sixth day of January AD 1830. - 161 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY PEMUROKE ANDREWS and MARCIA MIRANDA COLEMAN, Married Eighteenth day of April AD 1867. (In the following entries several persons contributed information as shown by several styles of handwriting). ROBERT C. THORNTON and HARRIETT C. HEAD, Married Eighteenth day of January AD 1842. DEATHS PEARL COLEMAN BISCO, Daughter of Wm Head Coleman Died August 13, 1935. Son, Jack Coleman Bisco whose father was Michael Joseph Bisco. MATTIE SIMPSON COLEMAN, Wife of Tom Coleman, died August 19,1935. WILLIAM HEAD Snr., Departed this life on the 1st day of July, 1837. SUSAN GIBSON HEAD, Departed this life on the 2nd November 1844. BURR HARRISON HEAD, Son of William, Senr. and Susan G. Head, Departed this life on the 25th day of january 1845. WILLIAM WOODWARD HEAD, Son of William Senr. and Susan G. Head, Departed this life on 13th March 1847. (The following notation in the handwriting of Thomas Blewit Cole- man.) ELIZA JANE MACON COLEMAN, Daughter of Wm. R. and Sarah N. Coleman, Departed this life on the Twentieth day of June, 1880. WILLIAM RAGSDALE COLEMAN, Departed this life on the Twenty-ninth day of October,1 K81. SARAH NEWPORT COLEMAN, Departed this life on the Twenty- first of November,1884. WILLIAM HEAD COLEMAN, Died December 15, 1890. JAMES BURR HEAD COLEMAN, Died June 12, 1905. LULA H. COOMBS, who was Louisa Harriett Coleman Coombs, died September 21, 1917. JAMES BURR HEAD COLEMAN'S FAMILY RECORD MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE THIS CERTIFIES that the Rite of Holy Matrimony was celebrated between James Burr Head Coleman of Coleman, Texas, - 162 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY and Mary Eliza Livingston, of Coleman, Texas, on May 1st, 1878 at Coleman, Texas. by REV. B. I. McLELLAND { C. C. Fountain WITNESS { {Kate S. Price James Burr Head Coleman was son of William Ragsdale Coleman and Sarah Newport Head. BIRTHS James Burr Head Coleman born in Mississippi, January 18th, 1845. Mary Eliza Coleman Born June 8th, 1860, in Gonzales, Texas. Marcia Gertrude Coleman Born March 21st 1879, in Coleman, Texas. Florence Estella Coleman Born October 30th 1881, in Coleman, Texas. Casey Livingston Coleman, Born June 10th, 1883. Born in Coleman, Texas. Charles Pelham Coleman, Born December 6th, 1887. Born in Coleman, Texas. Mary Finney Coleman, Born May 121h, 1890. Born in Coleman, Texas. Thomas Clarence Coleman (twin), Born July 24th, 1893. Born in Coleman, Texas. Maggie Claire Coleman (twin), Born July 24th, 1893. Born in Coleman, Texas. James Sidney Coleman, Born January 11th, 1896. Born in Coleman, Texas. MARRIAGES C. L. Coleman, of Mineral Wells, Texas, and Nell Evans, of Wagoner, Indian Territory (no heirs) on December 27th, 1906, at Wagoner, Indian Territory. Maggie Claire Coleman, Mineral Wells, Texas, and Marion L. Long, Ft. Worth, Texas, on February 7, 1912. Mary Finney Coleman, Mineral Wells, Texas, and George F. Miller, on October 9, 1912. - 163 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY Charles Pelham Coleman, Mineral Wells, Texas, and Addie Harris, Yukon, Oklahoma, July 3, 1919. C.L. Coleman married Ora Dunn (Davis). (No heirs). Charles Pelham Coleman married Melanie Johanna Meckel, March 7, 1931, San Antonio, Texas. DEATHS Marcia Gertrude Coleman, Died October 14th, 1880. Florence Estella Coleman, Died May 28, 1883. James Sidney Coleman, Died January 13th, 1896. James Burr Head Coleman, Died June 12th, 1905. Mrs. M. E. Price, Died June l9th, 1909, mother of Mary Eliza Livingston. James Archibald Livingston, Died 1909. Mary Finney Livingston, Died 1910. Maggie Claire (Margaret) Coleman, Died March 7, 1942. Mary Eliza (Livingston) Coleman, Wife of James B. Head Coleman, Died February 2, 1943. Addie Harris Coleman, Died December 6th, 1939. Casey Livingston Coleman, Died March 4, 1931. Mary Finney Coleman (Miller) married Joseph (Alex) Johnson, January 24, 1930. (Copied by Frank R. Coleman, on July 13, 1954. Bible in the possession of Mrs. Hampton Cottar, 135 Roberts Cut Off Road, Ft. Worth, Texas.) Dear Mrs. Arnold: I deferred writing from day to day waiting for Thomas and his family to be established in their home. I.htm#N007356">I promised you I would take up my pen, to give you a description of their establishment and their prosperity. In the first place I have the pleasure to write that we all enjoyed uninterrupted health, altho we had a tiresome time in coming as we must expect, traveling fifteen hundred miles and more but travelers can form an idea of the difficulties we had to encounter passing over mountains, rivers and bridges and I must say the most beautiful scenery I ever beheld. After we left Virginia we had a rough country to pass through, East Tennessee, and very little better in Middle Tennessee. Indeed the whole state, at least on the Public road, were a set of uncouth and disobliging people, in Knoxville they looked a little more civilized. The traveling through Alabama was very little better. They called their - 164 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY [PICTURE] MRS. ETHEL HAWLEY, great granddaughter of Will- IAM RAGSDALE COLEMAN, and her husband, W. E. HAWLEY, at the McDowell Farm, Choctaw County, Mississippi June 7, 1949. Taverns, Stands and their accommodations intolerable. Passing through the country that the Choctaw Indians sold to the government, where I most dreaded, we had the best accommodations. Our bills were very high and our fare intolerable and I would advise all - 165 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY that immigrate here to come in their cars or by Steamboats, unless their Company is sufficiently large to buy their own provision and have a tent. We had to pay from sixteen to twenty dollars every morning and we were traveling seven weeks. Never laid by but one day, Betsy wanted some cloths washed for her children. We had to travel every Sabboath day. Every rainy day our bills were so enormously high. Without partiality permit me to inform you, we had not gone six miles in the State of Mississippi before we discovered a visible change for the better. The houses are neatly built, have a light, neat and airy appearance. We had good accommodation. The first night we got to Columbus, l6 miles from the line dividing Mississippi from Alabama. There we were more comfortably fixed than we had been since we left Virginia and our bills were lower. We passed through some beautiful and flurshing villages and some of the most splendid plantations that you could conceive. Figure to yourself a field so extensive and the corn so high that it looked like a map of sapplings or stake drove so thick in the ground, with four or five ears of corn on them. The whole field covered with pumpkins, the largest I have ever seen. Cotton fields as far as your eyes can view, resembling a great river frozen over and covered with drifted snow. The potatoes, not patches, but fields of them, and yams that they have here in abundance. You know I promised you Mrs. Arnold, I would describe every thing exactly as it is, and I.htm#N007407">I do assure you I have never in my life seen such cows and you may buy one at any time with a young calf for $12.00. One was offered Thomas yesterday morning for that price. I.htm#N007411">I've never eaten better bacon and I never saw larger hogs. There is not a day scarcely the huntsmen don't bring in deer, sometimes two. I thought l never tasted such excellent meat, but I am almost tired of seeing it. Some days they bring in wild turkeys by the horseload, shoot them not a half mile from the College. Partridges, rabbits, squirrels, in short, let me assure you that we can procure every article you have in the market at Washington and much cheaper. We arrived on the 11th of November, in Jackson, the Capital of Mississippi, a very flourishing city. The State house is a very handsome building very much like the Capital to Washington. On a smaller scale Steamboats passing to and fro on Pearl River. Jackson is built on table land with the river running below it. l think it empties in the Mississippi River. The Trustees of the Centenary College have purchased this beautiful place called the Brandon Springs, in Rankin County, 18 miles from Jackson. The Medicinal spring is handsomely inclosed with a - 166 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY dome, and on top a cupelo with a gilt hall and a large leaf, a walk from the spring to a pavilion elegantly enclosed with seats all around, and all kind of trees, enclosed with a latticed all painted white from thence the walk continues to a botanical garden. You pass through the garden to a centree building that is now called the Domitory. It has 42 rooms, two of them very large, then on both sides are 24 cottages painted white. Some with three and some with four rooms, little porch in front with lattice work. After passing the Dormitory there are five very large houses, the President's house have five rooms down stairs and four above. lt is a large two story house with Galleries all around, handsome white pillars, a carrage house, stable, meat house, good kitchen, pantry, etc. In short, they have every comfort. Betsy and their children are delighted. Every room in the house is handsomely papered. Thomas gets twent-five hundred dollars per year, house, fire wood and expence of Doctor free. The Doctor has six rooms to his house, built in Cottage style, no upstairs and interior very handsome. The Multifiora and honeysuckles making the porch perfectly green. He has for his Salary two thousand dollars, house and firewood free from expence. I have a cottage with two P (defaced) rooms and board with Thomas. I insisted on this arrangement. They have so much company is not always agreeable to me besides if I had gone to live or have a room in Thomas' house it might wound James feelings. I did not like to cause him mortification. Betsy and the girls are very affectionate to me. There are from 55 to 60 houses all very handsome, neatly painted. The College is in a very nourishing state. lt is thought superior to any in the South. All the Servants that came from Washington are well and much pleased. Sprig says he would not go back if he could. Jenny declairs she would not, she is hired to Thomas. If you should see Ben inform him his children are well. Henry and Nora live with the Stward. In the college Maria is unrse to Betsy's boy. Van Buren and Geroginna lives with Son Thomas and drives his carriage. James has a man by the name of Emanuel driving his carriage and cultivates his garden. I.htm#N007487">I.htm#N007486">I believe I have told you all the news. I should like to see you all very much but if I.htm#N007489">I have my health next summer I would prefer staying here. We have excellent water. There are four wells and I.htm#N007492">I think there are five or six cisterns. I am sure there are more than a dozen springs in the circumference of less than a mile. I have seen very little frost, not one particle of snow, indeed I can scarcely realize that it is the 12th of January. - 167 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY I wish you, dear Mrs. Arnold to give My love to Mrs. Simpson and all their family. Give my love to Miss Lucy, say to them l had my reason for not visiting them if they knew all they would not blame me, but i can assure theM I feel much attached to them. Now you must read this letter to them and write me all the news. The Miss Thorntons send their love and bid me tell they never will forget your kindness. l thank you for your goodness in staying with me. l never put my wrapper on I don't think of you. If we don't meet on earth, I hope we may meet in heaven where parting may be no more; farewell, God forever bless you is my prayer. S/ JANE C. THORNTON January 12, 1842. W. R. COLEMAN'S DIARY OF HIS TRIP TO TEXAS IN YEAR 1851 (OCTOBER 9, 1851 to DECEMBER 19, 1851) October 9, 1851, started to Texas. William Ragsdale Coleman, George Davis and Thomas B. Coleman (a son of William Ragsdale Coleman). From William Ragsdale Coleman's to Kosciusko, 30 miles, Attala County. Then to Thomas Town, 16 miles, Leake County. The crops this far are sorry. Cotton something over one-half a crop. Health tolerably good. Land generally very poor and dry, except about 10 miles North of Thomas Town, which is good. 3rd Day. Then to Sharon, 24 miles. Land level, but rather poor and much worn. Thickly settled with a goodly number of Meeting Houses. Badly watered. Sunday, October 12, to Canton, Madison County, 7 miles. Land good and level. Crops very poor. Then to Jackson, 26 miles, Hinds County. Land good and generally level. Crops very sorry. Cotton not a half a crop, and corn very sorry. October 13th. 10 miles southwest of Jackson. Land good and thickly settled and wealthy people. Then 6 miles, very poor and very broken. Then to Gallatin (which no longer exists), Copiah County, 24 miles, making from Jackson to Gallatin, 40 miles. Poor, broken long leaf pine country. Gallatin is a poor place, secluded in a long leaf pine country, in the dark corner of Mississippi. - 168 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY Then on the Natchez Road to Rodney, Jefferson County. A good appearance of health. Thursday, October 16th, arrived in Rodney, 54 miles from Gallatin. Rich land. Cotton good, Corn very poor. Thursday, October 16th, 1851, at 12 o'clock arrived in Water Proof, Louisiana, Tensas Parish. Fine land, cotton making one and one-half bales to the acre. Thickly settled and finely improved. Friday, October 17th, to Tensas River, 14 miles. Land good, cotton one and one-half bales to the acre. Corn not more than one to five bushels to the acre. Certainly a sickly country, but finely improved and thickly settled with wealthy citizens. Land perfectly level. Saturday, October 18th. From Tensas River to Harrisonburg, Cata- houla Parish, 20 miles. Land rich, sickly, and wet. Many overflows. Many deaths. Then to camp at night 17 miles through a very broken, poor, pine country. Road very bad. Still Catahoula Parish. Sunday, October 19, 1851. Thence through a very poor pine country, then through a large portion of level postoak country. Exceedingly poor. A portion of which very rocky in places. Thickly settled, with the worst looking citizens that I ever saw. Many old settlements made many years ago either died out or quit. Mostly French or Creoles. The water exceedingly bad and scarce and very sickly. I have not seen a healthy citizen for the last 60 miles. To Little River, where steamboats run in the winter, but now ford it. Then to Gabriel Barron's, 10 miles, Rapides Parish, then to camp at night, 23 miles (this is near where Alexandria now is). Still very poor country, some prairie and some long leaf pine. Creeks and branches all dry. Hogs very sorry. Still thinly settled, sickly, hardly a person remaining out of every six settlements. The people gone. Farms badly mistreated. The state of society wretchedly bad. I have seen but two Meeting Houses for the last hundred miles. October 21, 1851. Then to Red River, 15 miles, the high land is tolerably good. A mixture of oak and pine. Cotton and corn sorry. Thinly settled and with poor people, many French and Mexicans. Red River is a fine stream but very low at this time, not boatable. It overflows its banks immensely. The bottoms are immensely rich, all stiff red loam. Many places for miles it is sanded over with red sand five or six feet in depth, thrown out in overflows, not many wet marshes. Many ash, pecans, and cotton trees of enormous size. Then to Natchitoches, 10 miles. This place is a large and beautiful town situated on the former banks of the Red River, but the river has - 169 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY made a new channel 10 miles distance. Steamboats still run the old channel in times of extreme high waters. There are many French and Mexicans here. October 22nd. To fort Jesop, Sabine Parish, 25 miles. October 23rd. Then to the town of Many, 7 miles, then to Sabine Town, 18 miles. Steam boats run here. People appeared healthy. October 24th. From Sabine Town, Sabine County, Texas, to Milam, the county seat, 9 miles. Then to Thompson Allen's. (15 days after they left home, the travelers have reached Texas.) Following is the mileage schedule entered in the back of this diary: To Kosciusko 30, to Thomas Town 16; to Sharon 24; to Canton 7; to Jackson 26; to Gallatin 40; to Rodney 54; to Water Proof 12; to Tensas River 14; to Harrisonburg 20; to Little River 41; to Gabriel Barron's 10; To Red River 38; To Natchitoches 10; To Fort Jesop 25; to Many 7; To Sabine River 18 Total distance to Texas 392 miles. Average mileage per day on horseback 26. October 25, 1851. To San Augustine, a considerable Town. The county site of Augustine County, 18 miles. The land from the Sabine River is very rich. High class country. Fine running creeks. Some good springs. Up to camp tonight 9 miles. This is a very healthy and old settlement, and very thickly settled. It appears that there may have been settlements made one hundred years ago. The land is very red and exceedingly rich. The people appear very healthy. This part of the country is very thinly timbered. Generally large hickory and blackjack, and a mixture of walnut, ash, mulberry, buckeye, blackhaw, and many other rich growths that we do not know. Not a particle range but the best upland country of the same distance that I have ever seen. There is a great deal of rock in some places. Some limestone rock. Up to Melrose Town, 16 miles, Nacogdoches County. October 26, 1851. Now to Nacogdoches Town, 10 miles, a consider- able Town, a great distance from trade. They haul from a distance of eighty to one hundred miles. Some parts of the country about Nacogdoches is exceedingly sandy. October 27, 1851. Monday. From Nacogdoches todays travel up to feed time 13 miles. Very sandy country tolerably level well watered, healthy, and thinly settled. The range improving but not good, then to Dunlap, a little town, 2 miles, situated on the San Antonio Road in Nacogdoches County, a sorry place. Then to Ashmore's in Cherokee County, 12 miles, a level and beautiful country. Land good and well - 170 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY watered, situated on or near the Angelina River, just cleaned out for steamboats, great place for fish. October 28, 1851 . Then to John Conner's, 1 mile. Fine land. Healthy country. Stayed at Conner's two days. Thursday, 30 October. From J. Conner's southwest to Austin James, by Mrs. Leach's, 8 miles, where we took dinner in a valley between two mountains. Rich land, with walnut, pecan, ash, mulberry. Red land. Then to the San Antonio Road at Tany's Fort, 8 miles, finely watered and some extra good plains. October 31st. Then to the Neches River, 6 miles, land good and level and fine. This river is small, not navigable. Wide swamp and great overflow. Then to Crocket, 27 miles. Exceedingly poor, generally badly watered, thinly settled, Houston County. From the Neches River the country is very level and sandy with some prairie or barrens. Very thinly timbered except on the creek. Crops very poor, but little cotton planted . Saturday, November 1, 1851. From Crocket to Camp Ground, on the Cincinnati Road, 10 miles. The driest of any place since we left home. Then to camp at night 12 miles. A great many salamanders. Sunday, November 2nd. From camp to the Trinity River at Cincin- nati, Walker County, 11 miles. Sickly. Then to Stubblefield's down Trinity River, 8 miles. Monday, November 3, 1851. Stayed all day with Stubblefield. Tuesday went to look at Mr. Haskell's land. Rode 10 miles to get to it through a very poor country, badly timbered and badly watered, then back 10 miles. Stayed two days more on the 5th and 6th. Davis is sick. Friday, November 7th. Started from Stubblefield's then to Huntsville, the county seat of Walker County, 10 miles. Then to Anderson Town, 35 miles. Large prairie country with some cedar grove, near Anderson. Not a drop of running water. Anderson Town is a new town just built up and a considerable town with two meeting houses and the Baptist were sitting in conference when I passed through. The creeks and branches are generally rock bottomed. This evening the land is exceedingly rocky. The timbered portion is good. Then to Brazos River at Washington Town. Rich land. The Brazos is a small stream. Washington is situated on the western bank of the Brazos, on a high bluff. Then west to Independence, in Washington County, 12 miles, through a beautiful high prairie country. A very healthy looking country. Land - 171 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY selling from $1.00 to $10.00 per acre. Fine cedar groves and plenty of pin oak and evergreens. Independence is a small town situated on the prairie. Generally the richest country and the prettiest prairie country I have ever seen. Thickly settled with rich farmers. Health good and good well water and some springs. People well fixed. Plenty of cattle, stock, horses, sheep and hogs to be seen for miles. Some droves of sheep appear to be one thousand head. Some mesquite. Still Washington County. November 10, 1851. Then to Roundtop, small country town in Washington County, through rich prairie. More beautiful country than ever. 30 miles from Independence to Roundtop. November 11th. Then to Bastrop, on the Colorado River, in Bastrop County, 40 miles. Through a portion of Lafayette County. Bastrop is situated on the West side of the Colorado River in a rich valley. Beautiful buildings, many stores, and a beautiful stream. People look healthy. Thursday, November 13, 1851. From the eastern banks of the Colorado River through the Colorado valley. Some black prairie soil but generally a black sandy soil. Exceedingly rich and as level as a floor. Cannot be surpassed for fertility and beauty. Fine crops of corn. We then crossed over the Colorado. The stream is a beautiful one without any swamp. It has a gravely and rocky bottom. Thence Northwest up the Colorado Valley to Austin. The land in the valley on the river selling from $5.00 to $8.00 an acre unimproved, but improved at $10.00 to $30.00 per acre. 10 or 15 miles off of the river good land can be had for $1.00 and $2.00 per acre. Austin, the capitol of the State, situated on the banks of the Colorado River, in Travis County, a large and beautiful place. A very healthy place. Three female academies, with fine churches. November 14th. From Austin north to camp at night, 9 miles, through a rich country, all prairie. Not a sprig of any kind of timber. November 15th. Then north to Georgetown in Williamson County, 16 miles. It is 7 miles to Walnut. A prairie country, some sandy, but generally black and some chocolate color. Much limerock. Thence all the way to Georgeville. Very rocky of lime and thousands of flintrocks. Land exceedingly rich. Georgeville is a small place, only three years old and is somewhat a promising place situated in a large prairie. Timber generally scarce here. Rails hauled three miles. A beautiful high elevated country very rocky. Bell County and Nolinville is immediately north of Georgetown and a large number of the Rangers are stationed forty miles north of Georgetown. - 172 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY Thence from Georgeville east to camp at night through prairie country, very rich and land very high. Crossed Saint San Gabriel River, which is a very beautiful river 75 yards wide and a perfect rock bottom. November 16th. From camp to camp again 22 miles. Crossed many nice running creeks with some timber. Abounds with deer, wolves, and splendid range. Crossed Little River this evening and camp. Little River is one of the branches of the Brazos running northeast. It is large enough for small steamboats. Thinly settled, passed only three or four houses today. We are on a small trailway running from Georgtown northwest to the fall of the Brazos River. November 17, 1851. From camp in Williamson County 28 miles, entirely a prairie country generally level. Some portions of this land good but generally poor. Passed no settlers today. On Elm Creek considerable swamp, low and wet, for 6 miles. Very brushy. Still a trail. Sorry portion of Texas. Deer and bear and wolves aplenty. This is a disagreeable, inconvenient, and sickly portion of country. November 18, 1851. From camp to the falls of the Brazos River in Falls County, 3 miles through timbered and sandy land. The Brazos is about 100 yards of channel and seems good for navigation to the falls. There is considerable falls and boats cannot go above them. Then East 18 miles to camp at night. The Brazos bottom is about 6 miles wide, of red stiff land, with a very uneven surface. Overflows some. The growth is generally large hackberry cottonwood. Then through a prairie country. Bad water and thinly timbered up to camp on the Blue Ridge which amounts today to 21 miles. The Blue Ridge is a beautiful rich sandy ridge 7 or 8 miles across. November 19th. Today's travel from camp on the Blue Ridge to Springfield in Limestone County, 20 miles, through a beautiful black sandy prairie country. Level and rich, with many creeks, all bushy and some timber on them. Springfield is a new place. West of the Town 100 yards spring sufficient to turn a saw mill. There is much cedar about this place. Then to camp at night 6 miles. November 20, 1851. From camp in Limestone County north of east on the road that leads from the falls of the Brazos to Fairfield, the County seat of Freestone County, 20 miles. This is a beautiful sandy prairie country up to Fairfield. Fairfield has had its rise since the first of July, 1851, and is quite promising with three good stores. From there to camp, 9 miles. The country from the Blue Ridge to this place is very desirable. November 21, 1851. From camp to Parker's Bluff on Trinity River, 5 miles above Magnolia. This is a very sandy country, rather broken, well - 173 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY watered, but rather poor and very thinly timbered. The Trinity is small here but steamboats come up here. The Trinity overflows its banks for 5 or 6 miles and has a very sickly appearance. From Trinity to Palestine, 10 miles, the County seat of Anderson County. Two last miles up to Palestine, high, red land. Palestine is considerable place with good churches, female academy, and masonic lodge with 14 stars. Then north to Frank Coleman's 12 miles, beautiful sandy country, good water, rather broken in places, Land generally good, tolerable good timber in places, then 8 miles northeast to the Neches River, the Mosley neighborhood. There is a small town rearing up here. A very popular neighborhood and good female schools. November 26th. Then back south to Palestine, 23 miles, then east to camp 12 miles, thickly settled. Land from $3.00 to $10.00 per acre. There is but little cotton planted in this part of the country and but little from the Colorado River on the upper road to this place. Corn from 75% to $1.00 per bushel. From camp east of Palestine to Rusk, Cherokee County, 20 miles, then to Mud Creek, 3 miles. Then to New Salem, in the County of Rusk, a considerable town, situated in a red land country, surrounded by hills and mountains. November 28, 1851. From New Salem to camp at night 13 miles. November 29, 1851. From camp to Henderson, 13 miles, situated in a beautiful sandy country. A considerable town. Said to be the healthiest town in Texas. Then to camp at night 11 miles. November 30, 1851. From camp to the Grand Bluff on the Sabine River. This town is a very small place. 20 miles from camp, this portion of country is generally poor, lies level, and heavily timbered, with fine water. Generally thickly settled with bad looking people. Then from Sabine River to camp at night 10 miles, Panola County. Steamboats run this river two or three months in thee year. Seldom any cotton planted. December 1, 1851. From camp to Elysian Fields, 5 miles, thence to Vernon, or Lickskillet, at the line of Texas and Louisiana, the line runs through the Town. Then to camp at night, Desoto Parish, Louisiana, 15 miles, through good land, lies well, only full of mounds, not a drop of running water. Large plantations and thickly settled. Rich planters from the appearance of buildings, etc. December 2, 1851. From camp to Shreveport, 6 miles, thickly settled by wealthy planters, fine buildings. Shreveport is a very considerable town, large and fine buildings, situated on the west bank of Red River at the mouth of Caddo Lake. Then to Bayou Cross, 4 miles in the swamp. - 174 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY Then to Bayou Red Chute. Then on the high land up to camp, 4 miles. December 3, 1851. From camp 16 miles through a tolerable level, low, wet country, thickly settled, some good places, but not healthy. Then to Minden, a beautiful and large town. Fine houses and a pleasant place. Healthy situation. Then to camp at night, 5 miles. December 4, 1851. From camp to camp, 26 miles, still in Claiborne Parish, hilly country. Thickly settled. December 5, 1851. To camp in Jackson Parish, 25 miles, about thirty or thirty-five miles south of the Arkansas line. The state of society has been wretchedly bad for the last 50 miles. December 6, 1851. From camp to Trenton on the Ouachita River, 20 miles, through a poor country. Trenton is a pretty little town situated on the west bank of the river. Then to Monroe on the east bank of the river. The Ouachita is a considerable stream and fine steamboat navigation. Monroe is a considerable town, the county seat of Ouachita Parish. December 7, 1851. From camp in Ouachita Parish to camp through a part of Bastrop Parish to camp in Morehouse Parish, 19 miles. Today's travel has been all swamp, first Ouachita swamp then Mississippi swamp. This morning traveled up a lake about 6 miles, thickly settled. Large plantations. Exceedingly rich and level. Fine buildings. Wealthy citizens. Roads very bad. December 8, 1851. From camp to camp across a bayou and across Death River, 17 miles, still Morehouse Parish. The road today has been exceedingly bad. Many deaths lately with pneumonia. December 9, 1851. From camp in Morehouse Parish to camp in Carroll Parish, 16 miles. Bad road, across lakes and flat lands generally. Overflows to a great extent. Very miry and a good deal of water on the ground. Some canebreaks. Have seen only four settlers in the last thirty miles. Camped last night where we could not hear anything but owls and wolves and the bellowing of alligators. December 10th, 1851. To Bayou Mason, 5 miles. Then to Tensas River at Featherstone, 7 miles, then to camp, 6 miles, making in all 18 miles today. December 10th. This day's travel has been through wet overflows across lakes and bayous. It commenced raining last night. Today still raining. Have not seen any appearance of the sun. Tonight we are in the muddy swamp far distant from any house and we do not know whether we are on the right road or not. The swamp is so exceedingly - 175 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY bad we are much disheartened. Many miles of swamp to go before we reach Vicksburg. No settlers. December 11, 1851. From camp to Richmond, Madison Parish. A considerable town, situated on the banks of Roundway Bayou. One of the finest hotels I have ever seen. Then across the swinging bridge 75 yards long, then east 15 miles, thickly settled, fine farms, rich planters. Land making from one to three bales per acre. Ducks and geese by the thousands. December 12, 1851. From camp to Vicksburg, 15 miles. From Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi, 8 miles. Vicksburg is situated on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River. A very considerable town, exceedingly broken, much washed land. Saturday, December 13, 1851. From camp to Smith's Ferry on the Big Black River on the Canton Road, 18 miles. Plantations badly watered. Big Black here has not any swamp. Steamboats run far above Smith's Ferry. Then to Brownsville, 10 miles. December 14, 1851. From camp to Livingston, 14 miles. Rail timber is very scarce. Livingston is a little dry town. One good meeting house Madison County. From dinner to camp, 11 miles. Still Madison County, thickly settled, with rich planters. The land much worn out. We are tonight within two miles of Canton. December 15, 1851. To Canton, then to Sharon, then to camp. December 16th. Then to Thomastown, then to Kosciusko. December 19, 1851. Then to W. R. Coleman's, 30 miles. We note from the diary that some of the expenses incurred on this trip were as follows: Toll Gate, 50 cents; Heat, 15 cents; Ferry, 40 cents; Whiskey, $1.00; 3 pounds of sugar, 30 cents; one tin cup, 9 cents; Fodder, 75 cents. This journey took W. R. Coleman through 11 counties in Mississippi, 15 parishes in Louisiana, and 20 counties in Texas. Total mileage covered on this trip, 1506. In the same little book which contained the Diary of the Trip to Texas, are found additional notations as follows: The following entries were found in the W. R. Coleman diary of the trip to Texas: February 3, 1842, left with James --- to pay Mr. Horne in Gainesville, $90.00. Paid. Signed. George Gentry, Cherokee County, Georgia. - 176 - . THE ROBERT COLEMAN FAMILY May 19, 1843, rec'd of C.htm#N008091">Isaac Coleman $15 S. C. money. May 30, 1843, paid to lsaac Coleman in consideration of theUnknown $15.00 as follows: 1 load of corn supposed to be 28 or 30 bushels, 5 bushels of meal, 5 bushels of peas, corn and meal at 37 1/2, peas at 75. June 25, 1843. Left with Mr. James Y. Unknown $20.00 to be changed and $8.00 to be sent to Robert Coleman. W. R. Coleman received of W. H. Head $250.00 to be paid in Marion, Alabama. Entry shows that on July 24, 1851, W. R. Coleman made a trip to Marion, Alabama. He recites the distance to Louisville 15 miles, then 30 miles to Ward's in Noxubee County, then shows 43 miles to undecipherable point. He paid 25% for a watermelon, 45% for three glasses of cream, and $2.75 for staying overnight. He paid $1.50 for crossing the Warrior river, 50% for crossing the Tombigbee, and paid $1.00 for a handkerchief. He was to have visited Eutaw, Greensboro, and Clinton. He shows the addresses of James M. Coleman, Macon County, Alabama. Alfred Coleman and Matthew Coleman and Stephen Coleman, Marshall, Texas, Harrison County. Notes he started home from Marion, Alabama, on Thursday, July 31, 1851. - 177 - . [MAP OF TRIP] WILLIAM RAGSDALE COLMAN'S DIARY On Oct. 9, 1851 my grandfather William Ragsdale Coleman, with my father Thomas Blewit Coleman, and George Davis a cousin, started to Texas from the farm in Mississippi. He kept a diary on the trip. This journey, made to find good farm land in Texas brought the travelers into Texas only 15 years after Texas became a Republic. On Dec. 19, 1851 he reached home after traveling 1506 miles. It is probable that the trip was made on horseback. In 1860 grandfather moved his family to Texas and settled on a farm about 3 miles norwest of Hallettsville. As you read the diary, the progress of the travelers can be traced on the map. Prepared by Frank R. Coleman - August 25, 1956. [MAP OF LAVACA COUNTY, TEXAS drawn by F.R. Coleman] - 178 - .
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