The Texian - The Sons of the Republic of Texas

Calendar of Events
2012 Quarterly Meetings
Sept. 7-9
Marshall - Hampton Inn, 5100 South East End Blvd., (Hwy.
59 S, north of IH-20), Marshall, TX 75672 (903) 927-0079;
Rate: $89 + tax; Conf. # 81298631
PLEASE identify yourself as SRT!
Friday night a group dinner. Saturday morning Executive
Committee meeting at the Harrison County Courthouse.
Saturday morning antique shopping in Jefferson for guests.
Stay over an extra night for special activities planned by the
Edward Clark Chapter #18, including lunch and an afternoon
tour of historic sites; Caddo Lake barge tour (lake level
permitting), followed by a catfish dinner.
Nov. 30-Dec. 1Victoria - Hampton Inn & Suites, 7006 N. Navarro, Victoria,
TX 77904 (361) 573-9911, October 30, 2012, cutoff date.
Rate: $119 + tax, 1 king or 2 queen size beds (Group code
“SON”) PLEASE identify yourself as SRT!
The Texian
The Official Publication of The Sons of the Republic of Texas
VOL V NUMBER 3
July 2012
Tomball Mayor Welcomes the Sons of the republic of Texas
On June 4, 2012, Mayor Gretchen Fagan of Tomball gave
a big welcome to The Sons of the Republic of Texas with
an Official City Proclamation which proclaims June 8-9,
2012, as “The Sons of the Republic of Texas Days.” The
Proclamation was presented to SRT at a Tomball city council meeting on the evening of Monday, June 4, 2012. The
pictured SRT representatives received the Proclamation.
2013 Annual Meeting
April 12-14, 2013 Holiday Inn South Broadway, 5701 South Broadway, Tyler,
TX 75703; (903) 561-5800; March 21, 2013, cutoff date.
Rate: $92 + tax; free parking
September 15
October 2
November 3
2012 SRT Events
Texian Navy Day on the Battleship Texas
Battle of Gonzales
Stephen F. Austin’s Birthday (Father of Texas)
2012 Quarterly Meeting
Sept. 7-9 Marshall - Hampton Inn, 5100 South East End Blvd., (Hwy. 59 S, north of IH-20), Marshall, TX 75672;
(903) 927-0079; August 7, 2012, cutoff date. Rate: $89 + tax ; Conf. #81298631. PLEASE identify yourself as SRT!
Mayor Fagan made a special appearance at the Saturday
morning Executive Committee meeting on June 9, at the
(L-R) Tom Houston, First Vice President General; Tomball
Hampton Inn and Suites, Tomball. She read the proclamaMayor Gretchen Fagan; Denton Bryant, Chairman of the
Texas History Essay Contest Award; Ron Brown, San Jacinto tion to the attendees and welcomed everyone to Tomball.
District Representative; John Meredith, President of the Lone
Star Chapter #58 - Conroe/The Woodlands.
President General’s Message
1717 Eighth Street
Bay City, TX 77414
Return Service Requested
Contact us at:
SRT Office: www.srttexas.org Email: srttexas@srttexas.org
1717 Eighth Street, Bay City, TX 77414
Phone: (979) 245-6644 Fax: (979) 244-3819
cont. pg. 3
David Hanover, KSJ
The June quarterly meeting was
proof positive that SRT chapters are
hard at work, promoting the mission,
purpose and goals of the organization.
A special thanks to Denton Bryant
for working with the Tomball Chamber of Commerce to proclaim June 8
and 9 as “The Sons of the Republic
of Texas Days” in Tomball. Good
publicity is hard to beat!
If you are interested in becoming
more involved in SRT or in
reactivating a chapter, ask your Chap-
ter President or District Representative
about a Chapter Leadership Workshop
in your area. Attending a workshop
will provide an opportunity for you
to learn more about SRT and ways to
increase visibility in your community.
For the first time in many years, we
are embarking on a fundraising project
to match a generous $25,000 donation from one of our members. Read
about the Matching Challenge in this
issue, and you will see that there is
a donation level for every member!
Progress reports will appear on the
SRT website. For members without
email addresses, you will receive an
information packet in the mail; please
What’s Inside
Quarterly Meeting.......................... 1, 3
President General’s Message..... 1-2
Janet’s Korner................................2
In Memoriam.................................3
Texian Navy Day...........................4
Marshall Quarterly Meeting....... 5-7
Matching Campaign.......................8
use that opportunity to call or email the
SRT Headquarters, so your email address can be added to the database and
save future mailing costs.
Prepare for another memorable quarterly meeting in Marshall, September
7-9. Plan on spending two nights,
as the Edward Clark Chapter #18
has Friday evening plans and a very
interesting historical tour of the area
on Saturday afternoon, immediately
following the morning Executive Committee meeting in the historic Harrison County courthouse. Lake levels
permitting, we will travel by barge on
Caddo Lake late Saturday afternoon to
enjoy a catfish dinner.
cont. pg. 2
Eagle Scout Award.........................9
Three Legged Willie....................10
District Workshops.......................11
Moses Austin Chapter............11, 13
Passing of a Knight......................12
Battle of Medina..........................14
New Members..............................15
Calendar of Events.......................16
President General’s Message
cont. from pg. 1
Don’t miss this year’s Texian Navy Day, Saturday, September 15, on board the Battleship Texas. Come celebrate the
memory and spirit of the small but mighty naval fighting force
that helped to secure and maintain the independence of Texas.
The Lone Star Volunteers and Texas Army will be out in force.
Bring your kids and grandkids!
Executive Committee
2012 - 2013
God Bless Texas!
NameChapterAncestorHometown
Janet’s Korner
By: Janet Knox
Administrative Assistant
email: srttexas@srttexas.org
1717 Eighth Street
Bay City, Texas 77414
(979) 245-6644
•
Left to right front row:
David Stone, Chaplain General; David Hanover, KSJ,
President General; Tom Houston, First Vice President
General; Robert Kendall, KSJ, Second Vice President
General; and Janet Knox, Administrative Assistant.
The next Quarterly meeting will be September 7- 9 in
Marshall, TX 75672 at the Hampton Inn & Suites,
5100 South East End Blvd., 59 S. North of IH-20)
(903) 927-0079. Cutoff date August 7, 2012,
Rate: $89. + Tax, Conf #81298631 (GROUP CODE
is “SRT”) Please identify yourself as SRT!
Left to right back row:
Edward A. Heath, Treasurer General; Randy Pollard,
Historian General; Bob Steakley, Secretary General;
Joe R. Davidson, Executive Committeeman; Sam F.
Clark, KSJ, PPG, Executive Committeeman.
• Remember: All active duty personnel, your dues are
waived. Please notify SRT office by email, postal
service or telephone.
District Representatives
2012 - 2013
• If you have not paid $10 for your 2012 copies of
The Texian you will have to view the issues on
our website.
• If you have not received a notice about the
Matching Campaign, please notify the office so that
we can update your address and/or email.
• Those members that have not paid their 2012 dues
are now considered delinquent and must pay a $50
reinstatement fee plus the $40 dues fee.
•
New SRT MEMBERS
Please note that any applicants for membership in
the SRT must have 3 signatures of recommending
SRT members. It is not necessary if the applicant
lives out of state, but every applicant should
affiliate with a chapter. This does not mean that
they will have to attend meetings. Application must
be typed and notarized and don’t forget the check.
Thomas Lawrence Driskell
William Hampton
Crockett, TX
Douglas Clay Atnipp
1
Edward McMillan
Houston, TX
James David Niese
1
Richard Heath
Sugar Land, TX
Edward Ricardo Niese
1
Richard Heath
El Lago, TX
John Brevard Sample
1
Hobart Key
Houston, TX
Thomas Dwayne Chapman
5
Jackson M Fitzgerald
Houston, TX
Ernest Lee Kerr III
7
William Christian Menefee
San Antonio, TX
Charles Duane Lites
8
Robert E. Beaty
Rockwall, TX
Eric Stephen Sifuentes Benavides 12
Tomas Galan
Dallas, TX
Craig Scott Evans
12
Elisha Axley Evans
Elgin, TX
Danny Ross Jones
12
Sylvanus Castleman
Mansfield, TX
John Lance Lundgren
12
Willian Bailey Standifer
San Antonio, TX
Austin Lance Lundgren
12
William Bailey Standifer
San Antonio, TX
Wesley Walker McCutcheon
12
William McCutcheon
Plainview, TX
William Willis McCutcheon V
12
William McCutcheon
Plainview, TX
William Willis McCutcheon VI
12
William McCutcheon
Plainview, TX
Stephen James Pouncey
12
Anthony Wayne Pouncey
Louisville, TN
Anthony Herbert Pouncey
12
Anthony Wayne Pouncey
Marietta, GA
John Lawrence Raven, Jr.
12
Ernst Raven
Johnson City, TX
Robert Eugene Scott
12
Abner Kuykendall
Tuson, AZ
Travis Harold Scott
12
Abner KuykendallUvalde, TX
Jimmy Lynn Toungate, Sr.
12
Meredith Ephriam Toungate
Georgetown, TX
Roland Morris Searcy, Jr.
14
Asa J Searcy
Bryan, TX
Alvin Leon Keller
19
Blassingame W Harvey
Porter, TX
Jordan Wayne Oliver
19
William Jordan
Broaddus, TX
Ernest Hudgins Bruss, Jr.
23
Andrew J Northington
Scottsdale, AZ
Christopher Edward Chapman
36
Harrison Ables
McDonough, GA
Mike Ferguson III
36
Samuel Houston Pate
Crowley, TX
Benancio Montalbo Trinidad
38
Juan Manuel Anastacio Montalbo Houston, TX
John Franklin Kreis
40
Daniel Elam
Sinton, TX
Bobby Page Vernor
40
Caiaphas Kennard Ham
San Antonio, TX
Harold Eugene Dayton
54
William Ryan Hancock
Burnet, TX
David Cruse Cochran
56
Thomas Richardson
Lufkin, TX
David Fike Godfrey
57Nathaniel (Nathan) Fike
Lubbock, TX
Right to left Front row:
Bob Steakley, Frontier District; Joe Pyle, Piney
Woods District; Arthur O. Evans, Gulf Coast District.
•I would like to thank you for the articles and pictures
you are sending for your newsletter; they have
been GREAT. I need YOUR help with articles and
pictures. If your chapter has or will be celebrating
any events PLEASE email me at:
srttexas@srttexas.org. I will be putting the October
issue together for publication, deadline is September
13, 2012.
Right to Left Back row:
Kenneth Pfeiffer, Heart of Texas District; John Knox,
Post Oak District; John Homman, Lone Star District;
Ronald W. Brown, San Jacinto District. (Not shown
David J. Temple, North Central District , William
D.”Buddy” Power, North East District and Robert
Schuhmann, Brazos District).
2
15
199th Anniversary of the Bloodiest Battle in Texas History
The public is invited to attend the 199th anniversary of the Battle of Medina on Saturday, August 18, 2012, at a
site in Atascosa County overlooking the Galvan Creek, where we believe between 800 and 1,300 men died August
18, 1813. This was the bloodiest battle and largest loss of life of any battle in Texas history, and it occurred about
20 miles south of San Antonio, Texas. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 18, 2012, and
everyone interested in Texas history is invited. Due to the heat, we will only be at the large Oak tree overlooking
the battle site for about one hour so that each Society can rededicate their marker to American Revolutionary Patriot Peter Sides, the Sons of The Republic of Texas marker for Benjamin Allen, the Mayflower Society marker for
Samuel Adams and all the other men who fought and died in this battle. The SAR, DAR, SRT, DRT, The Daughters
of the War of 1812 Society, and the Mayflower Societies will all re-dedicate their markers, making this one of the
most honored and dedicated historic sites in Texas. Our combined Color Guard will present the Colors to begin the
ceremony and fire a musket salute to all those who participated in this battle on both sides to conclude the event.
Chief of the Caddo Nation, Rufus David will conclude the ceremony with a memorial ceremony.
Everyone will then retire to Pleasanton, Texas, for lunch on your own, and then reconvene at the Pleasanton
Church of Christ located at 1003 North Main Street for an air-conditioned history seminar from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m. in the church meeting hall. The Atascosa County Historical Commission members will graciously
provide us with refreshments in the afternoon at the church during the symposium again this year. The afternoon
history seminar will present the latest research on the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition, which began 200 years ago this
year, and the last battle of the Expedition, the Battle of Medina. Several speakers will be featured, including Robert
Thonhoff, KSJ, the award winning author of several books, Richard G. Santos, author of 37 books, over 3,000 articles and dozens of documentaries and former instructor at Our Lady of the Lake University, Trinity University and
School of Aero Space Medicine, Al McGraw, Archeological Studies Program for TxDOT will also speak on various
facets of this historic era, Dan Arellano, author and historian and Tom Green promoter of the event. These are all
great speakers and historians, so you don’t want to miss this symposium. The Military History Coordinator for the
State Historical Commission, Mr. William McWhorter is also planning to attend, as is Caddo Chief Davis, who will
say a few words of wisdom.
To reach the site for the 10:00 a.m. outdoor ceremony, proceed south from San Antonio on Highway 281 some 15
miles from the intersection of Loop 410 South and Highway 281, to the community of Espey, Texas, at the intersection of U.S. 281 and FM 536; then turn right (west) onto the Old Pleasanton Road, and then left onto Bruce Road
where signs will direct you to the ceremony. For additional details, contact Tom Green, at (281) 922-1118, or Cell
Phone (832) 687-3474. Wear a hat and comfortable shoes and bring water and a lawn chair that will not easily sink
into the “sugar sand!”
The Battle of Medina was between the Republican Army of the North consisting of approximately a 1,400 men,
called the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition by historians, and a Royal Spanish Army commanded by General Joaquin de
Arredondo consisting of approximately 1,800 men. The Republican Army of the North was truly a diverse group,
consisting of Tejanos, Native Americans, and adventurers from the U.S.A. along with at least one African-American
named Thomas. This was at a time in history when only about 2,000 people lived in San Antonio, called San Fernando de Bexar at the time. At least 5 Patriots of the American Revolution were involved in the Gutierrez-Magee
Expedition, and at least one of these Patriots, Peter Sides, fought and died in the Battle of Medina. Peter Sides, is
one of over 50 Patriots of the American Revolution believed to have been buried in Texas. Direct descendants of
Peter Sides are eligible for membership in both the Sons and Daughter of the American Revolution and The Sons and
Daughters of The Republic of Texas. Some of the descendants of Peter Sides will be in attendance for the re-dedication of Sons of the American Revolutionary Patriot Grave Marker. A Grave Marker will also be re-dedicated by the
Sons of the Republic of Texas for Benjamin Allen, as descendants of all the approximately 3,200 men who fought
on both sides of this battle are possibly eligible for membership in the SRT and the DRT. One of our objectives is to
honor the many other participants on both sides of this battle, which is the land battle with the largest loss of life in
Texas history. Toward that end, descendants of the Spanish solders, Native Americans and the native Tejano participants have also been invited to attend this annual commemorative ceremony.
Earlier in the expedition the Royal Spanish Army surrounded the Republican Army of the North for approximately
four months at the La Bahia Presidio near present day Goliad, Texas. This is believed to have been one of the longest sieges in American military history, and is the reason the La Bahia Presidio flies the Emerald Green flag of the
Republican Army of the North as one of the nine flags flown at La Bahia.
Prior to the August 18, 1813 Battle of Medina, the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition formed the Republican Army of
the North, and won all the preceding battles and declared Texas free from Spain, including a battle at Nacogdoches, a
four month siege of the Presidio La Bahia, the Battle of Rosillo, and the Battle of Alazan. On April 6, 1813, Bernardo Gutierrez de Lara, and his junta, wrote and signed the First Texas Declaration of Independence. On April 17,
1813, the junta and Governor-Elect Bernardo Gutierrez approved the First Constitution of Texas in present day San
Antonio. A ceremony is held each year in San Antonio commemorating these events. Come join us and learn more
about this all but forgotten part of our history.
14
Tomball Mayor Welcomes the Sons of the republic of Texas
cont. from pg. 1
(R) David J. Temple, North Central District Representative,
receives the oath of office from Second Vice President General,
Robert Kendall, KSJ, at the June 8, 2012, quarterly meeting
of the Executive Committee in Tomball.
(L-R) Denton Bryant, Chairman, Texas History Essay Award,
Bob Schuhmann, Brazos Valley District Representative;
Ronald Brown, San Jacinto District Representative; Tom
Green, KSJ; Larry Hunt, President, Stephen F. Austin
Chapter #7; Arthur O. Evans, Gulf Coast District
Representative, David Hanover, KSJ, President General, and
Randy Pollard, Historian General.
Back row: (L-R) Bob Schuhmann, Brazos Valley District
Representative; Robert Kendall, KSJ, Second Vice President
General; John W. Knox, Post Oak District Representative;
Randy Pollard, Historian General; Front Row: (L-R) Denton
Bryant, Chairman Texas History Essay Award; and David
Hanover, KSJ,President General
In Memoriam
NameChapterHometown
Jon Edward Abshier
William Aldridge Cline
R. B. Edmiston
Rev. C. Rogers McLane
Ben H. Procter, Ph.D.
John Ruffin Johnson, Jr.
Marion Gerald “Jerry” Spencer
35
23
38
36
36
48
36
3
Wadsworth, TX
Wharton, TX
Houston, TX
Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth, TX
Kerrville, TX
Grapevine, TX
In and Around Texas
Texian Navy Day on Battleship Texas
By: SRT Texian Navy Committee
On Saturday, September 15, 2012, 11:00 AM, The Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT) will host the second annual ceremony on board the Battleship Texas, thanks to the gracious sponsorship by The Battleship Texas Foundation and assistance from the staff of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Organized by the SRT Texian Navy
Committee, the ceremony will honor the men of the Republic of Texas Navy. During the program, the SRT Sam
Houston Chapter #38 will honor the USS San Jacinto (CG-56) Enlisted Sailor of the Year. The keynote speaker
for the event will be John Power, the author of The First Texas Navy (2006).
Come and help celebrate the memory and spirit of the small naval fighting force and its role in winning and
maintaining Texas’ independence from Mexico. In September 1835, the first naval engagement occurred near
Velasco between the Texian privateer, the San Felipe, and a Mexican revenue cutter, the Correo Mejicano; the
Correo Mejicano was forced to unconditionally surrender. Less than one month later, the first land engagement
between Texian colonists and Mexican forces occurred at Gonzales on October 2, 1835. Historians have long
credited the victory at San Jacinto, in part, to the navy’s disruption of Mexican supplies and reinforcements, as
well as supplying much needed provisions to General Houston’s army. After San Jacinto, the valiant force continued to harass the enemy at sea, maintaining a watchful presence on the Gulf of Mexico.
Dedication of Memorial Medallions
Moses Austin Chapter #12
On May 5, 2012, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and The Sons of the Republic of Texas corrected a
mistake made by the State in 1936. Arter Crownover, veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto, whose grave was
never marked by the State of Texas, has now been duly marked by these two historical associations.
Arter first came to Texas in 1820 with his parents John and Elizabeth Crownover. Two of his older siblings,
John Chesney Crownover and Mary Crownover Rabb (m. John Rabb) remained in Texas and became part of
Stephen F. Austin’s “Old 300.” Arter, being only 10 years old, returned to Arkansas with his parents. The family did return 9 years later in 1829, becoming permanent residents of early Texas. Six year later came the Texas
revolution, and Arter served in the Texas Army and participated in the final battle at San Jacinto.
Arter married Levinia Castleman, daughter of another “Old 300” family, Sylvanus Castleman, in 1829. After
several years the couple ended up in what is now N.E. Blanco County not far from the old community of Click.
Here Arter farmed, ranched and became a Methodist minister and a stone mason. He is credited with building
the chapel in the Fairland Community. Apparently he was quite a stone mason considering the home he built
and the Fairland chapel are still standing in perfect condition. Arter and Levinia raised 10 children, losing one
son Jasper, in the Civil War. Jasper served in the Texas 2nd Cavalry, Co, B, under Rip Ford when he was killed
and buried. His grave site is unknown to the family. We are presently doing a search for these locations.
Arter was reportedly killed in a freighting accident in 1876. Levinia lived 7 more years, passing on February
7, 1883. They are buried in the Comanche Springs cemetery, Blanco County, Texas. Descendants of theirs are
still farming and ranching parts of the original estate of Arter and Levinia established 150 years ago.
NOTE: Battleship Texas admission fees will be waived during the time of the ceremony only. Stop by the
ship’s store to purchase specialty items prepared for this year’s Texian Navy Day. For additional information,
contact Ron Brown at: ron@ronwbrown.com, or call 832 338-3300.
Battleship Texas
Formerly USS Texas (BB-35)
Battleship Texas State Historic Site
3523 Independence Parkway South
La Porte, Texas
(Photo taken during the May 19, 2012, celebration of the 100th anniversary of the May 18,1912, launching)
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Passing
of a
Knight
A Step Into the Past
at the Quarterly Meeting in Marshall
September 7-9, 2012
The Edward Clark Chapter #18, Marshall, has great plans for you and your family. Make your hotel and group
meal reservations now, and prepare to step back in time to some historic sites in Marshall and Harrison County!
Go to the “Next Meeting Info.” tab on the SRT website. Plan to stay two nights at this most interesting quarterly meeting!
CURREN ROGERS McLANE
Knighted 1994
C. Rogers McLane of Fort Worth was born near Kingsville in 1923 and has been a life member of the SRT
since 1984. He received his B.A. degree from Austin College, his M.Div. degree from Austin Presbyterian
Theological Seminary, and is a graduate of the Portuguese Language School in Brazil.
He was a Presbyterian minister for 40 years before his retirement, and served as a missionary to Brazil for
five years. In 1986, he was the Founding President of the Ephraim M. Daggett Chapter #36 in Fort Worth. He
served for six years as Chaplain General, and served three years as chairman of the Education Committee, overseeing the Texas History Essay Contest for high school seniors. Perceiving a need, he designed and obtained
The weekend begins late Friday afternoon at the historic Starr Home State Historic Site, followed by a group
dinner at East Texas Baptist University.
the rostrum drapes for the SRT bearing the seal of the SRT in gold on a blue background. These are being
displayed and enjoyed by chapters all over the state. In 1996 he edited and published a Chaplain’s Guide for the
SRT and revised and enlarged it for inclusion in the 1998 Chapter Handbook.
Rev. McLane served 24 years in the Texas Military Forces, serving 20 years as Chief of Chaplains, Headquar-
ters, Texas State Guard, with the rank of Colonel. In 1986 Chaplain McLane was inducted into the Texas Guard
After the Saturday morning meeting of the Executive Committee,
the group will travel to the Scottsville Cemetery for a picnic lunch on
the grounds.
Hall of Honor at Camp Mabry, Austin.
Sir Knight C. Rogers McLane a life member of the Sons of the American Revolution, he has served as State
Chaplain of the Texas Society SAR, and was editor of the book American Chaplains of the Revolution, 17751783, published by the National Society, SAR, in 1991.
Rev. McLane served six years on the DeWitt County Historical Commission and six years on the Tarrant
County Historical Commission.
A sixth generation Texan, Rev. McLane in 1998 was elected Knight Commander by the Knights of San Jacin-
to. His service to the national organization and his local chapter have been outstanding. He and his wife, Barbara, have two daughters and a son. Their son, the Rev. Donald Rogers McLane, is a life member of the SRT.
Sir Knight C. Rogers McLane passed away on June 7, 2012.
12
The T.C. Lindsey General Store, Jonesville, opened
originally in 1847, and has been owned by members of
the Vaughan family since 1870. Despite a move from its
original location, the rise and fall of the cotton industry
and the use of the store in several movies through the
years, it has been in continuous operation since it first
opened as the Jones Trading Post.
5
District Leadership Workshops
Seeing is “almost not believing” at the T.C. Lindsey
General Store!
Many display items are “not for sale” at the general
store but well worth seeing.
A number of years ago, SRT held Chapter Presidents’ Workshops, intended to train new chapter presidents, as
well as to provide a refresher course for experienced presidents. Second Vice President General Robert Kendall,
KSJ, has created a broader, more inclusive version of the workshops. District Leadership Workshops are for chapter
presidents and emerging leaders of chapters who want to find out more about the organization and the unrealized
potential for activities and growth in chapters and local communities. In places around the state where there are
no active chapters, the goal is for anyone reading this article to “step up to the plate” and contact your SRT District
Representative to sign up for a workshop in your area.
Most of the publicly seen activities of The Sons of the Republic of Texas occur at the local chapter levels across
Texas. Ceremonies in your community that commemorate historical dates of the Republic of Texas can happen
only with local volunteer effort. With good activities and publicity comes more interest from others interested in
joining SRT.
For active and experienced chapters and presidents, you may be contacted by your District Representative to
determine if a workshop would be helpful to your current and prospective chapter leaders. Attendance by all
members of small chapters or the core leaders of larger chapters is recommended. All it takes is one good idea to
make a workshop worthwhile. The future leadership of chapters and the organization may be reading this article.
Any member interested in becoming more involved in SRT should first contact his Chapter President. If you do
not have an active chapter in your area, contact your District Representative. Contact information for both chapters
and districts may be found on the SRT website: http://www.srttexas.org, click on the “chapter” tab.
Moses Austin Chapter 12
Locust Grove Plantation – 1846 (parts of the mansion
have original or early 1900s rice mat floor coverings and
wallpaper)
Bestows Honorary Chapter Memberships
In May, members of the Moses Austin Chapter #12, Austin, travelled to the Agarita Ranch, outside of Lockhart. Special thanks to Mr. Chuck Leshikar, ranch owner and operator. Members gained an appreciation of
safety standards enforced by re-enactors at special events. While at the ranch, the chapter presented two honorary chapter memberships.
Mr. Leo Bush of Bastrop, became an honorary chapter member, in recognition of his service to the chapter
over the years at memorial and dedication events. Leo is a true admirer of Texas, her history, and the men and
women who founded the great nation called Texas. Mr. Charlie Watts of Austin received the other honorary
chapter membership; Charlie is an experienced re-enactor, having served on numerous details in the Sons of
Confederate Veterans and the Former Texas Rangers Association, both of which Charlie is a member. He grew
up in Burnet, served in the U.S. military, and now works for the Austin ISD at Bowie High School. His son
Shelby, 12, was present to see his dad receive the honor. Both of these men are very special to the chapter.
The chapter also thanked members of the Moses Austin Volunteers, a local group of re-enactors whose goal
is to add authenticity to memorial and dedication events held by the chapter. Thanks to all of these volunteers
who contribute to the chapter’s events. “God Bless Texas”
The weekend is capped off by a Saturday afternoon
barge ride on Caddo Lake, to River Bend Restaurant,
for a catfish dinner. Caddo Lake, at Potter’s Point,
is the location where the ad-interim Secretary of the
Navy (Texas Navy) Robert Potter was killed during the
Regulator-Moderator War. Do not miss the haunting
beauty of Caddo Lake in early fall!
(L-R) From left to right: Honorary
chapter member, Charlie Watts and
Mike Young, Moses Austin Chapter
#12 President
(L-R) From left to right: Mike Young,
Moses Austin Chapter #12 President and
Leo Bush, honorary chapter member
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“THREE LEGGED WILLIE” CHAPTER ARCHIVES AWARD
The “Three Legged Willie” Chapter Archives Award is given each year for the chapters that present the best
record of activities for the chapter and its members. The award is divided by the size of the chapter so the
smaller chapters are not competing with the large chapters.
Chapter president and officers should be taking pictures and documenting all of their meetings and other
activities of their chapters for calendar year 2012. This may include but not be limited to pictures, grave markings, newspaper articles, patriotic days of Texas history, chapter picnics, chapter meetings, events the chapter
sponsors in their town or city, speeches made at Texas historical events that members attend, birthdays of Texas
heroes, chapter members attending in-town or out-of-town events that have to do with Texas history. Members are encouraged to take pictures of activities at the quarterly and annual meetings and include them in their
chapter archives book. Rules should be followed which can be found in the SRT Procedures Manual for specific
instructions.
The “Three Legged Willie” Chapter Archives Award will be presented in three categories: Small Chapters,
1-50 members; Medium Chapters, 50-150 members; Large Chapters, 150 members or more. All chapters are
encouraged to participate.
The Archives Book will be judged by a group of SRT District Representatives according to the rules in the
SRT Procedures Manual.
The winners in each category will receive a 2012 Archives Award Certificate and will be presented a $100
check.
The “Three Legged Willie” Chapter Archives Award is sponsored by Dale Williamson. It is named for his
Republic of Texas ancestor, Judge Robert McAlpin Williamson who was known as “Three Legged Willie.”
Patriot Dale Williamson has been very active in the San Jacinto Chapter No. 1 for the past 20 years. He has
served in several officer positions and on many committees. He has participated with Tom Green, KSJ, on many
flag programs that have been presented across our great state. Many flag programs require travel of several hundred miles and many times they present several programs in one day.
The “Three Legged Willie” Chapter Archives Award winners for 2011 were:
The Sons of the Republic of Texas
Quarterly Meeting
Marshall, Texas
Sept. 7-9, 2012
Group Activities / Itinerary
(hosted by the Edward Clark Chapter #18, Marshall)
Friday, September 7, 2012
•
5:00 - 5:30 p.m. gather at Starr Family Home State Historic Site (Starr-Blake Home and the Maplecroft
mansion), 407 W. Travis St., Marshall (at the corner of S. Grove St. and W. Travis St.)
•
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. dinner at East Texas Baptist University - Phillips Dining Hall, 1209 N. Grove St.
(travel as a group from the Starr Home)
(August 30, deadline for reservations, $20 per person)
•
7:15 - 7:30 p.m. visit the cemeteries (graves of Sam Houston’s grandson, Edward Clark, and other
notable figures in Texas history)
•
Back to the hotel
Saturday, September 8, 2012
•
8:30 a.m. - Executive Committee meeting at the historic Harrison County Courthouse (all members are
welcome and encouraged to attend!)
• Noon - board bus for Scottsville Cemetery, arriving at 12:30 p.m. for box lunch
(August 30, deadline for reservations, $10 per person)
President Ron Brown,
San Jacinto Chapter #1,
Houston, Texas
Robert Bohmfolk,
Alamo Chapter #40,
San Antonio, Texas
President George Nelson,
William J. Bryan
Chapter #14, Bryan, Texas
Our Second Vice President General, Robert Kendall, KSJ, encourages all chapter presidents to submit your
chapter’s archives book at the next annual meeting.
Tom Houston
First Vice President General
The Sons of the Republic of Texas
10
•
Tour of Scottsville Cemetery for 30 minutes, departing at 1:15 - 1:30 p.m.
•
1:45 p.m. - T. C. Lindsey & Co. store, Jonesville, to visit for 45 minutes (2:30 p.m. depart
for Locust Grove plantation)
•
Arrive at Locust Grove plantation for one hour visit and 30 minutes at the historic cemetery
•
4:15 p.m. - depart Locust Grove plantation for Uncertain, at Lake Caddo; board the barge
at 4:45 p.m. for ride to RiverBend Restaurant, 211 PR 2422, Karnack, arriving at 6:30 - 6:45 p.m.
•
Depart River Bend Restaurant and arrive back at the hotel at 9:00 - 9:15 p.m.
7
Sponsors Needed for Matching Campaign of $25,000
Sponsors are needed to support The Sons of the Republic of Texas to meet the challenge to help match the gift
of $25,000 from a member of SRT in support of annual programs which promote historical, educational and
patriotic purpose, mission and goals of SRT, such as the annual Educator of the Year Award, Presidio La Bahia
Award, Summerfield G. Roberts, and the Texas History Essay Contest Award.
The Sponsorship levels are:
_____ $1000 The Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836
_____ $ 500 Goliad Massacre, Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836
_____ $ 250 Alamo, February 23, to March 6, 1836
_____ $ 176 Honoring 176 years of Texas Independence, 1836 to 2012
_____ $ 100 Texas Independence Day, March 2, 1836
_____ $
50 Siege of Bexar, December 5, 1835 to December 9, 1835
_____ $
25 Battle of Gonzales, “Come and Take It,” October 2, 1835
_____ $____ Other Special Remembrance ________________________
A Certificate of Appreciation will be sent to you with your name and sponsorship level from The Sons of the
Republic of Texas. Gifts are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law. The Sons of the Republic of Texas is
a 501(c) (3), non–profit organization recognized by the IRS. Gifts are gratefully accepted in the form of checks,
In and Around Texas
Eagle Scout Award
On January 8, 2012, Philip Kirby Franke received recognition for his work in becoming an Eagle Scout, joining with his father, Ronnie Franke and his older brother, Stuart in accomplishing this notable distinction. His
Court of Honor on that date was celebrated by family and friends at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
in southwest Austin.
Philip’s father has long been active in the Scouting program and was Scoutmaster for the Austin Troop 49 during the early period of Philip and brother Stuart’s membership in Boy Scouts. Adding to the family participation
in scouting was Philip’s grandmother, Billie Franke, who was Philip’s mentor, working with him on each step of
his goals toward Eagle, just as she had done with Stuart some 18 months before.
Philip’s Eagle Scout Project was to build 8 bat nursery houses, each capable of holding several hundred bats.
Philip had eager participation from a number of his Troop members in building and painting the houses. Six of
these houses were installed on Robert and Nina Guinn’s pecan orchard between Bastrop and Smithville. The
houses were mounted on 16 foot steel poles that were buried about 3 foot deep and set in cement. The remaining
2 houses were donated to the LCRA McKinney Roughs Nature Park and have been delayed in installing due to
the Bastrop fires. Added thanks go to the many folks who contributed funds for materials in making this project
so successful.
.
An added highlight to recognizing Philip’s accomplishment in becoming an Eagle Scout was the provision
of a Letter of Commendation signed by SRT President General, Sam F. Clark, KSJ enclosed with an attractive
certificate of recognition presented to Philip. Ronnie, his brother Mark and Philip’s grandfather, Ron Sr., are
members of the Moses Austin Chapter of SRT in Austin.
Philip is a senior at McCallum High School in Austin and has been active every year in the marching band.
Philip will be attending college in Texas this fall semester.
cash, securities, IRA accounts, irrevocable trusts, insurance and other valuables. This special SRT matching
campaign ends June 30, 2013. Please make gifts payable to:
The Sons of the Republic of Texas
1717 Eighth Street
Bay City, TX 77414
http://www.srttexas.org For any question concerning transfers or pledges, please call Special Giving Projects for
SRT at 713.632.2700.
8
9
Sponsors Needed for Matching Campaign of $25,000
Sponsors are needed to support The Sons of the Republic of Texas to meet the challenge to help match the gift
of $25,000 from a member of SRT in support of annual programs which promote historical, educational and
patriotic purpose, mission and goals of SRT, such as the annual Educator of the Year Award, Presidio La Bahia
Award, Summerfield G. Roberts, and the Texas History Essay Contest Award.
The Sponsorship levels are:
_____ $1000 The Battle of San Jacinto, April 21, 1836
_____ $ 500 Goliad Massacre, Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836
_____ $ 250 Alamo, February 23, to March 6, 1836
_____ $ 176 Honoring 176 years of Texas Independence, 1836 to 2012
_____ $ 100 Texas Independence Day, March 2, 1836
_____ $
50 Siege of Bexar, December 5, 1835 to December 9, 1835
_____ $
25 Battle of Gonzales, “Come and Take It,” October 2, 1835
_____ $____ Other Special Remembrance ________________________
A Certificate of Appreciation will be sent to you with your name and sponsorship level from The Sons of the
Republic of Texas. Gifts are tax-deductible to the extent provided by law. The Sons of the Republic of Texas is
a 501(c) (3), non–profit organization recognized by the IRS. Gifts are gratefully accepted in the form of checks,
In and Around Texas
Eagle Scout Award
On January 8, 2012, Philip Kirby Franke received recognition for his work in becoming an Eagle Scout, joining with his father, Ronnie Franke and his older brother, Stuart in accomplishing this notable distinction. His
Court of Honor on that date was celebrated by family and friends at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
in southwest Austin.
Philip’s father has long been active in the Scouting program and was Scoutmaster for the Austin Troop 49 during the early period of Philip and brother Stuart’s membership in Boy Scouts. Adding to the family participation
in scouting was Philip’s grandmother, Billie Franke, who was Philip’s mentor, working with him on each step of
his goals toward Eagle, just as she had done with Stuart some 18 months before.
Philip’s Eagle Scout Project was to build 8 bat nursery houses, each capable of holding several hundred bats.
Philip had eager participation from a number of his Troop members in building and painting the houses. Six of
these houses were installed on Robert and Nina Guinn’s pecan orchard between Bastrop and Smithville. The
houses were mounted on 16 foot steel poles that were buried about 3 foot deep and set in cement. The remaining
2 houses were donated to the LCRA McKinney Roughs Nature Park and have been delayed in installing due to
the Bastrop fires. Added thanks go to the many folks who contributed funds for materials in making this project
so successful.
.
An added highlight to recognizing Philip’s accomplishment in becoming an Eagle Scout was the provision
of a Letter of Commendation signed by SRT President General, Sam F. Clark, KSJ enclosed with an attractive
certificate of recognition presented to Philip. Ronnie, his brother Mark and Philip’s grandfather, Ron Sr., are
members of the Moses Austin Chapter of SRT in Austin.
Philip is a senior at McCallum High School in Austin and has been active every year in the marching band.
Philip will be attending college in Texas this fall semester.
cash, securities, IRA accounts, irrevocable trusts, insurance and other valuables. This special SRT matching
campaign ends June 30, 2013. Please make gifts payable to:
The Sons of the Republic of Texas
1717 Eighth Street
Bay City, TX 77414
http://www.srttexas.org For any question concerning transfers or pledges, please call Special Giving Projects for
SRT at 713.632.2700.
8
9
“THREE LEGGED WILLIE” CHAPTER ARCHIVES AWARD
The “Three Legged Willie” Chapter Archives Award is given each year for the chapters that present the best
record of activities for the chapter and its members. The award is divided by the size of the chapter so the
smaller chapters are not competing with the large chapters.
Chapter president and officers should be taking pictures and documenting all of their meetings and other
activities of their chapters for calendar year 2012. This may include but not be limited to pictures, grave markings, newspaper articles, patriotic days of Texas history, chapter picnics, chapter meetings, events the chapter
sponsors in their town or city, speeches made at Texas historical events that members attend, birthdays of Texas
heroes, chapter members attending in-town or out-of-town events that have to do with Texas history. Members are encouraged to take pictures of activities at the quarterly and annual meetings and include them in their
chapter archives book. Rules should be followed which can be found in the SRT Procedures Manual for specific
instructions.
The “Three Legged Willie” Chapter Archives Award will be presented in three categories: Small Chapters,
1-50 members; Medium Chapters, 50-150 members; Large Chapters, 150 members or more. All chapters are
encouraged to participate.
The Archives Book will be judged by a group of SRT District Representatives according to the rules in the
SRT Procedures Manual.
The winners in each category will receive a 2012 Archives Award Certificate and will be presented a $100
check.
The “Three Legged Willie” Chapter Archives Award is sponsored by Dale Williamson. It is named for his
Republic of Texas ancestor, Judge Robert McAlpin Williamson who was known as “Three Legged Willie.”
Patriot Dale Williamson has been very active in the San Jacinto Chapter No. 1 for the past 20 years. He has
served in several officer positions and on many committees. He has participated with Tom Green, KSJ, on many
flag programs that have been presented across our great state. Many flag programs require travel of several hundred miles and many times they present several programs in one day.
The “Three Legged Willie” Chapter Archives Award winners for 2011 were:
The Sons of the Republic of Texas
Quarterly Meeting
Marshall, Texas
Sept. 7-9, 2012
Group Activities / Itinerary
(hosted by the Edward Clark Chapter #18, Marshall)
Friday, September 7, 2012
•
5:00 - 5:30 p.m. gather at Starr Family Home State Historic Site (Starr-Blake Home and the Maplecroft
mansion), 407 W. Travis St., Marshall (at the corner of S. Grove St. and W. Travis St.)
•
6:00 - 7:00 p.m. dinner at East Texas Baptist University - Phillips Dining Hall, 1209 N. Grove St.
(travel as a group from the Starr Home)
(August 30, deadline for reservations, $20 per person)
•
7:15 - 7:30 p.m. visit the cemeteries (graves of Sam Houston’s grandson, Edward Clark, and other
notable figures in Texas history)
•
Back to the hotel
Saturday, September 8, 2012
•
8:30 a.m. - Executive Committee meeting at the historic Harrison County Courthouse (all members are
welcome and encouraged to attend!)
• Noon - board bus for Scottsville Cemetery, arriving at 12:30 p.m. for box lunch
(August 30, deadline for reservations, $10 per person)
President Ron Brown,
San Jacinto Chapter #1,
Houston, Texas
Robert Bohmfolk,
Alamo Chapter #40,
San Antonio, Texas
President George Nelson,
William J. Bryan
Chapter #14, Bryan, Texas
Our Second Vice President General, Robert Kendall, KSJ, encourages all chapter presidents to submit your
chapter’s archives book at the next annual meeting.
Tom Houston
First Vice President General
The Sons of the Republic of Texas
10
•
Tour of Scottsville Cemetery for 30 minutes, departing at 1:15 - 1:30 p.m.
•
1:45 p.m. - T. C. Lindsey & Co. store, Jonesville, to visit for 45 minutes (2:30 p.m. depart
for Locust Grove plantation)
•
Arrive at Locust Grove plantation for one hour visit and 30 minutes at the historic cemetery
•
4:15 p.m. - depart Locust Grove plantation for Uncertain, at Lake Caddo; board the barge
at 4:45 p.m. for ride to RiverBend Restaurant, 211 PR 2422, Karnack, arriving at 6:30 - 6:45 p.m.
•
Depart River Bend Restaurant and arrive back at the hotel at 9:00 - 9:15 p.m.
7
District Leadership Workshops
Seeing is “almost not believing” at the T.C. Lindsey
General Store!
Many display items are “not for sale” at the general
store but well worth seeing.
A number of years ago, SRT held Chapter Presidents’ Workshops, intended to train new chapter presidents, as
well as to provide a refresher course for experienced presidents. Second Vice President General Robert Kendall,
KSJ, has created a broader, more inclusive version of the workshops. District Leadership Workshops are for chapter
presidents and emerging leaders of chapters who want to find out more about the organization and the unrealized
potential for activities and growth in chapters and local communities. In places around the state where there are
no active chapters, the goal is for anyone reading this article to “step up to the plate” and contact your SRT District
Representative to sign up for a workshop in your area.
Most of the publicly seen activities of The Sons of the Republic of Texas occur at the local chapter levels across
Texas. Ceremonies in your community that commemorate historical dates of the Republic of Texas can happen
only with local volunteer effort. With good activities and publicity comes more interest from others interested in
joining SRT.
For active and experienced chapters and presidents, you may be contacted by your District Representative to
determine if a workshop would be helpful to your current and prospective chapter leaders. Attendance by all
members of small chapters or the core leaders of larger chapters is recommended. All it takes is one good idea to
make a workshop worthwhile. The future leadership of chapters and the organization may be reading this article.
Any member interested in becoming more involved in SRT should first contact his Chapter President. If you do
not have an active chapter in your area, contact your District Representative. Contact information for both chapters
and districts may be found on the SRT website: http://www.srttexas.org, click on the “chapter” tab.
Moses Austin Chapter 12
Locust Grove Plantation – 1846 (parts of the mansion
have original or early 1900s rice mat floor coverings and
wallpaper)
Bestows Honorary Chapter Memberships
In May, members of the Moses Austin Chapter #12, Austin, travelled to the Agarita Ranch, outside of Lockhart. Special thanks to Mr. Chuck Leshikar, ranch owner and operator. Members gained an appreciation of
safety standards enforced by re-enactors at special events. While at the ranch, the chapter presented two honorary chapter memberships.
Mr. Leo Bush of Bastrop, became an honorary chapter member, in recognition of his service to the chapter
over the years at memorial and dedication events. Leo is a true admirer of Texas, her history, and the men and
women who founded the great nation called Texas. Mr. Charlie Watts of Austin received the other honorary
chapter membership; Charlie is an experienced re-enactor, having served on numerous details in the Sons of
Confederate Veterans and the Former Texas Rangers Association, both of which Charlie is a member. He grew
up in Burnet, served in the U.S. military, and now works for the Austin ISD at Bowie High School. His son
Shelby, 12, was present to see his dad receive the honor. Both of these men are very special to the chapter.
The chapter also thanked members of the Moses Austin Volunteers, a local group of re-enactors whose goal
is to add authenticity to memorial and dedication events held by the chapter. Thanks to all of these volunteers
who contribute to the chapter’s events. “God Bless Texas”
The weekend is capped off by a Saturday afternoon
barge ride on Caddo Lake, to River Bend Restaurant,
for a catfish dinner. Caddo Lake, at Potter’s Point,
is the location where the ad-interim Secretary of the
Navy (Texas Navy) Robert Potter was killed during the
Regulator-Moderator War. Do not miss the haunting
beauty of Caddo Lake in early fall!
(L-R) From left to right: Honorary
chapter member, Charlie Watts and
Mike Young, Moses Austin Chapter
#12 President
(L-R) From left to right: Mike Young,
Moses Austin Chapter #12 President and
Leo Bush, honorary chapter member
6
11
Passing
of a
Knight
A Step Into the Past
at the Quarterly Meeting in Marshall
September 7-9, 2012
The Edward Clark Chapter #18, Marshall, has great plans for you and your family. Make your hotel and group
meal reservations now, and prepare to step back in time to some historic sites in Marshall and Harrison County!
Go to the “Next Meeting Info.” tab on the SRT website. Plan to stay two nights at this most interesting quarterly meeting!
CURREN ROGERS McLANE
Knighted 1994
C. Rogers McLane of Fort Worth was born near Kingsville in 1923 and has been a life member of the SRT
since 1984. He received his B.A. degree from Austin College, his M.Div. degree from Austin Presbyterian
Theological Seminary, and is a graduate of the Portuguese Language School in Brazil.
He was a Presbyterian minister for 40 years before his retirement, and served as a missionary to Brazil for
five years. In 1986, he was the Founding President of the Ephraim M. Daggett Chapter #36 in Fort Worth. He
served for six years as Chaplain General, and served three years as chairman of the Education Committee, overseeing the Texas History Essay Contest for high school seniors. Perceiving a need, he designed and obtained
The weekend begins late Friday afternoon at the historic Starr Home State Historic Site, followed by a group
dinner at East Texas Baptist University.
the rostrum drapes for the SRT bearing the seal of the SRT in gold on a blue background. These are being
displayed and enjoyed by chapters all over the state. In 1996 he edited and published a Chaplain’s Guide for the
SRT and revised and enlarged it for inclusion in the 1998 Chapter Handbook.
Rev. McLane served 24 years in the Texas Military Forces, serving 20 years as Chief of Chaplains, Headquar-
ters, Texas State Guard, with the rank of Colonel. In 1986 Chaplain McLane was inducted into the Texas Guard
After the Saturday morning meeting of the Executive Committee,
the group will travel to the Scottsville Cemetery for a picnic lunch on
the grounds.
Hall of Honor at Camp Mabry, Austin.
Sir Knight C. Rogers McLane a life member of the Sons of the American Revolution, he has served as State
Chaplain of the Texas Society SAR, and was editor of the book American Chaplains of the Revolution, 17751783, published by the National Society, SAR, in 1991.
Rev. McLane served six years on the DeWitt County Historical Commission and six years on the Tarrant
County Historical Commission.
A sixth generation Texan, Rev. McLane in 1998 was elected Knight Commander by the Knights of San Jacin-
to. His service to the national organization and his local chapter have been outstanding. He and his wife, Barbara, have two daughters and a son. Their son, the Rev. Donald Rogers McLane, is a life member of the SRT.
Sir Knight C. Rogers McLane passed away on June 7, 2012.
12
The T.C. Lindsey General Store, Jonesville, opened
originally in 1847, and has been owned by members of
the Vaughan family since 1870. Despite a move from its
original location, the rise and fall of the cotton industry
and the use of the store in several movies through the
years, it has been in continuous operation since it first
opened as the Jones Trading Post.
5
In and Around Texas
Texian Navy Day on Battleship Texas
By: SRT Texian Navy Committee
On Saturday, September 15, 2012, 11:00 AM, The Sons of the Republic of Texas (SRT) will host the second annual ceremony on board the Battleship Texas, thanks to the gracious sponsorship by The Battleship Texas Foundation and assistance from the staff of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. Organized by the SRT Texian Navy
Committee, the ceremony will honor the men of the Republic of Texas Navy. During the program, the SRT Sam
Houston Chapter #38 will honor the USS San Jacinto (CG-56) Enlisted Sailor of the Year. The keynote speaker
for the event will be John Power, the author of The First Texas Navy (2006).
Come and help celebrate the memory and spirit of the small naval fighting force and its role in winning and
maintaining Texas’ independence from Mexico. In September 1835, the first naval engagement occurred near
Velasco between the Texian privateer, the San Felipe, and a Mexican revenue cutter, the Correo Mejicano; the
Correo Mejicano was forced to unconditionally surrender. Less than one month later, the first land engagement
between Texian colonists and Mexican forces occurred at Gonzales on October 2, 1835. Historians have long
credited the victory at San Jacinto, in part, to the navy’s disruption of Mexican supplies and reinforcements, as
well as supplying much needed provisions to General Houston’s army. After San Jacinto, the valiant force continued to harass the enemy at sea, maintaining a watchful presence on the Gulf of Mexico.
Dedication of Memorial Medallions
Moses Austin Chapter #12
On May 5, 2012, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas and The Sons of the Republic of Texas corrected a
mistake made by the State in 1936. Arter Crownover, veteran of the Battle of San Jacinto, whose grave was
never marked by the State of Texas, has now been duly marked by these two historical associations.
Arter first came to Texas in 1820 with his parents John and Elizabeth Crownover. Two of his older siblings,
John Chesney Crownover and Mary Crownover Rabb (m. John Rabb) remained in Texas and became part of
Stephen F. Austin’s “Old 300.” Arter, being only 10 years old, returned to Arkansas with his parents. The family did return 9 years later in 1829, becoming permanent residents of early Texas. Six year later came the Texas
revolution, and Arter served in the Texas Army and participated in the final battle at San Jacinto.
Arter married Levinia Castleman, daughter of another “Old 300” family, Sylvanus Castleman, in 1829. After
several years the couple ended up in what is now N.E. Blanco County not far from the old community of Click.
Here Arter farmed, ranched and became a Methodist minister and a stone mason. He is credited with building
the chapel in the Fairland Community. Apparently he was quite a stone mason considering the home he built
and the Fairland chapel are still standing in perfect condition. Arter and Levinia raised 10 children, losing one
son Jasper, in the Civil War. Jasper served in the Texas 2nd Cavalry, Co, B, under Rip Ford when he was killed
and buried. His grave site is unknown to the family. We are presently doing a search for these locations.
Arter was reportedly killed in a freighting accident in 1876. Levinia lived 7 more years, passing on February
7, 1883. They are buried in the Comanche Springs cemetery, Blanco County, Texas. Descendants of theirs are
still farming and ranching parts of the original estate of Arter and Levinia established 150 years ago.
NOTE: Battleship Texas admission fees will be waived during the time of the ceremony only. Stop by the
ship’s store to purchase specialty items prepared for this year’s Texian Navy Day. For additional information,
contact Ron Brown at: ron@ronwbrown.com, or call 832 338-3300.
Battleship Texas
Formerly USS Texas (BB-35)
Battleship Texas State Historic Site
3523 Independence Parkway South
La Porte, Texas
(Photo taken during the May 19, 2012, celebration of the 100th anniversary of the May 18,1912, launching)
4
13
199th Anniversary of the Bloodiest Battle in Texas History
The public is invited to attend the 199th anniversary of the Battle of Medina on Saturday, August 18, 2012, at a
site in Atascosa County overlooking the Galvan Creek, where we believe between 800 and 1,300 men died August
18, 1813. This was the bloodiest battle and largest loss of life of any battle in Texas history, and it occurred about
20 miles south of San Antonio, Texas. The ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 18, 2012, and
everyone interested in Texas history is invited. Due to the heat, we will only be at the large Oak tree overlooking
the battle site for about one hour so that each Society can rededicate their marker to American Revolutionary Patriot Peter Sides, the Sons of The Republic of Texas marker for Benjamin Allen, the Mayflower Society marker for
Samuel Adams and all the other men who fought and died in this battle. The SAR, DAR, SRT, DRT, The Daughters
of the War of 1812 Society, and the Mayflower Societies will all re-dedicate their markers, making this one of the
most honored and dedicated historic sites in Texas. Our combined Color Guard will present the Colors to begin the
ceremony and fire a musket salute to all those who participated in this battle on both sides to conclude the event.
Chief of the Caddo Nation, Rufus David will conclude the ceremony with a memorial ceremony.
Everyone will then retire to Pleasanton, Texas, for lunch on your own, and then reconvene at the Pleasanton
Church of Christ located at 1003 North Main Street for an air-conditioned history seminar from 1:00 p.m. to approximately 3:30 p.m. in the church meeting hall. The Atascosa County Historical Commission members will graciously
provide us with refreshments in the afternoon at the church during the symposium again this year. The afternoon
history seminar will present the latest research on the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition, which began 200 years ago this
year, and the last battle of the Expedition, the Battle of Medina. Several speakers will be featured, including Robert
Thonhoff, KSJ, the award winning author of several books, Richard G. Santos, author of 37 books, over 3,000 articles and dozens of documentaries and former instructor at Our Lady of the Lake University, Trinity University and
School of Aero Space Medicine, Al McGraw, Archeological Studies Program for TxDOT will also speak on various
facets of this historic era, Dan Arellano, author and historian and Tom Green promoter of the event. These are all
great speakers and historians, so you don’t want to miss this symposium. The Military History Coordinator for the
State Historical Commission, Mr. William McWhorter is also planning to attend, as is Caddo Chief Davis, who will
say a few words of wisdom.
To reach the site for the 10:00 a.m. outdoor ceremony, proceed south from San Antonio on Highway 281 some 15
miles from the intersection of Loop 410 South and Highway 281, to the community of Espey, Texas, at the intersection of U.S. 281 and FM 536; then turn right (west) onto the Old Pleasanton Road, and then left onto Bruce Road
where signs will direct you to the ceremony. For additional details, contact Tom Green, at (281) 922-1118, or Cell
Phone (832) 687-3474. Wear a hat and comfortable shoes and bring water and a lawn chair that will not easily sink
into the “sugar sand!”
The Battle of Medina was between the Republican Army of the North consisting of approximately a 1,400 men,
called the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition by historians, and a Royal Spanish Army commanded by General Joaquin de
Arredondo consisting of approximately 1,800 men. The Republican Army of the North was truly a diverse group,
consisting of Tejanos, Native Americans, and adventurers from the U.S.A. along with at least one African-American
named Thomas. This was at a time in history when only about 2,000 people lived in San Antonio, called San Fernando de Bexar at the time. At least 5 Patriots of the American Revolution were involved in the Gutierrez-Magee
Expedition, and at least one of these Patriots, Peter Sides, fought and died in the Battle of Medina. Peter Sides, is
one of over 50 Patriots of the American Revolution believed to have been buried in Texas. Direct descendants of
Peter Sides are eligible for membership in both the Sons and Daughter of the American Revolution and The Sons and
Daughters of The Republic of Texas. Some of the descendants of Peter Sides will be in attendance for the re-dedication of Sons of the American Revolutionary Patriot Grave Marker. A Grave Marker will also be re-dedicated by the
Sons of the Republic of Texas for Benjamin Allen, as descendants of all the approximately 3,200 men who fought
on both sides of this battle are possibly eligible for membership in the SRT and the DRT. One of our objectives is to
honor the many other participants on both sides of this battle, which is the land battle with the largest loss of life in
Texas history. Toward that end, descendants of the Spanish solders, Native Americans and the native Tejano participants have also been invited to attend this annual commemorative ceremony.
Earlier in the expedition the Royal Spanish Army surrounded the Republican Army of the North for approximately
four months at the La Bahia Presidio near present day Goliad, Texas. This is believed to have been one of the longest sieges in American military history, and is the reason the La Bahia Presidio flies the Emerald Green flag of the
Republican Army of the North as one of the nine flags flown at La Bahia.
Prior to the August 18, 1813 Battle of Medina, the Gutierrez-Magee Expedition formed the Republican Army of
the North, and won all the preceding battles and declared Texas free from Spain, including a battle at Nacogdoches, a
four month siege of the Presidio La Bahia, the Battle of Rosillo, and the Battle of Alazan. On April 6, 1813, Bernardo Gutierrez de Lara, and his junta, wrote and signed the First Texas Declaration of Independence. On April 17,
1813, the junta and Governor-Elect Bernardo Gutierrez approved the First Constitution of Texas in present day San
Antonio. A ceremony is held each year in San Antonio commemorating these events. Come join us and learn more
about this all but forgotten part of our history.
14
Tomball Mayor Welcomes the Sons of the republic of Texas
cont. from pg. 1
(R) David J. Temple, North Central District Representative,
receives the oath of office from Second Vice President General,
Robert Kendall, KSJ, at the June 8, 2012, quarterly meeting
of the Executive Committee in Tomball.
(L-R) Denton Bryant, Chairman, Texas History Essay Award,
Bob Schuhmann, Brazos Valley District Representative;
Ronald Brown, San Jacinto District Representative; Tom
Green, KSJ; Larry Hunt, President, Stephen F. Austin
Chapter #7; Arthur O. Evans, Gulf Coast District
Representative, David Hanover, KSJ, President General, and
Randy Pollard, Historian General.
Back row: (L-R) Bob Schuhmann, Brazos Valley District
Representative; Robert Kendall, KSJ, Second Vice President
General; John W. Knox, Post Oak District Representative;
Randy Pollard, Historian General; Front Row: (L-R) Denton
Bryant, Chairman Texas History Essay Award; and David
Hanover, KSJ,President General
In Memoriam
NameChapterHometown
Jon Edward Abshier
William Aldridge Cline
R. B. Edmiston
Rev. C. Rogers McLane
Ben H. Procter, Ph.D.
John Ruffin Johnson, Jr.
Marion Gerald “Jerry” Spencer
35
23
38
36
36
48
36
3
Wadsworth, TX
Wharton, TX
Houston, TX
Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth, TX
Kerrville, TX
Grapevine, TX
President General’s Message
cont. from pg. 1
Don’t miss this year’s Texian Navy Day, Saturday, September 15, on board the Battleship Texas. Come celebrate the
memory and spirit of the small but mighty naval fighting force
that helped to secure and maintain the independence of Texas.
The Lone Star Volunteers and Texas Army will be out in force.
Bring your kids and grandkids!
Executive Committee
2012 - 2013
God Bless Texas!
NameChapterAncestorHometown
Janet’s Korner
By: Janet Knox
Administrative Assistant
email: srttexas@srttexas.org
1717 Eighth Street
Bay City, Texas 77414
(979) 245-6644
•
Left to right front row:
David Stone, Chaplain General; David Hanover, KSJ,
President General; Tom Houston, First Vice President
General; Robert Kendall, KSJ, Second Vice President
General; and Janet Knox, Administrative Assistant.
The next Quarterly meeting will be September 7- 9 in
Marshall, TX 75672 at the Hampton Inn & Suites,
5100 South East End Blvd., 59 S. North of IH-20)
(903) 927-0079. Cutoff date August 7, 2012,
Rate: $89. + Tax, Conf #81298631 (GROUP CODE
is “SRT”) Please identify yourself as SRT!
Left to right back row:
Edward A. Heath, Treasurer General; Randy Pollard,
Historian General; Bob Steakley, Secretary General;
Joe R. Davidson, Executive Committeeman; Sam F.
Clark, KSJ, PPG, Executive Committeeman.
• Remember: All active duty personnel, your dues are
waived. Please notify SRT office by email, postal
service or telephone.
District Representatives
2012 - 2013
• If you have not paid $10 for your 2012 copies of
The Texian you will have to view the issues on
our website.
• If you have not received a notice about the
Matching Campaign, please notify the office so that
we can update your address and/or email.
• Those members that have not paid their 2012 dues
are now considered delinquent and must pay a $50
reinstatement fee plus the $40 dues fee.
•
New SRT MEMBERS
Please note that any applicants for membership in
the SRT must have 3 signatures of recommending
SRT members. It is not necessary if the applicant
lives out of state, but every applicant should
affiliate with a chapter. This does not mean that
they will have to attend meetings. Application must
be typed and notarized and don’t forget the check.
Thomas Lawrence Driskell
William Hampton
Crockett, TX
Douglas Clay Atnipp
1
Edward McMillan
Houston, TX
James David Niese
1
Richard Heath
Sugar Land, TX
Edward Ricardo Niese
1
Richard Heath
El Lago, TX
John Brevard Sample
1
Hobart Key
Houston, TX
Thomas Dwayne Chapman
5
Jackson M Fitzgerald
Houston, TX
Ernest Lee Kerr III
7
William Christian Menefee
San Antonio, TX
Charles Duane Lites
8
Robert E. Beaty
Rockwall, TX
Eric Stephen Sifuentes Benavides 12
Tomas Galan
Dallas, TX
Craig Scott Evans
12
Elisha Axley Evans
Elgin, TX
Danny Ross Jones
12
Sylvanus Castleman
Mansfield, TX
John Lance Lundgren
12
Willian Bailey Standifer
San Antonio, TX
Austin Lance Lundgren
12
William Bailey Standifer
San Antonio, TX
Wesley Walker McCutcheon
12
William McCutcheon
Plainview, TX
William Willis McCutcheon V
12
William McCutcheon
Plainview, TX
William Willis McCutcheon VI
12
William McCutcheon
Plainview, TX
Stephen James Pouncey
12
Anthony Wayne Pouncey
Louisville, TN
Anthony Herbert Pouncey
12
Anthony Wayne Pouncey
Marietta, GA
John Lawrence Raven, Jr.
12
Ernst Raven
Johnson City, TX
Robert Eugene Scott
12
Abner Kuykendall
Tuson, AZ
Travis Harold Scott
12
Abner KuykendallUvalde, TX
Jimmy Lynn Toungate, Sr.
12
Meredith Ephriam Toungate
Georgetown, TX
Roland Morris Searcy, Jr.
14
Asa J Searcy
Bryan, TX
Alvin Leon Keller
19
Blassingame W Harvey
Porter, TX
Jordan Wayne Oliver
19
William Jordan
Broaddus, TX
Ernest Hudgins Bruss, Jr.
23
Andrew J Northington
Scottsdale, AZ
Christopher Edward Chapman
36
Harrison Ables
McDonough, GA
Mike Ferguson III
36
Samuel Houston Pate
Crowley, TX
Benancio Montalbo Trinidad
38
Juan Manuel Anastacio Montalbo Houston, TX
John Franklin Kreis
40
Daniel Elam
Sinton, TX
Bobby Page Vernor
40
Caiaphas Kennard Ham
San Antonio, TX
Harold Eugene Dayton
54
William Ryan Hancock
Burnet, TX
David Cruse Cochran
56
Thomas Richardson
Lufkin, TX
David Fike Godfrey
57Nathaniel (Nathan) Fike
Lubbock, TX
Right to left Front row:
Bob Steakley, Frontier District; Joe Pyle, Piney
Woods District; Arthur O. Evans, Gulf Coast District.
•I would like to thank you for the articles and pictures
you are sending for your newsletter; they have
been GREAT. I need YOUR help with articles and
pictures. If your chapter has or will be celebrating
any events PLEASE email me at:
srttexas@srttexas.org. I will be putting the October
issue together for publication, deadline is September
13, 2012.
Right to Left Back row:
Kenneth Pfeiffer, Heart of Texas District; John Knox,
Post Oak District; John Homman, Lone Star District;
Ronald W. Brown, San Jacinto District. (Not shown
David J. Temple, North Central District , William
D.”Buddy” Power, North East District and Robert
Schuhmann, Brazos District).
2
15
Calendar of Events
2012 Quarterly Meetings
Sept. 7-9
Marshall - Hampton Inn, 5100 South East End Blvd., (Hwy.
59 S, north of IH-20), Marshall, TX 75672 (903) 927-0079;
Rate: $89 + tax; Conf. # 81298631
PLEASE identify yourself as SRT!
Friday night a group dinner. Saturday morning Executive
Committee meeting at the Harrison County Courthouse.
Saturday morning antique shopping in Jefferson for guests.
Stay over an extra night for special activities planned by the
Edward Clark Chapter #18, including lunch and an afternoon
tour of historic sites; Caddo Lake barge tour (lake level
permitting), followed by a catfish dinner.
Nov. 30-Dec. 1Victoria - Hampton Inn & Suites, 7006 N. Navarro, Victoria,
TX 77904 (361) 573-9911, October 30, 2012, cutoff date.
Rate: $119 + tax, 1 king or 2 queen size beds (Group code
“SON”) PLEASE identify yourself as SRT!
The Texian
The Official Publication of The Sons of the Republic of Texas
VOL V NUMBER 3
July 2012
Tomball Mayor Welcomes the Sons of the republic of Texas
On June 4, 2012, Mayor Gretchen Fagan of Tomball gave
a big welcome to The Sons of the Republic of Texas with
an Official City Proclamation which proclaims June 8-9,
2012, as “The Sons of the Republic of Texas Days.” The
Proclamation was presented to SRT at a Tomball city council meeting on the evening of Monday, June 4, 2012. The
pictured SRT representatives received the Proclamation.
2013 Annual Meeting
April 12-14, 2013 Holiday Inn South Broadway, 5701 South Broadway, Tyler,
TX 75703; (903) 561-5800; March 21, 2013, cutoff date.
Rate: $92 + tax; free parking
September 15
October 2
November 3
2012 SRT Events
Texian Navy Day on the Battleship Texas
Battle of Gonzales
Stephen F. Austin’s Birthday (Father of Texas)
2012 Quarterly Meeting
Sept. 7-9 Marshall - Hampton Inn, 5100 South East End Blvd., (Hwy. 59 S, north of IH-20), Marshall, TX 75672;
(903) 927-0079; August 7, 2012, cutoff date. Rate: $89 + tax ; Conf. #81298631. PLEASE identify yourself as SRT!
Mayor Fagan made a special appearance at the Saturday
morning Executive Committee meeting on June 9, at the
(L-R) Tom Houston, First Vice President General; Tomball
Hampton Inn and Suites, Tomball. She read the proclamaMayor Gretchen Fagan; Denton Bryant, Chairman of the
Texas History Essay Contest Award; Ron Brown, San Jacinto tion to the attendees and welcomed everyone to Tomball.
District Representative; John Meredith, President of the Lone
Star Chapter #58 - Conroe/The Woodlands.
President General’s Message
1717 Eighth Street
Bay City, TX 77414
Return Service Requested
Contact us at:
SRT Office: www.srttexas.org Email: srttexas@srttexas.org
1717 Eighth Street, Bay City, TX 77414
Phone: (979) 245-6644 Fax: (979) 244-3819
cont. pg. 3
David Hanover, KSJ
The June quarterly meeting was
proof positive that SRT chapters are
hard at work, promoting the mission,
purpose and goals of the organization.
A special thanks to Denton Bryant
for working with the Tomball Chamber of Commerce to proclaim June 8
and 9 as “The Sons of the Republic
of Texas Days” in Tomball. Good
publicity is hard to beat!
If you are interested in becoming
more involved in SRT or in
reactivating a chapter, ask your Chap-
ter President or District Representative
about a Chapter Leadership Workshop
in your area. Attending a workshop
will provide an opportunity for you
to learn more about SRT and ways to
increase visibility in your community.
For the first time in many years, we
are embarking on a fundraising project
to match a generous $25,000 donation from one of our members. Read
about the Matching Challenge in this
issue, and you will see that there is
a donation level for every member!
Progress reports will appear on the
SRT website. For members without
email addresses, you will receive an
information packet in the mail; please
What’s Inside
Quarterly Meeting.......................... 1, 3
President General’s Message..... 1-2
Janet’s Korner................................2
In Memoriam.................................3
Texian Navy Day...........................4
Marshall Quarterly Meeting....... 5-7
Matching Campaign.......................8
use that opportunity to call or email the
SRT Headquarters, so your email address can be added to the database and
save future mailing costs.
Prepare for another memorable quarterly meeting in Marshall, September
7-9. Plan on spending two nights,
as the Edward Clark Chapter #18
has Friday evening plans and a very
interesting historical tour of the area
on Saturday afternoon, immediately
following the morning Executive Committee meeting in the historic Harrison County courthouse. Lake levels
permitting, we will travel by barge on
Caddo Lake late Saturday afternoon to
enjoy a catfish dinner.
cont. pg. 2
Eagle Scout Award.........................9
Three Legged Willie....................10
District Workshops.......................11
Moses Austin Chapter............11, 13
Passing of a Knight......................12
Battle of Medina..........................14
New Members..............................15
Calendar of Events.......................16