CHAPTER XXVII.

Settlements of Paluxy, Continued-The McCamants-Andrew Jackson-"Doc" Crites-Isaacs-The Mothers of the Frontier-A Story.

Alex McCamant established a tannery business at his settlement, about four miles above Barnard's mill, in 1862 or '63, where he used the new process of tanning with cedar leaves. Alex McCamant and his brother, Wm., both afterwards became men of considerable influence in the affairs of Hood and Somervell counties, as will hereafter appear. They came from Virginia to Hunt county, Texas, as early as 1852 & '54, and were both practical surveyors. They each married daughters of Capt. J.C. Gardner, whose family accompanied them to Texas, and two of whose sons, Gray and Walter, are yet citizens of our own county. A.S. McCamant served as surveyor of Hunt county two terms prior to his removal with his family and brother, Wm. G., to the Paluxy, which occurred in 1861. In addition to the tannery business, the McCamants here engaged in stock raising and farming, and suffered in common with others many losses by the Indian depredations. A.S. served as a confederate soldier in one of the commands assigned to the protection of the frontier against Indians. He moved to Granbury about the time of the county organization, having been elected clerk of the county court. Here he became one of the most active spirits in settling up the county and town; and the old double log house now standing on the south side of Lambert branch to the northeast of the Nutt house, and now in a dilapidated condition, was built and occupied by him, and is now a remaining monument of the hospitality dispensed by him to his many friends among the prominent characters of the county during his time. Many of the land titles within our territory, too, bear the impress of his characteristic hand. He was shrewd and potent in the great influence exerted by him in the local politics of his time; and possessing a good natured and generous disposition, won many friends among all classes. He is now living at an advanced age in Jones county, having removed from Hood about 1877.

Wm. G. McCamant was of a more reserved nature. He served as a county surveyor several terms, during which time he also resided near Granbury, but subsequently he returned to Paluxy, where he died about 1885.

Andrew Jackson, heretofore mentioned, settled at the Gideon Mills place, below Bluff Dale, some time prior to the war. Mr. Jackson has maintained a character as a sturdy citizen of integrity, and he and his boys have been active, not alone as guardians of the lower settlements against indian raids, but in all of the enterprises within their community tending to the elevation of the moral standing of the citizen.

Nearly opposite to Jackson, on the north of the Paluxy, C.A. Crites, more commonly known as "Doc" Crites, was settled. He became from a humble beginning, by industry, intelligence and economy, a most prominent and prosperous stock farmer in this locality. He died about the early eighties. His widow, Mrs. Catherine A. Crites, now resides in Granbury and is a lady greatly esteemed for her christian character.

At their Paluxy home Fred Isaacs was also early settled, but having died soon after his settlement, his widow remained to brave the dangers of frontier life at their exposed home, where she suffered many alarms and losses from Indians raiding the settlement.

We have had much to say about the heroic activity of the men of pioneer life, who, bestride their horses and well armed, were usually ready, when the Indians came upon them, for fight or flight; but what pen can truly portray the characters of those self sacrificing women, who, following their hardy husbands to the life of the dangerous frontier, with brave hearts kept lonely watch over the domestic altars where the little ones were to be reared amid the scenes of danger and repeated alarms, into the lives of future usefulness and blessings to their country? Can any lady used alone to peaceful surroundings reflect what her own feelings might be, if compelled to keep guard over an humble cabin home in a place distant from neighbors, with none to comfort and cheer her, save the prattling children, whom to keep in good humor, she must often not seem to posses the fears which yet were crowding on her, while her husband was away in the saddle in the necessary duties of bread-winning or chasing off the savage foe. Many such women yet survive in our midst to remind us how enduring is the patience and fortitude of the faithful wife and mother; of these I mention Mrs. Elizabeth Caraway, Mrs. Polly Cowan, Mrs. Nancy J. Thorp, Mrs. Louisa Garland, Mrs. S.C. Cross, with those heretofore mentioned; and there are many others. May "their children arise up and call them blessed," and let all who may meet them remember to bestow the homage due to the mothers of the frontier. Many others have passed to their reward. To all these obscure heroines the sons of Texas are due debts of gratitude which the state's bounty is inadequate to pay.

Let us not forget, too, to honor the memory of the departed, among whom I recall such women as the first. Mrs. J.A. Formwalt, the first Mrs. Jack Wright, Mrs. W.J.W. Powell, with so many others, both living and dead, that one surely ought to be pardoned for failing to remember and collect the names of all these noble women who lived and suffered in those days of trouble that their children might inherit the blessings appertaining to a country whose very streams, along the grassy banks they so often labored in performance of the week's washing, continue to babble forth as it were their praise.

"Grandpa" Helms tells the following story: His wife went with her children on one occasion to visit her brother, Caddo Smith, while living on Stroud Creek. There was a hunting party of Indians camped nearby and several of the squaws came to Mrs. Smith's for milk. One of them had a cute little dog with brass ring around its neck, which so attracted Mrs. Helms that in jest she proposed to give her baby for it. The squaw accepted the proposition and Mrs. Helms placed the infant in the arms of the woman, but Mrs. Smith, better posted as to the Indian character, immediately seized the child and handed it back to the mother, telling her she was foolish, that the squaw would claim and carry away that babe and she would never see it again. This so offended the squaw that she went off in a sullen mood, refusing to accept the milk for which she came.

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