1 post tagged “frontier”

Really, Dad, I’m Ok.

146 years ago a young man, George A. Staples wrote a series of letters to his father in Virginia from a tiny settlement called Zanzenburg, Texas.    We call that community Center Point today.  George Staples was employed as a school teacher, but from his letters it seems his classroom was small – the children of one family plus one other student.
I came across copies of these letters thanks to my good friend Jane Ragsdale of Heart o’ the Hills Camp for Girls in Hunt.  An acquaintance of hers, Les Staples, gave her the copies, and she forwarded them on to me.
I have tried for the past 4 weeks to summarize each of the letters because they have some historical significance for our community.  They were written during the heady days when our state chose to secede from the Union, and they were written from a community which was in the center of the debate; one of the citizens of Zanzenburg, Dr. Charles Ganahl, was actually a delegate to the secession convention, and from what I can gather, was also the largest slaveholder in the county.
I relate stories from this part of our history not because it’s a proud moment in the history of our county.  As Lincoln said, whenever he heard someone make an argument for slavery, he wanted to try it out on them personally.  I relate these stories because they reflect the prevalent thought in our county during the Civil War era.  It shows a picture of our history, warts and all.
Though these letters were written almost 150 years ago, it’s evident that some things do not change.  The last letter in the series is a letter of reassurance.  George A. Staples is trying to soothe his family back in Virginia, to assure them that he’s safe out here in the wilds of Texas.
“There is no personal danger to be apprehended from the Indians down the low – all the danger is on the stock – they will steal horses, mules, and &c but will not attack a man if they find he is armed – there is no danger in my going in bathing as I always go in in the daytime and the Indians never come out except in the night, that is in the sight of houses – and the river is within 50 yards of the House – it is not swift at all – but very deep in places – but I can swim like a duck – so there is no danger.”
He also writes that he misses his family:
“If I succeed in as I hope to do in business I expect and hope it will not be over two years from this time when I will see you [again.  I have never missed] you so badly in my life.  I never yet was so long from home but the longer I am away the more I learn to depend on myself – and I think that is something gained.”
He writes about his career:
“The country is so thinly settled that school teaching unless it be in a city or in a college is not so profitable as living in a  [state] where a person can become more widely known and stands a chance of improving his situation after his character is established.”
He writes of young women:
“The Girls do not occupy my thoughts any longer than when I am in their company and that is very seldom.  I have only been visiting twice since being up here and that was to see a Mr. Lane who lives about a half mile from here and keeps a bachelors’ Hall.  I went up and spent the evening with him.”
He writes of secession politics:
“I am sorry indeed that Virginia has so far forgotten herself as to think ever of remaining in the Union – with the North.  I heard it though rather vaguely before I got your letter of the 24th February – but that confirmed it – I am almost ashamed to claim her as my native state if she does not secede.  It will build up Texas – as the persons – or a majority at least that will leave her will emigrate to the place where there are the greatest inducements and I think Texas is the first in that respect.  I hear that since Virginia has determined to remain in the Union that Louisiana intends to petition for readmission – if she does she ought to be rejected by both confederacies.   And if my individual feelings were to be consulted before Texas should so dishonor herself as to sue for readmission, if we were compelled to owe allegiance to any government, Texas should be made over to Queen Victoria – rather than remain in Union with those she has just left.”
He writes like many young men, saying “I will start my journal to you when I get it done – this place is so dull that it is very seldom that I can find an incident to jot down in it.”  Perhaps he was again trying to persuade his Virginia family that there was no danger here, or perhaps he was lonely in a thinly settled place where he felt he could never ‘establish his character.’
I contacted Les and George Staples, brothers and descendents of the young letter writer of 1861, to find out what happened to young George.  Did he study law?  Did he become a cattle baron?  Did he succeed in business?  What was ‘the rest of the story?’
Les Staples wrote “George Staples, my great-grandfather, wound up in Texana, Texas.  He fathered 4 boys and 2 girls there.  Texana no longer exists.  It was a river port and when the river silted up and the railroad went west of the town, the whole town packed up and moved to Edna.  Edna is the county seat of Jackson County.” 
George Staples adds some interesting details: “I have the original letters and probably know as much as anyone else.  He settled in Jackson County, probably at Red Bluff which no longer exists.  He had a number of children and named all his sons, including my grandfather, after men he served under while fighting for the Confederacy.  My grandfather’s name was Archer McAmy Staples and his brothers included Oliver Hardeman Staples and Henry King Staples.  Henry King Staples became editor, owner and publisher of the Edna Herald for 48 years and his brother Hardeman ran the linotype machine.  Edna was or became the county seat of Jackson County after the railroad was put through.  My understanding is that it was originally known as Macaroni Junction because it was a supply depot for the Italian railroad workers brought in by Count Telferner who got the contract to build the railroad.  After Edna became established, most of the inhabitants of Red Bluff moved to Edna.  One of my great Aunts was Maggie Staples who lived in the family house which was moved to Edna.  She died an old maid many years ago.  My father was named George Archer Staples and I am a Junior.  My son is George III, known as Rex as is befitting royalty.
“I believe from the letters that the first George’s father’s name was Charles, as I have a letter or two from him as well.  I do not know for certain, but suspect that George’s middle name was Anthony as Uncle Hardeman’s son was named George Anthony and the Archer I received was the last name of one of the confederate officers George served under.
“From desultory research I have concluded that the journey started near Lynchburg Virginia somewhere near the Pedlar River, which is the water supply for the city. 
“My increasingly dim memory seems to recall that George married a woman named White and I know that there are relatives of that name.  Texas was a hard place to make a living after the civil war and all indications are that George never accumulated any significant wealth, either in land or cattle.
“Family legend indicates that the Staples men were all good looking and had a weakness for fast horses.  I personally attribute their success and good fortune to hybrid vigor.”
So the young correspondent fought in the Civil War, stayed in Texas, and became a father.  Given the names he gave his sons, a gifted researcher could determine George Staples’ role in the Civil War.
Thanks, Jane, for sharing these letters with me.
Until next week, all the best.

Joe Herring Jr. is a Kerrville native.