Family History by Robert Monroe Fleming (Sr.)
Notes on Fanily History by Iva Causey Fleming
(Part 9)
Transcribed by Robert M. Fleming Jr.
NOTE: We now come to the real story teller from whom Grandma must have gaineda copy or the knowledge. From that Iva Causey Fleming has compiled these notes. RMF
On June 7, 1841, the youngest child, Amanda Jane died. In 1845 Dr Copes removed to Houston. But he returned to Brazoria County in 1848 to go in to the mecantile business at Columbia. He then opened a new farm on the right bank of theBrazos. Just below Columbia on which he resided till his death. Which occurred Oct. 8, 1863. On September 8, 1859, At Dr Copes residence on the Brazos, his daughter Mary was married to Andrew F McCormick the writer of this sketch. On January 12, 1870, she died at our home in Brazoria. She left two sons and four daughters, all of whom remain unto this day, March 15, 1897. The sons and two daughtersare married. Another of the daughters is a widow. And the remaining abides yet in her Father's house. In 1869, Elizabeth Lucinda Copes, Married Dr Samuel McKinney of Walker County, Texas. In a few years she became a widow a second time. After which she made her home with her children and other and other near kindred at and near Austin. She died Dec 15, 1893.
When Thaddeus Bell from Centre College, in the fall of 1840, he then in his eighteenth year, took charge of his Mother's farms and business, which he continued to manage till the distribution till the distribution of the estate in 1848. On August 3, 1847, he married Elizabeth Hodge Cayce, a daughter of Major Thomas Dodson Cayce, of Brazoria County, Texas. These, Thaddeus and Elizabeth, are the maternal grandparent of my younger grandchildren. In August, 1843, my parents, with their children, visited Dr. Copes' family at his residence on Bell's Creek. On a certain Saturday just preceding the appointed day for preaching at the Presbyterian Church in West Columbia. Intending to remain and go with his family to church next day. Late in the night and early Sunday morning there was a heavy rain and Bell's Creek overflowed the bridge at Dr Copes, but he and my Father thought the Creek was fordable up at the"Flats", where the public road from the Waverly Place, on the Bernard, to Columbia crossed the Creek. They were elders and and it was concluded to risk the weather and the Creek. And preparations were about complete for the families to start. Of course there was some last thing to fix, which detained the ladies, in their rooms. The elders were on the front porch waiting for their wives, when a gentleman and three ladies rode up to the front gate. Dr Copes had never seen either of them. And my Father did not recognize them. Dr Copes went out to the gate, and the stranger introduced himself as Mr Cayce and introduced the ladies as his daughters. He said they were on their way to church at West Columbia. They had found the Creek too deep to ford at the"Flats" and had turned the Creek to find a bridge at Dr Copes. It was apparent that these three families were water bound. The invitation to alight and spend the day was promptly extended and accepted. Mr Cayce wast then forty eight year of age. His stature was about, possibly more than, six feet. He weighed two hundred pounds. His flesh was well distributed. His hair was abundant, beginning togray at the temples, worn a little long, parted lightly on the left side and brushed back behind the ears. His complexion was florid with health and open air exercise. His dress was appropriate, to his age and condition. He had held the rank and exercised the rank of Major in the Volunteer army and a decided military bearing. He could not help knowing that he was fine looking. The knowledge did not annoy him. He had then living four sons and four daughters, His oldest son, Washington, was killed in San Antonio by the Commanche Indians in the early part of 1840. Mr Cayce had come to Texas as a Colonist at an early day. He had settled on the Colorado and established a ferry across that stream near the head of Bay Prairie. by which both both armies swept back and forth in the war for Independence in 1836. And of necessity consumed all his substance that could be consumed and that could not be saved in the "Runaway Scrape". When General Milisola commenced his retreat after the defeat and capture of Santa Anna and his forces at San Jancinto, it was his purpose to pass the Colorado at Cayce's Ferry and with view he moved his troops from Mrs Powell's, on Turkey Creek, where they had been concentrated from various points, to Spanish Camps. Where he found that the stage of water in Peach Creek and the condition of the roads through the belt of the coast cross timbers made it impractical to reach the head of Bay Prairie with his trains. And he there for turned up the Colorado and effected passage with much difficulty at the Atasca Sito Crossing which which was nearly due West from the present town of Eagle Lake. After the invasion and retreat of the Mexican Army Mr Cayce found he would have to make a new start. And he chose a less exposed situation on a ridge Caney and Cedar Lake, near the coast. And about fourty miles from Columbia. On this newly chosen spot he opened a cotton plantation and established his residence. From this place the town of Matagorda was the most convenient shipping point. And Mr Cayce and my Father had rarely met since the exigencies that had brought them so much and so close together in 1836 had passed away. My Father had learned that Mr Cayce had disposed of his plantation in Matagorda County and had acquired land on the Bernard immediately West of Columbia into which neighborhood he expected to move his family. But had not learned before this day of the arrival in the neighborhood.
His oldest daughter was a widow, the Mother of three children. But her experience as a wife and Mother had refined, matured and made more attractive the superior beauty of this handsome young woman. I did not see her after tht day. Bery soon after that she married Mr Benjamin Cage and removed with him to Western Texas and our ways met no more. She was tall and stately,but graceful, fair, animated, with features that did not provoke analysis. The next in age was Eliza Jane, then in her sixteenth year. She was not tall, but she was extremely fair, entirely at her ease, quiet and sweet as the breath of morning. The other, Elizabeth Hodges, (our Mother), then in her fourteenth year, well grown, self reliant, mature in though beyond her years, but strictly holding the school-girl's place to her sister's role of "Young Lady" daughter. She was not blond like her Father, and her two older sisters. He features were distinct, presenting classic lines. Her eyes, of light hazel hue, were full, prominent and bright. In person she was then, and after, slightly than her sisters. She was a shade taller than her sister Jane but not so tall as her older sister then was. Or as a younger sister grew to be and is now. Her hair was black and very curly. She wore it in curls about her neck most bewitchingly. Major Cayce's youngest daughter, Sophronia Russel, was then in her sixth year. He had three grown sons who had gone out from parental roof tree. The oldest of these was named Shadrack. He (Shadrack) afterwards had a plantation on Old Caney, in Wharton County, about ten miles below the town of Wharton. Where he kept open to his throng friends up to and all through the Civil War. And until the pinch Reconstruction destruction induced him to sell out and move to San Antonio. He was of low stature, heavy built, muscular, round shouldered, with one shoulder a little drooped. He was dark complexioned and a heavy suit of dark brown hair that covered densely all the scalp and strictly limited his forehead. He had a twinkle of strong intelligence in his eyes, cheery but disciplined humor toushed his lips. Force marked his jaw and chin. He had his Father's genius for dress. For ever and when ever seen he was costumed appropriately tot he stage and to his particular present role in the play. He was the best of farmers and a good financier, who always had time and means for doing constant hospitality without neglecting his business. He made many friends, valued, enjoyed andfirmly held them.
The next son, Henry Petty, was Lieutenant-Colonel of the regiment in which I served in the Confederate Army. He was taller than Shadrack, but not so tall as tall as his Father. His weight was justly proportioned to his height. There was nothing noticably distinctive about his person, gait or presence. In physigue he was strictly middling. Even on dress parade there was no military mark on him except his uniform. And though that was made of the best Cofederate gray, by a good tailor, with all the regulation trimmings, buttons, bars and stripes, he wore it as to make the dividing line of rank between him and his men as subdued as was consistent with the spirit of the corps. He had a strong hold on his men. His words were few and quiet, but were hard and always heeded. Before the war he had been a cotton planter and general trader, buying and selling not, people, slaves. At the beginning of the war he raised a company and joined Bate's regiment, assigned to picket duty on the coast of Texas from the Western entrance to Galveston Bay to the Eastern extremity of Matagorda Bay, with the headquarters at the mouth of the Brazos River. He served in Texas and in Louisiana during the whole period of the war. Like General Washington during the Revolutionary War he did not forget Mount Vernon plantation. Or turn his back on a good horse or a good piece of land offered on the market or at private sale, at a bargain. After the war he continued his farming and trading and, in addition there to, or in aid there of, got a license to practice law. One of his daughters married a lawyer, Mr Claxton. And Cayce and Claxton ran their Lawyer's mill and fee bill in Wharton County. Where there then was "one white man and three niggers", or in that proportion. [Note from transcriber: I am deeply offended by the “N” word, but my commitment is to accurately transcribe the document without editing it, regardless of my personal feelings.] And the richest soil and pickings in the Sonegarnbian sugar-bowl of Texas. But the bite of reconstruction became too incisive, and Cayce and Claxton got themselves and their households out of the sulphurous plain, and sped to Gatesville, in Coryell County.
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©2009 Robert M. Fleming Jr.
This page was last revised on 4 September 2009.