", "I uster like to go and play 'roun' de calfs, jis' go up and pet 'em and rub 'em. De white folks lets me live in dis shack for mowin' de lawn, but I worries 'bout when I can't do no more work. Onct or twict he sell de nigger what won't do right and do de work. Yes, maybe it was a black widow spider, but we called it the 'devil biter'. He have two sons and Willie am 'bout 18 and Dave am 'bout 17. Finally, in a rage of bullets and accusations, he and his cronies were attacked in spots all over the County. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males. "There was some cullud young men went to the schools they'd opened by the gov'ment. I never see her no mo'. Firearms, Crack cocaine and other drugs seized. When it's over, de Marster comes home and dey holds a big celebration. We soon found out that freedom could make folks proud but it didn't make 'em rich. Some cullud people started to farmin', like I told you, and gathered the old stock. Then he laughed: "No, you ain't. Many men were left dead and many were wounded after this little known battle, perhaps the greatest race battle ever fought in Texas. The assassination attempt failed, however, and Scott was scurried out of town, badly wounded, under protection of a Federal militia, and he never returned to Grimes County. Dey done took all de rations and us couldn't eat de cotton. Texas State Highway 105 is the main eastwest route that passes through the center of Navasota, leading southwest 25 miles (40km) to Brenham and east 41 miles (66km) to Conroe. Ol' marster Woodruff Norsworthy and Miss Ca'lina, dey was my ol' marster and mistus. ", "In good wedder dey feed us under a big tree out in de yard. But here I is talking 'bout myself when you want to hear me talk 'bout slavery. "The Lawd called me then and I answered and was preacher here at the Union Baptist Church, on 11th and K, 'bout 25 years. Massa say not mix with dat crowd what lose de head, jus' stay to home and work. The city also has golfing facilities and parks as well as wineries. He wouldn' sell him to Marse Norsworthy when he come to Texas. I doesn't work till near de surrender, 'cause I's too small. Hallelujah! I thanks yous for all de way yous done while I's gone, and I'll holp you all I can.' ", "Yas, I 'member de house I was raise in. During these days, Navasota was considered a wild and wooly place, where it was not considered safe for women and children to go downtown in broad daylight. "Us have de cabin what am made from logs but us only sleeps dere. Well, that's how it was with us. Hamer moved in and imposed law and order, prosecuting Navasota criminals until the town became safe again. Us hab chicken and turkey and cake. ", "My pa was Len Norsworthy. "My ole mistus she pay me money right 'long after freedom but I too close to spen' any. Dere's six slaves on dat place and I coul' beat dem all a-hoein'. We rented a little house and my mother took in washing and ironing. Let's see, now. "De marster takes good care of us and sometimes give us money, 'bout 25, and lets us go to town. I love de Lawd and my neighbors and de Lawd and my neighbors love me.' Navasota sits approximately 20 miles south of Bryan-College Station. Navasota was founded in 1831 as the stagecoach stop of Nolansville. The war weren't so great as folks suppose. I 'members once de missy asks me to make a 'lasses cake. Some white woman said someone had stole something of hers so they put them young men in jail. Dat why I say I can't see so good. My brudders is Newton and Silas and Willie and Frank. But he wasn't hard on dem like some masters was.
Explore State Historic Sites - Texas Historical Commission Every one to he job, some a-whistlin', some a-singin'. [8] Famed lawman Frank Hamer, then 24 years old, was hired from the Texas Rangers to become the City Marshal. NISD offers instructional support for learners through a variety of programs such as Advanced Academics/GT, Dual Credit College Classes, Dyslexic Services, English as a Second Language Support, Program 504 Support, Special Services for needs such as speech, learning disabilities, and other health impairments, Pre-Kindergarten Classes, Tiered Supports through RtI, and an Academic Alternative School. It is 71 miles (114km) northwest of Houston. Ol' marster gin' and bale' he own cotton. The downtown buildings were teaming with lawless ruffians, gamblers, prostitutes and drunks. She leaves de country fin'ly, but dey comes lookin' for her every night for two months. "Three days after de celebration, de marster calls all de slaves in de house and says, 'Yous is all free, free as I am.' Whoever git de girl's pie eat it with her. Ma tell 'em to write him he neenter (need not) come. The old Negro was growing very tired, but, at a request, he instantly got up and tapped his way out into the scorching sunshine to have his photograph taken. Old cotton, old corn, what for you born?'. De ol' mistus she a pretty good doctor. I stops four years ago and comes out here to wait till de good Lawd calls me home. "One time they had 12 men in jail, 'cused of robbin' white folks. In the late 1860s the KKK moved into Navasota, prompting a tense confrontation between federal soldiers and a crowd of local whites on one occasion. We was all walkin' on golden clouds. If anyone has information on this cemetery, please let us know. Fear, uncertainty, and Old Mew Johnson, the preacher, seen to it church went on. Dey give us plenty of co'nbread. She let me go to ice cream supper, too. Since I's been free, I sometimes have heaps of frettin'. That happened the second year after the War. "We was 'fraid of them Klu Kluxes and come to town, to Snow Hill. It am de awful way to spend you last days. Shoutin' the battle cry of freedom.'. ", "I's got 8 gran'chillun and 5 great-gran'chillun. De sojers done took de rations. I don' 'member anything 'bout my pappy, but I 'member Marster Henderson jus' like 'twas las' week. She make linseed poultice and kep' de bu'n grease good. After a timid "How-do-you-do," and a comment on the great heat of the June day, she went back in the house. James, known as Uncle Jim, seems happy, still stands erect, and is very active for his age. Fur as I kin 'member I t'ink dey was 'bout 25 or 30 slaves on de place. Purty soon my mudder die and I jus' took up her shoes. The site remains a gathering place for history events, recreation, and family reunions. I knows 'twon't be long till de good Lawd calls dis ole nigger to cross de Ribber Jordan and I's ready for de Lawd when he calls. They got together and organized the militia and had leaders like reg'lar soldiers.
Things to do in Navasota, Texas They brought up their children to speak only Mexican. Navasota was founded by European-Americans in 1831 as a stagecoach stop named "Nolansville." WebSlaves were a large part of the local economy, as they were imported, traded and used to work in the many local cotton plantations. When de body comes home, dere's a powerful big funeral and after dat, dere's powerful weepin's and sadness on dat place. Sometime he hab a wagon load of watermilion haul' up from de fiel' and cut 'em. He told me once he lived in New York and, "I's borned in Grimes County, ninety years ago. Sometime den us go to chu'ch. Some old folks went in the woods for herbs and made medicine. Course de field hands got it worse, but den, dey was men. In the late 1990s Citizens for Action in Navasota (C.A.N. This time it is initiated by the Grimes County District Attorney. All de ole folks, cullud and white, was cryin'. In 1990, the boys basketball team won the 3A state championship with a 350 record after beating Gainesville and Lamesa at the state tournament played at the University of Texas Frank Erwin Center. ", "Dey had a big smokehouse. Course, dey got beat, but dat didn't worry dem none, and it not long till dey gone 'gain. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.4 square miles (19.1km2), of which 0.04 square miles (0.1km2), or 0.47%, is water.[6].
United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860 I was handling pipes. "Yes, sir, I'm Felix Haywood, and I can answer all those things that you want to know. Most everybody else go with us. My father was a field hand, and Mr. Swanson work de fire out dem. WebNavasota Jews first began to organize in 1874, when they bought land for a Jewish cemetery. Reported by the Navasota Examiner. For a ripe, red mouth. But he come and de daughter tek care of her ma and pa bofe. We thought we was goin' to be richer than the white folks, 'cause we was stronger and knowed how to work, and the whites didn't and they didn't have us to work for them anymore. After I was sold, they let me go visit my mother once a year, on Sunday morning, and took me back at night. The center of the county is at 3014' north latitude and 9624' west longitude. "I was purty little den, but I done my share. Mid 1860s skirmish between Navasotan disgruntled freedmen and Confederate veterans broke out in the Brazos Bottoms near Millican, after a race riot there threw the whole region into a panic. Them shirts wouldn't rip no more'n buckskin. The per capita income for the city was $14,564. Us place was right near Col' Springs. After while, de Yankee sojers comes and takes some more. De mattress was mek outer straw. The Gudlows started us out on a ranch. Fust dey is all blowed full of air and tied tight and dry. WebBy 1836, there were approximately 5,000 enslaved people in Texas. Jus' latches 'stead of locks was used dem days. Mr. Swanson was good and he was mean. But I's had two strokes and I ain't able to go to town no mo'. I tell my chillen we didn't know no more about pants than a hawg knows about heaven; but I tells 'em that to make 'em laugh. "Dis nigger have lived a long time, yas, suh! Ole mistus he'p me make my weddin' dress outta white lawn. argo parts amazon. Li'l befo' she die her husban' come. Local artist and sculptor Russell Cushman designed and built the bronze statue. Dat was my home, so I kep' pesterin' marster to fetch me back, but he slips off and leaves me. Some of de ol'es' chillun 'member dey daddy and dey crazy for him to come and dey mek up de money for him. The images come from Drug dealers, prostitutes and drunks could not be seen standing around this area anymore. Dey was a ol' Geo'gia hoss bed in it. I didn' do nuthin' but chu'n (churn) and clean de yard, and sweep 'roun' and go to de spring and tote de water. I's workin' in de kitchen and dey tol' me to cook heaps of ham, chicken, pies, cakes, sweet 'taters and lots of vegetables. ", "When Crismus come 'roun' dey give us big eatin'. My mother used to say he was chilesome. "Why dey comes so many times round dere, am 'cause de second time dey comes, Jane Bensom am dere. [Handwritten Note: '?'] Each spring, Navasota is a popular destination for its bluebonnet fields, the state flower of Texas. Missy says, 'Don' say 'lasses, say molasses.' WebNavasota suffered a series of disasters in the mid-1860s that severely depleted its population. Navasota was one of 70 (out of over a thousand) cities in Texas to receive the Gold status. "I gits my fust job with Carter Cannon, on a farm, and stays seven years. We was free. My gramma toted de key to dat smokehouse and ol' mistus she'd tell her what to go and git for de white folks and de cullud folks. FELIX HAYWOOD is a temperamental and whimsical old Negro of San Antonio, Texas, who still sees the sunny side of his 92 years, in spite of his total blindness. Guns were made in nearby Anderson, and cotton, gunpowder, and shoes were made, processed and stored there for the Southern Confederacy during the American Civil War. He uster preach to de white folks in de mornin' and de cullud folks in de afternoons. None of us knows what to do, dere warn't no place to go and why would we'uns wan' to go and leave good folks like de marster? It am heap of change since den. And dey never dassent tek de other feller's piece of meat. Dey was one Mef'dis' Chu'ch and one Baptis' Chu'ch in Jasper. Then the whites gave me and my father some cattle for our own. Den us jis' play 'roun' lots of times anyt'ing what happen to come up in our min's. "He lived in a brick house in town and had two-three slaves 'sides me. We couldn't see dem airplanes flyin' in de air and hear folks sing and talk a thousand miles away. They had a post in the public square what they tied 'em to and a man what worked for the county whipped 'em. Dey put popco'n on it to trim it and dey give me sometime a purty dress or shoes and plenty candy and maybe a big, red apple. I State Football Champions in 2014. ", "Dey raise dey own t'bacco on de place. He was a member of the large Parker frontier family that settled in east They didn't meet 'cept when they heered the Klu Kluxes was coming to get some cullud folks. Not long afterward, the town was struck by a deadly cholera epidemic. Iffen it git to be a ser'ous ailment dey sen' for de reg'lar doctor. [14] Other attractions include art galleries, the Horlock House Artists-in-Residence program and museum, live music venues, food truck parks and several murals that present great selfie locations for area visitors. Ole mistus giv me my bedstead, one of her purtiest ones, and de set dishes and glasses us eat de weddin' dinner outta. "Every mornin' de ole mistus took out de big Bible and hab prayer meetin' for jus' us three. My mammy, Emily Budle, she cook and clean up mistus log house cabin.
What the Black Lives Matter Protests Mean for East Texas [4] In 2005, the Texas Legislature designated Navasota as the "Blues Capital of Texas" in honor of the late Mance Lipscomb, a Navasota native and blues musician.[5]. It never git real ha'd but stay kinder slushy. If I live till December, I'll be 102 years old, and dis ole heart have been pumpin' and pumpin' all dem years and have missed nary a beat till dis las' year. "How did we know it! Us all stay and it sho' am tough times. You be a good girl and try to git through de worl' dat way.' Mistus was so lil' she couldn' lif' me but she fin'ly git me to bed. And Christmas, it am de day for de big time. Even as he did so, he seemed to smile with those blurred, dead eyes of his. Jump fru' de crack. The market place was in Snow Hill on the public square near the jailhouse. My friends is good to me and lets me stay with dem. Some dem cullud folks grandchillen still on dat land, too, de Parkers and Farrows and Nelsons and some others. He served as marshal until 1911. So, on Christmas night, de chillen takes dem and puts dem on de stick. My sister born dere. ", "Dey didn' know nuffin' 'bout preachin' and Sunday School in dem times. Dat becomes me better. Schedules exist for Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. "To de bes' of dis nigger's mem'randum, de feed am good. Dat all raise on de place. The museum itself is housed in a historic building. ', 'Kitty, kitty,
All during the Civil War, all the marketable goods produced in the region were brought to Navasota, then the furthest inland railhead in Texas, to be shipped south to Galveston, where it could be transported by steamboat from the Texas coast and up the Mississippi River to the war effort, or exported to Mexico or overseas to Europe. [19], The Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) operates the O.L. Dat's what my old mother told me 'way back in slavery, before I was ever sold. It was the endin' of it that made the difference. "I heered 'em talk about some slaves what run barefooted in cold weather and you could trail 'em by blood in the snow and ice where they hurt their feet. Some dem niggers on other plantations ain't keep de head and dey gits whupped and some gits kilt, but us does what massa say and has no trouble with dem Klux. He served as marshal until 1911. Dat's when we was happy and celebrates. Us have most nothin' to eat and den de Ku Klux come 'round dere.
Early Photographs of Juneteenth Celebrations - The Public But de slaves some of 'em uster had family prayer meetings to deyselfs. Den she make me say de Lord Prayer for her jus' like she allus make me say it for a night prayer when I lil' gal. After I's 'bout 13, I jus' peddles roun' de house for 'bout a year, den 'twarn't long till I hoes co'n and potatoes. He came to Galveston, Texas, in 1877.
Texas African American Cemeteries Many buildings were damaged, including the post office. Don't you be a-mindin' him, mister.". Web1860 - 1865 Texas joined Confederacy; Civil War began 1865 Juneteenth 1869 The First African American in Texas Legislature 1873 Buffalo Soldiers first posted in Texas 1876 Present Texas Constitution Adopted 1882 The Early Days of Women's Equality 1888 New State Capitol Completed 1891 Texas Railroad Commission Established
Black History Month We decided we was too soft and freedom wasn't goin' to be much to our good even if we had a education.". "No one knowed when de Klux comin'. When I's 'bout nine year ole she buy me a purty white dress and took me to jine de church. "Not long after dat, Marster sol' my mammy to his brudder who lived in Fort Worth. Us have singin' and 'joyment all day. ", "De ol' marster he didn' work he han's on Sunday and he give 'em half de day off on Sadday, too. An 1860 census reported 182,566 slaves, making up 30 percent of the states population, according to the Texas Near as you kin guess, dat was 'bout 50 year' ago. WebOn the banks of the Navasota River, Civil War veterans met for reunions from 18891946. The French explorer Ren-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, who was misguided in his 1687 attempt to locate the Mississippi River and trying to find his way back to French-held lands near the Great Lakes, came through the area that would become Navasota, where he was murdered by one of his men. Dey comes sev'ral times to Alex' house but never cotches him. Dat one of de chillun' hats. Seasonal festivals attract crowds each year, with live music being a large part of the draw. Born into slavery in 1840 in Louisiana, Gaines was sold to a Robertson County planter in Texas in 1859. They taken him and destroyed his stuff and him, 'cause he was making some money. Dat how come I 'member ol' mistus name so good. "Who I is, how old I is and where I is born, I don't know. When dey took her away, I's powerful grieved. That same year, according to a report in the Jewish South newspaper, the She have to 'pend on de overseer and it warn't like massa keep things runnin'. I went to school and learned to read and write, then worked on farms, and fin'ly went to Columbia, in South Carolina, and worked in the turpentine country. "I's too small to 'member my father, 'cause he die when I jus' a baby. A big place, with 'bout 150 growed slaves and 'bout 50 pickininnies. ", "I was bo'n up here in Jasper. In February 2004, the Texas Rangers again probed the Navasota Police Department. I can't holp it 'cause rations am short and I'll do all I can for you. MANDY HADNOT, small and forlorn looking, as she lies in a huge, old-fashioned wooden bed, appears very black in contrast to the clean white sheets and a thick mop of snowy wool on her head. Ye, dey feed us good and us had plenty. She's wo'kin' for Jack Ditto and I's pleased to see her. used the City Charter to revoke the alcohol license and the PD enforced the local laws of the land pushed by the new Police Chief, a Texas Ranger who took over after the past Police Chief and investigator where removed for corruption after an outside the county investigation of the City of Navasota Police department. Pauline married Navasota Grice in 1875 and they moved to Texas in 1917. WebA typical Southern plantation, Liendo was self-sufficient, and was entirely built by skilled slave laborers including brick and stone masons, carpenters, and smiths" At the end of About 23.8% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.7% of those under age 18 and 24.0% of those age 65 or over. He allus brung me somethin', jus' like I he own little gal. PAULINE GRICE, 81, was born a slave of John Blackshier, who owned her mother, about 150 slaves, 50 slave children, and a large plantation near Atlanta, Georgia. Dey hab a big san' pile for me to play in, but I never play with any other chillen. We all felt like heroes and nobody had made us that way but ourselves. She lives in Woodville, Texas, with her husband, Josh, to whom she has been married 13 years. They'd hide in the cabins and then's when they found out who a lot of them Klu Kluxes was, 'cause a lot of 'em was kilt. After numerous voyages, explorations of the Mississippi River valley, and trading ventures and several mutinies, La Salle's bones are believed to have found their resting place in the Navasota Valley. I says, 'Why say molasses when I's got no 'lasses.' WebEnslaved people, enslavers, and slavery in general - information . "De only thing I 'members 'bout all dat, am dere am lots of cryin' when dey tooks me 'way from my mammy. ", "Dey feed us good back in slavery. JAMES HAYES, 101, was born a slave to a plantation owner whose name he does not now recall, in Shelby Co., two miles from Marshall, Texas. I l'arn how to hoe, too. Then there was neighbors went off to fight. Den de chillen holds de bladder in de fire and purty soon, 'BANG,' dey goes. It was up pretty high and us chillun had to git on a box to git in dat bed.