Not Ancient History

[Don Allen]

I often fall into the mindset that the Texas revolution is ancient history. However, I was looking through some old photos the other day and came across this one that demonstrates how relatively recent the Republic days really were.

This photo was taken around 1918 on the Mexican border, near Mercedes, TX.

In the photo, behind the steering wheel, is my grandfather, who I knew well. On the running board is his grandmother, who was born in the Republic of Texas in 1845.

So...at 40 years of age, I am only one person removed from the Texas Republic. And by that, I mean that I spoke to and knew well, someone who spoke to and knew well, someone alive and present in Texas just a few years after the battle of the Alamo.

Call me crazy...but is the sort of thing that I spend time thinking about.

Attachments:

[Allen Wiener]

That's a great way to look at it. Amazing, really, and a terrific photo!

AW

[sloanrodgers]

That's an interesting connection Don. Since I have no ancestors that were present during the Texas Revolution, I've
sometimes looked for little connections to the conflict. Over the last few months I've been fixing up my Austin house
and yard in various ways. I've landscaped part of the front yard with big boulders and retiled the kitchen/foyer areas
with ceramic. To make a short story shorter, last week I contracted a company to install hickory wood flooring in my
living room and my book-clogged den. I intentionally picked a beautifully knarled wood style called "Alamo" in a golden
brown colored finish named "Houston". What's really coincidental is that the single contractor that came to install the
floors this morning is called Travis. What are the chances of this happening? I guess the Alamo Mission and the Texas
Revolution surrounds us all in one way or another.

[sloanrodgers]

Whew! The first phase of my big floor revolution is almost complete. I was afraid it wasn't going to
be completed until Davy Crockett's Aug. 17th birthday. Travis has been kicking some butt with the
old hickory boards and adhesive. The hardest part for me will be to clean things up and replace my
misplaced couches and other stuff. Any furniture movers available?

[Tom Nuckols]

I have a very similar story to tell, Don. It's one that I've related to others many times before. My greatgrandmother lived until I was a pre-teen. She was born near Atlanta, Georgia, during Reconstruction. So I'm only one person removed from the War of Northern Agression (aka Civil War) in that I spoke to, and knew well, someone who spoke to, and knew well, men who fought in and women suffered through that war.

Regards,
Tom