Edna Bowles-Patterson

I received this picture of my Aunt Edna Bowles-Patterson, born March 3, 1906, in Indian Territory. Edna was the first child of John and Lillie Bowles, their only child not born in Texas. Edna’s parents married July 18, 1903, their certificate was delivered to Mill Creek, Indian Territory with a 1 cent stamp. I have the original marriage license/certificate and the envelope stamped Ardmore, I.T. 4 pm, July 28, 1903.

My father told me John and Lillie homesteaded near Millcreek. Lillie received word that her father, Dan Brown, was sick. They headed to Texas; crossing the Red River in a wagon. Lillie, son Johnny Sanders (by a previous marriage), husband John and the baby Edna, camped just south of Fort Worth on the Trinity River. There Edna, only months old, became deathly sick. She miraculously recovered. They arrived in Travis County, Texas before the summer of 1907.

Edna was a survivor from an infant to being a teenage surrogate mother for four brothers. She was 2^nd great granddaughter of Austin founder, Thomas W. Smith who was the first Travis County Treasurer and was scalped by Indians near Austin on July 6, 1841. Edna married Tom Patterson, also a descendent of early Austin pioneers; they had five children. She witnessed Austin’s dynamic growth over the years, living to be 97 years old. Thanks to the Patterson family for sharing Aunt Edna’s picture.

 

20,000 Cousins

The family of Revolutionary War Patriot Adam Mitchell 1745-1802 according to statisticians (high paid mathematicians), has over 20,000 living descendents. That’s what I would call a good size family. The numbers at first blew me away and I had my doubts as to their accuracy.

I extrapolated the numbers myself just from my GGG Grandmother Rebeckah Mitchell Smith, the third daughter born to Adam and Elizabeth Mitchell b. 6 Jan 1782 in Guilford County, NC. Adam had twelve children that survived to adulthood, daughter Rebeckah and Thomas W. Smith had five children, their daughter Margaret and Lorenzo Van Cleve had five of which their first born, Elnora Van Cleve b. 14 Apr 1841 aka “First Daughter of Austin, Texas” and her husband Dan Brown had twelve children that lived to adulthood. Their youngest Lillie Brown, my Grandmother and Grandfather John W. Bowles had five.

Since I started the Westward Sagas Series of books about the Adam Mitchell family coming to Texas, four branches of Adam’s twelve children have been reunited. They are descendents of Robert b. 17 Feb 1767, John b. 4 May 1774, Rebeckah b. 6 Jan 1782 and Hezekiah b. 10 Mar 1792. Each branch holds their own family reunion. I try to attend all of them because I always learn something old.

The Granddaddy of all family reunions is the “Galbreath Reunion” which is holding their 105th Reunion on Sunday, 17 Jul 2011 at Walnut State Park, Oakland, IL. This family stems from John Mitchell and John Galbreath early settlers of Cole County, IL. Both are buried in the Mitchell Cemetery, Ashmore, IL. The Mitchell name over the generations has petered out as it has in my family, but they are as I am descendents of Adam Mitchell. Thankfully the Galbreath has done much research and maintained accurate records of their lineage. The Adam Mitchell Bible I refer to often in my work is maintained by this branch of the family. For more information on the Galbreath Reunion contact Ann Hinrichs at annewc615@aol.com

We have yet to locate any descendents of the following children of Adam and Elizabeth Mitchell. If you are from one of the Adam Mitchell children below, please contact us and join the ranks of 20,000 cousins.

William Mitchell b. 17 Feb 1771
Adam Mitchell b. 5 Apr 1776
Elizabeth “Ibby” Mitchell b. 15 Dec 1780
Jennett Mitchell b. 29 Apr 1783
Samuel Mitchell b. 29 Mar 1786
David Mitchell b. 4 Feb 1788
James Mitchell b. 24 Feb 1790

Austin’s First Daughter

Sometimes it takes an outsider to discover information about your family. I hired Ann Gaines, a researcher recommended by the Austin History Center, as an independent contractor for genealogy research. Her assignment was to gather vital statistics (for an upcoming book) on the families that lived in Austin, Texas during the days of the Republic of Texas. She discovered my Great Great Grandparents Lorenzo Van Cleve and Margaret Smith were the third couple married in Austin, and that Great Grandmother Elnora Van Cleve, born April 14, 1841, was the first girl born in Austin; making her Austin’s First Daughter. The picture shown here of Elnora is ca 1858.

Elnora married Daniel Brown in 1859, gave birth to 15 children and died January 2, 1900. Her grave in the Collier-Gregg Cemetery has a tombstone that simply says Elnora, wife of Dan Brown, the date of death and 59 years old.

On Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 11 a.m., descendents, members of area Genealogical and Historical Societies will have a memorial dedication with “Citizen of the Republic of Texas” medallion presented by Virginia Van Cleave of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Color Guard from the Texas Society of the Sons of the American Revolution in colonial uniforms, led by Marvin Morgan, Commander. The public is invited to attend – period dress contest and musket firing demonstration honoring Austin’s First Daughter Elnora (Van Cleve) Brown.

Collier-Gregg Cemetery, 504 Pace Bend Park Road North, Spicewood, Texas 78669

Directions: Hwy 71 to FM 2322, which is Pace Bend Park Road, continue 3 miles toward Park. The private cemetery, which has no sign, is behind a small building known as the Pedernales Property Owners Building at the Cat Hollow Entrance to Lake Travis.

Daniel and Elnora (Van Cleve) Brown Memorial Dedication

The Descendants of

Daniel and Elnora (Van Cleve) Brown

invite you to the memorial dedication

honoring their ancestors who were

 *Citizens of the Republic of Texas*

*Pioneers of Travis County*

Color Guard will be commanded by Marvin Morgan, Commander, Texas Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard

 Musket Firing

 1776-1846 Period Dress Contest

Presentation by Virginia Van Cleave, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Alamo Committee Chairwoman

Sons of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution, Sons of the Republic of Texas, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, area genealogical societies, and re-enactors will participate, many in period dress.

 Saturday, 23 April, 2011, 11:00 AM

Collier-Gregg Cemetery

504 Pace Bend Park Road North

Spicewood, TX 78669

Take Highway 71 to Highway 2322, which is Pace Bend Park Road; and go three miles. The cemetery, which has no sign, is behind the Pedernales Property Owners’ Association Building at the Cat Hollow entrance to Lake Travis.

 For information, contact:

David Bowles, 210-490-9955

david@westwardsagas.com, www.westwardsagas.com

2810 Thousand Oaks #171, San Antonio, TX 78232

 

Do You Have a Patriot Ancestor?

Do you think you have a patriot ancestor that would qualify you for membership in the Sons or Daughters of the American Revolution?

The San Antonio Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution will help you with the documentation. On Saturday, May 9 and Saturday, June 13, James Taylor, the chapter genealogist, will be available at the San Antonio Genealogical Society to assist you at no charge.

If you are in the San Antonio area and would like to apply for membership in one of these hereditary organizations, show up with your documentation at the Genealogical Society’s library located at 911 Melissa, San Antonio, TX 78213 between the hours of 10:00 AM and noon on the second Saturday of May or June.