That was followed in 1867 by an even more dangerous epidemic of yellow fever. Capital murder suspects calls 911 and turns himself in for the July 2009 killing of a Navasota business man in the middle of day in downtown. But when dey was livin' in Geo'gy, my ma marry a man name' Hawthorne in Geo'gy. A tree am fix, and some present for everyone. It jes' slip out. She gits over it, but she am de diff'rent woman. Course, dey got beat, but dat didn't worry dem none, and it not long till dey gone 'gain. Us have milk and 'lasses and brown sugar, and some meat. The Inn is of clapboard-covered log construction. "De earlies' 'membrance I hab is when de ole marster drive into de town for supplies every two weeks. I never did git no lickin's when I was a li'l slave. I don' 'member dat dey give us no presents. Ole mistus giv me my bedstead, one of her purtiest ones, and de set dishes and glasses us eat de weddin' dinner outta. "Not long after dat, Marster sol' my mammy to his brudder who lived in Fort Worth. And 'bout in a year, Marster Zeke fotches me to my mamma, in Johnson Station, south of Arlington. Work, workdat all dey know from time dey git up in de mornin' till dey went to bed at night. The young folks is makin' their mark now. The dispatcher attended the police academy and had been working at Navasota Police department for some time. Dere am 'bout hundred hawg bladders save from hawg killin'. All de ole folks, cullud and white, was cryin'. Dey was my mudder and me and de ole mistus and marster on de plantation. [12] It served as the primary grid for the local high school football team, the Navasota Rattlers, until the new stadium was constructed in 2006. He hid for his life in Galveston, and filed charges against many of the men, who were later fined but their murders were never prosecuted. Slavery & Abolition (U.S. National Park Service) Dey say I's got high blood pressue.". On her feet she wore men's bedroom slippers much too large for her, and to prevent their falling off, were tied around the ankle by rag strings. Dey uster hang asafoetida 'roun' us neck in a li'l bag to keep us from ketch' de whoopin' cough and de measles. Dey serve cake. He treat dis lil' darky jus' like he own chile, 'cause he never hab any chillen of his own. They never caught him and after he crossed the Mason-Dixon line he was safe. #3. My wife died three years later. Hurrah, boys, hurrah! He call me his Annie 'cause I name' after my mistus. Three dogs followed one slave the whole way up north and he sold them up there. But we'uns had plenty to eat and us slaves didn' know what de War was 'bout. African American Texans or Black Texans are residents of the state of Texas who are of African ancestry and people that have origins as African-American slaves. January 2002, Navasota city council default on revenue bonds, withdrawing the city from financial participation in the project known as the Pecan Lakes Golf Course, located near the citys airport off of Highway 105. We couldn't see dem airplanes flyin' in de air and hear folks sing and talk a thousand miles away. You see I done git ol' and childish and I can't 'member like what I uster could. I's treated kind all de time and had no frettin' 'bout how I gwine git on. African Americans formed a unique ethnic identity in Texas while facing the problems of societal and institutional discrimination as well as colorism for many years. I go to see her and took a peach pie, 'cause I lub her and I know dat's what she like better'n anything. The second is a stone bust that was previously in downtown, and was rededicated by the French consulate in May 2012 at nearby August Horst Park. As many Navasota citizens, including the mayor, fled to escape the disease, the town population dropped by about 50 percent. I's 101 years ole, 'cause I's bo'n Dec. 28, 1835. For every 100 females, there were 86.5 males. They wasn't slaves no more. De way I feels now, 'twon't be long 'fore I goes, too. He enjoy dat. Navasota, Texas - History - LiquiSearch After a timid "How-do-you-do," and a comment on the great heat of the June day, she went back in the house. MOLLY HARRELL was born a slave on the Swanson plantation, near Palestine, Texas. Iffen it git to be a ser'ous ailment dey sen' for de reg'lar doctor. We soon found out that freedom could make folks proud but it didn't make 'em rich. Its name was changed in 1858 to Navasota, a name perhaps derived from the Native American word nabatoto (muddy water). We all felt like heroes and nobody had made us that way but ourselves. De white man preacher marry us and mistus she give me 'way. She make linseed poultice and kep' de bu'n grease good. That same year, according to a report in the Jewish South newspaper, the The Yankees beat and settled down there and the cullud folks flocked down on them and when they got to the Yankee lines they was safe. Dat becomes me better. "I come to Texas in 1877 and Galveston was a little pen then, a little mess. In 1908, Navasota was a lawless boom town, wracked by violence: "shootouts on the main street were so frequent that in two years at least a hundred men died." I can't sell de cotton, 'cause of de blockade.' The city of Navasota earned a 2011 Gold Leadership Award from the Texas Comptroller's Office for efforts in transparency. Navasota Junior High exceeded state targets in Student Progress and Post-Secondary Readiness. For her, it am trouble, trouble and more trouble. "Durin' de War, things was 'bout de same, like always, 'cept some vittles was scarce. Our master parceled out some land to 'em and told 'em to work it their selves and some done real well. Weapons and stolen property recovered. This resolved a long investigation by Local Police. Den at night, de big fire builded and all us sot 'round it. I warn't in need of 'em, but de devil in me caused me to do it. "I gits my fust job with Carter Cannon, on a farm, and stays seven years. De preacher, he was big, jolly man, he come to de house 'bout one Sunday in every month. Dey was one Mef'dis' Chu'ch and one Baptis' Chu'ch in Jasper. I didn' do nuthin' but chu'n (churn) and clean de yard, and sweep 'roun' and go to de spring and tote de water. Dey use to pass by with bags on de mules and fill dem with stuff from de houses. The website will provide "When war was over I come back here and now I'm too old to work and the state gives me a pension and me and my granddaughter live on that. She couldn' play de pianny but she kinder hope maybe I could, but I never did learn how. Oh, we knowed what was goin' on in it all the time, 'cause old man Gudlow went to the post office every day and we knowed. United States Census (Slave Schedule), 1860 I say dey's livin'. http://www.navasotaexaminer.com/news/article_93b2ddca-bf19-11e1-af8d-0019bb2963f4.html, Read more about this topic: Navasota, Texas, Culture, the acquainting ourselves with the best that has been known and said in the world, and thus with the history of the human spirit.Matthew Arnold (18221888), The history of modern art is also the history of the progressive loss of arts audience. Mother allus say dose free niggers make de hardes' masters. My mother use to cook and wait on tables. ", "Dey was a cullud man what mek shoes for de slaves to wear in de winter time. It swelled up my head and stuff came out. Law enforcement from multiple agencies and other Texas counties called in to subdue rioters in Navasota. It also received the award in 2013. WebEnslaved people, enslavers, and slavery in general - information . And I said, 'Sister Johnson, dat's 'cause I keep faith with de Lawd. Sometime he brung me a whistle or some candy or doll or somethin'. They seemed to want to get closer to freedom, so they'd know what it waslike it was a place or a city. 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. They'd go to the jails and take the cullud men out and knock their brains out and break their necks and throw 'em in the river. In 2012, the City of Navasota commissioned local sculptor Russell Cushman to design and create a statue of Frank Hamer, which is now on display in front of the city hall building. Texas History Timeline When he 'bout wo' out and ready to die, den he come. I knowed you was white man when you comes up the path and speaks. 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? Course, I don' want to go back into slavery, but I's paid for my freedom. This time it is initiated by the Grimes County District Attorney. Massa Buford says de trader comes from Missouri, but if I is born dere I don't know. Old cotton, old corn, see you since I's born. ", "I tell dese chillun here dey ain't know nuffin'. Whereas nearby Washington on the Brazos protested the coming of the rails, the old historic town forfeited its geographic advantage, and it began to decline as many of its businesses and residences began a sure migration to the new railhead across the Brazos River at Navasota. All a-sudden up dey gallops on hosses, all covered with hoods, and bust right into de house. Dat am when missy go tech in de head, 'cause massa and de boys in dat battle. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. "One time they had 12 men in jail, 'cused of robbin' white folks. They played marbles, see-saw and rode. Den us jis' play 'roun' lots of times anyt'ing what happen to come up in our min's. CHURCHES We was all walkin' on golden clouds. Horlock Art Gallery History Museum is one of the best things to do in Navasota Texas. An informal militia rallied in Bryan, gathered arms, and caught the train southward towards the angry mob of armed freedmen who were marching on Bryan, a city to the north of Navasota. The median income for a household in the city was $38,000, and for a family was $31,875. They was cattle that they belonged to, all right; they had gone to find water 'long the San Antonio River and the Guadalupe. De white preacher talk 'bout Christ. Then the old Negro began searching his 92 years of reminiscences, intermixing his findings with philosophy, poetry and prognostications. De marster and his boy, Marster Ben, jined de army. They got hosses that the soldiers had turned loose to die, and fed them and took good care of 'em and they got good stock that way. "Us marry right in de parlor of de mistus house. I don' 'member anything 'bout my pappy, but I 'member Marster Henderson jus' like 'twas las' week. They worked primarily in the cotton fields, which were a major commodity crop in the area. And us hab all de sugar cane and sweet 'taters us want. I says, 'I's got no 'lasses.' Old cotton, old corn, what for you born?'. But he never punish nobody 'cept dey done somethin'. Cotton, gunpowder, and shoes were made, processed, and stored in Anderson for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. They went right on giving us food just the same. It was jis' a one-room log house. In 1833, a group including the extended family and associates of John Parker, a Baptist minister and veteran of the American Revolution, began to relocate from Illinois to Texas. I was bo'n in slavery, and I was a right sizeable gal when freedom come. Den I goes to Dallas and cooks for private families, and wo'ks for Marster James Ellison for 30 years. http://www.navasotaexaminer.com/news/article_69301b7c-bb21-11e1-a35b-0019bb2963f4.html, June 23, 2012. Hamer moved in and imposed law and order, prosecuting Navasota criminals until the town became safe again. We got layed-onto(whipped) time on time, but gen'rally life was goodjust as good as a sweet potato. 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. "Most of the time the master gave us castor oil when we were sick. 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. In de corner, Dey wasn't so bad after women. I hear a white preacher preach. Some dem cullud folks grandchillen still on dat land, too, de Parkers and Farrows and Nelsons and some others. "Dat all changed after massa go to war. One day I seen my old daddy get whipped by the county and state 'cause he wouldn't work. Ole mistus he'p me make my weddin' dress outta white lawn. "Did you ever stop to think that thinking don't do any good when you do it too late? Firearms, Crack cocaine and other drugs seized. Marster never crowded us 'bout de wo'k, and never give any of us whuppin's. De mattress was mek outer straw. Dat's de reason I's a co'nbread eater now. He wouldn't have you if you did. The population density was 1,109.7 people per square mile (428.3/km2). We used to laugh at that. "My ole mistus she pay me money right 'long after freedom but I too close to spen' any. Atter freedom marster go to Geo'gy to git him and bring him to Texas, but he done raisin' up anudder family dere and won't come. Police seized drugs, money and illegal gambling machines. I seen the dogs on the trail a whole day and still not catch 'em. Molly lives at 3218 Ave H., Galveston, Texas. Sometime dey brung lil' white chillen to dinner. Exportation in the slave-owning areas of the state surpassed that of the non-slave-owning areas. William now lives at 910 E. Weatherford St., Ft. Worth, Texas. Dat how come I 'member ol' mistus name so good. Well, that's how it was with us. Miss Ca'lina she name' me. The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. Dere am three women what do dat, and give us de meals in de long shed with de long tables. 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. He wouldn' sell him to Marse Norsworthy when he come to Texas. Navasota is a city in Grimes County, Texas, United States. [Handwritten Note: '?'] Brule Elementary exceeded state targets in Student Progress, Closing Performance Gaps, and Post-Secondary Readiness. WebSlavery grew faster after Texas became a U.S. state in 1845. Its name was changed in 1858 to Navasota, a name perhaps derived from the Native American word nabatoto ("muddy water"). Dere am cornbread and cornmeal mush and corn hominy and corn grits and parched corn for drink, 'stead of tea or coffee. In 2013, the British documentary project known as Vague Direction visited Navasota and interviewed local residents Misslette The Singing Cowgirl and hog trapper Steve Stribling.[11]. So I messed 'round in South Carolina again a while and then come back to Galveston. My foreman was Tom Flaniganhe must have been a full-blooded Frenchman! Ye, dey feed us good and us had plenty. Visit our sister site at Grimes County, TXGenWeb Table of Contents Maintained By: My mem'randum not so good like 'twas. Den word come Willie am kilt. About Slave Owners in Texas - Synonym The population was 7,643 at the 2020 census. High Point Elementary earned distinctions in ELA/Reading, Mathematics, Top 25 Percent Closing Gaps, Top 25 Percent Student Progress, and Post-Secondary Readiness. "Soldiers, all of a sudden, was everywherecomin' in bunches, crossin' and walkin' and ridin'. Jump fru' de crack. ", "I never see no slaves bought and sol'. 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. It was jus' a little stand built out in the open with no top on it, that the slaves stood on to get sold while the white folks auctioned 'em off. The house was built by Alabama native Robert Augustus Horlock in 1892. TSHA | Reynolds, Mary Vaughn In 2005, the Texas Legislature named the city "The Blues Capital of Texas," in honor of the late Mance Lipscomb, a Navasota native and blues musician. Some cullud people started to farmin', like I told you, and gathered the old stock. "We knowed freedom was on us, but we didn't know what was to come with it. Dey git oak and ash and hick'ry wood and mek a fire under it and smoke it. My daddy was a field hand and my mother worked in the fields, too, right 'longside my daddy, so she could keep him lined up. [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. It makes white men a little insulted when you dont know they is white, and it makes niggers all conceited up when you think maybe they is white.". "In de old days, if de niggers wants de party, massa am de big toad in de puddle. He relentlessly fought the various power factions, and one day fought one perceived local warlord in the mud on main street, throwing him in jail and defying all comers, as the rest of the troublemakers began to search for cover. Dat's when we was happy and celebrates. ", "Yas, I 'member de house I was raise in. ", "I's got 8 gran'chillun and 5 great-gran'chillun. We thought we was goin' to get rich like the white folks. But us don't leave Massa John, us go right on workin' for him like 'fore. It is 71 miles (114km) northwest of Houston. Webt. "Who I is, how old I is and where I is born, I don't know. Navasota is located in southwestern Grimes County, Texas, east of the Navasota River (a tributary of the Brazos River). It didn't seem to make the whites mad, either. HOMESLAVERY INDEX Even as he did so, he seemed to smile with those blurred, dead eyes of his. Then he chuckled to himself and said: "'Warmth of the wind Leavin' the thicket, In de winter time dey fed us in de kitchen. It gits so bad round dere, dat de menfolks allus eats supper befo' dark and takes a blanket and goes to de woods for to sleep. The images come from ", "Ol' marster he was good to his slaves. 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.