COLONEL BURNS WAS ACTUALLY A BRIGADIER GENERAL In 1922,Judge C.H. Jenkins wrote a few articles for the Brownwood Bulletin about the history of Brown County. This gives us a unique insight into the lives of the prominent pioneers of this county. I transcribed the following article from the Oct. 14, 1922 Brownwood Bulletin, front page. Here Judge Jenkins details the lives of three of our most well known and respected pioneers; Colonel Samuel P. Burns, Greenleaf Fisk and Henry Ford. ********************************************* Brownwood Bulletin October 14, 1922 BROWN COUNTY by Judge C.H. Jenkins Many early citizens of Brown County were my warm personal friends, and my intimate relation with them enables me to assert, without mental reservation, that in every characteristic which goes to make real men, they were and such as are living are peers of the best manhood of any country at any time. In addition to those hereafter specially mentioned, I recall among those who have joined the silent majority, the names of Pierce McKinney, John Dickey, Anse Wilson, Tom Holder, William Gray, Mark Pentecost, Chris DeBusk, Jasper Thompson, George Small, Sr., W.H.H. Cannon, Clay Parks, Wash Hall, Judge Scott, Milton Mayes, J.C. Boswell, B.H. Smith, Sr., William Eskridge, Dr. B.T. McClelland, John Parks, Mr. Reagan, Sam Griffin, Soc Martin, Sr., John Newman, Captain Kidd, T.D. Harris, George Adams, Rev. Perry, Mr. Cablar, Thad Cablar. There are, I am sure , many others of my close personal friends who have passed away whose names I do not now recall, who were worthy of highest commendation. Many are still among the living who deserve special mention in the history of Brown County, should the same ever be written. I cannot close these articles without a brief mention of a few of Brown County’s citizens who are no longer the living. Judge Greenleaf Fisk was a frontiersman in that he lived on the frontier from early manhood to the close of his long life. We think of Williamson County as one of the old counties of the state. But Judge Fisk organized that county and was it’s first county judge. He organized Brown County and lived here for many years before it ceased to be the subject to Indian raids. But nor withstanding these facts, he had none of the usual characteristics of a frontiersman. Though he exposed himself to danger by surveying on the Colorado and Pecan Bayou beyond the confines of settlements, he never carried a gun nor a pistol. He never hunted or fished, and never intentionally, killed any living thing. He never had a personal difficulty with anyone. He was a quiet educated gentleman, not of the old school nor of the old school, but in a class by himself. He was small of stature, and when I knew him, wore a long beard and long hair, which was perfectly white, and presented a venerable appearance. Col. S.P. Burns was born in southwest Missouri and grew up without any education. Like Andrew Jackson, he learned his letters from his wife. He was a leader of men. When the Civil War began he joined the Confederate Army, and by his native ability and indomitable courage won his way to command of a regiment. At the Battle of Elkhorn his regiment was seized with one of those unaccountable panics of which brave men are sometimes subject, and they beat a hasty retreat before the enemy’s fire. Col. Burns came riding while bullets whistled around him. One of his soldiers, looking back and seeing this cried out; “Look at our Colonel boys, let’s not leave him.” And they rallied to him. He gave the order to charge and they rushed forward to victory. This incident is recorded in history. Col. Burns was, in fact entitled to the rank of general. When Richmond was surrendered his commission as Brigadier General had been made out and signed, but had not been forwarded to him. After the war Col. Burns moved to Collin County, Texas where he was elected sheriff. During his incumbency of that office he studied law and was a licensed practice. Upon his removal to Brownwood he studied surveying and successfully followed that occupation for some time. He had settled upon a farm near Clio, but he moved to town and formed a co-partnership with Judge W.H. Johnson, in the practice of law. Subsequently he moved back to his farm, but continued to practice law to the time of his death. There was never a term of the district court during his life when Col. Burns was not employed in some important case. He was very impressive in his speeches to juries. He represented Brown County with credit in the Legislature. He was a candidate for the Senate from this Senatorial district and doubtless would have been elected but for his death. He died suddenly while sitting in a chair at a hotel in Alexander, Erath County. Henry Ford was the most universally loved man in Brown County. He was a modest, quiet gentleman of a quiet disposition, but of indomitable courage. He was a friend to humanity, always ready to aid those who needed aid and no worthy enterprise ever sought his assistance in vain. He was particularly interested in the education of children and as treasurer of the board of trustees for twenty-odd years rendered valuable assistance to our public schools. After his death some malicious person started the report that Henry Ford was Jesse James. The author of this report is ignorant of the history of Jesse James. The fact that Jesse James was killed in St. Jo, Missouri, in April, 1882, while Henry Ford was living in Brownwood, where he continued to reside until his death, is as well established, as any fact could be. Governor Crittendon of Missouri offered a $1,000 reward for Jesse James, dead or alive. In April 1882, while in the house of his suppose friend, Bob Ford, who was in no way related to Henry Ford, and while standing on a chair attempting to hang a picture, Jesse James was killed by a shot fired from behind by Bob Ford. Proof of this fact was made and the $1,000 reward was paid. These facts are shown by the records of the Governors’ Office in Jefferson City, Mo. Of course, the killing of such a notable outlaw in a city where he was well known created great excitement. His funeral was greatly attended. The Grand Jury indicted Bob Ford for the murder of Jesse James. The Governor issued him a pardon and the case was dismissed. This is shown b the records in Jefferson City and St. Jo. The life of Jesse James, setting forth these facts, was published soon after his death. Henry Ford was reticent about his past. I presume that I know more of that past than any living person. In the winter of 1869-70 Henry Ford was a cowboy in a camp near the present of Roswell, N.M. He came from Colorado to Brown County and settled near Williams Ranch. His subsequent history here is well known to the citizens of Brown County. But what about his history prior to 1869?. I am in position to say this much and feel at liberty to do so. He was born in West Virginia; was a member of a good family and received a good education. He was a member of Wheeler’s Cavalry, and was a brave Confederate soldier. He never committed any act, in Virginia or elsewhere, of which any Southern gentleman need to have felt ashamed. I would not have dignified the ridiculous story that Henry Ford was Jesse James with a denial had not a friend of Mr. Ford recently asked me if I thought it was true, thus showing that some credence has been given to it. –end- Transcribed from the Brownwood Bulletin – Oct. 14, 1922, page one, by Clay Riley Dec. 2014.
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 05:19:07 +0000
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