Family Traditions

Marguerite Starr Crain is a distant cousin of mine. Almost half a century ago, she took the time to locate and interview some of our oldest living relatives. She transcribed the interviews and I am indebted to her for doing so. I only think it fitting to post these on my blog so that others in our family can benefit from them as well.

Don Allen Thompson

Date of interview: 27 February 1968

Don Allen Thompson, born 21 April 1876 in Bell County, Texas, was the son of Elizabeth Jane Kegans and C. Hiram Thompson and the grandson of Clarinda Pevehouse and John Kegans. The interview was conducted at the Southern Manor Convalescent Home in Temple Texas. It was dictated to and transcribed by Gladys Lipscomb, 822 North 2nd, Temple Texas. Mr. Thompson was 91 years old and while he was frail, suffered from impaired hearing, and other ailments expected in advanced years, he seemed mentally alert, retained a sense of humor and was cheerful.

Crain:  

Uncle Don, I am Marguerite Crain, Zilla's granddaughter. I'm glad to see you again. How are you?

Thompson:  

Who did you say you were?

Crain:

Zilla's granddaughter, Zelma's daughter. Or do you remember her as Tommie?

Thompson:

Well I'll be dadblammed. What are you doing here at this place?

Crain:

I happened to be near Temple so I just came by to see you and this is where you happened to be

Thompson:

How are Tommie and Sam?

Crain:

Mother is fine but my father died a few years ago

Thompson

Too bad - I only saw Sam twice - once when they came here on their honeymoon. I sure liked to hear him laugh. Nanie and I went with Hy to Vernon - mst have been in '30 or '31 and we spent the day with Tommie and Sam. That was some farm your dad had. I thought though that was a mighty big house for such a little family - didn't you have a brother or sister?

Crain:

Yes sir. I have a brother. Aunt Sally once told mother she should be ashamed of such a tacky little family.

Thompson 

(laughter)

Sally had 11 or 12 kids. How many of Zilla's are still living?

Crain:

Gladys, my mother, Ruth and Hiram. They all live in Vernon

Thompson

Hiram Garland - that was the rottenest kid I ever saw (chuckle) After he was grown he came to visit Nanie and me with one of Sally's boys - Jack I think it was. I don't think I ever laughed so hard. He could say 'how do you do?' and make you laugh.

Crain

He still is a great storyteller. Do you remember the time my grandfather, Aunt Gladys, and I visited you and Aunt Nanie when I was 15? That would be 1936. You had no phone so your daughter in Temple sent you a card us and could we come to spend the day on Sunday. You failed to get the mail so no card. The whole crowd arrived a complete surprise. I would have been horrified had I been Nanie, but she seemed to think it was terribly funny and aparently glad to see us. She kept running down into the dugout until finally we had more food than I ever saw.

Thompson

No, I don't remember that

Crain

You were quite upset because at the box supper on Friday night someone beat you out as the ugliest man there. I remember you saying it had to be crooked because you always one the prize.

Thompson

Son of a gun had to be a crook - never was anybody as ugly as I am.

Crain

When you were a child did you live near where you lived then?

Thompson

Nope - lived over on Big Elm near Oenaville

Crain

How old were you when your father died, Uncle Don?

Thompson

Eleven. He died on towards daylight, and the next morning Grandpa and Grandma Kegans came. I was sittin' out beside the house - colder than the devil, but I couldn't stay in that house. Grandpa came out and put his arm around me and told me was just about my age when his pa died and they took me home with them.

Crain

What was his name?

Thompson

John Kegans

Crain

Do you look like him?

Thompson

Lord no! He was a handsome man. Stood over six feet. Straight as a ramrod. Coal black hair. He was part Indian you know. He went to fight the Mexicans. You know that story about the Mexicans taking them prisoner and then made 'em draw beans and the ones that got the black beans got shot?

Crain

Yes sir, I know about it. Was he there?

Thompson

Mighty right he was - nearly died too. Some of his friends escaped and he would have gone with them but he was too sick. Took him a long time to get strong again. He had already fought the Mexicans during the war - afraid of nuthin' - nuthin'.

Crain

I'm sure he told you lots of stories about his experiences. What did he do during the war with Mexico?

Thompson

He sure as heck did tell stories, but they were the darndest yarns you ever heard (chuckle) He never talked about the bad times but every chance he got he would start to spin some crazy yarn and by the time he was through everybody was laughin'/ He was a good man - started the lodge at Oenaville - Methodist church too.

Crain

The Masonic Order?

Thompson

Yeah

Crain

What was his father's name?

Thompson

James Kegans - a friend of Stephen F Austin - came to Texas with him from Missouri

Crain

Is there any truth to the story that we are someway related to the Austins?

Thompson

(chuckle)

Naw - at least not that I know anything about

Crain

Who was Grandpa Kegan's mother?

Thompson

Mary Kegans

Crain

What was here maiden name?

Thompson

I'll be dogged if I can remember what her name was

Crain

Was your grandmother tall or short?

Thompson

Grandma was tall, tall and slim. She sure was good to me. You know she was born on the way to Texas. Her grandpa and the whole family came and when they stopped to raise a crop she was born.

Crain

Where did they stop?

Thompson

I don't know exactly - think it was somewhere around Texarkana

Crain

Was her father in the war for Texas Independence?

Thompson

Sure! The whole bunch was I reckon. Even Grandma listened to The Battle of San Jacinto - did you know that? She was just a young girl.

Crain

Did they live close to the battlefield?

Thompson

I don't know where they lived - down around Houston somewhere, though. But when the Mexicans started in their direction her grandpa gathered all the women and kids in the family together and they struck out east towards Louisiana trying to outrun the greasers. They had to walk at night and hide during the daytime - They were camped one day asleep in a thicket when the gunfire woke them up and they knew right then and there what was goin' on.

Crain

They must have been scared half to death

Thompson

Well I reckon they were! The Alamo wasn't far out of their minds, you know. Grandma said they just crouched in that thicket wonderin' where all their menfolks were - said she would always remember her grandpa standing beside a pine tree - had his hat pulled down nearly over his eyes - so still he didn't even bat an eye. After a while the guns stopped and then they heard a horse comin' - her grandpa slipped out in the clear to see who it was and yelled back that it was a Texan so they all came out of the bushes. He had been in the Revolution you know?

Crain

Who?

Thompson

Her Grandpa Hodge. The man saw them and as he passed he yelled that the Mexicans had surrendered they could go home. He never stopped his horse - just galloped on but turned and yelled back - go home, the war is over. She said they all just fell on their knees crying and thanked God.

Crain

Who was her grandfather, Uncle Don?

Thompson

Name was Hodge but I don't know that I ever heard what else - her pa was James Pevehouse.

Crain

Then her mother was a Hodge. Do you remember what her given name was?

Thompson

Em

Crain

Was that an initial 'M' or a nickname Em?

Thompson

Darned if I know. They just called her Em

Crain

How many brothers and sisters did Grandma Kegans have?

Thompson

I don't know. Tab lived here in Bell County - then there were some that were old batchelors - were a bunch of Hodges here too - Lord almighty there was a time when I couldn't spit without hittin' some darned relative in this county. Tab was a baby I think when they were runnin' from the Mexicans.

Crain

Are any of them living around here now?

Thompson

None - pure dee - all have been watered down they don't know who they are.

Crain

I know the feeling - that is what I am tring to find out myself.

Thompson

(chuckle) 

Maybe you ought to watch where you step. Her grandpa loved fine horses but he and her pa gave all they had to the army. He had one especially fine stallion he kept until they were ready to leave and he dismounted handed the reins to her brother and told him to take him to the army - he would walk with the rest of them.

Crain

Grandma's brother?

Thompson

Yeah

Crain

Wonder which one he was

Thompson

I don't know. All the slaves went with 'em. They drove their cattle into the river bottom so maybe the Mexicans wouldn't find them - buried what food they could - packed a few belongings and some grub in a couple of oxcarts and took off late in the afternoon. They had told the slaves they were free to go or stay - they all went. Grandma said it rained so much their d???s so deep the oxen had a hard time and if it hadn't been for a couple of slaves who really knew how to handle those buggers they never would have made it.

Crain

How many of the family went along?

Thompson

All of 'em I reckon - and I think that would have been a bunch

Crain

Did they burn their houses before they left?

Thompson

I don't think so - no they didn't

Crain

Were they still standing when they got back?

Thompson

I don't know

Crain

Where are the Keganses buried?

Thompson

Coleman Texas

Crain

But Uncle Don, I have looked all over that court house and they insist to me there is no record of their dying in Coleman

Thompson

I said they were buried there. I didn't say they died there. They died in McKinney. I was there when Grandpa died. We had gone to see Uncle James and it was December and ice on the ground. He slipped, fell, and broke his hip and died. But I tell you he was still standing straight and had black hair thick. He was part Indian - did I tell you that?

Crain

Yes sir. But how was he part Indian? What tribe?

Thompson

Well now I can't tell you that 'cause I don't know

Crain

Some of the family say his mother was Mary Ross. Does that ring a bell with you?

Thompson

Well, yes I think it does. I think that's right.

Crain

Uncle Don, where was your father born?

Thompson

Right out there at Oenaville. It is hard to see how a man as handsome as he could have an ugly kid as I am - mybrother Charley wasn't much for looks either. Where do you live?

Crain

Midland

Thompson

Lord - that is a long way out there. What does your man do?

Crain

Yes, it is a long way to Midland - my husband is an orthodontist

Thompson

What in thunder is that?

Crain

That is a dentist who straightens teeth. I would like for you two to meet but we thought it might be too many in your room

Thompson

If Nanie were still here we would ask you to spend the night - we like that,

Crain

We would like it very much too, Uncle Don. And I'm sorry she isn't here. She was a dear person. I remember she laughed so often

Thompson

Yeah, she did - and there were times when she was hard put to bring up a laugh, but she usually could do it. Grandma Kegans laughed a lot too. I guess the poorest feller in the world is one who doesn't have what it takes to laugh.

Crain

That seems to be a family characteristic and I am grateful for it. We must be going Uncle Don but I want to come back soon and visit you more, I notice your birthday is on San Jacinto Day and my birthday is on the 24th of April so maybe we can come and have a celebration on all three counts.

Thompson

Well, you had better stay while you are here - I am 91 - that's old as thunder and it makes a pretty slim gamble I'll be here for that celebration. Can't you just come back tomorrow?

Crain

I certainly wish I could, but my husband has patients waiting for him in Midland so we have to go. Can we visit on the phone? I could call you.

Thompson

No, Honey. I can't hear very well and that dangblasted phone makes it a lot worse - can't hear a thing but a lot of buzzin' You'll have to come back - soon

Crain

I shall.

Note: He did not live until the birthday

Clarinda

Clarinda Pevehouse Kegans was one of my ancestors. She lived during some of the most exciting times in Texas history. I recently ran down her memoirs which are incomplete and somewhat disjointed. However, they provide some marvelous insight into the woman and the times in which she lived. Her memoirs were loose and obviously incomplete. What amazes me most is that she met and conversed with many of my Texas heroes, Stephen Austin, Sam Houston, William Barret Travis, James Bonham, Deaf Smith...they all knew her and she knew them.

...only because you asked. I was born in Arkansas close to Texarkana I reckon it would be. Of course that city was not there. Mama and Papa were moving to Texas and they stopped along there near the river to raise crops. They needed food to carry them through the winter. They were traveling with Mama's family. My grandfather was a friend of Mr. Austin and they all went to his colony. They were the first Americans allowed in Texas. Papa's folks also came but later

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All settled on Oyster Creek west of Houston only it was not there until after the war. Grandpa's plantation was close by. He called it Hodge's Bend and I thought he had a fine house. Of course, it would not be thought of as a fine house now but it was then. It had glass in every window and that was really something in those days. Ours was not nearly as big but Papa kept building on as we needed room.

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Grandpa was a judge in Arkansas so when we got to Texas he was the official in our district. He was everything, judge, sheriff. People would leave messages with him and folks would come by to pick them up something like a post office. The Mexican name for him was alcalde. Many settlers stopped at his plantation and our family gatherings were always held there.

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Grandpa was a very busy man so he didn't take time for us children. We were taught not to be a bother. Hello and Goodbye was about all was said. He was a tall man very straight and sat horse well. Speaking of horses he loved them and raised fine ones but he gave them all away to the army when the war started. Papa's folks came to Texas a few years before the war. We loved Uncle Preston and Uncle..

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...floods. Mr. Stafford built his gin and that made it easier to sell our cotton and we had some money. Before that settlers just mostly traded goods. Once in a while Papa would go all the way to Anahuac where there were things to buy. One time he bought me some new shoes. Oh my, I thought they were beautiful. Usually we had to be content to wear the shoes Mr. Paddy Brown a cobbler in Harrisburg made. He was a nice man Papa said but that didn't make us enjoy his shoes any better. Everybody called them Paddies.

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Everybody worked awful hard and was good and honest. For a long time we did not even have a jail. Didn't think much about it then but I do now when there is one at nearly every crossroads. 

I was very young when my grandmother died - of the cholera. Many folks died of that awful sickness then. Grandpa tried to get everybody who had it to Hodge's Bend hoping it would not spread. The folks never forget how sweet and good Grandma was. I remember how jolly she was. She always had a hug for us but demanded a hug in return which was a pleasure to pay.

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Grandpa had a cedar brought all the way from where Bastrop is now that being where they grew to put on her grave. He said they mean eternal life.

Folks really enjoyed the socials she would arrange every few months. Everybody came. After she died they were not nearly as much pleasure. 

I will speak a little about the politicks since it seemed to occupy about as much time as anything. Anyway when we were at Grandpa's or my uncles came to our house the menfolks talked of not much else. Mr. William B. Travis was sometimes at Grandpa's and seemed to think the Texans ought to be more aggressive but Grandpa disagreed. He thought Mr Austin could settle...

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the problems as he always had. Many settlers just coming to Texas wanted us to declare independence and then join The United States but our family and friends did not. Grandpa blamed President Jackson for a lot of the trouble. He never liked the way he treated the Indians and his constant talk of moving The United States boundary farther west was worrisome.

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...like Sam Houston either. he had a reputation for drinking too much and he had not bothered to do anything worth a hill of beans for Texas since he came. Even after the war Grandpa was suspicious he would try to use his fame to get elected President of Texas. Grandpa thought Mr. Austin deserved to be So you see Grandpa was right as usual.

There had been a barbecue at Grandpa's the fall before the war began. I remember it so well because it was like the best ever held.  Not just because I had the new shoes to wear but because there was an exciting crowd. Mr Travis everybody called him Buck except us children and his friend was with him. It was Mr James Bonham and he was so nice and handsome he caused all the girls to swoon! Then there was some Mexican horse buyers who we thought were awful nice. But I found out later they were actually spies. The De Leons had sent word to Grandpa by Deaf Smith to be on the lookout for them.

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The menfolks fooled them. The didn't say a word about the politickal problems. One of them turned out to be Colonel Almonte. Grandpa saw him among the prisoners at San Jacinto. He had been so nice we were disappointed to hear he had been a spy.

I will never forget the day we heard about the Alamo - our friends dead. It was sad sad. Papa left the next day to join the army and I was so scared for him to go. Then about two weeks later he came home in the middle of the night to wake us up and tell us that Colonel Fanin and his men at Goliad had been shot. He said we would have to leave that very day for Louisiana. Words fail me when I try to explain my fear for all of us but especially Papa. I loved him so much.

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We prepared for our journey to the Sabine River that being the boundry. The slaves drove our cattle into the bottoms hoping the Mexicans would not find them. They moved the washpot and ashes beneath it then dug a hole to bury our food then replaced the ashes and the pot. Papa, Grandpa and my uncles told our slaves that they could go with us or stay behind it would be dangerous either way. Papa thought they would be safe at home if they did not kick up a fuss if the Mexicans came. They all went except Grandpa's Old Sam who was too crippled with rheumatism. We would have taken care of him if he wanted to go but he didn't. Me heart nearly broke when we saw Papa ride off to the army. I could only think of Mr. Travis and Mr. Bonham. There were so many Mexican soldiers and so few Texans to stop their march towards us.

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..too terrible to describe but we made it only with the help of our slaves and Grandpa. The slaves were so strong, and good and kind. Joshua was a slave boy about eighteen and he made a harness to wear so Mary Jane Dunlavy could ride in it. She was only four and could not walk for long. She loved riding along on Josh's back. He had long legs and when she begged long enough he would give in and take her racing across the prairie and she laughed and laughed.

Grandpa was so wonderful. He wouldn't let us walk with our cousins we had to walk beside our mother but he would walk with different ones and always held our hand. I thought of all kinds of tricks to get him to hold my hand as often as I could. He talked all the time and that was comforting during the long dark

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nights even during the rain storms we could hear his voice and knew we would make it somehow. Then while we waited for our meals to be fixed he would tell us funny stories. 

Papa had made the little box for me the year I was ten. It had a butterfly on the lid and he said it was to keep my treasures in. My treasures were the two glass buttons keepsakes from Grandma's dress and a scrap of blue ribbon and a pressed flower. What do you think about that for treasures? When we were...

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packing to leave Mama wouldn't let me take the little box said it was not necessary. She was cross with me and my feelings were terrible touched because she had made room for the violin and our study books. I didn't think they were necessary.  Besides all that she scolded me in front of Grandpa which hacked me so bad. I went off to cry. But I knew later that she was very distressed and didn't mean to hurt my feelings. To be unkind was not her way but it sure hurt that morning.

The next day when we stopped to eat and sleep Grandpa came over to me and pulled the little box out of his pocket. I was so tired and scared. When I saw Papa's little box then I knew that he and Grandpa who had never said half a dozen words to me loved me after all. I threw my arms around his neck and cried. The box and Grandma;s buttons were precious then as they are to this day.

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Aunt Elsie was already there. I was glad to see them Cousin Maggie Kegans was a favorite of mine. She and Mary Jane and I went down to the lake to wait for time to go. There were cold campfires there where women and children from the west had camped before they went on to the Sabine. Grandpa's was on the main road. Cousin Maggie was in love with Ham Kegans and was worried about him. I saw smoke rising above the trees across the country. I knew the settlers were burning their homes and things before thy left. Mama had refused to set fire to ours said we would be back home soon. When I looked to the cemetery and saw Grandpa standing there at Grandma's grave with his head bowed I was awful afraid that we would never be back ever.

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Grandpa was a religious man and every day read us a chapter from his Bible and said a prayer for our men. I prayed every day for Papa and I know that every body else was also praying. That was all we could for them. I had my doubts that it would be much help because I had said prayers for the men at the Alamo and Goliad and they had not been answered, but I was afraid not to. I have learned since those years as a child to have greater faith. He does answer our prayers. It nearly broke my heart when Grandpa died he had been so wonderful and I loved him very deeply. However

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...vinegar water and Grandpa put vinegar in the drinking water for the trip. Tasted pretty bad I can tell you. We traveled at night and rested during the day. Papa and Grandpa thought it would be safer. I kept looking for the Mexican deserters they talked about to jump from behind every tree. It wasn't bad when it was clear and the moon was shining, but mercy! when the rain came it was so bad I cannot describe it. The mud was so deep it stuck to our clothes and sometimes it would suck our shoes off. The slaves had a hard time keeping the carts from turning over and keeping them moving but they did. They were experts at that I think. We could not cook for two days because of the rain and needless to tell you we were mighty hungry.

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...were so blessed to have food and stay well. There was so much sickness especially the children some died along the way. Grandpa insisted it was the vinegar water that kept us from getting sick. Maybe so he had been in the American Revolution and fought with General Marion in the South Carolina swamps. That is where he first learned about vinegar water to help ward off fever. Deaf Smith had advised Grandpa to take a route north of Buffalo Bayou by a few miles to avoid so many travelers and it was good that he did that.

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We always tried to camp in a wooded place because it seemed safer. So that is where we were when we heard the guns at San Jacinto. Mercy! we were terrified as we huddled there listening. For the hundredth time I wondered where Papa was. I noticed my dear Grandpa standing beside a pine tree with his wide brimmed hat pulled low over his forehead and his arms crossed across his chest. He was as still as the tree. I loved him so and knew he was worried I went over to him and told him not to worry us Texans were whipping the socks off those dam Mexicans. He sure laughed and put his arm around me. He promised not to tell Mama that I said dam when I asked him to. When the guns stopped we just sat there real quiet until we heard a horse coming

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Grandpa went to the edge of the thicket and called back that it was a Texian. We were afraid of what he might have to tell us but we hurried out anyway. We had to know. As he galloped past he called that the Mexicans had surrendered we could go home! Just like we were one person we fell to our knees and cried our thanks to God even Grandpa.

Our family appreciated General Houston's leadership in winning the battle of San Jacinto but still they did not support him for president. They were still loyal to Mr. Austin and wanted him to have that office. They thought he was better qualified in spite of the General being governor of Tennessee. This was different Mr. Austin knew about Texas and Mexico and he had done so much to build Texas. But of course the General was such a hero at the time he won the election. And poor Mr. Austin died before the year was over so it may have been as well but he should have had that honor

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When they had the anniversary ball in the new town of Houston the next year we went. I was going to my first ball and was so excited. My dress was blue and very beautiful. The fact that we had to go in wagons discouraged us not one bit. I danced with president Houston never mind that Grandpa and Papa did not think too much of him, After all he was the president and I held the event as something I would remember to tell my grandchildren just as I am doing. He was a commanding figure.

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The president of Texas had to take second place. John was always something of a flirt with my older cousins and just teased me like I was a child so I didn't like him very well. But at the ball he kept asking me to dance and treated me like a grown lady. I decided to like him after all really a lot to be honest and he was very handsome. But oh my poor John was among those volunteers who went to chase the Mexicans out of Texas again and was taken prisoner at Mier. Of course that meant he spent months in prison in Mexico. When he finally returned home barely alive it took him a long long time to regain his strength and health. He has never to this day mentioned anything about that dreadful memory.

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...worried about his friends Senior De Zavala and the De Leons and all the Mexican Texians who had given as much as anybody else for Texas Independence. He was right to worry. Senior De Zavala soon after he did so was not mistreated but the De Leons had been our family friends since we first arrived in Texas. I am sure - (remainder of page is missing)

1854 John helped organize a Methodist church for us as well as a Masonic Lodge. Then he served as County Commissioner hoping to get us some roads. There were only two. One went across the county east to west and the other north to south, I don't suppose Temple was even in anyone's imagination at that time.

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...faced with another war! When John volunteered for the army I finally knew how Mama had felt that day when Papa left to join the Texas army. But John got no farther that Louisiana he was sent back because of his age. So he served as a captain in the Home Guard. Only a mother with sons understands the grief and anxiety of sending...(remainder of page torn off)

...two stayed with us after they were free and John gave them a little tract of land for their own, Bad as the war years were the reconstruction time was worse. We had to contend with the Union soldiers in our midst watching every move we made and the poor ignorant freed slaves were misguided and taken advantage of by the soldiers and the dreadful carpetbaggers.

When a carpetbagger went missing the army's heel was on everybody's back. I will never forget the day when John got on his horse to ride to Belton to confess to treason and ask for pardon in order to regain his citizenship and be able to vote. It was the hardest thing he ever had to do in his life and the one thing he will never be able to forget.

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John always put unhappy things out of his mind that is why we have had so much laughter in our home. If an incident was not funny when John told it he worked around the story until it was. He was a great storyteller. He never was able to make anything funny out of that trip to Belton though.

It was terrible for all Texans that is why we were the last state to do what was necessary to vote. But they had to be able to vote. These men had fought for their independence and had a proud republic. When they wanted out of the union they were forced to stay against their will. To be humiliated in such a degrading manner was almost more than they could endure but they had to if they were going to be able to vote.Times were terrifying. One day John remarked that if it didn't end soon there would be a Yankee buried in every cotton field from Red River to the gulf. There was no need for him to add that many already were - secretly. John had not favored Texas joining The United States in the beginning.

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That's the extent of Clarinda's memoirs. As much as I wish I had a more complete journal, I am even more grateful for these snippets that give me great insight into my ancestors. Her husband John is John Ross Kegans and it was because of the stories I heard about him that I decided to name my son after him.