W.W. Arnett
Died at Bracketville, Tex., 1885 (Ed. note: this does not agree with the date given in a later document in Minnie Bruce Arnett Milam's handwriting as Dec. 24, 1892.)

REMINISCENCES

Commenced about October 1885 by W. W. Arnett

A great many things are hapening and a great many have hapened in the last 62 years and 9 months. More than I can tell of or care to remember but for future references to anyone who wishes to refer to the matter I will state for their information that I was born on the 5th day of January A. D. 1823-I was the last of or youngest of the family-My father was named David Arnett and was the only son of John Arnett-He was born in South Carolina as also his father and any number of his brothers-that is my grandfather's brothers-The Arnett family went to South Carolina from the Eastern shores of Maryland-before the Revolutionary war with England-The Arnett family must have went from some place to the eastern shores of Maryland, I recon, they did but as I do not know anything about it and as tradition says nothing about it I will have to leave you to form your own opinion in regard to where they came from or wether they cam atall-My grandfather and his brothers served with General Francis Marion against the British and Torys in South Carolina on the Peeslee and surrounding country. Finely, emingrated to Tennessee in time to fight the Indians there You see, they were on the war path-My father moved to Alabama at an early date and there in Franklin Co., I first appeared on the carpet. The Indians had gone and when I was about five years old or in 1828 we moved to Mississippi and settled amongue the Choctaw Indians. Had remained there until 1838 and as the Indians were geting thined out my eldest Bros. moved to Texas in search of fresh Indians. My mother was a Curlee. Rhoda Curlee, she was born in Bunkum County, North Carolina. Her mother was named Barber. I do not know her first or given name. My grandfather's name was John Curlee. He had two sons, one named Cullin and one name Calvin Curlee. Uncle Cullin became quite wealthy and died in Fishaming County, Miss. leaving a large and respected family. His wife was Nellie McFarren is still living and is about ninety years old. Uncle Calvin was a Christian preacher. He raised a large family, most of whom died and were killed in the Confederate Army, thought some are still living. My mother had two sisters. One married Benj. Enloe. She died in Tyler, County, Texas in 1847. The other, Annie Curlee married a James Smith. She had three children when he died, she then married a Burton L. Smith. He had four children by his first wife and they they had four more making in all eleven (11) Smiths in the family. She is now living in Tipton Co., Tenn. with all the living ones and is about ninety years old. My father had no brothers and I know but little of his sisters except one. She married a man name Weatherford. Her eldest son, John Weatherford, name me William Washington. He was sheriff of Franklin Co., Alabama for a number of years. He named his oldest son William Washington. He was about my age but a little over my size as he wrote to me a few years since that he weighted two hundred and forty pounds. He was a doctor and a captain in the Confederate Army and last, a member of the Alabama legislature. He is dead now so I have been informed by good authority. I had two sister, one married J.C. Lawhon. She had three children. Lawhon was a doctor and a Methodist preacher. He moved from Miss. to Arkansas in an early date to practice medicine. There my sister Rebeca, his wife, died. He brought his children to our home in Leake Co., Miss. and left them, came to Texas and married a Miss McFarland, quit preaching and went into law and got rich. He came after his children when he heard of my mother's death in 1837. And brought them to Texas. One of them is still living, Mrs. Mary Weathered in Hill County, Texas, and has raised a large and respected family.

My other sister died in Lampasas County, a vary short time since I do not know verry much about her surviving family. I had five brothers John Curlee, Cullin Curlee, Calvin Curlee, Milton and James B., myself making eight. John died at five years, Milton in infancy, J.C. at forty five buried at Huntsville, Texas. C. C. at Seguin, Texas at fifty four years and a brother J. B. at Burnett Co., at fifty nine. this, you see, I am now the only one left. My father died in Polk Co., Texas in 1854 at the age of 68 years. My mother, (the stay of the family), died in Leake Co., Miss. on the 25th day of August, 1837 and from here I date all my sorrows, privations, heart throbings. Bitter tears, yes, the tears are now blinding my eyes Mother, O, my Mother, what I have suffered since you called me to your death bed and requested me to meet you in heaven. This now forty eight (48) years and the sean is as clearly before me as was the next day. All are gone now except me and Mary Weathered. We will soon follow. I hope we will meet again in a better world. No, I mistake, Brother Cullin's wife, Mary Weathered, and I are all that are living who was at your bedside in 1837. As I have given a little detale of the family I will now proceed with myself. As I before stated, I was born in Franklin Co., Ala. in three miles of the town Tuscumbia. We moved from there to Madison Co., Miss. I do not remember the year but judge it was about 1828, I only remember a few things that ocured on the road. We lived one year in Madison Co. we then moved to Hines Co., where we remained three years. We then moved to Leake Co. and settled a place on the East side of Pearl river on a large creek called by the Indians Teeock-hick-a-ah, the English, Standing Pine. We were amongue the first settlers. The country had just had one removal of the Choctaw Indians and in the corse of the year the country we surveyed and the countys laid off. We were in Leake Country, Carthage was the name given to the county site. It was located in an old Indian field about three miles west of the Pearl River. It is still the county seat of Leake County. Bro C. C. Arnett was the first sheriff of this county and the second representative. It was here on our farm I learned to plow. It was here I learned to mild the cows. here I learned to shoot killing squirrells, birds deer foxes UC it was in this beautiful creek I caught my first fish. It was here in this lovely stream of water I lerned to swim. It was here geathered chestnuts, chinck apins muskadines and grapes. It was here that I was happy. But time sped on. 1837 arrived. My mother died. I was verry sick, three months I lay in a double rack of inflamatory reumatism. Of which I have never recovered. Previous to this sickness I could out run, out jump, and throw down any boy of my age that ever tackled me. And for swimming or diving in water none equally me. Then here I lost my activity, strength and growth. I recovered suficient by the spring of 1838 to hobble to school but could not use myself sufficient to play with other boys. After, mother's death, the family seemed to all go crazy. Father came to Texas following up three of my sister's children who Dr. Lawhon had taken off. He returned in the spring of 1838 and give such and exagerated account of the country that my two eldest brothers, John C. and Cullin C. rounded up and started to the promised land or to Texas. This was in the spring of 1838 on the first of April. My brother James and myself started to west Tenn. We arrived at Uncle Cullin Curlee's in Tipton Co. and were kindly received by them. And Aunt Annie Smith's family with whom we remained until March 1839, I went to school here 10 months. I formed some lasting friendships. Cousin Louise A. Curlee was the most lasting. We separated on the 5th day of March and she give me a farewell kiss that has never been forgotten. We kept up a letter correspondence until her death which was in 1882. Thus for forty three years, we kept up a regular letter correspondence and now her eldest daughter mrs. Bette Martin keeps up the correspondence. Can any one of my readers remember a kiss forty six years. Have any of them formed an earthly tie that would cause to enjoy writing to one forty three years without seeing the person during the interval. The family she raised are living in Tishamingo Co. Miss and are all doing well. She married a man named Ford, one of the boys, Frank Ford is a doctor. The others are farmers. Bette married Frank Martin. he is a farmer. The others, Curlee girls, are cousin Elizabeth, married Ben Stanley, Cousin Ellinor, married Cousin J. M. Curlee, was killed at Selma, Ala. Another of his bros. killed at Pareyville, Kentucky. William P. lived through the war and died at Corinth, Miss. We was a lawyer. Cullin is the only one living. He is living in Rienza, Miss. has been a member of the Miss. Legislature. Aunt Nellie Curlee is still living. I have had a standing invatation to visit them on August 25 for the last 10 years, her birthday, but poverty keeps me away (its hard to be poor)

[Left, William Washington Arnett]

Well, Brother J. C. Arnett returned to Miss. 1839 and from there he went to Tennessee. Brother James and I returned with him to Father's in Miss. and there they left me and went on to Texas. Father had married. This was verry unsatisfactory to me. An error of my life of which I never atoned to him for. But for which I have heartily repented of. I have learned that no one who ever has a wife and a home can ever be contented without a wife and a home. I care not how much he may love his wife and the more he loves her the more he will desire someone to fill the void made by her loss. And no one can fill the void except a wife. No home but his own will do Try it ye sceptics. I remained at my Father's house just one hour. I would gladly have come to Texas but my bros. left me at my sisters. I drooped. I had no life, no ambition, poor health, and prayed constantly to die. I was a verry unhappy boy, and was my own peace destroyer. Father wanted me to go to school. I would not, just because he wanted me to. Thus I spent one year in gloomy unhappiness. A long fit of the blues, have touches of it yet.

In 1840 I cheered up a little, worked on the farm and went to school a little. found out that I hurt myself by being sad and despondent. Commenced to fish and hunt, killed three turkeys at one shot, cought lots of fish and begin to think that a person made their own destiney. In 1841 my father sent me to school a little. Gave me good advises and said "If you will remain with me, I will give you our old home sted, 400 acres of land with all the improvments, at my death. But if not, I will sell it." "What shall I do?" And I like a fool said to him "Sell it." and he sold it. A great eror of my life. He then sent me to board with a family by the name of Beauford, and I went to school to John A. Hanson for six months. Here, I enjoyed life more that I ever had, since my mother's death. He had a wife, two sons, and two little girls, and why I was so contented, because it was peace, peace, perfect peace and order. Not a jare, not a cross word did I here spoken during the six months I lived with this family. The two boys were about one year older and one year younger than myself. with them I enjoyed life, but the time came when we were separated. They both sent to Louisiana and I have never seen them since. Well, I had to give up this delightful home in six months. I then went to live with my father, but owing to my hatred of a step mother we did not--I was not by any means happy. And as a last resort, I was sent to live with the Whittington family who had bought out our old home. they were rich and were very good to me. The old lady and her only single daughter, Miss bettie, were very good. So much so that I soon became despertly in love with Miss Bettie. The old lady told me that she would give me Bettie and I just thought that Bettie was all I wanted to make me happy. so things went on untill the fall of 1843 when I was elected tax assessor of the county. I, on the first of March commenced to assess the tax and completed this, made my returns all very satisfactory to the county coms. court, to the state department, to my friends and to myself. In the spring of 1845, I again assessed the tax and begin to think it was time to settle down and have a home of my own. So I pressed the matter on Miss Bettie, and she referred me to the old man and old lady Whittington. Well, I got the old man off on Pearl River fishing and as I wanted him to be in a good humor, I desired him to ketch more fish than I did. But I seemed to have the run of luck, for I caught at least four to his one and just as I would go to ask him if he would be willing for me to have Bettie for a wife, a dogon fish would get hung on my hook and away would go the question. Well, at last, we quit and I give up asking him about the matter but just before we got home, I just let out and told him about it. "Well," he said, "you can have her as far as I am concerned but I fear the old lady will kick". "She thinks no one is good enough to have Bettie unless he has negroes." Well, right here I began to be a little squirmish, so I told Bettie what I had done and I asked her to interview the mother, and see what she would say, and I would call on a certain day and learn from her my fate. So on the day appointed I called, saw Miss Bettie. She, in a verry few words informed me that "Ma would never give her consent, and that she would not marry me or any one else unless her give her consent to it. I verry abruptly told her that she could do as Davy Crockett told the people of Tennessee, that they could do. "Well," she says, "what is that?" "Crockett (says I) told them to go to H____ and he would go to Texas, and I, says I, U ken do the same and I will go to Texas." This settled my first love affair. As soon as I could make up the assessments for the year 1845 and have the coms. court pass on them, I was ready to carry out my assertion. that is, that I would go to Texas. On the 3rd day of August court met, approved my assessments and on the 4th day I started to Texas. I was in company with D. C. Hardee. We stopped at every place, where it was possible to spend money. So by th time we were ready to separate at Nachetoush, Louisiana, I began to feel my pocketts were getting a little of the missari means of an extensive tour. We remained at Natches on the Mississippi River five days and here I learned some verry important facts, which I think should be handed down to the coming generations. One is this; Hardee and I were walking up the road that leads from the river of Natches Under The Hill to Natches On The Hill When we were about half way up, I stoped and said "Look, Hardee, how far it is to the bottom of the Hill." Well, he says, "It is about 150 feet, but why?" "Well," I says "Old Aaron Whittington (Bettie's father" told me he saw a Mexican get on a mule at the river, ride about half way up this hill, which would be about here. The mule got frightened, whirled, and jumped off the bluff, lit on his feet and went upt the road to Natches On The Hill." Hardee says "I am surprised to think you would ever fll in love with a man's daughter who could tell such an unreasonable lie." Just then a voice from behind us spoke up saying: "It is a fact. I saw it myself. Right here is where the mule jumped from. The distance is one hundred and sixty feet. Neither the mule or man was hurt and I have witnessed more marvelous things than this." "During the storm of 1840 on the 7th of May a man with a wagon and six yoke of oxen drove from the river to the top of the hill just as the hurricane struck him. He was siting on the canton frame of the wagon. The whirl wind picked up the hole out fit and landed him in the middle of the river, the wagon, six yoke of oxen and driver whent over that bluf, three hundred feet into the middle of the Mississippi River, and swam out on the Louisiana side without loss. You remember the storm, don't you? 700 persons were killed, the town torn to peaces, and every boat on the river sunk for five miles up and down it." "Yes," I said, "that was history." "Yes," he said, "this other is history too." So Hardee says "My friend, lets take something." "Alright," says he, "I was raised in Natches and have never refused to drink or give information." Well, we drank and I ahve no doubt the fellow is still in Natches giving information and taking a drink.

I went to the Louisiana side of the river and took a bath. I wanted to swim back but was told it be unlawful to land at Natches without clothing on and as I was little affraid to try to swim with a full suit of broad cloth (that's the kind I had then) I concluded to give up the swimming of the river, though I am certain I could have succeded without a strugle. Well, after five days stay we left Natches and made our way to Natchtush on Red River. Well, after a few days stay here as I have before stated, I separated with my old friend, David C. Hardee. He wanted to sell me his bugy on a credit to be paid fer when we met again, I would not take it--We have never met again. This was the 23rd day of August, 1846. This was, if not the first one, an error of my life. I could have had that buggy until now, over forty years and never have paid for it. But 'twas ever this. I nver had a dead thing but my stupidity prevented me from seeing it until it was too late to take the advantage. So I will call this error No. I.

Well, David and I seperated. I struck out for Texas. Now in ernest. First night out I stoped with a farmer. Came up a thunder storm. Rained and hailed (or haled) dont know how it is spelled but it rained and hailed or haled and thundered and I could not get off untill next morning. But next morning I started on my journey and late in the evening on the 34th day of August 1846 while I was travling at about 5 miles an hour I came to an old delapelated log house and asked the Lady if she would give me a drink of water. Whe replyed "Get down and help yourself. Do you think I am going out through the hot sunshine to take it to you." I lit from my horse, went into the house got the water and asked her how far it was to Sabine River. "It is about six miles." "Well, thank you," says I. "Good evening, madam". "Hold on" says she. "Is not your name Will Arnett?" After some hesitation I said "Yes um." She threw both arms around me. She huged me, she kissed me, she cried over me and she took my horse and unsaddled him, put him up and fed him, and said I must remain with her untill morning. But she posatively refused to tell me who she was or who she had been but said "I knew you when you were a little boy. I know all the family. I was then rich but now I am poor. But I have the same heart I had in 1837 and if you cant tell who I am you will have to remain in ignorance." Well, I could not think, I had ever saw her before and set down and answered all her questions and about sundown, a man came in. He huged me too but he told me who he was. Wm. Mitchell and his wife was Mrs. Mitchell, formely Mary Betsell from Copish County, Miss. and that she was a sister to my eldest bros. wife. Once the largest most repected cotton farmers in the Miss. Valley. Then thinks I to myself "How wonderful are thy ways, O Providence." I left his place next morning very early crossed the Sabine just as the sun was rising, This was the 25th day of August, 1845 and if Mrs. Mitchell had not have recognised me I would have crossed on the 24th before sundown which would have changed things a little, perhaps, I dont know how much more. Well, now I am eating breakfast in Texas, on the 25th day of August, 1845 so good bye.

Well, I left you while at breakfast, so now breakfast being over I started on to Milam the county site of Sabine county in company with William Frazier, he being the first man to form an aquaintance with in Texas. He soon give me to understand that he was county clerk of Sabine Cou. and also that he was well acquainted with all my relatives in Texas. At Milam he give me instructions how to find Dr. Lawhons who lived in town. After spending the day and the night at the doctors, I visited his married daughters Mrs. Weathereads. Here I remained one day and night. Then, determined to visit my brothers who lived about sixty miles south west of Milam, I road threw the lonely pines all day. At night I stoped, with a Mr. Hickman, who with his wife and one son weighed 1000 pounds. I had only one adventure during the day. I stoped at a house to get dinner just as a man and his wife were driving off. After they had been gone a half hour, they returned and called to the land lady (Mrs. Eaton) and asked her privately if that fellow in there was not a Methodist preacher. Mrs. Eaton told them that she did not think he was as he had just paid for his dinner and horse feed and that she had never known a Methodist preacher to do such a thing. This settled it and they drove off. Mrs. Eaton told me about how she excused me and we had quite a laugh. I afterwards learned that the fellow was a Methodist preacher himself and his wife was a sister to William Frazier, my first Texas acquantance. I became well aquanted with him in after time and asked him why he took me for a preacher. He said it was his wife's suggestion and she thot so because I was wearing a suit of black broadcloth. That she had never saw anyone before dressed so well who was not a preacher but as soon as Mrs. Eaton had told them that I had paid her for my dinner she knew she was mistaken and she ordered Kavanah to drive on That she thot I was a gambler, or a counterfeiter. for no common man could dress like that fellow. I afterwards go acquanted with Mr. Eaton and we had quite an adventure but I will tell about i in it's proper place. Next day, I met with a young fellow by the name of Amos Hanks. He was very takative, knew all my folks and we crossed the Natches River together. I was a good deal struck with the young Texian. I beleaved that the old post was right when he said "A little learning is a dangerous thing" and after forty years, in Texas, I am of the same belief.

But as I will have to mention my young acquantence again, I will leave him for the present. I arrived at my bros. J.C. Arnett who was living in Town Bluff, Tyler county and next day went to Woolf Creek to see another bro. C. C. Arnett. Next day I went to Billums Creek to see Uncle Ben and Aunt Betsy Enloe and their family. Here I met brother James Arnett and family. Having now met all my kin folks in Texas and having found out to my great surprise ther was no feeling of unity with myself and my folks, I felt verry desponding. I was truly home sick and Miss. was my home. But go back, I never would, no, if I starved I would not go back. I felt verry much like starving. I had eat noth but beef & potatoes since I left the Red River. Cousin David Enloe preposed going to a camp meeting. This cheered me up for I thot a camp meeting was the place to get something to eat. But alass t'was beef and red potatoes and black coffee. Just what I was starving on. When I complained to my cousin he said "We do not have camp meeting for a fest but we have them to get religion at." "Well," said I, "Less go." "Why?" said he, "Are you not going to get religion?" "Get the devel and Tom Walker" said I. "If there was such a thing as getting religion, a camp meeting is the last place I would go to get it." That day at dinner I got choked on cold beef & Sweet Potatos. My cousin David said it was a judgement--but I think yet it was beef & Potatos. Poor David, he was a good boy--just three days difference in our age--but what a difference in our carrecters. We were 22 years old. He tol me he had never Swore an oath, told a lie had never been drunk or disobeyed his Parents--and that he had Religion. Well David you can say a great many things that I cant, but I don't see hwo a man can live, as you folks do and be a christian for the Ticks, the black mud, the sand flyes, musketos--shy beef, black coffee, Sweet Potatos, and other hard features of your country would Ruin me--if I was disposed to be good which I am not and I am glad I can curse this country and naturel products without any remorse of Concience. For without any exceptions it is the most perfect purgatory of any place on the Earth. when he said "hold on, have ever been in Angalana County at a place called Nip & Tuck." "No" Said I. Then hold abusing this county. Nip & Tuck discounts this palce two to one. I had occasion to visit afterwards, and found that Cousin David did not lie but this is in the future. The first work I did after the campmeeting was to go to the mouth of Natches River after baling & Rope--of this I will tell you on next page.

Before I give you a detail of my trip to the mouth of the Natches River or Grigsbys Bluff, I will tell you somehting in regard to the people, who were living in and around the country in which my unfortunate lot was cast. Bill Furgerson, a merchant at Town Bluff, Jack Dood, (One who a few years since was buryed as a pauper at Del Rio and whoes blind son in now a pauper in Brackett.) Sheriff of Tyler County, Doctor Leach and J. C. Arnett were the big dogs of Town Bluff. Wyatt Hanks, Ed Ratcliff, and Ed Turner were the big ones of Wolf Creek. Argalus Parker, old Abe Wilson, Ben Enloe and old man Frazier were the ones of Builliams Creek. Then there was Pole Charlton. The Barkleys, The Fulgems, The Sapps, of whom I may hereafter speake. In Jasper County were also numerous men of note. Judge Bevel and his Son Jeuhu. the Chessers lived in Jefferson County. Old man Wyatt Hanks, Argulus Parker and Judge Bevel became involved in a land fraud, in Jasper county, and after killing five or six men, and getting as many more killed on their side, fled to Tyler County. Judge Bevel received a pistol shot square on a large metal button that held his overcoat together and his life was saved. In a town on the Neches River, it was called Bevelport (which his son used to call "Daddys town") It was named for him in the narrow escape he made in the fight. He was allowed to remain in Jasper, and no doubt he is there now, if living, but I hardly think that he is living. Old Captain Chesser had two sons, Jack and Jim, by his first wife. He then got another wife, and another. His older first wife lived with a man named Swift. With him she had two boys, Joe and Wash. She then went back to her first love, the old Captain Chesser. The three did agree verry well which seemed to surprise the Captain for he said, "It is d-a-m strange, you cant agree for there aren't so many of you." So he gave 640 acres, a pony and see cart to Goardheaded Brown to take the old wife, Joe and Wash to settle on the land to let him have the other two in peace. Soon after they (Brown, the old woman, and Joe and Wash.) got on a homestead. The old lady spun and wove the old man Brown a new suite of clothes. When he first put them on, he went to the field to see how Joe and Wash. were getting on with their work, and they were not doing as much as he expected. He was determined to make them understand that he was boss, so setting in to whip them, they turned the tables on the old coon and beat him unmercifully. He went to the house and said to the old woman "Hon, I'm gwine to leave you." She said, "What's the matter, G. Brown?" So he said, "Joe & Wash. beat me nearly to death, but it shant be said Hun that I ever wore anything of yours off. Give me my meal sack." She gave him the sack and after divesting himself of the clothes that she had made for him, he put the meal sack over his head, cut a hole in it, and and slipped his head thru it, and started off after crossing the fence, he called back to the old woman, "Hun, ain't you a gwing to call me back." Now, wether hun called him back, I dont know, but I do know that he and Hun were living on the same place when I went to Grigsbys Bluff in the Fall of 1845.

You see this brother of mine told his son to get to Brother Bimbertons and he would direct us how to proceed the next day. Brother Bimberton and family received us verry cordially and the next morning told us that first house on the road was 27 miles and there was but one road and that we could not get lost, and that a man lived there by the name of Goardheaded Brown and that some people caled him "Whispering Brown." and that he talked verry low and that if we did not get close to him we could not hear him talk and so forth. Brother Bimberton looked so good and religious I didn't think of a joke. So late in the evening we drove up on an old pine log cabin, the pine trees were very tall and thick and the rain was verry gently falling. The wind moaning in the pine tops and everything looked the verry picture of lonlyness. O, how meloncholy I was. I hailed and out of the cabin steped a man bareheaded, long beard, and shaggy brow, and I said, "Good evening sir" and he replied, "Good evening sir" in a tone of voice that I am positive we could have heard a half a mile or more. After gasping for breath I said "Is this where Mr. Goardheaded Brown lives?" "Yes sir, I am the gentleman myself" in the same loud voice. After gasping again, I said "Can we stay all night with you." "Well sir it is a bad chance, I have no place for your horses but out there in the piney woods. The grass grows promiscously and you can stake out your horses according to your own eposials. I told him we had corn with us, so after unharnessing and feeding our horses we went in. If I could have then been in my home in Miss. Texas would have never recorded me as one of here prominent deadbeats. No sir, never would I have went west. ---we comenced a conversation about the election. General Chambers and Col. Woods are runing for the state senate. I learned that Mr. G. Brown was a friend of Col. Woods so of course I was to and although I never had heard of the man speak of it he was for Chambers. I told Brown that everyone on Woolf Creek and the surrounding country, and myself included, was going to vote for Co. Woods. This tickeled the old fellow powerfuly. ---jumped up, mounted a bench--waved his hands, and yelled. "huraw for Col Woods and then lt --- in somewhat - the following eloquent language- at the top of his voice "Yes, Sir, and he will be elected if his friends voate, but some men are so infinical that they wont go to an election atall but if a man is an inpublican, let him be an inpublican, and go up to the Pools and vote acording to his won Sapulcer, and not stand off like a great antidalovian bull. and not voate a'tall" This was all I could retain of his speach but I thought it the most eloquent thing I had ever heard. Since the time I listened to S. S. Printess and think so yet. I felt pretty secure now as Mr. Goard H. Brown would not murder a man that was going to vote for Col. Woods. Next thing we talked of was saw mills. He told me to tell my brothers not to build any more sawmills untill they saw him and he could show us a Sipress breake thru which an exhaustable streame of water ran and that the cypress breake was perfectly impenatrabe. Well finely we went to head and for once in a long time tried to pray. Next morning I offered up a prayer of thankfulness for having the privalage of still being alive. When ready to state I asked "What do I owe you." "Nothing Sir I never charge Col Woods Friends. This settled it, I voted for Woods and Woods was elected.

I spoke a while ago of that eloquent man S. S. Printess (Prentice) of Miss. this was the greatest speaker I have ever heard until I met Goardheaded Brown. This was December, 1845.
But to Resume - as the Preacher says. I got to Grigsbys Bluff and got the Rope & Baling, returned to Town Bluff on the Natches River, and went into a kind of "do anything you want of a busyness. In March 1846 we went on a Keel Boat, to Dooms Island, at the mouth of the Natyches Rivr. There I met my Bro. C. C. Arnett who wanted to go Home and asked me to go to Galveston on a schooner, that he and Mr. Letna owned, loaded with lumber and cotton, and let the Keele boat remain at Dooms Island, untill I returned. of course I agreed, and on the 31th of March 1846 We went out of Sabine Pass into the gulf of Mexico. On April the 1st I was startled by the report that a Porpus was hung in the riging. I nere had saw a porpus. Therefor ran with other fools to see it when the shout went up. April fools. Well about noon, a perfect calm came on and our boat commencing to drift on to Galveston Bar. Mr. Letneys eyes looked like two full moons. He said "if we go on the the Bar, Arnett & I are ruind, He never once Thought of geting drowned. Eaton and I tied two Cotton bales togeather, sit down on them, and talked it over, we could reach Galveston Island, on the cotton bales, sell them for fifty dollars each and have a good time so we began to Sing the following - "thy works of glorie mighty Lord, Who rule the (?) basteries etc." But we got off the bar and went into Galveston, that eavning, April 1th 1846.

Mr. Eaton and myself, had a good time, untill our money gave out. After that we were ancious for the Schooner to return to Dooms Iseland, but when the wind was right, the captain was wrong or drunk. When the Captain was right or Sober, the wind was wrong. So here we remained eighteen days. At last we puled out, and an east wind struck us, and for seven days, we tacked and tacked, just going sixty miles. U C On the 7th day we went into the changrell of Sabine Pass, the Captain droped the Anchor, and the Sales and next morning the wind was due north, and there we remained two days, without anything to eat. After this the wind changed and we go to Dooms Iseland, but O.s my Keele Boat was gone. There was a skift there and Jack, (that was my Bros. negro.) wanted to go Home, and we got into the Yawl or skift, and started up the Naches River, and reached Grigsby's bluff at dark. I wanted to land but Jack said, lay down in the skiff and go to sleep. I will carry you through. So I did so, and when I awoke, we were neare Baumont. We reached Baumont found the owner of the little boat that we had Stolen, and ensted of prosacuting us, give us a good Dinner. and thanked us for bringing his boat Home. This was the first thing I ever took without leave, and I go out so easy it encougaged---

Well to make a long story short, I beleaved I could walk Sixty Miles, that eavning, but when I had got about eight miles, I was compleatly give out. I went to a House, and told the Land Lady, that we wanted to stay all night and that I had no money, but I would instruct my brother, C. C. Arnett to pay her next week as he would be down in the Country. "All right" she says, if you are a Bro. of C. C. Arnett you can have any thing or every thing, we have and it dont cost you anything. Then thinks I to myself "I will hereafter travel on my Brothers reputation. Next day I got to my old Friends, Gord Headed Browns and gave out. Next day I went about fifteen miles and puled off my coat and shoes, five miles more and lay down. The negro wanted me to get on his back, but I told him to go and leave me, I would not go any more. In about an hour, he came back on an old Mule and I mounted it, I really thing to day it was the best riding animal I ever backed. Well we got to my Bros just at dusk and found my Bro just in the act of starting to Hunt me. The Keel boat had returned and reported the Schooner and all on board were lost so you see I was reported dead, the third time in life. I came to the Sad conclusion then that we can not always believe Reports. This was April 1846 and I did little or nothing untill 1847. When I joined a company of Texas volunteers under Capt John A. (?) Leach and was mustered into Bells Regiment of the Texas Rangers. We arived at San Antonio, on or about the last of November 1847. Well do I remember the feeling which came over me as I monted the Dignowitty Hill. Away beyond me, in a valley, I saw a little old smokey village which I was informed, was the Historical San Antonio. I sat on my Horse and thought of Crockett, Travis and all the Alamo Herios and last but least of the Girl who I left behind me. On the 1st of Dec. we marched for the Rio Garde (Grande). (after Passing the Medina on the old Presidio Road. I never saw any one except the party with us untill we reached the Rio Grande which was on the 12th day of Dec 1847. We camped at what was then Known as thePresidio Crossing on the Rio Grande. This is the first place I ever saw this River, and did not cross it untill the night of the 25th. You see the Captain was invited to a Dance, in Presidio, with instructions or permission to bring a few good young men and I was selected as one. This is the first time I ever knew that I could be selected on my own merit.

On or about Feb 26th 1848. I got premission to go with Lut Erl to San Antonio. On the 28th of Feb. we eat dinner on the Nuesses (Nueces), The Elm trees were clothed with half grown leaves, everything denoted spring. I left my old coat and on the night of March the 1st there came up a blizzard or a norther never to be forgotten. We were camped on the Madina Six miles below Castroville. O, how it did blow. It was no miss Blow but a good wind from the north. Next day, we went to San Antonio, and there we met our Captain and our Col. H.P. Bell, I recon I was just looking as bad as any one could, I had no hat, no coat and a peace of my old shirt tied around my left eye in this condition I was introduced to H. P Bell Col. of our Regiment. "Well," thinks I to myself, no one will know me tomorrow, The captain got me a good Suit of Clothes and took me --------- and next morning, I met the Col. who knew me, and asked me about my health etc. -----me, as a voter. I voted for Him, for Gov. & Congress, just as long as he was a candidate------ is nothing like knowing a fellow. Next morning the ice sleet, etc was all over San Antonio ----------- Horse. I always thought, no one could attend to my horse as well as I could. This made the Doctor ---------- him, I did not want to disobey him, and if I want to see my horse, again, I would ask him --------- and he forgave me and give a me a glass of Brandy and told my Captain I was a ---------- This the first time I ever was called a nice fellow, That I knew of. ------long story short. On the 1st of April 1848, We left San Antonio to go back to Rio Grande, but before ----- chilie con carney at old Madam Candales, chily con carneys stand, and there and then I -------st dance, with a Mexican Girl. I think she was pretty but after I crossed -------it is no use to tell, but Emiline Barnell was my, O., my. No one knows how ------- but that is passed and gone, but I loved her, and there are some of her children -----love, and his Grand Children, I love too. "but such is life, U.C.

Ed. note: This ends the account written on the ledger pages. The following items are attached. The following on notebook paper in Minnie B. Arnett's handwriting.

History (Conclusion) of W. W. Arnett
Copy from Carthage Miss. Newspaper, March 6 1880.

Thirty-five Years Ago.
In these busy times it is seldom that any person forgets the present long enough for memory to run backward a quarter of a century or so and note the changes accompanying the rapid flight of years.

Occasionally, however some seemingly trivial incident will recall the past and present to the mind's eye a picture made appaling and melancholy by the ravages of time.

We have before us a letter addressed to Co. J.D. Eads of our town. It was mailed at Brackett, Texas and was written by W. W. Arnett, Mr. Arnett left Carthage for Texas thirty five years ago and the melancholy which tinges his letter bears evidence that memory has been at work and that he is not unmindful of the fact that a generation has passed. "I was in Carthage in 1832" Mr. Arnett writes "when there were two little huts there, and nothing more. Mr. Arnett was one of the pioneers of Leake and lived here twelve or thirteen years.

At Uvalde in 52
From our regular correspondant
Bracket Texas May 17 1879
I returned through your town on Sunday last on my way home from San Antonio.
Having seen numerous "old timers" on this trip and passing many familiar places, I feel like giving you a little account of the first settling of Uvalde County.
I landed on the bank of the Leona River, and pitched my tent, a few yards west of where the road crosses it leading from Uvalde to San Antonio on Feb. 10, 1852.
There was a beautiful stream of water flowing across the road; I dug out a spring just below the road, but now how dry it looks. I built a shanty just above where Mr. Griner now lives. There I remained two years.
I obtained a hay contract at Fort Inge, and my camp was where Uvalde now stands.
There lived around Uvalde that time Dave Nelson, Clem Howard, Westfall, Tom Rife, Sam Evertt and Henry Livering. Big Foot Wallace was carrying the mail to El Paso.
At that time Wallace left his extra mules with Nelson and Howard while he went to San Antonio; there was about thirty or forty horses & mules in corral every night, one night two Indians (stole) every one of the horses and mules with out any one knowing a thing about it. Next morning horses that excaped came back. Westfall, Tom Rife and a few others started on the trail after following them a few days the trail became so fresh that Westfall went on foot in advance of others on entering a Cedar Breake he saw an Indian coming toward him on foot, and waited until he came to an open spot put his foot on a dry limb and broke it, and the cracking of timber the Indian stopped Westfall fired killing him, the other Indians who was near by fled. The party came up and got all the horses and mules and a dog they named "Waco". In a few minutes a Lieut with a party of U.S. soldiers came up. We all returned safe and the dog "Waco" became a favorite.
Once while stopping with me (I mean the dog) Dr. Gady U.S.A. asked me to kill him a turkey. I started out before day Waco with me at a grove of live oaks about 300 yards from my shanty I found turkeys, picking out a fine gobbler, fired at him with left barrel of my shot gun and down he came and away went Waco after him a back he came agin with a panther at his heels, mouth open and hair turned wrong side out, the dog ran tetween my legs and wheeled about the panther seeing me stopped about ten feet away, I leveled my gun, the cap snapped--that was all it was no go.
My hair was standing as much wrong side out as the panther's. I tried to holler but could not make a noise. I turned the breech of my gun and charged him and he ran. I reloaded got my turkey and started for home just as I got to my door I looked back and the "darnd" thing was about a hundred feet away and just back of him was two wolves. I put down my turkey went back to give him battle but they retreated Waco went in the house as near my wife as he could get and I dont blame him. W. W. Arnett.
In the year 1880 "The Castorville paper is running my name for the Senate. But I did not think I wanted this place many friends begged me to run. Mr. Harkness ran in my place. A letter from Brownsville

Brownsville Texas Jan 28, 1880
Editor Inill:
There are not many people out this way, who know Judge Arnett of Brackett or you would hear frequent words of cheer in responce to your suggestion of his fitness for the position of State Senator. I know him, Mr. Editor and have known him for a long time and I know him to be a man specially suited to the duties that would confront him in that position. His an old Texan, familiar with both our history and our wants, and in addition is a live man. But above all he is a Democrat.
(signed) "Democrat"

W. W. Arnett was elected County Treasurer of Kinney Co., Bracketveille, Texas the first time in 1876 and was still holding the office when death came in Dec. 24, 1892.

He was a Mexican war veteran served as a private in Co. D. Texas Mounted Volunteers 9th Texas Calvery.

In 1892 on Dec. 23 my father passed away was buried by the Las Moras Lodge A.F.A.M. Brackettville Texas. (written by Minnie BruceArnett Milam)

He had many many friends being generous to a fault always jolly.

At this writing only one of his children by his first marriage is living Mirva Arnett, Mrs. C. C. Clamp died in San Antonio in 1929, Lola Arnett Clamp died at Brackett in 1918.

Some of my fathers dearest friends were Judge I. L. Martin and Wife, Judge Frank Paschal and wife, Mr. Fritter, Mr. Pulliam----------