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Lost Graves
of Jeddo
and An Occurance at Peach Creek Bridge
Jeddo, Texas
by Velma Fogle
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Jeddo are ten lost graves located in a pasture on 713 E. directly
across from Peach Creek Dr. As far as I know, these graves are unknown
to the public. This is a bother to me. My purpose in writing is to
let someone know about this cemetery. [There are only] three other
people who know these graves exist. |
Left
- The Tombstone of James Bownds
Right - Tombstone detail
Photos by John Troesser, 1-05 |
| Only
one grave still has a tombstone and it has been knocked down by the
cows. It is the grave of James Bownds (pronounced Bounds) who was
killed by Richard Whitehead at the Peach Creek bridge on Peach Creek
Dr. |
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The
Bovine Suspects
Photo by John Troesser, 1-05 |
Richard Whitehead stood trial for the murder of James Bownds. He was
acquitted.
Richard Whitehead was killed in Rosanky on Sept. 29,1897 by Philip
Davis.
Philip Davis stood trial for the murder of Richard Whitehead. He was
acquitted.
Both men had large land grants in Jeddo
but each lost land defending himself.
On the murder of James Bownds by Whitehead:
There
was bad blood between James Bownds and Henry Lundy. Whitehead, Henry
Lundy and a Mr. Coquet were en route to Rosanky on horseback when
they met James Bownds at the Peach Creek bridge coming from the opposite
direction.
Coquet made haste to get in the trees, Whitehead got off his horse
on the opposite side from Bownds with the horse between him and Bownds.
Brownds shot at Whitehead and missed but he shot the saddle horn off
of the saddle. Whitehead shot, did not miss. I have never checked
the court records but I rather think Whitehead was acquitted on self
defense. I find it a mystery that Bownds shot at Whitehead instead
of Henry Lundy. Maybe Lundy went into the trees. |
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Peach
Creek as viewed from the bridge
Photo by John Troesser, 1-05 |
The
original bridge which was built by Jeddo residents (white and black)
was used until the flood of 2000 washed it away.(I believe it was
2000 when several such bridges in Bastrop County were destroyed by
a flood). It is now a modern bridge easy to drive over without noticing
the creek The original one was a one-way wooden bridge.
By the way, Jeddo is part of an area
that was originally Hallmark Prairie.
James Bownds tombstone reads:
In memory of: James Bownds
Born: Feb. 8, 1831
Died: Dec. 18, 1892
He died as he lived
A Christian
On the opposite side of the tombstone is inscribed:
His toils are past
His work is done
He fought the fight
The victory won
© Velma Fogle Shurtleff, January 5, 2005
Editor's note: Velma Fogle is from the corner
of Texas where the three counties of Bastrop, Caldwell and Fayette
come together. Her knowledge of the area is deep and she has written
a history of the St. Phillip's Colony of Bastrop County.
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Jeddo Texas
Forum
Subject:
Thank you
I just want to say thank you for the information and picture of
the tombstone of James Bownds (Lost graves of Jeddo). James was
a brother of two of my great-grandmothers, Eliza Jane Bownds Ponton
and Mary Ann Bownds Offield. Thanks for taking the time to share
information with others, who would never know it was there. -
Nora Tyler, March 24, 2006
Anyone wishing to share stories, memories or photos of old Jeddo,
please contact
us.
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