|
| In searching
for the Edwards County
town of Henze, which was just a name
on an old map, we published a plea to the world at large for information
of this nearly-forgotten place. Strangely enough, we received information
“in-house” since frequent contributor Will
Beauchamp has relatives in the area and visited Edwards
County not long ago. - Ed.
|
History in
a Pecan Shell
Although Henze is not mentioned in the
text of the historical markers shown, it had to have been woven into
the local historical tapestry. The Thurman Ranch, Kickapoo school
and Henze are interrelated.
Mr.
Beauchamp writes that the information (other than the markers)
he obtained was from both local residents and a small volume of history
published by the Rocksprings Women’s Club around 1980.
Springs that bubbled to the surface here made it a popular site with
the nomadic Kickapoo Indians, hence the name of Kickapoo for the school.
After settlers arrived, they too used the springs and built the school
for their children. Jerry Roberts Ellis has stated that in addition
to Henze and Kickapoo, there was also
a community of Ellis. Mr. Ellis added that at least one member of
the Ellis family taught at the school, which is said to have been
of log construction. The school had been not far from the present-day
location of the historical markers.
Photographer's Note:
"The town or community of Henze
and the Early Kickapoo Settlement are very much intertwined. The historical
markers on FM Road 674 make no mention of the site Henze.
One of the Ellis family members whose ancestor taught at the Kickapoo
School said the early school was a log cabin located not too far from
the Historical Markers."
- William
Beauchamp |
 |
Site
of Ranch of the Thurmans of Kickapoo
Photo courtesy William
Beauchamp, June 2012 |
Historical Marker:
(from Rocksprings
take US Hwy 377 South approximately 3 miles to RR 674; take RR 674
South approximately 25 miles)
Site of Ranch
of the
Thurmans of Kickapoo
In 1882 Joe Thurman
and sons Bill, Sam and Jess became first permanent settlers on the
west prong of the Nueces River. By 1895 neighbors included the Barksdale,
Chapman, Cox, Ellis, Haley, Justice, Parham, Silman, and Tabor Families.
A brush arbor sheltered the first church, with Virgil Silman and A.J.
Cox as preachers, and first school, with Perry Ellis as teacher. Joe
Thurman acted as doctor, dentist, and coffin maker for this ranch
community. His family raised fine horses for racing. In 1895 they
matched their favorite against the horse of John Nance Garner, later
U.S. Vice President.
(1972) |
 |
Historical Marker:
(from Rocksprings
take US Hwy 377 South approximately 3 miles to RR 674; take RR 674
South approximately 25 miles)
Thurman Cemetery
Joseph and Mary
Jane (Dusenbury) Thurman came to this part of Edwards
County in 1882. In 1885, Mary Jane was the first to be buried
in what became the Thurman Family Cemetery. Grave markers record
infant deaths and victims of typhoid and other diseases that plagued
the pioneers. Members of the Thurman, Self, Ellis, Donaghe, Parham,
Maddux, Quigg, Loden, Fulkerson, Wilkerson, Chapman, Lazerine, Wallace,
Bolding, and Remley families are buried in the 29 gravesites. Last
used in 1958, the cemetery is maintained by Thurman family descendants.
(1985) |
More photos
courtesy The Rocksprings Woman's Club
From their book
"The History of Edwards County"
Submitted by William
Beauchamp |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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