Lyman 
In the fall of 1862, Union Commodore William B. Renshaw sailed into Galveston harbor and demanded the surrender of the island city by its occupants. With virtually no defense force, the Confederate commander on the island, Colonel Joseph J. Cook, had little choice but to comply. About the same time in late 1862, Major General … Read more
O. Henry is known for writing short stories with unexpected twists at the end. “The Last of the Troubadours” is no exception. Set in southwest Texas in the late nineteenth century, it may well have taken place in Europe seven centuries earlier–at a time in which troubadours flourished in most every courtyard. Within the tale, … Read more
The Trail Drivers of Texas is a collection of narrative sketches of early cowboys and their experiences in driving herds of cattle through the unfenced Texas prairies to northern markets. They are true narratives told by the cowpunchers who experienced the long rides. In total, there are more than 300 independent narratives contained in Trail Drivers, a … Read more
J. Frank Dobie (1888-1964) was already widely known as a Texas author and folklorist when he first published his Guide to Life and Literature of the Southwest in 1943. The Guide evolved from notes Dobie had collected and revised over the previous dozen or so years. It served as the basis for a class which he then taught at … Read more
For many southerners, the election of Abraham Lincoln in the fall of 1860 was equivalent to a declaration of war on the South. A few, including Texas’ aging Governor Sam Houston, argued against secession. They proclaimed the benefits of mediation and compromise. Further, if Texas did separate from the Union, Houston reasoned, she would fare better … Read more
Fifty-four delegates of the Convention of 1836 began meeting on March 1st at the village of Washington-on-the-Brazos. Each of the settlements of Texas was represented by delegates elected one month earlier. Richard Ellis was elected president of the convention and Herbert S. Kimble secretary. With very little time to accomplish its mission, delegates of the … Read more
Almost before the Mexican authorities had a chance to reject the resolutions adopted by the Convention of 1832, a new convention was planned to meet again in San Felipe on April 1, 1833. The nature of this new convention was more aggressive than before. Of the fifty-five delegates that met in 1833, only a quarter of … Read more
Texas history is full of legend and lore. One such tale is the “Yellow Rose of Texas” – a legend commemorated in song. But is there such a rose? And if there is, which rose is it? The Legend of the Yellow Rose of Texas Emily West of Morgan’s Point refers to an indentured servant, … Read more
Records that contain names and information on individual voters were never recorded during the period that Texas was under Spanish or Mexican rule. Likewise, although numerous elections were held during the period of the Texas Republic, the records do not identify any of its citizens by name. Voter Records After Statehood Oddly, the most important … Read more
The following two-digit state designations are standard codes used by the U. S. Postal Service. They are used in The Texians Database, as well as in the Texas History Forum and Texas Genealogy Register sections of Lone Star Junction. Alabama AL Lousiana LA Ohio OH Alaska AK Maryland MD Oklahoma OK Arizona AZ Maine ME Oregon OR Arkansas AR Massachussets … Read more