Document text
Robertson, Mrs. Wyndham Lubbock Coenty
Lenember 1913 District 17
iv
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Mre. Wm. N. Grew:
Interview with Mrs. MarY Green.
280
Pg.1
The other lay I was visiting with HAunt Mary* Gown as eh* is affectionately
known to many.
Alidear little green cottage ahiala overleoks the canyon, north of the city,
sthlds in n earaen, which in the spring and suamerfint a charming background for the
housa which shelters Mr. Mrs. Green. Protectad by a fence, a brick walk of irregular
pattern lead to the front door.
Upon entering the little gate, I was surprised to see that the lilac bushed
had sprouted a profusion of new buds. and When I evpresAid mvaastonishment, Mra. Green
smiled and remnrked that it was not unusual for the lilac bushes to be loaded with
beautiful blossoms in necember or January.
Upon entering the little house, one is aware of an air of peaceftaness and
hnapiness. The neatness WIA comfort of the hound indicates that even att this time
of hr life, Mr. Green honorer in doing a thing well. Tha odor of fresh sonpands
prevailed still, She usherel to t)lc- moat aomfortrible chair, and ancient rocker,
well provided aith quilted cushion. I notic-d an old print depicting Mt. Vernon,
and it wna this picture which rtarted us to talking, going bank over the yenrs, the
civil war, the trek west, the new hnme on the "Staked Plaine*, the herdships and
aleasures, life and death.
is glinale Green", Who is hard of henring, said in hi a gentle voice, mellored
with nee, ",waive had n full life nnA w- don't rearet any of it".
He aent on to tell how he wan born in Overton con-ty, Tennessee on the Ilet *IV
of Augurt 1847. -md how he grew up there. How at the tend -r are of 1F years, hearing
the call of the soatharn leaders, such as Albe t Iidney Johnson and Stonewall Jackson,
and believing that they ware riht, he onlist,4 in thewEieht Tennessee Cavalry" Wier
Robertson. Mrs. Wyndham, Lubbock County 250
December 1936 District 17 Pg. 2
Interview with Mrs. Mary Green
the leadership of General George Dibrell in April 1863, remaining in the service till
1865, and mmerged from the conflict safe and sound. In 1870, owing to conditions in the
old Southern states, he immigrated with his father and brothers and some friends.to
Texas, locating in Johnson county, near Alvaredo. Later they movA over to Parker county,
settling on Bear Creek,Where Mr. Green met a fairhaired, blue eyed gttl,who wa9, also
born in Tennessee, *here the home of the S. P. Lo-ry's had been in Warren county.
The first years of her life she romped with her sisters and brothers along the batiks
of Wacky River, where wild grape vines grew so rank, their vines being strong enough for
swinging and where beautiful trees gave pleal;ant shade. There she learned to love the
1-auties of nature. A large spring gushed from the rocks in the hills feeding the stream
with pure, sparkling water, providing also &place for wading swimming and fishing.
Her home was a large log house, plastered inside with White lime, and its comforts
and conveniences were everything desired at that time, when conveniences such as we
know today were unheard of. The rooms were high and wide. The heating armangements were
a 0 stacked chimney*, built of rock and this was located bet=”een two rooms, with a grate
or fire place on withr side, and dog -irons", also called *andirons* upon which were
laid the logs of wood. These firplaces afforded much convonience and pleasure, since all
the cooking for the family was done here. Tall *pot racks* held pots and kettles made
of iron, copper and brass, which were used for boiling foods, and a built --in oven with
coals of fire heaped upon it, was used for the baking of many delicious morsel.
The WiriP hearth was always warm and cosy for warning one's feet.
A large compartment was used for stacking the wood supply, and it was situated right
behind the chimney. The fire MAS never allowed to die down.
When father Lowry heard the call of Texas frontiers, seeing the advantage s of this
great state where land wa cheap, he loaded hi family and household goods and started
to Texas in 1872, and settled in Parker cointy, about 15 miles west of It. Worth, on the
banks of Bear Creek, where the surrounding territory reminded them of their Tennessee
Robeeteon, mrs. wyndhen Lubbock County
150
Lecember 196 District 17 pg.3
Inteview with Mrs, Unry Green
This was then n frontier county end neighbours were few and far between.
aame was p-entiful,ana the lnna wns fertile. They propeered from the first
renrilned there till all of the children were grown up. It was here where
areen met nry Lowry, ana they were narriel in Arne 1885. The wedain took lace
nt home, with only relatives enl close friends in attendanceona they were very hapny.
ein, true Aesconilnntn. of pioneer pe,ple, they felt that they mult start their
7sw life by goin elsemhere. They went to Hooa county huilaime thmir hem, it Thorp
*A& was an attractive min4 fernealinr place to them.
The blood of adventure flo,,tnr in their veins, ena the purple ohnaoms calling
north
from the/west inducer' them to start arnAn to n lanA of better ormortunities, and
so they with no of their temple, a party of 41 people,startea on their nee move,
reachin,: LaTr.,hock on Thnnksgivint Arky ana eating their firfrt dinner nt the Micolette
Notel, which me et thnt time locatro ir ola north ton.
?hero mere only n handfUl of people here then, but they grse the newcomers
warm w,lcome.
Thg? Green's built their first home on section of land lying bet7een
the roesent towneite an..7 the crawon„ the house being where the unlerpass on AVPITIIO F
in no-- locrIed.
mrs. are4n says that Indians were seen her. only once, and that they 71.re camped
at apoint whore Avenue 14 intersects 18t,' street. An Indian buck, his two svatts and
thtrir pepoose last pns-inr thrnwhonA the settleresaw very litLle of' them. but
'merest-le by the man's lasinese an'l the sabeerviancs of the women.
aTentiful anA at one
tinr one came to the backdoor of the Green's
home, 11,:iforrine the breakfest scraps.
Antelope too, r,lere plenti-ul an :Anna inge-14. thel, lid mach 4Lmnge to the little
eratien witchem, which the hoeiseiwes had plahted, until they contriv in 137M Or ?righted
ingthe nnt-lope off, by tying strips of cloth at into nls alonr the fence ana the
reeme llo w them noel thnvA7:- ehe animalo.
Buffnlo etill.unndere4 aerneil the nralrlos, occasionally, bIlt kept to th cnn7on
anA timber. Rol ie C. Burns ere. the monfArer of the I.O.A. rmneh, encl this ranch was a
Robertson, Mrs. lyndham
December 1936
Lubbock County 250
Die riot 17 Pg.4
.Interview with Mrs. Win. N. Green
fe ding ground for the Buffalo, as there they had some pilteetion from the elements my
as well as from the hunters.
The first Christmas in their new hems came and the only place where they could
hold a public celebration, was a Blacksmith shoplwhich boatsed a dirt floor. Yet,
embued with a true chrietmas spirit, the tow families provided for themselves a merry
holiday. Geo. M. Hunt acted as the Santa Clams, C. F. Stubbs declaimed, Miss Sylvia
Hunt, A. J. Clark, Ay Anderson and Green furnished the entertainment, filling their
places with heartiness. Christmas hymns were suAs by Mrs. 4M. N. Green, alto; A. J.
Clark,bass; and ago, Sylvia Hunt provided the accompaniment.
Almost all of the gifts were created by the nimble fi*gers of the women.
There were few children to be remembered, however gin6ar 000kies, home made dolliei
and other toys were provided. The old familybtrunk gave up,many horded treasures.
Mr. Green lvls been in the ha4afriiiiiiness-praMy for many years
and he waR one of the men who hauled the lumber for the first Cour*hause of Lubbock
county, from Colorado City.
A visit to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Green gladdens one's heart. The home
itself seems like a quaint bit of a time/passed, never to return. At Mary Green
as she is still called by many, conveys an atmosphere of peace, making one feel
glad. Her cheerfulness is contagious. She says that she knew when she reached Lubbock
that she had come to the end of the road in actuality as well as spiritually and
that here she mould settle for life, and she did.