The Early Years of the Republic

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF RIP FORD

Part 3: The Early Years of the Republic

by Bob Heinonen

The days of the Texas Republic where filled with many events – some tragic, most mundane, and some comical. On the tragic side was the Indian issue.

Organization had to be brought to the distribution of land in the new Republic, so in February of 1838 the Land Office of the Republic of Texas was opened for registering claimed lands. John Salmon Ford was appointed deputy surveyor of Harrison County – this in addition to his medical practice. In spite of making “rookie” mistakes, Ford and his surveying party had no problems with the Indians who inhabited the area. During this trip the town of Marshall was laid out.

But Ford’s surveying trip helped create bitter feelings and distrust between the whites and the Cherokees. The Cherokees had built homes and tended their fields on land they believed they owned based on acts of both the Mexican government and then the Texas authorities. The new claims and surveys did not honor this ownership.

General Thomas Rusk and Sam Houston were personal friends and were both held in high regard by the citizens of Texas. Rusk and Houston agreed on most matters of policy. One issue they did not agree on was relations with the Indians. Sam Houston had lived with the Cherokees for many years and, in fact, had taken a Cherokee wife. Sam was, of course, in favor of peaceful relations with the Indians.

On the other hand, Thomas Rusk did not trust the Indians and wanted to sever all relations with them. There was suspicion that the Cherokees were conspiring with the Mexican authorities to overthrow the Texas government. A Mexican official, Manuel Flores, was killed in northeast Texas and his diary revealed that he had met with Chief Bowles of the Cherokees. Although no one knew if Bowles had done anything more than meet politely with Flores, the implication inflamed those who were already prone to distrust the Cherokees. Rusk was convinced that if the Mexicans attacked from the south and west as they said they would, the Cherokees would depopulate the eastern counties.

Thomas Rusk had a hand in “inciting” the Indian war of 1839 and the subsequent expulsion of the Cherokees and their allies from Texas. He and Mirabeau B. Lamar had prior experience in their native states of South Carolina and Georgia from which the Cherokees were originally expelled. During the summer of 1839, the Texas Army marched against the Cherokees and they were reinforced by volunteer companies from the area. One regiment was commanded by Thomas Rusk.

An effort was made to treat with Chief Bowles:

“Bowles received the commissioners – David G. Burnet, A. S. Johnston, Hugh McCloud, and Thomas J. Rusk – with great dignity and with a gravity that betokened the seriousness of the situation to him and his people. The commissioners were authorized to pay the Indians for their improvements, but not for the land which they were required to vacate. Bowles said that he could not accede to the request and gave reasons why he considered that he had, or should have, title to the land. He said further that he knew that was futile for him, that the Indians would be destroyed, but that he could not convince his tribe, and would have to abide by their decision even though it meant his death and the destruction of his people. He asked the commissioners to postpone the crisis until the Indians could gather their crops, but this request was refused, and the various bodies of troops, under the command of Brigadier General Kelsey H. Douglas of the Texas Militia, began a concerted movement on the Indians.”[i]

On July 15^th and July 16^th, battles took place. The eighty-three year old Chief Bowles was killed in battle on the second day; Rip Ford said:

“We gazed silently upon his body as it lay unburied. He was dressed rather in the American style, had a red silk velvet vest said to have been a present from Sam Houston. It was not difficult to accord to him the deed of bravery and to believe he sacrificed himself to save many of his people. Under other circumstances history would have classed him among heroes and martyrs.”[ii]

In a campaign speech, Sam Houston condemned those who executed the war against the Cherokees. He called Chief Bowles “a better man than his murderers.” Needless to say, Sam’s relationship with Thomas Rusk was no longer as cordial as it had been.[iii] Houston’s friendship with Chief Bowles would be used against him in days to come.

On the comical side, in his autobiography, John Salmon Ford reports:

General Houston married his second wife, Miss Margaret Moffette Lea, at Marion, Alabama, on May 9, 1840. Some months after their arrival in Texas, they visited the eastern part of the Republic. While at Nacogdoches many of the general’s old friends called upon them. Among these was N. D. Walling of Shelby County. A story gained circulation, as follows.

General and Mrs. Houston were taking breakfast. Walling was at the table. He inquired: “Mrs. Houston, have you ever been in Shelby County?”

The reply was in the negative.

“You ought to go there, madam. General Houston has forty children in Shelby County.”

At this announcement the lady looked rather confused.

“That is, named after him,” Walling added.

“Friend Walling,” General Houston remarked, “you would oblige me very much by connecting your sentences more closely.”[iv]

Next Month - Part 4: “To Be Or Not To Be” Alone

Bob Heinonen is the founder of Texas Heroes and has been portraying Rip Ford since 1993.