William Carroll Crawford was the last surviving signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence when he died at the age of 92. Amazingly, Crawford was a relative of Charles Carroll of Maryland, the last surviving signer of the United States Declaration of Independence.    Born in North Carolina in 1804, Crawford was a tailor by trade. But as the Second Great Awakening sparked a mighty revival along the East Coast, Crawford relinquished his needle and thread to embrace the pul

Sippie Wallace was a Texas girl who became a nationally acclaimed blues singer. In the 1920s and '30s, Sippie was known as the Texas Nightingale, and performed with her husband Matt, and her brothers George and Hersal Thomas. Blues legends like Louis Armstrong, King Oliver, and Perry Bradford recorded songs with Sippie, who was signed by OKeh Records in Chicago.    The first two recordings that Sippie released on the OKeh label were “Shorty George” and “Up Country Blues.” She

It was Bing Crosby who first recognized the elite songwriting skills of Cindy Walker. Then, other major artists like Roy Orbison, Bob Wills, Ray Charles and Jim Reeves began singing her songs, too. In all, Ms. Walker composed more than 500 songs, and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Fort Worth Cowgirl Hall of Fame, and the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame.   Such country favorites as "You Don't Know Me," "Cherokee Maiden,” "Misty Moonlight,” and "Dusty Sk

Did you know that two Italian-born soldiers fought in the Texan War for Independence from Mexico? Born in Italy in 1794, Prospero Bernardi died from injuries he sustained in the Battle of San Jacinto. A commemorative bust of Bernardi, by Italian sculptor Pompeo Coppini, stands in front of the Hall of State, Fair Park, Dallas.   The other Italian to fight in the Texan Revolution was Mexican General Vicente Filisola. Understandably, no statues in his honor are found in Texas.  

Texas is known for lengthy droughts. In the journals of Spanish explorer Cabeza de Vaca, as he reconnoitered West Texas in the early 1500s, he reported that the Indians living near what is now Presidio were praying for rain! Even the first colony of Stephen F. Austin in 1822 lost its initial food crop due to a severe drought. The most devastating dry spell on record in Texas stretched for about seven years, finally ending in 1957. During that time, it is estimated that the

The stone ruins of the old Walzem Chapel stand erect on the firm foundation laid in the mid-1800’s. Over the entrance to the abandoned sanctuary the engraved keystone simply reads: 1870. The roof and windows have long since disappeared, but the expertly chiseled stones bear witness to a loving craftsman.   Johann Joseph and Anna Gertruda Walzem came to Texas from Prussia around 1851. They settled in what is now known as the Mission Hills Ranch subdivision of New Braunfels. Wi

Thomas J. Pilgrim had been unwell since his birth in Connecticut in 1804. But with sheer determination he pursued a college education at Colgate University in New York. Following graduation, Pilgrim joined a group of about 60 colonists who were immigrating to the Texas frontier.    The harrowing story of their trip down the Mississippi River and on to Texas included violent storms, encounters with the Karankawa tribe, and several near-death experiences. Once they arrived in M

Born in Tennessee in 1808, Texas hero Albert Lea graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point) ranked third in his...

As newlyweds in 1861, Valentine and Martha Poole moved to Galveston. Though their roots were in New York, they had heard the thrilling...

On April 21, 1836, the Battle of San Jacinto lasted about 18 minutes. Amid shouts of “Remember the Alamo!” and “Remember Goliad!” the...