|
| In
Jeddo are ten lost graves located
in a pasture on 713 E. directly across from Peach Creek Dr. As far
as I know, these graves are unknown to the public. This is a bother
to me. My purpose in writing is to let someone know about this cemetery.
[There are only] three other people who know these graves exist.
|
The Tombstone
of James Bownds
TE
Photos, 1-05 |
Tombstone detail
TE Photos,
1-05 |
| Only
one grave still has a tombstone and it has been knocked down by the
cows. It is the grave of James Bownds (pronounced Bounds) who was
killed by Richard Whitehead at the Peach Creek bridge on Peach Creek
Dr. |
The Bovine Suspects
TE Photor, 1-05 |
Richard Whitehead stood trial for the murder of James Bownds. He was
acquitted.
Richard Whitehead was killed in Rosanky on Sept. 29,1897 by Philip
Davis.
Philip Davis stood trial for the murder of Richard Whitehead. He was
acquitted.
Both men had large land grants in Jeddo
but each lost land defending himself.
On the murder of James Bownds by Whitehead:
There
was bad blood between James Bownds and Henry Lundy. Whitehead, Henry
Lundy and a Mr. Coquet were en route to Rosanky
on horseback when they met James Bownds at the Peach Creek bridge
coming from the opposite direction.
Coquet made haste to get in the trees, Whitehead got off his horse
on the opposite side from Bownds with the horse between him and Bownds.
Brownds shot at Whitehead and missed but he shot the saddle horn off
of the saddle. Whitehead shot, did not miss. I have never checked
the court records but I rather think Whitehead was acquitted on self
defense. I find it a mystery that Bownds shot at Whitehead instead
of Henry Lundy. Maybe Lundy went into the trees. |
 |
Peach Creek
as viewed from the bridge
TE Photor, 1-05 |
The
original bridge which was built by Jeddo residents (white and black)
was used until the flood of 2000 washed it away.(I believe it was
2000 when several such bridges in Bastrop
County were destroyed by a flood). It is now a modern bridge easy
to drive over without noticing the creek The original one was a one-way
wooden bridge.
By the way, Jeddo is part of an area
that was originally Hallmark Prairie.
James Bownds tombstone reads:
In memory of: James Bownds
Born: Feb. 8, 1831
Died: Dec. 18, 1892
He died as he lived
A Christian
On the opposite side of the tombstone is inscribed:
His toils are past
His work is done
He fought the fight
The victory won
© Velma Fogle Shurtleff,
January 5, 2005
Editor's note: Velma Fogle
is from the corner of Texas where the three counties of Bastrop,
Caldwell and
Fayette come
together. Her knowledge of the area is deep and she has written a
history of the St. Phillip's Colony of Bastrop County.
Book Hotel Here
Bastrop
Hotels
More Hotels
|
Jeddo Texas
Forum
Subject:
Thank you
I just want to say thank you for the information and picture of
the tombstone of James Bownds (Lost graves of Jeddo). James was
a brother of two of my great-grandmothers, Eliza Jane Bownds Ponton
and Mary Ann Bownds Offield. Thanks for taking the time to share
information with others, who would never know it was there. - Nora
Tyler, March 24, 2006
|
| 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. |
|
|
HOME
