Henry Clay Cheatham (1798 - 1885)

Born 21 Sep 1798 in Chesterfield County, VA

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 13 Jul 1885 at age 86 in San Marcos, TX

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Biography

Henry was born in 1798. He passed away in 1885. ^[1]

^[2]The Family Storey by Bernard Storey Biggs

Henry's two children were born in Washington, Arkansas, the daughter Sarah Branch on Sept. 28, 1837, and the son, Henry Clay, on Jan. 6, 1843. Presumably, the son was named for Henry Clay, the great Whig leader of that period. Mrs William Coffee, of San Antonio, Texas, a great-great granddughter, has among her heirlooms Henry's delegates' badge to the Whig Convention of that year.

Family lore has it that while in Arkansas the Cheatham family made occasional trips down the river to New Orleans to shop and replenish supplies. My sister, Ione, has some silver spoons which were supposed to have been hammered out of silver dollars during such a trip, and she gave one of them to my daughter, Jackie, for a wedding present. Other heirlooms from this era are a beautiful walnut music rack which Lelia has (Ione has a replica) and a gateleg walnut table which James gave to James Kenner Biggs III.

The Cheatham family moved to Texas in the fall of 1846, to a plantation just south of San Marcos on the Blanco River. Hays County was just being organized and Henry Cheatham became it's first Judge. They apparently prospered for they built a large house which became a center for much of the social life of the area. Gen. Sam Houston spend the night there in 1857 during his campaign for the governorship of Texas.

In the course of time the Cheathams, as was the custom on plantations, established their own burial ground. It occupies an unusual mound or hillock which happened to be on their property. When the property was finally sold the deed stipulated that the burial ground must be preserved, and it is still there today for an interested tourist to see. It was the subject, some years ago, of a feature article in the San Marcos paper written by Harriet Mittendorf, a descendant of the people who bought the property. A copy of this article is in Mother's papers.

As was the custom, the blacks who worked on the plantation as slaves took on the family name when they were freed. Today there are no white residents of that area with the Cheatham name but there are many black ones. Great-grandpa Cheatham lived until 1885 and some of the freed slaves stayed on as trusted and well-loved servants in the family. Mother, particularly remembered a tall, stately Uncle Tom (Mose C.) (in no way to be connected with Harriet Beecher Stowe's character) who had been the Chetham's butler and who was still serving the household when she was a small child. She loved him as if he were a real and affectionate blood uncle.

^[3]San Marcos Free Press Vol 14, No 31, Ed 1 Thursday, July 16, 1885

Died. CHEATHAM -- On Sunday last at the residence of his son-in-law, Capt. J.G. Storey, Judge Henry Cheatham, aged 87 years. Judge Cheatham was originally from Tennessee, came thence to Arkansas, and at last settled in this county in 1846. He was a good man of the first-class, kind, genial and true. We recollect often hearing him relate that his ancestors fought under Washington during the war of our National Independence, and hence he continued to honor the flag and stood bravely for the Union during the late civil war, when to do so involved great personal peril. He passed quietly into the sleep of death. "Why weep we then for him, who having run The bound of man's appointed years, at last, Life's blessings all enjoyed, life's labors done, Serenely to his final rest as pass'd? While the soft memory of his virtues yet, Lingers, like twilight hues, when the bright sun os set." From: San Marcos Free Press Vol 14, No 33, Ed 1 Thursday, July 30, 1885

Judge Henry Cheatham whose death we commemorate to-day, was born in the "Old Dominion", October 1798. He emigrated to Bardstown, Ky., thence to Nashville, Tenn., then, in the year 1830, to Washington, Hempstead county, Ark. In 1846 he moved to Texas and settled in Hays county, at that time Travis county, where he remained up to the time of his death (July 12, 1885).

The deceased, during his long and eventful life, was highly esteemed and greatly beloved by all who knew him. In the discharge of his duties as a citizen he was faithful and conscientious. His education and intelligence, together with his profound perception of the nature, destiny and inalienable rights of man; his high sense of justice and reverence for right, eminently fitted him for the position of County Judge, the first Hays county ever had.

As a husband and a father he was known to be remarkably tender and affectionate. No one who saw him in the bosom of his family could forget the deep sympathies and overflowing joyousness of his spirit. His home was pervaded by his love as by the sun's light. Soon a cloud of darkness came, and the angel of death entered his home, took from him his only son, and six months later the wife whom he had sherished for nearly half a century. His grief-stricken heart, like Rachel's of old, refused to be comforted, and not till he looked to the great physician "who heals the heart he breaks", did he find consolation -- did he find the balm in Gilead.

Thirteen years have passed, during which time he was lovingly and tenderly cared for by his affectionate daughter and grandchildren. Nothing was left undone which would gratify his wishes and soothe his declining years; and when, after a life of four-score-and-seven years, he did so calmly and peaceably, with the Christian's hope. Loved ones "--- watched his breathing thro' the night, His breathing soft and low, As in his brease the wave of life Kept heaving to and fro.

"Their very hopes belied their fears, Their fears their hopes belied; They thought him dying when he slept, And sleeping when he died." He is gone now to the grave, and his friends view him no more. We miss him in the family circle -- we miss him here in his accustomed place of worship. Our hearts are full of sorrow, but it is not the sorrow of those who are without hope. Our hope is an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and enters into the veil. We know that in Christ he shall be made alive. He lived a Christian, he died a Christian, and he shall rise in full immortality, a glorified Christian. Such a man may be spoken of even in the house of God, where flattery is profanation, and God, not man, is to be ...

^[4]The Scrapbook of Mr. Desmond Pulaski Hopkins Courtesy of Mrs. Marvis Hopkins Dalton "The Day Sam Houston came to San Marcos"

It was in the early summer of 1857, General Sam Houston, after his long service as United States Senator had expired, was in the year of 1857 nominated for governor by the Know-Nothings party, and H. R. Runnels of Red River county, was nominated for governor by the Democratic party.

At the earnest solicitation of many old friends, General Houston consented to canvass the State, one of the places selected for an address was the little town of San Marcos, the County Seat of Hays County, located on the head waters of beautiful springs of San Marcos river.

At that day and time, when politics was at fever-heat, a speech from so noted a person as General Houston was an event. The older citizens were anxious to show as much respect to the "Father of Texas" as possible, decided after much planning and deliberation on the following: Twelve young ladies, (girls all pretty) and twelve young men, (handsome boys) all dressed in white clothing, and all riding white horses, were selected as an escort for the General. The good ladies of San Marcos having made a beautiful silk flag for the special occasion.

Capt. J.W. Davis was elected Marshall of the day, word had been recieved that General Houston was spending the night with Judge Chetham, at the Chetham home, (later was the Hohenburg property.)

The next morning, the girls and boys rode out to the Cheatham home. They were just in time, the general and the judge having just taken their seats in the buggy, as the escort divided and circled around the buggy. As we lined up in front, and the General caught the first view, he appeared somewhat rattled, but he soon caught his breath, and with the removal of that stereotyped old had - he rose to his feet (six feet three inches, what a splended looking man he was.) Capt. Davis delivered a short but eloquent speech (prepared for the occasion.) of welcome, and General Houston responded. I cannot recall, at this late date, (more than fifty years) much of the General's speech, (too many pretty girls). I remember he complimented the "lassies" for their beauty, and the "laddies" for their fine appearance. Then we took up the line of march for town, stopping at the Travis House. After we had assembled in the parlor of the hotel, the General said the boys were a fine-looking set of young men, and he wanted to shake their hands, and the girls looked so sweet and pretty, he thought he would like to have a kiss from each one. While the kissing was transpiring, I stepped back in a corner and thought --- thought, thoughtfully.

After many introductions and hand shakes of friends, we repaired to a large brush arbor, prepared for this special occasion, on the banks of the beautiful San Marcos river. (Now a part of the United States Fish Cultural Station), where an audience estimated at about one thousand people, greeted the General with vociferous cheers.

After listening for about two hours to what some very smart men said, was a most masterly address, the General departed for Lockhart. The grand old man is with us no more, he died at Huntsville, Texas, the year 1863. I will add here an incident I heard in an address, at our San Marcos Chautauqua, delivered by Rufus Burleson, for many years president of Baylor College, said Mr. Burleson:

"It was in the early days of the republic, I was a young baptist Minister, sent to Texas in Missionary work, Ed Burleson, was my cousin. There has been a little unpleasantness between Cousin Edward General Houston, and I said Ed is my cousin, and I know he is right, and General Houston is wrong. I was a young man then, just starting out, and I didn't love General Houston very much. Well I was holding a protracted meeting, and behold who should walk in and take a front seat. Why, General Houston, and Ed was my cousin.

It made me a little nervous, but I preached and prayed, I didn't pray for anyone in particular. I just prayed for sinners. Then I called for all sinners to come forward and who was the first one to come forward. Why, General Sam Houston, as I have said before, I was a young man then, and Ed was my cousin.

But long before General Houston passed away, I learned to love that noble man, as I would my own brother.

I have heard that when he was dying, a minister asked him if he had forgiven everybody, and he said he had, even Richardson. (Richardson founded the Galveston News in 1842.)"

^[5]San Marcos, Texas Sesquincentennial 1851 - 2001

Hays County was formed on March 1, 1848, from the southwestern portion of Travis county. All of that county’s territory had been a part of the old Travis Land District which encompassed Central Texas and stretched deep into the hill country. State Sen. Edward Burleson, veteran of both the Texas Revolution and the Mexican-American War, and famed frontier Indian fighter, introduced and carried the legislation creating the county and making San Marcos, Burleson’s home, the seat of the new county government.

The first local public official was William C. Pitts, commissioned a notary public on March 8, 1848. However, the new elected posts were not filled until balloting on August 7.

Some years later, Caton Erhard, owner of the county’s first mercantile store and also the first clerk of the Commissioners Court, provided some insight into a crucial factor in electioneering.

"When election day came, I had not much whisky left. I had neither the means nor the time to replenish, and being well aware that my Texas friends as well as the Arkansas settlers, who emigrated from the poor piny hills to Texas, expected treats from the candidate, I for the first time in my life watered my whiskey. I saw I was compelled to stand treat all day, and as I got no pay, my conscience was easy in regard to watered whiskey. Fortunately my watered whiskey held out to the close of the election, and when I was announced the successful candidate, I hauled out a demijohn of good brandy and treated all my friends."

Due perhaps to Erhard’s efforts, or maybe in spite of them, 71 souls made it to the polls that election day.

Henry Cheatham was elected chief justice, the office now known as county judge, and Erhard became county clerk. The first county commissioners were Clement R. Johns, Shephard Colbath, Ulysses A. Young, and A. B. McDonald.

The other newly elected officials were District Clerk William A. Owen; Sheriff John Kirby; Treasurer Michael D. Faylor; Tax Assessor-Collector Nelson F. Owen; Justice of the Peace Winthrop Colbath; Coroner H. S. Harvey; and Constable William W. Moon.

They took office after vowing to uphold law and constitution, with each, in his turn, assuring those listening that he had never fought a duel nor had he assisted anyone in such an activity.

^[6]Hays County Historical Commission http://www.hayshistoricalcommission.com/cemeteries-a-f.html See Cheatham Cemetery

The Cheatham Cemetery is a private family cemetery located atop one of the tallest knolls in the San Marcos area. It is a beautiful as well as peaceful site and a perfect location for a burial ground. One can see for miles. It has not, however, been given the care it should receive. The fences surrounding it have fallen or are falling down. There is evidence that at least two fences have surrounded it over the years. Cattle have, in the past, been allowed to trample through this tiny cemetery.

This burial ground holds the remains of Judge Henry Clay Cheatham and his family a wife, son and daughter-in-law, and eight grandchildren (San Marcos Record, September 25, 1936 issue). Judge Cheatham is one of San Marcos' earliest and most historic settlers. He was the first County Judge of Hays County. There are two sections in the cemetery. One holds the remains of the Cheatham family and the other section holds the remains of the Hohenbergs and Biedlers.

The cemetery is on private property that is presently owned by Bob and Ann Cooper. It is located adjacent to the Green Valley Feed Barns on the hilltop across the road from the office. There is a water tank next to the site (1988). It is a shame that descendants of Judge Cheatham have not taken an interest in preserving what could be one of the most historic burial grounds in the county. It certainly deserves a historical marker.

To reach the cemetery from the intersection of I 35 and U.S. Hwy 80, in San Marcos, drive east toward Luling on Hwy 80 for 2.2. miles to the junction of Caldwell County Rd 101. This will be directly across the road from a historical marker depicting McGehee Crossing. Turn right onto 101 and drive .1 mile to a road crossing 101 (Old Martindale Road). Turn right. This will be Hays County Rd 295. Drive west toward San Marcos for .8 mile. The cemetery will be on the right side of the road atop a knoll. It cannot be seen from the road. You will need to get permission to climb the hill as it is on private property. When we visited the site, there were several fences we had to climb as well as pass through cattle feed lots.

Since we published the above article in our first printing of cemetery inscriptions, this cemetery, thanks to Winton Porterfield, has been adopted by a Boy Scout Troop and is in the process of being restored, fenced, and maintained (1994).

^[7]Advertisement in The Texas State Times March 15, 1856

NOTICE - A chance for a Fortune. To any one who will invent a way to effectually destroy the Ants on my place I will give a reward of ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS, and will say farther, that any one discovering a remedy for these numerous insects can make a fortune in a short time in Western Texas. HENRY CHEATHAM. San Marcos, Feb. 9th, 1856.

Sources

1. ↑ Unsourced family tree handed down to James Biggs.
2. ↑ The Family Storey by Bernard Storey Biggs
3. ↑ San Marcos Free Press Vol 14, No 31, Ed 1 Thursday, July 16, 1885
4. ↑ The Scrapbook of Mr. Desmond Pulaski Hopkins Courtesy of Mrs. Marvis Hopkins Dalton "The Day Sam Houston came to San Marcos"
5. ↑ San Marcos, Texas Sesquincentennial 1851 - 2001
6. ↑ Hays County Historical Commission http://www.hayshistoricalcommission.com/cemeteries-a-f.html See Cheatham Cemetery
7. ↑ Advertisement in The Texas State Times March 15, 1856