Out My Kitchen Window

Category: Families

  • Peacock School for Boys in San Antonio, Texas also known as Peacock Military Academy

    My husband’s grandfather; Wilson Lamar Wilkinson was the fourth child of Nancy Mires and William Jackson Montgomery Wilkinson; born 17 September 1882 in Menard County, Texas.  As a young boy, Lamar attended Peacock School for Boys.  It was also known as Peacock Military Academy in San Antonio, Texas. It is believed to have been about 1898 when he was 16 years old.

    Wilkinson Ranch Collection

    Here is the “PSB” baseball team and Lamar is sitting on the second row and is the second from the left.

    Lamar told the story that one time before going on the field he heard two young girls in the stands say,  “What does PSB stand for?  and the other girl said, “Poor Sonsofbitches”.  He just laughed!

     

    Wilkinson Ranch Collection

    Lamar is on the top row fifth from the left. Photo is believed to have been taken about 1898.

     

    1894 Peacock School for Boys later renamed Peacock Military Academy
    1894 Peacock School for Boys later renamed Peacock Military Academy

    You can read about the Battle of Flowers Parade in San Antonio where Lamar participated in a float while attending Peacock School for Boys.

    Wilkinson Ranch Collection
    Lamar Wilkinson is riding on the second wagon, middle row on the outside. In front of the Menger Hotel, San Antonio, Texas c1898

     

    PEACOCK MILITARY ACADEMY. Peacock Military Academy, in San Antonio, also known as Peacock School for Boys, Peacock Military School, and Peacock Military College, was established in 1894 by Wesley Peacock. The institution was one of the first private preparatory boarding and day schools in Texas for boys between twelve and eighteen years of age. In 1900 two blocks of land adjoining the school were purchased, and a 2-½-story building for dormitories and classrooms was erected. The school was chartered by the state of Texas in 1904 and was recognized by the United States government as a military institute, junior ROTC unit. It was designated an honor school in 1908 by the Department of the Army. From 1920 to 1926 the United States Veterans Bureau leased the school plant, where 5,000 former servicemen were rehabilitated and given vocational training under government supervision. In 1933 the school was rechartered as a nonprofit educational corporation, a change that had been a longtime ambition of the founder. During World War II a training and research unit of the Texas State Guard was maintained at the facility. The school was fully accredited by the Texas Education Agency and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and was a member of the Southern Association of Independent Schools, the National Association of Military Schools, and the Texas Preparatory League.

    Peacock Academy grew from nine boarding students and seventeen day students until enrollment had to be limited to 200 students. Weekly dress parades were held by the battalion of cadets on Sunday afternoons during the spring semester; high ranking officers from the local military bases were guests as reviewing officers. After the parade ceremonies, several distinctive drill teams-the Zouaves, the McKinnon Rifles, and the mounted “Monkey” Drill Team-performed. Wesley Peacock, Sr., was president until 1926, when he gave active management to his sons. Col. Wesley Peacock, Jr., became superintendent, and Col. Donald W. Peacock became commandant of cadets. The academy ceased operation in June 1973, and the entire school plant, over fifteen acres and fifteen buildings with their furnishings, was conveyed to the Salvation Army.

    BIBLIOGRAPHY:

    Vertical Files, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin.

    Citation

    The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this article.

    Sharon R. Crutchfield, “PEACOCK MILITARY ACADEMY,” Handbook of Texas Online (http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/kbp09), accessed January 09, 2012. Published by the Texas State Historical Association.

     

  • More Alexander Kennedy Auld and Susanna Lowrance Auld’s Historical Documents

    On 25th of August, 1883, as a big part of the new life started in America by Alexander Kennedy Auld, the 30 year old took an oath of citizenship at the Kerr County District Clerk, A. McFarland’s office.


    As sworn by Alex, it states that it is his bona fide intention to become a Citizen of the United States, and renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty whatsoever, and particularly any and all allegiance to the Kingdom of Great Britain, and that he will bear true allegiance to the United States and support the Constitution of the same.

    The very next month, Alex and his wife, Susanna registered their brands in Bandera County, for their livestock on their ranch on the Divide.



    This family consisted of 7-year old Dollie, born 4 Aug 1878, and their little daughter, Maggie Mae Auld, born 21 Jun 1882, who was named after Alex’s sister in Scotland. The remaining children were Annie Lee, born 10 Jun 1885, John Shelby, born 23 May 1888, William, born 5 Jun 1891, Archie, born 20 Jun 1894, Alexander Daniel, born 2 Aug 1896 and Joe Marcus, born 16 Mar 1899. The Aulds were very proud of their family and Alex becoming a citizen of the United States.

    See more in the blog post Auld wedding – 130 years ago.

     

  • Blog about my grandfather, Dan Auld, Sr.

    Nice blog post by my friend Joe Herring from Kerrville about my grandfather, Dan Auld Sr.  Thought you would enjoy reading, too.

    http://joeherringjr.blogspot.com/2011/09/dan-auld-kerrville.html

  • Roy N. Brown, oldest of A. P. and Grace Brown of Kerrville, Texas

    I never met my grandmother Gussie May Auld’s brother, Roy Nicholas (Nickless) Brown.  Here are two great photos of my Great Uncle Roy, the oldest child and only son of Alonzo Potter Brown and Grace Stulting Brown. Roy was born 8 Aug 1892 (some records show 1895) in Kerr County, Texas and died 4 Nov 1948 Alhambra, Los Angeles, California. After graduating from Tivy High School in the Class of 1911 he moved to California.  On the 5 Jun 1917, he registered for WWI and signed his name as Roy Nickless Brown.  I never met him or his family. [Note: his three children, my cousins still live in California.]

    Here is a photo of Roy rowing the “Minnie Lee” on the Guadalupe River with two unidentified passengers, enjoying an afternoon under the great Cypress trees.  Great photo!

    Owned by Jan Wilkinson @wilkinsonranch.com

    Tivy High School Class of 1911

    This photo was from Alois Remschel and published in a Kerrville newspaper in 1973.  The boys on the back row were Mark Mosty, Otto Schwethelm, Roy Brown and Stewart Vann.  The girls in front, left to right, were: Kate Remschel, Ethel Phillips, Olive Wells, Ethel Williams, Edna Saxon and Ona Hunter.

    What wonderful photos and time!

  • Milroy Powell, Concho Ranchman, 31, Started Career with Sheep at 5

    As a tribute to my father, Milroy Powell, here is a copy of the article featured in January 1959 Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  My parents were hard working ranchmen and I am proud to be their daughter.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Below, Mr. and Mrs. Milroy Powell, are shown with their stock dogs and Quarter Horse mare, Pecos Miss.

    Owned by Jan Wilkinson @wilkinsonranch.com

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    EDEN

    In 1936, 9-year-old Milroy Powell showed the champion Rambouillet ewe at the Texas Centennial in Dallas.

    Twenty-two years later Powell, now a Concho County ranchman, still showing champion Rambouillets.

    He exhibited the champion ewe at the State Fair of Texas in 1957 and the reserve champion ewe at the 1958 Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show in Fort Worth.

    Showing his registered sheep takes up a major part of the young ranchman’s time.  A full show flock is prepared for the circuit each year.

    Usually Powell exhibits at Abilene, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston and several of the smaller shows.  He entered sheep in 11 of the smaller shows last year.

    He explained that he also would show at San Antonio, but he serves as superintendent of the Quarter Horse cutting horse show there.

    None of his sheep were shown at the 1958 State Fair of Texas because his fourth child was born last fall.

    Powell is married to the former Joan Auld, daughter of Dan Auld, Kerr county ranchman.

    The Powell children are Milann, 8; Mac, 7; Jan, 4, and Mark, 5 months.

    Reared in Coryell county, the young sheep breeder is a son of Guy Powell, who served 34 years as a county agricultural agent, retiring last year because of poor health.  The elder Powell became Kerr County agent in 1947.

    Milroy Powell began showing sheep when only 5.  Being a county agent’s son, he never participated in the junior shows as a 4-H Club member.  All of his animals were exhibited in the open divisions.

    The champion ewe at the Texas Centennial, a yearling, was owned by J. P. Heath of Argyle, Denton County.

    But the youngster later bought the champion ewe from Heath.  Many of the Powell champions are descended from this outstanding individual, which died in 1957.

    Powell has been a Rambouillet breeder 26 years.  His breeding stock has remained generally the same throughout the years, with new animals added occasionally.

    These high quality sheep now also are shown by Mac Powell.  The youngster had the first place ewe lamb and the first place yearling ewe at Fort Worth in 1958.

    Mac’s first place ewe lamb at Forth Worth was undefeated in 12 shows last year, winning a championship at Houston.  Her twin sister was reserve champion ewe of the Houston show.

    Both Mac and his father have sheep entered in the 1959 Southwestern Exposition and Fat Stock Show.

    Powell ranched on leased land in Kerr County about 10 years before moving to Eden in April 1957.

    He purchased a 12-section ranch 7-1/2 miles south of Eden, extending into Menard County.  The land previously was owned by Houston Callan, pioneer Menard County ranchman.

    Before Powell bought the ranch, the 12 sections of land were in one pasture with no cross fences.  The only improvements were two windmills.

    Neither sheep nor goats had ever been run on the land, which was operated as a cattle ranch.

    The land now is cross-fenced into four pastures with a corner of each pasture at the corral in the center of the ranch.  Approximately 27 miles of fence were built, and excellent corral facilities have been provided.

    Since there is no ranch house on the land, the Powells reside in Eden.

    Powell is running registered and commercial Rambouillets, Angora goats and Angus cattle on the ranch.

    He explained he also has owned cattle practically all his life.  Last summer he purchased a registered Angus bull from a Nebraska breeder.

    Occasionally Angora goats from the Powell ranch are exhibited in stock shows, but the Angus cattle have never been shown.

    Powell is a member of the American Quarter Horse Association, the American Rambouillet Breeders Association, the Texas Purebred Sheep Breeders Association and the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association.

    Owned by Jan Wilkinson @wilkinsonranch.com

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Owned by Jan Wilkinson @wilkinsonranch.com

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Owned by Jan Wilkinson @wilkinsonranch.com

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Owned by Jan Wilkinson @wilkinsonranch.com

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Owned by Jan Wilkinson @wilkinsonranch.com

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Owned by Jan Wilkinson @wilkinsonranch.com

     

     

  • Rafter on Mississippi Early Menard Settler

    Story in Menard News by Frances Fish

  • Joshua D. Brown first settler of Upper Guadalupe River and James Kerr Lower Guadalupe River

    On January 26, 1856, Kerr County was formed from Bexar Land District No. 2. At the request of Joshua D. Brown, the name of Brownsboro was changed to Kerrsville, for his friend and fellow veteran of the Texas Revolution, Major James Kerr. Kerrsville became the county seat but later the “s” was dropped and the town became “Kerrville.”

    Joshua D. Brown came from Gonzales to become the first settler at the headwaters of the Guadalupe River in what became to be known as Kerr County. In 1856, Joshua named his newly organized county Kerr because James Kerr was his friend [UPDATE: James Kerr was JDB’s father Edward Brown’s first cousin by marriage.  His first cousin Henry Stevenson Brown’s wife was Margaret Kerr; James Kerr was her brother] and because Kerr was the first American to settle on the Guadalupe River at Gonzales before the state was the Republic of Texas. Major James Kerr was an important part of Texas’ beginning and played a key role in the break with Mexico and the struggle for establishment of an independent Republic of Texas. Joshua D. Brown participated in the revolution of Texas along with Kerr in many military campaigns.

    Kerr was a life-long friend of Stephen F. Austin, the most successful Texas Empresario, who was instrumental in bringing the American settlers to this new land, known as “Original Three Hundred”, and Kerr followed him to Texas from Missouri.

    Major James Kerr (was a Lieutenant in the War of 1812) was surveyor-general of the Green DeWitt Colony, whose grant was awarded by the Mexican government on April 15, 1825, to settle 400 colonists on the Guadalupe River, and also the DeLeon Colony. Kerr, like Austin, was an unwavering and loyal Anglo-Mexican patriot working for the welfare of the Texian colonists, their economic and political freedom as adopted citizens of Mexico, above all interests.

    The families who arrived in Texas had to deal with the hardships of this new land. Most of the Mexican forces found in Texas at this time were presidarios, the worst convicts of Mexico. The Mexican government drafted these convicts into the armies. The settlers and the presidarios were constantly at odds with each other. Because of the attacks from the Indians in the area, the Mexican Commandant at Bexar presented the people of Gonzales with a valuable four-pound cannon.

    There was a Mexican garrison at Anahuac that was controlled by Mexican forces of mostly the dreaded presidarios. There was an attack of a lone woman by four presidarios where all but one got away when some men working nearby came to her screams. The settler decided that hanging would be too big an insult to the flag of Mexico, so they tarred and feathered the soldier and walked him to the garrison with a warning that if anything like this offense happened again that there would not be a presidarios left alive.

    In 1831, the Mexican presidarios were not happy with this little incident and their reaction resulted in the arrest of several soon to be heroes, namely one William Travis. This was the beginning of the spread of the words “Revolution”. The Mexicans released the Anglos. James Kerr was a member of the first organized gathering to make public pronouncement against the dictator Santa Anna.

    In 1835, the Mexican government sent Captain Castenado to Gonzales to retrieve the old iron cannon and his orders were to use force if necessary but no matter what get the cannon. The Texians heard of his travels and Captain Albert Martin sent messengers to the settlers in the surrounding areas to come to his aid. James Kerr was among the patriots who rallied to the defense of the cannon when a Mexican force of one hundred and fifty men was dispatched from San Antonio to Gonzales to seize the cannon. The Texians attacked the force and drove them back to San Antonio with no Texian casualties. This was the beginning of the War of Independence for Texas.

    The people of Gonzales began doing what they could to support the upcoming revolution by donating all their iron. The women brought in their flat irons, pots and pans. One woman even gave the spindle from her spinning wheel. Using the Gonzales ladies cherished silk dresses a committee had designed a flag. It would have a white field without a border and in the center a picture of the treasured cannon. Over the cannon a single five-pointed lone star was sewn and under the cannon the words, “Come and Take It”.

    Major James Kerr died in Jackson County on his farm 7 miles north of Edna on Kerr’s Creek and was buried in the Kerr Cemetery. Engraved on the vault over his site is:

    “Sacred to the memory of Dr. James Kerr, born in Boyle County, Kentucky, September 24, 1790. Emigrated to Missouri in 1808, then to Texas in the year 1825. Having participated in most of the trying scenes of the struggle for Texas Liberty, he died in Jackson County December 23, 1851.” (UPDATE: the year of death should be 1850 per the probate of the will of James Kerr at the county clerk’s office in Edna, Texas and the writings in A Texas Family by Major James Kerr Crain; marker is incorrect.)

    UPDATE: You can read more about Joshua D. Brown on this blog at this link: https://blog.wilkinsonranch.com/2018/06/11/joshua-d-brown-founder-and-father-of-kerrville/

     

  • Hungry hummingbirds in Menard County, Texas

    Watch a video of hungry hummingbirds in Menard County, Texas.

  • My ggrandparents, Grace Ida and Alonzo Potter Brown share April 17th birthdate

    My mother’s, maternal grandmother was Grace Ida Stulting.  Grace was born on 17 April 1869 in Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas to Christopher Columbus Stulting and Elizabeth Virginia Tyler.  [Note: the death certificate shows birth year as 1870 and also on the headstone, but the 1870 Gonzales County Census shows a 2-month-old Gracie]  Just a year later, Alonzo Potter Brown was born on 17 April 1870 in Kerr County, Texas to Joshua D. Brown and Sarah Jane Goss.  On the 18 November 1891, Grace and Potter were married in Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, and they lived in Kerrville, Kerr County, Texas, for the rest of their lives.  They had three children, Roy N. Brown, born 8 Aug 1895, Gussie May Brown, born 3 September 1897 (my grandmother) and Jane Helena Brown born 17 Aug 1901.  Grace lived until 20 April 1958 and Potter lived until 26 February 1964.  Potter and Grace shared a long and happy life together.

    Potter and Grace Brown at (I believe) Schreiner’s anniversary in Kerrville, Texas 1954.

     

  • 1914 Tivy High School Graduating Class

    1914 Tivy High School Kerrville Kerr County Texas
    Tivy High School 1914 Graduating Class – back row, Howard Butt, first one on left; Gussie May Brown, sixth from left; Harry Dietert, front row fifth from left.

    My grandmother, Gussie May Brown (Mrs. Dan Auld, Sr.) graduated from Tivy High School on Friday, May 29, 1914, in Kerrville, Texas.  She describes many events in her leather covered diary, embossed in gold, “The Girl Graduate and Her Own Book”, which was designed and illustrated by Louise Perrett and Sarah K. Smith and published by The Reilly and Britton Co., Chicago.  It is written on the cover page as a gift from a friend.

    The Baccalaureate Sermon was performed by Bishop Johnson.

    The class flower was as written, Marschel Neil Rose, and class colors, black and old gold and the class motto, “Either find a way or make one”.

    The page titled, Class Autographs have the following:

    E. Doyle Grinstead

    Lyla Courtney

    Annie Mae Morriss

    Florence Cade

    Gerald J. Walther

    Lela B. Douglas

    William Ed Allen

    Lucille Williamson

    Oscar Strockbein

    Howard Butt

    Amye Thalman

    Mary McKay

    Agnes Kane

    Winona Moore

    Cliff Freeman

    Jack Phillips

    Jessie Phillips

     

    Class President

    Samuel Frances Drake

    Secretary and Treasurer

    Gussie May Brown

     

    The Teachers:

    Miss Maude Hart

    Latin and History

    Miss Louise McCormick

    Domestic  Science

    Miss Valeska Rabke

    German teacher

    Mr. Alvin Dille

    Physics and Chemistry

    On the Social Events page, Gussie wrote:

    Thursday, May 21st, the social events should have begun with a party at Lucille’s but on account of a heavy rain, much to the disappointment of all, the party was called off.

    Friday, May 22nd, Mr. and Mrs. Dille were to entertain the class at a tacky party but owing to Mrs. Dille’s illness that was also called off.

    Saturday night after a very hot and tiresome dress rehearsal Mr. and Mrs. Dille surprised the troupe and escorts with ice cream and cake the class colors being represented by the dark and yellow cake.  The Grammar School Commencement was Monday night and Gussie went and had a most enjoyable time.

    Tuesday night the Juniors gave “Us Seniors” a reception in the auditorium and though it was not quite as great as success as we feel the one they had planned to give us at the park should have been, it was quite nice and we had a very delightful time.

    Punch was served all during the evening and also sandwiches, salad and cake.

    Wednesday night, we gave our play and it was fairly good success.

    Thursday night an alumni banquet was well attended and enjoyed by the old and new graduates of Tivy High.  The end to our high school days came Sunday night when we received our diplomas and incidentally a few flowers.

    The Presents

    Miss Kate Remschel – blue silk crepe Teddy Bears

    Miss Elsie A. Johnston – hand embroidered Teddy Bears

    Miss Kate Hamilton – gold bar pin with pearls

    Jokes and Frolics

    The biggest joke and frolic of the year was playing hooky on April fool’s Day.  We went to Lakeside Park all except Oscar and Florence and had one more good time.  We went swimming and boating and did lots of other things.

    But believe me, when we got back to town lo and behold we found we were suspended from school for the rest of the week and that we’d have to be awfully good for the rest of the year.

    One afternoon armed with such weapons as hoes, rakes and cement we (the whole class) took ourselves to Tivy Mountain and made some repairs.  After which we took some pictures and ate fruit and went home.

    Miscellaneous

    Athletics

    Basketball, football, baseball and track game were taken great interest in this year.

    The boys basketball team won one game from Center Point and lost one to them.

    They were not quite so fortunate however in football as they lost all the games except one and they tied in this with the All-Stars.

    Jim Guinn, Dan Auld, Harry Dietert and Emmett Henke were representatives of Kerrville in the tract meet at Austin.

    Our basketball team won one game from Center Point but owing to… a sort of misunderstanding!!! we didn’t play with them anymore.  We won all the other games that we played at school.

    The school track meet was quite a success, Dan Auld winning the Senior Medal and Joe Williams the Junior Medal.

     

     

    1914 Tivy High School Invitation cover page

     

     

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