Lagniappe
In appreciation of those who visit my website, I am thrilled to offer a little bonus of articles about the history of Fayette County, Texas. Of particular interest to me is the N. W. Faison family. You can learn more about the house at www.faisonhouse.org.
Check back often for new stories.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH MATT gAINES
In honor of Black History Month, I am sharing this article I wrote for the historical series, Footprints of Fayette County. The article is titled FAYETTE COUNTY JURY DERAILS CIVIL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. African-Americans learned that they were free from slavery on...
GOVERNMENT DESTROYS PRIVATE ENTERPRISE
Today, we hear politicians decry that the federal government is killing the private enterprise of coal mining by imposing environmental regulations and supporting other forms of energy. This is nothing new. The same scenario played out when, in 1935, the Rural...
A BLOODY MONTH IN 1888
Prior to the end of the Civil War, the right to bear arms in Texas was absolute. However, fear of armed freedmen brought the first legislation limiting the unrestrained possession of weapons. In 1871, the Texas legislature passed "An Act to Regulate the Keeping and...
African Americans Help Save La Grange
After emancipation the State of Texas began to pass Jim Crow laws (laws requiring racial segregation). The Lone Star state eventually passed 27 of these laws which were not repealed until 1964. Blacks were segregated in schools and when using public...
Sam Houston Did Not Sleep Here
Today Sam Houston is a beloved and revered figure in Texas history. However, his relationship with the citizens of La Grange was a rocky one. Soon after his arrival in Texas in December, 1832, Houston began to exasperate area residents. Houston went to Gonzales to...
Relationships Between Whites and African Americans After the Civil War
After Emancipation, African Americans struggled to reunite families, set up households, start their own churches and schools, and establish their own rural communities. While newspaper editorials railed against African Americans in general—vigorously opposing their...
