Sturcken, Johnye C

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East Texas Historical JournalVolume 30 | Issue 2 Article 810-1992Amanda and William Franklin Burks: A NuecesCounty PartnershipJohnye C. SturckenFollow this and additional works at: http://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/ethjPart of the United States History CommonsTell us how this article helped you.This Article is brought to you for free and open access by SFA ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in East Texas Historical Journal by anauthorized administrator of SFA ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact cdsscholarworks@sfasu.edu.Recommended CitationSturcken, Johnye C. (1992) "Amanda and William Franklin Burks: A Nueces County Partnership," East Texas Historical Journal: Vol.30: Iss. 2, Article 8.Available at: http://scholarworks.sfasu.edu/ethj/vol30/iss2/8EAST TEXAS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONAMANDA AND WILLIAM FRANKLIN BURKS:A NUECES COUNTY PARTNERSHIP45by Johnye C. SturckenPersonal letters are an excellent source of early Texas history. Theforty-six personal letters written by Amanda and William Franklin Burksfrom June 10, 1867 to January 9, 1876 provide information about thestock business and life in Nueces County after the close of the Civil War. IThirty-eight letters are from W.F. Burks to his wife Amanda, and eightletters are from her to him. All of the letters were written while he wasaway on trail drives, buying and selling horses, cattle, and mules.Before moving to Nueces County, the Burks lived on Shawnee Prairie,fourteen miles from Homer in Angelina County, where they moved aftertheir marriage on October 14, 1858, when he was nineteen and she wasseventeen years of age. During the eight years they lived on ShawneePrairie, Burks was away much of the time serving in the Civil War as amember of the Texas Cavalry.2 The young couple had two children, John,who lived about nine months, and Lucy, who lived a little over three years.After the war, Burks decided to go into the stock business at Banquetein Nueces County. The move began on October 1, 1866. Moving with themwere Burks' sister Rhoda, his half-sister Margaret, his half-brothers Mark,Bob, and John, and two black servants, Uncle Ike and Liza. Two wagonsheld their possessions, which included $2200 in gold. They also drovethirty·five head of horses. The trip lasted six weeks. taking them byCrockett, Bryan, Cuero t Goliad. and finally to Banquete t where theybought land and built a five-room house.] Burks soon established his stockbusiness and made a cattle drive to Natchez, Mississippi, during the sum-mer of 1867.Four letters survive from this drive, all from Burks to his wife. Aftertrading horses for beef cattle, he wrote from Caldwell in Burleson Countyon June 10, telling Mrs. Burks that he was about ready to leave for Nat-chez and that "the crops are fine & flourishing, watters are high creeksfull and the Brazos up." He described a recent frightening experience:I will tell you how near you carne being a widow - the fact is [ cameas near drowning in the Creek near Caldwell as ever a man did inthis world I started in on my horse and he got half way across andgot in to a Suck and went under and as he rose to the top he comeup rearing and Splunging in the water and hit me with his foot orhead and stunned me and Sunk me and also Strangled me in the waterand I was exausted too and I tried to Swim But was too week alsoI was right in a whirlpool and after Doing all that I could to get tothe land just as I went Down the bottom for the last time I come tothe Bottom (the water just to my chin) or I should have been in eter-nity oh it makes me Shudder to think of that moment.Johnye C. Sturcken is Professor of English at Ea.st Texas State University.46 EAST TEXAS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONHe was plagued by swollen creeks and rivers on much of the trip but lostfew cattle. On August 6, he arrived at Natchez with seventy-nine headof cattle.Burks next drive occurred in 1868; seven letters survive, three fromBurks to his wife and four from him to her. He sold horses for beef cat-tle, and by the time he reached San Saba County, he had acquired 139head of cattle. Although some horses remained unsold. Burks decided tostart the drive to market in order to get away from the Indians, who werestealing horses in San Saba County. When he reached the Brazos Rivernear Bryan, he left the unsold horses with an employee. intending to returnfor them after the cattle drive was completed. On October 5, he wrotefrom Owensville in Robertson County, "If I could have sold all of myhorses [ would have made $1,000 clear of all expenses But as it is I cannottell what I will make if I get a good price for my Beeves I will make agood trip after all." The drive reached Natchez the second week inNovember. By November 21, Burks had sold all his stock, spent threedays in New Orleans, and after a trip across the Gulf of Mexico, wroteto his wife from Houston to say that he made good money on the trip.While Burks was away, Mrs. Burks took care of their interests at Ban-quete. Four of the eight letters written by her were written during this drivein 1868. By then the Burks had opened a general store in partnership withDr. Jefferies, a local physician, who managed the store when Burks wason a cattle drive. The Burks had also acquired a great deal of horse stock.On August 2, she wrote that the store was not doing well because of com-petition from another store in the area, but her main concern was withtheir horse stock, which included about sixty colts. On August 15, writingthat Jeff, one of the horses, had been stolen, she told her husband thatthe "crounty has bin full of men running from goliad they have bin kill-ing ever body that had a bad name. It She believed one of these men tookJeff. Five days later t she wrote that someone had "traided A large bayhorse with our brand on him A bout thirty five miles from hear to amexican." Mrs. Burks sent a neighbor to investigate I and he brought Jeffhome.During trail drives, the Burks endured long separations. On October5, she wrote to tell him that she had received her first letter from himin two months. Expecting him home any day, she was disappointed tolearn that he would be away longer:I am so sorry you cant come horne ... you have bin gone five monthsI dont think the time is as long to you as me I hope not who have] to care fore no one in this world but you and have to stay awayfrom you I have not bin with you five months since peace was made.In a letter dated October 26-28, she told him that her stove was worn outand she was cooking in the fireplace. She wrote of her hardships andloneliness:EAST TEXAS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION 47I have had a hard time this year more hard work than I ever donein my life I live in hopes you will come home and stay with me I cannot stay away from you so long again ... I have put up forty poundsof butter for you to eat this winter I have a turnup growing to youtold me you wood be hear to plant turnup do you remeber it I havehad a turkey up amounth thinking you wood come ever day.His last letter on this drive was dated November 21, 1868 from HOllston.He had sold out in Natchez and was on his way home but had to go byBryan to sell the horses left there early in October.Twenty-one letters were preserved from the drive in 1869, seventeenfrom Burks to his wife, and four from her to him. On May 12 he wrotefrom Concrete, located near Cuero in DeWitt County. where he was sell-ing horses. He had had two stampedes but had lost no horses. By May21 he reached Burnet County and expected to sell his horses for a goodprofit. Writing to his wife about affairs at Banquete, Burks expressed com-plete confidence in her judgment and said. "I want you to write to mehow my Business is doing at home and if you think it is not doing wellI want you to make things different you need not be affraid to act in anyway you see proper." He was riding toward Lampasas Springs and toldher to write him there in care of a man named Snapp Bean. By May 28he was selling horses at Lampasas. averaging about $48 a head. He wasnot getting cash for them but was taking beef cattle at $10 a head.Burks moved on to San Saba and wrote on June 3 that the Indianshad stolen most of the horses in the area. Writing again on June 11, histhirtieth birthday, he stated: "I have sold about 65 head of horses havegot 275 head of Beeves and am going to start to gathering up the CattleI will make some money." By July 17 he was ready to start the drive tomarket with about 330 head of cattle. Worried about the Indians, he ex-pected to be out of danger in two days and wrote' 'then we can all sleepone night all night for we are all worn out with fatigue and hard work."He was in high spirits and expected to be home in September. stating "ifI have good luck I will have a pocket full of rocks and (Money makesthe mare go) all Right you can cut wood and make your own fires fora short time but there is a better day coming."Early in the drive, Burks had trouble with a young man namedJohnny, who was the son of Dr. Jefferies at Banquete, Burks' partnerin the general store. The young man was on his first cattle drive. Burks,angry and disgusted with him, wrote:I have a Dutchman driving the wagon for us and cooking Johney canteat fat meat cant eat corn Bread cant drink Black Coffee cant eatold Butter cant set up at night cant drink Claber milk in rack he cantdo nothing that the Ballance Does grumbles all the time keeps thehands thinking that I ought to Bye more than I do and I bye all thatI can I wish he was at home he has Been doing this way all the timesince we first come to Lampasas County. (July 22)Johnny grew up on the drive, for after it reached Natchez on September48 EAST TEXAS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION8, Burks wrote home, praising Johnny for his hard work. Burks foundthe cattle market depressed, and instead of returning home in Septemberas he had planned, he was forced to remain in Natchez for several moremonths.During his stay in Natchez, Mrs. Burks wrote of affairs at home. Fourof her surviving letters were written during this drive, and in two of them,she discussed the serious illness of Liza, the black girl who moved withthem from Angelina County. Liza had been bitten by a rattlesnake, andMrs. Burks described her condition vividly:lizzar got bit by a rattle snake I cant tell you how much she has suf-fered I have bin up nearly ever night with her she has not set up annyyet the flesh has come of on the top of her foot ... the Docttor sayshe think lizar will git well ... I thought twice she was dying. (June 8)A week later on June 15, Mrs. Burks wrote that Liza was better, but stillcould not walk. It had been twenty-two days since she was bitten, but shewas not expected to walk for several more weeks.On August 28, Mrs. Burks wrote that "all the men have gone westto stop stealing in the cattle." She said that horse buyers were beginningto come into the area, one from as far away as Mississippi, and she ex-pected more soon. Her last surviving letter is dated November 6. She toldher husband that the store was closed and suggested "if you was by yourself I think you could do a good business hear this winter."Ten letters remain from 1870, and all of them are from Burks to hiswife. He sold horses and mules near Victoria during late January, movedearly in February to Concrete, where he lost eighteen horses in a stampede,and on February 14 wrote from La Grange that he was selling horses fora good price and expected to be home in three or four weeks. Promisingto spend more time at home, he said:Amanda hire all your wood hauled and be sure to do it for I feeltlike ( had not treated you Right and if you will forgive for it and Iknow you will that I will not do so any more You know that I liketo stay at home first Rate and that I deprive my self of all the Com-forts and pleasures at home to try to make money for you and mehowever I will stay with you until you are tired of me when I comehome.Dispirited on this trip, he wrote again on February 19 from Hopkinsville,located in Gonzales County about twenty-five miles from La Grange:"Amanda I am very anxious to come home and I am not going lye toyou no more for I sware to you I will stay at home if I do not mak onecent in 12 months Amanda I do not think that I will mak one Dollar onthe trip."Burks' promise to stay home was unrealistic~ if he was to remain inthe stock business, and they both knew it. By May 28 he was gone again,writing from Rio Grande City, where he was waiting for Mexican filliesto be delivered at Camargo by Don Jose Maria Pe'la. On July 24, he wroteEAST TEXAS mSTORICAL ASSOCIATION 49Mrs. Burks that he had been 150 miles into Mexico but did not buy manyhorses.Few letters remain after 1870. From 1871, no letters survive becauseMrs. Burks went up the trail to Kansas with her husband when he drove1000 steers to market. Her account of this trip appears in The Trail Driversof Texas (1924). After a drive in 1872, Burks wrote from Ellsworth, Kan-sas, on August 18, saying: "I have tryed to sell ever Since I came hereBut cant Do it at a fair Price- Damn-this Country any how nothinghere But gamblers-Fancy women and Texas Fools-all mixed uptogether." One letter survives from a drive to Natchez in 1873; the lasttwo letters, written December 21, 1875 and January 9. 1876, were fromLouisiana where he was selling horses and mules.After his return to Banquete, Burks decided to move to a new areawhere he would have more open range for his horses. In 1876, while travel-ing with a party of surveyors in La Salle County. he found land he likedand filed a homestead. He and Mrs. Burks, accompanied by his sisterRhoda, moved to La Salle County in the fall, arriving on November 26,1876. Unfortunately, Burks, who was ill with tuberculosis, died twomonths later on January 27, 1877 at the age ofthirty~seven. He was buriedin the family cemetery at La Mota Ranch.Before he died, Burks advised his wife to sell the horses and establisha sheep ranch. Later, after the brush began to destroy the prairie grass,she switched to cattle. Widowed twelve days before her thirty-sixth birth-day, Amanda Burks remained in La Salle County and developed the prop-erty that she and her husband had homesteaded. She continued to buyland, and at one time owned 43,000 acres, 33,000 acres in La Salle Coun-ty called the La Mota Ranch and 10,000 acres in Webb County knownas Los Pintos Ranch. She outlived William Franklin Burks more than fifty-four years, but she never remarried. She died on the ranch on September15, 1931 4 at age ninety and was buried beside her husband in the cemeteryat La Mota Ranch.The forty-six personal letters written by Amanda and WilliamFranklin Burks between 1867 and 1876 provide information about the stockbusiness in Texas after the Civil War. These letters also reveal the devo-tion and mutual respect felt by a young couple who built an enduring part-nership on the Texas frontier.NOTES'Letters written by Amanda and William Franklin Burks have been made availableto me through the courtesy of Amanda Bell Newman and Virginia Bell Sturges of Cotulla,Texas. They have assisted generously in my work.2Civil War letters from W.P. Burks to his wife indicate that he was a member of theThirteenth Texas Dismounted Cavalry Regiment under the command of Colonel John H.Burnett from April 6, 1862 to December 29, 1862. No letters survive from 1863. By July7, 1864. Burks was on his way to join the Rio Grande expedition under the command of50 EAST TEXAS HISTORICAL ASSOCIATIONColonel John S. Ford and remained with this group until the end of the war.lAmanda Burks, "East to West: Reminiscences of Mrs. Amanda Burks, Pioneer Womanand One of La Salle's Largest Ranch Owners," Cotulla Record, May 3, 1924."In my paper "Amanda Nite Burks, Willie Baylor Bell and J. Frank Dobie: A BrushCountry Friendship," in Purview Southwest: Proceedings of the Southwest and Texas PopularCulture Association Meeting for 1989, edited by Reed Harp (Stillwater, Oklahoma, 1989),pp. 335-45, I cited the death date for Mrs. Burks as September 16, 1931, based on informa-tion found in La Salle County: South Texas Brush Country 1856-1975 (1975) by AnnetteMartin Ludeman, p. 146. The correct date is September J5, 1931, as cited in this paper.

Amanda and William Franklin Burks: A Nueces County Partnership

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Amanda and William Franklin Burks: A Nueces County Partnership

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