The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1874-06-18
COL. ROBERT WILLAuIS-ONE OF
THE OLD LANDMARKS.


Yesterday we had the pleasure of visit
from our old friend and neighbor, Col
Robert II. Williams, of Matagorda county,
one of the pioneers ofTexas. Col. Williams
is now in his seventy-eighth year. but is still
as erect as an Indian, though he feels and
shows the effects of old age. He was a
member of Austin's colony, and zeached
Texas in December, of 1923. After living
for while at Gross's Retreat, some fifteen
miles above San Philippe, on the Brazes, he
moved to Matagorda county, in 1925, and
opened plantation on Old Caney, where
he has resided ever since. He commenced
the successful production of corn and cot
ton, built the third cotton gin in the
State in 1927, and rapidly gained the
e1lviable reputation of being kind and
generous citizen, ready to divide Shatever
be made with those around him who, in
those hard and dangerous times. needed
help and support. He was appointed
alealae in 1926, and held this important po-
sition until 1888, and it is a fact that during
his administration of over seven years there
were but two suits prosecuted before him,
all appeals to the law having been other
wise settled by moral inducement for
personal adjustment. During long series
of years the Carancahuas, a fierce and
war-ike tribe of Indians, infested all
the coast country from the Brazos to
the Guadalupe, and Colonel Williams
was often called upon to meet them
in deadly conflict. At one time he and
eleven men held over one hundred and
sixty of the Carancahua warriors at bay
for number of hours on Buckner's Prairie
until the chief was killed, when they re-
tired in safety. he fought about fifty of
the same Indians short time after this at
Dressing Point, on the Bay, gaining sig
nal victory; and shortly afterwards he per-
fected treaty of peace with the tribe,
which was ever respected. Several of the
Indians remained upon his plantation
for short time after the treaty, and as
sisted him in gathering his crops. The
Carancahuas, long extinct, we're probably
the finest specimen of aborigines on
the continent. None of the warriors
were under six feet in height and many of
them reached seven. After they entered
into the treaty the spirit of the tribe was
subdued, and the chief had all the female
children destroyed. Two of the women
escaped to the town of Matagorda and left
two little Indian girls there, who grew to
be twelve or thirteen years old, and made
excellent servants, but died at that age.
And in this manner passed away the
Carancahuas. s,
Col. Williams lost an eye by a shot at the
battle of Velasco in 1882. His remaining
eye as he advanced in age began to grow
weaker and weaker, until, in 1866, he be-
came unable either to read or write. He
lost his sight entirely shortly after this, and
so it remained until fortunate operation
was performed upon him by DIR. Dohmen
of this place last year. Since then the
old gentleman has had the happiness of
again recognizing friends, and, with the
use of strong glasses, Of reading
the newspapers. The frosts ofseventy-eight
winters now cover his brow, but beneath
his snow white locks there Hnger some of
the youthful features still. Col. Williams
has always been a man of generous i'm
pulses, kind to his family, even to fault,
and loved and respected by all who knew
him. He has two surviving children, onea
daughter living In San Antonio, and a son
living in Matagorda county. he is spend
ing some timein this city with an old friend.