The San Antonio light. (San Antonio, Tex.) 1883-1886, 1885-09-25
ANOTHER VETERAN.


INDEPENDENCE, September S, 1885.
Editors Brcnhnm Banner:
yesterday received copy of "rhe
Standard" from which have taken the
following notice of the death of my old
friend and comrade in 1885 and 1886,
Captain Robert j. Calder, who died at
Richmond, Fort Bend county, on the
2Sth of last August. Captain Calder
was Second Lieutenant in Captain j.
w. Fannin's company at the battle of
Conception on the 2Sth of October, 1885,
and believe was only % years old when
he commanded one of the % companies
that sealed the Independence of Texas
at san Jaointo, April II, 1896. | endorse
all that the old veteran, Colonel De-
Morse, says about Captain Robert j.
Calder, and wish you would publish 1t
with this and send me 70 copies, which
| wish to send to the survivors of the
eyentful battle of San Jacinto.
Yours, etc.
MOSES AUSTIN BRYAN.
The Houston Post of September says:
"Richmond, August 3l.-Captain II. j.
Calder, an old Texas veteran, was buried
here Saturday last"
These three lines record the departure
of one of the truest men OF the old Texas
of the days of the Republic-one who
aided in ushering into being the bright
star, destined in the future to be more
brilliant than any other of the galaxy
constituting the union of States. Calder
came into Texas with his father and set
tied In Brazoria, just before the battle of
NelascO. lie was not in that battle, but
was in Fannin's first company organized
at Brazoria, but was not In Fannin's
command when massacred at Goliad.
Calder commanded company at San
JacintO, and was the last surviving cap
rain of those actually engaged in that
battle. We first saw him when he aud
Ben Franklin (afterward District Judge)
started from the battle field in II skifi to
report the battle to President Burnett,
then at Galveston. lie and Franklin in
buckskin coats and breeches, came first
ON board the schooner of war lndepend-
enoe, OF which we were an officer, and
offended Burnett because he had not
first reported to him. After this he was
sheriff of BraZoria during the famous
Monroe Edwards contests with Dart.
and was swindled by Edwards out of
about 5000, fees and responsibilities I'M
dertaken, while In charge OF the import
ed Africans, ms every body else was
swindled who dealt with Edwards. Sub
sequently he moved to Richmond in
Fort Bend county, and became mem
Der of the Legislature from that county;
after that its County Judge. With a fond
ness for reading he was man of much
| intelligence and shrewd reasoning ca
| paoity, and was an exemplar of the best
| class of Old Texans, infleXibly honest,
not merely in his actions, but in his
train of thought; ont-spOken, honorable,
and capable of warm attachments. He
was II landmark Of the old Texas. There
are few like him left. lie leaves a
wife and some children. A son of his
married II daughter of General NJ. b
Lamar, by his last wife, who was Miss
Josephine Maiilt, a daughter Of the once
famous Methodist Preacher. Mrs
Lamar is still living and well preserved
| We indulge In no mournful straint
over the dead. He was aged and hon
ored by his neighbors, had always done
his duty fearlessly, and was ready to die
In the iullness of years and of good act,
within his sphere, he has passed away
lie will have Rest, and no bad acts Il
account for. Why should any on,
mourn for him except his aged partner