The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-04-15
0RAN M. ROBERTS.
HE Is PRESENTED WITH A
WALKING CANE.
A BEAUTIFUL TESTIMONIAL REL
ICOF THE POST.

Last afternoon after the adjournment |
ex-Chief Justice o. M. Roberts, who had |
been invited to be present, was presented
with handsome
GOLD HEADED CANE,
made from the timber of an oak tree I'M
der which he held the first district court
of Henderson county, about thirtY-six
years ago.
The presentation was made by Hon. j.
j. Faulk, of Athens, who said: Governor
Roberts, in behalf of the citizens of Hen
derson county, l present you this cane. 1t
is priced by my people, not on account of
its intrinsic value, but on account of its
early
ASSOCIATIONS AND HISTORY.
AS the engraving on it indicates, it was
made from the tree under which you had
the pleasure and honor of holding the first
district court that was ever held in Hen
derson county. On the night of February
u, 1885, this tree was killed by the fire
that then destroyed our courthouse. When
the new court house was erected, it became
necessary to remove the trunk
OF THE OLD TREE
that remained. The idea struck some of
the patriotic citizens of the county that
we at least ouget to preserve some part of
the old tree as a memorial, and it was fin
ally determined that we would have a cane
made from the wood of it and present it
to you as
TESTIMONIAL
of the high esteem in which we hold you
as one of our Oldest citizens and best
trusted public servant of our great state.
In the minutes of the court of October 3,
1850, have found the following order,
| (which is the last for that term), written in
your own handwriting:
This court is held in the woods under
the shade of an oak tree, near the centre
of the public square of Athena, which the
public authorities of the county are re-
quested to preserve as memento OF. the
habits of the early Texans.
Court is ordered to adjourn.
(Signed.) O. M. ROBERTS,
District Judge Presiding.
And, Governor Roberts, l am proud tC
say, from that day to the day of its des
truction, the public authorities did TAXI
special care of the old tree. The tre'
from which this cane was cut is part o
the history of our county, and W
desire to see it perpetuated
and in its death to be wit
hose who we're with it when Texa
first began to make her history. nov
therefore, in the name of the people
Henderson county, and for them, haV
the pleasure of presenting you with tn
walking cane, and you will accept 1t froi
grateful people, who take pleasure
always acknowledging, publicly and pr
f yately, your exalted merit as private C..
e izen and public servant.
! Trusting that it may be rod and sta
a that will in some degree be
/ COMFORT TO YOU
S in your declining years, and that 1t mi
e be the means of recalling to your mn
l. some of the pleasant recollections OF Z
II past history of our state, during Whl
g there have been so many thrilling even
II enacted, this cane is respectfully pr
sented."
= Governor Roberts was visibly affected al
II in returning his thanks, took occasion
h call ND many incidents and occurrence
d of early court days in the wilds of Text
} He said he held the court under the tire
% because the people of the county, by vo
n had just selected the center of the coun
L as the county seat, and he was tired
1 / the perambulating courts, which were
n ing held all over that part of the state.
e. The cane bears the natural color OF t
d red-oak timber, beautifully gold-mounte
, which bears
- THIS INSCRIPTION
3. handsomely engraved;
+, "This stick was cut from the tree und
40 which Ex-Governor o. M. Roberts he
te the first district court in Henderson cou
ty. October 3, 1860; and it is presented
Ex-Governor Roberts by the people
uandersnn cnnnty.N