The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-06-01
JOHN ii. REAGAN.
Il. (irand Old Man of Texas Now "a Years
Of Age, but Still in Active Service

,ntery,ew Judge John II.
b exseting g promise that there
S'p' i literal adherence 70 lacts anu
''sn !. !, embellishments talked entertain i1,
y y a,rly days in Texas, and incident
|t;slf ss'. ort sketch Of his boyhood and
's I, I'D Tennessee a ..
=. ,rdse was horn IN sewer e9un NY,
~ W. october s, ISIS. of old ploneer
lt''''. .sres lines of his ancestors having
go ~ the arst settlers Of that terri
hsl M n.y. srcat. grandfather helped to build
VI h and his grandfather, John
~ ,,s ore of the two first white
Ib'''h,- .rres,eeans. In pocticnl justice
slw .,.,n,l couple shoald have been
~ ~" ar each other, but "l followed
' q, Of different fancF the lady
p y. ne wife Of Major James Porter of
|,sIprl.l fame ,o,.o
w MAT historical birthday, and the
p,,n,s Of that John Reagan reside at
q ol nt,Ser Of Judge Reagan was farmer
.h hls f0rbears, and the boy grew up
w. ~ rsnal surroundings and labor on
.rh ps a. mn early age he followed the
isfn We may infer that ne gave that
= ~ ..,or the same observance OF detail
ssy...iS,s marked every undertaRlng OF ms
hh "a ~ "A successful career. His record
sftNal I'll, nIoymon is still bright In the old
y ~ and Is the nucleus around
si rs Il rnven many of the anecdotes OF
ssfs .hsood one that was recalled to his
y pe,Ayi sst summer is that when he first
nfu.; Il follow the pillow he also began to
sla Ss dictionary. A Webster's una.
NV nv. A occnuled the crown of his hat ana
pi'a.s ss ,ytn Of the end Of the row he re-
wv, nes-rsS As he cut the next furrow.
". sreat many of our notable mon,
rN sstcady march Mt the tail of the
" wv .n,c,s the broad fields developed more
wv ". Man brawn and muscle. While his
y. arspE IN the bracing air and his body
NM m stature and endurance, mis- inquis-
~. mind was absorbing aud assimilating
: X, amen book Of nature and acquiring the
+ " '. spt NJ an education that In his case
iee ass.r nyrsned and extended Until today
!, I. ssuss among the great of the age.
I'M BECAME A
MERCHANT MILLER.
t,.rlue the farm at II years Of age, he
,a.ned the full responsibility of set
I rrehsnt mills at Bards creek. The
-,us comprised a Touring, corn and saw
I'M WITH three sets Of French saws, and
| n time rilers will understand what that
rspt as a test of young Reasnn's capacity
4 III work.
la,f three years he resigned this lucra'
II, ,nd responsible position to come TO
ms In 1882 General Albert Sidney
E,,snou was secretary Of war and soon
= as bis arrival rendered to young Reagan
| uecpd leutenancy in a company OF the
Is;sdIus army Of the republic. General
1EivEd Burleson commanded the regiment
I'M was in perfect accord with the see
5ArJ ID the appointment. 1t was respect
s!s!y declined. however. and our modest
| yssg emlgrant Joined a company of ran
/ Inn ID o private. With the rest of those
| aslss defenders of the scattered ana
Ilinwed settlers, he performed mis- share
/ d yalpr and sacrifice, and bore his part in
|nt dangerous and bloody warfare against
/ d hostile Indians.
Upon the memorable raid of the Conan
| dsi ID lsi1 when they attacked King S
! Fort which Is now the town of Kauf-
| rin nner brought the alarm 10 Gen
. tih liae smith. to whose command young
Esssn Belonged. and they started in hot
! llngt They followed the Indians beyond
i 70 Trinity river to within ten miles of
! he present site Of Fort Worth, then a