The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1902-11-06
TEXAS BARBARA FRIETCHIE.
Former belle of th~ Lone star Rc.
public After whom the city OF
DcnIson Was Named.

Mrs. Elizabeth Allen Dcnison, "thc
barbara frictchic of Texas" who died
'ust at Chrisimasti,c at the home of
icr daughter. Mrs. \. ID. Hewitt. 225
il3th street, New York. was noted
'igurc in the history of the state that
was once Il republic and almost an en-
pirc.
The friend and counselor OF the most
famous generals. who later served on
both sides in the civil war, the mistress
herself of hundreds of slaves, she
raised above her home in san Antonio
the first federal flag that floatcd In
that state. II was an act of splendid
daring. Her husband was absent In
the north. her four children with her
in the big house and public scntimmt
ut boiling point. liut the love of her
country, which had been insiillcd in
the little girl. blazcd out anew in the
inatured woman.
Working in secret. She had wrought
that flag with her own hands. it,
every fold seemed part of herself. u
was only when she saw il given tn the
breeze that her courage momcntarily
forsook her.
"It l. 81 big. so big" she cried. fold.
ing her children Ia her bosom with her
mothers first fear that she had en-
dangercd their lives.
Mrs. Denison was born In 1,aldwins.
Vile, y. T.. in 1919. II was in 1886.
when She was II, that she went To
Texas, then republic under the chap.
cronagc of Mrs. Allen, who became
famous as the mother of the town of
lIousto on"
The young girl. richly endowed, both
mentally and physically, was fctcd like
n queen.
Gen. Sam Houston, then the prcsi
dent, presented her with the horse
which he rode at the battle Of San
.Iacinto. And when her hand was won
by the dnshing Maj. Royal, the richest
plantation owner in the republic. the
general was present to bid her god
speed on the bridal journey (all ON
horscbackI To her husbands bron0
acres. Later Mrs. Royal with Gen
| Houston opened the ball which celc
bratcd Texas annexation to the union
I'ut the girl brides happiness was oi
short duration. Fifteen months after
that brilliant wedding she stood beside
her husbands bicr-,n widow of is.
Seven years later she became the
wife of James 4. Dcnison. uftcrwnrc
| Justice of the Supreme court of Texas.
cousin aud law partner of the future
Chief Justice Salmon 4. Chase, and
removed To san Antonio. II was her,
that she gathered about her cotcrit
Of brilliant men aud women. Gen.
robert T.. Lee taught her children in
sunday school. His farewell call on
Mrs. Dcnison just nj the outbreak of
iostilities was u memorable one.
II will go with my state" he said
A. he pressed her hand.
Gen. Merritt, barely 30. and in the
Early days Of his command nj the post,
Ieauregard and many another formed
part Of the group about Mrs. Denison,
Her "bar dinners" given TO member
u the legal profession exclusively,
were famous. Though no other woman
vas present, she invariably appeared
nj the head of her own table.
One of her fnyorite stories Of tho
iroublous war times was of the visit
Of Quantrell with his band OF despc.
rndoes To San Antonio. The war was
over, the state waiting for the cncmy's
formal possession. Qunnircll, Ell
route to Mexico, established u three.
days reign Of terror.
To the close of her life, says the New
York World, Mrs. Dcnison retained the
facile wit and conversational distinc
,ion which marked those years wheI
she queencd IL down IN Texas. Iiei
taste was always for bright colors--i
touch Of blue nt her throat or IN hci
hair was the invariable relief of 0
somber gown. At her funeral, there
fore, pale co.ors replaced the tradi
tional black. The casket was Of gray
the flowers laid upon IL of vivid'hues
The Rev. DIR. Nand,water ofiiciated nj
the hoy soprano Ebbsmith Of Trinity
: church was the soloist. Acute pneu
monia was the cause Of her death
Mrs, Hewitt Is her only surviving child
The town of Denison, Texas, wa,
: named In her honor.