https://archive.org/details/20171211TCHCTravisCountyAudubonBlairWoodsSanctuaryTripReport
On 12/11/17 members of the Travis County Historical Commission made a field trip to the Travis Co. Audubon Blair Woods Sanctuary, 5401 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78721, at the request of Paul Fushille, Travis County Natural Resources Specialist. Following the trip research on the property was done using old maps, deeds, newspaper articles and historic aerial photos including a 1937 aerial from Tobin Imagery.
In brief, the Audubon property and buildings represent a largely intact early 1900s dairy farm owned by the Moehr family, first generation Swiss immigrants. The property was part of Fort Prairie, a community that sprang up around old Fort Colorado, AKA Coleman’s Fort.
Some artifacts such as cut nails, hand hewn limestone, stacked rock fences, may indicate development from the 19th century (or salvaging from Fort Colorado). For example, ca. 1865, Fort Colorado’s location was briefly used in the Civil War to protect against Union forces invading Austin. It is logical to assume Coleman Springs, on the property, may have been utilized as part of that effort. During reconstruction the property was owned by J.P. Richardson, a Colonel in the Union Army, then later a judge; what he may have done with the property is not known. In 1884 the property was sold to Jeanette W. Thielepape whose husband was brother to the mayor of San Antonio during reconstruction. The Thielepapes were Swedish and sale of the “Thielepape farm” was advertised in one of Austin’s Swedish newspapers.
But the Moehr period, 1911 to 1951, is the most historically significant in terms of the buildings. At the outset the site had the promise of historical significance given its proximity to Fort Colorado, arguably Travis County’s most historic Republic of Texas era Fort, written about by Noah Smithwick, early Texas pioneer and Ranger who served at the fort, in his classic Evolution of a State. Ownership of the farm by Paul Moehr, then later daughter Susanna Moehr, establishes an important connection to the fort. Susanna Moehr was interviewed by historian and author Mary Starr Barkley; an interview included in Barkley’s History of Travis County and Austin. Susanna recounts her father having used materials salvaged from Fort Colorado in buildings on the property. Susanna Moehr was also neighbors with Mr. and Mrs. Frank Blair to whom she sold the property and provided historic information about the property that made its way into a 1968 report on archeology done at the fort.
Additionally, evidence of a heretofore unrecognized freedmen's community after the Civil War was found to have been located on the southern boundary of the property. Ancestors were contacted, and ties found between the Fort Prairie freedmen’s community and historic St. Mary’s Colony in Bastrop.
Fort Prairie may be one of the earliest, and longest continuously inhabited, communities now within Austin’s city limits, founded near Fort Colorado. The Audubon property & structures represent a historic time capsule of that vanishing Fort Prairie community. The provenance of the property, in particular the Moehr period, is well documented in deeds, maps, newspaper articles and photos adding to the historic and educational value of the property.
Property Timeline; Deed Trail
1832 – Jessie Tannehill first acquires property as part of his headright league #29. Jessie Tannehill loaned the property to the Republic of Texas for the express purpose of building Fort Colorado; he later started the original town of Montopolis on his headright league.1836 to 1838 Fort Colorado, AKA Fort Coleman, AKA, Coleman's Fort is situated across today's MLK from the Audubon property. Coleman Springs, on the property, is said to have been a source of water for the fort. According to the 1968 archeology report on Fort Colorado[1], "older residents of Fort Prairie had insisted that the town began shortly after the fort was established". This makes perfect sense as the purpose of forts was to offer protection from hostile Indians and encourage settlement. We have plenty of examples in Texas of towns that sprang up around forts. And in Fort Prairie’s case we have the tradition that the fort, when decommissioned, provided materials that were used by setters to construct other buildings, Jesse Tannehill’s house being a notable example. If so, Fort Prairie the community, is one of the earliest, and longest continually inhabited communities now within Austin’s city limits.
Circa 1865, Fort Colorado’s location (possible structures if any?) were briefly used during the waning years of the Civil War to protect against Union forces invading Austin. In archeology reports some of the trenches and artifacts have been attributed to this period. It is logical to assume Coleman Springs, on the Audubon property, may have been utilized as part of that effort as well.[2],[3]
[deed trail from Tannehill to J.P. Richardson not established, though if we have the correct J.P. Richardson identified, he purchased property after the close of the Civil War; more below in footnotes]
1884 J.P. Richardson sells 94 acres of the Tannehill league to Jeanette W. Thielepape[4]
1891 map of Austin and Surrounding Properties shows the Mrs. J.W. Thielepape 94 acre tract on which the Audubon property now resides.[5]
1902 94 acre “Thielepape farm” for sale in a Swedish paper; our translator says it was “old Swedish”, but translates as "Thielepape's farm located on the road to Decker, consisting of 94 acres at a price of $3,000 … Come see us before you purchase land. We are here to stay."[6]
[gap Carl Wendlandt & Sons, apparently realtors in Austin, acquire property]
1911 Carl & Sophie Wendlandt sell to Paul Moehr. The Moehr period is probably the most historically significant in terms of the buildings on the property. Over the following decades various news articles document the Moehr family and farm; the Moehr connection proves to be important with respect to old Fort Colorado.[7]
1920 Paul Moehr, United States Federal Census – from Switzerland, speaks German, immigrated 1908. They are dwelling #113 in the census; dwelling #112 is John Grove, Sr. as in postmaster of “John, TX” on some maps, AKA Fort Prairie.[8],[9] This also explains proximity of the Grove family to the old fort; the Field’s archeology report involves interviews w/ John Grove, Jr. and his memory of having played around the old fort area and what he saw there.
1921 Paul Moehr, advertises selling gravel from his gravel pit, address: Rt1, Box 16, Fort Prairie. A gravel pit on the north side of today’s MLK figures into Field’s 1968 archeology report with a story of timbers from the fort. This may well be Moher’s gravel pit? Aerial photos show other potential gravel pits[10]
1923 Paul Moehr Jr., asst. manager of Pennybacker Duroc Farm, which focused on hogs, on nearby Webberville Rd. Various other news articles document activities of the family in Austin. Susanna Moehr was plugged into the cultural scene of Austin, for example in 1933 the newspaper reported "Miss Susanna Moehr will represent Austin as a duchess at the second annual Cotton Ball and Style Show at A.& M. College this week", and later in 1967 served as the president of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 856. She was also active in the Austin Civic Theatre, and Choral Club. [11], [12], [13]
1923 Paul Moehr, advertises selling 1 cow. “FRESH JERSEY cow for sale, cheap. Gentle. Paul Moehr, Route 1, Box 16, Austin, Texas.” Notice now it reads, Austin, yet a year later, his wife’s obit still uses Fort Prairie.[14]
1923 Paul Moehr, advertises selling 3 "milch" (sic) cows; German for milk; census said native language is German[15]
1924 Paul Moehr, wife dies; obit says at home in Fort Prairie[16]
1928 Paul Moehr, Hay and cane for sale, "Webberville Rd." Aerial photos from 1937 show the entrance to the farm was from Webberville Rd.; FM 969 – AKA MLK – did not extend as it does today.[17]
1930 Paul Moehr Sr. dies; surviving are 3 sons & 3 daughters including Paul Moehr Jr. and sister Susanna[18]. It will be Susanna that eventually buys the property and sells a portion to Frank Blair.
1930 After Paul Moehr Sr. dies, heirs advertise place is for rent; gives description of property; it's a dairy! “THE PAUL MOEHR PLACE. For rent, our 98 acre farm on Webberville road, 3 miles from city limits. Has running water, concrete milk house, land has good grass and pasturage for a dairy. Good dairy barn with hay from last season in good condition. Prefer to rent to dairyman ... Ready to occupy at once.”[19]
1931 Paul Moehr heirs, farm is for sale: “FOR SALE - The Paul Moehr farm 3 mi. east of town. Electric lights, running water and equipped for dairy”.[20]
1944 Paul Moehr Jr. and "others" (heirs) sell to sister Susanna Moehr 93 acres, Jesse C. Tannehill league.[21]
1951 Blair acquired 10 acres from Susanna Moehr by deed dated 4/26/1951, Travis County Deed Records, Volume 1151, p. 250
1985 per Frank Blair's will, after his death, all 10 acres of his property purchased from Susanna Moehr were deeded to the Travis County Audubon Society, June 10th, 1985, filed August 30th, 1985, County Clerk, Travis County, Texas.
Historical Significance
While the Audubon property is only 10 of the original 94 acres, a review of the Tobin 1937 aerial photo shows the house and outbuildings, which include the dairy barn, represent the main dairy farm, including the spring. That photo shows there was another building south of the existing out buildings.The Audubon property therefore represents an early 20th century dairy farm, owned by Swiss immigrants “right off the boat”, that was part of Fort Prairie. Some artifacts such as cut nails, hand hewn limestone, stacked rock fences, may indicate development from the 19th century (or salvaging from Fort Colorado). Fort Prairie may be one of the earliest, and longest continuously inhabited, communities now within Austin’s city limits[22]. In addition, Fort Prairie may well have been in part a heretofore unrecognized freedmen’s community after the Civil War, with former slaves owning property.[23] The Audubon property & structures are a part of that vanishing Fort Prairie community.
The provenance of the property, in particular the Moehr period, is well documented in deed and newspaper articles; just like The Antique Road Show, a big part of the value comes from provenance, provenance, provenance! It makes for a great story, might qualify for a historical marker addressing the Moehr farm, Fort Colorado and Fort Prairie, and would be of value as an educational tool for all, and especially those in Austin of Swiss or Swedish descent. A mini Pioneer Farm![24]
The icing on the cake is the connection with Fort Colorado, arguably Travis County’s most historic, important Republic of Texas era Fort. Coleman Spring is of course thought to have been part of the water supply for the fort, but there is more. As history records the story, when Fort Colorado was decommissioned in 1838, settlers nearby (Fort Prairie) salvaged dressed logs, lumber, hardware, etc. for other their own use. Jessie Tannehill is known to have used materials from the fort in building his house. One obvious question given the very close proximity of the Audubon property to the old fort is whether any of the materials from the fort are existent in the structures on the Audubon property. Because we now know that the Moehrs were the previous owners to the Blairs, we have made an important connection to this story.
In 1965 a “limited” archeological investigation at Fort Colorado was conducted and published in 1968.[25] Paraphrasing from that publication, one important source of information regarding Fort Colorado is Barkley’s History of Travis County and Austin in which she recorded an interview with Susannah (sic) Moehr “a long-time resident in the vicinity of the site." She recalled that her father had removed some of the logs from the fort in order to build a home. This is of course Susanna Moehr, daughter of Paul Moehr! As part of the investigation, the archeologist, William Field, conducted interviews with Mrs. Frank Blair. The report then notes “Dr. and Mrs. Frank Blair reside just south of the excavation site and near the present location of the stone monument. Blair, Professor of Zoology at the University of Texas at Austin, and his wife have long had an interest in the history of Fort Colorado, and they gave much valuable assistance throughout the project. Mrs. Blair explained that the logs referred to above [Barkley] were taken from a house apparently built of timbers from the fort and situated just south of Highway 969, not far from the Blair residence. Mrs. Blair observed that a spring west of her home, since entirely enclosed in concrete, was pointed out to her by the former owner [that being Susanna Moehr] as being one of the springs used by soldiers from the fort. Another spring, about 150 yards north of the original monument location, was also used.”
Given Austin’s rapid rate of development, the Audubon property may well hold some of the last remaining bits of old Fort Colorado.
Documentation
This section provides documentation in addition to footnotes.J.P. Richardson
J.P. Richardson may be James Prentice Richardson, served as a Colonel for the Union in the Civil War, Mass. Infantry, 1861-1865. At the close of the war he received a commission in the regular army, which took him to Texas. Being offered the position of judge of the seventeenth judicial district, he resigned his commission in the regular army, and served a term of six years on the bench. In 1877 James P. Richardson, attorney, was residing at NW corner of Walnut and Congress Ave. In 1880 census listed as a lawyer, boarding on Walnut Street (14th) in Austin, TX. In 1890 was living in Austin, TX, Enumeration District 147. Died in Austin, 1901, age 79, remains were sent back to Mass. for burial.See Mooney & Morrison's General Directory Of The City Of Austin, Texas, For 1877-78, p.194 texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth46838/. See 1880 United States Federal Census https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/12327173?h=e92211. See 1890 Veterans Schedules https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/12323146?h=84baac. See Find A Grave https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/132635542/james-prentice-richardson. See Austin Daily Statesman(1901) https://www.austinlibrary.com:8443/login?url=https://www.austinlibrary.com:2129/docview/1612849595?accountid=7451.
Jeanette W. Thielepape
J.W. Thielepape is Jeanette Wilhelmine (Koch) Thielepape. BIRTH APR 1828, Cassel, Ahrweiler, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. DEATH DEC 1895, Austin, Travis, Texas, United States. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59738248/schanette-wilhelmina-thielepapeWas married to Georg Justus Thielepape. BIRTH 11 JAN 1811, Wabern, Hessen, Kassel, Germany. DEATH 04 DEC 1898, Austin, Travis, Texas, United States. 1880 census says he was a Draftsman in Gen. Land Office https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59738174/george-justus-thielepape.
His brother was Wilhelm Carl August Thielepape (1814–1904) who served as mayor of San Antonio during Reconstruction, from 1867 through 1872. Retrieved 1/8/2018 from https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fth41
Photograph of Georg and Jeanette retrieved 1/8/2018 https://www.ancestry.com/mediaui-viewer/tree/73686148/person/46280805924/media/95528ea7-4908-4823-bdbb-510923867785?_phsrc=PpZ59&_phstart=successSource
Fort Prairie: A Freedmen’s Community?
This section looks reasons for suspecting Fort Prairie may well have been in part a freedmen’s community in Travis County that has heretofore been unrecognized as such. More research needed.ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Austin American Statesman is a great source for news articles on Fort Prairie in general. This article in particular points to the fact that ex-slaves owned property in Fort Prairie: “Ex-Slave, 95, Comes Here Every Year to Pay Taxes”, The Austin Statesman, Feb 17, 1939.
Another article in 1910 describes “the colored institute”: “Promptly at 9 o’clock yesterday morning President J. F. Dawkins called the colored institute to order ... The Fort Prairie school is doing real and practical work in agriculture. They have been raising for the last few years an excellent variety of vegetables and the children have raised enough to supply the home. W.M. Lee's school at Fort Prairie is the model colored school of Travis county. He Is not talking things, but is doing things.” CAMPAIGN FOR MORALITY: COLORED TEACHER WILL INCULCATE VIRTUE…, The Austin Statesman, Oct 28, 1910.
Travis County Deed Records point to an area of about 150+ acres that appears to have been a freedmen’s community in Fort Prairie just south of the Audubon property, bordering the Thielepape property on the 1891 Map of Austin and Surrounding Properties. One person referenced in the deed transfers was “Ples.” (Pleasant) Davidson. Through Ancestry.com a descendant, Mr. Jared Gray, was found who told us Davidson’s spouse, Jane Doyle, was a member of St. Mary's Colony in Bastrop[26]; the family still owns land passed down from slave ancestors; a very interesting historical connection to Fort Prairie.
This Fort Prairie community begins with an initial sale in 1869 of 158 acres by William J. Tannehill (heir of Jessie C. Tannehill) and wife to a Mr. Peter Bell. That property is then subdivided via composition deed among Peter Bell and others, Pleasant Davidson being one. The 1870 census of Travis County confirms these were deed transfers to black members of the community. See December 23, 1869 William J. Tannehill to Peter Bell et.al (Travis County Deed Records, Deed Record Z, p.293), and William Bell to Composition deed, Ples. (Pleasant) Davidson and others (Deed Record Z, p.295). https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth787627/m1/303/?q=Travis%20County%20Deed%20Records:%20Deed%20Record%20Z
21-October-1874 Peter Bell & Wife to Simon Butler, Deed Record 27, p.489; this deed transfer mentions Lot #7 “known as the colored folks campground" in Fort Prairie, along Fort Branch (creek). https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth787615/m1/495/?q=Travis%20County%20Deed%20Records:%20Deed%20Record%2027
10-April-1880 Peter Bell & Wife to Clara McKinney, Deed Record 50, p.138; makes reference to a “158 acre tract subdivided and sold to colored citizens, at a place called Fort Prairie". This is a reference back to the initial sale of 1869 https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth787637/m1/144/?q=Travis%20County%20Deed%20Records:%20Deed%20Record%2050
27-December-1883 Peter Bell to Harriet Goodin 58-408 "land is in the Fort Prairie Settlement near Peterville Church House"; this deed transfer references “tract No. 5” https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth787631/m1/414/?q=Travis%20County%20Deed%20Records:%20Deed%20Record%2058
Footnotes
[1] William Field, "Fort Colorado: A Texas Ranger Frontier Output in Travis County, Texas", The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Vol. 72, No.2, 1968[2] Field
[3] Gerald S Pierce, Texas under arms: The camps, posts, forts, & military towns of the Republic of Texas, 1836-184. Encino Press, 1969
[4] Travis County Deed Records: Deed Record 62, p. 419, 1884. 94 acres using calls for 3 tracts comprised of 50 acres, 4 acres and 40 acres. Retrieved 1/8/2018 from https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth787633/
[5] www.glo.texas.gov Map #421
[6] Texas Posten (Swedish newspaper), Austin, Texas, January 1962
[7] Travis County Deed Records, Book 246, p. 499-500
[8] Paul Moehr, 1920 United States Federal Census - https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/12319550?h=49f766. Also in 1910 census as living in same Justice Precinct 3, Travis, Texas. See Paul M*, 1910 United States Federal Census - https://www.ancestry.com/sharing/12319705?h=9b97c6.
[9] See reference to John Grove under “Fort Prairie, TX” in Handbook of Texas, https://tshaonline.org.
[10] The Austin Statesman, Nov 20, 1921, p.14
[11] The Austin Statesman, Sep 30, 1923, p. B12
[12] The Austin American, April 2, 1933, p. A2
[13] The Austin Statesman, May 31, 1967, p.36
[14] The Austin Statesman, Mar 22, 1923, p.11
[15] The Austin Statesman, May 13, 1923, p.10
[16] The Austin Statesman, Jun 17, 1924, p.16
[17] The Austin Statesman, Jan 28, 1928, p.9
[18] The Austin Statesman, May 28, 1930, p.14
[19] The Austin Statesman, Jun 1, 1930, p.15
[20] The Austin American, Nov 8, 1931, p. 13
[21] The Austin American, Oct 22, 1944, p. A13
[22] As interviews part of Field’s archeology report points out, “older residents of Fort Prairie had insisted that the town began shortly after the fort was established” which is consistent with other forts in Texas that spawned local communities and towns. And articles in The Austin Statesman document Fort Prairie as a community as late as 1939 (ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Austin American Statesman) and on maps in 1940. As with many other communities, Fort Prairie would eventually be absorbed into the Austin city limits and slowly lose its separate identify. Never the less, evidence would suggest the area has been continually inhabited since the founding of Fort Colorado.
[23] See section below Fort Prairie: A Freedmen’s Community
[24] https://www.pioneerfarms.org/
[25] Again, this is William Field, "Fort Colorado: A Texas Ranger Frontier Output in Travis County, Texas", The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Vol. 72, No.2, 1968
[26] St. Mary’s Colony, Handbook of Texas, https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/hrs77
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