Early Pioneer Days in Texas
Chapter XIII
Wm. Spence
On February 18th, in the year 1833, in North Carolina, there was a babe born who was to be enrolled in after years among the early pioneers in Texas history. It was the man of whom this sketch gives but a feeble reminiscence. Wm. Spence came through to Texas on horseback with Joseph P. Spence in 1838; the long, dangerous journey was accompanied with many an adventure, as the country was then infested with innumerable bands of redskins and man-eating wild animals. There were also numerous bands of outlaws and horse thieves, who plied their infamous occupations on the white settlers and travelers in search of homes in the wilderness. It required more than ordinary bravery to make these trips, as there was, on every hand, dangers from loss of life from the bloodthirsty savage, the lurking wild beast, and the outlaw.
Nor was the pioneer himself the only sufferer, for we must take into account the mother and the father and the sisters and the brothers in the North Carolina home, who knew something of the privations and the danger that awaited the absent son and brother. Pen cannot picture the anxiety and the worry on the mother mind, but these valiant men went forward in their strength and manhood to conquer unbeaten paths and set new homes for the increasing demands of the unborn generations yet to come. History has recorded names of such men who have devoted their lives to the pursuit of finding new countries, new places where man can build and develop untold advantages to mankind, and it is only fitting and worthy on our part to illuminate these pages with those who have done this for us, who have the advantages of what the early pioneers obtained by their self-sacrifice and enterprise by leaving this far-famed Texas a land of liberty and law-abiding commonwealth, where there is no longer any restraint on any man who wants to pursue his ways according to his own conscience.
It was not so when Wm. Spence came here; the policy and the purpose of the inhabitants of the country was to destroy and take away the belongings of others for themselves. It was peopled with men who loved neither home nor liberty except so far as that liberty considered themselves. They delighted in killing or scalping or stealing or burning. Whenever anyone came to try and build, it was the desire of the inhabitants then to destroy and steal what they could get their hands on. The Indian and his ally, the notorious bands of horse thieves, composed of degenerate white men, were the sole occupants of the land except the beasts of the field, whose carniverous desires were satiated in preying on other beasts and occasionally a helpless or wounded human being. If we can fully realize the difficulties of our forefathers who pioneered in early days we certainly ought to be thankful for what they have done for us in providing for us the happy homes we now are permitted to enjoy without fear of molestation.
Nearly all the old settlers of the early days have passed across the dark river, and those of us who are on life's river homeward bound will soon reach the end of our journey and hope to meet again those gone before on the other side.
The nearest freighting market at which we could get our supplies in those days was at Jefferson, a distance of 125 miles. Aside from that we raised at home, was for forty years hauled from this point by an ox team attached to ox wagons, and these trains could be seen for miles hauling supplies from Jefferson and returning with loads of skins and products of the land.
Land sold in those days at 25 to 50 cents the acre, and there was abundance for everybody and plenty of grass for the cattle to feed on without the necessity for extra feeding.
Wm. Spence was one of those men, who, by sheer industry and perseverance under difficulties, earned his way through life because of his worth, and being economical, and assisted by a thrifty and industrious wife, accumulated quite a goodly estate with considerable means and a large herd of stock. They had a delightful and happy home, and delighted in extending hospitality to those who were their friends and royally entertained them, as well as those who were traveling through the country seeking to make a home among them.
Uncle Bill, as he was familiarly called, married Virginia C. Baker in March, 1869, from which union there was born a son, William, who lives on the old home place.
Uncle Bill lost his wife March 24th, 1903, and Uncle Bill died July 24th, 1905. They are gone from us, but the memory of their devotion and usefulness remains behind for us to revere their memory. They are at rest from their labors now and the trials incident to this life, but we trust when the final roll is called up yonder we shall be with them and answer to the roll call on the right side.
Uncle Bill, by a former marriage, also had a daughter, who was named Virginia, adopted by Uncle Joe Spence and raised to womanhood by him and his good wife. She married Mr. George Finley and was the happy mother of quite a large family.
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