Texas History Notebook

John Birch

Some people may erroneously assume that John Birch was the founder of the society that bears his name, but he was not. Birch was born in 1918 in India to Presbyterian missionaries. His father had contracted malaria in India when John was two years old and the family returned to the United States. Young Birch attended high school in Georgia and a Baptist college there named Mercer.

Byrd Lockhart

Byrd Lockhart (1782-1839) is the namesake for Lockhart, Texas. He was born to Byrd (Sr.) (1750 – about 1813) and Sarah Williamson Lockhart (1763-1831).

Burk Burnett’s Family

When people think of the 6666 Ranch, they typically think of Samuel Burk Burnett, his wives and children. However, Burk Burnett had a number of siblings, some of whom were associated with the ranch over the years while others were ranchers on their own.

Juan Nepomuceno Almonte

Juan N. Almonte was born in 1803 in Nocupéntaro, in the district of Carácuaro, in the state of Michoacán to Father José María Morelos y Pavón and Brigida Almonte, who is believed to be of Indian heritage. Nocupéntaro is located west southwest of Mexico City about halfway between it and the Pacific coast of Mexico. Because he was illegitimate, Juan took the name of his mother. Father Morelos is thought to have been the father of at least two other male children by other women and perhaps a sister by Brigida.

Gay Hill, Texas

Though perhaps not as familiar a name as either Independence or Washington, there is a great deal of Texas history that is connected to the former residents of this small community. Gay Hill was named for Thomas Gay and William Carroll Jackson Hill. Gay and Hill were said to have been store owners in this Washington County settlement, though some accounts say that only Hill owned the store. The settlement was originally known as Chriesman Settlement after Horatio Chriesman (1797-1878).