Lost Graves of Jeddo Texas, and Occurance at Peach Creek Bridge. (original) (raw)
In Jeddo are ten lost graves located in a pasture on 713 E. directly across from Peach Creek Dr. As far as I know, these graves are unknown to the public. This is a bother to me. My purpose in writing is to let someone know about this cemetery. [There are only] three other people who know these graves exist.
The Tombstone of James Bownds
TE Photos, 1-05
Tombstone detail
TE Photos, 1-05
Only one grave still has a tombstone and it has been knocked down by the cows. It is the grave of James Bownds (pronounced Bounds) who was killed by Richard Whitehead at the Peach Creek bridge on Peach Creek Dr.
The Bovine Suspects
TE Photor, 1-05
Richard Whitehead stood trial for the murder of James Bownds. He was acquitted.
Richard Whitehead was killed in Rosanky on Sept. 29,1897 by Philip Davis.
Philip Davis stood trial for the murder of Richard Whitehead. He was acquitted.
Both men had large land grants in Jeddo but each lost land defending himself.
On the murder of James Bownds by Whitehead:
There was bad blood between James Bownds and Henry Lundy. Whitehead, Henry Lundy and a Mr. Coquet were en route to Rosanky on horseback when they met James Bownds at the Peach Creek bridge coming from the opposite direction.
Coquet made haste to get in the trees, Whitehead got off his horse on the opposite side from Bownds with the horse between him and Bownds. Brownds shot at Whitehead and missed but he shot the saddle horn off of the saddle. Whitehead shot, did not miss. I have never checked the court records but I rather think Whitehead was acquitted on self defense. I find it a mystery that Bownds shot at Whitehead instead of Henry Lundy. Maybe Lundy went into the trees.
Peach Creek as viewed from the bridge
TE Photor, 1-05
The original bridge which was built by Jeddo residents (white and black) was used until the flood of 2000 washed it away.(I believe it was 2000 when several such bridges in Bastrop County were destroyed by a flood). It is now a modern bridge easy to drive over without noticing the creek The original one was a one-way wooden bridge.
By the way, Jeddo is part of an area that was originally Hallmark Prairie.
James Bownds tombstone reads:
In memory of: James Bownds
Born: Feb. 8, 1831
Died: Dec. 18, 1892
He died as he lived
A Christian
On the opposite side of the tombstone is inscribed:
His toils are past
His work is done
He fought the fight
The victory won
� Velma Fogle Shurtleff,
January 5, 2005
Editor's note
: Velma Fogle is from the corner of Texas where the three counties of Bastrop, Caldwell and Fayette come together. Her knowledge of the area is deep and she has written a history of the St. Phillip's Colony of Bastrop County. Book Hotel Here
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Jeddo Texas Forum
- Subject: Thank you
I just want to say thank you for the information and picture of the tombstone of James Bownds (Lost graves of Jeddo). James was a brother of two of my great-grandmothers, Eliza Jane Bownds Ponton and Mary Ann Bownds Offield. Thanks for taking the time to share information with others, who would never know it was there. - Nora Tyler, March 24, 2006
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