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It may not be fair to call William Carroll "Cal" Roy an outlaw. He certainly was not a gunslinger... more It may not be fair to call William Carroll "Cal" Roy an outlaw. He certainly was not a gunslinger, stage robber, or desperado. But Blanco County historian John Stribling Moursund specifically described him as just that, a manager of a cattle ranch who "was later to become famous as an outlaw." 1 Moursund was the grandson of Blanco County pioneer Albert Wadel Moursund, a Texas Ranger, Blanco County Judge, county prosecutor, and District Judge of the Hill Country's 33rd District Court; the elder Moursund most certainly knew who the bad boys were in Blanco County and John Stribling's historical research most certainly obtained source material from Grandpa Moursund. Cal Roy's legal and business dealings can most fairly be characterized as perhaps a bit on the shady side. William Carroll Roy was born on February 16, 1851, in Hempstead, Arkansas, the second son of Fielding Shumate Roy and Jane Vaughan. Father Fielding was a stone mason, a trade followed by his son Albert, but oldest sons John and Cal, like many other young men of that era, would enter the cattle business.
The Industrial Workers of the World were never beloved by corporate America. From their inception... more The Industrial Workers of the World were never beloved by corporate America. From their inception in 1905 as the radical labor opposition to greedy robber-baron capitalism, the Wobblies would face the wrath of corporate employers; private detective agencies, snitches and surveillance; hostile state governments and repressive legislation; armed militias and vigilante groups; the federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Ku Klux Klan and the American Legion.
One of the cardinal events in the history of Blanco County, Texas, was the skirmish between marau... more One of the cardinal events in the history of Blanco County, Texas, was the skirmish between marauding Native Americans1 and Blanco County pioneer settlers. The battle occurred on August 13, 1872, but no historical marker currently documents the event and there appears to be some confusion over the actual location of the fight. Texas historian Mike Cox has speculated the event occurred near the intersection of State Highway 71 and Deer Creek in Burnet County,2 and Texas Ranger historian Bob Alexander places the fight at the Deer Creek near Kingsland in Llano County.3 After deeper historical research, it is the intent of this article to fix the location of the Deer Creek Fight squarely in the center of Blanco County. It is not the intent of this article to rewrite the history of that event, which has been better recorded by numerous other sources. The location of the headwaters of the Deer Creek headwaters, in Blanco County, from the Lower Colorado River Authority Hydromet map.
The Federal Government cracked down on the socialists of Rains County, Texas, in 1917.
both who were gunfighters and cattle rustlers in the Anglo faction of the Mason County War; Jessi... more both who were gunfighters and cattle rustlers in the Anglo faction of the Mason County War; Jessie Robison would have been in a unique position to relate many of the details of the Blanco County War. 8 Jessie Robison Ake, unknown date, from Ancestry.com public member pages Even while the Blanco County War may be primarily viewed as a range war between large stockholders and independent cattlemen or outlaw entrepreneurs, several other socioeconomic factors must be considered. As the frontier opened to settlement and land grants were given to families and farmers to cultivate the land, sometimes violent conflicts would erupt between the cattlemen and the "nesters." Additionally, cultural factors between German and Anglo settlers, largely based on the opposing sides played by the two groups during the Civil War-the Germans being largely pro-Unionists while the Anglo faction remained predominantly unredeemed Confederates-would lead to bitter clashes between the two elements. Paul Burrier
West Texas Historical Association, 2019
The United States that grew from Reconstruction through the Gilded Age into the Twentieth Century... more The United States that grew from Reconstruction through the Gilded Age into the Twentieth Century experienced massive social spasms and growing pains. The nation had closed its frontier and was shifting from the agricultural towards the industrial; an economic order of unchecked plutocrats and robber barons was emerging, along with a growing middle class, and a rising majority of immigrants and industrial workers. Topeka in 1898. In a matter of months she would become "a leader among the spiritualists of the city." 19 Just after Laura's move to Topeka, the Douglas County Herald published one of her initial poems. Entitled "McKinley and Lincoln," the verse was a glowing ode for President William McKinley, "the staunch and true", and his quest to "wrest Cuba from hunger's chain" and from "tyrannical Spain." Her patriotic deliberation on the then-raging Spanish-American War most definitely was not a reflection of her later opinions. 20 In Topeka Laura would hone her skills as a lecturer and public speaker, as well as distinguish herself as a vocalist: She is indeed a sweet singer and captivated all who heard her. She composes and sings her own songs. Her manner of holding an audience as a lecturer is natural for what she says is made clear to her audience. 21 She would also begin to establish herself as a published writer and newspaperwoman. On January 10, 1901, she launched The Psychic Century, a four-page tabloid designed to represent the "free thinking people" of Topeka, described liberally as the "psychic center of the world." "Thus The Psychic Century steps in to fill a long-felt want. Born with the new century and clad in the venture of truth, it comes to light the way for many of earth's weary travelers," she wrote. 22 Laura served as the editor of the journal while her brother, Cameron F. Roberts, was the initial business manager; another brother, Edgar F. Roberts, contributed the occasional article. The journal featured spiritualist stories of interest from around the country, including that of a boy with "x-ray sight" from Uvalde, Texas, who was allegedly able to detect ground water at great depths. 23 As many of the articles do not have a by-line, it is fair to assume that Laura B. Payne was the predominant author. The paper had a distinctly progressive bent, with arguments for women's rights and equality, social equality for African-Americans, some favorable comments in regards to anarchists, and a fair degree of self-promotion for Laura Payne.
Short biography of Jose Angel Hernandez, organizer for the IWW in early 20th Century Texas and Me... more Short biography of Jose Angel Hernandez, organizer for the IWW in early 20th Century Texas and Mexico.
Drafts by Steve Rossignol
It may not be fair to call William Carroll "Cal" Roy an outlaw. He certainly was not a gunslinger... more It may not be fair to call William Carroll "Cal" Roy an outlaw. He certainly was not a gunslinger, stage robber, or desperado. But Blanco County historian John Stribling Moursund specifically described him as just that, a manager of a cattle ranch who "was later to become famous as an outlaw." 1 Moursund was the grandson of Blanco County pioneer Albert Wadel Moursund, a Texas Ranger, Blanco County Judge, county prosecutor, and District Judge of the Hill Country's 33rd District Court; the elder Moursund most certainly knew who the bad boys were in Blanco County and John Stribling's historical research most certainly obtained source material from Grandpa Moursund. Cal Roy's legal and business dealings can most fairly be characterized as perhaps a bit on the shady side. William Carroll Roy was born on February 16, 1851, in Hempstead, Arkansas, the second son of Fielding Shumate Roy and Jane Vaughan. Father Fielding was a stone mason, a trade followed by his son Albert, but oldest sons John and Cal, like many other young men of that era, would enter the cattle business.
The Industrial Workers of the World were never beloved by corporate America. From their inception... more The Industrial Workers of the World were never beloved by corporate America. From their inception in 1905 as the radical labor opposition to greedy robber-baron capitalism, the Wobblies would face the wrath of corporate employers; private detective agencies, snitches and surveillance; hostile state governments and repressive legislation; armed militias and vigilante groups; the federal Bureau of Investigation; and the Ku Klux Klan and the American Legion.
One of the cardinal events in the history of Blanco County, Texas, was the skirmish between marau... more One of the cardinal events in the history of Blanco County, Texas, was the skirmish between marauding Native Americans1 and Blanco County pioneer settlers. The battle occurred on August 13, 1872, but no historical marker currently documents the event and there appears to be some confusion over the actual location of the fight. Texas historian Mike Cox has speculated the event occurred near the intersection of State Highway 71 and Deer Creek in Burnet County,2 and Texas Ranger historian Bob Alexander places the fight at the Deer Creek near Kingsland in Llano County.3 After deeper historical research, it is the intent of this article to fix the location of the Deer Creek Fight squarely in the center of Blanco County. It is not the intent of this article to rewrite the history of that event, which has been better recorded by numerous other sources. The location of the headwaters of the Deer Creek headwaters, in Blanco County, from the Lower Colorado River Authority Hydromet map.
The Federal Government cracked down on the socialists of Rains County, Texas, in 1917.
both who were gunfighters and cattle rustlers in the Anglo faction of the Mason County War; Jessi... more both who were gunfighters and cattle rustlers in the Anglo faction of the Mason County War; Jessie Robison would have been in a unique position to relate many of the details of the Blanco County War. 8 Jessie Robison Ake, unknown date, from Ancestry.com public member pages Even while the Blanco County War may be primarily viewed as a range war between large stockholders and independent cattlemen or outlaw entrepreneurs, several other socioeconomic factors must be considered. As the frontier opened to settlement and land grants were given to families and farmers to cultivate the land, sometimes violent conflicts would erupt between the cattlemen and the "nesters." Additionally, cultural factors between German and Anglo settlers, largely based on the opposing sides played by the two groups during the Civil War-the Germans being largely pro-Unionists while the Anglo faction remained predominantly unredeemed Confederates-would lead to bitter clashes between the two elements. Paul Burrier
West Texas Historical Association, 2019
The United States that grew from Reconstruction through the Gilded Age into the Twentieth Century... more The United States that grew from Reconstruction through the Gilded Age into the Twentieth Century experienced massive social spasms and growing pains. The nation had closed its frontier and was shifting from the agricultural towards the industrial; an economic order of unchecked plutocrats and robber barons was emerging, along with a growing middle class, and a rising majority of immigrants and industrial workers. Topeka in 1898. In a matter of months she would become "a leader among the spiritualists of the city." 19 Just after Laura's move to Topeka, the Douglas County Herald published one of her initial poems. Entitled "McKinley and Lincoln," the verse was a glowing ode for President William McKinley, "the staunch and true", and his quest to "wrest Cuba from hunger's chain" and from "tyrannical Spain." Her patriotic deliberation on the then-raging Spanish-American War most definitely was not a reflection of her later opinions. 20 In Topeka Laura would hone her skills as a lecturer and public speaker, as well as distinguish herself as a vocalist: She is indeed a sweet singer and captivated all who heard her. She composes and sings her own songs. Her manner of holding an audience as a lecturer is natural for what she says is made clear to her audience. 21 She would also begin to establish herself as a published writer and newspaperwoman. On January 10, 1901, she launched The Psychic Century, a four-page tabloid designed to represent the "free thinking people" of Topeka, described liberally as the "psychic center of the world." "Thus The Psychic Century steps in to fill a long-felt want. Born with the new century and clad in the venture of truth, it comes to light the way for many of earth's weary travelers," she wrote. 22 Laura served as the editor of the journal while her brother, Cameron F. Roberts, was the initial business manager; another brother, Edgar F. Roberts, contributed the occasional article. The journal featured spiritualist stories of interest from around the country, including that of a boy with "x-ray sight" from Uvalde, Texas, who was allegedly able to detect ground water at great depths. 23 As many of the articles do not have a by-line, it is fair to assume that Laura B. Payne was the predominant author. The paper had a distinctly progressive bent, with arguments for women's rights and equality, social equality for African-Americans, some favorable comments in regards to anarchists, and a fair degree of self-promotion for Laura Payne.
Short biography of Jose Angel Hernandez, organizer for the IWW in early 20th Century Texas and Me... more Short biography of Jose Angel Hernandez, organizer for the IWW in early 20th Century Texas and Mexico.