The Texas Republic [Paperback]

Joe L. Blevins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 3, 2002

The Texas Republic tells the true stories of Sam Houston as he led the struggle for Texas' Independence from Mexico's rule. See the story from the viewpoint of Andrew, a freed slave that fought for land of his own.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Joe received the approval of Lonesome Dove Church, and its pastor, Dr. Coy Quesenbury and his congregation to write this book. The encouragement of the Boy Scouts of America president: Mr. Milton H. Ward. Dr. Ken Steigman, curator of the Heard Natural Science Museum and Wildlife Sanctuary, Incorporated, of McKinney, Texas. Also Dr. Donald Dewitt, curator of the University of Oklahoma's Historical Archives. (The Sam Houston Letter.)

Joe's family took pride in their heritage. They passed down stories of the early days of Texas when they came here to farm as Peters' Colonists in the 1840's. Their family came from Hopkins, Kentucky to the newly opened Red River Settlements. The first real organized settlement, and organized church was the Lonesome Dove Church close to Dove Branch in late 1845. This was called the Cross Timbers of the Trinity River, some of the best land for farming. My close family prized these stories. I was very fortunate to hear these stories and pass them down to others who love Texas, and True Stories of early Texas. Enjoy the journey!

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

PREFACE

The TEXAS REPUBLIC tells the history of early Texas. As a Republic, it grew by leaps and bounds by the Peter's Colony settlements. These were possible by the Red Bird Treaty made by General Sam Houston, and the Red River tribes in September 1843. This is the story of how this treaty came about. The story is told from the point of view of Andrew, a freed Black man from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Andrew learned to read by copying the alphabet from an old Bible he found. He started writing a journal to keep track of the crops he raised. In time it told of the events in his life. Andrew wrote about his freedom, his move to Texas when smugglers took his home as a hideout. He tells of his trip to Nacogdoches to meet with a lawyer, General Sam Houston, also the head of the Texas Army. Andrew signs up for the land grants in east Texas. He must serve two years as a soldier to get his land grant. He must see if a freed man can own land in Texas. There was a dispute pending in the Nacogdoches. Circuit Judge Ellis B. Thomas held a hearing for William Goyens, a freed man that traded horses with the Cherokees. He is having trouble with his neighbor over water rights. His status as a land owner was in question. Andrew's hearing came at a good time because William Goyens won his case to keep his neighbor from damming up the water to his land. Andrew's case was passed because he has a Freed man's letter stating that he belongs to himself, and God. Sam Houston represents Andrew. Andrew gets a map of the land grants to go to east Texas to put up a cabin on his land. Sam Houston gives him six weeks to put up a cabin since winter is soon to come. He is then to report to Nacogdoches for military duty. He will be a citizen-soldier for two years to get his land grant. On his way to the land grants, robbers attack them at night. His wife Delephine is killed . Andrew is badly wounded. He hides in some brush until daylight. Some Cherokees on a hunting party find him. They first think that he is their friend, William Goyens. They then tend to his wounds, and they take him in as a member of their tribe, since he has no tribe of his own. William Goyens comes to the Cherokees to trade horses, and he meets with Andrew again. He explains to Andrew that the Cherokee want him as a part of their tribe. From now on his life will never be the same. The Mexican army invades Texas to take horses and cattle for their use. General Sam Houston asks the Cherokees to act as scouts for the Texas Army. Andrew is now in the army as a scout. His new wife Say-te-Qua, and family make him determined to protect his home from the Mexican army. His faith in God pulls Andrew through the tough times ahead. His path leads him into the heat of the San Jacinto battle, and Texas Independence. Each time you read the TEXAS REPUBLIC, You will learn of the people, and events that made Texas great. Joe Lesley Blevins.

Product Details

• Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing (July 3, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1553691407
• ISBN-13: 978-1553691402
• Product Dimensions: 10.7 x 8.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,919,469 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Texas Republic, December 13, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Texas Republic (Paperback)

This book has wonderful stories and drawings that help tell the interesting story of Texas, and the United States. The book tells many good historical events, yet it tells interesting details that most books do not talk about, or begin to say. It gives personal dialogue and insight into historical events, and persons. There are several maps, and a letter written by Sam Houston to a Caddo chief. It gives good insight to the attitude of the Red River Tribes, and insight into the amazing personality, Sam Houston. There is even a dictionary for people that do not speak "Texan." This book does what some books fail to do: it tells a logical, and understandable story from an eye-witness perspective. It was most enjoyable. I gave it as a gift to a number of friends. My personal copy has been borrowed by several persons, and it has been well read. You would like it too!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars As the author I have a few things to say:, December 19, 2008

By 

Joe L. Blevins "Texas Joe 2010" (Farmersville,Texas USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Texas Republic (Paperback)

After the Republic
Gone to Texas (The Texas Republic)
As the author of several books on Texas I wanted to say that I made a number of publishing mistakes in my first book: THE TEXAS REPUBLIC. It should have been written as two separate books because it is such a long book. It is two different stories put together. It illustrated well, but I could have made a few less illustrations. Hindsight is 20/20. Now I could make better choices as far as formatting the book where it breaks into individual chapters with a blank quarter page at the end of each one. It is written as a journal and it is often very detailed. My newer books are formatted better with fewer illustrations, and maps. But you learn as you go and if I had to do this book all over again I would do this much differently. It is much as raising a child, you look back and wished that you had done a few things better. Now you know and understand a few more things than you did back then.

It is still a good book and it has its merits, and downfalls like anything else. For the most part it tells the stories of at least 11 individuals who came to Texas to make a better life for their families. My family was one of them in 1844. As a youth I was told stories about the early days of Texas from my family members. I treasured them enough to publish them for others to enjoy as it was my obligation to my family to remember them well and to honor their memories. My nonfiction books share information that other books miss, and fail to recognize as important: such as customs and information on Native Americans, which I am a person of Choctaw, and Kiowa descent. Many of our stories have been lost. As the new century begins I wanted the stories for future generations to remember and to enjoy. Thank you for reading my books and I hope that you come away with something new that you did not know before. Joe Blevins [...]

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Based on true stories of actual characters and events, February 9, 2003

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Texas Republic (Paperback)

The Texas Republic by Joe L. Blevins is an informed and informative historical novel of the founding of Texas as told from the eyewitness perspective of Andrew, a freed slave who served as a soldier in the Texas Army. After meeting with Sam Houston to win a land grant, Andrew is wounded and his wife killed in ambush by robbers. A Cherokee hunting party finds Andrew, saving him from death and adopting him as a member of their tribe. Andrew marries Say-te-Qua, a Cherokee woman and the tribe's dream interpreter. When Sam Houston asks the Cherokee to scout for the Texas army, Andrew, having learned to read and write by copying letters from an old Bible that he had found, documents his experiences and observations in a personal journal. Andrew and his brother-in-law Red Bird assisted Sam Houston to broker a peace treaty when an Indian War broke out in Texas, records the events of Texas as a Mexican state, the decade of Texas as a free republic, and the annexation of Texas as the 28th state of the United States of America. This engaging and highly recommended story is based on true stories of actual characters and events, and is enhanced with selected illustrations; a replica of a letter Sam Houston wrote to Caddo Chief Bintah inviting him to the 1843 Great Council; and a "Glossary of Unfamiliar Words".