11/11/2014
Dear Mr. Adam,
My name is Jack Brooks and I'm a member of the Milam County Historical Commission. We recently received an
inquiry regarding the Laughlin Community Cemetery from a Mr. Clay Riley who resides in Brown County, Texas. It
was dealing with a Mr. William Young (1818-1889) who was a participant of the Santa Fe Expedition and the
Battle of San Jacinto. He has documentation that he and wife Sina are interred in the Laughlin cemetery.
He spoke of a potential future historical marker for him. According to previous cemetery surveys in 1983 and
then again in 1999, no headstone for he, or his wife, have been found. What I would like to do, with your
permission, is to visit the cemetery to see if I might be able to find their headstones by probing. Should I
find them(or others), the plan is to raise and repair as necessary and photo document for Mr. Riley and the
“Find a Grave” website.
He and Mr. Simcik both spoke of your contact information. I hope that you don't mind them sharing that
information with me. I've enclosed additional information related to the cemetery, should you be interested.
Attachment # 1 a 1983 inventory of interred.
Attachment # 2 a 1925 Milam County property ownership map showing the spur road that once passed the adjacent
cemetery on the south side from the San Gabriel to Davilla Road(slightly to the northwest just out of the
photo).
Attachment # 3 Mr Riley's documentation of Mr. Young's interment in 1889.
With your permission, I hope to visit in late December or January while our reptilian “friends” are in
hibernation and most of the foliage has dropped their leaves. Both Mr. Riley and Mr. Simcik have given detailed
information regarding the location of the cemetery. Should I have your permission, I would not need your
assistance since I'm still young and spry enough,that your gate would present no challenge. I would be happy to
notify you a day ahead of time of my visit. Should you feel more comfortable escorting me, I respect that as
well and would make myself available at your convenience. Thank you in advance for any assistance that you
might be able to give for Mr. Riley, the MCHC and myself.
Jack Brooks
*****
2015-01-18
Mr. Jerry Adam was kind enough to give me his permission to visit the Laughlin cemetery that is surrounded by
his property. The purpose was to locate the headstones of William Young and his wife, Sina, per a recent MCHC
inquiry. A reminder is that he was a participant in the Santa Fe Expedition and of the Battle of San Jacinto.
The cemetery was visited 01/17/2015. Mr. Perry Holder reported in 1983 that the cemetery was not badly
overgrown. My visit found that the last 32 years have not been kind to the cemetery headstones and grounds.
Nature, loose cattle and recent droughts have taken their toll.
A visual and a probing search did not find the Young's headstones. Numerous other buried and previously un-
inventoried tablet headstones were found and re-erected if possible.
There is one large tablet that had fallen into what appears to be a previously desecrated grave. Apparently the
grave was left open and with time, the soil around the headstone eroded away into the hole, causing the
headstone to gradually lean and eventually tip into the hole. I was able to initially dig down and retrieve the
tablet adapter which transitions the large base to the tablet itself. My 3 foot probe was unable to sound the
tablet. There is a possibility that this is the grave for which I have been searching. I plan another visit, in
the near future, to continue excavating this site to hopefully retrieve the headstone and identify it.
Would you be kind enough to post the attached photo's to the MCHC Laughlin Community Cemetery site?.
Thank you, Jack Brooks
*****
2015-02-09
Mr. Riley,
We had our bi-monthly Milam County Historical Commission meeting today. Your suggestion for a commemorative
marker for William Young was discussed. Since you've visited the cemetery, you're aware of the challenging, non
posted, access contact/ permission arrangements. Once the Adam's property gate is unlocked, a pasture with
cattle is crossed to a second electrified fence and gate. Finally in a serpentine sort of way, the cemetery is
accessed. Numerous fallen trees and a considerable amount of dead and decaying wood is about the grounds. This
is an ideal haven for rattle snakes as Laughlin Rd. neighbor, Mr. Simcik, relayed to me. That's why he
initially advised that I prolong my visit from early Oct. to Jan. or Feb while the snakes were in hibernation
or as he called it "denned up". Finally, William and Sina's headstones are nowhere to be found even after a
more than reasonable effort.
In the above situation, with the cemetery one half mile off the nearest paved road(FM 487) how many people
would visit the cemetery?. Since you are a fellow Historical Commission member you are well aware of cost of
the smallest 16 x 28 inch THC, subject marker. It would be difficult to justify the expense in this case.
Should the marker be placed on the roadway shoulder in lieu of the cemetery, we might be encouraging trespass,
in an around about way, with the potential hazards mentioned. This is the consensus of why we backed away from
signage and hope that you will understand.
The Milam County Historical Commission members sincerely respect your effort in recognizing this gallant
soldier. To quote one of my favorite passages in The Day Of San Jacinto by Frank Tolbert, pg.155; "Private
William Foster Young, a powerfully built thirty-six-year-old soldier who rode a tremendous gray horse, said
that the battle was like a target shoot. "We drove them into a marsh and I sat there on my horse and shot 'em
until my ammunition gave out. Then I turned the butt end of my musket and started knocking them in the head."
It truly was payback for the Alamo, Goliad and La Bahia.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to learn more about William Young and that he was interred in our own
Milam County "back yard".
Respectfully, Jack Brooks
2017-05-02
Jeffrey M.Young
jeffmyoung85@gmail.com
285 Elkins Lake
Huntsville, Texas 77340
Phone : 936-827-9934
This is not the William Young that fought at the Battle of San Jacinto.....William Foster Young (1800-1877, born in Spartanburg,SC is the the one....I'm not sure who this William Young is....if he was a participant at San Jacinto, he was not listed on the Texas army roll as such
Jeffrey M.Young
Email : jeffmyoung85@gmail.com
Address : 285 elkins lake
City : Huntsville, Tx 77340
Phone : 936-827-9934
Comments : www.TexanBattlecry.com
*****
2017-05-04
Mr. Young,
Thanks for bringing this information to our attention. Mr. Clay Riley is well known in Brown County and I am able to tell you that he revered among the members of the Pecan Valley Genealogical Society and the Brown County Historical Society. His contributions toward the documentation of the Brown County cemeteries is without reproach. I had the opportunity to visit Brown County during the summer of 2015. Although I did not have the pleasure of meeting Clay Riley, I did converse with a number of individuals who knew him well. They all spoke highly of his Brown County historical preservation efforts.
Since he had research information regarding William Young that I didn't possess, I primarily was searching for Young's interment location in the badly neglected Laughlin Cemetery(unsuccessfully I might add). I forwarded your information to Clay in hopes that this discrepancy may be resolved.
Would you and Clay be kind enough to keep the MCHC copied of any correspondence regarding this discrepancy.
Thanks so much.
Jack Brooks
*****
2017-05-04
I used the information that Jeff provided to find this posting on the Find-a-Grave website.
The internment is in the Midway Cemetery in Madison County, TX. The marker shows "citizen of the Republic of Texas". This probably accounts for the reason that I was unable to find William's headstone after scouring and probing the badly neglected Laughlin Cemetery in Milam County.
*****
2017-05-04
Jeff Young
Yes Sir. William Foster who participated at San Jacinto is buried in Midway, TX and has a state historical marker on it. He is my III great grandfather.
Jeffrey M.Young
jeffmyoung85@gmail.com
285 Elkins Lake
Huntsville, Texas 77340
Phone : 936-827-9934
This is not the William Young that fought at the Battle of San Jacinto.....William Foster Young (1800-1877, born in Spartanburg,SC is the the one....I'm not sure who this William Young is....if he was a participant at San Jacinto, he was not listed on the Texas army roll as such
Jeffrey M.Young
Email : jeffmyoung85@gmail.com
Address : 285 elkins lake
City : Huntsville, Tx 77340
Phone : 936-827-9934
Comments : www.TexanBattlecry.com
*****
2017-05-04
Mr. Young,
Thanks for bringing this information to our attention. Mr. Clay Riley is well known in Brown County and I am able to tell you that he revered among the members of the Pecan Valley Genealogical Society and the Brown County Historical Society. His contributions toward the documentation of the Brown County cemeteries is without reproach. I had the opportunity to visit Brown County during the summer of 2015. Although I did not have the pleasure of meeting Clay Riley, I did converse with a number of individuals who knew him well. They all spoke highly of his Brown County historical preservation efforts.
Since he had research information regarding William Young that I didn't possess, I primarily was searching for Young's interment location in the badly neglected Laughlin Cemetery(unsuccessfully I might add). I forwarded your information to Clay in hopes that this discrepancy may be resolved.
Would you and Clay be kind enough to keep the MCHC copied of any correspondence regarding this discrepancy.
Thanks so much.
Jack Brooks
*****
2017-05-04
I used the information that Jeff provided to find this posting on the Find-a-Grave website.
The internment is in the Midway Cemetery in Madison County, TX. The marker shows "citizen of the Republic of Texas". This probably accounts for the reason that I was unable to find William's headstone after scouring and probing the badly neglected Laughlin Cemetery in Milam County.
*****
2017-05-04
Jeff Young
Yes Sir. William Foster who participated at San Jacinto is buried in Midway, TX and has a state historical marker on it. He is my III great grandfather.
Milam County Historical Commission
Milam County, Texas
Milam County, Texas
**************************************************************************************************
2014-09-28
Chloe Yoakum
chloe1998.cy(AT)gmail(DOT)com
East Hwy 79 5589
Milano, Texas 76556
512-44six-3oneseven
Hi, this is Chloe Yoakum, I was wondering a little bit more history on a small town called Bat Town or more
specifically if there was any historical markers where the Willam apartment complex is located .
*****
2014-09-28
Ms Yoakum, I have forwarded your request for info the members of the Milam County Historical Commission and you
should be hearing from some of the members re Bat Town.
I do remember that there was a section of Cameron that was called "Batte Town" but that is all I can
remember.
Jerry Caywood
*****
2014-09-28
Lucile Estell
lucile_estell(AT)sbcglobal(DOT)net
There is a section called Batte Town and there is a Batte Town Baptist Church. I don't know of any historical
markers in the area but I will check and see if there are any.
*****
2014-10-11
Ms. Yoakum, I would like to share some information about Battetown that I was able to obtain from Mr. Eugene
Mitchan, Mr. Randy Billingsley and other internet resources. Mr. Mitchan, born in 1930, has been a life long
resident of Cameron and enjoys sharing his memories of the community. We owe him a debt of gratitude for much
of the following information.
I believe that our first order of business should be that of local geography. If you would take note of
attachment #1, you will see the general, earlier physical location of both the Green/ R.L. Batte home and also
of the Battetown community. Per Mr. Mitchan, only some slight rubble from brick columns is probably all that
remains today of either. Attachment #2 shows the general location of some of Mr. R. L. Batte's business
interest locations in the Santa-Fe Town (slang; Dutchtown) community. Mr. Mitchan further stated that people
sometimes refer to this community as Battetown, but that is incorrect. Possibly that is due to Mr. Batte's
business influence and even a street being named Batte Street. This community had a heavy Moravian and Czech
influence. Mr. Batte's primary interests were farming, ranching, oil mill, law officer and property
management. Mr. R. L. Batte (1864-1951) and wife Lelia McAnally Batte (1887-1961), had 7 children. He also took
in many orphans. The only library reference material that I was able to obtain from the Lucy Hill Patterson or
the Cameron Public library that dealt with your inquiry was Lelia M. Batte's "The History of Milam County", pg.
u/k, 1956. See attachment #3. Now that we've established a basic foundation of the Battetown community and
the Batte's, I would like to refer you to the following web site;
http://www.milamcountyhistoricalcommission.org/markers_cameron_green_batte_house.php This site is also the
documentation of the existence of an historic marker that once was on site, but not shown in the photo. My
friend, Mr. Randy Billingsley, whose heritage in Milam County goes back to the Civil war (Capt. Jesse
Billingsley), assisted me with information on the Green/ R. L. Batte home. He kindly allowed me to share this
information with you. The Batte/Green Home on Mr Shipp's property burned down a short time after I took the
pictures about 2005. It had a beautiful 4 poster bed dropping through the second floor. There were many old
historical books in book cases on the first floor. The kitchen table still had plates and canned goods sitting
as if someone walked off leaving things with the intent of returning. Mr Shipp allowed me to take pictures but
not enter the house. I'm so glad I was able to take the photos since I could not find any others that existed
of the old house. George Green was the original owner/builder of the house. He was a private in Captain Jesse
Billingsley's company C at the Battle of San Jacinto...another reason for me to take pictures. The next day he
was with the group of soldiers that captured Santa Anna.He died in that house and is buried in the Oakhill
Cemetery. He originally built the house from logs and later added plank lumber and more rooms.
Randy went one step further and even provided the information on the arson of the home. It's truly rewarding to
have such loyal and helpful friends. http://www.cameronherald.com/news/article_2fce4742-246b-569a-8477-
665dda01a40e.html Now, after the fire, the Green/Batte House historical marker was removed and moved to the
Milam County Historical Jail under the guidance of Charles King , Director of the Milam County historical
Museum. Back to Mr. Mitchan, he stated that the residents of Battetown lived in homes that Mr. Batte provided
for his workers. They were of "conservative but adequate means", and maintained by Mr. Batte's staff. Other
communities like this, that I have researched in the past, often had "company stores" and sometimes even their
own currency. I don't know if that applies in this situation or not. Mr. Mitchan wasn't able to give me an idea
of how many residences that originally existed, but was able to say that it was quite a few. Also, he didn't
recall when the last was destroyed. He then offered one thing better. Mr. R. L. Batte III (95 yrs. young)
still lives in Cameron and he's going to try to put me in touch with him for some of the details that he is
unable to provide. Do you think that an old photo album might be "lurking" in his closet somewhere?. I'll keep
you posted in that regard. Lastly, Thursday, Oct. 16th, my wife and I are scheduled to volunteer in the Milam
County Historical Museum and Historic Jail. I'll take a photo of the Green/Batte House Historical Marker
(that's in the Jail) for you. There is also a 1925 Milam County Soil Conservation map on the rear jail wall
that actually shows structures on property throughout Milam County. There's a possibly that we might be able to
determine the number of residences in Battetown in 1925, from that very map. Should this reply have piqued
additional interest in the Batte's for you, I might suggest reading "Master of the Sycamores" by Lelia M.
Batte. It is located in the genealogy reference section of the Lucy Hill Patterson Library in Rockdale, TX. (I
see that you're from Milano). A side note, the once beautiful "Green/Batte home" had an elaborate brick arch
in the front of the property boldly displaying "The Sycamores" per Mr. Mitchan.
One final "Thank You" to my above friends.
John Brooks
bjohnr2010(AT)hotmail(DOT)com
*****
2014-10-11
Ms. Yoakum,
The below attachments may give you a better visual perspective of the Batte interests, as described to me by
Mr. Mitchan. Also, you'll note that your Williams Trace Apartments reference may be clearly seen. The second
attachment may be a "stretch", but by using Google Earth "Street View" and moving down N. Fannin St. I came
across what looks like the remains of a 2-3 ft. brick column in the underbrush in the middle of the photo. My
larger monitor with better contrast shows it quite well, but considerably poorer with my smaller non photo
quality print image. The location generally "fits" for the "The Sycamores" entrance arch. If I may take another
"leap of faith", I would imagine that this would have also been the logical original location of the Green/ R.
L. Batte Home Historical Marker. I'll try to get further confirmation regarding that on Thursday, Oct. 16th.
Regards, Jack Brooks
*****
2014-10-12
Very well done Mr. Jack...very well done...and thanks for sharing.
One minor correction: It was not the "Civil War" (some say "War Between the States" and some say "War of
Northern Aggression"...guess it is where you are from or how one views the situation in history) it was the
"Republic Era" when Texas was fighting for it's independence from Mexico in 1835/1836. some 25 years before the
"Civil War".
Batte did have his own currency.."Batte Money" which he paid his labor/employees with which could only be used
in "His stores/business" till the Feds stepped in since they were not getting their share of the money in tax.
Randy Billingsley
capt1836(AT)aol(DOT)com
PS: Did you view this photo stated to be the R. L. & Lelia Batte House?
*****
2014-10-15
Ms Yoakum, I visited with Mr. Charles King, Director of the Milam County Historical Museum, today. He allowed
me to photograph the 'Green-Batte House' Texas Historical Marker for you. It is located in a glass display case
in the museum (see attachment #1 and 2).
A personal visit to the Green-Batte home site allowed a considerably better photo of the remains of the
'Sycamores' entry arch and the sycamore lined entry drive (below #3).
I would like to correct a previously quoted incorrect reference source
(http://www.mcanallyclan.com/getperson.php?personID=I83&tree=01mc). Another reference, Matchless Milam, History
of Milam County Texas, pg. 52, excerpts from Mr. R. L. Batte's Autobiography, stated that he had 9 children,
two of whose first name was Lelia.
His first wife was Jessie Womack and they had five children named as follows; Lelia Abbie, Ira Batte, John
Summer, Jessie Lee Batte, and R. L. Batte Jr.. He then married Lelia McAnally in 1909 and by that marriage
there were four children; Mary Belle, Mortimer Lee, Elma Virginia and Lelia Lee. A number died in infancy , or
young.
If you'll take note of attachment #4, and find the McLerran bridge located bottom right. That is 21st St.. If
you follow it to the left, you'll see some of the considerable property interests that Mr. Batte had in
Cameron, the Batte home property and Battetown in 1925.
Regards, Jack Brooks - bjohnr2010(AT)hotmail(DOT)com
*****
2015-10-16
Ms. Yoakum, I visited with Mr. R. L. Batte III today (10/16/2014) at the Cameron Nursing Center . He is a
roommate of the well known Mr. Cliff Simms from Rockdale. Mr. Batte stated that there were twenty seven
residences in the Batttetown community. He joined the military, and was in a number of different branches of
the military service. He was deployed for many years and when he returned, the residences had been removed. He
added that he was the last remaining living Batte (96 years of age) of his generation and that other more
distant relatives remain in Cameron, Milam County, and elsewhere. Mr. Charles King said that during the early
years of WWII, a military installation with military style buildings (Quonset huts) encompassed what was once
Battetown. He believed it to be an internment camp. A Cameron Herald Newspaper micro-tape research of 1941 thru
1945 would certainly glean the details during that time.
On behalf of the Milam County Historical Commission, I hope that we, with the help of all the kind gentleman
herein mentioned, have satisfactorily answered your inquiry.
Sincerely, Jack Brooks
.
Requests for Info
Received via Website
Received via Website
The Southern Mercury - Dallas, TX
January 17, 1889
January 17, 1889
2014-10-06
Clay Riley
riley43(AT)verizon(DOT)net
William Young (1818-1889), was a participant of the Santa Fe Expedition and the Battle of San Jacinto. He
is buried at Laughlin Cemetery with his first wife, Sina Moore Young. Apparently his grave is covered or
lost in the cemetery. It needs recognition and a marker to acknowledge his sacrifice and service to the State.
of Texas. I have attached several items for your review. (see below)
Thank you for your time and consideration,
Clay Riley
Pecan Valley Genealogical Society
Brown County Texas Historical Commission
*****
2014-10-07
Mr Riley,
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. I have forwarded your email to the members of the Milam County
Historical Commission for their response. I have also posted this on the website. Hopefully we can get some
action started. Thank you.
Jerry Caywood
*****
Attachments:
Officers and Enlisted Men
Battle of San Jacinto 21st April 1836
2nd Regiment Volunteers Cavalry Company J Officers
William H. Smith, captain
John W. Carpenter, first lieutenant (from Arnold's
Co.)
William Harness (Harris?), second lieutenant
Stephen McLaughlin, first sergeant
Thomas Patton Fowle, second sergeant
Privates
William Charles Brookfield, Wilson C. Brown,
Thomas Young Beauford, John Carpenter, Elisha
Clapp, William H. Clemmons, Andrew M. Clopper,
James Douthit, Anthony Foster, Hugh Henderson,
W.F. James, George Johnson, William D. Redd, John
Robbins, Thomas Robbins, James W. Robinson, James
Shaw, William S. Taylor (from Ware Co.), James B.
Thompson, Spencer Burton Townsend, Owlyn J. Trask,
John W. Williamson, Robert McAlpin Williamson,
William Foster Young sdct
THIRTY-FOUR WOUNDED
Orin D. Anson (C.D. Anderson), Washington
Anderson, Mosely Baker, Jesse Billingsley, James
Cooper (died late 1836), James Cumba, Joseph Smith
Edgar, Calvin Gage, Albert Edward Gallatin, Giles
A. Giddings (died Jun 1836), Samuel Houston
(severe), Allen Ingram (severe), W.F. James
(severe), George Washington Lewis (Lonis)
(severe), Thomas H. Mays, James C. Neill (severe
20 Apr), James Nelson, William A. Park, Michael
(Mitchell) Putman, Elbridge Gerry Rector, George
Washington Robinson (severe), William H. Smith,
Alphonso Steele (severe), John F. Tom (severe),
Thomas Utly (severe), Logan Vandever (severe),
Elijah Votaw, Martin Walker (severe), William S.
Walker (severe), George Waters, Leroy Wilkinson,
William C. Winters (severe), Devereaux J. Woodlief
(severe 20 Apr), William Foster Young (severe)
sdct