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Wednesday, April 28, 2004
I've Been Thinking, Historical Account of the Montgomery Area
by Narcissa Martin Boulware
Historic Lands Called "Places”
When traveler, historian Bolleart arrived in Montgomery in 1843, he was on his way to visit his friend Robert Robson at his plantation named Scott Hermitage. Our local historians think the plantation was about where Walden Road turns north off Hwy. 105. Bolleart stayed in Montgomery for several months. He tells of starting his journey to Huntsville, he stopped at the farm of Mr. Dunlap. Many of remember Oliver and "Buddy" Dunlap who lived about three miles out of what is now known as FM 1097 E. Their home, along with the "boy's house" in the yard, was only a hop, skip and a jump south of where Little Lake Creek crosses FM 1097 E. I think Bolleart pictures of a Texas farm and Robson's home the Scott hermitage will vividly show how it was when the Landrum's, Gay's, Rogers', and Griffith's took the first steps to bring about what the Indian Trading Post, Village, Town and now City of Montgomery is today. I believe the beginning as well as the end as of today should be recognized historically in any oral or written claim so as to properly place Montgomery in Texas history. While writing the story of the original families who received Mexican Land Grants, let me add that the names I have included are by no means the only families of that period. These are the ones that have been told to me by my ancestors and families of others who have been given their family's history.
While searching the records of the Texas State Archives from 1836-1884 and the County Clerk's Office in Conroe, I found that Peter Cartwright was Justice of the Peace in the Lake Creek settlement during 1836 to 1839, and his jurisdiction was Beat Four. That means that the four families I have included or accounted of a member of a family very much alive and well today. I don't have a clue as to where JP Cartwright held his office/court since his address was Lake Creek, but as far as I know or remember being told by my Martin family members, the Cartwright family was located in the Keenan Community. I believe the Beat Four included those families living in or around Montgomery.
Since there was no Village or Town or even a recognition of Montgomery until 1836, JP Cartwright probably held court in a rough log cabin. This implies that the first settlers must have gathered there to draft some kind of election that would govern a widely spread group of immigrants of every race. Stories left behind show that escape from prosecution in the United States was the primary reason many of the first settlers moved to Mexican-owned Texas.
The Montgomery County Historical records list Peter Cartwright, Lake Creek, JP of Beat Four, Martin P. Clark, JP, Lake Creek Pct, 1836 and George Galbrarth Beat Four, Lake Creek Pct., 1839-1839. Thus, Galbrarth was JP in 1836 during the year that Texas was declared a Republic and through 1837 when Montgomery was declared a County, the third County established by the General Land Office after Texas gained its freedom from Mexican rule in 1836. These records show that possibly three men held office of JP in 1836, the beginning of our County and our town. This was probably a very dangerous job, since the rule of thumb in a disagreement was "Shoot first and discuss the matter later".
Remember that all this was taking place before our first families had an address or location called Montgomery.
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