The Indian Marker Trees of Texas

 by Tom Goodman

Have you ever come across a tree that runs parallel to the ground and then bends at a right angle to rise skyward?

It could be an Indian “marker tree.”

Researchers claim that Native Americans modified certain trees for navigation. They would find a flexible sapling and tie it down. As the trunk grew, it would point in the direction of significant sites. 

Low-water crossings. 

Fresh springs. 

Sacred grounds. 

Some dismiss the claim entirely, since natural processes can bend a tree in this way. But advocates have been researching certain trees since the late 1800s.

A tree must meet certain standards to be considered a marker tree.

First, it must be at least 150 years old to have existed at the time Indians lived and hunted in the area. Evidence of their presence, such as arrowheads, increases the validity of a claim. Also, the tree has to point in the direction of something significant, like a water feature or a burial site. 

In my state, the Texas Historic Tree Coalition validates the claims of marker trees. At last count, they’ve received over two hundred requests to investigate a tree. Half of the claims have been ruled out. So far, nine Texas trees have been officially identified as marker trees.

The novel I’m writing now is set in East Texas in the early 1900s. One of the characters discovers an old marker tree. 

Did the Caddo of East Texas use marker trees? They were an agricultural people who tended to stay in one place, so it’s unlikely they needed much guidance for travel. So far, all the trees validated by the Texas Historic Tree Coalition are Comanche marker trees north and west of the county where my story takes place. 

Still, since tribes throughout North America practiced this, it’s likely the Caddo shaped trees for their purposes, too.

Click here and here to find out more about the Texas Historic Tree Coalition. If you live in another state, you’re sure to find a historical society that has information on Indian marker trees in your area. The Mountain Stewards website might get you started.

Owney:Honorary Mascot of the Railway Mail Service

 

Owney guarding a mail sack Wikimedia photo

Originally, I had a different idea for this blog. My latest contemporary romance released this month, so I was looking for a historical dog-related theme for this month. And in the process, I found a rabbit hole to research. Over the centuries, only the wealthy had dogs as pets. Everyone else kept dogs to perform useful services such as watchdog, ratter, or cattle dog. While researching the origin of dog tags, I found a brief mention of a mixed-breed terrier who was a postal service mascot, and I had to know the story. And now I'm sharing it with you.

Vest full of medals  Wikepedia photo

During the 1890s, Owney was the unofficial mascot of the Railway Mail Service. Owney was owned by a postal clerk in Albany, New York, who took the dog to work with him. When he left that job, he left Owney behind. The dog loved traveling in the mail cars. Postal employees adopted him as their mascot. For nine years he was a mail-riding dog.

Riding the rails

He rode resting on the mailbags, protecting that mail from anyone who wasn't a mail clerk. He would growl at anyone coming near those bags unless they were mail clerks. 

Sometimes he'd leave Albany and not return for months, moving from train to train. The Albany clerks became concerned he might get lost. They purchased a collar and added a dog tag with his name and Albany post office. As he arrived at other post offices, they added tags.

Medals and Tags

Soon at every stop he made, a new tag was added. It is believed he visited all forty-eight states, Alaska, Canada and Mexico. Everywhere he went, he received a tag, some brass or silver, others made from leather or aluminum. 

John Wannamaker

There were also commemorative medals from organizations that wanted to honor him. Tokens with the date and place he visited were also added. Eventually, the Postmaster General John Wannamaker had a special vest made for him to display his tags. Wannamaker was concerned Owney would injure his neck from their weight. Overtime, as new medals were added, older ones were removed and mailed to Albany or Washington, D.C. for safekeeping. It is said he accumulated over 1,000 medals and tags. Currently, the National Postal Museum has only 372. Some of the more fragile medals didn't survive.

Tidbits from Owney's travels

While he visited Montreal, Ontario, Canada, the city postmaster kept him in a kennel. He sent a request for reimbursement of the $2.50 fee for care and feeding. Once it was paid, the dog was returned to Albany.

In 1895, Tacoma, Washington, businessmen, concocted a publicity stunt to honor George Francis Train, the inspiration for Phineas Fogg in Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 days. Train had once ended one of his world travels in Tacoma. In honor of Train, they wanted to send America's most famous K9, around the world on a mail ship.

Owney set sail on August 19,1895 on the steamship Victoria. According to an article published in The Roanoke Daily on July 24, 1896, his trip was quite fanciful. He carried a travel bag containing a comb, brush, his blanket and his vest full of medals for formal meetings, along with letters of introduction. Reportedly, the port authority in Japan, on seeing all his medals, thought he must be someone very important and treated him with respect. While in Japan, he was given a passport by the emperor. The emperor of China also gave him a passport and then arranged for Owney to tour a silk and tea factory. Chinese coins and commemorative ribbons were added to the dog's vest as well.

  Captain Panton of the Victoria took Owney on tours of the American ships in the Hong Kong harbor where he acquired more medals and letters of introduction. After touring Asia, he boarded the steamship, Port Philip, and was placed in the care of Captain Grant and his crew for his return trip to Tacoma, Washington. He returned August 19,1985 after 132 days. He broke no speed records and, according to ship's records, never visited Europe. Even so, his fame grew.

At the end of his life

Owney traveled over 144,000 miles, more than any wealthy individual in that era. He was beloved by all the postal employees along his train routes. As he aged, Post Office management felt his traveling days were over. Mail clerk J. M. Elben, of St. Louis, agreed to take him in. The Chicago manager of Railway Mail Service insisted in colorful language that the "mongrel cur" no longer be allowed to travel on the trains. Management was looking for ways to improve service. The postal employees felt their mascot represented the working class and didn't appreciate the new management's attitude toward Owney. The remarks seemed to mirror their attitude toward them as postal employees.

Smithsonian display

Owney's passing was reported in every newspaper in the country. Some gave a soft report that Owney had become ill and died. While others called it murder. Owney had become aggressive in his old age and supposedly bit a clerk and then a US Marshal, at which point a sheriff put him down.

But according to some modern research into the details of his death, they discovered a clerk had chained Owney in a basement. His freedom to roam was taken away, probably adding to his aggression. My question, if a clerk in St. Louis took him in, how did he end up in a basement in Ohio. Whether he was in a basement or outside attacking people, it was confirmed he was put down in Toledo, Ohio on June 11, 1897.

Postal Employees insist he is honored

The postal employees refused to bury him. Instead, they ask that he be preserved and presented to the Post Office Department's headquarters. Their request was granted. The postal department placed him displayed at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. Cleveland, Ohio, postal workers commissioned a silver spoon in honor of their mascot. Owney is on exhibit at the Smithsonian. He was sent there in 1911 and has been called one of the museum's most interesting artifacts.

He was the subject of two poems by postal clerks.

      And the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in 2012 published a digital edition Owney: Tails for the Rails, written by Jerry Rees, with songs by Stephen Michael Schwartz and illustrated by Fred Cline, and narrated by Trace Adkins who also voiced the songs. Here is a link to the free book.

I had never heard of Owney before. When I visited the Smithsonian years ago, I never made it to their postal museum. As I've spent few years writing contemporary romances with hero dogs in them, I couldn't pass up a chance to tell a real hero dog story.

Have you ever heard of Owney?

Cindy Ervin Huff is a multi-Award-winning, hybrid author of historical and contemporary romance. She loves researching odd historical tidbits and visiting museums with her husband of 50-plus years. Although they don't currently have a dog, Cindy takes pictures of all the ones she meets at vending events. She's addicted to chocolate and reading and loves encouraging future authors. You can visit her at www.cindyervinhuff.com or on social media. 

https://www.facebook.com/author.huff11

https://www.instagram.com/cindyervinhuff/

https://twitter.com/Cindyhuff11Huff

Here is a link to my contemporary romance series featuring adorable dogs.

 

COST 0F PERSERVERANCE

 By Catherine Ulrich Brakefield

        In the early hours of dawn, oftentimes a mist appears circling the tall, majestic mountainous peaks of Mount Rushmore; like soft downy-white angel wings stroking the imposing sculptures of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

Abraham Lincoln’s image is on our five-dollar bill, and his imposing stance is always on display, and can be seen in Washington D.C. The light of the Lincoln Memorial shines across the Tidal Basin as you paddle by.

Upon visiting the memorial, Lincoln’s bigger-than- life statue looks down at each bystander with that paternal, thoughtful gaze seen in many photos. Every element of Lincoln was carefully created. For instance, one hand is clenched as it rests upon the chair arm. This displays his determination to see the war through. The other hand is open as it rests upon the arm of his chair. For me, it depicted Lincoln ready to jump out of that chair, to protect his beloved country, may need arise.

       

Lincoln, of all people, would be shocked that his popularity mushroomed throughout the portals of history and into the twenty-first century. During most of his lifetime, he was considered a country bumpkin, a business and social failure.

There are often mixed interpretations pertaining to the word perseverance. Webster’s definition is: In pursuing a dream despite difficulty of delay in achieving success.

If there was any one person in history whom this word could be relatable to, that would be Abraham Lincoln. He began with nothing. Only through faith and perseverance did he achieve success.

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, near Holdenville, Kentucky, in a one room log cabin. He was taught to read by the loving hands of his gentle and godly mother.

        In 1816, at seven years old, Abe went to work to help his family. Two years later, in 1818, his mother, Nancy, died from poisoned milk.

        Thomas, Abe’s father, left the children for seven months. Their cabin had a dirt floor with no door to shut against the noises of the panther’s screams and the bears’ roars. Their one room cabin was a crude dwelling, somewhat resembling what Rachael and Jonathan had to live in my novel Wilted Dandelions in the 1830s living in the wilds of western Oregon.

When their new stepmother, Sarah, came back with their father, Sarah described the children as wild, ragged, and dirty.

In 1828, just ten years after their mother died, Abe’s sister passed away.

        Raised in the backwoods, going to school was thought of as a convenience. Education was afforded by the children of middle to upper-class families. The Lincolns were dirt poor, and Abe was privileged to a year of schooling.

His illiterate father saw no need for an education for his children. Hard work was his task maker. Oftentimes, he would catch young Abe wasting time thinking or reading a book. If Thomas was in a bad mood, he would rip up the pages of that book and on occasion whip him. But this did not dampen Lincoln’s thirst for learning. He became a self-taught lawyer, and he enjoyed the thought-provoking words of Thomas Paine’s book The Age of Reason.

        Abe had a love and respect for God that his mother bequeathed him. He had a foreboding fear of God, his father’s lashing tongue and hard, relentless hands implanted into Abe’s young and impressionable mind. This left an indelible mark upon his heart which took years to eradicate.

Abe often said, “…I have never denied the truth of the Scriptures; and I have never spoken with intentional disrespect of religion in general, or of any denomination of Christians in particular.”

 Lincoln stood six feet four inches tall. He towered over other men. The average man in the 1800s measured around five feet seven inches in height. Yet, Abraham Lincoln always appeared to come up short, whether in his business pursuits or his political ventures.

        He opened his first business, a General Store in 1831, which went bankrupt due to his partner’s dealings. He spent seventeen years paying the debt and acquired the nickname of “Honest Abe.”

        Then Abe decided to run for the legislation, and he lost miserably in 1832.

In 1833 he borrowed money to begin another business, and this too went bankrupt. Honest Abe paid back the money. People began noticing him. They could not help respecting this backwoodsman who sported a self-deprecating humor, who had a knack for storytelling.

His love for music, poetry, and books seemed to bring him the right attention with the opposite sex, when in 1835 he met a godly woman named Ann Rutiedge, they fell in love and became engaged. Then she suddenly died of typhoid fever.

       

In 1842 he met Mary Todd. They fell in love and married. Mary saw potential in her husband, knowing Abe would be an honest and trustworthy politician, so she encouraged Abe to run for Congress. But in 1843, he lost. Lincoln tried again and in 1845, ran for the Senate and lost again.

Discouraged, Lincoln went back to circuit riding as a lawyer in Illinois. While Mary tended to the house and took care of their romping and fun-loving sons, who would eventually consist of four. But tragedy would again poke its ugly head into Lincoln’s life when three of those sons would die.

See next month’s December issue for the conclusion.

Wilted Dandelions: Rachael is ready to leave her luxurious life in Buffalo, New York, to share the gospel with the Native Americans in the Oregon Territory. But the Missionary Alliance requires their missionaries to be married. Rachael agrees to a marriage of convenience with a man she hardly knows and learns God does not create coincidences—He designs possibilities.

“I loved this quote… ‘I’m still such a babe in Christ. Will I ever stop seeking my desires and reasoning it is God’s will that I satisfy my own whims?’ Can you relate?” Grandaddy A.

Catherine is the award-winning author of Wilted Dandelions, Swept into Destiny, Destiny’s Whirlwind, Destiny of Heart, Waltz with Destiny and Love's Final Sunrise. She has written two pictorial history books, The Lapeer Area and Eastern Lapeer, and short stories for Guideposts Books, CrossRiver Media Group, Revell Books, Bethany House Publishers. Catherine and her husband of fifty-two years live on a ranch in Michigan and have two adult children, five grandchildren, four Arabian horses, three dogs, four cats, six chickens, and three bunnies. See CatherineUlrichBrakefield.com for more information.

https://lightmagazine.ca/abraham-lincolns-freeing-encounter-with-christ/

https://nps.gov/linc/learn/historyculture/memorial-features.htm

https://www.nps.gov/moru/index.htm

Mid-Month Madness!

We really appreciate you coming by!

We will be giving away books so be sure to pay attention about how to enter. To enter for a chance to win, you MUST leave a comment WITH your EMAIL and you MUST ask one or more of the authors a question you’d like to know about them, their writing, or their books.

We are looking forward to getting to know you better and hope you’ll get to know us better, too!

Be sure to drop by the Facebook Party for a chance to mingle with the authors and 

nab even more great giveaways!

The party is today from 5:00 to 6:30 PM Eastern Time.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1770933813056488

Matthew James Elliott (M.J. Elliott) is a passionate writer who seeks to encourage and inspire through story. With over 15 years in ministry, he brings a unique perspective on people and Biblical history. He holds a degree in Biblical Studies from Oklahoma Wesleyan University, focusing on Pastoral Care, Christian Education, and Worship. Married with three children who bring him joy and inspiration, Matthew treasures sharing stories they can learn from. In his writing, he aspires to minister with love, equip with encouragement, and use his God-given gift to help readers encounter HIM in real and meaningful ways.

 A hybrid author, Donna Schlachter writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process and is coaching committed writers eager to tell their story.

 Linda Shenton Matchett writes happily-ever-after historical Christian fiction about second chances and women who overcome life’s challenges to be better versions of themselves. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historical places all her life. She now lives in central New Hampshire where she is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII.

 Liisa Eyerly’s books are a cross between Agatha Christie and Francine Rivers. Her mystery novel, Obedient Unto Death, won the Eric Hoffer First Horizon Award for a debut novel and first place in Spiritual Fiction. Fortunes of Death, continues the Secrets of Ephesus series, weaving Christian twists into the historical mystery genre of the first-century Roman Empire. Liisa’s travels to Turkey, Greece, and Italy have enriched her stories with vivid depictions of New Testament culture, history, and people. She’s been a teacher and librarian. She and her husband live in northern Wisconsin, where the long winters are conducive to writing.

For over 40 years, Tom Goodman has served as a pastor in Louisiana, the Cayman Islands, and Texas. His Spur Award-winning debut novel is called The Last Man. It is closely based on a true crime from 1927 that the press called “The Santa Claus Bank Robbery.” Tom is the author of several nonfiction books and articles, including over 50 entries in the Lifeway men’s devotional magazine called Stand Firm.

Two-time winner of the Christian Indie Award, Amber Lemus inspires hearts through enthralling tales She has a passion for family, faith, facts and fiction. This combination results in what her readers call "historical fiction at its finest." She lives at the foot of the Rocky Mountains with her prince charming and two boys. Between enjoying life as a boy mom, and spinning stories out of soap bubbles, Amber loves to connect with readers. Amber is a proud member of the American Christian Fiction Writers Association. Visit her website and download a FREE story by subscribing to her Newsletter!

Hope of Inheritance

Silas, Luke, John-Mark, and Timothy, all knew Peter and Paul and the message God spoke through them. The time for these four individuals to stand in the gap between faith and reality has finally come. Will they complete this mysterious letter before they are all killed just like those who came before them? This story is the epic journey these four brothers in Christ, and their scribe, experienced as God prepared their hearts to write that Letter and how HE led them through it. Are you ready for the 

Journey? The Hope of your Inheritance is waiting for you.

BUY NOW!

 

A Pink Lady Thanksgiving

Kate and Tom McBride, along with their newborn, settle into life in Oregon City, Oregon in November 1879. Kate enjoys being a wife, mother, and homemaker, but she still remembers her fanciful dreams: to solve mysteries. Her first case is to find the missing fiancée of a local banker. Tom, however, isn’t sure this is a good idea, particularly when somebody throws a fiery bomb into their home. They learn that their pasts may not be as far behind them as they’d hoped. Can they solve these mysteries and get on with their lives?

BUY NOW!

Love and Chocolate

Ilsa Krause’s father left massive debt behind upon his death. To pay off the creditors, she takes a job at Beck’s Chocolates, the company her father despised. To make matters worse, her boss is Ernst Webber, her high school love who dumped her. Can life get any more difficult?

Ernst Webber lands his dream job at Beck’s Chocolates and plans to climb the ladder of success. Then Ilsa Krause walks back into his life resurrecting feelings he thought long dead. She makes it clear she has no interest in a second chance. Can he get her to change her mind? Does he want to?

BUY NOW!

 

Obedient unto Death

The award-winning Secrets of Ephesus series unveils gripping mysteries set in the perilous world of ancient Rome. In Obedient unto Death, a scribe is murdered during an illicit Christian gathering. Sabina, a fearless believer, navigates a treacherous world of deceit and betrayal to discover the killer. In Fortunes of Death, our sleuth returns—risking everything to expose murder, magic, and corruption beneath the empire’s glittering surface. Reviewer Deborah Anne raves: “Murder mystery—Intrigue—Love—Fellowship through Christ. This series has it all! Eyerly is wonderful! If you’re tired of boring—read this series! I love a good mystery!” Prepare to be hooked!

BUY NOW!

 

The Last Man

When Santa Claus enters a Texas bank just before Christmas in 1927, no one expects him to pull a gun. His fake beard hides his identity while he and three other bandits take everything. Escaping with hostages, they soon have the whole Lone Star state on their trail. Closely based on a true story, the Spur Award-winning novel, The Last Man is a gritty Prohibition-era Western novel filled with flawed characters and second chances.

BUY NOW!

The Swaddling Clothes

Through the ages, men have told many stories about Mary, Joseph, and the birth of the Messiah. Stories of shepherds and sheep, kings, angels, and stables. But one story no one has ever told. One story hidden in the fabric of time. The story of The Swaddling Clothes. Mentioned not once, but several times in the Scriptural text, what is the significance of these special cloths? And how did they make their way into a stable in Bethlehem? Reviewers call it "A surprisingly sweet treasure that deftly weaves fiction and Scripture." It's a Christmas adventure you won't want to miss.

BUY NOW!