RICHMOND’S 175TH BIRTHDAY! Fort Bend County History
By Chris Godbold On Sept. 15, the city of Richmond will celebrate its 175th birthday. In 1837, Richmond was initially incorporated by the Republic of Texas. However, the area had a busy history before...
View ArticleMORTON CEMETERY – Fort Bend County History
By Chris Godbold An ill stranger appeared at the door of William Morton in 1825. Morton was living on his property west of the Brazos River, in what is now Richmond. The stranger’s name was Robert ...
View ArticleMYSTERY: WHERE WAS THE OLD FORT? – Fort Bend County History
By Chris Godbold In 1821, the Lively prepared to leave New Orleans. The Lively was a small ship filled with supplies and settlers traveling to Austin’s new colony in Texas. Among them was William...
View ArticleCHRISTMAS IN VICTORIAN FORT BEND COUNTY – Fort Bend County History
By Chris Godbold Christmas was primarily a homemade affair during the mid- to late 19th century in Fort Bend County. Decorations were made in the home from things the family had around them. Flowers...
View ArticleHistorically Fort Bend: Jane Long
By Chris Godbold Jane Long, called the Mother of Texas, was born in Maryland in 1798 to Gen. William Wilkinson and Annie Dent Wilkinson. She married Dr. James Long in 1815 and they settled near...
View ArticleHistorically Fort Bend: Bustling About in Victorian Days
By Chris Godbold Popular fashions never stay the same for very long. Styles change as new ideas on how to flatter the figure or shape the human form come into vogue. This is especially true with ......
View ArticleHistorically Fort Bend: Simonton: Red Potato Capital of Texas
By Chris Godbold Simonton is located on the Southern Pacific rail line 14 miles northwest of Richmond. Originally part of the league of land granted to Thomas Westall, the first settlement in the...
View ArticleHistorically Fort Bend:Surviving the Storm
By Chris Godbold We are now in the midst of hurricane season. Today we benefit from sophisticated radar and warning systems, but in the early 20th century there were no such early warnings. This was...
View ArticleHistorically Fort Bend:Renaissance Revival Furniture Popular in Victorian Era
By Chris Godbold Victorians enjoyed several styles of furniture, the popularity of one overlapping with the growing popularity of another. One of those was the Renaissance Revival style which brought...
View ArticleHistorically Fort Bend: The Old 300
Portraits of Old 300 members By Chris Godbold The Old 300 are the first settlers brought to Texas under Stephen F. Austin’s contract to bring families to the Mexican province. The contract was...
View ArticleHistorically Fort Bend: Numerous Black Politicians Rose to Prominence in...
By Chris Godbold The end of the Civil War in Fort Bend County gave rise to a black population active in county politics. After Juneteenth, thousands of black slaves in Fort Bend County were suddenly...
View ArticleHistorically Fort Bend: Let’s Go Shopping
During the month of December, our attention turns to buying Christmas presents. Shopping becomes our favorite national pastime. We busily look for the perfect gift for friends and loved ones. Shoppers...
View ArticleHistorically Fort Bend: William K. Davis
Son of Kinchen W. Davis and Fannie Pleasants, William Kinchen Davis was a prominent landowner and citizen in Fort Bend County. He was born on November 11, 1822 in Alabama. Davis arrived in Texas on ......
View ArticleHistorically Fort Bend: Spinning Wheels and Spinning Fibers
In Austin’s Colony, access was limited to finished goods such as clothing, blankets and other textiles. Instead, many families made these items for themselves from start to finish. They harvested...
View ArticleHistorically Fort Bend: Fort Bend Men and the Houston Rodeo
March in Houston means Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo time. Though the Rodeo is located in Houston it has plenty of Fort Bend ties, and has since its inception. Fort Bend ranchers sent their cattle...
View ArticleHistorically Fort Bend: Our Lost Structures
by Chris Godbold Fort Bend County is very forward looking. Right now, it is experiencing great growth and diversity in its population. New roads are constructed and older ones are expanded. However, we...
View ArticleHistorically Fort Bend: Thomas Jefferson Smith
After the end of the Texas revolution, a fortunate soldier made his way to Fort Bend County. He had survived battle and capture and was now set on making his home in Texas. Thomas Jefferson ... The...
View ArticleHistorically Fort Bend: When it Was a Child’s World
Young Victorian children were seen as innocent beings that should be protected against the realities of the world, especially intimacy. As a result, parents dressed their toddlers and young children,...
View ArticleHistorically Fort Bend: William Jennings Bryan in Rosenberg
Fort Bend County has seen its fair share of politicians. Some of them live here while others are just passing through. The travels of the presidential candidates throughout the country are a contrast...
View ArticleHistorically Fort Bend: Victorian Mourning Customs
Victorians were fond of rules and rituals, especially in social occasions and for lifetime events such as weddings and funerals. Elaborate mourning customs were the etiquette of the day, especially...
View Article
