In January I was able to make my first visit to Austin, Texas, and explore some of the Haynie family's 19th century Texas history. I've delayed posting this report because I haven't been able to upload my photos to a web album; here is a summary of the trip, with pictures to follow at a later date:
Drove up Congress Avenue, where in the 1800's Dr. Samuel Garner Haynie had an office and drugstore.
Explored the area near the State Capitol, to see the place where the Haynie-Cook House used to be. (It's mostly a parking lot now, sad to say.) Nearby is the imposing First Methodist Church, which was locked. I tried to peek through the front windows to see if Rev. John Haynie's picture was there, as the "founding father."
The Governor's Mansion was still so shrouded that almost nothing could be seen of it, due to restoration in progress after the disastrous fire. It is the oldest governor's mansion west of the Mississippi River, designed by Abner Cook during the same period that he built the Haynie-Cook House nearby: early 1850's.
Then I spent quite a while at Oakwood Cemetery, taking pictures of our great-great-grandparents' graves, Dr. Samuel and Mrs. Maria Haynie, and of others near them. I walked to the other end of the cemetery & found the grave of our ancestor, Elizabeth Brooks Haynie (wife of Rev. Haynie), in the Caldwell family's plot.
The next day I took quite a few pictures at St. David's Episcopal Church, which the younger Haynies helped to establish. After my trip I received wonderful assistance from the church's archivist, as far as old church records.
Then I made a fleeting attempt to go to the Republic of Texas museum north of town; unfortunately I was thwarted by confusing roads, rain, and traffic!
Next I headed to the Neill-Cochran House, which is virtually the only house museum representing Abner Cook's work...After I left there I found the little old building which now houses the U.T. Center for American History, also designed by Cook. The director of the Neill-Cochran House museum -- who turned out to be a Haynie, as well! -- had told me that when this (now university) building was constructed circa 1860, it was the home of the Institute for the Blind and Dr. Haynie was the superintendent. I believe our ancestors lived there, if only for a year or two. (Our great-grandfather Charles was five years old in 1860.)
By this time it was dark outside, so the building was closed...I discovered on line later that, after the Civil War, General Custer and his family lived in the same house --- as part of the military occupation of Texas!
On the third morning I headed toward Bastrop, stopping at the Haynie Chapel site in Garfield, another landmark honoring John Haynie's instrumental role in early Texas Methodism.
Drove up Congress Avenue, where in the 1800's Dr. Samuel Garner Haynie had an office and drugstore.
Explored the area near the State Capitol, to see the place where the Haynie-Cook House used to be. (It's mostly a parking lot now, sad to say.) Nearby is the imposing First Methodist Church, which was locked. I tried to peek through the front windows to see if Rev. John Haynie's picture was there, as the "founding father."
The Governor's Mansion was still so shrouded that almost nothing could be seen of it, due to restoration in progress after the disastrous fire. It is the oldest governor's mansion west of the Mississippi River, designed by Abner Cook during the same period that he built the Haynie-Cook House nearby: early 1850's.
Then I spent quite a while at Oakwood Cemetery, taking pictures of our great-great-grandparents' graves, Dr. Samuel and Mrs. Maria Haynie, and of others near them. I walked to the other end of the cemetery & found the grave of our ancestor, Elizabeth Brooks Haynie (wife of Rev. Haynie), in the Caldwell family's plot.
The next day I took quite a few pictures at St. David's Episcopal Church, which the younger Haynies helped to establish. After my trip I received wonderful assistance from the church's archivist, as far as old church records.
Then I made a fleeting attempt to go to the Republic of Texas museum north of town; unfortunately I was thwarted by confusing roads, rain, and traffic!
Next I headed to the Neill-Cochran House, which is virtually the only house museum representing Abner Cook's work...After I left there I found the little old building which now houses the U.T. Center for American History, also designed by Cook. The director of the Neill-Cochran House museum -- who turned out to be a Haynie, as well! -- had told me that when this (now university) building was constructed circa 1860, it was the home of the Institute for the Blind and Dr. Haynie was the superintendent. I believe our ancestors lived there, if only for a year or two. (Our great-grandfather Charles was five years old in 1860.)
By this time it was dark outside, so the building was closed...I discovered on line later that, after the Civil War, General Custer and his family lived in the same house --- as part of the military occupation of Texas!
On the third morning I headed toward Bastrop, stopping at the Haynie Chapel site in Garfield, another landmark honoring John Haynie's instrumental role in early Texas Methodism.
In Bastrop I ate lunch in the building which has our great-grandfather's name on the front, C. R. Haynie & Co. 1883. He must have operated a store there! Then I lingered in the Old Town Visitors Center, I think it's called, which used to be the bank and is very cute with the original teller windows. Eventually I drove around and looked at the fronts of some of the old houses, the Bastrop County courthouse, & the jail.
I especially wanted to find the house called the Luckett house, as C.R.'s sister Frances lived there with her family of sons and husband Dr. H. P. Luckett. It was also where, as I learned later in the year, our ancestor Hannah Maria Evans Haynie died, in 1898. [Historically the land was the location of the Bastrop Military Institute, which moved to Austin.]...I don't know yet where our grandfather Hiram's family resided, unless they lived above their store. His father Charles Raymond Haynie was the Bastrop County Treasurer, as well.
I visited the town's historical museum, where the staff showed me files which informed me who our great-grandfather's in-laws were, as they gave the young couple the lot upon which the Main Street store was built! There again, later I found more documentation on line about our Taylor great-great-grandparents. Campbell Taylor was an officer in the Republic of Texas Army and served in the Battle of San Jacinto, as did Charles Haynie's maternal grandfather Musgrove Evans.
Lastly in Bastrop was -- what else? visiting Fairview Cemetery. I hunted & hunted for our Haynie great-grandparents' graves, finally locating them when it was nearly dark.
During my stay in Fayette County, after exploring the courthouse area I tried to visit the place now called Brendan Manor -- a B & B -- formerly known as the Bradshaw-Killough House. It was owned for a few years by Rev. John Haynie toward the end of his life, circa late 1850's. Then the children and descendants of James Asbury Haynie (Sam's brother) lived in it for about 100 years....But apparently the owners didn't have any guests, as the house was locked.
Lastly in Bastrop was -- what else? visiting Fairview Cemetery. I hunted & hunted for our Haynie great-grandparents' graves, finally locating them when it was nearly dark.
During my stay in Fayette County, after exploring the courthouse area I tried to visit the place now called Brendan Manor -- a B & B -- formerly known as the Bradshaw-Killough House. It was owned for a few years by Rev. John Haynie toward the end of his life, circa late 1850's. Then the children and descendants of James Asbury Haynie (Sam's brother) lived in it for about 100 years....But apparently the owners didn't have any guests, as the house was locked.
On the morning of my departure I went to the LaGrange Cemetery and found Rev. John Haynie's grave, along with the aforementioned James Haynie's family.
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