DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the marker on the old George Francis Home tells it, out on York's Creek in Guadalupe County. Now settle in, because this one's got layers. George Francis was not a man who came to Texas looking for quiet.
Before he ever built a house here, he was already in it — in the First Regiment, Volunteers, and in Company A, Second Regiment, Texas Cavalry, during the 1836 Texas War for Independence. He'd seen what this land cost, and he came back for it anyway. In 1848 he brought his wife, Margaret Ann Rector Francis, and their family to Texas.
And then in 1849, he erected this house right here on York's Creek. Built it with his own hands, raised his family inside it, watched the San Antonio-to-Bastrop mail route of 1870 cross right at this very point. Life on the frontier, but life nonetheless.
Now. Here's where the story turns, and you might want to hold onto something. George and Margaret Ann had six sons.
Six. And every last one of them walked out of this house to fight in the Civil War. Edward went as Color Sergeant with the 4th Texas Infantry.
He was killed at Chickamauga. George — named for his father — went as a surgeon. He died in service at Galveston.
John rode with the Charles DeMorse Regiment, Texas Cavalry. Joseph went with Sibley's Brigade, which fought in New Mexico in 1862. Pendleton served in Company A, 4th Regiment, Texas Cavalry, and died in the 1864 Battle of Mansfield.
And Wesley — Wesley went with Hood's Texas Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. Six sons left through that door. The marker doesn't tell you how many came home.
And somehow, that silence says everything that needs sayin'.
What the marker says
[first plate] Built by George Francis, who was in First Regiment, Volunteers, and in Co. A, Second Regiment, Texas Cavalry, during the 1836 Texas War for Independence.In 1848 he brought his wife, Margaret Ann Rector Francis, and their family to Texas, and in 1849 erected this house on York's Creek. At this point is crossing used by San Antonio-to-Bastrop mail route of 1870. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1968 [second plate] The six Confederate sons of George Francis, going from this house to the Civil War, were: Edward, Color Sergeant, 4th Texas Infantry, killed at Chickamauga; George, a surgeon, who died in service at Galveston; John, in the Charles DeMorse Regiment, Texas Cavalry; Joseph, with Sibley's Brigade, which fought 1862 in New Mexico; Pendleton, in Co. A, 4th Regiment, Texas Cavalry, who died in 1864 Battle of Mansfield; Wesley, in Hood's Texas Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. (1968)