DUANE
Duane's take
Here's what the official marker has to say, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Somewhere in Robertson County, there's a piece of ground that holds a story most folks never heard — and it starts, of all places, on the other side of the world. About 1874, workers were imported from Asia to help in the cotton fields of this region.
They wore queues — those long braided pigtails — and according to the marker, they attracted much notice. I imagine they did. At least twenty-four families were brought here, and here is the part that tends to get left out of the telling: many of them stayed.
Became permanent residents. Were respected, the marker says, for their good work. That's not nothing.
That's a life built. Now, the marker doesn't stop there, and neither will I, because Robertson County turns out to be a window into something bigger. Over twenty-five ethnic groups settled in Texas — and many of them had preceded the Chinese.
Think about that number. Twenty-five. The marker takes a moment to remind us that other than American Indians, the first permanent Texas settlers were cattle raisers from the Canary Islands.
The Canary Islands. You can't make that up. And then it keeps going — Cuban cigar makers found their way here, European lace makers too.
Each group carrying a craft, a culture, a reason for making the long journey. What the marker leaves you with is this: given new opportunities, the descendants of all these groups are now in industry, business, the professions. Twenty-five threads, woven into one place.
Robertson County didn't just grow cotton. It grew a world.
What the marker says
Imported from Asia about 1874 to help in cotton fields, these exotic workers wore queues and attracted much notice. At least 24 families were brought here; many became permanent residents, respected for their good work. Over 25 ethnic groups settled in Texas-- many having preceded the Chinese. Other than American Indians, first permanent Texas settlers were cattle raisers from the Canary Islands. Other migrant groups included Cuban cigar makers and European lace makers. Given new opportunities, their descendants now are in industry, business, professions.