DUANE
Duane's take
The way the marker tells it, here's the story of Sophia Porter — and I'll let the facts do the heavy lifting, because they don't need much help. Sophia Porter was born in 1813 and lived all the way to 1899. She settled in 1839 at a place called Glen Eden — a site that sits now under the waters of Lake Texoma, just north of here.
Gone beneath the surface, like so many good stories. Her husband, Holland Coffee, was an early trader, and he built a fine home at Glen Eden. Between 1845 and 1860, that home welcomed U.S.
Army officers — and not just any officers. We're talking Robert E. Lee.
We're talking Ulysses S. Grant. The same two men who would one day face each other across the bloodiest war this country ever fought both passed through that front door, guests of the same household.
You can't make that up. The marker doesn't have to. Then the Civil War came, and Glen Eden sat right in the path of things.
Now here's where Sophia Porter steps out of the parlor and into the legend. Federal scouts came through, and she did what any gracious host would do — she wined and dined them. Kept them comfortable.
Kept them talking. And while they talked, she listened. She found out those scouts were seeking Colonel James Bourland, the Confederate defender of the Texas frontier.
While her guests were busy, she slipped out. She got her horse, rode to the Red River — icy, mind you, not a pleasant afternoon crossing — and she swam that horse across. She reached Colonel Bourland and warned him.
What happened because of that warning? A Federal invasion of North Texas was helped to be prevented. Sophia Porter: settler, hostess to generals on both sides of history, and the woman who rode through icy water when it mattered most.
Glen Eden may be underwater now, but her story is still very much above the surface.
What the marker says
(1813-1899) Settled 1839 at Glen Eden, a site now under Lake Texoma, north of here. Husband, Holland Coffee, early trader, built fine home, welcomed 1845-60, U. S. Army officers including Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant. During Civil War, wined and dined passing Federal scouts, found out they were seeking Col. Jas. Bourland, Confederate defender of Texas frontier. While guests were busy, she slipped out, swam her horse across icy Red River, warned Col. Bourland, helped prevent Federal invasion of North Texas.