Chapter 17

Coming into the Home Stretch

The 1880s had been tumultuous years for the Wares and the country as a whole.  As the new century beckoned on the horizon, a worn-out generation that was still recovering from a divisive war, reconstruction, financial devastation, and national tension must have surely hoped that the future would look a little brighter.

By the 1890s, both James and Jane were approaching their milestone 60^th birthdays.  Fanny reached the big 40^th birthday in 1899, but she had her last child in 1892, with the birth of a son they named Joel Wallace Elliott.  In 1893, Jane obviously traveled with her youngest daughter, Eudora, to Chicago to visit with James’ youngest brother, Robert Macky Ware, because Edmonia wrote her a nice letter that year saying, “I thank you for your long interesting letter which I greatly enjoyed.  I was so glad that Dora and yourself made that visit to Rob.  He wrote how much he enjoyed it.” (Ref. 55)  She also mentioned that “I am glad to hear Fanny is so happily situated and Dora succeeding with her school and Somie a happy prospect in view.” (Ref. 55)  We can assume that Eudora was probably teaching in San Antonio during that year.

Somerville Ware
Photo property of James & Judy Ware

Somerville Ware, approaching his 30’s, started out working with his cousin in the book trade business in Belton, but as time moved on, he became trained as a telegraph operator.  In 1891, at age 29,

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he began what would be his lifetime career - working for the railroad.  At a time when railroads could ‘make or break’ rural communities, it was considered a blessing when the Missouri, Kansas, and Texas Railroad (known as the Katy) developed a branch through Belton.  His work obviously provided him with enough income to purchase some property in 1895.  The following deed papers, dated October 17^th and 21^st of 1895, refer to land bought by Somerville in Bell County.       

 

(Ref. 2099)

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Jane also purchased property - hers was located by Flint Creek in Coryell County.

Until he retired, James stayed busy in Maverick County with his legal work and community affairs.  He served as an officer in a new organization that had been started around 1892 by a Christian group of former Confederate and Union Civil War veterans.  They became known as ‘The United American Veterans’ group (UAV).

The purpose of this new fraternity was to provide fellowship and camaraderie for all the elderly soldiers who had fought in the war – no matter which side they had served on.  Even though they respected the differences that had split the country during the awful Civil War, the men now considered themselves all survivors and Americans.  It was really quite a testimony to witness how these hardened soldiers wanted to put the past behind them and celebrate their commonalities and united allegiance to the country they all loved.  The following article explains in detail how this all came to be.

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The letter is as follows: Editor Of Blue And Gray:

The little city of Eagle Pass, on the southwestern frontier of Texas, decided to celebrate Columbus Day with a grand parade and the raising of a large American flag over the public school-house.  According to the official program prepared in Washington, the flag should be raised by "veterans."  A number of old soldiers from both sides having met to curry out the program, it was suggested that the word "veteran" might refer only to those who served in the Union army during the war.  Several Union soldiers at once protested, declaring that all old soldiers were veterans, it mattered not on which side they served; all were Americans, and all equal under the flag. A motion made by one of them that veterans of the blue and the gray march in a body to the ground, and together raise the flag, met with the unanimous and warm approval of all present.  Having then elected Captain J. M. Shatter, commander, the 21st of October, we first saw Union and Confederate soldiers marching as comrades to do honor to the common flag.  Moved by the kindly and patriotic feelings then engendered, these veterans resolved to form a permanent organization.  In pursuance of this resolution, a constitution and by-laws were formally adopted on in March, 1893.

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The purposes of the organization as therein set forth:

1. "To bring together into a common brotherhood those who served in either army during the Civil War of 1861 - 1865, and those who served in the American army during the war with Mexico.”

2. "To foster among the members of the association a spirit of good-will and fellowship, and to extend to each other such honorable assistance as occasion may offer.

3. "To cherish and maintain the Constitution of American freedom, and to foster true patriotism and love of country, that the Union, cemented by the blood of their fallen comrades, may endure forever."

Under the constitution, the following officers were elected for the first year:     J. A. Bonnet, C. S. V., president; E. O. Fechet, U. S. V., vice-president; Chas. Tarver, C. S. V., secretary; Josiah Owen, U. S. V., treasurer;  J. V. Shatter, C. \V. Hartup, Frank Fox, U. S. V.; James A. Ware, Mauricio Rodriguez, and John S. Townsend, C. S. V., Executive Committee.

The name adopted is ''Eagle Pass Camp, No. 1, United American Veterans." As first organized, the camp consisted of eleven Union, eleven Confederate, and two Mexican War veterans, but now numbers in its membership nearly every eligible soldier in its district, embracing representatives of regiments from the States of Georgia, Michigan, Missouri, Indiana, New York, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Alabama, Kansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and Texas. (Ref. 995)

The organization in El Paso was such a success that one of the members, Jesse Sparks, wrote to a friend in Nashville encouraging him to organize a chapter there as well. (See letter below)

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The year before Somerville purchased his land, however, James made the decision to retire from his legal practice in Eagle Pass and move to Austin, Texas, for his remaining years.  He had suffered a small stroke and needed to be in a place where he could recover.  With his long distinguished service in the Civil War, he qualified for housing at the Old Confederate Home – the place Jane had worked so tirelessly to help build.  He was admitted to the Confederate Home on August 14, 1894, with a description of “general disability.”  The facility was not even officially opened until 1886, so it is safe to say he was one of the very first residents.  He clearly made a sufficient recovery to allow himself the enjoyment of his time there.  As he wrote his grandsons a few months after his move there, “I am still at the soldier’s home and am very comfortably situated.”  He went on to add, “I am writing in the office of an old college mate and a lifetime friend.  It is a great pleasure to meet them and talk over old times and our present condition and the fervor with which a man shakes your hand.” (Ref. 175)   It must have brought him great joy to be close to Jane again and have the ability to finally enjoy his grandchildren.  His teasing affection is clearly evident in his letter when he remarks about wanting to see young Glassell.  “I only know him as the chubby little urchin who could not talk and would roll over me and seemed to think I was to be made use of that way – and me, his grandpa, for that purpose only.”  (Ref. 175) 

Back porch of the Texas Confederate Home for Men taken by Russell Lee in 1959.  It is likely that many of the veterans spent long hours in the chairs depicted, reminiscing about their war experiences.
Credit: The Texas Observer, February 28, 1959.

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(Ref. 2752, 3238)

 

Old Confederate Home in Austin, Texas

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(Ref. 2752)  

 Old Confederate Home was located at 1620 West 6^th Street.

Letter written by James A. Ware to his grandsons
property of James and Judy Ware

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James A. Ware
(Ex Presiding Judge
Court of Appeals)
Austin, Texas                  November 28, 1894

My Dear Grandsons Charley and the Dude,

I have for a long time intended to write to you both – I now discharge my good intentions.  I am still at the soldier’s home and am very comfortably situated.  In fact, I have nothing to do but eat and sleep and think of you five boys.  I wish you all five (how earnestly I cannot explain) to grow up and be useful men and to redeem my memory of man’s faults by your own individual worth as men and members of families which have been always patriotic, reproachless and always gentlemen.  In my relation to you as your grandfather, I have the right to demand this of you and shall as long as life is spared me.  I am not well today.  I was feeling particularly (ill?) this morning and going up the stairs to mail some books to you and Ray, I tripped and fell on the stone floor – was not seriously hurt but have not felt the same since and am not able to write as much as I would like.  You must both write to me often.  You, none of you, say anything about Glassell.  I want to know about him.  I only know him as the chubby little urchin who could not talk and would roll over me and seemed to think I was to be made use of that way - and me, his grandpa, for that purpose only. 

So with the Dude.

I am writing in the office of an old college mate and a lifetime friend.  It is a great pleasure to meet them and talk over old times and our present condition and the fervor with which a man shakes your hand as he whom you have known for a lifetime and when he shakes yours, will repay in boyhood the efforts to a right.

Your affection grandfather,
J. A. Ware

P. S. I will go off in a few days somewhere to spend a week.  JAW

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In his above letter, the five boys that James referred to were his five grandsons:  (1) Robert Ray Elliott (age 10); (2) Charles Dean (age 10); (3) James Somerville Dean (age 9); (4) Frank Glassell Elliott (age 7); and (5) Joel Wallace Elliott (age 2).  The letter is addressed to “Charley and the Dude” and ‘the Dude’ refers to James S. Dean.  Both boys were sons of his daughter Eudora and her husband, John Dean.  He clearly intended to mail some books to the two oldest grandsons, Charley and Ray, because they were both the same age.  Even though he had fallen on the steps and clearly was not feeling his best, it was encouraging to read that he had plans to “go off in a few days somewhere to spend a week.”

James would live almost another two years, passing away on August 19, 1896.  He was 64 years old.  He and Jane had been married for forty years, and the depth of her sorrow can be felt in a poem she wrote and tucked inside his old docket book.

He died regretting but not afraid.
How will it be in the old places now he’s gone?
Pretend twas best – his youth is still, draw close and mend the  gap.
See him with us as we talk.
“He’s here to me,” let each one say – and still, still have him friend.
Death?  A mere hiding place.  We loved him well.
Hence, have him with us almost – noble, scarce on the road to go till we are gone.

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His obituary (see below) was beautifully written.

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James was fittingly buried in the Confederate section of the Texas State Cemetery, but when news of his death reached his sister in Berryville, she made sure there was a marker placed for him in the family section of Grace Episcopal Church.  It was later replaced with a tall monument honoring Frances (his mother), James, John, Charles, and Elizabeth.  Lucy, his other sister, was buried in the Lewis section of the cemetery.

The inscription for James is written on one side of the tall white monument that has his mother’s name on front.
The other sides have the names of siblings.

 
Grace Episcopal Church Cemetery – The Ware Family Section

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His burial in the Texas State Cemetery laid him to rest with all the local veterans who had fought for the same cause as he did during the Civil War.  Their graves are maintained and honored by the state of Texas.

Confederate Section of the Cemetery

 
Grave for James A. Ware

   
Photos belonging to James and Judy Ware

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All photos taken by James & Judy Ware

The grounds of the Texas State Cemetery are truly beautiful.

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James had the following papers in his records.  

(Ref. 2056)

 

(Ref. 1042)

 

(Ref. 2738)

(Ref. 2056)

   

The timing proved oddly perfect for James’ death.  Jane had been working so earnestly with the Austin chapter of the UDC, and in 1896, a new chapter was formed right in Bell County.  According to the history of the UDC, “in 1896, the newly formed Bell County Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy started planning for the county’s memorial. But first, the women raised money for the six-acre Confederate Park along Nolan Creek and to place permanent gravestones at Confederates’ graves. Confederate Park later became a popular gathering place for annual ceremonies honoring veterans.”

Photos taken by James and Judy Ware

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Fanny Glassell Elliott was already pregnant with another baby by the time her father died, although she might not have been aware of it at the time.  In April of 1897, she and her husband welcomed another son – this one named Frank Glassell Elliott, most likely in honor of James’ mother, Frances Toy Glassell Ware.  The child was never really called Frank, but went by the name ‘Glassell’ all his life.  It was a family name beloved by both James and Jane. 

Glassell Elliott
Photo owned by Jim and Judy Ware

The joy of a new grandbaby probably helped soften the blow that befell Jane that winter.  On December 12, 1887, she lost her beloved father, George A. Smith.  He had lived to be 83 years old.  Jane was already learning to deal with her loss of James by becoming more and more active in the UDC.  It was not long before she was elected as one of the officers in the chapter – serving as historian in 1887.  She served as a registrar in 1888, and in the final year of the decade, she traveled to Austin, Texas, to participate in the Fourth Annual Convention of the UDC that was held there from November 29^th through the 30^th of November 1889.

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Historian was Mrs. Jane Ware

Bulletin for the UDC convention held on the 29-30 of November in 1899.

Fanny enjoyed participating with Jane in the organization, but Eudora was facing a difficult time in her life and marriage.  Her husband, John Dean, had decided to take a job in Mexico, where he felt he could better support the family.  Eudora (or Dora, as she was called), would find herself moving far away from her mother to a country that was rife with danger and discomfort.  Her son, James Somerville Dean, started working with his father as a “jack-of-all-jobs in a railroad construction camp in Durango, Mexico at the age of fourteen.” He worked there from 1899 until 1901.  The conditions must have been very difficult for as Eudora wrote in a letter to her mother a year later, “I stand so alone out here.” (Ref. 99)   It must have broken Jane’s heart to read that.

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