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CHAPTER II.

OLD JONESBORO -- JAMES CLARK -- SAM
HOUSTON -- DAVY CROCKETT --
HISTORIC TREE -- EARLIEST
GRAVESTONE IN COUNTY

Old Jonesboro! What a train of memories arise! The place was one of the principal gateways into Texas in the early years; and if its history could be written, it would present a glamorous pageant.

Just a few days ago we stood on the south bank of Red River at old Jonesboro, the first settlement in Red River County, and took a picture of the stump of the old cottonwood tree to which pioneer James Clark, and others, anchored their boats from 1824, on up for several years later, as long as there was a boat landing there.

This old stump marks the place where Gen. Sam Houston crossed Red River late in 1832, and made his first advent into the land he was to fight for and win to freedom; and to present as a gift to his friend, Andrew Jackson, to help round out the symmetry of the great American Republic.

Here, too, it was that the immortal Davy Crockett crossed the boundary river into Texas to fight for her freedom; and to gain immortal fame for himself as one of the martyrs at the


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The History of Clarksville and Old Red River County
Pat B. Clark   1937