Early Guédry Family of Southeast Texas - An Update

The "Early Guedry Family of Southeast Texas" appeared in an earlier issue of "Generations" (Vol. I Issue 2; Spring 2003) ; however, significant additional information on this family has been learned in the ensuing fifteen years. In this update we will provide a more detailed history of the first Guédrys to cross the Sabine River and resettle in the wild lands of Texas.

From the early 1800s to the mid-1900s there were three major migrations of Acadians from Louisiana to southeast Texas - teasingly called Cajun Lapland. (1) During the 1830s until approximately the Civil War Acadians left Louisiana for Texas to acquire land for cattle ranches and farms. A few Acadians also came to southeast Texas in the 1850s to work on the Sabine and Gulf Railroad (later called the Southern Pacific Railroad), which ran from Orange to Houston. (2) With the discovery of oil at Spindletop near Beaumont in 1901 a second wave of Acadians crossed the Sabine River for Texas to work in the rapidly expanding oilfields. They continued to come until shortly after World War I. (3) Finally with the outbreak of World War II many Cajuns (as they were now called) headed west to Orange and Jefferson Counties to work in the shipyards and oil refineries. Most of these Louisiana Acadians never returned to Louisiana and today form a sizable fraction of the population in Orange, Jefferson, Hardin, Jasper, Liberty and Chambers Counties. Of course, many have subsequently resettled in Harris County for jobs in Houston.

This article will focus primarily on the earliest influx of Acadians to southeast Texas during 1834 until approximately 1850 and will concentrate on the several Guédry families that made the journey. Why did they leave their extended families, land and homes to start anew their lives in a strange land far to the west? What was the enticement that pulled them to Texas? How did they know about Texas - today a mere 2-hour drive from their Acadian homes in Louisiana, but in the 1830s a three-day horseback ride or five to six-day wagon trip on trails and unimproved roads?

In the second quarter of the 1800s farmland was quite expensive in southern Louisiana costing approximately $15 an acre in 1850. This was three times higher than other southern states and over ten times the cost of an acre in Texas at $1.44 an acre. ¹ Prior to 1845 the Republic of Texas provided land free to settlers through their grant programs. Furthermore, by the 1840s southern Louisiana was becoming "crowded" as large families were splitting their inherited lands along the bayous into thinner and thinner slices. In 1840 only 70,000 people inhabited the 168,000,000 acres of Texas while in Louisiana there were 352,000 people living on its 28,000,000 acres of land. ² What an enticement this would have been for a young Acadian couple ready to begin their family and needing lots of land for a vacherie (cattle ranch) and a small farm. They could hardly afford to purchase the land at $15 an acre in Louisiana.

The Republic of Texas land grant program included Headright Grants (1st class, 2nd class, 3rd class and 4th class) as well as Bounty Grants and Donations. First Class Headrights went to immigrant families arriving in Texas before 2 March 1836. They received a league and a labor of land (4605.5 acres). A league (4428.4 acres) was granted for a cattle ranch and a labor (177.1 acres) for an associated farm. A single person received a third of a league (1476.1 acres). Second Class Headrights were for persons arriving between 2 March 1836 and 1 October 1837. These families received 1280 acres and single persons received 640 acres. Persons arriving between 2 October 1837 and 1 January 1840 received Third Class Headrights of 640 acres for a family and 320 acres for a single person. Fourth Class Headrights were awarded to immigrants arriving between 2 January 1840 and 1 January 1842. They also received 640 acres and 320 acres respectively. ³

Soldiers who enlisted in the Texas army before 1 October 1837 and served in the Texas Revolution received a Bounty Grant of 320 acres for each three months of service. Soldiers who fought in a specific battle such as San Jacinto received a Donation Grant of 640 acres. ³

Furthermore, after Texas became a State it continued its land grant program with Pre-exemption Grants of 160 to 320 acres depending on the immigrant's time of arrival. These grants began in 1845 and continued through 1898. After settling on the land for three years, immigrants could purchase their land. ³

Lufroy Guédry - Arrived 1834

Lufroy Guédry, son of Paul Hypolite Guédry and Adelaide Duhon, began the trek of St. Martin Parish Guédrys to Texas. It is unknown how Lufroy learned of Texas and the free land there, but certainly a possibility was the early cattle drives from southeast Texas to New Orleans which began in the 1820s. A main route for these drives was through St. Martin Parish, LA where the Guédry family lived and had their vacherie.

Born in St. Martin Parish on 20 December 1803, ⁴ Lufroy Guédry grew up near his grandfather Pierre Guédry, a major cattle rancher and farmer. On 9 April 1822 Lufroy married Christine Dugas, daughter of Augustin Dugas and Marie Duhon, at Grand Coteau, LA. ⁵ With the vision of free land, large cattle herds and a better life, the couple set out on the dusty trail westward - arriving in Texas during 1834. ⁶

On 20 June 1835 the Republic of Texas granted Lufroy a league and a labor of land on the Davis Prairie immediately west of the Sladous Improvement in Zavala County (today Hardin and Liberty Counties). Most of the property was in Liberty County with about 15% in Hardin County. ^{6 , 7} Today TX State Highway 105 intersects the large grant at the Hardin-Liberty County boundary. On 4 December 1834 John Bevil certified in writing that Lefroi Gedry was a native of Louisiana, had a family consisting of two people, was of good moral habits, friendly to the religion and laws of the country. ⁸ The Minutes of the January-March 1838 Jefferson County, TX Land Commissioners Clerk's Report confirms that the 58th applicant to appear before the Board to certify his headright was Leflore Gidrie.

He took the oath, made his mark and demonstrated that he was entitled to one league and a labor of land. Two respectable witnesses, Hezekiah Williams and Gilbert Stephenson, testified that Leflore Gidrie emigrated to Texas in 1834, that he was a citizen of Texas and that he was married at the date of the Declaration of Independence of Texas and remains married. ⁹

Excitement for war was rampant as news of the impending disaster at the Alamo and Travis' plea for assistance reached Liberty, TX on 2 March 1836. Lefroy Gedry journeyed from his home at Pine Island settlement to Beaumont, TX and on 4 March 1836 joined Benjamin J. Harper's Company to fight in the Battle for Texas Independence. The company of 28 men immediately headed west and on 6 March 1836 Harper's Company reached Liberty, TX and merged with William M. Logan's and Franklin Hardin's Companies to form Captain William M. Logan's Company from Southeast Texas at its organizational meeting. ^{10 , 11} On 8 April 1836 this Company became Third Company (Company C) of Colonel Sidney Sherman's 2nd Regiment, Texas Volunteers, Infantry. Company C was nicknamed the "Liberty Volunteers". ¹² On 21 April 1836 the Liberty Volunteers gained immortality for their service at the Battle of San Jacinto. ^{10 , 12}

Shortly after organizing and electing officers, Captain Logan's Company began a march to San Felipe. On 12 March 1836 they crossed the Trinity River at Green's Ferry. Here they first learned from Juan Antoinio Padilla about the Texas Declaration of Independence and that Texas had been declared a free and independent nation. On learning the same day of the fall of the Alamo, Captain Logan ordered his Company to make a forced march to San Felipe. On reaching the Brazos River, they encountered fleeing citizens of the Runaway Scape. They crossed the Brazos on a ferry near San Felipe and went into town where they were able to purchase provisions. They then headed to the Colorado River to join with General Sam Houston's Army, which they reached on 20 March 1836. On that day they reported to General Houston at Beason's Ferry. ¹³

Now a part of the General Houston's Army, Captain Logan's Company marched with the larger Army. They camped near San Felipe on 27 March, then near Mill Creek the next two days. On 30 March they were at the Brazos bottoms and the next day camped on the west side of the Brazos River opposite Groce's Plantation. Here they remained until 12 April when they moved across the Brazos and camped at Groce's Plantation on 13 April. On the 14th of April they moved to Donoho's Plantation and then to McClarely's Home on the 15th. On the 16th of April they marched to Matthew Burnett's Place on Cypress Creek. The next morning they continued the march camping at the head of a small bayou on the 17th nnd then opposite Harrisburg on the 18th of April. They crossed Buffalo Bayou on the 19th and continued toward Lynchburg - reaching San Jacinto (Lynchburg) on 20 April in the morning where they set up camp on a high, wooded ridge. Mexican General Santa Anna arrived shortly afterwards. ¹⁴

The Battle of San Jacinto began the next afternoon - 21 April 1836 - at 4:00 p.m. when General Houston ordered "Trail Arms! Forward!". Colonel Sherman's 2nd Regiment of Infantry (including Captain Logan's Company C) on the extreme left of the battle line marched quickly toward the Mexican camp - reaching the Mexicans first and firing the first shots at about 100 yards from the Mexicans. After one volley of firing the 2nd Regiment had reached the Mexican line. They swarmed over the breastworks and engaged the Mexicans in hand-to-hand combat. In eighteen minutes the Texans had routed Santa Anna's Army and the battle was over. ¹⁵

Quartered near Harrisburg on 10 May 1836, each soldier of Capt. Logan's Company including Lafrais Guedry received $223 in cash and $142.12 in goods as part of the spoils of war for the Battle of San Jacinto. ¹⁶

Lufroy Guedry continued his service in Company C until the end of his three-month term of enlistment on 6 June 1836. For his service in the Texas Revolution on 28 December 1841 he received a Bounty Grant of 320 acres of land on the west bank of Big Sandy Creek in Hardin County. ¹⁷ For participating in the Battle of San Jacinto he received on 28 May 1838 a Donation Grant of 640 acres of land on Hinson Creek in Coryell County. ¹⁸ Today the name "Lefroy Gedry" is etched in bronze at the San Jacinto Monument as one of the defenders of Texas Independence.

The tough pioneer life took its toll on the marriage of Lufroy and Christine. On 20 October 1839 Lufroy Guedry and Christine Dugas divorced without issue. ¹⁹

In 1837 Lufroy Gedry's name appeared on the 1837 Jefferson County Poll Tax list; however, no amount of property or taxes were listed for Jefferson County. The list does state that he owned 2764 acres of land in Liberty County and had 27 head of cattle and 18 head of horses. In 1839 in Jefferson County Lufroy had 1972 acres of land valued at $50 and 4 horses and mules worth $22. His taxes were $6. On the 1840 Poll Tax list Lufroy's name appeared, but no other information was given. ²⁰

Lufroy Guedry appears on the 1840 Liberty County Poll Tax list in which he owned 1476 acres of land that is not patented and was taxed $7.38. In 1842 he owned 2952 acres of tilled land valued at $2952 and he paid $4.95 in taxes. His taxes in 1843 were only $1.27 for 275 acres of tilled land. For the same acreage in 1844 he paid $2.02 in taxes. For 1845 he paid $4.90 for 2000 acres of tilled land, 50 cattle and 9 horses and mules. Lufroy's 662 acres of land in 1846 was worth $336. In addition, he had 2 Negroes valued at $550, 15 horses and mules worth $225 and 20 cattle worth $60 for a taxable total of $1166. ²⁰

Lufroy continued to live on his property in Liberty County after the Texas Revolution. In the first U. S. Census of Texas in 1850 Lefraw Gedry and Christine Gedry were in Liberty County together and were the 140th family censused. Censused on 5 September 1850, Lefraw was 47 years old, Christine was 50 years of age, both were born in Louisiana and Lefraw Gedry was a stockraiser. ²¹ Apparently, even though they were divorced in 1839, Lufroy and Christine were still living together in 1850. In the Slave Schedule of the 1850 U. S. Census, L. Gedry had two male slaves - one forty years of age and the other zero years of age. ²¹

On 29 January 1859 David Burrell and Lefroy Gedry had a confrontation at Gedry's home and Lefroy was shot. He died on Wednesday, 2 February 1859. Burrell was arrested on that day and released on $10,000 bail. ²² The place of Lufroy Guedry's burial is unknown at the present time.

Sosthene Guédry - Arrived 1838

Sothene (Sasteen) Guedry, son of Jean Baptiste Guédry and Marguerite Semer, was born in St. Martin Parish, LA on 17 October 1808 and was baptized on 18 February 1809 at the home of Widow Firmin Bro on the upper Bayou Teche. ²³

Sasteen Gedri arrived in southeast Texas in September 1838. He received a Class 3 Headright grant of 320 acres in Jefferson County by December 1839. New settlers in Texas received Class 3 Headright grants of 320 acres if they arrived after 1 October 1837 and before 1 January 1840. ²⁴

In 1839 Sasteen Guedry appeared on the Jefferson County, TX Poll Tax list. He was taxed $5.25 in Jefferson County for his worth valued at $290. ²⁵

Sosthene Guedry appears to vanish from the Texas records after 1839.

Jean-Baptiste (John) Guédry - Arrived ca. 1839

Jean-Baptiste Guédry, born 18 August 1814 to Paul Hypolite Guédry and Adelaide Duhon, was baptized 23 October 1814 in St. Martin Parish, LA. ²⁶ He was the brother of Lufroy and Joachim Guédry. Jean-Baptiste married Elizabeth West.

John Guedry received a grant of 298 acres of land in Liberty County, TX on the east bank of the Trinity River about 20 miles above the town of Liberty on 8 July 1845. This was part of the 640 acres that the Republic of Texas granted him for his Headright 3rd Class grant after he had lived in Texas for three years. The 3rd Class grants were issued to settlers who arrived in Texas between October 1837 and January 1840.

On 5 January 1852 John Gedrey sold this property to H. M. Farrior for $75. The other part of his headright grant (342 acres) was in Hardin County and was issued on 8 July 1845. This property was on Pine Island Bayou, a tributary of the Neches River about 20 miles north of the town of Hardin. John Gedrey sold this property for $100 to Hugh Jackson on 26 June 1854. ²⁷

On the 1845 Liberty County Poll Tax list John Gedrie had 60 cattle and 4 horses and mules. He paid $1.50 taxes. In 1846 he paid $1.12 in taxes. On the 1859 Hardin County Poll Tax list John Gedrey had two tracts of land - 200 acres valued at $150 that he obtained from Lefroi Gedrey and 41 acres worth $82 that he got from Fritz H. Green. Additionally, he had 20 horses worth $400 and 300 cattle worth $1500. His total taxes were $5.24. ²⁸

In 1850 John Gedry and his wife Elizabeth were censused at their home in Liberty County. John was 33 years old and Elizabeth was 31 years. John was a stockraiser with real estate worth $500 that included 30 acres of improved land and 220 acres of unimproved land. His machinery was valued at $20. John's livestock included 6 horses, 30 milk cows, 4 working oxen, 50 head of other cattle and 15 sheep for a total value of $680 of livestock. He also had produced 50 bushels of Indian corn. ²⁹ Living with John and Elizabeth Geadry in 1860 were Catherine Penitoe, age 19, and Joseph Penitoe, age 15. John Geadry was a stockraiser with real estate worth $1200 and a personal estate valued at $2110. He had 16 acres of improved land and 220 acres of unimproved land with $30 of machinery. John owned 20 horses, 1 mule, 20 milk cows, 4 working oxen, 260 other cattle and 20 swine for $2960 worth of livestock. During the year he produced 200 bushels of Indian corn. ³⁰

John Guedry died on 8 June 1893 and is buried in West Cemetery just west of Batson, Hardin County, TX.

Joachim (Joshua) Guédry - Arrived ca. 1844

Joachim Guédry, son of Paul Hypolite Guédry and Adelaide Duhon and brother of Lufroy Guédry and JeanBaptiste Guédry, was born in St. Martin Parish, LA on 6 October 1810. At his baptismal on 27 January 1811 in St. Martin Parish were his parrain Louis Guidry and his marrine Desiline Guidry. ³¹ On 1 October 1827 Joachim married Marie Giroud, daughter of Joseph Giroud and Celeste Robertson in St. Landry Parish, LA. His brother Lufroy was a witness at the marriage. ³²

Joachim must have heard the exciting news about Texas from his brothers Lufroy and Jean-Baptiste and came to see for himself. In Texas his name is recorded in the records as Joshua Guedry.

In the Jefferson County, TX Poll Tax list of 1845, Joshua Gedree owned 150 acres of land valued at $75. By 1846 he owned 470 acres of land in Jefferson County worth $260. In addition, Joshua Gedry had 31 horses and mules valued at $310, 210 head of cattle worth $1050, and one young hog worth $50. His taxes in 1846 were $1.25. ³³

Joshua Guedry died about 1852 as his succession in Jefferson County, TX is dated 27 September 1852. ³⁴

Ursin Guédry - Arrived 1844

Ursin Guédry, son of Augustin Guédry and Scholastique Robichot, was born near La Grande Pointe (today's Cecilia, LA) in St. Martin Parish, LA on 7 January 1810. At his baptism on 9 August 1810 his parrain and marrain were Pierre Guédry and Julie Robichot. ³⁵

Ursin spent his youth in the Grande Pointe area with his half-brother Augustin and his eight younger brothers and sisters. Certainly he visited his grandfather Pierre Guédry, who had a large vacherie (cattle ranch) and extensive land holdings along Bayou Teche in this region.

As he matured, Ursin's eye caught a young lady Matilda Forman, daughter of Nathan Forman and Tibitha Forman, and they began courting. The young couple married in Lafayette Parish about 5 March 1833 ³⁶ and began their life together. Ursin continued in the profession of his father and grandfather as a stockraiser (i.e., horse and cattle rancher) on the fertile prairies of south Louisiana.

Shortly after their marriage, Ursin and Matilda began their family. On 23 June 1834 their infant son Gerasin (Jerisan) was born in Lafayette Parish. Shortly followed Sarafin (Serizan, b. December 1835), Anaise (Anise, b. 24 December 1837), Seraphin (Seraphan, b. 14 October 1839), ³⁷ Severinne (Severine, b. 5 July 1842) ³⁸ and Ursin (Ursin, fils, b. 26 February 1844). ³⁹

Shortly after the birth of Ursin fils in 1844, Ursin and Matilda moved their growing family to southeast Texas - initially settling on the west bank of the Sabine River approximately ten river miles north of Madison (today Orange, TX) near Ballews Crossing on West Bluff. On 1 March 1845 Ursin Guedry registered his cattle brand at the Jefferson County, TX courthouse. ⁴⁰

Ursin Guedry appeared on the 1844, 1845 and 1846 Jefferson County Poll Tax lists. Ursin did not own any property in 1844 and 1845; however, in 1846 he had 345 head of cattle valued at $1380 and two wagons/carts valued at $25. ⁴¹

On 7 December 1850 Ursin Guedry purchased 640 acres of land including Ballews Ferry, the ferry-landing site and the license to operate the ferry from A. R. Jones, who previously had obtained the same from the widow of Richard Ballew. Ursin Guedry paid $50 for this purchase. Ursin requested a renewal of the license to operate Ballews Ferry and its swimming pens on 12 May 1851 and on 17 November 1851. ⁴² Ballews Ferry was a major crossing point in the cattle drives from east Texas to New Orleans, LA. The general public also used the ferry to go to Niblett's Bluff, LA and points eastward.

Immediately west of Ursin Guedry's place on the Sabine River was the home and property of Robert Booth on Adams Bayou. Robert lived there with his wife Elizabeth White, daughter of pioneer cattle baron James Taylor White and Sarah Cade, and their children Reuben, Robert Franklin, John Anderson, Sarah, Mary Ann, James Taylor and Josephine. When Robert died in July 1848, Ursin Guedry and David Burrell signed a $20,000 surety bond for the widowed Elizabeth so she could serve as administratix of her husband's estate. Ursin was also one of the three appraisers of the late Robert Booth's property in August 1848. ⁴³

By July 1837 the Jefferson County Commissioners Court had laid out a road from Ballew's Ferry on the Sabine River westward past the Booth place on Adams Bayou to the Tevis Ferry on the Neches River near Beaumont and ending at Wolf's Point (today Nome, TX). Each year all able-bodied men were required to work one day on improving the county roads or had to pay a tax. On 17 August 1851 Ursin Guedry was in charge of the crew building the road near his place. Three of the Booth brothers (Reuben, Robert and John Anderson) were working under the direction of Guedry on this sweltering August day. Amidst tensions exacerbated by the heat, Reuben and Robert approached Guedry and told them they would not work on the road any longer because they disliked one man in the crew. Reuben Booth was a hot-head and had been in trouble with the law. Four years earlier he had been convicted of assault and battery, later had been indicted with intent to commit murder, but was found not guilty and in 1850 was indicted on a rape charge and again found not guilty. As words were exchanged and tempers flared, Reuben pulled a gun, but Ursin drew his shotgun quicker. Both Booth boys lay dying on the ground as their younger brother John Anderson watched in horror and screamed he would get vengeance one day. Guedry was never indicted for the shootings - apparently because he shot in self-defense. ⁴³

Shortly, John Anderson Booth disappeared from the family home. Ursin and Matilda with their children moved in late 1857 to Hardin County near Sour Lake on Little Pine Island Bayou. Ursin bought some land, raised a large herd of cattle and was a well-respected citizen of the area and liked by his neighbors. Ursin, however, remembered the words of John Anderson Booth as he watched his brothers die. Ursin never left his home without his shotgun in the saddle holster. ⁴³

In the Fall of 1861 John Anderson developed a plan and staged a string of fast horses approximately every 30 miles from his home on the Nueces River to Sour Lake - a distance of about 300 miles. On 19 October 1861 John Anderson Booth rode up to a friend's home on the Nueces River and had him note in his Bible the exact time and date that Booth visited him. He then rode as fast as his string of horses would take him to Sour Lake - arriving in two days. Once there, he asked about buying some cattle and folks directed him to Ursin Guedry's place. Not far from Guedry's home was Goleman's Gully (a small stream sometimes called Gorman's Gully). On the morning of 21 October some folks in an ox wagon bogged in the gully. Ursin, on seeing this from his home, saddled his mule and rode out to help them. Matilda called out to him that he forgot his shotgun. Not having to go far, he called back that he wouldn't need it. As Ursin approached the wagon, a young man reached the stranded wagon and asked how to get to Guedry's place. The folks responded telling the man that Guedry was coming now. The young man spurred his horse yelling to Guedry. He first shot Guedry's mule and then at close range shot Guedry - killing him. The young man then rode off, to his friend's house on the Nueces River where he had him note in his Bible the time and day that he was there again. ⁴³

John Anderson Booth was arrested for murdering Ursin Guedry. He was brought to Sour Lake to stand trial; however, he was found not guilty as the jury could not believe that a man could have ridden 600 miles roundtrip by horse in five days. ⁴³

On 11 October 1857 Ursin Guedry purchased 255 acres of land from Henry Goleman and his wife Martha J. Goleman on Little Pine Island Bayou in Hardin County for $150. ⁴⁴ This land was adjacent to the original John P. Wilde Tract. Today this property is approximately three miles east of Sour Lake, TX and approximately ½ mile north of Texas Highway 105. By the time of their move to Hardin County, Ursin and Matilda had two additional children born in Texas (Alexander, b. 1847; Augustin, b. 1849).

On the 13th of October 1850 Ursin Guedry and his family were censused in Jefferson County, TX. The 160th family censused in Jefferson County, Ursin and Matilda were both 36 years old and they had six sons and two daughters (Jerasin, 16; Sarazin, 14; Serafin, 10; Niese, 12; Severine, 8; Ursin, 6; Alexander, 4 and Augustin, 1). Ursin was a stockraiser and had real estate valued at $250. Jerasin was a stockminder. Ursin had 20 acres of improved land and 300 acres of unimproved land. His land was valued at $300 and his equipment at $50. He had 150 horses, 40 milk cows, 4 working oxen, 1010 other cattle and 50 swine. His livestock was valued at $5520. In addition, he produced 150 bushels of Indian corn. ⁴⁵

The Hardin County Poll Tax rolls for 1859 showed that Ursan Guedrey had two tracts of land in the county - one of 640 acres valued at $640 and the other of 100 acres valued at $500. Both were on the John P. Wilde original grant and both were on Pine Island Bayou. Ursin had 13 Negro slaves valued at $5710, 450 horses valued at $5150, 2500 cattle valued at $21,000 and miscellaneous property valued at $500. The total value of his property was $31,500. His poll tax was fifty cents while his state tax was $39.56 and county tax was $18.78. Ursin was one of the largest stockraisers in Hardin County. ⁴⁶

In the 1860 U. S. Federal Census taken in Hardin County, Texas on 11 July 1860, Ursin Guedry was 48 years of age, his wife Matilda was 47 years old, their son Jerazan was 23 years old, their daughter Severinne was 16 years old, their son Ursan was 14 years old, their son Alexander was 13 years old and their son Augustin was 10 years old. Three of their children (Serafin, Anaise and Seraphine) had left the family home. Ursin was a stockraiser. His real estate was worth $2695 and his personal estate was valued at $52,130. Jerazan was a laborer with a personal estate of $500. Ursin had 14 slaves - a man of 50 years old, a woman of 35 years old, 6 male children from 1 - 19 years old and 6 female children ranging from 4-13 years old. ⁴⁷

Next door to Ursin was Serasin Guedry, age 25 years; his wife Martha, age 22 years, and their two children: Zepherine, age 7 years, and Cordelia, age 3 years. Serasin was a stockraiser with a personal estate valued at $3505. In the next home censused was Seraphin Guedry, age 19 years, with his wife Matilda, age 16 years. Like his father and brother, Seraphin was a stockraiser. His real estate was worth $1100 and his personal estate was valued at $1095. ⁴⁷

After Ursin's death in 1861, Matilda Guedry moved northwest near the small community of Otto, TX (today Batson, TX). In 1870 she was residing in Precinct 5 of Hardin County at 54 years of age with two of her sons - Ursin fils, age 23 years, and Augustin, age 18 years. She had real estate valued at $150 and a personal estate of $4000. Matilda was keeping house while Ursin fils was a farmer and Augustin was a farmhand. Living with them was Calvin Broussard, age 13, who also was a farmhand. Living adjacent to Matilda Guedry was her eldest son Jarasin Guedry, age 30, with his wife Annie (Foreman), age 27, and their son and four daughters. Jarasin was a stockraiser with $1500 of real estate and a personal estate of $500. His wife Annie was keeping house. He had eight acres of improved land and 100 acres of unimproved property with his farm valued at $300. Jarasin had 30 horses, 1 mule, 6 milk cows, 2 working oxen, 200 other cattle and 50 swine. His livestock was worth $1000. He harvested 80 bushels of Indian corn. Residing next to Jarasin Guedry was his brother Sarafin, age 28, with his wife Julia (Jenkins), age 25. Sarafin was a farmer with $200 of real estate and a personal estate of $500. His wife was keeping house. Sarafin had 6 acres of improved land and 100 acres of unimproved land. His farm was valued at $100. He had 20 horses, 10 milk cows, 2 working oxen, 100 other cattle and 40 swine for a total livestock value of $600. He produced 50 bushels of Indian corn in 1870. Ursin fils, who was residing with his mother, had 8 acres of improved land worth $100 and $50 of machinery. Ursin fils had 20 horses, 200 cattle and 30 swine. His livestock was valued at $1000. In 1870 he harvested 250 bushels of Indian corn. ⁴⁸

In 1873 Matilda Guedry purchased 440 acres of land on the Batson Prairie just south of Otto. ⁴⁹ This began what is today the historic Guedry Ranch where the family both farmed rice and soybean and raised cattle. On 20 November 1885 Matilda Forman Guedry died. Ursin and Matilda are buried in a small family cemetery on the Texaco oilfield in Sour Lake, TX - their graves resting among tall trees and brambles.

In 1897 Rev. Sims Stovall came to the Batson Prairie and on 8 July 1897 organized the Batson Prairie Baptist Church. One of the eight charter members was Jerisan Guedry, eldest son of Ursin Guedry and Matilda Forman. During 1898 several additional families joined the church including Ursin Guedry Jr. and Sarafin Guedry, Sr. As the church membership grew with the oil boom in the new town of Batson - a short distance from Otto, the need for a church building became a reality. On 31 May 1905 Jerisan Guedry donated one acre of land for the use of the church site. Additionally, he and his brother Sarafin gave a sizable donation for the building fund. The church members completed the church before the end of 1905. In 1900 Nathan Foreman, Jerisan Guedry's grandson, died. At that time Jerisan Guedry and his son-in-law Marion Smith donated property for a cemetery adjacent to the church. Today the quaint Batson Prairie Baptist Church remains on the original property surrounded by the large Guedry Cemetery in which rests many descendants of Ursin Guedry and Matilda Forman. ⁵⁰

Jerasin Guedry (b. 1834) married Anna Foreman, daughter of Nathan Foreman and Fanny Higginbottom, about 1863. Anna was born 1 June 1838. They had eight children: Aniease (b. 1864), Matilda (b. 1865), Corilia (b. 1867), Colastie (b. 1870), Ferasin (b. 1871), Sarasin (b. 1873), Sevan (b. 1875) and Severine (b. 1879). Jerasin passed away on 18 March 1926 at the age of 91 years. His wife Anna died on 20 September 1924.

Sarafin Guedry (b. 1835) married first Julia Jenkins on 14 February 1868 in Hardin County, TX and second Zilphia Smith, daughter of Calvin Smith and Isabelle Fowler, on 13 October 1885 in Liberty County, TX. Julia was born about 1850 in Louisiana. Zilphia, born 27 November 1852 in Liberty County, TX and died on 8 February 1903 at Batson in Hardin County, TX. Sarafin died in Texas on 17 March 1921.

Severine Guedry (b. 1842) married first Aurelian Broussard on 2 June 1857 in Jefferson County, TX. On 29 May 1861 she married secondly Irness Broussard in Hardin County, TX. Severine married a third time in Hardin County, TX on 18 November 1874 to Dr. Nathen Clay Parson (b. 25 January 1833), son of Sylvester Gould Parson and Mary Hill. Severine died in Bryan, Brazos County, TX on 28 January 1918 as a widow.

Ursin Guedry, Jr. (b. 1844) married Julia Hughes, daughter of Thomas Hughes and Sarah Ann Wilde. Julia was born 8 July 1848 in Liberty County, TX. Ursin Guedry, Jr. and Julia Hughes married 7 November 1871. Julia was the postmistress at Sour Lake, TX prior to her marriage. Shortly after their marriage, the young couple moved to the Batson Prairie where Ursin Jr. was a rancher. Both of their sons - Ursin 'Babe' Guedry (b. 1872) and Augustin 'Gus' Guedry (b. 1878) were born at Batson Prairie. In 1893 Ursin Jr. purchased the property of R. O. Middlebrook near Otto. His purchase included the Middlebrook store which the Guedry family operated. On 2 July 1893 Ursin Guedry Jr. was appointed postmaster of Otto - a position he maintained until the post office was discontinued on 8 August 1898. Ursin Jr. then moved his family a short distance west of Sour Lake, TX to the Guedry Prairie (Pelt Prairie) which was a thriving health resort. Ursin provided meat to the health resorts in the area - raising the beef and pork himself. Then in the early 1900s he moved the family to Jefferson County where he raised rice in 1902 and 1903. In 1905 he again moved - this time a short distance north of China, TX where he purchased the Schultze property. Later he and Julia moved into the town of China, TX. Finally in their later years Ursin and Julia returned to Sour Lake and lived with their son Gus. On 24 January 1924 Ursin Guedry Jr. passed away. Shortly afterwards, on 12 April 1924 Julia died. Both are buried in the China Cemetery in China, TX.

Augustin Guedry (b. 1849) married Sarah A. Jackson, daughter of Stephen Jackson and Susan Choate, on 26 December 1871 in Hardin County, TX. She was born in 1831 in Texas and died in 1913. Augustin died 23 February 1913 in Harris County, TX. Both Augustin and Sarah are buried in the Jackson Family Cemetery in Sour Lake, TX.

There were several other Guédrys that emigrated to southeast Texas before 1865; however, those above are the pioneers of the family that established the Guédry's in Texas. Most Guedry's living in Hardin County today descend from Ursin Guedry and Matilda Forman.

Genealogy of Lufroy Guedry

Genealogy of Sosthene Guedry

Genealogy of Jean-Baptiste (John) Guedry

Genealogy of Joachim (Joshua) Guedry

Genealogy of Ursin Guedry