Early Guédry Family of Southeast Texas

by Marty Guidry

Although today the Guedry/Guidry surname is found widely throughout the State of Texas, the earliest members of this family migrated to Southeast Texas in two movements during the mid-1800s and very early 1900's. The Guedry/Guidry communities founded by these pioneering families still thrive today. The first Guedrys to emigrate (Lufroy, Sosthene and Ursin Guedry) left Louisiana in the 1830's and 1840's to resettle just across the Texas border.

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

Augustin Guedry fmarried first Adelaide Robichot, daughter of Ephrem Robichot and Marie Surrette, on 1 July 1805 in St. Martin Parish, LA. Augustin and Adelaide had one son Augustin Jr. (b. 26 June 1806) before Adelaide's unexpected death on 12 July 1806 - probably a result of complications from childbirth. Shortly after the death of his wife, Augustin remarried to his widow's sister Scholastique Robichot with whom he had nine additional children (Ursin, b. 1810; Edmond, b. 1811; Claire, b. 1815; Marie, b. 1817; Josephine, b. 1819; Celeste, b. 1820; Adelaide, b. 1820; Joseph, b. 1821 and Scholastique, b. 1826).

Ursin spent his youth with his half-brother Augustin and his younger brothers and sisters in the La Grand Pointe area. He certainly visited with his grandfather Pierre Guedry, who had extensive land holdings along Bayou Teche in the La Grand Pointe area. As a young Acadian man, Ursin began courting , daughter of Nathan Forman and Tibitha Forman. On 5 March 1833 Ursin and Matilda 'tied the knot' in Lafayette Parish, LA and began their young family in that area. Ursin continued in the profession of his father Augustin and grandfather Pierre; he was a stockman (horse and cattle rancher) on the fertile prairies of south Louisiana. On 23 June 1834 Gerasin (Jerisan) Guedry was born in Lafayette Parish, LA followed shortly by Sarafin (Serizan, b. 24 December 1835), Anaise (Anise, b. 24 December 1837), Seraphine (Seraphan, b. 14 October 1839), Severinne (Severine, b. 5 July 1842) and Ursin (Ursin, Jr. b. 26 Feb 1844).

Shortly after the birth of Ursin Guedry, Jr., Ursin Guedry, Sr. moved his growing family to Southeast Texas - initially settling on the west bank of the Sabine River approximately ten miles north of present-day Orange, TX. On 1 March 1845 Ursin Guedry registered his cattle brand at the Jefferson County, TX courthouse. At about the same time he purchased a tract of land on the west bank of the Sabine River that included the old Richard Ballew ferry and swimming pens - a major crossing point of the cattle drives of that era. In November 1851 the Jefferson County Commissioner's Court granted Ursin a permit to operate the ferry and swimming pens.

The Guedry family apparently became good friends with Robert Booth, his wife Elizabeth White and their children (Reben, Robert Franklin, John Anderson, Sarah, Mary Ann, James Taylor and Josephine) who owned land adjacent to Ursin Guedry's place. When Robert Booth died in July 1848, Ursin Guedry and David Burrell signed a $20,000 surety bond for the widowed Elizabeth so that she could serve as administratrix of her husband's estate. Ursin Guedry was also one of the three appraiser's of Robert Booth's property in August 1848.

In July 1837 the Jefferson County Commissioner's Court had laid out a road from Ballew's Ferry past the Booth homeplace on Adams Bayou to the Tevis Ferry near Beaumont ending at Wolf's Point (present-day Nome, TX). On 17 August 1851 Ursin Guedry was in charge of a road-building crew near his home. On his crew were the Booth brothers Reuben and Robert. In the stifling hot August air tempers were short and the work was demanding. During the day Reuben and Robert approached Ursin and told him they would no longer work because they disliked one man in the crew. Tempers flared and Reuben pulled a gun. Ursin, however, drew his shotgun quicker and both Booth brothers lay dead. Their 17-year younger brother John Anderson Booth witnessed the death of his older brothers and swore he would take vengeance. Thus began the legendary Texas Guedry-Booth feud of which we'll write more later.

In November 1856 Ursin Guedry purchased the John P. Wilde homestead claim in Hardin County, TX and moved his family west. By this time he and Matilda had three additional children - all born in Texas (Alexander, b. 1847; Augustine, b. 1849 and Colastie, b.1856). The new Guedry homestead was just east of present-day Sour Lake, TX. Here Ursin built up a large herd of cattle and became a well-respected citizen of Hardin County. Still remembering the fateful words of young John Anderson Booth on that hot August day in 1851, Ursin was haunted by the road-building tradegy. As a precautionary measure, he never his home without his shotgun in his saddle-holster. 

Near the Guedry home was Gorman's Gully which crossed the dirt road. On 21 October 1861 after a long, two-day ride by horseback from the Nueces River, John Anderson Booth rode into Sour Lake and inquired about purchasing cattle. He was directed to the Ursin Guedry home. About the same time Ursin Guedry noticed from his home that several folks were trying to get a bogged wagon out of Gorman's Gully. Seeing they needed help, he saddled his mule and set out to help them. Matilda called to him that he had forgotten his gun. Gorman Gully being only a short distance from his home, he replied that he wouldn't need the gun. As Ursin was approaching the wagon, John Booth arrived at the gully and asked where Ursin Guedry lived. The people at the wagon looked up, saw Ursin approaching and notified Booth that there was Guedry. John Booth then immediately spurred his horse, called out to Guedry, shot the mule and then shot Guedry, who died quickly. Booth then wheeled around and headed back to his Nueces River home. Having gotten his revenge, he returned home and was never convicted of Ursin Guedry's murder.

The widow Matilda Forman Guedry continued her family's ranch until she died on 20 November 1885. Both Ursin and Matilda are buried in a small family cemetery within the Texaco oilfield at Sour Lake - their graves half-hidden among tall trees and brambles. The inscription reads: "Our Father and Mother, Ursin Guedry, Born in Louisiana 1810, Died at Sour Lake, Texas, October 21, 1861. Matilda Foreman, Wife of Ursin Guedry, Born in Louisiana, 1812, Died at Sour Lake, Texas November 20, 1885."

In early 1897 Rev. Sims Stovall came to the Batson Prairie and 8 July 1897 organized the Batson Prairie Baptist Church. One of the eight charter members was Jerisan (Gerasin) Guedry, eldest son of Ursin Guedry and Matilda Forman. During 1898 several additional families joined the church including Ursin Guedry and Zephrand (Sarafin) Guedry, Sr. As the church membership grew with the Batson oil boom, 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 Serizan (Sarafin) Guedry provided a sizable donation to the building fund. With this help the church members completed the church before the end of 1905.

Jerasin Guedry married Anna Foreman, daughter of Nathan Foreman and Fanny Higginbottom, about 1863. Anna was born 1 June 1838 and died 20 September 1924. Jerasin Guedry died on 18 March 1926 at the age of 91 years, 8 months and 25 days. Jerasin and Anna 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). Today the quaint Batson Prairie Baptist Church remains on the original property surrounded by the large Guedry Cemetery in which rests many members of the early Ursin Guedry family.

Ursin Guedry, Jr., born 26 February 1844, lived with his parents in the Sour Lake area until his marriage to 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. Prior to her marriage to Ursin, Julia Hughes was postmistress at Sour Lake. Shortly after their marriage, Ursin and Julia moved to Batson Prairie where they resided a number of years while Ursin Jr. pursued the family profession of ranching. 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 (a small community near Batson). Included in the sale was the Middlebrook store which the Guedry family operated. On 2 July 1893 Ursin Guedry, Jr. was appointed postmaster of Otto. He remained postmaster until the post office was discontinued on 8 August 1898.

For a while the family lived west of Sour Lake at Guedry Prairie (Pelt Prairie), which was then a thriving health resort. Ursin provided meat to the health resorts in the area - raising the beef and pork himself. During a major hurricane the Guedry home was destroyed, but fortunately no one was injured.

Then in the early 1900's Ursin moved his family to Jefferson County where he raised rice in 1902 and 1903. In 1905 he relocated a short distance north of China, TX where he purchased the Schultze property. After several years he and Julia moved into China, TX. During their later years and in failing health, Ursin and Julia returned to Sour Lake and lived with their son Gus. On 24 January 1924 Ursin Guedry, Jr. died. Shortly afterwards on 12 April 1924 Julia Hughes passed away. Both are buried in the China Cemetery in China, TX. 

Genealogy of Ursin Guedry

Ursin Guedry (b. 7 Jan 1810) m. Matilda Forman
|
Augustin Guedry (b. Jun 1780) m. Scholastique Robichot (m1. Adelaide Robichot)
|
Pierre Guedry (b. 1741) m. Claire Babin (m1. Marguerite Dupuy; m3. Marguerite Miller)
|
Augustin Guedry (b. 1690) m. Jeanne Hebert
|
Claude Guedry (b. 1648) m. Marguerite Petitpas

Two of the earliest Guedry immigrants to Texas were Lufroy Guedry and Sosthene Guedry. Perhaps Ursin Guedry watched excitedly as his two cousins emigrated to Texas. After hearing of their adventures in this new land and learning of their success in obtaining property and establishing themselves in this newly-evolving country, he decided to follow them.

Lufroy Guedry, who is memorialized at the San Jacinto Monument just east of Houston, TX, was the son of Paul Hypolite Guedry and Adelaide Duhon. Lufroy Guedry was born on 20 December 1803 in St. Martin Parish, LA. On 9 April 1822 he married Christine Dugas, daughter of Augustin Dugas and Marie Duhon, at Grand Coteau, Lafayette Parish, LA. In 1834 the young couple emigrated to the land of Texas amidst promises of free land and a better life. 

On 20 June 1835 Lufroy Guedry received title to one league of land which was located in Liberty County (6/7) and Hardin County (1/7). The Minutes of the January - March 1838 Jefferson County, TX Board of Land Commissioners Clerk's Report states that the 58th applicant to appear before the Board was Leflore Gidrie (Lufroy Guedry),who took the oath, made his mark and demonstrated that he was entitled to one league and labor of land. Two respectable witnesses - Hezekiah Williams and Gilbert Stephenson - testified that Lufroy emigrated to Texas in 1834, that he was a citizen of Texas and was a married man at the date of the Declaration of Independence and remains so. On the Clerk's Return No. 2 he is shown as having received one league and labor. This grant was a Class 1 grant which was given to settlers who arrived in Texas before the Texas Declaration of Independence on 2 March 1836 and who had not already received their land. Class 1 grants were unconditional and the rights to apply to a local board could be sold even before the Certificate was issued.

In the War for Texas Independence Lufroy Guedry served as a private in the Third Infantry Company, Second Regiment of Texas Volunteers under Captain William M. Logan. In early 1836 Lufroy enlisted in Benjamin Harper's Company at Beaumont. Benjamin Harper's Company, Franklin Hardin's Company and William Logan's Company where merged on 6 March 1836 to form the expanded Logan's Company that gained immortality for their service at the Battle of San Jacinto. Shortly for their service at the Battle of San Jacinto. Shortly after forming on 6 March 1836, they immediately departed for San Antonio, but learned on reaching San Felipe that the Alamo had fallen. They then joined the main Texas Army on the Brazos River and defeated Santa Anna's Mexican force in the Battle of San Jacinto.

On 10 May 1836 Captain Logan's Company was quartered near Harrisburg when they received $223 in cash and $112.40 in goods as part of what was their due for the spoils of the Battle of San Jacinto. On 6 June 1836 Logan's Company was discharged and Lufroy Guedry returned to civilian life. Today the name "Lefroy Gedry" is etched in bronze at the San Jacinto Monument as one of the defenders of Texas Indenpendence.

The pioneer life tooks its toll on the marriage of Lufroy and Christine as on 20 October 1839 they divorced without issue.

For his military service to the Republic of Texas from 6 March 1836 until 6 June 1836 Lufroy Guedry received a grant of 320 acres of land in Hardin County on 28 December 1841 and for which the patent was issue in his name on 3 June 1868. This grant was identified as Bounty Warrant #9927. In addition, for his military service he received a Donation Certificate for 640 acres in Coryell County on 25 May 1838 which was patented to him on 23 December 1868. About the year 1858 Lufroy Guedry died in Liberty County, TX without issue.

Sostene (Sasteen) Guedry, son of Jean Baptiste Guedry and Marguerite Semer, was born in St. Martin Parish, LA on 17 October 1808. He arrived in Texas in September 1838 and by 1840 had received a Class 3 grant of 320 acres of land. Class 3 grants were given to persons arriving in Texas after 1 October 1837, but before 1 January 1840.

They were based on a Conditional Certificate which required 3 years of responsible citizenship before the grantee could obtain an Unconditional Certificate and eventually a Patent. The land could not be sold until the grantee received the Unconditional Certificate. Sostene Guedry (Sasteen Gedri) is listed on the Board of Land Commisioners Clerk's Return No. 8 of December 1839 as owning 320 acres of land in Jefferson County, TX.

Genealogy of Lufroy Guedry

Lufroy Guedry (b. 20 Dec 1803) m. Christine Dugas
|
Paul Hypolite Guedry (b. 1779) m. Adelaide Duhon
|
Pierre Guedry (b. 1741) m. Claire Babin (m1. Marguerite Dupuy; m3. Marguerite Miller)
|
Augustin Guedry (b. 1690) m. Jeanne Hebert
|
Claude Guedry (b. 1648) m. Marguerite Petitpas

Genealogy of Sosthene Guedry

Sosthene Guedry (b. 17 Oct 1808)
|
Jean Baptiste Guedry (b. 20 Jun 1786) m. Marguerite Semer
|
Jean Baptiste Guedry (b. 1762) m. Marie-Madeleine Breau
|
Jean Baptiste Guedry (b. ca. 1728 ) m. Anne-Madeleine Dupuy
|
Augustin Guedry (b. 1690) m. Jeanne Hebert
|
Claude Guedry (b. 1648) m. Marguerite Petitpas