Fort Bend County, Texas - Chapter 61, 1904

Mr. Hodge is now a resident of Richmond, Fort Bend County, and has been for nearly sixty-six years; was born on Galveston Island on the 18th of May, 1836. His parents were colonists of Stephen F. Austin, and settled near Damon's Mound. When the Mexicans came in 1836 the people around the mound fled before them, and took refuge at Galveston, except those who went with Houston's army. This disagreeable flight caused the birthplace of Mr. Hodge to be on the famous island. After the battle of San Jacinto the family removed to Fort Bend County, and their descendants have made this their home since.

R. H. Worthington is an old Texan, and one of the good and worthy citizens of Fort Bend County. He was born in Pitt County, North Carolina, on June the 6th, 1826, but came from Alabama to Fort Bend County in 1849. During the great yellow fev^er epidemic of 1853 he nursed patients almost incessantly, being a member of the Howard Association, organized at that time for the purpose of taking care of the sick. He escaped all of the dangers to life and health while engaged in this laudable work, and still resides at Richmond. His wife, Mrs. Mary E. Worthington, was born in Washington County, Georgia, in 1820. Her maiden name was Rogers. In Georgia she married AVilliam McGee, and came from Alabama to Texas in 1850.

They started in 1849, but came by land, and had a long and tedious trip, crossing the line of Texas, however, in the last named year. They first settled in Washington County, but soon came on to Fort Bend. About one year after arriving here her husband accidently killed himself with a gun. In November, 1853, she married Mr. Worthington.

came to Texas in the early '20s from St. Charles County, Missouri, and settled at Damon's Mound. This famous mound is situated partly in Fort Bend County and partly in Brazoria, all of the league of Mr. Darst being in the latter county. He was married twice, the children of the first wife being Emery, John, Edmund and Patrick. By his last wife were Rosetta and Richard. Emery Darst married Miss Mary Ann Moore. She was born in St. Charles County, Mo., and died in 1902, in the eighty-third year of her age. Her people came to Texas in 1827, when she was about seven years of age. Her father was Elisha Moore, also a native of Missouri, and a relative of Daniel Boone. Benjamin Boone, a Mier prisoner who died in Blanco County a few years ago, was a cousin to Mary Ann Moore. Lon Moore, an old settler and Indian fighter of Medina County, also says that he is related to Daniel Boone, and must be a branch of the same family. Some of the Darsts moved further west, and a creek in Cuadalupe County is named for them. Some settled' at Gonzales, and one was killed in the Alamo. Dave Darst and his family were the last ones to leave Gonzales on the approach of the Mexicans, and before they had proceeded far the smoke from the burning town was seen.

The Darsts were brave, reliable citizens, as all the old settlers were, with few exceptions, who came as colonists under Stephen F. Austin. Two of the Darsts, Edward

W. H. Darst ( ^'Chuck'' ) , one of the sons of Emery Darst, was a Terry Ranger, and at one time served as sheriff of Fort Bend County. He still resides in the county and is a prominent stock man.

M. M. Battle, an old settler of Fort Bend County, was born in New Orleans February 29th, 1800, and died at Richmond, Fort Bend County, January 15th, 1856. He at one time held the office of County Judge of Fort Bend.

TlioDipson's Ferry is noted' in tlie history of Texas as the place in Fort Bend where the Mexican army made the passage of the Brazos. Thompson had a negro named Moses who was captured by Santa Anna at the ferry, and was sent with a message to General Houston while he was in camp in the bottom at ^'Groce's Retreat,'^ telling him that he was coming up there soon and smoke him out.

When the Mexicans came to the ferry quite a number of the settlers who had congregated at Thomipson's large house on the east side of the river were dancing, and although the Mexicans fired on the place and hit the house repeatedly, the dance went on. The river was very high, and the dancers said the Mexicans were poor shots, and they could not cross the river. When Almonte, however, effected a crossing lower down, they had to run.