CAPTAIN WM. J.E. HEARD
Biographical
No notice has yet appeared in the ADVOCATE of Bro. Heard, although he died several months since. He was a historical character, both in church and State, and deserves more than a mere passing notice. He was born in Tennessee, but moved early in life to Alabama; and, with a large company of relatives immigrated to Texas in 1830. He settled first on the Navidad river, but soon after removed to Egypt on the Colorado. In 1830, he was on a visit to Alabama, and thus failed to participate in the military movements which culminated in the capture of San Antonio. As soon as the news of the invasion by Santa Anna was received, he collected a company - of whom he was elected captain - and hastened to join the army at Gonzales. At the battle of San Jacinto his company (F of Burleson's regiment) was immediately in front of the enemy's cannon. When within one hundred yards of the battery, they saw the flash of the guns, and all fell down. As they arose, Captain H. shouted to his men that the battery must be taken before its gunners could reload and fire. The men rushed forward, at double-quick, and seized the guns - one of which was loaded. Captain H. counted fifteen dead Mexicans lying close to these guns. His own trusty rifle was fired sixteen times during the fight.
In 1840, Capt. Heard was with Colonel John N. Moore in a scout on the upper Colorado. They had a fight in which about sixty Indians were killed and a large number of horses retaken. In 1842 he went to San Antonio to repel the Mexicans under Woll. He intended to join the expedition to the Rio Grande until he became satisfied that President Houston did not intend a serious invasion of Mexico, when he returned to his home and was elected Chief Justice of the new county of Wharton. In the Fall of 1837 Rev. Dr. Ruter, in company with the Rev. J.W. Kinney, visited the Colorado, and the Doctor organized the Egypt class at Bro. Heards House, Dec. 10. There were nine members, only one of whom is now living - Mrs. Martha Read of Marlin. Bro. Heard [can't read this line] where Congree was then in session. Of the preachers in Egypt before annexation, the following are still living: Alexander, heard, Crawford, Sneed, DeVilbiss and Thrall. Emphatically, Bro H.'s house was a preachers home. he dispensed a generous hospitality. During the war his house was most of the time, full of Confederate soldiers. To enjoy superior church privileges, in 1865 he removed to Chappell Hill, where he was at once elected a trustee in our literary institutions, and a church steward. In May last he was attacked with dropsy, and continued to gradually sink until his death which took place on the 8th of August. Captain Heard was a high-toned, honorable gentleman, a brave soldier, a pure patriot, a useful citizen of unsullied reputation; and an exemplary Christian. He died in peace at the good old age of seventy-three
H.S.T.
This obituary from a copy of the one appearing in various Wharton County Newspapers. Copy donated by George H. "Bud" Northington IV, to Wharton County Historical Museum. Transcribed by Janet Barrett Hobizal.