last stand against the white man when he discovered that it was a good land and desired to possess it. (As ever the race was to the strong). Early settlers tell us that the sites of these fortifications were about Columbus avenue, Eighth and Ninth streets, for many years occupied by the homes of Judge George Clark and Dr. G. C. McGregor. (Nowthe site of the Waco High School).
With the unerring instinct of the savage the "Wacos" had another and greater reason for their choice of an abiding place. The lay of the land is such that no cyclone, no death-dealing storm ever approached them. We have had zero weather to the north of us, cyclones to the west of us, hail storms on the east of us, and cloudbursts on the south of us, but we still cherish the "Big Spring" in the midst of us and bear a charmed life.
THE WHITE SETTLERS' VILLAGE.
The first recorded date of the white man camping at the Indian village of Waco is from Major George Erath, who speaks of having been "stationed here in 1837," and being greatly impressed with the place, as the location for a settlement which could easily grow into a town. He wrote as agent of the owners of the Thomas J. Chambers league of land: "I believe Waco will make an important place on account of its central position in the state and its being above the level cf the swamp lands — also because of the many forks of the water courses near by and the broken lands above. I conceived the idea of the Indian village being the site for a town on account also of its being easy of access that a public road from the northeast or northern boundary of Texas would have to cross the Brazos there and passing on across Little river at its three forks and westwardly toward Laredo by what are now the towns of Austin and San Antonio."
In 1845 four companies of Rangers were organized for frontier protection and the rendezvous for the company under Capt. Shapley P. Ross was stationed at "Waco Spring." By that time, the whites assisted by the Cherokee Indians had driven out the Huecos. It was here that his young son "Lawrence Sullivan" was schooled to hardship and endurance which fitted him for his brilliant career in which as soldier and civilian he won both name and fame. The name of Ross is indisolubly linked with the history of the country and gives still to Waco some of her most prominent citizens.
Mrs. Thomas Padgitt, recently deceased, had the distinction of being the first white child born in McLennan county, she being the youngest daughter of Captain and Mrs. Shapley Ross, the first permanent settlers of Waco village.
The families of Ross, Bnrney, Erath, Killingsworth and others were camping on the east side in 1849 and their descendants have done much for the upbuilding of Waco. The town of Waco was "laid off" with a main street beginning at the Spring and running westward with a space left for a public square on the third block from the river. Lots were sold on either side of what is now Bridge street at $5 apiece and the campers moved in and commenced building houses, first with hewn logs and rudely manufactured brick.
When Major Erath was instructed to lay out the town it was to be called "Lamartine," but on May 5th, 1849, it was decided
