Scraps of Early Texas History
By Mary Sherwood Helm, Elias R. Wightman
... One of my brothers, born in 1798, left home from Steuben county, New York, the 2d day of November, 1818, to study medicine at Tamfred Academy. He never returned, but died in June, 1821, leaving a great many writings showing that he was a very precocious youth. I am the only one alive now that ever saw him. I am in hopes to have his memoirs published. My father bought a farm in Seneca county, in 1812. I remember when he was called up in the night to meet the enemy on the Canada line. He did not serve at that time, but, in 1814, he served on the lines through the winter months and left this brother, only sixteen years old, to see to the family - mother and nine children - and found time to teach a private school, besides providing wood, by chopping it, till my father returned, when peace was made, in 1815. ...
