Sketches of Kate James: Dallas County Pioneer (review)

This slim volume is a collection of the writings of Kate James, an early resident of what is now Dallas County. She traveled to Texas from Tennessee as a child with her parents in 1855, living mostly in the area of Duck Creek, which is the home of present-day Garland. One of eleven children, her family were early pioneers of North Texas, arriving when it was still open prairie and established churches, schools, and the railroad were still years away. Most of these writings focus on the late 1800s, but were written in the later period of her life in the 1920s when she was commissioned by a local newspaper to document the early history of the area. The book's editor, Michael R. Hayslip, is Kate James's great-great grandson. This current work is meant to make James's writings available to a wider audience and give context for the world she describes.

In these sketches are discussions of various aspects of her life. They include her own trip to Texas, other families in the area of Duck Creek, childhood entertainments, domestic life, her experiences during the Civil War, the lawlessness of the late 1800s, and the growth of the community in which she lived. James had an eye for detail and a superior memory. Her writing has a particular flair and her sense of humor comes through in her words.

A typewritten manuscript of these chapters appeared in the 1960s, but this edition incorporates additional letters and notebooks from James. Interspersed through the volume are numerous photos of Kate James, her family, and other people mentioned in the book. The photos also document gatherings in the community and the growth of both Duck Creek and Garland. There are also excerpts from James's father's own notebook, which detail medicinal remedies from the mid-1800s for a variety of conditions, and that aid in giving a flavor of life in that era. There are extensive footnotes that elaborate on items mentioned in the text, making situations and circumstances clearer for the reader.

What is most valuable about the work is the firsthand descriptions of how the family coped with the Civil War, how household items were made, and the detail of what went into successfully handled pioneer life. Most amusing in the book is the chapter devoted to women's fashions through the decades as James turns her wit on the ever-changing dictates of the "Goddess of Fashion." (109)

The editor has done an admirable job of compiling the memoirs and other excerpts into a visually stimulating and cohesive look at life on the frontier of North Texas. Although there are the requisite dates of births, deaths, and marriages, the names of children, and church affiliations, more biographical information on the author would add to the work. How did she spend her time? What detailed recollections did her children have of her?

This book would have most appeal to those interested in memoirs, life in Texas in the 1800s, or the local history of North Texas. Though limited in scope, it is a valuable addition to frontier accounts of Texas.