First Navigators of the Upper Trinity: A Voyage in 1842

Hamilton, Texas, June 20, 1879
Editor Norton's Intelligencer:

Dear Sir and Friend and Brother—As a matter of history of our early settling in Dallas County, one thing escaped my recollection, and that was a canoe expedition down the Trinity to Galveston, made in the Spring of 1842, by two men from Bird's Fort named George Lamkins and J. B. Moore. A piece in the Intelligencer of 7th ult., copied from the Galveston News, reminds me of it. These men conceived the idea of going to Galveston via water, felled a large Cottonwood tree and dug out a canoe which was to carry them. It was made light on purpose, as they anticipated rafts on the way. They started, I think, in the month of February, launched their craft in the West Fork at the fort, and pursued their journey down the river to Galveston and returned the next year. I saw both of them in Dallas County in the next year. The account they gave was that the river was obstructed by many rafts, which they hauled the canoe over and around, and made the trip to Galveston. I don't know how long it took to make the voyage, suffice it to say, this is one trip of which, perhaps, the Galveston News is not informed.

The News says the Nancy Lee is the first on record made by such a craft. I wish the News to know if the craft of '42 was not such as the Nancy Lee, the trip was made by one of more primitive construction.

Hoping this is sufficient on the subject and another item of our early privations,

I am, very respectfully,
J. J. Beeman

P. S. After a drouth of six weeks, we have been having considerable rain, and the growing crops are very promising. Wheat is far better than it was expected to be; the country very healthy and improving fast, by a worthy, industrious and moral community.

J. J. B.