Exploration of the Region by One of Kaufman County's Early Pioneers

"The Diary of James S. LaRoe's Trip to Texas - 1846"

   A man in New Jersey was lured to Texas in 1846 by the stories of the rich and bountiful land that lay surrounding the region called Three Forks of the Trinity River.  Unlike many others who set out for Texas sight-unseen, James Smith LaRoe (1801 - 1854) made an adventurous journey to Texas to see for himself if the land was all it was made out to be before he subjected his family to the hardships of the move.  After seeing the region that lay between Shreveport and the East Fork of the Trinity River, his destination in looking for a new home for his family ended up being that part of Henderson County that became Kaufman County, where he was to survey and acquire land for himself, his sons and son-in-law.

   During his trip LaRoe kept a detailed Diary, documenting his trip on a day-to-day basis.  That journal has become a treasured keepsake to all LaRoe family descendants and an informative document for historians.  It tells of his trip on the sea, arrival in New Orleans and then by river up the Red River into Texas and across the land by wagon, horseback and on foot; then his return trip back to New Jersey.  It describes the tides, the land, the weather, the fauna, as well as the pioneers who were surviving in the wild country.  It also tells, at the end, of his family leaving four years later for the land that would be their new home in Kaufman County.

   Reading this man's words makes it evident James LaRoe was a very literate and observant man.  As Historians & Genealogists we are indebted to his faithful duty in keeping his diary and to his descendants for preserving his journal for the sake of prosperity.

**NOTE: The words, punctuation and spellings are just as they are in his original diary.  Any words in Italics & in Parenthesis ( ) are added by the transcriber to clarify original wording.  Information and identity on the Persons, Places, Etc., mentioned in the diary are shown highlighted in Bold type and are Identified by Endnotes.

James S. LaRoe - My Book of Memorandum

Newfoundland, New Jersey - October 17, 1846:-- made a start to go and take a view of that great country of Texas. The first day I put up at Jonathan Spriggsⁱ and sold my horse for 90 dollars.

19^th Oct, 1846:-- I put up at W. Allings in New York.

20^th:-- Very pleasant weather. Engaged passage on the Memphisⁱⁱ to New Orleans for 7 dollars in the steerage.  To find myself I then got in a stage and went to James C LaRoe'sⁱⁱⁱ in Cannon St.  Stayed all night and was treated very good.  Fine weather.

The 21^st I got my baggage and all things aboard in a hurry for the ship set sail about 10 o'clock and left some behind and I came near being one of them but went off on 21^st with a fair wind in our favor.

22^nd Oct., 1846:-- In the morning calm and a great many got sick.  I am on the sick list as I think somewhat in danger of not seeing New Jersey again.

23^rd Oct.:-- Fine morning, the wind in our favor.  I feel a little better but cannot walk as well and straight as neighbor Cowl can with a quart inside his shirt.

24^th on Saturday:-- A fine day and a good wind.  Supposed to go at a rate of 6 or 7 knots an hour.  I began to feel better.  The ship lost her main yard but they soon rigged another.

25^th Oct.:-- A breeze in our favor. On Saturday night the sailors and several passengers had a dance at night.  All in fine spirits now but myself.  I feel somewhat down, my appetite very bad.

26th:-- At three o'clock we were going at rate of nine miles the hour.

On Monday, the 27^th, it began to blow very hard and stormy all night and the sailors had a disagreeable night.

Oct 28:-- At sea.  It cleared up in the morning but the sea was rough yet.   It was supposed that we were half way to New Orleans.  I feel bad yet.  Seems like a great while for our ship rocks and so warm and so crowded that we cannot stay below.  We have 150 passengers in the steerage and 50 first cabin and 50 second cabin passengers.

29^th Oct., 1846:-- The weather fine and warm and a gentle breeze and now past the Cat's Island^iv and lighthouse Thursday night.  We are now in the Gulf (Gulf of Mexico) and the current quite strong and against us.

30^th:--Fine weather.  Supposed to be opposite Cuba Island (Cuba) --
  Later about 300 miles west of Cuba:--  We are all well today and have had all kinds of cooking for several days back that could not be boat (bought) for different ways, and several dances.  The cook made a great deal of sport.  He had a wooden leg and could dance first rate and beat the time good.  He also could go up the rigging to the masthead as good as some sailors.

31^st was fine weather and not much wind.

At sea, Nov 1^st, 1846:-- A fine morning and a single gentle breeze.  Today we are opposite a lighthouse on the Florida shore.  We saw a great deal of crabs from the rivers.  Nothing worth notice for several days.  All now feel anxious to get along.  No wind, quite calm weather.

Nov. 2^nd:--  We saw nothing for several days but fishes playing on the water.  We have seen no ship for several days but our own.

3^rd:--  The wind began to blow a strong wind but blowing a Head Wind. Sailing at rate of seven miles an hour.

4^th:--  We saw three ships in the morning and wind still blowing from northwest.

The 5^th of Nov. at 10 o'clock.  We were in sight of a steamboat to tow us up to New Orleans from the Gulf or the Boutte, it being called, 50 miles.   When the boat struck us we gave three cheers that made the arches ring.  We got stuck on the bar.  Now at the mouth of the Mississippi waiting to be drawn over the bar, so they came with two large tow boats and pulled us off.  They took one ship on each side of one of the stern boats which was another ship from Boston called Magnolia^v and brought us up the Mississippi to the city of New Orleans in quick time of 14 or 15 hours.

Now in New Orleans, 6^th of Nov., 1846: -- 2 o'clock in the morning I drank a cup of good hot coffee in the market and everything appearing lively and great many planned to sit up.  In the morning I went to the steamboat wharf.   I engaged a passage on the steamboat Yalabusha^vi for 5 dollars to Shreveport^vii up the Red River about 700 miles (this was an exaggerated distance).  They pay the other boat that runs above the rapids at Alexandria^viii. The country is a beautiful one.  To a little town called Donaldsonville^ix is 75 miles.  The shipping (meaning many ships) lying in the Mississippi is a sight to see, supposed to be 2000 upward.

November 8^th: -- In the state of Louisiana, on the River.  A fine day and keep moving up the Mississippi River.  We saw a great many plantations and small Negro villages.  A great deal of sugarcane growing and the planters gathering their crops.  The River, way down, has rice plantations and up the river, cotton.  But at this place the most is sugarcane.  I bought some oranges that grew on the banks where we now lay for this night.  I bought 3 for 5 cents.  They looked some green but were mighty sweet and juicy.  We saw a great many boats of all kinds loaded with all kinds of produce and horses and mules for the army.  I bought some potatoes and helped dig them to see how they grow large and beautiful.  When we left the Mississippi and went up the Red River we saw hundreds of alligators all kinds of crane and geese.  A fine day and getting along mighty well.  We travelled all night and slept comfortable.  The land not quite as good, the timber small and scrubby.  The alligators, got a great many shots at them, and the wild geese a great plenty.  They walked along shore and we came so nigh and they fired two shots and did not kill.  If I had my large duck gun I think I could have shot a couple at all events.  We passed the mouth of the Black River^x which they say is navigable for 50 miles or to the head.

Nov. 10^th, 1846: -- In the morning.  A fine day.  We had to lay still at night on account of the fog.  The banks appear higher and better.  We are now at Alexandria and carting our baggage to the other boat, called the Belle of Illinois^xi, above the rapids, the water being so low we could not come up rapids.

Wednesday, 11^th: -- We started in the morning.  I bought a double barrel gun of a German.  The one barrel was a cut riffle and was bought for five dollars but was a little out of order and I went to work on steamboat and put it in first rate order and it was counted worth 25 dollars.

12^th of Nov.:-- Came to Grand Ecore^xii.  A fine day and still saw a great many Negro huts.

13^th:--A little rainy.  We saw some pecan nuts.  Excellent fruit.   I bought a chicken and cooked it and it went quite well.  Made soup which was called good by Mr. Ewer^xiii and his son^xiv.  I fished at night in the red river and had a bite of a large fish.  We had a hard pull.  I think he would have succeeded in pulling me in if I had not has a good foot hold.  But lucky for one of us the hook gave way and the scuffle was ended.

14^th day of Nov.  Fine, pleasant but foggy.  The country has a better appearance plenty of corn and cotton farms.  The cattle are large and in fine order.  We are now within 50 miles of Shreveport and 300 miles of the East Fork of the Trinity River^xv in Texas.  We are now passing the remains of the Express Mail^xvi that sank on the Red River.

We are now safe at Shreveport, 15^th -- on Sunday.  Left my chest at Alford & Co. store for storage, my cooking apparatus and bed.  A fine morning and am looking for a chance to get a wagon to take our (LaRoe's and the 2 Ewer gentlemen) baggage on the land (overland into Texas).  At last found one and traveled 10 miles and encamped out in the woods.  We built up a large fire.  We made coffee and cooked our meat, got our supper and lay down on our beds before the fire.

16^th in the morning.  I walked ahead of the wagon.  I saw 3 deer and a great many wild geese and I shot 3 shots at them and did not kill any.  We are now in Harrison County^xvii in Texas.

17^th:--  We traveled 23 miles and encamped for night.  We passed a town called Greenwood^xviii today.  The old man Ewer and I saw 3 deer.  (LaRoe seems to have this entry and the one prior in opposite order, as Greenwood is in LA and Harrison County is in TX, or he was confused and did not realize that Greenwood was actually situated in LA.)

18^th: -- Rainy in the morning.  We travelled the wrong road.  The old man (MaGee) crossed the Small Cypress Creek^xix and swam the horses.  I dreamt a curious dream at night and in the morning I shot two ducks.  We then got in Harrison County and now in Cass County^xx.  We stopped at a little town to put up hoops^xxi in our wagon, called Jefferson^xxii.  60 miles from Shreveport.

19^th: -- We traveled all day through a pine and sandy country but produces cotton and grain very well, and good weather.  We encamped at night, bought some venison and cooked it before the fire and fried some which was excellent good for supper and breakfast.

20^th: -- Some frost last night and a fine morning.  We are now in Daingerfield^xxiii.  We have tried all day to buy some meat but failed.  Could not come to any house where they could sell us anything eatable.  At night we encamped and Magee^xxiv rode out half a mile and bought plenty of bacon next morning.

21^st:--  I rode ahead with MaGee's horse and shot a deer.  The deer was standing in the road.  I was company with a stranger and we both fired at the deer and both hit it and it fell in the road.  He let me have the skin and one half the venison for I made the biggest hole in it.  We are now in Titus County^xxv.

22^nd: -- A fine day.  A little cool in the morning.  We are now on a small white oak prairie, place called Mount Pleasant^xxvi where the county seat is staked out, then came to a small prairie called White Oak Prairie^xxvii, 4 miles wide.   Then to a rich bottom and crossed a ferry.

23^rd:--  We traveled over a fine prairie and good bottoms about the creek.  We crossed a ferry called Sulphur Creek^xxviii but known by the name of Ringgold Ferry.  This day was cold and chilly in the morning but pleasant after 10 o'clock.  The timber land most excellent.  We swam the oxen.  The boat was a bad one and we had to unload the wagon.

24^th :--  Today a shower in the morning and blew up cold and blustery.  Over a large prairie called Blossoms Prairie^xxix and part of it rich land, 25 miles long and 8 miles wide.  We passed through Red River County^xxx and now are in Lamar County^xxxi.  I shot a prairie chicken and wounded another.  I saw several more but had no time to follow them up.  We put up at a house in the edge of the Prairie and had supper and lodging and was treated well by Mr. Poridge and lady.  The first bed I had lain in 3 or 4 weeks back.
   We reached our journey's end with the wagon passage and we parted on the 25^th with old man Ewer and his son and Smith from Massachusetts and Mr. MaGee from Mississippi who brought us out with the wagon from Shreveport.  I shouldered my gun and baggage and walked on to Esquire More's^xxxii, who treated me very good.  So I had my washing done and boarded with them for a couple of weeks.

26^th:--   Quite a hard frost this morning and I went out with my gun to hunt turkeys and deer.  I saw one large buck but out of reach. I found some turkey in a cornfield.  One of them discovered me and it flew on the fence.  I fired at it and hit it with a ball.  It fell in the thick briars.  I had no dog and it got away from me.  It must have died from the wound.  I think of going to the county seat tomorrow, that is Paris, (Lamar County) where I expect to get some information about my land.

27^th:--   Now in Paris in company with Mr. Esquire More. The National Road^xxxiii  runs from Canness^xxxiv on the Red River to Dallas on the Trinity, passing through a corner of Fannin County^xxxv.  A fine day today and Court sits today (meaning court was in session) and a great number out (many persons were in town).  I want to see the County Surveyor but he is sick and cannot do any business.

28^th:--    I came to town again and saw the County Surveyor^xxxvi (of Lamar County) and he says there is second rate land to be located which he will locate on my script, but thinks I can get first rate land in Fannin County or on the Trinity.  Today a fine day and very warm.  The Squire (Moore) and myself shouldered our guns and came through the woods.  I shot a very large black squirrel and 2 large fox squirrels, the like I never saw for size.

 Sunday, 29th November, 1846:--    A very warm day. I am now sitting on a log in the woods on my way to the old man Ewer's a thinking about home, but am not satisfied about Texas.  I have seen a great deal of good land but expect to see much more by all accounts given by travelers.  There was one death in the neighborhood, the coffin made at Mr. More's where I board.  They had a meeting ( Christian funeral service ) at night at More's and good preaching and good order by the Reverend Mr. Mathews from the Trinity. (meaning the Trinity River region around what is now the Dallas area).  

30^th:--    In the morning the sun shone and quite warm.

Tuesday, 1st of December:--    We started for our bear hunt with Mr. More and his son. Mr. Brintle from Sulphur^xxxvii about 40 miles from Mr. More's and we intended to camp out during the hunt. The first day we put up in the grand prairie at Evans'^xxxviii house and Mr. Brintle and myself slept in wagon and had a very hard shower in the night.  It blew very hard so we had some fear of our wagon moving on our journey by wind. But it being so muddy and sticky like wax, we remained and slept quite well until the rain had dashed in , so it began to wet things which caused some quick motions by me.

2nd day:--   We had to travel through mud and deep creeks and "hog waller"^xxxix, so called by the Texans.  At night we encampt in the woods about 12 miles from where we started to go.

3rd Day:--    A very white frost but pleasant day. I walked ahead over a large prairie. Not found any game yet at 8 o'clock. Our first day's hunt not very lucky.  The Squire had his gun broken by a limb from a tree falling back when his son was cutting wood for the night.  But our report was after we all came in, according to the Texas phrase, "right smart" of all kinds of game. The Squire shot a deer. Mr. Brintle shot a turkey. I shot a duck and opposum. At night we had a supper-turkey and roast duck and roast 'possum, all got up in good style by different cooks and was equal to any victual house in New York.  We had the waiters, too, but they were large dogs awaiting the crumbs of our table.  But if some hungry person had been with us he would have fared much better than Lazarus of old for we had plenty of all kinds of meat cooked and coffee.
   We came mighty nigh having some bear for we saw his tracks in the mud and we started the dogs in the canebrake. But the dogs appeared not to relish the bear meat as much as we did. But we had a plenty of other meat such as bacon and beef and lard put up and provided for us by Miss Moore (either  Moore's wife or a daughter) before we started, and all cooking apparatus for our stay in the woods. At night I  and Mr. More slept up garret and Mr. Brintle and young More^xl    slept in the big room below - that is, we slept in the wagon and Mr. Brintle and young More under it and had a little rain at night.  But still slept comfortable.  We had a thing to put honey in but have had no time to fill it.

5^th:--    On Saturday we went out in the morning to hunt bear and fell in company with hunters; a Mr. Puett^xli and a Mr. Polk, and Puett said he was going to move to the Trinity next day. So I made up my mind to go with him.  So I packed my bundle and gun and left the camp and my friend Mr. More and I traveled through thickets and briars and large prairies and high grass and "hog wallers" for 7 or 8 miles and was almost give out.  But Mr. Puett was kind enough to get off his horse and let me get on and ride or I would have been a gone sucker for one night in a large prairie. But I had good luck and got in good time and had a good supper of bear meat  which was the most excellent. Puett had shot 4 bears a few days before, 3 cubs and one old bear.

6^th:--   In the morning the west looked somewhat rainy and a fixing to start. And it got late before they got started and Puett altered his mind to go to the Trinity (River) and concluded to go Sabine^xlii (southeast down the Sabine River) and I left them and traveled on foot through a large prairie.  A heavy shower commenced before night and rained uncommon hard and it grew dark and a great way from any house and no way to make fire.  I put my blanket over my pack to keep it dry and that saved my pack from the rain. The water was on the road almost up to my knees and the small branches (creeks) rose so fast that I thought I would have to swim. I waded over my boots, so I traveled in the dark until 10 o'clock and found no hut yet.  I came to a fence that I saw when a flash of lightning came.  That gave me courage to walk on and look for a house. I walked about a mile and could not see any and it still kept raining, so I thought I had passed it.  I turned about and walked nearly where I saw the fence when I heard a man^xliii coming with a yoke of oxen and wagon which rejoiced me much.  So I got in the wagon, rode on to the hut but it was a leaky one and not much fire. The old woman^xliv   had gone to bed but the old man gave me some venison and coffee and lucky it quit raining.  So I was quite comfortable.  In the morning the old lady gave me a first rate breakfast. So I got in company with Mr. Newel^xlv, a first rate man and a good cook, and he let me ride all day and it commenced raining and raised the creeks so they were almost impassable of swimming.  We got some wet and very cold and could not find any wood suitable to camp out, but lucky for us,  came to a couple of teams campt out and had a good fire which cheered us up very much for I do not know how we should have got a fire where the water was three feet deep in the runs (pathways) through the large prairies.   There I found Mr. Berdsley^xlvi was a going on to the East Fork of the Trinity River. He said he had moved there this fall and I could put my bundle in his wagon and go with him. We are now in Collin County^xlvii.

   I then went with Mr. Berdsley and I liked his place and land much better, also the water.  I asked him what he would charge me for board.  He said such board as he had, $1.50 per week and I found that good enough.  This is Henderson County^xlviii.  I thought of going to Dallas^xlix but the river was up so high I could not cross and McKinsey^l had not got his ferry boat done yet.

Dec.9th, 1846:--    I went to hunt turkeys but the bottom (river bottom land) was all overflown (flooded), so I returned home.

Dec 10^th:--   A fine day and went a hunting with Mr. Gipson^li.  Returned home for dinner (lunch) without drawing blood except by thorns and scratches we received ourselves.  We were not yet satisfied. We have concluded to try again on Buffalo Creek^lii.  The weather is most beautiful in day time but a little cold at night.

11^th:--    We went out this morning and Mr. Gipson shot a deer in a short time. We went on horseback and put it on my horse. I rode and had the fun of carrying it home, if that can be called fun.  At any rate I shall eat a good share, the way my appetite has been. If I have not been lucky in shooting I have been in having good health so far as yet.

12^th:-- This day a little warm and a very hard shower on Sunday in the afternoon.

Monday the 13^th:-- It still looks like rain and I am still boarding and doing nothing but take my regular meals.  The East Fork kept up so long (water level was too high for him to cross) I gave up on going to Dallas.

14^th:-- We surveyed a lot^liii for Samuel A. LaRoe^liv of 400 Acres and next day

15^th:--One lot for Moses LaRoe^lv and

16^th:-- One lot for Harace B. Kanouse^lvi, 325 Acres. And Gipson went out to get the horses and shot at a deer but did not touch it but the dogs caught it so we had fresh meat again.  And I am now fixing to go to Goodridge's Bluff on the Trinity about 40 miles from this place.  This night the wolves howled close by the house on account of the blood and head of the deer caught today.

17^th:--Started for the Bluff (Goodridge's) with a horse part way but the man that went along to bring back the horse didn't go as far as he was ordered by Mr. Berdsley, his employer.  I tried to convince him he was not half way to where he knew (our destination to be) and he confessed that he was not the distance. So I told him he was no man. I further told him he was the only mean man I saw in Texas.  So I shouldered my gun and baggage and a good load it made for the road was very muddy and a great way to a house and then noon.  So I traveled as fast as I could to reach a house.  I traveled all day through a large prairie and saw 26 deer and ten mustangs, or wild horses, and thousands of wild geese feeding on the prairie. I could have had fine shooting but had no time to lose, so I traveled until 10 o'clock at night and found an old log house that had no inhabitants in it.  So I was forced to thump round and I went in and could not feel any beds nor furniture but a bedstead and two benches.  I struck up a fire and found the ashes some warm yet.  I thought some Indian hunters had left and had not got home yet and would not like to have me take possession in this way.  So I covered up my fire and shut the doors and lay down and so my thoughts about the owners caused me some queer dreams which awoke me.  I was cold and I built up the fire and sat by it and lay on the benches and was not in the least disturbed by anybody.  I was in the morning in full possession of a very good house for this country with good roof and floor.  But I moved out quite early in the morning and gave room for another settler.  I walked on to the next house and got me a good warm breakfast which made up for the loss of supper which had not happened before in some time.  I then went to Judge Damron's^lvii to get some deeds acknowledged but the Judge said the clerk took acknowledgements and recordings likewise, and that was not far off.  So I left my bundle at his house and walked to the Clerk's^lviii (County Clerk of Henderson County ) and found him home.  Had all my business done and got a good dinner, returned to Judge's that night.  Charged me $1.50 for my supper and lodging and breakfast and a good horse to ride down to the Bluff about 16 miles.  Sent his boy along to get some trade and load back the horse.  I then thought of taking a dugout or a boat and go down the Trinity to Galveston^lix (LaRoe was ready to head back to New Jersey after completing his land filings and was deciding which way was best for him to proceed) but they said that there had been a gentleman by the name of Col. Peek waiting for company to go down the Trinity but finally gave up the idea and got a wagon to take him to Shreveport for 6 dollars.  We put up the first night at his friend's home, a Mr. Eastwood^lx, and was well treated by the whole family.

20^th:-- In the morning started on and got in the branch (creek) and Charlie Sanders^lxi got stuck.  Had to unhitch in the water and wade almost up to his armpits and could not get his empty wagon out.  Had to go 2 miles to get oxen to draw out the wagon. We then put up at Mr. Aglens^lxii where we had plenty of everything good.  He had a good place called King's Burrow where the fort was built to fight the Indians.

21^st:-- We started through prairies and some timber 25 miles to old man Sanders house. Now this old man and lady had been this 3 days in camp with us, part of the time on horseback and part of the time in what they term a carryall or what we call one-horse wagon in New Jersey.  We shot two prairie chickens and had them cooked for our breakfast in good style by Mrs. Sanders^lxiii and four daughters^lxiv, all of them cheerful and healthy, 2 boys^lxv home, the old man as young as any of them.

22^nd:--A fine day. Mr. (Charles) Sanders  and myself were walking about his farm and found in the wheat a water melon. I picked it and ate it and I found it good and sweet and saw the remains of thousands of others part rotten in his cornfield, this the 22nd day of December, 1846, by James S. LaRoe.

23^rd:-- A beautiful day and like April in Newfoundland, New Jersey.

24^th:-- We are still making preparations to start for Shreveport but Charlie (Sanders) is not all ready yet and I think he wants to keep a Christmas at home.  Commenced this evening by firing off guns by the girls. They fired several that would almost surprise Gen. Taylor's^lxvi army and would I am sure, have driven the Mexicans over the Rio Grande. But the Christmas Eve passed off with good order and a civil dance at night.

25^th:--In the morning they shot off right by our bed before light and wished us a Merry Christmas and a gift. The old man treated all his hands with what he called Tom & Jerry^lxvii. This day the youngsters came from every direction on horseback. The old couple gave a good dinner, supper and lodging and the next morning a good breakfast and all left satisfied, all in good civil order and without any bills to pay for drink or feed for men or beast.

27^th :-- In Texas yet and Charlie (Sanders) now is doing his best to find all his steers, One is missing.  Yet I begin now to think of rolling along, as they term traveling with a wagon.
Sunday, 27^th :--Not found yet and all hands now begin to look.

Monday, 28^th :-- Fine weather yet the old man quite unwell.  All the neighbors are quite healthy and the appearance of the people very healthy.  About 2 o'clock we started and traveled about 5 miles to A. Sullivan's^lxviii.  He had plenty of good wheat and corn and oats and has 70 acres of land in fence.  In 2 years a double log house and large thrashing floor and several stacks standing.  He says it's a good wheat land and produces from 20 to 25 bushels to the acre and never no smut^lxix and weighs 65 to 70 pounds the bushel.

29^th :--  We traveled 20 miles and encampt out in the woods. I and Col. Peek walking ahead, we had to joke a little among ourselves and among the rest.  I joked him on the goodness of his knife so he made me a present of his best knife.  I promised to try to take better care of it on account of our aquaintance and our hard trip we have had through Texas and the way we had to lay out in the Lord's Big Garden, as some people call it.

   Next day we came to the Saline Salt Works^lxx where they have 15 boilers and make 25 bushels a day of very nice, clean salt and they sell it at one dollar a bushel.  They employ 8 hands and 3 yoke of oxen and burn about 3 cords of wood a day.  The salt well is about 15 foot deep and have two places and have water enough for a large establishment.
   We next encampt in the woods.  Slept well.  We've had no frost for sometime back. I rose early in the morning and wished them a happy New Year, also thought the same wishes were going on at home if they were all as well as I wished them to be.

Jan. 1^st, 1847 :--  One year more of our lives of toil and trouble past.  We next came to the Indian Village. They had good houses, good fences, good wheat and first rate stock mules, wheat and all kinds of grain, large sweet potatoes and yams and things in general better than their white neighbors have.  The had Negro slaves and done a great deal of work
   We are now in Smith County^lxxi.  We saw 2 or 3 large or smart improvements and some good land, good timber but some hilly and sandy and a great deal of Hematite ores^lxxii, and we came to a grist mill and saw mills.  The customers came 60 or 70 miles to mill.  We took a shave while the wagoner was getting his corn ground and we were treated with a cup of coffee by W. Moore, the owner of the mills.

Jan, 2^nd , 1847 :--  Frosty this morning but a fine day.

3^rd :--  We crossed the Sabine at Magee's Ferry^lxxiii about 90 miles from Shreveport.  We are now in Upshur County^lxxiiiv. The Sabine River is the line.

4^th :--  A little blustery and some rain in the night.  I and Peek put up at Mr. Morse's, got our breakfast and lodging. Paid 37 ½ cents each.  As I came on I saw several large flocks of turkeys and had two excellent chances to shoot deer but snapped my gun (Misfired). Got wet.  We called at a home to buy some eggs. The old lady could find but 3, then said if we had been there the day before she had set the old hen.  So we requested her to rob the old hen's nest of all her eggs.  We had them boiled and found them good, better for having the old hen set on them one night for it kept them from the frost, it being the coldest we had found yet.  I mention this to show that the inhabitants of Texas are very accomodating and will help anybody quicker than our old states will, for I doubt whether the women of New Jersey would disturb the hens they had been setting unless a case of New Year or some one suffering.

Jan. 6^th :--  Now in town of Marshall^lxxv, county of Harrison, and a very prosperous looking place or quite a town.  The land about this part of Texas quite sandy but produces well, even good cotton, a great deal of pine and other timber.

8^th of January :--  We crossed the line of Texas and passed through Greenwood 15 miles from Shreveport in the State of Louisiana.  A gentleman hailed me and asked if I was going to Shreveport, I said I was, so he offered me a horse to ride and a good one he was, all saddle and bridle.  I thought myself quite lucky - once more on a good horse and nothing to pay for the ride and thanked me in the bargain for he had borrowed him the day before and wanted a chance to send him home.  I then traded my double barrel rifle for a spotted cow and a 2 year old heifer that will have a calf in the spring or one that will  make a cow in the spring and a one year old heifer that now runs with the old cow.  Left them with Charles Sanders, Jr.^lxxvi and is to let them run with his until I call or send an order, and I agree with his brother Ward Sanders^lxxvii and paid him 37 ½ cents to mark the cattle with each a Half Round under each ear and he agrees to take good care of them until I call or send, and to mark their increase also for me.

January 9^th, 1847 :--  We got safe to Shreveport, I got my chest and all my things and bought provisions of all kinds, such as bacon, rice, flour and bread and a night put up in town.

10^th :--  Went on board The Randolph^lxxviii, a steamboat, down Red River, and the owner kept loading her down to her guards with cotton and supposed to have 12 hundred bales, and she snagged and sank at about 12 o'clock on the 11th of January and I lost my chest and all in it, about 15 or 20 dollars loss.  There was so many passengers on board and all made their escape.  They run her bow to the shore and put out a plank and all got out safe from the boiler decks.  Blankets and coverlets used for shawls and overcoats by ladies and gentlemen and none seemed to blush at it. (evidently the people were stripped out of their wet clothing and given coats and blankets to wrap themselves in)  I felt quite glad to see a good fire built up and see them all safe and waiting for another boat and to get away from that frosty place, it being the coldest night I found in this state.  Toward day there came another steamboat of The Red River Packet^lxxix, in sight and took all that wanted to go.  So I got on board and she went to Alexandria and another loading and stopped and stayed and loaded cotton for several days, but finally got safe to New Orleans on the night of the 16th of January.
  Next morning I went on shore and among the shipping, a Capt. Briggs of the Barge Hebron for New York and engaged a passage for 18 dollars and found.  I then gave him my baggage and walked back to the steamboat.  I then saw my old friend who I became acquainted with on board the Ship Memphis when we came to New Orleans by the name of John Mahoney^lxxx, and felt quite rejoiced on seeing him for he was the first man I had seen that I knew since I left New Orleans before.  He informed me that he had been keeping boarders since we parted and all of the same shipmates (meaning the shipmates from LaRoe's voyage from New York were boarding in his house). He soon had an offer of another of the same crew. That was myself, and glad was I when he answered he would with pleasure, and his wife's looks spoke the same.  I feel now much more at home than I have since I left Texas.  At night several more acquaintances came in, sailors and passengers, and all much pleased to find all well.

Sunday, the 17^th :--  I walked down to the levee, some at work, some riding in carriages, some going to church, some dancing, some music in the grog shops and some playing with monkeys on the streets with their music and performing with the monkeys to take in a few dimes.  Some girls with hand organs and playing in public places.  I then walked back to my boarding house where we all had a first rate dinner, got up in the style by Mrs. Mahoney herself and my appetite as good as ever.  And that is good enough to eat my share and "that was a heap", as the Indians say.  I now expect to sail on Monday afternoon if I do not get disappointed. I wrote to my family and put the letter in the office on Saturday of what I had done in Texas, and if any accident happened on board the ship I sailed in.  I went down to see the captain of the Barge Hebron but he had gone away. The Second Mate gave her a good name and showed me where he expected I should lodge in the cabin, for there was no other place left in the ship.  Everything looks neat and comfortable and I hope we will have a pleasant voyage for it is in the winter and a bad season for that voyage.

18^th :--   The weather is warm and pleasant. Some rain and heavy fogs.  In the afternoon I walked about the city and saw as I passed more than 100 sailors and men drinking in the coffee houses.  They have all kinds of meat fish.  There are several balls at night.

 January 19^th :--  In the morning warm and yet foggy.  The markets and all kinds of business much like the City of New York with the exception of stages.  Opposite this city is a nice place called Algiers and a great deal of large shipping under repair and building.  By the appearance they have a dry dock on the other side of the Mississippi.  A great many oysters and ducks brought in from the bay with row boats and fishing boats.  I went to my boarding house and told Mrs. Mahoney I would not need my bed and blankets on the board, from the information I got from the Mate, and as I had no other place for them, she might want my blankets and bed and pillow for what I had boarded which only amounted to about 2 dollars and the bed worth at least 4 dollars. She seemed well pleased and said she thought it a good bargain for her.  She was very glad and washed them immediately and treated me very kindly.  Today I walked down to the bark I was to sail in, but the Captain told me he wouldn't sail today and the Second Mate had been mistaken in the berth I had to occupy, and the Captain told me I had better get my bed for I would have to sleep in the forecastle. I told him I had parted with my bed and blanket.  He told me I had better get it back but I hated the idea of going back for my bed as the old woman had washed them and would think hard of giving them back.  A couple of noble sailors, seeing my fix, by the names of Henry Mitchell and Francis O. Pitman, said to me of their own good will. They said they would sleep in one berth and give a good bed and blanket and pillow to me to use the whole voyage which will make me a very comfortable place to sleep and feel very thankful to them.  And if those young men always are as lucky as I wish them, they will be lucky enough.

20^th :-- The weather is a little cool for this climate.

21^st: of January, 1847 :-- The sailors came on board with their chest and all got ready for the tow boat and was off.  The sailors, fine clever fellows, and I living a sailor's life with them and feeling satisfied.  The exchange made of the cooks was a bad one for all hands.  The old one was a first rate one, the new one a darky and far from being equal to the first.  I feel quite interested about the cook for I still have a wonderful appetite.  As yet we are towed down the Mississippi and another vessel by the name of Howard, the towboat - Caledonia.  We came past a large towboat that was blown up and two large vessels very much injured and 40 passengers killed by the explosion.  
   We have sailed 3 days and had fine weather but still I got seasick and felt unwell.  So I told the Captain I was not used to such fare and I thought I would make out better if I had the cabin and told him I'd be glad to give 2 dollars more than our first agreement.  That would be 20 dollars.  So he was clever enough to take me as a cabin passenger, as I was the only passenger on board.  So I got along very comfortable and cheap, which will make the passage much more agreeable and forget my little loss on board the Randolph that sank in the Red River.  
   The rest of the passage a head wind but got safe in New York. Then went to Mr. And Mrs. Allen's, the first person I saw since I left New York about 4 months (meaning the first persons he saw whom he had known before taking his trip).  If any person wishes to travel for his health, I should advise him to take the same route and if it does not kill or cure the worst disease, I shall be very much mistaken.
**Next fresh page at back of journal:
James S. LaRoe and family left New York on the 18^th day of November, 1850, on board the ship Avalanche^lxxxi, bound for New Orleans - First day fair and cool.

19^th :-- Calm at night, rainy and wind, and all seasick but the children^lxxxii and Hoarace^lxxxiii.

20^th :--  Fair wind and clear.

21^st :-- At noon-fine day, not much wind-all getting some better, the ladies and children staggering about deck.

22^nd :-- Windy and squally at night.

23^rd :--  Sea was very rough - all homesick but the children.

24^th :--  A fine day and all getting a little better. Quite warm and as gentle breeze about the deck.

25^th :-- All right today. Wind in fair favor. Children all are hearty and playful as kittens.

26^th :-- A fine day and getting along very well at the rate of eight miles an hour.  We have a bad sailing ship or a slow one but we keep up our courage yet we have been favoured by Divine Providence with a fair so far as yet.

27^th :-- A fair, warm day. Last night passed the lighthouse called "Hole in the Wall"^lxxxiv.  Are now passing a great many large rocks out in the sea.  Left one island -- to our left called "Large Iselick Island".

28^th :-- Past Key West^lxxxv and some small islands.  Wind fair and weather warm.

29^th :-- Calm weather.

30^th :-- Fine weather. All poor appetites. No exercise except to come wash ourselves on deck and cannot get clean at that.

31^st :-- Still fine weather and blowing fare. (*Note the date - there is no November 31st on the calendar)

December 1^st :-- Looking out for land or the boats.

2^nd:-- Wind fair and I got a steamboat for New Orleans at ten o'clock and had to lay by on account of the fog at night.

5^th :-- Very cold.

6^th :-- At night went on board the Governor Benton, a steamboat headed for Alexandria. Up the Red River, first stop at the ship Avalanche and got out baggage and wagon.  Cost 125 Dollars.  Stopped at Donaldsonville. Boat passed Baton Rouge^xxxvi, then stopped at Bayou Sara^xxxvii.

On 7^th :-- Next to Alexandria.  They carted our baggage over the falls and got on board of the boat called the Corina and took a dock passage for 50 dollars to Shreveport.

12^th :--  We had several sick people on board and one lady died last night by the name of Norton.  We had her buried on the bank of Louisiana. My shovel dug her grave.  Saved some pebbles that came out of her grave.  Now in a small place called St. Morris at the Bayou Saline^xxxviii and went aground.  Next Came to Grand Ecore.

13^th :-- Came to Natchtoches^xxxix where we bought all the bread the butcher had.  All the while good weather. The Corina running very slow every day.

   We arrived at Shreveport safe on 14^th day of December, 1850.  All in good health.  Rented a room in the Plank Hotel for 5 dollars per month and moved our baggage and beds and find ourselves in possession of a large room, about 20 foot square.  We put up our cooking stove and went to housekeeping and making cornbread and biscuit.

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:  By March 1851 the LaRoe family was living in the log house they built in Kaufman County in the Wilson Chapel neighborhood, south of Kingsborough in Kaufman County.  James S. LaRoe is reflected on Tax Rolls for 1851, as are his son-in-law and sons.

ENDNOTES

1. Jonathan Spriggs lived at Utica, Oneida Co. NY.
2. The Memphis packet & passenger sailing ship was built in America and in 1840-1859 was operated by the William Nelson & Co. traders who maintained a loading berth on Pine Street in New Orleans.  They sailed primarily between New York and New Orleans as often as trade warranted, usually weekly.  The ship held a crew of 20 and 12 passengers in addition to her cargo hold.  The Memphis was commissioned by the Confederate States Navy in 1862 and was destroyed during the Civil War in 1863 when it was captured by Union Navy at Bermuda and burned in that harbor.
3. A cousin of James S LaRoe who lived in Orange Co. NY.
4. An Island on the western tip of Florida.
5. The Magnolia was built in New Bedford MA, launched 1839. Made many voyages from Boston to New Orleans in the 1840's.
6. Correct spelling "Yabolusha" - was a side paddle wheeler used on the Mississippi and Red Rivers in early 1840's. On January 18, 1848, it caught fire and burned, killing 35 persons on board.
7. Shreveport is one of the largest cities in Louisiana and in 1846 was a major port of trade on the Red River for emigrants who were settling in Texas.  From the 1830's to the 1850's it was the largest town for trade to all who lived in north central Texas.
8. Alexandria is a town 50 miles north of where the Red River and Mississippi River intersect.
9. Donaldsonville, established 1809, is the Parish seat of Ascension Parish LA. Located on Bayou LaFourche, in the Baton Rouge district, north of New Orleans.
10. Another name for the Quachita (Wah-cha-tah) River that runs from west central Arkansas to just north of where the Red River and Mississippi River intersect in Louisiana.
11. A Steam paddle-wheeler built in Pittsburg, PA and launched in 1845, operated by the Pittsburg & Allegheny, Co.
12. River port town Located 4 miles north of Natchitoches LA on the Red River.
13. Lemuel Ewer b: 1774  d: 1861 Fannin Co TX
14. Marshall Goodspeed Ewer  b: 1824  d: 1893  Fannin Co TX
15. The eastern-most fork of the Trinity River major tributaries - it branches into the Trinity in southwest Kaufman County, flowing from the north/northeast.
16. The Express Mail was a sidewheel steamer, wooden hull packet; 164' long by 25' wide.  It was launched 1841 at Cincinnati and used 1841-1843 between Pittsburg & Cincinnati, 1843-1845 between St. Louis & New Orleans and 1845-1846 on the Red River.  On 27 Apr 1846 it snagged on a bar at Campti, LA and sank.
17. Harrison County was created in 1839.
18. Greenwood is located in Caddo Parish, west of Shreveport approximately 5 miles east of the Texas border, established as a trading post to travelers between Texas and the Red River in 1833.
19. Tributary of Big Cypress Creek that runs east of Marshall, TX.
20. Cass County founded 1846 from Red River County.
21. This is attaching metal half-circle hoops onto the tops of the side rails of a wagon to be able to place canvas across it to protect the cargo inside the bed of the wagon.
22. Jefferson is located on the Big Cypress Bayou and was established in the 1830's. Known for it's  natural Turning Basin in the bayou for steam ships and paddle-wheelers of the time; in 1842 it became a an important riverport when trade was brought across the Mississippi and Red Rivers into Texas.  It was situated in Cass County when incorporated in 1842, and became the county seat of Marion County in 1860.
23. Daingerfield was named for Capt. London Daingerfield, a Texas Ranger killed by Indians in 1830 on the site.  It is now county seat of Morris County, and at the time - 1846 - it was located in Titus County.  Located 20 miles southeast of Mt. Pleasant TX.
24. Allen T. Magee, the man who co-founded the Jordan Saline.  He lived in Caddo Parish Louisiana and  traveled frequently between Louisiana and the salt works that were situated in northern Henderson County during this time.  (Now located in northern Van Zandt County)
25. Titus County created May 11, 1846.
26. Mount Pleasant is the County Seat of Titus Co TX, founded May 11, 1846.
27. White Oak Prairie is located in Titus County and Franklin County, just south of the White Oak Creek.
28. This is the Sulphur Fork of the Red River that runs East-West between Mt. Pleasant & Clarksville.  Sulphur Fork was the dividing line between Titus and Red River Counties at the time.
29. Blossom Prairie was a wide meadow situated about 9 miles east of Paris, TX.  The area was  occupied as early as 1837 and a town was founded with a post office in 1849.
30. Red River County was once part of the Od Mexican Municipality and is the oldest county in Texas, created in 1836. Clarksville is the county seat.
31. Lamar County was created in 1840.
32. Carter Moore  b: 1799 NY d: 1855 TX - a retired Attorney with whom Laroe had corresponded prior to    his journey to Texas. Moore had removed to Texas in 1844.
33. This was the Central National Road, established February 5, 1844 by the Texas Congress. It ran from what is now Dallas TX on the Trinity River, northeast through present day Rockwall County, north through northeastern Collin County, northwestern Hunt County west of Greenville, Across Lamar \ County through Paris, and 9 miles into Red River County, culminating at Travis Wright's Landing on the Red River; in effect created a highway from St.Louis MO to Austin TX.
34. Actually Coffee's Station on the Trinity River until 1847, located in Lamar County where the old site of Preston was located until taken over by Lake Texoma in 1940.
35. Fannin County was created Dec. 14, 1837, named for James W. Fannin, the Texas Revolution martyr. The present boundaries were regulated March 14, 1846. Bonham is the county seat.
36. William P. Evans -See xxxvi -- LaRoe had obtained Scrip from the New Arkansas & Texas Land Co. for purchasing land in Texas and was looking to buy land in Lamar County.  He probably acquired the Scrip through his acquaintance with attorney  Carter Moore, thus explaining his reason for going to Lamar County and staying in Moore's house.
37. This is Sulphur Springs, and at that time was near the town of Tarrant, the county seat of Hopkins County in 1846.
38. William P. Evans - b:1803 NC d:1882 Fannin Co TX
39. Any wet place near creeks or ponds where wild hogs would lay in the mud to cool themselves.  Actually any place holding mud was called a wallow, pronounced "waller", whether hogs used it or not.
40. a Son of Carter Moore
41. In all probability this was Elisha Puett, b: 1806 NC - d: 1865 Bell Co TX.  He migrated to IN circa 1825, to AR 1840-1841 and in Texas by 1842. Living at his residence Milam in 1850 he was  known to travel all over  the republic and state in his later years.
42. The Sabine River is the third longest river inside the boundaries of Texas and NW - SE through north  east Texas.
43. William H. Newell - b: 1808 - d: UNK - he was in Nacogdoches Co TX by 1837.
44. Temperance Greer Sanders Newell - b: 1816  VA - d: 1850  Hunt Co TX - wife of William H.
45. Same as xli
46. This is probably Nehemiah Beardsley - b: 1809 NY - d: 1885 CA. He was in OH in 1820's, IN in 1837, MO in 1842, & TX as early as 1844. His property is mentioned in the Henderson County Land Deeds James LaRoe filed in 1846.
47. Collin County was created from Fannin County on April 3, 1846.
48. The Texas legislature established Henderson County on April 27, 1846, and named it in honor of  James Pinckney Henderson, first governor of the state of Texas. At the time, Buffalo was the  county seat.  In February 1848 the legislature formed Van Zandt and Kaufman counties out of  Henderson County and reduced it to its present size.
49. Dallas was first inhabited in 1841 by John Neeley Bryan.  It became a county March 30, 1846. Many persons were beckoned there with a promise of the rich land and wildlife in the Three Forks of the Trinity River region, and with a promise of trade on the rivers.  Many think LaRoe's intention was to acquire land in Dallas for his sons, but was more satisfied with what he saw just east of there.
50. A man named H. W. McKenzie operated a Ferry over the East Fork of the Trinity River near where  Barnes Ferry was located across the East Fork in Rockwall County - all in Henderson Co. in 1846.
51. William M. Gipson - b: 1801 NC- d: UNK  - he was an early resident of Henderson County, settling in Anderson Co. by 1850.
52. Buffalo Creek is a tributary of the East Fork of the Trinity that runs north-south from the fork in southern Kaufman County to into southern Collin County.
53. The Land that James LaRoe obtained for his family was not theirs to be had when they returned to Texas in 1850.  He had been swindled.  The County Clerk of Henderson County did not Record the Deeds until November of 1847, a year after LaRoe filed them with him. LaRoe had no way to expedite legal action to rectify the problematic filings,  being in New Jersey, and by the time Kimbell filed LaRoe's Deed Claims the land had been filed by other settlers and occupied.  The LaRoe family ended up purchasing other parcels of land after the family's arrival in Kaufman County, most 6 miles south of Kingsborrough (town of Kaufman).
54. Son of James S. LaRoe - Samuel A LaRoe  b: 1823 - d: 1884
55. Son of James S. LaRoe - Moses Kough LaRoe b: 1830 - d: 1904
56. Son-in-law of James S. LaRoe - Horace Barnum Kanouse  b: 1821 - d: 1883, Married Lydia LaRoe
57. John Damron - b: 1791 - d: 1856 Ellis Co TX. First Chief Justice of Henderson County.
58. Henderson County Clerk was A. G. Kimble at the time - See LaRoe's Original Deed Filings below and note that there was no Deed for himself, only two of his sons and his son-in-law.
59. Galveston was the first organized port in Texas, used since the 1500's. In the 1840's passage could be had from Galveston to almost anywhere in the world.
60. Leonard Eastwood - b: 1788 NC  -  d: 1871 Caldwell Co TX
61. Charles Rice Sanders, Sr  - b: 1799 VA - d: before 1850 Henderson Co TX
62. This is John Anglin - b: 1790 - d: UNK, early pioneer of the Texas Republic, Henderson & Kaufman Counties.
63. Lucy B Hatcher Sanders - b: 1792 - d: before 1870 - Wife of Charles R Sanders, Sr.
64. Daughters of Charles & Lucy Sanders at home in 1846 - Druscilla, Lucy Ann, Lizia Jane & Martha
65. Sons of Charles & Lucy Sanders at home in 1846 - William R Sanders & David W "Ward" Sanders.  Another son, Charles Sanders, Jr. lived close by. Another daughter, Temperance Greer Sanders  was married to William H Newell.
66. Zachary Taylor
67. An antiquated holiday libation made with raw eggs, rum, cream, brandy, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg and vanilla, and served warm.
68. Adam Sullivan - b: 1801 - d: 1866 Kaufman Co TX - one of the earliest pioneers of Kaufman County,  first settler in the community known as Cedar Grove.
69. Various fungal diseases prone to infect grain crops.
70. Salt manufacturing was first started at this site by the local Indians as early as 1834.  In 1839 John  Jordan bought the land, and on Dec. 17, 1845 he and partner, Allen T. MaGee founded the Saline Salt  Works.  They mined salt at that location and also bought salt from persons in surrounding counties, all  heavy with salt deposits. They boiled it down, ground it and sifted it, then sold it in the surrounding areas of Texas and Louisiana. The place was known as Jordan's Saline, and later Grand Saline Salt Works.
71. Smith County was created from the Nacogdoches District in July 1846. Tyler is the county seat.
72. Iron deposits, or crystals, reddish in color, that render soil in red clay and sandy regions unsuitable for farming.
73. This ferry crossing was made in 1836 by Sam Houston's militia and was used until 1880.  The place was known by many names - usually the surnames of the various men who operated the ferry across  the river. Evidently in 1846 the man was named Magee.  The community at the site was called Point Pleasant.
74. Upshur County was created from Harrison County on April 27, 1846.
75. Marshall is the county seat of Harrison County.
76. Charles Rice Sanders, Jr. - b: 1823 - d: 1877  - son of Charlie Sanders
77. David Ward Sanders - b: 1833 AR- d: 1891- son of Charlie Sanders
78. The Randolph - this steam paddle wheeler was also known as the General Brown and was Built in  the 1820's. Refurbished and renamed Randolph in 1837 for trade between New Orleans and St. Louis, it was owned by Robert Lindell & Co. of St. Louis.
79. The Red River Packet Company was a steam ship line that carried passengers and freight on the  navigable riverways between New Orleans and Shreveport.
80. This is a man that LaRoe evidently met when coming to New Orleans, and he has metr up with him again on his trip back there.
81. The Avalanche was an American built sailing ship, christened in 1840.  It made many trans-Atlantic trips between New York and Boston to Antwerp, Ireland and Liverpool, and by 1844 was making passenger voyages between New York and New Orleans.  Her last trip was made in 1847 when she ran onto a bar at Picayune on Feb. 23rd.
82. The children with LaRoe on this voyage would have been his daughters Lydia Kanouse, Sarah LaRoe, and sons Alfred Alonzo, Samuel, Daniel & Moses, and the children of Lydia & Horace Kanouse.  James' wife Matilda Kough LaRoe was also with him.
83. Horace B Kanouse - son-in-law of James LaRoe.
84. One of the earliest English-built lighthouses on Great Abaco Island in the Bahamas, erected in 1836.
85. The chain of islands on the southern-most tip of Florida.
86. Baton Rouge is one of the earliest riverports on the Mississippi.  Known for the huge plantations in the region.
87. Bayou Sara was located in St. Francisville. One of the earliest river ports for the Felicianas and the largest between Natchez and New Orleans.  The place was known for it's Brothels.
88. Bayou Saline was a trading post southeast of Natchitoches where steam boats could dock and allow their passengers to do marketing or trade before continuing on their river voyage.
89. Natchitoches is about 90 miles south of Shreveport.  It is not on the river, but west of it.

Records of the Original Deeds filed by
James S. LaRoe in Henderson County

James S. LaRoe to Moses LaRoe
Henderson Co, TX Deed Book D, page 5 (transcribed book) -- James S. Laroe of
Rockaway Twp, Morris Co, NJ, to Moses Laroe of same, $200, in Co. of
Henderson between waters of Buffalow Crk and E Fk Trinity, begin at
stake on the E side of National Road from Dallas to Paris on the SE
side of the 20 mile [marker] thence E 100 chains, thence S 40 chains,
thence W 100 chains, thence N 40 chains containing 400 a; lands held by
virtue of articles of association dated 14 Mar 1832 between John Charles
Beale and Jose Manuel Royeaeld as Empresario for colonizing same now
held for benefit of New Arkansas & Texas Land Co. by Thomas Lerdow
Ogden, Daniel Jackson, & Edward Curtis (29 Apr 1833) deed entitled
Silvester Davis to 4017 6/7 a, part was endorsed by Davis to Laroe;
signed 15 Dec 1846 James S. Laroe; witness: John T. Pearson and Robert
Balthrop; JSL appeared and acknowledged deed 18 Dec 1846 before A.G.
Kimbell, Clerkk Co. Court Henderson County; recorded 4 Nov 1847

James S. LaRoe to Samuel A. LaRoe
Deed Book D, page 7-- James S. Laroe to Samuel A. Laroe (both of Rockaway Twp,
Morris Co, NJ), $200, 400 a [acres] in Henderson Co between Buffalo Creek and E
Fk of Trinity; beginning at a stake 2 chains 50 links from a spring near
Nehemiah Berdslees dwelling house, said spring on W side of Nat'l Road
from "Dalles to Parris" between the 20 & 21 mile posts, running thence E
100 chains, thence S 40 chains, thence W 100 chains, thence N 40 chains;
by virtue of deed 14 Mar 1832 to John Charles Beales & Jose Manuel
Royuel and then held by the New Arkansas & Texas Land Co by Thomas
Ludlow Ogden, Daniel Jackson, and Edward Curtis by virtue of deed dated
29 Apr 1833 (scrip from Odgen, Jackson, & Curtis to Sil. Davis); signed
James S. Laroe 14 Dec 1846; witness: John T. Pearson and Robert Bulthrop;
JSL appeared and acknowledged deed 18 Dec 1846 before A.G. Kimbell, Clerk
Co. Court Henderson County; recorded 4 Nov 1847

James S. LaRoe to Horace B. Kanouse
Deed Book D, page 10-- James S. Laroe of Rockaway Twp, Morris Co, NJ to
Horrace B. Kanouse of W. Milford Twp, Passaic Co, NJ, $175, 320ac of
Silvester Davis; between Buffalow Crk & E Fk Trin, begin at stake 2
chains 50 links N of spring near Nehimiah Berdslees dwelling house
thence N 40 chains, thence E 80 chains,
thence S 40 chains, thence W 80 chains; signed 15 Dec 1846 James S.
Laroe; ness: John T. Pearson & Robert Balthrop; JSL appeared and
acknowledged 18 Dec 1846 before A.G. Kimbell, Co Clerk Court Henderson Co.;
recorded 4 Nov 1847.