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THE BROWN-WOODLIEF LOG HOUSE e A,;
The Brown-Woodlief Log House, owned by Mr. and Mrs. Thomas A. Bullock of Houston,
was originally located on the Hildago Bluffs, roughly 4-1/2 miles norteast of Washington,
Texas. The house now is sited at the Bullocks' farm, 4 miles southwest of Washington, Texas.
The heirs and owners of the original land (Mr. and Mrs. Elliott Goodwin, Mr. and Mrs.
Jack Baker of Navasota; and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Moon of Houston) gifted the log house to
the Bullocks in 1971, with the provision that this good example of Early Texas construction be
restored and that a Texas Historical Marker be obtained. The house was moved that year from
its original location to Texana Farm, and it now views the Hutchison-Korth House (also restored
by the Bullocks and bearing a Texas Historical Landmark).
Of the heirs, Mrs. Goodwin, especially, had a special interest in preserving this classic
"dog-run" log house. It had belonged to her great-great-grandfather, Dr. Thomas William
Neal. Dr. Neal moved to Washington County, Texas, in the early 1860' s, from Amelia
Courthouse, Virginia. His son-in-law, John Clement Evans, died in this house August 18,
1881. At that time, Evans' ten-year-old son, John Thomas Evans (Mrs. Goodwin's grandfather)
rode horseback to Old Washington for help for his father.
The Brown-Woodlief Log House is believed to have been built by William S. Brown.
He received a Mexican Land Grant of 4,428 acres on the west margin of the Brazos
River, 1/2 league from the mouth of the Navasota Creek (called "El Salto" or "Falls"
in English). Mr. Brown paid "4 Reals for Sea at San Felipe, Texas July 24, 1824,
to Silve Castleman. This was witnessed b n de Bastrop, Stephen F. Austin
and Samuel May Williams. In the presence o Samuel Kennedy, James Nelson, Amos
Gates, adjoining owners, and Surveyor Horabio Chri ran, Mr. Brown "uttered word,
pulled grass, threw stones, drove stakes and performed all necessary ceremonies." (1)
The Census of 1826 lists Mr. Brown as a farmer, stockman and single. Stephen F.
Austin's papers show a Bill of Lading, January 8, 1833, from William S. Brown,
Captain of the Sabine, to James F. Perry (Austin's brother-in-law) at McNeel's Landing
in request of supplies. (2) Mr. Brown's death was in 1836 and the Telegraph and Texas
Register, December 22, 1836 reported: "the subscriber having been appointed by the Hon.
H. C. Franklin, administrator of the estate of William S. Brown, deceased, hereby
notifies ail persons indebted to said estate to make payment and all those having claims
- against said estate will present the same within the time prescribed by law." (3)
--)ne of the men who died with Fannin at Goliad was a William S. Brown.
(Surveyor records, April 28, 1828, show the Brown-Woodlief House belonged to B. M.
Cutter of Matamoros for a brief time. Stephen F. Austin's papers contain a letter from
B. M. Cutter, May 13, 1828, asking for Austin's assistance in securing land Cutter had
purchased, (4)
From 1828-1838 the home was owned by J. De aux Woodlief. (5) Mr. Woodleif, born
in Greenville County, Virginia, arrived in Texas in 1836. He was a Colonel in the
Regular Army, but served as a private in Capt. Karnes' Company at the Battle of San
Jacinto, and was with this company from March 12 to December 31, 1836. For these
military services, Woodlief was issued 120 acres of land, plus an additional 640 acres
of land after he was wounded during the Battle of San Jacinto. Following this uneasy
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