James and Rhoda Creel Beall Winters

Winters Park, Set Aside to Honor Family of James and Rhoda Creel Beall Winters. Pioneers who led their large family here in 1834 from Tennessee. Two older sons, Wm. Carvin and John Frelan Winters, came to Texas in 1832. On receiving their good report, the parents moved to this land between east and west forks of San Jacinto River.

With them came 10 of their children, some in-laws, and grandchildren. A daughter, Mrs. Caroline W. Fannin, died and was buried en route, on the Trinity River. James Winters, veteran of several American wars, was 62 when he left his new home to fight for Texas in 1835 conflict with Mexico. In the 1836 Texas War for Independence, he and a 15-year-old son, Benjamin, hauled supplies to the Texas army.

In that war were three sons, Wm. C., J. F., and James W. Winters; and two sons-in-law, Jackson Crouch and Charles D. Edwards. Members of the Winters family helped to settle Caldwell, Frio, Hays, Lavaca, Live Oak and McMullen counties. The mill of Wm. Winters made much of the furniture for the 1857 Texas Capitol.

In 1901 James W. Winters served Texas by helping mark battlefield at San Jacinto, where he fought 65 years earlier. The senior James Winters (born 1773) died in 1848; he is buried 2 miles south, at Waverly. Rhoda (1784-1859) is buried at Oakville, Live Oak County.