A recent posting at genqueries.com was for Don Raney’s book on his ancestor and the first settler in Wood County, Martin Varner.
Don is a friend of the society and has presented programs here for us. He is a genealogist who teaches genealogy classes at a local college where he lives in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.
His book is available for $25.00 plus $5.00 shipping and handling by mail to Don Raney, 1506 Comanche Trail, Garland, TX 75043. Make checks to Don Raney.
Varner was an early settler of Indian Territory, Spanish Texas, a member of Austin Colony’s “Old 300,” a soldier at the Battle of San Jacinto, and, as noted, the first settler in the area that is now Wood County. He died a tragic death after an altercation in an argument over debt with Simon Gonzales of Wood County. Gonzales shot Varner and Varner’s son Stephen Austin Varner. The son died instantly and Varner, the elder, a few days later. Varner, with the help of a slave managed to kill Gonzales.
Don Raney’s book, 432 hard-bound pages with 27 pages of maps and photographs, is titled: “Martin Varner, Texas Pioneer: 1785-1844 (Brazoria, Lamar, and Wood Co., Texas).
