The Enchanting Story of Oak Rose.........

Oak Rose is located a short distance from the North Concho River, let me tell you the story........

The history of the area begins in 1541, it is believed that Spanish explorer, Fransisco Coronado came to the area looking for the Seven Cities of Gold. Historians, believe that he did reach the North Concho River. Additional explorers, Martin &Castillo came to the area searching for the famous, "Concho Pearl."
( Legend has it that these pearls appeared in crowns of the Spanish royalty.) In the 1600's, Spanish Missionaries were sent to Concho Country responding to a request from the Jumano Indians. The missionaries discovered that the Jumanos spoke of a vision, well known as the beautiful, "Lady In Blue." On one visit, the Spaniards arrived at the Concho River to find 2000 Jumanos awaiting baptism, they had been previously visited by the, "Lady In Blue." * " Throughout the 1620's Maria de Jesus (Lady In Blue) would repeatedly lapse into deep trances. On these occasions she experienced dreams in which she was transported to a distant and unknown land, where she taught the Gospel to a pagan people. Her alleged miraculous bilocations took her to eastern New Mexico and western Texas, where she contacted several Indian cultures, including the Jumanos." Thus the " Lady In Blue," was noted for bringing Christianity to this area of Texas as early as 1629. Recorded in Texas history, are approximately 500 visits from the Spanish nun cloaked in blue, who lived in a castle in Spain and performed these miraculous bi-locations.

Some of the earliest inhabitants of the area were the peaceful Jumano indians, later Apache, and then Comanche. Baron John O. Meusebach was a colonizer (after Fisher &Miller) in this former Bexar County section of Texas. Bexar County was established by the Republic of Texas in 1836. This 6 foot 3 inch German nobleman, land surveyor, and founder of Fredericksburg, TX, was known for his ability to serve both the white man and the natives. This peacemaker's most prominent political accomplishment was the famed, Meusebach- Comanche Peace Treaty.........the only peace treaty with the indians, never to be broken. **** " Not until John O. Meusebach had taken charge of the affairs of the German immigrants that regular expeditions into Indian-controlled lands took place. Government officials, however, were unable to assure military assistance and surveyors refused to enter the region of the grant for fear of being attacked by the Indians." Settlements slowly continued and the vast wilderness of Texas began taking shape. Frontiersmen came from all over to lay their claim to Texas land.

In 1835 Texas Independence was declared, in response to the plight of gallant young Texas soldiers, my distant cousin (on my father's side), Joanna Troutman fashioned the first Texas Flag from her silk petticoats. ** " The flag was later carried to Goliad, where James W. Fannin raised it on March 8, 1836, to celebrate the news of the Texas Declaration of Independence." In 1858, the Butterfield Stageline or Overland Mail Route was established, in the nearby community of Grape Creek, linking the United States, from coast to coast. *** " By 1861 Texas was so like the other Southern states economically, socially, and politically that it joined them in secession and war. Antebellum Texans cast their lot with the Old South and in the process gave their state an indelibly Southern heritage." In 1861, Texas succeeded from the Union, declaring her support for the Confederacy. The owner's maternal family was involved in Sibley's Expedition. Sibley's was known as " a grandiose plan to capture New Mexico Territory and use it as a gateway for Confederate occupation of Colorado and California. It was a gallant attempt to capture the Southwestern Territory for the Confederate States." My paternal side of the family also served in the Civil War. The Foster family sent many of their sons to battle and weathered the storm of "Sherman's March To The Sea." One in particular, Capt K. R. Foster was involved in many of the memorable conflicts of the War of Southern Rebellion.

In the 1840's Germany formed the Society of Noblemen, a group of German Princes. The dashing Prince Karl of Solms-Braunfels (a relative of England's Queen Victoria), was appointed to oversee this venture. These industrious and visionary noblemen acquired nearly four million acres from the Republic of Texas, which included the Oak Rose Plantation. The purchase of the Fisher Miller Land Grant was the beginning of the European settlement in beautiful central Texas. *****Handsome Prince Carl wrote, "The eyes of all Germany, no, the eyes of all Europe are fixed on us and our undertaking: German princes, counts, and noblemen... are bringing new crowns to old glory while at the same time insuring immeasurable riches for their children and grandchildren."

After the War between the States, Fort Concho was erected in order to protect settlers from the Indians. After the outbreak of the Civil War, the Butterfield Stage Line ceased and Goodnight Loving Cattle Trail was established through the Conchos. These trail blazing cowboys followed the Butterfield Overland Mail Route and through the future site of Ft. Concho. Fort Concho continued to protect settlers from Indians in the area.

In the 1880's Stanley Turner established this area as part of his Mt. McLaughlin Ranch, headquartered in Water Valley, TX. It was operated by Stanley Turner as a buggy horse ranch and he is noted as, one of the original landowners of Texas. The Turner family were wealthy bankers in Liverpool, England and began migrating here in the late 1800's. After hearing wonderful tales of West Texas life, many of the Turners came to America. Mr. Turner began to raise fine driving horses on this ranch. One famous horse, he used for breeding purposes was, " Enchanter." He was a French Coach Thoroughbred, purchased from the world renowned farms of M. W. Denham of DuPage Co, IL. The thoroughbred was a champion at fairs and shows and was purchased in 1899. He continued to raise saddle, polo, wagon, and buggy horses. After World War I, the Turner family furnished mounts for the United States Army. Cowboys and ranchers frequented the ranch. The area saw it's share of cattlemen, pounding hoofs and wagon wheels. Gentlemen who wanted their carriages drawn by the best, sought well-bred horses from the Englishman on his Mt. McLaughlin Ranch. In 1884, Stanley Turner registered his brand for his horses in Tom Green County, TX. Two brands are listed, the Rocking R and an "T" with a "S" drawn through it. The land was later used for many years as ranch land.

In 1895, my ggggrandfather Eugene Foster came to Texas, evading the love of a young woman. He had asked for her hand in marriage, but his father, Captain Foster had opposed the union. Trading a vineyard in Georgia for land along the banks of the Concho River, Eugene boarded a train and began his adventure in Texas. (The land was in another section of Tom Green County.) In the words of Eugene's sister, Miss Carrie, "his love vanished like the morning mist." He later met a beautiful southern belle, Bessie and proposed to her on the bridge over Dove Creek. Thus, the romantic story of how our family came to this part of Texas............

Our historic bed and breakfast showcases our family history and the history of the area. The Oak Rose Ranch was named for the beautiful Red Oaks and Cream Colored Roses that embellish the landscape........
Oak Rose is comprised of our beloved home-Micheala (now the Carriage House), Miss Lissia's Plantation Bed &Breakfast, Derek's Barn, The Shed ( Nana's old greenhouse), a well-house and a playhouse. Oak Rose has been our home since 1987 and was officially named in 2004 and this is it's rich and lasting legacy.............

Excerpts taken from Miss Lissia's Plantation
Bed &Breakfast c. 1890 webpage 2003.
Info on Turner family,
obtained from Tom Green County
Chronicles of Our Heritage
Texas Handbook Online
*Article- AGREDA, MARIA DE JESUS DE-Donald E. Chipman
**Article- Flags of the Texas Revolution - Charles A. Spain, Jr.
***Article- Antebellum Texas -Randolph B. Campbell
****Article- Meusebach-Comanche Treaty- Otto W. Tetzlaff
*****Article- Glen E. Lich and Gunter Moltmann - Texas Handbook Online


Michelle Ayers Doss
Proprietress- Miss Lissia's
2004