MRS. IKE T. PRYOR

Mrs. Myra Stafford Pryor, wife of Col. Ike T. Pryor, of the Cattlemen's and Old Trail Drivers' Association, is a native Texan and proud of it. She was born near Columbus, in Colorado county, on her father's ranch. Her father was Robert Earl Stafford and her mother Sarah Elizabeth Stafford. Her father came to Texas in 1858 from Georgia, and when he had prepared a place for his family, Mrs. Stafford followed about six months later in 1859, with her two children and a few negroes, making the journey by water from Cedar Keys to New Orleans and from New Orleans to Galveston. Mr. Stafford met her at Galveston, and from there they went by railroad to Eagle Lake, thence by stage.

Robert Earl Stafford, who had learned the cattle business as a boy at his father's home in Georgia, on coming to Texas embarked in the cattle business as a matter of course. When the war between the States broke out he joined the Shropshire Upton Company-a part of Hood's Brigade, organized in Colorado county, and was in the war until the close of hostilities. After the war he returned to his home and re-entered the cattle business.

Earl Stafford drove up the trail for the first time in 1869. Mrs. Pryor's mother was a typical Texas woman, hospitable and patriotic.

Little Myra Stafford, with her sister and two brothers, enjoyed the usual wonderful life of a little girl on a big Texas ranch. There were horseback riding-and she does not remember when she learned to ride-and picnics at Eagle Lake and elsewhere, and all sorts of happy things occurring every day-and then, when Myra was thirteen years of age, she was sent to Virginia to finish school.

When she came home a sure enough grown up young lady, what a wonderful time she had on the old ranch and how glad she was to get home again.

The Stafford and Sam Allen families were old and intimate friends, in fact Mr. Stafford and Mr. Allen were long business partners and shipped cattle to Havana. Miss Myra often made long visits to the Sam Allen home at Harrisburg, and always had a splendid time.

Mrs. Pryor lived for twenty-five years at Columbus, but many of her old neighbors there have passed away or have moved to other cities. She loves the old Columbus oaks. There was one, across from her house, in which the wisteria had climbed, and when in bloom, mingling with the long floating grey moss, made a picture for fairy land. In Mrs. Pryor's opinion, the oaks of Columbus are unsurpassed in beauty and size.

Mrs. Pryor's father also owned a ranch in Wharton county, and she is familiar with all the small towns in those sections of the state, near her father's holdings. Eagle Lake was in those days a great resort, people would go to hunt and fish and picnic and have a great time. Alligators of all sizes used to inhabit the lake when she was a child and at times frightened the children by their roars.

Mrs. Pryor counts as one of her priceless relics an old flintlock gun used by her great-grandfather in the Revolutionary War. He, too, was a Robert Stafford. At the meeting of the Old Trail Drivers' Association she presented to Mr. Jack W. Baylor, an embossed leather belt ornamented with chased silver and gold buckle and side ornaments, and long worn by Brigadier General John A. Baylor, and presented by him, about 1885, to his old friend, Robert E. Stafford of Wharton and Colorado county. Mr. Stafford bequeathed it to his widow, who in turn left it to his daughter. Mrs. Pryor gave it to this particular grandson of General Baylor because he had always been kind and attentive to his aunt, Mrs. A. Burkes, who is a special friend of Mrs. Pryor.

Mr. and Mrs. Pryor were married in 1893, and moved to San Antonio in 1896. They were both elected officers

of the Texas Historic Landmarks Association. They have their home in the heart of the city and have taken part in all public and private enterprises launched for the good of San Antonio and Texas since their arrival.

Mrs. Ida Friedrich Saunders, wife of Geo. W. Saunders, is always an interested and devoted attendant at the meetings of the Old Trail Drivers' Association.

Mrs. Saunders was a Miss Ida Friedrich, and was born under the shadow of the Alamo, and as a child, with her two sisters and four brothers, played around its sacred precincts.

Her first remembrance of the Alamo was with a feeling of awe about it, and that it was all fastened up securely. Then it was opened and used by Mr. Grenet as a grocery store, the Church being used as a warehouse.

She remembers interesting stories of the Indians as told to her by her mother, when they came in to trade at their store, and how frightful they looked with long rings in their noses, with knives in the legs of their high moccasins, and wrapped in their dirty blankets.

She also tells of the big spring by the Commerce street bridge, where many people went to get water for household purposes because the water was so cool and pure. The children used to fish there in the river and found it great fun.

As a tot she was always interested in the old Alamo ditch, it seemed to fascinate her, and she took advantage of every opportunity to investigate it.

Her parents, Fensel and Agnes Friedrich, came to San Antonio in 1854, and made their home on Crockett street, adjoining the Menger Hotel. The property remained in the hands of the family until a short time ago. Mr. Friedrich became known all over the United States for his horn furniture of all kinds. He had orders even from Europe. Their close neighbors were the Grenets, Stumbergs, Callahans and Kampmanns.

Miss Friedrich was married to Mr. Geo. W. Saunders in 1889. They have one child, now Mrs. Agnes Cannon.