MY FAMILY ALBUM

MARY ANN KENT, BYAS, CHAMBERS, MORRIS

MARY ANN'S CABIN

Mary Ann was the daughter of Alamo hero Andrew Jackson Kent and the younger sister of Texas Rangers David Boyd Kent and Bosman Clifton Kent. The following article appeared in the San Antonio Express in 1916, shortly before her death:

On the broad reaches of the upper Guadalupe while the age old cypress trees whispered strange tales of other days, she spent her declining years. The little cabin stands hard by the road, the door was never locked, and the stranger was ever welcome. Many who have gone that way have carried with them on the long journey kind memories of the aged widow's hospitality. Grandma Morriss continued to live in her little log house until a few years ago, when failing eyesight compelled her to give up her home. Since, she has lived with her son, Riley Byas, whose home is near the old place, where she can still hear the storm winds tearing at the rugged breasts of the mountains and the Guadalupe in time of flood, as it thunders against its rockbound shores.

So has lived, and still lives, one of the last--perhaps the last--child of a Hero of the Alamo.

Mary Ann was about 12 years old at the time of the Alamo and was caught up in what is known in Texas history as "The Runaway Scrape". After General Santa Ana defeated the Texans at the Alamo, his troops went on a looting and burning spree. Mary Ann and her mother and brothers narrowly missed being caught by these renegades. Their home was burned and their livestock was killed. When they returned later there were very few pieces left to pick up. But pick up they did, So the widow, Elizabeth Zumwalt Kent, her daughter Mary Ann and her brothers re-built their home and ranch. The homestead and the land awarded to Andrew Kent for his heroic participation in The Battle of the Alamo were divided up amongst the family and later sold off bit by bit. Mary Ann married and outlived 3 husbands. This photo of her cabin was run in the San Antonio Express on Sunday morning, November 5, 1916 along with the quote above as part of a full page feature entitled, "An Orphan of the Alamo."

DAVID BOYD KENT

David was the eldest son of Alamo hero Andrew Jackson Kent. David narrowly missed losing his life at the Alamo. Being saved only by his father's stubborn refusal to allow him to go. David had acted in the past as a messenger between the Alamo and Gonzalez and as a food forager for the troops at the Alamo. David saw action against the Mexican Army in later skirmishes and also as a Texas Ranger.

BOSMAN CLIFTON KENT

Bosman was the younger brother of David Boyd Kent and the older brother of Mary Ann. At the time of the Alamo, Bosman was way too young to even be considered for going to help. However, later in life Bosman joined the Texas Rangers and saw action against the Mexican Army in Texas as well as in raids into Mexico. At only 5'2" Bosman was only allowed to join the Rangers as a bugler. However, when they discovered how mean he was, they decided to let him become a full fledged member. Bosman was one of the first and possibly the first Texas Ranger to make use of the 1851 Navy Colt Revolver. He may have been only 5'2", but they said he looked 6 feet tall coming at you with both guns drawn. Many of Bosman's exploits are mirrored by the character Oscar McNabb in James Michener's novel "Texas".

Susan was the daughter of Mary Ann Kent Byas, by her first husband. Susan married James Nathan Brunson in Kerrville, Texas, and moved with him and their children to Tonto Basin Arizona. Susan died in Oregon in 1930 of complications and infection resulting from an injury to her foot. She is buried in the citizens' section of the Masonic Cemetary in Oakland, Oregon, however, a search for her grave in 1990 by her granddaughter, Helen Brunson Delk, proved fruitless even with the help of a long-time caretaker. The photo on the left was taken in Oregon near Mt. Tyee shortly before Susan's death. The photo on the right was probably taken in Texas before the family moved to Arizona.

Nina vowed she'd never marry a cowboy and Hester vowed he'd never ride a horse again. Hester took up cotton farming in Tonto, later moved to Oregon where he homesteaded, then eventually moved to Porterville, California where he farmed cotton on the ranch known locally as "Six Palms". Later known as "Five Palms" after his future son-in-law, Bob Delk and his brother Monroe, set fire to one of the palm trees late one night as a prank. Hester was killed in an automobile accident in 1948 and is buried in Porterville. Nina died in 1983 and is buried beside him.