Oral History Excerpt of the Hight Family Trek 
from Maury Co. TN to Hubbard TX, 1870
[provided by Bill Thrasher, Culleoka, TN, thrash@edge.net]
[as copied by Joe Mack Hight, summer 1960]

Joe Mack told me he thought Sam Wright was the first to make
the migration in 1840's.  The rest seem to have followed him.
Some of those included R.H. Hight family in 1870.  Marion
Samuel "Tink" Freeland family early 1880's, Andrew Murray Craig
and wife Mary Dillehay Craig (her mother was a Murphy) late 1880's.
Also Caskeys, more Hights, Freelands and Wrights, maybe Colliers.

In summer 1960 Joe Mack Hight visited Hubbard, Texas.  He copied a
handwritten history of the Hight family which included the story of 
the journey as follows:
"Rufus Henry Hight md. Mary Emily Wright Oct. 10, 1857...They left
Tennessee about September 20, 1870 for Texas.  They went in two 
covered wagons, 4 good mules.  Spent a week in Arkansas.  Visited
Uncle George Oliver and Uncle John Westmoreland.  Uncle Newt 
Wright's wife Nancy and children (Newt was killed in war) and
William Miles (his mother was a Park) Sam Keyes md. Ma_ie Wright.
Had dinner with them.  Met old UN-ncle Jim McKee- they lived in 
county next to Izard.  We reached Uncle Sam's last of October.
	The trip required about 6 weeks.  Grandma did all the cooking
for the family and for John Oliver.  Also for the Kirk's after leaving
Arkansas- who drove on of the teams.  They came with John Kirk (one
wagon) and his brother Ging Kirk.  They brought Mrs. Hardison and
2 daughters to Arkansas.
	They had a hard time in Langee[?] C-a bottom noted for robbers
and panthers.  They attempted to make trip thru in daytime, but failed
to get thru on account of bad roads and were forced to stay in there
all night.  They couldn't find water for some time- did locate enough
for people but had to let the horses do without.  Made a big fire and
stretched tent.  All slept in the tent except Papa and John Oliver. 
They slept in the wagon.  After all were gone to bed and were almost
asleep, a panther began to scream.  The mules began snorting- one
broke loose.  They built up a fire and shot off pistols to scare
panthers away.  Broke camp early and got out.
	When first started they were crossing Tennessee River on a
flatboat.  One of the mule jumped off- had to cut harness.  She swam
to shore then turned around and swam back across.  She almost drowned.
Had to stay here rest of the day to give mule time to recuperate. 
This happened at Clifton.  Crossed Mississippi River at Memphis on
boat.  Crossed Arkansas River at Little Rock and the Red River at
Texarkana.  Crossed both rivers on boats.  Had some trouble with
mules.  Crossed White and Black rivers on flat boats.  One of mules
jumped off in White River and swam down river- was almost drowned.
(Cofman County-Mr. Mockaday) stayed day here- had good beef.  Crossed
the St. Francis River just across from Memphis- Salido Mountain- had
to scotch wagons.  
Went thru Columbia, Mount Pleasant, Lawrenceburg, some spring,
Clifton..."
[end of page and existing record]