"I'll fight, but I won't run". The words may not have been spoken, but the sentiment was strong and primal. It hadn't been too long since their ancestors braved an ocean to cross to a new land with few comforts and many hardships. They had endured the abuses of a tyrannical government and had fought a long war to gain their freedom from it. After the War of 1812, times began to look up. The economy came to life, promising a bright future, only to be crushed by America's first depression, the Panic of 1819. Inflation, rising cost of goods and land made these pioneering folk, once again, look for an opportunity to be free, to be self-sufficient.

An opportunity arose in 1820 when Spain proposed to some prominent citizens of America and other countries that they receive land in New Spain (Mexico) and colonize it.

The first to take advantage of Spain's offer was Moses Austin, a wealthy miner and banker who had fallen into debt and was looking for new opportunities. Spain granted him land in the northern state of Coahuila-Tejas with the proviso he bring people of good character, and of Catholic faith, to populate the area. But difficulties arose: Austin died the next year, 1821, and Mexico won its independence from Spain, requiring renegotiating the agreements. Moses left his land, and his vision, to his son, Stephen F. Austin. The first 300 families to colonize the Austin Colony in Coahuila-Texas are called "The Old 300". They were farmers and ranchers from Louisiana, Alabama, Arkansas, Arkansas, Tennessee and Missouri. 1 Austin's Colony consisted of land in southeast Texas bounded by the Lavaca and San Jacinto rivers, the San Antonio Road, and the coast. 2

Texas was advertised in America in newspapers and by speakers at public gatherings. They were told of the vast prairies and forests, the herds of wild buffalo and horses. The new frontier Texas appealed to many, and they sought out the emprasarios' agents who would arrange for their being awarded land there.

In 1824, Mexico moved from a monarchy and instituted a democratic constitution, forming a federal republic consisting of 19 states, 4 territories and a federal district. The colonists from America found comfort in the more democratic government, 3 but Mexican president Santa Anna rejected the democracy and installed himself as dictator. This led to a rebellion of 11 states of Mexico and the territory of Coahuila-Texas.

The rebellion was ruthlessly put down in the rest of Mexico, but the people of Texas, Mexican nationals and primarily American immigrants, refused to accept Santa Anna's despotic government which began numerous small conflicts and, beginning in October 1835, full-scale war with Mexico which involved many of the residents of the territory. There were numerous open conflicts, including the Texian's terrible defeat at the Alamo in March 1836 and culminating to the defeat of the Santa Anna and the Mexican army at San Jacinto in April 1836.

The McDade Family

Charles Alexander McDade () was born the same year as Jeremiah Cloud, 1784, and also in Georgia. He was the son of Jas. Arnold McDade (1749-1829) and Elizabeth Wilkins or Wilkes, both of South Carolina. His siblings were William (b. 1778 Spartanburg, SC); Henrietta "Hettie" (b. 1781 Spartanburg), m. Jacob Cobb; John (1786 Warren cty, GA); James G. (1788 Warren cty, GA); and Alexander Wilkins (ca 1780, GA), who died in Washington on the Brazos, Texas. He married Edna Adeline Fields 1808 in Washington county, GA.

Alexander Wilkins McDade (1789 GA - 1852 TX) (s/o Chas. Alex. above) and Anna Armstrong were the parents of Eliza Adeline who died young; Sheriff James Wilkins McDade, John Armstrong, Alexander Jefferson "Eck", Sheriff Thomas Sewell McDade, Jacob "Keet" and Franklin. He came to Texas from Mount Meigs, AL.

Henrietta McDade (d/o Chas. Alex. above) and Jacob Cobb had a son, Joseph, who married Mary Cloud, daughter of Jeremiah Cloud and Elizabeth (lnu). Their children are listed in Jeremiah Cloud's probate.

Children of Chas. Alex. McDade & Eda Adeline Fields who married into the Cloud family:

From "Early Austin County Families", The McDade Family - Jas. Madison McDade - grandson of Chas. McDade - m. Nancy McCullough. He came to Texas from Mount Meigs, AL.

Conflict was no stranger to them. They were a tough breed, a feisty "I'd rather die than run" bunch. Their parents or grandparents had fought for American Independence. The Civil War was only a decade past and the memories were raw, burned deep in their inner essence. Though few people owned slaves, the majority favored secession and joined the Confederacy though some of their neighbors and family fought for the Union. They had been forced to sign a loyalty oath and Union troops were stationed in their towns to enforce a new way to live. 4 5 The community was irreversibly split with resentment burning barely below the surface.

Setting the Stage.

• 1729 Carolina was divided into North and South Carolina.
• 1732 part of SC became a part of Georgia..
• 1776 Georgia offered land via Headright & Bounty Land Grants.
• 1777 Wilkes county Georgia formed.
• 1778, December, Savannah GA occupied by the British.
• 1782 British expelled from Savannah.
• 1795 the old 96th District in SC was divided into 5 counties, among them Edgefield and Spartanburg.
• 1813-1814 Alabama - Creek Indian War. Victory at Horseshoe Bend over the Creeks.
• March 1816 opens Alabama land.
• 1816 Jeremiah CLOUD moves to Alabama.
• 1825 Jeremiah & Elizabeth's daughter Mary married Jos. COBB.
• That same year, their eldest, William, married Margaret Frizzle in Montgomery cty, AL.
• 1828 their son H.G.W. married Mary McDADE in Montgomery cty, AL.
• Unknown date son James married Jennie McDADE.
• Oct. 1837 - before this date Jeremiah Cloud arrieved in Texas and claimed 2nd class headright land grant.
• 1861 Jeremiah CLOUD died.

See Cloud Land Patents.

Early families that married into the CLOUD family.

A Jeremiah Cloud served in the War of 1812 in Capt. Austins Regiment, S.C. Militia. Charles Alexander McDade also served in that conflict.

A robust economic expansion followed the end of the War of 1812, but it was cut short with the "Panic of 1819" 6 which caused the first U.S. depression and an extended period of inflation, soaring land prices and business failures. 7 8 In 1820, Spain began to allow settlers into the Mexican territory of Coahuila-Texas. There was a huge amount of land available and it promised to be good farm land. The first to take advantage of the offer was Moses Austin, a successful & wealthy businessman, banker and founder of the American lead industry. He had fallen into debt, exacerbated by the depression of 1819, and was looking for business opportunities. 9 But Moses died the next year and his son, Stephen F. Austin, took over the colonization of the Austin Colony which he expanded to embrace a large territory in the heart of the new Republic of Texas. 10.

America went through great turmoil during the Revolutionary War period, ending after the War of 1812. A spurt of economic growth followed but, 7 years later, America's first depression caused high inflation, business failures and soaring land prices.

Through this maelstrom of events, our ancestors migrated from Alabama to the new Republic of Texas. They traveled by horseback and train, sending the women and children by boat from New Orleans.

Other turmoil existed at the time. To the north was "Indian Territory" where the U.S. government, by order of president Andrew Jackson, had recently exiled Indian tribes. 11 12 To the east was the Louisiana Strip, called "no-man's land", a disputed area between Spanish Mexico (now the Republic of Texas) and Louisiana, a treacherous, lawless region up until 1821. 13 14

The Settlers – Our Family & Neighbors.

Charles Alexander McDade (1784-1839), born the same year as Jeremiah Cloud, fought in the War of 1812 in the Georgia Militia. He died at Mt. Meigs, Alabama on March 10, 1839 and did not make the journey to Texas. 15 His daughter, Jennie McDade, married Jeremiah Cloud's son, James M. Cloud. 16

The Youngblood-Armstrong book, p. 304 describes the journey of the Clouds and McDades to Texas – "James Cloud moved to Austin Co. Texas, going overland, by horseback. Other men in the Mt. Meigs neighborhood, went at the same time. Later, Jennie took their children and slaves by boat from Montgomery to New Orleans, and thence to Hempstead, which at that time was in Austin Co. now Waller Co.". James J. Cloud received a 2nd class land grant.

The children of Jeremiah Cloud, Sr. and Charles A. McDade intermarried – Mary McDade married Henry George Washington "H.G.W." Cloud; Virginia "Jennie" McDade married James M. Cloud

They had lived in South Carolina and Georgia and migrated to Alabama in 1816 after the Creek Indian War ended in 1814 with the Treaty of Fort Jackson 17 resulting in their cession of land to the U.S. Government. Alexander Wilkins McDade had fought in the War of 1812. He lived in Alabama and brought his family to the Republic of Texas. Friends of the McDades were the family of Jeremiah Cloud, who also left Alabama for the Republic of Texas in late 1836, receiving a 2nd class headright land grant. 18