shocked at the horrible massacre of Alamo, and sympathized with Texas, struggling against the immense armies which Mexico had hurled upon her. Her destruction seemed inevitable. Under these circumstances, recognition was out of the question. But when Texas, on the field of San Jacinto, had scattered the hosts of Mexico, and made manifest her ability to maintain herself against that power, recognition by the United States came, and Mr. Carson, without doubt, did much towards preparing this country for it.
He was not able much longer to discharge the active duties of life.
His wife was Catherine, a daughter of James Wilson, of Tennessee to whom he was married on the 10th day of May, 1831. With her and his little daughter, to whom he was devoted, he spent the most of the remainder of his life.
He died at Little Rock, Arkansas, in November, 1840, leaving one daughter, who is the wife of Dr. J. McD. Whitson, of Talladega, Alabama, a great grandson of "Hunting" John McDowell.
But Carson was never the same man after the affair which terminated in the death of the fearless and talented Vance, the uncle of the Governor and General Vance, as he was before the tragic event. From a ruddy and robust complexion, his countenance so expressive of genius and good humor, a frame active and buoyant, in his pallid cheek, his sunken eye, and tottering step, he showed the deep pangs and ravages of remorse. As expressed by Home, in Douglas:
Happy in my mind was he that died,
For many deaths has the survivor suffered;
In the wild desert on a rock he sits,
Or on some nameless stream's untrodden banks,
And ruminates all day on his unhappy fate.
At times alas! not in his perfect mind,
Holds secret converse with his departed friend,
And oft at night forsakes his restless couch,
To make sad orizons for him he slew.
For the above sketch, and for most of the material as to the McDowell family, I must again express my thanks to Dr. Michal.
Israel Pickens represented Burke County in the Senate in 1808 and 1809, with Isaac T. Avery and Charles McDowell as colleagues the latter year.
He was a native of Mecklenburg County, of that part now Cabarrus; born 30th January, 1780.
He was the son of Samuel Pickens, who done good service in the Revolutionary war against the British and Tories.
He was educated in Iredell County, and finished his education at Washington College, Pennsylvania, where he also completed his law studies. He was licensed to plead, and settled in Morganton.
He was the Representative in Congress from this district in 1811 to 1817, and was succeeded by Hon. Felix Walker.
He voted for the war of 1812, and was a firm supporter of Madison.
In 1817 he removed to Alabama, and settled at St. Stevens, and was appointed by the President, Register of the Land Office. On the death of Governor Bibb, he was elected, in 1821, Governor of that State, and again in 1823; and in 1826, on the death of Dr. Chalmers, he was appointed Senator in Congress from Alabama.
He was appointed United States Judge for Alabama, which he declined to accept. In the fall of 1826, in consequence of a serious affection of the lungs, he resigned his seat in the Senate; he repaired to Cuba, hoping that his health would be restored by the mild climate, where he died 24th April, 1827.*
David Newland was a native of Burke County, and represented the county in 1825-'27 and '28 in the Commons, and in 1830 in the Senate. In 1832 he was a candidate for Congress against Hon. James Graham, and
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