In the late 1850's, there was a Mexican named Cheno Cortinas on a rampage and wreaking havoc along the Mexico/Texas border. Governor Runnels of Texas received reports that all south Texas, to the Nueces, was aflame with a Mexican war. Runnels found the renowned Texas Ranger John S. "Rip" Ford walking the streets of Austin and exclaimed to him, "Ford, you must go!" Ford left the next day with a commission as major in command of all state forces on the border. He rode out of Austin with only eight men, some six-shooters, and a bag of grub. According to the Texas Ranger Service Records, 1847-1900, page 139, NEWELL STRAYHORN was one of the eight men mentioned. The record states: "STRAYHORN, Newell T., Pvt., Comm. Off: WALKER, Joseph, Organ: Rangers for Cortinas War, Enlist: Nov. 30, 1859, Disc: Jan. 20, 1860, Age: 38, Place of Birth: Austin, Ranger Muster Roll. (Note: The place of birth usually means the place of residence at the time of enlistment.) On the way south Ford recruited certain men he knew he could rely upon. He finished the 500 mile trip at the head of 53 hard men. On December 5, 1859, Major S.P. Heintzelman had arrived on the Rio Grande with 165 U.S. Army troops. Heintzelman and Ford immediately began a joint campaign and Cortinas retreated west along the Rio Grande. On February 4, 1860, a detachment of Ford's Rangers had stopped a Cortinista band trying to move some plunder across the river. There was a fight and one Ranger lost his life. In the meantime, Captain George Stoneman of the U.S. Cavalry had joined forces with Ford and his Rangers. On March 17, the combined forces entered a place called La Mesa, they were fired on and in the short gun battle, they took the town. In their disappointment they discovered that Cortinas was not there. NEWELL'S first enlistment was for three months. He then reenlisted for another three months, within which time this battle at La Mesa took place. From the same records and page as listed above, it states: "STRAYHORNE, Newell T. Pvt., Comm. Off: FORD, John S., Organ: 3rd Co., of Rangers, Enlist: Jan 20, 1860, Disc: May 17, 1860, Age: 39, Place Birth : Brownsville, Lost Horse in action at La Mesa, [For which he was reimbursed $200] Ranger Muster Roll." (The original Muster Roll of John S. Ford's Company of Texas Ranger that I ran across at the Texas Ranger's Museum in Waco had NEWELL listed as the COMPANY'S CHAPLAIN. That makes sense since he was a Presbyterian preacher in Austin at the time of his recruitment.)

Newell and Lucy had three daughters;

1. Ludie who married J. W. Atkinson.

2. Sam E. A. (Sammie) who never got married.

3. Jessie who married William Bradford Preston.

The following is an excerpt from the HISTORICAL NARRATIVE BY CLARA STEARNS SCARBROUGH "...A Cumberland Presbyterian Church was established there [Hutto, Williamson County, Texas] with Rev. Newell Strayhorn in charge, with services held at Wilbarger Crossing, Shiloh Crossing..."


-Researched and submitted by Strain Hilton Armstrong