Kerr County Stories by Lanza Teague

  Crenshaw brothers ran away from home in search of their own adventures Published in the Kerrville Daily Times on April 25, 2025 Undated Photo of the Pleasant Crenshaw farm on Indian Creek near Ingram As I write this story, I am reminded of my favorite John Wayne movie, “The Cowboys” and epic Greek tales from ancient times. Today I am going to tell you the story of three young boys, between the ages of 11-19, who left their family home and the adventures that led to them settling in Kerr County, where they led prolific, industrious lives. In 1867, Cornelius “Doc”, age 19, Pleasant “Pleas”, age 17, and Hugh “Carey” Crenshaw, age 11, were living in Newton County Texas and struggling with a problem.    Their father, a widowed doctor, had a new wife and the boys, the youngest of ten children, did not like their new stepmother.   The Crenshaw brothers, fascinated by stories coming from the Texas frontier, decided they could no longer live with the step mother and decided...

  Famed cowboy cartoonist called Kerrville home Published in the Kerrville Daily Times on April12, 2025 Original Drawing of the Cowpokes by Ace Reid Advice is often given to aspiring writers that, to be successful, it’s best to write about what you know and what’s in your heart. The same can be said to aspiring artists. In my role as executive director of an art center, I often encounter artists who try to paint an image to be provocative, to illicit a strong emotional response from the viewer or just simply to attract a buyer. These artists often ignore their internal artistic voice or what’s in their heart, not realizing they are selling both themselves and the would-be art appreciator short.  Today I am writing about an artist who based a successful career on what he knew — what he saw growing up and what he felt was the truth of the American cowboy. That artist was Ace Reid, the creator of the successful Cowpokes comic and Western humorist. Asa Elmer "Ace" R...

  Local woodcarver created his own museum Published in the Kerrville Daily Times on March 29, 2025 Captain L.P. Betty in the museum room he built in his home Many of the stories I enjoy learning about are the stories of everyday people who lived in Kerr County. While men like Capt. Charles Schreiner or Joshua Brown were profoundly shaping our beautiful patch of Texas, there were many men and women going about their daily lives in the area. The lives of some of those people are interesting in their own right and help paint a vivid image of what a community was like during a particular moment in time. Next week’s Texas Woodcarvers Guild Spring Round Up at the Youth Event Center reminded me of a man who was a patriot, accomplished artist and Kerrville resident. His name was Capt. Lemuel Parker Betty. Betty was born in Smith County, Tennessee, in 1875. When he was in his early 20s, Betty’s family moved to North Texas, where they grew cotton. In 1899, while he and his fat...