Daughters of the Republic of Texas invite the public to a presentation at the Gaines-Oliphint House in Milam

The public is invited to attend a ceremony held by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas at the Gaines-Oliphint House in Milam on Saturday, April 5 at 10 a.m. Two DRT Chapters, the Seth Hurin Bates Chapter in Kingwood, and the Ezekiel Cullen Chapter in San Augustine, are sponsoring the event. Following the ceremony the public will be invited to tour the house and grounds. There will be no charge to enter, but donations will be accepted.

In preparation for the event, the President of the Seth Hurin Bates Chapter. Lanell Smesny, wrote two articles about the house and its owners. Below is the first article. Part two will be published next week.

The Historic Gaines-Oliphint House: the Owners : James Taylor Gaines and Alfred D. Oliphint

By Lanell Smesny, President-Seth Hurin Bates Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas

The initial owners of the historic Gaines Oliphint House, situated in the Pendleton Harbor Subdivision near the Toledo Bend Reservoir, were James Taylor Gaines and subsequently Alfred Davenport Oliphint. Both families resided on the property during the Republic of Texas era.

Gaines was among the earliest Anglo settlers in Spanish Texas, commencing his ferry operation on the Sabine River in 1812. He participated in several key events that eventually led to Texas gaining its independence from Mexico. In 1824, he served as the Alcalde of the Sabine District, provided historical and geographical insights to Sam Houston, and offered lodging for travelers entering Texas from Louisiana through his ferry service, which operated from 1812 to 1843. He was also a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, assisted in drafting the Texas Constitution, and later served as a Representative in the Texas Congress.

Alfred Oliphint had been residing in Texas before purchasing the house from Gaines in 1843. Alfred and his wife, Martha (Causey) Oliphint, were of Scottish ancestry and arrived in Texas around 1839. Alfred held positions as County Commissioner and Justice of the Peace and was a member of Jackson Masonic Lodge. He was one of the 80 men who convened in Milam to draft a resolution for the annexation of the Republic into the United States. His descendants continue to hold reunions at the Gaines-Oliphint House, celebrating their Scottish heritage.

Ingrid Broughton Morris and Deolece M. Parmelee, “Gaines, James Taylor,” Handbook of Texas Online

Helen Gomer Schluter, “Oliphint, Alfred Davenport,” Handbook of Texas Online