Besides a family history, I want to eventually  include some local history.

THE FRIDAY FAMILY IN UVALDE COUNTY

Louis Stephen Friday made his home in the Nueces Canyon area in the early 1890’s.  His father William Friday (born 1843 in Alabama) was posted at Con Can Nitre works in Uvalde County during the Civil War. His mother, Eliza Jane Griner-Sanders (born 1841 in Arkansas) was a daughter of Julius Sanders (arrived in 1847 in the Bexar District which later became Uvalde Country).  Louis’ parents where married in Uvalde County on December 19^th, 1864 and lived in and around the Uvalde area.  In 1865, William registers his brand in Uvalde County as WF.   Seven years later, William Friday registers UF as his brand in Uvalde County on May 5, 1872.  However, on January 3^rd, 1873 William and Eliza are in Stephenville, Erath County, when Louis Stephen, their fifth child, is born.  Their family would include Sophronia (1865), Mary Josephine (1867), William Tom (1868), John W. (1872), Louis Stephen (1873), Robert Frank (1875), Julius Hugh (1877), Lonnie (1883), and Susan Etta (?).  In April of 1866, William Friday registers his brand as WF.

Some early transactions recorded in Uvalde Co. show that Louis Stephen Friday is already making an impact in the area.  In June of 1899,Louis Stephen purchases land on the Nueces River from Mrs. Mary Adkins, etal.  On July 6^th, 1899, Louis sells the old Threadgill homestead to  J.H. Ethridge and purchases property from A. S. Hatch.    On September 9^th, 1899, Louis Stephen registers his brand in Uvalde County as LF. 

            Louis Stephen Friday and Susan Katherine McCarty (Kittie born 9/25/1873) are married in Uvalde Co. on April 19^th, 1900 by Rev. J. W. Loster.  Kittie is the daughter of Penina Polen and William McCarty.  Kittie’s father came from Missouri to Texas in 1854 at the age of 14.  He engaged in ferry boating in Southeast Texas, later coming to Uvalde County were he entered the Texas Ranger service, in which he engaged in Montell and Camp Wood area, until his horse fell on him and injured him.  He died three years later in 1875.  Kittie’s mother, Penina Polen, (according to family members, was a Cherokee originally from Oklahoma, was orphaned during the Civil War and then came  to Texas from Lousiana with a pastor and his  family).  William McCarty and Penina Polen were united in marriage on July 27^nd, 1871 in Uvalde County.  They made their home just west of Montell on the land commonly known as the Oscar Hope ranch.  After William McCarty’s death in 1875, Penina married Robert Peel Gibson from the Montell area.

On July 13^th, 1900 , Louis and Kittie purchase more land on the Nueces River from Mr. and Mrs. Edward Mitchell (originally H.W. Baylor property).  In October, they sell this land to B. T. Smith.  During this time, their first child Lenora Lois is born (1-16-1901).  Louis and Kittie purchase property on Montell Creek in November of 1901. 

Then on 9-2-1902, their second child Ira Haven is born at his grandmothers house near  Montell.  Shortly after Ira Haven’s birth, Louis and Kittie settle on the JWJ ranch just south of Camp Wood.  Louis Friday appears to be some type of partner with Mr. G.M. Dodge of Council Bluff, Iowa.  Edward Co. records show numerous land transactions with Mr. Dodge and others. In 1902, Kittie Friday registers a brand for horses and cattle.  A February 21^st, 1902 newspaper clipping from the Uvalde Leader News tells of L.S. Friday losing about 125 head of goats from a strange disease that has also affected other area ranchers. A 1903 article states that L.S. Friday of the J.W.J. sold mohair for 55cents a pound in Uvalde.   In 1904, L.S. Friday and G.M. Dodge register a brand and marks for nanny goats and muttons.   Dr. J.W. Eads of Barksdale records the birth of a white female born 6-20-1904 on the JWJ ranch to L.S. Friday and Kittie Friday.  This daughter will later be named Mabel Katherine.  Mabel Katherine will remember living on the JWJ Ranch and how she would spy on her older brother (Haven) and sister (Lenora) as they were being tutored.  Her grandmother, Eliza Jane Sanders Friday and Eliza’s youngest son Lonnie Friday were living in the small house down from the big house.  Buna Sophronia Friday would be born on 8-30-1906 and Louis McCarty birth happens on 2-21-1908 while the Friday’s were still living on the JWJ. 

            During the time that Louis and Kittie were at the JWJ ranch, they were also acquiring land  down river at Laguna and also in the town of Uvalde.  In 1909, Louis and Kittie purchased lease rights for $750 to  the Graham Livery Stable.  Somewhere around 1910, they moved to the Laguna area where the present Friday Ranch is located. Numerous deed transactions occur with F.O. Landrum, W. M. Bunton, Desha Bunton, and J.A. Bunton in the formation of the Laguna Friday Ranch.

            “Awful Tragedy Follows Trial” was the headlines of the Uvalde Leader News article telling of the killing of L.S. Friday by Proc. Webb.  At the time of his death, L. S. Friday had sold the front part of the Laguna Ranch and was in the process of selling the remaining 8000 acres to Fred  Mason.  L. S. and Kittie had purchased a farm on the Batesville road and were  building a new two story home when his untimely death occurred. 

            From the New Encyclopedia of Texas we find this note on Louis Stephen Friday:  “Mr. Friday was a well known sportsman, and few loved outdoor life as he did.  The thrill of a race with a good horse under him, and a pack of pedigreed hounds was not to be equaled in any other sport, and he was one of the most expert horseman and huntsman of his day.  Mr. Friday also was one of the most experienced ranchman of this section, and his death on August 21, 1914, was a deep felt loss.”

            Kittie Friday continued the business transaction and sold the back (Indian Creek) 8000 acres to Fred Mason in December of 1914.  The following year, Kittie, regained the front 7000 acres from H.S. South and continued the ranching operation .  In a few years her oldest son, Haven, would become the operator of the Laguna Friday Ranch.  In 1942, Kittie Friday died.  In the meanwhile Kittie’s family had grown to include son and daughter-in-laws and grandchildren.  L. S. and Kittie’s first child, Lenora Lois Friday married Owen Robinette and they had two children, Jerry Owen (married Ann Jester), and Ann Haven (married Charles Stallings).  Their second child, Ira Haven Friday married Mabel Stoker (a Laguna School teacher) and they had two children, Mary Lois, 1940 (married Jim Hulsman, 1930), and Haven Wright Friday, 1942 (married Susanne Luce, 1948).  Their third child, Mabel Katherine Friday  married Richard Weymiller Evans and they had two children, Mary Katherine, 1937 (married Jacob Daniel Neubauer) and Richard Weymiller, 1947 (married Jimmie Ruth Wittenburg, 1948).  Their fourth child, Buna Sophronia Friday, married Henry Irvine King.  Their fifth child, Louis McCarty Friday married Mary Lee White and they had one child, Nancy Lee, 1943 (married James D. Denning).

            In 1942 when Ira Haven Friday purchased his siblings portion of the Laguna Friday Ranch, he took over the operation.  Haven as a young man attended Uvalde High School and went to the State meet in the 880 yard run.  He was also a member of the football team.  His wife, Mabel Stoker, graduated from El Paso, and came to the Nueces Canyon area as a teacher.  Haven and Mabel acquired a ranch at Catarina and also spent time in El Paso running a stock yard. 

            The Friday Ranch near Laguna is currently being operated by Haven Wright Friday and his wife, Susanne.  Their son, Haven Swint Friday (1967) has 4 children and their daughter, Mona Lois Friday Schmidt(1970) also has 4 children.