Porter's Bluff Ferry House and Crossing



This is the old Porter's Bluff ferry house in 1898. 
It was located on the North bank of the Trinity River just north of the William Porter 
Bateman homeplace (the present site of the Berry cemetery). 
The photograph originally belonged to Tommy A. Bateman of Kemp, TX. 
Tommy A. Bateman (deceased) is the son of Leighton Bateman and Arie Bateman 
and the grandson of William Porter Bateman who originally built and operated the ferry. 
Tommy Bateman (in his mother's arms) was born one year before this picture was taken. 
Seen in the picture from left to right are: Leighton Bateman, Eli Bateman, Arie Bateman 
holding Tommy Bateman. Very shortly after the family posed for an unknown photographer, 
Eli was burned to death in the cabin when his gown was ignited by sparks from the fireplace. 
The ferry was located where Hwy 85 crosses the Trinity River in the Styx community. 
Parts of the old wooden ferry dock can still be seen from the West side of the Hwy 85 
bridge when the Trinity is at low level. It has been told that several residents in the Styx 
and Kemp area in past years have dove down and removed some of the lumber from the 
ferry which sank and was preserved by the cold deep waters of the Trinity River. 
This photo and article was posted in a Kemp, TX newspaper by Tommy A. Bateman 
in the mid 1970s. Note: William Porter Bateman is the ggrandfather of Jerry Bateman 
and Clifford Elston (son of Ollie Bateman). 
Date Taken: Circa 1898 
Place Taken: Porter's Bluff Ferry Crossing_Trinity River_Styx, TX 

I am so thankful that my cousin (Clifford Elston of Kemp, TX) was
 thoughtful enough to save and offer this newspaper article. 
attachment: Porter's Bluff Ferry Crossing and Ferry House

Information and Photo Courtesy of Jerry Bateman



The man standing in the picture is my gr-grandfather, William Chastine "W.C."Flint. I have a copy of this picture hanging on my wall which shows the entire picture. The original picture has a general store connected to the Post Office with a horse tied in front of the store. If you look above the door on the Post Office it reads "W.C. Flint". W.C. was Postmaster of Styx from Jan. 18,1899 till his death on Feb. 16,1908 and he owned the Styx General Store.

Carolyn (Flint) Garner ce.garner@verizon.net



William Porter Bateman


William Porter Bateman
Born: April 15, 1849, Humphreys County, Tennessee
Died: July 01, 1919, Styx, Henderson County, Texas
Buried: July 1919, Styx, Henderson County, Texas, Guthrie Cemetery

Married: November 07, 1867, Humphreys County, TN
(1) Rebecca Levina Ann Curtis
Born: November 07, 1840, Humphreys County, Tennessee
Died: June 20, 1905, Styx, Henderson County, TX
Buried: June 1905, Styx, Henderson County, Texas, Guthrie Cemetery

Married: Abt. 1909
2) Margaret Rosser Heather, Henderson County, TX



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