Wharton Journal-SpectatorSaturday, June 13, 2020 • Page 5Life & Leisure www.journal-spectator.com

Think of Doug Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac as a giant monthly calendar for the entire state—a practical, information-packed, month-by-month guide for gardeners and “yardeners.” With nearly 20,000 copies sold and now in its second printing, this book provides everything you need to know about flowers and garden design; trees, shrubs, and vines; lawns; vegetable, herb, and fruit gardening; and also soil, mulch, water, pests, and plant care to create beautiful, productive, healthy gardens—and have fun doing it!Praise for Doug Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac:“ . . . a must for all Texas gardeners.”--Fort Worth Star-Telegram “ . . . a comprehensive, fun-to-use guide full of colorful and instructive pages. The helpful boxes, plant lists, charts, sidebars, and tips in the book make it one you can pick up here and there or dive into reading all at once.”--Austin American Statesman “Welsh has packed this month-by-month guide with information. . . .”--Houston Chronicle“. . . a must-have book for gardeners and ‘yardeners’ packed with useful information. . . a reference book that will be helpful throughout the year, not just in the prime

growing seasons.”--Lubbock Avalanche-Journal “This month-by-month guide provides a wealth of practical advice.”--Publishers Weekly“I find it easy to appreciate Doug Welsh’s Texas Garden Almanac, a new month-to-month illustrated horticultural guide. More than just a how-to-manual, this information-laden compendium earns its title designation as an almanac.”--Texas Gardener’s SeedsAwards:2008 Silver Award of Achievement for Best Overall Product and Silver Award of Achievement for Graphic Design-Book Category, sponsored by the Garden Writer’s Association.2008 Benjamin Franklin Awards, sponsored by PMA, The Independent Book Publishers Association.2009 Texas Reference Source Award, sponsored by Texas Library Association Reference Round Table.

Texas Garden Almanac$27.95 + $2.31 tax = $30.26

Available NOW at your Wharton Journal-Spectator

FISHING TEXASby Russell Tinsley

Even experienced fishermen sometimes have a hard time telling a redear sunfish from a longear sunfish, or a southern flounder from a Gulf flounder. Now you can be certain of the difference with this

indispensable guide to the sport fish of Texas.

Designed to fit into tackle box or boat, the book includes:• Beautiful color illustrations of the 36 freshwater and 84 saltwater fish species

most often encountered in Texas waters.• Useful details about Texas fish, such as spawning habits, preferred habitats and foods, explaining where to find them and at what time of year.• Hundreds of valuable tips gleaned from years of experience by expert fishermen.• A handy guide to angling basics.

$14.95 + taxAvailable NOW at the

Wharton Journal-Spectator115 W. Burleson • On the Square in Wharton

979-532-8840

Special to the Journal-Spectator With the coronavirus out-

break is forcing many people to work from home, taking computer security measures to protect both themselves and their company has grown even more important.

Video conferencing, for one example, isn’t always safe from intruders. The FBI has received many reports of “Zoom-bombing,” in which graphic images pop up during company Zoom meetings and video chats.

“In a regular office, most companies make sure to pro-tect their devices and net-works,” said Stephen Hyduch-ak, CEO of Aver (www.goaver.com), an identity-verification service. “But system admin-istrators aren’t coming out to every employee’s home and setting everything up to keep with corporate standards. Therefore, it’s incumbent on the workforce when working from home to know how to

protect their computer system and be thorough about it. Be-cause if a confidential docu-ment somehow gets leaked from your home computer, you’re in a bad spot with your company.”

Hyduchak suggests these security tips when working remotely:

• Change the router login and password.

This is a must because the default passwords for many models are weak and also known across the internet, Hyduchak said. “Attackers of-ten simply write them into the code of malicious programs,” Hyduchak said. “And if they work, the router is captured. The intruders can also spy on you, because everything that you send online passes through the router.”

• Protect with an antivirus solution.

“Companies often install powerful security solutions to protect computers from mal-ware,” Hyduchak said. “At

home, it is trickier to provide that level of protection, but leaving a computer vulner-able where work documents are stored is not an option. It’s vital to install a reliable se-curity solution on all devices that handle corporate data. Even a free antivirus will sig-nificantly reduce the risk of getting infected.”

• Configure a Wi-Fi en-cryption.

“An attacker connecting to your Wi-Fi can intercept everything you send or enter online, including passwords for remote access to an office-based computer or corporate mail,” Hyduchak said. “So it’s essential to configure your network connection correctly. Make sure that the connec-tion is encrypted to keep infor-mation safe from prying eyes. If your Wi-Fi asks anyone con-necting to it for a password, the connection is encrypted. You can use the router set-

‘ZOOM-BOMBING’

How to avoid being a victim

See ZOOM Page 6

THE HISTORIC WHARTON CEMETERY - PART 2

Stories cemeteries tell - McWillie PlantationBy MERLE R. HUDGINSnews@journal-spectator.com

1824, William Kincheloe received a land grant from Mexico of two leagues [8856.8 acres; one on east bank of Colorado River, one on west bank of Colorado. To get a clear title he had to prove he lived on the land, cleared a portion to plant crops [league 1], have built a sawmill [league 2], and induced 20 or more families to come live within these leagues. Kincheloe ar-rived via Colorado River but wisely chose west bank of Peach Creek to build his home. He died 1835, age 56, and buried in unmarked grave near his home on Peach Creek.

1836 created Republic of Texas; new seats of government were established, and more fami-lies brought in to settle and defend this new government. 1845, parts of Colorado, Matago-rda, and Jackson counties were carved out to create Wharton County and establish a county seat in new town of Wharton located in Wm Kincheloe League #1. Wm Kincheloe’s sons be-gan “selling” east bank league acreage. Sales easy payment plan [Contract for Deed – no up-front money; Deed not filed with county clerk until last payment], a promise to clear the land, build a home, and plant a money crop to pay off the debt. Abram A and Sarah Jane McWillie took advantage of this generous offer in 1850s.

A.A. McWillie, of Scottish descent, actually a McDonald but name change due to McDonald family participation in revolt against English throne 1745; they escaped hanging by chang-ing name to McWillie and promised to leave Scotland. Abram’s brother William elected 22nd governor of Mississippi [1857-1859] where Abram and Sarah lived prior moving to Texas. Abram well educated having graduated from South Carolina College in 1833. He married Sarah Jane 1837, but no children of this mar-riage.

Term “plantation” gives image of Tara in Gone With the Wind having stately two-story home among moss-draped oaks, surrounded by several thousand acres. This does not describe McWillie plantation. His 512 acres [sold as 212 ac. and 300 ac. parcels] was smallest plantation in this area; he owned 25 slaves. In contrast his neighbor, A.C. Horton, had 170 slaves just in Wharton County, and two-story homes set

among moss-draped oaks surrounded by thou-sands of acres in Wharton and Matagorda com-munities. A neighbor north of his tract, WFS Alexander, owned 83 slaves; his home on West Bernard Creek.

McWillie 512-acre tract stretched from Colo-rado River along east boundary of Kincheloe league, wrapping around north end of the five acre lots. Deed of Trust stated tract contained five-acre graveyard Kincheloe family had ear-lier set aside for town of Wharton burials. Tract included land East of current East Avenue to Alabama Road and land north of current Ala-bama Street.

McWillie establishes a homestead farm-ing operation. 1856, Wm. J. Phillips, adopted son of A.C. Horton, removed part of graveyard fence in disrepair separating five-acre Wharton Cemetery from McWillie cotton patch. Enlarg-ing graveyard act caused a lawsuit to be filed against Phillips. In protest and appeal, suit went to Texas Supreme Court [Phillips v. State of Texas]. Phillips moved to squash indictments due to charges having no offense known to law. Motion overruled January 1867; Wm. Phil-lips found guilty and fined $150; Jim Phillips [Freedman] acquitted.

1861, Abram A. McWillie volunteered for the Wharton Rangers and elected captain by his peers. Included in 60 volunteers were Pri-vates Wm. J. Phillips, C.S. Betts, and Daniel Kincheloe. September 1861, county sets $1,500 to outfit Rangers for active service. Capt. Mc-Willie, 42, given responsibility for buying items deemed necessary. Later, Major A. A. McWillie joins Bates Cavalry Regiment 22nd Brigade Texas Militia and sent to New Orleans; he dies 1862 outside of Texas. His will gives all his Tex-as land to his wife; W. J. Phillips and Jackson Rust attest to McWillie’s signature on the will recorded 1866.

Following the Civil War’s end, many land-owners unable to pay taxes or balance due on land purchase. Reconstruction Court system foreclosed on property via a sheriff sale [during that period sheriff also acting tax collector].

A. A. McWillie originally signed a contract to pay Daniel Kincheloe $20 per acre for 512 acres [less five-acre graveyard]; Abram died in 1862. Records show he did not make any payments prior to his death due to intervention of Civil

WHARTON IN 1902

War. March 1870, Jane McWillie, unable to pay, is forced to satisfy judgement against land via foreclosure of Vendor Mortgage Lien held by Daniel Kincheloe. I. N. Dennis, son-in-law of A. C. Horton, plus WFS Alexander and B. H. Boone act as appraisers for McWillie estate. Kincheloe

high bidder, $10 per acre – half original sale price. No money changed hands as $5,120 for 512 acres satisfied lien and judgement of Dan-iel Kincheloe vs. Jane McWillie. October 1872,

See Cemetery Page 10

SUNDAY OF HOPESCHEDULE

----

JUNE 14, 5-6 P.M.