Mrs. Mary E. Hudspeth, whose maiden name was also Hudspeth, was born in Piekens county, Alabama, September 20, 1834, moved to Mississippi with her parents when she was nine years old, and later going to Arkansas where she was married, in 1854 to William Hudspeth. They moved to Texas in 1864, and when the Civil War ended and their negroes were freed, they went to San Saba county, where James A. Hudspeth, a brother to the subject of this sketch, then lived. At that time Indians were numerous in that region and caused a world of trouble to the settlers, so after remaining there a year or so Mr. and Mrs. William Hudspeth came to Bandera to locate. Mr. Hudspeth was a lawyer and hung out his shingle here and for many years practiced in the courts of this and adjoining counties. He was the founder of the old Bandera Enterprise, a newspaper which was published here for about thirty-five years, or until it was burned out in 1915. Mr. Hudspeth died in Bandera in 1907. The old Hudspeth homestead, on Water Street, is now owned by J. R. Price.
During the early days several Hudspeth families lived in Bandera county. Captain Street Hudspeth, the school teacher who lived at Medina, was a brother to Mrs. Mary E. Hudspeth. He was the father of Hon. Claud Hudspeth, now a member of Congress from this district; Jimmic Hudspeth, who was well known to the early settlers, was a half brother to her; Joseph B. Hudspeth, who lived on the Hondo, was a cousin; another Street Hudspeth, also a cousin, and known as "Little Street," married Miss Mary Hamilton; and still another Street Hudspeth, who lives at the Dr. J. O. Butler ranch, is a cousin to her. Mrs. Hudspeth is now 88 years old, and lives in Bandera with Miss Mary Wachter, where she receives tenderest care and attention. The infirmities of age have crept upon her, but despite the burden of years, she is able to get around and often visits her friends about town. She treasures the friends of other days, a number of whom are still living here, among them being Mrs. H. C. S. Barnes, who is now more than 90 years old and lives with her son, F. D. Barnes, below Bandera. In the early days Lincoln & Hart conducted a general merchandise store in Bandera for several years. Mr. Hart died, and some time afterward Mr. Lincoln died. Mrs. Lincoln is now an invalid in a quiet retreat at Glendale, California. Mrs. Hudspeth speaks in affectionate terms of those old friends. Everybody loves "Aunt Mary" Hudspeth, and those nearest and dearest to her pray that she may be spared many years longer to bless them with her sweet presence.