Dr. Grady Early, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, taught math and computer science at Texas State University for 29 years, serving briefly as interim chair of the newly-formed Computer Science department. After retirement, Early began researching his family history and gained some familiarity with various research tools: ancestry, familysearch, newspapers, San Marcos Record archives, findagrave and many more. This made it easy for him to segue into the histories of non-family members, which is how he began to write a story about Southwest Texas Normal in San Marcos, also known as San Marcos Normal, which is now Texas State University. This series will highlight the first staff at Southwest Texas Normal.
According to the 1907 Pedagogue, Silas Walter Stanfield was “Homo sapiens; erect; biped; herbivorous; uses large names on small plants. He is personally acquainted with every bug in the county.”
On Aug. 2, 1855, Stanfield’s parents married in Robertson County, Tenn. By July 24, 1860, the U.S. census had them in San Antonio. It is unknown whether Stanfield’s Sept. 2, 1856 birth occurred before, during or after the move. The 1860 and 1880 censuses put his birth in Texas; his death certificate specifies San Antonio. But the 1900 through 1940 censuses specify Tennessee. He was born somewhere, but where is unclear.
If Stanfield moved the family to Texas to avoid the Civil War, he failed. He was in the 8th Field Battery, Texas Light Artillery, Confederate, serving 1861-1865.
Stanfield’s early education occurred in San Antonio. Then he attended the Methodist Southwestern University, Georgetown and Chicago University.
Stanfield’s first teaching job was probably at the Methodist Benton School in Benton City, now a ghost town, about 30 miles southwest of San Antonio. Another teacher at Benton was Emily Lillian Joyce, born 1864 in San Antonio. They probably met in San Antonio or at the school where they obtained their teaching certificates. In 1885, they married at the Methodist church in San Marcos. The marriage notice says, “The couple, accompanied by several of their students from Benton, depart immediately after the ceremony for New Orleans.”
Stanfield rose quickly in the profession. In 1888, he was appointed an examiner for the summer normals. In 1889, of Floresville, he conducted his own summer normal in San Marcos.
From 1889 to 1901, he was president of Coronal Institute in San Marcos.
Then, Tom Harris asked him to be Headmaster, Department of botany, physiology, zoology, etc., at the newly formed Southwest Texas Normal school. The Austin Statesman commented on his selection: “[He] is equally capable as is Professor Pritchett to discharge whatever duties that may devolve upon him in any department of education. For years, he was professor of ancient languages, botany and astronomy in Comal [Coronal] Institute and is at present president of a college at Weatherford [1902-1903; probably Weatherford College, est. 1869].”
Stanfield was active in the community. He was on the building committee for the new Methodist parsonage, gave tours of the fish hatchery, was president of the San Marcos gun club, was elected as a Worshipful Master of the Masons and testified before the committee on game and fisheries of the Texas House of Representatives.
There was also time for play. Stanfield and Emily attended a Joyce family reunion and had a party for the Normal faculty. Emily found old pictures of Stanfield, Tom Harris and John Blair, then had a guessing game to ID them. Lillie Shaver got a box of candy for her prowess.
Stanfield attended Scientific Society of San Antonio meetings. At one, he urged that more trees be planted, fewer trees be cut, along Post Road in San Marcos. At another, he spoke about Asa Gray and his contributions to botany.
In 1920, Stanfield retired from SWT State Normal College. In 1936 Emily died, and the following year, he moved to Houston to live with his eldest child Vida Yay. Stanfield died in 1947.
Some faculty have their names on buildings; Stanfield has his on plants. Dr. C.S. Smith, who succeeded Stanfield in the biology department said that Stanfield was one of the most brilliant and learned professors the College has ever had.
“He knew the names of every plant, animal, and insect in Hays county,” Smith said.
Indeed, several new species of plants and insects, discovered here in the county, were named after him. Chamaesyce stanfieldii, Dodecatheon stanfieldii, Monarda stanfieldii, etc.
Faculty members were more than teachers. Stanfield met all the trains at registration time to direct students to their proper houses and to help them secure proper lodging.
Information about his grave can be found at Findagrave # 78800058. Check out the virtual cemetery of the complete first faculty at findagrave. com/virtual-cemetery/ 1934255
