In the good old days there lived on Mine Creek an industrious man named Travis. His wife bore him no children and she was frequently begging her neighbors to make her a present of one; but the neighbors did not feel like parting from one of their own in this way. At last, however, her importunate prayer was gratified in a way she had not anticipated. Going out one morning to the cow pen as usual to milk her cows, she found hanging on the bars a little bundle carefully done up, which on examination she found containing a fine baby boy. She adopted him at once and named him Bar Travis from the place where he was found. He grew up a fine, healthy boy; became an active, energetic man, an honor to those who had adopted and reared him.
In due time he married and finally settled a place one mile north of Bethlehem church, a place lately the home of Hon, W. J. Ready. It was here that Colonel William B. Travis, the commander and hero of the Alamo, was born in 1809. The grave of Bar Travis is still to be seen. William B. Travis immigrated to Alabama and from that State went to take part in the Revolution in Texas and was there murdered in the Alamo, March 6, 1836, by order of General Santa Anna, with all the other defenders of the place. Among them was the celebrated David Crockett, of Tennessee, and Colonel Bonham and Colonel Bowie. “Remember the Alamo!” was the war-cry of General Houston at the Battle of San Jacinto, where his great victory was gained and Santa Anna taken prisoner.
Source: Chapman, John Abney; History of Edgefield County from the earliest settlement to 1897; Newberry, S.C.: E. H. Aull, 1897.