Donna Gholson Cook

My first book, Gholson Road--Revolutionaries and Texas Rangers, told the story of my father's family.  Since very few of the oldtimers were around to tell stories, most of the information was obtained from research in libraries and courthouses.  The house built by my great-grandfather, B.F. Gholson, near Evant, Texas, has been beautifully restored by David and Binnie Hoffman.

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The stories from my mother's family were collected from the personal experiences of aunts, uncles, and cousins for my second book, Fritz and Annie Lippe Family--German Cotton Farmers in Early 1900s Texas.   Even though I found very few historical references for the Lippe family, there was enough material from the family to fill 566 pages!

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A few years after publishing the first Lippe family book, I decided to publish a version that would be shorter and more readable by the younger members of the family, without all of the footnotes and references.  I wanted to teach the younger generation about the lives of children growing up on a cotton farm in the early 1900s, so I focused on my grandmother and her children in Annie's Story.

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Gholson Brothers In the Thick of It--True Stories of Early Texas as Told by Two Who Lived It centers around my great-grandfather, Benjamin Franklin "Frank" Gholson and his brother, Samuel Sullivan "Sam" Gholson, early Texans and two of the first Texas Rangers.  The book contains many stories not found in GHOLSON ROAD, including the complete transcript of Sam's autobiography.

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Gholsons in Early America and Their Connections With the Founding Fathers is the story of one of the first families to come to America from Europe in the 1600s.  They first lived in Virginia and fought in the American Revolution, moved to Kentucky where they fought in the War of 1812, and dispersed from there all over the United States.  In searching the FindAGrave website in April 2020, I found 2,196 Gholson graves in 39 states, and I frequently discover new Gholson relatives who are also descendants of my 4th great-grandfather, Anthony of Kentucky.

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Comments about Gholson Brothers In the Thick of It:

From Lt. Col. Alex Brewer, USAF (ret.)

Amazon Review, 5 out of 5 stars

This is one of the most interesting books about the history of early Texas I have ever read.  If you, like me, have been enriched by reading and learning how the west was really won and how the Texas Rangers operated in the beginning you will find the book not only interesting, but a learning experience. 

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Amazon Review, 5 out of 5 stars 

I love the book so far!!  It's so exciting reading about my great-great-grandfather and his brother's adventures as young men!!  And makes me appreciate what they sacrificed and suffered so we could have the life and freedoms we have now!!  Thank you, Donna Gholson Cook, for this awesome book!!!

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Donna Swanberg

I am so proud to not only share in our name, but to know our family has someone as wonderfully gifted, loving, and willing to share.  I can only imagine the hard work, commitment and endless hours of research put in so that we can all know who we are, where we came from and how we got here.  I thank you so much for that.

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Ron Henderson

I received the book today.  You did a very nice job!  Many interesting stories.  As the obituary read, the story is not closed and is a "priceless possession"!  I see many interesting subjects as in the cattle business, Indian depredations, the chase that follows, and the communications years later with the Texas chronicler, J. Frank Dobie.  I do look forward to getting into the detail!

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Roger Newcomb

I received the book on the Gholson brothers today.  Thank you so much!  I am looking forward to some enjoyable hours soaking in this soup of history.  Just randomly opening a few pages and reading a paragraph or two has endeared me to Donna's writing style.

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MarthaLou Gholson Holland

My youngest daughter, who teaches 7th grade Texas history, wants to borrow it for her class.

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Byron Johnson, Director, Texas Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum

The book looks very good and I am sure you are fulfilled after the long effort that went into it.  Bill Warren (a Gholson descendant) would have been very proud of you.

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Alan C. Huffines, Texas Historian and Author

Read book today.  You did incredible work.  I'm excited and proud to own this.

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Elsie Lippe (my 90-year-old aunt--I love this one!)

I finished the book.  I really don't like cowboy and Indians, but I guess since it involved your background, and knowing your dad, I really got into it.  I really enjoyed it.  Had a hard time to put it down sometimes.

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Susan Kaufman, Texas State Genealogical Society 2019 Conference Co-Chair and Senior Manager of the Houston Public Library/Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research, Excerpt from Grand Prize Letter

We are amazed at the content, the effort and the result of your hard work on this book.  We are honored to add it to our collection, catalog it so others can find it and hopefully learn from it...and maybe even find a family connection in it!

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Edwina Powell, Administrative Coordinator, Baylor University, The Texas Collection

We are delighted to receive your thoughtful gift of the three books: Gholson Brothers In the Thick of It, Annie's Story, and Fritz and Annie Lippe Family!  The real stories of early Texas life as immigrants, cotton farmers, survival and Texas Rangers enlighten and inspire us upon the extent of research that was collected.  We are happy to add your books to our holdings.

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Comments from readers of Gholson Road:

Dr. Malcolm D. McLean, editor and compiler of Papers Concerning Robertson's Colony in Texas, letter dated January 25, 2004
It turned out to be a very handsome production, as I knew it would...

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Ralph L. Elder, Assistant Director, Center for American History, Austin, Texas, letter dated January 27, 2004

I am delighted to acknowledge the receipt of your splendid book, Gholson Road: Revolutionaries and Texas Rangers.  Although I have not had a chance to read Gholson Road it appears to be rigorously researched which, I'm sure, was a labor of love for you.  We are, of course, pleased that the resources here at the Center assisted with your research.  Your book will be cataloged and added to our Texas Collection Library here at the Center where it will be available to current and future generations of researchers.

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E-mail from Mick Panarale, June 23, 2004 (ellipses are his)
Just a quick note ... I finished your book last week ... When I was a kid in school, I hated History ... They were always the big thick books, heavy to carry all the way home, and you "had to" read them ... There were no short cuts ... Today they are my favorite ...
Enjoyed your book very much, and learned a lot ... It was a fun book to read ... It took me back into a time in history, and in between the lines of what has already been written ... From Doctors to Thieves ... :-)  

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Letter from Clark Hitt, July 12, 2004
You have pulled together an unbelievable number (of) facts and events that greatly impress me.  I have always been a "map" person and you have many.  The time line is as complete as I've ever seen.  The many quotes and excerpts of original materials you've found are real grassroots history, which greatly appeal to me. The pictures, footnotes and bibliography are all well done and complete.
 

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Letter from Jerry and Beverly Williams, December 16, 2004
Thank you so much for writing Gholson Road.   What a wonderful tribute to our family!  ... We have a wonderful family story, and Jerry and I appreciate all the research and hard work that you put into its documentation.  ... We have six wonderful grandchildren and Gholson Road will help them appreciate what our ancestors did to help build Texas and our Nation.

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E-mail from Marilyn Edwards, July 13, 2006
I have finally had some time to sit down and read your book.  It is EXCELLENT!  As a matter of fact, my husband, Steve, said it is one of the best books that he has ever read!  Why didn't I pay attention during my History classes in my younger years!  It is unbelievable how the pioneers lived back then and how brave they must have been.  Don't see alot of that now!  Keep on writing about the family.  I'd love to know more!

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E-mail from historian Alan C. Huffines August 24, 2006
Your book is wonderful.

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Comments from readers of Fritz and Annie Lippe Family:

E-mail from Susan Sellers, August 5, 2009

What a awesome gift you have given to us by putting the story of our family in one book!  I received the copy I ordered today.  Words can't express what it means to us and all the generations in the future.  It is so very interesting to read.  THANKS A MILLION!!

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Letter from Sharon Tull, September 10, 2009

There are no words to express the thanks we all feel for this wonderful gift you have given to all of us and future generations.  What a tribute to all the ones that came before us.  I am so proud I am in such a wonderful family.  Thank you for everything and all the hard work.

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Letter from Elsie Lippe, October 4, 2009

We got the book Wednesday.  Thanks--thanks!!  What a book!!  Can't put it down, once you start reading it.  I am almost finished with it.  Gorgeous book, and so interesting!