Traveling on horseback

The Singing reported here occurred in Troupe (now Troup), which is in Smith County, in the summer of 1908. The report mentions some of the represented singing classes, including “Old Bro. and Sis. Russian” (sic) from Zion Hill. This was Travis David Rousseau (1824-1914) and Julia Ann Iverson Rousseau (1832-1913) of Zion Hill in Rusk County. Mr. Rousseau was of Huguenot descent, and head of the Rousseau clan of Rusk County. He and his wife were members of the Baptist Church at Zion Hill, and were avid Sacred Harp singers. The article says that even at age 84, Travis Rousseau would travel 40 or 50 on horseback to attend a Sacred Harp Singing.

The Troupe Banner, Thursday, August 6, 1908, page 5