4 minute read
Bar W Field
from Show Daily
The Shooting of Clara Grohman
By Lou Christine
Sandi Smith Crinkelmeyer and her husband, Ollie, are members of the Wild West History Association. While attending an annual convention some time back, they were privy to a talk about old-time feuds and shootings. What dawned upon Sandi is that within her own family there was a wild-west-type shooting story stemming from a feud.
The talk at the convention piqued Sandi’s interest. Facts are Sandi’s mother’s mother, Clara Grohman, was shot and killed taking a bullet meant for her husband, Adolph, Sandi’s grandfather, during an assassination attempt while he was running for Bastrop County Commissioner back in the ‘30s.
Sandi decided to do an investigation on her own for the sake of family history while recruited her own mother as the voice of the book who was just eight-years-old at the time and who also encouraged Sandi to further look into the killing lots of it for her own curiosity. Mildred, Sandi’s mom was counted on by Sandi to fill in the blanks sensing this was an essential family story that needed to be told especially since her
The talk at the convention piqued Sandi’s interest. Facts are Sandi’s mother’s mother, Clara Grohman, was shot and killed taking a bullet meant for her husband, Adolph, Sandi’s grandfather, during an assassination attempt while he was running for Bastrop County Commissioner
Sandi decided to do an investigation on her of the book who was just eight-years-old at the time and who also encouraged Sandi to further look into the killing lots of it for her own curiosity. Mildred, mother was still alive. Sandi filled her mother in on every detail she uncovered through various investigations that helped jumpstart Mildred’s memory about the past.
Sandi’s desire was to write a full account, well as much as she could gather via the memories of her mother. One thing for sure, Bastrop County back in those days was a rough place, especially politically. In Sandi’s book she recants much of the family’s early history in the area by going back into the 19th century.
The family history was a major part of her initial manuscript and Mildred filled in a lot more of the blanks. Through her investigation Sandi further discovered since the shooting there were a number of marriages that took place between who were once feuding clans and even part of the family accused of the crime. She purposely left out names not germane to the actual story other than being related and not to open old wounds as to not have any bad feeling arise from scabs of the past, she sensed have long healed and also not to embarrass anyone yet the facts are stated.
politically. In Sandi’s book she recants much of the family’s early history in the area by going back
a major part of her initial manuscript and Mildred filled in a lot more of the blanks. Through her investigation Sandi further discovered since the shooting there were a number of marriages that took place between who were once feuding clans and even part of the family accused of the crime. She purposely left out names not germane to the actual story other than being related and not to open old wounds as to not have any bad feeling arise from scabs of the past, she
front cover
The Shooting of Clara Grohman is more of a memoir chock with loads of historic photos of the clans and others related to the unfortunate incident, but one thing is for sure, that Sandi’s hard work paid off and now she has produced a finished product about what happened to her family and what took place in Bastrop County back in the time.
Sandi can be reached at the Cole Building during the show where husband Ollie perates Crinkstuff, All About Texas, who sells antique and vintage books. I am sure she has a number of copies of her book for sale. Contact: sandilouaustin@ gmail.com
Jay’s Emporium @ Coles
