USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II > Part 53
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71
MASTIN USSERY. Those who came to Texas in the earlier days of its statehood were men of courage, energy and enterprise, willing, in their efforts to establish a home for themselves and their families, to sacrifice the comforts of life in a more civilized region for a time. Promi- nent among this number was the late Mastin Ussery, who came to the southern part of the state upwards of half a century ago, and from that
395
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
time until his death was actively and prosperously employed in developing and advancing its agricultural resources. A native of Giles county, Tenn., he was born October 23, 1818, a son of Hutchins Ussery. His grand- father Peter Ussery, was born and reared in North Carolina. Selecting farming for his life occupation, he subsequently moved to Giles county, Tenn., where he cleared a farm, on which he spent the remainder of his years.
Born in North Carolina, Hutchins Ussery accompanied his parents to Tennessee, and assisted in the clearing and improving of the parental homestead. On arriving at man's estate, he began farming on his own account, owning quite a tract of land in Giles county. In addition to gen- eral farming, he was extensively engaged in stock raising and dealing, his operations in this line oftentimes taking him far from home. On one of these expeditions, when he went south with live stock, he was taken ill, and died in Mississippi. His wife, whose maiden name was Fannie Rushen, was born in North Carolina, and died on the home farm, in Giles county, Tenn., at a good old age.
Selecting the occupation to which he was reared, Mastin Ussery carried on farming in Tennessee for a number of years, residing there until 1851. In that year, accompanied by his wife and three children, he started for Texas. Sailing down the Cumberland, Tennessee and Missis- sippi rivers to New Orleans, he there embarked on a steamer for Galves- ton, where he arrived in the month of December. Changing boats at that place, he continued his journey to Powder Horn, now called Indianola, and from there went with ox teams to Victoria, where he spent a few months. The following May he went to Saluria Island, on which he remained about six months. In the fall of 1852 he made another move, going across the country with his family, to Guadalupe county, where he soon decided to locate. Buying five hundred and fifty-two acres of the San Marcos River bottom lands, he at once began the improvement of his property, almost the first thing which he did being to build two log houses, one for himself and family and the other for his slaves. The country roundabout was then in its virgin wildness, deer, wild turkeys and game of all kinds being abundant and easy prey for the hunter. There were then no railways in this part of the country, and in consequence all cotton produced had to be hauled with teams to either Port Lavaca or to San Antonio. Improving a large tract of land, Mr. Ussery remained in that county until 1870. Buying in that year five hundred acres of land in Caldwell county, he came here with his family, and for some time oper- ated both farms. A man of great ability, possessing sound judgment, he met with most satisfactory results in his agricultural labors, and from time to time added to his landed possessions, becoming owner of nearly two thousand acres of land. He continued farming during his active life, residing on the home farm, about two and one-half miles from Luling, until his death, in September, 1883.
On July 16, 1844, Mr. Ussery married Sarah Jane Martin, who was born at Macon, Ga., October 8, 1827, a daughter of John Martin. Her grandfather, James Martin, was born in Scotland, and was there reared and educated. Emigrating to the United States, he bought land near Macon, Ga., and was there engaged in tilling the soil the remainder of his
396
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
life. Continuing in the occupation of his ancestors, John Martin moved from Georgia, his native state, to Tennessee, in 1828, becoming a pioneer of Giles county. Buying a tract of uncultivated land, he improved a homestead on which he resided until his death, in 1880, at the remarkable age of one hundred and five years. He married Annie Milligan, who was born in Georgia, a daughter of William and Mary Milligan, and died on the home farm, in Giles county, Tenn., in 1873.
Of the children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ussery, 'eight are now living, namely: Frances Ann, James W., Lizzie, John H., Abner, Kittie, Gussie, and Mattie. Frances A. married, first, Frank Appling, by whom she had one son, Collie Appling, and married, second, R. W. Pierce, by whom she has four children, John M., Fannie, May, and Annie Lou. James W. Ussery married Annie Hensley, and they are the parents of seven children, Willie, Peter, Abbie, Burl, Jessie, Addie, and Grover. Lizzie, who married Hoy Houston, has nine children: Mattie, Fannie. Abner, William and James, twins; John, Hugh, and Fred and Iantha, twins. John H. married Lucinda Craft, and they have six children : Mattie, Lucinda, Mastin, Walter, Lila and Oran. Abner married Betty Ketchum and they have five children: Lorena, Van, Roselle, Julia and Abner. Kittie, wife of John Craft, has three children: Gussie, Charlie and Kittie M. Gussie, the wife of Thomas A. Moody, has one child, Lorenzo U. Mattie married, first, Cheed Craft, by whom she had two children, Colula and Lillie Mae, and married for her second husband T. J. Wright. Al- though eighty years of age, and not very strong physically, Mrs. Ussery has full use of her mental faculties, and is very bright and active, retain- ing all of her former interest in general affairs, and taking great pleasure in her large family of descendants, her grandchildren numbering thirty- eight.
K. D. KEITH. Prominent among the representative citizens of Luling is K. D. Keith, who has been actively identified with its industrial and mer- cantile interests for upwards of thirty years, and in the upbuilding and improving of town, city and county has been of material assistance. A son of J. W. Keith, he was born September 15, 1831, in Bainbridge, Ga .. coming on both the paternal and maternal sides of excellent ancestry. His grandfather Keith, a soldier in the Revolutionary war, died in the prime of life, in South Carolina, leaving his widow with a family of young children to support. She removed with her family to Decatur, Ga., and in Bainbridge, which was then a frontier town, she purchased a small farm, in addition to managing that, with the assistance of her sons, she taught school for a number of years, residing in that place until her death.
But a young boy when the family removed to Bainbridge, J. W. Keith was educated by his mother, who was a woman of culture, and as a boy and young man assisted in the farm labors. When Decatur county was organized, he assisted and was appointed deputy county clerk. While in this position he read law, and being admitted to the bar practiced in Bainbridge and the surrounding country for several years. While thus employed he took part in the Florida war with the Seminole Indians. Subsequently moving to Florida, he bought three thousand acres of gov- ernment land in Marianna, and with the help of slave labor improved a
397
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
part of it, and resided there until 1848. Selling out in that year, he went with his family to Spring Hill, Ala., where he bought land, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits for five years. Disposing of that property in 1853, he started with his wife and children for Texas, getting as far as Mobile. There both he and his wife were stricken with yellow fever and died, the former passing away on September 20, and his death occurring the following day. His wife, whose maiden name was Adeline Revere, was born in Georgia, a daughter of Henry L. Revere. She was of French descent, her paternal grandfather having come from France, his native country, to America with Marquis de Lafayette, under whom he fought in the Revolution, afterwards taking up his permanent residence in Vir- ginia. Henry L. Revere was born and reared in Virginia, and after the war of 1812, in which he served under Gen. Jackson, he settled as a pio- neer in Florida. He married a Miss Lawson, of Georgia. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Keith five children were born, namely : Henry, K. D., John, Mary, and Alabama.
With but limited opportunities for attending school, K. D. Keith was taught by his mother, who was well educated, acquiring a practical knowledge of the common branches of learning. After the sad death of his parents, he remained in Mobile for about three years, being employed as a clerk in a mercantile house. In 1856 he started for Texas, coming by way of the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi and Red rivers to Alex- ander, thence overland to Jasper county, his first stopping place. He after- wards lived for a short time in Beaumont, going from there, in 1857, to Sabine Pass. Then buying a half interest in a shipping business, Mr. Keith, in company with Otis McGaffey, remained there a number of years, until the breaking out of the Civil war. Joining then an independ- ent company of heavy artillery, Mr. Keith was subsequently made its. captain, and, being assigned to different regiments, served in this capacity until the close of the conflict. Returning home broken in health, he lived quietly until fully recovered from the effects of exposure and hardships, and then went to Galveston, where he was clerk in a wholesale grocery establishment until 1874. In that year, upon the completion of the South- ern Pacific Railroad to this point, Mr. Keith opened a lumber yard in Luling, being one of the first householders to locate here, and has since been numbered among the most able and successful business men of this vicinity.
Mr. Keith married, December 3, 1857, Mary McGaffey, who was born May II, 1842, at White Pigeon, Mich. Her father, Otis McGaffey, and his father, Neal McGaffey, were both born in Illinois. Otis McGaffey moved from Illinois to Michigan, and from the latter state came in 1842 to Texas, making the entire journey across the country with a wagon and pair of horses, being three months on the way. He was for many years in business at Sabine Pass, but now, a venerable and honored man of eighty-six years, is spending his last days at Houston. Mr. and Mrs. Keith are the parents of six children, namely : Wilson, Ida, Sumter, Mary Anna, Delia, and Alabama. Mary Anna was the first female child born in Luling, and at her birth received from Mr. Pierce the gift of a house lot. Mr. and Mrs. Keith, and all of their children, are members of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church.
398
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
ASA MOODY. Among the men who have been largely instrumental in developing the rich resources of Southern Texas is Asa Moody, of Caldwell county. Coming to the state nearly fifty years ago, he has since been profitably employed as a tiller of the soil, having cleared and im- proved a good homestead, on which he has lived, happy and contented, for many years, his farm being near Luling. In the meantime he has wit- nessed the marvelous growth of town and county, seeing the means of transportation across the country changed from the plodding ox team to the heavily laden railroad trains drawn by giant steam engines; the tallow dip give way to the brilliant light furnished by the power of elec- tricity ; and the installation of both the telephone service and the rural free delivery of mails, boons to the farmer and his household, keeping them in touch with the whole world. A son of Rev. Robert Moody, he was born in Marion district, S. C., June 8, 1828, of thrifty German ancestry.
Born and bred in South Carolina, Rev. Robert Moody there spent the earlier years of his life, being a preacher in the Methodist denomina- tion, and also a farmer. Migrating with his family to Tennessee in 1833, he became a pioneer of Henderson county, locating there at an early period of its settlement. Buying a squatter's claim to a tract of land, he at once took possession of the log cabin which had been erected in the small clearing, and subsequently purchased the entire tract from the government. Continuing his agricultural labors, he cleared and improved a comfortable homestead, and in addition to general farming preached in different places, living in that county until his death. He married Nancy Johnson, who was born, of Scotch ancestry, in Marion district, S. C., and died on the home farm, in Henderson county, Tenn. She bore him eighteen children, of whom twelve sons and three daughters grew to years of maturity.
About five years of age when the family removed to Henderson county, Asa . Moody began when but a small lad to help his father in the arduous work of hewing a farm from the wilderness. Very few district schools had then been established in that vicinity, and he was educated under the supervision of his parents. At the age of nineteen years, being given his time by his father, he began the battle of life on his own ac- count, starting out even with the world. His first employment was that of building flatboats on Beach river, a trade that he followed for a few years, after which he was variously engaged for a time. In 1850 Mr. Moody, accompanied by his family, made an overland journey to Ken- tucky, where for three years he was in the employ of the contractors who were then building the Mobile and Ohio railroad. The following three years he lived on a farm, but was actively engaged in the grocery and butchering business, supplying the railroad hands with groceries and provisions. In 1856 he removed to Tennessee, and two years later went to Independence county, Ark., where he remained a few months.
Deciding then to make another change of residence, Mr. Moody started with ox teams for Texas, bringing along his household goods, and a good stock of provisions. After a hard trip of several weeks, he ar- rived in Williamson county, where he lived for a year. Coming from there to Caldwell county, he located first at Lockhart. Soon after the
399
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
breaking out of the Civil war, he enlisted in Company K, Allen's Regi- ment, and with his comrades took part in a number of engagements. At the battle of Milliken's Bend, he was severely wounded, and so incapaci- tated for duty that he returned home. In 1866 Mr. Moody turned his attention to agriculture, purchasing the farm which he now owns and occupies, on the bottom land of the west fork of Plum creek. Upon this land there had been but little attempt at improvement when he took pos- session of it, but he labored earnestly and actively, and by dint of per- severing industry and judicious management has brought it to its present good condition.
In 1849 Mr. Moody married Rosa Johnson, who was born in Perry county, Tenn., a daughter of Burrell and Rebecca Johnson, and died in 1882 on the home farm, near Luling. Of the eleven children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Moody, eight are living, namely : Mollie, Amanda, Alminda, Belle, Columbus, Ella, Laura, and Thomas A. Mollie married, first, Henry Booth, and married, second, A. J. Tomlin, by whom she has three children, Henry, Berry and Janette. Amanda, the wife of Wesley Hall, has five children, Claude, Jessie, Arthur, Walter, and Clyde. Al- minda married Addison F. Day, and they have one child, Lola. Belle, wife of Hoxie Galbreath, has eight children, Carl, Minnie, Ollie, Gladys, Hal, Burton, Gussie and Nellie. Columbus married Mary O'Bannon, and they are the parents of six children, Genie, Roy, Lena, Ruth, Donn, and Flossie. Ella, wife of Eli O'Bannon, has six children, Wenona, Bessie, Burgess, Ethel, Arlie, and Nellie. Laura married Theodore Young, and has eight children, Lulu, Quinton, Josie, Grace, Ray, Ernest, Annie Lee, and Florence. Thomas A. married Gussie Ussery, and they have one son, Lorenzo.
WALKER B. HARDEMAN. Prominent among the representative citi- zens of Prairie Lea is Walker B. Hardeman, a member of the board of county commissioners of Caldwell county. An enterprising and skilful farmer, he is actively identified with the agricultural interests of this part of the state, and his personal character is such that he enjoys the esteem and confidence of the community in which he resides. A native of Cald- well county, he was born March 19, 1857, a son of Owen Bailey Harde- man. He comes from distinguished ancestry, being descended from a well known family of Virginia. In that state his paternal grandfather, Thomas J. Hardeman, was born January 31, 1788, and married a daugh- ter of Ezekiel Polk. Thomas Hardeman, father of Thomas J. Hardeman, was the second child of John & Dorothy Hardeman, and eldest son ; was born in Albemarle county, Virginia, January 8, 1756. In 1780 or '81 he commanded a company of North Carolina troops, sent against the Cherokee Indians, and in this way acquired the title of "Captain." At this period of his life he was almost totally uneducated, but having chil- dren old enough to go to school, he attended with them and studied arithmetic. He served in the legislature of North Carolina, also of Ten- nessee, was a member of Tennessee constitutional convention in 1796, General Jackson being a colleague.
When a young man, Thomas J. Hardeman, who was energetic, enterprising, and of an adventurous spirit, went to Tennessee as a pio- neer, locating first in Hardeman county, which was named in his honor.
ยท
400
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
He subsequently lived for a few years in Maury county, Tenn., but did not like the place well enough to settle there permanently. In 1834, therefore, he again followed the march of civilization toward the south- west, coming to that part of Mexico now included within the limits of Texas, and at the time of the declaration of independence was a resident of Wharton county. A small company of men from that place, including two of his sons, Monroe and William, started for San Antonio to relieve the garrison at the Alamo. One evening, when nearing Gonzales, just after hearing that the garrison had surrendered, the party saw lights, and thought .that they were nearing a detachment of the Texan army, but soon found to their dismay that they were wedged in between two wings of the Mexican troops. Cautiously making their way to the river bottoms, they tied their horses, made their escape on foot, and for five days were without food. Subsequently going from Wharton county to Bastrop county, Thomas J. Hardeman purchased land, cleared the farm now owned by his daughter, Mrs. Laura Burleson, and there spent the re- mainder of his life, an honored and respected citizen.
Thomas J. Hardeman was twice married. He married first Miss Polk, and married second a Miss De Witt. By his first marriage he had five children, namely: Thomas Monroe, William Polk. Owen Bailey, Mary O., and Leonidas. By his second marriage he had three children, namely : Sarah, who married Capt. William Jones; Thomas J., Jr .; and Laura, who married Aaron Burleson. The four oldest of these sons, served in the Mexican war, as did his son-in-law, Dr. James Fentress, who married his daughter Mary. His second son, William Polk Harde- man, entered the Confederate army at the breaking out of the Civil war, was commissioned captain, and was afterwards several times promoted, becoming brigadier general. Gen. Hardeman's daughter married Hon. Thomas L. Nugent, a well known lawyer, who was prominent in public affairs, and at one time was candidate for governor of Texas.
A native of Maury county, Tenn., Owen Bailey Hardeman was a young boy when he came with his parents to Southern Texas, which was then but sparsely populated. Large game of all kinds was plentiful, herds of buffalo roaming the plains, while deer and antelope were to be seen at almost any hour of the day. The Indians were treacherous, frequently making raids upon the settlers. Growing up in those perilous times, his spirit of watchfulness and patriotism was early aroused, and in the Mexi- can war he served faithfully, and during the Civil war was a soldier in the Confederate army, serving under Generals Smith and McCulloch. At the time of his marriage he settled on land that he had bought in the San Marcos valley, and there resided about five years. Selling that farm, he bought land in Weatherford, Parker county, where he carried on farm- ing and stock raising until his death, at the age of seventy-two years.
Owen Bailey Hardeman married in April, 1849, Sarah Berry, a daughter of Walker and Rachel C. (Meredith) Berry, natives of Tennes- see and Pennsylvania respectively. In Tennessee Mr. Berry died while yet in manhood's prime, leaving his widow with five children to care for. Having received a substantial education, Mrs. Berry began teaching after the death of her husband, for several years being principal of a ladies' seminary in Tennessee. Subsequently coming with her family to Texas,
40I
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
she farmed for a while in Washington county, and later located in the San Marcos valley, near Prairie Lea, buying a farm, which was man- aged by her sons, and there spent her declining years. Mrs. Hardeman was educated at the Moravian Female Seminary in Salem, N. C., and is a woman of refinement and culture. She is a sincere Christian, and a member of the Presbyterian church. A bright, active woman, of eighty- three years, she is now making her home with a daughter in Dallas. Five of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Owen B. Hardeman grew to years of maturity, namely: Rachel, wife of Walter R. Bailey; Mary died at the age of twenty years ; Lillie, wife of J. S. Steele ; Ida Norfleet, wife of H. J. Martin ; and Walker B., the special subject of this sketch.
After leaving the district school, where he laid a substantial founda- tion for his future education, Walker B. Hardeman attended first the Texas Military Institute, and afterwards the Coronal Institute, at San Marcos. Subsequently turning his attention to agricultural pursuits, he has met with signal success as a tiller of the soil, and now holds a lead- ing position among the enterprising and progressive farmers of Prairie Lea, his estate, on which he settled at the time of his marriage, being one of the best in regard to its improvements and appointments, of any in the vicinity.
In January, 1895, Mr. Hardeman married Mrs. Maggie L. (Ed- wards) Bright, who was born in Louisiana, a daughter of James and Jane (Smith) Edwards, and widow of Robert Bright. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Hardeman has been blessed by the birth of three children, namely : Lela N., Ruth C., and Walker B., Jr. Although not a politician, Mr. Hardeman takes a genuine interest in public affairs, and has served in different official capacities, having been United States census enumera- tor in 1880, and again in 1900, and having been elected county commis- sioner in the fall of 1906.
WILLIAM MARTIN HANKINS. Distinguished as a native-born citizen and a life-long resident of Prairie Lea, Caldwell county, William Martin Hankins holds a noteworthy position among the representative agricul- turists of this section of Texas. Thoroughly acquainted with the occu- pation to which he was bred, he is an able and skilful farmer, taking ad- vantage of the facilities afforded in this day and age by improved machin- ery and modern appliances for tilling the soil, and has met with excellent success in his operations. A son of the late Eli Skaggs Hankins, he was born, April 13, 1868, on the homestead, where he now resides.
John Hankins, Mr. Hankins' paternal grandfather, was, as far as known, a life-long resident of Kentucky. He was a farmer by occupa- tion, but died when a young man, leaving a widow and one or more chil- dren. His widow, whose maiden name was Melinda Hinds, then returned with her family to her parents, and until her death a few years later, sup- ported herself and children by spinning and weaving. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Hinds, subsequently emigrated to Texas, bringing with them her son, Eli S. Hankins, in 1837 locating on land in Brazos county, where they spent their remaining years.
A boy in his "teens" when he came with his grandparents to Texas, Eli Skaggs Hankins thoroughly enjoyed his new life on the frontier. One of his first great desires was to became the owner of a pony, saddle,
Vol. II. 26
402
HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS
blanket and gun, and his ambitions in this direction were soon realized. Becoming a fearless rider, and an expert marksman, he subsequently had an opportunity to put these accomplishments to a practical use in fighting the Indians and Mexicans, botn under Caldwell at Salado, and under Burleson at the Battle of Plum Creek, these being among the last Indian and Mexican engagements in this part of the state. Being en- titled to three hundred and twenty acres of land from the state when he became of age, he employed an agent to locate the tract for him, but it was forty or more years before ne obtained a title to it. Previous to that time, however, he had bought land on Plum Creek, in what is now Caldwell county, and when he married he located upon it. Disposing of that in 1851, he purchased a tract of the rich bottom lands of the San Marcos, near Prairie Lea, and having improved a homestead was here actively and successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, November 2, 1887, a period of thirty-six years. A man of intelligence and ability, he took an active interest in local affairs, and for a number of years served as inspector of animals and hides.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.