USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II > Part 58
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as well as its material progress. His wife died in Portland, Oregon, at the age of seventy-two years. She was the daughter of George Swan, of Lexington, Kentucky, who owned a large plantation and many slaves, but wishing to teach his children to work he sold his property there and went to Illinois, where he spent his remaining days. He was a consistent member of the Baptist church. His children were: Mary, Rebecca, Ed- ward, Eliza, Catherine, Maria, Elizabeth and George.
To Mr. and Mrs. David Lenox were born: Edward, who drove the front wagon of the first train to Oregon and died in Oakland, Cali- fornia ; Mary, the mother of Mrs. Ahlday; Elizabeth, who became the wife of John White, of Tennessee, later a member of the Oregon legis- lature ; America, deceased ; Washington, who died in the state of Wash- ington ; David, who died in Oregon; Mrs. Frances B. Constable, whose husband was also an Oregon pioneer; Samuel, of Oregon; Mrs. Susan White; Mrs. Margaret Hudson, of Portland; and James, who died in childhood.
The members of the family of Mr. and Mrs. R. W. Ford were: Josephine, the wife of our subject; Roland, who died in childhood ; Franklin P., whose death occurred in Oregon; Flora and David, who died in childhood ; and William P., who is living in Wharton.
Mr. Ahlday was reared in the faith of the Lutheran church, from which he has never departed, while his wife is a devoted Baptist. He certainly deserves all the credit that the term "a self-made man" im- plies, for he has molded his own character and shaped his own destiny. He has lived honorable and upright among his fellow men, laboring for the public good as well as for individual success and wherever known he is held in the highest esteem.
JUDGE G. S. GORDEN, a pioneer farmer residing near El Campo, who for a number of years has filled the office of county judge and has been actively connected with the progress and development of Wharton county, was born in Todd county, Kentucky, August 1, 1842, and while spending his boyhood days upon his father's farm attended the common schools of the neighborhood. He is a son of George W. and Mary (Slaughter) Gorden, both natives of Kentucky, in which state they were married. The paternal grandfather, Samuel W. Gorden, was a native of Virginia and became one of the early settlers of the Blue Grass state, where he was widely known as a prominent planter, conducting his agricultural interests with the aid of slave labor. Colonel Gorden, for by that title he was generally known, was very popular and possessed many sterling and marked traits of character. His children were: Joseph, John, Kit, Mrs. Nancy Kennedy ; Mrs. Mary Kennedy and George W.
The last named was born and reared in Kentucky, where he married and settled on a farm, there remaining until 1852, when he sold out and went to Missouri, settling near the Kansas border. He was there en- gaged successfully in farming until 1862, when the Kansas agitation over the slavery question and the war made him fearful of losing his slaves. Thinking he could hold them more securely he returned to Kentucky, where he engaged in the operation of a flour and woolen mill. He was too old for active military service but his influence and support were given to the Confederacy. He was a public-spirited citizen, of social and
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genial disposition, and a broad-minded, intelligent business man. He held membership in the Christian church, took a most active interest in its work and often addressed the congregation in the absence of the regular minister. Honest and upright, all who knew him respected him for his fidelity to his convictions. He died in 1867, while his wife sur- vived to the ripe old age of eighty years, passing away in 1904. She was also a devoted member of the Christian church. She was a descendant of one of the leading and early families of Kentucky; after the death of her father her mother married John Bristow, who also belonged to one of the prominent families of that state. Her husband's brother, Frank Bristow, was a man of national fame and at one time was postmaster general of the United States. She and her second husband remained resi- dents of Kentucky until their deaths. Her only brother, John Slaughter, was a colonel in the Mexican war and was a very prominent man of his time.
To Mr. and Mrs. George W. Gorden were born five sons and three daughters: David S .; Josephus, who served through the war in the Confederate army; Mrs. Elizabeth Drew; G. S., of this review; Cornelia A. Price ; Albert D .; James ; Thomas J. and Lillie.
G. S. Gorden, born in Kentucky in 1842, was a youth of ten years when his parents removed to Missouri. He remained under the parental roof until 1861, when he enlisted for service in the Confederate army with Gen. Sterling Price, which was then in Missouri but soon afterward went to the front. He participated in the battle of Lexington, Missouri, but after a brief time the exposure and hardships of war brought on rheumatism and rendered him unfit for service so that he was honorably discharged. He then returned to Missouri and with his parents removed to Kentucky, remaining with them until 1865.
In that year Judge Gorden was married and removed to Auburn, Kentucky, where for four years he was successfully engaged in mer- chandising. He then closed out his store and conducted a sawmill at Rochester on Green river, Kentucky, where he continued until 1871, when he came to Texas. Locating in Travis county, near Austin, he bought land and improved a farm, also raised stock for eleven years. Selling that property he removed to Hamilton county, where was a better range, bought land and improved a second farm, continuing in farming and stockraising for ten years or until 1892, when he again closed out his business. Removing to Wharton county, he bought land near El Campo and improved a third farm, engaging in the raising of corn, cotton and vegetables, being among the few who at that time attempted farming, which was considered but an experiment, but the experiment proved a success and in the succeeding six years he never failed to raise fair crops.
In 1898 Mr. Gorden was chosen by his fellow citizens for the office of county judge and by re-election has since been continued in the office. His election was an indication of the reputation which he had established as a fair-minded, impartial man, just and honorable-a reputation which has been borne out by his official service-his re-elections being proof of his reliability and the equity which he displays in discharging his duties. He has rented his farm and now owns and occupies a fine residence at
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Wharton. He is a public-spirited citizen, alive to the needs and possi- bilities of the county and he has labored earnestly and effectively for general progress. While on the farm he agitated the question of good roads and took an active interest in opening and promoting the first road in that part of the county. Since taking the bench he has con- tinued to keep the question of public highways before the people with the result that the county has issued bonds for the purpose and now has better roads than any county in this part of the state. He has also been a prominent figure in connection with the White Man's Union, which has proved very satisfactory to the tax payers. The cause of education also finds a warm friend in the Judge, who has promoted schools for both the white and colored children and has been superintendent of schools for a number of years.
Pleasantly situated in his home life, Judge Gorden was married in Kentucky, in 1865, to Miss Sue Wood, who was born in that state in 1845, a daughter of John H. and Areana (Mccutcheon) Wood, also natives of Kentucky. Her father, a leading planter of his district, was a prominent Democrat and represented his district in the state legislature. He served through the Civil war as a southern soldier and was never wounded nor taken prisoner, but saw hard service, with all of the at- tending privations of war. Following his return home he carried on farming until 1874, when he removed to Austin, Texas, where he en- gaged in merchandising for a number of years. Later he retired from active business but remained a resident of Austin until his death, which occurred in 1890. He was a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity and a man whose life was above reproach. His wife survived him and died at the Austin homestead in 1906, at the advanced age of eighty years. She was a faithful and devoted member of the Presbyterian church. In the Mccutcheon family, of which she was a member, there were two daughters and a son, her brother being John McCutcheon, who re- mained in Kentucky until his death, while her sister was Mrs. Sarah Sloss.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. John Wood were eight daughters and one son : Mollie; Sue, now Mrs. Gorden ; Anna, deceased; Mrs. Sally Price ; Mrs. Olive Castleman ; Mrs. Johnnie Adkinson ; Mrs. Maria Sailes ; Mrs. Georgia Church; and Joe H.
In the family of Mr. and Mrs. Gorden are six children : George S., who settled in Oklahoma; Carl, who resides in Presidio county, Texas ; Anna, the wife of D. M. Carter, of Oklahoma; Jay, a business man of Wharton ; Natie and Wilford H., at home. The parents hold membership in the Christian church and are much interested in its growth and de- velopment. The Judge is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Odd Fellows lodge, and is always interested in those movements and measures which have to do with the uplifting of humanity, while in his home locality he has put forth most effective effort for the general im- provement and upbuilding of the county. He has aided in planting the seeds of civilization in Southwestern Texas and three farms owe their development to him, while at all times he has upheld the legal and moral status of the community in which he has resided.
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Jackson County.
GEORGE F. SIMONS, an honored representative of one of the early and well known families of Jackson county, Texas, was born in Nova Scotia on the 14th of February, 1834, but was reared in the Lone Star state from the age of eighteen months, receiving his education in its subscription schools. His parents were Thomas and Susan (Thomas) Simons, the former a native of Durham, England, and the latter of Nova Scotia, their wedding occurring in the latter place. The father, who was born in 1796, received an excellent educational training, and after completing his training for a civil engineer became a sailor boy, roaming the ocean in trade from port to port and finally becoming captain of his own vessel. But becoming tired of a sea-faring life, and having received some idea of the wealth of Texas during his wanderings he came with his family to this state in 1835, landing at Dimmitt's Point and locating in Jackson county. Soon afterward he sold his vessel and forever abandoned the sea.
After taking up his abode in Texana, the old county seat of Jackson county, Mr. Simons engaged in surveying, and as the county surveyor, to which position he was elected soon after his arrival, he located homes and lands for all the early settlers of the county. Later he was made the county and district clerk, thus continuing for many years, was also a county commissioner and justice of the peace, and in fact held all the offices of the county, for he was an educated man and was competent to discharge the duties of any position which he might be called upon to fill. He owned two slaves, and in a small way was engaged in farming and stock raising. In the early days of 1836, when Santa Anna with his army was invading Texas, he was detailed to care for the families of the settlers who were in Houston's army, and he aided many to places of safety in advance of the Mexicans who pillaged and burned the homes and destroyed all property in their path. After Santa Anna's defeat at San Jacinto Mr. Simons assisted in returning families and restoring homes, and after assisting in the establishment of Texan independence he resumed his business operations, and thus continued until 1849. From that year until his life's labors were ended in death in 1852 he was successfully engaged in the mercantile business. He was ever a loyal defender of the rights of his adopted state, was a Democrat in his political affiliations, and was formerly a member of the Church of Eng- land, but as there was no church of that denomination here he became a Methodist at the time the pioneer missionaries came to this state and ever afterward continued one of its earnest workers. He was a class leader, and in the absence of the minister always led the meetings, held all the church offices, and also organized the first Sunday school, of which he was superintendent for many years. As his family grew to years of maturity his sons carried forward the good work instituted by the father, and for many years the Sunday schools of the community were conducted by some members of the family. Mr. Simons was also a leader in the organization of the Sons of Temperance, and the noble work which he performed during his life time will ever bear fruit. His wife preceded him to the home beyond, having passed away in 1845,
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also in the faith of the Methodist church, of which she was long a worthy member. She was a descendant of a prominent old family in Nova Scotia. Mr. and Mrs. Simons became the parents of a large family of children. Phebe, the eldest, died in New Orleans of yellow fever. Joseph was a member of that fated band of men known as the Mier Prisoners, who were marched into Mexico, where a certain number of them were ordered to be shot, the number to be determined upon by the drawing of beans, a black bean meaning death and a white one life to the drawers, and although Mr. Simons drew a white bean he died of sickness shortly afterward. Marsh K. served in the Mexican war of 1846, in which he suffered the loss of a leg, and he also took part in the Civil war as lieutenant of his company and later as brigadier in the commissary service in the Army of the Tennessee. After the fall of Vicksburg he was paroled and returned to his home. Rachel is the wife of Joe Rogers. Thomas entered the Mexican war and died of smallpox while in service. The next two members of the family, twins, died when young. Elizabeth is the wife of S. Garrett. George F. is the next in order of birth. Milan T., the first member of the family born in Jackson county, is a prominent stock farmer. Phebe became Mrs. J. Brugh .. William H., died during his service in the Confederate army. Mary is" the wife of Rev. O. H. Fisher, a minister of the Methodist church.
George F. Simons was brought by his parents from his native land of Nova Scotia when an infant, and has ever since remained a resident of Jackson county. He assisted his father in his business relations until the latter's death, when the store was discontinued, and he then engaged in clerking in a general store. In 1855, in company with his brother, he embarked in the mercantile business in his home town, in which he' continued with success until the opening of the Civil war, when the brothers entered the Confederate service as members of Company K. Second Texas Infantry, of which the brother was made lieutenant, and they were consigned to the Army of the Tennessee, Moore's Brigade, Murry's Division, General Sterling Price the corps commander. Their first important battle was Shiloh; was also at Iuka and Corinth, and in fact participated in all the engagements in which his division took part until the siege of Vicksburg, when they were paroled for exchange and returned to Texas, remaining in the Texas coast service until the close of the war. Throughout his entire military service Mr. Simons was never wounded, although his clothes were often pierced by bullets, and at one time a ball passed through his hat. He saw much hard service and endured the hardships, privations and exposures ever meted out to a soldier, and was one time a prisoner of war.
Mr. Simons had married in 1860, and after the war closed he re- turned to his home and family. The man whom he had left in charge of his store and business had paid all New York debts to the Confederate government, but after the reconstruction they had to pay again to the New York firms, and although they sustained their honor and credit they had little left, and Mr. Simons embarked in agricultural pursuits. In 1866 he was elected the county and district clerk, but soon after assuming the duties of this position the provisional governor replaced all offices of the counties with carpet-bag officials and he then resumed his
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farming operations, but, later again entered the mercantile field, and thus continued in a small way until after the reconstruction, when he was again elected to the position of county and district clerk. The duties of this office, however, were conducted principally by his deputy, he giving the most of his time to his business relations until he closed out his business interests. During the following twenty years he was a clerk in the general mercantile store of Mr. Allen, which was first located in Texana, but in 1884 was removed to Edna, and in the following year Mr. Simons purchased a residence and also came to this city. His home place at first contained but one acre of ground, but he has since added to the place until he now has four acres of well improved land, a com- modious and pleasant residence, and since 1896 he has lived in retirement here.
Mr. Simons married Miss Flora A. Wells, who was born in Jackson county, Texas, on the 30th of December, 1833. Their marriage was celebrated in June, 1860, and for the long period of forty-seven years they have traveled life's journey together. She is a daughter of Dr. Francis F. and Martha (McNutt) Wells, natives respectively of Virginia and Louisiana. The father was left an orphan when young, and but little is known concerning the history of the family. He was reared and educated in Kentucky, but later went to Louisiana, where he was married, and then joined Austin's colony and came to Texas in the early '20s, locating in the Brazos river country. In addition to his agri- cultural labors he was also extensively engaged in the practice of medi- cine. During their residence on the Brazos two daughters were born, and in 1828 the family home was established in Jackson county, where he obtained from the Mexican government a league and labor of land, where he improved a good farm and resumed his agricultural and medi- cal labors. The old county seat of Texana was platted on his land. He stood at the head of the medical profession in this community, re- sponding to calls from long distances and making the journeys on horse- back before the roads had been laid out or bridges built. He erected a beautiful and commodious residence for that early day, but when Santa Anna invaded the country the home was burned and his property destroyed. During Santa Anna's invasion he remained with and cared for the families of the soldiers, and after the Republic of Texas was assured he returned and resumed his practice in Texana. He also owned a fine farm at the forks of the two little rivers Navidad and Lavaca which he named Egypt, and late in life removed to that place, where his death occurred in 1866. His wife died in 1863. She was a daughter of Isaac McNutt, a planter and prominent attorney of Louisiana. Isaac McNutt became the father of the following children: Parmelia, Roxana, Martha, Nicholas, and John. Dr. and Mrs. Wells became the parents of the following children, namely: Laura, Mrs. C. L. Owen, Elizabeth, Mrs. Brugh, Mardella E., who died when young, Charles, Emily and Mary, who also died when young ; L. F., a business man of Edna, Texas, and Robert W., a physician now deceased. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Simons : Martha, the deceased wife of Mr. Garrett; Courtney, a stock farmer; William H., who died at the age of fifteen years; F. Wells, a popular dentist of Edna, and George F., a stock farmer of
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Jackson county. Mr. and Mrs. Simons are worthy members of the Methodist church, in which he has filled all the offices and is also super- intendent of the Sunday school. He is also a Royal Arch Mason, ex- emplifying its beneficent principles in his every day life.
MRS. LAVINIA LAUGHTER, widow of the late William P. Laughter, was born in Jackson county, Texas, on the 24th of November, 1852, a daughter of Jesse N. and Mary (Matthews) Pumphrey. The Pumphrey family is descended from George Pumphrey, who with a brother left his native land of either Scotland or England and came with one of Lord Baltimore's colonies to this country, where they assisted in the founding of the city of Baltimore. They remained there until reaching years of maturity when the brother removed to the then territory of Ohio while George made his way to Georgia, where he became a prominent planter, reared his family and died. It is supposed that his descendants partici- pated in the Revolutionary war. His son Sylvanus became the father of Jesse Pumphrey, who removed to Alabama, where he became a large slave owner and spent the remainder of his life. His children were John R., Levan, Nathan, Lewis, Louisa (Mrs. Pratt), Florida (Mrs. Brazill) and Margaret (Mrs. T. L. Bennett).
John R. Pumphrey, the eldest son, was born and reared in Alabama, where he also became a prominent planter and slave owner, but in an early day he removed to Arkansas, where with his large number of slaves he opened a large farm, and there the remainder of his children were born. Both he and his wife were worthy members of the Baptist church, and they became the parents of the following children: Jesse N., the father of Mrs. Laughter ; Clarissa ; Morgan, who died in Alabama ; John, who served throughout the war of the rebellion; Lewis, who was a lieutenant of his company in the Confederate army, and was killed in Virginia ; Elizabeth ; Mary,-all of whom were born in Alabama ; Mon- roe ; Dennis, who enlisted for service in the Civil war, but was discharged on account of disability. The two last named were born in Arkansas.
Jesse N. Pumphrey was born in Alabama in 1826, and accompanied his parents on their removal to Arkansas, where he grew to years of maturity and was married. In 1852 he came to Jackson county, Texas, bringing with him his large number of slaves, and he soon had a good farm opened for agricultural pursuits. After many years, however, he sold the old homestead and retired from the active cares of a business life. He still lives at the ripe age of eighty-one years. He was a suc- cessful farmer and also handled much stock, but the war released thirty slaves and therefore his estate was much diminished. He has been a strong Democrat in his political affiliations, and for a number of years served as the county and district clerk. His fraternal relations are with the Masonic order, in which he rose to the Royal Arch degree. He entered the Confederate army in 1862, becoming a member of a company that had been formed in Jackson county but which had already gone to the front, he with four companions following it to Little Rock, Arkansas, where they were sworn in as members of Company C, Fourteenth Texas Cavalry, under Colonel M. T. Johnson and Lieutenant Colonel Ira Camp. Consigned to the army of the Tennessee, their first battle was at Farm- ington, after which they were ordered to Corinth, but did not arrive in
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time to participate in that engagement. However, they had much skirm- ishing en route, and at Cupola, Mississippi, Mr. Pumphrey was honorably discharged on account of disability and returned to his home, but as soon as recuperated, joined the state militia and patrolled the coast. When his command was on Mustang Island, near Corpus Christi, they had a. conflict with the Yankees, in which with others he was taken prisoner and carried to New Orleans. They were imprisoned in the second floor of a two-story brick house, but after four months he with eighteen others escaped by digging three holes through their building and the brick one adjoining, made a rope of their blankets which reached within six feet of the ground, and thus all made their escape, although the building was well guarded with Federal troops. Mr. Pumphrey remained with a companion, a physician, and being ill they made their way to a house of a friend of the latter, where they were concealed and cared for for four- teen days, when they started on foot for Jackson county, reaching their destination after much difficulty. General Magruder gave them a forty days' furlough, after which they joined Captain Scott's cavalry company and served until the close of the war. During the latter part of his ser- vice Mr. Pumphrey was engaged in patrolling coast districts from Galves- ton to Brownsville. During his military career he had many narrow. escapes from death, often having his clothes pierced by bullets.
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