A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II, Part 66

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 704

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The maiden name of the wife of Mr. Barnett was Mary Lord. She was a native, it is believed, of Georgia. She was twice married. Her first husband, a Mr. Garrison, died in early manhood, leaving her one son, Ephraim Garrison, who at the breaking out of the Civil war en- listed in the Confederate army, and died in service. She subsequently married Mr. Barnett, and of the eighteen children born of their union, thirteen grew to years of maturity, namely: Sarah, Melissa, George, Frances, John, Abby, Samantha, Margaret, Harriet, Martha, Joseph, Zilpha, and Eliza.

About ten years old when she came with the family to Texas, Zilpha Barnett remembers well the long, rough journey across the wild wastes. of land. The country was sparsely settled, and wild game of all kinds was plentiful, bear, deer and wild turkeys abounding. One day she re- members that, on seeing a bunch of fifty or more buffaloes passing, she ran to the field to tell the men, who took their guns and followed them, killing twenty-five of the herd. As a girl she did her part of the house- hold labor, taking practical lessons in domestic science from her good. mother, becoming a most efficient homekeeper.

On December 29, 1858, Zilpha Barnett married Robert Allen Gray, who came in that year from Mississippi to Texas, and bought land at Soda Springs. On the breaking out of the Civil war, he enlisted in the Confederate army, in which he served until the end of the conflict. He returned home broken in health, and never fully recoverd from the effects of exposure and privations endured in camp and on field. Re- suming his agricultural work, Mr. Gray resided on the place which he first purchased for a number of years, and then moved to a part of the Barnett homestead, and here lived until his death, in 1880. Mrs. Gray

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HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

still occupies this large farm, which is one of the best improved and most valuable homesteads in this section of the county. Mrs. Gray has six children, namely : Margaret, Samantha, Robert, Martha, Abby, and Joseph. Margaret married Gonzalos Henson, by whom she has three children, Henry, Lula Belle, and Client. Robert married Clara Florida, and they are the parents of six children. Martha is the wife of Burt Briscoe, and has four children, Ola, William, Zilpha, and Adam. Abby married Clem Hinds, and they have three children, Major, Jesse, and Fanny. Joseph married Flora Henson, by whom he has two children, Virgil and Zora.

GEORGE W. NEW, occupying a position of prominence among the prosperous and progressive agriculturists of Caldwell county, residing not far from Luling, for upwards of fifty years has lived in this vicinity, and during that time has not only watched the development, growth, and upbuilding of this part of the state, but has been an active and able as- sistant in the good work, encouraging and supporting all beneficial en- terprises. In his earlier years he formed an intimate acquaintance with the hardships and privations of a pioneer farmer, and as a result of his resolute determination, industry and perseverance, he is now the owner of one of the best appointed farms to be found in this section, and as compared with his younger days is living a life of luxury and ease. A son of Kinnion W. New, he was born, March 6, 1839, in Kemper county, Miss. His great-grandfather, the emigrant ancestor, was born in Ire- land, came to this country when young, settling in North Carolina, where his son, William, Mr. New's grandfather, was born.

When a young man, William New, who was a cooper by trade, re- moved to Alabama, and after living a few years in that state migrated to Mississippi, becoming one of the earliest settlers of Lauderdale Springs. Taking up a tract of heavily timbered land, he labored early and late with his axe, in course of time hewing out a good farm, on which he spent the remainder of his life.

Kinnion W. New was born in North Carolina, January 6, 1811, and when a small lad was taken to Alabama, and from there to Mississippi. When of age, he purchased a tract of unbroken land in Kemper county, and was there employed in the pioneer labor of clearing and improv-' ing a home from the wilderness until 1850. Selling his farm in the fall of that year, he started with ox teams for Texas, following the tide of emigration westward. After a journey of seven weeks, he arrived in Caldwell county, just in time to spend Christmas with his wife's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Barnett. Immediately buying land near by, oli the James Hines league, he spent New Year's day on his own land, in the tent which he and his family occupied until he had a log house com- pleted. While clearing his land, for two years or more, he carried on his father-in-law's farm, but was afterwards engaged in general farm- ing on his own estate, living there until his death, September 28. 1867. He married Sarah Barnett, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Lord) Bar- nett, of whom a brief record may be found elsewhere in this volume, in connection with the sketch of Mrs. Zilpha (Barnett) Gray. She survived him many years, passing away August 3, 1898, at a venerable age. She bore her husband fourteen children, eight of whom grew to

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HISTORY OF SOUTHWEST TEXAS

years of maturity, namely : George W., the special subject of this sketch ; James; America ; Joseph M .; William H .; Mary; Frances N .; and Kinnion.

A lad of twelve years when he came with his parents to Texas, George W. New has a vivid recollection of the removal, and a full ap- preciation of the many trials incidental to pioneer life. He assisted his father in clearing and improving a homestead, living beneath the parental roof until the breaking out of the Civil war. Enlisting then tor three years in Capt. Weeks' Cavalry Company, Wells' Legion, which was as- signed to Willis's Battalion, Mr. New served until his term of enlist- ment expired, and then re-enlisted in the same company. With his com- rades, he participated in various marches, campaigns and battles, at the close of the war surrendering with Ross's command, at Jackson, Miss. Being paroled, he went from there to Lauderdale, Miss., where he cared for his grandfather in his last sickness. Returning home in 1866, Mr. New resumed farming. There were then no railroads in this part of the state, and as means of transportation were few he soon engaged in freighting, carrying cotton and hides with ox teams to Port Lavaca and Indianola, on Matagorda bay, and bringing back merchandise in ex- change. Failing on one occasion to get any merchandise to take home with him, Mr. New, who was practical and enterprising, purchased a load of salt, which he sold at a fair profit to his neighbors. Of late years he has confined his entire attention to agricultural pursuits, and now owns the parental homestead, and the old Garrison farm adjoin- ing, on which he lives. In his farming labors, he has met with signal success, by his well directed industry, wise management, and judicial economy, having acquired a competence.

Mr. New married, in 1876, Emma Parker, who was born in Kemper county, Miss., a daughter of William and Emma (Sims) Parker. The union of Mr. and Mrs. New has been blessed by the birth of three children, namely: Jesse Lee, Ida, and Sally. Jesse Lee is associated with his father in farming. Ida married James A. Northcutt, and they are the parents of three children, Lillie, Jesse Carroll, and George A. Sally is now, in 1907, attending school in San Antonio.

Fayette County.

GEORGE WASHINGTON ALLEN, M. D., conspicuous among the well- known and successful physicians and surgeons of Flatonia, Fayette county, is well fitted both by education and experience for the duties of a most re- · sponsible position. Able and skilful, he has built up a large and lucrative practice in this section of the county, and in connection with his practice has established a hospital, in which he treats many patients, and a drug store. A son of the late Rev. John William Barkley Allen, he was born April 20, 1849, in Walton county, Ga. His paternal grandfather, William Allen, who was accidentally killed by falling from a horse when but thirty years old, was, as far as known, a life-long resident of Georgia, where he owned a plantation.

Rev. John W. B. Allen was born, reared and educated in Walton county, Ga. Becoming converted when young, it was his earnest desire to turn the hearts and minds of his fellow men to religious things, and at

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the early age of nineteen years he began preaching in the Methodist Epis- copal denomination. Becoming a circuit rider, he traveled over miles of territory in his native state, remaining in Georgia until 1851. In that year, accompanied by his family, he started overland for Texas, eating and camping by the wayside. In January, 1852, he crossed the Colorado river, and on reaching Williams Creek, about five miles from La Grange, located there. He immediately began preaching, and soon after assisted in building the Bethlehem church. Moving in 1856 to the forks of Buckner and Live Oak creeks, Fayette county, he resided there until after the close of the Civil war. Wishing then to give his children better educational advantages, he moved to Bastrop county, where he remained a few years. In the fall of 1866, he moved to a place near Cedar Spring, in the southern part of the county, purchased land, and in addition to superintending its improvement preached there for about six years. In 1872 he was assigned to the pastorate of the church at Fort Worth, and the ensuing year went to Florence, Williamson county, where he was actively engaged in his professional duties until 1889. Retiring then from the ministry, he came to Flatonia to reside with his son, Dr. G. W. Allen, and remained with this son until his death, in August, 1890, at the age of seventy-two years. He married Martha Camp, who was born in Coweta county, Georgia, a daughter of Hiram and Betty (Ragsdales) Camp, and died, in Texas, in 1906. Of the nine children born of their union, one died in infancy, and eight grew to years of maturity, namely : Robert Abner, James Russell, Susan Elizabeth, Richard Glenn, John Wesley, George W., Julia A. N., and Beverly Parks.

But two years of age when he was brought by his parents to Texas, George Washington Allen spent his boyhood days in Fayette county, receiving his elementary education in its pioneer schools. He subse- quently attended the Bastrop Collegiate Institute, and in 1867 began to study medicine with Dr. I. Evans, a physician in the southern part of Fayette county. Becoming familiar with the science, he located at Peach Creek in 1868, and was there employed in practice for three years. Going to Louisville, Ky., in 1871, he entered the Louisville Medical College, from which he was graduated with the degree of M. D. in 1872. Since that time Dr. Allen has practiced as a physician and sur- geon in Tarrant, Brown and Fayette counties, in each place meeting with well deserved success. In 1896 the Doctor erected, in Flatonia, the handsome and commodious brick structure in which is located his con- veniently arranged and finely equipped hospital, and his well stocked drug store. Associated with him in practice, Dr. Allen has an able assistant in his son-in-law. George W. Cross, a talented and skilful physician. During the winter of 1893 and 1894, Dr. Allen, who en- deavors at all times to keep in touch with the most modern methods used in diagnosing and treating diseases, and in surgery, took a post-graduate course at the New York Polyclinic, adding materially to his professional knowledge. An intelligent reader and a close student, he is conversant with the results of medical and surgical research of later years, and has gained an excellent reputation as a capable and trustworthy practitioner. On October 21, 1868, Dr. Allen married for his first wife Louisa Evans, who was born in Fayette county, Tex. She died in early woman-

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hood. The Doctor married, second, June 9, 1897, Mary S. Daggett, a native of Fayette county. Dr. Allen's children, all by his first marriage, numbered nine, three of whom died in infancy, while six are living, namely: Martha L., Emily E., George W., Jr., Theophilus Parsons, William I., and Theodore L. Martha L. is the wife of G. W. Cross, M. D., who is associated with the Doctor in practice. Emily married C. S. Bailey. George W. Allen, Jr., M. D., who is engaged in the prac- tice of medicine at Yorktown, Tex., married Katie Burns. Theophilus P., a contractor and builder of Flatonia, married Fanny Evans. William I. is studying pharmacy; Theodore L. is also a contractor and builder. Dr. Allen is prominent in medical circles, belonging to the Texas State Medical Society, to the Fayette County Medical Society, and being medi- cal legislator for Fayette county. The Doctor is a member of Lodge No. 436, A. F. & A. M .; of Chapter No. 134, R. A. M., and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Port Lavaca and Vicinity.

JASON D. CRAIN. Many years have passed since the Crain family became identified with the interests of Calhoun county, and its various members have won for the name an enviable distinction by their in- telligence and worth. The high reputation is in no way diminished in this generation, and Jason D. Crain, who is numbered among the leading merchants of Port Lavaca, displays in a marked degree the admirable characteristics which the name suggests. He is a native son of this city, born on the 4th of August, 1849, a son of James B. and Susan ( Slater) Crain, the mother a native of Vicksburg, Mississippi.

James B. Crain, the father, was born in New Lisbon, Ohio, in 1812, and when quite young his father, James Crain, died, after which the mother married a Mr. McNeelan, and the son James not taking kindly to the marriage left home rather unceremoniously and began the battle of life for himself. Drifting south to Mississippi, he subsequently . received employment as an overseer, in which he continued for a number of years, and during his residence in that state he was married. Re- moving to Louisiana, he was there engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1849, when he came to Port Lavaca and engaged in blacksmithing and later in merchandising, but in 1856 closed out his interests here and moved to Comal county, purchased a tract of land which contained a good mill site, erected a grist and saw mill on Guadalupe river, which was operated by water power and was successfully engaged in its conduct and also the improvement of a farm until 1860. During his residence there he was instrumental in the establishment of the postoffice, which was named Crain's Mills in his honor, and served as its postmaster until he sold out his entire interests there in 1860 and returned to Port Lavaca. In 1863 the Federals bombarded the town, and it again became necessary for him to move, this time going to Jackson county, where he remained until after the close of the war. During the struggle his sympathies were with the Confederacy, but he was too old to take an active part in the conflict, and after its close he returned to Lavaca and for four years was successfully engaged in merchandising. At the expiration of that period he sold his interests and moved to Goliad county, Texas, where

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he purchased a farm and successfully engaged in its cultivation for seven years, when he returned to Jackson county and purchased land, and there he continued to reside until his life's labors were ended in death, passing to the home beyond in 1880 at a ripe old age. Only once after leaving home, and this but a few years before his death, did he hear from his mother, and she was then over one hundred years old, but hale and hearty. Mr. Crain was a stanch Democrat in his political affiliations, and although he never cared for the emoluments or honors of public office during the Civil war and while a resident of Jackson county he served as a provost marshal and captain of a company of minute-men. He was enterprising and public spirited to a high degree, interested in the moral uplifting of his adopted 'state of Texas, and is worthy of the honored place he bears among its brave and loyal pioneers. He was an old- school Presbyterian and a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity. His wife survived him for many years, subsequently selling the old home- stead and making her home with her children until she was called to join her husband in the home beyond in 1884, dying at the home of her son in Victoria. She was a daughter of John Slater, who for many years was numbered among the prominent planters of Vicksburg, Mississippi. About 1852 he made a visit to his daughter in Port Lavaca, journeying hither with his two sons on horseback. They concluded to remain here, and he started on the return trip alone, but the journey was too arduous for him and he died ere reaching his home. He was a consistent and worthy member of the Baptist church, and was the father of the follow- ing children: Julia, who was married in Mississippi, but afterward came to Texas, where she subsequently died; Susan, the mother of Mr. Crain ; John and Hugh, who remained in Mississippi; George, who came to Port Lavaca, and was married in Jackson county, where for a time he was engaged in agricultural pursuits, but now resides at Beeville, Texas: James, who came to Port Lavaca, where he passed through the yellow fever in 1852, but two years later, in 1854, died from scarlet fever, when a single man. Mr. and Mrs. Crain became the parents of the follow- ing children: William H. H., the eldest, died in Seguin, Texas, in 1860, before marriage. James M. served through the Civil war as a member of the Texas Rangers, having had three horses shot from under him, his hat and clothing having also many times been riddled with bullets,

but he passed through the conflict without a wound. He became a

prominent stockman of Calhoun county, served as high sheriff of the county, and won for himself a host of friends through his sterling char- acteristics. He and his family passed through the terrible flood at In- dianola in 1875, and again in 1886, when almost the entire town was swept into the sea and he lost his entire possessions. The family again passed through the flood at Galveston in 1900, but escaped unharmed, and he yet resides in that city. Freeman, the third child, served through the Civil war, and was formerly a well known stockman but is now a resident of Texarkana. Anna E. became Mrs. W. J. Hord; Jason B., whose name introduces this review; Fulton, a stock farmer and now a merchant at Placido Ranch, and is unmarried; John S., who died when young; Susan E., the wife of William B. George, of Port Lavaca ;

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Alford H., a farmer of Coryell county, Texas. The daughter, Anna E., with three children, was killed in the Goliad flood.

Jason D. Crain accompanied his parents on their various removals during his youth, and remained in the parental home until seventeen years of age, when he entered the life of a cowboy and for four years was on the frontier ranches of Texas. He was then promoted to the position of foreman for the Adams, Collins & Dalrymple Ranch Com- pany of Frio county, where he remained for eight years, each year driving large herds of cattle north to market in Kansas, the eighth herd having gone to the Yellow Stone Park range, where he left them in charge of a boss herder for raising and grazing. He had full charge of all the men, horses, wagons and camp outhit of the company, his employers placing the utmost confidence in his ability for management, and this confidence was never betrayed in the slightest degree. After returning from the Montana trip Mr. Crain resigned his position and returned to his parents in Jackson county, after which he took charge of a stock ranch at Pierce, Wharton county, Texas, for an Italian com- pany, where he remained for two years, returning thence to Jackson county and engaging in stock farming for four years. He was married in 1875, and continued his agricultural pursuits until the failing health vi his wife made it necessary to take her to Austin for medical aid, but she died soon afterward, leaving him with three small children. In 1879 he sold his farm and stock interests, and was with his father at his death in 1880, while in 1888 he returned to Port Lavaca and assumed the man- agement of the Law Lumber Company of Beeville, thus continuing until 1900, when the company sold their interests, and since that time Mr. Crain has been engaged in the grocery, feed and supply business with ever-increasing success. In addition he also owns several business prop- erties in Lavaca, a commodious and beautiful residence, and is numbered among the leading business men of Calhoun county.

In 1875 Mr. Crain was united in marriage to Miss Clara McNeelen, a native of Mississippi and a daughter of John B. McNeelen, for many years a prominent planter in that commonwealth and also an early pioneer in Jackson county, Texas, where he spent his declining days and died during the early history of the county. He resided within its borders when game was plentiful, wild beasts roaming at will over its domains, and he was noted for his prowess at hunting, which was his greatest pleasure. He was numbered among the leading farmers of Jackson county, and was a prominent and worthy member of the Baptist church, honored and respected for his many sterling characteristics. In his family were the following children: Clara, who became the wife of Mr. Crain; Morris, a farmer; Bettie, Mrs. Freeman Evans; George, a farmer; Susan, Mrs. George; and Lee, also an agriculturist. Mr. and Mrs. Crain became the parents of three children: Fulton, who died at the age of eight years; Julia, who died when fifteen years of age, and James B., who was born on the 9th of February, 1886, and is assistant bookkeeper in his father's store. Mrs. Crain was a member of the Bap- tist church. On the 12th of May, 1886, Mr. Crain married Mrs. Kate Wittnebert, the widow of Charles Wittnebert, by whom she had two chil- dren, D. V. Wittnebert, now bookkeeper for a wholesale house in Gal-

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veston, and Bettie, at home. The second marriage proved a happy union, and, both having young children, all were reared as one family and received excellent educational advantages.

Mrs. Crain was born in Calhoun county, a daughter of John and Elizabeth (Hockenberry) Willmers, both natives of Germany. They were married in Texas, and became early settlers of Indianola, where the father was engaged as a general mechanic and as a carpenter and builder, having greatly assisted in the building up of that city. After the flood of 1875 he moved to Longmott, where he remained until his labors were ended in death. He ever remained loyal to his adopted country, and served through the Civil war in the Confederate service. After his death his wife found a good home among her children, and died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Boemer, in Port Lavaca in 1900. In their family were the following children: Lena, Mrs. F. J. Deek; Josephine, Mrs. Boemer; Katie, the wife of Mr. Crain; John, a carpenter; Theodore, who is a trader ; and Bettie, Mrs. Durlam. By the last marriage of Mr. Crain there was no issue. Both Mr. and Mrs. Crain are members of the Baptist church, and he is also a worthy member of the Masonic fratern- ity, the Knights of Pythias, the Fretonia and the Home Circle.

W. T. MOORE, vice-president and manager of the Bay Trading Com- pany of Port Lavaca and also vice-president of the Farmers Cotton Gin Company of this city, is one of the representative citizens of Calhoun county. He was born in Georgia April 13, 1854, where he was reared to farm pursuits and received his education in the common schools near his home. His parents were Milton and Mary A. (Ferguson) Moore, the former a native of South Carolina and the latter, of Georgia. It was in the latter commonwealth that they were married, where they took up their abode on a farm, and there lived to ripe old ages. The father was left an orphan when young, and for some years thereafter made his home among relatives in South Carolina, but during his boyhood days removed to Georgia, and there grew to years of maturity, married and took up his permanent abode. He became one of the leading farmers and slave owners of his community, and being a Union man took no part in the Civil war, although he suffered heavily from the foraging of troops upon his farm. In 1867 he was elected a delegate to the Reconstruction convention of Georgia, and after its close he resumed his farming opera- tions in his usually successful manner, thus continuing until his life's labors were ended in death in January, 1905. He was never an aspirant for political preferment, preferring rather to live the quiet life of a farmer, and was honored and respected for his sterling characteristics. He was a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity. His wife preceded him to the home beyond, passing away in 1903. She was a daughter of Hugh Ferguson, of Georgia, a descendant of an honored family of that commonwealth, and he, too, was a Union man during the Civil war, dying soon after the opening of the conflict. A prominent and influential citizen, he was widely known and highly respected for his sterling in- tegrity and honor, was charitable to the needy and afflicted and was liberal in his donations to the churches. He resided upon his old home- stead many years, or until called to his final rest. In his family were the following children: Ham, Elijah, William, Elizabeth, Sally, Jane, and

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A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume II, Part 66

Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 704

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Chicago : Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 704