USA > Texas > Johnson County > A memorial and biographical history of Johnson and Hill counties, Texas : containing the early history of this important section of the great state of Texas together with glimpses of its future prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens of the present time, and full-page portraits of some of the most eminent men of this section > Part 43
USA > Texas > Hill County > A memorial and biographical history of Johnson and Hill counties, Texas : containing the early history of this important section of the great state of Texas together with glimpses of its future prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens of the present time, and full-page portraits of some of the most eminent men of this section > Part 43
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Martha, wife of B. T. Major; Madison G., our subject; John and Margarette, twins, the former a farmer of Hill county, and the latter the wife of Robert Haley; Tee, wife of E. V. Cousler, of llill county and Rufus M., at home.
Madison G. Easter was born in Mississippi, in 1855, and removed with his parents to Texas, and remained with them until 1880, when he located where he now lives. When he began life for himself he was $650 in debt, and he now owns 245 acres of land with 200 aeres under eultivation, and a gin worth about $1,500; and altogether he is worth abont $10,000. Mr. Easter was mar -. ried January 1, 1880, to Katie Carr, who was born in Mississippi in 1864, a daughter of Dr. Carr (deceased) and Rebecca Carr, natives of Mississippi. Mr. and Mrs. Easter have six children: William F., Olga, Mattie, Maude, Duteless and Grover C. Politically, Mr. Easter is a Democrat; socially, a Master Mason; and religiously, both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.
UFUS M. EASTER, a successful farmer of Hill county, Texas, is a son of Jasper M. Easter, whose sketch is given in this work. Ile was born in 1864, in Mississippi, and when five years of age removed to Texas with his parents, and still continues to reside with his widowed mother. Ile began life for himself when twenty-five years of age, with eighty acres of land, and he now owns 260 aeres, with 200 aeres under cultivation and well stocked and improved. Although but twenty-seven years of age, Mr. Easter
HISTORY OF JOHNSON
has succeeded in accumulating a property, by economy and close attention to business that would be a eredit to a person twico his ago. Ile is a young man, of exemplary habits, and a Democrat in his political views.
OIN A. HARRELL, one of the leading citizens of Johnson county, a farmer, stockman and ginner, was born in Seott county, Mississippi, in 1851. W. R. and Minerva (Moore) Harrell, his parents, had eight sons: Thomas, decoased; John A., the subject of our sketeh; Lonis, of this county; Robert, Dugal, and Albert, deceased; James and Lee, residents of southern Texas. Of these, our subject was the second in order of birth.
W. R. Harrell, the father of our subject, left Mississippi in 1867 and moved to Frank- lin county, Arkansas, residing there for several years, from where he moved to this county in 1873. Ile has also lived in Cook county, Texas, for a time, and is now a resi- dent of the Chickasaw Nation, Indian Terri- tory. During the late war he served for a while in the Confederate army. In 1872 the mother of our subject died, and the year following, the father married Miss Dora Thomas, of this county. They had four children: Stan, Mollie, Benjamin and Erva. Several years ago his wife died, and in 1888 he married Miss Ella Gould, of Hill county. They had two children, both now dead. Mr. Harrell is now in his sixty-sixth year.
Our subject was educated in the common schools of Mississippi and Arkansas. He|
commenced life for himself at the age of twenty-one, at which age he came to Texas with his father. Here he rented land for three years in the neighborhood of Grand View, and then purchased a portion of the farm which he now owns. This consisted then of sixty-five aeres of slightly improved land, for which he paid $15 an aere. To this he has since added, until he now owns 187 aeres. Of this, 120 aeres is highly improved, on which he has erected a handsome resi- dence, barn, onthouses, etc. Mr. Ilarrell also owns 173 acres of fine land, which he purchased in 1891 for $25 an acre. Sixty- five acres of this is under cultivation. Ile is also interested in four steam cotton gins, on which about 3,000 bales of cotton is ginned annually. One of these gins is on his homo farm in Grand View, and another is on Mr. Louis Ilarrell's farm, west of Grand View.
Mr. John Harrell landed in Texas in 1873 with his wife, a wagon, a pair of ponies and $30 in cash. All he now possesses he made by his own industry and perseverance, having bought his first home on eredit. lle raises most of his horses, cattle and hogs, himself, and sometimes has a surplus. He restricts his agricultural products to eorn, cotton and oats, in the cultivation of which he is moro than ordinarily successful.
fle was married in Crawford county, Ar- kansas, in 1873. to Miss Bettia Laird, a native of Mississippi. Her parents, G. Thomas and Elizabeth (Caldwell) Laird, are both dead. Her brothers are prominent farmers of Jolin- son county, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Harrell have five children: Lulu, Ella, W. T., Allie
a. S. Mckinnon
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1. and Annie A., twins. Both Mr. and Mrs. Harrell are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Socially, Mr. Harrell is a member of Grand View Lodge, No. 266, A. F. & A. M.
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P. MCKINNON, attorney, Hillsboro, Texas .- Mr. MeKinnon is one of those men, too few in number, who fully recognize the truth so often urged by the sages of the law, that, of all men, the reading and thoughts of a lawyer should be the most extended. Systematic reading gives a more comprehensive grasp to the mind, variety and richness to thought, and a clearer perception of the motive of men and the principles of things, indeed of the very spirit of laws. This he has found most es- sential in the proseention of his profession.
He was born in Thomas county, Georgia, December 19, 1849, and his parents, Daniel and Sarah (MeMillan) Mckinnon, were natives of the Old North State. lIe was reared in his native county, and edu- cated in the schools of the neighborhood and at the high school at Monticello, just aeross the line in Jefferson county, Florida. In 1870 he began reading law in Monticello, under Simkins & Simkins, and was admitted to the bar in that eity two years later. In May, 1872, he came to Texas, stopped for a short time at Corsicana, but in January, 1873, he located in Hillsboro, entered immediately upon his practice, and has resided here ever since, lle has enjoyed a large practice and
has ever been engaged on a number of the most important cases which have been tried at the IIill county bar. IIe has always refused to enter polities as a business, preforring the law to the uncertainties of public life. lle was County Attorney, however, of IIill county in 1878-'79, and filled that position in a very ereditable and satisfactory manner. As a lawyer he combines ability and thorough training in legal principles with industry and close application to the interests of his elients, and enjoys general esteom as a sehol- arly gentleman, a valuable counselor and a useful and influential citizen. Ile is a strong speaker, making no especial pretentions to oratory but able to express himself forcibly, relying more on mattor than manner for in- fluence. Ile is an exaet logieian and per- feetly at home even in the midst of the most complicated state of faets. Ile is ealm in address and strictly methodical in the ar- rangement of his matter, terse and vigorous, pointed in phraseology and accurate in the choice of his words. Having a world of good nature in his make-up, he is never im- politeor eaptious nor yet boisterous or egotist- ical. He always exhibits the nieest sense of professional propriety, his bearing toward the court being always respectful, and toward ad- verse counsel courteons. To the younger members of the bar he is ever willing to ex- tend a helping hand, and no one is quicker to recognize merit or give an encouraging word to a struggling young brother than he. IIe possesses an abundance of patience and energy, and these he has never ceased to exercise throughout his career. Whatever of success
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he has attained he attributes to hard, persist- ent labor and to a strict observance of the ethics of his profession.
- OCTOR N. B. KENNEDY, physician, Hillsboro, Texas .- Few, perhaps none, save those who have trod the ardnous paths of the profession, can pieture to them- selves the array of attributes, physical, mental and moral, the host of minor graces of man- ner and person, essential to the making of a truly great physician. Ilis constitution needs inst be of the hardiest to withstand the con- stant shoek of wind and weather, the wearing loss of sleep and rest, the ever gathering load of care, the insidious approach of every form of fell disease to which his daily round of duties expose him. Free and broad should be his mind to seek in all departments of human knowledge some truth to guide his hand ; keen and delicate the well trained sense to draw from nature her most treasured seerets, and unlock the gates where ignorance and doubt have stood sentinels for ages.
Such a one we find in the person of Dr. N. B. Kennedy. This gentleman was born in Sum- ter county, Alabama, December 24, 1837, and is a son of John and Harriet A. (Isler) Kennedy, natives of North Carolina, and both descendants of ancient and honorable families of the Old North State, the mother being a danghter of Major John Isler, a gallant Revolutionary soldier. Dr. Kennedy's par- ents settled in Alabama, in 1826, and there resided the remainder of their days, rearing
a family of five sons and two daughters These were : Jane, who became the wife of Dr. E. T. Easley, of Satartia, Mississippi, both now deceased; John F., who became an emin- ent physician, having prepared himself for his profession both in France and Germany, and who died in middle life, at Lauderdale, Mis- sissippi ; Thomas II. became a farmer and died at his home at Little Rock, Arkansas, a few years ago ; Sidney P., who became a physician and is now deceased; William A., who is now deceased; Nathan B. (subject); and Mary A, wife of George II. Hlibble, of Terrell, this State. The mother died in 1866, at the age of sixty-nine, and the father in 1874, at the age of seventy-eight; the mother at her old home in Alabama, and the father at Lauderdale, Mississippi. The mother was a woman of very superior attainments, but not well educated, yet possessing great refine- ment. She was a great believer in education and looked personally after the training of her children. To her the Doctor is indebted for all he is and all he has in the way of edu- cation and correet training. Dr. Kennedy was reared in his native county and received his earlier education there. His later liter- ary education was obtained in the University of Virginia, from which he graduated in 1860. Ile read medicine under his brother, Dr. S. P. Kennedy, at Lauderdale Springs, Mississippi, and subsequently took inedieal lectures, both at the University of Virginia and the University of Louisiana, graduating from bothi.
Hle located for the practice of his profession nt Sumterville, Alabama, and continued there
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until March, 1861, at which time he entered the Confederate army, enlisting in the Twenty-seventh Alabama Regiment, to which he was appointed Assistant Surgeon. He was in the field service for a considerable timo, after which he was examined and placed in hospital service, having charge of the officer's hospital at Lauderdale Springs, Mississippi, and at Uniontown, Alabama. He was in the service and on active duty from the date of his enlistment in March, 1861, until the sur- render in April, 1865.
When the war was over he went to Gaston, Alabama, and at once began practicing his profession. Ile remained there until 1867, when he moved to Meridian, Mississippi, and there resided until 1869, when he moved to New Orleans. In 1871 he moved to Texas and settled at Hillsboro, Ilill county, which, with the exception of two years spent in Dallas, has continued to be his home since. Since reaching maturity Dr. Kennedy has practiced medicine and has made money and won considerable distinction. Ile has been a hard student and an industrious investiga- tor, and works as diligently now as in former years. lle has indentified himself with all the medical socities within his reach and has been a liberal contributor to many of the leading medical journals. Hle assisted in the organizing of the Hill County Medical and Surgical Association, and has been several times president of the same. Ile is a mein- ber of the Texas State Medical Association, the American Medical Association ; and through the courtesy of Sir Philip Bailey, author of " Festus," he received an honorary
membership in the Society of Science, Letters and Arts of London. He has contributed extensively both to the medical and secular press during the past twenty-five years, be- ginning with Brenton's Journal and Surgical Reporter of Philadelphia, in 1867, and com - ing down to the present time, the list embrac- ing such periodicals as the Atlantic Medicul Journal, the New Orleans Medical and Surgical Journal, Briggs' Health Journal of Dallas, Texas. and Daniels' Texas Medical Journal of Austin, this State. The Doctor's literary efforts have extended over a wide field, covering a variety of subjects, some of practical moment, others belonging more strictly to the domain of belles lettres. lle is regarded as the most accomplished literary man in his county, possessing a line library and keeping up with all the literature of the day.
He has carried on his literary researches with his medical studies, not allowing either to interfere with the other. Ile discovered and made known the use of the injection of carbolic acid for the removal of hemorrhoids, carbuneles, ete., making the discovery in 1875, and promulgating his views in 1881. In 1866 he made a discovery equally as im- portant : that of rendering the passage of gall stones easier by first softening them with sweet oil. On the 27th of July, 1862, Dr. Kennedy married Miss Susan W. L. Martin, a daughter of James II. Martin, of Sum- ter county, Alabama. Mrs. Kennedy's mother bore the maiden name of Sarah Lee and was a near relative of the distinguished Robert E. Lee. Mre. Kennedy was born and reared
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in Suinter county, Alabama. Four children (two dead) have been born to this union.
The Doctor joined the Masonic fraternity in 1863 and has been actively identified with it since. He is also an active member of the Knights of Pythias. Ile has never sought politieal distinction, being of a retiring dis- position and innch preferring the duties of his profession and the pleasures of literature to the turmoil of public life and the now questionable honors of political positions.
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F. DABNEY, a merchant of Cleburne. was born in Newton county, Georgia, in 1852, a son of Tyre G. and N. II, (Smith) Dabney, natives of Georgia. The father died when our subject was twelve years of age, and the mother afterward married Rev. Dr. Bridges, of Newton, county, Georgia. Mr. Dabney located in this city in 1876, and first sold goods for Heard & Allen sixteen months, and for N. II. Cook three years, and in November, 1879, in company with J. T. Williams, opened a stock of groceries in this city, and the partnership existed three years and four months. Our subject then sold his interest to Mr. Williams and moved to the north side of the publie square, where he opened a stoek of goods in the same line. He carries a stock of from $8,000 to $10,000 of staple and fancy gro- ceries. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic order, of the K. T., and is Noble Grand of the I. O. O. F. lodge.
Mr. Dabney was married in this city, June 15, 1879, to Miss Georgia A. Picket, a
daughter to Dr. C. and C. (Norton) Pieket, natives of Alabama. To this union has been born six children, four now living, viz .: Hallie, Eva, Tyre Glen and Herbert. Mrs. Dabney is a member of the Methodist Church of Cleburne.
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J. SORRELLS, one of Hillsboro's most highly esteemed citizens, was born in Walton county, Georgia, in 1856, to John B. and Jane (Tribble) Sorrells, who were born in Georgia in 1832 and 1834 respectively. The father was an extensive planter before the war and succeeded in ac- cuminlating sufficient means to be called a wealthy mau, but during the momentous struggle between the North and South he lost all. IJe was a Lieutenant in the Confederate service in the Army of the Tennessee, and with General Forrest's Cavalry participated in the Kentucky raid and was at the battle of Stone River. lle left the army in 1864 and was elected Sheriff of his county, which office he acceptably filled for three terms. Ile was elected a member of the Constitutional Con- vention, which framed the present constitu- tion of Georgia, and in 1869, by choice of the people, became their representative to the Legislature. In this capacity he showed himself to be a man of decidedly intelligent and progressive views and his record as a legislator of the very best. The subject of this sketch is the third of eight children and received his scholastic education in Johnsou Institute, but at the age of eighteen years lett this institution. After farming one year he
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turned his attention to teaching in the vil- lage of Jug Tavern, and this occupation oc- cupied his time and energies until his re- moval to Texas when about twenty-two years of age. For a number of years thereafter te! continued pedagoguing in Collin county. then began keeping books for the firm of c. W. Jester & Co., at Sherman. whole- vale saddlers. In 1SS1 he became book- keeper for Emman & Co., cotton fsetors at Brenham, with which firm he remained one year: le next superintended the office work for B. H. Sanders & Co., at Cle- burne, and at this time began to class cot- ton. In 1883 he opened an office of his own in the saine town and for two years was quite a heavy purchaser nt this point. Since then he has been a resident of Hillsboro, and the first year of his residence here (1885) handled about 5,000 bales. Mr. Yerber is a mem- ber of the firm and they buy for New England dealers as well as for export, and the coming year will handle at least 15,000 bales. Mr. Sorrells is also speculating in real estate at different points in Texas, and throughout Ilill county he has the confidence of all classes, and is a business man of the highest standing and judgment, whose suc- cess has been developed upon the sure basis of efficiency and integrity. ITis estimable wife and formerly Miss Josie Kimbrough, who was born in Athens, Tennessee, and whom he married in 1885. They have one daughter, Annie. Mrs. Sorrells' father was 1. B. Kimbrough, a Baptist minister. Mr. Sorrells' paternal grandfather, Charles Sor- rells, was a Georgian by birth and was Col-
onet in the war of 1s12. Hle was born. 'in 1754 and died in 1854. His ancestors be- came residents of Virginia during early Co. onial days.
G. DUNCAN, County Cier .. Among the representative, thor. oughgoing and etheient officials of Hill county, Texas, there is no one more deserving of mention than Mr. Duncan, for his residence within its borders has extended over the greater portion of his life. He is a son of William W. and Dora Duncan, both natives of Tennessee, in which State they were reared and married, and from which they removed to Texas in 1854, settling in Burleson county. There they made their home until 1860, when they moved to Port Sullivan, Milam county, where the father died, in 1864, on the sixth day after his return home from the war. Mrs. Duncan is still living, being now in her seventy-third year. Mr. and Mrs. Duncan had nine, chil- dren, seven daughters and two sons, and the eldest, Charles D., died at Bremond, Texas, in 1879. Ile also was in the Confederate service. The daughters all reside :a Ifill county, as does W. G. Duncan, the subject of this notice, who was the youngest member of the family. He was born in Burleson county, December 23, 1859, and was reared in that county and in Waco, whither his mother moved in 1870. The war freeing the slaves, and the Central railroad breaking up their "; town, they were left in limited cireum- stances. The family then comprised eight
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daughters and two sons, W. G., our subject, being the only protector left to his widowed mother and sisters, although he was the youngest of all the children.
lle came to Hillsboro on the 1st of Jan- mary, 1887, and secured a position as book- keeper with Haynes & Files, remaining in their employ until he was elected Clerk of the Hill county Court, in November, 1555. ! Ile was re-elected to the same office in No- vember, 1590, and is still holding this posi- tion. During his first contest for the office he had considerable opposition, there being two other candidates besides himself in the field. The total vote cast in this election was 4,850, of which he received a safe ma- jority. At the November election in 1800 he had no opposition, and polled a vote of 4,609. Although Hill county has long been well and justly noted for the sterling honesty and superior capability of her public officials, this enviable reputation has been fully sus- tained by Mr. Duncan. He is able to fill any position within the gift of the people, but he aspires to none higher than the one he oceu- pies, and tho functions of which he most certainly fills to perfection. Ilis ollice is a model of neatness and order, and in every letail is manifested the most perfect arrange- ment, showing the workings of an intelligent, well directed mind. Ile is a beau-ideal pub- lie servant -- ellieient, punctual, industrious, honest and uniformly courteous to all with whom he comes in contaet.
lle was married in this county, June 23, 1883, to Lanra J., danghter of Dr. William L .. Long. Mrs. Duncan was born in Mis-
souri, but was reared in llill county, her parents coming to this section a number of years ago. Mr. Duncan is a member of the A. F. and A. M., the I. O. O. F., the K. of P. and the K. of Il.
AMES PICKETT, a physician and sur- geon of Johnson county, was born in Barbour county, Alabama, December 10, 1553, a son of Charles Pickett, who was born in Chester district, South Carolina, February 23, 1823. The latter was reared on a farm in Sumter county, Georgia, and in 1846 he removed to Eufaula, Alabama. He received his medical education at the Reformed Med- ical College of Georgia, after which he prae- tieed his profession in Barbour county, Ala- bama. In 1866 he moved to Prairie county, Arkansas, in 1869 to Waxahatchie, Ellis county, Texas, in [871 to Johnson county, and in 1882 to Burleson, same county. On account of ill health he abandoned his pro- fession in 1885, and is now living a retired life. Ile is a Royal Arch Mason, and has been a member of the Methodist Church South for about forty years.
The subject of this sketch began life for himself as a school-teacher in Ellis and Tar- rant counties, and later was engaged as elerk in a dry-goods and grocery store for W. L. West, a sketch of whom appears in this work. During this time he was also studying medi- cine, and in 1878 he began practicing under a State license. In March, 1882, he gradu-, ated at the Vanderbilt University of Nashi- ville, Tennessee, after which he returned to
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Johnson county and engaged in practice at Burleson. On account of his wife's health Dr. Pickett removed to his farm in 1890, where he has over 200 acres, 110 acres of which is under a fine state of cultivation.
The Doctor was married February 4, 1883, to Miss Permelia, a daughter of Major Will- iam N. Warren, a native of Missouri. Ile was a Major in the Confederate army, and later represented his people in the Legisla- ture of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Pickett have four children: Eula C., Charles W., Anna L. and Gustavus E. The Doctor is a member of the Farmer's Alliance and of the Demo- eratie party, and his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.
+ ENJAMIN F. JACKSON, a leading farmer and an old settler of Johnsou county, was born in Georgia, August 19, 1840. Ilis parents were II. L. and Ann (Holland) Jackson. The father moved from North Carolina to Tennessee early in life, and thenee to Georgia and Texas. His mother was a daughter of John Holland of Georgia, who at one time owned the land and old mill where the battle of Chickamagua was fought. Iler father came to Texas in 1840, before the State was annexed, and located at Dublin, where he spent the rest of his life. The mother of our subject died soon after coming to Texas in 1853, leaving nine children, viz .: John, of Ellis county; Andrew, who died in Austin; Benjamin F., our subject; Thomas, a farmer of Ellis county; Elizabeth, wife of E. Fullerton, a farmer of Bosque county; II.
B., deceased ; Martha, who married J. F. Campbell, a farmer of Ellis county; Joseph I'., deceased at Austin ; and Rebecca S. Jones, of Bosque county.
After the death of his first wife the father married Miss Presley, and they have seven children. Mr. Jackson died in Ellis county, December 19, 1880, and some time after the stepmother of our subject passed away, and the whereabouts of the children are unknown.
Benjamin F. Jackson was educated in the common schools of his native State, com- meneing life for himself at the age of twenty years, as a fariner, in the year previous to the late war, when, in 1862, he joined Com- pany E of the Fifteenth Texas Infantry, under Colonel Speight, and served in the Trans- Mis- sissippi Department. He was in the battle of Fordoche, Louisiana, where he . was slightly wounded. He was also in the bat- tles of Carnes' Bayon, Mansfield, Pleasant IIill, Yellow Bayou, and in quite a number of minor engagements. His regiment surren- dered at Richmond, Texas, in June, 1865, after which he returned to his chosen occu- pation, that of farming and stock-raising in Ellis county, where he continued to reside until the fall of 1871, when he came to Johnson county, locating on the farm where he now lives. Ilis farm here originally con- sisted of 202 acres of slightly improved Is a, for which he paid $13 an acre, but to. wi o.b he has since added until it now corrdas i ty acres, 350 acres of which are under .. high state of cultivation. Commencing life in Ellis county, in 1865, with little money, purchasing his land on credit, hic exemplities
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