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 44
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 44
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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
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HISTORY OF JOHNSON
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what a man of industry and perseverance can accomplish. Ile is now one of the most prosperous farmers in the county, and has gained the esteem of all by his honest and upright dealings. He is gonerous and public- spiritod, and ever ready to contribute to public enterprises tending to benefit his country. He is not now raising cattle and horses as extensively as in the past, but is rather lending his efforts to the improvement of his stock by breeding to standard-bred horses and graded cattle. He is part owner of the largest Clydesdale horse in the county, weight 1,800 pounds, seventeen and one-half hands high, which cost $2,000.
lle was married in 1866, to Miss E. E. Swofford, a native of North Carolina. Her parents were J. II. and Eady(Pruitt) Swotford, both natives of North Carolina. Iler father moved to Texas in 1857, settling in Grayson county and engaging in farming and stock- raising, thence to Johnson county, in 1863, where he died, in December, 1880, at the age of sixty-six years. Her mother died in 1876, at the age of fifty-eight years. They had cleven children: Susan, wife of Lynu Adams, of Marion county, Arkansas; Jonas, of l'alo Pinto county; Sarah A., deceased, wife of Jeptha Miller; Naney, deceased; G. W., of Concho conuty; Eady E., wife of our subject ; May E., deceased, wife of James Clark; John F., of Parker county; T. C., of Waco; Esther F., wife of John Scott (first fins band was James C. Cobb); Charity T. A., wile of Noah Kite.
Mr. and Mrs. Jackson have had fourteen children, as follows: John F., born December
2, 1866, died October 22, 1868; Eady A. born July 21, 1868, wife of L. Copeland, and died March 5, 1888; Esther D., born December 27, 1869, wife of Joseph Davis; George C., boru August 3, 1871, died Sep- tember 24, 1883; Wycliff G., born February 3, 1873, resident of this county; Benjamin J., born September 18, 1874; Ewell S., Sep- tember 23, 1876; Roda L., January 5, 1879; Amy J., January 11, 1881; Ira P., April 1, 1882; Luke B., August 29, 1884; Jennie E., August 18, 1887; Ethel B., December 24, 1888; Winifred R., September 30, 1891.
The parents are both members of the Mis- sionary Baptist Church.
W. MERTZ, President of the First National Bank of Cleburne, was born at Frankfort-on-the- Main, Germany, son of Henry and Louisa Mertz, also natives of Germany. Our subject was brought by his parents to the United States when seven years of ago, and was reared in Beardstown, Cass county, Illinois, and educated in the public schools of that place. After leaving school he started for the West to make his fortune, and made his first stop in Kansas City, Missouri. In 1868 he went to Holden, Johnson county, Missouri, where he secured a position as bookkeeper, and later as assist- ant cashier, in the Bank of Holden. Ilo remained there until 1871, when he came to Texas, locating at Paris, where he interested local capitalists in a banking enterprise, and . organized the Farmers and Merchants' Bank of that place, of which he became cashier.
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Mr. Mertz held this position until June 1, 1880, when he resigned, being advised by his physician, Dr. J. F. Hooks, of Paris, that he must have a change of employment, owing to temporary ill health. He then, to secure out-door life, closed out his interests there, and took a herd of cattle to the Pan Handle of Texas. Ilis health there was soon com- pletely restored and he came to Cleburne, Texas, having obligated himself not to engage again in the banking business in Paris, Texas, for several years. After coming to Cleburne he, in company with O. S. Ileath and Major E. M. Ileatlı, organized the Johnson County Bank, and continued it as a private enter- prise until June 7, 1883, when it became the First National Bank of Cleburne, of which Mr. Mertz became president. Ile has given his time wholly to this institution, and its success is largely due to his efforts. (See page 145 for an account of this bank.) Hle has also, some outside interests, and among other things a fine ranch of 2,800 acres, near the Brazos river, Jolmson county, sixteen miles south of Cleburne, which is stocked with thoroughbred and high-grade cattle and horses, mules and fine jacks. This is said to be the finest ranch in the county, and is known as Ruby ranch.
Mr. Mertz was married in Sherman, Texas, in 1876, to Miss Mary Belle Phillips, a daughter of David Phillips, an old resident of Kansas City. Mrs. Mertz was born in Kansas City, graduated at the Illinois Female College at Jacksonville, and is an aceom- plished lady. Mr. Mertz has been connected with a number of local enterprises, and is a
publie-spirited citizen. lle is now a mem- ber of the School Board, and takes a greut interest in education. Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational church.
ILLIAM F. EASTER, one of the rep resentative farmers of Hill county- was born in Mississippi, in 1846, a son of Jasper M. Easter, a sketch of whom is given in this work. Our subject remained at the home farm until 1863, when he en- listed in the Confederate service, in a com- pany of independent scouts, under Captain T. L. Duke, where he remained until May, 1864. Mr. Easter was then put into the regular service, in the Nineteenth Missis- sippi Regiment, Company G, commanded by Colonel Duff, under General Forrest, and served to the close of the war, after which he returned home and attended school the re- mainder of the year. Ile continued to work on the home farm until 1871, when he mar- ried and settled where he now lives. lle began life for himself at the age of twenty- live years, and now owns 212 acres of land, with 135 under cultivation, and well stocked.
In 1871 he married Prudence P. Major, who was born in Kentucky in 1855, a daughter of Walter S. and Jane E. Major, natives of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Eas- ter have had eight children: Baxter B., Sarah T. (deceased), John F., Lillie M., Jen- nie L., Edward E. (deceased), Rufus M. and Hattie. Politically, Mr. Easter is a Demo- Terat; socially, a member of the Masonic
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order; and religiously, both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, in which he has been a Deacon for seventeen years.
AMUEL S. RAMSEY, a member of the firm of Walton & Ramsey, general merchants of Grand View, was born in Tennessee, in 1850, being the second child of a family of five children. ITis parents were John L. and Barbara (Frazier) Ramsey, na- tives of Virginia and South Carolina respect- ively, but who came to Tennessee before their marriage. The paternal grandfather of our subject came to America from Scotland in about the year 1785 and settled in Virginia. HIe fought in the war of 1812 on the Ameri- can side. Ile married Isabella Scott, in Rockbridge county, Virginia, in 1795, mov- ing, in 1806, to East Tennessee. They raised a family of four boys and two girls: Samuel M., born in 1803, was a farmer; James, born in 1805, was a minister of the old-seltool Presbyterian Church; William, born in 1807, was also a minister of same denomination; Jane, born in 1810, never married; Mary, born in 1812, married John Sheerly; and John L., father of our subject, born in 1814, was a farmer. Most of their descendants now reside in Tennessee.
The maternal grandparents were early settlers of Sonth Carolina, and the grand- mother's maternal family came originally from Germany, while the paternal grand- father's family was from Scotland. Mr. Frazier's father, Samnet Frazier, was of
Scotch-Irish descent, and came to Amorica and settled in South Carolina, before the Revolution and followed General Francis Marion through the entire war. After that contest had elosed, he removed to Greene county, Tennessee, where, in 1806, he married Barbara Gibbs, a danghter of Nicholas Gibbs, formerly of Germany. Mr. Gibbs, served during the whole seven years of the Revolu- tionary war, and was with General Jackson throughout the Indian wars, and was in com- mand of a battalion at the battle of the Horse Shoe.
Mr. and Mrs. Frazier reared a family of eleven children: George W., born in 1807; Rebecca, born in 1808, married T. A. Moore, and died in 1582; Paulina, born in 1810, married R. R. Gist, and died in 1857; Nicholas G., born in 1812, was twice a member of the Tennessee Legislature, and was a distinguished physician: he died in 1850; Ann, born in 1814, married Valentine Allen; Sarah J., born in 1817, married Henry Love, who died in the Mexican war of 1846 '47, and she afterward married Joseph Parks, who died in the Civil war, a Confeder- ate soldier; Julia Emily, born 1819, married M. II. Whaley; Abner White, born in 1821, served through the Mexican war of 1846-'47, and the Civil war; Mariah Louisa, born 1824, never married; Barbara S., mother of our subject, born in 1826, married John L. Ram- sey; Beriah, Jr., born in 1832, was a Cum- berland Presbyterian minister of high rank, was Chaplain of the Third Tennessee Regi- ment, Confederate Army, and died at Gaines- ville, Texas, in 1872.
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John L. Ramsey is a farmer, and at present resides in Tennessee, aged seventy- eight years. On coming to the State in his younger days, he joined the United States troops in fighting the Indians in Alabama and Florida, and in 1863 espoused the cause of the South, serving until the cessation of hostilities. He participated in many hard- fouglit battles, being Orderly of the company to which he was attached. He belonged to the Army of the Tennessee, and was at Chicka- manga, also at Atlanta, during the forty days' fighting in and around that place. llis regiment surrendered at Greensboro, North Carolina, after which he immediately returned to those duties which he had laid aside in 1863 in order to fight for his native country. lle has always been a farmer. Ile and the mother of our subject reared a family of three children; William, deceased; Samnel S., our subject; and Louisa, deceased, wife of L. P. Black. Mrs. Ramsey died in 1858, aged thirty-two years; two years afterward, in 1860, Mr. Ramsey was married to Mrs. Denirah Ahart (nee Wilson). Mrs. Ram- sey's great-grandfather, James Wilson, was formerly from Scotland, and settled in Penn- sylvania. He was a Colonel in the Revo- Intionary war, a member of the Continental Congress, a signer of the Declaration of In- dependenee, and a Supreme Judge of the United States Court. The family have fig- ured prominently in the history of our country. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey have had two children, James, of Rock wood, Tennessee, and Belle, deceased, who married I. M. Bruden.
The paternal grandmother of our subject was a Miss Seott, whose family was among the earliest settlers of America. Iler broth- ers served in the war of Independence, and Captain William Seott, of Viginia, mentioned in the histories of our country's struggle for independence, was her brother. Ile was also a recruiting officer in the war of 1812, and died in 1840, aged 100 years.
Samuel S. Ramsey received his education in the common schools of his native county, in Tennessee, afterward attending the Cum- berland University, at Lebanon, Tennessee. Leaving school at the close of his junior term, he returned home, and engaged in mercantile pursuits at Washington and Chat- tanooga, Tennessee. Ile continued in this business until 1878, when he came to this State and this locality. He arrived in this village in August of that year and purchased somne property, on which he engaged in farm - ing and in mercantile business. Hle con- tinued alone in the latter ocenpation until 1888, when the present firm of Walton & Ramsey was formed. This firin carried some $15,000 worth of stock, consisting of dry goods, boots, shoes and groceries, together with a large line of farm machinery. They do the largest supply business of all the houses in the village, the sales averaging from $40,000 to 850,000 annually. They employ three salesmen, besides each partner doing his share of work, which makes five men, who are all kept busy most of the time. Besides this he is interested in agricultural pursuits, and owns a fine farm adjoining the village containing 200 acres, 140 acres of
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which are in a high state of cultivation. Here he has built a handsome residence, with comodions barns for his grain and stock, besides other modern improvements. llis wifo was the original owner of the land on which the town of Grand View is built, hav- ing sold the first lot in the place.
Mr. Ramsey was married, in 1881, to Miss Adella Senrloek, of this county, who is a daughter of James F. and Rebecca (Criner) Seurloek. (See sketch of A. C. Senrlock, of Cleburne). They have five children: Lon, a danghter; Samuel, Raymond, Due and Rus- sel. Mr. Ramsey is a member of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church, and Mrs. Ramsay belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He affiliates with Grand View Lodge, No. 256, 1. O. O. F., of which he is Noble Grand. He was elected Alderman from his ward in the last elec- tion, on April 6, 1892.
II. CAIN GRIFFIN, of Cleburne, Johnson county, was born in Jackson county, Alabama, April 27, 1810, a son of P. 1. and Mary J. Miller Griffin, na- tives of Mississipi and Virginia respectively. The parents both died in Marion county, Texas, the mother in 1859, at the age of forty-three years, and the father in 1860, aged forty-five. They left a family of ten children, seven boys and three girls, all of whom became grown, and eight are now liv- ing. All are residents of Texas, and most of theit reside in Dallas.
The subject of this sketch was brought by his parents when six months old to Texas, the father making his first stop at Clarksville, Red River county, and later moved to Jef- ferson, Marion county. Our subject was reared mainly in Jefferson and vicinity, and his people being poor he received but little education, having to help keep the family from the time he was old enough to work. He entered the Confederate army in the spring of 1861, enlisting in the first eom- pany raised in Marion county, this being Company F, commanded by Captain W. F. Duncan. He served in the Trans- Mississippi Department, and was in active service up to the battle of Pea Ridge, in which engage- ment he lost his left leg, and was compelled to retire from active service As soon as he recovered, however, Mr. Griffin joined an in- dependent force under Captain Fitzwilliams, and spent the remainder of the war in the field, mostly in Arkansas, where he and his comrades gave the Federal forces no little trouble.
After the surrender he returned to Joffer- son and left soon after, and in October, 1866, moved to Johnson county, where he has since resided. During the first years of his resi. dence in this county he was engaged in farm- ing, and has at all times since been identified with agricultural interests. Ile settled in Buchanan, then the county seat, and lived there one year. Then the county seat was moved to Cleburne, where it now is. He was one of the clerks of the olection on that occasion . and can give the particulars how the county capital came to be moved as it was. Ile was
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shortly afterward elected Constable of his pre- vinet, serving as such four years. He was then elected Justice of the Peace, and served in that capacity two years, and Mr. Griffin also frequently held other positions of responsi- bility. In November 1887, he was elected Tax Collector of the county, and was re- elected in November, 1889, and is now serving under this election. He has the reputation of being one of the best collectors in the State, and has also the reputation at the State Department of Austin of being one of the best settlers in the State. Mr. Griffin still claims to be a farmer, and is sound on all the cardinal doctrines of the Alliance, being the farmer's friend and staunch ally. Politically, he is a Democrat, but, at least as respecting the two great parties, rarely ever enters into an election here.
Mr. Griffin was married at Alvarado, Johnson county, September 1, 1869, to Miss Ellen Roberson, a daughter of W. J. Rober- son, an old settler of this county.
R M. ELDER, of Whitney, Ilill county, was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky, June 5, 1831, a son of Robert Elder, a native of the same county, born in 1797. Hle was married to Miss Jane Bentley, who was born in the same year as her husband. The father lived in his native county all his life, and was a trader in the South, and died in New Orleans, of cholera, in 1850, at the age of fifty-three years. His wife survived him until 1872, dying at the age of seventy-
five years. Mr. and Mrs Elder were the parents of nine children, viz .: Henry, de- ceased; James M., of Kansas; Mary, also of Kansas; Elizabeth, wife of James Montze; Martha, widow of Salon Wray; R. M., our subject; John B., of Kentucky; and Rebecca, deceased.
After reaching maturity R. M. Elder went to Mississippi and completed his education, and was then employed as clerk by a supply company until the breaking out of the war. In 1861 he enlisted in Company I, Eleventh Mississippi Regiment, and after the battle of Seven Pines he was detailed in the Quarter- master's Department, and served in that ca- paeity until the elose of the war. Mr. Elder then returned to Kentucky, where he visited six months, and then, in November, 1865, etune to Texas, and was first engaged in teaching seliool and other employments. Ile subsequently bought a farm of 200 aeres, which he afterward sold and bought his present place of 145 acres near Whitney, seventy-five aeres of which is cultivated. Mr. Elder was elected a Justice of the Peace in 1878, and held that office ten years, and was shortly afterward re-elected. Ile was also appointed Notary Public in 1876, and still holds that position.
Mr. Elder was married Angust 18, 1868, to Miss Emma Hamilton, and they have had nine children, six now living, -- R. S., J. B., Lottie, Princes, Etna and Ella R. Mr. Elder began life for himself when twenty years of age, with comparatively nothing, but is now in comfortable circumstances, and can live at ease in his oldler days. Mrs. Elder is a mem-
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