A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens, Part 104

Author:
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 954

USA > Texas > Henderson County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 104
USA > Texas > Freestone County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 104
USA > Texas > Leon County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 104
USA > Texas > Anderson County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 104
USA > Texas > Limestone County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 104
USA > Texas > Navarro County > A memorial and biographical history of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon counties, Texas from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospects; also biographical mention of many of the pioneers and prominent citizens > Part 104

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

Our subject married, in 1879, Maggie Shelby, daughter of J. M. and A. A. Shelby, of North Carolina, who removed to Alabama about 1846 and came to Texas in 1869, settled in Smith county, where Mr. Shelby died November, 1889. His wife still survives him and now resides in this county. Mr. Shelby was a farmer by occupation. Mr. Robbins and his wife have had eight children, two of whom are

deceased. Those living are: Shelby, born in 1880; John I., born in 1882; Archie C., born in 1884; Fred F., born in 1886; Raymond, born in 1887; and Villa M., born in 1890. Mrs. Robbins was born in January, 1858.

Mr. Robbins is now the nominee for Tax Collector by the Democratic party, and as that party is so strong in this por- tion of the county, the nomination is equivalent to an election. Both Mr. Rob- bins and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church and are highly re- spected members of society.

B. GRAYSON, M. D., the second oldest practicing physician in Free- stone county, Texas, was born in Wilcox county, Alabama, and was the son of Dr. S. G. and Caroline (Blackmon) Gray- son, natives of South Carolina and Ken- tucky, respectively, married in Alabama. Dr. S. G. Grayson was a graduate of a medical school in Kentucky. After gradu- ation Dr. Grayson began the practice of his profession while the State was yet a Territory and the Indians more numerous than the white men. He retired from the practice of medicine many years previous to his death, which latter event occurred in this State. He had come here in 1853, from Alabama, dying in this county in 1871. During his long life in the State he also engaged in farming, but took little in- terest in political matters, beyond voting for the Democratic candidates. The Gray- son family had come from Scotland to America long before the war for indepen-

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dence and settled in Virginia, later remov- ing to Kentucky, where Dr. S. G. Grayson was born, in the same county as were Abra- ham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis. Dr. Grayson and wife were the parents of ten children, seven of whom lived to be grown, namely: William, deceased, was an attor- ney at Fairfield, Texas, and served as a Judge of this county; Dr. T. B., our sub- ject; Elizabetli, deceased; Harriet, wife of William Cleveland; Mary, deceased, wife of Judge L. D. Bradley, of the Thirteenth District, and was Judge at the time of his death; Virginia, deceased; Carolina, lier twin sister, married D. C. Weatherford; Charles, of Leon county; Robert, of Leon connty ; and Alice, deceased, wife of Judge O. C. Kirven. Mrs. Grayson died in 1862, greatly lamented by all.

Our subject received his primary educa- tion in the common schools of Alabama, finishing a higher course at the University of Alabama. At the age of nineteen he en- tered the Department of Medicine in the Tulane University, New Orleans, gradu- ating there in the class of 1854-'55, and opened his office at Fairfield, May 1, 1855. Here he continued until 1872, when he removed to his present location. He still has an extensive practice, covering the greater portion of Freestone county. In the latter portion of 1862, Dr. Grayson entered the Confederate service in Charles Pyron's regiment of cavalry, but did not remain with them very long as he was or- dered by General Walker to join Walker's Legion as surgeon. While in this position he was stationed at Houston and Galveston until the close of the war. At this time lie returned home and engaged in the practice

of his profession, in which he has been very successful, becoming one of the most highly regarded men in this portion of the State.

The Doctor had cultivated about 100 acres of land previous to the war, and was a partner in a drug store in Fairfield. For many years the Doctor was a member of the Medical Examinating Board of liis county, and during the time the physicians had a medical board he took a great inter- est in it. In 1856, lie was married to Miss Caroline McArthur, of Alabama, a dangh- ter of Jolin and Christian (Gordon) Mc- Arthur, natives of Scotland and North Carolina. Dr. and Mrs. Grayson are the parents of nine children, namely: Arthur, deceased; William S., of Navarro county ; Mary, wife of John Robinson; Mary K., wife of C. J. McConnico; Bertie, wife of W. Y. Glass; Martha R., wife of M. M. Bonham; Jolin E .; Charles B. and Cora B. Dr. Grayson is a member of the Birds- ton Lodge, No. 333, A. F. and A. M, of which he was a charter member, and for many years a member of Fairfield Lodge, No. 104. There he has served as W. M. and was appointed W. M. of Birdston Lodge. He is also a member of R. A. M., Fair- field Lodge, No. 42, and was a member of I. O. O. F., Eudora Lodge, No. 42, which lodge is now out of existence. He is prominent in the County Grange.

EORGE R. WASHBURN, a success- ful business man of Navarro county, is a son of George R. Washburn, who was born in Georgia, in 1792. He removed

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to Alabama when young, and remained in that State until his death, which occurred in 1855. He was a successful farmer dur- ing life, was a Whig in his political views, and was Colonel of the State Militia of Alabama until his death. Socially, he was a member of the 1. O. O. F. He was a brother of General Washburn, of the United States Army. There were three brothers of our subject's father's family, but none ex- cepting himself came South up to the time of the war. His wife, nee Lucretia Lide, was born at Clark, Alabama, a daughter of and Elizabeth Lide, natives also of Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Washburn were married in 1840, and were the parents of six children, viz .: William H., a soldier in the Confederate army, is now a farmer of Arkansas; Albert G., also a soldier in the late war, represented his county in the Legis- lature four terms, is now serving his first term as Senator, practiced medicine ten years, and is now a lawyer of Waldron, Arkansas; Elizabeth, deceased in infancy; George, our subject; Joe G., a farmer of Navarro county; and Mary Emma, de- ceased, was the wife of Lodie Harrell, a farmer of Scott county, Arkansas.

George R. Washburn was born in Ala- bama in 1850, but in an early day removed to Mississippi; next to Arkansas; in March, 1872, to Lamar county, Texas; and the following year to Navarro county. He was employed as a farm hand at Rural Shade one year, then clerked for the firm of Ingram & Co. one and a half years, and then began farming on fifty acres of land given his wife by his father-in-law. In the fall of 1889 he embarked in the mercantile trade, in company with J. G. Carroll, but since 1891

he has conducted the business alone. Mr. Washburn began life for himself at the age of twenty-one years, with comparatively nothing. In 1879 he learned the brick- mason's trade, which, in connection with agricultural pursuits lie followed ten years. He now owns 120 acres of land, with forty acres cultivated, has a stock of drugs and groceries worth $3,500, a store room valued at $2,000 and a beautiful residence. Po- litically, he affiliates with the Democratic party, and has served as Constable of his city, is Master of Lodge No. 236, at Kerens.

Mr. Washburn was married in 1875 to Miss Louisa A. Bosworth, a native of Ar- kansas, and a daughter of F. J. and Eliza- beth (Lanford) Bosworth, natives of Detroit, Michigan, and Mississippi. Seven children were born to this union, only three of whom survive: Charlie E., James Oddie, and Frank B.

L. BOWERS, a very able and effi- cient official at Palestine, Anderson county, Texas, has been connected with the International & Great Northern from the very beginning of its history, and his record with that railroad has been marked throughout by unflinching integ- grity and devoted untiring and efficient service. He is superintendent of bridges and buildings, and began his service with the company in 1871, the year in which construction was first begun. Mr. Bowers was born at Danville, Virginia, May 24, 1850, where he was reared and received his education-an excellent one, at the hands of his brother, Adamn Bowers, a teacher of

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

some repute. He studied civil engineering at school, with a view of turning it to ac- connt in after life. While yet a boy he took up bridge building, doing his first work on the Richmond & Danville Rail- road, and was later connected with the South Side Railroad, which ran between Petersburg and Lynchburg, in the same capacity.

Mr. Bowers remained with these two companies until 1871, when he went to Chicago and entered the employ of the American Bridge Company, of that city. In that year he came to Texas in the em- ploy of the company named, as foreman of bridge construction on the International Railroad, beginning work at Hearne, the initial point, and at that time the head- quarters of the road. After the consolida- tion of the two roads-the International and the Houston and Great Northern, in 1873-he became an employe of the road, in the department of construction, mainly bridges and buildings, until 1880, at which date he was made superintendent of bridges and Buildings, which position he has held ever since.

Our subject was married June 14, 1880, to Miss Nellie O'Connell, of Corsicana, Texas, and removed to Palestine, which has since been his home. His married life has been a very happy one, his wife being a lady of most superior intelligence and of winning womanly qualities, who adorns the home and has attracted to her a host of attached friends.

The money expended under bis super- vision runs into the millions, and the com- pany owes all its splendid structures to him. The handsome passenger depot at Pales-

tine, recently erected under Mr. Bowers' management, is a fair sample of the depots along the line of the company, at the same time affords proof of the architectural taste and engineering skill of our worthy sub- ject. It is constructed of pressed brick, is two stories high, 173 feet 1 inch long, and 28 feet wide, exclusive of the iron railings all around it. It is 45 feet high to the ridge of the roof, and the tower containing the bay windows rises to the height of 70 feet. The ground floor consists of two large and handsome waiting-rooms, ticket office, express transfer room, baggage room, dining room and kitchen. On the second floor is the Western Union Telegraph Office, dispatcher's office, train master's office (two in number), road-master's office, condnetor's room and supply room. The interior of the building is finished in yel- low pine, in panels of modern design, the walls are plastered and painted, and wain- scoted to a height of five feet. All the buildings along the line were erected ac- cording to designs furnished by him and were constructed under his personal super- vision.

Mr. Bowers is a throughgoing man of business, devoted exclusively to his duties, which comprehend the charge of all the buildings and bridges over the entire line, aggregating 824 miles, extending from northeastern Texas to the Mexican border (Laredo); and the buildings and bridges are good, without exception. He has seen the road grow from nothing in 1871 into one of the best in Texas, and has con- tributed his full share toward making it what it is. The position which he so worthly holds is an earnest of the efficiency of the

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man. The esteem in which he is held by the stockholders, directors and other offi- cials attest his merit, and the confidence of the public in him and their attachment for him prove his manly qualities and high character. The people of Palestine, among whom he has mingled for twelve years, ad- mire him greatly, and his warm, personal friends are many. His residence in Pales- tine is an elegant one, where he and his devoted wife dispense true, characteristic Southern hospitality.

AVID M. DICKERSON, a large land-owner of Henderson county, Texas, came to the State in 1851 with his slaves. He was but a boy at the time and he first settled in Anderson county, near old Kickapoo, where, with the slaves he had brought he began farming, and remained there until 1861. He cleared 1,200 acres of land and made as high as 400 bales of cotton, and increased his force of slaves, and was thus enabled to do a large business. In 1863 he entered the Confederate army, leaving his wife, married in 1856, and his slaves, and while he was gone his wife died. He had en- tered Company B, Twelfth Texas, Par- sons' regiment and served in Arkansas, Louisiana and Missouri.

While in the army our subject was detailed to do the repairing of wagons and continned in that capacity until the close of the war, and was at old Nacogdoches at the close of the war. After this he returned home to the three motherless children, and found all of his slaves, with the exception of two, and he began to

get to work to repair damages and get his land in working order. In March, 1866, lie again married, and continued on the old place until he made two crops. In 1869 he sold out and came to Texas and bought here 338 acres, but the title to this land proved valueless and he had after this to buy again. The second tract had some improvements upon it and he has added much more, and now owns 1,233 acres, and has 269 acres under fine cultivation. All this land our subject rents, and raises cotton and corn and all home supplies, and during these years he has given much attention to stock, and also lias a gin and a mill.

Our subject was born in Greenville dis- trict, South Carolina, in November, 1826, and was reared on a farm. His father was a wagon-maker and he learned the trade and followed it for a short time. He received but a limited education, as he left the paternal roof when he was fourteen years of age, and since that time has made his own way in the world. He is the son of James and Elizabeth McCay Dickerson, of Virginia, and his grandfather was Thompson Dickerson, who served through the Revolutionary war, and he afterward settled in South Carolina and died there. The father of our subject was but a lad meanwhile, but saw some service at that time in the great war. He moved to Mississippi and spent the last of his life there, and was a wagon and carriage maker by trade. Nothing is known of the ances- try of the mother of our subject except that she came of Irish ancestors. Twelve children were born into the home, and David was the ninth.

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Of this family one brother, H. H., is a farmer of Van Zandt county, Texas, and the rest of the family still live in Mississippi, as there are seven of the family still liv- ing. Two brothers went into the army from Mississippi and both of them re- turned home alive. The first marriage of subject took place with Miss Martha A. Richardson, of Tennessee, who came to Texas in 1845, and afterward with her father, Lewis Richardson, settled first in Anderson and later in Johnson county. There Mr. Richardson carried on farming and cattle-raising. By this marriage Mr. Dickerson had four children, one of whom died in infancy, and the three who lived were: William R., now a lawyer at Athens; John T., who is now County Treasurer of Henderson county; and James L., a farmer of Henderson county. The death of the inother of these children took place January 29, 1865. March 22, 1866, our subject married Mrs. Martha Donnal, a daughter of John and Adaline Pruitt, of Kentucky, who came to Texas in 1845 and settled in Anderson county, later returning to Arkansas, where he remained seven years and then returned to Anderson coun- ty, and he and his good wife are resi- dents of Henderson county, aged eighty- two years, and they have lived together fif- ty-seven years. By this marriage Mr. Dickerson had a family of four children, two of whom died while young, and two who are still living, as follows: Samuel H., a Henderson county farmer; and David M., Jr., who is yet at home. This mother died December 19, 1890.

Since residing in this State Mr. Dicker- Sun has made a good record for himself,

and has been called upon to fill important offices, one being that of Justice of the Peace and four terms as County Commis- sioner. He is a Royal Arch Mason and in his political faith adheres to the principles of the Democratic party. He is a mem- ber of the Christian Church, as were both his wives.

ARRETT K. BEENE a resident of Freestone county, Texas, is a son of Sammel Beene, who was born in Ten- nessee, in 1813, and there he still resides, by occupation a blacksmith, farmer and stock-raiser. About 1854, Mr. Beene en- tered the Baptist ministry, and since that time he has been actively engaged in that work, having now four regular charges. Abont 1880 he built a brick church edifice at Jasper, the county seat of Marion county, and it was dedicated on the fiftieth anni- versary of his birth, and there he still preaches. In politics Mr. Beene, Sr., is a Democrat and he has been a Justice of the Peace. His parents, the grandparents of our subject, were Obadiah and Barbara (Heifner) Beene.

Samuel Beene was married March 10, 1830, to Miss Polly Kirk, a native of Ala- bamna, who had come from there to Ten- nessee, and in the latter State the marriage was celebrated. She was the daughter of Garrett Kirk, who was of Irish extrac- tion. Samuel had been one of a family of sixteen children, and he reared a family of twelve, who were named as follows: Oba- diah, who is a farmer of Parker county, Texas; Fannie, who became the widow of a Mr. Ralston, later of John Head, and

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later married Daniel Jackson, a resident of Boone county, Arkansas, but she is now deceased; Ann B., deceased, married M. W., a consin; Russell O., deceased, died from the effects of his service in the Con- federate army; Sam W., of Parker county; our subject; Joseph K., who died in the Confederate army, a prisoner at Rock Is- land, Illinois, having been captured at Charleston, Tennessee; Mary, wife of R. A. Smith, of Parker county, Texas; Robert P., a blacksmith and farmer in Parker county; John L., a machinist; Martha M., wife of Telma Walker, lives in Bledsoe county, Tennessee; and Sarah J., the wife of M. E. Walker, and lives in Jasper, Marion county, Tennessee. J

Our subject was born in Tennessee in 1842, and resided there with his parents until 1862, when he enlisted in the Con- federate service in Company G, Third Regiment of Cavalry, and was slightly wonnded at Fort Donelson and at Lou- don, Tennessee. He was taken to the hospital at La Grange, Georgia, where he recovered so that he was able to take part in the engagements of that section, and was in Dade county at the time of the sur- render. He then returned home, where he remained from 1865 to 1870, engaged in farming on his father's farmn.

In 1870 our subject came to Texas and located in Washington county, where he rented land until 1874, and then he bought the farm which he now owns, giving $800 for 200 acres, but later bought more until he had 350 acres, all but 190 of which he has given to his children.

The marriage of our subject took place in 1864, to Miss Angelina Whatley, a

native of Alabama, a daughter of William and Jane Whatley, and Mr. and Mrs. Beene are the parents of six children, two being deceased. Samuel W. is a blacksmith, now engaged at Pason Walk; Mary Jane died when three years of age; Nancy A. is the wife of John Knight, on the home farm; Joseph Grates, Eulalie Lee, Robert L., John W., are at home, and Ross died when two years old.

Our subject began the struggle of life for himself at the age of nineteen, and has continued to work out his own way ever since. The land he now cultivates is 110 acres, and he takes an interest in the rais- ing of mules, and owns an imported Span- ish Jack. In connection with his farming he carries on a successful blacksmith busi- ness. Both Mr. and Mrs. Beene are mem- bers of the Baptist Church, he of the branch known as the Primitive, and she of the Missionary. In his political convictions he is a Democrat. They are all much re- spected people.

OBERT A. MITCHELL, a promi- nent and enterprising farmer of Frost, Navarro county, Texas, came to the State in 1870, first locating in Upshur county, remaining there for three years, farming on rented land. At that time he removed to Navarro county and rented land for one year, then removed to Ellis, where he remained two years, renting land all this time, but in 1876 he purchased a tract of raw land consisting of 140 acres, which he improved and added to until he now owns some 500 acres, one-

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half a mile from the town of Frost. At the time of his settlement here there were no railroads nearer than Corsicana, and he did all his trading at that place. There were very few stores in the neighborhood, the country being comparatively new. He paid twelve and one-half cents per pound for his first wire for fencing, and two dol- lars and fifty cents per hundred for rough timber, both of which he hauled from Corsicana. In 1888 the railroad came to Hillsboro, the town of Frost was laid out about the same time, and it now has a popu- lation of about 350 persons. At the last named place there may be found all kinds of goods for sale, and a market within one mile of his home has greatly increased the value of our subject's property. He now lias 275 acres in good cultivation, which he rents on halves. Like many of the best farmers he believes in diversifying his crops, and has never failed to make a good crop; always raises stock sufficient for all farm purposes. He owns a one-fourth in- terest in a 100-acre farm adjoining the town of Frost. Mr. Mitchell is a self-made man, having earned all this property by his own efforts, and is proud, as he has just cause to be, of his success.

Mr. Mitchell was born in South Caro- lina, October 23, 1847, but reared in Georgia, on a farm, and received a com- mon-school education, although his advant- ages were very limited. He remained with his widowed mother, Mrs. Elizabeth (Tolar) Mitchell, until he became of age, and from the time he was thirteen years of age he had the responsibility of a farm on his hands, his father, Nimrod S. Mitchell, having died at that time. Although so

young he aided his mother to his utinost, rearing the family, which consisted of five ' children, our subject being the oldest, the others being as follows: John T. died at the age of twelve years; Martha C. mar- ried R. F. Jankins, now a prominent Bap- tist preacher in eastern Texas; Nancy J. married R. W. Morgan, who died, leaving her to manage his farm in Navarro county; and Benjamin F., who died at the age of four years. The father was a captain in the State militia during the early days; his occupation was school teaching and farming, and he was greatly regretted by all who knew him at the time of his deatlı.

In 1864, our subject entered the State militia of Georgia and served until the close of the war, being stationed at differ- ent points as a guard to protect the home people. In 1869, December 6th, he mar- ried Miss Jane L. Sewall, a daughter of Levi and Elizabeth Sewall, of Georgia, who came to Texas in 1872, settling in Na- varro county, where the father is yet liv- ing, although his wife died February, 1892. He was made Probate Judge and also served as Justice of the Peace, being a .respected and prominent farmer of his sec- tion of county. The year following his marriage our subject and all his family, in- chiding Grandma Tolar (who died in 1887, aged about eighty-four years), came to Texas, where they settled. The mother of our subject is still living, aged about sixty- nine. Ten children have been born to our subject and his wife, namely; John L., a farmer of Navarro county; Nancy L., at home; Lnadar H., married John S. Shep- ard, a farmer of Navarro covnty; Ora E., at home; Alexander F., at home; Levi P.

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died young; Emma B., Henry E., Kitty R. and Willie B. are all at home. The wife of Mr. Mitchell was born November 19, 1852. Mr. Mitchell and his wife are highly respected and influential people of their section of the county and have a host of friends to whom they offer the hospitality of their pleasant home.

F. BROYLES .-- Our subject is the leading dealer in lumber and build-

B 0 ing material in the city of Pales- tine, Anderson county, Texas. He came to this county in 1858, and engaged in the practice of the law, which he continued un- til the outbreak of the war, when he en- listed in the Third Texas regiment, under General Sibley, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant of a company. His command looked after the eneiny in the West during the first year of the war; later on, in the campaigns against Generals Banks and Steele, he was taken prisoner in Louis- iana, was sent to New Orleans and placed aboard the Maple Leaf, a Federal prison ship, with other prisoners, to be taken to Fort Delaware. When the ship reached a certain latitude, the prisoners took posses- sion and ran the vessel ashore, disem- barked and made their way to Dixie. Lieutenant Broyles directed his steps home- ward, via Richmond, rejoined his command and completed his military career in the western department, being disbanded at Wildcat on the Trinity river. The last two years of his service Mr. Broyles was a First Lientenant and acting Commissary of his regiment.

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Author: Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 954

Author:
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 954