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 105

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 105
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 105
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 105
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 105
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 105
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 105

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).

Upon his return home Mr. Broyles em- barked in the grocery business, in a small way at first, but profits were large and sales quick, and by degrees he added to his stores until his business grew to large pro- portions. In 1873 he saw the way to enter the lumber trade, and invested a few thou- sand dollars in a plant. A planing-mill was soon put in operation and it now dresses 1,000,000 feet annually, shipments of lumber being made to this point for that purpose. A jobbing business is con- ducted in sash, doors, blinds, etc. The present value of the plant and stock is $30,000. Mr. Broyles is interested some- what in farming, owning a 600-acre tract, 150 of which is under cultivation.

Mr. Broyles was born in Calhoun county, Alabama, in 1834, the son of George Broyles, born in Tennessee. The latter was reared and educated in that State, and became a large slaveholder and a success- ful and wealthy planter. In 1833 he re- moved to Mississippi, and in the following year to Alabama. His wife was Rosanna Harper, of South Carolina, and from this union there were the following children: Mary; our subject; Maggie, a teacher in the Palestine public schools; Thomas J., living in western Texas; Lizzie; Robert, living in Texas; and Daniel, living in An- derson county. The educational advan- tages of Mr. Broyles were very good; he spent two years at Lebanon, Tennessee, graduating from the law school, his tutors being Judge Green and Judge Caruthers, who remained with the institution.

Just after the war Mr. Broyles was elected County Judge of Anderson county, but was removed by the military as a inen-

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

ace to reconstruction. He now takes very little interest in county or even in State politics; although he occasionally attends State conventions, having been a delegate to the famous Houston convention of 1892.

Our subject was married in 1859 to Miss E. O., danghter of Dr. E. J. De Bard, of Kentucky. The children of this union are: Mary, deceased; George D .; and Graham. Five other children died in infancy. The family is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of Palestine, of which Mr. Broyles is a Steward.

W. STEPHENS, District Clerk of Limestone county, is a native of Grenada, Mississippi, and a son of J. W. Stephens. who was born in Georgia in 1822. In early life he moved to Mis- sissippi, and in 1859 to Limestone county, Texas. When the Civil war came on he became an employe of the Confederate Government as a gunsmith, and remained in that capacity until the close of hostili- ties. He then returned home and pursued his former occupation, farming and stock- raising, in which he made money for many years after the war, but was unfortunate and lost much about 1879. Mr. Stephens was not an educated man, but was endowed with an abundance of natural ability, and this, in addition to his ambition, brought him success. In 1880 he was elected Tax Collector of Limestone county, but died the following year. He married Rhoda E. Wilcox, and they had eight children, viz .: M. Z., wife of W. P. Brown; L. W. was the next in order of birth; A. L., wife of

D. A. Waller; T. L., a physician by pro- fession; J. W., our subject ; C. A., wife of D. A. Strain, of Hood county; Dr. G. M., a gradnate of Louisville and New Orleans colleges, and now of Beeville, Bee county; and C. T., the youngest member of the family.

J. W. Stephens, our subject, was en- gaged in farming and merchandising until twenty-five years old, when lie embarked in the stock business. This he continued only three years, and was then appointed Dep- uty County Clerk. After four years of service he became a candidate for the office of District Clerk, and was elected in the face of two opposing candidates, only lack- ing twenty-eight votes of having a major- ity over all. He was re-elected in 1888, and again 1890, without opposition, and such unanimous re-elections testify to his efficiency as an officer.

November 28, 1878, Mr. Stepliens was united in marriage with Miss E. A. Anglin, a daughter of A. Anglin, a pioneer of Texas, and a brother of John Anglin, whose sketch appears in this work. Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Stephens, viz .: W. A. (deceased); Ethel W .; V. L. (deceased); G. J .; J. W. and Sidney. Our subject is Past Dictator of the K. of H.

B. RAWLS, agent for the Hous- ton & Texas Central Railroad at Groesbeck, was born in Chicka- saw county, Mississippi, in 1856, a son of T. M. Rawls, born in 1830. He was a soldier in the Confederate army, and died

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

in 1866. His wife, Sarah A., was a daugh- ter of Buchanan, of Maury county, Tennessee. The latter was quite promi- nent in political circles in his county, hav- ing filled the Sheriff's and Clerk's offices a number of years. The Rawls family were originally from Georgia, and of Scotch de- scent. The eldest child of T. M. Rawls was Ellen, a half sister of our subject; then Gabriel, deceased; Sadie, deceased; W. B., our subject; and two half brothers, T. J. and T. M. Daniel.

W. B. Rawls secured a good English education, and began railroad work at the age of nineteen years, at which time he came to Texas and engaged with his present company. In 1876 he took charge of Al- len Station, at the north end of the line, two years later was transferred to this point, and has filled the place continuously since that time, making fourteen years of faithful and efficient service. He is one of the oldest agents on the road. In 1885 Mr. Rawls embarked in the raising of fine stock, giving his attention principally to the Jerseys, and now has on hand fifty head, which he will catalogue and begin marketing soon. His farm contains 350 acres, nicely situated and well improved, being equipped for a model stock farm. Besides this tract our subject also owns 1,800 acres in the Pan Handle, which he holds merely as an investment, also has property in Groesbeck, a portion of which is finely improved. He takes no active in- terest in politics, but has served as Alder- man of his city for a number of years.

In 1875 Mr. Rawls married Blanche, a daughter of Thomas M. Hall, of Thomas- ville, Alabama, and they have four children:

J. W., Marcella, Kate and Mack. The mother died in 1887, and in 1889 our subject married Anna Connor, of Groes- beck, and they have two children: Blanche and Adell. The family are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

H. HERRING, a prominent and prosperous farmer of Limestone county, was born in Tuscaloosa county, Alabama, in 1838, a son of Will, iam Herring, who was born in Pendleton district, South Carolina, in 1810. In early life he removed to Alabama, where he reared a large family of children. He has in no sense been a public man, pre- ferring the quiet of civil life to the emolu- ments and responsibilities of office. In 1867 he came to Texas with our subject, with whom he now resides. His father was Elisha Herring, born in North Caro- lina in 1779. The latter was a soldier in the war of 1812 from South Carolina, aud married Sallie Thomas. They were the parents of nine children, all now deceased but William, the youngest child. He was married in December, 1830, at the age of twenty years, to Elizabeth, a dauglı- ter of Samuel Moses, of Georgia. They had seven children, viz .: T. L., born in 1832, died in 1880; Elisha, whose sketch appears in this work; Meredith, who died in 1862 in the army; W. H., our subject; Mary Jane, widow of William Craft; and J. N., of Erath county.

The subject of this sketch received only a limited education, and when that mo- mentous struggle between the North and

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

South broke out he enlisted, July 5, 1861, as First Sergeant of Company G, Eigh- teenth Alabama Regiment, under E. C. Bullock. and later under Colonel Holtz- claw. They were first under fire at Shiloh, in April, 1862, then at the en- gagements of Ripley, Farmington, Chicka- mauga, Lookont Monntain, Missionary Ridge, and at the last-named place Mr. Herring was captured and taken to Rock Island, Illinois. He was held prisoner until in May, 1865, and while so confined received a portion of his education from a Yankee teacher. After exchange the squad was transported down the Missis- sippi river to New Orleans, thence back to Shreveport, Louisiana, where they waited five days for Generals Buckner and Price to effect a surrender of the depart- ment at New Orleans. The troops were again moved to Natchez, Mississippi, where paroles were made out, and this put an end to their military services.

Mr. Herring walked most of the way home, arriving in July, 1865, and, with- put money or property, began preparing a crop. In 1867 a heavy freshet destroyed the crop, and our subject then concluded to seek a new field for more profitable operations. He accordingly got together his belongings, consisting of an ox and mule team, and came to Texas, arriving in Limestone county in December, 1869. His first home was on J. W. Cnrley's farm, in a small cabin without doors, win- dows or floor. While living there a heavy storm blew the roof off and otherwise damaged the cabin. While the storm con- tinned to rage Mr. Herring put his wife and child under the bed, and covered them

completely with their best and highly prized coverlets, which they brought from their Alabama home. Nothing daunted, however, he bought a small tract of land, to which he has since added until he now owns 400 acres. He still keeps in sight his first little cabin as a reminder of days that were not so cheerful. Besides pay- ing for his own comfortable home, our subject has helped other worthy and in- dustrious men to buy theirs; also has con- tributed liberally to the cause of education, Baylor University at Waco and the The- ological Seminary at Louisville, Kentucky, receiving donations from his purse. He has always been an active promoter of church interests in Limestone county, both white and colored. The family are members of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which he is a Deacon. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party.

November 23, 1868, Mr. Herring mar- ried Miss M. J., a daughter of John Reaves, an Alabama farmer. The children of this union are: Sarah Jane, wife of J. M. Keu- nedy; Edd, of Marlin; Elizabeth, wife of J. D. Collins; Narrero, who was educated at Mexia, and gradnated with the highest honors of his class; Gertrude M., John Milton and Gny. Mr. Herring is sur- rounded with all the comforts of life, is contented and happy, and is a most worthy gentleman.

P. MERRILL, a leading merchant and farmer of Personville, Lime- stone county, was born in Alabama, July 1, 1834, a son of William Merrill, a

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

native of Maryland, born in 1803. He first moved to Georgia, thence to Florida, and finally to Alabama, where he spent the active part of his life. Our subject's grandfather, Robert Merrill, was a native of Maryland.

R. P. Merrill, the subject of this notice, came to Texas when eighteen years old, leaving his family behind, and committing himself to the mercies of entire strangers, but, being an honorable young man, he readily found favor and friends in his adopted home. He worked by the day for the first four years, using a part of the money to educate himself, and also spend- ing a few months at Gonzales, California. In 1857 he returned to Alabama on a visit, where he was married, and October 15, of the same year, came again to Texas, arriving in Polk county on November 1. After following agricultural pursuits there two years, he concluded to make a change in location, and chose Trinity county. He had scarcely settled for business when the duties of a soldier urged him to put on the Confederate gray, enlisting in Speights' battalion. The command went twice into Louisiana, and the first time the battle of Fordoche was fought, and the second a battle at Kirkasaw Pass, capturing two Federal gun-boats, re-manning them, and making prisoners of the Federal force. Mr. Merrill was soon afterward detailed to do work in a gun factory, then being con- structed at Mountain Prairie, Anderson county, where he remained until the close of the war. In May, 1865, he was per- mitted to return to his farın, and his pos- sessions were then $1.50 in silver and a $5 Confederate bill. Many good people

imagined that confiscation of all property by the United States Government would speedily follow the war, but Mr. Merrill gave the authorities credit for having hu- mane treatment to administer, if indeed they were molested at all, and set about making arrangements to establish him a home. He built on a one-third league of land in Trinity county, the owner then be- ing unknown, intending when the pro- prietor presented himself to buy the tract, which he did, paying for it out of the products of the soil. In 1874 he sold out and bought 150 acres of land in Limestone county, 100 acres of which is cultivated. In 1883 he embarked in the dry-goods business at . Personville, which occupies his entire time. He carries a $4,000 stock of goods.

Mr. Merrill was united in marriage with Frances A., a daughter of Isaac Smith, of South Carolina. The children born to this union are: William R., Mary E. (now Mrs. J. C. Simms), J. H., Fannie H. (wife of J. T. Boyd), Etta L., Addie and Pearl. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church.

ACOB A. WOMACK, Treasurer of Freestone county, is a native of Ala- bama. He is of Scotch and Welsh extraction, his paternal grandfather being John Womack, who was a native of Vir- ginia, and his maternal grandfather was Jacob Lewis, a native of Maryland. His father was John, always known as "Jack," Womack, who was a native of Georgia. He was reared in Jones, Oglethorpe and

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

Hancock counties, that State, and in 1818, when he moved to Alabama, settling in Claiborne county, and moving two years later to Butler county, where he subse- quently lived and died. In his younger days he was a merchant, and later became a planter, and was so at the time of his death. He was successful throughont life and made a great deal of money, which he spent freely. Mr. Womack was generons to a fault, and fond of the pleasures of this life. He was a man of wealth and sub- stantial character, and was for many years a member of the Primitive Baptist Church. Our subject's mother, Sallie Lewis, a native of Georgia, survived her husband many years, dying in 1862, well advanced in life. She also was a life-long member of the Primitive Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Womack, Sr., had ten children, as follows: George, Martha, Noland L., Mary, Sarah, John, Green, Jake A., Emily and Kate. Of these children only two are now living, our subject and Mrs. Emily Howard, of Dallas, this State.

Our subject was born in Butler county, Alabama, January 31, 1823, and was reared to manhood on a farm in that connty, re- ceiving a fairly good education. About 1849 he left Alabama and came to Texas in the interest of Mathew Robinson & Company, of Haynesville, Lowndes county, Alabama, manufacturers of mills and gins. He traveled in their interest in this State for three or four years, mainly in southern and eastern Texas. He then settled in Freestone connty, and having taught school some in Alabama and liking it, he turned his attention again to it. Later on Mr. Womack took the position as clerk with

Peck & Boyd, merchants of Fairfield, and was with them a year when they sold out to Winter & Johnson, and our subject closed out the business for them. He was then, in 1857, elected County Clerk of Freestone county, and held this office until 1861, when he resigned and entered the Confederate army, enlisting in Captain Peck's company, which was stationed at Hempstead for the first three or fonr months, during which time the conscript act was passed, and Mr. Womack being over age was released. Returning home he passed the period covered by the war in general service of the public and farm- ing on his own account. In 1866 he re- ceived the appointment for the second time, that of County Clerk of Freestone county, which position he held until he was removed by the Federal authority.

Our subject was married in 1866 to Mrs. Fannie Carter, the widow of Walker Carter, and retired to the farm, engaging in farming pursuits until 1884, when he was elected Treasurer of the county, hav- ing held this office ever since, being re-elected every two years. Mr. Womack has been twice married, his first wife dy- ing in 1869, leaving one child, a son, now Dr. Walter A. Womack, of Woodland, Freestone connty. Mrs. Womack was the daughter of Gilbert Richardson, who came fron Alabama to Texas when his daughter was but a child, she being a native of Ala- bama. Her father was at one time a citi- zen of Freestone county, but at the time of her death was a native of Robertson county. Mr. Womack married Miss Fan- nie E. Harris, a daughter of Simeon Har- ris, who came from Alabama by way of

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

Arkansas to Texas, during the war, his daughter being a native of Alabama. To this union were added three children: Etliel, wife of T. D. McElveen, of Fair- field; Mary and Stella.

Our subject is in point of service one of the oldest public officials of Freestone county, and one of that county's most highly respected citizens. He has always borne a stainless reputation both in public as well as private life, and there is proba- bly no one in the county whose word counts for more or whose character is held in higher esteem. He is one of the plain, old-style, honest men, whose moral worth is universally acknowledged and who is an honor to the county in which he lives, and all his life he has upheld Democratic prin- ciples.

P. GOODMAN, one of Corsicana's leading merchants and citizens, was born in Cumberland, Virginia, in 1844, a son of Joseph N. Goodman. The latter was a successful farmer by occupa- tion, and accumulated a large property, but, like many others, he lost it during the war. The only position he ever held was that of County Commissioner of his county. His death occurred in 1862, at the age of fifty-four years. His mother was born in 1764, was left a widow in 1805, saw ten years of British domination over the American colonies, read the Declaratiou of Independence fresh from the hands that made it, witnessed the glorious triumphi of American arms in her first encounter with the mistress of the seas, beheld the

birth of a new nation, and experienced the blessings of liberty for seventy years. Then came the strife between the States, the bloodiest of all wars, and whien Gen- eral Lee surrendered at Appomattox, April 9, 1865, she passed to the beyond, closing a most remarkable career. Joseph Good- man married Amanda, a daughter of Rob- ert Clark, of Virginia. Six children were born to this union, all now living, of whom our subject is the fifth child.

He was attending the Virginia Military Institute when the war came on, and he enlisted in the Eighteenth Virginia In- fantry, under Colonel Pickett. He went at once to the vicinity of Richmond, and participated in the battles of Bull Run, Mason's Hill, Neechanville, Chancellors- ville, second Bull Run, Cold. Harbor, Hampton's Cross Roads, Fredericksburg, Petersburg, and many other minor en- gagements about the historic Richmond. Mr. Goodman was severely wounded at Fredericksburg. After the close of the struggle he returned to the farm, the scenes of his childhood, and, by practicing economy, saved money euough in a few years to bring him to Texas. He arrived in Corsicana in 1871, and engaged at once with his brother in the grocery business. Seven years later the firni became R. P. Goodman, and has so remained since that time, except three years when our subject devoted his attention to his farm and stock interests. Mr. Goodman has served as Al- derman of his city four years; was Chair- man of the Finance Committee when it negotiated bonds for building the school- house; was a member of the committee that passed the resolutions for the con-

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

struction of the City Hall; introduced a resolution and anthorized the city to bor- row money to redeem city scrip at par, and has remained so since; takes a firm stand for public schools; and was one of the committee that drew up the code of rules governing them in Corsicana. He was a delegate to the State Convention at Dallas, and is one of the committee having in charge the Odd Fellows Orphans' Home of Corsicana.

In 1874 Mr. Goodman was united in marriage with Jennie, a daughter of Aaron Ferguson, a native of Aberdeen, Scotland. Our subject and wife have had seven chil- dren: Mary, Ernest, Willie and Nation, deceased; Shelly, Hazel and R. P. The family are members of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Goodman is a supporter of the Sunday-school.

A. WILLARD, a progressive farmer of Fairfield, Freestone county, Texas, was born in Cannon county, Tennes- see, in 1833. He is the son of W. W. Willard, who lives on a farm near our sub- ject. The father was born in Tennessee, in 1811, and married Lovie, the daughter of James Duggins, of the same county, al- though the family came from North Caro- lina. The Willards are Virginians. The children of this marriage are: Malinda, the wife of Elisha Hobbs, of Fairfield; onr subject; J. B., who lives in Tennessee; W. B., who lives in Ellis county; Debbie, who is now Mrs. Davenport; Peggie, who is the wife of Will H. Arson.

Our subject lost his mother when he was but a child and his father married Eliza

Summers, and the children of this mar- riage were: Nelson, Mathew, Bert, Drew, Mary, Susic, Eliza, Lena, Frank, Benjamin, and Sally. In the fall of 1861 our sub- ject enlisted in Colonel Bartos' regiment of Confederate troops and was sent to Mis- sissippi to do guard duty on the New Orleans Railroad. After eleven months service he returned home and did not re- enter the army. He was not in sympathy with the war and engaged in it only when there seemed to be no other course. When the war ended, our subject determined to shut from his view the destruction wrought in his native State and seek a new and bet- ter field for gaining his livelihood. Texas seemed to possess the greatest possibilities, and hither he came with little more than means to pay for the trip, or in other words nothing but his children. He bought his first tract of land, of 200 acres, at $5 an acre, and has since added enough to make 388 acres, 160 of which is under the plow and well improved. Besides his farm prod- ucts of the soil, Mr. Willard sells surplus horses, cattle and hogs. He never fails to make all the corn he needs. He allows the politiciaus to fight their own battles, being content to remain upon his farm. He is in favor of public education and strives to get the most possible good out of the sys- tem for the youth of the country.

In the fall of 1857 Mr. Willard married Hannah, the daughter of W. C. Odom, and their children are: W. C., J. M., Lovie, who is the wife of Ben Burks. Mr. Wil- lard lost his first wife in 1861, and the next year he married Nancy Odom, a sister of his first wife, and the children resulting from this marriage are: C. B .; John, de-

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

ceased; Nancy, wife of Richard Burks; Maggie, wife of Frank Duggins; F. H .; Bertie, Bessie, and Bennie, who is deceased. The family are members of the Baptist Church and are highly respected citizens.

B. NEWMAN .- Among the pro- gressive men of Freestone county, those interested in its material prosperity and in the intellectual advance- ment of its citizens, stands T. B. Newman, of Fairfield. He is not a native of the county, but came here from Georgia, where he was born in 1844. His father, J. W. Newman, was a farmer in Thomas county, at that time, and continued to reside in that connty until his death, at the advanced age of ninety years. He was an educated man, a soldier by profession, and was in the Indian war, under General Jackson. He was a native of Kentucky, where his father, J. W. Newman, settled on imini- gration from Germany. Claysville was the location of the old homestead, in which the early life of our subject's father was passed. He was proprietor of a boat, and his father was drowned in the river. Our subject's mother was Mary E., daughter of W. J. Hurd, of Georgia, who originally came from Virginia, and his wife was a Bird be- fore her marriage and related to the Lee family. The children born to Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Newman were: Narcissa; Elizabeth; Augustus, who was killed at Mission Ridge; J. J .; Amanda; Morton lives at Corsicana ; subject, and W. B., who lives at Mason, Texas.

Our subject secured his education chiefly at a Masonic institution, and while there the Confederacy made a call for soldiers and he responded, enlisting in the Fiftieth Georgia Regiment, under Colonel William Manning. In October, 1862, he was trans- ferred to the Volunteer Guards and par- ticipated in the battles of the Rapidan, Manassas, Munson's Gap, and Sharpsburg. The regiment was stationed at Charleston a number of months and was exposed to a continuous shelling from the enemy's guns. It was sent to guard Appomattox bridge, and then took up position at Choffins Bluff, below Richmond. It surrendered with Lee's army. Mr. Newman enlisted as Third Sergeant, and he was wounded in the leg, at Charleston.

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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