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 109

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 109
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 109
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 109
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 109
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 109
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 109

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).

borongh, Tennessee, in July, 1862, and was afterward promoted as First Lientenant in Mann's regiment. Clement P. was in Captain Tyus' company, and was captured at Arkansas Post. He died on board the steamboat on the Mississippi river, while he was being transported to prison in the Northı.

EORGE W. BLACK, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Limestone county, Texas, is the son of John Black, who was born in 1819, in Tennes- see, where he died in 1855. He was a successful farmer and large slave-owner. Of course he lost all his slaves during the war, but there was about $15,000 worth of property left of the estate. He had only a common-school education and com- menced with nothing, and all that lie had was earned by his own efforts. In poli- tics he was a supporter of Bell, and was also a member of the Sons of Temperance. He was very energetic in his actions, jovi- al in disposition, but could be quite pos- itive if necessary. He was a son of Rob- ert Black, a native of North Carolina, where he was a fairly prosperous farmer. This family originated in Ireland and came to this country in the early history of the United States. Mr. Jolin Black was a brave soldier in the Mexican war. He married Helen M. Deavenport, born in 1827, native of Tennessee, who died Sep- tember 20, 1890. Her parents were na- tives of Tennessee. Mr. Deavenport was a mechanic, and his family was of English descent. One of our subject's maternal uncles, Thomas II. Deavenport, was edn-

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cated in Tennessee and became one of the most prominent members and ministers of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. and Mrs. Black were married in 1846, and they had seven children, namely: John F., who now lives in Tennessee, is a farmer and merchant, was a member of the Alli- ance, of which he was President of his county and Treasurer of the State, but in 1890 lie was elected by the Democrats to serve in the State Legislature, and is now serving his term; William Robert, now in the Pan Handle; Ann E., now the widow of Rufus H. Yarboroughi, of Ten- nessee; Almeda, now the wife of J. P. Buchanan, of Tennessee, a prosperous farmer and Justice of the Peace; Tennes- see died in 1863; Andrew J. now resides in Tennessee, where he is a farmer and stock-raiser.

Our subject was born in Tennessee, in 1852, and remained at home, working on the farm until 1873. Here he received his education at the country schools. In 1873 he engaged as clerk in a country store, and then came to Texas. After remaining in Texas one year he re- turned to his native county and engaged in farming and stock-raising, and remained there until the fall of 1882, when lie came to Texas and located in Falls county. He rented a farın on Blue Ridge for two years. He then removed to his present home in Limestone county, in 1884, and purchased his present home. He began life when twenty years of age without any assist- ance, but after the settlement of his father's estate, in 1874, he received about $1,500. He now is the owner of 640 acres of land, in Hale county, and 640 acres of land in

Limestone county, also four town lots in Tulia, Swisher county. He has 100 acres of this land under cultivation, and is the owner of about 100 head of cattle, sixty horses and mules.

In 1874 he was married to Miss Corne- lia J. Long, native of Tennessee, who came to Texas with her parents and settled in Hill county, where she remained until her marriage. She is the daughter of M. G. and Ann (Bodenhammer) Long, natives of Tennessee, of Irish and German descent, respectively. Mrs. Black is one of thir- teen children, nine of whom are still liv- ing.

Mr. and Mrs. Black have seven chil- dren, namely: Charlie G., now a student at Trinity University; Bessie M .; David Hugh; Knowles; Clyde; Almeda and Rexford. Mr. Black is a Democrat in politics, and he and his wife are members of the Christian Church, in which the sub- ject has been a Deacon for four years. For honesty and hospitality Mr. Black is sec- ond to none in the State.

B ENJAMIN F. HARTZELL, a resi- dent of Blooming Grove, Navarro county, Texas, was a son of one of the first settlers, and grandson of the first man of that name who settled in the county of Navarro. He was born in Dresden, in this county, in 1863, his parents being Daniel B. and Martha E. (Carroll) Hartzell. Mrs. Hartzell was a daughter of Colonel B. F. Carroll, who was also an early settler of the county, coming from the State of Mississippi,

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where Mrs. Hartzell was born. Daniel B. Hartzell was born in Paris, Stark county, Ohio, and came to Texas with his father in 1834, and settled in Dres- den in 1835. He was born in 1828, and died in Dresden November 12, 1891. His occupation was that of a merchant and real-estate dealer, doing an extensive business, and was the first white man who started a store in Dresden, if not in the county. He traded principally with the Indians for some years, as the white set- tlers were too scarce to rely upon in the mercantile business, and took in exchange for his goods and groceries buffalo skins and like peltry. In this way Mr. Hart- zell early became one of the leading men in the county, and at the opening of the war was one of the wealthiest. Physically he was not able to enter into active service in the army, and after the war he resumed his mercantile pursuits in connection with farming, following both of those occupa- tions until within five years of his death, when he closed his commercial life, but continued to manage his farm. He never occupied any official position in the county, although he was quite active in the politics of his day, and supported the Democratic party. He was a prominent member of Dresden Lodge, now Blooming Grove, No. 497, being one of the charter members of said lodge, and also of the R. A. M., at Corsicana, and was also a Knight Templar, initiated at Houston. Mr. and Mrs. Hart- zell, Sr., were the parents of five children, namely: Dora, wife of Fred Fleming, a prominent attorney of Corsicana; our sub- ject; Mollie, wife of C. S. Sullenberger, cashier of Sturgis' National Bank at Hills-

boro; Cora and Jacob, at home. Mrs. Hart- zell still survives, residing on the old home place, at the age of fifty-three. At death Mr. Hartzell left his wife and children over 7,000 acres of fine land, mostly in this, Ellis and Lamar counties. Mrs. Hart- zell is a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, as are her daughters. Her father took quite an active part in the late war.

Our subject was educated in the com- mon schools of the county, and at the age of eighteen spent two terms at the Agri- cultural and Mechanical College at Bryan, known as the Texas Military School, leav- ing there prior to graduation. For one year he remained at home, then went to Poughkeepsie, New York, and graduated from Eastman's Commercial College there. Returning home he worked for his father for two years, and then engaged in the stock business in this county. He became the owner of a large number of cattle, which he fed and shipped. In 1889 he formed a partnership with A. S. Ilenry in the dry-goods business in Blooming Grove, and the business was known as Henry & Hartzell. They employ four clerks, and do a business of some $50,000 annually, at present carrying a stock of some $12,000. The business is conducted as a supply house for the surrounding farmer community, being the only house of this kind in the town. They have been very prosperous, owing to their strict busi- ness integrity.

In 1889 Mr. Hartzell was married to Miss Clemmie Hayden, a native of this county, daughter of Colonel James and Priscilla F. (Jannary) Hayden. Mrs. Hart-

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zell is a member of the Christian Church of this city. Mr. Hartzell is a member of the K. of H. He is a very enterprising and promising young business man of Blooming Grove.

OHN A. MILLER, a resident of An- derson county, Texas, is the subject of this sketch. He is a son of John B. Miller, who was born in 1832, a native of South Carolina, who came thence to Mississippi in young manhood, thence to Arkansas, and from there to Texas in 1852, and located in Anderson county at Kicka- poo. There he lived until his death, which occurred in May, 1872. By occupation he was a merchant, also was engaged in farm- ing, and was quite successful in his under- takings. He had a good, practical educa- tion. He began for himself when quite young, having had no assistance and very little afterward, and at death he had accu- mulated a nice competency. In politics he was a Democrat, formerly a Whig, and was a member of the Royal Arch. In his religion he was a member of the Presby- terian Church, and was a man of even temper and of temperate habit, very chari- table toward worthy objects. He was the son of Samuel and Martha Miller, natives of South Carolina, who canie thence to Anderson county, where they died. The former was a prosperous farmer and stock- man, and came to Texas in 1851.

The mother of our subject was Laura C. Ayers, a native of South Carolina, and now lives with her children. She is the daughter of John B. and Frances Ayers,

natives of Mississippi, who lived and died there. Our subject's parents married in 1848, and had a family of eight children: Martha F., deceased when three or four years of age; John A., our subject; Sam- uel, now residing at Athens, Texas, where he is Tax Collector of Henderson county; Betty, wife of John H. Gaston, of Dallas, in the banking business; Frank, deceased when young; Augustus, deceased when young; Sally Jack, the wife of Dr. R. Murchison, of Athens, who is a merchant of Henderson county; and the eighth of the family died in infancy.

Our subject was born in 1851, in Arkan- sas, in Union county, and came thence to Texas when about one year of age. He remained with his parents until the death of his father in 1872, and then engaged in the mercantile business at Kickapoo, where lie continued for five years ; thence came to the neighborhood where he now lives and engaged in farming and in the stock busi- ness. In 1887 he removed to his present home, where he has since resided.

The marriage of our subject took place in 1875, when he wedded Miss Texanna Akin, a native of Anderson county. She is the daughter of David and M. J. (Sowel) Akin. Mr. and Mrs. Miller are the parents of seven children, as follows: Mary Etta, deceased in 1890 at the age of fourteen; Jack Akin at home; Samuel, Ben Hill and Clara are at home; Harry W. is deceased, and the last child was but an unnamed infant.

Our subject began for himself when he was twenty-one, and then inherited a good property, but engaged in the mercantile business and lost all about 1879. He

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

started at the bottom and now owns 1,300 acres, 250 nnder cultivation, fifty cattle, six or eight horses and mules, and a steam gin.

In politics our subject is a Democrat, and for six years he has been Justice of the Peace in the fourth precinct, and is now serving in that capacity. He is a Mason, Royal Arch, now a member of Palestine Chapter, No. 10, and William Foster Lodge, A. F. & A. M., No. 312, Brushy Creek. Bothi subject and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and are very excellent people.

ARNETT C. CELY, a merchant and farmer of Anderson county, Texas, is the son of William and Susan Elizabetlı (Elrod) Cely, born in South Carolina in 1852, where he resided until 1871, when he came to Texas and located in Anderson county, where he engaged in farming. The first year his business ar- rangement was to work on shares, but the next year he improved it by working by the month, and at the end of this time he purchased an improved farm located near Brushy creek. This place, however, did not quite suit our subject, so that lie sold it and bought a fine place near Kickapoo, and from there came to his present home.

In 1874 Mr. Cely was married to Miss Margaret C. Freeman, and they are par- ents of the following children: Cora, Hampton, Marvin, Della, Jack, Homer, Roy, Lura and Lena.

Our subject began the struggle for him- self in 1871, and when he landed in

this great State lie was $75 in debt. He was not at all discouraged, however, but went bravely to work, and he easily paid his indebtedness out of his first year's earnings. He now owns 225 acres of land, and has enough stock to enable him to carry on a good farm, and has an equal interest in $7,000 worth of goods, and probably is wortlı $15,000.

In politics our subject is a Democrat, and has long been a valued member of the Masonic fraternity. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cely are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Cely is secretary of the Sabbath-school. He is one of the worthy men of this State, and has made his mark in the county as a business man and a moral factor.

J. SMITH, one of the leading farmers of Navarro county, was born in Ten- nessee in 1835, son of Eli and Jane (Brumely) Smith, natives of Missouri and Alabama respectively, although they were married in Tennessee and there reared a family of seven children. The father of our subject died when he was a small boy, and his mother also was taken away by death when he was but thirteen. Both parents had been twice married, and the three fami- lies of children (nineteen in all) grew to maturity. Mr. Smith was an influential farmer and early settler of Tennessee.

Our subject received a very limited education at the common schools of his native connty, which knowledge he im- proved by candle-light after the day's work was done. When. only seventeen

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years of age he came to Texas overland, and for eighteen monthis viewed the coun- try ; but in. 1854 was employed in digging, in mills, etc., for some years, and during that time was also engaged in wagoning and attending stock, all of which he did for wages. He joined Ben Mackie's company of partizan rangers in 1862, and served principally in Arkansas until they joined with other companies to form Morgan's battalion, but was only in the battles en- gaged in while chasing Banks through the State of Louisiana, and of Pleasant Point and Mansfield. For twenty-five days they had skirmishes with the eneiny each day. The regiment was disbanded on the Little Brazos, in Robinson county.

After his return, Mr. Smith was en- gaged in dealing in and handling cattle, in which undertaking he was very success- ful,-so much so that in 1869 he was able to purchase thirty-two acres of unculti- vated land in this county, for which he paid $5 per acre. On this land he erec- ted a small house, and iniproved a little of the land, but later sold it and purchased seventy acres of land, fifty of which was prairie and the other twenty timber, and there are a few improvements on this land. He resided on this farm until 1884, when he rented his farm and removed to this county, where he remained during the winter and spring of 1884-5. While there he purchased 160 acres of raw land, on which he made considerable im- provements, and in the month of July, 1885, traded it for the farm he now owns, consisting of 161 acres, well improved Besides the two farms Mr. Smith has about 469 acres, making about 700 acres in all,

300 acres of which is in a fine state of cultivation, with good residences, barns, etc. Mr. Smith has made all his posses- sions by his own industry, it being his motto to attend to his own affairs and leave other people's alone. He breeds a better grade of stock than the average Texan, and owns a fine steam cotton gin, and other outside property.

He was married in 1855 to Miss Nancy Ferguson, of Texas, and to this union no children were born, Mrs. Smith dying not long after marriage. In 1859 Mr. Smith married Miss Eineline Meazell, a native of Arkansas, born at Batesville, daughter of Moses and Ellen (Smith) Meazell. Three children were born, namely: C. L., de- ceased; Andrew, residing in this county; and Martha J., deceased. Mrs. Smith died in 1865, a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The follow- ing year Mr. Smitli married Mrs. Martha (Dunn) Barker, a native of Arkansas, a daughter of Thomas and Mary A. (Mea- zell) Dunn. Mr. and Mrs. Dunn separa- ted on account of religious differences, Mr. Dunn being Catholic, and Mrs. Dunn's parents not being willing that their grand- child, Mrs. Smith, should be reared by one of that persuasion. Therefore they took their daughter and her little one and re- moved to Texas, settling first in Rush county, on the Sabine river, from there removed to Navarro county in 1848, but remained only a short time, when they removed to Anderson county, remained six or seven years, and then again removed to this county. After coming to this State Mrs. Dunn was twice married, first to Mr. Gabriel Tutt, and to this union two

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

children were born: Ella, deceased, wife of Wiliam Dawson; and Cynthia, deceased. After the death of Mr. Tutt, his widow married William Pickett, and six children were born to this marriage, three of whom lived to maturity, namely: Malinda, widow of James Carter; Munsol; and Frances, wife of William Averies. Mr. Dunn had been educated for the priesthood in Ireland, but not caring to take upon himself the responsibilities of that office made his way from his native land to America. To Mr. and Mrs. Smith three children have been born, namely: Sophrona A., wife of Samnel L. Humphries, of this county; Eli D .; and William N. Both Mr. and Mrs. Smith are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Smith feels that the greater portion of his success in life has been due to the able assistance of his estimable wife, whose counsel in business affairs has al- ways proven to be sagacious and correct, and all the business ventures undertaken by her advice have been successful. Mrs. Smith is considered to be the best business woman in the county, as well as one of the most pleasant ladies and faithful and de- voted wives and mothers.

L. STUBBS, a farmer of Freestone county, was born in South Carolina in 1822, the fourth child of David and Ann (McDaniel) Stubbs, natives of South and North Carolina, respectively. They were married in the former State. The paternal great-grandfather of our sub- ject was a native of England; his son, the grandfather of onr subject, was a soldier in

the war for independence, in which he held the rank of Captain; and his son, David Stubbs, served for a short time in the war of 1812. The family were prominent slave owners. The father of our subject moved from Mississippi to Louisiana, and later to Houston county, Texas, where he died in 1860, at the age of seventy years. He and his wife reared a family of six children, viz .: Margaret J., deceased, was the wife of Captain J. Bridges, and the family now re- side in Clark county, Arkansas; Silas, de- ceased at Charleston, South Carolina; P. L., our subject; Lncy, wife of J. A. Smith. of Navarro county; and Mary, widow of J. C. Dunnagan, of this county.

P. L. Stubbs was educated in the com- mon schools of South Carolina, and at the age of twenty-one years began life for him - self as a farmer in Mississippi. In the fall of 1849 he came overland to Freestone connty, Texas, settling on land belonging to his wife's mother. In 1852 he engaged in the grocery business at Fairfield, this county, which he continued two years, hav- ing been one of the pioneer grocery men of the city. At the time of his settlement Fairfield had only about twenty-five families, and the county was also sparsely settled. Milling was done by a Mr. Lindley, who lived twenty miles distant, and lumber was brought by teams from eastern Texas. Mr. Stubbs was engaged in that occu- pation for several years. After retir- ing from the mercantile business, he was elected Tax Assessor and Collec- tor, which position he held six years. In 1860 he embarked in the hotel business at Fairfield, but three years later joined Cap- tain John Oliver's company, Colonel Brad-

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ford's regiment, was stationed at Galves- ton island, and was never engaged in any battles. In 1866 Mr. Stubbs began farm- ing on rented land, three years later en- tered the grocery business at what was called Woodland, now Bonner, and in 1874 began the same occupation in this city. In the same year he erected the only hotel in the village, which he conducted until 189 1 and then rented the property. He also carried on the grocery business in connec- tion with his hotel, but since that time has conducted a general store, doing business under the name of J. J. Stubbs.

Mr. Stubbs has been twice married, first in 1845, to Miss Caroline Dunnagan, a native of Mississippi, and they were the parents of nine children, six of whom still survive: J. J. and Hiram, of this city; Columbus, a farmer by occupation ; Martha, wife of J. R. Knight, and Mamie, wife of C. J. Turner, of Freestone county. The mother died in 1880, and the father after- ward married Mrs. Nancy J. Robinson, nee Clark, a native of Mississippi, although an old settler of Texas. Mr. Stubbs is one of the most prominent men of his county, is one of the best business men in this sec- tion, and is an old and respected Texas pio- neer. He has watched with interest the development of Freestone county from its infancy to the present day.

HERRING, one of Limestone coun- ty's most industrious and thrifty farmers, was born in the State of Ala- bama, in 1833. Our subject secured no education beyond the ability to read and

write, and make a few simple calculations. Yet, however much he has felt the need of better qualifications, his natural ability as a financier has shown itself in the accumu- lation of a nice competency in the last twenty-seven years, placing himself far be- yond the necessity of further toil. He is and has been exclusively a tiller of the soil, beginning this ocenpation for himself at the age of twenty-one years. The war be- tween the States soon broke forth in all its fury, and Mr. Herring enlisted in the Thirty-eighth Alabama Infantry, but after four months of service exchanged places with his brother, and was at home a few months. He then re-enlisted in the Thirty- sixth Alabama Regiment, under Colonel Woodruff, and participated in the battles of Hoover's Gap, Lookout Mountain, Mis- sionary Ridge, Chickamauga, in the At- lanta campaign, and back with Hood to Nashville, taking part in the battle of Franklin on the way. Our subject was Orderly Sergeant of his company, and did not miss calling the roll during his entire service. He was wounded at Dalton and Peachtree creek, was captured at Mobile twenty-eight days before the close of lios- tilities, and imprisoned at Spanish Fort un- til the close. He was paroled at Vicksburg, and walked from that place to his home. Shortly after his arrival a number of Yankee soldiers appropriated what little stock he had left, and in the fall of 1865 he decided to come to Texas. By using all his spare money and borrowing from his sister-in-law, he was enabled to reach Horn- hill, Limestone county, and the following year located on his present farm of 320 acres. He now has his place well stocked

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

and improved. Mr. Herring has asked for no public office, preferring the quiet and more independent life on the farm. He has been one of the prime movers in school and church building work, each having a claim on his purse.

Our subject was married in 1856 to Maria, a daughter of Alfred Acker. They have reared a large family of children, namely: J. H. and W. O., of Erath county; Fannie, wife of Samuel Hughes; Richard, of Mexia; Mary B., wife of G. H. Walker; Mattie, Fleet and Wood H. The children were educated at Prairie Grove, and the family are members of the Baptist Church.

H. SMITH, a farmer well known in Freestone county, Texas, was born in Alabama in 1827, and was edu- cated in the common schools of his native county. At the age of twenty-one he be- gan for himself as a farmer, and followed this occupation until the war came on. Although his father had lived in Ken- tucky, Alabama, and then in Arkansas, he went to Louisiana and thence to Texas in 1864. During the war his own residence was in Arkansas, and in 1863 he joined Captain Motley's company in Shelby's brigade of cavalry, but served only a short time. After landing in this State our subject was attached to thie commissary department, and was there until the close of the war. At this time Mr. Smith had a family, and had very little with which to provide for them. Hence he sold his small farm in Louisiana and rented land in this State from 1864 to 1870. At that

time he purchased a part of his present farın, consisting of eighty acres of im- proved land, and for this he paid $13.50. Since that time he has added sixty acres to the original purchase, and now has 160 acres under fine cultivation. He has a fine residence, with good outbuildings, and all that goes to make a fine farm and pleasant home.

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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