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 111

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 111
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 111
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 111
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 111
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 111
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 111

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).

His son, Isaac Newton Suttle, born April 5, 1858, is the eldest of four children, a younger son, William Pettigrew, being a business man of Mckinney, this State, and two danghters, Eugene and Robert, being still at home with their parents. Dr. Isaac Newton Suttle was born in Lonisville, Mississippi, but was reared in Corsicana. He was educated at Baylor University in Waco, and at Sam Houston Normal in Huntsville, read medicine with his father, and graduated from the Kentucky School of

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Medicine at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1885, after which time he was engaged with his father in the practice of his profession. Dr. Isaac N. Suttle is one of the rising young members of the medical fraternity of Navarro county, standing at this time, perhaps, as high or higher than any one of his age in his profession. He has pre- pared himself thoroughly for his life work, having since his graduation from the Ken- tucky School of Medicine taken two special courses at the New Orleans Polyclinic, and spent considerable time in the los- pitals of that city. He possesses a fine mind and has an exceptionally splendid liter- ary taste, which he indulges to his own improvement and delight. He is an active member of the State Medical Asso- ciation of Texas, and is building up a repu- tation which bids fair in time to equal that of his late lamented father.

OHN F. CELY, a resident of Ander- son county, Texas, is a son of William M. Cely, who was born in 1823, in South Carolina, and there resided until his death, which occurred in 1863. That year he had enlisted in Company H, under Captain Croff, Sixteenth South Carolina Infantry, and died after three months' ser- vice, at Lauderdale Springs, Mississippi, where he was buried. By occupation he was a successful farmer. His educational advantages were limited, although by ob- servation and reading he had kept himself well informed. He was a Democrat in his political belief, but was opposed to seces- sion. He was a member of the Methodist

Episcopal Church, in which he was Stew- ard, Class-leader and Sabbath-school teach- er. He was favorably known as a man of strict integrity.

The parents of William Cely were John W. Cely and Susan (Stokes) Cely, natives of Virginia, who went thence to South Carolina. The father was a prosperous farmer. John W. was the son of Meritt Cely, who was a native of Virginia. The Cely family were pioneer settlers of Vir- ginia.

The mother of our subject, Susan Eliza- betli (Elrood) Cely, was a native of Sontlı Carolina, and she there married, and died in 1877. She was the daughter of Elias and Mary (Douthit) Elrood, natives of South Carolina. The former held the office of Constable for a number of years. His father died at the age of eighty-two, and his mother about ninety. The latter was the daughter of James and Susanna (How- ard) Douthit. James Douthit was a min- ister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. For years he continued to preach, until he was about eighty years old, and held sev- eral offices of trust and responsibility, as Justice of the Peace and County Treasurer of Anderson county, South Carolina.

Our subject's parents were married in 1846, and were blessed with a family of nine children, as follows: our subject; Mary (deceased) was the wife of W. W. Robinson of North Carolina, who is now Revenue Collector, but by profession a teacher; Elias (deceased); Barnett C.,-in partnership with his brother, our subject; Susannalı (deceased); Dora died when young; Martha (deceased) was the wife of John M. Harrington of Anderson county ;

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

Nancy C., wife of M. C. Burgamy; and Sally, who was burned to death when two years old.

Our subject was born February 25, 1847, in Greenville district, Sonth Carolina, and came thence to Anderson county when two years of age with his parents. When twenty-one years of age he was apprenticed to the tanner trade, at which he served one year, and then started a tannery of his own in Anderson district, South Carolina, where he continued two years. He then sold out and came to Texas the following year, and settled in Anderson county, in the neighborhood where he now resides. His first employment was in a tannery lo- cated in Brushy Creek, where he remained one year. Later he went into farming, working on shares for a year, and secured work on the construction on the I. &. G. N. R. R. and from thence to the Texas & Pacific Railroad, where he remained as foreman until 1873, and then returned to Brushy Creek, where he married and com- menced farming and ginning until 1882.

At this time our subject, with Dr. Law- rence, engaged in the mercantile business, and this partnership continued three years. The firm was then changed to J. F. & B. C. Cely, which firm still continues to do an extensive and successful business. Onr snb- ject was married in 1873, to Miss Martha Freeman, a native of Alabama, who is the daughter of William S. and Elizabetlı Da- vis. Our subject and wife are the parents of seven children, as follows: Betty, at home; Ella, deceased; Anna; Willie, deceased; Jolın, Sarah, and George, deceased. Our subject took charge of his father's estate at sixteen, the father having died at that

time. Ile was thrown on his own resources at the age of twenty-one. He landed in Texas with $3.50, but now has 356 acres, and 100 under cultivation, also stock sufli- cient to conduct the place, with a half in- terest in the store building and stock of goods valued at $7,000, also outstanding collectible accounts to the amount of $15,- 000. In politics he is a Democrat, and a member of the Masonic fraternity, Master Mason. Both subject and wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which be is Recording Steward, Circuit Steward and Superintendent of the Sabbath-school.

R. J. I. BONNER .- This most ex- cellent gentleman and highly re- spected citizen is a physician and surgeon of Fairfield, Freestone county, Texas, and is a representative of one of the largest, oldest and wealthiest families of the State. He is a son of Dr. John Bonner, who was born in Abbeville dis- trict, South Carolina, in 1794, where he was also reared and received his literary education. Ilis advantages in the matter of schools were of the best, having taken a thorough collegiate course, and having graduated with great credit. General Longstreet, afterward of Confederate fame; Judge Lipscomb, afterward of the Supreme Court of Texas; Governor A. P. Bagby, afterward of Alabama; and other less dis- tingnished, but very worthy men,-were his classmates. He read medicine under the celebrated Dr. Waddell of South Carolina, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania.

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

After graduating, Dr. Bonner located to practice in St. Stephens county, Alabama, in 1817, and practiced there and in Clai- borne and Dallas counties in that State, in the meantime also conducting a planta- tion until 1850, when he came to Texas. His first settlement was in Williamson county, where he bought a large tract of land about seven miles north of the newly- created county seat of Fairfield, lying on Cottonwood creek, and here he owned a large'number of negroes and opened up an extensive plantation. His time was wholly occupied with his agricultural pur- snits, and he never practiced his profes- sion after coming to this State, except among his relatives and near friends. From 1853 until the breaking out of the war he was engaged in the management of his large plantation, but the war swept away the most of liis property; especially did he lose on his negroes and personal property. He then divided the land among his children and afterward lived in retire- ment, dying at the home of his son, our subject, in 1879, in his eighty-fifth year. During his active life he ranked well as a physician, and when in the pro- fession enjoyed a good practice. IIe was a cultured gentleman, largely imbued with those aristocratic views which were preva- lent in that portion of the country at his time of life. He cherished high hopes for his children and strove for many years to accumulate property, that they inight en- joy the advantages that wealth only can give. He was possessed of an even temper, but not a passive disposition, and was a man of feeling and decided conviction. Late in life he joined the Presbyterian

Church, in which he had been reared, and lived consistently the remainder of his days within its teachings.

The mother of our subject bore tlie maiden name of Eliza F. Williams. She was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, but her parents moved to Alabama at an early day, settling in Claiborne county, where she mnet and was married to our subject's father. She died in Freestone county, this State, some years before the demise of her husband. John and Eliza F. Bonner had nine children, seven of whom becaine grown, and of whom the subject of this notice is the eldest. The next, John L., is a farmer of Freestone county; Andrew died in 1865 from dis- ease contracted in the Confederate army ; Oliver A. and Irvin H. are farmers and stockmen of Freestone county; Eliza, the eldest daughter, died unmarried; and Ara- bella is now the wife of W. II. McCrery, of Freestone county.

J. I. Bonner, the subject proper of this sketch, was born in Claiborne, Alabama, in November, 1828, and was reared in Dallas county, in that State. He gradu- ated from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa in 1847, and then read medi- cine under his father, and later spent one year under Dr. George B. Woods in the University of Pennsylvania, from which institution he had intended to graduate, but was unfortunately prostrated with cholera at the end of the first year. IIe returned home and subsequently com- pleted his medical education in the Charles- ton Medical College at Charleston, South Carolina, a school which then stood high, and from which he graduated in 1850.

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IIISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

He entered into practice in Camden, Ala- bama, but moved in 1852 to Dallas connty, in that State, and a year later he removed to Texas, whither his father's family had moved three years earlier.

Dr. Bonner, our subject, settled in Free- stone county six miles north of Fairfield, near his father, but here he left off the active practice of his profession and turned his attention to planting. He was en- gaged at this occupation at the opening of the war. In 1861 he enlisted as a pri- vate in the Confederate army in Timmons' regiment, and was appointed Surgeon of Terrell's regiment, and with it he served along the Gulf coast and up the Louisiana line, being promoted to be Brigade Sur- geon and serving as such until 1864, when he was compelled to resign on account of sickness contracted in the service, and then he returned home. For some time after the close of the war our subject did not resume his practice, but gave his attention mostly to farming. Afterward he left the farın and moved to Fairfield, at which time he entered actively again upon his professional pursuits, and so continnes at the present time.

Dr. Bonner has engaged in a general practice such as falls to the lot of a coun- try doctor, and he has become well known and beloved far and wide. He has pnr. sned his multifarions professional duties with zeal, and has inet with a reasonable degree of success. Connecting himself with several medical associations as have been within his reach, he has always availed himself of the opportunities which they have offered of keeping up with the progress of the best thought and work of

the profession, and of imparting to his brethren whatever of use he has learned himself. Ile has made some contributions to the medical journals, but these have not been extensive, nor of that interest to the fraternity which they would have been had his opportunities for observation been better.

Our subject was married October 1, 1852, to Miss Martha Bonner, a cousin, daughter of William Bonner, who was an early settler of Freestone county, as lie accompanied his brother, the father of the present subject, to this county in 1853. Mrs. Bonner was born in Wilcox connty, Alabama, in which State she and the Doctor were married prior to their re- moval to Texas. They have had a family of five children : Sallie B., now the wife of W. B. Robinson, of Palestine, Texas; Annie W., Mary, John A. and William P.

For more than thirty years our subject has been a member of the Masonic fra- ternity. Although a man of Christian impulses, he has never connected himself with any religious organization.

ON. J. I. MOODY, of Mexia, Lime- stone county, was born in Clark county, Mississippi, in 1849, a son of Harrison Moody, a native of Marion dis- . triet, South Carolina, born in 1812. He learned the trade of a blacksmith and wheelwright, which he followed during life. In an early day he moved to Missis- sippi, where he reared a family of nine children, five now living. His wife was Miss Mary Jane, a daughter of Joham

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Moody, with whom he lived a long and happy life. The Moody family are of Irish descent, and can now be traced back only to Thomas Moody, our subject's grandfather. He was born in Marion dis- trict, Sontlı Carolina, and one of his de- scendants, Theophilus Moody, became an evangelist in Alabama.

J. I. Moody, the second child of his father's family, did not receive the oppor- tunity to secure that intellectual training necessary to enable him to cope success- fully with educated men, his school days numbering only a few. After reaching his majority he launched out for himself, and began a course of reading. He has acquired a stock of information at once practicable and useful, and sufficient in quality to make up a well informed man. At twenty-two years of age Mr. Moody married and started a home of his own. He did not possess the necessary funds to furnish his home, only meagerly, and to secure this he made cross ties on the Hous- ton & Texas Central railroad, in Limestone county, one year. He then bought twenty acres of land, and with a small pony began its cultivation. To the original purchase our subject has added tract after tract until lie now owns 520 acres, 200 acres of which is under a fine state of cultivation. He has had some stock interests to supplement the farm, but is now giving his entire atten- tion to agricultural pursuits.

In 1871 Mr. Moody married Miss E. L., a danghter of George F. Allison, a teacher by occupation, who first emigrated to Tennessee, thence to Arkansas, and finally to Texas. Twelve children are the fruits of this union, namely: Harrison, Nannie,

Ruth, Carrie, J. I., deceased, Lawson, Susie, Allen, Mary, Josie, Dee and an infant.

Our subject has been frequently called into public life, and at each succeeding election the vote was so pronounced in his favor that there could be no mistake as to who was wanted to perform the trust. In 1880 he was elected Commissioner of Pre- cinct No. 3, and was re-elected in 1882-'84, an endorsement sufficient to warrant the conclusion that his duties have been well and satisfactorily performed. In 1883 Mr. Moody was elected to the Twenty-first Legislature of Texas, and in this body he was placed on the Committee of Internal lm- provement, as chairman of the Committee on State Affairs, Roads, Bridges, Ferries and Boundaries. In 1890 he was re-elected to the same position. He was the author of the law making a reduction of twenty-five per cent. in State taxes. His public rec- ord is above question, and his constituents appreciate his services. The question of his successor will be an easy one if he still desires the office. Mr. Moody has been a member of the Methodist Church for twenty years, in which he is now a Stew- ard.

C. WELLS, a prosperous farmer near Mexia, Limestone county, was born in Lauderdale county, Mississippi, in 1854, a son of J. W. Wells, a native of Tennessee, born in 1822. In 1844 he went to Mississippi, and in 1872 removed his family to Limestone county, Texas, where he died. He married Sarah Kerley, a na- tive of Mississippi, and a sister of J. W.

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

Kerley, the history of whom appears in this work. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Wells were: Ellen, Mattie, Willia, Susan, Carry, J. C., Thomas, Philip, Benjamin and James.

No golden opportunity awaited Mr. Wells for an education. He merely learned to read, write and cipher through the five general rules of arithmetic. At the age of twenty-one years he started out in life for hinself, with nothing for capital except an abundance of energy. In partnership with his brother William, he bought 264 acres of land on credit, making the payments until cleared, and in the same way he has since purchased 286 acres more, making a total of 418 acres, all his own. The place is well stocked, and five teuants are em- ployed in tilling the soil.

December 25, 1889, Mr. Wells married Annie, a daughter of James Sawyers, of Mississippi. He was the father of the fol- lowing children: Hattie, Annie, Drue, Dave, Effie, George, Lenin and Sue. The mother died in 1888, and in 1890 Mr. Sawyers married Mrs. Berryman, and they had one child, Myrtie. Mr. and Mrs. Wells have one daughter, Annie Bell.

R. DAVID S. REID, one of the leading physicians of Wortham, was born in Chesterfield county, South Carolina, and was the tenth child in a family of fifteen, born to the union of W. J. and Annie C. (Horn) Reid. The Reid family is among the best families of the Southi, and they came to America from Wales and England. The father of our

subject was born in Concord, Cabarrus connty, North Carolina, and his mother came from near Salem, North Carolina. The father of Mrs. Reid was born on the ocean on the way from Germany. His name was either Daniel or HIenry Horn. Great-grandfather Reid served in the war for independence, and both families were planters and men of property. Mr. Reid served four years under General Lee, and two sons with him. Ile went into the service as Captain, and was promoted to be Colonel and Chief Quartermaster of his own division. He participated in many battles and was slightly wounded. After the surrender of Lee he returned home, and resumed those industries he had laid down for his country's canse. In 1867 he engaged in the mercantile busi- ness and followed it nntil 1876, at which time he died, at the age of sixty-two. His wife survived him until 1889, and then passed away, at the age of seventy years. Both were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Of the fifteen children born to this couple, twelve lived to be grown, namely: William L., de- ceased, whose family resides in South Caro- lina; Annie M., who is wife of Dr. O'Bryan, of Long View, Texas; Samuel H. resides in Cheraw, South Carolina; D. H., de- ceased, family resides in South Carolina; Julia also resides there; S. C. is the wife of James K. Davidson, of Springfield, Mas- sachusetts; Joseph W. resides iu Sonth Carolina; Charles W. resides in Darling- ton, South Carolina, and is a printer; David S. is our subject; Mary B., lives in South Carolina; Leonora T., is the wife of Rev. J. Elkins, a native of England; John S.

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is a conductor on the R. and D. R. R .; and James A. and Henry are deceased.

Our subject was educated in the schools of South Carolina and at the academy at Cheraw. At the age of twenty years he left school and began the study of medi- eine. Later he entered the medical school at Louisville, Kentucky, and graduated in the same in the class of 1880. From there he went to Louisiana, where lie practiced for three years, and April 1, 1883, he came to Texas, locating first at Snyder, in Scurry county. Here he re- mained thirteen months, and then re- moved to Tehuacana and for six months he remained there, and then went to Wootan Wells. There he practiced until 1889, and then came to this place, wliere he has since continued.

The Doctor was married in 1886, at Wootan Wells, to Miss M. V. Jacobs, of Houston, one of three daughters. The others are: Tillie, wife of J. A. Christian, of El Paso, Texas; and Bella, wife of George W. Deets, of Silac, Mexico. To Dr. and Mrs. Reid three children have been born, namely; Annie B. C., Minnie (deceased), and Alice E. Both Dr. Reid and his wife are members of the Episcopal Church, and lie is a member of the Knights of Honor, of which he is a Past Dictator.

HOMAS C. KIRVEN, M. D., one of the leading young physicians of Wortham, was born in Marengo county, Alabama, July 13, 1859. He is the son of P. E. Kirven.

Our subject came to this county with his father, and engaged in school-teaching for some years, having been educated in the academy of his native town. He con- tinued teaching country schools until 1882, when he began the study of medicine, under instruction, in Texas, although he had devoted some time to it in Alabama. The following year he was considered com- petent to enter the Louisiana Medical Col- lege, at which institution lie graduated in 1884 or 1885. After graduating he re- turned to Texas and practiced his profes- sion at Bonner, this county, settling liere in 1886. Here he has remained ever since, and built up a nice practice.

Dr. Kirven was married January 25, 1891, to Miss Mamie L. Battis, a native of Marengo county, Alabama, and a daugli- ter of Dr. T. J. and Carrie (Goodwin) Battis. Dr. and Mrs. Kirven have one child, born June 15, 1892. Dr. Kirven is a member of the order of K. of P., of this place, and lie has built up a repu- tation for himself that may well cause some of the older physicians feel envious.

F. WOOD, Tax Assessor of Navarro county, was born in Talladega county, Alabama, in 1844, a son of Jolın Wood, a native of Georgia, born in 1792. He was a Baptist minister by pro- fession, and labored in the cause of Christ fifty-six years, living to the age of eighty years. He emigrated to Alabama in 1832, and at the outbreak of the war was elected a delegate to the secession convention, but on account of old age refused to serve. He

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

was Sergeant Major of his regiment in the war of 1812. Mr. Wood married Maria, a daughter of Colonel Harry Walker, an Irish nobleman, an old Indian fighter, and a soldier in the Florida war: His father was Major Walker, who earned the soubri- quet of " Walka Chulo " or " Big Bull " from the Indians. Our subject's grand- father was one of Oglethorpe's colony, of which he was probably surgeon. He mar- ried a Miss McCulloch, a native of Wales, and they had eight children, all now de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. John Wood were the parents of the following children: William, a resident of Arkansas; Gus, de- ceased; John S., a minister of Arkansas; James B., deceased; Ashley, who died at Gettysburg; E. R., S. B., A. J, and A. F.

The subject of this sketch secured an academic education at Lineville Academy, Alabama, and at the age of sixteen years lie enlisted in the Fourteenth Alabama In- fantry, under Colonel T. J. Judge, later Circuit Judge of Alabama, in Wilcox's brigade. The command saw its hardest service in the Virginia campaign, begin- ning at the siege of Yorktown, and partici- pating in the battle of Seven Pines, second Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Wilderness, and many smaller engagements. Mr. Wood was captured at Hanover Junction by being cut off from his command while out on a reconnoiter, was taken to Point Lookout, Maryland, and thence to Elmira, New York, being imprisoned altogether thirteen months and nineteen days. He moved to Texas soon after the close of the war, lo- cating near Dresden, Navarro county, where he tanght school fifteen years. In 1880 he came to Corsicana and engaged in

merchandising; in 1880 received the ap- pointment of Postmaster of this city, which he retained until removed by Presi- dent Harrison; in 1890 was placed before the people as a candidate for Tax Assessor, and was elected.

In 1865 Mr. Wood married Mary, a dangliter of J. S. Lane, a Methodist min- ister of Alabama. He was connected for a unmber of years with the Southwestern University of Alabama, being its locator. Our subject and wife have had three chil- dren: Sterling, who was educated at Baylor University; Walker L., studying for the law at Roanoke, Virginia; and Anna. Mrs. Wood is a graduate of Centenary College at Summerfield, Alabama. The family are members of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Wood was baptized in that faith by his fa- ther in 1858.

W. KERLEY, one of the pioneers of Limestone county, was born in South

o Carolina, a son of Arthur Kerley, who was born in that State in 1770. He was a moderate farmer, and died in Missis- sippi abont 1835. He married Sarah Bar- rett, and they had the following children : Caroline, deceased, was the wife of John Collins; J. W., deceased; Elizabetlı, de- ceased, was the wife of Nelson Lindsey; J. W., our subject; Saralı, widow of W. W. Wells; Margaret, wife of a Mr. Foye; and Matilda, wife of Jolin Lindsey.

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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