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 36

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 36
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 36
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 36
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 36
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 36
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 36

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).

The marriage of our subject occurred January 21, 1885, to Tennie Endel, daugh- ter of George Endel. Mrs. Kendall was born in Ohio, where she was reared until removing to Illinois. The family removed to Texas in November, 1876, where she net Mr. Kendall. Mr. Kendall belongs to the Woodmen of the World; the A. O. U. W., of which he is a Select Knight; also a member of the Uniformed Rank of Knight of Pythias; Past Chancellor in Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 15, K. of P .; and Hope Hook & Ladder Company, secre- tary for the same; and is Recording Secre- tary for the Board of Directors of the Pales- tine Young Men's Christian Association; a member of the auditing committee of the Board of Directors in both Palestine Loan and Mutual Loan Benefit Loan Associa-

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tion. Mr. Kendall is as faithful in his performace of social duties as in business affairs, and is as popular outside of his office as he is in official life. The Congre- gational Church, one of its Trustees, is the one in which he has a membership, and all the fellow members unite in praise of his lib- erality and disinterested work among them.

Mrs. Narcissa Michaux .- One of the oldest and best known families of Ander- son county, Texas, is the Michaux of Pales- tine, of which our subject is now the oldest representative. The State of Virginia was the birthplace of the family and in tracing the genealogy it develops as follows: Jacob Michaux was born in Virginia, October 30, 1739. He was a patriot during the in- fantile struggles of our country and by oc- cupation he was a farmer. He married Judith Woodson, born in 1747, and their children were: Jacob, Betsy, John, Joseph, Jesse, Daniel, Richard, Henrietta, Obadiah, and Juditlı.

Richard W. Michaux was born in Vir- ginia in 1779, February 18, and died Sep tember 30, 1843. He, like his father, was a tiller of the soil. Richard was twice married, his first wife being Miss Mary Mason, and the second one being Mrs. Mackey. The children were: Joseph, born February 7, 1805; Sallie W., born Septem- ber 30, 1806, and married Charles Gallo- way; Richard B., born October 5, 1807; Judith, born October 23, 1809, and died young; Virginia, born Jannary 28, 1812, and married Peter Hamlin; Mary M., born April 8, 1814, but lived only one day; W. M., born May 22, 1816; Betsy, born De- cember 29, 1817, and two children died in infancy.

W. M. Michaux was given a home by his father, R. W., in Calloway county, Ken- tucky. He was always successful in busi- ness and became a leader and man of promi- nence in his county. He was very much interested in the subject of Masonry before coming to Texas, having taken advanced work in the order, and was a consistent member of the Christian Church. In 1839, Mr. Michaux was married to his cousin, our subject. She is a daughter of Obadialı Michaux and was born in South Carolina in 1820. When a boy Obadialı was given three black boys, after the custom of those ante-bellum days, and they all learned the trade of carpenter, and tlris the master fol- lowed during his young and more vigorous days, becoming a contractor and builder in Florida, to which State he moved in 1829, but when age began to overtake him he engaged in planting, and thus continued until the time of his death, in 1855. In 18-, the father of the present Mrs. Michaux, Obadiah Michaux, married Miss Elizabeth Swan, and they were the parents of Joseph, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Judith, who married James Sweet, deceased; Narcissa, our subject; Epponina, who mar- ried Wesley Kyle; Jolin, deceased; Eliza and Jackson, deceased; William; and Har- riet, married to Mr. Rodgers; and Jo- sephine, who married Neely Nash.

In 1840, our subject removed to Ken- tucky with her husband and resided there until coming to Texas. This removal was made ten years later and the family settled in Anderson county, buying a section of land near Palestine, the most of which is now in the city limits. In December, 1853, Mr. Michaux, iu company with about a

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dozen, started out West to explore tlie country. They camped the first evening on the Trinity river, and while there a gun was accidentally discharged, the ball inflict- ing a wound in Mr. Michaux, which proved fatal, and he died the day before Christ- mas.

Mr. and Mrs. Michaux were the parents of the following named children: Elizabeth, deceased, married Henry C. Swanson; Ann Eliza, married Aaron Robinson; Epponina married Ben. A. Campbell, who was killed at Gettysburg in 1863. He was born in Alabama in 1841, and there followed the occupation of farmer. They had two chil- dren, both of whom died young; Julia married James Whittle; Josephine married James Langston, and the youngest of the family bears the name of Macon.

Mrs. Michaux has seen inany changes since her residence in the State, and has gone through with many sad experiences, but she is still a lady of charm of manner and her reminiscences of the early life here are very interesting.

ELKHART

is the railway village of the old Parker settlement, and is the largest place outside of the county seat. This has become the distributing and trading point for the south part of the county, and it arose as the first of the railway villages of the county, and was on the Houston line. It was not, however, large enough to be given a separate quotation in the census of 1890.

NECHESVILLE

is situated about ten and a half miles northeast from Palestine, and within four

or five miles of the Neches river. This village owes its origin to the Inter- national & Great Northern Railway. The depot and express office is known as Neches, but the post office is Nechesville. The authorities at Washington refused to establish a post office here named Neches, because there was already one in the State by that name. Being situated on a hill- side the place is comparatively high. It has a population of about twenty families, mostly white. It contains a cotton gin and corn-mill manufactory, a tan yard, drug store, dry-goods store, two or three gro- ceries, a bar-room, hotel, school and church. This is the distributing point for the east side of the county, and is a large lumber- ing point.

Claudius R. Bell, a prominent merchant of Nechesville, Texas, was the son of Na- than Bell, who was born in Green county, Alabama, where he became an eminent physician. In October, 1843, the latter married Miss Nancy E. Hutcheson, but she died June 8, 1844. He married Lonezer Dial May 4, 1848, and died April 17, 1856, in Kaufman county, Texas, leav- ing a wife and family of two sons, both of tliese quite small. Mrs. Bell married a second time, selecting Colonel James S. Hanks, of Anderson county, as her second husband, this marriage taking place July 19, 1859, and she is now living in Neches- ville, Texas.

Colonel Hanks was born in Maury county, Tennessee, September 23, 1809, and on September 4, 1836, he married Isabel McLeod. She was of Scotch descent, and the names of her parents were Daniel and Rachel McLeod, who came from Scot .-

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

land to North Carolina and from there to Tennessee. Colonel Ilanks, by his first marriage, had a family of seven children, all of whom but the youngest, Isabel, have passed away. Isabel is now the wife of T. J. Posey, of Nechesville, Texas. Mrs. Hanks died in Anderson county June 18, 1858, aged forty years, eleven months and three days. Until he was sixteen years of age, Colonel Hanks lived in Tennessee and lived in different connties in the western part of the State. From the time he was twenty-one years of age he held military offices, being first made captain, then adju- tant and finally colonel commanding.

In 1844 Colonel Hanks moved to Texas, coming to Anderson county, where he has remained ever since, a period of nearly forty-eight years. Nearly all of this time he lias filled some important position in the gift of the people. In 1845 he was deputy surveyor and has been county sur- veyor almost ever since. Many times has he served his fellow-citizens in the office of justice of the peace. In 1866 he was a member of the State Legislature. In 1861 he was a Union man, but when he found that his neighbors differed with him he raised the largest company that ever went from Anderson county and joined the Confederate army in Colonel John H. Burnett's regiment, Thirteenthi Texas Cav- alry.

At the present time Colonel Hanks can look back with pleasure over a well- spent life of eighty-three years. He is proud of his ancestry and present family. His father was Rev. Thomas Hanks, a minister in the Primitive Baptist Church, who was a preacher in Texas while yet a

Territory. The mother of Colonel Hanks was named Saralı Hill Hanks, of Virginia, and his parents reared some seven sous to manliood. Of these Colonel Bird L. was a colonel of militia during the war of 1836, and W. W. was a captain. All have passed away except Colonel Hanks of this sketch, who was the third son, and Joshna B., liv- ing near Tennessee Colony. The political faith of the Hanks family was always Whig, but in later years they have voted with the Democratic party. The religious connec- tion of the family has been with the Mis- sionary Baptist Church.

The subject of the present sketch, Claudius R. Bell, was the son of Nathan R. and Lonezer (Dial) Bell. He lost his father in 1856. His mother was a native of South Carolina, a daughter of Isaac and Permelia (Cunningham) Dial, who were also natives of Laurens county, Sonth Carolina. Dr. and Mrs. Bell were married in 1848, and four children were born of this marriage, as follows: Hudson, died when young; the second child died in in- fancy; the third was onr subject, and the fourth was Nathan P., now connected with our subject in business.

Claudius R. Bell was born in Talladega county, Alabama, in 1854, and at the age of two years accompanied liis parents to Kauf- man county, Texas, and remained with his mother and stepfather until 1877, when he rented a farm and continued to do so for several years. Later he began teaching, and for three years was a successful peda- gogue. For the next three years he engaged in clerking for Shumatte, Weider- meyer and Co., and then engaged in the general merchandise business under the

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

firin name of Ezell, McClure & Bell, which continued for two years, when the firm was changed to Ezell, Bell & Co., which remained for two years longer, and then was changed to Ezell & Bell.

When our subject started out in life it was with an empty pocket-book, but he was possessed of those attributes which always ensure success, and he has kept right along and now has accumulated a comfortable fortune. He carries a mercantile stock of $8,000, and is part owner in the firm of 490 acres of land and one farm of his own of 160 acres, of which he has seventy-five under cultivation, and 225 acres of the firm. He also owns twenty-five head of cattle, ten mules, and in addition to this he owns his house and lot, where the business is carried on. The firm owns a half inter- est in the mill and gin, while his outstand- ing accounts will amount to $6,000.

In politics our subject is a Democrat, a member of the Masonic order, Nechesville Lodge, No. 535, of which he is Master. He is also a member of the K. of H. Lodge, No. 2,644, of which he is Dic- tator.

Rufus W. Freeman, M. D., a promi- nent physician of Anderson county, Texas, is the subject of whom we write. He was born in Anderson county, Texas, in 1863, a son of William F. Freeman, who was a native of Alabama, born December, 1827. William grew to manhood in that State, and soon after marrying he came to Texas and first located two miles south of Kick- apoo, where he remained until his death, which occurred May 4, 1892. By occupa- tion he was a very successful farmer. His educational advantages were somewhat

meager, but by close application, reading and observation he became well informed on general topics. At the age of eighteen years he began the battle of life for him- self with nothing but a wife. His father was a poor man and could not assist him, as he had a large family of his own to care for. During his whole life he was engaged in farming, and at the time of his death owned about 3,000 acres of land, and stock to the amount of $2,000, besides gin property and good implements per- taining to the farm. In politics our sub- ject was a Democrat. In 1876 he was prevailed upon to accept the office of County Commissioner. For many years he was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of which he was a liberal supporter, and served as class- leader and steward until the time of his death. While he was denied the ad- vantages of a good education, he not only encouraged but sent his family of children to the best schools, and willingly furnished the funds to take as extended a course as they desired. He was very positive and firm in character, although kind. He was a man of excellent habits. His parents were John and Susanna. The Freeman family are of Irish descent. The first marriage of our subject was to Miss Eliza- beth Davis, and they had a family of four children, as follows: Martha, now the wife of J. F. Cely, a merchant of Brushy Creek; Susanna, the wife of A. L. Herrington, the present County Commissioner of precinct No. 6; Robert F., a prosperous farmer of Anderson county; and Kittie, who is the wife of B. C. Cely, a merchant in partner- ship with J. F. Cely. The second mar-

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

riage of Mr. Freeman was to Miss Beth- ena Oldham, a native of Mississippi, who came from there to Texas. She was the daughter of Frank and Jane Oldliam, natives of her State. Eleven children were born to Mr. Freeman by this mar- riage, as follows: Georgie, at home; Will- iam F., a teacher by profession: he is a graduate of the Southwestern University at Georgetown, Texas, and is now serving his first term as a member of the Legisla- ture; Ella, the wife of Joseph Miller, of Athens, who is now engaged in the livery business; Abner W. was educated at Kil- gore, Texas, and is now running the old farm; Ida, Pierce, Benjamin, Louetta, Eva' and Lillie.

Our subject remained with his parents until 1886, when he was thirteen years old, and then began his literary course at the Southwestern University at Georgetown, where he completed his course. When but eighteen years of age he began the study of medicine, and one year later he commenced a course of lectures. The fol- lowing year he taught and pursued his medical studies, and in the fall of 1885 he graduated with first honor. The following spring he returned home, and soon after began the practice of medicine at Neches, where he has since remained, now attend- ing to a practice which extends over a country having a radius of at least twelve miles. He is universally recognized as a competent and successful practitioner.

In 1887 Dr. Freeman was married to Miss Lillie I. Dunn, but she died the fol- lowing year. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and was known as a kind, consistent Christian

woman. In 1889 he married Miss Ella Charlton, a native of Texas, a daughter of James and Grabella Charlton, and to them two children were born, Francis C. and Lillie. Dr. Freeman affiliates with the Democratic party, and is a member of the K. of H., of which he is Examining Physician. Both our subject and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, of which he is steward. He is a man so universally esteemed, that this brief notice will be read with pleasure.

TUCKER,

the smallest of the three towns, arose on the west side of the county, on the Inter- national road, as a distributing point for that region. What it drew from on the river has already been noted in the chapter on the settlement of the county.

Many others of these post offices are surrounded by settlements of various sizes, but these are the only ones of appreciable size, unless Kickapoo should be included, which is an old settlement off the railway.

B. Y. Milam, one of the early settlers of this county, was born in Tennessee in 1844, a son of W. B. and Elizabeth (Harless) Milam, natives of Alabama who removed to Tennessee, from which State they came to Texas in 1851, spending the first year in Upshur county, and came to this county in 1852. They first located two miles north of Palestine, where they resided for one year, then for two years still nearer Palestine, and in 1855 settled on the farm where our subject now lives. At that time the land was covered with heavy timber and few people lived within neigh- .

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AND LEON COUNTIE ..

LIMESTONE, FREESTONE

boring distance. Shelton Hemby, Jesse Parker and Mr. McDonald formed the set- tlement for several miles. Game of all kinds was plentiful except buffalo. Deer, bears and turkey were as easily obtained as cattle and chickens now are. Jacob Criss, six miles north on the Trinity river, was the nearest miller, and Palestine, then a small village, was the nearest trading point. Immediately upon settling Mr. Milam engaged in opening a farm, clear- ing and putting into cultivation 40 acres of the 520 acres, which he had purchased for $4 an acre. Mr. Milam died in 1865, but his wife survived until 1873. She had been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and they had had a family of twelve children, nine of whom have lived to be grown, as follows: Nancy A., widow of William Tubberville; Lu- cinda, widow of William Raney; John, of this county; Mary, deceased, first married William McDonald, then Jesse R. Parker; B. Y., our subject; William B. and James, deceased; Elizabeth first married Williamn Morris and after his death W. B. Sar geant; Marthy is the wife of John La Rue, and the others died young.

Our subject received his education at a country school of the county in which he resided and at Palestine. At the age of eighteen he entered the Confederate army, joining Company G of the First Texas In- fantry under Captain John Woodward and Colonel Rainey. He participated in the battles of Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, New- market Heights, Chickamanga, Knoxville, second battle of the Wilderness, Spottsyl- vania Court House, besides a number of minor engagements, and surrendered with

the army at Appomattox. Here he was paroled and started for home, walking all the way from Little Rock, Arkansas, to this place. He left Little Rock with $2 in his pocket, given him by his aunt while at her house in Tennessee. He reached home in good physical condition, although he had been wounded at Gettys- burg in the shoulder. On reaching home he found himself twenty-one years old, with neither money nor a trade to commence with, so he remained with his father until his death in 1866, when he commenced farming on his father's farm and assumed control of his mother's affairs. He remained on this place until 1868, when he removed to Dallas county and en- gaged in farming until the spring of 1872, when he returned to the old homestead, having purchased the interest of the other heirs. He now owns 520 acres and has seventy-five acres under cultivation. He raises some cattle and horses upon this land.

Mr. Milam was married in 1871, to Miss Joicie Parker of this county, daughter of Jesse R. Parker, and to this union six children were born, four of whom died when small, those living being Nancy A. and Charles H. Mrs. Mitam died in 1881, and the same year Mr. Milani married Miss Nancy A. Cleveland, a native of Missis- sippi, daughter of William Cleveland; but she died in 1888. She had been a mem- ber of the Baptist Church. In 1889, Mr. Milam was married to Mrs. Fannie (Can- non) Cleveland, a native of Georgia, and a daughter of J. H. Cannon. Mrs. Milam had been the mother of eight children by her former marriage, three of whom are

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

named Otis F., Katie and Bessie. Mr. Milam and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, and are worthy, good people.

TENNESSEE COLONY.

At this point reside the following named honored citizens, besides others, sketched elsewhere.

M. S. Avant, one of the most enterpris- ing and successful men of the county, came here in 1836, with his parents. He was born in Alabama, August 18, 1834, a son of Durham and Susan (Winsatt) Avant, he a native of North Carolina and she of Alabama. They came early to Texas and took part in the Cherokee Indian cam- paigns. Mr. Avant served his conntry long and well, but finally settled in this county. When the late war broke out he could not stay at home and entered the Confederate service in 1863. Soon after he was taken sick and died in Arkansas, at the age of sixty-seven years. His wife survived him until 1889, when she passed away, at the age of eighty-four years, a mem- ber of the Missionary Baptist Church, and left a family of eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity. W. P. died in the army; Wyland died at the age of three years; onr subject; L. W., a stock- man in Uvalde county, Texas; James died in the army; J. L., a stockman in Uvalde county ; Lysander is also in Uvalde county; Mary became the widow of Mr. Anderson and married Mr. Musgrave; Jane became the widow of J. Corvan and then married William Shores of New Mexico; Susan married H. Alexander, a farmer of Uvalde county, and Fanny died an infant.

Although our subject was reared on a farm he never followed farming as an oc- cnpation. When Mr. Avant came to the State his parents settled at Nacogdoches on a farm and then moved to what was then Houston county, and settled for a time at old Fort Houston. Afterward the county of Auderson was cut off and our subject's place was left in Anderson county, and here has been his home ever since. He lives at Tennessee Colony, a place set- tled by a colony of Tennessee people, and the place took its name from that. It is located about fifteen miles from old Fort Honston and about the same from Pales- tine. IIere he grew to manhood, obtain- ing such education as the place afforded.

In 1859 our subject entered into the mercantile business with a partner, but at the opening of the war he sold out. In 1860 he married, and in 1862 he enlisted in Company F, Crump's battalion, and sent to the Department of the Mississippi and saw service in Arkansas: was at the bat- tle of Elkhorn. After the battle of Pea Ridge he was detailed to the Post Sergeant's office and was at Little Rock until the place was taken by the Federals, and he was a prisoner for eight days. At that time he with two others made their escape and finally reached Arkadelphia, 150 miles away; from there went to Wash- ington, Arkansas, and thence to the Post Sergeant's office, when, on account of ill health he was transferred to the Second Texas Cavalry and stationed at Eagle Pass, where the regiment remained nntil the close of the war. After the surrender our subject returned to Tennesse Colony.

This little town was fonnded in 1847,

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

and a post office was opened in 1850, of which our subject was made Postmaster in 1875, and he has held the office ever since. After his return from the war he again entered into the mercantile business, an- other party furnishing the capital. In this way he became well established and three years later he bought out his partner and has successfully carried on the busi- ness ever since. He carried a stock of about $10,000, and his sales average some $18,000 annually. He buys cotton and produce from customers and carries a gen- eral assortment of goods. Now Mr. Avant owns several farms, which he rents, and also a cotton gin and gristinill, being in very prosperous circumstances.

Our subject married Miss N. E. Shelton, a daughter of G. F. Shelton of Tennessee, who came to Texas in 1850, settling on a farm in this county, where he died in 1870. Mr. and Mrs. Avant had a family of five children, but J. W. died at the age of fif- teen years, and two little ones in infancy. The living are, M. M., who has been en- gaged in business in Grayson county, and M. E., who is connected with his father in his business.

Mr. Avant is well known through the county, and has been called upon to serve as County Commissioner and as Notary Public some three years. He is a promi- nent member of the Masonic fraternity. His political principles are in accordance with the Democratic party.

John R. Kendrick, an early settler of Texas and a resident of this county for over twenty years, came to Texas in 1854 and settled in Anderson county, living here one year and employed as overseer. The

second year of his residence in the State he went to Freestone county, where he was engaged in the same way and also assisted his father, who had removed to the State. In 1858 he returned to this county and re- inained at the same business another year, but he then married and bought a farm in Freestone county. which he farmed until 1862.

At the above date our subject enlisted as a soldier in Company H, Twenty-eighth Dicmounted Cavalry, and was assigned to Walker's division, seeing service in Ar- kansas and Louisiana. He took part in the battle of Mansfield and Milliken's Bend and all of the important battles of the above two States, but was never wounded or captured. At the close of the war he was with his regiment at Hemp- stead, and they were there disbanded and returned home. Then he rented his farm and came to this county, and here rented land until 1870, when he bought the farm upon which he now lives, consist- ing of 427 acres. There were some im- provements here, and he has since cleared sixty acres and put it into cultivation. Since his first purchase he has bought another farmn, of 320 acres, and at the home farm he has 150 acres under cultivation, which he mostly rents, and raises cotton, corn, oats and the usual vegetables. He has fine orchards, with plenty of fruit, and also gives attention to cattle and mules and has been very successful in the rais- ing of stock.

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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