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 37

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 37
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 37
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 37
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 37
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 37
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 37

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 farm of our subject is located four- teen miles northwest of Palestine, on the site of the old Tennessee colony, and this section of the county was among the

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

earliest parts settled. Mr. Kendrick was born in York district, South Carolina, April 10, 1834, was raised on a farm and given a good common-school education only. He lived under the parental roof until he was twenty years old and then be- gan his business of overseeing, and soon after came to Texas as above stated. He is the son of Thomas and Mary (Fuller) Kendrick, of South Carolina, of Scotch Irish descent, who followed the business of farming. The mother of our subject was Mary Fuller, a native of South Carolina, and her family there were well known leaders in society, her father a prominent fariner and stock-man. Our subject's parents came to Texas in 1855 and settled in Freestone county, where his father en- gaged in farming and lived until his death in 1863. His family consisted of twelve children, all of whom grew to maturity except one, and ten of them coming to this State. Alsa F. died in 1858; W. H. yet lives in Alabama; our subject; Joseph I., a farmer of Limestone county; Sarah E. married Rans. Scarborough, but both are now deceased; Mary J. married R. H. Foreman, a farmer of Freestone county; Martha inarried L. T. Epps, a farmer of Freestone county; Harriet married B. Webb of Freestone county, but she is now deceased; Marion F. died in 1865, at his home, from the effects of army service; Thomas B. is a farmer of Limestone county ; and Annie married W. Weaver, a farmer of Limestone county. The mother of this family died November 25, 1885, aged seventy-six. Both parents were members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

Our subject married Miss Eliza A.

Seagler, in 1859, daughter of George and Ann J. Seagler, of Alabama, who came to Texas in 1856. Mr. Seagler became a prominent and hard-working farmer and was very successful in life. From this marriage three children were born: Walter L., who now is a farmer of Anderson county; Willie, who died at the age of three years; and John S., who is yet at home. The mother of these children was born December 2, 1840, and died June 6, 1892. She had been a faithful Christian, being for over thirty years a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. Ken- drick takes no active part in politics and does not aspire to office. He believes in the principles of Democracy and is a mem- ber of the Grange and the Farmers' Alli- ance. He is also one of the most respected members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

G. W. Hudson, a prominent farmer, now filling the office of Justice of the Peace of Tennessee Colony, came to Texas in 1845 with his parents, settling in this county, where he grew to manhood. Here lie received a good education for those times, and attended the public schools of his county. Living on the farm until man- hood he remained under the parental roof until the breaking out of the Civil war. At that time our subject enlisted in Company D, Thirteenth Texas Cavalry, dismounted, and was transferred to the Trans-Missis- sippi department, Walker's division, and took part in some battles, serving as First Lieutenant in the battles of Mansfield and Pleasant Hill. He took part until the close of the war, never being either wounded or captured, although he had some narrow es- capes. At the time of the surrender he

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had fallen back to Texas with his regiment, and it was disbanded at Hempstead.

For fifteen months our subject tauglit school, and in 1866 he bought some land and settled down to farming. His first purchase was of 250 acres in the valley of the Trinity river, but on account of his health he bought a higher place, near Tennessee Colony, in 1874, containing seventy acres. He now has 320 acres un- der cultivation in both farms, which he rents. He raises cotton and corn, raising home supplies of pork, lard etc., and enougli stock for use on the farm. Mr. Hudson was elected Justice of the Peace and served for twelve successive years, having the nomination for re-election.

Our subject was born in Birmingham, Pickens county, Alabama, November 23, 1839. He is the son of Thomas and Sarah (Crowder) Hudson, he a native of South Carolina and she of Alabama. He came to Texas, as above stated, after leaving the army. His health had been delicate up to the time of entering the service, but that seemed to build him up. The father of our subject was one of those men who en- joy the life of a pioneer. To him hunting was a pleasant pastime, and he varied liis farm life and the raising of cattle with grand hunts out on the frontier. His death occurred 1868. His wife was named Sarah Crowder, a relative of the Killoughs, who were pioneers of the State, several of which family were killed at the Killough massacre in Cherokee county. She died in 1871.

Our subject is the oldest in a family of six children, whose names are as follows: G. W., onr subject; Mary, married J. L.

Tucker, but both are now deceased; Mar- garet L., married W. L. Duren, but now resides in Houston county; W. H. died here in 1867; J. T. is now in Erath county, engaged in farming; and S. Helen, now de- ceased, who married W. T. Collins, living near here.

Mr. Hudson has been twice married. The first wife was Mary E. Vannoy, a daughter of Jesse and Elizabeth Vannoy of Tennessee, who came to the State in 1845, settling in Rusk county, afterward moved to this county where they botlı died. By this marriage three children were born, but they died young, and the wife and mother passed away in 1881. In 1886, Mr. Hudson married the agreeable daughter of Rev. W. J. Collins, a Baptist minister who came to Texas from Georgia, in 1872, settling first in Navarro county, and coming to this county in 1873, but is now living in Frio county, engaged ex- clusively in preaching the gospel. This lady's name was Miss Eva D., a beautiful and intelligent companion. Mr. Hudson is a member of the Masonic fraternity, a Royal Arch Mason. He is a Democrat in his political belief, and Mrs. Hudson is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church

BRADFORD

is a new post office in a good community, named in honor of the first and present postmaster there, sketch as follows:

P. L. Bradford, a prominent and suc- cessful farmer of this county, was born in Louisiana, March 2, 1345, and came to Texas with his parents in 1861. At this time our subject was sixteen years old and he soon entered the army, enlisting in

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

Company E, Burnett's regiment of cav- alry, Captain Payne in command. After one year of service he was discharged, as he was under age, but in 1863 he re-en- listed, in a consolidated company from Henderson and Ellis counties, Terrell's regiment, and served in Texas and Louis- iana. He was on the Banks raid and engaged in the battles of Pleasant Hill and Marksville, besides skirmishes. At Marksville he was wounded and his leg was broken by the shot. This, of course, disabled him and he returned to Red Bluff, and from there to his home, where he remained until the surrender. After that occurrence, which blasted the hopes of so many Southerners, he began to farm for his widowed mother and remained in Hen- derson connty until 1870, when he went to Fosterville and engaged in mercantile pursuits for three years.

Our subject is the son of P. L. and Rebecca (Freeland) Bradford, of East Feli- ciana parish, Lonisiana. The father was a farmer and he and his wife had a family of five children, of whom our subject was the youngest. The father died in 1845, in Louisiana, and his widowed wife removed from East Feliciana parish, that State, to De Soto parish, same State, and lived in and around Mansfield until 1861, when she came to Texas. Here she remained and was tenderly cared for by her children until her death in Henderson county, March 19, 1868.

Mr. Bradford was married on December 12, 1872, to Miss Scott, a daughter of G. W. Brown, an early settler and a well- known pioneer of this county. By this marriage Mr. Bradford has had four chil-

dren, namely: John P., Ada L., Ila and Homer, all at home.

After his marriage onr subject com- menced farming again and has continued in this occupatien ever since. In 1879 he purchased a small farm and has added more to it until he now owns 400 acres, sixty five of which is in a fine state of cultivation, and carries on the farm work himself. He has also given his attention to stock-raising and horses. He was the prime mover in the establishment of a post office at this place, and he received the appointment of postmaster in 1882, being the first one appointed to that office in Bradford. The post office bears the name of its honored incumbent, who has continued in office since its establishment. In addition to this office he holds that of notary public. He is a member of the Masonic order and is a Knight of Honor. Mr. Bradford and his family are all mem- bers of the Missionary Baptist Church and they are prominent members of society in their section of the country.

POPULATION.

When it is known that the chief in- crease in Anderson's population in the last decade has been due to Palestine, it will readily be seen why it has absorbed most of the town-building tendencies, and assumes so much prominence. The pop- ulation of the county in 1880 was 17,395, and in 1890 it reached 20,923, a gain of 3,528, most of which was Palestine gain; for that city was 2,997 in 1880 and 5,838 in 1890, a gain of 2,841, an amount cov- ering all the county's gain except 687, and most of that could probably be accounted

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for in the three new railway villages that have arisen. This shows plainly that Anderson's future is to be in manufactur- ing, lumbering and mining towns as well as otherwise. And therein is strength.

This is further illustrated by the distri- bution of the population in the various precincts: Precinct No. 1, containing Pal- estine, had 6,149 in 1880 and 9,021 in 1890, the latter being distributed in her four wards as follows: 2,034, the largest number, in ward 2; 1,943 in ward 3; 1,325 in ward 1, and 536 in ward 4. The next county precinct in size was No. 5, with 2,746 in 1880 and 3,792 in 1890. Then follows precinct No. 4, with 2,365 in 1880 and 2,688 in 1890. No. 3 had 2,316 in 1880 and 2,029 in 1890, while No. 2 had 1,855 in 1880 and 1,866 in 1890, and No. 6 had 1,964 in 1880 and 1,527 in 1890.

It is also illustrated by the fact that even in 1856 Anderson county had thir- teen post offices, while she now has seven- teen, a gain of four. Those in 1856 were Palestine, Magnolia, Mound Prairie, Ten- nessee Colony, Kickapoo, Beaver, Bethel, Elkhart, Hendersonville, Louis, Roadville, Plenitude and Marlowe's Mill. Those of 1892 are Palestine, Elkhart, Nechesville, Tucker, Alder Branch, Bethel, Blackfoot, Bradford, Brushy Creek, Fitzgerald, Fos- terville, Goodsonville, Ioni, Kickapoo, Montalba, Tennessee Colony and Stulboro.

SCHOOLS.

" The Masonic fraternity of that place," says a writer in the Prairie Blade of June, 1855, the first newspaper published in Corsicana, in reference to the schools of

its sister town of Palestine, " has erected a large, commodious, and well finished house for the male, and one for the female, school. These two schools, united, constitute Frank- lin College. They are both under the - supervision of the Rev. J. V. E. Covey." The male school was located in " Old Town," and was the first school of note in the county before the war. The female academy stood on the site of the present public-school buildings, and this became the leading school after the other had col- lapsed. It was here that in 1866 Colonel J. G. Scott opened an excellent academy, with four teachers. This continued to be the leading school down to the time the public system was introduced, and Profes- sor Bailey was the last teacher in it before the transfer.

It must not be taken for granted that the Palestine private schools were the only ones in the county before the war to acquire a considerable local reputation, for they were not. There was one place in Ander- son's borders that came to rival the county seat schools by a pretty close margin, and that was the beautiful village called Mound Prairie. They also had a male and female academy of an excellent grade. This acquired its great success under the ad- ministration of Prof. Malone.

But the Palestine schools were destined to surpass all others in the county. It was about 1880 that they first became a sub- ject of serious controversy between those who wanted to reach out to more advanced work and those who were contented with the old regime. It is probable that Mr. Sterne was as aggressive in this as any one, and the agitation was to have a vote for an

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independent district and additional tax. The first effort was a failure, chiefly be- cause the railway people did not vote; but a new trial was made and the railway em- ployes were given opportunity and success crowned the independent district canse. A superintendent was at once secured in the person of Prof. W. C. Coleman, who pro- ceeded to bring the school up to a proper grade, and the course has been developed until it now includes a high school. Prof. E. M. Pace is the present superintendent, and he has a force of twelve white and- four colored teachers. The old academy building was long used, and about 1884 a frame building was erected on the same lot, at a cost of $1,000. A house on the lot opposite was also impressed into serv- ice, and this was valued at about $1,500. The progress was so continuous that by 1889 the old academy building had to go, and was replaced by a fine two-story brick, at a cost of $25,000. This gives the white schools excellent accommodation. The colored people are well cared for in a $2,000 frame building in "Old Town." During the year of. the first occupation of the new main building, the total enroll- ment in all the schools was 783, divided between the two races in the proportion of 580 for the white schools and 203 for the colored. At that time there were ten white and three colored teachers, and the school property was valued at $32,700, while $6,500 a year was being paid for teachers. Of course the increase since that has been all along the line, and the schools are at their highest point of efficiency. This iswell indicated by the fact that night

schools have recently been opened by two of the leading teachers.

This is the only independent district in Anderson county.

The general public-school system of the county made their first start about 1872, but the growth was slow; indeed it was not until the '80s that interest began to be general; but since about 1887-'88 there has been no doubt of the popular enthu- siasın and confidence back of the system. It would be hard to do justice to those who have been most effective in this work of educational improvement over the county, but as illustrations of the manner of men in and back of it are such citizens as Profs. Pace, Burns and Smith of Palestine; Prof. Childress, of Blackfoot; Messrs. Ewing, Sterne, Grant, Teamer, and others, of Palestine; Mr. Miller, of Brushy Creek, and the various county judges.

The agitation succeeded in 1890 in securing the county-superintending system, but it was, for some reason, not well sup- ported, and was allowed to lapse. It has been resuscitated, however, in 1892, and the new superintendent-elect is Prof. J. A. Childress of Blackfoot.

The results are that in a white popula- tion of 11,359 whites and 9,563 colored adults there are, ontside of Palestine, about 3,200 pupils, of whom about 1,800 are white and probably 1,400 colored. For these there are 55 white schools and about 43 colored, and but one of these, the white district of Brushy Creek, requires more than one teacher. This one has two. This makes a teaching force of 56 white and 43 colored, a total of 99 pedagognes in the county's service, outside of the county seat.

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

These schools are all supplied with wooden buildings, but, a's in many other Texan counties, most of these buildings are the property of the people of the district themselves. Out of nearly a hundred build- ings used, probably no more than twenty- five are the property of the county.

The whole system of the county is ac- quiring additional momentum each year, and is now in better condition than ever before.

CHURCHES.

There are few counties in Texas or any other State, whose oldest church has had so romantic a career as has Anderson's oldest religious organization. This is the Primitive Baptist Church in the south part of the county, called Pilgrim Church, uow presided over as pastor by the aged Elder Ben Parker. It is a strange pioneer story, connected with the famous frontier mas- sacre of the Parker family in Limestone county, and, from its peculiar beginning, fitly named the " Pilgrim" Church. Some time since its present pastor wrote of it: "In 1833, Daniel Parker, with some of his brothers and friends, concluded to move to Texas; and, it being a wilderness country and no organized old Baptist churches here at that time, they thought best to or- ganize a church, and, in August, Pilgrim Church was constituted in Crawford county, Illinois, with Daniel Parker as its pastor; and, on the road, they would stop, pitch their tents, and hold their meetings. Sev- eral persons joined the church on the road, having fallen in with the little band of pilgrims on their way to Texas; among them was Garrison Greenwood, an ordained

minister, and Josephi Jordan, one of the founders of old Fort Houston. They first stopped near where Anderson, in Grimes county, now stands, and, in 1834, held their meetings in that neighborhood. In the fall of that year, Daniel Parker, with some others of the church, moved to San Pedro bayou, then in the municipality of Nacog- doches, and, in 1835, he was elected from there a member of the Provisional Gov- ernment (Consultatiou) of Texas, but was not a member of the convention that framed the Constitution of Texas in 1836; but in 1836 he removed to Shelby county, where he was elected to Congress, but was refused a seat, being an ordained minister of the gospel, and, as stated by Major Browu, 'he preferred allegiance to his religious vows to a seat in Congress, returned home, culti- vated his farm, preached to his people, en- joying general esteem, having removed to the present Anderson county; and died the good man's death, in 1844. His remains rest in the cemetery of Pilgrim Church. His son, Benjamin Parker, was elected to the legislature in 1855, 1859 and 1866, was a Confederate soldier, and is now his father's successor as pastor of Pilgrim Church-an honest man and in every sense a valued citizen.' "

The Missionary Baptists were very early on the ground also, and, as in most coun- ties, have become one of the three strong- est denominations.

In November, 1849, the old East Texas Association was organized. " At Larissa, Cherokee county," writes Elder Z. N. Mor- rell, "the Judson Association was found in November, 1853, with seventeen churches, containing about 800 members. Elder I.

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H. Lane was the first moderator, and James E. Teague the first clerk. This is the largest number of churches that we have yet noticed represented in the organiza- tion of any association. As evidence of their aggression, at the fifth session, in 1857, held at Crockett, Houston county, there were thirty-six churches, with about 1,400 members, scattered over the territory embraced by Anderson, Houston, Chero- kee, Rusk, Henderson, Nacogdoches, and Trinity counties." It will be noticed that in this list the veteran Baptist missionary gives Anderson first mention. This de- nomination now comes a close rival in num- ber of societies to the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and to the Christian or Disciple Church. Its societies are in almost every settlement over the county.

The Methodist Episcopal Church South began its pioneer efforts abont the same time, but no accounts of their earliest efforts in detail have been obtainable. There is no doubt that they began as soon as the county was organized, in 1846, at least. They have also kept up their repu- tation for growth, here as elsewhere, and the census of 1890 shows them to be prob- ably the largest denomination in the county. Although in number of organizations they do not exceed that of the Christian Church much, in point of members they are double any other white denomination in Anderson county, if the Missionary Baptists be ex- cepted. The census of 1890 quotes thiem with twelve organizations, all with good buildings, aggregating the value of $15,- 600, while the membership supporting them is 1,369. These are members of the Palestine district of the East Texas Con-

ference, which is forty-seven years old. Palestine is the only station in the county and has 451 members.

The Texas Christian Missionary Society has been very successful since it began its work in Anderson county. It began first at Palestine, whose church is not only the oldest, but also the largest in this county, as it now has about 300 members. Foster- ville was its second point, then Liberty, Nechesville, and other places, until 1890 the census gave it ten organizations, a little over half of which had buildings of their own, aggregating a value of $7,750, and a total membership of 651.

Three of the other denominations have two churches each, and one of these, the "old-school" Presbyterians, was among the pioneers. Its Palestine church was established as early as November, 1849, by Rev. Daniel Baker, D. D., and others of Brazos Presbytery. The Cumberland Pres- byterians have also two organizations, but of a later date. The census of 1890 gives them a membership of 61, with but one building, which is valued at $500. The Methodist Episcopal Church is quoted with two also, and a membership of 133, with a good building, valued at $2,500.

There are five other societies, with one church each, i. e., one organization, most of these being at Palestine, the exception being the society of Latter-Day Saints at Elkhart. These are the Congregational, the Protestant Episcopal, the Roman Cath- olic and the Jewish societies, all post-bellnm arrivals. The Congregational, which, for example, began in 1881, is quoted by the census with 79 members, and a church worth $2,000. The Roman Catholics are

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quoted with the largest membership of all of the societies, having four organiza- tions, namely 500. The Episcopal Church has a prosperous organization, but its fig- ures have not been published.

There has recently been organized at Palestine a Young Men's Christian Asso- ciation.

In every settlement no more prominent feature of it can be shown than its church or school structures, and there is no other feature of which the people are so justly proud. A citizen, in describing his village, is sure to put the greatest emphasis on these two features, which, indeed, consti- tute the main community life of most of them. Their growth to this importance has many features of especial interest that are common to all parts of Texas; and, as it would be useless to repeat this in every church sketch in this volume, these features have been described in the first one in order, namely, that of Navarro county, which is instantly accessible to the reader.

The religious life of the colored people, also, in its main features, are considered in that connection.

STATISTICAL.

However interesting and valuable ex- tensive travel in a country is, there is al- ways a peculiar interest and instruction in a bird's-eye view of it. It is with that in view that the following epitome of Ander- son county, issued from the statistical bu- reau at Austin, is given.

Anderson county was created from Houston county in 1846, and named in honor of one of the vice-presidents of the Texas Republic, Kenneth L. Anderson.

It was organized in 1846, and contains an area of 1,088 square miles.

It is one of the northeastern counties of the State. The Neches and Trinity rivers form respectively its eastern and western boundaries. There are a number of smaller streams which flow through the county, some in a southeast and others in a south- westerly direction. Springs are found in many portions of the county, and well water can be obtained at a depth varying from twelve to forty feet.

The surface of the county is about one- third level and the balance undulating. The soil of the uplands varies from a red clay to a light and black sand, while along the borders of the streams is a black loam.

Agriculture is the chief industry of the people, though the breeding of improved live stock of all kinds is becoming general. The soil of the county is well adapted to the growth of fruits, vegetables and field crops. Fruit culture for the market is be- coming an important industry.

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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