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 59

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 59
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 59
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 59
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 59
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 59
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 59

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).

Our subject was born in Wayne county, Mississippi, February 24, 1843, and he came with his parents to Texas in 1858, and to Leon county in 1860. He remained with his parents until 1865, when he was inarried. In 1862 he had enlisted in Coni- pany D, Gould's battalion, dismounted cavalry, in Randal's brigade, Walker's division, and was discharged May 20, 1865, at Leona, in Leon county. He then re- turned home and was married, November 9, 1865. At once he bought a farm of his father, and upon this place our subject and wife resided until 1880, when he re- moved to Jewett and took charge of tlie management of the store known as the Leon County Co-operative Association, which position he has since held.

The marriage of our subject was cele- brated with Miss Fanny J. Curry, a native of Alabama, and she came to Texas with her parents, John M. and Martha Curry, natives of Tennessee and Alabama respect- ively. Mr. and Mrs. Waltman are the parents of eleven children, as follows:

Mattie, deceased; Leonard D. is book- keeper for Mr. Levy; William M .; Cora; Davis, deceased; Mack, Hettie, Johnnie, Edward, Sylvan and an infant.

Mr. Waltman began life for himself at the age of nineteen years and lias received no assistance since that time, being a self- made man. The old home farm contained 320 acres, and now our subject owns 1,250 acres of land, 185 under cultivation, be- sides town property, and seventy-five lead of stock. In politics he is a Democrat, and socially he is a member of the Masonic order. He also belongs to the K. of H. and the Grange, and is a member of tlie Board of Directors of the Texas Co-opera- tive Association, having been elected for ten years, and also holds the position of manager of the Leon County Association. Both Mr. Waltman and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is a Steward.

OAKWOOD.

The northeast corner of Leon and the southeast corner of Freestone was, in 1872, considered a strong enough territory to re- quire a live business town on the new In- ternational Railway, and the very appro- priate name of Oakwood was chosen for it. The first business room was built by F. B. Looney and W. C. Gorman, the latter now of Palestine. A. J. Walston was another of its first pioneers. The growth was modest and gradual, so that even by 1880 it had a population of but ninety-six. But the modest gait was only laying quiet foundation for a larger growth, and the '80s showed not only an increase in numbers to

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231 in 1890, but a development of trade was inaugurated that now gives Oakwood a reputation for " lots of business," as it is described, in all parts of the county. Its buildings also indicate it. It has thirteen business houses, with two of them carrying $10,000 stocks, each. Of course it has its shop, stable and cotton-gin.

Its only lodge is that of the Masons, whose property was recently burned.

F. B. Looney, of Oakwood, has risen from a farnier boy to be a successful phy- sician, lawyer and all-around man. He came to the State in 1865, locating at Butler, Freestone county, where he coût- menced the practice of medicine and re- mained in that vicinity seventeen years, ten years of which time he practiced medi- cine, then commenced the practice of law, in which calling he is still engaged. His practice extends over several counties, and he is very successful, especially in criminal cases. His present location is at Oak- wood, Leon county, Texas.

Mr. Looney was born in Cumberland county, Kentucky, January 22, 1836, son of James W. and Fanny (Smith) Looney, natives of Kentucky. The father was a leader in political matters and served as sheriff of his county, being in office two terms; by occupation lie was a farmer. His ancestors came to America from Ire- land and settled in Virginia; while the an- cestors of the mother of our subject were of German birth. The parents came to Freestone county, Texas, where Mrs. Loo- ney died, in 1864, and Mr. Looney in 1876. Our subject was reared on a farm in his

native county and in Tennessee, and gradu- ated in medicine in 1858. He then com- menced practice in Arkansas, but upon the outbreak of the war he went to Tennessee and joined the army there, entering Com- pany F, Twenty-seventh Tennessee In- fautry, as a private, was at once promoted to the position of assistant surgeon, in which capacity he continued until the close of the war, when he made his way to Texas, as before stated. His large and long ex- perience as an army surgeon gave him an insight into the mysteries of surgery, so that he is a skillful surgeon.

Our subject is the third in a family of nine children, four of whom died before the family came to Texas; those living to maturity are as follows: F. B., our sub- ject; Susie, never married, but died in 1891; W. R., now a druggist of Oakwood; Rebecca, wife of F. Arnett; and J. A., now a carpenter of Eastland. Our subject married, April 4, 1866, in Texas, Miss Annie Arnett, daughter of Jonas F. Arnett, of Georgia, who came to Texas in 1849, settling in Grimes county, where he died of yellow fever, about 1852. He operated a gin mill and was also an extensive farmer. His family consisted of five children, of which Mrs. Looney is the third. Only two of the children are now living, Mrs. Looney and the present postmaster of Oak- wood. Our subject has never been blessed with any children. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity. His wife is a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which she is an earnest member. In politics he is a member of the Democratic party, to which he is strongly attached.

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

MARQUEZ

is a village of Leon county deserving the honor of particular mention, as it is hon- ored by the residence of the gentlemen sketched as follows, and by others.

Every reader of this volume in Leon and adjoining counties will at once recognize A. D. Boggs, M. D., as belonging to one of the oldest families of eastern Texas, and particularly of Leon county. The Doctor is not quite a native of the county, having been born in Pontotoc county, Mississippi, but he was brought here, by his parents in 1845, being then only two years of age. Here he has been reared and educated, ex- cept as to his professional training, and here he has conducted a successful busi- ness and remunerative practice. The Doc- tor is a son of Dr. J. C. Boggs, who was born in Lexington, Kentucky, in May, 1810. There he was reared and received his education both literary and medical, being a graduate of Transylvania Univer- sity. When he left Kentucky Dr. Boggs proceeded to Missouri, of which State his brother was then governor, and while here he received the appointment from Presi- dent Tyler, of Consul to Santa Fé, Mexico, which position he filled with marked ability and acquitted himself with credit to him- self and government. He next went to Alabama and became acquainted with Miss E. M. Pegues, whom he married at Holly Springs, soon after. Mrs. Boggs was edu- cated at the Female Atheneum, Tusca- loosa, Alabama, at that time one of the most noted schools of the South. When the Doctor came to Leon county, he at once engaged in the practice of his profession

and in merchandising, both of which he followed until his death, in 1854. To sum up his character we quote from the Leon Pioneer, of February 22, 1854: "Dr. Boggs was a man of great versatility of genius. He was not merely a scientific professional, but was emphatically a man of general business attainments, who could, with the ease and promptitude of an old adept, make himself useful in any of the multifarious affairs of life. His character as a gentleman, high-minded and honor- able, was above reproach. Warm-hearted, frank and generous, he was ever ready to forgive an injury, to hear the story of dis- tress and extend the hand of charity. He has gone down to the grave in the full vigor of manhood, beloved, respected and deplored by all who knew him, which is the greatest and best eulogy that can be pronounced on the living or the dead." Dr. Boggs was the father of: Dr. A. D. Boggs; Harriet C., now the wife of I. Y. Chinski, of Navasota, Texas; two children, who died in infancy, and Alice S., wife of J. A. Evans, now deceased.

At the death of Dr. J. C. Boggs, the fol- lowing resolutions of respect were passed by Leona Union Lodge, A. F. & A. M., to the memory of Dr. Boggs. After the usual introduction, it was resolved - " That we deeply deplore this unexpected and melancholy event; a good man is fall- en in our brotherhood, and long will we remember his many social and private virtues. His liberal hand was ever ex- tended to help the children of sorrow; but yesterday he was among us, in the glow of health and the joyousness of hope, and now his mortal part is wrapped in the icy

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arms of death. He has paid the last debt. He has gone to that bourne whence no traveler returns.

" Resolved, That we condole with the widow of the deceased brother in her great affliction and that our tears will mingle with hers over the grave of the departed; and now that we are about to perform the last offices of love to him, yet those that are dead to him are with us and demand our warmest sympathy, both as men and Masons we devoutly pray the God of the fatherless to be their friend and protector.

" Resolved, As the last tribute of respect to our brother, that this lodge will form at the residence of the late brother and conduct his remains to their last resting place, and that as a token of our deep and unfeigned sorrow will wear the usual badge of mourn- ing for thirty days, and that this lodge be suitably draped to express the general grief at the death of our worthy past master.

" Resolved, That a copy of these resolu- tions be spread upon the records of the lodge, and that the bereaved family be presented with a certified copy of the same.

" Resolved, That the Leon Pioneer be re- quested to publish the above resolutions. The American Freemason will please copy.

" Signed, S. Robinson, W. M .; N. New- som, S. W .; D. Port. Smythe, J. W .; C. L. Dotson, Secretary."

When the Confederacy was organizing its army, Dr. Boggs (our subject) enlisted in Nichol's regiment, serving six months on Galveston island. Re-enlisting for the war in Waul's legion, in March, 1862, he went east of the Mississippi river, serving

with that command until its capture at Vicksburg. During the siege lie was act- ing sergeant major of the first battalion of the legion, and was paroled after the capitulation. Returning home, he re- mained until exchanged, rejoining his command at Houston, Texas, which was then organized into a regiment under the command of Colonel Bernard Timmons, he entering the medical department, in which he served until the close of the war. The service to the close of hostilities was unimportant and exclusively in the Trans- Mississippi department. The command broke up at Galveston, Texas, May, 1865.

While in the army, Dr. Boggs read medicine very diligently under Dr. T. B. Grayson, of Freestone county, and when he returned home, although engaged in merchandising, he continued his medi- cal studies under Doctors Mclendon and McFall, and in 1868 graduated from the Galveston Medical College, and located on his farm for practice, and remained until 1872.

The International & Great Northern Railroad, building through the county, located its stations, and the Doctor re- moved to Marquez, where lie engaged in the drug business and the practice of his profession. He still resides there, and has associated with him as a partner his son, Dr. E. O. Boggs. The prevailing troubles coming under the Doctor's notice are chiefly of a malarial type, intermittent and remittent fevers predominating. The Doc- tor is a member of the Leon County Med- ical Society, the Texas State Medical As- sociation, and the National Association of Railway Surgeons. He was formerly local

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

surgeon of the Missouri Pacific Railway, and is now local surgeon of the Interna- tional & Great Northern Railroad.

Politically, the Doctor pins his faith to the true Democracy, and is one of the lead- ers in his connty. He does not seek office and has never held bnt one, that being one of the Board of County Medical Exam- iners. He is a Royal Arch and Cryptic Mason, also an Odd Fellow, and until very recently has been an active worker and taken much interest in the upbuilding of the orders. He is not a member of any religious organization, being an avowed Free Thinker, yet with the utmost tolera- tion for all who disagree with him.

He was married August 12, 1862, to Miss S. A. E. Traweek, danghter of A. I. and Malinda Traweek, of Demopolis, Ala- bama, and the children of this union are: Dr. E. O. Boggs, who was educated in the country schools of Leon connty and at the A. and M. College at, Bryan, Texas, and graduating in modicine at the College of Physcians and Surgeons at St. Louis, Mis- souri; Corrinne, married Dr. A. M. John- son, formerly of Georgia, now of Franklin. Texas; Stella, married J. B. Woodward, of Palestine, Texas, a conductor on the In- ternational & Great Northern Railroad; J. C. Boggs is a merchant at Marqnez, and Inez, Vivian E., Eric and Alvali, younger members of the family, still remain at home.

Dr. Boggs is a very companionable gen- tleman. He inherited, in a large degree, his father's noble traits, and as a gentle- man and citizen has no superior in Leon county.

D. W. Carrington, the leading merchant, farmer and stock-raiser of Marquez, is a

son of Leon county's most prominent pio- neers. D. C. Carrington, the father of onr popular subject, was born in Tennessee, in 1818, and resided there until nearly of age, when he removed to Mississippi. His parents emigrated to Tennessee from Vir- ginia. The grandfather of our subject married a Miss Cozart, who died at the age of ninety-one years. D. C. Carring- ton located in Mississippi, near Colum- bus, and remained there on a farm until 1839, when the western fever seized him, and Texas became his objective point. Robertson county at that time embraced all of Leon, hence Mr. Carrington's loca- tion was in that county, on Leon prairie. From his advent into the county until 1851 Mr. Carrington was employed in running stock, but in the latter year lie engaged in merchandising at Leona, and continued it until 1872, when the building of the International & Great Northern Railroad through the county induced him to remove to Marquez. Here he did a successful general merchandise business, and dealt in cotton, in partnership with our subject, until June, 1891, when he died. Mr. Carrington served four years in the Confederate army, being commis- sioned Captain of a company in Colonel Baylor's regiment, serving extensively in the Western Department. His command participated in the battles of Mansfield, Pleasant Hill and Yellow Bayou. At the battle of Mansfield he was promoted to be Colonel of the regiment. No important fighting was done by this command, and they were disbanded in Texas. Mr. Car- rington's public life was brief, bnt impor- tant, being a member of the Legislature

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one term. He was always an active par- ticipant in Texas politics, but his strength and influence were felt more in the field as a quiet worker than on the stump. Mr. Carrington had great respect for sacred things, and was a consistent member of the Christian Church, and contributed many years in the Master's service. He was married in 1842, in Robertson county, to Miss Rachel Ewing, whose family came from Missouri to Texas. Mrs. Carrington died in 1878, having been the mother of nine children, six of whom are still living.

Our subject is the third in the family, and spent one year in Washington and Lee University, and was obliged to leave school early on account of sickness. His early business life was spent almost entirely in his father's store, only occasionally looking after the stock. In 1872, when twenty- three years of age, he became a partner with his father. The stock now carried by Mr. Carrington will average $10,000, and the sales average $30,000 per year. Seven hundred and fifty bales of cotton were taken in, in 1891, principally on col- lections. His real-estate interests aggre- gate 4,000 acres, 1,000 acres of which is under cultivation. His stock business em- braces horses, cattle and mules, a great number of each. An exchange business is done by the store, merely to accommo- date the Marquez trade. Politically, Mr. Carrington is a Democrat, supporting that wing which endeavors to construct the State platform in conformity with the National platform. Mr. Carrington sel- dom misses a county or State convention, although he has never held an office, nor has he any desire to do so.

In 1872 Mr. Carrington married Miss E. V., the daughter of Frederick Meuller, of German birth. Their children are: Fred, Mabel, Lorene, Josie, De Witt, Cameran, Hunter and Mary.

F. M. Amos, a prominent lumber dealer and farmer of Marquez, Leon county, Texas, was born in Pike county, Georgia, in 1829. He is a son of W. M. Amos, a farmer and teacher, born in Maryland in 1791, and whose father, Maulden Amos, emigrated from England in youthi, and made settlement in Maryland with his parents. When the American colonists agreed to assume a separate and independ- ent existence, and called themselves the United States of America, Maulden Amos joined the patriot army, and contributed four years of good, hard service for the success of the cause, laying aside a religi- ous scruple which would have been ac- cepted as an excuse for not desiring to engage in war. He married a Miss Bull at a very early day, moved to Georgia, and there most of the family were born, as fol- lows: William, deceased; Milton, James and William Maulden, and two daughters, Marthia and Mary. William M. secured only a fair English education, but was able to teach school, an occupation which he followed, together withi bookkeeping, all his life. He married Mary Lazembi, the daughter of a Frenchman. They lived happily together and accumulated quite a competency, but later lost everything from having gone surety. The children of Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Amos were: E. M., living in southern Alabama; Eliza, de- ceased, wife of Payton Bond; Louisa mar- ried James Hardison, of Georgia; Ma-

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

tilda, single; Susan, deceased; John, killed at Atlanta, Georgia, during the Civil war; James and Milton, twins, deceased; Amanda, wife of Alexander Patterson, of Dallas county, Arkansas; Mary, widow of James Johnson, of Jacksonville, Florida; our subject; Rodolphus, killed in Tennes- see during the late war; A. O. married J. H. Jenkins, of Alabama; and Josephine.

Our subject was reared on a farm and in a mill, his time being divided about equally between the two occupations. At the outbreak of hostilities between the North and South, after fighting had broken out in earnest, Mr. Amos enlisted in the Second Battalion, Ross commanding, in Company C, with Captain Jones. He participated in the battles about Rich- mond in 1862, was at Fredericksburg, and at Gettysburg he was captured while driving a team, having been detailed to duty in the Quartermaster's department. When made prisoner Mr. Amos was taken to Fort Del- aware, and from there to Point Lookout, where he was confined until November, 1864, when he was released on account of sickness, and was not able again to join the army.

In 1866 Mr. Amos built a mill and operated it, together with cane-farming in- terests, until he came to Texas in 1874. Besides his timber business, he has an interest in 1,100 acres of land, 200 acres of which is being cultivated, and he is also agent for the Centennial Cotton Gin. At one time Mr. Amnos was elected to the office of Magistrate for two years, and for the past eight years has been Notary Public.

He was married, in 1854, to Miss Isa- bella McArthur, the daughter of Allen

McArthur, of Georgia. Mrs. Amos died in 1878, and in 1883 Mr. Amos married Mrs. Sarah, the widow of John Williams, the sister of his former wife. Mrs. Amos had one child by her first marriage, Luve- ney, who is the wife of Captain T. T. Gam- mnage, a prominent attorney of Palestine.

H. A. Grayson, a prosperous and suc- cessful farmer and popular and enterpris- ing citizen of Marquez, Leon county, was born in Freestone county, April 13, 1846. His father, Ambrose Grayson, was born in Tennessee in 1810, and when a young man he emigrated to Alabama, married there and remained until 1843, when he con- cluded that a change of location would be to his advantage, financially, and he ac- cordingly removed to Arkansas and stopped on the creek lands, near Little Rock. Here he at once found evidences of prosperity in store for him. The soil was fine, the climate perfect, but the country proved too low, for an overflow came, ruined his crops and blighted his hopes for the region, and within twelve months he had left for Texas. He gave attention to farming in Freestone county for three years, and in 1847 took up his abode in Leon, where he resided until his death, in 1854.

Mr. Grayson's public life was confined to service as Justice of the Peace, while yet a citizen of Alabama, and one term as Sheriff of Leon county. He was elected in 1852, being the second incumbent of the office. The father of Ambrose was Clan Grayson, also a native of Tennessee, prob- ably a physician. He reared a family of seven boys and three girls, two of the former became professional men: one was a lawyer and one a doctor; all succeeded

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

and each was a success to his profession. One of these, a lawyer, came to Texas at a very early date, made location on a large tract of land, and here he died, without either his location or life being made known to the family.

Our subject's mother was Sarah, daugh- ter of Thomas Vann, an old farmer, and the following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Grayson: John C., lives in Kosse, in Limestone county; Caroline married Thomas Menefee, of Robertson county; Katie, deceased, was the wife of Absalom Leadbetter; Caledonia died, the wife of · Frank Rogers; Charles C .; Pearlee; N. A .; Amanda married the first time J. M. Jones, who died and she then married D. W. McCormick, of Leon county, and Mollie is the widow of R. J. Greer, of Leon county.

Our subject secured only such education as was afforded by the country schools prior to the war, and when that moment- ous struggle ruptured the Union, Mr. Grayson followed his brethren and threw his mite into the box which contained the resources of the Confederacy. In the spring of 1863 he enlisted in the company commanded by Captain Aycock, of Falls county, Colonel Bradford's Twenty-Second cavalry. The command did duty in Texas, on the western frontier, our subject being detailed as a courier, bearing messages from Brownsville to Corpus Christi and King's Ranch, over distances of from fifty to one hundred miles, through a hostile country, unattended and alone. In the spring of 1865 Mr. Grayson was given a furlough to visit home, and while there General Lee surrendered and the Civil war was over.

Farming was the only business that our subject knew, and at the end of the war a pony was his whole stock in trade. Such a condition would make a stout heart quake and feel faint, but there were many thou- sands who faced just such conditions in 1866, and they made the best of them, as did Mr. Grayson. By 1869 he was able to buy a small farm of 130 acres. A little later he embarked in the stock business. At every step he prospered and invested his surplus in additional land and stock, and to-day he owns a 3,400-acre tract, one-half of which is under fence and one- third under cultivation. On this farm are 300 head of cattle, and 1,000 head of hogs are fattening on the moss the woods afford. The cost of hogs is comparatively nothing, and a market of three to four cents yields a good interest on an investment. Mr. Grayson runs a gin and mill in connection with his farm, which was put up in 1884, at an expense of $2,200. The plant has a capacity of eight bales per day and in 1891 turned out 250 bales. Politically Mr. Grayson is a Democrat and takes a hand in local affairs and in State politics, in questions of vital importance. Socially and fraternally he has connected himself with the Masonic order, has taken the Royal Arch Chapter degrees of Lodge No. 136, at Marquez.

In 1865 Mr. Grayson married Nannie, daughter of H. M. Winn, but she died in 1867, and two years later Mr. Grayson married her sister, Sarah. One child was born of this marriage, Hamilton. Mrs. Grayson died in 1871, and in 1874 Mr. Grayson married Mary E., daughter of James Petty, of Mississippi. Five chil-

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

dren were born of this marriage, namely; Eula Lee, May, Colleta, Vessie Alva and Ernest Vernon. Mrs. Grayson and her daughter May lost their lives in the bnri- ing of their home, in 1885. Mr. Grayson married a fourth time, in 1889. His wife was Mrs. Mary E. Buckholter, the dangliter of J. L. Monroe, of Jewett, and three chil- dren have been horn to Mr. and Mrs. Grayson, namely, Bernice, Davis and Ella. The family is identified with the Mission- ary Baptist Church, in which Mr. Gray- son is a deacon. Mr. Grayson is a well preserved, fine-looking gentleman, of dark complexion, five feet ten in height and weighing 200 ponnds. He has genial man- vers and is a favorite of every one.

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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