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 62

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 62
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 62
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 62
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 62
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 62
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 62

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 subject of this notice was reared in Alabama, having been brought up on the farm and educated in the public schools of Sumter county. He came to Texas in 1857, then in his nineteenth year, and en- gaged in teaching school in Polk county. He became Deputy County Clerk of Polk county under L. S. McMicken in 1860, which position he held until April, 1861, when he was elected to fill a vacancy in that office caused by the resignation of McMicken. He was Clerk of Polk county

until 1869, when he was removed by E. J. Davis as an impediment to reconstruc- tion. In May, 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate army-Company E, Elmo's regiment-and served in the Confederacy three years in the field, being engaged in the defense of the Gulf coast and Louisiana bor- der. When he went out of the office of Clerk of Polk county he again turned his atten- tion to farming and school-teaching, and was so engaged for about two years. In 1869 he became Deputy Sheriff of Polk county aud held this position, having the principal control of the affairs of the office until 1872, when he resigned and moved to Corsicana to accept a position as teacher in Prof. J. C. Mimin's school of that place. He had been a resident of Corsicana only a short time when, his reputation as a criminal officer having become known, he was offered a position as day officer on the city police force, which he accepted, re- signing his place in the school-room for that purpose. For two years he served on the city police force, then became Deputy Sheriff, and later Constable of Precinct No. 1, and again Deputy, alternating in service between these two offices and that of City Marshal until November, 1890. when he was elected Sheriff of the county, which office he now holds.

For over thirty years Mr. Cubley has been in the public service, twenty years of which time he has been a criminal officer. There is probably no man in central Texas better known as such than he is, nor one who has a better record. His name is a terror to cvil-doers and his presence always a guarantee of good order. He was the prin- cipal police officer of Corsicaua during the

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"flushı times" of that city, and was for many years lier main-stay in the enforcement of the law. His ability as an executive officer is admitted by all. He is honest and up- right, conscientious in the discharge of his dnties, and a man who is absolutely with- out fear. Men who have long been en- gaged in dealing withi criminals, too fre- quently take on a severe aspect, assume gruff ways and exhibit in their own conduct no little of that "toughness" which it is their principal business to suppress. There is not the slightest trace of any of this in Mr. Cubley. His manners are as polished as those of the most perfect gentlemen, his conversation as subdued and refined as that of a man of letters, while his heart beats in sympathy with all the world, and not the least with the unfortunate ones whom it is almost his daily work to bring to the bar of justice.

Mr. Cubley belongs to the State Sheriffs' Association and contributes his share to the success of that order. He is a Royal Arch Mason and is also a member of a number of the benevolent orders and takes great interest in their work, furthering their pur- poses in every way becoming an efficient member. In politics he is a Democrat. In the canvas of 1892 Mr. Cubley ran as an independent candidate for re-election to the office of Sheriff, but was defeated by the Populist candidate.

On August 20, 1861, Mr. Cubley mar- ried Miss Eliza E. Augustin, a daughter of Colonel H. W. Augustin, an eminent old Texas veteran, who helped to win Texas in- dependence and guarded the frontier settle- ments from Indian forays for many years, and a member of the Texas Congress, and

when Texas came into the Union, he was appointed Custom House officer at Sabine Pass. Mr. Cubley was born in San Au- gustine county, Texas, where her people were early settlers. The result of this union has been ten children, six of whom are now living, most of them being grown: William H., now residing in Dallas; Arthur H., same place; Ella R., Lulu Kirk, Au- gustin and Maud. Mr. Cubley's private life has been as happy as his public life has been successful. He is greatly devoted to his family, being a man of strong domestic tastes, and having received such training himself in youth as makes the name of home sacred to liim and all its associations hallowed.

ALTER J. BLACKMON, an old settler of Navarro county, was born in Alabama, October 2, 1847, and was then first child in a family of two born to Benjamin F. and Mary E. (Jones) Blackinon, natives of South Carolina and Virginia, respectively. The Blackmon family is reckoned among the first families of South Carolina and the Jones family were among the old settlers of Virginia. Both families were large and influential and the sons became wealthy planters. The maternal grandfather of our subject, John C. Jones, was an early Baptist minister of Alabama. B. F. Blackmon came to Texas in 1853, and settled in Freestone, near Fairfield. He was a physician and prac- ticed in a small way, but devoted most of his time to farming and stock-raising. Mr. Blackmon was not an advocate of the late war, but as his interests were identi-

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

fied with the Sonth and his home was there he espoused the cause of his section, and in 1863 he joined the Confederate service, under Captain Bradley, and served until the close of the war, being stationed in the southern part of the State. After that cessation of hostilities he resumed his oc- cupation and continued farming as his principal vocation until his death, in 1888, at the age of sixty-three. In 1874 he was elected to represent his county in the State Legislature, having moved to this county in 1860. At the time of the nom- ination, Mr. Blackmon was not at the convention and was unaware that his name was being placed before it, and when noti- fied that he was the Democratic nominee for the Legislature he was completely surprised. He had always been a man of irreproachable character, and he served his term with credit to himself and the entire satisfaction of the people, and when sunt- moned to his home above it could be said of him, "Thou good and faithful servant, who among us is worthy to take thy place ?" He was a prominent Master Mason and his death was mourned by the people of Navarro county. His wife died in 1883, at the age of fifty-three years. She was a member of the Baptist Church and of her two children, one was our subject and the other, John T., is a merchant of Eureka of this county.

Walter J. attended school for fifteen months at Fairfield, and at that time had to ride five miles, morning and night. His educational advantages were somewhat limited, but he enjoyed tive months at Baylor University, at Waco. Arriving at man's estate he has assiduously applied

himself, and is now one of the best posted men in the county. Ile was reared to farm life on his father's place, and in 1864 he joined Company A, of Colonel Timmon's regiment and served at Galveston. After the war he returned to this county, where his father had moved in 1860, and re- mained here until his twenty-first birthday.

He was married November 7, 1867, to . Miss Fannie D. Johnston, a native of Ire- land and a danghter of D. J. and Isabella (Milling) Johnston. They came to America when their daughter was an infant, settled in Alabama and before the war moved to this State and located in Leon county, where Mr. Johnston died. Mrs. Johnston moved to this county in 1866, and here her daughter was married. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were the parents of six children, namely: William M., a member of tlie State Legislature and a prominent attor- ney of Leon county, resides in Centreville; Mary H., deceased, was the wife of Robert Hall; David J., of this county; Catherine; Thomas M., deceased; Isabella is the wife of James M. Hopper, one of the editorial staff of the Louisville Courier Journal; and Fannie D., wife of our subject. Mrs. Johnston died in 1888.

After marriage Mr. Blackmon engaged in farming for four years and for four years more he handled stock in connection with his farm. In 1880 he engaged in mer- cantile business at Eureka and continued for seven years, during which time he did not pay much attention to farming. Since closing out his mercantile business he has engaged extensively in horse-raising. He has been a man who has taken quite an active interest in politics, but has never

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asked for any office. He has a fine farm of 650 acres, with 125 under a fine state of cultivation, and his raising of fine horses and mules has become an important indus- try. He and his wife have three children, namely: Paul J., a merchant of Eureka; James S., who lives in Corsicana; and Mary B., who is at home. Mr. Blacknion has a home in Corsicana, where his family re- side, and he and his wife are members of the old-school Presbyterian Church, in which he is a Deacon. In politics he is a Democrat.

HARLES H. DE LAFOSSE, a farm- er and stock-raiser of Navarro county, was born in Polk county, Texas, July 6, 1860, a son of Peter and Clementine (Dessasar) De Lafosse, natives of Louisiana and of French descent. They came to Texas in 1849, locating in Polk county, where the mother died in 1876, and the father in 1879. The latter was a promi- . nent farmer and stock-raiser. The parents had a family of six children, viz .: Benja- min, a farmer, stock-raiser and merchant of Trinity county; Albert R., also a farmer and stock-raiser of that county; Nettie, wife of E. D. Ruddock, a farmer of Bur- net county; Louis, a farmer of Trinity county; Charles, our subject; and Peter, a resident of De Witt county, southern Texas.

Charles H., our subject, has been a farmer all his life, and was reared to man- hood in his native county. He began busi- ness for himself at the age of eighteen years, and in 1881 came to Navarro county,

Texas. He first bought 160 acres of land, on which was a house and a small amount improved, and he has added to this place until he now has, of his homestead farm, 640 acres, a part of which is under culti- vation; but his principal occupation is stock-raising. Besides his home farm, and in company with A. B. Tinkle, he owns 1,000 acres of pasture land, which he uses for stock purposes, and sells stock at home. They buy principally two-year olds, which they keep until grown. They handle a large amount of cattle yearly. Mr. De La- fosse was one of the first men to feed cattle in this county, of which he has made a great success. His home is located about nine miles northwest of Corsicana.

Our subject was married on January 12, 1882, to Miss Sally Tinkle, who was born in Panola county, Texas, July 24, 1864, but reared in Henderson county, this State. She is a daughter of John W. and Jane Tinkle, the father a native of Arkansas, and the mother a danghter of Nathan Davis, who came to this State when it was the territory of Mexico, and who lived to a good old age, dying in December, 1883. The father of Mrs. De Lafosse was a farmer and stock-raiser by occupation, and his death occurred in this county in 1883; his wife died the following year. Mr. and Mrs. Tinkle were the parents of eight chil- dren, namely: J. W., a farmer of Navarro county; Elizabeth, wife of W. T. Allen; Nathan, a farmer and stock-raiser by occu- pation; A. B., engaged in the same busi- ness; Sally, wife of our subject; Nanny, wife of W. M. Maggard, a stock-raiser of Jack county; John M., of the same county ; and T. M., who is still unmarried. Mr.

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

and Mrs. De Lafosse have had four chil- dren: Gertrude, born October 31, 1883; Elmar. September 10,1886; Charles, Marchi 22, 1888; and George, September 20, 1890.

Our subject was elected County Com- missioner in 1890, and is serving with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party; socially, he is a member of the Alliance; and religiously, both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.

J. GILBERT, one of the leading farmers and stockinen of precinct No. 3, Navarro county, was born in Macon county, Alabama, December 11, 1842, the youngest son of Thomas J. and Lavina (Thorp) Gilbert, natives of Geor- gia. The Gilbert family are of English and German extraction, and the Thorps of German extraction. Both families came to America previous to the war for independ- ence, settling in South Carolina and Vir- ginia, and the grandfather of our subject afterward removed to Georgia. The fam- ily always made a specialty of agricultural pursuits. The great-grandfather served seven years in the war for independence, and was an officer in the army. The father of our subject was born in Georgia, fol- lowed farming until the latter years of his life and then began the mercantile business. In the spring of 1844 lie moved to Union parish, Louisiana, remained there twenty- five years ; resided three years in this county, and then went to Wortham, Freestone county, where he died in 1875, aged sixty-

four years. While residing in Georgia he served as Major of the State Militia, and also held the office of Justice of the Peace. His wife died in 1888, at the age of seventy- three years. They were members for many years of the Primitive Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert were the parents of five children, as follows: Captain J. S., of Navarro counry; Panthea E., wife of W. W. Ward; Lodesky E., deceased, was the wife of John T. Nicolas; Alexander, who was killed at the battle of Spottsylvania, Virginia, in 1863; and D. J., our subject.

D. J. Gilbert received his education in Union parish, Louisiana, and in May, 1861, joined the State service for twelve months. His brother was appointed Lientenant of the command, and they went to New Or- leans, but one month later the company disorganized. Our subject remained at home until 1862, and then joined Company C, Twenty-eighth Louisiana Infantry, un- der Colonel Grays, serving on the west side of the Mississippi river, and participating in the battles of Camp Bigland, Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Yellow Bayou, and many skirmishes. . He was Color-Bearer of his regiment during his time of service, from 1862 to 1865. He was at home on a sick furlough at the time of the surrender, after which he began farming in Louisiana. In 1869 Mr. Gilbert came to Texas, and for three years farmed on rented land in this county. He landed in this State with $1,000 in money, a team, wagon and sup- plies for one year, and three years after- ward purchased 120 acres of improved land in Freestone county, where he was engaged in farming and stock-raising twelve years. He then settled on his present farm of 2,300

LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

acres in Navarro county, paying from $2 to $7.50 per acre, and at that time only forty acres were fenced; 130 acres of the place is now under a fine state of cultiva- tion, and the remainder in pasture, where his herds of cattle and horses roam at will. Mr. Gilbert feeds yearly from 300 to 400 head of stock, and now has 250 head of stock cattle. In 1886 he engaged in gen- eral merchandising in this city, but in 1890 gave his interest to his son, and since that time he has given his attention ex- clusively to farming and stock-raising.

Our subject was married, in 1863, to Miss Louisa Aycock, a native of Louisiana, and a daughter of James and Denisa (Ma- berry) Aycock. For the history of the parents, see sketch of W. F. Hood. To Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have been born thir- teen children, namely: Denisa, wife of A. M. Milligan, of Navarro county; Ada, now Mrs. W. G. McConnell; Thomas F., a merchant of Cade, Navarro county; Dora, Jay, Amma, Daisy, Uler and Byrl. Four children died wlien small, two sons and two daughters. Mrs. Gilbert is a mem- ber of the Missionary Baptist Church. Our subject has affiliated with the A. F. & A. M., since his twenty-first birthday, and is now a member of Birdston Lodge, No. 333, in which he has filled all the chairs.

ICHARD J. SANDERS, a successful farmer, stock-raiser and merchant of this section of country, came to the State in 1848, when still young, making the journey with his parents. The family made their first settlement in Cherokee county,

butafter several years removed to Anderson county, and from there to Kaufman county, where he grew to manhood.

Our subject was born in Mississippi, May 11, 1856, and is the son of Stephen N. Sanders, of Mississippi, a frontiersman, who engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising. He served in the militia during the late war and died in 1867. He inarried Miss Toletlia Hightower, daughter of Charnel Hightower, of Georgia, wlio came to Texas in 1848, and died in Hood county. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders had nine children, of whom our subject was the second.

Our subject was reared to farm life, and came to Texas, as before stated, with his parents. In 1866, he married and then removed to Navarro county, where he lias since lived. At the outbreak of the great struggle, in 1861, when only sixteen, he enlisted in Company G, Third Texas Cav- alry, and served in Missouri and Arkansas nine montlis. After the battle of Corinth, he returned to Tupelo, where he was dis- charged, after which he returned home, arriving July 6, 1862. Later he joined John S. Ford's command, and continued until the close of the war on the western frontier. They were all disbanded near Brownsville, Texas, and returned home.

After our subject's marriage he settled down to business for himself, althoughi he had nothing to begin on but liis willing lands. After coming to Navarro county, lie rented for a time, but soon bouglit a small farm, on which he made a cotton crop, which he could hardly get ginned. So much difficulty did he experience that he held it over until the next spring, when

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lie was able to have it attended to and then hanled it to Bryan, where he sold it for 19g cents per pound. This netted lini some money for his first crop. He then sold his first farm and bouglit 320 acres of land and opened up a farm. Soon after this he began trading in cattle, driving the cattle to Louisiana, where he sold thiem and then bought more land with the product of his venture. He then sold liis second purchase and bought in the neighborhood of 900 acres of land. As his young family began to grow up about him, he felt the necessity of giving them better advantages for obtaining an education, so he moved in- to the village of Cross Roads, and engaged in mercantile pursuits, with a partner, in 1884. Soon he bought out the interest of the partner and carried on the business until 1889, when he moved his stock to Frost, where he carries on a general store, with about $10,000 worth of goods and an annual sale amounting to about $30,000.

Mr. Sanders is a wealthy gentleman, as lie not only owns the store building, where he carries on his business, but also his resi- dence, a portion of the town site, two farms adjoining town and other property. The farms aggregate about 2,900 acres, 580 of which is in a fine state of cultivation, on which is raised cotton, corn, oats and other farm products. This land he rents. He is also giving attention to improvement of stock, and has twenty jennets for raising jacks, has on hand some fine jacks, two of which were raised in Spain. He also has three stallions of improved stock, a fine English draft horse, weight 1,500 pounds, dark bay; also a Copper Bottom bay, Char- ley, bred in Kentucky; also fine Tennessee-

bred horse, a fine saddler. In addition he raises from forty to fifty colts per year, also abont a carload of mules, which he markets when it suits him, and where,-sometimes at home and sometimes takes them to Louis- iana. In this business as well as in mer- chandising he has inade a success. His farming is also very successful, and this man, who has made all he owns, is a fair representative of a self-ınade man. He now resides on his old homestead, two miles from Frost, and is deeply interested in all kinds of Texas lands and interests.

Mr. Sanders married Miss Eliza A. Mc- Peters, daughter of Jonathan and Mary McPeters, of Missonri, who came to Texas at an early day. By this marriage nine children have been born, two of whom died young. Those living are: Mary, who mar- ried R. L. Shepard; Stephen J., a farmer and trader at Kerens; Sallie married B. H. Johnson, a school-teacher; Willie, Charles, Ira, Lucy, and Lorena, are at home.

At an early day Mr. Sanders served as Deputy Sheriff. He and his wife are con- sistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

ILLIAM CARTER CHERRY, a prominent and widely known cot- ton-buyer of Corsicana, Texas, was born in Chambers county, Alabama, June 12, 1840. He was a son of Dr. James A. Cherry, who was born in old Pendleton, South Carolina, in 1811, and died at his home in Chambers county, Alabama, No- vember 7, 1889. He was a graduate of Charleston Medical College and was a dis- tinguished physician through life, a man

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of rare endowments, of great social quali- ties and extensively known for his princely hospitalities. He married, in 1833, Mary Elizabetlı, daughter of Horace Reese, also of South Carolina, and a member of a dis- tinguished family, one of whom was a signer of the famous Mecklenburg Dec- laration of Independence; another later (Dr. Addison Reese), after a contest for Congress of great excitement, defeated Hon. Alexander H. Stepliens; another member was a Chief Justice of Georgia. The grandfather, Samuel Cherry, was a prominent merchant for many years at his home.in Pendleton, South Carolina, prior to 1830. The subject of our sketch at the out- break of the Civil War was a member of a crack military company of West Point, Georgia, called the West Point Guards, whose members were wealthy and well educated, and whose officers were military graduates, and, after repeated solicitations to the Governor of Georgia (Brown), succeeded in entering the service of the Confederacy in 1861 at Augusta, Georgia. The company was immediately assigned to duty at the Gosport Navy Yard, Portsmouth, Virginia, arriving just in time to see it destroyed by fire by the retreating Federal soldiers. The first duty of private Cherry as a soldier was to help rescue the afterward famous man-of-war, " Merrimac," to the Confederacy. While there was but little active service in that part of Virginia for twelve months, the subject of our sketch was placed in charge of a land battery of heavy ordnance, at Pig's Point, during the famous naval bat- tle between the Merrimac and the Federal fleet in Hampton Roads. Subsequently,

with his company and regiment (Colonel George Doles, Fourth Georgia, command- ing), was ordered in the spring of 1862 to the defense of Richmond, at that time menaced by General Mcclellan's army, arriving just in time to participate in the Seven Days' battle, taking part with his command in that memorable conflict; also at " King's Schoolhouse" and the famous slaughter-pen, " Malvern Hill," at which place the command was badly used up. After resting a month it was ordered to the relief of Stonewall Jackson, then being pressed by General Pope at South Mount- ain and Manassas, Virginia. He was also an active participant under Lee and Jack- son in the battles which followed so fast during that famous campaign, beginning at South Mountain, Maryland, then Har- per's Ferry and Sharpsburg, Maryland, and escaping without any serious wounds. Subsequently he was with his company and regiment, then in Jackson's command, in the bloody battle of Raccoon Ford, on the Rappahannock, and then Fredericks- burg. The next great battle he fought in was Chancellorsville, in May, 1863, when he was wounded, but not disabled, at a point where General Jackson received his death wounds. He subsequently fought with his command in the invasion of Pennsylvania, and was in the ever mem- orable battle of Gettysburg, and then later in Grant's campaign of 1864, the series of battles in the Wilderness, beginning May 5, 1864, and was made prisoner May 10 at Spottsylvania Court House during a charge of General Grant's troops on the Con- federate lines, he being in command of the skirmishers of the brigade, where he was

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slightly wounded. He was taken to the prison at Fort Delaware, and, with about 200 Confederate officers, was sent down to Charleston Harbor, to be placed under fire of the Confederate guns of Forts Sumter and Moultrie in front of the Federal Fort Wagner, as a retaliatory measure against the treatment of some Federal prisoners they were then receiving. Six months later they were sent up the James river for exchange, but the negotiations mis- carried, and they were returned early in 1865 to Fort Delaware prison, where they remained until released in June, 1865, after the surrender of Generals Lee and Johnston, when he returned home.

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Author: Publication date: 1893 Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Publishing Co. Number of Pages: 954

Author:
Publication date: 1893
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Publishing Co.
Number of Pages: 954