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 64

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 64
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 64
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 64
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 64
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 64
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 64

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).

Nashville. After the last battle the brigade went through Alabama to North Carolina, and surrendered at Jonesboro. Besides these battles our subject took part in minor engagements and during all his service he was never seriously wounded or captured, but slightly wounded on several occasions.

After the surrender of the Confederate forces, Mr. Simmons returned to Missis- sippi, his father having died in 1864, and as he was the oldest child it was his duty to take charge of affairs for his mother. Later he came overland to Texas, bringing with him his mother and brothers and sis- ters, reaching here in 1867, and farmed for one year on Trinity river, but came to Freestone county in 1868, and located at what is now known as Cotton Gin, where lie purchased a farm, and for two years confined himself to agricultural pursuits. Then he went into the drug business in Cotton Gin, and remained in that for two years. On March 5, 1872, lie came to Mexia and opened a general store, one of the first in the place.

Mr. Simmons erected the first private residence in the village of Mexia. Some other families were here, but they resided in the rear end and upstairs of the few business houses. For four years our sub- ject conducted a store there and then sold ont to his partner, in order to go into the livery business, which he followed until 1891, selling out to C. T. Stephens. In 1884, our subject and his three single sis- ters purchased the property now occupied by them as a hotel, enlarging and other- wise improving it, until now they have one of the largest and most commodious hotels on the Houston & Texas Central Railroad,

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with the only exception of a certain liouse at Dallas. Here everything is done for the guest to make a stopping pleasant, and next to one's own home this is the best place to be. Our subject owns consider- able property in the city and county. He was married, in 1866, to Miss Nannie Davis, a native of Mississippi, a daughter of William and Percilla (Smith) Davis, and three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Simmons, as follows: Helen, the wife of R. Long, of this city; Sophia, the wife of Lee Vance, of Mexia; and Billy, at home. Our subject is a member of the A. F. & A. M., of Springfield, No. 74, and R. A. M., of Mexia, No. 131. He takes quite an active part in politics and is a prononnced Democrat, although he is not an office-seeker, but works hard for his friends. He is a man of more than ordi- nary energy, and is one whose aim has been to assist with both liis time and means everything looking toward the up- building of the city and county.

LIAS G. FORBES, a prominent farmer and stockman of Anderson county, was born in New York, in 1830, and was the son of William and So- phia (Carpenter) Forbes, natives of New York, of English parentage. Their ances- tors came to America prior to the Revolu- tion, and settled in the Empire State. They close agricultural pursuits as an occupa- tion. William Forbes, father of our sub- ject, was born in New York in 1800, and never engaged in politics to any extent, but was Colonel of the State militia pre-

vious to the war. He married in New York, in 1826, where lie remained until 1849, when he moved to Ogle county, Illi- nois, where he remained until his death, in 1860. He survived his wife one year. They reared a family of four children,. namely, John C., deceased; E. G., our sub- ject; William H., of Iowa; and Sophia H., deceased, wife of T. H. Baker, resi- dent of Rockford, Illinois.

Our subject was reared and educated in the village of Smithville, in which his boy- hood was passed, in the State of his birth. At the age of twenty-one lie began life for himself, although he resided witlı his father until his twenty-fifth year. He first engaged in grain and lumber speculations, at Lane Station, afterward named Rochelle City, Ogle county, Illinois, and continued that business for six years; but in 1858 he retired from speculation and engaged in farming in the same county, and continued to farm and breed stock until 1869, when he removed to Hannibal, Missouri, where he engaged in the insurance business, and was president of the Continental Com- pany, organized under the laws of the State of Missouri, remaining in that busi- ness for two years. Then he returned home to Illinois, and remained there until 1877, when he sold his property and removed to Palestine, Anderson county, Texas, and with his son, O. C. Forbes, purchased their present farm on Squirrel creek, consisting of 370 acres, 200 acres in a fine state of cultivation, on which they raise cotton, corn and sugar cane, also breed fine horses, mules, cattle and hogs.

Mr. Forbes was married in 1857, to Miss Lottie M. Carter, a native of New

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

York, and daughter of O. D. and Maria (Forbes) Carter. Mrs. Forbes has three sisters and one brother, named: Lottie M., wife of subject; Eliza J., wife of J. C. Marcy, of New York; Mary E., wife of G. H. Hart, New York; J. F. Carter of New York, and Ritie M., wife of Frank Gray, New York. Both the parents of Mrs. Forbes are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Forbes had three children, namely: Orrin C., at home; Guy C., deceased; and Frank C., also deceased. Both Mr. and Mrs. Forbes are members of the Christian Church.

T. STEWARD, of Steward's Mill, Freestone county, Texas, came to the county with his father, G. W. Stew- ard, in the fall of 1850, from Monroe county, Mississippi, where our subject was born, in 1834. His father was born in Abbeville district, South Carolina, in 1812, and was a pioneer to Mississippi, and while living there engaged in farming, although he was a millright by trade. When he left Mississippi for Texas it was his intention to go to Dallas county, but while engaged in prospecting along the route he discovered a good site for a mnill and, as it was in a good timber region he concluded to stop. He erected the mill, and soon after a store was started, and soon after that the United States mail was left here and the name of Steward's Mill came into official existence. The property brought here by Mr. Steward included six horses, a wagon and hack and five negroes. In the early years of this settlement every- thing possible was made by hand and

everything provided at home, -meat, bread and clothing included, and the woods fur- nished game when meat was scarce. Many of the first settlers belonged to a rough class of people, but they gave way in a few years to a real true-blue class. Before the war Mr. Steward gave the most of his at- tention to his mill. As there was much sinall grain raised, his mill was kept busy and lie was making money rapidly, but the fall of the Confederacy embarrassed him greatly. He died in 1883, never having regained his financial standing of 1861. His wife was Sallie, daughter of Edward Seely, of South Carolina. That family emigrated to Indiana, then to Mississippi. The children of our subject's parents were: Randolph, who died; our subject; Mary, wife of - - -- Egger, who died; H. B., died at Camp Douglas, Illinois; George W., died at Hopkinsville, Kentucky; Ma- linda became the wife of a Mr. Keel, and died; Nancy V. is the widow of F. M. Wells, of Wortham; F. M. and Susan M.

Our subject received very little educa- tion, and can scarcely read and write, hav- ing attended school only three monthis. In 1862 he enlisted in Colonel Randall's regiment of infantry, and served in the Trans-Mississippi Department of Texas, Louisiana and Arkansas. He took part in the battles of Mansfield, Milliken's Bend and many skirmishes, being Second Ser- geant of Company H, Captain Means in command. It was disbanded at Hemp- stead, and he came home and resumed farming. The only office that Mr. Steward ever held was that of Postmaster, his first commission being given by General Grant's administration. He has disposed of his

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mercantile interest at the mill, but has re- tained charge of the office. He has suc- ceeded well in his business enterprises, and now owns 1,200 acres of land, besides other property. In addition to this other property, he owns one of the most beauti- ful homes in the county, and is surrounded by peace and plenty and all that will con- tribute to earthly enjoyment.

In December, 1860, Mr. Steward mar- ried Miss Eliza Jane, the daughter of P. C. Whiteaker, who was Tax Assessor and Collector when Freestone county was a part of Robertson district. Mr. Whiteaker is from Georgia.

Mr. and Mrs. Steward are the parents of two children: W. W. and C. B. Mr. Steward is a fine-appearing old gentleman, with his portly presence and patriarchal beard, and gives one the impression of be- ing in the presence of one of the old-time courtly Southern gentlemen.

OHN M. THOMAS, one of the enter- prising farmers of Drane, Navarro county, Texas, was born in Tennessee, February 1, 1827, son of James D. Thomas, of South Carolina, son of John Thomas, also of South Carolina. The latter gen- tleman removed to Tennessee, where he spent the remainder of his life, engaged in agricultural pursuits, when he was not serving as County Clerk. Of Scotch-Irislı descent he had many of the sterling traits of each nationality. The father of our subject married Miss Farabee Pachal, of South Carolina, but nothing is known of her family history. Seven children were

born of this union, of whom our subject was the oldest child and only one in Texas; all the rest are deceased, but one in Mis- souri. The father was a practicing phy- sician and became quite efficient in liis calling.

Our subject was reared on a farm and received a conmon-school education. When he was quite young his parents re- moved to Mississippi and died soon after, leaving the young orphan to take care of himself. He returned to Tennessee and lived with his grandfather until 1847, when he started to New Orleans, from there proceeding to Texas, where he landed the following year. He was a single man at that time and his first location was in Dallas county, where he was employed in the Duck Creek post office for about one year, when he removed to Navarro county, and there began farming in the vicinity of Red Oak, where he remained until 1852. At that date he married and after that event rented land and ran a stock farm in connection with his farming interests. In about twelve months after his marriage his wife died, and in 1860 he married again and settled down on a farm he had purchased. His peace and happiness was rudely broken into by the dread call of duty, in 1862, and he enlisted in Company E, Thirteenth Texas Infantry, and served on the Rio Grande and on the coast. After one year the command was sent to Louisi- ana, where they remained a short time, then returned to Texas, where they re- mained in the service until the close of the war, being at Velasco at the time of the surrender. After the war was over our subject returned home and resumed his

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farm duties. Since that time he has sold and traded land and cattle. In 1872, he bought the land where he now resides and removed to it and has made it his home ever since. He now owns 200 acres, all nn- der fence, about eighty acres of which are in a fine state of cultivation. For five years he has been diversifying the crops with good results. During this time he raised a good deal of wheat and expects to take mp the cultivation of that cereal again. He and his sons cultivate the farm and raise all the farm supplies, pork, lard and vege- tables, and also all cattle necessary to the carrying on of the work of the farm. Mr. Thomas considers that it was much easier to make money before the war in Texas than it is now, and that his life at that pe- riod was much pleasanter than at present.

Our subject has been married twice, the first time to Margarette Cyens, whose fa- ther came to Texas when it was a Mexican territory, in 1834, and took part in the Texas revolution. By this marriage our subject had one child, James D., who lived to maturity, married, and died in 1887. As before stated the wife died in about twelve months, passing away in 1853, and seven years later Mr. Thomas married again, his choice falling upon Miss Martha Baker, daughter of Jonas Baker, of Tennessee, who came to Texas in the spring of 1860, and settled in this county, where he en- gaged in farming until his death in 1878. By this last marriage eight children were born, namely: Ophelia, married to M. C. Godley, a farmer of Navarro county; C. H., a farmer of Navarro county; Ida, mar- ried John M. Johnson, but died March 13, 1892; J. M., Jr., a farmer of Navarro

county; Dan A., yet at home; Sally, at home; Catharine, at home. Mrs. Thomas was born October 7, 1837, and has proved herself a noble, good woman. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and although he always has been a Democrat is now independent in politics. In his church relations he is connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which body he is a prominent member.

R. T. A. MILLER .- The subject of this notice is a native of Texas and a type of one of her healthiest produets. He was born in Ellis county, where his parents have resided since their removal to the State. They came from Tennessee to to Texas being natives of the former State. The father, A. T. Miller, was born in Rhea county, Tennessee, in 1830, and is the youngest of a family of three children born to Abram and Rebecca DeArmand Miller. Abram Miller was a boot and shoe manu- facturer, a soldier in the Florida Indian war of 1836 and for a number of years a resident of Chattanooga, Tennessee, where he died in 1842. His wife died three years later, at the same place. Of their three sons, James C. moved to Alabama, where he died leaving a family; A. C. is also deceased, leaving a family; and Arton T. came to Texas. The last named, father of the subject of this notice, married Martha L. Witherspoon, in 1856, she being a daugh- ter of Thomas A. and Eliza Youree Wither- spoon, of Hamilton county, Tennessee, and came to Texas in 1859, settling in Ellis county, where as already noted he has since

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resided. He was a comparatively early settler of that county, and coming to the State with but limited means he underwent a number of severe trials while trying to establish a home in 'the then new West, but by patience, industry, economy and good management his condition improved with the passing years, and although he lost heavily by the war he is to-day one of the most prosperous farmers of Ellis county, owning a well improved place of over 500 acres lying four miles north of Waxahachie, the county seat, where he lives in peace and contentment. He was in the Confederate army during the late war, serving as a mem- ber of Company D, Nineteenth Texas Cav- alry and taking part in all the campaigns and engagements in which his regiment participated. Of a family of eight children he has reared three to maturity, of whom the subject of this sketch is the youngest but one.

Thomas A. Miller was born on the old homestead near Waxahachie, Ellis county, January 7, 1865. He was reared there and received his earlier education in the common schools of that vicinity. He graduated from Add Ran College in Hood county in 1886, and began reading medi- cine the same year under Drs. Sweatt & Thompson of Waxahachie. He took his medical lectures at the University of Ten- nessee, at Nashville, from which he was graduated in the spring of 1888. He spent a year in polyclinic work at New Orleans and Nashville, and then located at Corsicana and began the practice of his profession, following it there since. No- vember 3, 1889, he married Miss Amanda Murphy, a daughter of Lafayette Murphy,

of Crandall, Kaufman county, she being a native of that county. Two children have blessed this union: Duburt and Tate.

Dr. Miller is a young man whose talents and devotion to his chosen line of work give promise of great usefulness and dis- tinction in his profession. He is a hard student, a close observer and faithful to the sacred trust imposed upon him by his profession. He comes of good, sturdy American stock, originally of English and French Huguenot extraction, and there are in him no evidences of a deterioration of the blood which his pious, patriotic ances- tors have transmitted to him.

OMULUS M. COLLINS, wholesale and retail grocer of Corsicana, son of Pascall and Emily (Borders) Collins, is a native of Spaulding county, Georgia, born April 6, 1844. His father was a South Carolinian by birth and his mother a native of North Carolina. They were married in North Carolina and passed the greater part of their lives in Georgia, the father dying in Spaulding county, of which he was an honored citizen for many years, and, before the war, a wealthy planter. The mother caine to Texas after the re- moval of her son, the subject of this notice, to this State and died at his home in Corsicana.

R. M. Collins was reared on his father's farm in Spaulding county, Georgia, to the age of seventeen, dividing lıis time be- tween his duties as a farm hand and his attendance at the local schools. April, 1861, he entered the Confederate army,

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enlisting in Company F, commanded by Captain William Glass, Thirteenth Georgia Regiment, commanded by Colonel Ector, an old Mexican veteran. He began his service for the Confederacy in the Sewell Mountain district under Floyd and served there until the creation of the Army of Northern Virginia, of which his command became a part and with which he afterward served, taking part in all the campaigns and engagements in which that army par- ticipated up to the close of the war. He was three times wounded at Mary's Heights, Second Battle of Fredericksburg and at Petersburg, in the last of whichi engage- ments he was also captured, afterward sent to the hospital, and in July, 1865, after the surrender was paroled.

When the war was over he returned to Georgia, but, finding his father's property swept way, the old home broken up and the country in a state of demoralization, he decided to seek his fortunes elsewhere and started West for that purpose. He made a stop in Louisiana during the year of 1866, but came on to Texas in 1867, and settled in Navarro county, twenty miles south of Corsicana where he began work on a farm.

December, 1869, he married Miss Jo- sepliine Owen, daughter of Francis Owen, an early settler and for many years a highly- respected citizen of Navarro county; and, having previously inade some start at farm- ing, he followed this with increasing suc- cess till 1874, at which time he sold out and moved to Corsicana, where he engaged on a small scale in the grocery business. By industry and good management his business grew from year to year until at

present his house is one of the leading wholesale and retail establishments in cen- tral Texas. He lias confined himself ex- clusively to business pursuits and mainly to his mercantile interests. He assisted in the organization of the First National Bank of Corsicana, and is now, and has always been, a considerable stockholder in it as well as a member of its board of directors. He is also a stockholder in the Cotton Oil Mills, the Flouring Mills, the City Street Railway and other smaller enterprises, be- ing always ready to encourage any public enterprise by taking stock in it and work- ing for it if necessary.

Mr. Collins has never held any office, having persistently refused to allow lris name to go out as an aspirant for public honors, being content with his lot as an un- pretentious man of business. His public spirit takes a practical turn, as do also his charities, which are bestowed with a liberal hand. He is a zealous member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has done a great deal of effective work through that order. He is also a leading member of the Methodist Church, and his name stands pledged to the support of every work of earnest Christian endeavor. He has one of the handsomest homes in the city of Corsicana, situated in the western sub- urbs on an eminence commanding a splen- did view of the city and overlooking the country for miles around,-a large and cominodious building, complete in all its appointments and under the roof of which friend and stranger receive a kindly wel- come, and are made to feel the force of the greatest of all human virtues, genuine, un- stinted hospitality. He has a family of

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seven children, some of whom are now merging on to manhood and womanhood, for whom he has made, and is making, ade- quate provision in 'respect to education, social needs and start in life.

In manner Mr. Collins possesses the plain and direct methods of the man of business, but is of a sympathetic nature and kind even to gentleness. He is above the average height, being about five feet eight inches and weighs near 215 pounds. He is full in chest and shoulder, and has a large round head, ruddy complexion, clear blue eyes, a pleasant face, a voice subdued to gentleness and manner to correspond. His children's names are: Marcus M., Ella, Lloyd, Neal, Ora, Charles and Owen. Marcus M. is married and living in Cor- sicana, in business with his father.

ENRY A. SWINK, one of the lead- ing young farmers and stock-raisers of Navarro county, was born in Cherokee county, Texas, in 1855, the eld- est son of W. P. and C. L. (Gray) Swink, natives of Tennessee and Mississippi. The parents came to Texas before marriage. The father came in the latter part of 1852, settling in Cherokee county, where his wife's parents had been living many years. In 1860 they settled on Pin Oak creek, Navarro county, near the village of Rich- lands, where the father engaged in farmning and stock-raising. He was a soldier in the Confederate armny, and his death occurred January 30, 1874, at the age of forty-eight years. His wife still survives, and is now in her fifty-fith year. They were the par-

ents of seven children: Henry A., our subject; James L., of this county; Mary, wife of A. Hilburn; W. P., of Navarro county; Josie, deceased; Maggie, wife of R. R. Davis, of this county; and George, deceased. After the father's death the mother married C. W. Mackie.

Henry A. Swink received only the ad- vantages of the subscription schools in his early life, but by close attention has quali- fied himself to transact any kind of busi- ness. He commenced life on his own ac- count at the age of nineteen years as a stock-raiser, and first received only $18 per month. He has made several trips to Indian Nation and Kansas. After work- ing for wages two years, he began the same business for himself in this county, and is engaged in buying, feeding and shipping. He ships from 150 to 200 head per year, and now has a herd of 350 head on hand. In 1875 Mr. Swink bought 186 acres of his present farm, to which he has since added until he now owns 2,019 acres, with 170 acres under a fine state of cultivation, a splendid residence, out- buildings, etc. He is engaged in breed- ing Clydesdale horses, owning a fifth in- terest in a horse worth $1,600, and his cattle are all well bred.

In 1876 the subject of this sketch was united in marriage with Miss Eva Rush- ing, a native of Navarro county, and a daughter of Calvin and Harriet (Griffin) Rushing, natives of Tennessee. They came to this county in 1853, and were the parents of four children: Mary A., widow of David White; Alf is the next in order of birth; and Eva and Josie, twins, the former the wife of our subject and the

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

latter the wife of James Numan, of No- land City. Mr. and Mrs. Swink have two children, viz .: Alabama B., born August 5, 1880; and Birdie L., May 25, 1886.

Our subject commenced life as a poor boy, but by close attention to business he has amassed a large income. He is one of the leading and most enterprising young inen of the county, affiliates with the Democratic party, and is a member of the Democratic branch of the Farmers' Alli- ance.

HOMAS STOKES, one of the prom- inent settlers of Navarro connty, was born in Simpson county, Mis- sissippi, June 2, 1828, a son of W. W. and Martha F. (McMullen) Stokes, natives of South Carolina and Georgia. The father was a son of George Stokes, of Vir- ginia. The latter afterward removed to South Carolina, where he married a Miss Middleton, theu went to Tennessee, a short time afterward to Kentucky, next to Lonisiana Territory, and then to the then Territory of Alabama, where he was killed by the Seminole Indians. The remainder of the family were wounded and left for dead, but all survived. The father of our subject, the second child, remained with his widowed mother and family until twenty years of age, when he went to Mis- sissippi. He afterward located in Clarke county, Alabama, but again went to Mis- sissippi. He was a farmer through life, was a true Christian gentleman, and was a man of prominence in his commu- nity. He was married in Alabama to Miss Martha McMullen, a danghter of Alex-

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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