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 67

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 67
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 67
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 67
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 67
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 67
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 67

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natives of England. She departed this life in 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Bartholomew Slade were married in 1836, and were the parents of eight children, viz .: Catherine W., deceased; Martlia E., wife of T. E. Thompson, a jeweler of Galveston; Sally M., widow of J. W. Norris, formerly a member of the firm of Norris & Slade; William B., deceased, was a jeweler of Galveston; John W., deceased, was a resi- dent of Center Point, Texas; Priscilla, deceased; Albert N., deceased ; and James B., our subject.

The latter remained with his mother in Richmond until 1871, and while living in the capital of the Confederacy he remem- bers many of the war scenes which met his view. In 1862, at the age of twelve years, he was employed as a clerk in a dry- goods store, which he continued until 1869, and in that year took the position of messenger in the National Bank of Vir- ginia. In 1871 Mr. Slade came to Gal- veston, Texas, where he was in the employ of his brother-in-law eight years, and then located at Rice, Navarro county. Here, in company with J. W. Norris, his brother- in-law, he began the mercantile business, and is now recognized as one of the best men of his town, always ready to assist in anything that will be of public interest, and his magnanimous nature is evinced by his congeniality and hospitality.

In 1881 Mr. Slade was united in mar- riage with Mina Graham, a native of Na- varro county, and a danghter of Nicholas and Malinda E. (Dixon) Graham, natives of Tennessee. Our subject and wife have one child, Mary. Mr. Slade is a Demo- crat in his political views, and is now

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serving as Postmaster of his town. He affiliates with the Masonic order and the K. of H., and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, of which he is a Steward, and superintendent of the Sabbath-school.

ILLIAM D. HAYNIE, one of the successful business men of Na- varro county, is a son of George and Sidney (Linn) Haynie, natives of Ten- nessee. The parents reared a family of nine children, as follows: Rhoda, deceased; Lewis B., a prominent citizen of Rice, Navarro county; Amanda, wife of R. M. Tyus, of Texas; George, deceased; Will- iam D., our subject; John B., a prosper- ous farmer and ginner of Rice; Mary Jane, wife of George Mayo; Fanny, deceased, was the wife of Mr. Eubanks; and Robert, deceased.

William D. Haynie was born in Ten- nessee, April 29, 1837, and ten years later he emigrated with his parents to Tehua- cana Hills, Texas, while the Indians con- stituted a large portion of the population of that place, but which has since become the seat of Trinity University. His father died when he was fifteen years of age, and he remained with his mother until eigh- teen or nineteen years old, when he took entire management of his father's estate. Three years later, in company with Joseph Lynn, he engaged in the mercantile busi- less at Cotton Gin, in connection with his former occupation. In 1860 he began the same business at Chatfield, Navarro coun- ty, and in 1861 enlisted in the Confederate service, taking a company of thirty men

to Galveston, where they organized. Mr, Haynie withidrew from the position of First Lieutenant, went into the commis- sary department, and served in Louisiana and Texas until the close of the war. He then returned to Chatfield, where he shared the common fate of the Southern patriot, having to commence anew, as he had lost nearly all by the war. Soon after his re- turn he moved to where Rice now stands, where he extensively and successfully en- gaged in the stock business, but was com- pelled to discontinue, as the country be- came rapidly settled and fenced, not leav- ing him sufficient range to carry on the business as extensively as he desired. He consequently sold to the Matador Cattle Company, and turned his attention to the real-estate and loan business, also buying stock in the Corsicana National Bank, of which he was one of the organizers, and is now a stockholder and director. Asso- ciated with others, Mr. Haynie organized the Corsicana Building and Loan Associa- tion, of which he has since been vice- president. He is also the owner of a herd of horses near San Angelo. Although our subject began life with comparatively nothing after the war, he now has 1,500 acres of land, 400 acres under cultivation, 160 head of horses, besides his interest in various corporations. In politics he is an ardent Democrat, and has been a member of every State convention since reconstruc- tion days. But, notwithstanding his in- terest in political matters, he has never sought any political honor. He has been a Master Mason since twenty-one years of age, and is now a member of Rice Lodge, No. 577.

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

In 1860 Mr. Haynie married Miss Viola E. Sessions, a daughter of I. B. Sessions, of Navarro county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Haynie are members of the Methodist Church, of which the former is a trustee.

B. McKNIGHT, a leading merchant of Palestine, was born in San Au- gustine county. Texas, in 1843. In' 1852 he came to Anderson county with his father, J. H. McKnight, a tailor, who was born in North Carolina in 1801, and reared to manhood in his native State, at which time he went to Nashville, Tennessee, where he learned his trade, and came to Texas in 1836, locating in San Augustine county. Here Mr. McKnight engaged in the grocery business and followed it for about three years, when he returned to his trade. He served as Treasurer of Ander- son county for several terms. Mr. Mc- Knight did not enter the Texas army to fight Indians and Mexicans, as he had made an arrangement with his partners that he would remain at home and attend to the business while they went into the service and did the fighting. He was a man of limited education but became fairly successful in business. James McKnight, the father of J. H. McKnight, was a North Carolina farmer of Scotch-Irish descent. The mother of our subject was Eliza R. (Neely) McKnight, whose father came from North Carolina. Of their family James N. was killed at luka, Mississippi, in 1863; Nancy E. died young; Margaret Ann mnar- ried Hugh Ocletree and died leaving two

children; Mary Jane married Thomas L. Ricks and died leaving four children ; Robert C .; our subject; and Helen L. married W. J. Averyt.

Our subject secured a good common-school education and had better advantages offered him, but at that time was not disposed to accept them; however, this has not seemed to have operated against him in making a successful business career. Before the war he entered his father's shop and learned the tailor trade, but in 1862 he enlisted in Company K, Twenty-second Texas In- fantry, under Colonel R. B. Hubbard, and served in the Trans-Mississippi Depart- ment in Texas, Lonisiana and Arkansas. His command participated in the campaign on Saline river, and all the principal cam- paigns in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. Just before the battle of Mansfield, Mr. McKnight was detailed as tailor to cut out clothes for his division. The command camped in the vicinity of Vicksburg dur- ing the siege, trying to get in from the West, but failed; and when that place cap- itulated the force retired into Louisiana and was in active service to the close of the war. The company disbanded at Hempstead and our subject came home immediately.

After his return our subject engaged in cabinetmaking, and thus kept busy for three years, and then went to clerking for P. B. Curry, of Navarro Bluff in Leon county. His next employment was house- painting in Palestine, and one year was employed with W. J. Averyt learning the saddler's trade. He then bought out the business and lias since conducted it, meet- ing with marked success. He invested about $1,000 in the business when he pur-

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

chased it in 1872, and in 1876 he erected a splendid two-story brick building. Now he carries on a flourishing business in sad- dles, harness, buggies, carriages, farm wagons, sewing-machines, his total stock being valued at $10,600. Besides this Mr. McKnight owns valuable city prop- erty and a farm of 170 acres three and one- half miles west of Palestine. He is a mem- ber of the Masonic order, blue lodge, chapter and commandery, and belongs to the Presbyterian Church. He takes great interest in the progress of Palestine, and contributes to all legitimate enterprises for its advancement.

ATHAN C. IRWIN, proprietor and manager of the Commercial Hotel, in Corsicana, Texas, and a pro- gressive, public-spirited citizen, was born in Mount Vernon, Knox county, Ohio Au- gust 12, 1854. His parents, Charles and Malinda (Coleman) Irwin, were natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. Grandfather George B. Irwin was born in county Tyrone, Ireland, and emigrated to the United States in 1798 settling in the Keystone State, where he followed the occupation of bridge and house building. He married Miss Sarah McFarland, a native of Glencoe, Scotland, and they had six children: George, James, John, Isaac, Charles and Rebecca. Charles was born Sep- tember 5, 1809, and learned the trade of carpentry and bridge building, which he pursued most of his life with great suc- cess, as he was a natural mechanic. There were born to him and his wife, Malinda,

eight children: Elizabeth, who married H. H. Howe, now of Wabash, Indiana; George B .; William M .; Martha, who died in infancy; Rebecca, wife of Pilson Strate, of Edgar, Nebraska; Sarah, wife of Newton Estep, of Stockton, Kansas; Joseph M .; and the subject of this sketch. The father died at Chillicothe, Missouri, November 9, 1870, and his widow survived him until June 7, 1883. Her father, Joseph Coleman, was a native of Baden, Germany, and came to the United States when a boy, in company with his parents, who settled in Knox county, Ohio. He married Miss Sarah Rush and they had four chil- dren: Joseph, Rebecca, Ichabod and Ma- linda.

Nathan C. Irwin, whose name heads this biography, was reared at home, where he secured a good commnon-school education and was instructed by his father in the trades, which he followed. In 1872, about two years after the death of his father, he entered the high school in Trenton, Missouri, where he remained two years until he graduated. He taught one term in Grundy county, Missouri, before enter- the high school. On leaving that institu- tion, he went to Johnson College, Illinois, where he remained two years. He then taught in the district schools for a time and later took charge of the scientific and mathematical department of Trenton high school for two years. He then entered the University of Missouri, at Columbia, at which he graduated. Thus amply quali- fied, he engaged in teaching, and for one year was principal in the Princeton schools, after which he taught in Chillicothe and was County Commissioner of schools.

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

He subsequently gave up teaching for a time and engaged in trade, becoming a manager of the erection of water, gas and electric light works. In 1888, he removed to Greenville, Hunt county, Texas, wliere he superintended the erection of the water work for the city. He then went to Dal- las, where he had charge of the construction of the electric light plant. In September, 1890, he removed to Corsicana and en- gaged in the hotel business, keeping the Molloy House for one year. At the expira- tion of that time he resumed his former occupation of teaching, becoming prin- cipal of the Collins Street school, acting in that capacity one year. He then leased the Commercial Hotel, which he has since successfully and profitably operated, mak- ing of it a first-class house and thus filling a long-felt want of the city. The table is supplied with the best the market affords and the comfort of each guest is carefully looked after and all are made to feel at home.

Mr. Irwin was married March 12, 1882, to Miss Frances, the accomplished dangh- ter of Peter Young. They have two chil- dren: Loraine and Max Aldace.

Politically, Mr. Irwin is a Republican; and fraternally is a member of the Mason- ic fraternity, Old Fellows order and the Chosen Friends.

As a teacher, Mr. Irwin was especially gifted, and when he discontinued that occupation education lost and able expo- nent and the student an earnest friend. The same qualities which have contributed to his former success are still his to command future prosperity. Of a social, domestic nature, with cultivated tastes and the

highest integrity, progressive and public- spirited, Mr. Irwin is calculated to be a credit to any community and an honor to any State.

INZA R. BRIM, a successful carpen- ter of Purdon, came to Texas and settled at Dresden, Navarro county, in 1854. He was born in Lincoln county, Tennessee, son of William and Mary (Westbrooks) Brim. The father, a black- smith, died when our subject was young, and on that account bnt little is known of the family history. Very little is known, either, of the mother's family history. Mr. and Mrs. Brim had five children, of whom our subject is the only one who came to Texas.

Upon the arrival of our subject in the State he followed his trade and engaged in farming-usually made his crop himself- until the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company E, Thirteenth Texas Infantry, and was stationed for the most of the time at the mouth of the Bra- zos river, but in 1863 he was ordered to Louisiana, and after a while returned to the same place. He was in no battle, and served under General Bates. Remaining until the close of the war, he returned home in May, 1865, and resumed his old occupation of carpentering, in which call- ing he continued until 1890, when he came to Pardon and opened a grocery store, but in February, 1891, he was ap- pointed Postmaster of Purdon, which office he yet liolds.

Our subject was married twice, the first time to Jemima Simpson, daughter of Na-

Robert Smith

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

thaniel Simpson, of Tennessee, who died there. By this marriage there were five children, namely: Mary A. married G. W. Brittan, now a merchant of Purdon, also a farmer; Martha married John Bar- nett, farmer of Navarro county; William T., a farmer of Navarro county; Newton J., a farmer of Houston county; and Alice. who married Stroud Barnett, a farmer of Navarro county. The mother and wife died in 1868, and in December, 1869, Mr. Brim married again, this time Sarah J. Scott, daughter of J. J. Scott, who came to Texas in 1851 (see history of John Scott). By this marriage there have been two children: Willie, farmer of Navarro county; and Callie, at school in Frost. Mrs. Brim died May 29, 1883, but Mr. Brim has not married again. Both wives were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Brim is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics he is a Democrat.

OBERT SMITH, one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of Lime- stone county, was born in Lincoln county, Tennessee, February 25, 1831, a son of Isaac and Elizabeth (Isaacs) Smith, natives of South Carolina and Tennessee, respectively. They were married in the latter State, and in 1849 came overland to Texas, locating nine miles east of Marlin, in what is now Falls county. The father engaged in farming and stock-raising. He had visited Texas just after its annexation to the United States, and the county then contained only sixty voters. The county

seat was an unsettled place, milling was done by the use of hand mills, buildings were erected out of poles and logs, and preaching was done under a bush arbor, Rev. Mr. Sanders, a Cumberland Presbyte- terian, and Mordecai Yell, a Methodist Episcopal minister, and a brother of Gov- ernor Yell, administered consolation to the weary and sinful people of the county. The city of Marlin thien contained only one building, and was called Barton. Mr. Smith died July 26, 1868, and his wife survived him until July 11, 1876. He was seventy-six years of age at the time of his death, and was the youngest member of his family that died, his brother having lived to be over 100 years old. His father was born in Ireland, afterward went to Eng- land, and came to America when still a young man. He served as an apprentice in Virginia seven years, and at the rebel- lion of the colonists he joined Colonel Washington's regiment of cavalry, went to South Carolina to fight Tarleton, and was there wounded. He never recovered from that wound, although he lived to be eighty- six years of age. He did inuch brick work in and around Brandy Station, Virginia, in which he was assisted by his seven sons. Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Smith were the par- ents of three children: Robert, our subject; Lucinda, wife of W. S. Hunnicutt, of Marlin, Falls county; and Martha A., de- ceased, was the wife of Thomas Gee.

Robert Smith, the subject of this sketcli, received an ordinary education in the log schoolhouse of his native county. He came with his father to Falls county, Texas, and in early life engaged in agricultural pur- suits. He was married July 24, 1854, and

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

the same year began farming and stock- raising for himself, which he continued until the breaking out of the late war. Being a cripple from boyhood, he was ren- dered unfit for active service during the struggle of 1861-'65. After the close of the war Mr. Smithi was for many years one of the largest stock men in Falls county, still owning a ranch of 1,500 acres, with 400 acres under cultivation, where he feeds principally steer cattle. In February, 1876, he came to Tehuacana, for the pur- pose of educating his children, and also for his wife's health. He . owns a fine home of 100 acres, with splendid resi- dence, etc. Mr. Smith began life for him- self with some stock and wild land, and from this has accumulated his present property. At the beginning of the war he had $47,000 cash in the hands of an ad- ministrator, but unfortunately lost this entire amount.

Our subject was married in his twenty- fourth year, in 1854, to Miss Lutecia Mil- lican, a daughter of Andrew A. and Louisa M. (Young) Millican, who came to Texas with the first fifty families brought out by Austin. They were among the pioneer settlers of Washington county. The father was a soldier in the war of 1836, and was in active service for nine years. He died when Mrs. Smith was only two years of age, After the father's death the mother married a relative of his, and they had four children; Sarah, deceased, was the wife of Judge A. C, Britts; Bettie, wife of Benja- min Worley; and Mary T., deceased. Mrs. Smith had only one brother, Wesley J., who was killed at the battle of Atlanta, Georgia, July 22, 1863. He was First

Lieutenant of his company, had partici- pated in fitty-two battles, and had never been wounded or captured until shot through the heart. Our subject and wife have had eight children, seven of whom grew to years of maturity, -- Lizzie, Isaac, Robert (deceased), Lulu, James (deceased), Sarah and Laticia. Mrs. Smith died in 1876. She was a consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which Mr. Smith and his daughters are also meinbers.

OSEPH L. COX has been a resident of Texas since 1874, when he came to the State and located in Corsicana, Navarro county. At this time he was a young man, full of energy, and soon ob- tained work in the shops of the Texas Cen- tral Railroad. After working there for some time he engaged in farming, but shortly obtained an engine and served as engineer for that same railroad company, and continued in their employ for nine years.

Pleasant in many ways as the life of an engineer is, Mr. Cox tired of it, and there- fore bought a farm, left his position with the railroad, and has engaged in agricult- ural pursuits ever since. His first farm consisted of 104 acres, which he yet owns. In 1890 he bought a farm of ninety-eight acres, and has since added twenty-eight acres to it, making in all 230 acres. This land he farms himself, and sixty acres of it are under a fine state of cultivation. Sixty- five acres of the old farm are also under the plow. On this land he raises corn,

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oats and sorghum, and makes his home supplies of pork, lard and all vegetables. Mr. Cox bought an interest in a gin, of which he is now half owner, his partner being Mr. Hodges. The gin is capable of preparing 1,000 bales of cotton per annum. Mr. Cox and his partner not only prepare. their own crops of cotton, but also accom- modate their neighbors.

Our subject was born in Moorestown, East Tennessee, September 6, 1853, and was reared to farm life, receiving only a common-school education. He is the son of Hiram and Frances (Curington) Cox, the latter the daughter of Thomas Curing- ton, a farmer of Virginia. Hiram Cox, the father of our subject, was the son of William Cox, of Indiana, of whom but little is known. The family resided in Hamilton county, Indiana, where Hiram married the mother of our subject, whose father at one time was an influential farmer and slave-holder. Hiram Cox entered the Confederate army, enlisting in the First Georgia regulars, and was detailed as a conscription officer, after which he accepted the Colonelship of a militia regiment, and participated in some engagements. He was taken prisoner by the enemy and was carried to Point Lookout, and was there killed, the family never being able to find out how. During his imprisonment he was allowed to correspond with his family in Indiana, but could not escape. Our subject was too young at the time to have much personal recollection of his father, but he knows from his reputation that he was a very prominent man in his com- munity and took an active part in drilling soldiers during the war.

The family of Mr. Hiram Cox con- sisted of eleven children, of whom our subject was the ninth child. The mother died in Georgia in 1890, at the age of seventy-six years. Two brothers of Mr. Cox, our subject, came to Texas, but are now deceased. One was Judge Cox, of Bonham. Two brothers were killed in the war. Of that large family of boys, one brother is all that is yet left, although the sisters are all still living and reside in Georgia.

Our subject married Miss Fannie E. Gill, born August 31, 1859, daughter of A. S. Gill, a representative citizen of Texas, whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cox, six of whom are still living, namely: Alice, Anna, Alvin, Arthur, Gill and Zora. One child died when fourteen months of age. The others are still at home. Mr. Cox is a member of the I. O. O. F. and Farmers' Alliance. In politics he is a Democrat, and in all re- spects a worthy, representative man.

RS. T. F. AND M. L. DRISKILL, Corsicana Denta 1Parlors .- Dr. T. F. Driskill was born in Houston county, Texas, December 31, 1851. He received his education in the private schools of the State, taking his last course in Add Ran University, at Thorp's Springs, Texas. His father, L. W. Driskill, was born and reared in Tennessee. His mother's maiden name was Judith Anne Thompson, and she was born in Virginia. Her father afterward moved to Tennessee. The Doctor's par-

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

ents moved to Houston county, Texas, in the spring of 1851, where they reared a large family. His father practiced mnedi- cine and engaged in farming until he was about sixty years old, when he gave np practice on account of failing health and the hardships attending country practice. He died at the age of seventy-two. His wife, the mother of our subject, died at the age of forty-two.

While yonng the subject of our sketch thought that he would finally choose the practice of medicine for his life occupation, and to that end he read medicine and the collateral sciences. At the age of nine- teen he accepted a position as teacher in the public schools. At the same time, be- ing a member of the Christian Church, he was prevailed upon to take the lead in wor- ship, and he gradually drifted into preach- ing and lecturing for his church with re- markable success. Amidst all his office duties he still makes an average of one and two sermons per week.

During the year 1876 the Doctor met the beautiful and accomplished Miss Ma- rie Lenore Chambers, daughter of Prof. E. C. and Annie Jean Chambers. They were married September 22, 1878, in Thornton, Texas, where her parents then lived.

Once having begun as teacher it is dif- ficult to " pull out;" but the Doctor, having concluded that the practice of medicine was almost too arduous for him, and, teach- ing not being exactly in accordance with his taste, began with his wife a vigor- ous study of dentistry under able and com- petent tutors. After a three years' lucra- tive practice in west Texas, the Doctor and

his wife located in the flourishing city of Corsicana, where they opened one of the finest offices in the State, and their success and patronage was phenomenal from the beginning. In the winter of 1889, Mrs. Dr. Driskill concluded she would enter the dental department of the State University of Iowa and take the practicioner's course, as that school offered the same opportuni- ties to ladies as to gentlemen. At the close of the term she obtained her certificate, with honors. The following year Dr. T. F. Driskill and his wife both entered the post-graduate school, of Chicago, Illinois. After taking the course and obtaining the post-graduate certificate, with inany honors, they returned to their home and office where they found many friends patiently awaiting their return. It is due this firm to say that they have ever been progressive and abreast with the times. They have been rewarded with a large and Incrative prac- tice. Their office is supplied with the finest and best equipments to be had by the profes- sion. Their parlors are as attractive as a drawing-room. They number among their patients leading citizens from all parts of the State.

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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