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 68

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 68
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 68
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 68
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 68
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 68
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 68

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 father and mother of Dr. M. Le- nore Driskill were born in North Caro- lina. The mother's maiden name was Campbell. They emigrated to Texas in the year 1859. In 1877 her father founded and chartered Thornton Institute, the vice- presidency of which, it might be stated, Dr. Driskill held for three years. The mother became the matron of the institute, which position she held up to her death in 1884. She was held in the highest es- teem by all the students. She was a

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AND LEON COUNTIES.

LIMESTONE, FREESTONE

model mother and left a large family to mourn her loss. Prof. Chambers gradu- ated in the University of North Carolina, and also in Davidson College, same State. He has devoted the principal portion of his life to the cause of education. He has in a large measure retired from active life, yet he is strong and vigorous for one of his age. The daughter has inherited the best characteristics of both father and mother. She never finds anything in her profession too difficult to accomplish. In the execution of her work she is both sci- entific and artistic. She has forever set- tled the fact that a woman is able and capable to fill the highest position in her profession. As a woman of refinement and high culture she is held in the high- est esteem by the most refined and edu- cated.

RTHUR B. ALLISON is the son of John Allison, who was born in 1811, in Tennessee and came from there to Mississippi, and thence to Texas in 1853, and first located in Marquez and there re- sided until the time of his death, which occurred in 1869. By occupation lie was a farmer and was quite prosperous. In poli- tics he was a Democrat, and was a man of good information. He was a member of the Baptist Church, in which he served as Deacon for years. He was a man of mild disposition and exemplary habits. His parents were named Thomas and Ann (Brown) Allison, natives of Tennessee, who moved thence to Mississippi and there died. The mother of our subject was Mary Cart. wriglit, a native of Tennessee, who died in

1879. She was the daughter of John and Martha Cartwright, who were natives of Tennessee, and went from there to Mis- sissippi. Her father served in the war of 1812 and was wounded there. The mar- riage of our subject's parents took place in 1835, and six children were born to them. John is now Postmaster of Marquez, Leon county. He served under Stonewall Jack- son in the Confederate army, and was wounded four times, and was at the sur- render at Appomattox. The second child was Susan, and she first married Seaborn H. Shaw, who was a merchant and farmer of Texas. Her second husband was A. G. Eimmons, and they now reside in Rusk county. The third child was the subject of this sketch. The fourth was Julius C., who is a farmer and miller in Leon county. Arene is the wife of A. G. Weaver, of Coleman county. He has extensive inter- terests through the State, and is a promi- nent Mason and Democrat. Lizzie is the wife of William Phillips and resides in Leon county, where he is a teacher and farmer.

The subject of this sketch was born in 1841, near Columbus, Missouri, went from there to Louisiana and thence to Texas in 1853, and remained with his parents until 1861, when he enlisted in Company C, Fifth Texas Infantry, under Captain D. M. Whaley, Colonel J. B. Robertson. He was taken prisoner at Gettysburg, July 2, 1863, and imprisoned at Fort Delaware about two years. He then took the oath of allegiance and then returned home and bought a farm of 160 acres, on time, mar- ried and paid for his place the first year. He remained at this place three years and

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

then sold it and bought a steam mill in the sanie county, and soon engaged in farming and continued here until 1880, when he went into the mercantile business. In 1887 he moved to his present place and engaged in mercantile pursuits.

The marriage of our subject took place in 1865, to Miss Mattie E. Winn, who is the danghter of H. M. and Sarah Winn, natives of Alabama and Florida. Eleven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Allison, as follows: Andrew, married and resides on his own farm in Limestone county; Mamie is a teacher and has her residence at home; Arthur A. was educated at Tehnacana for a teacher; Inez, Leon, Varue, Odalee and Myrtis are at home.

Our subject began life all over again after the war with no assistance, and now has 600 acres of land, with 275 under culti- vation with twelve mules and horses, and and a $5,000 stock of goods. In politics, he is a Democrat, and had served as Deputy Sheriff of Leon county. He was Master of the Grange and a Royal Arch Mason, be- ing a member of Bowling Lodge, No. 356. Both our subject and his excellent wife are members of the Methodist Protestant Church South, and Mr. Allison is a public- spirited man and a hospitable Southern gentleman.

OHN J. NORRIS, of Kosse, Lime- stone county, Texas, is a son of John Norris, who was born in South Caro- lina in 1816 and moved to Georgia with his parents in 1824, and settled in Decatur county; in 1842 lie was married to Mrs.

Rebecca Gaincy; in 1859 he moved to Texas, and made his first settlement in Jasper county, where he remained for twelve months engaged in farming, but in December of the same year lie moved to Robertson county where he remained for one year, engaged in farming and shecp- raising. He went from there to Eutaw, Limestone county, and there engaged in mercantile business in connection with farming and stock business. At this lie remained until 1864, when he went into Montgomery county, and there remained but a few months, when he returned to Limestone county and located six miles east of Kosse, where he remained until his death, which occurred in 1880. A few months prior to his death he engaged in mercantile business in Kosse with T. J. Rhodes, but this investment proved very disastrous, as his losses in twelve months' time amounted to $10,000. In politics he he was a Democrat, and served as bailift in Georgia for several years. He received a good English education, and this was supplemented by extensive reading. For several years he taught school in Georgia, and was recognized as a successful teacher. Mr. Norris was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, for fifteen years prior to his death. He was a son of Matthew and Annie Norris, na- tives of South Carolina. The mother of our subject was Rebecca Bishop, and her father was a native of Scotland; her mother was a native of North Carolina. The par- ents of our subject were married in 1842, and seven children were born to them, namely: Eura, deceased; Alexandria, widow of John Parmer, of Kosse; Manerva is the

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wife of L. Robison, of Kosse; Allen B. is a farmer and stock-man in Clay county; John J., our subject; Rebecca Jane, de- ceased, was the wife of L. Robinson; Ab- ner M. is a farmer and lives six miles east of Kosse.

The mother of our subject was married three times. First to Mr. Johnson, who died soon afterward. She then married Mr. Gainey, by whom she had one child, Mrs. Maggie Alsap, of Limestone county.

Our subject, J. J. Norris, was born in Georgia in 1851, and went from there to Texas with his parents, and remained with them until 1878, engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1878 Mr. Norris mar- ried Miss Lizzie N. Webb, a native of Texas, who moved to Louisiana with her parents in 1865, but returned with her widowed mother in 1875, who located on Head's Prairie. Her parents were named Allen and Fannie Webb, and were natives of Georgia. After marriage he moved to his wife's farm 'on Head's Prairie, and there remained four years; but his father having died he returned to liis mother's and lived with her two years, his wife dying in the early part of 1883, leaving three children, namely: Lilian L., John W. and Homer, he then moved to his farm seven miles north of Kosse.

In 1886 he married again,-this time Miss Tennie Loveless, a daughter of P. W. and Addie Loveless, who were natives of Tennessee, and they have three children, namely: Albert A., Villa May and Myrtle Adele.

. Mr. Norris remained with his father until 1878, and when twenty-six years old he owned 135 acres of land, $1,800 in cash,

10 horses and 35 head of cattle. He now owns 600 acres of prairie land, 325 of which is under cultivation, and 275 acres in hay, and twenty-five head of stock, some of which is very valuable; and he also owns a residence in the town of Kosse.

In politics Mr. Norris is a Democrat. He has been elected Justice of the Peace, City Alderman and City Assessor and Col- lector. He is a member of the K. of P. lodge, and both he and his wife are de- voted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

HE LIGHT .- The Corsicana Daily and Weekly Light was founded and the first number appeared on the 7th day of September, 1889, by J. F. Lewis and Fred B. Whipkey. Whipkey retired September, 1891, and A. N. Justiss suc- ceeded him.

J. F. Lewis, the editor, came to Texas November 19, 1876, from Upson county, Georgia, where he was born on the 24th of October, 1832. He is the eldest son of James F. and Nancy Glasscock Lewis. His grandparents were, on his father's side, James F. and Rebecca Lewis; on his mother's side, Abner and Lucy McCoy, all of Upson county, Georgia. His two brothers, Abner M. and James Ferel re- side at Americus and Thomaston, respect- ively. He married Emily A. Youngblood, of Upson county, Georgia, to whom were born two sons, Howard Franklin and Will- iam McCoy, and two daughters, Martha Lee and Emma Ferel. He joined the Methodist Church at the age of sixteen,

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the Freemasons at twenty-one, and the Knights of Honor at forty-uine. He served in the Confederate army from August, 1861, to May, 1865, as Captain of Com- pany I, Thirty-second Georgia Regiment of infantry. He left the army at Greensboro, North Carolina, with his company, with- out parol, rather than surrender, and marched them to their homes in Upson county, Georgia, where they disbanded. His sixteen years in Texas liave been most eventful, and in every respect pleasant and happy.

C. NASH, a half-brother of Captain C. Fouty, one of the first settlers of ° Navarro county, was born in Pike county, Illinois, in 1835, a son of E. and Sarah L. C. Fouty (nee Nesbett) Nash. (For the mother's history see sketch of Captain C. Fouty:) Our subject came with his father to Texas in 1845, settling in Red River county, and removing to Navarro in 1846, where he still resides. He received his education in the common schools of Navarro county, also receiving instructions in Mrs. Dr. Anderson's school.

When fifteen years of age, his father re- moved to California, and the maintenance of the family largely devolved upon our subject.

In 1861, he joined the Fourteenth Texas Volunteers, under Captain Ryan: was sent to Virginia, and while there was taken sick and returned home. After his recovery he was engaged in detailed ser- vice during the remainder of the war.

After the close of hostilities Mr. Nash

began farming and stock-raising. At that time he owned only about twenty Texas ponies, and after farming on rented land one year purchased a portion of his father's headright, and also inherited a portion. He now resides on the old home farmn, where he has 640 acres of fine land, with 200 acres in cultivation. He has made farming a specialty through life, in which he has been successful. Almost immedi- ately after the close of the war he was ap- pointed Justice of the Peace, but has never solicited any office. He is a Democrat in his political views. Mr. Nash is one of the most enterprising men of his county, and has witnessed its growth from infancy to its present state of prosperity.

He was married in 1863, to Miss Mary T. Ross, a native of Johnson county, Ar- kansas, and a daughter of Dr. A. and Jen- nie (Anderson) Ross, natives of Tennessee. The father came to this county in 1847, where he was engaged in farming until the close of the war, and then followed the practice of medicine until his deatlı, which occurred in 1883. He was a soldier in the Confederate army during the last war.

His wife now resides on the old home- stead. They reared a family of ten chil- dren, as follows: Mary T., wife of our sub- ject; George, a resident of Navarro county; Susan L., wife of R. B. Campbell; Samuel and Sarepta, of California; Maggie, now deceased, formerly wife of A. A. Hart- grove; Zarilda, wife of S. J. Tankersley; Thomas and Savanah of this county; and one deceased when small. Mr. and Mrs. Nash have had eight children: Josephine and Jennie deceased; H. C., Jr., of Sedalia, Missouri; Clarence S., George W., Clau-

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dius C. and Samuel E., at home; and Mag- gie May, deceased. Both our subject and wife are members of the Missionary Bap- tist Church.

OHN B. REILLY .- The subject of this sketch is a stock farmer and mer- chant of more than ordinary shrewd- ness and skill, who has been very successful in consequence of straight and square methods which inspired confidence. He was born in Mississippi, and was forty years old November 29, 1892, having been born in 1852. His parents brought him to Texas with them when he was five years old; settled in Grimes county; remained there until 1868, and then went to Leon. Our subject received the advantages of common-school instruction, as he grew up under the parental roof. Before attaining his majority, he, prompted by a desire to see something of this great country, spent much time in travel, going through many States, including some in the North; finally returning home with enlarged ideas.

Mr. Reilly was married in Leon county, Texas, and clerked in a store until 1880, when he came to Limestone county, where he conducted a sheep ranch for six years, and still continues the sheep business. Upon his arrival here he bought a tract of raw land, 386 acres, and has since added to it until now he has 2,000 acres, all under fence; cultivates 350 acres himself; also rents some. He has always favored the improving of stock, and five years ago bought a lot of Holsteins, which he has cared for so well that he can now show a

very fine herd of those beautiful and very valuable animals, some being thorough- breds, which are already giving him most satisfactory results. The first experiments in sheep were made with common stock of the country, which he is improving with merinoes, and already has the flocks well graded up. His hogs are of the Poland- China breed, and are doing finely.

In the year 1891 he bought the store and property with it at Prairie Hill, moved into it and has since conducted a general merchandise business that has steadily im- proved since he took charge of it. A post office was established at that point in 1884, taking the name of Prairie Hill, and when the store was established the following year the postoffice was placed in it, and when the store came into Mr. Reilly's pos- session he became Assistant Postinaster. His clerk, Mr. Pender, discharges the du- ties of that position, it would seem to general satisfaction. The annual trade runs to about $20,000, and is increasing. He takes trade produce only on accounts. A blacksmith shop, fine schoolhouse and Masonic lodge, and a church, Missionary Baptist, are close by, while the surround- ing country is populated by a thrifty lot of planters.

Our subject is the son of Patrick and Margaret J. Reilly, natives of Ireland, who came to America about 1830, settled first in Connecticut, and in 1841 removed to Mississippi and to Texas, and in 1857 en- gaged in farming and stock-raising, until his retirement in 1878, when he gave up all business. His wife was Margaret Mc- Intyre, who bore him five children that lived to maturity, viz .: our subject, the

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

oldest; Aun, married to J. R. Peyton, and died in 1888; Mattie B., married to R. T. McMillan, a farmer of Limestone county; Thomas J., a farmer of this county; Mar- garet J., married to Charles J. Beatty, living near Waco. The mother of these children died in September, 1866, aged about thirty-six years. The father, wlio was born in 1818, is living, hale and hearty, and in the enjoyment of life.

Our subject was married to Miss Louisa C., a dangliter of Rev. Rufus Weaver, of the Methodist Protestant Church, who died in Leon county in 1867. There was no issue by the marriage to Miss Weaver. The latter is a member of the church in which her father was a minister. Mr. Reilly is a Mason; also a Democrat, that party having twice elected him a County Commissioner.

ESSE H. WOODARD, one of the first settlers of Anderson county, was born in the southern part of Alabama, October 26, 1830, and was the son of James B. and Tabitha Q. Woodard. The Woodard family, as far as can be ascertained, settled on coming to Amarica near where the city of Richmond, Virginia, now stands, and became farmers, although there were pro- fessional men also in their ranks. From that place a portion of the family moved to South Carolina. The grandfather was Charles E. Woodard, a leading planter of South Carolina, who moved to Alabama in 1817, and settled in Clark county, remain- ing there until his death. He had reared a family of ten children, six boys and four

girls, only two of whom ever left the State or county in which they were reared. Those who lived were William, who died in Sumter county; James B., Moses, and Mrs. Jane Hardin. Mrs. Hardin was first married to a Mr. Morris, and removed to Polk connty in 1836-'37, and later married Mr. Hardin. James B. and Moses ınar- ried and moved to this State, and arrived in this county December 4, 1850.

At that time Palestine was but a small place or trading post almost on the border of civilization, composed of but 700 or 800 people. Indians were plentiful in what is now the surrounding counties on the north- west of this place. Game of all kinds abounded. Mr. Woodard purchased a farın two miles north of Palestine, and resided there until his death in 1857. He was not a man who wasted much time on political matters. Upon one occasion the people elected him County Commissioner, which office he filled for one term. He and his worthy wife reared a family of ten children, the most of whom are now deceased. These are as follows: J. H., living; James E., deceased; Bartlett H., deceased; Martha J., deceased, wife of W. K. Payne ; Amanda, deceased; Henry B., deceased; Charles N., deceased; Mary E., wife of C. P. McGinnis of this county; William, de- ceased; and Mary R., deceased, wife of William Cushingberry. Mr. and Mrs. Woodard died in 1857. Henry B. died in Henderson county, while in the Confeder- ate service.

Onr subject, Jesse H. Woodard, received only a limited education in the common branches, and even it was secured under many disadvantages. He had to walk

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

three miles to school, and when he reached there he only had teaching of the most primitive kind. He came to this county with his father in 1850, and the first eight years of his life was spent in farming and stock-raising. During 1858-'59 he and his brother were engaged in the mercantile business in this city, doing a credit busi- ness largely.

At the opening of the war, a law called the stop law, was passed, whichi enabled men who owed money to put off their debts until the war was over. The consequence was that he and his brother lost all they had. In 1861 our subject joined Com- pany A, Second Texas Cavalry, under Col- onel Pyron, and served in the Trans-Mis- sissippi Department. He was in but one engagement and that was at Bayou La Fouche, Louisiana, and of the 206 men in this charge, 103 were killed and wounded. The regiment was disbanded at San An- tonio, and he came home and began to try to retrieve the fortunes of war.

The first employment that came to his hand was farming on rented land for a period of two years. In 1868 he purchased a farm of 385 acres with ninety acres cleared of timber. Here Mr. Woodard erected buildings and removed to the place, remaining there for eleven years. Then he sold and purchased a farm of 656 acres eight miles southwest of this place, and in 1889 he removed to this city and invested his money in city property. He has two dwelling-houses in Palestine in the old portion of the city.

Mr. Woodard was married, in February 1849, to Miss Mary A. Watts, a native of Alabama and a daugliter of Rufus M. and

Rhoda J. (Smith) Watts, natives of South Carolina. To Mr. and Mrs. Woodard eight children have been born, as follows: James R., deceased; Tabitha J., deceased; Sarah A., widow of Robert W. Chambers; Henry A., deceased; Herbert A; Mary J., wife of C. G. Mitchell; Charles T. and Richard J. Mr. Woodard is a member of the Masonic order, - Palestine Lodge, No. 31, and Palestine Chapter, No. 10, and Palestine Commandery, No. 3. Mr. Woodard is secretary of both lodge and chapter: for twenty-one years he has been secretary of his lodge. Both he and his excellent wife are members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, South.

R. B. D. McKIE, deceased, a former well-known physician of Navarro and Limestone counties, was born in Co- lumbia, Tennessee, August 12, 1826. He was reared in Mississippi, to which State his parents moved when he was young, and received his literary education at Ox- ford, that State. He graduated in medicine from the New Orleans Medical College and from the Jefferson Medical College at Philadelphia, quitting the latter institu- tion just at the opening of the war with Mexico. He immediately entered the service of the United States, enlisting in a company which was raised in the county where he grew up, and served as a private through that war. He did gallant service, as was attested by his bringing two wounds from the field, one of which, received at Monterey, gave him much trouble for many years. At the close of the war he settled

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in Mexico, and engaged for two years in tlie practice of his profession. In 1849, he went to San Antonio, being in bad health and suffering from the effects of his wounds and thence, a little later, to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he remained till the early spring of 1850. At that date lic located at old Springfield, the county seat of Limestone connty. where he again entered on the practice of his profession. Shortly afterward, in 1850, he married Miss Evelyn Elliot, a danghter of Colonel Jacob Elliot, who had moved to Spring- field that year from Louisville, Kentucky, which was Mrs. McKie's birth-place. In a few months Dr. McKie took up his resi- dence at Corsicana, settling there in the year 1850, when that place was an incon- siderable village and the county and all the surrounding country but sparsely filled up. He continued in the practice of physic there until the opening of the war between the States, when he raised a company, of which he was elected Captain, and entered the Confederate service, where he remained till the close of the war, serving first as Captain and afterward being promoted to the command of a cavalry battalion, witlı the rank of Major, in each of which posi- tions lie gained distinction. He received three wounds from which he never fully recovered. He returned to Corsicana, where he remained until January, 1866, moving thence to Limestone county, where he resumed the practice of medicine and continued at it there until the summer of 1868. Having three children coming on, for whom he was desirons of obtaining good school advantages, he was attracted to Salado, Bell county, which then enjoyed

the distinction of having the best schools in central Texas. His remaining years were passed there, his death occurring at that place August 7, 1883. He was engaged in the active practice of his profession up to the time of his death, meeting with marked success throughout his entire pro- fessional career. In an earlier day, when he lived in Limestone and Navarro coull- ties, the area of his circuit was discribed by a radius of forty miles, and he was sometimes called to an even greater dis- tance. He is spoken of now by those who knew him as a splendid physician and an exceptionally patriotic, public-spirited citi- zen. He was a man of fine intelligence, and had read much, making all that he read liis own by thorough assimilation. At his death he had one of the largest libraries in central Texas. He owned a handsome resideuce at Salado, which he erected at a cost of $15,000, where he lived in great elegance and from which he dis- pensed a generous hospitality. He was very domestic in his tastes, a lover of his home and fond of the society of his friends. For many years he was a member of the Masonic fraternity.

In personal appearance, Dr. McKie was ratlıcr delicate, being five feet and ten inches in height, and weighing between 130 and 140 pounds. He had a wiry frame and one capable of great physical endurance. His manner was quick and energetic, and he possessed undoubted courage.

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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