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 71

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 71
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 71
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 71
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 71
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 71
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 71

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).

H. T. McCallon received a fair English education in the schools of his native town, and also took a course of telegraphy at Ferris, Ellis county, Texas. At the age of twenty-three years he had charge of the finest station at that place, which position lre filled for the Houston & Texas Central Railroad until 1890. In that year lie opened a general store in this city, the first year doing a business of $13,000, but in December, 1891, was burned out. In 1884 Mr. McCallon purchased 160 acres of raw land near Rieliland, paying $4 per acre, and has since added to his original purchase until he now owns 640 acres, 400 acres of which is under cultivation. He has the finest residence in this section of the county, and is one of the most enter- prising young men of his locality, owning all he now possesses by his own industry.

Our subject was married in 1883, to Miss Mary Bealack, a native of Plano, Collin county, Texas, and a daughter of

Thomas and Mary (Turner) Bealack, old settlers of that county. They came to this State in 1846, and the father is now en- gaged as a lumber merchant of Plano. They were the parents of ten children: Mary (wife of our subject), Thomas B., Charles, Ira, Belle (wife of John Allen), Harvey, Etta, Ethel and Henry. Mr. and Mrs. McCallon have had four children: Bertha (deceased), Harrold, Antrey and Glen. Our subject is a member of Birds- ton Lodge, No. 333, A. F. & A. M., and for many years has served as Deputy Sheriff of his county.

ILLIAM HUBB GILL, the lead. ing merchant of Oakwood, Texas, was born in Freestone county, No- vember 7, 1854, and was reared to mer- cantile pursuits in Freestone and Butler counties from the time he was large enough to stand behind a counter. He is the son of John T. and Mary (Bonner) Gill, he a native of North Carolina and she of Ala- bama. John T. was engaged in the ware- house business in Alabama and came to Texas in 1852, locating in Freestone coun- ty, where he first engaged in merchandis- ing and in a warehouse business at West Point, on the Trinity river. He remained there two years, and then moved to Butler, where he opened up business with a part- ner, and the firm name was Bonner & Gill. This continued until the opening of the war, but was closed during its continuance, and ir 1867 the business was reopened as McDaniel & Gill and successfully con- dueted until in 1873, when Mr. McDaniel died.

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

Mr. Gill continued the business until 1875, and then the firm was changed to J. T. Gill & Son, and was thus conducted for two years, when Mr. Gill, Sr., retired and died June, 1876, at Houston, while in attendance upon the Grand Lodge. He was born in Franklin county, North Caro- lina, June 19, 1819, and at death he left a comfortable estate, which his heirs have been increasing. He wife bore the maiden name of Mary L. Bonner, and was a native of Alabama and a danghter of Reuben M. Boner, who came to Texas in 1851 and settled in Freestone county, thence to Waco, Texas, where he and sons were en- gaged in the wholesale and retail grocery business; thence to Whitney and engaged in general merchandise. He and one son engaged in the business with Mr. J. T. Gill before the war, and the firm name was Bonner & Gill. Our subject was the second in a family of ten children born to Mr. and Mrs. Gill, Sr., four of these living, as follows: R. B., now engaged in the family grocery business in Oakwood, Texas; John H., now in Childress, Chil- dress connty, engaged in the mercantile business with W. E. McDaniel,-style of firm, McDaniel & Gill; and Callie A., at home with her mother at the family resi- dence in Oakwood.

Our subject received his education at the common schools, and then spent four months at Waxahachie, but the best part of his education he received by practice. In 1876 he, in company with Mr. J. B. McDaniel, began the grocery and drug business at Waco, and remained there one year, then sold and returned to Butler and engaged in the general merchandise trade

in company with J. M. Hammett; but in 1877 they were burned ont, and they lost everything, as they had no insurance. Then for two years he engaged in farming, but finally started a supply store for the sale of goods to his farm hauds, and re- mained there until 1880, when he came to Oakwood, and began business in the name of Gill Brothers for four years. He then took a partner named W. C. Gorman, and in 1890 he bought out the establishment and has since conducted it in his own name, making it a success, as he is a born merchant.

Our subject is a fine young man, still unmarried, a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and, like his father, a stanch Democrat.

J. CRAWFORD, a prominent builder and contractor of Pales- tine, Texas, was born in Eastern Texas, Sabine county, in 1857. He was the son of Jacob and Margery D. (Ander- son) Crawford, natives of North Carolina and Tennessee, who came to Texas while young. The paternal grandfather, Jacob Crawford, settled in Sabine county and en- gaged there in farming. He entered the State in 1837. He reared a family of four boys and two girls as follows: John, de- ceased; Jacob, deceased, the father of our subject; William H., deceased; Joseph, deceased; Trythenia and Mary. Mr. Craw- ford was one of the earliest settlers of Sa- bine county.

Jacob Crawford was born in 1818, and early developed those characteristics which

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

made of him a powerful pioneer minister. He joined the Methodist Episcopal Churchi and traveled in that connection over a great part of the State, scattering the good seeds wherever he seemed to be called. He was placed in charge of many churches and had been a faithful minister until his death. In the war of 1846, Mr. Crawford shared the trials of the settlers and assisted in suppressing the Indians. He engaged in the mercantile trade in Sabine county and did not remove to this county until 1863. He served a short time in the late

war. During the years 1863-4-5 he en- gaged in farming, and in 1866 he accepted a position as clerk in the store of Colonel Howard & Wiedemeyer of this place, but in 1867 he established a mercantile busi- ness of his own. Here he successfully con- ducted his business until the time of his death, which occurred in 1883, at the age of sixty-five.

Jacob Crawford had spent a long, event- ful and useful life and had been in the ministry for forty years. He was one of the leading men in this city in church af- fairs, and after the late war became known over a wide circumference. He was a member of the Masonic order, having joined it when a young man. His wife had died in 1880, and she, too, had been a devoted member of the same church. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford were the parents of ten children, six of whom lived to be grown, as follows: Margie, the widow of A. M. Gaither; Willie, deceased, married W. B. Brackes; W. J., our subject; Phenia, the wife of Henry Vodrie of San Antonio; George C .; and Lillie, wife of a Mr. Car- men. After the death of Mrs. Crawford,

Mr. Crawford married Miss Mary Lowery, and one son, Jacob, was born of this mar- riage.

W. J. Crawford, our subject, was edu- cated at the schools of this place. He grew up in his father's store and devoted many years to merchandising. Since his majority he has taken affairs into his own hands, as then he apprenticed himself to D. N. Darling a brick mason, and thor- oughly learned the trade, working at it as a journeyman for several years. In 1891 he did his first contracting in brick work in this city, and now has an extensive busi- ness in the same. He is the builder of the largest business house in Eastern Texas, it being for Hodges Brothers of this place. For the past two years he has been contract- ing, and so accurate and reliable lias his work been found that he is on the pros- perous tide of such work in this locality.

Mr. Crawford was married in 1884 to Miss Geo. D. Corder, a native of this State, and a daughter of William D. and Mary Corder, early settlers of Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Crawford are the parents of five chil- dren, Henry D., Georgie D., W. J., Jr., deceased, Maggie J. and Richard L. Both Mr. and Mrs. Crawford are members of the old-school Presbyterian Church, and are people most highly respected in this city.

ILLEDGE L. BONHAM, one of the pioneers and leading farmers of Navarro county, was born in Wil- cox county, Alabama, August 13, 1841, a son of M. M. and Martha S. (Ford) Bon-

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

ham, natives of South Carolina. The Bonham family are among the first settlers of that State, and the grandfather of our subject served in the war for independ- ence. M. M. Bonham was a farmer by occupation, served as Sheriff of Wilcox county a number of years, and also as Assessor and Collector. He moved from that county to Mobile, same State, where he was engaged in the wholesale com- mission business five years. In 1856 he came overland to this State, locating eigh- teen miles from Fairfield, Freestone county, where he engaged in farming and stock-rais- ing until his death, in 1861. He had raised, and had been elected Captain of, a company known as Captain Bonham's company, but died immediately after the organiza- tion. When he located in Freestone county a few settlements had been made in that or Navarro county. Game of all kinds, except buffalo, abounded. Milling was done with horse and steel mills, and the Inmber for flooring was hauled from east- ern Texas, costing from $40 to $60 per thousand. But log houses and puncheon floors were used almost exclusively. Mr. Bonham was a self-made man, having com- menced life with small means, and at the time of his death had accumulated consid- erable stock and land. He was a great admirer of Jefferson Davis and his prin- ciples. Of Mr. and Mrs. Bonham's four- teen children ten lived to years of matu- rity, viz .: James B., deceased, and his family reside in Alabama; M. F., of Mont- gomery, that State; Elizabeth G., deceased, was the wife of L. D. McComico, of Na- varro county; John L., deceased; Sophie S., was the next in order of birth; Susan

R., deceased, was the wife of A. L. Bnrle- son; M. L., onr subject; Simeon S., who was killed at the battle of Seven Pines, Virginia; Joseph S., deceased; Cornelia P., wife of B. H. Anderson, of Madison county, Texas. The mother died in 1867. Both she and her husband were members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and the latter also affiliated with the A. F. & A. M. and the R. A. M.

Milledge L., the subject of this sketch, received his education in the subscription schools of Wilcox and Mobile counties, Alabama, and at the age of thirteen years came with his father to Texas. When nineteen years old he joined the State Troops, Kirby's battalion, Captain Fin- ley's company, for six months. At the expiration of that time he enlisted in Cap- tain Bradley's company, Wall's Legion of Texas troops, for three years, or during the war, and first served on the east side of the Mississippi river. Mr. Bonham took part in the battles of Fort Pemberton and the siege of Vicksburg. During the latter engagement he was wounded in the left side by a rifle ball, which has never been removed. He was then paroled, and after his exchange was stationed at Gal- veston and Velasco. Onr subject entered the army as a private, but at the siege of Vicksburg was promoted as Second Lieu- tenant, which position he held until the close of the war. After returning home he remained with his mother until after her death, farming the homestead with the family slaves, and then came to this county. He settled on what is now known as the Burleson place, where his wife owned a body of land, and engaged in farming,

B. 9. Hanouch

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

stock-raising and trading. In 1874 he erected the second steam gin and inill in this section of the country, where he has since been engaged in that occupation, in addition to his farming. For the past three years he has averaged 700 bales an- nually. From 1881 to 1885 Mr. Bonham also followed the inercantile business.

He was married in 1867 to a daughter of Joseph and Mary J. (Warren) Burleson. (For parents' history see sketch of J. J. Hall.) To this union has been born seven children: M. M., who married Miss Mar- tha Grayson, and resides in Navarro county; Mary, wife of W. W. McConnico; and Susan, Margarett H., Joseph B., Anna S. and Milledge A., at home. Mr. Bonham has served as Justice of the Peace one term. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Missionary Baptist Church, the former since his seventeenth year, and the latter also since childhood. Our subject has a family of negroes on his place who have resided there since 1865. His father having been a large slave-owner, many remained on the old homestead until their deatlı. Few men in Navarro county, es- pecially in the section in which he resides, is better or more favorably known than is Milledge L. Bonham. In his social rela- tions, he affiliates with the Birdston Lodge, No. 333, A. F. & A. M.

B J. HANCOCK is the name of an extensive farmer residing one mile west of Mexia in Limestone county, and is the senior member in the firm of Hancock & Adamson, general hardware 36

merchants and implement dealers of Mexia. He was the son of Lewis R. Hancock and Frances Adams; and the former was a na- tive of Virginia. who went to what now is Cannon county, Tennessee, when a young man, married and settled there, and was one of the pioneer farmers.

The mother of our subject was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, and was a de- scendant of one of the early family of settlers in that region. She moved to Mis- souri after the death of her husband, and then to Texas in 1854, settling in Lime- stone county where she died in 1865. Our subject is one of seven children who grew to maturity, as follows: Matilda, who was married to Zach Thomason, came to Texas and died in Limestone county; Ben C. came to Texas in 1848, and settled in Lime- stone county, where he lived until 1882, when he moved to Coleman county, where he now lives; Hannah who was married to William Adamson, settled in Freestone county in this State, where they both died ; Charles J., who is now a citizen of Lime- stone county; Lewis R. also resides in this county; Richard C., who came to Texas in 1850 and resided here a number of years, but subsequently moved to Wilson county, where he now lives; and Bluford Jordan, who is the subject of this sketch,

Our subject was born in Cannon county, Tennessee, February 17, 1833, and was reared in that connty, and then went with his mother to Missouri in 1853, where he spent one year in the vicinity of Spring- field and came thence to Texas, accompanied by his mother and brother Charles, reach- ing Limestone county and pitching tent a mile and a half west of the present town of

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

Mexia on October 26, 1854, and has resided in this locality ever since. He, with his mother and brother, was among the early settlers of that locality and saw a great deal of the early life on the Texan frontier. and distinctly remembers many of the hardships of that time. When they first reached there they unloaded their house- hold goods in a field, where they remained until quarters were secured in an old log house which had neither chimney, door nor flooring, and in which they lived during the following winter without any of those necessary appurtenances to a dwelling place. Their nearest market of any con- sequence was at Houston.

For the first few years they devoted themselves to stock-raising mostly, farm- ing only on a small scale. The springs and summers were usually spent in looking after their cattle which were on the ranges and in tending the " truck patches." The fall season was given over to visiting and attending camp-meeting, sales, horse races and other places of amusement for social and religious profit and edification. They would frequently load up all of their effects and go from thirty-five to forty miles to meeting and spend several weeks at the home of some friend.

This pleasant life was broken in upon at the opening of the war, and then Mr. Hancock enlisted in Company I, com- manded by Captain Samuel Wright, Nine- teenth Texas Cavalry, Colonel Nat. M. Burford, and served west of the Mississippi river in Parsons' brigade, and was in the most of the engagements of the cam- paign in Arkansas, Mississippi, Missouri, and also Louisiana. He bore his part

bravely through the war as a private, and was never wounded nor captured although he remained until the surrender.

After the war our subject settled down to farming, and has continued at it ever since, and has a fine place of 800 acres lying west of the town of Mexia, and adjoining the town site he has 600 more which is under the plow, and he has 200 in pasture. He lias twelve or fourteen tenants and runs on an extensive scale. He also owns a large gin, which he keeps busy during the ginning season. He has a half interest in the hard ware firm of Hancock & Adamson, in Mexia, which does a large business. He is one of the most energetic men in the county, on foot from daylight to dark all the year round, rain or shine.

Our subject married Miss Olivia Adam- son in Springfield, Missouri, December 17, 1855, and she accompanied him to Texas and shared bis hardships here until her death in 1876, when she died, leaving no children. Both of them have been mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Mr. Hancock is a man well known and highly esteemed in the neighborhood.

B. RICE .- Among the successful farmers of Navarro county, Texas, must be classed onr subject. He was born in Greenville county, South Car- olina, October 22, 1847, and was reared on a farm. He was the son of W. P. and Clarissa Rice, natives of Virginia, whose ancestors were among the early settlers of that State. Mr. Rice married Miss Clar- iesa Cohorn, who lost her father from his

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

being robbed and murdered. But little of the family history is known. The father's family consisted of eight children. Our subject was the fifth child, and was the only one who ever came to Texas. Three entered the army, and one, J. H., was killed, and one, J. P., was badly wounded and has never recovered from his wounds. The father died in 1864 and the mother in 1875.

At the age of sixteen years our subject entered the Confederate army, this being in March, 1864, and in the service he con- tinued until the close of the war. He served in Company E, in the Army of Vir- ginia, in Wade Hampton's legion of volnn- teers, and took part in many battles. He was in the continual skirmishing around Richmond and Petersburg. The father de- sired to also enter the service, but he was not able: his three sons went. The ex- citement and trouble caused him to be prostrated, and he died.

Our subject was under command of General Lee, and was at Richmond at the time of the surrender. He received his parole and returned home, and in 1873 he came to Texas. He stopped first in Washington county, where he rented land and engaged in farming, and then removed to McLennan county, where he rented land for five years. Then he bought land in Navarro county, the tract containing eighty acres of raw land, and here he lo- cated in 1881, having since added to the original purchase, until he has 180 acres and all under fence, while 100 acres are cultivated.

When our subject came to the State he was poor, but he has worked faithfully,

and now upon his land produces paying crops of cotton, corn and millet, and has all the family supplies made at home. He raises some stock also.

Mr. Rice was married in South Carolina, in April, 1871, to Miss Aletha Jenkins, a daughter of Murcer Jenkins, a prominent farmer of South Carolina, who died in that State in 1872. Eight children have been born of this marriage and seven yet remain, as one died yonng. These are: Nora, Lula, Leonard, Imy, Claud, Bessie and Ila. Mrs. Rice was born January 27, 1853. Both she and her husband are inem- bers of the Missionary Baptist Church. He has taken a leading position in the Democratic party, is a member of the Ma- sonic fraternity and Farmers' Alliance.

OBERT WILSON, of Navarro county, Texas, is a son of James Wilson, who was born in South Carolina in 1806. He afterward moved to Alabama, thence to Mississippi, and in 1850 to Texas, lo- cating near where his son now lives, where he died in January, 1861. He was a farmer and stock-raiser by occupation; was a Democrat in his political views, was a member of the Baptist Church. The Wil- son family are of Irish descent. The mother of our subject, nee Sarah Nelson, was a native of South Carolina. The par- ents were married in that State, and reared eleven children, namely: William, who died in the hospital at Fort Smith; Mary, deceased, was the wife of John P. Anderson; Margarett, deceased; James M., deceased; Sarah Jane, deceased, was twice

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

married, first to William Neal, who died during the war, and then to Ira Picker- ing; Ann H., deceased, was the wife of Andrew K. Todd, of Jolinson county; Lewelyn O., of Navarro county; Robert, our subject; Henry C., deceased; Rufus, deceascd; and Josephine, wife of Ira Pickering.

Robert Wilson was born in Mississippi, in 1847, and came with his parents to Texas, where he remained with his mother nntil her death, in 1864. He was then thrown upon his own resources, with one horse and 100 acres of land. During the late war he enlisted in Company D, John- son's battalion, but on account of illness was sent to the hospital, where he re- maincd until the close of hostilities. Mr. Wilson now owns 620 acres of land, 150 head of cattle, 50 head of horses, and a half interest in a business at Blooming Grove. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party ; was elected CountyCom- missioner in the fall of 1882, served four years, and in 1888 was elected to the office of Tax Assessor, which position he filled two years. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic order, Kerens Lodge, No. 236, and Corsicana Chapter, No. 41. Relig- iously, he is a supporter of the Baptist Church.

In 1873, Mr. Wilson married Miss M. B. Turner, a native of Georgia, and a daughter of Julius and M. B. (Books) Turner, natives of that State. One child was born to this marriage but it lived only three weeks. Mrs. Wilson died in 1877. She was a member of the Method- ist Church, and was a devoted Christian woman. In 1882, our subject married

Miss Tericia Gilbert, a native of Louisiana, and a dangliter of J. H. and Eliza Gilbert, natives of Georgia. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have had three children: Hattie, Myrtle and Florence.

OEL H. HADEN, one of Navarro's snecessful men, came to the State in 1863, being then only a small boy, and making the trip with his parents. The family settled near Dresden, this county, where he grew to manhood, assisting his father on the farm and attending the com- mon district school of that locality. Mr. Haden is a native of Howard county, Mis- souri, having been born there December 24, 1856, a son of James H. and Priscilla F. (January) Haden, of Kentucky, the father being in the Confederate army, en- listing in a Missouri regiment, and while he was serving, his wife, family and slaves came to Texas. Shortly after their re- moval he obtained a transfer into a trans- portation company, so he was able to come to sce about his little family occasionally. At the close of his term of service he joined them and remained a resident of Navarro county until his death, which oc- cnrred January 6, 1890, leaving his wife and son at the old homestead.

The father of our subject married Pris- cilla January, daughter of William A. Jannary of Kentucky, who followed the occupation of a merchant at Cynthiana, Kentucky, until his death in 1862. Hc was the son of Samuel January, a native of the same State, of Huguenot French de- scent, the forefathers coming to America

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

at an early day. Seven children were born to the marriage of the parents of our sub- ject, six of whom are now living, one hav- ing died when young. Their names are: John J., graduated in the class of 1877, at West Point, and now has the rank of Lieutenant in the United States Army, be- ing stationed at Columbus, Ohio; subject; Patsy S., wife of G. C. Taylor, a farmer of Navarro county; Charles A., a ranchman and farmer of Navarro county; Mary M., wife of James G. Waller of Hubbard City; Clemmy B., wife of B. F. Hartzell, a mer- chant of Blooming Grove. The birth of the good mother occurred July 11, 1827, and from early yontli she has been a consistent member of the Christian Church. Our sub- ject has been reared in the Democratic party, and has continued to vote that ticket, and is at present chairman of the Democratic party for Navarro county,-an honor seldom conferred on one of his age.

ON. ABEL S. GILL, one of the prominent men of the State of Texas, well known in all circles, an honored representative in 1887 in the Twentieth General Assembly of the State, is the sub- ject of this sketch. His present residence is near Purdon, Navarro county, and his birth occurred in Alabama, February 12, 1835, a son of Leonard and Zaney (Cum- mings) Gill. The father of our subject was a native of Virginia, and his mother of South Carolina. There is not much knowledge in the family concerning the ancestry of the parents, the father having died when our subject was quite small.

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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