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 73

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 73
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 73
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 73
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 73
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 73
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 73

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esarily suffered, and debts accumulated, which, in his helpless condition, caused him great uneasiness. While convales- cing his mind was busy in making plans for the future, and after mature delibera-

tion he decided to establish an agency for lending Eastern capital. Still too sick to leave his bed he had himself propped up with pillows, and in that condition wrote up forms of bonds, mortgages, cirenlars, etc .. and was ready to begin operations as soon as he recovered health. Communi- cating his plans to W. R. Bright, a citizen of Corsicana, who was then engaged in the

land business, a partnership was formed,

by which Mr. Bright was to furnish the capital and Mr. Damon was to manage the business and do the work, under the title of the Texas Loan Agency. He instantly

began to advertise and correspond, and the

business of the agency grew to large pro-

portions in a very short time. In 1884 the company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Texas, with a paid np capital of $100,000; W. R. Bright, presi- dent, and H. G. Damon, vice-president.

The capital was increased the next year to

$200,000 and the following year to $300,-

000. This company was one of the first real-estate mortgage companies incorpo- rated under the laws of Texas, and it has been one of the principal factors in devel- oping the industries of Navarro county and other sections of the State. The com- pany now has a capital and surplus of over $400,000. and is doing a large and profit- able business. In 1889 Mr. Bright re- signed the presidency and Mr. Damon was elected president, retaining this position till within recent date. January 1, 1891,

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

having resigned the presidency of the Texas Loan Agency, he formed a partner- ship with Ralph Beaton, under the firm name of Damon, Beaton & Co., for the purpose of engaging in the real-estate, loan and general brokerage business, which he has been connected with since. The firm is one of the strongest in central Texas, and is doing a great deal toward develop- ing Texas resources, and particulary those in the vicinity of Corsicana.

In 1886, Mr. Damon joined the Corsi- cana Baptist Church, and has ever since been one of its leading members, manifest- ing the same amount of zeal and earnest- ness that have marked his business career. In politics he is a stanch member of the Prohibition party. He was instrumental in the organization of the Texas Publish- ing Company, publishers of the Family Journal, the leading Prohibition journal of Texas. He is the present nominee for State Treasurer on the Prohibition ticket.

OHN H. RAMSEY, a successful bnsi- ness man of Navarro county, is a son of Isaac Ramsey, who was born in South Carolina April 6, 1808. He after- ward removed to Georgia, and in 1853 to Newton county, Texas, where he remained until his death, in 1853. He was a farmer by occupation, a Democrat in his political views, and was a member of the Baptist Church, in which he served as Deacon. The Ramsey family are of Irish descent, and came to America in colonial times. The mother of our subject, nee Sarah A. P. Hay, was a native of Georgia, and was

a danghter of James and Elizabeth Hay, natives also of that State. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey were married in 1832, and reared a family of eleven children, viz: David and James, deceased; Benjamin, a fariner of Texas; William and Isaac, deceased; John H., our subject; Doctor F., deceased; Nancy E., wife of Levi Smith, of eastern Texas; Saralı A. P., wife of John William, farmer and stock-raiser; and Mary Ann and Howell C., deceased.

John H. Ramsey was born in Georgia in 1842, and came to Texas in 1853, where he remained with his parents until their death, the mother dying in 1865. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confederate service, in Company F, Eleventh Texas Infantry, under Captain Caraway and Colonel (). M. Roberts. He served principally west of the Mississippi river, and after the close of the war returned to Newton county, Texas. In 1866 he located where he now resides, in Navarro county, and is the owner of about 6,000 acres of land, with 300 acres nnder cultivation, sixty-five head of cattle and eight horses and mules. In his political views he is a Democrat, and socially is a Master Mason.

Mr. Ramsey was married in 1871 ,to Miss Sarah C. Ingram, who was born in Georgia, a daughter of Anderson and Sa- rah (Brown) Ingram, natives of Georgia. Three children were born to this nnion: Sarah L., James D. and Mary N., all at home. The mother died in 1877, and in 1882 our subject married Emma E. Bright, a native of Mississippi and a daughter of Henry Bright. This wife also died, and in 1885 Mr. Ramsey was mited in mar- riage with Elizabeth Dixon, who was born

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

in Alabama, a daughter of W. E. and Ann (Lewis) Dixon, natives of Georgia, but who afterward came to Texas. Our subject and wife have two children: Johnie E. and Bertha P. Mrs. Ramsey is a mem- ber of the Methodist Church. Although Mr. Ramsey is a member of no church, yet he is in sympathy and is a supporter of the same.

AM LAMB, one of the earliest set- tlers and most prominent pioneers of Freestone county, Texas, was born in the State of Illinois, August 15, 1830, and was the second child born in a family of twelve children. He was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Brinberry) Lamb, both natives of Illinois. The Lamb family came from Kentucky to Illinois and the mother's family came from Germany. The father of our subject came to Texas and settled in what is now Madison county, but remained there but a short time, when he moved into what is now Limestone county. He belonged to the second set of settlers who located in this connty. At the time of the first settlement, before 1836, the pioneers were either killed, captured or driven away by the Indians. At the time of Mr. Lamb's settlement in Madison county the Indians were still very troublesome, and made frequent raids on the settlements and killed or captured the settlers and stole their cattle and horses. The people lived mostly in block houses, and when crops were. made some of the men had to stand guard while others did the work. Mr. Lamb liad several encoun-

ters with the Indians, both on the open prairie and in the timber. Althoughi liis premises were never attacked by the In- dians, he was for many years a member of a ranger company, and was off on many raids after the red men, in which he ran great risks of losing his scalp. The family suffered many privations-more than they now would and more than any one now reared in the same county, at the present time, could imagine. Their mill- ing was done with a mortar and pestle, supplemented occasionally by going to a neighbor's and grinding. on a steel mill. On coming to what is now Limestone county, thien a portion of Robertson county, the Indians were so troublesome, fighting them all the time, that they only remained one year. After leaving Limestone county the family moved to Walker county, where the country was more civilized. The year spent in Limestone county was passed with a great deal more uneasiness than the one spent in Madison county, as there were fewer comforts of life and the property was in more danger from the Indians. On first settling in Limestone county, the Lambs and other families who came with them had to haul the corn for breadstuff from Brazos county, a distance of one hundred miles or more, and it was accom- panied with a great deal of danger, both to the men who went for the corn and to those who stayed at home to protect the families. Some nian had to be on the wateli all the time, and it was often a diffi- cult matter to secure enough breadstuff. Meats were plentiful, however, and the country was a hunter's paradise. Bear, antelope, buffalo, turkey and other wild

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

game roamed the forests and prairies at will, in vast hordes, and to secure tlie best was but little trouble. Wild horses also ran in droves on the prairie, but cattle seemed to be scarce. The Parker family were residents of this county previous to the massacre of that family in 1836, and from this county was captured Cynthia Ann Parker, the mother of one of the present chiefs of one of the Western tribes of In- dians, she being the only one of the family left. After residing in Walker county but little more trouble was had by the Lamb family with the Indians, although Mr. Lamb still continued to go ont with the rangers in endeavors to make them leave the country.

Mr. Lamb kept his family in Walker county until 1850, when he came to this county and settled close to where our sub- ject now resides. During the Mexican war Mr. Lamb was in the Texas army part of the time. On coming to the State, Mr. Lamb located his headright in 1,280 acres in Madison county, but never settled on this land. He purchased land in Walker county and traded for land in this county, and after coming here he fol- lowed farming and stock-raising until his death, which ocenrred in 1870, at the age of sixty-three years. He had spent the greater part of the first fourteen years of his residence in the State in the service of the State, protecting the homes and fire- sides of the people of Texas. Few men who have been residents of the county of Freestone have spent more time in the service of the State than did Thomas Lamb. Of the twelve children born to him, seven lived to be grown, namely: Jane, who

married, the first time, William M. Dillard, and after his death she married R. D. Slon; Lena, deceased; Sam; Nancy, wife of I. A. Stillwell, of Hunt county; John, deceased; Thomas, deceased and left two children, who reside in this and Navarro county : Abraham and William are deceased and the others died in infancy. Mrs. Lamb died in 1863, at the age of fifty-one.

Our subject was educated to a limited extent in Walker county. In consequence of the county being new, the opportunities offered were of the most meager sort, but by close application Mr. Lamb has quali. fied himself to transact almost all matters pertaining to business, and he keeps him- self posted in the affairs of the day. He suffered all the vicissitudes of an early pio- neer boy. He came to the county with his father and remained at home until his marriage.

The latter event occurred in 1853, wlien he was married to Miss Mary J. Dunagan, of Mississippi, a daughter of John and Lucy (Cook) Dunagan, and to Mr. and Mrs. Lamb four children have been born, namely: Binn, deceased; Bettie, wife of Jeff Blankinship; Thomas W. is deceased, and Sam A. is of this county. Mrs. Lamb died in 1871, and Mr. Lamb married Mrs. Margaret Dozier, nee Lee, and to that mar- riage three children were born, namely: Samson, Joseph and Lee. Mrs. Lamb died in 1878, and in 1879 Mr. Lamb was united in marriage to Miss Ellen, daughter of John M. and Elizabeth Womnach, of Ala- bama. Mr. Womach died in Alabama, but his widow came to this State in 1878.

Mr. Lamb was a member of Company E; Thirteenth Infantry, under Colonel Bayes,

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

of Brazoria county, and was stationed mostly at the mouth of the Brazos river, althoughi for a short time he was in Lou- isiana, where he participated in the capture of Berwick's Bay. While in Texas lie was not engaged in anything more than can- nonading. He came home at the close of the war, having served four years, and re- sumed those occupations which he had laid down for his country's cause, though the second commencement was on a very small scale. He and his father lost thirty-six slaves. They spent $20,000 in gold in ten years, which they put into negroes, and they also lost heavily in stock. Mr. Lamb and his father had farms, but no one to cultivate them for some years. Our sub- ject had to work very hard after the war. He lived on a farm with his father until 1870, when he moved to his present place of 1,000 acres, with 200 acres under culti- vation. He raises corn, cotton, oats and stock of all kinds, and has a herd of an hundred head of cattle. In addition he also raises somne horses, but not extensively.

Mrs. Lamb is a member of the Mission- ary Baptist Church, and Mr. Lamb is a member of A. F. & A. M., Birdston Lodge, No. 333, and politically he is a pronounced Democrat.

TEPHEN SMITH, merchant of Cor- sicana, came to Texas in 1872, lo- cating at Corsicana in October of that year. In 1874, he engaged in busi- ness for himself, since which time he has been actively and successfully conducting tlie same. In addition to this he has been 37

identified with a number of local enter- prises, among them being the Corsicana National Bank, of which he was at one time director; the Texas Building and Loan Association, of which he is now a di- rector; and the Corsicana Land and Loan Company, of which he is president. He has taken a commendable interest in the progress and prosperity of the city. He is also a member of the Board of Managers of the State Orplian Home, and has served as City Councilman three years. He has discharged his duties in these various ca- pacities, and as a citizen of the community where he lives, faithfully and without os- tentation.

In 1880, Mr. Smith married Miss Eula- lie Flynne of Corsicana, a daughter of Jolin Flynne, of Navarro county, Texas.

GBERT G. SESSIONS, the oldest living settler of Navarro county, is a son of Isaac B. Sessions, who was born in Sampson county, North Carolina, in 1817. He afterward removed to Ala- bama, thence to Chickasaw county, Missis- sippi, and in the spring of 1846 to Navarro county, or what was then Robertson county, He was one of the organizers of the county, served as foreman of the first Grand Jury in the county, as Justice of the Peace at Porter's Bluff a number of years, and while in this capacity, persons frequently came thirty miles to have him perform the marriage ceremony. He also served as County Commissioner several years, and was a Democrat in his political views. Socially, he was a Royal Arch

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

Mason, a member of the I. O. O. F., and at the time of his deathi was a mem- ber of Rice Lodge, No. 577. He was a member and liberal supporter of the Meth- odist Church, was always obedient to the promptings of his conscience, and it can truly be said of him that his life was a suc- cess. Mr. Sessions was a son of William and Margaret (Portevent) Sessions, natives of Sampson county, North Carolina. After a residence for some time in Alabama and Mississippi, they came to Cherokee county, Texas, in 1848. William Sessions was an extensive planter, was an active member in the Methodist Church, and was com- monly known as "Uncle Billy." His wife having died, he, at the age of seventy-two years, married Miss Luney, a lady of thirty-five years, by whom he had two children, twins, both now deceased. At the age of seventy-eight years he had born to him a third child, a son, Robert Lee, now in the employ of the Saxit Medicine Company, of Dallas. William was a son of Richard, Jr., and Esther (Boone) Ses- sions, the latter being a niece of Daniel Boone. The father was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and served as courier for one of the generals of the army. Rich- ard was a son of Richard, Sr., who assisted in unloading the tea in the Boston har- bor, and also served in the Revolutionary war. In acting as one of the Boston Tea Party, he refused to be painted as an In- dian. Richard, Sr., was a son of Jolin Sessions, who was one of three brothers, John, Nathaniel and Jesse. They came to America as early as 1694. John Ses- sions was Provisional Governor of Con- necticut, under King James. The name

Sessions was originally Sass, but was changed to its present form by John Ses- sions. Our subject's mother, nee Emma Spurlin, was born in Georgia, a daughter of William and Ellen (Carter) Spurlin, natives of that State. Mr. and Mrs. Ses- sions were married in 1836, in Chickasaw county, Mississippi, and were the parents of seven children, viz .: Thomas J., who died at Richmond, Virginia, in the Con- federate service; Egbert, our subject; Mar- garette, deceased; Viola, wife of W. D. Haynie, a sketch of whom is given in this work; Phillip and Adelia, deceased; Amanda, deceased, was the wife of F. A. Adams; she left two children -- Lena and Viola.

Mrs. Sessions died in 1850, and Mr. Sessions was married the second time, to Mrs. Permilia (Spurlin) Gordan, in 1851, by whom he had one child, Ellen P. The second wife died soon after the birth of her child, in 1852, and Mr. Sessions was mar- ried to his third wife, Minerva Hammond, by whom he had seven children: Maud, now Mrs. B. Gatewood of Ennis, Texas; Laura, wife of Dr. J. A. McGee of Rice, (see sketch); Roxy, wife of Rev. J. A. Lackey, of Rice; Elvie, wife of H. Barck- ley, of Ennis; Boone, now wife of Rev. W. J. Lackey, of East Texas; Isaac P., a graduate of the Bellevue Institute, New York, and now located at Austin; and Charles M.

Egbert G. Sessions was born in Missis- sippi, November 10, 1840, and when five years of age came with his parents to Texas. He remained at home until June, 1861, when he enlisted in the Confederate service, in Company I, under Captain Wink-

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

ler, of the Fourth Texas Infantry, Hood's brigade. He was wounded at the battle of Gaines' Mills, and was discharged in 1864, on account of disability. He was in all the engagements south of the Potomac, under Lee, up to the time of his discharge. After his return from the army, Mr. Ses- sions bought the farm he now owns, in Navarro county, near Rice, on which he lived until 1881. In that year he moved to his present home. Our subject was thrown upon his own resources when sev- enteen years of age, and prior to the war had succeeded in accumulating some prop- erty, but after his return he found only a few straggling cattle left of his shattered fortune. He bought wild land on credit, which he improved, and has been adding to his original purchase until he now owns 630 acres, with 195 acres under cultiva- tion. He also owns 100 head of stock. In his political views he affiliates with the Democratic party; and socially, is a member of the K. of H., the Alliance and is a Master Mason. Mr. Sessions is rec- ognized as one of the most reliable, sub- stantial and honorable men of Navarro county, which has been evinced by the solicitations he has received to accept the nomination of various important county and State offices.

In 1864, he was married to Miss Mary Graham, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of Nicholas and Malinda (Dixon) Graham, natives.also of that State. Mrs. Sessions came with her parents to Texas in 1855, locating in Anderson county, then in Ellis county, and next at Chatfield, Na- varro county, where she was married. Our subject and wife have had nine children,

six now living: Scott S., engaged in the mercantile business at Rice; Albert G., Don E., Egbert M. and Mary L., twins, and Hope. Mr. and Mrs. Sessions are active members of the Methodist Church, in which the former has been Steward many years.

UDGE JOHN H. RICE, Judge of the Navarro County Court, is a native of Virginia, a son of the Rev. Jolin H. and Elizabeth Neil Rice, the father being also a Virginian by birth, and the mother a native of North Carolina. The Rev. Jolin H. Rice was an eminent Presbyterian minister, and devoted the greater part of his life to the service of his church. He was an earnest, faithful worker, and liter- ally gave his life for the good of his fellow- man, dying, after many years of gospel labor, near Memphis, Tennessee, while nursing friends who were stricken with the yellow fever. His widow survived him some years, dying in Navarro county, this State, in January, 1890. The subject of this notice is the eldest of their five liv- ing children. He was born in Charlotte county, Virginia, July 28, 1853. His childhood and youth were passed in widely scattered localities-wherever his father happened to be engaged in his ministerial labors. His education was obtained mainly in the high school of Mobile, Alabama, and at Trinity College, Pass Christian, Missis- sippi. He selected law as a profession be- fore lie reached his majority and began reading under B. R. Forman, of New Or- leans, in 1872, with whom he continued as

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

a student for three years. A loss of health at the end of that time sent him to the mountains of Tennessee, where a year was spent. In 1875, he came to Texas, taking up his residence at Corsicana, where he was admitted to the bar and immediately began the practice of law. For three years he was alone and met with the usual ex- perience of the young lawyer who sets out alone and unaided to build up a law prac- tice in a new country. He did a great deal of hard work and patient waiting, which were in time rewarded with a fair share of business. In 1878, he formed a partnership with William J. McKie, then himself a young man at the bar, which lasted until 1884, when Mr. Rice was elected to the office of county judge of Navarro county, which office he has held since, having been four times re-elected. It is needless to say that Judge Rice has given the people of Navarro county satis- faction in the office he has thus filled. He enjoys a great deal of popularity among all classes, and this popularity has not come in the way popular favor is generally supposed to be won: by putting aside the dignity and self-esteem that should charac- terize every gentleman, particularly every professional man; but it has come in recog- nition of solid attainments, faithful in the performance of duty, and an earnest desire to serve well those who have a right to claim his services. He has administered his office with scrupulous care. The county funds of which he has had the disposal and trust funds in the hands of fiduciaries of which he has had the supervision, have been jealously guarded. The vexed ques- tion of roads and bridges, which absorbs

so much of the time and attention of county judges, as well as the funds of the counties in Texas, has been handled fairly and impartially. His knowledge of the law and previous legal training have fitted him admirably for the judicial functions of his office. There has probably never beer. a serions or at least just criticism on this part of his record.

In 1882, Judge Rice married Miss Panline Wood, daughter of Judge F. P. Wood, then of Corsicana, but recently of Washington county, this State. Judge Wood moved from Virginia to Texas, Mrs. Rice having been born in Prince Edward county, in the "Old Dominion." The two families had known each other there, the judge's acquaintance with his wife dating from their youth.

The Judge is a member of the Masonic Lodge, Corsicana, No. 174; Royal Arch, Chapter No. 41, Corsicana; the Bertrand du Gueslin Commandery; of the Order of Elks; and has been D. D. G. M. of the Sixteenth Masonic District.

ILLIAM B. HILL, a successful farmer of Freestone county, was born in North Carolina, in 1817, the oldest child born of ten children, who were the result of the union of John and Mary F. (Shaw) Hill, natives of Penn- sylvania. The family originated in Ire- land and settled in Pennsylvania many years ago. Members of the family served in the war for independence, and the grand- father of our subject distinguished him- self under General Greene. He was a

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

North Carolinian by birth, and his father, Kirney, was a resident of the same State, having moved there at an early date. The Hill family is among the best of the Old North State. The family was quite wealthy and many of its members filled and are filling important positions of trust in the different sections of country whither they have immigrated. General Hill, of the Confederate service, in the late war, was one of the same family. The father of our subject was a resident of Alabama, from 1833 till 1859 or 1860. He was quite wealthy and farmed in the river bottom for some years, but returned to Mobile. His death occurred at Cooksville, Missis- sippi, in 1865. He had filled the position of Justice of the Peace in Alabama for many years. His wife died in 1848, and he afterward married a second time. Of the ten children born of his first marriage seven lived to maturity, namely: our sub- ject; Catterell, deceased; Frances, deceased, wife of Theodore Archibald; Jane, deceased, wife of Thomas Lyles; Mary, deceased, wife of Mathew Lynd; and J. W., a prominent physician, of Parker county.

William B. Hill was educated at tlie common schools of his native county, and commenced life for himself at the age of twenty-one, as a farmer. He was employed as a manager on his father's farm, in Ala- bama, and in 1849 or 1850 he came to Louisiana and remained there, engaged in farming until 1853, when he came to this county and located where he now resides. In 1858, he opened his present farm of 320 acres of unimproved land and imme- diately engaged in improving the farm. He now has 100 acres under a high 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