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 74

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 74
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 74
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 74
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 74
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 74
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 74

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of cultivation and has made many improve- ments, consisting of a residence, outhouses, etc. He owns another farm of 171 acres, seventy of which are under the plow.

Mr. Hill served in the Home Guards of Louisiana during the war, and was sta- tioned at Tyler for five or six months, but was not in many engagements during the war.

He was married, in 1847, to Miss Mar- garet J. Coleman, daughter of Frank and Margaret (Benton) Coleman (see sketch of Ansil Coleman). Mr. and Mrs. Hill have liad ten children, namely: Julia A., widow of James W. Cooper; Mary F .; J. W., of Hamilton county; Margaret J., wife of W. A. Rogers, of this county; Alice, wife of A. J. Blankinship, in Erath county; Caddie, wife of Lafayette Smith; J. A., of Madison county; J. D., of this county; and G. C., of this county. Mrs. Hill died, in 1880, at the age of fifty-four.

Mr. Hill landed in Texas in 1853, with a wagon, two yokes of oxen and $500, and he now is one of the wealthiest farmers in the county. He has never been very prominent in politics, nor has he desired public office. He is a man who enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.

YATT W. JENNINGS, of Na- varro county, was born in South Carolina in 1836, a son of John L. Jennings, also a native of that State, born in 1809. He was a son of Robert and Tabitha (Lockhart) Jennings, natives of Georgia. The Jennings family came from England to America before the Revolu-

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

tionary war. Jolin L. Jennings moved to Mississippi in 1839, where he died in 1874. Politically he was a Whig, and later a Democrat; socially affiliated with the Masonic order, and religiously was a mem- ber of the Baptist Church. Our subject's mother, nee Mary Hill, was a native of South Carolina and a daughter of Abel and Margarette (Moseley) Hill, natives of that State. Mrs. Jennings died in Mis- sissippi in 1876. Mr. and Mrs. Jennings were married in 1829, and were the parents of three children: Osborn S., a farmer of Navarro county; Wyatt, onr subject; and Mary Ann, widow of William Walker.

Wyatt W., the subject of this notice, remained with his parents until twenty years of age, and during that time attended country schools and worked at farm labor, except one year spent at Houston. He then taught school two years, worked on his father's farm one year, and then enlisted in the Confederate Army, Second Lieu- tenant in Company C, Twenty-fourth Mis- sissippi Infantry. He participated in a number of engagements, was captured at the battle of Lookout mountain, and was imprisoned at Johnson's island seventeen months, or until the close of hostilities. He then returned home and cultivated his father's farm two years; next bonght land in Chickasaw county, Mississippi; came to Texas in 1876, and two days after land- ing in this State purchased his present home. Mr. Jennings is a self-made man, and is the owner of 218 acres of land, a half interest in a gin, and has money at interest.

He was united in marriage in 1857, to Miss M. L. Campbell, a native of Alabama,

and a daughter of William and Rebecca Campbell, natives also of that State. To this union was born nine children: Rufus A., Van Dorn, Lamar, Lula (now . Mrs. George Ellison, of Navarro county), Mittie (wife of Dr. J. A. Fente, of Indian Terri- tory), Thomas, Adalı, Beulah and Curtis. The mother died in 1879, and Mr. Jennings afterward married Miss. L. L. Wilson, a native of Texas and a danghter of William P. and Melissa J. Wilson. Our subject and wife have had four children: Wayman (deceased), Worcester, Uel (deceased), and Rosa. Mr. Jennings affiliates with the Democratic party and the Masonic order, and both himself and wife are members of the Christian Church.

APTAIN J. A. HARRISON, one of the enterprising farmers of Purdon, Navarro county, Texas, was born in Pickens county, Alabama, Angust 20, 1830, son of Colonel Hugh Harrison, of South Carolina, a man of influence and prominence in the community, and a leader of the Democratic party. IIe represented his county in the Legislature of Mississippi, was County Surveyor in the same State, and served the people in many ways. Both the parents of our subject died before the war and our subject and a sister took charge of the old homestead, managing it and the slaves until the war. The family consisted of seven daughters and our subject, only two now living, J. A., the sixth child of the family, and one other, also in Texas. Our subject had been reared to farın life, receiving the common education given to farmer boys of that date.

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At the opening of the war, he, like many others, entered the service of the South, enlisting in Company E, Thirty-fifth Mis- sissippi Regiment, in 1861, in which he was elected First Lientenant of his com- pany, was afterward promoted to the rank of Captain, which position he held until the close of the war. He was assigned to Hood's command, and was also with Joseph E. Johnston in the Georgia campaign, seeing some very hard service. During his service he received some very slight wounds and had several very narrow escapes at the siege of Vicks- burg. He surrendered there, was pa- roled and returned home, and when ex- changed joined his command and again en- tered in active service and participated in all the battles and skirmishes of his regi- ment until the battle of Nashville, De- cember 15, 1864, when his regiment was captured and carried to Johnson's island, and were retained there until June 15, 1865, when they were paroled. Although they were furnished with means of trans- portation, nothing was provided for them to eat, and Mr. Harrison felt very grateful to the ladies of Cincinnati, Louisville and Memphis, for their kindness in providing food for the weary and penniless soldiers, who were returning to their desolate homes. These kind-hearted ladies were waiting at the wharves with baskets of nice provisions and tobacco, and gave it to the men with a hearty "God bless yon," that was even better than the food, and none of the men thus kindly treated will ever forget it.

After our subject reached home, he re- sumed work on the old plantation, aided by some of the old family negroes, who

still remained on the place. The same year he married, and remained at liome until 1868, when he removed to Texas with ox teams. When he arrived in this State he had a small amount of money, but nearly all of his present property has been accumulated since coming here. His first place of location was at Raleigh, Na- varro county, where he rented land from A. Barry for one year, then bought 100 acres of raw land, from which he improved a good farm and resided on it for a few years, then bought another tract of tlie same number of acres of unimproved land, improved it and built a commodious resi- dence, generous barn and outbuildings upon it and continues to make it his home, designating it as Bell Point. He also owns a ranch in Comanche county, con- sisting of 120 acres, where he is breeding stock. On his home farm he raises cotton, corn, oats and breeds a little stock, inclin- ing to raising cattle and horses, since crops have proved such a failure. He raises home supplies of pork, lard and vegetables. On his farm he has two tenement houses, which are occupied by his men.

He was married August 30, 1865, to Miss P. J. Alderman, daughter of John Alderman, of North Carolina, who re- moved to Mississippi at an early date and served many years as Surveyor of the county in which he lived. He pur- sued farming as an occupation and was a true Southern gentleman. Although too old to enter into active service during the late war, he did all he could for the cause, and a son of his lost a leg in the service. One sister of Mrs. Harrison's, the wife of Dr. Meradith, came to Texas, her hus-

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

band practicing his profession during life, dying February, 1890, leaving a widow and three children, who now make their home with Mr. and Mrs. Harrison. The latter have had no children of their own, but reared an orphan girl to womanhood, and she is now married. Mrs. Harrison was born July 19, 1839, and during her twenty-seven years of married life has en- deavored to assist her husband in all his enterprises. Mr. Harrison does not aspire to public office, but is one of the stanchiest of stanch Democrats, nothing preventing him from upholding his party upon any and all occasions.

OLONEL BEN A. PHILPOTT, deceased, was born September 26, 1789, in Frederick county, Mary- land, and was the son of Horatio Philpott. lle there grew to manhood and married at the tender age of nineteen years. The young bride was Ann Allen, a native of Wash- ington county, Maryland, and she was born, married and died in the same neigh- borhood. At the age of twenty-two he emigrated to Lincoln county, Tennessee, and he married Harriet Paxton, a native of Botetourt county, Virginia, and moved from there to Tennessee, as above stated. She was a cousin of General Sam Houston. By his second marriage, Mr. Philpott had a family of nine children, of whom four are yet living. Nancy is now the widow of William R. Davis; Harriet N. is the widow of John Thomason; Mary C. is the widow of Thomas A. Strain; and Horatio now re- sides in Bryan, where he is a minister of the

Methodist Episcopal Church South. Those of the family who have passed away are: Joseph P., who was one of the pioneer set- tlers of this part of the State. He was an extensive farmer and was also engaged in locating lands for some time, and was Dis- trict Surveyor between Trinity and Brazos rivers; Elizabeth was the wife of Charles S. Engtand; Eliza, Alexander, and David made up the list.

Our subject remained in Lincoln county, Tennessee, until 1818, when he moved to what was then the Territory of Alabama. He was then appointed by the Governor as Justice of the Commonwealth, and was thereby one of the organizers of the county, which was named Morgan, in honor of D. Morgan of Revolutionary fame. Hle rep- resented this county in the Legislature for five years. Ile subsequently was Judge of the County Court and while County Judge he was elected to the position of Major- General, which position he held when he came to Texas in 1851. He resided here until March, 1871. He was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, which he joined in 1822. He was the son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Ilack- ney) Philpott. His mother's second hus- band was Alec Boteler, with whom our subject's father remained until he grew to manhood. The grandfather of our sub- ject, Ben Philpott, was the son of Bar- ton Philpott, a native of Charles county, Maryland. He was a man of wealth and was in the Revolutionary war. The Phil- pott family came from Gloucester, England, and settled in Maryland, and from those Philpotts the family scattered. Our sub- ject's parents were married in 1808, and

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he was an only child. He was born Sep- tember 26, 1811, in Washington county, Maryland, and he remained with his par- ents until grown. He was reared and educated in Alabama and first embarked in the mercantile business in Somerville, Alabama. He abandoned that business and began, in the practice of law, at which he continued until 1850. In the mean- ' time he represented his county in 1838. In 1841 he was made Secretary of the Senate, and in 1836 he was a Captain in Florida in the war with the Creeks. In 1843 he served as Sheriff and was made Clerk in 1847, which position he held up to the time of coming to Texas. Since this time he has been engaged in farming. He represented Freestone county and was Chairman of State affairs in the Seventeenth Legislature, and drew up the Occupation Tax bill, and was one to frame the Sunday law.

Our subject came to Texas with about sixteen negroes and a few hundred dollars, and has lost several hundred by going se- cnrity. He now has about 3,000 acres and cultivates about 700. He has twenty-five cattle and a steam gin, and has outstanding accounts amounting to $2,000.

The marriage of our subject took place May 2, 1837, to Margaret F. Scruggs, who was a native of Madison county, Alabama; she was the daughter of Gross Scruggs, and her life ended in 1874. She was a de- voted member of the Methodist Episcopal Church Sonth. She was a woman of rare accomplishments and was universally be- loved.

Our subject was a second time married, in 1875, to Miss Sally Bishop, who was a

native of Virginia and came from there to Texas. She was the daughter of William Bishop.

Onr subject enlisted in 1861 and was given the appointment of Lieutenant-Col- onel, and was in that position through the war. He served in Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. He returned in 1863 to his farın. He has been a member of the Ma- sonic order, for forty-five years a Master Mason. Colonel Philpott was an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, and he also belonged to the General Conference which lately met at Nashville, Tennessee. Mrs. Philpott is also a promi- nent member of the same church, and is president of the Woman's Missionary So- ciety of the Texas Conference ..

Since the above was written we have learned that on the 17th of November, 1892, Mr. Philpott suddenly and quietly passed to that rest and reward which awaits the people of God, his loss carrying per- sonal sorrow to many hearts who knew and appreciated his high worth and moral character.

R. HENRY J. HUNTER, deceased, was formerly a well known citizen of Anderson county, and a successful physician of Palestine, Texas. He was a son of David C. and Achsah Hunter and was born in Chattooga county, Georgia, March 11, 1838. He was brought by his parents to Texas in 1846, at which time they settled at Palestine, where he was principally reared. His parents were thus early settlers of the place, and he, in his

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youth knew and was brought into contact with many distinguished old Texans. " The Hunter House," conducted many years at an carlier date by his father, was the leading " tavern " of Palestine, and was the place where the " choice spirits " of that time, including snch men as Sam Houston, Thomas J. Rusk, Pinkney Hen- derson and others of almost equal note were wont to meet, especially on public occasions and during the sittings of the court.

Dr. Hunter possessed a proficient edu- cation, having been well versed in lan- gnages, Latin and Greek, which he re- ceived at Palestine private schools. He engaged under Dr. E. J. DeBard, one of the first physicians of the county in point of residence as he was at that time and for years afterward in point of practice, and he graduated from the University of Louis- iana at New Orleans, now Tulane, March 2,1861.

In October of that same year Dr. Hun- ter entered the Confederate service, enlist- ing in Company I (which was the third company raised in Anderson county), Sev- enth Texas Cavalry, Sibley's Brigade. He at once became Assistant Surgeon to the regiment, and entered active service onl the campaign into Mexico, and was at the capture of Val Verde, New Mexico, the capture of Galveston, Camp Bisland, and a series of engagements along the Texas and Louisiana State line, following Banks' Red river campaign, continuing in active service until the time of the surrender and rising from the position of Assistant Sur- geon to the regiment, to be Brigade Sur- geon.

After the war Dr. Hunter returned to Palestine, and August 23, 1865, married Miss Justiana, the eldest daughter of Colonel T. J. Word, of that place, and im- incdiately entered npon the practice of his profession. This he followed with only slight interruption up to 1886, when he discontinued on account of failing health and his death occurred May 4, 1888. His life had been devoted almost exclusively to his profession, in which he achieved a fair degree of success. He was a lifelong stu- dent, and spent much time in the study and investigation of medical subjects.

Dr. Hunter possessed in a large measure the instinct of the scientist, and worked out many problems as they arose in con- nection with his daily labors, in the spirit of the scientist and according to scientific method. He was patient in his researches, accurate in observation, and exhaustive in the scope of his reasoning and analysis. A great lover of nature, he spent many hours in collecting specimens of her handi- work and in contemplation of her laws as they disclosed themselves in their acting and re-acting through hier varied forms. Botany was one of his favorite studies, and in that science he attained great profi- ciency. In his researches along this line he was joined by a wife who possessed rare skill and taste as a student of the floral kingdom, and she gave him many valuable hints and suggestions, as well as afforded him an intellectual companion- ship rarely met with in this life. She survived him but a short time, dying June 23, 1889.

Dr. Hunter became a Mason when a young man and rose to a high rank in that

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honorable body. Connecting himself with the Presbyterian Church in his earlier years, lie was for a long time an adherent of that denomination, but later withdrew, and, joining the Episcopal Church, was a communicant of that church at the time of his death. He was a frequent contributor to literature, and possessed a keen appre- ciation of the lighter and gentler graces of life. Two daughters constitute his off- spring, Mary Achsah, the wife of Dr. John M. Colley. of Palestine, and Julia Anna, a young lady. Two sons died in childhood.

The Doctor had but one sister and one brother, Mrs. Jdlia A. Calhoun, widow of David A. Calhoun, now residing in Palestine, and John D. C., for some years an attorney at this place, now deceased.

A. TULLES .- Among the prominent and influential citizens of Navarro county, we place the name of the subject of this sketch. He has been a resi- dent of the State since 1859, when he located in Polk county for one year, re- moving tlience to Trinity, where he grew to manhood, being but thirteen years of age when his parents brought him to Texas. He was reared to farm life, learning to cultivate the soil and breed cattle. In 1868 he came to Navarro county, and four years later married. During the five years that followed he engaged in freighting from Bryant, until the railroads monopolized that trade, when he engaged in farming, renting land for a few years, when he bought fifty acres, to which he added 100 acres, when he sold the property

at an advance. In this way he has bought and then sold several farms, and now has about 400 acres, 125 of it being in a fine state of cultivation. On this farm he lias ample outbuildings for tenants. In order to obtain educational advantages for his children he removed to Cross Roads, where he entered the grocery business.

After some time he found that better opportunities were offered in the newly platted town of Frost; so he removed there and was the pioneer merchant of the place. The town of Frost was built up very rap- idly on account of the railroad running through the place, and soon Mr. Tulles found that there was a better opening for a livery barn than anything else: so, two years after coming to the place, in 1890, he sold his stock and built a large livery barn, continuing in that business ever since. He owns one-fifth interest in the town site, and as there is every prospect of the town prospering the property is very valuable. The town has a population of about 400 persons; eleven retail establishments vie witlı each other in placing new and desir- able goods before the people; two churches furnish religious advantages; a commodious school accommodates the future citizens of Frost, who flock within its doors ten months in the year, learning tliose neces- sary rudiments of all the branches of learn- ing, imparted within its walls; and a good cotton gin and blacksmith shop assist in the carrying on of business in this flour- ishing little town. Five physicians look after the physical welfare of the town, and all are residents of the place. The town is beautifully situated on the shores of a pic- turesque little lake, and is bouutifully sup-

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plied with water from the excellent water works. So attractive is this town, so good its educational advantages, and so flourish- ing his business, that Mr. Tulles finds it more profitable to rent his farm, on which he has some stock grown, in addition to the farming.

Our subject was born in Neshoba county, Mississippi, October 3, 1843, son of Alfrey and Louisa (Dennis) Tulles, both natives of Mississippi, who came to Texas in 1858. The father was the son of Temper Tulles, of Scotch descent. The former mar- ried the danghter of a Mr. Dennis, of Mississippi, by whom he had ten children, two of whom served in the war, being a volunteer, and continued in all through the great struggle, without being wounded. After the war he removed to Navarro county, where he spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1870.

Our subject entered the Confederate ser- vice in Company E, Seventh Texas Cavalry, Sibley's command, being first stationed at El Paso, New Mexico, where he expe- rienced some hard fighting at Val Verde. The regiment captured a battery, and had other skirmishes with the enemy and sev- eral with the Indians. He contiuned about a year on the frontier, then returned and enjoyed a sixty days' furlough with his family, after which he joined his command and participated in the capture of Harriet Lane, Galveston. He was then sent to Louisiana, and took part in all the battles of that State and Arkansas, and says that he fought from every tree the distance from New Orleans to Mansfield. During this time he had very many narrow escapes, seeing much hard service, and was never

wounded or captured during the entire time. He fell back to Round Prairie, where he was at the time of the surrender, after the disbandment returning home. During the time of his service the faithful horse that bore him on all the charges was a milk-white one, to which he was mach attached, caring for him until his death. The faithful animal was wounded in his foot during one battle, but that did not prevent Mr. Tulles from bringing him home with him.

As our subject was the oldest in the family, his educational advatages were very limited, as were his father's before him, but this did not prevent each from suc- ceeding in life. He married Miss Cornelia Pruitt, daughter of W. A. Pruitt, of Geor- gia, who came to Texas in 1868, settling in Navarro county, where he yet lives, re- siding in Dawson. He was a soldier in the Mexican war, and also served in the late war. Mr. and Mrs. Tulles have had six children, namely: Molly, John M., Luther, Claud, Ethel and Williamn, all at home. Both he and his wife are prominent mem- bers of the Baptist and Methodist Churches respectively. In politics he is a strong Democrat, while socially he is connected with the Masonic order and Knights of Honor.

EORGE A. RAKESTRAW, one of the oldest settlers and leading citi- zens of Navarro county, Texas, was born in Lexington, Oglethorpe county, Georgia, November 7, 1824, the seventh in a family of eleven children born to Rob- ert and Martha (Smith) Rakestraw, na-

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tives of Georgia and Virginia, respectively. The family, originally emigrated from Scotland to England, from which two brothers came to America prior to the Revolutionary war, settling permanently in Virginia. One of the brothers had no male issue, but the other had two sons, and the father of our subject was the oldest of the two sons born in America. The family probably took an active part in the war for independence. The father of our subject was a merchant in his earlier days, but at the time of his death was a wealthy planter in Newton county, Georgia, where he had moved when our subject was but an infant. The former's death occurred in 1863, when he was eighty years of age. He never filled any political office, but in the war of 1812 raised a company, joined the Ameri- can army and fought through Southern Georgia and Florida. He had only a brother and two sisters: Rebecca married Thomas McCluskii, of Mobile, Alabama; Marthy married a Mr. Edmonson; and Ganham. The mother's family (Smith) came from Virginia to Georgia and was of Scotch-Irish descent. The maternal grand- father of our subject was Anderson Smitlı, who in his early days engaged in black- smithing at which he was so success- ful that at his death he was a large slave owner and planter. He reared a family of two sons and one danghter, namely: Aca, Thomas and the mother of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Rakestraw had eleven children born to them, namely: Eliza, born in 1812, married Rev. M. Tucker and resides in Alabama; James H., deceased when sixty years of age, served in nearly all the Indian wars from the time

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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