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 75

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 75
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 75
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 75
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 75
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 75
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 75

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).

he was old enough to shoulder his gun until the war with Mexico in 1846-'48, when he enlisted as a Sergeant, fought through the war and participated in the last battle of the war, and also engaged in the late war; R. M. resides in Newton county, Georgia, on a farm adjoining the one on which he was reared, and he too was in the late war; Emaly, deceased, wife of George Crowley of Georgia; Martha, widow of a Mr. Avery of Alabama; Har- riet, deceased, wife of F. D. Weaver of this State; G. A., our subject; Thomas W., deceased, also served in the late war on the Confederate side; Mary, wife of a Mr. Howerton, of Kentucky; Sarah, wife of Coke Tucker, of Alabama.

Our subject was educated at Covington, Georgia, and upon leaving school at the age of twenty-two he engaged in teaching in Alabama, although he had taught in Georgia when only nineteen. He remained in Alabama for three years teaching and studying law, but in 1851 came to Texas, landing in Palestine March 25, coming by way of Galveston. Here he again engaged in teaching in Kickapoo, north of Pales- tine, for several terins, and in 1860 was admitted to the bar, Judge R. S. Gould presiding. He practiced his profession for two years, and then in 1862 joined Company G, Seventh Texas Rangers' In- fantry as a private, and participated in the battles of Raymond, Mississippi, Port Hud- son, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Dug Gap, near Dalton, Georgia, Resaca, At- lanta, and was in constant danger, as the army was engaged in fighting all that time. He also was in the two battles of Atlanta on July 22. Here he was wounded in the

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arm for the second time, having been in- jured at Raymond, Mississippi. He went with General Hood in his disastrous raid into Tennessee after the fall of Atlanta, and was at Decatur, Alabama, where he stood on picket guard for twenty-four hours and for two days and nights had only a pint of corn to eat. His next engagement was at Spring Hill, Tennessee, and then at Frank- lin, where he was wounded four times in less than a minute, only one of which, however, was serious. This was in the calf of his left leg and disabled him so that he was not able to engage in any more of the battles. During his term of service lie was wounded nine times, but only two of them proved to be serious ones. After his last injury he was allowed to retire into Alabama, where he remained until near the close of the war, when he started to rejoin the army, bnt found it had surrendered. He was paroled at Talladega, Alabama, by General Custer, and made his way on horse- back to Natchez, where he sold his horse for $125 and traveled to Shreveport on the United States Federal fleet of several thou- sand men. At this point Mr. Rakestraw purchased a horse and saddle for $70 from a Mr. Durr, and the latter then gave our subject $10 to get home with.

Our subject arrived home July 2, 1865, at Fairfield, Texas, where his family were living. As soon as he could collect his scattered energies he removed to his farm in Navarro county, near to the one he now occupies. At the beginning of the war he was estimated to be worth from $40,000 to $50,000, nearly all of which had been made from 1851 to 1862. At the close of the war he found himself bereft of every-

thing except his land-horses,cattle, slaves, everything lost. But he was not a man easily discouraged and bravely commenced at the bottom of the ladder up which he had climbed so far. All he possessed to aid him in his upward progress was $37.50, but he made that little capital do wonders and eked it out with scanty earnings as a teacher for a couple of terms. He was obliged to sell his farm, but rented it for some years and devoted as much of his time as possible to agricultural pursuits. He now owns some 640 acres of land, 160 acres of which are in a good state of culti- vation and nearly all of the land is under fence, and he is engaged in breeding some good horses, Percheron and other fine grades; also Durham cattle.

Our subject was married in 1849 to Miss Rebecca D. Kirksey, of Alabama, daughter of Isaac and Mary B. (Connally) Kirksey. To Mr. and Mrs. Rakestraw eleven children have been boru, six of whom lived to maturity, namely: Marthy E., wife of C. W. Jester of Corsicana; Mary G., wife of S. J. Clary; Einma, wife of L. A. Starley of Tyler; Willia, wife of L. Davis of Corsicana; Leta, at home, and G. Albert, also at home. The wife of our subject died April 21, 1890, at the age of fifty-eight years, a good and faithful mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which her husband has been a member since his fourteenth birthday, and has been a Superintendent in the Sunday- school since his advent into Texas. He is a demitted member of the A.F. & A. M .; has been a member of the State Grange and is now a member of the Farmers' Alliance and still a Democrat. Our subject com-

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mands the respect and esteem of all his fellow citizens. The energetic way in which he shouldered the heavy losses entailed by the war and mnanfully struggled to repair them is worthy of highest commendation from all.

ILLIAM T. ROLAND, deceased, was a successful farmer of Free- stone county. He was born in Tennessee, in 1826, the only child of Abra- ham and Nancy (Whitley) Roland, natives of North and South Carolina, who came to Tennessee previous to their marriage. The father was a farmer and served as a private in the war of 1812, and participated in the battle of New Orleans. He also served under General Jackson in the Indian wars in Florida, but after all this strife was over he engaged in farming. The Roland family came originally from Ire- land and settled in South Carolina. Later, when the family had increased to seven brothers, five of them moved to Tennessee, one to Alabama and one to Texas. The maternal side of the house was among the early settlers of North Carolina. Mrs. Roland was left an orphan when very young. Mr. Roland came to Texas in 1862 and located in this county, where he died, in 1868, his wife having died four years previously.

Our subject received a common-seliool education, but by close application he be- came a man well informed on all the topics of the day. Commencing life for himself at the age of twenty, he engaged in farm- ing on his own farm, in Monroe county,

Arkansas, where his father had lived in 1844, when that county was a very new country. Mr. Roland settled in a very beautiful county, all wild, with game abounding in the woods; no buffaloes were there at that time, however, In 1862, when his father removed to Texas, our subject came also. For three years he rented land, but in 1865, feeling that his country needed his services, he enlisted in Captain Moss' company, infantry, sta- tioned at Velasco. There was no oppor- tunity for this regiment to do any fighting, and at the close of the war our subject re- turned home, and the same year purchased a farm of 320 acres, on which he now resides. He paid $4 per acre for it. After that he gave his son 100 acres of it, and cultivated forty-five acres of the re- mainder.

In 1850 Mr. Roland was married the first time, to Phobe Hargaves, and two children were born by this marriage, namely: Mary A., and Henrietta, both deceased. Mrs. Roland died in 1852 and the following year he was married to Mrs. Tabitha Draper, nee Lawrence, and they had six children, namely: A. M. and W. R., both at home; and the others are deceased.

Both Mr, and Mrs. Roland were mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Roland served as Sunday- school Superintendent and also as Class- Leader in his church.

Our subject was a member of Cotton Gin Lodge, No, 154, A. F. & A. M., of which he was Secretary, In 1884 he was elected a Commissioner, and served for four years. All his life he was a Demo-

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crat, and one of the leading early settlers of this country. Although he commenced life as a poor man he gained a competency, and was recognized as one of the successful men of the country. He died May 20, 1893, a highly respected citizen.

HOMAS W. BOND, a successful farmer of Freestone county, Texas, is the subject of this sketch. He is the son of John P. Bond, who was born in Louisiana, in 1820, came to Texas in 1851, and first located in Leon county. From there Mr. Bond moved to Freestone county, near to where his son, our subject, now resides. Prior to his death he re- turned to Leon county, and died in 1865. By occupation he was a farmer, and by profession a minister of the Primitive Bap- tist Church,in which capacity he served for fifteen years. At the time of his death he was pastor of four churches. He was recognized as a very exemplary man, of a disposition that endeared him to all hearts. In politics he affiliated with the Denio- cratic party.

Mr. Bond, Sr., was a son of Richard and Mary (Baker) Bond, natives of Missouri. The Bond family are of Scotch and English descent. The mother of our subject was named Mary (Kindell) Bond, a native of Missouri, Her parents were natives of Missouri, and her father was killed in the war of 1836. The marriage of our sub- ject's parents took place in 1840, and to them nine children were born, viz .: George L,, a farmer of Navarro county, died August, 1891; our subject; John A., a

farmer of Freestone county; Charles, de ceased; William B., a farmer of Freestone county: Mary R. died when young; Fran- cis B., a farmer and teacher of Free- stone county; Sarah J. died when young ; and the last one died when young.

Our subject was born in 1849, in Louisi- ana, and there resided with his father un- til 1851, his mother having died in 1864, his father in 1865. In 1866 he came to Hill county, Texas, where he remained one year, engaged in various employments. and from there he came to Wortham, Freestone county, where he engaged as a farm hand by the month. Later he re- turned to the neighborhood where he now lives, and after two years he bought the farm which he now owns, and three years later he married and moved to his farm, where he has since resided with the excep- tion of one year.

The marriage of Mr, Bond took place in 1871, to Miss Sarah C. Tacker, a native of Tennessee, She came from there to Texas in the fall of 1851, Mr. and Mrs. Bond are the parents of eleven children, viz. Epaphrodites, deceased at the age of eighteen; John W., Henrietta, Anna Eliza, Azilee and William Silas are all at home; Samuel died in infancy; Ida V. is at home; Ella died in infancy ; Thomas J. and Saralı Emma are at home.

Since the age of fifteen years our subject has been dependent upon himself for sup- port, owning a pony but nothing else; nor has he received assistance from any source except what he has found for himself. He is now the owner of 298 acres of fine land, and about forty-five head of stock. In politics Mr. Bond is a Democrat of the

John Trainer

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Jackson type, and for a number of years has filled the office of Justice of the Peace, and is now serving as County Commis- sioner. He is a Master Mason. He stands exceptionally well throughout the county, and wherever known his acquaintances all have a good word to say when they men- tion Thomas W. Bond.

OHN KARNER is one of the pio- neers of central Texas, and without extended mention of him no history of this part of the State would be com- plete.

He was born. August 15, 1817, in Ba- varia, the disputed territory then under the domain of France, and now a part of Germany. He is the third of five children -- three daughters and two sons -of Adam and Mary Ann (Stuben- rauch) Karner. His mother died when he was seven years of age. Early in the year . 1831 he emigrated to America in company with his brother Joseph and lo- cated in western New York. About 1837 his father and the rest of the family came to this country, taking up their abode at Buffalo, New York, where his father, brother and two sisters died, and where his youngest sister recently died.

Of a daring and adventurous nature, John, seeking a new field of action, came, to Texas in the spring of 1835, reach- ing San Augustine county early in May. He lived there during that summer and the following fall joined Captain Henry Teel's company, Millot's battalion, then forming for the defense of Texas against the Mexican invasion under Santa

Anna. His command left San Augustine county about the middle of December, 1835, and headed for the main army, then under Houston, at Gonzales. They en- tered active service at that point, and the company was in all the subsequent opera- tions under Houston until after the battle of San Jacinto, in which young Karner took part, witnessing the defeat of the Mexican army and the surrender of Santa Ana. He then returned with a number of his comrades to Houston, where he was employed by a Mr. Allen, at whose house General Houston boarded. While there Mr. Karner was taken down with the yellow fever, and to Mrs. Allen's kind nursing he attributes his restoration to health.

Having received his certificate for serv- ice in defense of the Republic entitling him to a certain amount of land, he went in 1838 to Leon county to locate it. About this time the Indians became troublesome. They had made several forays into the country, had killed some citizens and had stolen some of the stock. Our subject had traveled considerably over the country, and, there being a desire on the part of the citizens that a local company of ran- gers be organized for protection, for which a permit was necessary from the Govern- ment, Mr. Karner was sent to Austin, through hostile Indian lines, to obtain the desired permission. He had many nps and downs during the trip and made many narrow escapes. Once, while stopping to drink at a spring, he lost his purse, which he never found, and in consequence made the trip on from there to Austin and back without money, his old captain and Gov-

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ernor Bell paying his bills at Austin. He returned with the commission and joined a company of rangers that was at once formed, under Captain Greer. They had several skirmishes with the Indians and succeeded in running them ont. Captain Greer, however, was waylaid and killed. The work of the rangers being done, the company disbanded.

In 1840, when the Mexicans recaptured San Antonio, the people from the Trinity river and the West went to prevent the Mexican invasion into the territory of the Republic of Texas, and Mr. Karner was one of the first to start for the seat of the trouble. The Mexicans were driven back across the Rio Grande, but not without a heavy loss. After this tronble he returned home, and the following year joined the celebrated "Minute Men," organized to protect the frontier against the Indians. This was to operate in the country be- tween the Trinity and Brazos rivers. Mr. Karner joined the company commanded by Captain Eli Chandler, and while serv- ing with the command acted as guide for the scouting parties. While thus employed they were in no regular engagements, but liad many skirmishes with small bodies of Indians. During the invasion a Mr. Rogers was killed and a part of the Gregg family killed and the rest taken prisoners. Mr. Karner was always on the alert. Whenever Indians invaded the settlement he was ever ready to act as guide for pur- suing parties. During one of these pur- suits Major Herd was killed. He was one of the bravest of the Texan frontiersmen, and on this occasion was at the head of a company of scouts.

The first regular engagement was on School ereek, abont four miles from Cor- sicana, where they met a large body of Cherokees, who were well armed and equipped and who had prepared them- selves for combat by going into the forks of the creek, where they were protected on three sides. Here the little band of forty- nine whites charged on them and cap- tured their horses and a large amount of supplies, pursued them across the creek, had another short, hard battle, and then the Indians fled with heavy loss. After this the frontiersinen returned home and disposed of their plunder, which brought $3,600.

Not long afterward the company of forty-nine started from Franklin to the cross timbers in what is now Johnson county, where the Indians had a village at the head of Village creek. There were about 300 warriors in three different en- campments here, and this little band of white men drove them all out of the vil- lage and some distance down the creek, where a hard battle ensued, several In- dians being killed and seven women and children captured. Hearing a firing in the rear, the whites found that a band of Indians had attacked their guard of seven men who were left with the supplies; and another hard skirmish took place. A man named Hill was crippled in the charge by running into a tree. The whites killed the Indian chief, and while the red-skins were carrying him off a dozen or more of their number were killed. Among the prisoners above mentioned was an intelli- gent Shawnee woman, who informed the whites of the strength of the Indians, and

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the former thought it better to retire, which they did, going to the falls of the Brazos in Falls county.

The next expedition was at the Gibral- tar, where Captains Erath and Chandler and a few men from Austin joined forces and started after the combined forces of the Indians. Among the Texans was a Mexican, whoin Mr. Karner and Mr. Patton had taken prisoner. They put a rope around this Mexican's neck and made him guide the party in pursuit of the In- dians. On arriving at the upper end of Palo Pinto county, a company of spies, under the guidance of the Mexican and Thomas I. Smith, went out to reconnoiter the Indian stronghold. As they were re- turning the Indians discovered their en- campment, went to the mountains and opened fire on the soldiers. During the firing Abe Smith was wounded and the red men made an attempt to secure his scalp. At this juncture Mr. Karner came to the rescue, and, placing himself behind a tree, shot and mortally wounded their chief, Jose Maria. After some skirmish- ing the whites returned and took Smith's body and gave it as near a Christian burial as possible. All the Indians were either. killed or wounded- seven in number.

The following year, when Wahl came to Texas with a force of 1,500 men and captured San Antonio, including the judge and part of the jury (as court was in ses- sion), our subject joined the forces that drove the Mexicans back. He was after- ward in various engagements with the Mexicans and the Indians, to give a de- tailed account of which would be to write a volume of thrilling interest. The hard-

est fight he was ever in was one between the Texans and Indians at Crooked creek, in No Man's Land, sometimes called Owl creek. Various tribes had congregated there to the number of about 1,800, and the whites numbered only fifty, the historical character, Kit Carson, being one of the party. The latter were situated within a bend of the river, rocks in front and bluffs on other three sides, and were eating dinner when the Indians came upon them. A constant firing was kept up from one o'clock until night, when darkness put an end to the fighting. By strategy the Texans made good their escape.

The last Indian expedition in which Mr. Karner participated was in the fall of 1859. At that time the red men were committing depredations in Parker county, and, in answer to an appeal from the settlers, he raised a company of seventy-nine men and went to their relief. The whites succeeded in driving the Indians out of the country, following them up to the head of the Colorado river, and, after a battle there, returning home.

In the spring of 1862 Mr. Karner en- tered the army of the Confederacy, enlist- ing in the Seventh Texas and serving twelve months on the coast. He then re- turned home, and toward the close of the war again entered the service, after Banks landed on Texas soil, and remained until the surrender.

In an early day Mr. Karner traveled all over the country, "a reckless, adventurous boy," as he expresses it, known as " Dutch John." He became acquainted with all the old Texans from the Trinity to the Colorado, and was welconied wherever he

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went. He spent a great deal of his time locating claims, being thoroughly familiar with the country and very serviceable to the new settlers.

Mr. Karner married, in Limestone county, October 23, 1851, Miss Mary Elizabeth Love, the daughter of James M. Love, an old settler of the country. He settled in Springfield, Limestone county, the same year, but moved in 1853 to Fair- field, Freestone connty, where he lived for a number of years. Finally, however, he moved back to Limestone connty, aud has since resided here, chiefly in the vicinity of Mexia. For the last twenty-five or thirty years he has been engaged in farm- ing and land-trading, and owns consider- able land all over the State. He has had many positions of trust offered him, but he would never accept any, nor wonld he ever hold a public office. The nine chil- dren of his family are as follows: Mary, who died in infancy; Lizzie, who married Dr. Alphonso Cook, resides in Houston, Texas; John R., a merchant of Mexia; Annie, who died when a child; Louetta, is the wife of John B. Parker, of Tyler, Texas; Joe, of Ennis, Texas; and James, Fannie and Philpot are still at home. Mrs. Karner's death occurred April 1, 1886.

Mr. Karner has been a Mason ever since he was a young man, and is identified with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of which his wife was also a worthy mem- ber. He is now one of the two survivors of the battle of San Jacinto living in Limestone county, the other one being Alphonso Steele. Few of the old Texans are more highly esteemed than he. He is really a lovable old man, and one who has

liad a remarkable career. Age lias mel- lowed and softened him. He bears no marks of the toughness that his life might lead one to expect; on the other hand lie is kind, genial, trustful, cheerful, hopeful, and in every way a Christian gentleman.

B. SAWYERS, a prosperous bnsi- uess man and popular citizen of of Palestine, Texas, whose un- remitting energy has given an im- petus to almost every local enter- prise, was born in Alcorn county, Miss- issippi, in August, 1854. His parents were C. F. and Nannie J. Sawyers, both natives of Tennessee. His father, who is still living, and owns, in partnership with his son, the subject of this sketch, the opera liouse in Palestine and their real- estate business in that city, served in Miss- issippi one term as member of the Legis- lature. During the two last years of the war he served in a Mississippi infantry company. He has been for many years a prominent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The family were called upon to mourn the loss of the de- voted wife and mother in 1867, who died at the early age of thirty-two years. They were the parents of eight sons and five daughters, of whom seven sons and two daughters now survive, all living in or near Palestine. These are: Ena, wife of John Norwood, on a farm iu Anderson county, has two children; Clara, wife of F. E. Price, a prosperous merchant of Pal- estine; Fenner R. married Miss Radcliff, and he and the subject of this sketch are partners in a steam laundry; O. B. & F.

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R. Sawyers, a well-known firm of Pales- tine; Ed. G. and Gus W., twins, the for- mer an electrician and the latter a clerk in a dry-goods store; Callie, clerking for W. E. Swift & Company, of Palestine; Guy, clerking for F. E. Price & Co., dry- goods merchants; and Allie, also clerking.

Mr. O. B. Sawyers, whose name heads this biography, is the oldest of the living children. He was reared in Mississippi, and his first business experience was as clerk in a ticket office on the Memphis & Charleston Railway, at Grand Junction, Tennessee. After two years in this posi- tion, he accompanied the rest of the family to Anderson county, Texas, in October, 1877, and settled in Palestine, where he has ever since resided. He was employed during the first five years by Burkitt & Murphy, wood and tie contractors. He, then, in 1887, started his present business, in which he has been gratifyingly success- ful. There are few local enterprises that have not felt the impulse of his progres- sive spirit and genius, and he has contrib- uted as much as any one person to the city's present prosperous condition. He is secretary and treasurer of the following societies: The Mutual Benefit & Loan Association, The People's Co-operative Loan Association, the Palestine Loan As- sociation and the Texas National Loan and Investment Company of Galveston. He is also a director of the Palestine National Bank.

He was married in Henderson, this State, May 9, 1883, to Miss Carrie Jones, a representative of an old and respected family, and granddaughter of Mrs. C. E. Hall of that city.

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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