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 76

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 76
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 76
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 76
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 76
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 76
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 76

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Socially, Mr. Sawyers belongs to various fraternal societies. He is a member of the Order of Chosen Friends, Ancient Or- der of United Workmen, the Woodmen of the World and the Order of the Maccabees. He is trustee of the Knights of Pythias and financial secretary of the Knights and Ladies of Honor. He is Lieutenant of the Uniformed Rank, No. 1, of the Knights of Pythias, and a charter member and Re- corder of the Palestine Fire Company.

Politically, he is a Democrat, but takes no active interest in public affairs.

Religiously, both he and his wife are useful members of the Presbyterian Church, in which Mr. Sawyers is a Dea. con.

In his domestic and business relations, Mr. Sawyers is always the same able, conscientious and affable gentleman, and stands deservedly high in his community.

B. SMITH, of Guy's store, Leon county, was born in that county, near Middleton, in 1846. The father of our subject, M. B. Smith, Sr., came to Texas, in 1838, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and settled in old Robertson county, now Madison and Leon counties; and there engaged in farming. He was a youth in the pioneer days of the county, and engaged in mnuch Indian fighting. Macy, or as he is better known, "Deaf" Smith, was animportant character of Texas history and the grandfather of our subject. Many were the campaigns against the red men which Mr. Smith conducted and com- manded. His birthplace was Alabama,

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

and he died in Alabama, in 1857, at about the age of sixty-five years. His son, the father of our subject, died eleven years be- fore his father's death. The mother of our subject was Martha Jane Braden, of Madi- son county, Tennessee, and our subject was their only child. Mrs. Smith then mar- ried A. S. Gardener, a pioneer of Leon county, and once county judge, but now a resident of Colvert. Mr. Gardener was a soldier in the Mexican war, as was also our subject's father. The grandfather of our subject, on the mother's side, was named Alexander Braden, and he came to Texas in 1838, and he also was an Indian fighter.

Our subject's educational opportunities were very limited on account of an affec- tion of his eye. When the war came on Mr. Smith became a soldier in the Con- federacy, enlisting in January, 1864, in Colonel Bradford's regiment of cavalry. His service was exclusively in Texas, about Galveston, where his regiment was disbanded, in May, 1865. At the age of twenty-two years Mr. Smith began his in- dependent life and continued to follow the occupation of farmer. He rented land un- til 1870 and then came upon his first tract. In 1876 he purchased his present beauti- ful little place, consisting of 114 acres of land, although at that time it was a wil- derness of black jack and grapevine. Be- sides his home place Mr. Smith owns the old Braden homestead of 640 acres, and the headright of his grandfather Braden's place, good for 640 acres. For a number of years Mr. Smith was engaged in the sawmill business at Middleton, but dis- posed of that business and now gives his

time solely to his farm and gin. His capi- tal invested in the gin amounts to about $2,000. In 1881 about one half of this amount was lost by the destruction of his plant by fire. The capacity of his second gin is 400 bales of cotton per season.

Mr. Smith was married, in December, 1869, to Miss Sallie, daughter of J. A. Toole, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Mr. Toole came to Texas since the war, and is a pro- ininent citizen of Clapp's Prairie. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Smith are as follows: Walter Lee, who has completed a business course at Hill's College, Waco; Hettie Lou and Leola. The family of Mr. Smith belong to the Baptist Church, and are highly respected citizens of the State in which they reside.

JOHN WESLEY POPE, of Navarro county, Texas, is a son of Burwell Pope, who was born in Georgia in 1801. He remained in his native State un- til twenty years of age, wlien he went with his parents to Hancock county, Alabama, was there married, at the age of thirty-one years, in 1832 went to Macon, Mississippi, and later to Holmes county, same State, where he died in 1852. In early life he was engaged as a trader, and later as a farmer, Being of a very obliging nature he gave his name too freely as an endorser, and in the clash of 1837 lost heavily, but prior to his death had again gained a compe- tency. He kept himself well informed on the topics of the day, was a Democrat of the Jackson type in his political views, and was a member of the Methodist Church, in

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which he served as Steward and Class- Leader a number of years. Mr. Pope was a son of William Allen and Susan (Roe) Pope, natives of Georgia. The father was a farmer by occupation, a Democrat in his political views, and a member of the Bap- tist church. The Pope family are of Scotch descent. Our subject's mother, nee Jane Cole, was born in Virginia, a daugh- ter of William B. Cole, a native of that State, a wealthy planter, and a soldier in the war of 1812. The Cole family are of English descent. Mr. and Mrs. Pope were married in 1825, and were the parents of six children, viz: William Allen was a farmer by occupation, and was a resident of Holmes county, Mississippi, at the time of his death, in 1872; Ebenezer H., a trader, died in California in 1863; John W., our subject; Francis A., who died in New York city in 1882; Elizabeth, born in 1826, was killed by a falling tree in 1831; and Thomas V., born in 1827, died the same year. Francis A., formerly a lawyer of Georgetown, Colorado, was a graduate of Oxford, Mississippi, and would have re- ceived second honors of his class had he not gone to the Confederate service. He enlisted and served under Beckenridge, was promoted Captain of his company in 1863, wounded and taken prisoner at Chick- amauga, and imprisoned at Long Island, New York, eighteen months. He was Secretary of the Secession Convention at Jackson, Mississippi, when the State se- ceded, and was County Judge of his resi- dence county in Colorado. His death oc- curred at the age of forty-five years.

John Wesley Pope, our subject, was born in Alabama, in 1832, but afterward

removed with his parents to Mississippi. remaining at home until 1860. Until his marriage he worked on the farm and at- tended school alternately, and for one year rented land in Mississippi. In 1861 he located in Nueces county, Texas, where he bought a sheep ranch of 700 acres, and be- gan business with 1,000 head of sheep and a few cattle. One year latter Brigadier General H. P. Bee sent for Mr. Pope to take charge of his business during his absence in the army, which he did, and rented his own ranch. His sheep died from disease, his place sold for Confeder- ate money, and he consequently lost all. When it became unsafe for families to live so near the coast, General Bee ordered our subject to move his stock to Navarro county, on what is now known as Jones' ranch. In 1864 the latter turned over Bee's property to Colonel Henry Jones, the father-in-law of R. Q. Mills, and in 1865 he enlisted in Company A, Captain Lilly Duff's regiment, Bee's brigade, and served to the close of the war. In 1864 he was detailed to superintend govern- ment trains transporting cotton and im- porting army supplies from the Rio Grande. After the close of hostilities Mr. Pope farmed on rented land four years, and then bought his present farm of 1,880 acres of black land, worth $10 per acre, where he has 125 head of cattle and 150 head of horses and mules. He has given to Rotie A. Moon, an orphan girl whom he raised and educated, and now Mrs. E. C. Martin, a farm of 100 acres, and sixty acres of land to his sister-in-law, Mrs. Pickens. He is independent in his polit- ical views, is a member of the Alliance,

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was a Director of the County Alliance of Navarro connty, and is President of the sub-Alliance No. 612, and also Vice-Presi- dent of the County Alliance.

Mr. Pope was married in 1859 to Martha A. Donglas, a native of Mississippi, and a daughter of James II. and Martha A. (McCluskey) Douglas, natives of Ire- land and Mississippi respectively. The mother died when very young. Mr. and Mrs. Pope are members of the Methodist Church, in which the former has held the offices of Class-Leader, Steward, Sunday- school Superintendent and Trustee.

R. E. NORVELL, one of the lead- ing physicians of Navarro conuty, was born in Bedford county, Ten- nessee, in 1846, a son of Charles and Sarah A. (Scruggs) Norvell, natives also of Ten- nessee. The Norvell family are of Scotch- Irish parentage, and the maternal family of English extraction. Charles Norvell came to Texas in 1856, settling in Travis county, near the city of Austin, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising, and succeeded in accumulating considerable property. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, affili- ated with the I. O. O. F. lodge, and his death occurred in Texas in 1859. In 1862 his widow married Dave Muckleroy, and they had one child, Matt, of Nacogdoches county. The father died in 1866 and the mother now resides in the village of Hen- derson, Rusk county. Mr. and Mrs. Nor- vell had nine children, only two of whom lived to be grown: J. E., a merchant of Henderson; and Dr. E., our subject.

Dr. Norvell was educated at Clarksville University, in Red River county, and at the age of seventeen years he left school and joined McNally's scouts, was attached to General Wharton's staff, and served as a courier. He participated in numerous skirmishes, the hardest being in Louisiana during General Bragg's raid through that State. After the war our subject returned to Rusk county, where he taught school, read medicine and clerked for his brother twelve months. In the fall of 1869 he en- tered the University of Louisiana, at New Orleans, graduated in the class of 1871, and located for six months in Rnsk county. December 29, 1871, Mr. Norvell landed in Navarro county, in the neighborhood of where he now resides, fourteen miles south- west of Corsicana. His practice extended as many miles on either side of the city. In 1874 he added farming to his profes- sion, and in 1882 purchased sixty-one acres of his present place, forty-eight acres of which was cultivated. He now owns 245 acres, with seventy-five acres under a fine state of cultivation, a splendid resi- dence, out-buildings, etc. The Doctor also owns another farm of eighty acres, with sixty acres cultivated, and 162 acres of timber land; and he owns and runs a gin on the same. After the close of the war he was a financial wreck, and has made all he now has by his own exertions.

In 1873 Dr. Norvell married Miss C. J. Roberts, who was born in Trinity county, Texas, in 1856, a daughter of C. W. and Nancy (Stewart) Roberts, natives of Vir- ginia and Tennessee. They came to this State in 1849, locating near Gainesville, and the father was afterward engaged in merchan-

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ising in Houston and Cherokee counties several years. He died of cholera in the city of Houston, where he had gone for the purpose of purchasing goods for his store. Mr. and Mrs. Roberts were the parents of ten children, five of whom grew to years of maturity: James T., deceased; C. T., deceased; Almeria E., wife of W. C. Anderson, of Eastland county; Cornelia J., wife of our subject; and Moses W., of Navarro county. The father died in 1865, and the mother afterward married Evin Roberts, no relation of her former husband. Her death occurred in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Norvell have also had ten children: Sallie A., John W., O. E., Bruce, Almeria B., Charles C., Nora A., Margarett and Ralph N. Mrs. Norvell is a member of the Bap- tist Church. The Doctor has never asked for any office at the hands of the people, but has always taken an active part in the Democratic party. He has resided in the county for twenty-one years, and has been a delegate to every county convention since that time, and has attended all but one.

APTAIN JOHN S. GILBERT, one of the representative citizens of Na- varro county, was born in Georgia, May 25, 1834, the eldest of five chil- dren of Thomas J. and Lavina (Thorp) Gilbert. The history of the parents will be found in this work. At the age of ten years our subject removed with his parents to Louisiana, where he was reared and edu- cated. At the age of twenty-one years he began farıning in that State, which occu- pation he followed until 1861, and in that

year formed Company A, of which he was elected Captain. This company formed a part of the Sixth Regiment of Louisiana Volunteers, commanded by Colonel I. G. Seamore, and served in the Army of North- ern Virginia. They participated in thirty- six stated battles, viz: Falls Church, First Manassas, Front Royal, Middletown, First Winchester, Cross Keys, Port Republic, Gaines' Mill, Malvern Hill, Akin's Landing, Cedar Run, Warrenton Spring, Bristow Station, First and Second Manassas, Chan- tilly, Harper's Ferry, Sharpsburg, Shepards- town, First and Second Fredericksburg, Second Winchester, Gettysburg, Rappa- hannock, Mine Run, Wilderness, Spottsyl- vania Court House, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and Hatcher's Run. In the retreat from Petersburg, Mr. Gilbert had charge of the sharpshooters of General Gordon's corps, assisted in the burning of the bridge of the Appomattox river at Petersburg, and in all destructive fights until May 9, 1865. He commanded the remnants of the Fifth, Sixth, and Seventh Louis- iana Regiments at the last battle fought at Appomattox Court House by Gen- eral Lee, and for meritorious conduct was promoted from Junior Lieutenant to Captain of his company. On join- ing the Army of Virginia, Mr. Gilbert's company was attached to the immediate command of General Stonewall Jackson until the latter's death. He was present at the surrender of General Lee, and the flag in charge of General Custer passed within six feet of our subject, on its way to Gen- eral Lee. Captain Gilbert was a gallant officer, and was one of the last men who ordered the firing to cease. Ilis brigade

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was then getting ready to charge a line of negro soldiers in the United States army, which, in all probability, would have been very disastrous to said negroes. Back of this line were two lines of regular United States white troops, which would have sent a great amount of destruction through the Con- federate ranks. At the battle of Spottsyl- vania Court House the United States army had captured a portion of the Confederate line, which was in horse-shoe shape. The lat- ter obtained possession of the bend, which straightened the Confederate lines. Mid- way between the two armies stood a hick- ory tree, eighteen inches through, under which Captain Gilbert had eaten many of liis meals while in line of battle, which was actually shot down by rifle balls. May 12, 1864, at the battle of the Wilderness, Mr. Gilbert was captured and placed in the old Capitol prison, where he remained four weeks. While there 300 commis- sioned officers were notified that they would have to draw for the black bean, and the unfortunate one was to be shot in retalia- tion of the supposed death of Captain Sawyer, who tried to make his escape from Libby prison. But word was received the following morning at that war department that President Davis had decided not to shoot or cause to be shot the unfortunate officer.

After the surrender Captain Gilbert made his way to New Orleans, arriving at home June 2, 1865. The following year he en- gaged in farming, and in 1869 located near where he now lives, in Navarro county, Texas. He purchased his present home in 1876, then consisting of 160 acres. He now owns eighty acres of fine land,

with sixty acres under a good state of cultivation, and has a beautiful resi- dence, out-buildings, etc. In 1865 he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Warsham, a native of Louisiana. Her father was a soldier in the Confederate army during the late war. Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have had four children: Robert L., Jolin W., Mary L., and one deceased when small. Oursubject has been a member of the A. F. & A. M. for many years, and is now a member of Birdston Lodge, No. 333.

AMES F. OTTS, a prominent farmer of New York, Texas, was born in Georgia, May 8, 1850, and came to Texas, with his parents, in 1856. He is the son of A. M. and Alınira Ani Otts, natives of Georgia. The former was a blacksmith by trade and a farmer and school-teacher by occupation. Both he and his wife were members of the Bap- tist Church. Five children were born to this marriage, namely: subject; J. D., de- ceased; Mary, married S. M. Splawn, Hen- derson, farmer; Julia, married A. T. Jolin- son, and when he died she married S. F. Dingler, of Smith county; and Alice C. married H. A. Splawn, Indian Territory; they reside now in the Territory.

Our subject remained under the paren- tal roof until the death of his parents, who died in 1866 and 1864 respectively. He then made his home with his grandparents until he was twenty-one. In 1873 he married and moved upon a farm which he had purchased. This farm he afterward sold and bought a tract of 230 acres,

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which was slightly improved. This he opened up and now has 140 acres in a good state of cultivation. On this farm there is a commodious dwelling-house and neat out-buildings. In 1882 Mr. Otts engaged in merchandise at New York, and re- mained there two years, but becoming tired of mercantile life he sold out and returned to his farm, where he has since remained. In 1882 Mr. Otts built a gin for public service, run by steam, with all modern im- provements, and is still running it on the farm.

Mr. Otts married Mary J. Walker, daugh- ter of J. C. and Mary A. Walker, natives of Georgia. Mr. Walker was a merchant for several years at New York, and also carried on farming. He was a Methodist and belonged to the ministry of that church. Mr. and Mrs. Otts have had five children, all living and are at home, namely: J. Wesley, John Albert, Relda, Lura A. and Charlie Joe. Mrs. Otts was born April 27,1857.

Mr. Otts is a member of the Masonic fraternity, including the Royal Arch, and is also a Knight of Honor. He and his wife are botlı members of the Methodist Epis- copal Church, and are highly respected members of society.

C. RATLIFF, a prosperous farmer residing six miles northwest of Groesbeck, was born in Ten-

nessee in 1838, and is a son of William and Nancy (Boyett) Ratliff, na- tives of Lenoir county, North Carolina. The parents were married in their native

State, and in early life removed to Ten- nessee, and, in 1847, removed thence to Arkansas, where they afterward died, the father in 1857, aged sixty-six years, and the mother in 1863, at the same age. The father was in early life a successful teacher and surveyor, but was later engaged in farming. He was a Captain in the war of 1812, serving his country in that capac- ity with bravery and efficiency. The par- ents had twelve children, only six of whom grew to years of maturity, and two are now living. Van Buren died in the Con- federate Army at St. Charles, Arkansas, in 1863, leaving a wife and one child; Or- rie Ann, the eldest sister, became the wife of Rev. L. B. Sutherland, and died some years ago in Calhoun county, Arkansas; Nancy J., deceased, was the wife of J. M. Sanders, of Groesbeck, Texas; Lauriva, de- ceased, was the wife of B. W. Baird, of Arkansas; and Martha is married to F. F. Busbee, of Greenville, Texas. The par- ents were members of the Methodist Church, in which the father was a licensed exhorter.

C. C. Ratliff was reared to farm life in Arkansas, and came to Texas when a young man, reaching Hopkins county in January, 1858. Six months later, he was hired by a stock man to go as a drover to Palo Pinto county, starting in the summer of 1858 and stopping at what is now the town of Palo Pinto, then called Golconda. It was then a frontier town, but had good schools and churches and a law-abiding class of citizens, mainly from Virginia, Missouri, Georgia and Alabama. The In- dians were the chief source of trouble, the Caddoes being stationed at the Brazos

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Agency, at old Fort Belknap, and the Comanches farther to thic northwest. The former were at first friendly, but, in 1859, began to make depredations, while the Comanches were always cansing trouble. In July, 1859, Mr. Ratliff was one of a number who volunteercd, under Captain John Henry Brown, to remove the Caddo Indians. He was also a volunteer in a number of minnte companies, which were on guard to repel invasions by the red skins. In June, 1860, he returned from the frontier to Hopkins county, where he remained until in March, 1861, when he entered the Confederate Army, enlisting as a private in Company L, Whitfield's Legion. He served in Tennessee, Missis- sippi and Alabama,and was in the engage- ments at Shiloh, Corinth and Vicksburg; but about this time, on account of the dis- location of his shoulder and a lung trouble, lie returned to Texas. Mr. Ratliff afterward entered the Nineteenth Texas Regiment, under Colonel Nat. M. Burford, and served in all the engagements following Banks' expedition up Red river. At Blair's Land- ing, he had his horse shot from under him and experienced the same accident at Yel- low Bayou, being finally discharged, at Owensville, Robertson county, Texas, in April, 1865.

The subject of this sketch then imme- diately began teaching school in Hopkins county, Texas, where he continued three years, during which time he read law with the intention of devoting himself to its practice. Believing, however, that he was better suited for farming, he abandoned his former idea and bought a tract of land four miles south of Greenville, the county

seat of Hunt county, where he began agri- cultural pursuits. Having previously vis- ited Limestone county, he bought 180 acres of land liere in 1882, sitnated six miles northwest of Groesbeck. He has since bonght other land adjoining, until he now owns 570 acres, 200 of which is well cultivated. Mr. Ratliff is one of the large and successful farmers of the locality in which he resides, and is an intelligent and progressive citizen. He has been married three times, but has no children living. His last marriage occurred Sep- tember 6, 1870, to Mrs. Mattie Strother, then residing in Hunt county, but a native of Alabama. He and wife are members of the Methodist Church at Hornhill, Texas.

ARROL N. BROOKS, one of the substantial citizens of Limestone county, Texas, is a son of William A. Brooks, who was born in Alabama, in 1823. He came thence to Tennessee and from there to Texas, in 1853, settling first in Grimes county and then in Montgomery connty, in 1857, where he died in 1859. He was a physician by profession and was educated at Huntsville, Alabama, with a course in medicine at Nasliville, Tennessee. He first began the practice of medicine in Brownsville, Haywood county, and fol- lowed the practice of his profession exclu- sively until the day of his death. He had a large and successful practice. In poli- tics he was an ardent Democrat, and a Royal Arch Mason. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church

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and practiced in his daily life the precepts taught by that denomination. He was the son of Richard S. and Vashti (Val- liant) Brooks, natives of Alabama. The grandfather of our subject served in the war of 1812, and the Brooks side of the house is English in descent, while the Valliant side is German. Our subject's mother was Almedia R. Cartwright, native of Tennessee and daughter of William and Martha Cartwright, natives of the same State. Her family is of Irish descent. Mr. and Mrs. Brooks were married in 1844, and Mrs. Brooks (Mrs. Eaves) still resides in Limestone county, with her chil- dren, of whom she has four, namely: sub- ject; William F., residing in Limestone connty ; Laura A., wife of William Stew- ard, of Navarro county, stockman; and Alice, wife of John Edmonds, of Lime- stone connty.

Our subject was born in Haywood county, in 1845. From thence he re- moved to Texas with his parents when still quite young. He remained with his mother until 1866, attending school in Montgomery and Grimes counties until his enlistment, under Captain J. E. Hay- den, in Company D, Bird's battalion of Trans-Mississippi Cavalry. He served in in the same command until the close of the war and then returned home. He first began farming, in 1865, on 100 acres he bought in Grimes county, buying it on time. He succeeded in paying for it and then sold it and bought an improved farın, but also sold it and removed to Limestone county, in 1887, and settled where he now resides. Mr. Brooks had his mother and . three young brothers and sisters left to his

care when he was only sixteen years old. When he married he had nothing, but through his own industry he now has 187 acres of land, seventy acres of which are under the plow. On this farm he has six head . of cattle and the same number of horses.

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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