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 82

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 82
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 82
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 82
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 82
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 82
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 82

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).

county, Tennessee, in 1816, and was a son of Ilugh and Elizabeth (Regan) Henry, both of whom were from Tennessee. He was one of six children, the others being Polly, James, William, Samuel and Ingh.

Our subject was reared in his native county and came to Texas in 1836, when a young man. He stopped in Robertson county, about fourteen miles from old Franklin, on the Trinity river, where he en- gaged in trading with the Indians and what scattered settlers there were, and there he remained for some years. After Limestone county was organized, in 1846, he removed to that county, settling at Springfield, then the county seat, where he entered into the mercantile business and was engaged in that until 1872, when the Houston & Texas Central Railroad was completed through the county, and then he went to Mexia and en- gaged in merchandising for a time. He helped organize the First National Bank of that place, took a large amount of stock in it, and also became its first President, and remained in that position until his death. He accumulated a large amount of property and owned a great deal of land. He opened up one of the first farms in the vicinity of Mexia, two miles west of it, on which he erected what was at that time one of the best houses in the county. It was a large, old-style, two-story frame building, which cost $5,000, built when the lumber had to be hauled from eastern Texas. He represented his senatorial district in the State Senate one terin, and always took an active interest in public affairs. He was an energetic, far-seeing, shrewd business man, liberal-minded, open-handed citizen, a firm friend and a pleasant gentleman. He was

plain in manner and speech and retained to his death the genial, hospitable ways of the old Texan.

He was married, after moving to Lime- stone county, to Miss Sallie O. Perry, a daughter of Colonel Perry, who was an old settler and honored citizen of Limestone county. This accomplished lady died some six or seven years before her husband. She left him no children. The death of Mr. Perry occurred on October 6, 1889, and his loss was felt throughout the entire State. He was one of the men that the State of Texas could not well spare. He was an eminent Mason and a life-long inember of the Methodist Church. Many were the expressions of regret at the time of his death, and he will be long remem- bered.

H. SPILLERS, deceased, was born in Caldwell county, Ken- tucky, July 20, 1809. He was born of hardy and resolute parentage. His father, Jolin, and mother, Frances (Conger) Spillers, both having been born in the wilds of the "Dark and Bloody Ground," whose parents it is not far amiss to say came to Kentucky contemporaneously with the brave and chivalrous Boone, by whom that State was first settled.

The early life of Mr. Spillers was passed in a manner common with the sons of pioneer parents, having only the meager advantages afforded by the primitive schools for an education. After attain- ing to man's estate he went to Illinois, near the present capital of that State, where

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on September 12, 1832, he was united in marriage to Miss Nancy J., daughter of William and Elizabeth (Montgomery) An- drew, the former a native of North Caro- lina, while the latter was by birth a Vir- ginian.

They also were pioneers in Kentucky, and their daughter, Miss Nancy, was emi- nently fitted by nature and education to become the helpmate of the young man whom she joined in wedlock.

Shortly after he settled in Illinois the Indians of that State and adjoining ones became turbulent and soon broke out in open warfare against the settlers, being led by Black Hawk, a famous chieftain, and as crafty a redskin as ever wore paint and feathers, from whom the war that followed took name. Mr. Spillers at once enrolled himself in the defense of the bor- der settlers, and with others, among whom was Abraham Lincoln, marched to their relief and protection.

Three years subsequent to their mar- riage, and after one child had been born to them, they conceived the idea of casting their lot with others of a hardy pioneer class, who were at that time settling in the undeveloped wilds of Texas. After decid- ing in the matter it was but a short time until their "prairie schooner " was headed south ward, and after a tedious and irksome journey of 1,200 miles, which required three months to make, the greater part of which distance lay through wild and un- inhabited regions in which dangers innum- erable lurked, they safely reached their objective point, settling first on land in what is now Montgomery county, Texas, where for sixteen years Mr. Spillers con-

tinued to live amid the turbulent scenes that were daily enacted around him. In- dians were numerous and from their dep- redations the settlers at times suffered severely and were constantly kept in a state of apprehension, if not terror, through fear of the tomahawk or scalping knife. The now aged and surviving wife of Mr. Spillers relates that upon one occasion she had completed the task of making the year's supply of soft soap, and while it was yet hot a band of Indians appeared at their cabin and prepared to steal and carry away the soap, having use for it in dress- ing their skins. But Mrs. Spillers did not propose to tamely submit to such high-handed robbery, and arming herself with a gourd ladle filled with hot soap she bade the dusky thieves defiance and cour- ageously drove them away and thus saved her soap! Mrs. Spillers also relates that they in the early days paid $4 a bushel for corn and $15 a hundred for pork. The necessities of life were their only wants, and even these were often obtained by the greatest difficulties and ofttimes at great personal danger.

For sixteen years he resided in Mont- gomery county and was engaged in till- ing the soil, at the expiration of which time, in 1851, he moved to Limestone county, Texas; first buying 300 acres of land on which he erected a cabin for the sec- ond time in Texas, and proceeded to subdue nature and build up a home in a wilder- ness. In these undertakings he was ably assisted by his devoted wife, who always bore the part of a true frontier woman- always brave, always self-reliant, never appalled by trifles nor discouraged by ad-

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

versities; but with true womanly heroism and a fortitude that belongs to the strong- hearted alone, she bore the ordeal of a Texas frontier life and has lived to see the most of the noble men and women who constituted Texas' first settlers pass to the shadowy realms of death. Her devoted husband passed in death to the unknown spheres April 29, 1891, and to her his deathi was a loss earth and all its treasures can not replace, and with a resignation characteristic of the woman she waits with patience the summons which will reunite them in that place where bonds are not broken and where ties are indissoluble and fade not away.

In his farming enterprises, Mr. Spillers was successful in a large degree, and his accumulations were from time to time in- vested in Texas lands until at his death lie owned 7,000 acres in different parts of the State.

To him and wife were born ten children, all but the eldest having been born in the " Lone Star" State, and all grew to man- hood and womanhood save one. Their names are as follows: Elizabeth F., Eliza M., John M., Minerva J., William A., Mary A., Sarah M., Narcissa A. and James H. Two of the sons, John M. and Will- iam A., bore a part in the late war between the States, and bothi gave up their lives on the altar of the Confederacy. Minerva J. and Eliza A. are also deceased.

Mr. Spillers was a medium-sized man, strong and wiry, withi wonderful qualities of endurance. No labor tired him and obstacles however great were generally overcome by his indomitable spirit. He was domestic in his nature, loved his home

above every other place, and was never in a happier mood thian when sitting by his own fireside surrounded by his wife and children. To him honors were devoid of meaning; never sought office in his life, and he strenuously objected to receiving office from the hands of his friends. He never joined a fraternal order nor religious denomination; never took part actively in politics, and never paraded to the gaze of the public the kind and generous deeds which endeared him to all.

The writer asked a worthy citizen how he stood among men, and the reply was, " At the top." " No better man," said he, "ever lived in Texas; and you can not," he continued, "portray him in a light stronger than he deserves." Mr. Spillers will live long in the memory of his family, friends and acquaintances, and recollections of him will be eliminated from their minds when reason is dethroned by the uncon- sciousness of death.

UDGE H. B. PRUITT .- In response to the question, who is the best known inan in Leon county, the name appear- ing at the introduction of this sketch will almost always be given. He not only en- joys that distinction, but was one of the first settlers of the county, having been in it since 1846, two years before its organiza- tion. The Judge was born in Murfreesbor- ough, Tennessee, in 1830, and to that city his father, William Pruitt, emigrated in 1822 from North Carolina, where he was born in 1801. He married Nancy L. Sherman in Tennessee, and there engaged in tavern-

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTES.

keeping. In 1840 he took up his abode in Madison county, Mississippi, and there engaged in agriculture. Four years later he became a pioneer of old Robertson county, from which Leon county was carved. Mr. Pruitt's children were: Mary, who is the wife of Dr. Miller, one of whose chil- dren is the wife of D. W. Carrington, of Marquez; the second child of Mr. Pruitt died in infancy; H. B .; W. A .; John S .; George F., lives near Leona; James M. died in Camden, Arkansas, during the war; W. A. died in Virginia; T. O. married Henry McDaniel; N. E., married Dr. T. P. Young; Robert; Fannie; Amanda married S. B. McKnight.

The Judge's school training was in an institution of learning in Vernon, Missis- sippi, where he spent two years. The great fund of information he puts to practical use was obtained by close observation and a course of reading through the long and eventful years of his life. When our sub- .ject became of age, lie joined the ranks of the farmer, moved to Leon prairie, bought a farm and improved it for more than twenty years. From the first to the third year of the late war our subject was ap- pointed Provost Marshal of his county to regulate the sale of merchandise and look after recruits for the army. This appoint- ment came from General Kirby Smith. In 1864 he resigned his office and went to the front and enlisted in Colonel Baylor's regiment, in General Wharton's corps, and was in the fight at Yellow Bayou.

There being no Republicans competent for office under reconstruction, a list of good Democrats was made up and appoint- ments were inade from that list, and Judge

Pruitt was given the office of Chief Justice of the county, by the military authority, in 1865, and administered the amnesty oath to all who came and desired it. In 1879 the Judge received the appointment to fill a vacancy in the office of Sheriff. This he held for two years, and was a candidate to succeed himself, but was not elected. He held no other office nntil 1886, when his candidacy for County Judge resulted in his election. His fitness for the office, at- tested by the numerous endorsements, was shown by his re-election for the fourth time, when he beat the opposition two to one. The bonded indebtedness of the connty is owned by the permanent school fund, thus placing it on a good foundation.

In 1854 Judge Pruitt married Mid Sarah, daughter of Archie Hanna, of Ala- bama, and of an old South Carolina family. Mr. Hanna once served as County Commis- sioner, was a fine business man and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He died in 1884. The Judge and Mrs. Pruitt have children as follows: Marsh, John H., Perry and Nellie. Judge Pruitt is a Chapter Mason, having identi- fied himself with the order many years ago.

ETER E. FARMER, a well-known and respected citizen of Blooming Grove, Texas, is the subject of this sketch. He was born in Franklin connty, Tennessee, November 22, 1822, and was reared on a farm, receiving only a common- school education. He is the son of Peter and Susan (Ayers) Farmer. The original family came from Germany, the mother

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

being of English descent. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Farmer, Sr., consisted of seven children, three of whom came to Texas, and now all of the family have passed away except our subject, the youngest.

The marriage of our subject took place in 1857, with Miss Margaret E. Morrel, a daughter of R. V. Morrel, of Kentucky, who came to Texas in 1842, became a prominent settler of Navarro connty, and died April, 1869. He was born April 31, 1795. His wife, Rachel, was born April 23, 1801, and died after coming to Texas, about 1848. Mr. and Mrs. Morrel reared a family of twelve children, all of whom are now dead but two, one the wife of our subject, and the other, a son, now in Cali- fornia. Three of the sons served in the Mexican war.

Mr. Farmer came to Texas before mar- riage, first stopping in Navarro county, where he rented land and began farming. In 1857 he married, and in 1858 he bought a tract of land in Navarro county, but later went into Hill county, where he bought land, improved and then sold it, when he returned to his old home in Navarro county and there purchased a tract of 300 acres of land, and now has 150 of it under cultivation by renters, who raise cotton and corn.

In 1890 our subject left the farm and inoved into Blooming Grove, where he owns a residence and four other houses, which he rents. In 1843 he becan e a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church, but in 1863 he joined the Missionary Baptist Church and soon after began preaching. Since that time he has continned in the

work, having charge of many churches, and had the organization of three. At present he has given them all up, bnt preaches whenever he is needed, or when he feels so inclined.

At the outbreak of the war he joined Company E, Thirteenthi Texas Infantry, and was detailed for service to the mouth of the Brazos river, serving only four months, being discharged on account of age. After the close of the war he re- turned home, and has since been engaged in preaching and farming. Mr. and Mrs. Farmer have had a family of twelve chil- dren, one of whom died young. Mary A. married O. H. Fagle and lives in Georgia; Rachel died June 5, 1863, aged four years; Mattie married James Sloan and died at Kansas City Jnne 19, 1888; James H. died January 19, 1888; Reese, Lollie, At- tie, Emma, Katie, Ella, Bell and John are at home. The mother was born April 11, 1840, hence now is in her fifty-second year. Nearly all of this large and inost interesting family are members of the Baptist Church. Mr. Farmer is a man most highly respected in the neighborhood by all who know him. He is a member of the Masonic order, and has always been a Democrat.

OHN L. GRIFFIS, a substantial farmer of Limestone county, was born in what was then Chickasaw (now Webster) county, Mississippi, March 7, 1842, and is a descendant of two old Southern families. His grandfather, Nich- olas Griffis, was born in Sonth Carolina, February 13, 1762, where he spent his

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entire life, dying October 2, 1828. He married Judith Hardy, January 17, 1790, and they had the following children: Sarah, born November 9, 1790; Eliza- beth, February 15, 1792; Frances, No- vember 20, 1793; Judith, September 18, 1795; Melinda, September 15, 1799; Nancy, October 17, 1801; John, Decem- ber 26, 1803; Jesse, December 3, 1805; Polly, March 19, 1808; and Lucy, July 17, 1810. The seventh of these children, and the father of our subject, was born in in Edgefield district, South Carolina, and was there married to Eliza Jennings. About 1838 they moved to Mississippi, settling in what was then Chickasaw county, where the father died July 14, 1850. They were the parents of the fol- lowing children: Sarah, born October 10, 1829; Jesse, March 26, 1831; Tabitha, July 15, 1833; Susanna, November 7, 1835; William, January 2, 1838; Mary Jane, November 9, 1840; John L., Marchi 7, 1842; Robert U., March 14, 1845; and Thomas, August 2, 1847. Of the sons, John L., William and Thomas served in the Confederate army in the late war. William, a member of Company C, Twenty- fourth Mississippi Infantry, Walt- hall's brigade, was wounded at the battle of Missionary Ridge, from the effects of which he afterward died in the hospital. Four of these children are now living- Susanna, wife of Parson G. L. Jennings, of Limestone county; Mary Jane, now Mrs. F. C. Berry, of Greer county, Texas; John L. and Thomas.

John L. Griffis, our subject, was reared in his native place, where, in the spring of 1862, he entered the Confederate service,

enlisting in Company C, Twenty-fourth Mississippi Infantry, Walthall's brigade. He remained about Fernandina, Florida, three months, and his regiment was then ordered to Virginia. It reached the scene of active hostilities, but too late to take part in the battle of Manassas. It was then sent West, and took part in the camn- paigns in Kentucky and Tennessee, and was in the battles of Perryville, Mur- freesborough, Chickamauga and Lookont Mountain. At the last mentioned engage. ments Mr. Griffis was captured and taken to the Federal prison at Rock Island, Illinois, where he remained until March, 1865, and was then taken to Richmond, Virginia, to be exchanged. He was at home on a parole at the time of the sur- render. With the exception of a slight wound received at Chickamauga, from which he was disabled about ten days, he escaped without injury, but saw a good deal of prison life. After the close of hostilities Mr. Griffis returned to Missis- sippi, but in 1879 came to Limestone county, Texas. Shortly afterward he re- moved to Leon county, this State, and in 1882 came again to this county, settling where he has since resided. In 1882 he purchased 320 acres of his present farm, paying $3.75 an acre, afterward added 3372 acres more, but has since sold 150 acres. He has 110 acres of his farm under cultivation, the remainder in pasture, and all under fence. Mr. Griffis keeps con- siderable stock, and is a well-to-do farmer.

He was married in Mississippi, Feb- ruary 24, 1870, to Susanna Elizabeth McMullen. Our subject and wife have had the following children: Emory,

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

George W., Jolm A., Alvin and William. Mr. Griffis' parents were members of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which both he and his wife are also members.

OLIVER is cashier of the Groes- beeck National Bank, of Grosbeeck, Limestone county, Texas, and is an enterprising, public-spirited man. He is the son of W. W. Oliver, an old citizen of Limestone county, and his was one of the families who settled Limestone and Freestone counties. General facts re- specting the family will be found in the sketch of Frank C. Oliver. The father of our subject was engaged for many years in merchandising in the above counties, and at his death, in 1865, left a fair amount of property. Mr. Oliver's mother, whose maiden name was Peeples, belonged to an old Alabama family which had set- tled in Limestone county. Her death oc- curred in 1867. The children of this marriage were: Wallace, Roderick, Tempe and Lela. Roderick was the only one who grew to maturity, the others dying in early youth. He was born in Springfield, Limestone county, in 1857, was reared there and received a good ordinary educa- tion. He began his business career in 1878, as a clerk in the banking house of Oliver & Griggs, T. J. Oliver of this firm, living in Mexia, being his uncle. Mr. Oliver gained an interest in the business in 1880, and two years later, when Oliver & Griggs moved their business to Dallas, he accompanied them to that place. Sub- sequently he assisted in the organization

of the Fourth National Bank. He sold his interest there, and in 1886, in connec- tion with H. B. Allen, opened the banking house of Allen & Oliver at Hubbard City. This institution has done and continues to do a very satisfactory and prosperous busi- ness. In March, 1890, Mr. Oliver, asso- ciated with J. P. Morris, James Anderson, W. P. Brown, D. Oliver, T. K. Stroud and others, organized the Grosbeeck Na- tional Bank, of which Mr. Oliver became cashier, and which position he has held to the present date. He has given his time largely to building up the bank, and has succeeded in his endeavors. It is the only one in Grosbeeck, and has had a marked effect on the business interests of the city. Mr. Oliver's energy, sagacity and thoroughgoing business methods have done mnuch toward making it what it now is. Besides his banking interests he also owns a ranch of 5,000 acres near Tehna- cana Hills, in Limestone county, one of the finest in the county. On it he feeds 1,200 steers per year, and thus is one of the leading ranchmen of the State. He always stands ready to lend a helping hand to whatever comes along; is a whole- souled, good fellow. He belongs to the K. of P. and the order of Elks.

H. JACKSON, the pioneer mer- chant of Groesbeck, Limestone county, was born in Wilson county, middle Tennessee, July 4, 1827, a son of Jesse Jackson, a blacksmith and farmer by trade. He was born in 1801 and died in 1884. His father, Isaac Jackson, was a

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LIMESTONE, FREESTONE AND LEON COUNTIES.

Revolutionary soldier. Jesse Jackson moved from North Carolina to Tennessee, thence to Arkansas when that State was a frontier country. The mother of our sub- ject was Tempy, a daughter of John Halt- man, a native of Tennessee. The parents reared a family of ten children, only four of whom still survive, and our subject is the second cliild in order of birth.

While a resident of Arkansas N. H. Jackson, the subject of this sketch, fol- lowed merchandising, but bad manage- ment soon embarassed the business, and he was compelled to close out. His father then gave him his time, and in 1854 he came to Limestone county, Texas, locating nine miles from Groesbeck. A few months later he took up his abode in this city, erected a shop and began blacksmithing. He succeeded in saving money, but when the ravages of war had done its work, Mr. Jackson was as much an object of charity as hundreds of his countrymen. He did not even possess so much as the span of ponies he brought to this county in 1854. After one year engaged in blacksmithing for the Confederate government, he en- rolled as a member of Walker's division, and while at Shreveport was detailed to re- turn to Texas on special duty. At the close of the struggle he was at Kickapoo, in this State, and arrived home in May, 1865, immediately resuming business. In company with his son he did a large trade, and in 1869 was able to engage in mer- chandising, which he followed without change of style until 1881. Since that time the business has been conducted un- der the firm name of Jackson & Mills. Mr. Jackson now owns 460 acres of land, be-

sides much property in Groesbeck. He has taken an interest in public education, and has served as a member of the School Board.

In 1850 our subject was united in mar- riage with Martha, a daughter of Rice Henderson, a native of Virginia, and a blacksmith, by trade. Mr. and Mrs. Jack- son have had the following children: Mary, widow of William Steigall; William H .; Jesse; Tempy, wife of Aaron T. Hen- derson; Jesse J .; Nanie; James I .; Dollie, wife of Alfred Mills; Sally; Stonewall J .; Ollie; John A. died in infancy.

AMES M. EMERSON .- Few men in Fosterville, Texas, enjoy more thor- oughly the confidence and esteem of their fellow-citizens than the subject of this sketch, whose ability and worth are widely known and appreciated.

The Emerson family is of Irish ancestry, who settled in Virginia at an early day. James Emerson and wife, paternal grand- parents of the subject of this sketch, were natives of that State, whence they removed in pioneer times to the frontier of Ten- nessee. Here, in 1823, their son, Isaac R. Emerson, father of Mr. Emerson of this notice, was born. He grew to manliood in this State, which in his day afforded but slight opportunities for securing an educa- tion, and he was therefore denied instruc- tion, but possessing an active intellect he gained by self-application and experience a good practical knowledge.

He was married in Tennessee, in 1845, to Nancy M. Hollis, a native of that State,

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

of which her parents, Micajah and Frances

Hodge) Hollis, were pioneers, who were born in Virginia. In the year of his mar- riage, Mr. Isaac Emerson and wife removed to Arkansas, where, in 1847, the latter died, leaving to the care of the bereaved father an infant son, the subject of this sketch. The father placed his child with the wife's parents, and in 1851 he re- moved to Texas. He settled on land near the present site of Fosterville, where he resided until his death in 1884. He passed most of his life in mercantile pursuits, but was later exclusively engaged in farming. He was a Democrat in politics and filled a number of offices of trust, having served as Constable and Deputy Sheriff for several years. During reconstruction days he was tendered the position of Deputy Sheriff, which he declined. He was a Royal Arch Mason, and at the time of his death was a member of William Foster Lodge, No. 312. He was an npright, intelligent and able man, and contributed materially to the early development of his vicinity, of which he was a representative citizen.

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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