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 96

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 96
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 96
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 96
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 96
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 96
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 96

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).

The marriage of our subject took place to Mrs. Mary Cartwright, a daughter of Neil Kimbro, of Tennessee, who moved to Texas in 1859 and settled in Shelby county, where he died April, 1892. He came to Texas in 1836, and participated in the Texas Revolution, and was at the battle of

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San Jacinto, for which he received a land warrant and located land, and afterward moved on it and died on the farm. His occupation through life was farming. His family consisted of three children, Mrs. Petty and two sons.

Mr. and Mrs. Petty had five children, three of whom died young, and the living are: Elizabeth, who married B. A. Crocker, who is a farmer of this county; and Hood, who is at home. This mother was born September 15, 1842, and both she and her husband are members of the Missionary Baptist Church. In politics he is a Demo- crat and upholds the cause of his party upon any and all occasions.

OHN B. GRESHAM, a farmer of Limestone county, was born in Ken- tucky in 1851, the only child of James and Jane (Moore) Gresham, natives of South Carolina and Kentucky. The father was a merchant of Limeport, Kentucky, and his death occurred when our subject was only six years of age. The latter at- tended the country schools during his boy- hood days, and at the age of eleven years his mother died, after which he began life for himself. He first farmed on rented land two years in this county, where he had moved with his mother in 1856, and at the age of fifteen years began driving stock to New Orleans and the State of Kansas. When nineteen years old he be- gan the same business for himself, which he followed four years, and then purchased a farm in this county. Ten years later he accepted a position with J. E. Barron, a

merchant of Thornton, remained with him three years, and since that time has given his attention to agrienltural pursuits and trading. He commenced life for himself without a dollar, and now owns 300 acres of fine land, with seventy acres of bottom land, and all under a good state of culti- vation. He has a beautiful residence, and also a nice home and ten acres in the vil- lage of Thornton, where he now resides.

Mr. Gresham was married in 1873, to Miss Emily J. Eaton, a daughter of Silas Eaton. To this union have been born seven children, six now living: James, Dessie, Algie, Russell, Eular and Silas E., all at home. Mrs. Gresham is a member of the Christian Church, and he affiliates with Thornton Lodge, No. 52, A. F. & A. M. Politically, he is a pronounced Democrat.

W. SWAIM, one of the early pio- neers of Limestone county, Texas, was born in Parke county, Indiana, in 1821, a son of Michael Swaim, who died in 1825. The latter's father was a native of North Carolina, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Michael Swaim mar- ried Elizabeth Barnes, also a native of North Carolina, and they removed to In- diana when that State was almost a com- plete swamp, where the father was killed by a runaway team.

The latter came to Texas from Platt and Clay counties, Missouri, in 1844. His health demanded that he seek a milder climate than that of northern Missouri, and he accordingly traveled with his family in a wagon through that State

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and Arkansas, crossing Red River at Clarksville. He remained one year in Red River county, and in the spring of 1846 made another stop on Chambers creek, Navarro county, Texas; the fol- lowing year tried Freestone county, and in 1848 landed at old Springfield, the first county seat of Limestone county. Mr. Swaim at once began work at the carpenter's trade, having erected nearly all the first buildings in the place, and for more than twenty years he found Springfield a profitable spot. In 1850 he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, and in 1860 he was made County Treasurer, which office he filled acceptably one term. The progress of the county seat having been checked ma- terially by the war and the prospect of a removal to the terminus of the railroad, our subject concluded to try farming, and accordingly purchased his present home, then a wilderness with only four or five families in the community. The settlers were Messrs. Waller, Johnson, McBay and Curley, all but one of whom are now de- ceased. Mr. Swain plowed, grubbed, made rails, built fences, put up buildings, and his farm now shows the result of all tliese years of toil. He has contributed liberal- ly to the erection of church buildings in his neighborhood, has aided in many ways tlie progress of the gospel, and holds the office of Deacon in the Baptist Church. Z. N. Morrell was the first missionary in the county.

In 1842, in Missouri, our subject mar- ried Phoebe E. Sloan, who was born in 1825, a daughter of David Sloan, a native of Tennessee. To this union have been

born the following children: R. H., Wil- liam R., Albert M., H. P. M., G. W. B., Fannie (now Mrs. C. W. McElroy), Ella (wife of G. B. Knight, of Dallas), Cary B., R. W., Mary E., Harvey E. and Lee -- all deceased.

ILLIAM A. WATSON is a son of John D. Watson, who was born in 1796, in Ireland, in the city of Dublin. By occupation he was a book- keeper and teacher. He came to South America in 1816, and there served as a soldier for one year and from thence he went to New Orleans, and from there to Claiborne, Alabama, and from there to Sparta, same State, at both of which places he was employed as a teacher. He con- tinned to teach until he came to Texas in 1844, and at that time he located first in Montgomery county and then went to Grimes county, where he was employed at teaching or at keeping books. He contin- ued to reside in Grimes county until the time of his death, which occurred in 1876. In politics he was a Democrat, and while he desired no official position, he was very pronounced in his political views. He was prominently identified with the Ma- sonic order for a number of ycars, and was a Master Mason. He was a devoted mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal Church South.

John D. Watson was the son of John D., Sr., and Eliza Watson, natives of Ireland. Our subject's aunt, Eliza, was a maid to Queen Victoria. Another aunt lives at Niagara Falls, and her name is Mrs. Welch, and she is the wife of a wealthy

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HISTORY OF NAVARRO, HENDERSON, ANDERSON,

merchant. The paternal grandfather of our subject was a teacher in the national schools of Ireland, and John D. was able to speak in six languages. His mother was Avah Curry, and was a native of Georgia, who died in December, 1891. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and the daughter of John C. Curry, a native of Georgia. The marriage of our subject's parents took place in 1833, and to them eight children were born, viz .: W. A., our subject; Eliza, who is now the wife of Jolin Mason, of Limestone county; Martha Frances, the wife of A. D. Crow- der, of Grimes county; John D. died in the Confederate service at Arkansas Post; Harry C. was killed at Bull Run in the Confederate army; he predicted that he would be killed and even mentioned the place where the ball would strike him; Rebecca is the wife of N. C. Brooks, of Limestone county; and the two youngest members of the family died when young.

Our subject was born in Alabama in 1835, and came thence to Texas in 1844 with his parents by way of Galveston, and continued to reside with his parents until 1851, when he married and then began farming and stock-raising on his father-in- law's farm. In 1856 he returned to his parents and remained one year. He then engaged as overseer, at which he contin- ued one year and then became guard at Huntsville, where he remained three years. He then enlisted in the Confeder- ate service in Company H, 4th Texas In- fantry, Hood's Brigade, and was in twenty of the principal engagements of tlie war, and was knocked down by a cannon ball at Gaines' Mills. He was shot three times at

the battle of the Wilderness, and also at Cold Harbor was wounded. At the time of the surrender at Appomattox he was Orderly of the regiment.

After his return, in June, from the war, our subject did not engage in any regular business until the following year. He then married and engaged in farming on rented land for two years and then bought 180 acres in Grimes county. He lived there until 1869 and moved theu to Fer- guson Prairie, Limestone county, and re-

mained there until 1880, when lie went into the ginniug business in Leon county, and remained at that for two years. In 1884 he went into Limestone county and located upon his present farin, where he farms and gins.

The marriage of Mr. Watson took place in 1865, to Miss Martha J. Lown, a native of South Carolina, who had come from there with her mother to Texas. She is the daughter of John and Ann (Bookman) Lown, and they were natives of South Carolina. The Lown family originally came from Germany. Eight children have been added to the family since this mar- riage, and they are John; J. A., deceased; Avalı Ann, deceased; Mary Magdalene, de- ceased; Martha F., who is the wife of Sam Lattner; William J .; Ophelia; Cora and Ora, twins.

Mr. Watson began the battle of life for himself when he was only sixteen years old. He lost all that he had accumulated during the war, and it is worth while to name his present possessions. He owns 160 acres of land and a gin wortli $4,000. He purchased another gin valued at $3,500, and 120 acres of land; he now

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has 250 acres and forty head of stock. In his political faith he is a Democrat, and belongs to the Masonic order. Both him- self and wife are members of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church, in which our subject has been an Elder since 1869.

F. SIMS, a farmer and ginner of Dawson, Navarro county, was born in Maury county, Tennessee, in 1853. His father, A. C. Sims, was born in Vir- ginia in 1814, and in young manhood settled in Tennessee, where he followed agricultural pursuits, and still resides in tliat State. When the Confederacy was enlisting men in its defense, he joined a Tennessee regiment, and was captured at the fall of Fort Donelson, was held a prisoner one year, and then exchanged and returned home. Being beyond the con- script age, he did not again enlist in the service. His wife was a Miss Eva, a daughter of Captain Morgan, and they had the following children: Maggie, wife of J. C. Matthews, of Tennessee; T. J .; A. H .; J. F .; G. R .; and Eva, who married J. Wright. In 1862 the mother died, and afterward the father married Bettie Dixon, and they had four children: W. D .; Sally, now Mrs. L. B. Bailey; T. J .; Mat- tie, wife of M. Beckham. The grand- father of our subject, Thomas Sims, was a native of Virginia, where the original set- tlement of the family was probably made.

J. F. Sims worked on a farm until six- teen years of age, when he entered a wagon shop. After completing the trade he followed that occupation ten years, five

years at Mt. Pleasant, and the remainder in Spring Hill, Navarro county, since which time he has been engaged in farm- ing and ginning. In partnership with his brother he owns a 900-acre tract of land in Navarro county, and in 1883 they built a three-stand gin in Dawson, Munger's pat- ent, with a capacity of thirty bales per day. In 1891 they turned out 1,000 bales, and in connection with this they also run a gristmill.

In 1877 Mr. Sims married Lue Cruse, a daughter of Wesley Cruse, of Tennes- see. They have had four children: Gus- sie, Ord, Clyde and Freddie. The family are members of the Presbyterian Church, of which our subject is an Elder.

ILLIAM H. COLTHARP, one of the oldest citizens of Henderson county, was born in Monroe coun- ty, Tennessee, in 1829, and he was the oldest child born to the union of James and Joanna (McSpadden) Coltharp, natives of Tennessee and Kentucky. The Col- tharp family came to America long before the war for independence. The father of James Coltharp was named John, and it appears upon the list of brave soldiers who were in the war of 1812, and he doubtless took part in the battle of New Orleans. He and his brother James moved from New Orleans, at the close of that war, to east Tennessee, and James died when on his way home. The grandfather of our subject was known as Colonel Coltharp. His wife had been a Miss Hammer, and they reared a large family, but only one

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besides the father of our subject ever came West; he was named E. S., and settled in Angelina county, and still survives, liv- ing beside the Brazos river.

Grandmother McSpadden was a Miss Arthur prior to her marriage to Mr. Coltharp, and her first husband had been a man of the same name, although no re- lation. Her brother served in the Revo- lutionary war, was named Ambrose Ar- thur, and by the exercise of a little Irish wit at one time captured six or eight English soldiers all at once. The Arthur and McSpadden families are well known in the names of their descendants, as both were large and influential.

James Coltharp was reared on a farm, but upon gaining his majority he engaged in the mercantile business in Carroll county, Georgia, and remained there until 1837. In 1842 he married and engaged in the mercantile business in Edinboro, in Leake county, and in 1845 he came overland to this State, bringing stock and his family. He first located in Rusk connty, where he engaged in farming for four years, when he sold out and went to Van Zandt county, where he opened a store at a postoffice known as Hamburg. Here he carried on his business until 1853, when he sold out and purchased machinery for a sawmill and en- gaged in what is now known as Edom, in the sawing business. He was one of the founders of the place, and for six years carried on his milling, but in 1859 he again sold and came to this county, and located at what is known as Tryon, five miles northeast of Hardin, and here he erected one of the finest saw and grist mills in the State, and up to the beginning

of the late war was very successfully con - ducting it. He did not enter the service, as he was over age, but he will long be re- membered by the war widows of the county, and also in Smith county, for he made it a rule that no woman whose sup- port was in the army should leave his mill with an empty sack. He fed a great por- tion of the surrounding county, and to do this, which he had persuaded himself was his duty, he had to run the mill night and day.

The Confederate armny was stationed at Tyler, and for a time had serious thoughts of taking the mill and using it to saw lum- ber for the armny necessities of the troops. He was ruined financially by the war, los- ing his negroes, which were his fortune, and when they were gone liis land was of no use, as there was neither any one to farm nor was there money with which to hire work done. At the age of sixty- seven Mr. Coltharp passed out of life, be- loved and regretted perhaps by many more people than usually are interested outside of the family. His name is still kindly remembered, and in a work of this kind deserves most honorable mention. From his eighteenth year he had been a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. His faithful wife survived him until 1891, when she died at the age of eighty-one; and since girlhood she had been a member of the same church as her husband. He had been a prominent Royal Arch Mason. He received his degrees at Tyler and at Edom, and had joined the order in Rusk county, soon after coming to the State.

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William H. Coltharp received a common- school education in the States of Georgia and Mississippi, was reared to farm life, and came with his father to this State in 1845, making his father's home his own until 1850, when he was married. At that time he purchased a farm in this county and went into extensive farming until 1855, when he moved to Tarrant county, where he engaged extensively in farming and stock-raising. He was the cattle-raiser who lived on the extreme frontier and dealt with those who lived west of him, trading saddle and other horses for cattle which were ready for the market. He would add some home-raised cattle and drive them to Shreveport, Louisiana, al- though sometimes he would go to more northern markets.

Mr. Coltharp was frequently annoyed by the Indians in making his western trips, but was never seriously injured by them. He lost some stock by the depre- dations of both red and white horse-thieves. Mrs. Bettie Harp, a niece of Colonel David Crockett, came in 1866 from Ten- nessee to live with some relative on the Brazos river, in what is now Johnson county. There was a gap without any settlement some ten miles above Comanche Peak, and about twelve miles wide, where the Indians roamed at will, and at this time they were hostile. Mr. Coltharp had Mrs. Harp in charge, and they passed safely through, the latter not showing any fear, although she realized as well as he the great danger that they were in. Mr. Coltharp afterward said that she showed by her spirit that she was of the same blood as Colonel Crockett.

Our subject left Tarrant county in 1871 and returned to this county and settled eight miles south of Chandler, on the Neches river, where he resided for five years, and from there he came to the Kickapoo creek, two and one-half miles from Chandler. Here he engaged in saw- milling, having commenced in that business as soon as he came from Tarrant county, remaining on his place in this business until 1884, when he sold his milling ma- chinery and devoted his time exclusively to farming on a farm of 200 acres of fine bottom land, with 150 acres under fine cultivation, with splendid residence, out- buildings, etc; and Mr. Coltharp still raises some cattle. He makes no specialty on his farm except in the breeding of Berkshire hogs, and he has some of the finest in the county.

Our subject has been three times mar- ried. The first time was in 1850, to Miss Catherine Brown, a native of Alabama, a daughter of John and Margaret (Brooks) Brown. Both families were among the early settlers of Alabama. John Brown was a native of South Carolina, came to Alabama an orphan boy without any pow- erful friends, yet he educated himself to be one of the best informed men in the State, serving as a member of the Legisla- ture from Pickens county, a total of sixteen successive sessions. At one time there were three John Browns, representatives, and to distinguish one from the other, one was known as Colonel John Brown, an- other signed his name John Brown (Black), from the color of his beard, and the third was John Brown (Red), from the color of his hair, the last being the father-in-law

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of our subject, and no man was better known in the State. He came to Texas in 1838, settled in Nacogdoches county ,and represented that county in the Texas Leg- islature during the days of the Republic. His sons were members of the Texas mil- itia for the suppression of Mexicans and Indians. He died in this State and county in 1853, having moved here in 1847. Mrs. Coltharp was one of a family of eight children, four of whom lived to be grown.

The members of the family of Mr. Brown above mentioned were as follows: Jolin, of Tarrant county; Sidney, deceased; Mar- garet, wife of Lewis Bresson; and Saralı, wife of W. W. Wilson, of Tarrant county, Texas. Mrs. Coltharp died in 1866, and had been a member of the Missionary Baptist Church. In 1867 our subject inarried Miss Ella Granberry, a native of Texas, and a daughter of George and (Cochran) Granberry, natives of Missis- sippi. George Granberry was the uncle of General Granberry, who was killed at the battle of Franklin, Tennessee, in 1864, under General Hood, and was well known through the South. Mr. and Mrs. Col- tharp had one child, Nortilla, the wife of Lem Mims, and now resides in northern Texas. In 1875 our subject married Mrs. Henrietta Richardson, nee Kirk- land, the daughter of Colonel Henry H. and Caroline (Dodd) Kirkland, natives of Georgia. The Kirkland family came from South Carolina and Georgia, having come to America about the seventeenth century, having been banished from Scotland. Colonel H. H. Kirkland came to this State in 1848, and to the county in 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Coltharp had one child. By

her former marriage Mrs. Coltharp had a daughter, Caroline. now deceased, the wife of James Brewer. Both Mr. and Mrs. Coltharp are members of the Mis- sionary Baptist Church, and socially our subject is a member of the A. F. & A. M., being a demitted member of Fort Worth Lodge, No. 128, and Fort Worth Chapter, No. 40.

Before leaving the interesting subject of this sketch, we would do injustice if we omitted his war record. In 1862 lie joined Company O, Twenty-first Texas Infantry, under Colonel Speight, served in the Trans-Mississippi department, took part in both battles of Galveston, and at the evacuation he was under General Labair; at the recapture of the place he was under General Magruder, and was First Lieutenant of his company. He was never captured or wounded, but had his clothing shot through several times. The regiment was disbanded at Galveston, and he returned home, accepting the situation as best he could.

EORGE W. LEWIS, a merchant, farmer and stock-raiser of Limestone county, was born in Jones county, Mississippi, January 10, 1839; a son of Moses and Elizabeth (Elzey) Lewis, natives of South Carolina. They moved with their parents to Mississippi in an early day, and the country was then filled with Indians. The father was only two years of age when he left his native State; was a farmer and trader by occupation, and in 1858 located in Polk county, Texas, then a compara-

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tively new county. He served in the State militia during the late war, and in 1867 removed to Wise county, this State, where he died in 1875. His wife departed this life in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were the parents of nine children, as fol- lows: G. W., our subject; Mary, deceased, was the wife of Columbus Davis; Howell, of this county; Irvin, who was killed at the battle of Chickamauga in 1863; War- ren, deceased, and his family reside in Grimes county; Coleman, deceased, and his family reside in Velasco; Barbara, de- ceased; Catherine, wife of J. O. Akins, of Grimes county, and John, a resident of Limestone county. In 1861 Mr. Lewis was married a second time to Miss Ann Cain, and they had three children: Eliza- beth, James and Nancy. The father was a member of the Masonic order.

George W. Lewis removed with his father to Mississippi, and remained at home until the beginning of the late war. In 1861 he joined Company K, Fifth Texas Infantry, served in the. Army of Virginia, but, on account of ill health, was discharged after six months. After re- maining at home one month he enlisted in Company H, Elmour's regiment; was stationed on Galveston island and served with his command until the close of the war. After returning to Polk county our subject engaged in farming on rented land, and for the first few years was obliged to go a distance of four miles to mill. After the close of the war he had left only one horse, which he sold for $20, and immedi- ately paid the entire amount for corn. He rented land in Polk county two years, then in Grimes county two years, and in 1870

purchased 240 acres of unimproved land, for which he paid $800 cash. Mr. Lewis erected a good farm building, cultivated 150 acres, and in 1875 sold his land for $2,200. He then purchased town property at Bremond, Robertson county, where he was engaged in merchandising and stock- raising until 1878, and in that year moved to Kosse, Limestone county. While there he was engaged in farming and stock-rais- ing on seventy acres of land. In 1888 Mr. Lewis came to his farm on Big Hill, where he owns a ranch of 450 acres, with 250 acres under cultivation, also has an- other farm of 480 acres, of which 400 cares is cultivated. Two years after mov- ing to his farm he located at Thornton, where he has a beautiful residence. In January, 1892, he embarked in the mer- cantile business in this village, and now has a fine trade.

Mr. Lewis was married in 1860, to Miss E. J. Raley, a native of Alabama and a daughter of Charles and Jane (Finn) Raley, natives also of that State. They came to Texas some time in the '40s, where the father followed farming and stock-raising. They reared a family of six children, viz. : Marion, of Reynolds county, Texas; Eliza J., wife of our subject; William, also a resident of Reynolds county; Benjamin F., deceased; John, deceased; and Robert O., of Reynolds county. Both Mr. and Mrs. Raley are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have had nine children: James, deceased; Georgiana, wife of J. M. Bryant, of Limestone county; Barbara, now Mrs. J. B. Hooper, of this county; Ada, de- ceased; John H., George W., Robert O. and Charles G., at home. Mrs. Lewis is

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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