A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I, Part 112

Author: Paddock, B. B. (Buckley B.), 1844-1922; Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing co.
Number of Pages: 968

USA > Texas > A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I > Part 112

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In November of that year John M. Hanna was married to Miss Nannie Penick, a native of Kentucky, and they remained in that state until 1881. when, fearing a return of his old troubles that had caused his ill health, and also prompted by the interest which had been aroused in him for Texas during his stay in this state, he re- turned and has since remained here. He reached Abilene on the 14th day of May, and after mak- ing a general survey of the surrounding country finally located land in Jones county. Here he embarked in the stock business, dealing princi- pally in cattle and horses, the latter bringing a high price that year. Everything appeared very favorable for the business and with strong cour- age and determination Mr. Hanna began in the cattle industry in the west. He was the first to

bring into the county a thoroughbred bull and he turned his attention to the raising of a higher grade of stock. Later, however, the price of cattle went down and the business becoming un- profitable he finally sold his stock and turned his attention to real estate operations, to which he has since practically given his attention. He first located at Anson, Jones county, where he re- mained until Stamford was created in the spring of 1900, when he changed his residence to the latter place. During the early period of his residence in Anson he was in partnership with L. M. Buie in the real estate business, which connection was continued from 1888 until Feb- ruary, 1895, when they divided their interests, Judge Buie taking the real estate department of the business, while Judge Hanna remained in charge of the abstract department. He then continued in the abstract business until 1892, when he sold his set of books. He is now in partnership with E. B. Williams in the real estate business at Stamford under the firm style of J. M. Hanna & Company, this relation having been maintained for a year. He is thoroughly con- versant concerning property values and has ne- gotiated many important realty transfers.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Hanna have been born two children : Forman G. Hanna, who is now located at Globe, Arizona ; and Maude, the wife of W. A. Biard, of Ladonia, Texas. Judge Hanna had the misfortune to lose his wife on the 18th of November, 1904. She was devoted to the wel- fare of her family and was a lady whose many excellent traits of heart and mind endeared her to all with whom she came in contact. Mr. Hanna has been a member of the Baptist church since seventeen years of age, faithful to its teach- ings and its principles. He is also identified with the Knights of Pythias, his membership being with the lodge in Stamford. He has led a busy, useful and upright life, being held in high regard for his genuine worth and successful accomplish- ment. He is well versed in the geography of western Texas and has taken an active part in many of the stirring events relating to its early history. Since locating in Jones county he has been an active figure in bringing forward its just claims to the outside world and in presenting the great advantages of this particular section

JOHN T. CUNNINGHAM

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

as an ideal farming country. It is a conceded fact that through his personal efforts large num- bers of settlers have been induced to come to this state and make this section of Texas their permanent abode, the number now including many of the most progressive, valued and prom- inent citizens of Jones county. 4

JOHN THOMPSON CUNNINGHAM, the old soldier and efficient postmaster of Graham, represents Young county settlers of the era of the early seventies and is passing his twenty- seventh year of his citizenship here. Texas made his acquaintance in 1873 and between Brownsville and Graham more than half the span of his years has been passed.

Like many young soldiers of the Civil War, Mr. Cunningham wandered away from home ties a few years subsequent to the close of the struggle and sought fame or fortune in a new and untried country. His somewhat brief career as a nomad started from Jones county, Iowa, in 1866, at which time he went down into Newton county, Missouri, and tried the hill country of that land as a farmer for a year. He then drifted into Central Kansas and at Wichita secured employment about the stock yards of the Santa Fe Railway Company, at Wichita and in time became superintendent of the same, but in the employ of Shanghi Pierce, a once noted stockman of the Lone Star state. While in Wichita he made the acquaintance of John McAllen, an Englishman with large cattle interests on the Rio Grande river, and was em- ployed by him to bring two thousand head of cattle from the Texas ranch to Lincoln, Ne- braska.

When Mr. Cunningham had reached the Rio Grande ranch and reported ready to start on his return with the stock, Mr. McAllen's failure to sell his cattle at the price he expected caused that nabob to abrogate his part of the contract and our subject was set adrift in a strange country to shift for himself. He declined a menial position on the Englishman's ranch at Santa Nita and the first thing that presented itself was a position as a teacher in the public schools. He passed the necessary examination at Brownsville and taught a three months' term there in the court house of the county. Next,

he got into the government service cutting hay to supply Fort Brown at Brownsville, Fort Ringold in Star county, Texas, Hidalgo and Santa Marie in Cameron county, where the ranch was located. He remained some three years, and while in this region he married. Having decided to retrace his steps toward the North, he crossed Young county en route and was induced by the prospects of the year 1878 and the general promise of that then frontier country to locate and his permanent citizenship in the state and his residence in the county dates from that time.

. John T. Cunningham was born in Delaware county, Ohio, August 10, 1844. His was an early family to the settlement along the Scioto in Delaware county, for his father, Robert Cun- ningham, was born there in 1815. The latter was a son of a Scotch-Irishman, a carpenter and the husband of Isabel Kincaid, who died in Delaware county leaving children, John T. and Isabel, wife of T. H. Reeves, of Tulsa, Indian Territory. In 1849 Mr. Cunningham, Sr., re- sponded to the forty-nine call to the Eldorado of the Pacific and died some time after reaching his destination.

Having been left an orphan at so young an age John T. Cunningham was taken by Gilbert Potter, who reared him to maturity and looked after his physical and mental welfare as effi- ciently as his ability and the circumstances of the times would permit. In 1854 Mr. Potter moved out to Jones county, Iowa, where the scenes of the farm afterward greeted him and where the log school house did its part in the training of our subject's youthful mind.

In July, 1862, Mr. Cunningham enlisted in Company B, Twenty-fourth Iowa Infantry, Captain W. F. Rigby and Colonel Byam's regiment, and for the first year or more served in the Western Department of the Union army. He participated in the Coldwater expedition to Mississippi, in the Vicksburg campaign and siege and up Red River with General Banks and back to New Orleans. Here the regiment was shipped to Washington, D. C., and from there joined Sheridan in his Virginia cam- paign and fought at Winchester and Cedar Creek. Following this service the command was sent to Savannah, Georgia, from where

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

it joined in the closing scenes of the war in North Carolina, participating in the last stand made by the enemy at Goldsboro, North Carolina.

Returning to Savannah with his regiment Mr: Cunningham was discharged in August, 1865, reached Washington by ship and attended the Grand Review of the Federal armies there the following month.

Returning home after an absence of three years, Mr. Cunningham resumed civil life as a farmer. For five years he directed his efforts toward the vocation of his boyhood and in 1866 he yielded to a desire to find new scenes and work out his destiny among new friends and he set out on his nomadic career.

Settling in Young county, Mr. Cunningham located on a farm eight miles east of Graham and passed two years there. He then took up his residence in the city and engaged in house painting here, in the main, until his final ap- pointment to the mail service of the govern- ment.

Mr. Cunningham married, in Cameron county, Texas, Miss Ida J. Handy, who came to Texas from Eagle, Wisconsin, and was a daughter of C. C. Handy, a New York man, who died at Brownsville, Texas, in 1875. Mr. Handy married Miss Eliza Hiltz and Mrs. Cunningham, Mrs. Nellie Daugherty, of Hidal- go, Texas, and Milton S. Handy, of Waco, are the issue of their union. Mrs. Cunningham was born in 1854, and is the mother of Belle, wife of T. E. Matthews, of Graham, with chil- dren, Joe Lee and Edgar Doke; Olive Maud, wife of H. G. Arnold, assistant postmaster of Graham, with children, Maud and John Henry ; John M., who died at eighteen years; Lue Ella and Ben Harrison.

Mr. Cunningham served Graham as deputy United States marshal for several years in the eighties, and being of the right political faith Mr. McKinley appointed him postmaster of the town in 1897 to succeed G. H. Crozier and he was reappointed by President Roosevelt in 1902. He is an Odd Fellow, a Republican and a member of Rosseau Post, G. A. R., No. 60. He is adjutant of the post and is judge advocate on the staff of John L. Boyd, commander of the Department of Texas.

SAMUEL H. PEERY, who follows stock farming in Cooke county, was born in Platte county, Missouri, August 7, 1849, and in the pa- ternal line comes of Irish descent. His father was a prominent farmer and slave owner. There were three brothers, their father having died when they were small: Thomas, Edward and William. The last named was the father of our subject and was born in the Old Dominion. The three brothers emigrated to Missouri at an early day, locating first in Howard county. Af- ter living in Howard county for a number of years Edward Peery removed to the present site of Kansas City and there improved a farm and made permanent settlement.

William Peery with his brothers first settled in Howard county, Missouri, where he later married Miss Nellie McCrary, a native of that state. Later when the Platte purchase was made from the Indians and the land put on the market he went to Clay county, where he purchased a large tract of land. He became a successful agriculturist and with competent help profitably conducted farming. While in Clay county Wil- liam Peery made fine improvements on his farm, including the erection of a large commodious residence, which later was burned to the ground. He never rebuilt there but afterward bought a large tract of land in Platte county, Missouri, where he made extensive improvements. He then sold his Clay county land and settled in Platte county, where he became one of the most prominent and successful farmers of the locality. There he remained until after nine of his chil- dren were born, while one was added to the family subsequent to the removal to Texas. In politics William Peery was a strong Democrat and while in Missouri served as justice of the peace for a number of years.

He continued farming successfully in Platte county until 1851, when he sold that property and took up his abode in Fannin county, Texas, pur- chasing large tracts of land near Bonham. He then began the work of cultivation and improve- ment and was soon recognized as one of the extensive farmers and substantial citizens of the county, remaining there successfully until 1858, when he rented his land and came to Cooke county. Here he bought five hundred acres on

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HISTORY. OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

Elm Creek, making some improvements there .. He established a horse ranch and had become well started before the Indians commenced their raids. He then sold his stock and went to Gaines- ville, Texas, where he bought a farm of three hundred and twenty acres adjoining the town, carrying on farming there. He died in Gaines- . ville in 1875 at the age of seventy-five years. He was a stanch secessionist and investing his money largely in Confederate bonds he lost heav- ily because of their depreciation through the for- tunes of war. He was a man firm in his con- victions, never faltering in his support of what he believed to be right and was fearless in pro- nouncing his opinions upon any question. He was, however, of a social, genial nature and en- joyed having his friends around him. A broad- minded, intelligent business man, he was a good financier and was generous of his means toward the unfortunate. He held membership in the Presbyterian church and in the Masonic frater- nity, and his life was ever upright and honorable. He died in Gainesville in 1875. His wife was a daughter of Mr. McCrary, of Virginia, who be- came a pioneer settler of Missouri and afterward of Fannin county, Texas, where he followed farming for many years. In the latter part of his life he lived retired from active business cares and died in Fannin county at an advanced age. His children were: Mrs. Nancy Brawley and Mrs. Nellie Peery.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. William Peery were born ten children: James, deceased; Elijah C., who served in the Confederate army and is now in the Indian Territory ; William T., who was like- wise a Confederate soldier and is now residing in the Territory ; Mrs. Polly Hoover, who at the time of her marriage settled in southwestern Texas; Betty, deceased; Thomas, who was killed in the Civil war; Mrs. Nannie Field, who died in Saint Jo; Hettie, the wife of J. C. Lattimore ; Samuel H .; and George. The mother was a member of the Presbyterian church.

Samuel H. Peery was born in Missouri and with his parents came to Texas in 1851. He was reared in this state and remained under the parental roof until he had passed many years of his youth. When about seventeen years old, however, he engaged with his brother Elijah in

the cattle business, for the range was then free and good and the cattle roamed at will for many miles around. They soon had a large herd, and during those years Mr. Peery was daily in the saddle and traveled over the adjoining counties to Cooke, where they made their headquarters. In this way he became acquainted with all of the cattle land and early settlers of his part of the state and is now widely known. His first part- nership continued for eight years, at the end of which time they sold their entire herd. Mr. Peery afterward engaged in buying and shipping cattle and later entered into partnership with two brothers, with whom he engaged in merchan- dising at Gainesville, conducting the store for a number of years. Eventually the firm closed out the stock and Mr. Peery was again in the live stock business as a partner of his brother, W. T. Peery. They were the second people in this part of the state to fence a large pasture and confine their stock. They continued in business success- fully for several years and then sold their pasture and herd. Mr. Peery, however, has always con- tinued in the cattle business to a greater or less extent, and in late years in connection with Henry Field has owned a large pasture, in which he feeds and handles beef cattle. At his home he raises cattle and hogs, feeding the latter for the market, and he has long been prominently iden- tified with the cattle interests of Cooke county and this part of the state.

In 1877 Mr. Peery was married to Miss Min- nie Jones, who was born in Missouri in 1860 and is a daughter of David A. Jones, a farmer and business man of Missouri, who in 1870 came to Texas, locating in Cooke county. He afterward removed to the Indian Nation, where his death occurred. He frequently served as deputy in .different offices of the county seat and was a man of good business ability and worthy the trust re- posed in him. His wife still survives and finds a pleasant home among her children, living largely in the nation. She is a member of the Baptist church. In their family were the follow- ing children: Gill; David; Charley ; Thomas ; Jack; Nannie, the wife of Dr. Milner; Minnie, now Mrs. Peery ; and one son who was killed by a negro whom he was attempting to arrest while acting as bailiff in Cooke county. Mr. and Mrs.

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

Peery have become the parents of eleven chil- dren ; three of whom are dead; those living are Eula, the wife of W. Hoover; George, Roy, Samuel, Nannie, David and May, all at home; and Essa, who was born December 3, 1902, and completes the family.

For two years after his marriage Mr. Peery remained at Gainesville and in 1879 settled upon the farm where he yet resides, having previously purchased two hundred and sixty acres of the land from the Morgan survey. He has since added other surveys and now has about seven hundred acres. He has made all of the improve- ments upon this place, including the erection of a commodious house, good barns and outbuildings. He also has stock lots well supplied with water pumped by a wind mill and there is a good or- chard on the place. About one hundred acres of the land has been brought to a high state of cultivation and he raises various crops, and also gives much attention to the raising and feeding of hogs for market. He has intimate knowledge of this section of the state in its development, as he has watched its transformation from a wild district and free range into richly cultivated farms and ranches.

J. A. WILLIAMS is connected with two of the most important business interests of Texas, constituting a large supply source of wealth to the state, for he is following farming and gin- ning. His keen business discernment and enter- prise constitute the business of his success, which is as creditable as it is desirable. He was born in Washington county, Arkansas, November 23, 1853. His father, Isaac Q. Williams, was a na- tive of Marion county, Illinois. His father was Greenberry Williams, a prominent agriculturist of Illinois, in which state his last days were passed. In his family were five children: John; Green; Uriga, who was killed at the siege of Vicksburg, while serving in the Federal army ; Isaac Q .; and Lavina. After arriving at years of maturity Isaac Q. Williams was married in Ma- rion county, Illinois, to Miss Lydia Slater, a daughter of John Slater, who was born in the north of Ireland in 1903 and was of Scotch pa- rentage. When he was quite young his father's family came to America and ultimately he was

engaged successfully in farming pursuits in Illi- nois, where his genuine worth made him highly respected. When last heard from he was yet liv- ing at the age of over ninety years. His children were: Lydia, who became Mrs. Williams ; John; Diadama ; Henry ; and Ellen.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Q. Williams remained in Illinois until 1850, when they removed to Arkansas, where Mr. Williams purchased land and developed a farm. In 1859, accompanied by his family, he returned to Illinois on a visit and there remained until 1861, when he returned to Arkansas by way of Missouri, passing between the lines of the northern and southern armies and over the battlefield of Wil- son Creek. When he had again reached home and got his family settled there he enlisted for service in the Confederate army, with which he continued until the close of the war, being first attached to Captain Palmer's company, W. L. Cable's brigade and Fagan's division of the trans-Mississippi department. He saw service in Missouri, Indian Territory, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas, taking part in many important en- gagements and skirmishes, so that he became familiar with all of the hardships of military life. On account of an injury sustained in one of his limbs he was disabled for field service and was detailed for different duties. Before he enlisted in Arkansas he had been made a prisoner by the Union forces, who attempted to make him take the Federal oath, but this he refused to do, and was incarcerated for three weeks before released.

When the war was over Mr. Williams re- turned home and resumed farming, in which he was actively engaged in Arkansas until 1881, when he came to Montague county, Texas. In his younger days he had learned the wagon maker's trade and had followed it to some extent. After coming to this state he located at Die and later at Saint Jo, where he followed wagon mak- ing until after his son, J. A. Williams, built a house on his farm and made a comfortable home for the father there throughout his remaining days. He passed away in 1899 at the age of sev- enty-three years. He was a man of firm charac- ter, decided in his opinions, and although he usually carefully investigated every subject be- fore he announced his position thereon, nothing

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

could swerve him from a cause which he be- lieved to be right after his mind was made up. He was of social disposition, charitable to the needy and was a faithful friend. In the Chris- tian church he was found as a most devoted and helpful member and he was also an exemplary Mason, being ever true to the teachings of the craft. In politics he was a Democrat, but never sought or desired office. His first wife died July I, 1885. In their family were seven children : Amanda, the wife of M. Williams; John H., of Montague county ; J. A., of this review; Mar- shall, a farmer ; Belle, the wife of J. Hale; Co- lumbus, who died leaving a wife and one child ; and Nora, the wife of M. V. Whittle.

J. A. Williams, born and reared in Arkansas, remained under the parental roof up to the time of his marriage in 1872. He acquired his educa- tion in the public schools and was reared to the occupation of farming, which he followed until 1879 in Arkansas. He then came to Texas, set- tling in Willowally valley, in Montague county, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land and improved a farm, successfully con- ducting it, so that he was able in later years to add to the farm until it comprised two hundred and ninety-five acres. It is rich and productive soil, responding readily to cultivation, so that the fields annually produce good crops. He has also an excellent orchard on the place, and in 1895 Mr. Williams built a cotton gin on Die Creek, which he has since operated. It is supplied with the latest improved machinery in this line and has a capacity of fifteen bales per day. It is one of the substantial enterprises of the neighbor- - hood. Mr. Williams has purchased sixty-seven acres of land near the gin and also eighty-four acres where he now resides, and of this has a small amount in cultivation. His attention has been given to the improvement of his land and to the ginning business and he also raises some stock.

In 1872, in Arkansas, Mr. Williams was united in marriage to Mrs. Fannie Hall, who was born in Abingdon, Illinois, and was the widow of R. H. Hall, who died, leaving four children, who were reared and educated by Mr. Williams and all located in Texas, namely: Jane, the wife of T. J. Ferguson ; W. L .; Henry H .; and Elusa,

the wife of P. Donnell. Mrs. Williams was a daughter of Bartlett Boydston, a prominent farmer of Illinois and pioneer settler of Texas, who located in Dallas county in 1843. After a few years, however, he returned to Illinois, but later removed to Arkansas, and in 1881 again came to Texas, settling in Erath county, where " he lived until he went to make his home with · his daughter, Mrs. Williams, his death there oc- curring in 1882. In his family were ten chil- dren`: John, William, James, Thomas, Matilda, Mary, Margaret, Jane, Fannie and Sarah. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Williams were born five children : Joseph H., who served in the Spanish-American war and is now living in the Indian Territory; Effa, the wife of J. M. Morrison ; Bartlett, who also reșides in the Indian Territory ; Beverly, a farmer of Montague county ; and Ida, the wife of E. B. Bell, who is operating the old Williams homestead. The mother of these children passed away March 2, 1890, in the faith of the Christian church, of which she was a devoted member. Mr. Williams was again married April 12, 1893, his second union being with Lolla Williams who was born in Hopkins county, Texas, in 1868, and is a daughter of Joseph R. and Mary (Tadlock) Williams, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Kentucky. They were married in Hopkins county, Texas, where the father began farming, but later located in Hunt county, and in 1879 came to Montague county, where he pur- chased land and developed a good farm prop- erty, residing thereon until his death in 1898. He, too, was a member of the Christian church. His wife yet survives him and finds a good home with her daughter, Mrs. Lolla Williams. She has another daughter, Lurana, now the wife of F. Ballard.

By the second marriage of J. A. Williams there are five children: Samuel R., born Jan- uary 25, 1894 ; Ernest A., June 21, 1896; George E., September 9, 1898; Susan L., August 7, 1901 ; and John S., September 24, 1904.

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I, Part 112

Author: Paddock, B. B. (Buckley B.), 1844-1922; Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, pub Publication date: 1906 Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing co. Number of Pages: 968

Author: Paddock, B. B. (Buckley B.), 1844-1922; Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, pub
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: Chicago, New York, The Lewis publishing co.
Number of Pages: 968