A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I, Part 114

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 114

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His first act in civil life after the war was

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

one toward a better preparation for successful competition in the new world of trade then opening up, and he became a student in Soule University, Texas, for two years. Returning home he was applying himself to the work of the little farm his father had bought, expecting to pay for it with the money collected from the Kentucky securities already alluded to, but upon this failure and the consequent abandon- ment of the farm he scattered out with the other sons and began the struggle for su- premacy and financial independence in which we find him to-day. It was in Grayson county that William H. Stanfield really began life. He worked for monthly wages, bound grain in harvest and farmed rented land for a few years and saved a little money. Joining his brother, L. G., who had also accumulated a small amount as a clerk in a county office, they built a mill and cotton gin at Whitesboro, assuming considerable indebtedness in the venture, and conducted their business four years with success and much profit. They ex- changed this property for Grayson county land and William H. took charge of it and became a farmer again. Believing in and pinning their faith to the cattle industry as an investment, the brothers borrowed the money to buy a thousand steers, and these they took to the Indian Territory for pasture, where the ex- periment worked out to their financial advan- tage. They continued business in this channel, dropping the cultivation of their farm and pushing their cattle interests, with a rapid financial growth to the firm and an extensive and increasing business on the ranch. Their leased ranch in Pickens county, Indian Terri- tory, comprises twenty thousand acres and is well stocked, but with the expiration of their lease their stock will be transferred to the Texas ranch of twenty-one thousand acres, and their future operations be confined to and directed from that point. This ranch is situ- ated between the Little Wichita and Red riv- ers largely, and is the most convenient for shipping and the least hampered by small farms in the agricultural district of north Texas. It will sustain a bunch of three thou-

sand cattle, and about twelve hundred cattle and three cars of hogs are marketed from it every year. A vast tract of bottom land at the junction of the rivers is devoted to wheat, corn and feed, combining the two industries of farm and ranch, "Stanfield" is the scene of much activity the year 'round. William H. Stanfield superintends the Texas branch of their immense industry, while the Pickens county branch is presided over by the junior Stanfield, Leander G. Neither of the brothers is married, and their home life is made attrac- tive and cheerful by the head of their domestic establishment, Mrs. Mariana Mays, their sis- ter. The spirit of hospitality pervades their household, and the entertainment of guests is an evident pleasure, and the stranger, as well as the friend, is bid welcome, and on parting it is always with the injunction to come again.

W. A. BROOKS, devoting his time and en- ergies to agricultural pursuits in Montague county, was born in Kaufman county, Texas, April 4, 1854, his parents being Benjamin F. and Susan (Jones) Brooks, who were born, reared and married in Mississippi. Soon after- ward they came to Texas, settling in Kauf- man county in 1853. There the father bought land and improved a farm, which he cultivated until 1861, when he joined the Confederate army and served throughout the war, largely with the army of the Tennessee. While he was at the front his house and all its contents were destroyed by fire. His wife then sold every- thing available and went to Dallas county, where she and her children made every effort to obtain a living. Following the close of the war Mr. Brooks returned to Kaufman county to find his family gone, nor could he obtain any trace of them. Later he went to Wood county, and both he and his wife thought the other dead and both married again. Fifteen years later they learned of each other's where- abouts, he being in Wood and she in Dallas counties. Mr. Brooks was a farmer and great horse fancier, and owned a couple of fine race horses. He lived at various points in Texas, his death occurring in Palo Pinto county. His

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first wife was married four times, her first union being with Patrick Matthews, by whom she had a son, David Matthews. Following the death of her first husband she became the wife of Jack Bell. Her fourth marriage was with a Mr. Garrett. She managed her business interests and kept the children of her first marriage together, rearing them to lives of re- spectability and responsibility. She was a daughter of Sinclair Jones, an honored pioneer settler of Montague county, who assisted in the early raids against the Indians, driving them out of the country. He belonged to that class of representative pioneers to whom the country owes a debt of gratitude for opening up this region to civilization. After taking part in many skirmishes with the red men he was at last killed by them within a few miles of the present home of W. A. Brooks. He owned large tracts of land, and was one of the most prominent and influential farmers and stock raisers of his. community. He had but three children: Susan; Polly, who became Mrs. Hill and afterward Mrs. Grove, and George, who died unmarried.

W. A. Brooks, of this review, was the eldest of a family of five children, the others being : James, who was killed in Mexico; Mrs. Jennie Sheen, whose husband is now one hundred and four years of age and is a farmer of Montague county ; Mrs. Evaline Wilson, and Henry, who died in the Confederate army.

W. A. Brooks was born and reared in Texas. He had little education, because of the dis- organized condition of the schools, owing to the Civil war. His father was in the army, and, as he was the eldest child, he was com- pelled to assist his mother and aid in the sup- port of the other children. His life has indeed been one of untiring activity, and industry is one of his most salient characteristics. He re- mained with his mother and stepfather until he attained his majority and then married and began farming on his own account in Palo Pinto county, where he lived for eight years. He then sold his property there and removed to Knox county, where he spent one year. He then returned to Palo Pinto county, where he

lived until 1882, when he came to Montague county, where he purchased one hundred acres of land, to which he has since added, until he now owns three hundred and eighty-six acres. All of the improvements upon this property were made by him, and are indicative of his practical and progressive spirit. The entire place is fenced and two hundred and forty acres are highly cultivated. He raises the va- rious crops best adapted to soil and climate, also raises and handles some stock and has an orchard. On the place is a commodious farm residence, barns, cribs and other outbuildings, and in addition to this property he owns land in Jack county.

Mr. Brooks was married to Miss Pheba An- derson, a native of Arkansas, and an estimable lady, who held membership in the Missionary Baptist church. They became the parents of five children: Lee, the wife of S. C. Tice, a prominent farmer ; Willie, who died at the age of one year; Mrs. Pearl Watson; Lottie, who died at the age of two years, and Carrie, at the age of eleven months. The wife and mother died March II, 1899, and in 1902 Mr. Brooks wedded Mrs. Harriet E. Trice, who had a daughter, Josie Trice, now the wife of J. Parr. Mrs. Brooks was born in North Caro- lina, and in 1857 came to Texas with her father. Her parents, Alexander and Rachel (Roberts) Williamson, were also natives of North Carolina, where the mother died, in 1876. The father had served with the Twenty- ninth North Carolina Regiment in the Con- federate Army and came to Texas in 1881, set- tling in Cooke county, where he remained until 1887, when he came to Montague county and retired from active life, his death occurring in April, 1900. When in North Carolina he served as justice of the peace. He never as- pired to public office, but was content to de- vote his energies to his business affairs. Both he and his wife were loyal in their devotion to the Methodist church. Their children were: George W., a school teacher and later a farmer and business man; Stephen A., who died in North Carolina; Mrs. Brooks; Violet J., the wife of C. Roberts; Sarah, the wife of

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

W. T. Anderson; Martha, who died in child- hood, and William and John, farmers, of Mon- tague county.

Mr. Brooks is indeed a self-made man and deserves much credit for what he has accom- plished, for he started out in life empty-handed and has worked his way steadily upward through determined and earnest purpose. He belongs to the Missionary Baptist church, and his wife to the Methodist church. When he came to this county it was a sparsely settled region, in which the work of progress and in- provement had scarcely been begun. He has watched its many changes and has borne his full share in the work of public progress and im- provement.

JAMES F. PROSSER, county auditor of Tarrant county and a well known citizen of Fort Worth, has been identified with this city for over twenty years and throughout this time has been connected with the administrative work of the county. Such a long incumbency of practically the same position is creditable to the ability and character of any man, and Mr. Prosser has proved himself one of the most capable county officials Tarrant county has ever had.

Mr. Prosser was born at New Cumberland, Hancock county, West Virginia, June 5, 1858, a son of Joseph S. and Lillie C. (Clark) Prosser. His father, a native of Virginia, in early life fol- lowed barge-building on the Ohio river, but later took up the occupation of farming. He moved to Indiana and lived at Georgetown, that state, for some years, and in 1882 came to Texas, settling on a farm at Keller in the north- ern part of Tarrant county, where he is still living, a successful and enterprising farmer. The mother, who is also living, is of French Canadian ancestry, born on the Island of Jesus in the St. Lawrence river.

Educated in the common schools at George- town, Indiana, and at the Indiana State Uni- versity at Bloomington, also a gradute of the Bryant and Stratton Business College of Indianapolis, Mr. Prosser came to this state well equipped for the duties of life. He arrived here in 1883, the year after his father's coming, and went to work in the office of the county

clerk, John F. Swayne. He has been connected with the county clerk's office ever since, the office of county auditor, to which position he was appointed in 1899 by the board of county commissioners, and which position he now holds, being practically a branch of the county clerk's division of the Tarrant county govern- ment. The clerical work, accounting and audit- ing of the county's financial affairs come under Mr. Prosser's management, and in a county having as extensive business interests as Tar- rant, and these are constantly growing, the work of the auditor requires expert knowledge, skill and experience. With an experience in handling the public affairs of Tarrant county extending over twenty years, Mr. Prosser has gained a better mastery over the details than any one who has ever held the office.

Mr. Prosser's home is at 1314 West Thir- teenth street, and his long residence in Fort Worth and close identification with public affairs make him one of the best known citizens. He has fraternal affiliations with the Knights of Pythias and is a member of the First Presby- terian church. He was married at Fort Worth in 1893 to Miss Melisse Fox of this city and a native of Macon, Missouri.

THOMASON MADISON FREEMAN. Sit- uated in a fertile valley tributary to Denton creek, in Montague county, lies the farm of T. M. Freeman, of this review. He represents in particular a pioneer family of the county for his father, William Freeman, discussed at some length in this volume, came hither almost as early as the earliest and along with the Mc- Donalds, Wainscotts, Willinghams, Savage, Jackson and Perryman Grimes settled up the valleys of Denton creek and established its first civilized community.

"Mat" Freeman, as he is universally known, was the fifth child of his parents, and was born in the old cabin home at Newharp, February 10, 1865, and under its rural influence he grew to man's estate. The early efforts at educating the youth in that community gave him his mental training and at nineteen years of age he assumed his station in life as a farmer. When he was married he purchased his grand

JAMES F. PROSSER

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

mother Grimes' place and moved into a two- room box house which he erected. His first home was thus established in a modest and humble way and the first eighteen years of his progress toward independence were passed in the atmosphere of this rustic habitation. Sell- ing this place in 1904 he purchased the 'old Hodge place of eight hundred and thirty-one acres, a half mile southwest of Uz, with ambi- tion unchecked and energy renewed he is un- dertaking the oversight of its four hundred acres of productive farm land. In addition to general farming he has established a reputa- tion as a trader and in this field of activity he has added many a dollar to his steadily grow- ing and now considerable estate.

February 18, 1886, Mr. Freeman was united in marriage with Miss Fannie Harp, a daugh- ter of Nicholas Harp, who came to Montague county many years ago and established the first mercantile venture at and founded the hamlet of Newharp. Mr. Harp was from Ten- nessee, where he married Miss Louise Perham, a member of Mr. Freeman's family. Mr. Harp died near Newharp, the father of: Petway, deceased wife of J. Murphy, who passed away in Arkansas, and has no living issue; Linnie, wife of Mort Fry, of Montague county ; and Mrs. Freeman, born in Tennessee, in January, 1866. The issue of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman are : Ed, Nellie, Nix and Ruby.

As a farmer and trafficer in stock has Mr. Freeman won his financial distinction. His industry and faultless judgment combined have won many heats in the race for financial in- dependence and his position among the men of his county is one eagerly to be desired. His semi-activity in local politics and his reliabil- ity as a citizen prompted the veteran sheriff, "Uncle John" Raines, to make him his deputy for Uz, and he filled the position for four years with credit to himself and with satisfaction to his chief.

ALFRED ESTLACK. The subject of this article canie among the widely-scattered settlers of the Vashti neighborhood of Clay county in 1885, after having spent one year in the county on a rented farm north of the county seat. Cast-

ing his lot permanently with the community of which he is now a worthy member, he purchased a half section of the Peters colony land, then con- trolled by the Red River Cattle Company, and proceeded intelligently and industriously with the building of his future home.

The state of New Jersey is the mother of the Estlacks. The family was founded there many generations back, and just across the Delaware . river from Philadelphia lies the ground sacred to their memories and dedicated to the scenes of their pioneer American activities. The paternal grandfather of our subject married a Miss Chew 'and among their nine sons and two daughters were the sons Bowman, Edmund, Joseph and Jesse. The last named was the father of Alfred Estlack, of this review, and came to maturity. amid rural surroundings and married his first wife there. He migrated to Ohio in the '50s and there married a Miss Taggers. He made his way westward step by step, stopping near Peoria, Illi- nios, for a time, then at Council Bluffs, Iowa, where his second wife died, and finally at Fort Calhoun, Nebraska, his last home east of the Great American Desert, or the plains country of the west. About 1857 he crossed these plains to Colorado and took up his location on a farm, where he married a Mrs. Lutz, a widow lady, and he died in 1881, at sixty-four years of age.

The children of Jesse Estlack who came to maturity were those of his first wife, viz. : Rosa, who died in Colorado as the wife of Alonzo Babcock; Alfred, of this notice; and Zebadee, who returned to New Jersey and resides in the county of his nativity.

Alfred Estlack's birth occurred April 6, 1848. As already noted his childhood and youth were passed in frontier communities and he was only eleven years of age when he reached the princi- pal city of the Rockies. His first trip over the plains was an uneventful one, except for the wearisome journey of weeks required to span the distance from Omaha to Denver. In 1864 he made another trip over this same hostile country and their train encountered the red man in all his savagery and fury, bent on the destruction of every white man who dared to venture across his domain. On the trip east the caravan consisted of three trains and at Julesburg, Nebraska, the

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Indians attacked at night and killed one 'man. They followed the progress of the caravan, re- cruiting their horde, until Alkali Station was reached, where they again attacked, several thou- sand strong, and all day the battle continued, the Indians capturing and burning one train of twelve wagons and killing fifteen men, but they were finally driven away with many dead warriors dangling from their ponies and many shields lying upon the battlefield. The Cheyennes, Arap- pahoes and Sioux had combined their strength in 1864 and 1865 and the bunch came upon and assailed the harrassed trains again at O'Fallon's Bluffs, but with no serious results to the whites. In 1865 Mr. Estlack made the return trip home and this train was also set upon by hostile bands and one-half the horses run off. When within a hundred miles of Denver he decided to make the trip on horseback, as the remaining distance was considered in the peaceful zone. He was warned that Indians had been ravaging that country and were then doing their worst among the settlers of the valley of the Platte river. Half way to Denver he rode a race with the red skins, with the river between them, for several miles and finally reached a cabin where the owner had, only a few hours before, barricaded himself against the wild man of the plains, who finally gave up the siege. He remained there for the night and finished his journey on the following day without further. exciting incident.

As his permanent Colorado home Mr. Estlack chose a tract of land fourteen miles south of Den- ver, which he improved, his father having se- lected the site in 1862 and having passed his re- maining years there, and he was engaged in farming and stock-raising till in the '8os, when he disposed of his possessions and came south- east to Texas.

When he first saw Denver it was little more than a hamlet and he watched its growth to a metropolis of 60,000 people and witnessed the substantial development of the surrounding coun- try into a populous and wealthy suburb of Den- ver. The old farm where he lived so long, now the property of ex-United States Senator E. O. Wolcott, is valued at a princely sum, as com-

pared with the good round price paid our subject to induce him to part with it.

Mr. Estlack was married at Silver Cliff, Colo- rado, in February, 1880, to Clisto Miller, a daughter of Daniel and Lucy (Campbell) Miller, who went to Colorado from Ohio, but who came to Clay county to spend their declining years. Here, near Vashti, Mrs. Miller died in 1896, while Mr. Miller makes his home with Mr. and Mrs. Estlack. Mrs. Estlack is one of six chil- dren and has herself six children, namely : Jesse, of Cape Girardo, Missouri ; L. J. and Allen Dale, both with the parental home; Rosa, likewise with the family ; Edwin, deceased; and Raymond, the youngest, a school-boy.

The political history of the Estlacks shows them to have been Democrats in the early time, and the political action of our subject was with that party up till 1892, when he deserted Mr. Cleveland, and has since exercised a political ac- tion independent of party affiliation.

FRANCIS M. WATSON, a merchant and wealthy land owner of Palo Pinto, Texas, whose business ability has found demonstra- tion in the successful management of his busi- ness affairs here, was born in Jackson parish, Louisiana, August 7, 1849, his parents being Nathan and Margaret (Sims) Watson. The father was born in Georgia and removed to Ala- bama, whence he afterward went to Louisiana and in 1856 he came to Western Texas, settling first in Parker county, where he established a home and began business as a rancher and farmer on the Clear Fork, eight miles east of Weatherford, the county seat. Nathan Watson started out in life handicapped by a total lack of school training, but nature endowed him with good common sense and in the school of ex- perience he learned many valuable lessons. When he was married to Miss Margaret Sims he was so poor that the bride furnished the dollar and a half necessary to purchase the mar- riage license. They leased a piece of land and Mrs. Watson not only did the housework, but assisted her husband in the field, both working hard until they could gain a start and later in life their labors were rewarded with prosperity

3 M. Watson 1

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and affluence, for as Mr. Watson succeeded in placing his land under cultivation and also made a start in cattle-raising he invested his surplus earnings in other land and more cattle and eventually became one of the successful citizens of his locality. He died in Parker county, Texas, in 1898, after surviving his wife for several years.

Francis M. Watson was reared upon the home farm and in Parker county as well as Palo Pinto county he suffered from the depre- dations of the Indians, who on one occasion drove off one hundred horses belonging to his father. All this was added to the usual hard- ships and trials incident to frontier life. When he started out in business on his own account at the age of twenty-one years he began as his father had done, without capital, but he, too, possessed determined purpose, undaunted energy and earnest determination. He bor- rowed thirty-six hundred dollars from his father, giving him his note for the amount and with this money he purchased a bunch of horses which he took to Louisiana to sell. He re- mained in that state for three years, disposing of his stock with profit, and in 1876 he returned to Parker county, Texas.

While in Louisiana Mr. Watson was married in Madison parish to Miss Ruth Smith and after returning to Parker county with his wife he purchased a tract of land on Mary's creek, five miles east of his father's home, and at once began to improve and develop the new place. He was successful here and in 1882 he sold out and established a store at Aledo in the eastern part of Parker county. He was in business there for five years. He then traded his goods for a bunch of cattle which he drove to Colo- rado and sold. Returning in 1898 he settled up the estate of his father, who had that year passed away, and then came to Palo Pinto county, where he purchased the Jack Hittson ranch, constituting fifteen thousand acres of fine land, ten miles west of Palo Pinto. Here he has since lived and he has added to his land holdings until he now has about eighteen thousand acres. His ranch is a very fine one and a most valuable piece of property. He has

also purchased and conducts a grocery and general store in Palo Pinto, carrying a well selected line of goods and having a liberal patronage, in connection with John L. Cunning- ham, who also owns the gin at Palo Pinto. He built a beautiful residence in the northwest part of the town and he is today one of the wealth- iest men and largest tax payers in the county and has also extensive property interests in . Weatherford and Parker county.

In 1889 Mr. Watson was called upon to mourn the loss of his first wife. Their union had been blessed with six children, namely : 'Mrs. Lena Reagin, Walter, Floyd, Clara, Montie and Nathan. Mr. Watson has since married Mrs. Kate Vonner, she having three children of her own by her former marriage, namely : Samuel, Alfred and LeElla Vonner. By the second marriage there are two children : Marion and William Thomas Watson.

Mr. Watson is a member of the Methodist church and is a public-spirited citizen, who has done much toward building up the sub- stantial interests of Palo Pinto county. He certainly deserves great credit for what he has accomplished for he started out in life empty handed and has steadily worked his way up- ward, overcoming all obstacles and difficulties in his path that could be overcome through persistent energy and honorable effort. .

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I, Part 114

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