USA > Texas > A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume I > Part 98
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Mr. and Mrs. John Buck had a family of nine
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children : John M., of this review ; Barbara E., the wife of J. A. Ashton; Sarah I., who mar- ried W. F. Ashton; William, of the Choctaw Nation; Mary A .; Richard P., a Methodist min- ister at Bonita, Texas ; James L., who is assist- ing in the operation of his brother's cotton gin; Virginia L., the wife of L. Buck; and Jasper T., of Oklahoma.
John M. Buck came with his parents to Texas and remained in their home in William- son county until he had attained his majority. After his marriage in July, 1882, he settled on land which he had previously purchased and continued its cultivation and improvement un- til 1890, when he sold out and removed to the vicinity of Ardmore, Indian Territory. There he rented land and raised a crop. In 1892 he came to Montague county, bought a farm and here raised a crop. The same year he pur- chased the gin at Hardy, removed to the vil- lage and in the spring of 1893 sold his farm. He had here purchased a strip of land and dwelling house in connection with the gin, which he operated successfully. In 1896 he bought a farm of one hundred and fifty-one acres not far from the gin and here makes his home in a good modern residence. There is a wind pump upon the place and other im- provements, including the best machinery for facilitating the work of the fields. In 1900 he purchased a store and stock of goods at Hardy, and he was also appointed postal clerk and took charge of the postoffice. In 1901 he re- ceived the appointment of postmaster and is yet acting in that capacity. After three years he moved into a store building which he had erected, and in which he yet carries on busi- ness, yet owning both store buildings. In 1901 he purchased another farm of eighty acres, which he utilizes for pasture, this mak- ing his total holdings two hundred and thirty- seven acres. He has eighty acres under a high state of cultivation devoted to diversified crops and his agricultural pursuits are bringing him a merited degree of prosperity. He gives personal supervision to each branch of his business, and all are proving profitable.
In July, 1882, Mr. Buck was married to Miss Nancy E. Young, a native of Independence county, Arkansas, born January 11, 1868, and a daughter of Henry H. and Mary E. (Cope- land) Young, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Arkansas. They were married in Arkansas and settled upon a farm there. At the time of the Civil war Mr. Young en- tered the Confederate army, but after a few months, believing that he had been mistaken in his former course, he joined the Federal army, and served until the close of the war. He sustained a wound in the left arm which occasioned him trouble throughout his remain- ing days. After the close of the hostilities he returned to his home and resumed farming, which he followed until 1871, and then came to Texas, purchasing land in Williamson county, where he spent his remaining days, passing away in February, 1880. He belonged to the Baptist church and was often heard in public addresses in behalf of the church, and of Chris- tian living. His wife now resides at Brown- field, Perry county, Texas, with a daughter. She, too, is a member of the Baptist church, and from the government she receives a pen- sion in recognition of the aid which her hus- band rendered to the Union cause. Their chil- dren were: John, who died at the age of two years ; Polly A., the wife of M. M. Hamilton ; Nancy E., now Mrs. Buck; Martha A., the wife of John H. Bingham; Emma R., the wife of W. Green; Greena G., the wife of J. C. Green ; Jane, who died at the age of three years; and Ava, who died at the age of ten months.
Mr. and Mrs. Buck have a family of eleven children : Rufus T., born May 20, 1883 ; Elea- nor E., February 28, 1885; Daisy J., September 7, 1887; Rillie A., November 10, 1889; Nettie P. and, Ninnie A., twins, August 23, 1892 ; Vir- ginia L., who was born September 9, 1894, and died August 25, 1895; John L., born October 3, 1896; Esker F., March 9, 1899; Etney V., September 4, 1902; and Ruby L., January 13, 1905. All are yet at home and the three eldest are members of the Baptist church, to which
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the parents also belong, taking an active and ing practice at the bar congenial, he turned his helpful part in its work.
Mr. Buck deserves much credit for what he has accomplished, as his success is attributable entirely to his own labors. In all of his busi- ness interests he is thoroughly progressive, carrying forward to sucessful completion what- ever he undertakes and as a merchant, ginner and farmer he is meeting with a fair measure of prosperity. His gin is well equipped with the latest improved machinery and has a capac- ity of twenty bales daily. He also uses modern appliances in connection with his other busi- ness affairs and he has 'phone connection at his home with his business and also with other towns of this part of the state. He has served as notary public for a number of years, and while living in Williamson county was secre- tary of the Farmers' Alliance. A gentleman of social, genial nature, he is popular with a large circle of friends, his many excellent traits of character having won him the confidence and good will of those who know him.
LAFAYETTE W. CLARKE is the owner of one of the fine and productive farms of Grayson county not far from the city of Deni- son and his property presents a splendid and attractive appearance because of the excellent crops produced along agricultural and horti- cultural lines. It is an indication of man's triumph over nature, or rather shows how the two forces may go hand in hand, producing the best results.
attention to merchandising and became one of the early prominent and honored settlers of Oakland county, Michigan, the village of Clarkston being named in his honor. He died in Michigan at the age of fifty-six years, the mother passing away in Texas at the age of six- ty-five years while visiting her son Lafayette, her remains being interred in the cemetery at Sherman.
Lafayette W. Clarke was reared under the parental roof, his boyhood days being divided between play and work, and after the outbreak of the Civil war he responded to the country's call for troops, enlisting in 1864 in the Ninth Michigan Cavalry as second lieutenant. He was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant in the same regiment and served for eighteen months as a loyal defender of the Union cause, being mustered out in North Carolina on the 2Ist of July, 1865.
When the war was over Mr. Clarke became a resident of Missouri, where he purchased a farm and made his home for a few years. On the 12th of November, 1872, he arrived in Deni- son, Texas, and was soon afterward joined by his family, at which time they took up their abode in Sherman. There he was engaged in the ice business for ten years and with others established an ice plant in Denison under the firm name of the Arctic Ice Company, Mr. Clarke becoming general manager of the busi- ness. He established ten different agencies in as many towns in this part of the country
Mr. Clarke is a native of Michigan, born in .and traveled quite extensively for the company 1840, and is a representative of one of the old- in introducing its product and managing its business interests. He was the active member of the firm and it was largely due to his capable control that an extensive and profitable busi- ness was developed, but at length he retired from that line of manufacture. In. 1880 Mr. Clarke was engaged in contracting and build- ing in Sherman and so continued successfully until 1883. In the latter year he removed to where he now resides, about two and a half miles southwest of Denison, where he has one hundred and twenty acres of valuable land, of which ninety acres is under cultivation, being est families of New England, his original American ancestor having come to the new world on the Mayflower. His parents were Ebenezer and Sarah A. (Wood) Clarke. The father was twice married, his first union being with Miss Jemima Beviere, of New York, by whom he had two children, one yet living, Henry G. Clarke, who resides in Michigan. By the second marriage there were seven chil- dren, namely: Lafayette, Sarah, Jemima, Charles, Burdette, Jennie and Clemence. The father was a lawyer by profession but not find-
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largely devoted to fruit raising. This farm is conveniently located two and a half miles from Denison in the Hyde Park district and Mr. Clarke has one of the finest apple orchards in the southwest, containing about three thou- sand trees. These are seven years old and bear a good crop almost every year. He also has five thousand peach trees; and in fact forty acres is devoted to fruit growing, including pears, apples, peaches and plums. Around the greater part of his farm he has a hedge fence of plum trees, which bear . a good crop each year, so that he usually markets several hun- dred bushels annually. He sent several bushels of Jonathan apples to the Texas exhibit at the Louisiana Purchase Exhibition at St. Louis in 1904 and they received flatter- ing attention from fruit growers from all parts of the country, being pronounced as fine as any shown. Mr. Clarke produces practically everything that can be grown in any country and obtains a profitable yield of everything which he plants. His land is very productive, lays well and is well watered and drained. He is gradually improving the farm and continu- ally adding to his orchard and berry production and at the same time he annually sells a large amount of garden produce.
On the 9th of December, 1863, was celebrat- ed the marriage of Lafayette W. Clarke and Miss Helen R. McClennan, a daughter of Wil- liam E. and Emeline (Miller) McClennan. Her mother, who was born September 4, 1809, is still living, making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Clarke, but the father, who was born Jan- uary 18, 1804, died in 1881 at the age of seventy- seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Clarke have two sons and three daughters: Grace, who is the wife of George Odell and has one child, Florence; Burt S., who married Leonia Lallier and has three sons and two daughters, Gladys, Leon, Frank, Kenneth and Esther; Florence, who is at home ; Henry N., who married Emma Leslie and has three children, Margaret, Joan and Nelson; and Nellie I., who is the wife of Sam- uel R. Hollingsworth.
In his political views Mr. Clarke is a stalwart and earnest Republican and was nominated for
the legislature by his party in the fall of 1904. He is a member of Oglesby Post, G. A. R., of Dallas, Texas, and also of the Masonic fraterni- ty. He is doing much to demonstrate the value of Texas soil for fruit production and is promoting the general prosperity while ad- vancing individual interests. His salient char- acteristics are his strength of purpose, his un- remitting diligence and his determination to carry forward to successful completion what- ever he undertakes, for in his business career he brooks no obstacles that can be overcome by determined energy and honorable labor.
ELI P. OLIVER. The farming interests of Montague county find a worthy representative in Eli P. Oliver, a native son of Arkansas, whose birth occurred in Washington county, Novem- ber 27, 1841. His parents were William E. and Rhoda (Hart) Oliver, both of whom were na- tives of Tennessee, but their marriage was cele- brated in Arkansas. Their respective parents went to that state when the Cherokee Indians were being removed from Tennessee. Eli Oliver, the grandfather, was likewise a native of Tennessee, where four brothers resided, becom- ing founders of the various branches of the fam- ily. Eli Oliver took up his abode in Arkansas, and died in that state. He was a prominent pioneer agriculturist and came to the middle west when the work of improvement and prog- ress had scarcely been begun. Wild game of all kinds was plentiful, and the land was un- tilled. He devoted his attention to general farming and stock raising, and thus provided for his family. Politically he was a Democrat, and religiously a Methodist. His children, who grew to adult age, were William E., Franklin, Juda, Bettie, Richard and Eli.
William E. Oliver was reared in the state of his nativity and after his marriage began farm- ing on his own account, following that pursuit throughout his entire life. His death occurred in 1866. He, too, was a Democrat, and a Metho- dist, and a man whose genuine personal worth made him highly respected by all who knew him. His wife, who died in 1865, was a daughter
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of Henry and Polly (Snow) Hart, natives of as a farm hand for two years, when he returned South Carolina. Her paternal grandfather . to Arkansas, there remaining until 1879. He was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, and was a gun-maker by trade. Henry Hart followed the occupation of farming, and died in Tennessee. He loved fron -- tier life, and was celebrated as a hunter. He killed many bears, and at one time killed a panther with a pine knot. He was a fearless man, strong and athletic and was well fitted to cope with the hardships and experiences of a frontier existence. His wife, with other fam- ilies, removed to Arkansas, where her death occurred. She was a member of the Methodist church. She had a son and two daughters, Rhoda, David and Mary, the last named being the wife of W. Magee.
Mr. and Mrs. Oliver had eleven children : Lela, who died in Texas; Eli P .; Richard, who served throughout the Civil war and died in Mexico; Polly, the wife of William Black; Espetia, the wife of John Moss; David M., who was a soldier in the Civil war, and is now in Texas; Joseph, who died in childhood; Mrs. Martha McCurdy; Mrs. Ellen Wilson; William T., who died leaving five children; and Alice N., who died leaving six children.
Eli P. Oliver remained with his widowed mother until 1861, when he felt it his first duty to his country. His sympathies were with his loved southland and he enlisted in the Confed- erate army with Captain Good's company, San Antonio Artillery. This command was attached to the Trans-Mississippi department, and under General Ben McCulloch did service in Missouri, Indian Territory, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. Although Mr. Oliver was in some very hotly contested engagements he was never wounded nor captured. After the battle of Pea Ridge he left the artillery and joined Hines' Infantry, taking part in the battle of Walnut Grove. Later he joined General D. H. Cooper on the Washitaw river in the territory. In April, 1865, the command disbanded and the men re- turned to their homes.
After visiting his mother Mr. Oliver went to Hopkins county, Texas, where he was employed
next removed to Texas, settling in Montague county, where he rented a farm for a year, after which he bought a claim on an old survey, se- curing his title in 1882. Here he still resides. He first purchased two hundred and sixty-two and one-half acres, to which he has added, and although he has given considerable land to his children he yet owns nine hundred acres, having purchased three good farms. On the home farm he has one hundred and forty acres under cul- tivation, on the second farm sixty-five acres, and on the third one hundred and twenty acres. He rents his cultivable land and he raises some stock. When he arrived in the county the cattle industry was the chief source of livelihood and farming was as yet an experiment, but he dem- onstrated that the land could be successfully farmed and raises various crops.
In 1863, during the period of the Civil war, Mr. Oliver was married in Arkansas to Miss Mary M. Snyder, a native of that state, and a daughter of William and Elizabeth Snyder, of German and Welch descent respectively. He became a pioneer agriculturist of Arkansas, where his death occurred in 1859. He was highly respected for his integrity and genuine worth. Both he and his wife died on the old homestead now owned and occupied by their son James's widow and her two sons. Their children were: James E., who served through- out the Civil war; Cornelius, who was killed at the battle of Walnut Grove, Arkansas ; Solomon, who was also a soldier throughout the Civil war; Margaret ; Sarah; Susan, and Mary.
Mr. and Mrs. Oliver have seven children: William L., a farmer of Oklahoma; Mrs. Susan Nerider, who died leaving two children; James E., a railroad man of Cleburne, Texas; Ida, who died at the age of five years; Martha A., the wife of George Baker; C. W. D., at home; and Ollie G. The parents and children are all mem- bers of the Methodist church, except C. W. D., with which Mr. Oliver has been identified for more than thirty years, and in the work of which he has taken an active and helpful part.
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His life has been quietly passed, yet his history contains lessons that are worthy of emulation, because he has been faithful in friendship, re- liable in business and loyal to the trust reposed in him.
B. E. SPARKS is connected with one of the strongest land agencies of Texas, being the junior partner of the well known firm of Buie & Sparks. He is a native son of this state, his birth having occurred about six miles north of Waco in McLennan county, April 25, 1858. His father, James Hawkins Sparks, was a na- tive of Holmes county, Mississippi, and came to Texas in 1833, being among the first settlers to locate within the borders of Nacogdoches county. In 1850 he removed to McLennan county and was among its pioneer residents. He established the first drug store in Waco, employing an experienced man to conduct it. He also engaged in general merchandising, having stores at Douglas and at Marshall, Texas. During that period he made his home in Douglas but subsequently he went to west- ern Texas and settled in McLennan county, where he opened a general mercantile store upon his farm. It was about this time that he established the first drug store in Waco. He had a wide acquaintance throughout the state and was liked by all who knew him because of his reliability in business, his genial manner, kindly disposition and interest in the welfare of others. He was married three times, the last time after coming to Texas. This was to Miss Eleanor Elizabeth McKnight, a native of Tennessee and by this marriage were seven children, all of whom reached years of ma- turity.
Beverly Edgar Sparks was reared upon his father's farm up to the time he was fourteen years of age. His parents then removed to Tehuacana, Limestone county, for the purpose of giving their children the advantages of a better education, and there Mr. Sparks at- tended school for seven years. He was after- ward married, on the 22nd of June, 1880, to Miss Annie Lelia Jones, of Limestone county, Texas, and in the fall of the same year they returned to McLennan county, settling upon
the old home place. Mr. Sparks took charge of the place and managed it until his father's death and for seven years afterward or until his mother's death. During the last three years of his residence upon the farm he was also engaged in the stock business on quite an extensive scale. He had men in various parts of the country buying stock for him, some of which was shipped to outside markets, while the young stock was sold to nearby ranges. In the fall of 1891 he gave his entire attention to the stock business.
Prominent in public affairs, Mr. Sparks has been called to a number of offices and in 1892 was elected district clerk of the nineteenth dis- trict and in the spring of 1893 the state legis- lature created another district, No. 54, and Mr. Sparks was clerk of both courts for four years from that time, being again elected in 1894. Subsequent to this time he was engaged in the cotton business at Waco for two years and subsequently removed to his farm north of Waco, where he remained until the time of his removal to Jones county. It was in 1901 that he sold his farms in McLennan county and came to Jones county, settling in Stam- ford. In October of the same year he entered into partnership with Judge L. M. Buie under the firm style of Buie & Sparks. This is un- doubtedly one of the strongest land agencies of Jones county, as they have been conducting a large and increasing business from the time the firm was first organized. This is largely due to Mr. Sparks' broad experience concern- ing lands and his affable and courteous treat- ment to his patrons or those who call to see him upon business. On the organization of the Citizens National Bank of Stamford, February 28, 1905, Mr. Sparks become one of its direc- tors.
The Sparks family consists of six children, five sons and a daughter.
BENJAMIN L. SMITH, who is engaged in general agricultural and horticultural pursuits in Montague county, was born in Overton county, Tennessee, November 13, 1849, repre- senting one of the old families of that state.
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His grandfather, Benjamin Smith, was a miller of Tennessee and followed that pursuit through -. out his active business career. He died at the ripe old age of one hundred and four years. He sold all of his property in Tennessee and re- moved to Missouri, where his last days were spent. He held membership in the Baptist church, and long survived his wife, who passed away at the age of eighty-eight years. Their children were: Patsy, Claburn, Elam, John, David, William, Charles, James, Sarah and oth- ers whose names are forgotten.
Claburn Smith was born in Tennessee, and after arriving at years of maturity wedded Sally Sway, a native of Georgia. They removed to Missouri, settling in Lawrence county, where Claburn Smith rented land for nine years. He then came to Texas, settling first in Hill county and later in Grayson county. His residence in this state covered four years and he was then called to his final home in 1884. He belonged to the Missionary Baptist church. His wife sur- vived him until 1886, and died in Montague county at the age of sixty-seven years, having found a good home among her children after the death of her husband. She, too, was a Baptist in religious faith. They had two daughters and four sons : Mary, deceased; Letitia C., the wife of John Wines; Benjamin L .; George of Mis- souri; John, who died in the Indian Territory; and Charles of Oklahoma.
Benjamin L. Smith was born in Tennessee and removed with his parents to Missouri, where he was reared and began farming on his own ac- count, residing in that state until 1876, when he became a resident of Hill county, Texas. There he rented. land and raised a crop, after which he spent three years in Grayson county, and in 188I came to Montague county, living on a rented farm for one year. He then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, on which few improvements had been made, but he re- paired the house and began the further cultiva- tion of the farm, remaining thereon for three years. After selling that property he bought an interest in the cotton gin at Dye, becoming a partner of L. J. Parr, the relation being main-
tained for seven years. In the meantime he bought one hundred and twenty-two acres of land which forms a part of his present home- stead, and he has added to this two other sur- veys, making a total holding of four hundred and ninety-two acres. He rents the tillable land and he has large pastures. Of the home farm one hundred and twenty acres is under cultiva- tion, and on another farm an equal amount is cultivated. He has three tenants and his farm work is carefully conducted under his super- vision. He has given much attention to fruit culture with good success, his land being par- ticularly adapted to horticultural pursuits. He now has over thirteen acres in orchard. When he bought the farm it had only a few peach and apple trees upon it, but he soon planted more fruit and has always had a good supply for his family. He set out new orchards and now all are producing good annual crops, the sale of which brings to him a very gratifying income. He also raises some stock and cereals and he has been quite successful in each undertaking.
In 1874 occurred the marriage of Mr. Smith and Miss Louisa Bynum, who was born in Arkansas, March 2, 1856, a daughter of Calvin and Mary (Rogers) Bynum, both natives of Tennessee, where they were married. They re- moved to Arkansas and later to Missouri, where they remained until the death of the wife. In 1899 Mr. Bynum came to Texas and found a good home among his children. He was a sad- dler by trade and followed that pursuit in early life, but later gave his attention to farming. He served in the Federal army during the Civil war and was three times captured, but each time managed to make his escape. During much of his service he was stationed at Huntsville, Ar- kansas. He belonged to the Baptist church, in the work of which he took an active interest, and he died in 1902. His children were: Jasper, now in Missouri; Mrs. Sarah Seamons; James, in the west; Louisa ; Mrs. Martha Settles; John, of Montague county; and Mrs. Hulda Petree.
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