A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 108

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: 972

USA > Texas > A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II > Part 108

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Mr. Ellis married, September 26, 1876, Miss Margaret Ann Pennington of Fannin county, daughter of John and Jane Pennington. Mrs. Ellis' father died before she was born and she was rearer in Fannin county by her widowed mother. Five children, one son and four daugh- ters, have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Ellis, namely: Edna Pearl, wife of A. E. Brockman, of northern Idaho; Ira Newton, Jestany Means, Anna Powell and Emma Hucie. Fraternally, Mr. Ellis is an Odd Fellow. And for more than thirty years he has been a consistent member of the Presbyterian church.

GEORGE WASHINGTON INGRUM. Dur- ing the era of modern rural development in Clay county there have occurred many instances of unusual thrift and many striking examples of the almost sudden acquirement of wealth, the attaining of a position of affluence and financial independence uncommon and almost unknown in any other commonwealth than Texas. Al- though the conditions here for him who follows the plow and reaps the grain are far from per- fect from year to year, yet with those conditions right barely more than half the time such suc- cesses have followed in the wake of genuine in- dustry as to astonish the uninitiated and to awak-

en an outside interest in the efficacy of Texas climate and Texas soil to provide abundantly for the wants of man. Conspicuous among those whose efforts in North Texas have won him a place among the substantial farmers of Clay county is George W. Ingrum, whose princely estate lies in the rich valley of Red river near the crossing of the Ft. Sill road. Coming to the county as he did in 1894 under financial condi- tions most adverse and discouraging he has so managed and directed his movements as become the owner of a farm whose productiveness ren- ders it second to none of its area in this section of the state.

Mr. Ingrum was born four miles northwest of Lone Jack in Jackson county, Missouri, Octo- ber 27, 1852. Elverto Akin Ingrum, his father, settled on a new farm there in 1848, from La- fayette county, Missouri, where his birth occur- red May 16, 1824. His time was taken up with farming, uninterrupted till the Civil war broke out, when he enlisted in the Confederate army and on August 8, 1863, was drowned in White River. He was a son of John Ingrum, born September 3, 1795, in Virginia, and settled in Missouri at about twenty years of age. He mar- ried in Lafayette county to Prudie Rice, a cousin of Governor and United States Senator Jo. Brown, of Georgia. Prudie Ingrum was born February 12, 1801, and died in 1880, while her husband passed away November II, 1846. The issue of their marriage were: E. A. and Wil- liam Ingrum, who died in Texas: John, of Bel- ton, Missouri; Daniel, who died in Cass county, Missouri; Nancy, wife of David Powell, died in Lafayette county, Missouri; Evaline, who mar- ried James Woods and died in the Indian Terri- tory; Linnie, married James Small and resides in Cass county, Missouri; Mary, became Mrs. Joseph Ewing, of Lafayette county, Missouri, and Ruth, who first married George Pemberton and died in Texas as the wife of a Mr. Zenn.

Elverto Akin Ingrum chose for his wife Han- nah, a daughter of Absolom and . .. . . (Rice) Powell, who emigrated from Tennessee to Mis- souri very early and became farmers. Their children were: Hannah, Rebecca, Rachel, Louise, Martha, Alvis, Joseph, Oliver and Hiram. Hannah Ingrum bore her husband seven children, viz .: Luvenia, of Jackson county, Mis- souri, wife of O. V. Tyson; John, who went to Montana in an early day and all trace of him was lost; George W., our subject; Alice, who married John Lindly, and died October 31, 1871; William, who was drowned in White river December 4, 1873; James, of Coffey county,

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Kansas, and Joseph, of Jackson county, Mis- souri. Some time after Mr. Ingrum's accidental death his widow married Rev. T. S. Tyson, whose two children were: Gus, who died while in charge of a government Indian school in the Territory, and Marvin Tyson, of Jackson county, Missouri.

George W. Ingrum received a scant education in the country schools. He began life at about sixteen years of age and worked for wages in summer and spent some of it in school in win- ter until he acquired a fair knowledge of school books. In June before he was twenty-one he married and at once settled down to the life of a farmer. His possessions consisted of a team and borrowed harness and a few implements and he bought a small place on payments. Corn and hogs held his attention and after about five years he began climbing the ladder of success. Selling out his farm, he settled half way be- tween Leo Summitt and Belton, where he pur- chased a larger farm and assumed greater re- sponsibilities. He was prospering until the panic of 1892 came suddenly on and caught him with outstanding obligations that he could not meet. Things grew gradually worse and he was finally closed out with only a bare few hundred dollars with which to maintain his family while getting a start in some new country.

Hearing something of the virtues of Texas climate and the fertility and possibilities of Texas soil he came south on a prospecting tour with the result of his ultimate location in Clay county. The tract which he bought was about to be surveyed and sold in small farms and in his "dicker" with the owner he arranged to take the whole four hundred acres, agreeing to pay one dollar an acre cash, the interest annually and one thousand dollars the second year and the balance later. A crop failure the first year pinched him to meet his interest, live and plant again the next year. By maneuvering with stock on the shares and buying and selling on short notice he met his $1,000 payment by get- ting a year's extension, met his interest, pro- vided for his domestic wants, paid his taxes and erected new castles of hope for the future. A good crop or two placed his head far above the swelling tide of depression and in six years his home was secured and he was ready for other fields to conquer. In 1898 an opportunity to buy six hundred acres adjoining came and his success with the first deal gave him courage to try the second. His farm was becoming sub- stantially improved and his stock of implements, horses and help had multiplied so that any ar-

rangement to pay a few thousand dollars a few years in the future was amply justified. His acquirement of his second tract gives him a farm of six hundred acres without a blemish on it and four hundred acres of good grass and pasture land. In recent years Mr. Ingrum conceived the idea of raising mules with the result that he has some seventy head of as fine animals, from colts to five-year-olds, as are to be found any- where. The profit from this source is sure and considerable and, all told, the "doubling up" process on his farm is now in a flourishing con- dition.

While the management and much of the work resulting in his vast accumulation in so few years has belonged to Mr. Ingrum he owes much to his loyal and industrious wife and children. They have been until recently an united family with a single purpose and every energy was bent to- ward its accomplishment. They have endured the bitter and enjoyed the sweet along with him and the pride with which he beholds his chil- dren is a fatherly one indeed. The breaking of the farm, the fencing it and the planting and cultivation of crops the first years was entailed with many hardships. The farm was infested with prairie dogs and they were eradicated by the children simply guarding the corn and keep- ing the animals in their holes till they literally starved to death. Grain is the commodity upon which the family have depended in the main but cotton and other side-issue crops have been grown and the farm has been one of busy push for full ten years. In 1903 a splendid new resi- dence, with cellar, closets, toilet and bath, was erected and the pioneer shanty took its place in the lots among the other buildings for grain and stock.

June 12, 1873, Mr. Ingrum married Senia, a daughter of Fleming and Mary J. (Slaughter) Harris, both Virgina born and early settlers in Missouri. Mr. Harris died November 19, 1885, and his widow passed away in February, 1893, aged sixty-five. Their children were: Puss, who died in Jackson county, Missouri, as the wife of Henry Corn; Joseph, of Jackson county; Martha A., deceased, married George Alley; John R., of Jackson county; Senia Ingrum, born March 18, 1854; James L., died in Clay county, Texas, in 1900; Luther, of south- east Texas; Silas D., of Jackson county, Mis- souri; Daniel B., of the same place, and Mar- shall, who died young. Mr. and Mrs. Ingrum have children whose ages are as follows: Rosa Frances, born January 16, 1874, is the wife of Edgar Spielman, of Clay county, Texas; Mary

MR. AND MRS. JOHN A. HOLBROOK

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

J. F., born September 28, 1876, married William H. Conrad and resides upon a farm adjoining her parents; Sina Della, born May 21, 1878, was educated in the Baylor Female College at Bel- ton. She has demonstrated splendid talent in painting, drawing and sculpture and is a musi- cian of fine ability. Her sweet voice and her charming piano performances have contributed to make home the dearest place on earth; George N., born July 31, 1880, died at thirteen years; Joseph Daniel, born February 15, 1882, is a ranchman near Amarillo, Texas; Olaver H., born February 19, 1884; Mattie Cleveland, born August II, 1885, and a teacher in the public schools; Louise Hannah, born March 15, 1887, and,Grover Allen, born October 29, 1888, con- stitute the issue to grow to years of account- ability.

In his political relations Mr. Ingrum was for many years a Democrat. His early training was in that faith and until his personal observations taught him to the contrary that party received his every vote. In 1896 he changed his alle- giance to the party of Mckinley and supported him twice for the presidency. In 1904 he voted for Roosevelt and the policies of the present national administration suit him to the letter. Some years since he became an Odd Fellow.

It will be seen that George W. Ingrum has been a useful citizen in the development of Clay county's affairs. While his efforts have been directed toward his own success his achieve- ments have redounded toward the benefit of his county, and the present as well as the genera- tions to follow will accord him the credit and the honors due to a worthy and successful man.

MRS. FRANCES L. HOLBROOK is the owner of excellent farming property in Montague county. She is the widow of John A. Holbrook, who was a prominent agriculturist and stock farmer. His birth occurred in Lamar county, Texas, May 15, 1847, and he represented an hon- ored pioneer family of that locality. His father, Richmond Holbrook, was born and reared in Illi- nois and was married there, after which he emi- grated to Texas in 1843, settling in Lamar coun- ty, where he followed farming and stock-rais- ing. His wife, however, died a few years later and he afterward found a home for his children with his wife's brother, Arnold Garrison of Gray- son county. In 1849, attracted by the discovery of gold, he went overland to California, where he engaged in mining until 1851. He then went to Melbourne, South Wales, where he was en- gaged in mining gold with good success for a year, returning, however, to the United States in

1852 by way of the Isthmus route. After a short visit with friends and his children in Texas he went to Illinois, where he soon afterward be- came ill and died. He was a man of high moral character and of genuine personal worth. He left two children, John A. and Nancy M., the lat- ter the wife of William G. Walker, a prominent farmer. of Grayson county, Texas. They re- mained in this state and were reared by their uncle, Mr. Garrison.

John A. Holbrook had but meager advantages in his youth. He remained with his uncle until eighteen years of age, and from early boyhood he was put to hard labor. In 1863 he enlisted in the Confederate service as a member of Company D, Colonel Martin's Cavalry Regiment, in which he continued for a short time. The troops were then disbanded and assigned to the Army of the Trans-Mississippi, with which he served in Ar- kansas, Missouri and Texas and at one time was on the Kansas line. He did much skirmishing and was in one hotly contested battle. At the time of Lee's surrender he was in Southern Tex- as. He had been a faithful soldier, always loyal to his duty, and he rendered good service to his cause. After the war was ended he returned to Grayson county, where later he bought a tract of land and began the improvement of a farm which he successfully operated.

On the 29th of April, 1869, Mr. Holbrook was married to Miss Frances L. Walton, who was born in Kentucky September 1, 1847, and is a most estimable lady, who was ever to her hus- band a devoted companion and helpmate. Her parents were Thomas and Lucy A. (Clark) Wal- ton, both natives of Kentucky. Her grandfather, Meredith Walton, was born in Virginia in 1788 and became a pioneer and prominent farmer of the Blue Grass state, where he spent the re- mainder of his life, passing away at an advanced age. His children were: Thomas, John, Clem- ent, Peter T., Fannie, Martha, Vance and Rebec- ca. The grandparents were members of the Mis- sionary Baptist church.

Thomas Walton was born and reared in Ken- tucky and in 1847 removed to St. Clair county, Missouri, where he bought a good farm and was successfully engaged in general agricultural pur- suits there until 1863. He then joined the state militia and continued in the service until the close of the Civil War, taking part in many skir- mishes and raids in the state. He was never wounded nor captured and when the war was ended returned to his home. Later he sold his property in Missouri and in 1866 took up his abode in Grayson county, Texas, whence he af- terward removed to Collin county, and in 1869

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

came to Montague county. Here he bought raw land and developed a farm, which he cultivated with good success until 1886, when he was called to his final rest. While in Missouri he served for a number of years as county judge, and in each community in which he lived he was regarded as a valuable citizen because of the active and helpful co-operation which he gave to every measure for the general good. Both he and his wife were de- voted members of the Missionary Baptist church. He was twice married, and his first wife.died in Missouri in August, 1854. Later he was married in that state to Elizabeth Anderson. By the first union there were five children: Nancy W., who became Mrs. McCreston and is now the deceased wife of Joe Enlo; Alford, of Oklahoma; Mrs. Holbrook; Meredith, who died at the age of three years, and Martha A. E., who died at the age of one year. By his second marriage Mr. Walton had nine children, Melcena J., Josephine, John D., America E., William C., Adelia A. F., Thomas, Rebecca T. and Riley A. Mr. Walton was a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity and a man whom to know was to respect and honor.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Holbrook was blessed with twelve interesting children: William E., now a successful business man of Nashville, Tennessee ; Ella D., the wife of Dr. H. F. School- field, of Sunset, Texas ; Mary M., at home ; John R., a leading merchant of Sunset, who married Miss Mazie Jackson and has four children ; Fan- nie B., at home; Minnie M., the wife of Samuel Jackson, a cotton ginner ; Walter, who was born on the old homestead December 22, 1882, and is now carrying on the work of the farm for his mother, and Charles, also at home. Two sons and two daughters died in infancy.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Holbrook took his bride to a farm, whereon he remained for eleven years, and then sold that property. In De- cember, 1880, he came to Montague county and bought the farm whereon he spent his remaining days, his death occurring November 11, 1904. He first owned one hundred and sixty acres of land but poorly improved. There was a log cabin and a small tract had been placed under cultiva- tion, but with characteristic energy he began the further development of the property and as his financial resources increased he added five other surveys, having at the time of his death seven hundred and fifty-two acres devoted to pasture and to general farming interests. The land lies mostly in the valley of Denton creek, and is very fertile and productive. In addition to cultivating the crops best adapted to soil and climate he also raised and handled stock. He placed two hun-

dred acres of his land under cultivation, while the remainder was devoted to pasture and his farming interests claimed his entire attention. He became recognized as one of the leading and successful agriculturists and stockmen of his neighborhood and his business methods were such as would always bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. He built a commodious farm residence on a natural building site, commanding an excel- lent view of the farm and valley. It stands in the midst of a natural forest growth and is one of the attractive and pleasing homes of this part of the state. He also built a barn and other outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He has good feed lots, while wind pumps furnish the power whereby the water is conveyed to the house, to the orchard and to other parts of the farm, where it is needed. In all his work Mr. Holbrook was very progressive and practical and his business integrity was above question, his word being as good as any bond that was ever solemnized by signature or seal. He deserved great credit for his success, all of which was at- tained through his own efforts and the assistance of his wife, whose wise counsel he found to be very valuable. They worked together earnestly and untiringly and Mr. Holbrook gained not only a handsome competence but also an untarnished name. In politics he had firm faith in Democrat- ic principles and he used his influence to secure good men for office. His death was a great blow to his family and friends and to the neighborhood as well, for his active co-operation was counted upon for support of all measures for the general good. Mrs. Holbrook still resides upon the home- stead, but much of the farm is rented, there be- ing two tenant houses on the place. She is an es- timable lady, with a large circle of friends, and the history of the family is one which should be found upon the pages of the records of Mon- tague county.

ALONZO WILF CHANDLER. The sub- ject of this article is a native Texan whose career was begun and is still passing in Montague county, and who has come to be recognized as one of the successful cattle men of his munici- pality. His life has been void of exciting inci- dent, and has been uneventful save for those in- cidents which accompany the life of successful and honorable men everywhere, and it is to the great mass of such citizenship that the county's development and substantial progress is due.

In Fannin county, Texas, February 24, 1866, Alonzo W. Chandler was born. Two years be- fore the outbreak of the Civil war his father, William B. Chandler, settled there from near

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

Atlanta, Georgia, where he was born in 1816. As a young man William B. Chandler learned the tanner's trade and this he followed until he left Georgia, but in Texas he took up farming and stock. He passed some sixteen years in Fannin county and on coming to Montague county, in 1875, he located west of the county seat where the cow range knew him favorably as a successful man. During the eighties he be- came restless and dissatisfied with his location and longed for a sight of Oregon on the Pacific coast. He went out there and on Alsea river, near Corvallis, he had a saw and grist-mill, and in the course of a few years he was back and forth several times, finally becoming reconciled to the Lone Star state and dying near Stoneburg in 1896. He was in the Home Guard during the rebellion and his political belief was in line with Democracy.

William B. Chandler married near where he was reared, his wife being Elizabeth Paden, a lady of South Carolina birth, who died in Mon- tague county in 1901 at eighty years of age. Their children were: Georgia A .; James A .; Mary J .; Henrietta ; Thomas; Columbus; Let- tuce; William W .; John F .; and Alonzo W., be- ing the youngest.

The country schools of Montague county gave Alonzo W. Chandler his education, and except the rather brief period of his sojourn in Oregon -in his father's mill-he has passed his last thirty years of life in Montague county. He was married at twenty-three years of age and set up his domestic establishment some eight miles from the parental home, where he contracted for a quarter section of land at seven dollars and at stock raising and farming he paid it out. This farm he traded toward one of two hundred and eighty-four acres, paying a thousand dollars in- debtedness on it, and when he finally sold this place he purchased a newer and larger one of five hundred and forty acres which he still owns and which he vacated to occupy his Stoneburg home of thirty acres. Of recent years his chief industry has been the stock business, both as a grower and a dealer, and in company with Hogan Young his shipments from the country will run more than a carload a month.

February 24, 1889, Mr. Chandler married Liz- zie, a daughter of Jasper and Elizabeth (Schrag) Bonham, now of Cheyenne, Oklahoma, but orig- inally from Montgomery county, Illinois, where Mrs. Chandler was born November 10, 1870. The issue of this marriage is: Grover, Gladys, Gertrude, Bessie and Granvil.

Mr. Chandler takes a voter's interest in poli- tics, is a Democrat, a Woodman and a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church.

WILLIAM H. PARMLEY. The farm and gin interests of Montague county, Texas, have an enterprising representative in the subject of this sketch, William H. Parmley. He is a Ken- tuckian by birth and was born in Wayne coun- ty. September 13, 1858, son of Robert and Seril- da (Strunk) Parmley, both natives of Kentucky.

Robert Parmley, Sr., grandfather of William H., was a Virginian and a great hunter who at an early day settled in the wilds of Kentucky, where he improved a farm and carried on agri- cultural pursuits extensively, having slaves to do his work. He was twice married. By his first wife the children were: James, Garner, John, Washington, Lewis, Robert, Jr., Hender- son, Giles, Mrs. Sidney Gan and Mrs. Rebecca Rice. Following are the names of the children by the second wife: Mrs. Betty McBath, Wil- liam, Lad, Mrs. Abigail Winchester, Mrs. Ersley Stokes. Mrs. Vie Young, Mrs. Ellen Powers and H. Clay.

Robert Parmley, Jr., in his early manhood taught school for some years. Although a southerner, he was a Union man, and two of his brothers, William and Lad, were Union soldiers. He, however, took no part in the war. He is politically a Democrat and was honored with official position in his native State, and also since his removal to Kansas. He moved west in 1877 and settled in Cowley county, Kansas, where he improved a good farm and was for many years successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits. Now at the age of eighty-two years, and still vigorous, he is living retired in Burden, that county. Here he has served as justice of the peace and city judge. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church and of the Masonic fraternity, and has long been known as a generous, big-hearted, broad-minded man with a character in every way above reproach. His first wife died in 1879. She belonged to one of the early families of Kentucky; was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, and was a woman of lovely Christian character. Lit- tle is known of her family history. Following are the names of her children: Mrs. Milda Rice, James (deceased); William H .; John (deceased) ; Ned (deceased); Bell, wife of George R. McClel- land, and Ellen, wife of M. Mackey. The father subsequently married a Mrs. Burris, his present companion.

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

William H. Parmley was seventeen when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Kansas. His education was received chiefly at home under his father's instructions and in the practical school of experience. He assisted his father in the development of their farm in the new State of Kansas. Then in 1880 he returned to Kentucky, married the sweetheart of his youth and took her back to Kansas with him. The next two years he was employed in break- ing prairie with two yoke of oxen. He rented . land in Chautauqua county one year; moved to Llano county, Texas, where he raised two crops; returned to Kansas, but soon came back to Texas, this time settling in Montague county, where he bought eighty acres of land, to which he afterward added another eighty acres, and where he remained eight years. His next move was to Indian Territory, but he did not remain there long. Coming agan to Montague county, he purchased land where he now resides. To his original purchase here, one hundred and sixty acres, he has since added until he is now the owner of one thousand acres, 600 acres of which are under cultivation, most of which he rents, his chief products being corn and cotton. His farm with its commodious, modern resi- dence and other buildings, wind mill and fine water, large orchard of choice fruits, etc., is certainly an ideal country place. In 1900 Mr. Parmley became interested in ginning. He erected a gin with a daily capacity of twenty-five bales, to the operation of which he has since given his attention in ginning season. It has been by his own energy and good management that Mr. Parmley has accumulated his estate since coming to Montague county, and he has well earned the title of self-made man.

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 108

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: 972

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: 972