A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 12

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 12

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

He was next engaged by A. E. Powers to herd cattle on the Big Wichita and, later by

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

George F. Perry, of Gainesville, who owned a ranch near the mouth of that river in 1881. Be- ing of mature mind for one of his years, Mr. Grogan had learned the value of a dollar. The hard struggles of previous years to earn a livelihood had not escaped him and he saved some of his wages rather than spend it all as many "cowboys" foolishly did. With an eye fixed on the future, in the spring of 1883 he was able to and bought about forty-five head of stock cattle which he took to Fort Sill where he accepted an offer from his former employer, Mr. Campbell, at good wages, practically having charge of the beef department of his employer's industry and holding his cattle with the herd.

In this position Mr. Grogan "picked up" rap- idly, having free grass for his own cattle and monthly additions in cash from his work. He bought more stock and soon had a bunch of "stuff" worth attention, and, in time, his em- ployer became his partner in business. He was so associated for two years, during which time he secured a large and profitable oat contract from the government, in conjunction with his brother, R. P. Grogan, then a merchant at Ben- vanue, Texas. They supplied the government stock at Fort Sill with 300,000 pounds of oats, filling the contract up to the letter and coming off with several thousand dollars to the good.

About this time our subject began to cast about for a place to call "home." In company with his brother before mentioned, he bought a portion of the R. R. Brown survey just be- low the Big Wichita on Red river and a year later he purchased his brother's interest in the three hundred and nineteen acres. Seeing the trend of matters he was convinced that the man who hoped to grow and graze cattle must own the grass or be driven out of business, so he set about acquiring more land and as a re- sult he owns nearly sixteen hundred acres of as good land as lies in the bend of Red river, all under fence and stocked. In addition to this princely estate he owns town lots in different places and an interest in a company drilling for oil in the Clay county field.

Mr. Grogan was the first man to introduce concrete as a building material in Clay county and erected a store building of it in the new town of Byers in 1904.

July 10, 1889, Mr. Grogan married Margaret F., a daughter of John G. Kerr, formerly from Cooke county, Texas. Seven children resulted as the issue of this marriage, viz: Samuel Aus- tin, Walter Kerr, Joe Bailey, George B., Fan- nie D., Ola C., and Mellie D.

In politics Mr. Grogan is a Democrat and has always taken a more or less active part in county political work. He has been several years a school director and is a member of the Metho- dist church. His residence is two and a half miles northeast of Byers, where he is engaged in farming and the stock business, having from two to four hundred head of steers on hand. While he was a pioneer, as is shown, and was thrust upon the world with rather crude prep- aration for the real battle of life he has kept pace with the onward march and his methods. have fairly won a place among the substantial men of his county. He is always ready to aid worthy enterprises, is public spirited, progres- sive to a marked degree.

JUDGE S. C. PADELFORD is a distin- guished member of the bar at Cleburne, hav- ing broad and comprehensive knowledge of jur- isprudence together with an ability that enables him to sink personal prejudices and opinions into the labors of a profession to which life and liberty must look for protection. He was born in Copiah county, Mississippi, but was reared in Hinds county, that state, his parents being T. D. and Sarah (Burton) Padelford. His father, a resident of Mississippi, in which state he was born, lived and died. became a well known planter and slave-holder there. His wife was likewise a native of that state.

In his parents' home Judge Padelford spent his youth and his early educational privileges were supplemented bv a course of study in the University of Mississippi at Oxford, from which institution he was graduated with the class of 1873. In the meantime he had taken up the study of law and after thorough preliminary reading was admitted to the Mississippi bar in 1874. He sought a field of labor in Texas, com- ing to Cleburne in the same year and opening an office for practice here. His professional career is not unlike that of most lawyers who enter the ranks of the legal fraternity to com- pete with men of greater years and experience. Advancement at the bar is proverbially slow, but Judge Padelford demonstrated his skill and ability to cope with intricate problems of law and also gave proof of his unfaltering fidelity to his clients' interests. His advancement there- fore was sure and certain because he had as a basis of his success broad knowledge, an analyti- cal mind, keen discernment and strong reasoning powers. Owing to these qualities he has worked his way steadily upward until he is now the peer of the ablest practitioners of law in Texas. His reasoning is cogent, his deductions logical

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

and in the application of a legal principle to the point at issue he is seldom, if ever, at fault. He has served as special district judge at various times and in April, 1905, was appointed by Gov- ernor Lanham to act as special judge on the su- preme bench at Austin in a case in which one of the supreme judges was disqualified. In his pri- vate practice he was for twenty-one years as- sociated as a partner with Judge William A. Poindexter, now retired, the firm being Poin- dexter & Padelford. Judge Padelford is now alone and he has a large and satisfactory prac- tice in all the courts, both state and federal, and is in possession of one of the largest and most valuable law libraries of Texas, with the con- tents of which he has intimate knowledge.

Judge Padelford was married to Miss Min- nie Beard, a native of Alabama, and they have two children, Paul and Grace. The judge holds membership in the Methodist church and is a student of those questions which are to the states- man and man of affairs of deep interest, ques- tions relating to the welfare, progress and sub- stantial improvement of county, state and na- tion. He has done able service for the city in many lines that have proved beneficial and moreover he is actively connected with a pro- fession which has important bearing upon the progress and stable prosperity of any section and one which has long been considered as con- serving the public welfare by furthering the ends of justice and maintaining individual rights.

JOSEPH NEWTON MCCRARY. The sub- ject has had much to do with the material im- provement of Clay county, having been at all times identified with its building interests, as a carpenter, and having also been connected with its farm and home development. He has resided within the state's boundaries since the year 1870, when, with his young wife-and both under age-he settled in Ellis county. He was without resources other than his willing hands, and his first work in the state was at cutting saw-logs. He chanced soon to get in with B. D. Hinkle, a carpenter, and, being handy with tools himself, he made the association so agreeable to his foreman that the business of learning the carpenter's trade was at once un- dertaken. He remained with Mr. Hinkle until lie was able to do efficient work himself and was thus put in possession of an occupation that has contributed no little to the success of his career in the Lone Star state.

When he left Ellis county and came to Clay in 1870. Mr. McCrary had a wagon and team and less than fifty dollars in money. He pulled

in on Smith creek, where deer, turkey and ante- lope were really too numerous for thrift, and where one could almost kill wild turkeys with a club, and, in 1880, bought a tract of wild land on that stream and set about its crude fron- tier improvement. He built a log hut fourteen feet square and moved his family in on the ground, as Gainesville was the nearest market for dressed lumber and other supplies, and he was associated with those primitive surround- ings some six years, when he sold out to an advantage, having paid only one dollar an acre for his land, and purchased another new tract one mile west of Bellevue, which he still owns. This farm Mr. McCrary has put chiefly to the production of grain and its improvements em- brace a five-room cottage, barn and shed room, a wind mill for his well and fencing and cross- fencing all around. He remained in the active supervision of the place, its cultivation devolv- ing upon his sons, till 1901, when he removed into Bellevue and has here busied himself ex- clusively with his tools at the carpenter's bench. His farm contains two hundred and four acres and is situated on an eminence commanding a . fine view of the little town of Bellevue and of the country around it, and this, together with his residence in town, shows distinctly what J. N. McCrary has accomplished with his hands since he came to Texas.

On his trip to Texas Mr. McCrary came by wagon with Eagleton McCrary, a cousin, and eight weeks were consumed on the journey. They started from Rutherford county, Tennessee, where he was born August 25, 1850. His father, James McCrary, was a Tennesseean by birth, his natal year being in the twenties. While a Con- federate soldier the Yankees captured him and imprisoned him at Camp Chase, Ohio, where his death occurred in 1863. He was a farmer and left four children by his marriage with Jane Donnell.

The McCrarys are of Irish ancestry, the grandfather of our subject, Arthur Mccrary, having accompanied his parents into Tennessee from the Emerald Isle about the opening of the nineteenth century. Arthur Mccrary always lived in Rutherford county and was there twice married and there reared two sets of children and there passed away. By his first marriage his child was: Jane, who married James Starnes and passed her life near Lexington, Missouri. By his second marriage there were: James, fa- ther of Joseph N. of this review ; Anderson, of Tennessee: Mary, who married James Beck- ton : Joe, who died in Tennessee ; Margaret, wife of Frank Lowe; Fannie, deceased, without

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

issue ; Nancy ; Mrs. James Gilley ; and Mellie; who married Jesse Gilley and is now deceased.

For her second husband Mrs. Jane Mccrary married Asa Todd, and this union was without issue. The Mccrary children were: Joseph N., of Bellevue, Texas; and William, John and James of Rutherford county, Tennessee. The mother died January 2, 1905.

Joseph N. McCrary's school advantages were confined to the rural districts and the most primitive and short-lived kind at best. He was forced to aid in the care of his younger brothers, in the way of contributions from his labor, and as a youth of sixteen he was earning wages and making his efforts, in his limited sphere count. As a resident of Clay county he has aided in the construction of many of the buildings in Bellevue which stand as a monument to the handiwork of their builders, and among them are the Methodist Episcopal and Baptist churches, the schoolhouse, and the residences of Webb, Jackson and Duncan.

January 25, 1870, near their native place Mr. and Mrs. McCrary were married. Her maiden name was Mollie Carnahan, a daughter of Pres- ton and Sarah E. (McCrary) Carnahan, from North Carolina to Tennessee. Mr. Carnahan was a son of James Carnahan and Mrs. Carna- han was a daughter of John McCrary, a distant relative of the subject of this notice. Mrs. Mc- Crary, wife of Joseph N., is one of five chil- dren, as follows: Sarah, wife of Jesse Williams, of Tennessee; Mrs. McCrary, born March 24, 1852; Jane, who married William Hoover and died in Collin county, Texas, leaving a family ; Peterson, who died in Tennessee ; and Lillie, wife of Frank Harney, of Oklahoma.

Mr. and Mrs. McCrary's children are: Al- bert, whose wife was Mary Anderson and whose children are: Carl, Drusilla and Frank; Baltes S., is the vounger of the two children in family and is married to Daisy Baynham and has chil- dren ; Lloyd, Cecil and Lucile.

The McCrarys were strictly southern in senti- ment and all of our subject's uncles served in the army of the Confederate states. Following the war they identified themselves politically with the Democratic party and Joseph N. of this review has maintained the family record.

J. W. STEWART, who is following farming in the Red river valley in Montague county and is so directing his labors along practical and progressive lines that his efforts are being at- tended with a gratifying measure of success, was born in Johnson county, Arkansas, July 10, 1853. His parents were William and Louisia

(Swift) Stewart, both of whom were natives of Tennessee, their marriage, however, being cele- brated in Arkansas. The father was a son of Joseph and Jane (Davis) Stewart, both of whom were native of North Carolina, where they were married. Joseph Stewart was a son of William Stewart, one of three brothers who emigrated from Scotland to the new world and landed at North Carolina, where all three brothers entered the war as soldiers of the American army bat- tling for independence. They served until the close of hostilities and the achievement of in- dependence, subsequent to which time one set- tled in New York, while two remained in North Carolina. One of these brothers never mar- ried. The other, William Stewart, became the founder of the branch of the family to which our subject belonged. These three brothers were descended from the royal house of Stewart in Scotland.

William Stewart became a prominent planter in North Carolina, where he remained up to the time of his death. He reared seven sons, most of whom became tillers of the soil. John Stew- art, however, was a prominent lawyer and be- came judge of the courts and moved to Virginia, where he lived and died. Joseph Stew- art, the paternal grandfather of our sub- ject, was reared in North Carolina and removed to Tennessee, while later he became a resident of Arkansas. It was then a territory and within its borders he located land and im- proved a good farm, being identified with the progress and development of his community from pioneer days down to the admission of the state into the Union. He lived there at a time when bear hunting was a common sport and re- tained his residence there until the state became thickly settled and its wild lands had largely been reclaimed for the purposes of civilization. He served in the war of 1812 and also in the Creek Indian war and in fact the Stewarts have been represented in all of the American wars. Joseph Stewart had no aspiration for office, but preferred to live the quiet life of a farmer, and was an honest, upright man, always true to his professions as a member of the Baptist church, in which he long served as deacon. He aided in organizing the first Baptist church in his part of Arkansas and was one of its stanch sup- porters and active workers. His life was at all times honorable and upright, commending him to the confidence and good will of those with whom he was associated either through business or social relations. In his family were nine children : William, Thomas, Samuel, Hamilton, John, Daniel, Henry and Lafayette, all of whom

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

followed farming; and Lucinda, who became the wife of M. Swift. Hamilton died prior to the Civil war but the other seven sons became soldiers in the Confederate army and served un- til the close of hostilities, save that William, Thomas and Daniel were killed in the service. The others returned to Arkansas, where they spent their remaining days. All were members of General Price's command and Cable's division and became respected and worthy residents of the community in which they made their home.

William Stewart, father of our subject, mar- ried and settled upon a part of the old home- stead, improving there a good farm. This he did before the war and he was making good progress in his business interests when the call for troops was issued. His patriotic spirit was then aroused in behalf of his loved southland and he went to the front, serving the Confeder- acy well. When at home, however, on a fur- lough which was granted him because of ill- ness he was shot and killed by a Yankee scout on the 5th of September, 1863. He saw much hard service, which he manfully bore for the sake of his country. He too was a faithful and devoted member of the Baptist church and his life record was in harmony with his profes- sions. Politically he was a Democrat but never sought nor desired the honors or emoluments of public office. He lived a contented and happy life up to the time of the Civil war and then entered the service, wherein he eventually gave his life to the south. His wife survived him and died in June, 1800, when more than sixty years of age, her birth having occurred in Sep- tember, 1829, while Mr. Stewart was born in 1823. Following her husband's death she re- mained upon the homestead and carefully reared their children, who have become respected and worthy members of society. Mrs. Stewart was a daughter of John Swift of Richmond, Virginia, a carpenter by trade, recognized as a good me- chanic. He removed to Fayetteville, Tennessee, and later to Arkansas, establishing his home within its borders when it was a new country. There he made lumber from the stump with a whip-saw and broad axe in order that the com- modity might be used for the building of houses. He also became a farmer and was an enterpris- ing and progressive citizen of that community. In 1850, however, he became attacked with the gold fever and started overland for California but died en route of cholera. He left a wife and twelve children, namely: Clib, William, Marion, Marcellus, Jack. Ashley, James, Elisha, Mrs. Angeline Odom, Mrs. Sarah Hartgraves, Mrs. Louisa Stewart and Mrs. Malvina Oglesby.

The children of Mr. and Mrs. William Stewart were five in number: Columbus, a farmer and Baptist minister, residing in Parker county, Texas; Hardena, now Mrs. Lane; J. W., of this review : Mrs. Amanda Wilton ; and Mrs. Caroline Hill. The parents were members of the Bap- tist church and were worthy people, enjoying in high degree the friendship and good will of those with whom they came in contact.

J. W. Stewart, whose name introduces this record, was ten years of age at the time of his father's death. He was compelled to take an ac- tive part in the work of the farm and assisted his mother in every way possible .. There were hard times for the family during the period of the Civil war, for the women and boys of the household had to do the work of the country as the fathers, husbands and brothers were all in the army. As William Stewart never returned to take up the work of the farm again J. W. Stewart remained and assisted his mother in keeping the family together and providing for their support. He continued at home up to the time of his marriage, which occurred in Janu- ary, 1875, the lady of his choice being Miss Lu- cinda Hill, who was born in Johnson county, Arkansas, in December, 1852, and is an estima- ble lady, who has indeed been a faithful com- panion and helpmate to her husband during the thirty years in which they have traveled life's journey together. Her parents were Joseph and Emeline (Tones) Hill, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Alabama. Both were reared in Arkansas, where they were married. Mr. Hill was a farmer and blacksmith but left the fields and the shop at his country's call and joined the Confederate army, which he served long and well, displaying valor upon many a battlefield. He continued with his command until he laid his life upon the altar of the south in September, 1864, being killed in an enmage- ment. He was a plain, honest mechanic and farmer, well known and highly respected be- cause of his genuine worth. His widow still sur- vives, now making her home in Arkansas. In their family were eight children: Kimble, who was killed in the Civil war in 1863; Jasper, who served throughout the war; Jane, the wife of John Davis; George, who was also a soldier during the period of hostilities between the north and the south; Columbus, now a farmer of Oklahoma, who for four years served as sheriff of Madison county, Arkansas; Lucinda, now Mrs. Stewart; T. J., a resident farmer of the Choctaw Nation ; and Amanda, the wife of J. Akred.

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

At the time of his marriage Mr. Stewart rent- ed a farm for two years, after which he pur- chased a small tract of land. In 1879 he sold out and came to Texas, where he rented land and raised one crop. He then returned to Ark- ansas and afterward went into the territory and leased some land which he cultivated, but was not satisfied with his location and returned to his native state. In 1884, however, he removed to the Cherokee Nation, where he remained for five years, and in 1890 he came to Texas, where he engaged in the operation of rented land for a similar period. In 1895 he purchased three hundred and twelve acres of land, where he now resides. This he has fenced, has erected thereon a commodious residence and barn, also various buildings for the shelter of grain and stock. He has made stock lots and in fact has his farm well im- proved, two hundred acres of land being under a high state of cultivation. He has also planted an orchard which yields its fruits in season. His house stands on a rise of ground forming a nat- ural building site, overlooking the farm and sur- rounding valley. In fact, this is a model prop- erty in the midst of a rich agricultural district and the home is pleasantly located four miles northwest of Spanish Fort in the Red river valley. From his earnings Mr. Stewart had saved one thousand dollars, which he paid on his purchase, incurring an indebtedness for the remainder. His first crop was his shortest one. He has since raised good crops and success has crowned his efforts, so that he has cleared the farm from all financial encumbrance and has a clear title to his place. He has an abundance of stock, has a large granary filled with wheat and a large amount of corn and cotton. He is con- sidered one of the most successful agriculturists of the valley and has given to the farm and its cultivation and improvement all of his attention, so that bv earnest work and good management he has gained success. He is among the promi- nent and substantial agriculturists of this part of the state and deserves all the credit that is due a self-made man.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Stewart has been blessed with nine children: Orpha, now the wife of D. Louderback ; Beger, who married and died soon afterward, passing away November 3, 1901 ; Putnam, a farmer of Oklahoma; Ira, the wife of M. Paine ; Coda, Walker and Zed, all of whom are assisting the father on the home farm ; Louisa E., at home; and Hardena J., who died Decem- ber 5, 1899. Mrs. Stewart is a member of the Baptist church and the family is one of promi- nence in the community, their circle of friends

being extensive. Mr. Stewart gives his political allegiance to the Democracy, of which he is an unfaltering advocate. He uses his influence for the growth and development of the party and he had served for ten years as school director, when he declined to occupy the position longer, but has since been again elected. He, too, is a consistent member of the Baptist church and he likewise belongs to the Masonic fraternity. In his busi- ness career he has made the best use possible of his opportunities and through earnest and per- sistent effort has worked his way steadily upward.

JAMES H. MADDOX. The family name of Mr. Maddox is one which is ineffaceably traced on the history of Fort Worth and which figures on the pages whose records perpetuate the prin- cipal events from early days to the present time. He was born in Claiborne parish, Louisiana, in 1862, his parents being Colonel W. A. and Mary A. (Mays) Maddox. The father was born in Troop county, Georgia, April 15, 1825, but re- moved from that state to northern Louisiana in 1848 and purchased a large plantation. In 1877 he located in Tarrant county, Texas, and for a number of years cultivated a farm a few miles south of this city, retiring from active labors several years before his death, which occurred at the home of his son, E. P. Maddox, April 25, 1904, age eighty. During the Civil war he was a gallant Confederate soldier, and for meritorious service was made the colonel of his regiment. He was twice wounded, and participated in many of the leading engagements of the war. His funeral services were conducted under the aus- pices of R. E. Lee Camp, No. 158, United Confederate Veterans. Mrs. Maddox's death occurred at Fort Worth in 1877. One of their sons, Colonel R. E. Maddox, is now president of the National Bank of Commerce of Fort Worth, was tax assessor and collector of this city for nine years, later was extensively engaged in farming and breeding blooded stock in Tarrant county, and for some years previous to the panic of 1893 was one of two men who were the largest taxpayers in the county. Another son, Walter T. Maddox, served as sheriff of Tarrant county for several years, and is now engaged in the real estate business here.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 12

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