A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 121

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 121

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Jesse P. Gambill joined the southern army in the spring of 1865 and was in Company B, Colonel Biffel's Regiment, Eighth Tennesse Cav- alry. He remained in middle Tennessee and fought at Shelbyville and Marshall and was in numerous little "brushes" with the enemy before the fatal 9th of April of that year. He was at Lewisburg when the war closed and he went back to the farm at once and engaged in the labor of his youth.

October 8, 1874, Mr. Gambill was united in marriage in Cooke county, Texas, with Miss Virginia Barrett, a daughter of Thomas Bar- rett, from Maury county, Tennessee. Mrs. Gam- bill was born in Hopkins county, Texas, Novem- ber 6, 1851, and was brought up in Cooke coun- ty. She died April 28, 1897, being the mother of: Flavius J. and Lula, with the parental home; Vera, wife of Will Eans, of Montague county, and Virginia and Jesse, are their chil- dren; Landis, Myrtle and Virginia are the re- maining members of the family.

As a citizen of his county Mr. Gambill has been plain, unobtrusive and unambitious, save for a fair measure of success. Politics have not emblazoned his horizon with glittering prospects nor religious fanaticism occupied his mind. When he has voted the Democratic ticket he has done his whole duty in politics and when he has supped at the communion of the Christian church he has fulfilled his mission as a follower of the Master.

FRANCIS M. DOWD, a prominent mer- chant and ginner, of Illinois Bend, Texas, dates his birth, in the state of Illinois, Novem- ber 27, 1847, son of Lewis and Melvida (Wor- thington) Dowd. Lewis Dowd belonged to a Connecticut family. In his young manhood he went west to Illinois, where he was vari- ously employed before he married and settled down. For several years he conducted a wood yard on the river, and also owned and oper- ated a farm, and prospered in his undertakings

until a great flood came, changing the channel of the river, washing away his house and en- tire farm and leaving him not only homeless but also almost penniless. Still, however, he continued to reside in that locality until his death, which occurred in 1849, and his wife did not long survive him. They left four chil- dren, Monroe, Lemuel, Francis M. and Lewis. Homes were found for the children, but Fran- cis M., not being satisfied with his home, left it and went to live with his grandmother, with whom he remained until her death. Then he lived about from place to place, working for such wages as a boy could earn, and thus grew up without any education save what he gained in the practical school of experience. In 1866, at the age of nineteen, he left Illinois and came to Texas to join his brothers, Monroe and Lewis, who had come to this state in 1856, and located in Dallas county. Meantime Monroe had enlisted in the Confederate army, had been taken prisoner by the enemy and had died of measles while incarcerated. It was not, how- ever, until his arrival in Texas that the subject of our sketch learned the fate of his brother. The other brother, Lemuel, served in the Fed- eral army, after the war continued in the United States army for a few years, and finally went to Poplar Bluff, Missouri, where he died, in 1901, leaving a widow and children. The youngest brother, Lewis, who had located with Monroe, in Dallas county, married and settled on a farm there, and there spent the rest of his life, and died in 1888. He left a widow and four children, at this writing the children all being married and doing well.

Francis M., on his arrival in Texas, became a cow-puncher. He made several trips with large herds of cattle to Abilene, Kansas, and in 1869 took a herd to California, expecting to remain there and engage in mining. But min- ing did not prove to be to his liking. Return- ing to Texas, he rented a farm on the Brazos river, but on account of heavy floods was com- pelled to leave there in 1872. We next find him in Denton county, assistant in a sawmill; then in Cooke county, near Marysville, where he ran a sawmill, and later in Dexter, where he operated a cotton gin. At the latter place he lived eleven years, and while there, in 1884, he married. Afterward he lived eight years in Saint Jo, at which place he owned and ran a flour mill and gin; owned and ran a gin in Moun- tain creek, and since 1900 has been a resident of Illinois Bend. Here he bought a mill and

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

gin, which he has since operated successfully, and since 1903 he has also been engaged in general merchandising, having in that year bought out Whaley Brothers. Associated with him in business are his sons, enterprising, up- to-date young business men. He continued to run the Mountain creek gin until 1904, when he disposed of it, and he has recently bought the Leon gin, in Indian Territory.

Mrs. Dowd was formerly Miss Callie Col- lums. She was born in Mississippi, daughter of Richard Collums, a native of that state, and one of the pioneers of Cooke county, Texas. Mr. Collums served as a Confederate soldier through the war of the Rebellion, and it was soon after the war that he came to Texas. He died at his home, near Dexter, in Cooke county. His widow survives him, and is at this writing a resident of Dexter. To them were born seven children, namely: Mrs. Lizzie Thompson, Sebe, John (deceased), Callie, Mack, Mrs. Pad Maxie and Mrs. Dade Gat- wood. Mr. and Mrs. Dowd have six children : William, Edward, Cliff, Roschsa, Bess and Flossa. The sons are all in business with their father, Edward being at the head of the store. William is the only one of the children mar- ried.

SAMUEL R. TRUESDELL, a veteran of the Confederate army, and one of the early settlers of Cooke county, was born in Ripley county, Missouri, July 2, 1833, but was raised in Greene county. His father, Samuel R. Truesdell, was born in Kentucky, and became a shipper and trader, carrying his goods south by keel or flat boat. He traded and sold his products along the rivers to New Orleans, and followed that business for many years, meet- ing with success in his undertakings. At length he made a trip to the Crescent City when cholera was raging there and died of the disease. He gave all of his attention to his boating and provision business, and became well known throughout the section of the country in which he traveled. He had been married in Missouri to Miss Thurza Davidson, a native of Virginia and a daughter of George and Jane (Rayburn) Davidson, who were like- wise born in the Old Dominion, but became early settlers in Missouri, where the father was well known as a farmer and slave owner. His death occurred in the latter state. In his family thirteen children : Milton, Thomas, John, Joseph, James, Martha, Re-

becca, George, Mrs. Thurza Truesdell, Mrs. Bruce, Mrs. Shields, Mrs. J. Dotrey and Ag- nes. Of this family John came to Texas and died at the very venerable age of ninety years.

Samuel R. Truesdell was the only child born unto his parents, and his birth occurred after the father's death. The mother, however, later married Dr. C. Perkins, a leading physician of Missouri, who had a large practice there, but in 1850, attracted by the discovery of gold in California, he went to that state and died soon afterward. His widow remained in Mis- souri until after the Civil war, when she came to Texas, and here spent her remaining days. By her second marriage she had six children : Eliza, Lavisa, Mary, Constantine H., Lucy and Martha, who died in childhood.

Samuel R. Truesdell lived with his mother and stepfather, and after Dr. Perkins went to California he was his mother's active and able assistant. In 1855, however, he married and took charge of affairs, his mother and her chil- dren making their home with him on the farm. He thus continued in business until 1861, when he joined the state guards and served for six months. He then became a member of the Third Missouri Cavalry, which was attached to Marmaduke's brigade in the Confederate army, and assigned to the Trans-Mississippi Department, with which he continued until the close of the war. He was at the battle of Wil- son Creek, Elkhorn and many other important engagements in Missouri, Arkansas, Louisi- ana and Texas, and was at Shreveport, Louis- ana, at the time of General Lee's surrender. He received a parole and then started out to find his family, who had been banished from Missouri in 1863, his wife and two children, his mother and three children and others of the locality, making a total of fifty-nine in all, being refugees. They all located in Hempstead county, Arkansas, where Mr. Truesdell joined them, and he brought his family to Texas, lo- cating in Fannin county, where he operated a rented farm for six years. He next bought a farm, on which he resided until 1875, when he sold out and purchased a half section, where he yet lives, in Cooke county. This was raw prairie land, on which he built a log cabin, while later he built some frame additions to the original home. Recently, in a terrific wind storm, the frame additions were blown away, but the log house is yet doing service. He has fenced and placed under cultivation one hun- dred and twenty acres of land, while the re-

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mainder of his farm is devoted to pasturage. He raises considerable stock, and has been very successful in securing a competency for old age.

On the 5th of April, 1855, Mr. Truesdell was married in Missouri to Miss Mary Breden, a native of that state and a daughter of Russell Breden, of Indiana, who became one of the early settlers of Missouri, where he followed farming and stock raising. He was also influ- ential in community affairs there, and served as justice of the peace for many years, to which position he was elected as a candidate of the Republican party. His death occurred in Mis- souri, and was the occasion of deep and wide- spread regret, for he was respected by all who knew him. In his family were eleven children : Maston, Preston, Shannon, Elizabeth, Lucin- da, Mary, Jane, Louisa, Serena, Tennessee and Amanda.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Truesdell has been blessed with five children: Thomas C., Martha and Belle, all of whom died in child- hood; Kate, the wife of George Morgan, and Mary, the wife of W. Z. Haggard, residing in the Chickasaw Nation. The wife and mother was called to her final rest March 4, 1867, and Mr. Truesdell has always remained true to her memory, never marrying again. She was an estimable lady, respected by all who knew her, and her memory is yet enshrined in the hearts of her family and many friends. Mr. Trues- dell is a devoted member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and in his life exemplifies the benefi- cent spirit of the craft. Politically he is a Democrat, but without aspiration for office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his business affairs. Since the time of the Civil war he has made his home in Texas, and has done his full share toward the improve- ment and upbuilding of the locality in whichi he has made his home. Those who know him, and he has a wide acquaintance, are his friends.

WILLIAM A. HARRIS, who is carrying on agricultural and horticultural pursuits in Cooke county, not far from Saint Jo, is a rep- resentative of one of the old pioneer families here, and was born April 25, 1866, on the old family homestead, where he yet resides. In the paternal line he comes of Irish lineage. His grandparents were John and Sovilla (Thompson) Harris, the former of Irish line- age and the latter a native of Ireland. John Harris lived originally in Tennessee and after-

ward in Missouri, while subsequently he came to Texas, settling in Hopkins county, where he developed a farm. Subsequently he removed to Cooke county, but, because of the hostility of the Indians, he returned to Hopkins county, there spending his remaining days, his atten- tion being devoted to general agricultural pur- suits and stock raising. He was among the settlers who bore the hardships and depriva- tions of pioneer life, but laid broad and deep the foundation for the present development and progress of the county. The members of his family were: James, Stephen, William, Co- lumbus, Elliott, Anderson and John, the last three being soldiers in the Confederate army in the Civil war; Elzira, Lucretia, Lucy and Dolly.

James Harris, father of the subject, was born in Tennessee, went with his parents to Missouri, afterward to Arkansas and later to Hopkins county, Texas, where he attained his majority. There he started upon an indepen- dent business career, beginning farming in that locality when a young man. He served his country as a soldier in the Mexican war, after which he returned to Hopkins county, and in 1850 was married to Miss Emaline Trent, who was born in Arkansas in March, 1830, and was therefore about five years her husband's junior, his birth having occurred in July, 1825. With her mother and maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Mathias Click, she came to Texas in 1834, the family home being established in Lamar county before it was or- ganized. Her grandfather had been an early resident of Arkansas, and was a pioneer of Texas, where he obtained a head right. In the course of time he was known as a leading farmer and slave owner of this locality. His daughter became the wife of Thomas Trent, who arrived in Texas after the Click family was established here. He settled in Lamar county and engaged in trading in stock there up to the time of his death. Mrs. James Har- ris was his only child. She was reared in La- mar county and later removed to Hopkins county, where she became the wife of James Harris, of Missouri. They then took up their abode upon a farm. Mr. Harris had removed from Missouri to Arkansas and from Arkansas to Texas, and the wedding of the young couple was celebrated in 1850. He then located on a farm with his bride and continued its improve- ment until 1855, when he secured a homestead claim of one hundred and sixty acres, which

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he developed and improved until it became a valuable and productive farm. He was making good progress in his business interests, when, in 1862, he espoused the cause of the Confed- eracy, and enlisted in Captain Hout's company of cavalry in Colonel Martin's regiment, thus serving until the close of the war. He re- ceived an honorable discharge May 26, 1865, at Milan, Texas, after having made a creditable military record, characterized by valor and un- faltering loyalty to duty. While he was in the army his family resided in Grayson county, and after the close of the war he returned with them to the old homestead, whereon he resumed farming. In September, 1866, when he was hunting his horses on a prairie about two miles from home, he was run down and brutally massacred by the Indians, who in- stantly killed and scalped him. The following day his remains were found on the prairie and were interred at Saint Jo. He was unarmed, and therefore had no show for his life. He had passed through two wars unflinchingly, never turning his back to the enemy, and at last met death at the hands of the treacherous savage. He had also been engaged in some raids after the Indians, who had stolen horses, but had taken part in no battles with them. In his farming operations he was prospering, and was getting a good start in the stock business, having a nice bunch of cattle. The Indians made no raids nor disturbed his family at the time of his death, which was one of those hor- rible atrocities that are unaccounted for in the history of the state. Mr. Harris was a pro- gressive, enterprising and public-spirited man, and proved a brave and fearless soldier, and was highly respected by all. In politics he was a staunch Democrat, and was an exemplary member of the Masonic fraternity. He left a wife and four children, who, after his death, abandoned the farm and sought safety in Hop- kins county, where they conducted farming in- terests. After ten years, however, they re- turned to the old homestead, where the mother carefully reared her children until they were able to do for themselves. She is yet living, a hale and hearty woman, and finds a pleasant home with her son, William A. Harris, and his family. She holds membership in the Chris- tian church. Her sons, four in number, were: Rufus, who dicd while'in Hopkins county at the age of eighteen years; Thomas, who is farming in this neighborhood; John, an agri- culturist of Indian Territory, and William A.

On the old home farm where he yet resides, William A. Harris was born. He was reared to farm life, and has purchased the interest of the other heirs in his mother's property, until he now owns two hundred and eighty acres of rich and arable land, which he is rapidly bringing under cultivation, now having nearly one hundred acres comprised in his richly cultivated fields. He also has a good orchard upon his place, and there are some peach trees yet bearing that were set out by his father. Mr. Harris is gradually extending his fruit raising interests, has planted a large number of trees, setting out about five hundred in the year 1905. Each one of these is growing, a fact which indicates that Texas soil is well adapted to horticultural pursuits. At the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, in St. Louis, Missouri, Mr. Harris received the silver medal for choice Elberta peaches. He has one El- berta tree over thirty feet across the branches and which bore at least fifteen bushels of peaches in the year 1905. In connection with his fruit-growing interests he also produces various crops, and in this respect is likewise meeting with creditable and gratifying suc- cess.

In 1892 Mr. Harris was married to Miss Ada Randal, who was born in Tennessee in 1875, a daughter of Hugh L. and Tennessee (Bond) Randal, who were natives of Tennessee and came to Texas in 1880, settling in Collin county. Later they removed to Cooke county, where they remained ten years, and they now reside near Stoneburg, in Montague county, where the father follows the occupation of farming. Both he and his wife are devoted members of the Christian church. In their family were seven children: David G., a farm- er; Lulu, who died in childhood; Ada, now Mrs. Harris; Monroe, a farmer and ginner ; Columbus, who was killed on the railroad ; Clara and William, yet at home.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Harris has been blessed with an interesting family of four children: Charles, born in February, 1894; James C., in March, 1897; Dolly, in June, 1900; and Katie, in January, 1903. Mr. Harris is without political aspirations, although he never wavers in his allegiance to the Democ- racy, but prefers to give his time and attention to his business interests, which are capably conducted along modern lines of activity and enterprise. In this way he is meeting with gratifying success, and is today one of the sub-

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stantial residents of Cooke county. He has done much to demonstrate the possibilities of this section along horticultural lines, and de- serves much credit for what he has accom- plished.

L. L. CRADDOCK, M. D., with a thorough understanding of the responsibilities that de- volve upon him in connection with his chosen profession, is now successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery at Belcherville, Texas. He is well qualified for this work-and his ability is recognized by the public in the liberal patronage that is accorded him.

Dr. Craddock was born in Claybourn Parish, Louisiana, April 25, 1861, and was reared to farm life, while in his youth liberal educational advantages were afforded him. His parents were William B. and Mary (Caswell) Crad- dock, the former a native of Alabama and the latter of Georgia. They were married, how- ever, in Mississippi. The paternal grandfather, Burl Craddock, was a native of the Old Domin- ion and was of Scotch-Irish lineage. Through- out his entire life he followed the occupation of farming and was honored in his home locality because of his genuine personal worth. He be- came an early settler of Alabama, where he spent his remaining days, his death there occur- ring. In his family were the following named: James ; Richard R .; Martha, the wife of James Robinson; and Samuel B. The three brothers served throughout the Civil war in the Confed- erate army.

Samuel B. Craddock, father of Dr. Craddock, settled in Columbia county, Arkansas, after the close of the Civil war and was there engaged in farming. He was a mechanic and followed his trade for a number of years. In 1875 he came to Texas, settling in Montague county, where he purchased land and turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, improving a good farm on which he remained for many years. He was a successful agriculturist, well known and highly respected. Politically he is a Democrat but without desire for office, as he has always preferred to concentrate his energies upon his business interests. For many years he was in active business life, but is now living retired at Brady City, McCulloch county, Texas, in the enjoyment of a well earned rest. His wife died at the old farm homestead in Montague county on the Ioth of March, 1881. She was a daughter of Isam Caswell, a representative of an hon- ored and prominent old southern family. Her father was a brick mason by trade and became

a contractor and builder. His last years were spent in Arkansas, where his death occurred some time ago. His children were : James, who died in Georgia; Jack; Benjamin; Bud; Nancy; and Mary.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Craddock were born the following children: James, a prominent phy- sician of Bowie, Texas where he died ; L. L., of this review; B. L., a practicing physician at Brady City; Sarah A., the wife of R. G. Brown; Alice, the wife of J. A. Lyons; Minnie C., who died at the age of twenty years ; and B. F., who died at the age of eight years. Both of the parents are members of the Methodist church and their fidelity to honorable principles throughout life has gained for them the unqual- ified esteem of those with whom they have been associated.

Dr. Craddock, spending his boyhood days in his parent's home, accompanied them on their various removals and assisted his father in the work of the home farm. Through his perse- verence and energy he obtained a liberal edu- cation, attending first the common schools and afterward supplementing his knowledge largely through reading and investigation. At the age of seventeen years he entered upon the study of medicine under the direction of Dr. J. W. Harvey, who continued as his preceptor for four years. He then accepted a position in a drug store, where he remained for two years and in 1890 he entered upon a course of medical lec- tures in the Hospital Medical College at Mem- phis, Tennessee. After the first term he began the practice of his chosen profession in Mis- sissippi, where he remained successfully for two years. He then again became a student in the Hospital Medical College and after his second term he practiced at different places for three years, when he again resumed his college course. Following his graduation in 1898 he came to western Texas and located at Ebony, Mills county, where he remained for about ten months. He then located at Paintrock, where he spent three years and in December, 1901, he took up his abode in Belcherville, where he yet makes his home. In the various localities in which he has resided he has been quite success- ful, enjoying a constantly increasing practice, but he has sought elsewhere a broader field of labor and his usefulness and capability have in- creased as the years have gone by. He now has an extensive practice and his office is equipped with all modern accessories that sup- plement the skill and ability of the physician and surgeon. He belongs to the State Medical

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Association and keeps in touch with the ad- vancement made by the medical fraternity, so that his labors are of marked benefit to his fel- low men in the conduct of a practice that is already large and is constantly growing. -

Dr. Craddock was married in Johnson county, Texas, on the 19th of October, 1898, to Miss Viola Seale, who was born in Johnson county, Texas, August 16, 1876, and is a lady of su- perior intellectual power and many graces of character. Her parents were A. J. and Amanda (Harris) Seale, both of whom were natives of Alabama, while her paternal grand parents were Anthony and Peggy W. (Jenkins) Seale, the former a native of Georgia and the latter of South Carolina. Their marriage, however, was celebrated in Alabama. The great-grandfather resided in Georgia and became one of the early settlers of Green county, Alabama, where he followed the occupation of farming. He was of English descent and his children were eight in number : Burton, Richard, Jerry Jarva, Wil- liam, Anthony, Elizabeth and Sarah.

Anthony Seale, the grandfather of Mrs. Crad- dock, settled in Mississippi subsequent to his marriage and there bought and conducted a large plantation, on which he reared his family. He was one of the extensive planters and slave owners of the state and became quite wealthy but his fortune was destroyed through the rav- ages of war. In his political views he was a Democrat, while in religious faith he was con- nected with the Missionary Baptist church. He died in the year 1866. His wife survived him and removed with the family to Texas, settling on a farm in Johnson county. She was a daugh- ter of Benjamin Jenkins of Virginia, who after- ward became a leading and well known planter of Mississippi, who was active in public affairs and for many years served as justice of the peacc. He too belonged to the Missionary Baptist church and he won the respect of all who knew him. His children were: James; Jackson; Richard; and Peggy W., who became the wife of Anthony Seale. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Seale were born eight children: Alex- ander J., the father of Mrs. Craddock; Mrs. Elizabeth Bardon; Peggy, the wife of J. Bird; Eliza, the wife of L. Bird; Mrs. Jane Young; Mrs. Martha Edwards; James, a farmer; and Jerry, who is living in Hopkins county, Texas. Alexander J. Scale, the father of Mrs. Crad- dock, was rcared in Mississippi and when twenty-one years of age his father established him in a mercantile business, but in the fall of the same year he heard the call of his country

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 121

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