A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 122

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 122

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).

to arms, locked his store door and enlisted for ninety days' service in defense of the Confed- eracy. On the expiration of that term he re- enlisted for three years or during the war, be- coming a member of the Seventeenth Missis- sippi Infantry, which was attached to General Lee's army. He participated in twenty-five hotly contested battles with Captain Holder's Company, which went to the front with one hundred and twenty men, but only seven lived to return home, Mr. Seale being one of the num- ber. He served his country long and well, un- dergoing some difficult military experiences and was at Appomattox Courthouse when General Lee surrendered. H returned home to find that his store and its contents had all been destroyed by fire and that his father's plantation, where happiness and plenty had been known, was left in ruins and where the residence stood there was only a blank, bare spot of earth. His father had been reduced from wealth almost to penury through the ravages and devastations of war. Mr. Seale, recognizing the necessity of making a new start, came to Texas in 1866, locating first in Hopkins county, where he bought land and improved a farm successfully, continuing its cultivation for six years. He then sold out and went to Johnson county, where he pur- chased an improved tract of land. Success crowned his efforts and he later bought two more improved farms, being thus actively iden- tified with agricultural pursuits until 1898. In that year he sold all but his homestead place and removed to Concho county, where he en- gaged in merchandizing at Paintrock. After three years he sold out there and removed to Belcherville, where he opened a stock of dry goods and groceries, conducting the store for two years, when he disposed of his stock and re- tired from active business life with a competency that he had laid aside for old age. He has been a consistent member of the Christian church since eighteen years of age and is a Royal Arch Ma- son. He is widely known and enjoys the con- fidence and respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances, his integrity and genuine worth making him a representative citizen of the community.

Anthony Seale was married to Miss Naoma Harris, a native of Georgia, in which state her father, who was fell known and highly respected, died. Her mother afterward came with the family to Texas, scttling on a farm in Johnson county. In the Harris family were six children : William and John, both deceased ; Mrs. Maggie Lankford : Mrs. Lane Walraven ; Mrs. Sue Mor-

Ll Lais

607

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

ris; and Naoma, the wife of A. J. Seale. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Seale was blessed with but one child, Viola, now the wife of Dr. Crad- dock. She is a member of the Christian church and is a most estimable lady, presiding with gra- cious hospitality over their present home.

Dr. Craddock has a modern and commodious residence in Belcherville, in the rear of which is a good barn and substantial outbuildings. There is also a windmill and plenty of water. He has also some farm property, and a large pasture, while some of his land is under cultivation. He is a worthy member of the Masonic fraternity and in his practice has ample opportunity to exemplify the basic elements of the craft which has as its foundation a spirit of mutual helpfulness and brotherly kindness.

JUDGE LYCURGUS C. LAIR, one of the representative citizens of Randall county, Texas, where he is well known as a stock farmer, is also identified with the business interests of Canyon City. He was born at Wild Goose Shoals, on the Cumberland river, in Russell county, Kentucky, March 21, 1848, a son of Dr. William Dixon and Narcissa (Barger) Lair. The father, who was of Scotch descent, removed with his family from Kentucky to Texas in 1857, locating first in Grayson county, where the fam- ily made their home for over a year, removing on the expiration of that period to Collin coun- ty, establishing their residence twelve miles north of Mckinney. There Mr. Lair spent the remainder of his life, passing away in death on the 3d of June, 1887. During the long period of over fifty years he was a medical practitioner, having met with a high degree of success in his chosen profession. Mrs. Lair long preceded her husband to the home beyond, dying in Gray- son county, in 1858.

Lycurgus C. Lair was but a lad when the family established their home in the Lone Star state, and within its boundaries he has ever since resided. After attending the common schools near his home, he entered Lodonia Acad- emy, in Fannin county, where he enjoyed su- perior educational privileges, and after leaving the school room turned his attention to farm pursuits, remaining at the old homestead until about 1876. In that year he embarked in the mill and grain business in Anna, Collin county, thus continuing for fourteen years. In Novem- ber, 1891, he went to the Plains country, pur- chasing land in Randall county, but in the fol- lowing January returned with his family, and since that time has resided in Randall county. His home is located two miles south of Canyon

City, where he owns a section of land, produc- tive and well cultivated, on which he raises al- falfa and the crops adapted to this section of the country, also doing a general stock business. He has done much to demonstrate that this is a region suitable for general farming and cot- ton-raising, and capable of supporting a large population. The judge also has an office in Canyon City, where he conducts a general real estate and live stock commission business, meet- ing with a well merited degree of success in all his undertakings.

In 1874, in Collin county, Texas, Judge Lair was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth J. Parris, and they have become the parents of eight children. In his fraternal relations Mr. Lair is connected with the Masonic order, and re- ligiously is a member of the Baptist church. In 1896 he was elected county judge of Randall county, to which high office he was twice re-elect- ed, serving in all for six successive years. He is numbered among the leading and substantial citizens of Randall county, prominent alike in social, political and business circles.

DAVID CUNNINGHAM is one of the early settlers of Montague county who has watched its development and progress from an early day and has assisted in the work that has led to its present substantial condition of improvement and up- building. He was born in Blount county, Ten- nessee, September 27, 1851, and was reared to farm life, while the public schools afforded him his educational privileges. His parents were Cla- burn and Mary A. (Mckinsey) Cunningham, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of South Carolina. They were married in Ten- nessee. The father was a son of Moses Cun- ningham, a twin brother of Aaron Cunningham, of Virginia, and on leaving the Old Dominion he removed to Tennessee, where both brothers died. They were sons of Christopher Cunning- ham, a native of Ireland and an early emigrant to America. They settled in Virginia, which was then a new country and were active in its pioneer development and progress. Moses Cunningham, born in Virginia, was there reared and served throughout the Revolutionary war as a defender of the cause of liberty. Soon after the opening of the new state of Tennessee he made his way westward and took up his abode in Blount county among its early settlers. There he developed a good farm and reared his family, becoming one of the influential and leading citizens of the community. He was a successful agriculturist and while carrying on his private business inter-

608

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

ests he also labored for the general welfare. During the days of the state militia and general muster he was a major and his service in the Revolution well qualified him for his military du- ties in Tennessee, where he was recognized as authority on military tactics. He held member- ship in the Baptist church and his life exempli- fied many splendid principles and traits of char- acter. His children were: David, who died in Tennessee ; Alford, whose death occurred in the same state : John and Christopher, who emigrated to Missouri and reared their families in the pio- neer districts of that state ; and Claburn, father of our subject.

Upon the old homestead in Blount county, Tennessee, Claburn Cunningham was born and reared. He was also married in that state, after which he began farming on his own account and there reared his family, having a prosperous and happy life until the opening of the Civil war. He advocated the Union cause and opposed seces- sion and in fact voted against it but when the state determined to secede he remained loyal to Tennessee and then used his influence for the Confederacy, but was exempt from active field service by reason of his age. His oldest son, John, from the first was an advocate of the seces- sion movement. He was a merchant miller and when the war was declared he was detailed as government miller, in which capacity he con- tinued to serve until he was assassinated by Fed- eral bush whackers in the first year of the war. At that time his father, Claburn Cunningham, took charge of the mill and was conducting it when in the second vear of the war he was bru- tally murdered by the same gang of bush whack- ers known as the Duncan clan. Before the war he carried on general farming and he raised and handled considerable stock. He was recognized as one of the prosperous and prominent agricul- turists of Blount county and he had a good and well improved farm but both armies passed through that district and foraged from his farm, taking provisions, feed and stock and carrying on the work of devastation, leaving everything in a depleted condition and the family almost without supplies. Mr. Cunningham was a con- sistent and loyal member of the Missionary Bap- tist church. His life was upright and honor- able and his name above reproach. His wife sur- vived him for some years and in 1866 sold the farm and with the members of her family came to Texas, first settling in Fannin county, where one crop was raised. She afterward bought a farm in Grayson county and kept her children together. There she remained for a number of

years, when she once more sold out and removed to Montague county, where she again bought land and took up her abode on a farm, making it her home throughout her remaining days. She died in 1877 deeply regretted by her family and friends. She was a daughter of John McKinsey, a native of South Carolina and of Scotch des- cent, who removed to Alabama, where his death occurred. In the family of Claburn Cunningham there were nine children: John, who was a lead- ing merchant miller and was assassinated during the war; Margaret, the wife of William Hartzell, of Georgia; Martha, the wife of S. H. Milson, of Nocona; Christopher, who became a member of the Fifty-ninth Tennessee Regiment and was drowned while en route to Vicksburg, the train dropping through a bridge at Chunky Station, after which his remains were gotten from the river by an old neighbor, Rev. Peeler, a Baptist minister, who gave him burial; Elizabeth, who became the wife of F. Wells, in Texas, and died leaving two children; Moses, who served in Monsarat's battery and is now living in Runnels county, Texas; James, who died in Montague county ; David, of this review ; and Minerva, who became the wife of John Harris and died in this county in 1880 leaving two sons.

David Cunningham, whose name introduces this record, was a resident of Tennessee until 1866, when he came to Texas with his mother and the family. He was but a boy during the period of the Civil war but he well remembers many incidents of those times and the devasta- tion and destruction which followed, also the in- tense uneasiness of the people because life and property were constantly endangered. On com- ing to Texas he located first in Fannin county and the following year purchased a farm and set- tled in Grayson county, where he assisted his mother in carrying on the farm work and in keeping the family together. He remained with her until 1872, when he married and turned his attention to general agricultural pursuits, also working at his trade of carpentering . He re- mained in Grayson county until 1873, when he came to Montague county and bought land on which some improvement had been made. He at once began the work of further development and cultivation, residing there for four years, at the end of which time he rented his land and embarked in general merchandising at Saint Jo under the firm name of Cunningham & Dunbar. In this he continued for three years, when he sold out to his partner, but later again engaged in merchandising as a partner of J. D. Evans. This relation was maintained for ten years and

609

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

they enjoyed a successful business but at the end of the decade Mr. Cunningham sold out to Mr. Evans, who is yet conducting the store. He then resumed his farming operations, purchasing the land upon which he yet resides about a mile east of Saint Jo. Here he has eight hundred and seventy-two acres, most of which is prairie land of black rich soil, but when he came into its pos- session it was raw and unimproved. He now has the entire place under fence, while two hundred acres has been brought to a high state of culti- vation. He carries on general farming and raises and handles stock, making a specialty of short- horn cattle and mules. He also has a small herd of jennies and raises jacks. His fields are de- voted to the production of various crops and he is a successful agriculturist and stock farmer. He has erected a commodious frame residence that stands on a good building site, overlooking Saint Jo and the surrounding country. There are also substantial barns and outbuildings on his place for the shelter of grain and stock and there is a good windmill pumping water for all purposes.

Mr. Cunningham has been married twice. He first wedded Miss Clarinda Brooks, a daughter of the Rev. John B. Brooks, of Grayson county, a leading agriculturist and minister of the Church of Christ, who was widely known and held in highest esteem for his splendid traits of character and devotion to honorable principles. His chil- dren were: Marion; Hampton; Whit and Rich- ard, twins; Mrs. Eliza Bumbarger ; Sarah, the wife of James Burnett; Ambers; Mason; Clar- inda, who became Mrs. Cunningham; and Co- lumbus. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham were born two children : Adda, now the wife of J. B. Reddling, of Haskell county, Texas; and Robert L., who is engaged in the milling business in Stafford, Kansas. Mrs. Cunningham, who was a devoted member of the Church of Christ, died in 1875. In 1876 Mr. Cunningham was again married, his second union being with Miss Rosa Thorn, who was born in Decatur, Wise county, Texas, January 1, 1861. Her parents were Rob- ert C. and Joanna ( Nichols) Thorn, of Ohio, Mr. Thorn being a descendant of English parents. He and his wife became early settlers of Texas, casting in their lot with the pioneers of Wise county. Mr. Thorn had many unpleasant experi- ences with the Indians while conducting his ranch and handling stock. He was a large stock man in the early days and his possessions in that line proved very inviting to the Indians, who made many raids upon his herd. To save his family from being massacred he made several removals

to places of safety. On one occasion such a re- moval was made and on the following day the Indians appeared and shot the house full of holes, thinking that some one was in. They then pil- laged the place and took everything that they could use. Mr. Thorn was a fearless frontiers- man but always careful for the welfare and safety of his family. His neighbors knew him as a broad-minded intelligent business man, as a public spirited citizen and a gentleman of kindly and benevolent spirit, who was always willing to aid the poor and needy and to extend his hospitality to the new comer. He held mem- bership in the Missionary Baptist church and his life was in consistent harmony with his profes- sions. After living for some years on his ranch in Wise county he disposed of his property there and went to Missouri where he lived five years and then came to Montague county, settling near Saint Jo, where he was accidentally killed by his horse falling upon him, July 26, 1884. Thus was ended an honorable life that proved of value to his fellow men. He was a stalwart man and a loving father and husband. His wife is yet liv- ing and after his death married the Rev. F. D. Galloway, a well known Methodist minister, who was prominent in Texas in early days but has now also passed away. Since being again left a widow Mrs. Galloway resides in Bonita. By her first marriage she had nine children: John M., who owns a ranch in Arizona; Jane, who died at the age of six years; Lewis, who is supposed to be dead; Mary, the wife of R. Creamer, who died November 2, 1905; Mrs. Rosa Cunning- ham; Martin, a leading stock man of western Texas: Robert, who died in Arizona; Zoa, the wife of W. H. Creamer ; and Martha, who died in Missouri at the age of four years.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham have been born seven children: William D., who died at the age of eighteen months; Pearl, who married J. Albert Green, of Texana, Indian Territory ; Earnest, who married Maggie Roberts, of Forest- burg, a member of the firm of Roberts & Cun- ningham, druggists of Saint Jo; Forrest and Flossie, twins, at home; and John and Joseph, who are also at home.

Mr. Cunningham deserves much credit for the success which he has achieved in life. When he was married he borrowed five dollars in order to help meet the necessary expenses and all that he possesses has been acquired since that time through his earnest and indefatigable efforts. He is a stalwart democrat and served for two terms as county commissioner, discharging his duties with credit to himself and satisfaction to his con-

610

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

stituents. He belongs to the Church of Christ, of which his wife is likewise a member and he affiliates with the Masonic fraternity. The quali- ties of an honorable manhood have ever been manifest in his career and his life record con- tains an example of good citizenship, of fidelity in friendship and of devotion to the home that is indeed commendable and worthy of emulation.

JOSEPH N. HODGES, following the occupa- tion of farming in Montague county, is a native of Alabama, his life record having been begun in Cherokee county, that state, on the 3rd of October, 1852. There he was reared to farm pursuits and in the common schools acquired his education. His parents were T. D. and Martha E. (Hodges) Hodges, both of whom were na- tives of South Carolina, in which state they were married. The paternal grandfather, Charles A. Hodges, also a native of the Empire state of the south, later removed to Alabama. He was both a school teacher and farmer and upon his planta- tion in Alabama had a number of slaves. Prom- inent and influential in the community in which he lived, he took an active and helpful part in promoting public progress and improvement and was a man whose integrity was above question, for he lived a life in parfect harmony with his professions as a member of the Baptist church and also of the Masonic fraternity. He married a Miss Thompson and they had five children : T. D .; Washington; Charles, who settled in Iowa; James, of the Indian Territory; and Mrs. Mc Dodson.

T. D. Hodges was born and reared in South Carolina and from his boyhood neighborhood re- moved to Abbeyville district, while later he be- came a resident of Mississippi. Afterward, how- ever, he returned to Alabama, where he remained until the close of the rebellion. He was a popular overseer in the different localities in which he made his home. He owned a number of negroes and was prominently identified with the south and its institutions. At the time of the Civil war he and four of his sons served in the Confederate army and one son was killed near the close of the war at Atlanta, Georgia. The father was detailed to the veterinary department and held that position throughout the period of conflict. He lost much owing to the destructive influences and conditions of war and after the close of hostilities he sold his farm and in the fall of 1865 came to Texas, settling first in Hunt county. There he purchased a tract of land, which he improved for six years, when he sold out and removed to Grayson county, where he

bought land again in 1870, making his home thereon until 1877, when he once more disposed of his farm and in that year came to Montague county, purchasing a tract of land on the Red river. On this place he carried on stock farm- ing for a number of years but eventually sold out and retired from active business life, making his home in Bowie. However, he owned a farm which he rented, this bringing to him a good income. He remained at Bowie until his death, which occurred in 1899 when he was about eighty-one years of age, his birth having occurred in 1818. Following the close of the war he largely recuperated his lost possessions and had a competency for old age. He was a stanch dem- ocrat but without desire for office or political emoluments for himself. His genuine worth made him highly respected and his death was therefore the occasion of deep and widespread regret. His wife died January 9, 1895. She was a daughter of Thompson Hodges, a popular school teacher and farmer, who in his early manhood learned and followed the cooper's trade but later gave his attention to the pursuits above mentioned. He was a sturdy man of industrious habits, well known and highly respected and was a consistent member of the Baptist church. He also affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the lodge to which he belonged conducted his funer- al services at the time of his death, which oc- curred in Alabama in 1863. He had six children : Harrison, Mrs. Martha E. Hodges, Polly, El- mira, Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. C. Ward.

Mr. and Mrs. T. D. Hodges had a family of eight children: James T., who is now in the Indian Territory ; Edward, deceased ; Benjamin, of Hunt county ; Mrs. Elizabeth Able; John, who was killed in the army ; William, of Bexar county, Texas ; David, deceased; and Joseph N. James, Edward, Benjamin and John and their father were all soldiers of the Confederate army and John was killed at Atlanta.

Joseph N. Hodges spent the days of his boy- hood and youth in Alabama and while he was too young to enter the army he was able to assist at home and aid in the support of the family, while his father and older brothers were at the front. He came with the family to Texas and lived in Grayson county up to the time of his marriage, which occurred in 1872. He then rented a farm, remaining thereon until 1876, when he came to Montague county and purchased the farm whereon he now resides. It was a tract of raw land but his labors have wrought a great transformation in the appearance of the place, for a commodious house, good barns and

611

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

outbuildings and other improvements stand as monuments to his thrift and labor. He also has a windmill upon his place and good farm ma- chinery and in fact everything about the Hodges homestead is indicative of the careful supervision of a practical and painstaking owner. He at first bought one hundred acres of land, to which he has since added and he now has five hundred acres, of which one hundred and fifty acres is under a high state of cultivation. 'He carries on a successful business as a farmer and stock raiser, keeping horses and cattle and also raising various crops such as are adapted to soil' and climate.

In 1872 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Hodges and Miss Margaret A. Priddy, who was born in Polk county, Missouri, in 1851, and is a lady of intelligence and culture, who has been a worthy wife and good helpmate to her husband. She is a daughter of Burk and Minerva (Walk- er) Priddy, the latter a. daughter of Robert Walker of McMinn county, Tennessee. The pa- ternal grandparents were John and Nancy (Whittock) Priddy, the former of Halifax county, Virginia and the latter of North Caro- lina. They lived successively in Stokes county, North Carolina, Cocke county, Tennessee, and Polk county, Missouri, where Mr. Priddy died March 8, 1861, at the age of eighty-three years. His wife, Nancy, was a daughter of Charles Whittock, a native of Ireland, and her birth oc- curred in Albemarle county. North Carolina, while she died in Polk county, Missouri, in 1857, at the age of seventy-five years. Their children were : Polly, now the wife of A. Taylor; David; and Burk. The last named was born in Stokes county, North Carolina, where he remained until thirteen years of age and with his parents he removed to Cocke county, Tennessee, where his youth and early manhood were passed. In 1839 he married Miss Minerva Walker, a daughter of Robert Walker, of McMinn county, Tennes- see, and a representative of one of the promi- nent and honored pioneer families of that state. Burk Priddy removed to Missouri in company with his father and both settled in Polk county, where the former remained until 1870, when he took up his abode in Grayson county, Texas, and there bought and improved a farm and raised stock of all kinds, mostly cattle, however. He continued the business successfully for a num -. ber of years and developed an excellent farm property, owning one hundred and seventy-five acres of land, the place being rich black soil, which he kept under a high state of cultivation. He also owned other lands in Cooke county and

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 122

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