A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 125

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 125

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Grady's death occurring on the IIth of Sep- tember, while his wife died on the 23d of the same month. The remains of both were in- terred in the family cemetery on the old home- stead. Mrs. McGrady, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Cox, was born and reared in Louisiana, belonging to one of the prominent old families of that state, her father having been an extensive planter and slave owner there. He remained in Louisiana up to the time of his demise. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mc- Grady were devoted members of the Christian church. In their family ware six children: C. Frank, whose name introduces this review; Nancy, who became Mrs. Stephenson and af- terward Mrs. Pruitt; Alexander, a farmer and stock raiser of Indian Territory ; Sarah F., the wife of Bud Aldridge; John, who is now en- gaged in the livery business at Saint Jo, and Mrs. Pearl A. Cline.

C. Frank McGrady was reared from child- hood upon the old family homestead in Mon- tague county, and early became familiar with all the duties and labors that fall to the lot of the agriculturist. He yet owns a portion of the old homestead, and in its further develop- ment has won thorough familiarity with good business methods. He was married in 1881, and then purchased a farm, which he began to cultivate and improve, carrying on general agricultural pursuits upon that place for a number of years. He then decided to quit picking cotton, and engaged in the stock busi- ness, raising, buying and shipping cattle and hogs. He also conducts a ranch in the Terri- tory on which he has a good herd of cattle. About 1885 he left the farm upon which he first settled, and located near the old home- stead, where he has a commodious house and good barns and other outbuildings. This is a well-improved place, and he has added to the lands until he now owns nineteen hundred and fifty acres, being thus one of the extensive landowners of the county. He has seven ten- ant houses upon the place and rents most of the land, which is devoted to cultivation, keep- ing about five hundred acres, however, for the raising of crops. He is thoroughly progres- sive in all that he does, and not only produces good harvests but is also regarded as a practi- cal and prosperous stock farmer.

On the 14th of August, 1881, Mr. McGrady was married to Miss Emma Lowrence, who was born in Smith county, Texas, and is descended from an honored early settler of

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

this state, her father being Logan Lowrence, of Tennessee, who located in Smith county, Texas, in pioneer days. After several years he made various removals, and at length took up his abode in Montague county. He was a farmer by occupation, and was identified with agricultural interests in Texas for many years, but eventually removed to the Indian Terri- tory, where he died. At one time he was pro- prietor of a hotel in Dexter, Cooke county, Texas. His wife still survives him and yet resides in the Territory. Their children were: Walter, who is living in Clay county, Texas; Jesse, a resident of Arapaho, Oklahoma; Emma, who became Mrs. McGrady; Babe, William, Robert and Fannie, all living in Oklahoma.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. McGrady were born five children : Jesse, who is supervising his father's ranch in the Territory ; Stella, at home ; Belle, the wife of T. Cable; Code and Charles, both at home. The wife and mother departed this life October 9th, 1895. She was a member of the Christian church, and was an estimable lady, whose death was deeply deplored by many friends. On the 14th of January, 1899, Mr. McGrady was again married, his second union being with Miss Winnie Lane, who was born in Texas, her father being a native of Alabama. He was a farmer by occupation, and became one of the early settlers of Montague county, Texas, where he took up his abode in 1873, successfully managing his farming inter- ests until 1902, when he retired from active labor, making his home in the town of Bowie, in the enjoyment of a well-earned rest. His children were: Auze, living in Bowie; Mrs. McGrady; Dollie, the wife of D. Tice, and William, who is a bookkeeper at Saint Jo.

Mr. and Mrs. McGrady are now the parents of one daughter, Birdie L., born October 14th, 1900. Mrs. McGrady belongs to the Metho- dist church. In politics he is a Democrat but without political aspiration. Both he and his wife are highly respected in the community where they reside, and in his business career he has shown that he possesses the traits of character which are essential to success-close application and indefatigable energy.

ANDREW JACKSON FARMER. Since November, 1883, the worthy subject of this bi- ographical review has been identified with the domestic development of Clay county and very materially have his efforts added to the county's material, social and political prestige. Among

the men of his district who have a reputation for doing things his name is always found, and it is their character, their industry and their business capacity which gives to the county fame and maintains its good name.

Knox county, Tennessee, gave A. J. Farmer birth November II, 1849, and Henry and Cyn- thia (Jackson) Farmer were his parents. In 1850 they migrated to Polk county, Missouri, and resided in that and Cedar counties until 1859, when they came to Texas and settled in Denton county. Here they became farmers and stock-raisers, first twelve miles north of Den- ton and afterward in the southeast corner of the county, where they remained till the year 1900, when they located in Greer county, Oklahoma. In 1901 the father returned to Texas and in June of that year he died at the home of his son near Vashti.

Henry Farmer was born also in Knox county, Tennessee, and was a son of Luke Farmer, a pioneer farmer there and of Scotch-Irish ances- try. The latter married a Miss Williams and was the father of Lizzie, Cyrus; Martin, who died in Benton county, Arkansas; John W., who died in Bolivar, Missouri, in 1898, where he had practiced medicine since 1848; Luke, who came to Texas in 1888 and died in Illinois Bend, Montague county, in 1897, and Henry, the father of our subject. The last named was a success- ful man and useful and worthy citizen and was an active spirit of the Methodist church. He married a daughter of Claybourn Jackson, whose wife was Mrs. Childs, and on Clinch river in Knox county they reared their several children, some of whom were: Lindsay, of Bates county, Missouri; John of Cedar county; Samuel, who died during the war; and Rebecca, who died in Bates county, Missouri, as Mrs. Ashlock. The issue of Henry and Cynthia Farmer were: Mary, wife of George W. Wright, of San An- gelo, Texas ; Andrew J., our subject ; John W., of Washita county, Oklahoma; Henry, of Quan- ah, Texas; Richard A., of Greer county, Okla- homa; Martha, who married a Mr. Woodrum, of Corub, Oklahoma; and G. Daniel, whose lo- cation is unknown. Mrs. Cynthia Farmer still survives and resides in Mangum, Oklahoma, at seventy-five years of age.

Andrew J. Farmer grew up during the war and obtained only a country school education. He was a farmer boy and while in Denton coun- ty spent four years in the employ of John Chi- som, the cow-king of that day. While living near Louisville his best time in school was served and he remained with the parental home till twenty-four years of age. He finally purchased

a J J anner and Wife

623

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

land near by and when he married it can be said of him that life in earnest really began. He remained in Denton county until 1880, when he located near Alvord, bought a small farm and engaged in garden-farming. On selling his prop- erty there he came to his present location less than a mile east of Vashti, where he purchased and owns four hundred and seventy-six acres of Freestone county school land. Upon this farm the chief efforts of his life have been made. Its improvement, its cultivation and its general home development have given rise to the anxious moments of his life and it has been a long and a strong pull from the bare, virgin soil to a well- improved, highly-cultivated, convenient and at- tractive homestead. Grain and stock raising have occupied him chiefly and he is a feeder and fat- tener of his own stock. His place is orderly and his surroundings are those of a thrifty and in- dustrious husbandman.

In August, 1876, Mr. Farmer married Mary I. Gerren, a daughter of John and Mary (Allen) Gerren, who settled in Wise county, Texas, from east Tennessee. They died in Wise county, the parents of five children, those living being: Thomas E., of Denton; J. W., of Wise county, and Mrs. Farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Far- mer's children are: John H., of Clay county, who married Fannie Bush and has issue, Lucy, Frank and Homer ; Arthur, whose wife was Miss A. M. Smith, has child, Fannie Belle; Lutie, Al- vin and Cleophas.

Mr. Farmer was schooled in Democracy in youth and has followed its teachings in later life. When Democracy seemed in need of refor- mation during the panicky years of the nineties he allied himself with the reform forces in an effort to purify politics and to restore pub- lic affairs to a more normal condition, but when the usefulness of the new party seemed at an end he resumed his station in the old party and has held up its banner as a loyal and patriotic son. In 1887 he was appointed a county com- missioner to fill the unexpired term of J. M. Robinson,'and in the fall of 1888 was elected to succeed himself. He was re-elected in No- vember, 1890, and retired after five years of service to his county, the best and sincerest he could bestow. The chief business before the board of which he was a member was the build- ing of the county jail and the erection of iron bridges over the Wichita rivers. The Charlie bridge was the leading structure and the one spanning the Little Wichita north of Henrietta occupied second place. In his spiritual training he is a firm believer in the teachings of the Master and he and his own allegiance to the Presby-

terian faith. In fraternal matters he is a Mason and in that which constitutes the real essence of a citizen he is a genuine man.

W. K. P. WISDOM, devoting his time and energies to agricultural pursuits on Postoak Prai- rie in Montague county, is a native of Missouri, his birth having occurred in Dallas county, that state, on the 2d of August, 1845. The family is of Irish lineage and was founded in America by John Wisdom and his two brothers, who crossed the Atlantic from Ireland to the new world early in the seventeenth century. They settled in Vir- ginia, where all became connected with farming interests and with the development of that por- tion of the country. All three entered the con- tinental army from Virginia as soldiers in the revolutionary war and did valiant service in win- ning the independence of the nation. They were the founders of the Wisdom family, which in its numerous branches is now found widely scattered in America.

John Wisdom, the direct ancestor of our subject, spent his entire life in Virginia from the time that he came to the new world and there was known as a prominent farmer and slave owner. His son, W. W. Wisdom, Sr., married Dorcas Cruse and lived in Tennessee and Mis- souri, where he reared his family. His children were: John, Frank and W. W.

W. W. Wisdom, Jr., was born in Tennessee, where he married Miss Jane Cunningham, a daughter of Aaron Cunningham, a leading farm- er and a minister of the Primitive Baptist church in Tennessee. He was a man of high principle and genuine worth, greatly respected by all who knew him and his integrity and honor were above reproach. In his family were the following named : Mrs. Polly Williamson, Mrs. Nancy Joplin, Mrs. Eliza Kaufman, Mrs. Jane Wisdom, Levi, David, McCamis, Brown and Joseph.

W. W. Wisdom, Jr., removed from Tennessee to Missouri, where he purchased land and devel- oped a farm, becoming a leading agriculturist of his community. There he continued to reside until 1860, when he came to Texas, settling on school land in Cooke county, where he again im- proved a good farm, making his home thereon until his death in 1864. He was a stanch advo- cate of democratic principles and while in Mis- souri he held the office of justice of the peace for a number of years. His genuine worth made him respected by all who knew him. His wife long survived him and passed away in 1890. In the family of this worthy couple were twelve children : Zachariah T .; Mrs. Elizabeth Payne ;

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

Aaron W .; J. Franklin; Emeline, who died in childhood ; Mrs. Dorcas West; W. K. P., of this review ; Mrs. Mary J. Gadey ; Mrs. Nancy Hoo- ver ; Mrs. Margaret Gadey ; Mrs. Lucinda West, and Melissa, who died in childhood. -

W. K. P. Wisdom spent the first fifteen years of his life in the state of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their removal to Texas. He was a youth of only sixteen years when he enlisted for service in the Confederacy under Colonel Bob Taylor of the Thirteenth Texas Cavalry. The regiment was assigned to the Trans-Mississippi department and Mr. Wis- dom served until the close of the war in June, 1865, being on active duty in the Indian Terri- tory, Missouri, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. He took part in a number of hotly contested bat- tles, including the engagements at Newtonia, Mis- souri, Prairie Grove, Arkansas, and others. He was also in many skirmishes and saw thirty days' service on the old iron gun boat. He was in the war from start to finish, and although but a boy when he joined the army he proved himself a brave and fearless soldier, who met uncomplain- ingly the hardships and rigours which constitute the life of a military man. His regiment was near Houston, Texas, at the time of General Lee's surrender and he then received an honor- able discharge, the command disbanding at that point.

Mr. Wisdom afterward returned home and there he resumed farming, assisting his wid- owed mother, for his father had died while the son was at the front. The latter remained at home until the time of his marriage, when he began farming on his own account in Cooke county, remaining there until 1868, when he re- moved to Kaufman county, where he spent four years. In 1873 he came to Montague county, settling on railroad land, where he yet' resides. He first made some improvements and in 1878 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, to which he has since added. He now owns two hundred and seventy-three acres, all of which is under fence, while one hundred and seventy acres has been placed under a high state of cultivation, the remainder being devoted to pasturage. He carries on general farming and also raises some stock and his place is improved with a commo- dious residence, barns and outbuildings, an or- chard and wind mill and in fact all of the equip- ments found upon the best farms of Texas. He is one of the best known agriculturists on Pos- toak Prairie and a man of genuine worth to the community because of his active co-operation in

many movements that have been of benefit to this section of the state.

Mr. Wisdom was married to Miss Frankie J. Jones, who was born in Missouri, July 1, 1844, her parents being James and Sally (Wisdom) Jones, both natives of Tennessee and early set- tlers of Missouri. The father removed to Texas in 1849, first settling in Kaufman county and later in Cooke county, but had returned to Kauf- man county ere his death. His children were: Mrs. Emeline Jordan; Mrs. Vina Montgomery; Mina ; Mrs. Eliza Lee; Cynthia, deceased ; Fran- kie J., James P., who was a soldier of the Con- federate army; and Mrs. Nancy A. Taylor. The mother of these children passed away and the father afterward married Adeline Montgomery, by whom he had six children, namely: Mrs. Mary Jones ; Mrs. Martha Murphy; Jeppie, who died in childhood ; Robert L .; Mrs. Ellen Payne, and William C.

The home of Mr. and Mrs. Wisdom has been blessed with two daughters and a son: Mary L .; William J., who is engaged in farming in west- ern Texas, and Sarah J., the wife of S. Carstet- ter. Mr. Wisdomn is indeed one of the worthy pioneer settlers of the county, who by indefatig- able energy, earnest purpose and capable manage- ment has worked his way steadily upward to suc- cess, securing a property that is the visible evi- dence of his life of thrift and industry. He has never faltered in his allegiance to the democratic party, but is without political aspirations for him- self, although he is never remiss in the duties of citizenship and gives active support to many measures for the general good.

JOE McMURRAY. On the list of early set- tlers in Montague county appears the name of Mr. McMurray, whose efforts in business lines have not only brought him a fair measure of suc- cess but have also been a factor in the material development of this part of the state. He was born in Barbour county, Alabama, October 7, 1857, and in his youth acquired a common school education. The McMurray family is of Scotch Irish descent. The grandfather, Samuel McMur- ray, was a native of Georgia and was a black- smith by trade, following that pursuit throughout his entire life. He remained in Georgia until after all of his children were born and then re- moved with his family to Alabama, where he followed blacksmithing for many years. His loyalty to his country was manifest by his active. service in the war of 1812. He had the follow- ing children: Frank; Cap. deceased; Matilda; Sally ;, Margaret, and Martha.

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

Frank McMurray, father of our subject, was born in Georgia and accompanied his parents on their removal to Alabama, where he was reared to manhood. He learned the blacksmith's trade with his father and followed it for sometime but after his marriage largely engaged in farming. He likewise conducted a shop, however, and his attention was devoted to the dual pursuit until 1862, when he joined the Confederate army and served until the close of the war, only visiting his home twice during that period. He was al- ways on active duty and manifested unfaltering valor when in the thickest of the fight. He re- turned home at the close of the war to find his place largely in ruins. He at once resumed work at his trade and soon began making arrangements to leave the state. After selling his land he re- moved to Arkansas in 1868 and in 1871 came to Texas, locating in Titus county near Mount Pleasant, where he bought land and improved a farm. He no longer carried on blacksmithing but gave his entire attention to farming up to the time of his death in May, 1876. He lost his wife while he was in the army and returned home to his children to find ruin and desolation staring him in the face. With resolute spirit, however, he set to work to make a pleasant home for his children. Later he was again married in Ala- bama. He held membership in the Baptist church and in each community where he lived was highly respected because of his charitable disposition, his kindly spirit and his deference for the opin- ions of others. The second wife died in March 1876. He had first married Minerva Sims, a na- tive of Alabama and a daughter of Joel Sims of Georgia, who was a leading minister of the Mis- sionary Baptist faith and also an active and ener- getic farmer. His death occurred in Alabama. His children were: William; Thomas; Samuel; Doc; Andrew ; Evaline; Mary; Martha ; Miner- va, who became Mrs. McMurray ; Hattie, and James, who died after attaining his majority. Unto Frank and Minerva (Sims) McMurray were born four children : Joe ; James F., of Ok- lahoma; Maggie, the wife of J. T. Lynch, and Robert E., living in Montague county. By the father's second marriage there were also four children : William, Rebecca, Minty and Milton.

Joe McMurray removed from Alabama to Ar- kansas with his parents and later came with them to Texas, remaining under the parental roof until the death of his father, when the home was broken up. Thus at the age of eighteen years he started out in life for himself. Soon afterwards he was employed by the surveyor who had taken the contract for surveying the school lands of

Titus county and subsequently he was employed as a farm hand, in which work he continued until 1886, when he married and began farming on his own account on rented land. A year later he bought a farm near Montague, where he carried on general agricultural pursuits until 1896, when he sold that property and purchased his present home farm, comprising two hundred and twenty acres at that time. He has since added to it, however, and now owns three hundred acres, of which one half is under cultivation. Here he has erected a commodious house, planted an or- chard and is giving more and more attention to fruit culture, finding it a profitable source of in- come. He also raises some stock and annually harvests good crops and in his farm work is very practical, utilizing his advantages in the best possible manner.

Mr. McMurray was married to Miss Tennessee Stout, who was born in the state of Tennessee in 1858 and is a cultured lady. Her parents, Rob- ert K. and Malinda (Matthews) Stout, were married in Tennessee. The latter was a daugh- ter of Hardy Matthews of Alabama, who removed to Tennessee and at the time of the Civil war went north to Illinois, where he spent his remain- ing days. He successfully conducted agricultural interests and was a leading member and exhorter in the Methodist church, taking a most active and helpful part in its work. He had ten children : James, Malinda, John, Joshua, William, Benja- min, Robert, Ann, Mathew and Nicey. Robert K. Stout was born reared and married in Ten- nessee, where he followed farming until after the outbreak of the Civil war. In 1861 he joined the Confederate army and served until hostilities had ceased, but was never wounded nor taken prisoner. He continued farming in Tennessee until 1882, when he came to Montague county, Texas, and bought the farm whereon Mr. Mc- Murray now resides, giving his attention to gen- eral agricultural pursuits and stock raising up to the time of his death. He belonged to the Methodist church and was in hearty sympathy with the teachings and tenets of the Masonic fra- ternity, with which he also held membership re- lations. He died July II, 1893, and is still sur- vived by his widow, at the age of seventy-four years, is finding a good home with Mr. and Mrs. McMurray. She, too, is an earnest Christian, belonging to the Methodist church. In their fam- ily were five children: Wylie, a farmer of Mon- tague county; Nancy, who died at the age of eighteen years; Thomas, of Oklahoma ; Tennes- see, the wife of Joe McMurray ; and Mattie, the wife of R. McMurray.

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

Unto our subject and his wife have been born six children : Elmer, Earl, Thula, Lela, Samuel and John, all at home. The family are pleasantly located not far from Saint Jo and they have telephone connection with all of the surrounding business centers. Mr. McMurray is thoroughly progressive in all of his work and follows the most modern methods of farming. Both he and wife belong to the Methodist church South and he affiliates with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. His life has been honorable, his actions manly and sincere and in an analization of his life record we find that it has been his close application, ready adaptability and unfaltering industry that have brought to him a creditable and gratifying measure of success.

BENJAMIN S. CASWELL. One of the early settlers of Pitman valley in Montague county was Benjamin S. Caswell, who has re- sided there since 1878 and is one of its upright and honored citizens.

On his advent to the county, Mr. Caswell pur- chased a half section of Titus county school land upon which there was a primitive cabin, and this, with the mere garden patch which was cleared, comprised the advantage he had of Nature when he first called the valley his home. For some years he was engaged chiefly in the cow industry, but with the subsequent settling up of the desirable lands this industry fell into de- cline and in the end it disappeared altogether. Farming was also carried on, and with the disap- pearance of the range its interests received an im- petus which made it the chief occupation of our subject's household, and so long as the health and vigor of his body would permit its worthy head found not only profit but pleasure in adding his mite to the internal development of his coun- ty, and to the material well-being of his home.

As he drew wealth by his labors from the earth's fertile crust, Mr. Caswell expanded his domains in the valley until they embraced more than five hundred acres, but as age came creep- ing over him, dissipating his encrgies and con- tracting his effective capacity, it resulted in the reduction of his estate to an area in keeping with his ability to handle it, and two hundred and twenty acres now comprise his home.

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 125

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