A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 141

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 141

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The boyhood and youth of John W. Harding was spent on the farm and when twenty-one years of age he rented a place and began life as a farmer. When he married he settled down to the farm in earnest and continued it in Ten- nessee till 1873, when he emigrated to Texas and settled in Grayson county. He farmed there as a renter. He soon met Byers Brothers, who carried on a large implement business, and was taken into their employ. In 1882 he began looking after their cattle interests with the result that in 1884 he left Sherman and Grayson county and became identified with northwest Texas. Their herd was at first ranched in Stephens county, but was brought in Clay upon the acquisition of the Acres ranch on the Wichita river, since known as the Byers ranch. The rough-and-tumble of a cowboy life was conducive to good health and furnished some sport along with plenty of hard work, but very few fortunes were ever accumulated in this role. However, when Mr. Harding decided to engage in farming he was possessed of some cash and with his small means he began the career of a farmer. His efforts are devoted to grain and stock and he has extended the limits of his farm to include a tract of three hundred

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

and fifty-seven acres, making eight hundred and seventy-nine acres, four hundred of which yields to the plow every year.

In November, 1870, Mr. Harding married Hila E., a daughter of Welburn Thaxton. She was the mother of the following children : Bulah, George T. and Lula. April 5, 1893, Mr. Harding married, in Clay county, Kate Smyers, a daughter of Frank and Ann (Kearney) Smy- ers, from Douglas county, Illinois. The issue of this union are: Guy, Bee, Dru, Vio and Imi.

Mr. Harding has been a member of the board of county commissioners something more than three years. He became a member first by ap- pointment to succeed Commissioner Hooper, resigned, and was elected in the fall of 1901. He was elected again in 1904 without opposition. His board, as it were, has occupied itself with public and internal improvements in the con- struction of public roads and is spending the public money where it will work a public con- venience. When he yields up his office to his successor it will be with the consciousness of having done his duty as he saw it and with having aided with his advice, counsel and vote in keeping his county's affairs in a sound and satisfactory condition. In lodge matters, he holds membership in the Odd Fellows at Hen- rietta and in the mutual insurance order, the Woodmen of the World.

C. M. KING, of Hardy, is a native of Tennes- see, his birth having there occurred on the 17th of November, 1844. His parents, James and Marian (Hereford) King, were likewise natives of that state, where the father successfully car- ried on farming until 1848, when he came with his family to Texas, settling in Van Zandt county in May of that year. There he bought land and improved a farm, on which he remained until 1865, when he came to Cooke county, making his home with his two sons, C. M. King, and his brother. Here he resided until his death, Octo- ber 10, 1878, when he was seventy-four years of age. He came to Texas when it was largely a wild and unimproved district, giving little promise of rapid or substantial development, but he lived to see many changes and rejoiced in what was accomplished by the state. His wife passed away in December, 1878, at the age of seventy-one years. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. In their family were five children: James, who died while serving in the Confederate army; William R., who died in 1885: John, who was a soldier of the southern

army ; Christopher M., of this review ; and Buena Vista, the wife of C. Loring.

Christopher M. King, better known as Kit, ac- companied his parents on their removal to Texas when only four years of age and was therefore reared in this state, remaining under the father's roof until 1863, when at the age of nineteen years he enlisted as a member of Company H, Seven- teenth Texas Infantry, commanded by Colonel Tucker. The regiment was attached to the Trans-Mississippi Department in General Tay- lor's command, and was in Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas. Mr. King was in a number of skir- mishes and important battles, including the en- gagement at Mansfield, but was never captured nor wounded. He knew, however, all about the hardships, privations and exposure of war, hav- ing the usual experiences of the soldier. He was at Richmond, Texas, when Lee surrendered and the command disbanded, the men returning to their respective homes.

Mr. King then resumed farming and soon af- terward the family removed to Cooke county, where he and his brother John purchased four hundred and eighty acres of land from the Jacob Wilcox survey. This they transformed into a good farm, making a home for their parents in their declining years. Mr. King here success- fully carried on general agricultural pursuits and stock-raising until after the death of his father on the Ioth of October, 1878. Only a brief period elapsed when his brother John died, pass- ing away December 26, 1879, and the mother died in December, 1878. Subsequently Mr. King and his brother's widow carried out the plans arranged by them during the life time of John King. They divided the farm and all the inter- ests and each remained on their respective por- tions. Mr. King, of this review, still owns his farm, which he now rents, and which he success- fully cultivated until 1897, when he bought the farm where he now resides, becoming owner of seventy acres of well improved land, which he intends to devote to fruit culture, raising apples, peaches, pears, grapes and small fruits. The soil is particularly well adapted to this purpose and he now has ten acres in fruit. There are over eight hundred apple trees and other fruit in pro- portion and Mr. King is meeting with a credit- able measure of prosperity in this work. When he and his brother came to the farm they had a fine herd of cattle but in later years he gave his attention more largely to general agricultural pursuits, raising wheat, oats and other crops.

Mr. King was married first in Cooke county to Miss Fannie Williams, who was born there in

٦ سهره

JEPTHA B. HOPKINS

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

1855 and represents one of its old pioneer fami- lies. Her father was John Williams, who from early boyhood was reared in Grayson county. He served throughout the Mexican war and became a pioneer settler and prominent farmer and horseman of Cooke county. He helped to rid the country of wild beasts and of the treacherous Indian and to make possible the settlement of the white race in this locality. On selling out in Cooke county he removed to Montague county, where he purchased a small farm, while later he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. . King. When visiting her half-brother he died at his home. His children were: Molly, Marzee, Laura, Mrs. Fannie King, Florence and Eva.

Mr. and Mrs. King became the parents of two children : Mrs. Fannie V. Lucas and Mrs. Dove Reddling. The mother died in May, 1885. She was a member of the Christian church and a most estimable lady. In 1891 Mr. King wed- ded Miss Mattie Allen, and they had two chil- dren, Clay and May, both at home. The mother passed away in 1889, in the faith of the Meth- odist church. His third wife was Nancy C., daughter of Rev. W. C. Cummins, a pioneer Baptist minister of Fannin county, yet living at the advanced age of eighty years. She belonged to the Baptist church and died February 17, 1896. For his fourth wife Mr. King married Mrs. Belle Meek, widow of Robert Meek, of Mississippi. He was a farmer of Texas, greatly respected, and he died in January, 1884, leaving four chil- dren : 'Samuel, William, Walter and Maud. Mrs. King was a daughter of Clinton D. and Ellen (Jones) Williams, of Kentucky, who removed to Missouri and in 1865 came to Texas. Mr. Wil- liams served as a soldier of the Confederacy and on coming to this state settled in Fannin county, whence he later went to Wise county and there purchased a farm. Subsequently he settled in Montague county, where he died in February, 1902. His widow yet survives, living with a son in Wise county. Their children were: Samuel, who died in 1885; Mary; Mrs. Belle King; and James W., of Bridgeport, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. King have an interesting little son, Thomas J., born September 17, 1903.

Mr. King has had most interesting experiences, some of which have been of a dangerous nature, for when he came to Texas all was wild and un- improved. The red men terrorized the country, stole much stock and killed many settlers, so that Mr. King and his neighbors made many raids against them. He was also in some fights with them but was never wounded. He boasts of run- ning a band of one hundred and sixty Indians,

something that few others have done, and he thus saved his entire herd of horses. He discovered a large number of Indians coming in the direction of his herd and having a fine saddle horse he advanced toward the tribe, who started in pur- suit of him and thus he swerved them from their course and saved his stock. After running sev- eral miles he managed to elude his pursuers and returned to his home. In politics he is a Demo- crat, and is a member of the Christian church. His life has indeed been an eventful one and if written in detail his history would present a splendid picture of pioneer days.

JEPTHA BRIGHT HOPKINS. One of the well known citizens of Clay county and one who has been connected with many lines of enterprise therein is Jeptha B. Hopkins of this ·review. Almost a pioneer settler he came to the county in November, 1877, and the profes- sion of law, of teaching and the real estate, newspaper and farm and ranch business have known him and have felt the impress of his magic and intelligent touch.

Of Kentucky origin, Mr. Hopkins was born in Shelby county, March 8, 1852. His father, John Hopkins, now a resident of Austin, Texas, was born near Lexington, Kentucky, in 1821, and in early childhood accompanied his fath- er's, William Hopkins', family to Shelby county and there grew up, was educated fairly and was married. William Hopkins married a Miss Fry, both of whom died in Shelby county, be- ing the parents of John, Luke, William, Alex- ander, Nancy and Ellen. John Hopkins mar- ried Ann W. Bright, born in Henry county, Kentucky, a daughter of Jeptha Bright, a Vir- ginian and a widely known citizen of his adopted county. Ann Bright Hopkins died in February, 1899, at seventy-seven years of age, being the mother of Horace F., of Shelby county, Kentucky ; Georgia, wife of H. B. Ford, of Austin, Texas; Jeptha B., our subject ; Laura, now Mrs. H. L. Giltner, of Eminence, Kentucky ; John W., of Austin, Texas, profes- sor in the State University of Texas, and E. N., of Lexington, Missouri.

Jeptha B. Hopkins received his education in Eminence College, graduating in 1870, with the degree of A. B. bestowed by the institution and five years later that of A. M. He then prepared himself for the law and was admitted to the bar in Shelby county before Judge S. E. De Haven and the year following his advent here was admitted in Clay county in Judge Carroll's court. After a year's practice he drifted into the real estate business also and was connected

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

with both for some years. In 1885 he embarked in the newspaper business, founding the Inde- pendent, Democratic in politics, which he sold in 1888, when he engaged in the insurance busi- ness, being so connected until 1890. At this date Henrietta seemed destined to take on, something of a boom and Mr. Hopkins erected and opened the Hopkins hotel, which burned later on, and the same year he moved to the capital of the state. He remained there less than two years, engaged in the insurance busi- ness, and on his return to Henrietta resumed the same here. He again entered the news- . paper field and established, in 1897, the Hen- rietta News, which he edited until 1901 and on disposing of it moved to his farm four miles northeast of the county seat where he has since resided. As a farmer Mr. Hopkins has de- voted himself to growing grain and stock, and his tract of six hundred and seventy-two acres, well watered, timbered and desirably situated, yields its owner as abundantly as need be for the domestic and other wants of the house- hold. When in the newspaper business Mr. Hopkins also took an interest in politics. He was chosen mayor of Henrietta in 1890 and resigned before the expiration of his term on account of business interests and engagements. As a farmer he has eliminated and proscribed politics and all his spare time is devoted to his papers, magazines and his books. He is pos- sessed of a voracious appetite for literature and few men in north Texas possess a library like his.

February 26, 1884, Jeptha B. Hopkins and Mary F. Merchant were married in Henrietta. Mrs. Hopkins' parents were J. S. W. and Fannie (Anderson) Merchant who came to Clay county in 1877, and here died, the mother in 1886, at fifty-four, and the father in 1899, at seventy- seven years of age. Mrs. Hopkins is one of thirteen children, ten of whom grew to matur- ity, viz: George W., who died at Chickasha, Indian Territory, leaving a family ; Levonia, died at Magnolia, Arkansas, as Mrs. H. R. Hughey ; Wallace, of Gering, Nebraska ; Sarah J., married to John Utley, of Marlow, Indian Territory ; Sam Houston, of Marlow; Mrs. Hopkins, born January 16, 1862; Lucy, wife of William B. Ellis, of Callahan county, Texas ; James; Eldridge E., of Paul's Valley, Indian Territory, and Ella, wife of John W. Morris, of Vernon, Texas.

Jeptha B. Hopkins, Jr., is the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Hopkins. He was born Decem- ber 26, 1885, possesses the commendable and substantial traits of his parents and is a valu- able aid to the proper conduct of the farm.

JOHN A. MURRELL, a member of one of the leading pioneer families of Montague county, Texas, occupies a prominent place among its rep- resentative farmers. Mr. Murrell is a Kentuc- kian by birth. ' He was born December 28, 1839, son of William and Nancy L. (Nunnelly) Mur- rell, both natives of Kentucky. William Murrell, Sr., and George Murrell, grandfather and great- grandfather of John A., were born in Virginia, of Scotch-Irish and German descent. In the early history of the Old Dominion the Murrells ranked with the "first families" of Virginia. George Murrell was a large planter there. He was a consistent and devoted member of the Methodist Church, and his religious example has been followed by his children and grandchildren down to the present generation. William Murrell, Sr., went from Virginia to Kentucky when a young man, about 1812, where he became the owner of a large number of slaves and soon was recognized as one of the prominent and wealthy farmers of the state. In his family were six chil- dren : William, Jr., Samuel, John, George, Liz- zie and Mary A. William, Jr., was reared on his father's Kentucky farm and when he attained manhood engaged in farming in Kentucky, and he remained there thus occupied until 1855, when he sold out and moved to Missouri. After two years spent in Missouri he came to Texas and located in Fannin county. Three years later he moved to Walnut Bend on Red river in Cass county, where he bought a large tract of land, one thousand four hundred and seventy acres, and improved a farm. He had brought his slaves with him from Kentucky and in his new location his prospects were flattering when the war of the Rebellion came on and the slaves were freed. Left without help to run his farm, he rented it; all his plans were frustrated and he died, broken hearted, December 23, 1867, at the age of fifty- seven years. He was a loyal Christian man whose character was in every way above re- proach. His widow survived him only a few years, her death occurring March 31, 1871. Lit- tle is known of her family history. Their chil- dren are: Lucinda, wife of W. N. Browning ; Josiah, who died in Lamar county, Texas ; Sue, wife of H. H. Hays ; John A., whose name intro- duces this sketch : Samuel, who resides at the old homestead ; Mary E., wife of T. J. Bone ; Thomas B., who, with his family, was massacred in their home by the Indians; G. A., who resides on the old Murrell homestead; Bell, wife of P. Gillock; Jessie of Gainesville ; and Cam, deceased.

John A. Murrell, as already stated, was born in Kentucky. The first sixteen years of his life

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

were passed on his father's farm in that state. He moved with his parents to Missouri and thence to Texas, and he remained with them here until 1860 .. The next five years he spent with his uncle in Missouri. While there he was a mem- ber of a Home Militia Company, but was never called upon for active service. Returning to Texas in 1865, he settled down to work on the home farm and remained with his parents and took care of them while they lived. In 1872 he married and that same year bought land in Mon- tague county, where he now lives. Of his origi- nal purchase, six hundred and forty acres, he subsequently sold half to his brother William, and each devoted his energies to the improvement of a farm. William remained on his farm until his death and it is now owned by his family. That the subject of our sketch made a wise choice in the selection of his location is evidenced by a visit to his beautiful country home. Most of his land lies in the valley, but that portion upon which his residence is situated is higher and commands a view of the fertile valley, the river and a stretch of country lying over in Indian Territory. Here for a number of years Mr. Murrell carried on diversified farming and stock-raising, giving es- pecial attention to cattle and hogs, but he is now practically retired and has his land rented. At the time of his location here there were only three families in a radius of many miles. Farming was then largely experimental, the nearest mill was at Marysville, and Sherman was the nearest market. While Mr. Murrell has had some short crops, he never has had an entire failure and has always had plenty for home use. For 'six years he was connected with a mercantile business at Gaines- ville, and he has also made some investments in Nocona lands.

Politically Mr. Murrell has always been a strong Democrat, and religiously, he clings to the faith of his fathers, he and his family being worthy members of the Methodist church.

Mr. Murrell married Mrs. Josephine Chirry, a widow without children. She was born in the city of New York in October, 1846, daughter of John and Dorcella (Kail) Lewis, the former a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and the latter of Paris, France, he an only son and she an only daughter. Both were Catholics. They were mar- ried in New York city and lived there for a num- ber of years, he being on the river most of the time, owning and running steamboats. Later he moved to Jefferson, Texas, and engaged in mer- cantile business, which he continued up to the . time of his death, which occurred when he was

in the prime of life, being the result of an acci- dent. His widow also died at Jefferson, some years later, after she had reared their children. The members of the Lewis family are: John; Silas; Mrs. Harriette Dunom; Josephine Mur- rell; Eliza, wife of T. Murrell; and George, who died when young. Mr. and Mrs. Murrell have an only child, Ada F., born May 1, 1875, wife of Albert J. Franklin, who was born and reared in Montague county, son of Mel and Malissa (Wil- liams) Franklin, early settlers of Texas, both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin have one child, Clida, born May 24, 1903.

JOSEPH J. COKER, the subject of this sketch, Joseph J. Coker, who resides near Illinois Bend, occupies a foremost position among the leading stock farmers of Montague county. Mr. Coker was born in Todd county, Alabama, July 29, 1855, son of William and Nancy H. (Wil- banks) Coker, both natives of that state. Wil- liam Coker was a prominent and successful farm- er of Alabama, owning a number of slaves before the war. He served all through the war as a Confederate soldier, was once wounded but never captured by the enemy, and at the close of hostili- ties returned home to carry on his farming ope- rations under changed conditions. He remained in Alabama until 1870, when he came to Texas and bought land in Cooke county, and on this place he carried on farming the rest of his days. He died in 1892, at the age of seventy-five years. For over forty years he was a consistent mem- ber of the Missionary Baptist Church, of which for many years he was a deacon, and he was also a Royal Arch Mason. Quiet and unassuming in manner, never seeking notoriety of any kind, al- ways true to every trust reposed in him, he had a character above reproach and enjoyed the con- fidence and esteem of his neighbors, and in fact of all who knew him. His wife survived him two years, her death occurring in June, 1904, at the age of seventy-eight years. She was a wom- an of most amiable and estimable qualities. In her care of the home and family during her hus- band's absence in the war, she displayed the same brave, true spirit that he did in his army service. Her father was a respected planter of Alabama, and she was the eldest of a family of four chil- dren, the others being Lizzie, Rhoda and Daniel Wilbanks. William Coker's brothers and sisters were Sebe, Diadem, Green, Gettie, Gal- lant and Mrs. Wheelis. The children of William and Nancy H. Coker, four in number, are as fol- lows: Mrs. Lizzie Crawford; Joseph J., whose

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HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

name introduces this sketch ; William, a resident of Sulphur Springs, Indian Territory; and Jack- son, on the old homestead in Cooke county.

Joseph J. Coker came with his parents to Texas in 1870 and remained a member of the home cir- cle until 1874, when he married and settled on a farm. He lived in Cooke county four years and in 1878 came to Montague and bought the farm on which he still lives. To his original purchase he has since added until he is now the owner of one thousand acres, one of the largest farms in the county, four hundred and fifty acres of which are under cultivation, devoted to a variety of crops, the rest being used for stock purposes.

Mr. Coker married for his first wife Miss Mary Wood, a native of Dallas county, Texas, and a daughter, of Joel Wood of that county. Seven children were the fruits of this union, of whom four are now living, namely: Warren, a farmer ; Lena, wife of F. B. Beard; Ruba, wife of A. M. King; and Jennie. The mother died in 1888. In October, 1889, Mr. Coker married Mrs. Mol- lie Williams, widow of L. H. Williams. By Mr. Williams she had four children, two of whom died. Mr. Coker reared the other two, Artie and Marvin Williams. Mrs. Mollie Coker was a daughter of Daniel Duke, of Alabama, who in middle life came to Texas and was for years en- gaged in business at Terrill, where he died. She died in 1896, leaving three children, Alton and Dalton, twins, and Pearl, at this writing all at home. In 1898 Mr. Coker wedded Mrs. Anna Franklin, widow of D. M. Franklin. She had two children, Ada and Homer Franklin, who are being reared and educated by Mr. Coker. Mrs. Coker is a daughter of William and Lucy (Mur- rell) Browning, and one of a family of four chil- dren; Waddie, Winnie, and Ellen and Anna, twins. The children of Mr. Coker's present mar- riage are two: Daisey, born February 8, 1899, and Lu E., May 20, 1902.

Mr. Coker is a member of the Farmers Union, Woodmen of the World and the Masonic Order, in the last named order having advanced through the Royal Arch degree. He and his family are identified with the Missionary Baptist Church.

HON. CLARENCE E. STEWART. The name of Hon. Clarence E. Stewart is enduring- ly inscribed on the pages of Texas' political history, and his superior ability has won him marked success and crowned him with high honors. He was born in Cass county, Texas, and is a son of R. R. and Elizabeth (Willis) Stewart. The father, who was born in middle Georgia, came to the Lone Star state with his

family about 1857 or 1858, taking up his abode in Cass county, in the eastern part of the state, and his earlier days were devoted to mer- chandising, but later he gave his entire time and attention to agricultural pursuits. In 1871 he removed to Dallas county, and made his home there from January of that year until January, 1874, when he removed to the farm he had pur- chased in the northwestern part of the county, adjoining Tarrant county, about four miles east of Grapevine. There he continued to make his home until 1891, and his death occurred in December, 1895, at the age of seventy-three years. His widow, who is a native of Georgia, is still living in Grapevine. She is seventy- three years of age, and is in good health.

During his youth Clarence E. Stewart re- ceived an excellent collegiate education, having spent two years at Southwestern University, Georgetown, Texas, and the same length of time at Vanderbilt University, Nashville. He read law under the preceptorship of Major B. H. Bassett and the latter's partner, Judge J. C. Meuse, and. after his admission to the bar in Dallas practiced with his preceptors for about three years. On account of failing health at that time he decided to give up his law practice and enjoy the more outdoor life of the agricul- turist. He accordingly took charge of the Stewart farm, the family homestead, but es- tablished his residence in Grapevine, Tarrant county, where he has lived for several years. His farming operations are conducted on busi- ness principles, and in this undertaking he is highly successful, owning considerable fine stock and making a specialty of the raising of mules.

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A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 141

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