A twentieth century history and biographical record of north and west Texas, Volume II, Part 59

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 59

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).

After this rather unfortunate beginning Mr. McGlasson passed through an active and con- tinued period of service extending till the end of the war. He was in the battles of Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge, Chicka- mauga, and then in the fighting against Sherman around Atlanta. The position of courier was

Glasson was part of an escort that accom- panied Jefferson Davis and John C. Breckin- ridge from Raleigh to Washington, Georgia, and was a witness of all the scenes connected with the capture of President Davis. The claim has often been made that the Confeder- ate president, at the time of his capture, was appareled in woman's clothes, but Mr. McGlas- son, who was an eye-witness, can state positive- ly that the only feminine garment worn by Mr. Davis was a cape belonging to his wife's water- proof cloak, and that at no time on the flight was he dressed in female attire. Mr. Mc- Glasson was also present when the despatch announcing Lincoln's assassination came to Mr. Davis, on which occasion the latter, with tears in his eyes, said, "This is the worst blow that could have happened to the south," thus sharing the universal confidence reposed in the great emancipator as the just and merciful friend to the south. After forty years Mr. Mc- Glasson received pay for the horse that was taken from him after his surrender, which was given to the command when they surrendered at Washington, Georgia.

After nearly four years of army service Mr. McGlasson returned home and engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1877 he moved from Kentucky to Clinton county, Missouri. where he bought a farm and made a specialty for some ten or eleven years of raising blooded cattle of the Durham and Shorthorn stock. In 1888 he came from Missouri to Wichita Falls, where he has ever since maintained his residence. As a real estate operator he has been connected with some large transactions, and in many ways has assisted in the upbuild- ing and development of this beautiful section of the state.

Fraternally Mr. McGlasson is a member of the Knights of Pythias and is a stanch and de- voted adherent of the Baptist church. He is a man of strong moral fiber, as consists with his Scotch ancestry, and he maintains strong opinions on the vital questions of life and world's affairs, but at the same time is always true to and acts in accordance with his earnest convictions.

Mr. McGlasson has been married three times, having lost his first two wives by death.

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM M. CROSS

287

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

On October 18, 1866, he was married in Ken- tucky to Miss Mary Elizabeth Rogers, daugh- ter of Rev. Warren Rogers, of Hardin county. His second marriage took place in Boone county, Kentucky, to Miss Eugenia B. Carter, a daughter of Rev. C. S. Carter, a Baptist min- ister of that county. She died after the home was moved to Texas. The present Mrs. Mc- Glasson was Mrs. Sallie Bush Collins, a daughter of Isaac Bush, of Grayson county, Texas. Mr. McGlasson has seven children living, as follows : Mrs. Ida Spohn, wife of William Spohn, of Louisville, Kentucky ; Mrs. Bettie S. Harlan, wife of John H. Harlan, of Reagan, Texas; Mrs. Mamie A. Leavy, wife of J. G. Leavy, of Mart, Texas; Mrs. Kate F. Newby, wife of Oscar Newby, of Perrin, Mis- souri ; Mrs. Lou E. Frith, wife of L. Frith, of Fort Worth, Texas; Frank McGlasson, of Fort Worth, Texas, and Miss Laura McGlas- son. There are also two step-children, Mrs. Winnie Moore, wife of G. L. Moore, of Hills- boro, and Ross Collins, of Wichita Falls, Texas.

WILLIAM M. CROSS, a well known agri- culturist and prominent citizen of Tarrant county, is a native of Arkansas, his birth having occurred in Hempstead county on the 13th of July, 1840. He is a son of Robert and Ann H. (Wood) Cross, both of whom were natives of Kentucky, while their ancestors lived in Vir- ginia. Robert Cross continued his residence Mr. Cross has been married twice. He first wedded Nancy J. Allen, a native of Tennessee, and he afterward married, April 12, 1876, Ma- linda E. Stovall, a native of Texas. He reared Martha J. Stovall from a small child. in Arkansas until 1851, when he came with his family to this state, settling in Lamar county, where he remained until the fall of 1852, when he came to Tarrant county. He found here a pioneer district in which the wild prairie was unbroken, hardly a settlement having been made within its borders. The native prairie grasses grew to considerable height and it was only at rare intervals that the home of a settler was seen, indicating that the seeds of civiliza- - two years. Fraternally he is associated with tion had been planted in this locality.

William M. Cross was reared to manhood in . at Smithfield, and he belongs to the Methodist this county amid pioneer surroundings and his education was acquired in such early subscrip- tion schools as existed in Birdville at that day. His uncle, Hon. Edward Cross, was a lawyer by profession and a member of congress from Arkansas and at one time he served as gover- nor of Arkansas when it was still under terri- torial rule. Of the members of the family of Robert Cross five are still living: Thomas E .. who makes his home at Fort Worth ; Nancy G., who is the wife of Robert Drum, also of Fort Worth; Laura F., now Mrs. James, a widow of

Parker county; Margaret A., the wife of Thomas Daugherty, a resident of this state; and Robert L., who is living in Denton county, Texas.

William M. Cross, although receiving limited educational privileges, had ample training at farm labor and was instructed concerning the value of industry and integrity as forceful fac- tors in an active business life. He was but twenty-one years of age when in the spring of 1861 he offered his services to the Confederacy and became a member of Company A, Ninth Texas Cavalry, with which he participated in the battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas. He also saw active service in Indian Territory, but later was honorably discharged on account of ill- ness at Horsehead Bayou in Arkansas. When he had sufficiently recovered his health, how- ever, he once more enlisted, joining Company F of Waller's battalion of Texas troops, Cap- tain Terrell. This command was assigned to General Green's division and saw service in Louisiana and Arkansas, taking part in numer- ous engagements. In fact, was continuously in active duty until the close of the war, after which Mr. Cross returned to Texas and finally to Tarrant county. Here he has resided con- tinuously to the present time. He made an ex- cellent record as a soldier by reason of his valor and his loyalty to the cause which he espoused and he fought in many battles and endured the usual hardships of the soldier's life.

In political circles in Tarrant county Mr. Cross has figured quite prominently and his opinions have carried weight in local and county councils of the Democratic party. He served as county commissioner for one term of Grand Prairie Lodge, No. 455, A. F. & A. M., Episcopal church there, in which he is now serving as a trustee. The consensus of public opinion places him in the ranks of prominent men in the northern part of Tarrant county and his genuine worth entitles him to the warm esteem which is so uniformly accorded him by all who know him.

JACK M. CLEVELAND, a leading and prosperous rancher of Palo Pinto, Texas, whose prominence as a citizen and business man well entitles him to mention among the represen-

288

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

tative residents of this part of the state, was born September 2, 1859, upon his father's ranch twelve and a half miles north of Palo Pinto, his parents being Captain David B. and Mary E. (Mullens) Cleveland. His father was born in Alabama and on removing to Texas settled in the eastern part of the state, living first in Smith county whence he removed to Palo Pinto county about 1855 or 1856. He was one of its early settlers, living here when much of this land was unclaimed for use of the farm or stock-raiser and when the work of progress and improvement in the town was scarcely begun. In fact, many of the now thriving villages and cities had not yet sprung into existence. He located on a ranch about thirteen miles northwest of Palo Pinto on Dark Valley creek, a place which was known in later years as the William Edgin ranch. It was upon this place that Jack Cleveland was born. His father lived there for a number of years, but subsequent to the death of his wife, which oc- curred in 1863, removed to Palo Pinto. They had been married in 1858 and their married life was, therefore, but of brief duration. Cap- tain Cleveland was the first clerk of the county, chosen to that position on its organization in 1857, and his marriage to Miss Mary E. Mul- lens was the first one in the county, he is- suing his own marriage license. After he had filled the office of county clerk for some time he withdrew in favor of Theodore Wright and entered upon the duties of county surveyor, and in that capacity he ran the county lines in the first official survey of Palo Pinto county. He afterward married again, his second union being with Miss Amanda (Conatser) Friar, in 1866. He continued to make his home in Palo Pinto county, although he died in Hill county, Texas, in April, 1867, while on a visit to his children there. He had served as a member of the Confederate army, organizing a company of which he was made captain. He was also one of the old Indian fighters of Palo Pinto county and his bravery and valor were never called into question, as he fearlessly braved every duty that devolved upon him when meet- ing the treacherous redskin, or in the bullet battles of the Civil war. He was a lawyer by profession and in addition to his public service as county clerk and county surveyor practiced law in Palo Pinto county for many years. His influence in regard to public affairs was far- reaching and beneficial and he aided in laying the foundation for the present development and progress of this part of the state. His second

wife, who survived him, afterward became Mrs. Harris, and died November 4, 1890.

The boyhood days of Jack M. Cleveland covered the period in which there was much trouble with the Indians in this part of the state and he was often smuggled away in a featherbed with the other children by his mother to protect them from the Indian attacks, which were constantly threatened. The father was away from home a great deal on surveying trips, leaving his wife and older children to brave the dangers incident to life on the fron- tier when the Indians were frequently on the warpath. In most neighborhoods, however, regular guards were appointed from among the men and took turns in guarding the homes. It was necessary that Mr. Cleveland, of this re- view, from early boyhood should be acquainted with the use of the gun for the purposes of pro- tection. School facilities in the home neigh- borhood were very meager, but he learned the alphabet with the assistance of an aunt, who cut out letters from pasteboard and taught them to him. The first school he attended was con- ducted by Ham Baker in Palo Pinto, in 1863-4. In the school of experience, however, he has learned many valuable lessons. He remained at home until 1865, when he went to Hill county with others of the family because of the in- creasing danger of the Indian attacks. Mr. Cleveland resided there with his grandparents and while in Hill county had the opportunity of attending school. Later he was a student of Granbury in Hood county. He was absent from Palo Pinto county the greater part of the time until May 21, 1889, when he returned and took up his permanent abode. In the mean- time he had been engaged in stock-raising in southern Texas and upon his return to his na- tive county he gave his attention to farming. In September, 1893, however, he began work- ing in the office of John H. Eaton, at that time county and district clerk. He served as deputy clerk until 1894, when he was elected county clerk and so ably discharged the duties of the office that he was re-elected in 1896, serving in that capacity for four years. He then became deputy county collector, filling the position un- til the fall of 1894, when he resumed the active management of his ranch, which is located seven miles from Palo Pinto, a little east of north. This ranch is a good one, containing over one thousand acres of land, of which one hundred acres is in cultivation. He is also ex- tensively engaged in the cattle business, his broad acres furnishing excellent pasturage for

289

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

the stock. His brother, W. L. Cleveland, is also interested with him in the ownership and con- duct of the ranch. An incident of note con- cerning Mr. Cleveland's official service is the following: When his father was first clerk of the county, Theodore Wright became his deputy and later took charge of the office. After forty years had passed away Jack M. Cleveland became county clerk and - Olin Wright, a son of Theodore Wright, became deputy county clerk and since that time has been elected county clerk.

On the 3d of September, 1893, Mr. Cleve- land was married to Miss Willie Harris, a daughter of James Harris, one of the pioneer residents of this part of the state. They have a little daughter, Mary Christina.

Mr. Cleveland is a Mason in his fraternal re- lations. He has a wide acquaintance in the county where he was born, where he has per- formed efficient public service and where he is now conducting important business inter- ests and those who know him respect him for his sterling worth.

CAPTAIN A. P. CAGLE has labored ef- fectively, earnestly and indefatigably for the advancement of the agricultural interests of Texas and his work in this direction entitles him to representation with the prominent men of the state. He likewise made a creditable military record as a 'Confederate soldier, and in private life has been actuated by principles of conduct that make his history one well worthy of emulation. A native of North Carolina, his birth occurred in Moore county on the 16th of April, 1838, and he was reared to farm life. During the period of his youth he acquired a liberal education by attending the common schools and the college at Athens, Georgia. In his minority he remained a member of his father's household, his parents being Herman and Nancy E. (Dunn) Cagle, who were also natives of North Carolina, in which state they were reared and married. The paternal grand- parents were William and Sarah (Bruer) Cagle, both of whom were of German lineage, the latter being a daughter of William Bruer, who served throughout the war of the Revolu- tion in support of the cause of liberty. William Cagle and his father were likewise defenders of the colonists and aided in winning American independence. In times of peace William Cagle devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits and became a successful and influential farmer of North Carolina. His children were: Henry John, Herman, Isaac, Jane, Martha and Kate.

All were members of the Methodist church and the family was one whose record is indeed com- mendable.

Herman Cagle, father of our subject, was reared in North Carolina, where he was mar- ried. Later he removed to Georgia and was a prominent and successful farmer of that state. He never owned slaves, was an opponent of the war, was opposed to secession and was a stanch champion of the Union cause, but was too old to enter the army. His home was in the midst of a district where both the Union and Confederate troops foraged, not only taking his crops, but also his horses and other prop- erty, so that his estate greatly depreciated in value. He never desired to figure in public life, but preferred to live as a quiet, unassuming farmer, giving his attention to the faithful per- formance of each day's duties. He was honor- able and upright at all times and his name was above reproach. His wife, who died in 1886, was a daughter of Bartholomew Dunn, a well known Methodist divine, who followed the cir- cuit for many years and also devoted his atten- tion to agricultural pursuits. He was well known and highly respected and his last days were spent in North Carolina, his death being the occasion of deep and wide-spread regret, for all who knew him honored him. He was the father of twenty-three children, born of five marriages, including : Samuel, John, Isaac, William W., Greenberry, Hannah, Nancy, who became Mrs. Cagle; Sarah, Dorcas, Winnie, Ruth and others whose names are forgotten.

To Mr. and Mrs. Herman Cagle were born six children: A. P., whose name introduces this review: George H., who was a successful physician of Arkansas and was assassinated January 8, 1905; Mary, the wife of Joseph R. Reed: Martha, the wife of William Thomas and after his death of S. Cleghorn ; William W., deceased; and Jane, the wife of Joseph Pirkle, who died and she subsequently married Jesse Wood. Following the death of his first wife Herman Cagle was married to Miss Elizabeth Hall, a representative of a prominent family of Georgia, and there were three children of that union, including Herman. The father was a Baptist in religious faith and was a man whose devotion to duty was one of his strong and salient characteristics.

A. P. Cagle was reared to the occupation of farming, early becoming familiar with the du- ties and labors that fall to the lot of the agricul- turist. He acquired a good education and when seventeen years of age secured a first-grade teacher's certificate, after which he taught ,

290

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

school for five terms. He also read law and was ready for admission to the bar, but through the influence of his mother he abandoned his intention of becoming a lawyer and never prac- ticed. He likewise prepared himself for the. profession of civil engineering and to this has given his attention to a greater or less extent throughout his entire life, yet carrying on sur- veying to a considerable degree.

In January, 1861, Mr. Cagle was united in marriage to Miss Nancy E. Pirkle, an accom- plished lady, who was born in Georgia and proved to him a splendid helpmate on life's journey. She was born in 1839 and was a daughter of Colonel John and Sarah (Lawless) Pirkle, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Virginia. Colonel Pirkle was a man of broad mind, much business sagacity and enterprise and became a prosperous farmer and distiller. He owned many slaves and was a wealthy man of his community, influential in public life, yet without aspirations for office. He was a devoted member of the Baptist church, and a kindly spirit and helpful disposi- tion made him honored and esteemed by all with whom he was associated. His death oc- curred in Georgia in 1871. He lost his first wife in 1862, after which he married again, his second union being with Jane McDonald, by whom he had three children: Samuel, Rhoda J. and one who died in childhood. The children of the first marriage were: Harriet, Sally, Bethany, Delilah, Elizabeth, Martha, Serena, Jennie, Mrs. Nancy Cagle, Emily, John T. and Princeton P., the last named a successful mer- chant of Georgia.

At the time of his marriage Captain Cagle settled with his bride upon a farm, to which he gave his attention until after the outbreak of the Civil war. He was opposed to secession and used his influence against the movement, but when the south had voted to withdraw from the Union he remained true to his state and its people, being among the first to take up arms in defense of the south and among the last to lay them down. He enlisted in 1862 as a private in an infantry regiment and was detailed for service in the commissary depart- ment, with which he continued until August, 1864. He was in General Lee's army with the First Georgia Regulars and in 1864 he raised a company of cavalry and joined Graham's bat- talion, which was assigned to the army of Tennessee and Georgia, with which Captain Cagle was connected until the close of the war, surrendering at Kingston, Georgia, in May, 1865. He was never wounded nor cap-

tured, although he saw all of the horrors and hardships of war and underwent the exposure meted out to the soldier. During the first two years of his service he took part in all of the important engagements of Lee's army and with the cavalry troops opened the fights and guarded the rear of the divisions. Following the close of hostilities he returned home, where he was met by his wife, who with brave and earnest spirit encouraged him in his attempt to make a new start. The negroes had been freed, the property had been destroyed through the ravages of war and then came the period of re- construction and carpet-bag rule.

Captain Cagle decided to enter the dry goods business and he secured the first commission issued in Hall county, Georgia, from Major Wiliber, of Chicago, who loaned him money to pay for the license. He then started for At- lanta to buy goods. He had only eight dollars and twenty-five cents in money, but he there formed the acquaintance of a Mr. Law, of New York City, who sold him three hundred dollars' worth of goods on credit. He took his own horse and hiring a mule thus had a team with which he began peddling goods, taking produce in exchange. The zeal and energy which have ever been strong characteristics of Captain Cagle stood him in good stead then and in six months' time his success was assured, for his debts were paid and he had a stock of goods on hand. At that time he relinquished peddling and established a store, thus making sale of merchandise. He had previously bought his goods on credit, but a friend, seeing that he was successful, loaned him ten thousand dollars without interest and thus he was enabled to make a good start. From the beginning pros- perity attended his labors and at the end of three years all of his indebtedness was dis- charged and he had a very gratifying capital at his command.

Later Captain Cagle received the govern- ment appointment to take the census of Jack- son county, Georgia. This was in the year 1870 and he sold out his business and completed the census, after which he bought a tract of land on a new railroad and platted the town of Flowery Branch. There he built a hotel, which he conducted for a time, and he also received the appointment of postmaster and conducted a mercantile enterprise. He was successful in founding the town and in instituting its busi- ness interests and there he remained for two years, after which he again sold out. In 1873 he disposed of his home in Georgia and came to Texas, locating first in Falls county, where

291

HISTORY OF NORTH AND WEST TEXAS.

he rented a farm and remained for a year. He afterward went to Clay county, where he pur- chased a large tract of land in the Big Wichita valley, beginning its improvement, but a year later he sold out, losing fifty cents per acre on his investment, although the land is now worth twenty-five dollars per acre. At that time he removed to Sherman and accepted a clerkship in a general store, where he remained for a year, when he leased a farm near Van Alstyne and when twelve months had passed he pur- chased land in the western part of Cooke coun- ty, becoming owner of three hundred acres, which he improved into a good farm, conduct- ing it successfully for a number of years. He then leased that property and again resumed merchandising, this time at St. Jo, where he conducted a store for three years.

Captain Cagle was then elected county sur- veyor of Montague county, closed out his business and established his home in the town of Montague, where he conducted surveying for two years. In 1893 he went to Oklahoma in the capacity of a civil engineer and located claims for people, while later he removed to Comanche county and followed the same busi- ness, having an office at Lawton. An extensive clientage was accorded him, so that his business proved profitable. When in Cooke county Cap- tain Cagle was made state lecturer for the grange and he was a director of the Dallas Ex- change in the city of Dallas. In more recent years he has been engaged in surveying in Chickasaw nation and locating claims for the Indians. In 1904 he was appointed claim agent for the purpose of collecting pay for the Con- federates who lost horses and personal property taken from them by the Federal army during the war of the rebellion. He is likewise pen- sion agent and is agent for the Atlanta Con- stitution, being a close friend of its founder, Henry Grady. It will thus be seen that Cap- tain Cagle is an all-around business man equal to any emergency. He has a spirit of daring that more conservative people would perhaps censure, but his keen sagacity and enterprise have guided his movements and it is seldom, if ever, that his judgment has been at fault.

To Captain and Mrs. Cagle have been born eight children: Tyler Z., a Baptist minister now living at Decatur, Texas; John A., a dry goods merchant at Whitewright, Texas; Her- man J., a stock farmer in the Indian Territory ; William P., a stock farmer and trader at Mem- phis, Texas ; Molly E., who became the wife of C. Whitehead, of Lawton, Texas, who died in September, 1903, leaving two children; Mrs.

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 59

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