USA > Texas > Navarro County > History of Navarro County > Part 15
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Major Beaton was intensely pleased with the appear- ance of Navarro County and immediately settled here to make this his permanent home. He first worked in
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
the county clerk's office under R. N. White, continu- ing his law studies at night and in his spare time. La- ter Major Beaton was admitted to the bar and he and R. Q. Mills were law partners.
In 1852 Major Beaton married Miss Elizabeth J. Mc- Kinney and they had three children, Ralph, Kate (Mrs. S. W. Johnson), and Thomas Ruffin.
He was very fond of his home South of town, call- ed Gem Hill, his library and his collection of miner- als. He also had a large collection of arrow heads, all of which were found on his own farm.
During his entire lifetime Major Beaton worked un- tiringly toward furthering the success of Corsicana. In appreciation of his efforts toward securing the rail- road the principal street in Corsicana is named in his honor.
Both Major Beaton and his good wife are buried in Oakwood Cemetery amid beautiful surroundings he loved so well.
Samuel R. Frost was born in Montgomery County in 1846 and his family moved to Navarro County in the same year. Mr. Frost grew up on his father's farm in the Dresden-Raleigh community and went to school until he joined the Confederate Army at the age of seventeen. After returning from the War in 1869 he began reading law and was admitted to the bar. He was appointed county attorney of Navarro County and elected county judge in 1876. In addition
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to holding local offices he was also district judge and a member of the Legislature.
Judge Frost married Mary L. Winkler and they lived for many years on Third Avenue where the Tatum and Eden homes now stand. As the town of Corsicana grew Judge Frost moved to the Southwest edge of town and built a new and finer home and planted trees and shrubs which he so much loved.
A. N. Justiss and George E. Jester are each a son-in- law of Judge Frost and the other sons-in-law are Max Almond, R. L. Calkins and Guy Gibson.
The John S. Gibson family was among the prominent early settlers of Corsicana and Miss Mollie Gibson, the only one surviving, who still lives in the old Gibson home, retains the traditions of her family.
J. L. Halbert was one of the pioneer lawyers in Cor- sicana, coming to Texas after his graduation from the University of Mississippi about the year 1858. He was captain of a company during the Civil War and after returning was also a partner of R. Q. Mills until Col. Mills was elected to Congress in 1872. Capt. Hal- bert enjoyed a large practice and in 1873 was voted the most popular man in Navarro County and given a gold- headed cane.
Judge Halbert is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Groce of Waxahachie, Mrs. Roseborough of Marshall and Mrs. J. K. Parr of Hillsboro as well as one son, J. L. Halbert, Jr. (Josh Halbert died in 1930). His son fol- lowed in his father's footsteps, being not only an out-
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standing lawyer but highly respected citizen of the community.
One of the well-known pioneer citizens of Navarro County was Merit Drane who settled on 640 acres of land seven miles West of the town in 1860. Mr. Drane was one of the first to successfully cultivate the black, waxy soil. He moved into Corsicana in 1874 and oper- ated a hardware and implement store known as Drane & Gibson until S. J. T. Johnson bought out the Gibson interest. Mr. Johnson retired in 1885 and the business was carried on by Merit Drane and his son, F. N. Drane under the designation of Drane & Son.
Mr. Drane, Sr., was active in helping to establish the State Orphans' Home, cotton compress, city water- works and the Texas Flour Mill, as well as being in- strumental in fostering the present efficient school system of Corsicana.
The business qualifications of Merit Drane seem to have been inherited by his son, Frank N. Drane, who has since that time been concerned with much of the welfare of Corsicana and the county. Mrs. Florence Drane, wife of F. N. Drane was prominent in civic, re- ligious and educational affairs-and when she died in 1932, was a member of the board of trustees of Tech- nological College at Lubbock, Texas. Their daughter, Dorothy, lives in Corsicana.
Roger Q. Mills, was one of the outstanding citi- zens of Corsicana for two generations. Col. Mills began the practice of law in Corsicana in 1856. In
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-Photo Courtesy Tessie Dickeson Studio.
2.69
Top: Honorable Roger Q. Mills, one of the outstanding men of Texas during his lifetime.
Bottom: The R. Q. Mills Home on Second Avenue, now the home of Major C. H. Mills.
PIONEER FAMILIES
1853 acted as overseer in opening up a road from Cor- sicana to Waxahachie. One position of honor after another was bestowed upon R. Q. Mills, and he filled all of these with distinction and ability. In 1859 he was elected a member of the Legislature and from a pri- vate in the Civil War he rose by sheer bravery and ef- ficiency to the post of colonel in command. Col. Mills returned to Corsicana and resumed his practice of law and in 1872 was elected to the United States Senate. He was for ten years a member of the Ways and Means Committee and a bill which he promulgated in 1888 greatly enhanced his reputation.
Col. R. Q. Mills married Miss Caroline R. Jones in 1858. Mrs. Mills died in 1907 and four years later, September 2, 1911, Col. Mills was laid to rest beside his companion of fifty years.
Col. Mills was a great lover of nature, very fond of good books and throughout his life loved his fellow men.
Major Charles Mills, the son of Col. Roger Q. Mills, lives in the Mills home which is preserved as his father planned it many years ago.
The Jester family is closely interwoven with the so- cial and economic life of Navarro County. The first member of this outstanding family was Mrs. Diadema Jester, the widow of Levi Jester, who came to Texas with her children in a covered wagon about 1858. Her father, Hampton McKinney, with his family, settled in Navarro County some years before Mrs. Jester arrived.
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Shortly after the arrival of Mrs. Jester her two old- est sons, Charles and George, began hauling brick with which the first brick court house was erected. Records indicate the two boys earned 50c a day each for their labor. Besides the three sons there were two daugh- ters, Vina (Mrs. Robt. Bates), Mary (Mrs. J. D. Hamil- ton). The Jester family for a time lived near where the telephone building now stands and across the street from what was then the R. N. White home. A short distance East of their home was a beautiful grove of oak and persimmon trees which was a favorite place for gatherings of all kinds. Sam Houston spoke in this grove and around the Jester home many warm discus- sions on topics of the day occurred. By strange coinci- dence temperance was then one of the foremost topics of political debate and from that time until the pres- ent has continued to be so.
The two Jester boys, who helped erect the court house, entered business, Charles buying out the Jerni- gan Saddle Shop and George T. Jester entering the world of finance. His wife, Frances Gordon Jester, and son, Beauford Jester, and family, live in Jester Place, Corsicana.
C. W. Jester was for years a leading member of the business and religious life of Corsicana and helped erect the first Methodist Church which was built in 1871. The early records of this church are still treas- ured by Judge C. L. Jester, his son.
George E. Jester, banker, C. L. Jester, a prominent Corsicana lawyer, Dr. Homer Jester and Hugh Jester
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Honorable George T. Jester (Deceased) Lieutenant Governor of Texas 1895-99
PIONEER FAMILIES
are descendants of this pioneer family, as are Mrs. Josh Halbert and Mrs. Lowry Martin.
The Kerr family began with James and Nancy Ross Kerr who came to Corsicana December 24, 1851. James Kerr, Jr., married when he reached Texas and built a home on fourteen acres of land, lying on what is now West Second Avenue. This home was built of lumber hauled from East Texas by ox wagons.
The elder James Kerr died about 1859 and Mrs. Kerr, Sr., died in 1865. James Kerr, Jr., moved to the corner of Fifteenth Street, which was then call- ed Church Street and Third Avenue, which was for- merly known as Jefferson Street, and resided at this location until his death in 1901. He was one of the committee to labor for months to secure the H. & T. C. railroad for Corsicana. His son, T. P. Kerr, lives in Corsicana.
Dr. William Kerr, Judge S. H. Kerr, Dr. Green Kerr and C. P. Kerr came to Corsicana in November, 1852, operating a general merchandise store on the Southeast corner of the square until the Civil War. T. P. Kerr and Hawkins Roberts' store was formerly located on the corner of Collins and Beaton Streets and this institu- tion was housed in the first brick store building on Beaton Street, located at the point now occupied by the State National Bank Building. Hawk Roberts married James Kerr's daughter, America.
William Kerr, of another family of Kerrs, was given a league of land near Chatfield for his serv-
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
ices in guarding the baggage at the Battle of San Ja- cinto.
The members of the Kerr family and their descend- ants are now and have been since the earliest days an integral part of the life of Navarro County.
Wm. A Polk, with his father, Thos. M. Polk and fam- ily, moved to Texas at the close of the Civil War, and located four miles South of Dresden. In 1866, Wm. A. Polk went to Hernando, Miss., and returned with his bride, Miss Mattie Mosely. The concert grand piano, a part of her dowry, was brought also, and afforded much pleasure to her family and friends, for she was an ac- complished musician.
Mr. Polk was elected as one of the first Master Ma- sons at Dresden, and was prominent in the community while at Dresden and also after he moved to Corsicana, where he spent many years of his life, and where his family of four sons and three daughters grew up. The sons were Emmett, Ed M., Arthur and Louis. The daughters Iza (died in youth), Ressa (Mrs. Henry Mil- ler) and Daisy (Mrs. J. S. Murchison).
N. H. Butler moved from Georgia to Robertson County in 1845 and lived first in a log house located on land falling within the confines of Corsicana when this town was settled. Mr. Butler built wagons and buggies and his business prospered during the years.
Of his seven children four of them still live in Corsi- cana, these being John Butler, J. E. Butler, Mrs. Ora Ivey and Mrs. C. T. Banister. One of his daughters
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now resides in Kerens. The youngest daughter, Mrs. Banister, was voted the most beautiful girl in Corsica- na and a park near the railroad station was named in her honor. It is now called Allyn Park.
Jessie Walton and his family came to Corsicana from Tennessee in 1845. Mr. Walton was sheriff of Navar- ro County from 1854 to 1858, moving to Glen Rose some few years later and remaining at this place un- til his death in 1890.
J. L. Walton, who was the son of the above men- tioned pioneer, followed in his father's footsteps by be- ing elected sheriff and serving in this capacity from 1884 until 1886. He lived about four miles Northeast of Corsicana and now lies in the private family ceme- tery on his farm.
T. J. Walton, who is a grandson of Jesse, and son of J. L. Walton, is in the furniture business in Corsicana at the present time and has been for 24 years.
The Petty family came to Navarro County about 1846, and their farm still belongs to members of this pioneer family.
The first road to Dallas went by the Petty farm and many of the early travelers stopped there for a cooling drink or to rest their horses on the journey. National Highway No. 75 now passes through the Petty farm and today it is a matter of an hour's ride to cover what once required one or more days of arduous travel.
P. F. Wood came to Navarro County from Washing-
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
ton County soon after the Civil War and was appoint- ed county judge. The family of Judge P. F. Wood has been prominent in the affairs of Navarro County since the early days. The five daughters were Mrs. Alice (Mrs. W. H.) Matchett, Mrs. Ellen Read, Mrs. Fannie Rous, Mrs. Maggie (Mrs. J. B.) Stiteler and Mrs. Lena Rice, wife of Judge John H. Rice, F. P. Wood, a son, died a few years ago. James Wood, who married a daughter of R. Q. Mills, and Percy Wood both left Cor- sicana many years ago.
F. W. Caruthers came to Corsicana with the coming of the H. & T. C. railroad and engaged in the lumber, hardware and implement business. His home was one of the first brick houses in Corsicana and it has now been made into the electric freight office. The story of Mr. Caruthers is intertwined with that of another pio- neer, J. E. Whiteselle. Mr. Caruthers noticed from time to time the neat and efficient manner in which bills of lumber were rendered from a mill at Neches, Texas, and upon inquiry found that the man responsi- ble for this excellent workmanship was J. E. Whiteselle, who was then a young man in the employ of the Ezell Lumber Mills. Mr. Caruthers offered Mr. Whiteselle employment and in 1875 J. E. Whiteselle joined the Caruthers Lumber Company. After some years Mr. Whiteselle bought out this lumber business and opera- ted it until his death. Mr. Whiteselle married Miss Katie Huey in 1882 and Mrs. Whiteselle still retains her interest in social, civic, and educational affairs in Corsicana.
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Judge J. E. Simkins, a native of South Carolina, ser- ved in the Confederate Army during the Civil War and came to Corsicana in 1871, engaging in the practice of law until he was appointed district attorney in 1872. In 1882 he was appointed regent of the University of Texas and was twice reappointed to this post of respon- sibility. In 1886 Judge Simkins was elected to the 20th Legislature and was re-elected to the 21st. In 1892 he was appointed by Governor Hogg as a member of the Court of Appeals. Mrs. Simkins was formerly Miss El- la Trescott, also of South Carolina, and of the five children reared in Corsicana only one son, Joe Simkins, has resided here continuously. The old Simkins home is a landmark on Second Avenue until this day.
R. M. Collins, who came to Navarro County in 1867, was a pioneer business man of Corsicana. He first re- sided twenty miles South of the town but moved to Cor- sicana in 1874, entering the grocery business on this date. Mr. Collins assisted in organizing the First Na- tional Bank, the cotton oil mill, the street railway, the flour mill and other industries. Mrs. Collins was formerly Miss Josephine Owen, a daughter of Francis Owen, who was an early settler in Navarro County.
Alf Milligan and D. J. Gilbert were both engaged in stock raising from an early date in Navarro County. Mr. Milligan married Deniza, a daughter of Mr. Gil- bert. Both were well known cattle men during the days when this was the major industry, in Navarro County. Mr. Milligan is also well known as a business man and bank director in Corsicana.
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
The two Edens brothers, J. W. and N. B., were also pioneer cattlemen, coming to Texas from Kentucky in 1867. The Edens brothers married sisters, daughters of Sheriff E. E. Dunn, who held this office eight years. He had six pretty daughters. All except one married Corsicana men. J. W. Edens was appointed deputy sheriff in 1876 under his father-in-law and was later elected tax collector. Worthy successors are their sons, J. W., now mayor of Corsicana, Allen, a grocer, and J. N., known to his friends as "Pole" and whose wisdom as a banker is widely known.
David Clary received a land grant on Richland Creek in 1830. It was settled by three of his sons, Mish, Jesse, and Frank. The cedar-log home built by Mish Clary is now part of the M. M. Dickson home. Part of the original grant was bought by T. W. Carpenter, son- in-law of M. M. Dickson.
T. W. Carpenter and his wife came to Texas from Tennessee soon after he finished serving throughout the Civil War. They reared their family of five daugh- ters and two sons on the farm purchased from Clary. Until he died in 1901, T. W. Carpenter was a man of vital energy and in his daily life put into practice the principles in which he believed.
M. M. Burgess was a pioneer school teacher in Na- varro County, having formerly resided in Hill County. After his return from the Civil War he and his wife, who was Miss Ellen Sparks, taught school in Raleigh, near Dresden, and had among their pupils Sam R. Frost, Bryan T. Barry and James Robinson. Mr. Bur-
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MR. AND MRS. THOMAS W. CARPENTER
PIONEER FAMILIES
gess was the father of Mrs. P. C. Townsend, one of Corsicana's best loved singers. Mr. Burgess was prom- inent in business circles of Corsicana for many years.
Preston M. Lea came to Corsicana in 1870. Mr. Lea has been engaged in ginning and farming for a gen- eration and was in public life as deputy sheriff for two years. His wife was Lida M. Garner, a daughter of Joel Garner, a pioneer Navarro County settler.
H. G. Damon came to Corsicana in 1873, opening a dry goods store. Business reverses, due to the yellow fever epidemic, caused him to discontinue the dry goods business and form a partnership with W. R. Bright. This firm was called the Texas Loan Agency and was one of the first of its kind incorporated in Texas. Mr. Damon's wife was Miss Maggie Rogers, the daughter of Col. W. P. Rogers, and his partner married Miss Helen Simonton, who still resides in Cor- sicana. Mr. Bright's daughter, Mrs. Eli Fox, has for several years been assistant county superintendent.
One of the pioneers in Navarro County was Joseph Huey, who came to Texas from Pennsylvania in 1851, moving to Corsicana in 1871 and with Capt. Garitty organized a private bank in 1886, which later became the First National Bank. Mr. Huey also went into part- nership with Simon Philp and he and his partner es- tablished a wholesale and retail hardware business in Dallas in 1872. This business still enjoys a deserved success. Mr. Huey was connected with various inter- prises all of which are a successful monument to his business sagacity. Of the three daughters of the Huey
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
family, including Mrs. Hughes and Mrs. A. V. Lane, only Mrs. J. E. Whiteselle continues to reside in Cor- sicana.
Capt. James Garitty's name has been intimately connected with so many Corsicana and Navarro Coun- ty enterprises that it would require an entire chapter to delineate all of them. He was, as mentioned above, one of the organizers of the First National Bank, con- nected with the cotton oil mill, the street railway and other outstanding enterprises. In his will a bequest was left to the poor of Navarro County and the interest of this fund is distributed annually. The family of Nick Garitty, a brother of Capt. James Garitty, still lives in Corsicana and is prominent in all enterprises which concern the town.
Among the pioneer families was an early sheriff of Navarro County whose very name was a terror to evil doers although his physique did not indicate his prow- ess. This man, affectionately known as "Little Bob" Cubley, came to Texas in 1857 and to Na- varro County in 1872. His first position in Corsicana was as a teacher in Professor J. C. Mimm's school but his record for law enforcement soon became known and he was tendered a position on the police force, which he accepted. Mr. Cubley served as constable and dep- uty sheriff and was elected sheriff in 1890. He had about him none of the swagger or false bravado and although small in stature he was absolutely fearless and it was said of him that he would "fight a circle saw with no gloves on".
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William H. Neblett and family moved to Texas from Virginia about 1834, removing to Corsicana about 1852. Mr. Neblett was one of the editors of the old "Na- varro Express". Mr. Neblett joined the Confederate Army and during the Civil War his family returned to their early home in Grimes County. R. S. Neblett, son of William H. Neblett, was prominent in Corsicana life from January 1, 1877, when he entered the practice of law here, until his death in 1918. He was a distinguish- ed lawyer, an earnest student and lover of nature. His two daughters, Mrs. Molloy and Mrs. Hagar, both live in Corsicana.
J. M. McCammon and wife, with his parents, moved from Alabama to Corsicana on November 21, 1871. They entered Corsicana on the first passenger train which came into the town when boarding houses were crowded and, while their welcome was warm, the climate was bitterly cold, since an early norther had brought snow and cold weather in its wake. Mr. Mc- Cammon entered partnership with W. A. Lang in 1892 and until 1930 the McCammon and Lang Lum- ber Company was an outstanding enterprise in Navarro County. Mr. McCammon died in 1911 and his son, W. P. McCammon, succeeded him operating the lumber company until it was sold to the Camer- on Lumber Company. Mrs. C. W. Taylor and Mrs. Ab Douglas are daughters of this pioneer business man.
For fifty years S. A. Pace was one of the outstanding citizens of Corsicana in both business and civic life. The S. A. Pace Wholesale Grocery Company was one of the largest and most successful firms in its line in the
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HISTORY OF NAVARRO COUNTY
entire region. Mr. Pace married Miss Achsa Eugenia Maddox, of Fairfield, in 1870, and of their five chil- dren two still live in Corsicana, these two being Homer E. Pace and Mrs. Frank King.
Judge J. M. Blanding moved from South Carolina to Corsicana in 1873 and began the practice of law. Judge Blanding has been associated with three other out- standing barristers; Judge Croft, Judge Frost and Judge Neblett. He was made president of the Navarro Bar Association in 1908 and held this post for many years. Mrs. Blanding was formerly Miss Cora Palmer, marrying Judge Blanding in 1880. After her death Judge Blanding relinquished the active practice of law and now makes his home with his daughter, Mrs. K. G. Stroud, who resides in Italy, Texas.
Another outstanding member of the legal profession of Corsicana is Judge Rufus Hardy who began the prac- tice of law in 1878 and was elected county attorney two years later. Judge Hardy was made district judge, which post he held for eight years, and in 1906 was elected to the United States Congress, continuing in this post of honor until 1923. Upon his resignation, in 1923, he was succeeded by Luther Johnson who was born and reared in Navarro County. Mrs. Hardy was formerly Miss Felicia Peck, daughter of Capt. Wil- liam M. Peck. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy were married in 1882 and reared a family of six children, of whom two, Mrs. R. N. Holloway and Mrs. J. Pierce, still live in Cor- sicana.
Before the industries occupied the major portion of
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that part of Corsicana lying East of the railroad tracks many citizens built their homes there, among them Capt. Martin and John S. Gibson, the Pinkston and McCammon families as well as the Curtis, Burnert, An- derson, Dunn, Clark, Johnson and Scales families. Only a few of these families still reside in their original location. Among them is Emil Frey, for many years a photographer in Corsicana, band leader and mu- sician. His wife was a Miss Bunert, and her sister, Mrs. Casey, lives across the street.
Bunert's Grove, on Seventh Avenue, was, in the Eighties, often the scene of picnics and band concerts.
The J. T. Sullivan family occupied a prominent place in Corsicana in the Eighties and Nineties, Sullivans' Shoe Store was a large one for the times. Shoes were made as well as sold. Mrs. Sullivan, although a delicate woman, was a leader in church and social and civic af- fairs. Their family, one son and three daughters, was brought up in Corsicana.
Among the loyal pioneer citizens of Corsicana, have been several Jewish families, besides those already mentioned were : David Deutchner and family, the Levi families, the Schwartz family, whose home was on the corner of Fifth Avenue and Main street, where the Na- varro Hotel now stands. Also there were the Jarets, long an important family in Corsicana, the Marks here for more than thirty years, the Rosenbergs, Gold- bergs, the Freedman family of long standing here, K. Wolens, now celebrating their thirty-fifth year in busi- ness here, the Simon Daniels, a large family, all in Cor-
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sicana, the Drebens, Cerf and Raphael, among the best of the town's citizens. Most of these old families are represented by descendants still living here.
Luther Johnson, although still a young man, has at- tained success as a lawyer. He is a member of Con- gress, having succeeded Judge Hardy. His wife, an able helpmate, was Miss Turner Read, daughter of Dr. M. S. Read, for many years a prominent dentist here.
G. A. Rakestraw, a native of Georgia, came to Texas in 1851 and for several years taught school. He was admitted to the bar later. He served as a soldier dur- ing the Civil War. Later he and his wife moved to Grape Creek, about 20 miles South of Corsicana, and reared their family, one son and six daughters, two of whom, Mrs. B. L. Davis and Mrs. C. W. Jester were Corsicana citizens. Mrs. Jester died some years ago.
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