USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 42
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 42
USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 42
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 42
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 42
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 42
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lor, when, in February, 1886, he came to Rockdale and became superintendent for Thompson & Company in the Immber busi- hess. Ile was at this for three and a half years, when J. E. Theker of Taylor and him- self formed a partnership in the Imber busi- ness at Rockdale, which continued till Jann- ary, 1892, at which date Mr. Lockwood bonght his partner's interest and is now alone. He has abont an $5,000 stock of inm- ber and does a business of $30,000 a year. He also owns some good real estate in Rock- dale and stock in two or three of its local en- terprises. Ile is not only a competent bnsi- ness man, as these facts show, but a public- spirited citizen whose best wishes are for the prosperity of his town and who contributes liberally of his means toward that end.
October 19, 1892, Mr. Lockwood married Miss Emma Bagley, and a native of Burleson county, Texas, and a daughter of William HI. and E. T. Bagley, of Alabama, who moved to this State about 1852. Ile and his wife are members of the churelt, he of the Method- ist, of which he is Steward, and Superintend- ent of Snuday-schools, and she of the Cum- berland Presbyterian. He is also a Royal Arch Mason, a member of the Knights of Ilonor and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
M RS. ELIZABETII II. DEATS, of Webberville, Travis county, is the widow of Paul Deats, for many years a farmer on the banks of the Colorado river, below Anstin. He was born in Germany, Angust 9, 1829, a son of Andrew and Mary Deats, also natives of that country. In the early '30s the family came to Bastrop. Texas. Mr. Deats was married in Bastrop county, Angust 29, 1850, and they continued to re-
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side there until 1858. when they located in Llano county, for better stock privileges. After a residence there of about fifteen years, he bought the farm which Mrs. Deats still owns, located two and a half miles below Austin, where he died June 11, 1885. Mr. Dents was respected by all who knew him, and is mourned by a large cirele of friends. Ile was a Democrat in his political views, was a Master Mason, and, although not a member of any church, was a moral mau during his entire lifetime. Mr. and Mrs. Deats had seven children: Mary E., at home; Thomas A. married Annie Elkins of Mitch- ell county, and now resides in Comanche county; Lanra, deceased at the age of two years and ten months; Robert A. married Jane Burleson and lives near his mother; Eliza, wife of Thomas Thrasher, of Travis county; Martha F., wife of Rufus Burleson and lives near her mother: Paul M. married Eunice Banks and resides with his mother.
Mrs. Deats, the subject of this sketch, was born in Coweta county, Georgia, a daughter of Burrel and Elizabeth (Sorrels) Ware. The family came to Bastrop county in 1840, and located on the Colorado river, fourteen miles below the town of Bastrop, where the parents both died. Mrs. Deats lived at the old home near Anstin until 1891, when she erected a beautiful little home near Webberville, and will pass the remaining days among her chil- dren and grandchildren.
North Carolina. The grandfather of our subject, John Wilson, lived in that State during the Revolutionary war, and the fa- ther was also born and raised to manhood there. At the age of fourteen years he vol- unteered to go to Jackson's aid at New Orleans, but the battle was over before his company reached the scene. A few years afterward he emigrated to Tennessee, where, iu Rutherford county, in 1817, he married Mary May. She died in 1838. They were the parents of ten children, ouly two of whom are now. living, -John C., our sub- ject; and Rebecca, wife of S. Webb, of Eureka Springs, Arkansas. In 1840 the father married Rhoda Manor, of Rutherford county, and in 1850 they located on the Colorado river, in the neighborhood known as Hornby's Bend, Travis county, Texas, where Mr. Wilson died in 1852. His wid- ow survived him about thirty years. They had six children, four now living, -D. M., a real-estate dealer of Austin; Don, a mer- chant of that city; Scott, also of Austin; and Elizabeth, now Mrs. Alley, of Travis connty.
John C. Wilson, the subjectof this sketch, was born and raised in Tennessee, but came to Texas when a young man, in 1847. On arriving in Travis county he found a com- pany forming for the Mexican war, and he immediately enlisted in Benjamin Hill's company, which was a part of Hays' regi- ment, and went to the front. They arrived too late to take part in any of the battles, and the company disbanded on Nneces river. after which Mr. Wilson entered Baylor's company at Monterey, and served until peace was declared. In 1853 he located on his
LOHN. C. WILSON, of Travis county, Texas, was born in Rutherford county, Tennessee, December 23, 1825, a con John and Mary Nach (May) Wilson. The present farm af 600 acres, five miles south Wilson family are of Irish descent, and of Austin. 300 acres of which is under a moved from Tennessee to Rowan county, fine state of cultivation. At the time of
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the Civil war Mr. Wilson did not feel it his duty to leave his family until the strng- gle had nearly clo-ed. when he entered a company and served in Arkansas and Lonis- iana. Politically, he is a stanneh Democrat, and has voted that ticket from 1848, for Lewis Cass, to 1892, for Cleveland. Ile is a Master Mason, and a member of the Methodist Church.
Mr. Wilson was married May 31, 1854, in Travis county, to Mildred R. Smith, who was born in Tennessee but came to Texas with her father in 1850. She was a daughter of William Smith, a Primitive Bap- tist minister. Our subject and wife had twelve children, viz .: Mary E., now Mrs. W. W. Puckett, of Buda, Texas; William S., of Travis county: Annie W., wife of J. T. McGee, of HIntto, this State; John M., also of Travis connty; J. B., a resident of Gran- ger; Mildred E., now Mrs. W. D. Miller, of this county; Sallie B., wife of Millo Sloss, of Granger; and D. M., Robert Lee, Benjamin HI., Albert S. and Edna, at home. The wife and mother died March 27, 1892, having been a consistent member of the Methodist Church. She was a helpmate to her hus- band, a kind aud affectionate mother, and a good neighbor.
ages, and was held in high esteem in the neighborhood in which he lived. Mrs. Sei- ders, also a member of the Congregational Church, was an exemplary woman. Mr. and Mrs. Seiders are both now deceased. They were the parents of seven children: Henry, John, Ambrose, William, Elizabeth, Jane and Edward, all now deceased, but lived to ages ranging from seventy to ninety years.
Edward Seiders, the subject of this sketch, was born in Lincohi county, Maine, Febrn- ary 27, 1813. . At the age of seventeen years he began teaching a winter school as a means for further edneation, and later spent one year in a seminary. At the age of twenty years he found employment as clerk in a wholesale dry-goods house in Boston, but finding that occupation too confining he ac- cepted a position as traveling salesman for the same firm, which he continued about two years. In 1834, on account of lung trouble, Mr. Seiders removed to New Orleans, where lie was employed as shipping clerk in the Andrews Bros. dry-goods house, but was also obliged to abandon that position on ac- connt of ill health. At that time yellow fever became an epidemic, but as he was abont to leave the city his doctor told him his life was not worth running for, and he remained, contracted the fever, and was enred of hemorrhages. Mr. Seiders then went by water to Victoria, thence to Brazoria, where he was engaged in the mercantile business two years, and next removed to Austin. In the latter city he embarked in the grocery and livery business, and in 1850 located on his farm hear Seiders Springs, which was named in his honor. He first lived in a log honse built by his father-in-law. Mr. Seiders made his own way in the world from the
E DWARD SEIDERS, deceased, was a son of Jacob and Mary Seiders, natives of Maine. The father lived and died in Waldborough, that State, was a farmer by occupation, served as sheriff of his native county, was a Democrat in his po- litical relations, and an active member and Deacon in the Congregational Church. He gave his children good educational advant- age of seventeen years, and, notwithstanding
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poor health, was successful in all his under- takings. llis death occurred in Austin, June 16, 1892.
In 1846 our subject was united in mar- riage to Louisa Maria White, a daughter of Gideon White, who was killed by Indians near Seiders Springs. To this nion were born three children: Edward G., a jeweler of Kansas City, Missouri; Henry B., a railroad contractor of Taylor, Texas; and Pinkney, a farmer by occupation, and a resident of Anstin. The wife and mother died in 1854, having been a member of the First Presby- terian Church. Mr. Seiders was again mar- ried January 20, 1858, to Letitia Lewis, a daughter of John E. and Ant (Scott) Lewis. The father served in the war for Texas, took part in the battle of San Jacinto, was present at the capture of Santa Anna, and served as a gunsmith in Sam Houston's army. The mother now resides in Austin. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis had thirteen children, viz .: Will- iam, deceased; John; James; Jacob, de- ceased; Letitia, wife of our subject; Phebe, wife of Edd Spencer, of Fayette county, Texas; Emily, a deaf inte, who was the first female student in the Deaf and Dumb Col- lege, at Austin, and has been a teacher there for twenty-five years; Mary, deceased, was the wife of James George; Alfred, deceased; All- na Lanra, now Mrs. John Taylor, of Fayette connty: Nellie, wife of J. T. W. Lowe, assist- ant editor of the Mercury, of Dallas; Jesse, a farmer of Milam county; and Bessie, wife of II. B. Beck. of Austin. Mr. and Mrs. Sei- ders have had five children: John, a stockman of San Saba county, has served as County Commissioner of that county; Jefferson D., proprietor of the Texas City Transfer. of Tay- lor; Robert L, clerk in a hardware store in San Saba county: Arthur James, at the old home place in Austin; and Alfred at home.
Mr. Seiders was identified with the Demo- cratie party, and, although not a member of any church, was a liberal supporter of the sauine. Ile was a man of even temper, jovial disposition, was well informed and charit- able, and was respected by all who knew him.
D R. L. J. TURNER, physician and surgeon of Rockdale, Milam county, is a native of Spartanburg district, South Carolina, where he was born April 21, 1839. Ilis parents were also uatives of South Carolina, his father, Peyton Turner, having been born in Spartanburg district, in 1817, and his mother, whose maiden name was Lu- einda Grimes, in Newberry district, in 1823. The parents were married in their native State, and resided there until 1856, when they emigrated to Texas, settling in Bell connty. In that county, their children, eight in nin- ber, were principally reared.
The second of these, Losson Jolin, the subject of this notice, received his literary education at Spartanburg, South Carolina, and returning to that place in 1859 read medicine with an old friend of his father's, Dr. Row- land, and later entered the medical college at Charleston, where he had taken one course of lectures when the war opened. He entered the Confedeate army in 1861, enlisting in Company I, Ninth South Carolina Infantry. He served in this command in the capacity of Orderly Sergeant, First Lientenant and Cap- tain, commanding the company for nearly two years, when he resigned and joined Com- pany A. Eighth Texas (Terry's Texas rangers). with which he served till the close of the war. lle took part in most of the engagements that were fought on Virginia and Maryland soil during his connection with the army operat-
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ing in that locality, and when he was placed with the army in the West he was in all of the Georgia campaign and with Hood on his return into Tennessee, taking part in all the battles in which his command participated in Tennessee and Georgia. At the close of the war he resumed his medical studies and grad- uated at the Georgia Medical College, at Au- gusta, in 1867.
Returning to Texas, he located at Cameron, Milam county, where he immediately took up the practice of his profession. Ile had been at that place but a short time when, on ac- connt of the death of Dr. Wiley, of the San Gabriel and Little River country, he was called to that locality, and served the people there until his recent removal to Rockdale.
In 1869 Dr. Turner married Miss Georgie Randle, of Washington county, Texas, a daughter of William Randle, an old Texan, mention of whom will be found in the sketch of John T. Randle, which appears elsewhere in this volume. By this marriage the Doc- tor had two sons, Ira H. and Bailie P. The wife and mother died in 1878. The Doctor subsequently m irriel Miss Lulie Rasberry, of Milam county, a danghter of Josephns and Ella Rasberry, natives of Tennessee and Mis- sissippi respectively, who moved to Texas about 1885, Mrs. Turner being a native of Mississippi. One child has been the issue of this marriage-Engene Edgar.
While the medical profession has always numbered Dr. Turner as one of its most active members, he has also been identified with the farming community, and has taken grott interest in the agricultural affairs of the locality where he has resided. Ineluding his own and what is under his control. he has between 1,500 and 2.000 acres of land in this than the State of Texas. In 1863. when and other connties of this State, a large part of which is under cultivation. It is asa phy- concluded it was hi- duty to join the Federal
sician. however, that the Doctor is best known, and it is as a physician that he has done the work for which he will be longest remem- bered. lle has given to the practice of med- icine twenty-five years of the best part of his life, and during this time has done a vast amount of good for his fellow-men. In re- cent years he has retired somewhat from active practice, but still responds to calls when made by friends, and to all calls where he believes his services are really needed. Ile has nec- essarily done a great deal of charity practice, but it has been none the less faithfully done.
Ț HIOMAS W. NOLEN, of Travis county, Texas, was born in York district, Sonth Carolina, May 25, 1820, a son of Will- iam and Nancy (Irby) Nolen. At the age of thirteen years, Thomas W. moved with his parents to Mississippi, locating on what was then called the Chickasaw purchase, now Tippah county, where he grew to years of maturity. In 1850 he bronght his wife and two children to Travis county, Texas, and at that time Anstin contained but three stores and a few residences. The State house was a frame structure, made of cedar posts and ench native lumber as could be had, present- ing a great contrast to the present magnifi- cent building. In 1851 Mr. Nolen came to his present farm. He has taken an interest in county affairs: in 1876 he was elected As- sessor of his county, holding that office one term, and also served one term as County Commissioner after the war. During the struggle he did not go with the majority of the State, having loved the old Union better General Banks was at Brownsville, Mr. Nolen
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this . H. Williams
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forces, and help his country against its enemies. He did so, and became a private in the First Texas Cavalry, and spent much of the time at New Orleans.
In Tippah county, Mississippi, March 18, 1846, our subject was united in marriage with Sarah Jane Stanley. They have ten children, namely: Mary E., deceased; Will- iam T., deceased; Nannie, wife of W. R. Davis, of Travis county; Martha, now Mrs. George Heisner, also of this county; Myra, wife of Jack Ileisner; Joli N., deceased; Bell Everett, of Ilaskell county, Texas; Henry C., of Anstin; Sidney F. and Wiley A., of Travis county.
Mr. Nolen has been a Republican in his political views since the war, and has been a member of the Masonic order since 1852, in which he has since held many offices.
HOMAS HIERBERT WILLIAMS, de. ceased, for twenty-three years a resi- dent of Milam county, a prominent and prosperous farmer, was born in the l'iekens distriet, Sonth Carolina, September 3, 1845, and was a son of William S. and Har- riet Worthington Williams, both of whom were also natives of South Carolina, the father born in Anderson district in the year 1811, and the mother in Newberry district in 1816. The parents were married in 1837 and had besides the subject of this notice three other children: Paul, who died in in- fancy; Amelia W., now the wife of Alfred Massengale of Milam county; and Fannie, the wife of John Holcomb of Austell, Georgia. The wife and mother died in 1847, and the father afterward married Carrie Feaster, by whom he had five children: Dru- sie M., Ilattie M., Nellie N., now Mrs. J.
W. Crocker, A. Erwin and Irene. The sen- ior Mr. Williams was for many years before the war a prosperons merchant of Pickens district, South Carolina, but was broken up by the ravages of the great confiict of 1861- '65, and about the year 1875 came to Texas and settled in Milam county, where he died in 1880.
Thomas Herbert Williams, the subject of this article, was reared in Pickens district, South Carolina, in the select schools of which he received a good preparatory education, and at the age of sixteen entered Pendleton college, where he had completed something like half of the prescribed course, when the war opened between the States. South Caro- lina being one of the most aggressive South- ern States in the secession movement, the in- fection soon spread to lier schools, and it was not long until the flower of her youth were enlisted and under arms. Young Williams entered the Confederate service at the first call for volunteers and served throughout the entire struggle, taking part in all the cam- paigns and engagements in which his con- mand participated. He was in thirty-two regular engagements and was twice wounded. Enlisting as a private, he rose to the position of Adjutant of his regiment, which he filled for about two years, though not regularly commissioned.
The war over and his family broken in for- tune, he came West to begin life under new conditions, settling in Milam county, this State, in the fall of 1866. He began his ca- reer here literally withont means, having bor- rowed the money with which to pay his ex- penses to the State. Ilis first employment was as a cotton picker. Shortly afterward he was fortunate enough to seenre a clerkship in a store at Maysfield, where he earned re- Emunerative wages and acquired a knowledge
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of the mercantile business that was very events, he never sought office of any kind serviecable to him in later years. By the nor became an over zealous participant in po- exercise of industry and economy he saved litical conventions or other gatherings. lie was a Democrat thronghont life and always supported the nominees of his party, and his home was always open to, and was regarded as a sort of political headquarters for aspir- ants in their tours over the county. His re- some means from his carnings, and in 1870 began business for himself in partnership with S. D. Whitley. He was engaged in the mercantile business nutil 1879, when, having purchased 600 acres of land in Little river bottom, he decided to withdraw from mercan- ; ligious connection was with the Presbyterian tile pursuits and engage in agrienlture. Church, in which he was a Deacon for a number of years and in the affairs of which he always manifested the liveliest interest.
Having married he moved ont to his place and at once began farming on a large and profitable scale. IIe later added 700 aeres :
Mr. William's marriage ocenrred on the to his original purchase. He opened addi- : 17th day of June, 1875, and was to Miss tional land each year and put the earnings of | Emma Massengale, a daughter of Alfred M. the farm in improvements, so that at his , and Emily Massingalc. Alfred M. Massen-
death ten years later he had one of the larg- gale was born in Alabama, in October, 1814. was a farmer by occupation, following this and stock-raising throughont life. . He moved to Texas in 1852, settling in Milam county, where he lived till his death, which ocenrred in 1874. He was three times mar- ried. His first marriage was to Miss Emily Bullard, by whom he had one child, Julia E. His second marriage was to Miss Emily Mc- Kinney, by whom he had the following children: Harris H., John, Columbus, Al- fred, Anna, Thomas and Emma. His third marriage was to Mrs. Carrie Slay, by whom he had two children, Mary D. and Perry S. Mrs. Williams, the youngest of the second marriage above mentioned, was born in Coosa county, Alabama, October 23, 1852, and was reared in Milain county, this State, whither her parents moved two years later. She was educated in the local schools, receiv- ing the benefit of good training, having at- tended Port Sullivan Academy, then the best school in the county. Being brought up on est, best improved and most desirable places in the Little river or Brazos bottom country. This farm, since condneted on the same gen- erons and efficient plan by his widow, has been placed almost entirely under cultivation. and has on it, including what was placed there during Mr. William's life and what has been done since, improvements of the valne of several thousand dollars. It is also well stocked not only with serviceable farm stock, but also with some thoroughbred and high- grade horses and cattle, of which Mr. Will- iams was a great admirer, Mrs. Williams sharing his tastes in this direction and being no less successful in the selection, breeding and handling of the same. Mr. Williams took an interest in his farming and stock- raising pursuits that was akin to enthusiasm. and the snecess that he achieved in these was attributable to the zeal and intelligence with which he proseented them. Ilis thought centered in his home and his business inter- ests, and, while he gave due attention to the the farm and under the watchful care of in- progress of affairs around him and was a telligent parents, she was as much schooled reader and thoughtful observer of passing in the practical management of the affairs of
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the farm as in books, and was therefore en- abled to lend her husband most efficient aid in the acquirement of the large estate which he died possessed of, and which she has so successfully managed since his death.
Mr. and Mrs. Williams were the parents of seven children, five of whom are living: Amelia W., Hattie E., Carrie S., Julia E. and Virginia Kentucky.
Mr. Williams is spoken of by those who knew him long and intimately in terms of great respect. All agree in saying that he was kind and aceommodating to his neigh- bors, steadfast in his friendships and devoted unreservedly to his family. Ile was not only moral but religious, and endeavored so far as he could to make his life an acceptable fulfillment of the golden rule. ITis death was a gennine loss to the community in which he lived, and was sincerely monrned by his many friends and acquaintances. In personal appearance he possessed a somewhat striking figure, being full six feet in height, and weighing about 115 pounds, being very erect and of a good carriage, had dark hair, large gray eyes and a calm, untroubled conn- tenance. No man ever grasped his hand and met the steady glance of his eye without be- ing impressed with his personality, and no one was ever under his roof withont being touched by the mellowest virtues of his race -simple, unsparing human kindness and hospitality. .
Webberville. They have watched the little town grow from a single house and store to a thriving trading point, doing more busi- ness than even the capital city, but lost its prestige on account of being snubbed by the railroad. Mr. Wood is a son of William and Nancy (Simms) Wood. This family have been tillers of the soil for many generations. The father was born and raised in Georgia, and after marriage located in Madison coun- ty, Alabama, where his children were also raised. Mr. and Mrs. Wood raised the following family: Andrew J., Samintha, William, Thomas, Bettie, Kittie, James, Polly and Nancy. All are now deceased but the subject of this sketch. The eldest son, Andrew J, was named after the famous president, who in his "fighting " days often stopped at the Wood home. The mother of these children died in Alabama, in 1849, and the father afterward started to come to our sub- ject's home in Texas, but died at Houston, while en route.
James Wood was born in Madison county, Alabama, on Christmas day, 1831. At the age of eighteen years, in company with his brother William and several neighbor boys, he etarted overland to Texas. The party had but one wagon, which was heavily loaded, and it was necessary for all but the driver to walk, and thus Mr. Wood literally walked to Texas. November 7, 1849, they landed at Webber's prairie, and Mr. Wood immedi- He died February 28, 1890, and was bur- ied at Little River church, Milam connty. ately rented the twenty-five acres now form- ing the sontheastern corner of his present farin, where he made his first crop, receiving fifty bushels of corn to the acre. He con- tinned to rent land for a number of years, AMES WOOD is one of the few remain- but, as success attended his efforts, he pur- ing members of the " Old Guard " who chased property, and now owus 510 acres, have through many years of storm and making one of the finest farms in Colorado sunshine enltivated the rich fields about | valley. He has 250 acres of his place under a
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