USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 48
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 48
USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 48
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 48
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 48
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 48
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From 1865 to 1869 Captain Wolf resided in Arkansas engaged in farming. He came to Texas in April, 1869, and, settling in Mi- lam connty, farmed for three years, after which he engaged in the mercantile business in Davilla and Rockdale. He was elected Sheriff of Milam county in 1878 and held the office for two years. The offices of Sheriff and Collector were then in one, the duties being performed by the Sheriff. They
Job. Stiles
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were separated during his term, and in No- vember, 1880, he was elected Collector of of the county. Hle has held this office since, having been re-elected to it every two years. It is needless to say that he has made one of the most efficient officers the county has ever had. No man could have held as important an office as that of Collector as long as he has without giving satisfaction in an eminent degree. Milam county has very few men more popular than he is. Plain in manier and speech, he is easily approached and in all of his intercourse in life his condnet is marked by the utmost sincerity and cordial- ity. Captain Wolf was made a Mason at the age of twenty-one, and has taken the Royal Arch and Council degrees. Ile is also Com- mander of Herenles Conneil, American Le- gion of Honor, and Protector of Evening Star Lodge, No. 62, Knights and Ladies of Honor, and Treasurer of the Grand Lodge of Texas of the Knights of Honor. He has been for years a member of the Missionary Baptist Church and Superintendent of Sun- day-schools.
In September, 1866, Captain Wolf mar- ried Agnes Adams, a daughter of Esquire J. D. Adams of Marion county, Arkansas, where Mrs. Wolf was born and reared. This union has resulted in the birth of five sons and two daughters: Charles D., Nellie, Thomas M., Penn, John O., Wyatt L. and Minnie.
E. STILES, a farmer and stock-raiser of Williamson county, was born in Tennessee, December 20, 1835, a son of Seaborn and Rebecca ( Fineher) Stiles, na- tives of South Carolina. This family is of the fourth generation in America, three brothers of that name having come from
England to this country in 1643. A number of the descendants were soldiers in the Revo- lutionary war. Seaborn Stiles moved to Brushy, Milam county, Texas, in 1849, where he died in 1874. IIe was a prominent farmer and a consistent member of the Methodist Church. He was twice married, and by the first nnion had five children: Amanda, J. E., Sarah J., Margaret and Frank N. He also had five children by the second marriage: Jesse L., Mary C., Rebecca C., A. W. and one deceased.
J. E. Stiles, the subject of this sketch, moved with his parents to Missonri, and in 1848 located in Bastrop connty, Texas. One year later he took up his residence in Milam county, which then contained only three families, viz .: Black, Kirkendall and Stiles. Game of all kinds was plentiful, and the In- dians were friendly. Mr. Stiles began stock- raising with his brother, and in 1860 they moved their stock to Coleman connty. Dur- ing the war the settlers in a number of frontier connties were exempted from serv- ice, but they formed themselves into com- panies, onr subject being under Major Erath, to protect the property. During that time the brothers lost much of their stock by the Indians, the Confederate government also taking many beeves, and in 1868 they sold their entire interests and Mr. Stiles returned home. He shortly afterward returned to this connty, and in 1868 purchased an interest in a ranch of 320 acres and a herd of cattle, and in 1870 bonght the remainder of the section. Ile and his brother now own about 10,000 acres of land, 450 acres under culti- vation, a large herd of cattle, and each has separate homes. They also own other tracts to the amount of 1,000 acres.
In 1575 Mr. Stiles was imited in marriage with Miss Eliza Thomas, who was born in
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Alabama, July 26, 1855, a daughter of James and Clarenda (Grice) Thomas, natives also of that State. The parents died when Mrs. Stiles was small. Our subject and wife have had four children, three now living: Hardy R., James V. and Hadley A. Mr. Stiles served as Enrolling Officer and Lien- tenant during the late war, was a candidate for the State Democratic Convention and votes with the Democratie party. Socially, he is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is a Royal Arch Mason. Religionsly, he was formerly a member of the Christian Church.
C ALVIN C. WHITE .- The subject of this sketeh comes of pioneer stock, tracing his ancestry baek for three or fonr generations through the early settled families of this eonntry to Virginia, the mother of States. The line on his father's side is as follows: Henry White, born in Virginia abont the middle of the last cen- tury, married a Miss Russian, by whom he had a large family of children, one of whom was Robert White, born in Virginia in 1786, married Naney Coburn, by whom he had twelve children, one of whom was Elijalı White, the father of Calvin C. of this article. Henry and Robert White both moved to Ten- . nessee in the early settling of that State, and there Henry died in 1830, and Robert moved from there in 1837 to Texas, settling first in what is now Walker eounty and later in Leon connty. Ile died in Leon eonnty in 1854. Elijah White was bern in Perry eonnty, Ten- nessee, in 1822, and was reared there to the age of fifteen, the remainder of his youth and early manhood being spent in Texas. In 1844 he married Julia Jones of Walker county, this State, and about 1844 or '45
moved to Milam county, settling on Jones Prairie, where he made his home till his death, which occurred in 1886. lle was a successful farmer, a volunteer soldier in the late war, Twelfth Texas Regiment (Parsons' brigade), an industrious, useful and highly respected citizen. Coming to the county when he did, he was in a position to render valuable service to civilization, and this he did in the active part he took in building up the educational, religions and social interests of the community where he settled. lle helped to organize the Little River Baptist Church and held a membership in it till his death. He was also a charter member of Little River Lodge, No. 397, A. F. & A. M., in which he oceupied a eonspienous place. His lodge passed the following resolution of respect on his death :
" Brother E. White departed this life Feb- rnary 19, 1886. He was a Mason in every sense of the word and loved the tenets of the order as every Mason should. In his deatlı we have lost a brother, both in the Masonie lodge and in the church, and the community has lost a member who cannot be replaced.
Soldier of God, well done! Rest be thy loved employ, And while eternal ages run Rest in thy Maker's joy.
"To his wife and children we extend our sineere sympathy, and offer as a consoling thought to them in the hour of their bereave- ment the splendid Christian character which the departed has left for their emulation and certainty that they will meet him in heaven if they live in accordance with the teachings of the Gospel."
Mrs. White died in 1875. She was a daughter of J. P. Jones, who was probably Milam connty's first settler, the sturdy, courageons old pioneer for whom Jones prai-
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rie was named, and who sold his life so dearly at the celebrated Battle Creek fight in Na- varro county in 1838. Elijah and Julia White were the parents of a large number of children, most of whom are still living, being residents of this State. The full number, in the order of their ages, is as follows: James, who died in Leon county, in infancy; Sarah, who was married to F. M. Moss and is now deceased, leaving one child, Eulalia; Calvin C., of this article; Joseph, who died in this county, having married Julia Osborn, by whom he had two children, Josic and Alsy; William P., a farmer of Jones prairie, Milam county; Leonard, of Coleman county; Annie, who was married to N. B. MeKinney and is deceased, leaving thirce children, Florence, Nola and N. B .; Mollie, wife of A. A. Beall of Colorado City; Lizzie, wife of J. W. Car- gill of Jones prairie, Milam connty; Edward Franklyn, and Gus, who died in youth; and David, of Milam county.
Calvin C. White was born on Jones prairie, Milan county, Texas, October 11, 1847, where he was also reared, growing up on the farm. His education was obtained in the country schools. Opportunities for education then were limited, but such as they were young White enjoyed. Having been reared to farm- ing, he naturally took to this when he began life for himself, and has been engaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-raising all his life, owning and residing on the old home- stead.
January 8, 1874, Mr. White married Mrs. Lou Little, widow of Lucins Little and daughter of James Oliver. Mrs. White was born in North Carolina and was a child when her parents moved to Texas. She has two brothers. Clandins C., a druggist, residing at Alexander, Texas; and Augustus P., Clerk of the District Court of Stonewall county,
Texas; and two sisters: Amanda, now Mrs. B. A. Goodwin, living in Milam county; and Annie, wife of M. M. Liner of Hopkins county, Texas. By her former marriage Mrs. White had one child, Lizzie. Mr. and Mrs. White have had eight children: Gertrude, who was born October 31, and died Novem- ber 23, 1875; Walter E., April 9, 1876; Berta, January 1, 1879; Amanda, February 23, 1882; Benjamin J., January 1, 1885; Clandins, September 28, 1887; and Sidney M., September 28, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. White are members of the Baptist Church, and Mr. White belongs to the Masonic fra- ternity, having been connected with this order about ten years, and is now Past Master of Little River Lodge, No. 397, A. F. & A. M.
C APTAIN E. T. THOMPSON. - The ancestors of the subject of this sketeh came from Scotland and were among thic early settlers of this country, taking up their residenec in South Carolina in Colonial times. There Robert Thompson, the patern- al grandfather of the subject of this notice, was born. He married a Miss Barton, by whom he had five children, two sons and three danghters, the fourth of whom was Robert, father of on subject. Robert Thompson was born in Abbeville district, South Carolina, about the year 1801 or 1802. HIe was reared in his native State, and there married, in 1827, Lydia Teague, a danghter of Elijalı and Saralı Teagne, the daughter being a native of Abbeville district, where slie was born abont 1804. Robert and Sarah Thompson moved to Alabama, settling in what was then Benton, now Calhoun, county in 1835. There the mother died in 1852, leaving seven children: Elijah Teague, of
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this article; Margaret Elizabeth, who was married to J. W. Anderson and now resides in Calhoun county, Alabama; Sarah S., who was married to J. A. Landers and died leav- ing one child: Thomas Benton, who died in Chambers county, Alabama, in 1893, where his descendants now live; Robert W., who died in recent years at Birmingham, Ala- bama, leaving no issne; Jolm Hunter, who died in Virginia, in the Confederate service during the late war; and Barton, who died in infancy. The father was twiee mar- ried afterward but had no children by either of his last marriages. He died in 1866; was a planter throughout life; ac- enmulated considerable means in lands and slaves before the war, all of which, however, was swept away during that destruetive con- test. He was for many years a member of the Methodist Church, in which he was in later life a local minister.
Elijah Teague Thompson, the subjeet proper of this notice, was born in Abbeville distriet, South Carolina, September 27, 1828, and was reared in Calhoun county, Alabama, where his parents settled when he was seven years old. He grew up ou the farm and has followed agrienltural pursuits all his life. His educational advantages were limited. Marrying at about the age of twenty-one, he settled on a farm to himself and until the opening of the Civil war was actively en- gaged in agricultural pursuits.
He entered the Confederate service in the latter part of 1861, enlisting in Company D, which he raised aud of which he was elected and commissioned Captain, Thirty- first Alabama Infantry. With this command lie joined the Army of Tennessee in Febru- ary, 1862, and participated in the raid into Kentucky under General E. Kirby Smith, joined Bragg and was with him in his subse-
ment operations as far as Murfreesborough, Tennessee, whence Stephenson's division, to which the Thirty-first Alabama belonged, was ordered to the vicinity of Knoxville. Captain Thompson's command, however, took part in the engagements at Fort Gibson, Baker's Creek, Big Black and the siege of Vicksburg. At the fall of Vieksburg he was paroled, with the remainder of his com- rades, and soon afterward rendezvoused at Demopolis, Alabama, was later exchanged and again entered the service in time to take part in the battle of Chickamauga. He was in all the engagements in the vicinity of Chattanooga, and, entering the Georgia cam- paign in the spring of 1864, he was in the series of fights down to Atlanta, being eapt- ured at Kenesaw mountain on June 15, 1864. IIe was taken from this point to Jolmson's island, New York, where he was held till June 15, 1865.
Returning home he turned his attention at onee to the problems of peace, finding as the only means left him with which to again begin the battle of life two little mules and his farm. He put in a erop, but before it was " laid by " some one stole one of his Inules and the erop was worked out with the other mule and by hand. Struggling along as well as he could with the limited means at his eommand, Captain Thompson continued to reside in Alabama until 1869, when, wearying with the unequal contest, he came West to seek a better foothold. He reached Milam county December 7, 1869, and made his first stop at old Port Sullivan. He rented land there one year and then in 1870 bought 140 acres of the place on which he now re- sides. He has bought other land since, his holding now amounting to 700 acres, between 450 and 500 acres of which is in cultivation. The average yield of his farm is from 150 to
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200 bales of cotton annually and grain and stock products in proportion. His farm lies in the Little river and Brazos bottoms and is one of the best places in the eastern part of the county.
With the exception of the office of Justice of the Peace, which Captain Thompson filled for eight years in Alabama, he has never held any public position, preferring the peaceful ways of private life to the business of office- seeking and office-holding. In politics he is a Democrat, stanch in his support of the principles of the party and loyal to its nomi- nees. In 1852 he became a member of the Masonic fraternity and has held a member- ship in that order since. Ile has been a member of the Methodist Church for fifty years, and in accordance with his means a liberal contributor to all charitable work.
In September, 1847, Captain Thompson married Miss Ariana S. A. Ghent, a daughter of Daniel Ghent and a native of South Car- olina. The issue of this marriage has been eight children: Robert Daniel, who married Nellie Leopard and resides in Milam county ; Nancy, who was married to William Self and resides in this county; Thomas L,, of Fort Bend county, Texas; Sallie, who is the wife of. A. E. Brady, of Milam county; Fannie, who is the wife of Dr. M. Cawthon, of Eddy, Texas; Lizzie Viola, who died at the age of fourteen; Lena A. and Lanra A.
was born in North Carolina in 1787. The family are of Welsh deseent, and its earliest representatives came to America in ante- Revolutionary days, settling in Virginia, but afterward emigrated to North Carolina. In his young manhood Uriah Tyson moved to Montgomery county, Tennessee, early in this century, driving the " safety" of the eigh- teenth century, the ox and cart. He married Mary Barber, and they had seven children: Wright, James, Noah, William, Marshall, John E. and Mary. Mrs. Tyson died in 1849, at the age of sixty-one years.
John E. Tyson, the father of our subject, was reared a farmer boy, was fairly well edu- cated, and engaged in the calling taught hin in youth. He was a prominent slave-owner, was a leader in his community, and was innch interested in the promotion of worthy and laudable enterprises. Both the church and school were recipients of liis benefac- tions. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and became greatly interested in the workings and success of the order. Mr. Tyson came to Texas in 1853, floating down the Cumberland river to the Ohio, then by the Mississippi river to the Gulf, by steamer to the mouth of the Brazos river, and up this by a smaller vessel to old Port Sullivan. A farm was immediately purchased, on which he settled and where he continued to reside until death, in 1880. Ile gave three years of his life to good, hard, faithful service in the Confederate army, enlisting in Colonel Duff's regiment in 1862, and served on frontier and coast defense. In politics he affiliated with the Democratic party, but he was never a solicitor of public favors, and never held but one elective office, that being County Commissioner of Milam county.
W. ILLIAM WINFIELD SCOTT TYSON, a farmer of Milam coun- ty, residing near Maysfield, was born in Montgomery county, Termessee, April 21, 1850, and is a son of John E. Tyson, who was born in the same county Mr. Tyson married Martha S., a daughter in 1825. The latter's father, Uriah Tyson, ! of Isaae and Wilmouth (Noland) Sparks, of
.
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Carroll county, west Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Sparks were the parents of eight chil- dren, viz .: Bailey; Jesse; Mary, wife of Ambrose Harmon; Sallie, who married Sam- nel Tyson; Martha, wife of John E. Tyson; Isaac II .; Wilmonth, wife of Ambrose Mitchell; and Mahala, who married D. M. Smith. Mr. and Mrs. Tyson had seven children, namely: Lenora, who died at the age of two years; William Winfield Scott, our subject; Mary, who died at two years of age; Angeline, who died aged ten; John B., who died aged three; James E., who lives in Cameron; and Martha B., who died at the age of seventeen.
W. W. S. Tyson attended school when the labors of the farm did not demand his atten- tion, and at the age of twenty-two years em- barked in agricultural porsnits on his own responsibility. He rented land the first year, the following year purchased 150 acres, and eight years later bought a tract near where he now resides. He remained on the latter place until the death of his father, when the interest of the other heirs in the old home- stead was secured, when he made his final move. Mr. Tyson now owns 300 acres of land, 180 acres of which is cultivated. In 1891 he raised seventy-five bales of cotton on his place, and in 1892, sixty bales. He is specially interested in the raising of fine horses, cattle and hogs. Politically, he affiili- ates with the Democratic party, and has been appointed a delegate to various county and district conventions and has always taken an active interest the politics of county and State.
In 1873 Mr. Tyson married Cornelia, a daughter of George W. Murphy, of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Murphy were the parents of six children: Charles E., deceased: Mary, wife of Henry Faulk; Emma, deceased, mar-
ried C. L. Butts; Cornelia, wife of Mr. Tyson; James E., deceased; Eugenia Flor- ence, deceased; and Pauline, who died in in- fancy. Our subject and wife have had the following children, namely: Jolin William, George W .; and Joe S., deceased; Ola Wil- month; Charles E .; Zula B .; Hall C .; Emma C., and an infant. The family are members of the Methodist Church, in which Mr. Tyson is a Steward and Trustee.
M ICHAEL T. FOWLER .- In 1874, a yonng man from Travis county, Texas, entered upon the study of law in the office of his uncle, Colonel M. Thompson, in Washington, District of Co- Inmbia. It took him bnt two months to find that the practice of law was not his calling, and one morning he announced his intention of starting home the following evening.
Recollecting that jhe had not yet seen the President, he asked his preceptor how he would obtain an audience. The gentleman replied that it would be impossible to meet the President, as it was Cabinet day, and visitors were not received. The young man determined, however, to see what Western assurance would accomplish, and made his way to the White House. Confronted by a policeman, he stated his errand, and soon was nshered into the office of General Babcock, the President's private secretary, who also said that the President could not be seen, as the Cabinet was in session. The young man urged his case, however, and succeeded in getting the secretary to prefer his request. Five minutes of waiting, and he was intro- duced to President Grant, who laughed ar the young man's persistency, and chatted with him pleasantly about his Western home.
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Knowing that his uncle and the students would not credit his statement that he had succeeded, he asked the President for his antograph, which, secured, he bowed himself ont, and returned in trinmph to his as- tonished preceptor and fellow students. This incident serves to show the prevailing trait of character of our subject, as he was the : young man in question.
Mr. Fowler is a son of William and Ava- line (Thompson) Fowler. The paternal family are of Irish descent, and have resided in this country for generations. The grand- father of onr subject, George Fowler, raised his family in Spartanburg district, Sonth Carolina. The father was born there in 1795, was a farmer by occupation, after marriage lived in Laurens district until 1853, and in that year emigrated to Texas, locating on Walnut creek, six miles east of Austin, in Travis county. Two years later he located on the place onr subject now occupies, which is known as the Sam Craft farm, and the orig- inal purchase consisted of 2,400 acres, in two different tracts, in both Travis and Bas- trop counties. He died there Angust 3, 1867, having been a Methodist in faith, and a John C. Calhonn Democrat.
Mr. Fowler was married in Laurens dis- trict, Sonth Carolina, in 1845, to Avaline Thompson, a close connection of Patrick Henry. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler had eight children, viz .: P. M. B., who enlisted in Captain W. D. H. Carrington's cavalry com- pany, contracted yellow fever while on duty, and died at Brownsville, Texas, in 1864; Callie C., wife of W. D. Wallace, of Gar- field, this State; James J., of Weberville; J. P., a lawyer and farmer of Bastrop, served in the State Senate several terms; B. R., a farmer of Clarendon, Texas; Kate, widow of Edd Ronssean, of Taylor; Michael T., onr
subject; and Beatrice, wife of W. R. Stuart, of Ellis county, Texas. The parents were both twice married, and the last nnion made each the parents of twenty one children, and a combined family of thirty-fonr. The mother died August 6, 1880.
Michael T. Fowler, the subject of this shetch, was born in Laurens district, Sonth Carolina, July 26, 1853, and was brought to Texas when only a few months old. He re- ceived his education in the commnon schools, and in 1874 went to Washington, Distriet of Columbia, to study law, but returned as above stated, After returning Mr. Fowler purchased thirty acres of his present place, to which he has since added until he now owns 416 acres, 245 acres of which is under a fine state of cultivation. The land is lo- cated on the Colorado river, abont fifteen miles from Austin, and is worth $40 per acre.
In Travis county, Angnst 4, 1875, Mr. Fowler was united in marriage with Delia, a daughter of Albert and Jane (Glover) Brown. The father came to this State from New York, and served as Justice of the Peace, or Alcalde, in the days of the Republic. The parents lived at Weberville until their death. They raised a family of eleven children. Mr. and Mrs. Fowler lost their only child at birth. In his political relations, our subject is identified with the Democratic party; and socially, is a Master Mason, and in religion he belongs to the Baptist Church.
GY
W: G. MCINTYRE, a farmer on the Travis county line, north of Austin, was born near the city of Glasgow, Scotland, March 13, 1839, a son of Robert and Catherine (Stuart) MeIntyre, both mem- bers of the highest class of agricultorists in in that country. The mother died in 1878,
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and the father still lives on the old home place, which has been in possession of the family for generations. ~
W. G. Melntyre, onr subjeet, was raised on one of the finest farms in Scotland, re- eeiving all the advantages that conld then be obtained, and his training to the age of fif- teen years was in view of becoming a minis- ter. At that time he spent one year travel- ing over Great Britain with a friend of the family, who oeenpied an important position in the Agricultural Department of the Gov- ernment. His experience was sneh that after returning home he resolved-to esehew the idea of the ministry, and follow in the footsteps of generations of McIntyres before him. From that time on he was his father's trusted assistant in the management of the farm. However, when he thought of enlti- vating a thirty or forty acre tract when he eonld seenre hundreds of aeres in America with less means, he resolved to make the change. Knowing that his father would not consent to his coming, he embarked without his knowledge, but, the latter learning the fact, took a speedier ship and reached him before he had put out to sea. As onr sub- ject was determined to come, the father gave him £200 and bade lrim God speed. Land- ing iu New York in March, 1857, he visited relatives in Canada for a time, and then weut to Missouri. For several years Mr. MeIn- tyre freighted in the West, speculating in goods, which he sold in the Utah monntains. Hle has sold flour there as high as $30 a sack. Just before the opening of the late war he purchased several slaves, and con- traeted to work a farm in Missouri belonging to one Grayson, having been engaged in that occupation when the war cloud burst.
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