USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 53
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 53
USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 53
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 53
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 53
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 53
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in on the riders, dispatched both of them, not however until they had killed several of the redskins. After the death of Mr. Jones his family moved about and supported them- selves as best they could, living part of tlic time in Madison county and part of the time in Robertson county, not returning to Milam county to live nntil 1857. At that date they took up their residence on Jones Prairie in this county.
Mr. Jones' wife bore the maiden name of Sarah Brimberry, being a daughter of Isaac and Mary Brimberry and a native of Ken- tncky. He had eight ehildren: Rosetta, who was married to D. W. Campbell and died in Robertson eounty Texas; James A., who married Martha Mckinney and died in Milan county; Juliet, who was married to Elijal: White and died in Milam county; Eliz- abeth Janc, who died unmarried; Mary, who was married to Armistead Rogers and died in Brown eonnty, this State; Caroline, who was married to J. T. Stidham and now re- sides in Milam county ;_ Martha, who was married to L. M. Etheridge and lives in Kerr county; and Edward F., who lives in Kerrville, Kerr county, this State.
J. T. Stidham, husband of one of the mem- bers of this pioneer family of Milam county and father of the gentleman whose name is placed at the head of this sketch, was a native of the State of Georgia, where he was born Jannary 1, 1834. He was a son of Martin Stidham, an early settler of the " Empire State of the South." J. T Stid- ham was reared in his native State and came to Texas in 1853, stopping in Milam eounty, where he met Caroline Jones, whom he married here in 1856. He was engaged in farming until the opening of the late war, when he entered the Confederate army. en- listing in Captain Ryan's company, AAllen's
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regiment. He died at Little Rock during the early years of the war, a brave soldier and a good citizen. Ile was the father of four children: Adeline, who was inarried to J. J. Bostick and now lives in Erath county, this State; Lncien, who died at the age of thirty in Milam county; Benjamin F., of this article; and Margaret, who died at the age of seven.
Benjamin F. Stidham was born in Milam county, this State, February 8, 1861, and was raised here. October 14, 1885, he married Miss Mollie L. Harrell, danghter of T. W. Har- rell, a sketch of whom appears in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Stidham's children are: Thomas, Viola A. and Robert Grady. Mr. Stidham, having been reared on the farm, took up farming pursuits on arriving at his majority and has been so engaged since. Ile is an intelligent and progressive young man fully worthy of the stock from which he descended.
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L. WHITTENBURG, a farmer of Will- iamson county, was born in Monroe county, Missouri, a son of Andrew Whittenburg. The latter's father, Joseph Whittenburg, came from Germany to east Tennessee, where Andrew was born in 1790. In 1816 Andrew Whittenburg married Anna Long. In 1819 they removed to Missouri, but a few years afterward returned to Bed- ford county, Tennessee.
J. L. Whittenburg, the subject of this sketch, moved to the Creek Purchase, Talla- dega county, Alabama, in 1832, when twelve years of age, and remained in that connity twenty years. In the fall of 1852 he located on his present farm in Williamson county, Texas. Ile has killed buffaloes within a mile
of where he now lives, and his first crop was planted on the open prairie, the children watching it during the day, and there being no trouble during the nights. After plowing time he fenced it with split rails. The fam- ily first lived in a log house, and the lumber for their present building was hauled from Bastrop. Mr. Whittenburg is a worthy rep- resentative of the land-owning element of this connty, an element which in times past fur- nished the brain and brawn that dethroned tyranny. He owns 250 acres of fine land, sixty acres of which are well improved, and the remainder in pasture.
December 22, 1840, he was united in mar- riage to Lovinia Hoyle, a daughter of Jacob and Leah (Robinson) Hoyle, the former a native of Germany and the latter of North Carolina. The father died in 1841 and the mother in 1843. They were the parents of fonr sons and five daughters, three of whom are still living: Mrs. Whittenburg, Phillip H. and Jacob F. Mr. and Mrs. Whittenburg have had four children. Sarah Caroline, the eldest child, is the widow of W. A. Miller. They had five children: George A., Lucy R., William L., Walter S. and Margaret Eva. The second child, Martha Emeline, is the wife of S. K. P. Jackson, County Treasurer of Williamson county, and they have two chil- dren: Lucy B. and Hugh. George L., the next in order of birth, was first married to Prudie IIoover, and they had three children: George A., Margaret L. and Joseph L. The wife and mother died, and the father again married, the day before his parents' golden wedding, and to the last union was born one child, Charlie Louise. Margaret Angeline, the youngest child, is the wife of Charles N. Fleager, a jeweler of Georgetown. Mr. and Mrs. Whittenburg are members of the Methodist Church, the former having joined
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that church in his eighteenth year, and hold- ing in the same the office of trustee. He has also been Chaplain in the I. O. O. F. for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Whittenburg celebrated their golden wedding in 1890, since which time the former has carried a gold watch and gold-headed cane. Fifty years ago, with loving hearts and an unwa- vering trust in a kind Providence, these good old people started together on life's pilgrim- age, and lovingly, hand and hand, have jour- ueyed on year after year, at times chastened by affliction, then again cheered by the smil- ing face and the rich blessings of their Heav- enly Father.
" Fifty years together, each faithful and true; Fifty years together, here your vows renew ; Fifty years together, may the rest of the way Ever prove to you a bright golden day."
(OHN A. SMITH, a successful farmer residing near Branchville, Milam coun- ty, is a native of Texas, having been born in Washington county, February 25, 1851, and is a son of Ruben A. Smith, who was born in Twriggs county, Georgia, October 8, 1817. Ruben A. Smith was a son of James B. Smith, whose parents were early settlers of Georgia. James B. Smith mar- ried Penelope Anderson, by whom he had six children, of whom Ruben A. was the eldest, the others being: Margaret, now Mrs. Deles- pin, of Palestine, Texas; Mary, uow Mrs. Blankenship, of Pine Apple, Alabama; Nan- nie, now Mrs. Atwater, of Thomaston, Geor- gia; Amanda, who died unmarried; and John A., who was killed in the Confederate service at Chickamauga in 1863.
Ruben A. Smith married Julia Moseley, a daughter of Robert S. Moseley, of Mont-
gomery, Alabama, by whom he had four children: James A., who died unmarried September 21, 1892, in Milam county; Ruben A., who now lives in this county; John A., the subject of this notice; and Amanda, the wife of W. C. Willingham, of Llano county, this State. The wife and mother died in 1854, and the father later married Miss Par- melia Young, and to this union four children were born: Mary, who is the wife of W. C. Weise, of Milam county; Susie, the wife of G. K. Vinson, of this county; Julia, who is uninarried; and one child that died in in- fancy.
Ruben A. Smithi moved to Texas in 1850, up to which time he had resided iu Georgia, where he had been engaged in teaching school and in bookkeeping. The first year after moving to this State he resided in Washington county. He then moved to Milam county, purchasing land near Port Sullivan, on which he settled and engaged in agricultural pursuits. He died at his home in this county March 10, 1870, and was buried at the old burying-ground at Port Sullivan. Having enjoyed exceptionally good oppor- tunities for obtaining an education in his yonth, which he improved to good advantage, he became a man of wide information and was a successful man of business. He served Milam county as Commissioner for a number of years, and was a faithful and popular offi- cial. He was a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, in which he took great interest, and was buried with the honors of that order.
John A. Smith was an infant when his father moved to Milam county. Ilis child- hood was passed in the vicinity of where he now lives, his time being divided in youth between the labors of the farm and his at- tendance at the local schools. He early en- gaged in farming and stock-raising pursuits,
H. L Coutchen
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and has been so engaged all his life. In 1880 he made his first purchase of land, which consisted of 200 agres lying in the Little river bottom, then wild, which he began at once to improve. He has since added to his holdings until he owns 1,043 acres lying in oue body on Little river, about 300 acres of which he has reduced to cultivation, and which yields abundantly of the common products of the farm. The yield of the place is about seventy- five bales of cotton annually, and grain and stock prodnets in proportion.
December 15, 1880, Mr. Smith married Miss Alice Mckinney, a daughter of Jasper MeKinney, of Milam county, and sister of HIon. J. M. Mckinney, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. To this union six children have been born: Willard B., John A. (deceased), Adoniram, Mattie, Woodtin Grady and Alice. The family wor- ship in the Baptist and Methodist churches, and Mr. Smith is a member of the Masonic fraternity, St. Paul's Lodge, No. 177, Mays- field, and in politics is a Democrat.
H UGHI L. WITCHER, senior member of the firm of Witcher & Coffield, mer- chants of Rockdale, Milam county, is a native of Macon county, Tennessee, where he was born November 19, 1839. He was reared in his native State and in the State of Illinois, whither his parents moved when he was young. Ilis earliest ocenpation was farming, but in growing up he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed at inter- vals for some years prior to his engaging in his present business. Soon after the opening of the late war Mr. Witcher, who was then re- siding in Illinois, entered the Union army, enlisting early in 1863, in the Sixth Illinois
Cavalry, with which he was in active service (under Wilson) until the close of hostilities. Hle took part in those daring and destructive raids for which Wilson's cavalry became famous, and which were actively continued up to the close of the war. Having had the good fortune to escape wounds and imprison- ment, he received his discharge at Selma, Alabama, in April 1865, and, returning to Illinois, resided in that State and later in Mississippi, engaged in farming and at his trade nntil 1873. At that date he came to Texas and in August of the same year located at Roekdale, where he resumed work at car- pentering, which occupation he followed ener- getically and successfully for about a year. In June, 1874, he was elected Marshal of Rock- dale and held this position for about four years, discharging its delicate and difficult duties acceptably to the people, these four years covering the turbulent period of Rock- dale's history, when the office was by no means a sineenre. In 1878 he embarked in the mercantile business in partnership with J. R. Rowland, who later sold his interest to J. F. Coffield, when the firm became Witcher & Coffield, as it now stands. Mr. Witcher's career, though unpretentious, has thus been diversified and has not been lacking in that kind of experience which qualities one in the highest degree for appreciating the struggles of others, as well as fitting him for the sue- cessful discharge of every duty as a citizen. The last few years of his life have been marked by the largest measure of success which yet attended him, though not by the most arduous labors. His early years, as is the case with most of those who begin with : comparatively little or nothing and after. ward achieve substantial results, were at- tended with toil, hardships and uncertainties; but it was the formative period when the
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principles were taking root and the habits be- ing formed which were to lead to better things. The splendid mercantile establish- ment of which he is the head may be said to be in a large measure the concrete embodi- ment of his principles and methods, the visible expression of the mental and moral motives of his life. Upon the career which has enlini- nated, with the aid of his associates in the building up of this interest, he did not enter with the impulsive or capricions flight of genius but under the steady and firm pro- pulsion of sound, practical sense, and his con- duet has at all times been accentuated by the same steadfastness of purpose, the same per- severing industry and the saine practical sagacity with which he began his career. One thing is noteworthy: Mr. Witcher has always followed the safe practice of keeping his funds invested in a business of which he has full knowledge, and in lines where con- stant personal supervision has been possible if not at all times actually exercised. For this reason he has never been caught in any financial squeezes or suffered serious loss.
The firm of Witcher & Coffield, dealers in hardware, implements, furniture, saddles and harness, is the largest of its kind in Milam county, carrying a full stock in all of these lines and doing a business varying from $80,- 000 to $90,000 a year. Besides this interest Mr. Witcher holds stock in a number of local enterprises either individually or as a member of the firm, the principal of these being the First National Bank, the oil mills, the water- works, the electric-light plant and the coal mines. He has served as Alderman of Rock- dale and in politics is a Republican, but con- verns himself very little with political mat- ters, being devoted strictly to business. It is generally understood without questioning that his name always stands pledged to the
support of every interest favoring the wel- fare of the community. Public enterprises -whatever will improve, elevate and adorn the society in which he moves and the coun- try in which he makes his home-meet his cordial approbation and receive his prompt advocacy and assistance. The education of the masses, through free schools provided or greatly assisted by State government, has al- ways found in him a friend and supporter. By the exercise of industry and good man- agement he has accumulated a competency, but recognizing the difficulties that others encounter in beginning business, he has taken pleasure in extending to them aid by giving them clerkships and counseling with them re- specting their future careers. In this way he has created enduring friendships among young men of his acquaintance, and has assisted in opening avennes of activity destined to lead to successful and honorable lives. IIe is of quiet, retiring disposition, temperate in habits, liberal, earnest and active, one in whom the domestic virtues preponderate, and who easily makes friends and firmly holds them when once made.
In 1884 Mr. Witcher married Miss Ruth Stribling, a daughter of Rev. Dr. James H. Stribling, then of Rockdale and for many years an eminent minister of the Baptist Church in Texas. Mrs. Witcher was born and reared in this State, and is a lady who is in every way capable of affording her hus- band the helpful service sought in this union.
W T. BROWN, one of the thrifty young farmers of Williamson county, dates his residence here from the year 1881. lle is a native of Texas, born in Burnet county, October 23, 1858. Ile came
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from Travis county to Williamson county, and previous to that had lived in San Saba county for a period of two years, and has spent five years in Lampasas county. In acquiring an education he had meager opportunities, but possessing keen observa- tion he quickly mastered those points neces- sary for the transaction of business. In 1879, with a limited capital, he embarked in the cattle trade, and at the end of five years dis- posed of his herd of 200 head for eight times the amount originally invested. With this sum he purchased a tract of 512 acres of good land; 285 acres are under cultivation, and all the buildings are first-class, substan- tial structures.
W. A. Brown, the father of our subject, was born in middle Tennessee sixty-six years ago; there he was reared, educated, and united in marriage to Mildred Ann Landers; they had a family of five children: Eva, wife of John B. Gardner; Vernon, deceased; W. T .; Minnie, wife of W. I. Smith, and Finetta, who died in childhood. Mr. Brown removed to Texas in 1852, and engaged in agricultural pursuits, meeting with varied results. He gave his service to the Con- federate canse during the tronblons days of the Rebellion, being in the Texas depart- ment. His father, Allen Brown, was also a native of Tennessee, and was also a success- fnl farmer of that State; he died at the age of seventy-three years.
The first marriage of our subject was to Lulu, daughter of R. C. McLaren, whose history appears elsewhere in this volume. Four children were born of this nnion: Frank, Willia, Eddie, and Elma. The mother passed to the future life September 12. 1891. Mr. Brown was married a second time. December 7, 1892, to Allie Portis, of Ilays county, Texas.
Having chosen agriculture as his calling in life, Mr. Brown has given this subject his most intelligent consideration, and has gathered the bountiful harvests nature ever yields to favorable conditions.
P. SMITH, a farmer of Williamson connty, was born in Tennessee, October 14, 1836, a son of John A. and Nancy (McHenry) Smith, natives of Virginia and North Carolina, respectively. The father was of Scotch-Irish descent, and his death occurred when our subject was only two years of age. The parents reared a family of eight chil- dren: G. A., a real-estate dealer of Anstin; Elizabeth, wife of W. T. Montgomery, County Treasurer of Childress connty; W. B., who died in Anstin; Lucy, wife of Rev. N. T. Strayhorn, of Anstin; Susan, wife of Captain Strayhorn, of Granger, Texas; R. H., a merchant of Austin; and J. P., our subject. The mother died in 1883, at the age of eighty-three years.
J. P. Smith came to Texas in 1848, at the age of twelve years. His father died early in life, and an older brother, W. B. Smith, who came to Texas in 1836, took charge of the family affairs. As soon as able he brought his widowed mother and the remain- der of the family to this State, and located at Webberville, Travis county. He was a soldier in the Mexican war, and at the opening of the late war he was detailed to duty in Texas, served in different departments, and at the close of the struggle resumed mer- chandising at Webberville. In 1870 he engaged in the same business at Anstin, where he remained until his death, in 1891. This brother gave all the children a good education, and a good start in life. After
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reaching a suitable age, our subject began agricultural pursuits. At the opening of the Civil war he enlisted in Company D, Gur- ley's Thirtieth Texas Regiment, was ap- pointed Second Lieutenant, and served in Arkansas and the Indian Nation. At the close of the struggle his command had fallen back to Grimes county, Texas, and he then joined his family in Williamson connty. Mr. Smith now owns 600 acres of good land in this connty, and has also given each of his two sons 600 acres.
He was married in 1861, to Miss Jennie Gault, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of John Gault, who came to Texas abont 1850 and engaged in farming in Travis connty. To this union has been born two sons: Decker, a farmer of Williamson county; and Walter, at home. The wife and mother died October 1, 1890, having been a consist- ent member of the Methodist Church. Mr. Smith has served as Comty Commissioner four years of Williamson county, is identified with the Democratic party, and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
AMES A. PEEL .- Up to 1850 more than half the foreign immigration that came to America was from Ireland. The stream has been much diminished in compari- son with those from other countries in re- cont years: still, the influx is very great and the influence of this people is seen and felt on every hand.
life, dying there in 1859. He was a large planter and left an excellent estate at his death. He was twice married and the father of twelve children, six by each marriage. The children of his first marriage were: David Bothwell, the father of the subject of this sketch, whom concerning more will be said further on; Eliza, who was married to Alexander O'Daniels; Ellen, who was mar- ried to Vines Collier; Sarah, who was mar- ried to James McDowell; Rebecca, who was married to William Gunter; and John who married Ann Zachery. The children of the second marriage were Elizabeth, Matilda, Narcissa A., William, Mary F. and Julia.
David Bothwell Peel was born in Georgia, in 1801, and was there reared. In early life he went to Alabama, where he lived some years, moving thence to Mississippi, where he died in June, 1880. He was a planter, possessing considerable means before the war, and an industrions, patriotic good citi- zen. He was twice married, his first mar- riage occurring in Georgia about 1822, to Rebecca S. Holloway, a native of that State, by whom he had ten children: Eliza- beth Eilen, born November 2, 1823; Mary J., born April 16, 1825, married Jason Jones; William H., born June 14, 1827, mar- ried Ellen Bell and is now deceased; Sarah M., born July 24, 1829, married Nelson Bell; George H., born December 19, 1830, married Amelia A. Day; Martha R., boru September 26, 1832, married A. G. Camp- bell; Amanda, born Angnst 23, 1835, mar- ried J. W. Wimberly; Erasmus J., born De- cember 22, 1837, married Millie A. IIollo- way; David L., born June 22, 1839, married Mahala Wimberly; and Thomas J., born No- vember, 10, 1844. married Mattie Jones. The wife and mother died July 27, 1848,
To this class of citizens the subject of this sketch belongs, being the third removed from William Peel, who was born in Ireland in 1769 and brought to this country when a lad, growing np in Georgia, where he subsequently married and spent the greater part of his ! and October 31, 1850, Mr. Peel married Mrs.
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Jane C. Bell, widow of William Bell and danghter of Rev. Brown. The issue of this union was five children: James A., whose name heads this sketch; Lenora, boru Au- gust 1, 1854, married R. M. Cameron of Clark county, Mississippi; Robert A., born Jnne 17, 1857, and died young; Franklyn A., born June 13, 1860, married Tansy Whatley; Jane Adeline, born May 30, 1864, and mar- ried Henry Brewer of De Soto, Mississippi.
James A. Peel, the eldest born of the last marriage referred to aud the subject proper of this sketeh, was born in Macon county, Ala- bama, ou the 24th day of December. 1851. Ile was reared in his native State and in Mississippi, whither his father moved about 1867. His educational advantages were re- stricted, his youth falling on that unhappy period covered by the late Civil war. He came to Texas at the age of twenty-three, in Jannary, 1875. He was without means and came to this State to secure his start. He secured his first employment in Robertson conuty, on a farin, and resided in that county for about two years. Marrying in the mean- time, he moved across the Brazos and rented a place in Milam county, ou which he settled and began farming for himself. About 1887 he purchased the place on which he now lives, consisting of 600 acres, which he has greatly improved, reducing something like 300 acres of it to cultivation. His farm lies in the Brazos bottoms, just twenty miles east of Cameron, and is one of the most desirable places in the eastern part of the county.
September 9, 1877, Mr. Peel married Miss Rosella IIobbs, a daughter of James and Eliza IIobbs, who were natives of Ken- tueky. Mrs. Peel was born in Milam county, Texas, and is one of seven children. Mr. aud Mrs. Peel have had nine children: James Archie, born June 24, 1878; Eva May, born
March 12, 1879, and died Jannary 9, 1880; David Franklin, born October 15, 1880; William Stadler, October 10, 1882; Tom Lee, December 12, 1884; Daniel Edward, October 23, 1886; Lillian Kate, November 26, 1888: Minnie Bell, Jannary 1, 1891; and Mabel Panline, June, 1893.
The religions connection of the family is with the Methodist Church. in which Mr. Peel is Trustee and Steward and Superintend- ent of the Sunday-school. In politics he is a Democratie, and in society he is a member of the Knights of Honor, holding a member- ship in Oxenford Lodge, No. 1,799, at Hearne, Texas.
H C. EDERINGTON, a farmer of Williamson county, was born in Mis- sissippi, April 18, 1839, a son of - Robert and Martha (Iledgefast) Ed- erington, natives of Kentucky. The father served in the war of 1812 from his native State, was married in Alabama, and in a very early day moved to Mississippi. He was a political leader in his district, served in the Legislature several terins, also as Judge iu Mississippi, and was a farmer and trader by occupation. His death occurred in Arkansas, in 1857. ITis father, James Ederington, was a native of Virginia, served as a private through the Revolutionary war, was a tobacco- raiser by occupation, and died in Kentucky, at the age of 104 years. He rode from Ken- tucky to Mississippi and returned when ninety- six years of age, riding the same horse both times. The mother of our subject was a daughter of Charles Hedgefast, a native of Virginia, who died in Arkansas, in 1853. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Eder- ington brought her children to Bell county,
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