USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 56
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 56
USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 56
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 56
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 56
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.1 > Part 56
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
at the present seat of justice. He was brought in frequent contact with such men as R. E. B. Baylor, the first district judge; Asa M. and James Willie, J. D. Giddings, and John Taylor, and others not now so well remem- bered.
In 1850 Bell county was ent off from Milam, and a new county government insti- tuted. Mr. Reed was called by general con- sent to the office of Sheriff, and filled that office acceptably for six years. Then and for years later he took great interest in county affairs, and was frequently consulted by his neighbors with reference to public matters.
He was a Democrat in politics and a great admirer of General Houston, whose career he followed with much interest down to the General's elosing years. He opposed anexa- tion in 1846 and secession in 1861, but when each was accomplished by a majority vote of the people he gave his support to the meas- nres and did his part as an humble citizen for the snecess of the State. His later years were passed on his farm, where he was pleas- antly and profitably engaged in agriculture and stock-raising, for both of which pursuits he always had the strongest taste and in which he ever manifested the greatest in- terest.
ents to Texas when a girl, her father being a pioneer of this State and founder of a large family here. Mr. and Mrs. Reed were the parents of ten children, seven of whom be- came grown. Their eldest son, James M., enlisted in the Confederate army and died at Grenada, Mississippi, of a wound received at Shiloh. The next, Mrs. Martha Rogers, is a resident of Cameron, being the widow of Major J. C. Rogers, for many years a worthy citizen of this place; Sarah A. was married to Mathias Armstrong, both of whom are de- ceased; Wilson C. resides in Bell county; Virginia is the wife of J. M. Sypert, of Bell county; Texana is the divorced wife of Dr. J. R. Rucker; William S. is a farmer of Bell county ; and Volney E. H. is a physician of Cameron, Milam county.
The name of the last one has been placed at the head of this sketeh because he is the representative in name of this pioneer family in Milam county, and also becanse he is a representative citizen of the community in which he lives. Dr. Reed was born on the old family homestead in Bell connty, June 17, 1859, where also he was reared. Hewas educated in the schools of his native eonnty, receiving good scholastic training. He read medicine with Dr. W. F. Sharp, of Davilla, Milam county, and attended lectures at the Missouri Medieal College of St. Louis, Mis- souri, graduating in March, 1881. At that date he located at Cameron, where, with the exception of two years, he has since resided, engaged in the active pursuit of his profes- sion. He has taken rank with the best prac- titioners in the connty, and is enjoying a steadily growing practice. Ile has been Secretary and President of the Milam County Medieal Society, has served as Health Officer of the town of Cameron, and as a member of
His death oecnrred Angust 21, 1891, in the seventy-fifth year of his age. His wife, with whom he had always lived in the great- est harmony and for whom he cherished the most marked affeetion, and preceded him by about a year and a half, having died February 2, 1890, in the sixty-fifth year of her age. She was an estimable lady, and to her he owed a large share of his success as well as the most lasting of the pleasures which it was his privilege so long to enjoy. She was a native of Alabama and came with her par- ; the Medical Examining Board of the Twen-
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
tieth Judicial District, and when the office of wife, ne Sarah Graham, was a native of County Health Officer was created by the Twenty-first Legislature, he was appointed by County Judge E. Y. Terral to the position, which he still holds. He is a member of the State Medical Association and is generally interested in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his profession and the community in which he lives.
July 25, 1882, the Doctor married Maggie C. MeCowu, a daughter of J. W. McCown of Milam county, an extended notice of whom appears in the biographical department of this work. To this nion six children have been born, five of whom-Emaline, Alice, Roger Q., Volney E. II., and Wilson Mc- Cown-are living, the second, Martha Atlas, having died in infancy. Both the Doctor and his wife are members of the Methodist Church and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Knights of Honor and the Knights of Pythias.
C ALHOON SAMS, one of the pioneer and leading citizens of Taylor, was born in South Carolina, January 12, 1838, a son of L. R. Sams, a native of Beau- fort, that State. The latter's father, L. R. Sams, was also a native of South Carolina, as was his father, L. R. Sams. The latter was a soldier in the war of Independence. The Sams family in this country are de- scended from five brothers who came from England, and located in different States and Territories of the United States. The father of our subject was a planter and prominent slave-owner on the coast of Sonth Carolina, and was also a physician of considerable dis- tinction. Ile gradnated with first honor at the South Carolina Medical college. His | wounded. The Doctor was sick in Stuart's
Beanfort, South Carolina, and of Scotch par- entage. Iler father, Rev. James Graham, came from Scotland to America, and was pastor of the only Baptist Church in Bean- fort at that time. Mr. Sams died in 1889, at the age of seventy-seven years. Ilis wife still survives, aged eighty years. Both were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Sams had eleven children, ten of whom grew to years of maturity, namely: Sarah J., wife of Dr. R. R. Sams, of Bean- fort; Calhoon, our subject; James G., of Vernon, Texas; Mary E., wife of R. B. Swann, also of Vernon; Martha P'., wife of Rev. J. M. McFarland, of Beard, Kentucky; Elizabeth II., widow of a Mr. Noyes, and a resident of Galveston; Eugenia E .; L. R., of Greer county. Texas; Floriday, deceased, was the wife of John Cole; James E., de- ceased.
Calhoon Sams, the subject of this memoir, attended the Furman University at Green- ville, South Carolina. At the age of twenty years he began the study of medicine, enter- ing, in the fall of 1858, the Charleston Med- ical college, where he graduated in the class of 1860. After practicing his profession for a short time he joined the Confederate army; was appointed Assistant Surgeon in the Army of Northern Virginia; in 1862 was transferred to the hospitals of Virginia, and just prior to Lee's march into Pennsyl- vania was returned to field service, also pro- moted as surgeon of his regiment. They were attached to General Hampton's Cav- alry, and took part in the battle of Gettys- burg, where, although Dr. Sams was fortu- nate enough not to be wounded, a shell from the enemy's guns burst near where he stood, and many men near him were killed or
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Hospital abont one month before General Lee's surrender, and at that time was cap- tured. but. as he states, was never captured during the war, as the struggle was virtually over at that time. Dr. Sams was paroled by Colonel Evans, after which he made his way to York district, South Carolina. In 1867 he came to Texas, spent one year in the city of Galveston, after which he returned to his native State, spending seven and a half years on Edisto island. He then came again to this State, locating in Waco, and in 1883 came to Taylor, which at that time was only a small village. He was one of the first physicians to locate in this city.
Dr. Sams was married in 1868, to Miss Mary A. Seabrook, a native of Edisto island, South Carolina., and a danghter of E. M. and Mary (Wilkenson) Seabrook, of Scotch and English parentage. Mrs. Sams was a member of one of the oldest families in South Carolina, and was a relative of Gov- ernor Scabrook, of that State. Mrs. Sams died in 1885, in this city, having been a member of the Baptist Church. In 1887 our subjeet was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary Chesnutt, a native of Hot Springs, Arkansas, and a daughter of Col- onel Brown, of Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Sams have had two children: Florida, de- ceased, and Hamilton H. Both the doctor and wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
D R. R. S. GRAVES, a physician and surgeon of Austin, Texas, was born in Orange county, North Carolina, in 1844, a son of Richard S. and Martha E. (Thomas) Graves, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Mississippi.
"The father practiced law in St. Louis and : Chillicothe, Missouri, and at one time was --- State Treasurer of Mississippi. He came to Texas in 1874, where he died in 1878, aged seventy-three years. Both he and his wife were members of the Presbyterian Church. The latter died in 1885, at the age of fifty- seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Graves were the parents of five children, our subject being the eldest child. Two sons, J. A. and T. A., are merchants of Texas; and the daughter, a widowed lady, resides in Luling, this State.
R. S. Graves attended the University of St. Louis, and graduated at the St. Louis Med- ical College in 1871. He then practiced two years in that city, spent one year in Jefferson county, Missouri, and in 1874 came to Anstin, Texas. Ile has held the position of City and County Physician for the past eight years, and is held in high esteem throughout the city and county as a practitioner, and his professional services sustain his reputation. The Doctor is a diligent student, well-read in medicine, and stands second to none in the practice of his chosen profession. He is also public-spirited, taking an active interest in whatever advances the best interests of his city.
Dr. Graves was married August 19, 1867, to Miss Carrie T. Thomas, an orphan girl, who was educated in St. Louis. Six children have been born to this union, two now living -James P. and Richard S. Daisy and Mar- tha E. died in early childhood; two died in infancy -Willie Stanford and one not named. Mr. Graves is a member of the blue lodge, chapter, commandery and the Mystic Shrine; is Junior Warden of the commandery, and Royal Arch Captain of the Hlost in the chap- ter. He is also medical examiner in the A. O. U. W., and a member of the Woodmen of the World. Religiously, both he and his
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
wife are members of the Presbyterian Church. Dr. Graves is a kind-hearted maa, is admir- ably adapted for the work which he has been called upon to do as County Physician, and at no time in the history of the city have those unfortunates, who are compelled by stress of circumstances to become for the time being publie charges, been more carefully looked after or treated with greater consideration than during his administration. He has also done his part in advancing the religions, edn- cational and social interests of the commn- nity.
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M. JONES, one of the prominent farin- ers of Travis county and a well-known dealer in live-stoek, Anstin, Texas, was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, Angust 3, 1825, a son of Erasmus Jones, a native of Campbell county, Virginia, born in 1801. The paternal grandfather, Erasmus Jones, Sr., was born in the Old Dominion State in 1758, bnt came to Tennessee when his son Erasmus was a lad of eleven years; there he passed the remainder of his days, dying at the ripe old age of eighty-three years; he always enjoyed excellent health, and the year he died he cul- tivated six aeres of corn, planting and har- vesting his erop without assistance. He has no military record, but three of his brothers fought in the war of the Revolution.
The family is of Welsh descent, the orig- inal settlers being among the colonists of Virginia. The paternal grandmother of our subject was Amy Fuqua, a member of a lead- ing Virginia family of French descent. Erasmus Jones and his wife Amy reared the following-named children: William Henry; Talbert; Michael: Erasmus; Aaron; Judith, who married James Cox; Nancy; Sally, who married Henry Mathews; Mary, wife of . Travis county in 1863, and after raising one
Clement Johns: and Julia, wife of Randle Bogle. The sons of this family. with the exception of Aaron, served in the war of 1812. The father of J. M. Jones was a Whig in politics, and declared himself for the Union when the questions arose that led to the Civil war; his death ocenrred at the beginning of this conflict. lle married Christiana, a danghter of JJames Bond, a North Carolina gentleman; he was born before the Revolu- tion, and was a soldier in the war of 1812; he married Nancy Mathews, and they had a family of eight children: Christiana; Marga- ret, wife of Michael Jones; Apsley, who mar- ried John Scott; Nancy, wife of John Arnold; Sallie, who married Joe Minzle; Emeline, who married David Moore; William Lewis and Richard. J. M. Jones is one of the fol- lowing-named children: S. F., a commission merchant of Kansas City, Missouri; Rebecca, who married George Ileaton; Payton S., who resides in Colorado; Alama, the wife of John Jones; Margaret, who died at the age of fourteen years; Sarah M., who married S. C. Dean; Ananda I., who married John Wood; George D., who lives in the " Pan- Ilandle;" James C., in Colorado; Christiana, who died single; and William D., who died in Colorado.
The educational opportunities enjoyed by Mr. Jones were limited, but he made the most of the good that came in his way, and finally was able to teach; this profession he followed until he was forty years of age, his first school having been tanght at the age of sixteen. He was the first member of the family that came to Texas; he arrived in 1851 and located in Red River county; at the end of four years he moved to Parker county, but at the end of eight years was obliged to go away on account of the hostilities of the Indians. He came to
Nor Bitting
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
crop enlisted in Captain Cater's company; he participated in the battle of Pahnetto Branch, the last of the war, and gives a most graphic and vivid description of this engagement.
Ile returned to his home in May, 1865, and resmuned agrienltural pursnits; he purchased his present splendid farm in 1865, paying 816 an aere; he has 800 aeres in this tract, now worth a nice fortune; he also owns 640 acres in Parker comty. For a number of years he was quite extensively en. gaged in raising live-stock, his herds number- ing thousands. January 1, 1893, he entered into a partnership with W. C. Redd, of Austin, and they have established the leading butch- ering business of the place.
Mr. Jones was married November 9, 1849, in Wilson county, Tennessee, to Martha L., daughter of Jehu MeAdo, born February 1, 1829. The children of this marriage are: Tennessee, who married D. A. Todd, whose history will be found elsewhere in this vol- nme; James T., who married Emeline Les- ter; J. M., who married Evelina Porter; Maggie, the wife of Richard A. Johnson; Payton S .; Charles B .; and Alta Lee. Mr. Jones has thirty grandchildren. Jehn Mc- Ado, father of Mrs. Jones, married Martha Leech; both families were prominent and wealthy citizens of Tennessee.
C APT. J. W. BITTING, the leading merchant of the prosperous little town of Manor, Travis county, Texas, and one of the most widely and favorably known citizen of his State, is deserving of promi- nent mention in the history of his county, in the acquirement of knowledge, until, at which he has done so much to develop and advance.
The founders of the Bitting family in America were two brothers, who came from Germany in colonial times and settled near Philadelphia, whence they afterward removed to North Carolina. One of these was An- thony Bitting, and the other, John Bitting, was the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch. Jolm Bitting's son, Walter R. Bitting, was born in the Old North State in 1819, and was a merchant by ocenpation, as was also his father before him. Walter was married, in 1842, to Miss Susan Hamp- ton, a member of the same family as General Wade Hampton, the distinguished -soldier and statesman, the family being of English descent. They had four children: J. W., whose name heads this sketch; Mary G., widow of S. G. Painter, of Marion, Virginia; Joseph II., deceased; and Samuel T., a sne- cessful merchant of Eddy, New Mexico. Walter Bitting died at Tom's Creek, Sorry county, North Carolina, in January, 1852, leaving his family and many friends to mourn his loss. He was a man of the high- est honor and of distinguished ability, and noted for his generosity and kindness of heart. His widow still survives him and since 1877 has found a pleasant and comfort- able home with her oldest son, the subject of this sketch. Rev. C. C. Bitting, a cele- brated Baptist minister in the Sonth, is a member of this same family, and now re- sides in Baltimore.
J. W. Bitting was born in Surry county, North Carolina, February 17, 1843, and was nine years old when his father dicd. Two years later, he was placed in a Masonic in- stitute, and, being a hoy of quick perception and retentive memory, he made rapid strides the end of five years, he completed his lit- erary education with high honors.
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