USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 11
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 11
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 11
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 11
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 11
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 11
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Bean Keneth, Mary S. and Annie Gertrudo. Both Mr. and Mrs. McCntcheon are devont and useful members of the Cumberland Pres byterian Church.
Politically. Mr. Mccutcheon is an ardent prohibition Democrat. He was an active member of the Farmers' Alliance from the time of its organization in Williamson county until 1891, when be withdrew at the expira- tion of his term of office as President of the County Alliance, by reason of political dis- sensions in that body. Fraternally, he is identified with the A. F. & A. M. and the A. O. U. W. He has been highly success- ful and nses his means to the best advantage in the education of his children and in sur- rounding his family with all home comforts, while his hand is ever open to the calls of charity and the aiding of all projects tending to advance the interests of his community and State.
ENRY PRICE, a farmer of William- son county, is a son of George W. and Annie (Autry) Price. The grand- father of our subject, Sterling Price, was born in North Carolina, and after the Revolutionary war moved to Virginia, where he grew to manhood. Early in the present century he emigrated to Perry county, Alabama, and afterward to Benton county, same State. where he subsequently died. George W. Price was born in Perry county, but was raised in Benton county. He was married, in the latter county in 1812, to Anna Antry, who was born and raised in St. Clair county, Alabama. They had eight chil- ren, viz .: Henry, our subject; Lucinda, now Mrs. Shelton, who resides near Pine Bluff, Arkansas; G. W., of Johnson county. Texas;
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Angeline, now Mrs. Nichols, and residing near Glen Rose, Texas; and Andrew J., also of that place. The mother died in Benton, now Calhoun county, Alabama, in 1842, and the father afterward again married. Ilis death occurred at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, in 1860. Hle was a farmer by occupation, and a mem- ber of the Baptist Church.
Ilenry Price, the subject of this sketch, was born in Benton county, Alabama, December 24, 1832. His mother died when he was ten years of age, and two years later he was bound out to a Mr. Meharg, who raised him as his own child. In 1854 he came to Texas, and first fonnd employment in a brick- yard in Austin, remaining there about two years. July 28, 1856, Mr. Price located on his present farin of 550 acres in Williamson county, ninety acres of the same being under a good state of cultivation. He remained on this place until in August, 1892, when he moved to Liberty Hill, for the purpose of educating his children. At the opening of the late war Mr. Price enlisted as a private in Company D, Thirtieth Texas Cavalry, served about four years in the Trans-Missis- sippi Department, and participated in the battles of Poison Springs, Roseville, Cabin Creek, Camden, etc. He was never wounded or captured.
In 1861, in Williamson county, our subject was united in marriage to Almira Renick. They had three children: T. W., of this county; Eva, wife of J. P. Hoskins; and Minnie, now Mrs. C. C. Fitzgerald, of Gon- zales county, Texas. The wife and mother died in May, 1867, and July 30, 1874, in this county, Mr. Price married Margaret Sterling, of Irish descent, and raised in Johnson county, Missouri. ller paternal great-grand- father came from Ireland to the United States, locating in Kentucky, where the grandfather,
James Sterling, was raised. The latter after- ward located in Tennessee, and later in Mis- sonri. The parents of Mrs. Price had six children, four now living,-Jane, now Mrs. Gallat, of Caldwell county, Texas; Margaret, now Mrs. Price; Annie, now Mrs. Kirk, of Marble Falls, this State; and Ellen, wife of a Mr. Barton, of New Mexico. Our subject and wife have two children, -Neely and Nannie. In his political relations, Mr. Price affiliates with the Democratic party; socially, is a Master Mason; and religiously an Elder in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
EWIS E. WALKER, who has re- cently taken up his abode in Will- iamson county, Texas, is a highly respected citizen of Rice's Crossing, and a inost agreeable and popular gentleman. A brief sketch of his life is here appended:
As far as known by our subject the Walker family found its first home in Kentucky. It was there that Federal Walker, father of Lewis E., was born, in 1800. The famous county of Bourbon was his native county. There he grew to manhood and there he was permitted to get not more than a smattering of an edu- cation. His father was a farmer, and Federal learned well the business and followed it most profitably, when the responsibility of his own condition was thrust upon him. Abont the year Missouri took her position in the gal- axy of States, Mr. Walker left his old " blue grass " home and settled on a New Madrid claim in Howard county, within the bound- aries of the new-made State. Prosperity attended him in every effort here and he be- came one of the largest landed men in the county. He possessed great energy, but he did not dedicate it all to the use of his plant-
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ations. In his youthful days he had attended school merely enough to breed in him an in- ordinate appetite for knowledge. This appe- tite he attempted to satiate. IIe surrounded himself with papers and magazines and posted himself on the enrrent events and the progress of science and invention, and, incidentally, something of politics. Books were his favorite companions. Ile seemed to have no ambition to enter public life, and we presume never allowed his name to be used in connection with any office.
Federal Walker married Sallie Dunn, one of a family of eight children of Lewis Dunn. They had children, as follows: John, a farmer and for eight years State Auditor of Missouri; R. D., a farmer and a veteran of the Mexi- ean war; Thomas, also a farmer; L. E .; Nan- nie, wife of Dr. Watt Lenore; and Mary. Federal Walker was the oldest of his father's children, the others being: Malinda, who married Dr. Charles Dawson; Permelia; George, a trader; and Jefferson, a planter.
Lewis E. Walker, our subject, was born in Howard county, Missouri, September 20, 1329, just nine years after his native State was dropped from the category of Territories. Ilis opportunities for intellectual advance- inent were of the first order, but young Lewis was not endowed with a disposition that would submit to a sedentary life even for the brief period of six hours a day. There was no delight in the schoolroom for him. When admonished by his father as to the beanties and valuc of an education, his reply was, "Pa, I know enongh." He remained at home until his majority was reached, when he embarked in the occupation of his father, and pursued it in his native county till 1873. Ile, like his father, was a slave owner; but he took no part in the struggle which led to the freedom of the slaves.
Mr. Walker sought Texas as a place of res- idence in 1873. Ile was first located in one of the Western counties and was engaged for a few years in the wool business, but for the past decade or more he has given his atten- tion to the cultivation and improvement of liis admirable tract of 300 acres. IIis home is beautiful and attractive, and is the abiding place of a worthy family. January, 29, 1850, Mr. Walker married Nancy, a danghter of Porter Jackman and nee Mary Arnold. Mr. and Mrs. Jackman had a family as follows: Mark, deceased; Elizabeth, who married John Mckinney; John, deceased; Nancy; Hannah, the wife of N. G. Mitchel of Boone county; Mary, who wedded Mr. Nichols; William; Susan, who married F. McClnre, of Sedalia, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Walker are the par- ents of Fayette, born Octoher 17, 1852, now living with his father; C. C., born Novem- ber 25, 1854, deceased September 13, 1891, leaving a wife and four children; W. C., born October, 1856, died in August, 1890, leaving a widow and five children; Sallie, died in 1880; Effie, who died in 1879; and Annie, who dicd in 1882. The oldest son, Fayette, married Miss Lney Siuns and they have two children.
The Walker family are contented and happy, as will be observed by a visit to their residence, and are a most worthy and desirable addition to the population of this great State.
E M. BEAN .- On the banks of the Po- tomac river, eighty miles west of the city of Baltimore, in Washington county, Maryland, Elwood M. Bean, son of Benjamin and Minerva (Resley) Bean, was born, on Jannary 5, 1839. In the same place his parents were also born, and back through
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
several generations into the carly settled families of that historic locality his ancestry runs. The MeBeans, from which he descend- ed on his father's side, were originally from Scotland; the Resleys from England. Both were strong religionists, the MeBeans being stanch Presbyterians, the Resleys Episco- palians. Both were large land and slave owners, and lived in the splendid style that character- ized the living of the well-to-do people of their class in ante-bellum days.
The death of his parents, the father in 1849 and the mother in 1855, together with reverses in private fortune, brought Elwood M. Bean in 1856 to Texas, then a youth just turning into his eighteenth year. His pre- vions training had not been such as to fit him in the best possible manner for the rugged experiences that awaited him, but he was prepared in purpose for this and he took up the new life with readiness. Locating in Milam county, he went to work on a farm, where he was steadily and profitably employed until the opening of the late war. He entered the Confederate service in Angnst, 1861, enlisting in Company G, Fifth Texas. He served with the Army of Northern Vir- ginia, taking part in the peninsular campaign, the seven days' fight around Richmond, second Manassas, Boonesboro Mountains, Sharps- burg and on to Gettysburg, where he lost his right arm and was captured July 3, 1863. He lay in prison ten months in Baltimore, Fort MeHlenry and Point Lookout, when he was exchanged, placed in the reserve corps and sent West to report to General E. Kirby Smith, then commanding the Trans-Missis- sippi Department. Here, under anthority from General J. B. Robinson, commanding the reserve corps of Texas, he raised a battalion from the counties of Washington, Burleson, Milam, Falls, Bell and MeLennan, |
of which he was commissioned Major. With this force, made up mostly of old men and boys to the number of abont 400, Major Bean was rendezvousing at Moseley's Ferry on the Brazos, making active preparation to go to the front, when he received news of Lee's surrender, in April. 1865.
The war over, he took up his residence again in Milain connty, where, in 1868, he married a daughter of one of the old citizens of the county, and for a minber of years engaged in farming. In 1886 he became a candidate for County Assessor. A sharply contested race resulted in almost a tie vote, and the County Commissioners' Court, after two days' canvassing and deliberating, ten- dered the certificate of election to Major Bean, which he declined, with the request that it be given to his opponent, which was done. He then went into the Connty Clerk's office as Deputy under W. M. Baines, where he re- mained for two years, when he again became a candidate for the office of Connty Treasurer, to which he was elected by a safe majority. This was in 1888. In 1890 he was re-elected by a practically unanimous vote, and in 1892, in one of the most hotly contested races ever witnessed in the connty, he received the largest vote polled in the county and beat his opponent something over 900 votes. Major Bean is a most efficient officer and a de- servedly popular citizen. No man in Milam connty has, or perhaps ever had, as firm a hold upon the people of the county as he has. HIis unaffected ways, his hearty manner and generons, impulsive nature have made him admired and beloved of all classes and condi- tions of men. Never a fellow-man, whatever his politics, color or condition in life, that asked a favor of him but it was granted, if it was in his power to grant it. While a Democrat in political faith, he is broad and
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progressive in his views. The same catho- licity of spirit also characterizes his way of thinking on social, religions and economic questions, his mind offering a generous hos- pitality to the thoughts of others and his heart beating in unison with the best im- pnlses of the age.
P O. AND H. E. WILLSON, of the firm of Willson Brothers, proprietors of the Taylor Texan, of Taylor, are sons of H. I. and Elizabeth (Otwell) Willson, natives of Kentucky. They came to Texas in 1853, locating in Coryell county, but a short time afterward removed to Cherokee county, where they remained until the close of the late war. At the opening of that struggle Mr. Willson esponsed the canse of the Sonthern States, and in 1861 joined Colonel Hubbard's regiment, was attached to General Walker's brigade, and was appointed Lien- tenant of his company. He was never wounded or captured. After the close of hos- tilities lie was engaged in school-teaching for some years, and then, being a civil engineer by profession, accepted a position from the Houston & Texas Central Railroad Company. He also located the road from Waco to Bre- mond, assisted in locating and surveying towns on the Houston & Texas Central rail- road, and, on account of ill health, retired from railroad work in 1874. He afterward resumed school-teaching for a time. IIe was elected Connty Surveyor of Milam county in 1888. Mr. Willson now resides in Taylor, Texas. His first wife died in 1869. They had the following children: P. O., a member of the firm of Willson Brothers; Mattie L., wife of H. A. Crossett, of Jones county; H. E., the second member of the firm of Willson Brothers, Frank, deceased; and Fred W., of
Waco. In 1873 Mr. Willson again married, being united to Miss Allie Denman, a native of Calvert, Texas. They had three children: HI. 1., Olive D. and Johnie S.
P. O. Willson was born in Lonisville, Ken- tucky, in 1853. 1Ie was educated at differ- ent points throughout Texas. In 1872 lie was employed in the printing office of the Belton Journal, edited by Captain J. G. Batt, and there reniained eight years. In 1880 lie purchased the Belton Courier, but two years afterward his office was destroyed by fire, and lie lost his entire possessions accumulated during ten years. Mr. Willson then accepted a position on the Cameron Ilerald, and for three years was editor-in-chief of that paper. In 1885 he started a job printing office in Rockdale, and September 1, 1886, in com- pany with his brother, H. E. Willson, lie purchased the Taylor Texan, forming the present partnership of Willson Brothers. This paper was at first conducted in a small room over the National bank, with a circula- tion of abont 600, but in 1890 they erected their present magnificent two-story brick building on Broad street, where they now have one of the finest offices to be found in any small town in Central Texas. They have the celebrated Cranston steam power press. The building and machinery is valned at $20,000, and the entire ontfit was purchased in 1886 for $750. The firm also owns con- siderable real estate in Taylor.
Mr. Wilson was married in 1883, to Miss Delia Goode, of Belton, Texas, a daughter of Dr. Goode, deceased, whose widow still re- sides in Belton. Mr. and Mrs. Willson have had four children; Roy, deceased; Herbert G .; Lottie and a babe unnamed. Mr. Will- son is a member of the I. O. O. F., of this city, and both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.
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II. E. Willson was born in Cherokee county, Texas, in 1858, and received his education at different places in Texas. At the age of twenty years he entered the printing office of the Belton Courier, under his brother, P. O. Willson, and there learned his trade. In 1886 he came to Taylor, and formed a part- nership with his brother, as before mentioned. Mr. Willson was married in 1886, to Miss Ida Ross, a daughter of Mat and Catherine (Maxey) Ross. Her grandfather was one of the pioneer judges of the State and Republic of Texas, and was well known in the early history of this State. Our subject and wife have five children: Harold, Ross M., Eliza- beth L., Margery and one unnamed. Mr. and Mrs. Willson are members of the Baptist Church, and the former also affiliates withi the K. of H.
C ALVIN ROGERS HOLT .-- More than a century ago, in the days of Daniel Boone, when the beautiful " barrens " and fertile valleys of the great Southwest were being rapidly filled with adventurous settlers from the older States, there arrived in central Kentucky one Drury Holt, who took up his residence in one of the numnerons set- tlements then being formed and gave the strength and vigor of his manhood to the work of helping to subdue the savages and lay the foundation of the great common- wealth which sprang up from the colonies planted by Boone, Harrod, Shelby and their compatriots. Drury Holt was a type of his kind, a powerful. muscular man, bold, active and energetic, found of sports and a social favorite, the kind of a man to gather around him a strong following of ardent and sym-
pathetic admirers and to be a conspicuous character at all neighborhood gatherings. Hle was not a politician nor a seeker after military glory, but an unambitious, and, ex- cepting his claims as a wrestler, boxer and rimmer, an unassuming citizen. He was probably married when he settled in Ken- tucky, and there subsequently reared his family. His wife's maiden name was Rogers, and by her he had six children, all of whom became grown and raised families. The eldest and youngest of these, Danswell and Drury, were sons, the remainder being danghters. Mollie was married to Jolin Ryan Henry, Patty to Joseph Ryan, Lucy to David Tramell and the youngest to Daniel Neal. Drury inherited a great deal of his father's physical and social make-np. In middle life he turned his attention to religion and politics and be- came a prominent minister of the Church of the Disciples and a man of some public note.
Danswell Holt was born in Kentucky, in 1794, and was reared in his native State. He married a Miss Alice Wright and had eight children: Susan, who was married to Joel Scott, and now resides in Carroll county, Arkansas; Patty, who was married to Rich- ard Clark, and resides in Kentucky; Betty, who was married to Abram Speers, and re sides in Carroll county, Arkansas; Henry, who lives in Carroll county, Arkansas; Isham, who lives at Silver City, New Mexico; Lar- kin, who lives in Carroll county, Arkansas; Calvin Rogers, the subject of this sketch; and Lucinda, the wife of John Rutledge, of Carroll county, Arkansas. The father died in Cumberland county, Kentucky, in 1844. The mother died in Carroll county, Arkansas, about 1877 or '78. The father was a quiet, moral man, but not connected with any relig- ous denomination. The mother was a life- long member of the Baptist Church.
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Calvin Rogers Holt, with whom this article is mainly concerned, was born near Cumber- land river in Cumberland county, Kentucky, February 13, 1824. Ile was reared in his native county. IIis boyhood and early yonth were passed on his father's farm. At the age of twenty-four he married, settled him- self and began caring for a separate honse- hold. Four years later, in 1852, he came to Texas and located in Burleson county, resid- ing for two years on Davidson creek, a short distance southeast of Caldwell. He then purchased land on Yellow prairie, where he settled and has since resided. Forty years ago, when Mr. Holt took up his residence where he now lives, the north and western part of Burleson county was very sparsely settled, practically unimproved, and still sub- jeet to occasional visits from straggling bands of Indians. His nearest neighbors then were: Alexander Thompson, William Wilkerson, Isaiah Courtney and George R. Lewis. None of these knew much about frontier life ex- cept Mr. Lewis. He had spent a number of years on the border and was the " main-stay" of the settlement on matters of common interest. All of these except Mr. Holt are now dead.
There being no railroads in the State at that date a great deal of freighting was going on from Houston to interior points, and Mr. IIolt early sought employment in this busi- ness. He was profitably engaged in this for a number of years, making several trips to southwestern Texas, and two, during the war, to the Rio Grande country, where he pur- chased salt and coffee, which he brought back and distributed among the settlers. After the war he took advantage of the prosperons times, and, in stock and farming, made con- siderable money, most of which he invested in land and cattle, and thus laid the foundation
of that snecess which has since fallen to his lot. Mr. Ilolt now owns about 1,500 acres of land, two-thirds of which lies in Burleson county, the remainder in Milam county, about 200 acres of which are in cultivation. llis place on Yellow prairie, near the railway sta- tion of that name, is well improved and well- stocked. Mr. Holt has inherited from his Kentucky ancestors the love of fine stock, which has made that State famous the world over. It is coneeded that he raises the finest inules in Burleson comty. He is devoted to farming, stock-raising and kindred pur- suits, in which he has met with good success. Publie matters receive a fair share of his at- tention, but he has never held any public office and has never cared to. In the social, moral, educational and religious welfare of the community in which he resides, he has always shown a marked interest, and has con- tributed liberally of his means, his time and his personal effort toward building these up. He has been a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church for years, this faith coming to him naturally from pious parents. He is no master in religious debate nor seeker after vain things in scriptural analysis, be- lieving rather in the broad and benevolent teachings of Christianity and the univeral brotherhood of man.
In polities he is independent, having voted the Democratic ticket most of his life, Unt is not wedded to the party.
Mr. Holt has been twice married, his first marriage occurring in Cumberland county, Kentucky, in February, 1843, when he wed- ded Miss Oney Bow, a daughter of Jolm Bow. This lady was born in Cumberland county, Kentucky, and died in Burleson county, Texas, in 1871. She left seven chil- dren: Alice, who was first married to Green Stilwell, and after his death to Henry C. Dil-
John H. Williams
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lard; Millie, who was married to John Rob- inson; Florence, the widow of Robert Ken- ton; Jeff; Calvin R., Charles and Betty, the wife of Walter Dickinson. In 1877 Mr. Holt married Miss Grundy Teel, daughter of Oph and Betty Beall. The children of the last union are: Mary, Lillie, Dallie, William, Rogers, Mattie, Annie, May and Carney.
JOHN H. WILLIAMS, a farmer and stock raiser of Williamson county, Texas, is a son of G. W. and Susanah (Berry) Williams, of Scotch-Irish descent. The paternal grandfather, Jesse Williams, who was probably a native of Ireland, after coming to this country, resided in one of the Carolinas, took part in the Revolutionary war, and after- ward went to Indiana, where he subsequently died. G. W. Williams was born and raised in Indiana, where he was married in the late '20s. He lived in Orange county, that State, until 1840, in that year moved to Ben- ton county, Missouri, and in 1848 to Titus county, locating on the southern fork of the Red river, in the eastern part of the State. Eiglit years later he settled in the neighbor- hood where our subject now lives. The father died here, February 13, 1881, the mother having departed this life in eastern Texas, in 1846. Mr. and Mrs. Williams had five chil- dren: Sarah, widow of Mr. Adams, of Burnet county, Texas; Nancy, deceased, John H., the subject of this sketch, Susan, living in Burnet county; and Willie, deceased. Mrs. Williams was married previous to this union, and had six children. After her death Mr. Williams married a widow with three chil- dren, and they became parents of five children, making four sets of children in the family. M. Williams was a member of the Metli- odist Church, and a life-long Demoerat.
Jolm II. Williams was born in Orange county, Indiana, December 29, 1833, and accompanied the family in their various moves. In 1857 he located in Williams county, on his present farm, consisting of 945 aeres, where he is also engaged in stock-raising. In 1878, he erected his beautiful and commodious residence. In 1862 Mr. Williams enlisted in Company 1, Thirtieth Texas Cavalry, and served for three years in the Trans- Mississippi Department, engaged principally in sconting duty. He has always taken an active inter- est in politics, and in 1880 was elected Com - missioner of his distriet, serving one term of two years. In 1884 he was again elected to that position, and served two terms. During his administration the jail question was agi. tated, and resulted in the erection of the present safe and commodious building, Mr. Williams having been a prominent worker in its favor.
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