USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 12
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 12
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 12
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 12
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 12
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 12
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February 14, 1855, in Titus county, Texas, our subject was united in marriage to Sarah E. McCrovey, who was born in Pettis county, Missouri, but raised in Titus county, Texas. Her grandfathers on both sides were natives of Ireland. Grandfather James McCrovey located in South Carolina, where he raised his family. Samuel McCrovey, the father of Mrs. Williams, located in Missouri when a young man, was there married to Jane C. Brown, and when Mrs. Williams was six months old they came to Texas, loeating in Red River county. The parents both died in Titus county. Onr subject and wife have had six children. as follows: Susan E., at home; J. H., who has served for the past four years as secretary and steward of the Deaf and Dumb Institute of Austin; Samuel A., a grocer of this county; Mary M., deceased; Mary E., deceased; and Lillie A., at home. In his political relations, Mr. Williams is a
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Democrat of the old school, but votes for the man and principle. Socially he is a Royal Areh Mason, holding his membership in Mt. Horeb Lodge, No. 137. Ilc has filled all the important offices in the blue lodge, and some of the offiecs in the chapter. Relig- iously, he is a Deacon in the Missionary Baptist Church.
H ENRY SMILIE, an old Texan and a prosperons farmer residing on the edge of the Brazos bottom in the vicinity of Baileyville, Milam eonnty, is a native of Montgomery county, Alabama, where he was born Angust, 1834. His par- ents were Henry and Matilda Smilie, the father being a Sonth Carolinian by birthi, the place of the mother's nativity not being known. Both, however, descended from old American stock, and their parents were early settlers of Alabama. Henry Smilie and Matilda May were married in Alabama and there spenft their lives, the wife dying in Montgomery county about 1838 or 1839, and the husband in Pike county in 1844, both in middle life. The elder Smilic was a planter, the possessor of considerable means, a man of plain ways and uneventful life. He never hield any publie positions, and with the excep- tion of some service against the Indians when a young man nevor figured in public affairs. He and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketeh is the fourth in age. The others are: Euge- nia, who is now the wife of Charles Burley, and resides in Laredo, Texas; Robert, who died in Alabama where his descendants now reside; James, who was killed at the battle of Gaines' Mill during the late war; Sarah Jane, the present wife of J. R. Jones, of Milam
county ; Jacob, a farmer of this eounty; Will- iam, who was also killed at Gaines' Mill dur- ing the late war; and Malinda, who died in infaney.
Henry Smilie was reared in Montgomery county, Alabama, until he was fourteen years old. His father thien moving to Pike county, his youth was passed in that eonnty until he was cigliteen. At that age, in 1852, he canc to Texas, in company with an older sister and two brothers, being a part of a caravan which was made np from Pike and Montgomery comties and bound for the West. Locating in Washington county, he remained there one year, wlien he went to Robertson county. There he resided until 1861, when he became a citizen of Milam connty, settling on what is now known as the Muldrow place, near Caddo Church, which he improved. He has lived in this general vicinity since, having bought, improved, and sold several times.
He settled on his present farm in 1866. This farm, consisting of 400 acres lying with- in the forks of Pond creek and along the Brazos river, nearly all of which is in cultiva- tion, is one of the finest bodies of land in Milam county, being well improved and highly productive. He has devoted most of his life to farming, at which lie has met with reasonable snceess. In 1870 he put a ferry on the Brazos river, which he eondueted for abont seven years, discontinning it abont 1877.
Mr. Smilic enlisted in the Confederate army during tho late war, entering Bennett's company and Elmore's regiment, with which lie was assigned to duty in thie Transporta- tion Department, and served till the close of hostilities.
He married, in Milam eonnty, in Novem- ber, 1858, Miss M. O. W. Hnson, a native of Rush county, this State, and by this marriage has had five children, four of whom
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became grown: Joseph II., who died at the age of nineteen; William J., Minnie and Perla.
Mr. Smilie cast his first vote for president for Millard Fillmore, the candidate of the American party, in 1856. On the disinte- gration of the old parties in 1860 he cast his political fortunes with the Democrats, and he has steadily voted with them since. He refused to support Horace Greeley, however, in 1872, because he did not believe Greeley represented the Democratic party.
Mr. Smilie is a Mason, a member of the Knights of Honor, and he and most of his family belong to the Baptist Church.
JAMES L. DEAN, merchant and farmer of Deanville, Burleson county, is a son of Lemuel and Judith Dean, who were comparatively early settlers of Texas, moving here in 1851. Lemuel Dean was a native of Virginia, where he was born in 1793. He was married in his native State, and about 1838 moved to Nashville, Tennessee, and at a later date took up his residence at Quincy, that State, where he resided until 1851, when he came to Texas and located in Washington county. He later moved to Bosque county, where he died in 1862. He was engaged most of his life at his trade as a carpenter, and met with a fair share of success. His. wife, mother of the subject of this sketch, was also a native of Virginia, where she was born about the beginning of this century. Her maiden name was Judith Bowers. Their children were: Thomas; Martha, who was married to William Fnqua; Sarah, who was married to Charles Isbell; Leinnel; Richard; Tennessee, who was married to William Meeks; John; James L .; Adeline, who was
married to Charles Smith; William, and George. The only member of this large fam- ily now living is James L., whose name heads this notice. He was born in Quincy, Gibson county, Tennessee, on the 9th day of October, 1841. He was reared on a farm, where he enjoyed but meager educational advantages. He entered the Confederate army in 1861, enlisting in Company F, Twenty-first Texas Cavalry. Being engaged on out-post duty for several months after his enlistment, he saw but little actual field service, but later his command was ordered toward the East, and was in part of the series of engagements following Banks' Red river campaign. After this expedition the command returned to in- terior Texas and was disbanded at Moseley's Ferry, in Brazos county, at the close of the war. Mr. Dean then settled in Burleson county. Feeling his need of better educa- tional qualifications, he entered a school, where he took a ten months' course, after which he began clerking for R. W. Dean in the mercantile business at Caldwell. He was so employed till February, 1872. By this time he had saved some means from his wages, and, having married, he moved to his present location, eight miles west of Cald- well, where he began operations on his own account. In 1878 a postoffice was established ou his place and received his name. In 1883 he received the appointment as Postmaster, and has since held that position. His inter- ests are mercantile, farming and stock-rais- ing, at which he has succeeded reasonably well.
. Mr. Dean's marriage ocenrred April 21, 1869, when he was united to Miss Josephine Dunn, then a resident of Burleson county, and a daughter of J. G. Dunn, who moved from Mississippi to Texas about 1858. Mrs. Dean was born in Mississippi and reared
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there and in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Dean have had nine children: Genevieve, now de- ceased; Olivia May, the wife of Dr. C. M. Thurston, of Lonisville, Kentucky; Edna, deceased; Ira; Alwin, deceased; Anuier de- ceased; Myrtle Jennett; Emma; Mars Benjamin Normand.
In politics Mr. Dean affiliates with the Democratic party, and he and his wife are inembers of the Methodist Church.
W J. BREWER, a prosperous and popular farmer of Milam county, was born January 25, 1858. His paternal grandfather, Jackson Brewer, was born in Lebanon, Tennessee, in 1828. C. C. Brewer, the father of our subject, was a na- tive of Tennessee. He followed farming and merchandising before the war, served as Clerk of Coffee county, Tennessee, two years, was commissioned Captain of a company of infant- ry for service in the Confederate army, and was killed at the battle of Tullahoma, Tennes- see. He married Eunice, a daughter of Jesse Reynolds, by whom he had seven children, namely: Frank, deceased; Fannie, wife of J. E. Davis, of Reagan Texas; Bettie, deceased; W. J., onr subject; Mercer, a resident of Kosse,' Texas; John, of Cameron, this county; Dr. Morris, a graduate of a Baltimore institution of medicine, and practicing physician of Mi- lam county.
W. J. Brewer came to Milam, Texas, at the age of seventeen, where he attended a coun- try school twelve months. He first engaged in farming with his brother-in-law, J. E. Davis, working on the shares. The follow- ing two years he rented land of W. Il. As- kew, in this county, and during the next two years was a tenant on a farm of Judge D. M.
Prendergast, on the Brazos river. In 1881 Mr. Brewer purchased 100 acres of his pres- ent farm, lying in the northern part of Milam connty, to which he afterward added 200 acres inore. The entire farm is fenced, and 130 acres under a fine state of cultivation. During the first year Mr. Brewer came to his present location he invested in cattle, buying abont seventy-five head, but after three years disposed of his stock, since which time he has confined himself to feeding beef cattle, marketing about two car-loads per year. Po- litically, he is a Democrat, and was appointed Postmaster of Clarkson by Wanamaker, upon the recommendation of W. F. Crawford, of Cameron.
Mr. Brewer was married in 1886 to Ella, a danghter of Henry and Emily (Dannelley) Barker. Mrs. Brewer is one of nine chil- dren, the others being: Emma, wife of J. A. Rogers, in Mills county; Byron, Judge, Della, Gains, Walter, Nettie and Johnnie. Mr. and Mrs. Brewer have one child, Ennice. Mr. Brewer is a member of the Masonic order, holding a membership in Little River Lodge, No. 397.
A LEXANDER ANDERSON .-- Among the inost thrifty and independent peo- ple who have sought homes in this country are the Swedes. They come from a densely populated region, where life is sustained only by continnons employment among the laboring classes, and when turned loose on the broad, naked surface of our rich western country the same efforts and economy put forth soon produce prosperity and in time great wealth. A most worthy representative of this hardy race is Alexander Anderson, of Taylor, Texas.
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Ile was born in Sweden, December 8, 1846. Ilis father, HI. Anderson, was born in 1820 and died in 1889. He was a farmer, had a fair education, and enjoyed ordinary thrift for a man of his vocation. He married Matilda Nelson, and they became the parents of three children, two sons and a danghter. The other son, Gustave, is a farmer in Sweden. The danghter is the wife of II. Anderson, they also being residents of Sweden.
Alexander Anderson remained with his father, engaged in farming, nntil 1869, when he came to the United States, embarking for New York, April 2, and landing at his desti- nation on the 26th of the same month. For some time he was engaged in work at the carpenter's trade. Two years after his arrival in the United States he found himself in Sherman, Texas, where he was employed on the Transcontinental Railroad one year. He then went to Columbus, Colorado connty, this State, and found employment on the Sunset route, remaining with that company a year. Deciding to quit the railroad and engage in a more independent business, he accordingly located in Travis county and began farming. He rented land the first few years and found that farming, even on rented land, was more profitable than railroad work, so he concluded to buy a farın. Learning of the fine country surrounding Taylor, he came hither in 1877 and bought 140 acres, and to his first pur- chase he has since added 410 more, all now under fence and 300 acres under enltivation. Corn, cotton and inillet are his chief crops, his cotton erop in 1892 amonnting to 120 bales.
Mr. Anderson was married in Travis connty, Texas, in 1878, January 5, to Annie Kreger, who was born in that county in 1858. Iler father, a native of Germany, emigrated to this country in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. An- I G., Jr.
derson have had three children, namely: Gustave, who died November 27, 1892, at the age of thirteen years; Ludveg, eleven years old; and Augusta, nine. The family are Intherans.
W. WALKER, a prosperous and pro- gressive yonng fariner of Williamson county, is a native of the State of Geor- gia, born in Crawford conty, December 19, 1850. His father, S. C. Walker, Sr., was born in North Carolina, November 7, 1827, and at the age of nine years accompanied lis mother to Georgia, the father having passed to his eternal home; he learned the trade of blacksmith and wheelwright, and carried on these occupations in connection with farm- ing. In 1861 he removed to Washington county, Florida, and resided there until 1870, when he camne to Texas with his family; he first located in Bastrop county, and a few years later came to Williamson county, of which he is an honored citizen. The paternal grandfather of J. W. Walker was a native of North Carolina and a man of wide influence; he was a politician of more than local note, and had the confidence of his party, often being called to fill responsible official posi- tions. He reared a family of five children: Ned, Nat, S. G., Lazarus, and Margaret, who married John Crooms. Ned, Nat, and Laz- arus died in the Confederate army, the last named passing away while a prisoner of war at Rock Island, Illinois. S. G. Walker, Sr., married Hester Crooms, a daughter of John Crooms by his first marriage, and they became the parents of a family of five children: J. W., the subject of this biography; George; Elizabeth, wife of J. B. Ganor; J. M .; and S.
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At the time of his marriage Mr. Walker engaged in farming in Bastrop county, and also operated a cotton gin; upon his removal to Williamson county he brought the gin plant which is located on his present farm. His chief object in coming to Williamson county was to secure a farm of rich, black land which is steadily rising in value. Ile purchased 160 acres, 118 acres of which he has placed under good cultivation.
The date of his marriage is September 16, 1884, when he was wedded to Laura Ramsey, a daughter of W. D. and Nancy (Seymour) Ramsey, and one of four children: Mary married George W. Walker; Sarah is the wife of John Wolf; W. D .; and Mrs. J. W. Walker, who was born January 18, 1860, and is the mother of two children: Lillie, born February 7, 1886, is an exceptionally bright little girl; and Hiram W. was born February 24,1891.
EORGE A. LEWIS, a farmer and stock-raiser, Lyons, Texas, was born in Burleson county, this State, Deceni- ber 14, 1855, the fifth child of George R. and Irene (Ryan) Lewis. His parents came from Alabama to Texas in 1852, and settled in this county, where his father was engaged in farming and dealing in stock the rest of his life. Hc first bought and improved a farm on Yellow prairie, which he subse- quently sold, and bonght and developed an- other farm on Mound prairic. He died in 1860. He was a stanch Democrat, a promi- nent Mason, a consistent member of the Baptist Church, and a man whose many estimable qualities won for him the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in con- tact.
George A. Lewis remained with his wid- owed mother until 1881, when he married and settled on a farm of his own, having bought 200 acres where he now lives. To his original purchase he has since added until he is now the owner of 500 acres. He has about seventy-five acres under cultivation, renting part of it and hiring help to culti- vate the rest, corn and cotton being his prin- cipal crop. It is to stock, however, that he gives liis chief attention, raising sheep, goats, jacks, hogs, cattle and horses. Ile has a horse ranch in Nolan county. His residence is one of the attractive places of the neigh- borhood.
Of Mr. Lewis's brothers and sisters we make record as follows: Sarah A. was twice married, and died leaving an only child; John R., of Nolan county; Christina wife of Panl R. Valentine, is deceased; Jennie, who died at the age of twenty-two unmarried; Maggie wife of James Lewis; Lou, who mar- ried Silas Valentine; Alice, wife of Taylor Keen, of Alabama; and Willie, wife of James W. Winn, of Tom Green county, Texas.
Mr. Lewis was married in 1881, to Miss Annie G. Krohne, who was born in Wash- ington connty, Texas, July 26, 1855. Her father, George H. Krohne, a native of Ger- many, came to America and settled in Texas at an early day, bring his wife with him. He lost his wife the second year after settling in Texas, and later married Martha Petzink. Mrs. Lewis is the fourth child of the last marriage. Mr. Kroline first lived in Wash- ington county, then moved to Williamson, and in 1865 located in Burleson county, where he still lives. He is a farmer and car- penter, and has also been engaged in running a cotton gin and mill. Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have had eight children, viz .: George R., Hallie, Martha I., Earl R., John R., Clint D.,
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Allie G. and Willie S. All are living ex- eept George R., who died at the age of three years, and Martha I., whose death oceurred at the age of seven years and three months.
Mr. Lewis easts his vote with the Demo- eratic party.
I AMES S. HIEFLEY .- Much as moral- ists may deery the habit of money-get- ting, that habit when formod under the guidance of an intelligent mind and direetod by an honest purpose, represents the essence of some of the best virtnes attributable to man. Money is a good thing and the man who is capable of making it, who does make it and uses it wisely, is a valuable eiti- zen in any community. The subject of this sketch is a money-maker. His right to be 80 designated is unquestioned. An heir by birth to some of those qualities which de- velop into the granite of strong men's na- tures, he has been jostled by events, and the jostling has wrought a surprising improve- ment.
Mr. Hefley is a son of William V. Hefley, an old citizen of Milam county, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. The subject of this notice was born in Hen- derson county, Tennessee, Jannary 28, 1854. The same year his parents moved to Texas and settled in this county. His boyhood and youth were spent on the farm three miles from Cameron. There, in the typical old log school-honse, with batten doors, puncheon floor and slab seats. he received all the ednea- tion he ever obtained. In 1879, with a eapi- tal of $150, he started ont for himself, open- ing a livery stable in Rockdale, Milam county. A year later he moved to Cameron, continuing in the same line. For thirteen
years he has given his attention unremit- tingly to this business. His $150 invest- ment, supplemented by a full measure of plnek, energy and persevering industry, has grown amazingly. He has a business now which represents at least $9,000, $5,000 in realty and $4,000 in live stock, vehieles and equipments. In addition to this he owns ten residenees. and two business houses in Cameron, and a farin of 212 aeres, worth $3,500, six miles west of town. He has made all this in the last fourteen years.
In April, 1891, he was elected Alderman of Cameron for a term of two years, one year of which he served as Mayor pro tem., was re-elected Alderman in April, 1893, and unanimously chosen Mayor pro tem. for one year. He has interested himself as one of his energy and nature might be ex- pected to, both in the affairs of the town and county. A Democrat of the progressive type, he advocates those men and measures that promise the most lasting good to his lo- cality and the public at large withont refer- ence to politieal brands or names. He is a member also of the Knights of Honor and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Mr. Hefley married, in Milam county, March 25, 1882, Miss Fannie A., danghter of Sammel M. Hefley, and is the father of five children. 1
S WOHLLEB .- Thirty-three years ago a German lad of seventeen sat under a tree in Baden and took a last tearful look at his native village. His life there had not been a happy one, for he had been left an orphan at thirteen, and had had many struggles. But one does not part from the home of his childhood, however nnhappy his lot there may have been, without some feel-
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ings of regret. And so he paused at the out- skirts of the village, from which after a last look he turned away, and, buttoning his rough jacket over a brave heart, started out to win his way in the world. The lad was Serephin Wohlleb, born in Baden, June 20, 1841. A month later we find him in Amer- ica, a resident of Riley, Ohio, where he had secured employment at common labor, and had made an humble but auspicions begin- ning. This was in 1859.
Two years' residence in this country taught him much of American life and put new im- pulses in his breast, and so, when the late Civil war burst upon the country, with the generous impulsiveness of youth he offered his services for the preservation of the Union. They were accepted, and November, 1861, he enlisted in Company G, Twenty-eighth Ken- tncky Infantry. His regiment was assigned to duty under Sherman, and remained in Kentucky until the fall of 1863, when it was started sontliward to join the Federal forces thien being concentrated about Chattanooga. Entering the Georgia campaign in the spring of 1864, it was in all the engagements down
*to Atlanta, where, on the re-arrangement of the Union forces, it was placed with Thomas and was with him in his pursuit of Hood into Tennessee, taking part in the battles of Frank- lin and Nashville, where the final blow was given the ill-planned Confederate campaign.
The Twenty-eighth Kentucky remained about Nashville until after the general sur- render, when it was sent, in July, 1865, as part of an army of occupation to Texas, and was stationed at Victoria. It remained there till .January. 1866, when it was disbanded. Young Wohlleb was with it in all these move- ments, and shared its fortunes in battle, ou the march and in camp, performing the duties of a soldier faithfully wherever placed.
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After his discharge he went to work on a farm in Austin county, where he remained abont a year. He then returned to Louisville, Kentucky, and November 28, 1867, married one of his country-women of that place, Miss Angusta Jeckel, daughter of Joseph Jeckel, and a native of Lenigan, Oklenburg, Ger- many. With his bride he came back to Texas, and, purchasing a small farm in Austin county, settled down to agricultural pursuits. Hle resided in that county until 1883, when he moved to Milam county, where for five years he engaged in farming and ginning. In 1888 he came to Cameron and here started his present business-condneting au ice fac- tory and bottling works. This business was necessarily begun on a small scale, but it lias grown materially, and is really one of the im- portant local industries of Cameron. It rep- resents an investment of about $10,000, and from March to December does a thriving trade, two and a half tons of ice being inanu- factured daily, and a proportionate quantity of bottled goods sold. All of this is consumed in the town of Cameron, and the demand is steadily growing. Mr. Wohlleb has added a cotton gin to his plant, which is kept busy from September to December, the output from which the last season was about 1,700 bales, and an equal number the season before. Mr. Wohlleb was among the first to see the possibilities of cotton-seed oil manufacture at Cameron, and was identified in its earlier stages with the movement which resulted in the erection of the present mill at this place.
Ile is an advocate of immigration, and be - lieves that the future prosperity of the county depends upon the coming of a thifty class of small farmers, for whom the large traets now lying idle should be cut up and disposed of in suitable quantities. Hardly any man watches with closer interest the progress of
St. John Primm
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public affairs, or better understands the con- dition of things around him. He has come thoroughly into sympathy with the people aniong whom he lives, and is identified with all their interests.
He has six children: Alfred, Josephine, Angnsta, George, Harry and Clements. He is a member of the Knights of Honor, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Mutual Benefit Association of Brenham. Mr. Wohlleb has a half-brother, Jacob Jaist, liv- ing in Anstin county, and another, George, living in Bell county. One brother, Bern- hard, and a sister, Sofia, reside in the old country. His parents died in Baden, Ger- many, in 1854, aged fifty-four each. The entire family are members of the Catholie Churel.
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