USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 15
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 15
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 15
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 15
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 15
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 15
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
died July 19, 1802, leaving two children: Shirley W., born November 3, 1890, and Tal- bert R., June 22, 1892.
Politieally, Mr. Aldridge affiliates with the Democratic party, and takes an active interest in politics, but does not aspire to office. Fra- ternally, he is a member of the I. O. O. F. and of the Order of Railroad Conductors.
W ILLIAM E. MAY, a farmer residing in the vicinity of Tunis, Burleson county, Texas, dates his arrival in this State in 1869. Upon coming to Texas, he first located at Millican, in Brazos county, where he ran a photograph gallery for a time, and also one at Caldwell. Afterward he taught school at Millican one year. In 1873 lie went to Fort Bend county and taught a term of school, and the latter part of that year came to Burleson county, where he was engaged in teaching until 1875. About that time he was married and soon afterward bought a farm and settled down to agrieulti- ral pursuits, in which occupation he has since been engaged, also representing the Singer Manufacturing Company in this county with snecess. His first purchase was fifty acres. Subsequently he bought, sold and traded land, and at this writing lias 200 aeres, thirty-five of which are under cultivation, his chief erops being eorn and cotton. The rest of his land is in pastnre. He gives considerable atten- tion to the raising of cattle and hogs.
Mr. May was born in Louisa connty, Vir- ginia, Angust 28, 1848; was reared on a farm and receiveil a good education in the Loenst Dale Academy. He is the youngest of the eleven children of John S. and Marga- ret (Poindexter) May, both natives of the Ok Dominion. John S. May was a man of prom-
inence in his day. He was a wealthy planter and large slave-owner; was a leading Demo- erat, and County Judge of his county. In the war of 1812 he took an active part. The Poindexters had royal blood in their veins. They were of French and English deseent. Two brothers of our subject-Jolin S. and Isaae N .- preceded him to Texas. The latter returned to Virginia and is now principal of tlie academy at Oakland; is also a minister in the Baptist Church. The other, John S., is now engaged in farming in San Saba county, this State.
Mr. May married Miss Sallie Newcomb, who was born in this county, September 14, 1854, daughter of Dr. W. B. Newcomb, a native of Caroline county, Virginia. Dr. Newcomb went from Virginia to Mississippi when a boy. and when he grew up studied niedieine there. He came to Texas before the late war, and was engaged in the practice of his profession until within a short time before liis death, which occurred in March, 1877. He also carried on farming. Mr. and Mrs. May have nine children, as follows: Clarence and Clara (twins), Walter, Etliel, Bennie Mabel, Erwing, Sally and an infant.
Mr. May's political views are in harmony with Democratic principles. He has served as Justice of the Peace since 1890, having been re-elected in 1892. He has also held varions other local offices. He is a member of the Grange. With church and Sabbath- school work he is also prominently identified, bothi he and his wife being Baptists. For- merly he was superintendent of the Sabbath- school, and now has charge of the Bible class.
IIe lias lately entered into a co-partnership with Captain J. W. Ragsdale, and is engaged in a general mercantile business at Tunis, Texas, under the firm name of Ragsdale & May, and is doing a fair business,
Edward Reeves
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Mr. May does not use tobacco or intoxi- cating drinks, an example followed by all his family. Mrs. May is a thorough housekeeper and takes great delight in preparing a fine dinner, an art in which she is an expert, and as a nurse in sickness she has few canals. The children are all bright and intelligent, and will no doubt be an honor to their parents.
DWARD REEVES .- More than a century and a half ago there came from England and settled in Virginia one Edward Reeves. He had a son named Robert, who was born in Virginia and who, when a young inan went to North Carolina, where he married, settled and raised a con- siderable family of children, five of whom were sons. The eldest of these, named Ed- ward, was born in Bladen county, North Carolina, about 1799, and at about the age of twenty-seven married Nancy Melvin, daugh- ter of Robert Melvin of that county, and by this marriage had three children, the eldest of whom, bearing the old family name of Ed- ward, is the subject of this sketch. Ed- ward Reeves, of whom we here write, was born in Bladen county, North Carolina, July 11, 1838. He was reared in that county to the age of sixteen, when, in 1854, his parents with their three children started for Texas. In accordance with the custom of those days the trip was undertaken by boat, and had been accomplished successfully as far as Vicksburg, Mississippi, when the father, who had been taken with cholera on board the steamner, died. The widow instead of continuing her journey went to relatives in Rankin county, Mississippi, where several years were spent in that state of uncertainty and sorrow which had been brought about by
the sudden death of the husband and father. In the meantime, letters having passed be- tween the family and a relative, Tolbert Reeves, who was then in Texas, young Ed- ward decided to come on and try his fortunes in the land to which the family had looked forward as their future home. Through the influence and assistance of his uncle he came ont, in 1860, and located at Caldwell, Burle- son county, where Tolbert Reeves then lived. He was given a clerkship in his uncle Tol- bert's store, and from his earnings soon saved enough to assist his mother and younger. brother and sister to move out. They came in 1861 and settled in Caldwell. The mother died here in 1869. The brother and sister con tinue to reside in this county, the former, James T. Reeves, being a well-to-do fariner residing in Caldwell; and the latter is now Mrs. Mary A. Smith, wife of Ellis D. Smith.
Edward Reeves, like most of the success- ful business men of this country, began his career not only without ineans, but with little scholastic or other training. He had just passed his majority when he came to Texas. His boyhood and youth had been spent on the farm, and what schooling he had received had been such as he could get dur- ing the brief winter months when there was a slackness of work. He handled his first arti- cle of merchandise in Caldwell, in which place his entire business life has been spent. After clerking one year he took $250, which he had saved, and with this and a like amount bor- rowed from his uncle Tolbert, he began busi- ness for himself. Ile was only fairly pros- perous during the period covered by the war, but with the return of peace and the settling of the country, from 1870 on his mercantile interests grew rapidly, until now, after thirty- two years of active business life, his estab- lishment is one of the largest, and his rating
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
the highest of any merchant in Burleson connty. Mr. Reeves has sold thousands and thousands of dollars' worth of goods since he first opened his small $500 stock of mer- chandise in Caldwell, and has witnessed the development not only of the mercantile in- dustries of this place, but of every interest of this loeality. When he began business here thirty-two years ago, Houston was the mar- ket where the country merchants purchased inost of their goods, and the point to which the prodnets of the country were taken for sale. Very little cotton was then grown, the main dependenee being cattle and hogs. Caldwell in those days controlled a large trade in this general section. Mr. Reeves grew with the town, confining himself strictly to business pursuits, his chief reliance being merchandise. IIe has had investments, low- ever, in other lines and now owns considerable realty, ineluding lands and lots, and is a partner in interest in the banking-house of W. Reeves & Co. at Caldwell. He has been exceptionally fortunate, and is credited by those who have known him long as deserving all he has achieved in the way of success.
In his domestic life, however, Mr. Reeves has not been as fortunate as in his business career. Some shadows have fallen across his pathway. In 1866 he married Miss Mary J. Simpson, a daughter of R. S. Simpson, then residing in Caldwell, but originally from Alabama, whenee he had moved to Texas in 1854. This lady died about 1874, leav- ing three children: Lula Jane, now the wife of Neill Cromartie, of Caldwell; Edward and James. Two years later Mr. Reeves married Miss Annie Eliza Cromartie, who like himself was a native of Bladen county, North Carolina, being a danghter of William K. Cromartie. To this nnion two children were born: Annie and Xemines. The wife
and mother died in 1882. Sinee that time Mr. Reeves has made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Cromartie.
Mr. Reeves' parents and grandparents were members of the Methodist Church, and he was reared under the influence of the doctrine of John Wesley, but on arriving at maturity he took a membership in the Baptist Church, whose enstoms and ordinances he has since observed.
Mr. Reeves has always enjoyed good health, and, having led a moral, temperate life, he has the prospects of many years of activity and usefulness before him. He comes of a long-lived stoek, and has by heredity a strong hold upon this world. His grandfather Reeves died at the age of ninety-eight, while his grandfather Melvin lived to be ninety. Ilis father was one of a family of brothers and sisters in which there was not a death until the youngest was past fifty. They were all of good, strong, robust constitutions, sound alike in body and mind, in national faith and religious convictions, which quali- ties have been transmitted in a reasonable degree to their deseendants.
R T. WILKINS, a farmer of Bastrop connty, was born in Simpson county, Kentucky, April 22, 1842, a son of Dr. J. II. and Melvina (Salmonds) Wilkins, natives of Kentucky. The father was of Scoteh and Welsh extraction, practiced medieine for a time in his native State, and then came to Texas. He bonght a number of slaves, and purchased a large traet of land adjoining Bastrop, where he died in 1875. Hle enltivated 700 acres of this land. Mrs. Wilkins was a daughter of Nathan Salmonds, a native of Virginia, but deceased in Ken-
1
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
tucky. He was a noted tobacco-raiser. and was a large slave-owner. Mr. and Mrs. Wil- kins were the parents of ten children, viz .: R. HI., who served in the late war, is now in California; Nathan, who died in Arkansas; J. C., a farmer of Bastrop county; W. D., also engaged in agricultural pursuits in this county; R. T., our subject; Mary married J. C. Duvall, and both are now deceased; Bettie, wife of W. J. King, editor of the Advertiser of Bastrop, resides in Salado, Bell county; America, deceased, was the wife of J. M. Johnson, of Austin; Anna, wife of T. N. Harris, of Galveston; and Ellen, who married a Mr. Shanklin, a farmer of Bell county. Mrs. Wilkins died in 1861. Both she and her husband were members of the Christian Church.
R. T. Wilkins, the subject of this sketeh, came with his parents to Texas in 1858, locating at Bastrop, this county, where he received a good education. After reaching suitable age he clerked in a store abont five years, and remained under the parental roof until the opening of the late war. In 1861 he entered Company F, R. P. Allen's regi- inent of infantry for six months, and was then transferred to regular service in Walker's division. Mr. Wilkins took part in the bat- tles of Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, Milliken's Bend, and all the important engagements in Louisiana and Arkansas. Twelve months before the close of the war he was transferred to J. R. Baylor's regiment of cavalry, of which he was made First Lientenant, and was in cominand of the company at the surrender. After returning home he superintended his father's farm eight months, and from that time was employed as clerk in a store until 1868. In that year he began agricultural pursuits, and in 1871 purchased his present farm of 400 acres, 200 aeres of which are
under a good state of cultivation. His land lies in the Colorado river valley, and his dwelling is located on the bluff overlooking the valley and Smithville, the latter about two miles distant. Mr. Wilkins rents a part of his land, is engaged in general farming, and is also giving much attention to the rais- ing of horses and mules. He has a Morgan and Cleveland bay stallion and a fine Ken- tucky jaek.
Mr. Wilkins was married April 23, 1868, to Miss Josephine Faneett, a daughter of John Faucett, a native of England. The latter came to America when young, was raised in Cincinnati, Ohio, came to Texas in 1838, and still resides in Bastrop county. Our subject and wife have six children: John F., Ada M., Claude R., Pearl, Sue, Sumpter, and Cora. In his political views Mr. Wilkins is a Democrat, and socially is a member of the Masonie order. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.
JOHN T. BLACK, one of the pioneers and leading farmers of Bastrop county, was born in Talladega county, Alabama, October 19, 1846, a son of Lemuel and Vir- ginia (Crutchfield) Black, natives of Tennes- see and Virginia respectively. A sister of Lemuel, Agnes Black, married Ludwell L. Rector, a member of one of the pioneer and most prominent families of Bastrop county. The parents of our subject removed to Ala- bama with their parents when young, and were afterward married in that State. About the year 1849 they came to Texas, locating first in Bastrop county, but soon afterward pur- chased a farm in Hays and Comal counties, and located near Mountain City, in the former county. In 1862 Mr. Black joined Hood's
£
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Texas brigade, served in the Army of the Tennessee, and died at Rich Church Hospi- tal, in October, 1862, having been taken sick soon after joining the army. His first wife, the mother of our subject, died in 1853, at the age of twenty-eight years, eleven months and five days. They had four children, three of whom grew to years of maturity: William H., who died in 1892; John T., our subject; Edward W., deceased in 1852; and George M., who died in 1880. In 1856 Mr. Black inarried Kate N. Josey, and they also had four children, only one of whom lived to be grown. Virginia, wife of J. M. Adams, of Hays county.
John T. Black, the subject of this sketch, received his education in Hays and Bastrop counties. In 1864 he joined Captain F. B. S. Cocke's company, Benevidas' regiment of cavalry, and served principally nnder Colonel Ford. He took part in but one engagement, which was the last one fought during the war, at the mouth of the Rio Grande. They cap- tured 200 United States troops. The com- pany disbanded at Brownsville, and after re- turning home Mr. Black attended school in Bastrop county for a time. He then farmed on rented land for five years, after which he purchased the place he now owns, the same comprising 1,300 acres, 400 acres of which was under a fine state of enltivation. Mr. Black paid $8 per acre for his land. He has since sold a part of his place, and now has 325 acres nnder cultivation, raising princi- pally corn and cotton. He makes a specialty of the raising of Jersey cows, and at present bas thirty head, after having sold a fine herd in 1892.
In 1874 Mr. Black was united in marriage to Miss Maida W. Winston, a native of Char- lottesville, Virginia, and a daughter of O. P. and Annie W. ( Watts) Winston, also born in
that State. The parents came to Texas in 1872, locating on Alum creek, in Bastrop county, where they were engaged in agricul- tural pursuits. They afterward purchased a farm further down the Colorado river, where the father still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Win- ston liad eight children: Maida W .; B. L .; O. II. P. and J. W. (twins, the latter of whom died in 1884); E. G .; P. V .; Effa A., and one deceased when young. The wife and inother died in 1884, having been a leading member in the Episcopal Church.
Mr. and Mrs. Black have had eight chil- dren, five of whom grew to years of maturity -William W., Chester C., Edward B. P., Rector W. and John T. Mrs. Black is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In political matters, our subject votes with the Democratic party, and is now Justice of the Peace of precinct No. 5, to which posi- tion he has been elected for three terms in succession. Socially, he affiliates with the A. F. & A. M, J. Nixon Lodge, No. 421, and also with Bastrop Chapter, No. 95.
C C. HOOPER, of Taylor, Williamson county, Texas, is largely interested in_ farming, and is one of the most pro- gressive young men in the county.
The date of his advent to this county and State is April 26, 1884. He hails from that grand old Southern State, Alabama, that has given so many good men to Texas. His birth occurred July 28, 1859. He grew up on a farm, and was educated in the district schools and the academy at Springville, Alabama. His family history traces back as follows:
M. S. Hlooper, the father of C. C., was born in St. Clair county, Alabama, May 19, 1818. He is a son of John Hooper, who was
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
the first permanent white settler in St. Clair connty, and who emigrated to that place from the North about the beginning of the nine- teenth century. He was born Jannary 16, 1782, a son of Richard Hooper, who was a patriot soldier in the Revolution, and a brother of William Hooper, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
John Hooper married Ester E. Goodwin and became the father of the following named children: James; M. S .; Thomas; John; Rachel, who married a Mr. Montgomery; and Martha, the wife of a Mr. Cornelius. John Hooper was a man of strong physique, in- dustrious and ambitious. He always took considerable interest in polities in his county ; was always a Democrat, never voted any other ticket, never missed voting at an important eleetion, and, what is more unusual and won- derful, cast his last presidential ballot for Grover Cleveland after he had reached the age of 100 years. He was a successful busi- ness man, made money rapidly, was at large slave-owner and aceumulated mneh property.
M. S. Hooper married Elizabeth Cox, a daughter of Bowling Cox, whose wife was a Miss Cabiness of Georgia. This branch of the Cox family was a very prominent one in Virginia and is related to the famous John Randolph. A brief account of this family will be very appropriate in this article.
Bowling Cox settled in St. Clair county, Alabama, about sixty-four years ago. Mrs. Cox was of French-Huguenot descent, her ancestors emigrating with the Bayard family during the reign of the wicked Louis IX. Bowling Cox's oldest child wore a breastpin of gold, an exact copy in miniature of the key to the room in the Tower of London, in which Anne Boleyn spent the last night of her life. This daughter also had uine silver spoons on which the name of the unfortunate
gneen was engraved, together with the family Bible, printed in London in 1680. This Bible is now in the possession of Mrs. T. L. Nun- nelly, of Springville, Alabama, a cousin of our subject. It is believed that the family of Bowling Cox are lineally descended from Anne Boleyn, the mother of the good " Queen Bess," who governed England through a long and memorable reign over 350 years ago. Nannie Cox, daughter of Bowling Cox, who married Archie Walker, is yet living in St. Clair county, Alabama, at the age of ninety- one years; Martha, deceased, was the wife of E. Mayfield, of Talladega eounty, Alabama; John; Bowling; Elizabeth, the mother of our subjeet; Mary; William; Francina, wife of Lewis Dupree; Marion; Julia, who married first William King, and secondly John Long; and America, who married Travis Alford.
The children born to Mr. and Mrs. M. S. Hooper are: John, who died young; Fran- cina, the wife of James Landrum; Bowling, who married Alice Osborne; Addie, now Mrs. Dr. M. E. Dozier, all in Alabama. In Texas are Jolin G. Shorter, C. C., Gus B., and America, now Mrs. William Moore, of Galveston.
M. S. Hooper was a planter's son. He secured a fair English education in the dis- trict schools of his native county, and after his marriage settled down to the vocation of a farmer.
When the Civil war burst upon the country with all its horrors, Mr. Hooper responded to the call of the Confederate Government and gave four years of faithful military ser- vice in defence of his invaded country. At the close of the war he returned to the farm and began building up his lost estate. The conditions were changed; labor could not be depended upon as it had been, fields were washed and injured by ditches, the soil was
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poor and other unfavorable conditions existed to make the life of a farmer unsatisfactory. Mr. Ilooper decided, after a number of years, to seek a better country. He accordingly came on a prospeeting tour to Texas. He was so well pleased with what he saw that he re- turned to Alabama for his family and brought them out at once. He now resides near Tay- lor on a fine farm, well improved, and is con- tented, prosperous and happy.
C. C. Hooper was engaged in merehandis- ing, milling and farming, after reaching his majority. In May, 1883, he received a mes- sage from Morgan C. Hamilton, ex-United States Senator from Texas, and a wealthy capitalist of this State, announcing his inten- tion to visit the family. He is an unele of Mrs. Hooper's mother, to whom, being one of the heirs of Hugh Coupland, lie was de- sirous of making a present of one-fifth inter- est in a traet of land, containing 8,000 aeres, near Taylor, and the same interest in 1,000 head of cattle and other property. This was a complete and appreciated surprise to the members of the family. Arrangements were at once inade to move to Texas after Mr. Hooper should visit the property and learn something of its value. The following year the family moved out, a division of the prop- erty was soon made for the benefit of the heirs, and the family located on the portion chosen by them. Here they are laying the foundation for an admirable home. In 1886 a residence costing $3,700 was erected. The farm has been inclosed by fifteen miles of barbed-wire fence, and 700 acres have been brought under cultivation. Besides his coun- try property, Mr. Hooper owns twelve aeres on Washington Heights, near Taylor, a most desirable piece of property for investment.
Politically, Mr. Hooper is interested in the success of the Democratic party. Ile fre-
quently attends conventions as a delegate, and he helped to swell the multitude that shouted for Cleveland and Stevenson at the last Chi- cago convention.
Marel 24, 1881, Mr. Hooper married Miss Julia R., daughter of Charles M. Pearson, of Alabama. Mr. Pearson was a merchant and miller of Springville, Alabama, a very suc- eessful business man, estimated to be worth, at his death, $60,000. Ile owned the first and the finest mill in St. Clair county. He died at the age of thirty-two years, just one year after the birth of his daughter. His wife, whose maiden name was Miss Nancy Coupland, is a daughter of Hugh Conpland, who married Karen Hamilton, a sister of Morgan C. Hamilton, before mentioned. The parents of Senator Hamilton were James Douglas and Nancy (Riley) Hamilton, who reared seven children. The children of Hugh Coupland were; Constantine; Hattie, who married Mareus McMillion; Nancy J .; T. V .; James D., who married Mollie Buchanan ; Julia, the wife of Jesse Stancel; and Frank- lin, who died unmarried. Mrs. Pearson is now a widow, and resides with her daughter, her husband having died in 1862.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hooper: Charles Morgan, and an infant which died in 1886.
D 0. COX .- The termination of the Mexican war of 1846-'47 in favor of the United States and the disbanding on Texas soil of many volunteer regiments from the older States brought to the feeble settlements of this state a large number of valnable citizens whose services were needed in the communities where they took up their residence. Stalwart young men. these for
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the most part were generally unmarried, men of intelligence, patriotic, brave, active, alert, enterprising, and, barring a certain amount of dash and zeal in arms, sturdy in purpose-men who were eminently fitted for the task of laying the foundation of a new State like Texas, as they had vindicated its honor by their valor abroad.
One of these men was William Cox, a native of Alabama, who enlisted in the Fed- eral service from that State when the call was made for volunteers against Mexico, and who, after rendering faithful service in be- half of liis country, settled down to the ways of peace on Texas soil. He was then a young inan, unmarried, and after drifting around for a short time lie took up his residence in Burleson county. Here he shortly after- wards met and married Cordelia Watson, a dangliter of William Watson, wlio liad set- tled here about 1840. With his newly ac- quired companion William Cox established himself on a farm and embarked in agricul- tural and stock-raising pnrsnits. He began with very limited means, bnt made steady advance nntil, at the time of his death in 1860, lie had amassed considerable property for the times. He left surviving him a widow and six children, the latter being John A., David O., Charles HI., George T. James W., and Finetta, who was afterward married to S. W. Hilliard. Of these but three are now living: David O., whose name lieads this sketch; James W., now a resident of Young county, Texas, and Mrs. Hilliard, who lives in Burleson county. The mother, who was a danghter of William and Rebecca Clark Watson, was a native of Georgia, where she was born about 1832. She was the eldest of twelve children and was verging ou to womanhood when her parents came to Texas. She died in this
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