USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 16
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 16
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 16
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 16
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 16
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 16
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county in 1863. Her father was not only an early settler of this county, but was for many years an honored citizen of the same, having served as Sheriff and held many other local positions.
The birth of David O. Cox occurred in Burleson county on November 22, 1852. The death of his father, in 1860 and that of his mother, three years later, left him an orpan at the age of eleven. His boyhood and early youth were passed in the home of his maternal aunt, Mrs. Elizabeth Oldham, at whose hands he received kind treatment. His time was divided between the labors of the farm and the range and attendance at the local schools, where he managed to pick up the rudiments of a common English edu- cation. In 1875 lie married Miss Susan Matilda Perry, of Burleson county, and set- tled on a rented farni, on which he lived un- til 1879. That year he inade his first pur- chase of land, buying from his annt, Mrs. Oldham, a tract of fifty acres, on which he took np his residence. He met with reason- ably good snecess in those years, and about 1883 bonght 243 acres of his present place, where he settled and has since 'lived. IIe has added to this place until he now owns 600 acres, about half of which is in cultiva- tion and is well-stocked and well-improved. Mr. Cox raises a variety of products, not be- lieving it safe to rely upon one crop. He is also devoting some attention to improving his stock, raising the grade the best he can with the means at hand. He is an intelli- gent and thoughtful farmer, a man of enter- prise, thrifty and energetie. Having been trained in the school of adversity he has learned to do for liitself and to rely largely npon his own efforts. He belongs to the Burleson County Co-operative Association and is a stock-holder in the oil inills at
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Caldwell. In politics he is a Democrat, but. has never held any political office, and unless there is a radical change in his views he is not likely to, since, with his present way of thinking, there is no place of trust or emol- ument to which he might aspire that would be worth to him the effort that it would cost to get it.
Mrs. Cox, like her husband, was born in Burleson county, her parents moving here in 1854. She is the third of five children, the others being John W., Claiborne, Walker W., and Kate, now Mrs. J. B. Tanner.
Mr. and Mrs. Cox have had nine children: Iona Cordelia and Leona Kate, both now de- ceased; Willie May; Walker W .; Tinnie; Nellie; Charles Milligan; Jesse Harold, and Essie. Mrs. Cox is a member of the Bap- tist Church.
C W. HEMPHILL, a farmer of Bastrop county, was born on the farm where he still resides, September 28, 1848, a son of C. M. and Elizabeth (Snoddy) Hemp- hill, the former a native of Georgia, and the latter of Alabama. C. M. Hemphill came to Texas with his father and family in 1835. The latter, Colonel William Hemphill, settled on the Brazos river, and was accidentally killed soon afterward. He had a family of nine children, viz .: Zeno; M. L .; A. B .; W. A .; Ulysses; Andrew; C. M., the father of our subject; Ellen, who married Captain Jack Nash; and Elolesa married M. O. Diamond, a merchant of Bastrop. Two of the children died before coming to Texas, and the remain- der lived in this county until their death. In 1836 C. M. Hemphill, the father of our subject, located the farm where the latter now resides, was a member of the ranging
service, and suffered the privations and hard- ships of a pioneer life. Ilis farm of 800 acres was well improved, and his death oc- curred in 1862. He was married in 1845, and his wife survived him until 1874. She came to this State with an uncle, Edwin Alexander, who was robbed and killed by Mexicans. Mr. and Mrs. Hemphill had seven children, viz .: Margaret, who married W. S. Miller, is now deceased, leaving six children: C. W. our subject; Gillespie, a resident of the old homestead; Prudence, wife of W. B. Bryant, a farmer of Bastrop county; Tony E., still unmarried; Cuba, wife of Wade Hemphill, a distant relative; and R. L., at home. Gillespie, the second son, was married in December, 1873, to Miss Alice Bryant, a daughter of William Bryant, a native of Tennessee. The latter came to Texas in 1836, and, after several changes, lo- cated in Bastrop county, where he died about 1884. At one time he was a member of the ranging service with Captain Jack Hays. His five children were all born in this county, viz .: Sally, J. L., Jennie, W. B. and Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Gillespie Hemphill have had seven children, six now living: Annie, Cora L., Nora B., Benlah A., Florence G. and Cland. They are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
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AMES H. CRAFT, one of the leading farmers of Bastrop county, was born in this county, May 26, 1853, the only child of Samnel and Melissa (White) Craft. The parents died when our subject was only five years of age, and he was reared by his grandfather, Hamilton White, a pioneer set- ler of Bastrop county. James II. received his education in Bastrop and Salado, Texas,
Robt. H. Flanniken
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and at the age of twenty years began work on his own account. Ilis guardian thien turned over his trust to its rightful owner, and Mr. Craft purchased a farin on the Col- orado river. After remaining there for a time he moved to the place he had inherited from his mother's estate, where he spent two years. The land inherited from his father's estate was located about fourteen miles from Bastrop. Mr. Craft next purchased a farın on Cedar creek, and in 1883 bought the farm where he now resides, known as the B. M. Hubbard place, and comprising 540 aeres, 300 acres of which is under a fine state of cultivation. He also owns a 500-acre traet on Cedar creek, with 300 acres cultivated, and 300 acres of prairie land, which he pur- eliased in 1877. He is considered one of the most successful farmers of Bastrop county, and his place is stocked with the best mules and horses to be purchased for farming pur- poses. Mr. Craft has accumulated most of his property by his own industry and economy.
December 15, 1874, he was nnited in mar- riage to Miss Della B. Trigg, a daughter of Lanson and Allie E. Trigg. The mother is now the wife of Captain William A. Young. . Mr. and Mrs. Craft have had eight children: Ida O., Wallas D., Vesta E., Beulah, Lena R., Walter, Allie J. (deceased), and Lulu Etta. Mrs. Craft is a member of the Mis- sionary Baptist Church. Our subject takes no active interest in political matters, al- though, in 1891, he was chosen County Com- missioner of Bastrop county. In 1892 he refused to make the run for the office. In his social relations, he affiliates with the A. F. & A. M., Gamble Lodge, No. 244.
C.W. Hemphill, the subject of this sketch, still resides on the old homestead, which has never been divided. 350 acres of the place
is under a fine state of enltivation. Ile is engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and is also a stoek-holder in a co-operative gin. Ile was formerly a Demoerat in lis political views, but now affiliates with the third party. Socially, Mr. Hemphill is identified with the Masonic fraternity, aud religiously, is a member of the Baptist Church.
R OBERT H. FLANNIKEN, one of the few survivors of that band of pioneers who began to make Milam Land Dis- trict, or as it was sometimes called, the "State of Milam Connty," their homes fifty- odd years ago, is a native of Mecklenburg county, North Carolina, where he was born on July 18, 1819. He comes of Irish, Scotch and Duteli ancestry, though his own parents were natives of North Carolina, born in Meck- lenburg county. His father, James N. Flan- niken, was born in 1795, and his mother, whose maiden name was Eleanor A. Hood, in 1800. His paternal grandfather, David Flanniken, was born in Ireland, coming to this country when young. He served in the war of the Revolution and bore from the field of conflict the evidences of his bravery and patriotism in the shape of an ounce ball embedded in his body, and received in an engagement with Cornwallis' soldiers. He survived this wound, however, as well as the attacks of disease for many years, dying at the advanced age of eighty. His brother, Jolin Flanniken, was a member of the Mecklenburg convention, which passed the celebrated "Mecklenburg Declara- tion of Independence," elaimed by some his- torians to have antedated that passed by the Philadelphia convention.
James N. Flanniken and Eleanor A. Hood . were married about 1818 and emigrated in
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1826 to Alabama, settling in Russell's valley, where four of their children wore born and all of them reared. Mrs. Flanniken died there in 1846, and the father shortly after- ward came to Texas and made his home here until his death, which occurred in 1873. The children of this conple were: Robert H. of this article; Joseph L., Elias O., Martha J., Cyrus A., Jolin W., and David W. Besides the subject of this sketelt three of these, Joseph L., Elias O., and David W., are still living, being residents of Bell county, this State.
Robert H. Flanniken was reared in Rus- sell's valley, Franklin county, Alabama, grow- ing up on a farm. He came to Texas at the age of twenty-one, making his first stop in what was then Milam, now Burleson county, securing work at a sawmill then in opera- tion at a point near where Cedar creek emp- ties into the Brazos river. This was in 1840, at which date there were no settlers north- west of the place just mentioned, the settle- ments being confined to points along the Brazos river. Mr. Flanniken thus became one of the first settlers of this region, and as he was yonng, active, and, as he expresses it, "considerably on the go," his recollections of those days are of interest and value to this work, and some of them will here be given in practically the same language in which he narrated them to the writer.
"Yes," said Mr .- Flanniken, "I have been in Texas a good while,-longer, it seems to me, when I measure the time by the progress of events than when I reckon it by years. I have witnessed the making of a great deal of Texas history, and I have known at differ- ent times in life many of Texas' most emi- nent men. Like most of those of my age whom you will meet, my mind dwells more on the Texas of the past than that of the
present or the future. This was indeed a great country when I first came to it, a beautiful country and one that was inhabited by a brave, generous, splendid people. Set- tlers were few in those days, and I had not been here long before I knew personally every man, woman and child within a radius of forty miles of where I first stopped. Whether for merit or not, it would hardly be becoming in me to say, but for some reason or other my admiring fellow-citizens soon called me to office after I took np my resi- dence in this locality; and from a stripling of a young fellow, comparatively inexperienced in the ways of the world, I soon came to be a public functionary of considerable anthority, and a man who was looked up to in a general way by a large number of my fellow-men. While this was naturally gratifying to my Irish spirit, it brought with it its due weight of responsibility, and in many instances its hardships and personal annoyances. The office of Sheriff is the one to which I was first called, and filled. I was made Sheriff in the early '40s, my title being Sheriff of Milam county, my bailiwick extending from the Brazos river to the Rocky mountains, and beyond, including the then important town of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and my duties varying from the collection of taxes and the execution of the processes of court to the catching of runaway negroes, and the apprehension of those who refused to pay proper respect to the laws of the Repub- lic of Texas. I had a rich and varied ex- perience as Sheriff, as you may suppose, and if you had the patience and my wits were sufficiently collected, I could tell you a good many things that would probably interest you. I was in the sheriff's office almost con- tinnously from the time I came to the conn- ty in 1840 nntil the Republic was annexed- in fact, I remained in office a year after an-
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nexation and wound up the unfinished busi- ness pertaining to the collection of taxes. Then, having married, in 1846 I settled in Washington county, where I resided engaged in farming until 1851, in which year I came again to what was then Burleson county, now Lee, and settled-in which general lo. cality I have since made my home. I have been engaged more or less in farming all these years, and have served my fellow-citi- zens in whatever capacities they have seen fit to call me, having passed forty of the fifty- three years of my residence in Texas in one office or another."
Asked if he could not give some remi- miscences pertaining to the more distinguished Texans with whom he was brought in con- tact, Mr. Flanniken said, "I suppose you mean those whom I inet about the court- honse during my official career. Yes, I knew some men of note forty to fifty years in this locality, and some who though not so well known to fame were of the highest types of inanhood, and whose worth and personal ser- vices liave in a measure passed into the com- mon fund of our possessions as a people, where they will exert a lasting good for ages to come, albeit their names have in a degree already and must in time entirely disappear from our annals. When I was Sheriff, the system of traveling around the circuit was much more in vogue among the lawyers than now, and I met at Caldwell, which was the seat of justice for my bailiwick, mnost of the eminent legal lights in this part of the State. There was Judge Jewett, John Taylor, Barry Gillespie and R. M. Williamson among the lawyers, and John T. Mills and R. E. B. Bay- lor, who were at different times our presid- ing judges. Judge Jewett was an able lawyer and a man of considerable reputation: so also was Barry Gillespie. John Taylor was an odd -
ity. There was probably never such an other combination of brains, flesh and sloth in the world. Nobody could ever understand him, and it is doubtful if he ever understood himself. He had talent-an abundance of it- and was a fluent talker, but lacked pride and self-respect, and more especially good, hard sense. If he had been supplied by nature more generously with this article, he would have made a more shining mark on the his- tory of his State. Judge Baylor was a good man-an excellent citizen and a good judge. I never heard but one criticism made on him as a judge, and that was that he was too lenient. He allowed his feelings as a man to influence his actions as an officer. But greater than any of those here mentioned and greater than any whom I knew in those days was Robert M. Williamson, known as 'Three-legged Willie.' A man learned in the law, of spotless integrity, unselfish in his de- votion to the interests of his country, true to his friends, able, eloquent and earnest, he wielded a powerful influence in his day, and enjoyed an immense amount of popularity. He had but one fault, and but for that fault there is no telling what he might have ac- complished. He was given to over-indulg- ence in strong drink."
"I might go on," said Mr. Flanniken, "and tell you of some of our early court pro- ceedings, some of the unique and interesting trials, the wars of words between opposing counsel, the witty thrusts and apt replies, flights of eloquence and all of the exhibitions of genins and eccentricity that marked the doings of the men of those days. I might describe in my humble way our first temple of justice, a rude affair made of cedar lum- ber, whipsawed by hand, and the first jail built of logs, hewed square and fitted snugly one on the other; and the first mercantile
·
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establishment in the county seat and the char- acter, cost and quantity consumed of mer- chandise; our religions, social and political gatherings and in fact many things respect- ing our public and home life; but I suppose these things have, at least in a general way, been covered by others. The subject of Texas history, as seen even by an unpretentious citizen like myself, is a vast one, and a man could undertake to go over but little of it in a talk like the present."
It has been mentioned that Mr. Flanniken married in 1846. The lady was Miss Mar- garet E. Wilson, a daughter of Rev. Hugh V. Wilson, a pioneer Presbyterian minister who in 1837 organized the first Presbyterian Church ever established in Texas, this being the one that was organized that year at San Augustine. Mr. and Mrs. Flanniken had two children, both sons, Hugh James and Robert H., the former dying at the age of sixteen and the latter at six. The wife and mother died in 1888, at the age of sixty-fire. She had been a devoted member of the Presby- terian Church from early girlhood, and was a most worthy Christian woman. In addition to her other responsibilities, she had the care of as many as ten orphans at different times in life, and was ever marked for her unceas- ing attentions to the sick and afflicted of her acquaintance. Mr. Flanniken joined the Pres- byterian Church through her influence soon after marriage, and has been an active mem- ber since. He has been an Elder for many years. He is also a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics a Democrat. By the death of his wife he was robbed of his sole remaining joy, but lias borne this afflic- tion with calmness and resignation, and de- spite this and his age, with its attendant in- firmities, is still cheerful, and a most welcome guest wherever he goes. Ile makes his home
with an adopted son, Hngh Wilson Rowland, whom he and his wife took in infancy and reared to manhood, and who is now married and the head of a family. Mr. Rowland is discharging faithfully and affectionately his duties toward his foster-father.
C B. WILSON, a farmer of Williamson county, was born in Kanawha county, West Virginia, March 13, 1839, a son of R. W. and Rebecca (Rust) Wilson. The father was a son of James Wilson, who came from county Tyrone, Ireland, to this coun- try, and was engaged in merchandising in New York for a number of years. He sub- sequently went to Kentucky, and later en- gaged in boating on the river to New Orleans, and then took up his residence in West Vir- ginia, where he was among the first to man- ufacture salt. The father of our subject was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, subse- quently moved to West Virginia, and his death occurred October 19, 1890. The mother died when our subject was four years of age. They were the parents of two sons. and the youngest, James M., was a member of the Seventeenth Texas Infantry, during the late war, and was killed at the battle of Mansfield.
C. B. Wilson, the subject of this sketch, came with his father and brother to Texas in 1857, at the age of eighteen years, locating on the farm where he still resides. The farm then contained 250 acres, and was located near the old Mustang spring, which was noted as a stopping place for emigrants. The second mill in the county was located on their land, and their house was always a stopping-place for travelers, and none were ever turned away hungry. They were also the first in Will-
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iamson county to build a wire fence, which was purchased from the old Gallipolis & Ohio River line, of Ohio. In September, 1861, our subject entered the Confederate army, in Company D, Fourth Texas Cavalry Regiment, Sibley's brigade, and they first went to New Mexico. At Valverde, New Mexico, they had a heavy encounter with the enemy. They then returned to Texas, took part in the battles of Galveston, Fort Butler and Mans- field. They fought General Banks forty days, drove him back to Louisiana, and the raid terminated at Yellow Bayou. At the elose of the struggle the regiment had fallen back to Texas. Mr. Wilson first served as private, and at the time of the surrender held the office of Senior Lieutenant. He arrived home May 24, 1865, sinee which time he has been engaged in farming. He owns 800 acres of land, 100 acres of which is cultivated, and for the past twelve years has also been engaged in sheep and cattle-raising. When Mr. Wilson first came to Williamson county, Georgetown was only a village, and the town of Taylor was not laid ont until nineteen years later. Politically, hie votes with the Democratie party, and socially is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
W. PERRY, a farmer of Williamson county, is a son of Benjamin and Eliza (Kimbro) Perry. The father was born in Georgia, in 1802, went to Alabama when a young man, was married in Tallapoosa county, that State, in 1829, and in 1849 came to Bastrop county, Texas. The mother died in the latter place in 1857, and the father afterward moved to our subject's home, where he died in Angst, 1890. Ile was a farmer by occupation, and a member of the Christian
Church. Mr. and Mrs. Perry had fourteen children, those who attained maturity being: Jasper, deceased; Martha Barker, deceased; Mary, wife of John Edwards, of Coryell county, Texas; Bolling, a resident of Will- iamson county; John, of La Grange, Fayette county, this State; J. W., our subjeet; Sallie, now Mrs. William Steward, of Williamson county; Benjamin, also of this county; Cor- nelia, deceased; Julia, wife of James Cope- land, of Williamson county; Acey M .. of Comal county, Texas; and Albert, a resident of this county.
J. W. Perry was born in Tallapoosa county, Alabama, January 11, 1840, and came with his parents to Texas when ten years of age. At the opening of the late war he enlisted in Company D, Twelfth Texas cavalry, under Colonel Parsons, and first served in Texas. He went thence to Arkansas, took part in the battles of Searcy's Lane, Cotton Plant and Langee river, and thien participated in the following battles in Louisiana: Mansfield, Pleasant Hill and Yellow Bayou. At the latter place he was wounded in the right knee, and, after spending a short time in the hospital, returned home on a furlough. He afterward rejoined his company, but did not participate in any battles, and they disbanded in Falls county, Texas. After the close of hostilities, Mr. Perry followed agricaltural pursuits in Bastrop county five years, and then came to Williamson county. He set- tled on Bear creek, where he remained for tliree years, and he then bought his present farın of 585 acres, on the North Gabriel, sev- enteen miles northwest of Georgetown, 280 acres being enltivated.
Mr. Perry was married in Williamson county. March 24, 1861, to Margaret Cope- land, who was born in Overton county, Ten- nessee, June 1, 1844, a danghter of Jefferson
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IIISTORY OF TEXAS.
and Mary (Copeland) Copeland. The parents came to Williamson connty, Texas, in 1859, locating at the head of Berry's creek, where they lived until the father's death, November 19, 1867. The mother now resides with her son Joseph, in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Perry have had six children: Ola O., a mer- chant of Liberty Hill; Jefferson M .; James W. and Luna L., at home; Dora, deceased; and Lonida, at home. Mr. Perry votes with the People's party; is a member of the Ma- sonic order, the Grange and Farmers' Alli- ance, and also of the Missionary Baptist Church.
P ROF. AUGUSTUS E. HILL, of Tay- lor, Texas, was born in Pickens county, Alabama, in 1853, a son of Dr. S. F. Hill, who was born near Statesville, North Carolina. He afterward removed to South Carolina, later to Georgia, and next to Alabama. During his young manhood he was apprenticed to learn the tailors' trade. He afterward began the study of medicine, is a graduate of a college in Charleston, Sonth Carolina, and has spent most of his life as a physician in Carrollton, Alabama, where he still resides, aged eighty-one years. The Doctor served for a time in the cause of the South during the late war. His wife, nee Miss Sarah J. Boggs, was a daughter of Rev. James and Mrs. - (Throckmorton) Boggs, natives of Virginia. Rev. Boggs was a noted educator and Presbyterian minister. He or- ganized many female colleges throughout the different States of the Southeast. He organ- ized the Greenwood Seminary, one of the first female schools in Lonisiana, and the first in the western part of that State. His death occurred before the late war. Mrs. Boggs
was left an orphan in early life, and was raised by her aunt, Mrs. William Madison. William Madison was a brother of President James Madison. Dr. and Mrs. Hill-had six children that lived to years of maturity: Mary A., widow of Joel H. Puckett; Fannie M., widow of James M. Davis, of Dallas; A. E., our subject; Samnel H., a physician of Carrollton, Alabama; Emina J., deceased, was the wife of a Mr. Bomer; C. Annie, wife of La Fayette Bonner, M. D., now of San Antonio. Mrs. Hill died in 1884. Both she and her husband were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
Angustus E. Hill, the subject of this mnemoir, received his edneation in the Car- rollton Academy and in what is now the State Normal of Alabama, graduating at the latter institution at the age of eighteen years. He afterward began the study of law, was adınitted to the bar of Alabama in 1872, be- fore reaeliing his majority, and practiced be- fore the courts of that State for seven years. In 1879 he located near Navasota, Grimes county, Texas, having at that time just twenty-five cents, and for the following eight montlis he was occupied at farm labor. Dnr- ing that time he also taught school, receiving $40 per month. In 1881 Mr. Hill took cf arge of the Bastrop Academy, at Bastrop, and in the fall of 1883 was appointed Super- intendent of the city schools of Taylor, hav- ing been re-elected to that position from 1883 to 1892. On first coming to this eity the school employed three teachers, and had an attendance of 105 pupils. There was also one eolored school, employing one teacher, and having an attendance of forty students. The white school now occupies one of the finest school buildings in the State, employs fifteen teachers, two minsic teachers and one art teacher, and has an attendance of 700
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