USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 17
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 17
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 17
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 17
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 17
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 17
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pupils. The town now has two colored sehiools, employing three teachers, and has an average attendance of 125 pupils, making in all about 800 students under the control of Mr. Hill. He was also one of the projectors of the grand building now occupied by the schools of this eity.
In 1878 Mr. Hill was united in marriage to Miss Julia Wilson, a native of Carrollton, Alabama, and a daughter of Dr. B. F. and Mis .- (Bestwiek) Wilson, early settlers of Alabama. The father was a graduate of the Transylvania College of Physicians at Car- rollton, was a noted physician, filled many important State offices, having been a mein- ber of the State Legislature and Senate, and his death occurred in 1871. Dr. and Mrs. Wilson had five children: Dr. William F., of Ellis county, Texas; Ellen, now Mrs. Dur- liam, of Jefferson, Texas; Julia, wife of our subject; B. F., engaged in railroad work; and Gertrude, wife of C. E. Gilbert, of Dallas. After the mother's death Mr. Wil- son was again married, and to the last union were born four children: Patty; A. J., of Dallas; Phelix, of Alabama; and Mary.
Mr. and Mrs. Hill have had six children, namely: Albert E., Bessie, Julia, Benjamin F., C. Hearne and Pereie D. Mr. Hill affiliates with the A. F. & A. M., Solomon Lodge, No. 484, and both he and his wife are members of the old-school Presbyterian Church.
C J. JACKSON, of Williamson county, Texas, was born in Burleson county, this State, November 15, 1840, a son of Peter and Susanna (King) Jackson. The father was born in Tennessee in 1807, came to Burleson county, Texas, in 1836, after- ward located in Milam county, and his death
oeenrred in that county in 1889. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were the parents of nine children, viz: William, who died during the war; C. J., our subject; H. Cyrns, a farmer of Hood county, Texas; Rhoda, de- ceased, was the wife of John G. Wilson; Re- becca, wife of J. A. Huffman, a farmer of Milam connty; Auna, who married W. H. Short, of Bell connty; Heury A., a farmer of Milam county; James A. engaged in ag- rienltural pursuits in Coleman county, and Olwin engaged in the cattle business in New Mexico. The father died in 1889, the motlier having departed this life previons to that time.
C. J. Jackson, the subject of this sketch, was reared principally in Milam county, and received but few educational advantages. In 1861 he enlisted for service in the late war, in Company G, Fifth Texas Infantry, Hood's brigade, was consigned to the army of northern Virginia, under General Lee, and took part in all the great battles of Virginia. He was onee slightly wounded, and was taken prisoner at the battle of Lookout Mountain, from Longstreet's division; was carried to Camp Morton, Indianapolis, and in the following spring was taken to Fort Delaware. While in the latter place Mr. Jackson was a member of the burial depart- ment, as a great many were dying at that time from scurvy and other diseases. They dng trenehes the entire length of the ground, and buried them in rough boxes, two deep, that is to say, one on top of the other, 6,000
Confederate prisoners being buried in this way! Mr. Jackson concocted a scheme to escape while in prison, but his plan failed. June 9, 1865, the prisoners were released, and our subject arrived home in the latter part of the month. During his prison life he became moon-blind and his friends were
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obliged to lead him on his way home when it became dark. After his return he was first employed as manager of a farm on the Brazos river, and in 1868 he bought a small tract of land. In 1871 Mr. Jackson sold his land and eamie to Williamson county, and subsequently bought 640 acres of his present farm. A short time ago he bought a farm near Nolansville, Bell county, for which he paid $3,300, and he now owns 1,876 acres, all under fence, and 600 aeres cultivated. His place is well improved, has two good barns, a fine residence, eight tenement houses, etc. In 1889 Mr. Jackson embarked in the mercantile business, under the firm name of Jackson, Morris & Co., but in 1892 this business was discontinued. He has held the office of Postmaster of Corn Hill since 1891; is a stoek-holder in the Southern Mer- eury and the Temple Forumn, both leading Alliance papers, and is one-third owner of the Texas Advanee, the State organ of the People's party. Onr subject assisted in or- ganizing that society in this State, has at- tended all the national meetings since that time, and was a delegate to the national con- vention at Omaha, which organized the Peo- ple's party. He was nominated for the legislature, receiving 2,760 votes, and his opponent only 2,706 votes, but 126 of the former's votes were cast for the seventy- second district, and his distriet is the seventy- first -- an error of the printer. They are now contesting the election. Mr. Jackson affil- iates with the People's party.
In 1868 he was mited in marriage to Miss Amanda Renshaw, a daughter of John Renshaw, who is a native of Mississippi, but who located in southern Texas in 1850. To this union have been born thirteen children, namely: Ethel, wife of William Sprenit, a farmer of Williamson county; Johmie, a
merchant of Corn Hill; Ida, Gilbert, Rufus, Syrus, Susanna, Jeremiah, Terrell, Jeff Davis, Amanda, Columbus S. and James B. Weaver, at home. Socially, Mr. Jackson is a member of the I. O. O. F., and his wife is a member of the Methodist Church.
LOIIN T. SPRADLY, a well-known eiti- zen of Burleson eonnty, Texas, was born in Georgia, June 1, 1850. He was reared on a farm and remained a member of the home cirele for several years after reach- ing his majority until, in December, 1876, he married and settled on a rented farm. In 1879, leaving his wife in Georgia, he camie to Texas, landing at Hearne, and from there coming to his present locality on foot, arriv- ing here without means. He rented land and a team and at once went to work to put in a erop. His seed corn he borrowed. Subse- quently his wife joined him, and together they began life in pioneer Texas style. Mr. Spradly's honest toil and judicious manage- ment have been rewarded with suecess. In 1883 he bought 100 acres of improved land, seventy- five acres of which were under culti- vation, and now has it all cultivated. In 1886 he purchased a gin at Frameville, and soon afterward bonght a residenee and six acres of land adjoining the gin property. After running the gin five years he sold out and turned his attention to the eattle busi- ness. Recently he has disposed of his eattle interests, his whole time now being given to looking after his land and tenants. Besides the farm above referred to, he also operates land which he has leased.
Mr. Spradly is the son of A. R. and Georgia (Ilarris) Spradly, natives of Georgia. A. R. Spradly served as a Justice of the
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Peace for a number of years. He moved to Florida when John T. was a lad of six years, and there spent the residue of his life and there died, his death occurring in 1888. He served all through the late war, as Sergeant of his company, the last two years being Torpedo Sergeant on St. John's river. Ile was with the Fifth Cavalry, General Scott's command. John T. is the oldest of seven children. Two of his brothers came to Texas, bnt subsequently returned, he being now the only one of the family in this State.
Mr. Spradly married Miss Amanda West, who was born in Georgia, January 2. 1860, ! daughter of William West, of South Car- olina, who died in Georgia in 1873, his wife dying the same year. By trade Mr. West was a millwright, but later in life was en- gaged in farming. Mr. and Mrs. Spradly have four children, namely: Maggie B., born May 6, 1880; Georgia L., May 26, 1882; John H., January 19, 1884; and Rnth, April 9,1887.
He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and in politics votes with the Democratic party. Mrs. Spradly is a member of the Baptist Church.
R OBERT U. PORTER .-- The origin of families, like the origin of races and even of States, is usually obscure. Even with the aid of print the gene- alogical connection of bnt few men lias been preserved in anything like anthentic form. The genesis of most families begins with some prominent character, usually a civil or military leader, beyond whom all is dim and shadowy.
The immediate antecedents of Robert U. Porter of this article have been traced back only to Virginia. It is known that his paternal grandfather, William Porter, was a resident of Virginia most of his life, if in- deed he was not a native of that State. Ile was a young man, or at least not past middle life, when the American colonies rebelled against the mother country. Like many other patriotic sons of those days, he early pledged his life, his fortnne and his sacred honor for the maintenance of individual liberty. He entered the Continental army from Virginia and remained in it till the close of the struggle, rising to the position of Colonel and acquitting himself presnm- ably with credit. Then, when the great war was over and the colonists began to settle down to the enjoyment of their dearly-won liberties, he moved, in the days of Daniel Boone, to the frontier regions of Kentucky, where he took up his residence in one of the numerous settlements started about that time. There he passed the remainder of his life, helping to snbdue the savages of the forest and lay deep the foundation of that great commonwealth. Many of his descendants still live in that State, where they have risen to distinction both in its civil and military history. He had seven sons: Elisha, Oliver, William, Virgil, Benjamin, John W. and Beverly, -- the last two of whom became early settlers of Texas and here helped to solve the same problems with which the father had been concerned in the older States. Beverly came to Texas in 1827 and cast his lot with one of the coast colonies, where he was located when the battle of Velasco occurred, June 25, 1832. In this battle he took part, being one of the 112
The Porter family in America is a large . men who volunteered to take the Mexican one, and is doubtless of English origin. fort at that place. He never lived to take
34
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
part in the greater conflict which came off a few years later, and of which this fight was in the nature of a prelude to a play. He died in 1833, of cholera.
John W. Porter, the other member of this pioneer family and the father of the subject of this notice, came to Texas six years later than his brother Beverly. He was then mar- ried and the head of a family. He left Nash- ville, Tennessee, April 3, 1833, with a flat- boat loaded with pork and staves. Upon this boat he and his family started down the Cumberland river for New Orleans, which city they reached by way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers. At New Orleans he dis- posed of his "barter" to good advantage, and taking a sail-boat turned his face toward Texas. Reaching Velasco he fitted up a wagon train, and striking northward jour- neyed as far as what is now Burleson county, in the western portion of which he found a beautiful stretch of country, where he pitched his tent and turned loose his stock. This strip of country, since called Porter's prairie, in honor of this pioncer, has always been one of the best settled portions of the county and noted for the superiority of its citizenship. John W. Porter resided where he first cast his lot in the then unsettled regions of Central Texas until his death in 1846, -- twelve years later.
He was for a number of years actively and conspicuously connected with the history of this locality. Ilis principal business pursuits were farming and stock-raising, mainly the latter, the open country affording abundant range. IIe filled the offices of Justice of the Peace, County Clerk, and Chief Justice, the functions of which offices he discharged always with a view to the public good, and died in the enjoyment of the esteem and respect of those among whom he had lived.
The wife of Johu W. Porter, one of those conrageons, self-sacrificing women whose devotion to their husbands and families, and whose skill in domestic affairs as much as anything else rendered the problem of the settlement of this country possible, was a native of Tennessee, where she was trained to the habits of industry and usefulness and brought up in the practice of the ways of pioncer life. Iler maiden name was Susan Eaton, and she was a daughter of the Rev. Robert Eaton, a Baptist minister well known in southern Kentucky and central and west- ern Tennessee from half to three quarters of a century ago. This family of Eatons has furnished a number of distinguished citizens to Tennessee and Kentucky, among them being teachers, preachers and politicians. The present Congressman of that name from Tennessee is a member of the family, and the Rev. T. T. Eaton, of Louisville, Kentucky, the able Baptist divine, another inember. Mrs. Porter died in Burleson county in 1856, about the age of fifty-five. Eight sons were born to her and her husband, most of whom were born and reared in Texas. Jerome B., the eldest, died in Burleson county, about 1856; Robert U. is the subject of this notice; Newell died in 1862, in Burleson county; Milton was a minister of the Methodist Church for a number of years, and died in Anderson county, Texas; John lives in Bell county; Beverly A. is a citizen of Burleson county, a sketch of his life appearing in this work; William died in infancy ; aud Thomas lives in Bell county.
Robert U. Porter, the eldest of the family now living, and the one whose name forms the caption of this article, was born in Butler county, Kentucky, December 12, 1825. IIe was in his eighth year when his parents came to Texas. His boyhood and youth were
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
passed in this county. He received but little education, there being no schools of any consequence in Texas in those days. His time was taken up mainly with his duties on the farm and in looking after the stoek on the range. The early death of his father, in 1846, threw on his shoulders, as one of the older member of the family, a large share of the responsibility in looking after the estate and in caring for his younger brothers, -- a responsibility which he cheerfully assmned discharged with eredit to himself. Most of his younger brothers were sent to east Texas, where they had the benefit of the best sehool advantages then procurable in the State. Mr. Porter continued in charge of his father's estate for ten years after the latter's death, by which time through his judicions manage- inent it had grown to be the largest estate in the county. A division was then had among the heirs, and with the portion which fell to him, consisting chiefly of cattle, he settled to himself in 1856, having married that year, and began to give liis attention actively to his own interests. Like many other citizens of tliis State Mr. Porter suffered severely in finanees during the late war, but he has recuperated in a great measure, and is now one of Burleson county's largest land-holders and most substantial farmers, owning 1,300 aeres, 500 acres of which is in cultivation, well stocked and well improved. Farming and stock-raising have formed the objeets of chief concern with him through life, and this to the exelnsion of office-seeking and office-holding, which are regarded sometimes as natural diversion by reputable and well- to-do members of his calling. He served two years in the Confederate army during the late war, having enlisted in Company A, Moran's battalion, which was organized for coast defense. Ile was also at an earlier
date in the ranging service and helped protect the frontier of Texas from the Indians. Mr. Porter actively interests himself in all matters relating to the farming community, believing that organization is essential to husbandry and that in the multitude of eonnsel there is not only wisdom but strength, a thing most necessary to seeure to the farming elass their just rights and privileges. Ile is a member of the Burleson County Co-operative Association and a director in the Grange store at Caldwell. In politics he officiates with the Democrats, and has voted the straight Democratic ticket all his life.
In 1856 Mr. Porter married Miss Sallie Choate, a danghter of John J. Choate and a consin of Rufus Choate, the great Massa- chusetts lawyer. The issue of this marriage was seven children: James E., now a teacher in the public schools of Williamson county, this State; Currin R., a bookkeeper at Milano; Rnfns C., a lawyer of Dallas; Fan- nie, who died at the age of fifteen, while in school; Cornelia, still under the parental roof; Newell D .; and Mary. The wife and mother died in 1867, and in 1871 Mr. Porter married Miss Aromenta Robinson, of Burle- son county. Nine children have been born to this union: Pearl A., Roy, Willian, Clarence, Lorena. Eleanor, Florence, Ada May, and Robert King. The religious con- nection of the family is with the Methodist Church, of which Mr. Porter has been Steward for more than forty years. Under the influ- enees of this church as well as in all correet ways of living, he has brought up his large family of children. He has also made reason- able preparation for all their material wants, and has amassed a considerable estate, which will go toward establishing them in the workl. But it has been his belief and his teaching that their happiness, success and
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usefulness in life will not so much depend on what they have as what they are, and, in accordance with this view, he has sought to leave them a legacy of an honorable name, to give them good educational advantages, to instill in them good principles and bring them np with good habits as better helps in the race of life than great wealth.
C ALVIN BELL, a farmer of William- son connty, was born in Susquehanna county, Pennsylvania, July 2, 1825, a son of Sterling and Catherine (Maxan) Bell, the former a native of Connecticut, and the latter of Rhode Island, and of English and Irish descent. The parents reared a family of eight children, viz .: Nancy, Nathan, Lyman, Angeline, Edith, Calvin, Jasper and Asa. The children are all now deceased, excepting one son and two daughters, the latter residing in Pennsyl- vania. The parents died before the late war.
Calvin Bell, the subject of this sketch, and of the third generation of the family in America, remained under the parental roof until reaching years of maturity. He went thence to Iowa (then a Territory), spent a short time in St. Lonis, worked his way South to Mississippi, and in 1845 arrived in Texas, where he first found employment as a farm hand. In 1848 Mr. Bell joined a ranging company, Bell's regiment, and served on the frontier of Texas. In 1852 he purchased 750 acres of his present farin, which he began improving in 1855, and during that tune also followed freighting. In 1862 onr sub- ject enlisted in a twelve months' company, was attached to Morgan's battalion, after- ward joined Baylor's regiment of cavalry, and served in Louisiana and Arkansas. He !
took part in many skirmishes, was in Banks' raid on Red river, served until the close of the struggle, and at the time of the surren- der the regiment had fallen back to Texas. Ile was honorably discharged at Richmond, this State, since which time 'he has resided on his farm in Williamson connty. Mr. Bell rents his place, of which has 120 acres under a fine state of cultivation.
In the summer of 1865 he was nnited in marriage to Miss Margaret Dalton, a native of Arkansas, and a danghterof Meade Dalton, who formerly resided in Tennessee, coming to Texas in 1857, and spending the remainder of his life in farming in Williamson county. Mr. and Mrs. Bell had one child, Jefferson Davis, who is now engaged in business in Bartlett, this State. The wife and mother died in November, 1886, at abont the age of fifty-four years. Mr. Bell takes an active part in public affairs, is an independent Democrat in his political views, and relig- ionsly is a member of the Baptist Church.
P AUL OTTO ELZNER, a prominent merchant of Bastrop, was born in' Prussia, Germany, March 9, 1847, a son of August and Pauline (Baker) Elzner, natives of Saxony, that country. The parents removed to Prussia, but a short time afterward, in 1858, came to America, locating in Bastrop, Texas. The father was first em- ployed as head sawyer in a steam saw-mill, the following seven years was engaged in freighting and farming, and then conducted a bakery and fancy grocery until his death, which occurred in 1867. Mr. and Mrs. Elzner were the parents of five children, only three of whom lived to maturity, Frederick A. B., of this city; Panl O., our subject; and
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Albert A., a merchant of Bastrop. The mother died in 1889. The parents were members of the Lutheran Church.
P. O. Elzner came to America with his father, and received his education in the Bas- trop schools. He began work for himself at the age of twenty-two years, in the restan- rant business, which he followed for a num- ber of years. In 1867, with $600 in money, he engaged in a small way in the general mercantile business, in a two-story frame building, using the upper story as his resi- dence. Two years later he purchased, for $5,000, the lot on which his present com- modious building is now located, paying $300 down. The building is 25 x 90 feet, two stories high, and he continued business there until March, 1892. In the meantime Mr. Elzner had purehased the adjoining building, which hie immediately began tearing down, and Angust 1, 1892, he moved liis stoek of goods to the new building, which has 32,000 square feet of flooring, is two stories high, and one of the mnost commodious structures in the State. He now has a trade amounting to $250,000 annually, and enjoys sixteen elerks, two bookkeepers, and two ladies in the mil- linery department. Mr. Elzner carries a full line of dry goods, groceries, elothing, boots, shoes, notions, bardware, wagons, farm ina- chinery, furniture, bran, hay, corn and liquors. In 1893 he purchased 5,000 bales of cotton, is also largely engaged in the real-estate business, handling botli town and city property, and buys and sells cattle, horses and mules. He is a director and stoekholder in the National Bank of Bastrop, and is the largest stockholder of the Bridge Company. The bridge was erected in 1891, at a cost of $45,000, spans the Colorado river at this point, and is one of the finest foot and wagon bridges in the United States.
In 1875 Mr. Elzuer was united in mar- riage to Miss Mary Rabensburg, a native of Bastrop, and a daughter of Jacob and Mary Rabensburg, natives of Germany. The parents came to Texas abont 1860, and the father is now engaged in farming in this country. Mr. and Mrs. Rabensburg have eight children, viz .: George, of this eounty; Mary, wife our subjeet; Henry, deceased; Emma, wife of Julius Bodoie, of Fort Worth; Bertha, widow of James Gossinan; Helen, deceased; Julia; and Otto. Mr. and Mrs. Elzner are the parents of five children,- Angust J., Bruno A., Prince O., Bernhardt (deceased) and Julia (deceased). Our sub- jeet and wife are members of the German Lutheran Church, but worship at the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, South. Socially, Mr. Elzner is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Gam- ble Lodge, No. 244; of the K. of P ., Bastrop Lodge, No. 101; and is a charter member of the L. of H. He takes no active part in political matters, although he served as City Treasurer from 1878 to 1879, and has held the office of Alderman since 1880.
OHN LLOYD, an insurance and real- estate agent of Taylor, was born in Penn- sylvania, in 1836, a son of Isaac Lloyd, who was a native of Virginia, but who re- moved to Pennsylvania in an early day. The latter, a shoe manufacturer by profession, lo- cated in Robertson county, Texas, in 1852, where he engaged in the boot and shoe bnsi- ness and other vocations until the opening of the late war, when he began merchandising. In 1866 he was elected County Judge of Bobertson county, and previous to that time had served as Justice of the Peace. His death occurred in 1868. The wife of Mr.
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Lloyd, nee Ann J. Walker, was a native of Ireland. Her family subsequently located in South Carolina, but afterward moved to Pennsylvania, where Ann J. was reared and married. Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd had seven children: John, our subject; Mary A., II. B., of Robertson county; Isaac and R. J., also of that county, and two danghters who died about 1844. The mother now resides with one of her sons on the old homestead, aged seventy-eight years.
Jolin Lloyd attended the Chester Academy at Chester, Pennsylvania, and completed his education in the high school of Wheelock, Texas. He was then employed as clerk by C. C. Hearne, of that place, and later by Lewis & Spence, also of Wheelock. In 1861 he enlisted for service in the late war, enter- ing Company E, Second Texas Regiment, Im- der Colonel John C. Moore, and served on the east side of the Mississippi river until the fall of Vicksburg, July 4, 1863. During that time he participated in the battles of Corinth, Shiloh, etc .; in the spring of 1863 was sent to Vicksburg and placed behind the breast- works, was captured July 4, 1863, paroled eight days later, and exchanged in the fall of the same year. Previous to his exchange, Mr. Lloyd had made his way home, where he remained until after that event took place, and his company then rendezvoused at Hons- ton, Texas. They then went Sonth on the Brazos river, under command of Colonel Smith, but during their service in this State never took part in any battles. The company disbanded at Galveston. Mr. Lloyd entered the army as a private, but at the battle of Corinth, Mississippi. where the colonel of the regiment was killed and the color-bearer shot down, he brought ont with his regiment the flag, which was pierced by bullets several times while in his hands. For this and other
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