USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 18
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 18
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 18
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 18
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 18
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 18
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meritorious services he was promoted to Lientenant after the second battle of Corinth. After coming to the west side of the Missis- sippi river, and npon the reorganization of his company, Mr. Lloyd was appointed First Lieutenant, and at the close of the war was serving as Captain.
After the close of hostilities he returned to his father's home in Wheelock, where he engaged in the mercantile business abont three years. At that time his entire acen- mulations for three years was swept away by fire, caused by lightning. In the fall of 1868 Mr. Lloyd resumed his former occupation at Bryan, Brazos county; in 1869 located in Calvert, Robertson county; in 1870 went to Bremond; in 1871 began farming in Falls county, and in 1873 resnmed mercantile pur- suits in Limestone. In 1878 he again lost the accumulations of several years by fire. For the following two years he was eniployed as clerk in Kosse, Limestone connty, by N. Markham. In 1880 Mr. Lloyd was elected Tax Assessor of that county, serving in that position two years, and for the following two and a half years was engaged in the mercan- tile business, in Taylor, Texas. Jannary 1, 1886, he sold his mercantile interest, and since that time has been engaged in the real- estate and insurance business. From 1886 to 1891 he filled the office of City Assessor and Collector of Taylor, and also served as School Trustee three years.
Mr. Lloyd was married May 15, 1860, to Miss Esther R. Price, a native of Giles county, Tennessee, and a danghter of John II. and Adaline R. Price. The parents came in 1856 from Giles county to Falls county, where they were among the pioneer settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd have four children: Addie, wife of R. C. Robertson, of Limestone county; John I. and Charles K .. of this city;
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and Eva. Our subject and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church Sonth. The former also affiliates with the A. F. & A. M., Solomon Lodge, No. 434, with K. of H., No. 1,451, with the L. of H., all of this city; with Colorado Commandery, No. 8, of Anstin, and with the R. A. M., of Taylor.
JOHN C. CRUNK .-- Milam county has many men whose services in behalf of the public entitle them to the grate- ful remembrance of her people, and one of these is the subject of this notice. Mr. Crunk has been a resident of the connty for twenty- five years, a considerable portion of which time has been spent in the service of his fellow-citizens, in one official capacity and another; and, whether in office or out, he has always labored with a willing hand and an earnest heart for the people of his adopted county, doing a vast amount of work of a public kind for which there was no statutory salary, and much also for which the stipulated pay was no adequate compensation. While the public profits from the labors of such men, their names too frequently fade from memory and are no more. Possibly this brief biographical notice will perpetuate a name well worthy of perpetuation in this con- nection.
Mr. Crunk is a native Texan, having been born in what is now Burleson county, theu part of Milain Land district, February 9, 1842. His parents were Nicholas S. and Emaline (Rice) Crunk, the father being a native of Tennessee and the mother a native of Alabama. The father came to Texas in 1833. IIe served in the war by which Texas won its independence, being present at and taking part in the battle of San Jacinto. He
married and settled in what was afterward Burleson county, where he spent the re- mainder of his life, dying March 9, 1852. The mother, Emaline Rice, was a daughter of Laban Rice, who moved to Texas abont 1835 and died here at a later date. After the death of her husband she married E. Ridge- way. She died in 1865. Six children were born to her and her first husband, five of whom became grown, these in the order of their ages being: John C., the subject of this notice; Levinc, now the wife of R. G. Broadus, of Caldwell, Burleson county; Ophelia, the wife of B. G. Evans, of Alvin, Texas; Rich- ard who died in Milam county in 1868, leav- ing a widow and one child; and Virginia, who was married to James Schaffer, of Milan county, and died in 1875.
John C. Crunk was reared in Burleson county, where he received a meager educa- tion. In 1861 he entered the Confederate army, enlisting for twelve months in Com- pany E, McCulloch's regiment of mounted rifles, with whom he served on the Texas frontier until the expiration of his termn of enlistment, when he entered Company A, Seventeenth Texas Infantry, with which command he served in Arkansas and Louisi- ana until the close of the war. He was wounded in the engagement of Milliken's Bend and was for a time disabled from ser- vice, but remained in the field, and received his discharge at Hempstead, this State, in May, 1865. At the close of the war he went to Bell county and engaged for two years in the stock business, after which he settled at Davilla, Milam county, where for three years he filled the offices of Constable and Deputy Sheriff. He was then elected Justice of the Peace and ex officio County Commissioner, which office he held for four years, when the offices were separated, and he continued to
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hold the justice's office for thirteen years longer. For eight years during this time Mr. Crank was also Postmaster at Davilla. In the meantime he engaged in farming and merchandising, still owning a farm of 200 acres, 125 acres of which is in cultivation, and considerable property in the town of Davilla, most of which represents his own labor.
On June 8, 1865, Mr. Crank married Miss Sallie A. Johnston, a daughter of Judge Thomas Johnston, of Burleson county. Mrs. Crunk is a native of Mississippi, born in Woodville, Wilkerson county. Mr. and Mrs. Chunk have had no children born to them, but have raised an adopted son, W. B. Elliott, whom they have educated and provided well for. Both are members of the Methodist Church, and Mr. Crunk belongs to the Ma- sonic fraternity, being a Democrat in politics and a staunch supporter of the principles of his party.
D R. W. R. SIMCOCK, dentist, of Ans- tin, Texas, was born in Grayson county, Virginia, February 9, 1838. He was a son of Joel and Sallie (l'erry) Simcock, natives of Virginia and North Carolina re- spectively. The father was a farmer and millwright, and his birth ocenrred March 11, 1810. His wife was born in 1815, and departed this life in 1890. Both of these parents were consistent members of the Bap- tist Church, their lives and influence as Chris- tians having a salutary influence in the neigh- borhood. The maternal grandparents were Perry and Polly (Hall) Perry.
Our subject is the second in a family of fourteen children. Ilis first business was his
peaceful agrienltural life on the farm and attendance on the mill. Ile enlisted in 1862 in Company C, Sixty-third Virginia Infantry, the Colonel being Rev. McMahon, a Presby- terian minister. His first engagement with the enemy was at Red Sulphur, his command being under General Lee, in the North Vir- ginia army. They wintered in Richmond during 1862 and 1863, and then went to Washington Salt Works, where they just arrived in time to save the works from the flames. Here the Doctor took sick, went to the hospital, where he remained four months with camp fever, which he had contracted by exposure. Upon recovery he returned to his command at the salt works. His sickness had caused the loss of his voice, which ren- dered him unfit for service in the powder and bullet department of the army, and he was given a position as buyer of supplies for the army. This position he filled for one year, when he was transferred and held the same position in General Johnston's army. Later he was sent to the medical department of the same army and had an extensive experience in surgery, having amputated many limbs, and also attended to the dentistry of the sol- diers. He commenced the study of dentistry with Dr. H. M. Compton, in the army, and he continued in this department until the close of the war. This gave him an unusually good practice, and an experience which has been of the greatest value, and perhaps ac- counts in a measure for the wonderful skill in his chosen profession. In many fierce engagements he took his part in the ranks and showed his devotion and bravery as a soldier.
After the war closed, our subject returned to the farm in Virginia, engaging there for a time in farming, later in iron-making; but in 1870, seeing an opening farther west, he
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
sold out his interests and went prospecting through Illinois and Indiana, and on as far as Hamilton, Caldwell county, Missouri, and there practiced his profession for some time; but in 1880 he left Hamilton and for ten years resided at San Marcos, Texas, and then came to Austin, where he has since given his time and best energies to dentistry, succeed- ing well. He is a skilled workman and gives universal satisfaction.
Dr. Simcock was first married September 6, 1860, to Miss Candace Moore, daughter of Daniel and Martha Moore, of Grayson county, Virginia. Her death occurred in December, 1861, at the early age of twenty- one years. She was a member of the Methi- odist Episcopal Church. October 24, 1865, Dr. Simcock married Miss E. M. Brewer, daughter of William and Mary Brewer, of Grayson county, Virginia, and six children have been born of this marriage, as follows: Mary M., the wife of Professor M. C. Mc- Gee, residing in San Marcos, Texas, and De- Witt Clinton is their only child; Sallie E., who has recently graduated in the School of Music at Austin, and is prepared for musical teaching; Frederick M. is studying dentistry with his father; Hattie C., Bertha M. and Tinsley are at home.
Dr. Simcock is a member of the I. O. O. F., and is a member of the Masonic order in bine lodge, chapter and commandery. Our subject is of good old stock, his paternal grandfather Aaron Simcoek, a native of New Jersey, being of a family well known in that State; he came to Virginia with his father, lo- cating in Grayson county. The father, John, had come from England to New Jersey before the Revolutionary war, in which he took part as a private. The name of the grandmother of our subject was Beulah (Bryant) Simcoek, and her parents had also come early to the
State, and lier father sent a substitute during the first year of the Revolution, ont later went himself and gave up his life for his adopted country, during the last year of the war.
D R. WILLIAM P. FLEMING, one of the leading physicians of Georgetown, was born in Chester county, Pennsyl- vania, September 7, 1838. The Flemings of this country are descended from William Fleming, a Scoteliman, who was the great great-grandfather of our subject. Before William Penn arrived in this country there were a few settlements on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake bay, where tobacco was raised. William Fleming had an uncle who sailed a ship from Greenock, Scotland, to the American shore for that product and wheat. On one of his arrivals at Greenock, William Fleming went down to the port to see him, and was persuaded by his uncle to make a voyage to America with him, to help work the ship, to see the new country, etc. They arrived in Chesapeake in harvest time, and his uncle persuaded him to go ashore and help the farmers, as he told him it would perhaps be a month before he sailed on his return trip. William began work with a farmer, and while thus engaged the ship sailed without him, and he found his uncle had bound him as a servant for fonr years. IIe served the farmer faithfully, and then started for the settlements at the month of Christiana creek and up the Delaware, now known as Chester county, Pennsylvania. William lived with an Englishman, named Moore, at Naaman's creck, and afterward married one of his danghters. Ile witnessed the landing of William Penn at Chester, in 1682, and after many years, when the settle-
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ments were pushed up the valley from the Schuylkill and up the Brandywine from Wil- inington, he and his young descendants pur- chased the land for several miles along the valley, now known as Coatesville, Pennsyl- vania. William Penn, the Governor, in order to encourage young men to emigrate to America, proclaimed that to every person who had passed four years in America he wonld grant fifty acres of land, and William Fleming secnred his fifty acres. The deed was entitled " Fleming's Reward." At his death William Fleming left four sons and one danghter,-James, Henry, William, Peter, and the daughter, who cannot now be named. James Fleming was the great-grandfather of onr subject, and his son, John, the grand- father of our subject, was one of the mem- bers who represented Chester county, Penn- sylvania, in the Constitutional Convention of 1776. He resided on a farm just west of Coatesville, which is situated on the Brandy- wine, a few miles above the battle ground. On this farm he built a large, elegant, stone honse, placing his initials in a large stone on the corner, as was frequently done in those days. This is the old mansion, still standing in a good state of preservation, where.our subject, his father and every member of the family to which the latter belonged were born. John Fleming was engaged in wagon making when the Revolutionary struggle commenced. The Fleming families of this country, especially those who have bnt the one letter " m " in their name. are presunned to be descendants of this William Fleming.
The parents of the subject of this sketch, George and Margarita (Parke) Fleming, were born, reared and married in Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer and manufacturer by occupation, and was also a prominent politic- ian in his day. Ile held many offices of
profit and trust, and was extensively known over the State as a responsible and in every way a worthy man, having been in office con- tinnally for many years. Mr. Fleming was a Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian Church, and he died in 1871, at the age of seventy- six years. He was of Scotch extraction, was in every way a most worthy man, and his death removed an honored and well-known landmark. His wife died in 1860, aged fifty- six years, having been a life-long member of the Presbyterian Church. She was a daugh- ter of Colonel James and Mary l'arke. The father was a Colonel in the war of 1812, and his death occurred in 1864, at which time he had attained the age of ninety-six years, his wife having also died at that age, in 1868. They were worthy and highly re- spected people, and pioneer settlers of this country.
Dr. William P. Fleming, the eldest of four sons and two daughters, of whom three sons and one dangliter are now living, received a literary conrse at the State Normal and the Newton University of Maryland, graduating at the latter institution in 1859. In the same year he began reading medicine under his brother, Dr. John P. Fleming, of Balti- more, attended the Medical Department of the University of Maryland, and spent one year and graduated at the University of Iowa in 1871. In 1861 he began the practice of his profession at Baltimore, Maryland, and August 15, of that year, entered the army, as Hospital Steward of the United States army at Baltimore, serving six years in that capac- ity. In 1867, during the epidemic of yellow fever at Galveston, Mr. Fleming came to Texas and served as physician in the hospitals of that city, and for a time was also at Bren- ham, Texas. In 1871 he located in George- town, where he is now the second oldest
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physician in residence in the county, Dr. Walker being the oldest. He has been United States Medical Examiner for the State, a member of the Board of Examiners for the Sixteenth Judicial District of Texas, is Ex- aminer for the following insurance compan- ies: The New York Mutual, for the Provi- dence of New York, the Bankers' of St. Paul, the Washington of New York, the Manhattan of New York, and the Mutual Benefit of Massachusetts. Dr. Fleming also writes oc- casionally for the medical journals of Texas and the Medical Register of l'hiladelphia. He is Secretary of the Board of Health of this city.
In 1873 the Doctor was united in marriage to Miss Mary M. Henderson, a danghter of William H. Henderson, of Georgetown. They had one child, which died in 1885, aged three years. Dr. and Mrs. Fleming are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which the former is an Elder. Socially, he is a Royal Arch Mason, and has passed through all the chairs and has been a member of the Grand Lodge of the State in the I. O. O. F. He is a member and attends the sessions of the State Medical Association, also the Austin District Medical Association. Dr. Fleming is well read in his profession, widely known and highly appreciated as a citizen, and is numbered among the most worthy enterpris- ing and intelligent men of Williamson connty.
R. BRIZENDINE, of Williamson county, is a son of W. L. and Cath- erine M. (Smith) Brizendine. The father was a native of Virginia, but his people located in Todd county, Kentucky, when he was quite young. Ile was left an orphan at an early age, and was raised as a
bound boy. When a young man he went to Woodford county, Kentucky, was there mar- ried in 1842; several years later went to Jessamine county, same State, but subse- quently returned to Todd county. In 1855 Mr. Brizendine came to Texas, spending the first five years at Fort Worth, after which he located in Austin, and in January, 1865, settled where our subject now lives. He died there in August, 1889. He was a cab- inet-maker by trade, but after coming to this State followed the carpenter's trade. IIe built the first house in Denton, Denton county, and while in Austin also engaged as a cabinet-maker under the firm name of Brizendine & Tumey. After locating .in Williamson he was engaged in milling, gin- ning and merchandising. Mr. Brizendine took but little interest in politics, voting with the Democratic party, was a Council Mason, and a member of the Christian Church. The mother of our subject was born and raised in Versailles, Kentucky, a danghter of H. Amma Smith, who lived to a great age. The former still lives in William- son county. Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Brizendine had two children-J. R. and Lawson. The latter was accidentally killed by a horse fall- ing on him at the age of twelve years.
J. R. Brizendine, the subject of this sketch, was born in Versailles, Woodford county, Kentucky, December 29, 1843. In November, 1862, he enlisted for service in in the late war, entering Company C, Fourth Texas Cavalry, Green's brigade, and served in the Trans-Mississippi Department. He was on detached duty, in hospital, commis- sary and quartermaster work. In December, 1864, he was detailed to work in the Gov- ermment fonndry at Anstin, where he re- mained until the close of the struggle. Mr. Brizendine is now engaged in the stock
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business, milling and merchandising, and has also served as Postmaster of Gabriel Mills since the establishment of that office. In his political relations he affiliates with the Democratic party.
Mr. Brizendine was married in William- son county, November 2, 1865, to Texanna Mckenzie, a native of Louisiana, who came to this county from Red River county, Texas, at the age of twelve years. She is a relative of Rev. Mckenzie, who was at the head of an educational institution in Red River county. Our subject and wife have had twelve children, ten now living-Will- iam Ella and John Etta, twins, the former the wife of A. J. Root, of Temple, Texas, and the latter the wife of J. P. Baker, of Gabriel Mills; A. C., also of that city; and Lawson M., Woodford L., Harod, Mand, Edward, Robbie and Edith, at home.
Ț M. HOUGHTON, a prominent farmer of Williamson county, is a son of W. M. S. and Mary F. (Doney) Houghton, of Scotch-Irish descent. The paternal family came to this country before the Rev- olutionary war, in which the great-grand- father of our subject was a soldier. He is said to have been wounded in the side by a band of Tories, but succeeded in escaping, having hid in a thicket and staunelied the wound with a silk handkerchief. He lived many years afterward. The grandfather, Lucius L., was a merchant of Sumter county, Georgia, for many years and died in Liver- pool, England, while there to buy goods. W. M. S. Houghton, the father of our subject, was born in Sumter county, Georgia, Febru- ary 28, 1800; was reared to manhood there; was engaged in the mercantile business in
different towns in Georgia for twenty-five years; in 1846 located on a farm in Titus county, Texas, and in 1863 came to Flor- ence, Williamson county, where he died in 1868. He was a member of the Legislature in both Georgia and Texas, and, although not a public speaker, was a good writer of articles on State questions. Hr. Houghton was not a member of any church. He was first married to a Miss Mayo, and they had two children, both now deceased. In 1840, in Dooly county, Georgia, he married Mary F. Doney. They were the parents of seven children, viz .: Theodore M., the subject of this sketch; Ann L., wife of James F. Rob- inson, of Williamson county; Laura A., wife of Jones Webb, of Runnels county, Texas; Pamelia H., now Mrs. J. J. Robinson, and a resident of Georgetown; Dora D., wife of William Smith, of Jones county, this State; John H., of Austin; and Fannie O., wife of William Pfaeffle, of Fort Worth, Texas. The wife and mother died in 1860, and the father afterward married Mary Standifer. They had two children.
T. M. Houghton, our subject, was born in Sumter county, Georgia, March 11, 1844. In 1862 he left school in Titus county to enlist in the late war, entering Company D., Eleventh Texas Infantry, served three years in the Trans- Mississippi Department, and took part in the battles of Mansfield, Pleas- ant Hill, and Jenkins' Ferry. After the close of hostilities he returned to his father's home in Williamson county, Texas, and shortly afterward located in the same neigh- borhood on his present farm, consisting of 204 acres, with fifty acres under cultivation. He is independent in his political views, but votes principally with the Democratic party.
Mr. Ilonghton was married in this county, June 23, 1867, to Anna E. Rutledge, a
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native of Washington connty, Texas, who came to Williamson county when eight years of age. She is a danghter of Captain W. P. Rutledge, an old Texas pioneer, who commanded a company in the Mexican war. He resided in Williamson county from 1858 to his death, which occurred April 26, 1890. Mr. Rutledge was a well-read and intelli- gent gentleman, and was respected by all who knew him; and was a prominent frnit- grower. Mr. and Mrs. Honghton have had eight children, namely: William M., a teacher in Williamson connty; Annie D., wife of J. W. Johnson, Hembrie, Crockett county, Texas; Lonis E., at home; Theodore F., a teacher in this county; and Irene, Edna, Jesse T. and Freddie, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Honghton are both members of the Christian Church.
W ILLIAM F. ROBERTSON, attorney- at-law, of Taylor, Texas, was born in Roane county, Tennessee, July 13, 1859, a son of Dr. J. R. and Mary A. (Hunt) Robertson. William F. received his early education in the common schools of his na- tive connty, and at the age of eighteen years entered Sweet Water College, at Sweet Water, Tennessee, under the supervision of Professor J. L. Bachman, and gradnated at that insti- tntion in 1881. He was engaged as a teacher in the primary department of that college two years, and in 1883 came to Texas. For the following two years Mr. Robertson tanght school in Leander, this connty, and in 1885 entered the Law Department of the Univers- ity of Texas, where he graduated in 1886. Angust 1, of that year, he located for the practice of his profession in Taylor. Mr. Robertson is one of the few who fully recog-
nize the truth so often nrged, that the read- ing and thoughts of a lawyer should be the most extended, as systematic reading gives a more comprehensive grasp to the mind, vari- ety and richness to thonght, and a clearer preception to the motives of men. His li- brary is well stocked with works on different subjects, and also contains a fine collection of books of his profession.
Mr. Robertson was married June 26, 1889, to Miss Annie Dowling, a native of Texas, and a daughter of Captain R. W. and Annie (Odlum) Dowling.
The father of Mrs. Robertson was a distin- gnished soldier in the Confederate army, and while in command of the " Davis Gnards," a company composed of forty-two Irishmen stationed at Sabine Pass, a Confederate post on the Gulf of Mexico, the company was at- tacked on September 8, 1863, by a United States fleet consisting of from 10,000 to 15,- 000 men, who were preparing to make a landing at Sabine Pass and from there make a raid thronghont Texas. Dowling and his men opened fire with two cannon and some sınall arıns, killing a large number of men, sinking one of the enemies' boats, disabling two others, driving away those remaining and taking a large number of prisoners. This defeat of the United States forces forever saved Texas from invasion by that army.
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