USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 21
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 21
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 21
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 21
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 21
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 21
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By his former marriage Mr. Parkhill had one child, a daughter, Nellie. By his last marriage he has three: Annie Mabel, Jack and Lawrence Lee.
Mr. Parkhill resides on the old homestead, where, with the exception of one year, he has spent his entire life. Agriculture and stock- raising have formed his chief pursuits in life, in both of which he has met with reasonable success. He owns a farm of about 350 acres, one-third of which is in cultivation. He takes but little active interest in politics, and has never held any public office.
AMES M. DENSON, a merchant of Granger, was born in Rankin county, Mississippi, April 18, 1837, a son of T. C. and Elizabeth (Davis) Denson, natives of Alabama. T. C. Denson was a son of Nathan- iel Denson, a native also of Alabama. The former subsequently moved to Tennessee, later to Mississippi, and in 1854 came to Williamson county, Texas, having practiced
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medicine both before and after locating in this State. Hle purchased a tract of land on Williamson creek, where he died in 1875, having followed his profession within two years of his death. The mother of onr sub- jeet was a daughter of Patrick Davis, of Irish descent, who was reared in Kentucky. Mrs. Denson now finds a home with her son, and is seventy-seven years of age. The par- ents of onr subject reared eight children, viz. : James M., the subject of this biography; Mary A., who was first married to R. Homes, and later became the wife of E. Goode; Eliz- abeth, wife of II. C. Ederington, a farmer of Williamson county; Maggie, who married Monroe Barnhart, engaged in the hotel buci- ness at Bartlett; T. J., at the old homestead; Ann, wife of Otho Durant, a stock-raiser of Abilene; B. F., of Granger; and Bell, wife of T. Daniels, proprietor of a livery stable of this city.
James M. Denson moved with his parents to Arkansas when quite young, and in 1854 came to Williamson county, Texas. He re- mained under the parental roof until the opening of the late war, after which he served with Johnston's spy command four months, and returned home after the battle of Spring- field, Missouri, having never regularly en- listed np to that time. He then entered as a private in Company A, Morgan's battalion, mider General Holmes, afterward Carter's regiment, and served in Arkansas, Lonisiana and Missouri. Mr. Denson took part in many of the memorable battles and skirmishes with Marmaduke; was promoted from Third to First Lieutenant, and the regiment dis- banded in Robertson county, Texas. Our subject spent the following year in Missouri, and then returned to Texas to take charge of his father's business, which he continued until the latter's death. He then followed
agricultural pursuits until 1880, and in that year was elected Tax Assessor of Williamson connty, on the Greenback ticket, when the county was purely Democratic, serving in that position four years. In 1882 Mr. Den- son began merchandising at Granger, but did not take full charge of the business until 1887, when he moved with his family to this city, and since that time has followed mer- cantile pursuits. He also owns a large farm, 500 acres of which are under cultivation, and he is extensively engaged in cattle-raising and cotton-buying.
April 23, 1873, he was nnited in marriage to Miss Kate Caruthers, who was born in North Carolina, August 7, 1852, a daughter of William Carothers, a native also of that State. The father came to Williamson county, Texas, in 1853, and his death occurred while in the army. His wife survived him only a few years. Mr. and Mrs. Denson have liad eight children, viz .: James E., born June 1, 1874, is at home; Lucy K., born April 18, 1878; Augusta E .; Cornelia M., May 3, 1880; Tom N., December 7, 1883; William D., May 19, 1886; Carrie, August 8, 1889; and Frank C., June 16, 1891. Socially, Mr. Denson was formerly a member of the Grange, and is a Royal Arch Mason; is independent in his political views; and, religionsly, both he and his wife are members of the Mission- ary Baptist Church.
A ARON R. ROBBINS, a farmer of Williamson county, was born on Spring river, in what was then Arkansas Ter- ritory. April 5, 1826, a son of Aaron and Elizabeth ( Massey) Robbins, the former a native of Tennessee, and the latter of Vir- ginia. The father was reared by his widowed
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mother, who came to Texas in 1855, and died a few months later, at the age of ninety-five years. Her husband, the paternal grand- father of our subject, served in the Revolu- tionary war. Aaron Robbins followed farm- ing during his life, accumulated a good estate, and his death occurred April 20, 1866. His wife died in Angust, 1864. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins were the parents of five children, viz .: Sarah, who came to Texas, and married Robert Robbins, a distant relative, but both are now deceased; Aaron, our subject; Nancy, deceased, who was the wife of John Foster; and Richard, a retired farmer of Granger.
Aaron R. Robbins learned the trade of wheelwright at the age of seventeen years, and in 1849 he came to Williamson county, Texas, living the first year at Georgetown. He spent the following year in Arkansas bnt in 1852 came again to this county, where lic has ever since remained. He first purchased 160 acres of raw land, and at once began its improvement and stock-raising. In the spring of 1863 Mr. Robbins entered the Con- federate army, in Company K, Captain Reef's company, Sterman's regiment, served in Ar- kansas, and the first year was detailed for repairing and doing wagon work. He then returned home on a furlough, later rejoined his command, and engaged in field service under Captain Smith. He took part in many skirmishes, and, although his horse was shot while under him, he was never wounded or captured. After the close of the struggle onr subject resnmed farining and stock- raising.
November 15, 1849, he was united in mar- riage to Miss Susan Hanna, a danghter of James Hanna, a native Arkansas, but who died in Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins had six children, viz .: Mary, wife of John Gard- iner, a farmer of Coryell county; JJames II., a | gaged in buying and selling cattle
farmer of Williamson county ; Easter, deceased, was the wife of D. Anderson; Henry, a school- teacher; Bell, wifeof J. F. Quicksall, a farmer and school teacher of McCulloch county, Texas; and Susan C., wife of Warren Smith, a plumber of Waco. Mrs. Robbins died March 15, 1885. June 12, of the same year, Mr. Robbins married Mrs. Elizabeth Burlew, a daughter of Stephen Strickland, an early settler of Texas, who tanght the first school in Georgetown. He died December 10, 1890. This wife died June 28, 1888, and December 10, 1889, our subject married Mrs. Virginia Spurlan, a daughter of William Daniels, who came to Texas abont 1836, having been a resident of Bastrop county. He was thrown from a horse and killed. Mr. Robbins af- filiates with the Democratic party, and re- ligiously both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church.
R OBERT L. NICHOLS, one of the most prosperous farmers of Bastrop county, was born in the town of Bastrop, September 19, 1857, a son of James R. and Josephine F. (Garth) Nich- ols. Robert attended the schools of his na- tive place, and completed his education in the A. & M. College, at Bryan, this State, in his twenty-second year. After returning home he followed for a time the carpenter's trade, which he had learned of his father at the age of sixteen years. In connection with this he was also engaged in agricultural pir- suits, owning a large farm of Colorado river bottom land, consisting of 1,400 acres, 750 aeres of which is cultivated. Mr. Nichols is one of the most successful and enterprising farmers in Bastrop county, and is also en-
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
He was married in 1884, to Miss Mary Wilkes, a native of Winchester, Fayette county, Texas, and a danghter of James E. and Martha (Davis) Wilkes, natives of Ten- nessee. Both families are among the early settlers of Fayette county. James Wilkes was a farmer and gin owner and accumulated qnite a competency. During the late war he served as a non-commissioned officer in his company. His death occurred in 1878 and his wife still resides at the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Wilkes had six children : James, a resident of Winchester, Texas; Mary, wife of our subject; William, of Flatonia, Fayette county; Horace, deceased; Mattie; and two deceased unmarried. Mr. and Mrs. Nichols have had five children: Wilkes, Garth, Louise, Leon and Bessie. Mrs. Nichols is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject affiliates with the K. of P'., Smithville Lodge, No. 92.
C A. D. CLAMP, one of the oldest cit- izens of Georgetown, Williamson county, Texas, was born in the city of Thorn, Prussia, March 1, 1827. He was the son of John and Elizabeth Clamp. His life, until he was eighteen years old, was spent at home, his education being obtained from the academy in his native city. He was nineteen years of age when he left his father's house to come to this far distant country, America. The trip was made in a sail-vessel, and they were on the water 120 days. Mr. Clamp landed in Galveston and spent two years there, being one of the yellow-fever sufferers in that dreadful scourge in the latter part of 1849. From Galveston he went to Houston, but not liking the place, went on to Austin connty, on the Brazos, where he worked as
contractor and builder. It was here he met Miss Asenath Davis, whose native State was Georgia, but whose parents came to Texas when it was a republic. Mr. Clamp and Miss Davis were married April 18, 1850. In October 1851 they came to Georgetown, Williamson county, where until 1863, Mr. Clamp found a good opening for building, for there were less than a dozen honses, one black- smith shop, one church, two stores and two places where whiskey conld be purchased. Mr. Clamp opened a carpenter's shop, making furniture, spinning wheels and looms as well as doors, sash and blinds; where Georgetown now stands was almost a wilderness, and many times Mr. Clamp stood in his house door and heard wild turkeys fly up to roost, and before breakfast next morning would have enongh turkey to supply the town for the day. Deer, bear and panther were easily found and the whoop of the Indian was heard in the cedar- brake above town, and they would often swoop down and capture a pony or two, then retreat in good order.
In 1859 a mountain lion was killed within what is now the corporate limits of George- town. Mr. Clamp has killed a panther weigh- ing over 500 pounds, and also killed a medium sized panther near Georgetown as late as 1870; at one time he was chased by nine Havelinas, and after killing the . leader, dropped his gun and was obliged to scramble up a tree, where he was kept four hours.
The District Court was held under the shade of a grand old live-oak tree, which stood until three years ago. Mr. Clamp, among other pioneers found ont what hard times really were, for at one time for several weeks he only had corn-bread mixed up with cold water, and wild onions to eat. Their next door neighbor was the first to bring a dollar's worth of flour from Anstin, and mix-
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
ing flour with soda and water, the family called in their neighbors to share the rare treat with them. Lumber was hauled from Bastrop on ox wagons. In February of 1853 it was so cold that the Gabriel was frozen over and great blocks of ice were cut and stored away in one of the cellars. In 1863, Mr. Clamp engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, under the firm name of Anderson, Clamp & Co. They bought domestic at $28 a bolt, forty yards in a bolt, and sold it for $160,00 (Confederate money). In 1865 Mr. Clamp went in business alone, adding furniture to his stoek and since 1879 has given his atten- tion to the latter business entirely. In 1878 he was elected Mayor of the town and served two years. Politically, he is, and always has been a stanch Republican, and was a Union inan during the war. Mr. and Mrs. Clamp are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which organization Mr. Clamp is an Elder. Mr. and Mrs. Clamp had eleven children of whom nine were reared to maturity. Mr. Clamp has lived in Georgetown for forty-two years and has seen the town and county grow np around him, has suffered many sorrows, and found compensating joys here, and pro- nonnees Williamson county, the garden spot of Texas, and a place which the Lord has cer- tainly blessed. He is a successful business man and his highly valned for his enterprise and sterling qualities of mind and heart.
RED A. GRAVES .- "Seest thion a man diligent in business, he shall stand before kings ; he shall not stand before mean men." This observation of the anthor of the Book of Proverbs has formed the text for a greater number of learned sermons than it has found exemplars in the actual affairs
of life. But illustrations are not lacking, and in the somewhat long list of thrifty and sue- cessful men whose personal records appear in this volinne, probably none more fully justi- fies a reference to these words of wisdom spoken by the poet and philosopher than the subject of this brief sketch.
Fred A. Graves, son of John and Julia Graves, was born in Walton county, Geor- gia, May 17, 1847. His parents coming to this State five years later, his childhood and early youth were passed in Washington county, where they first settled, and in Milam county, to which they moved five years later. At the age of fifteen-1862-he entered the Confederate army, enlisting in the Fourth Texas cavalry, Sibley's brigade, with which he served in Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana, taking part in all the engagements in which his command participated, being in active service until the close of the war. When lios- tilities had ceased he returned home; worked awhile on his father's farm; attended school one session, and then took work in the stock business at $15 per month. He was so em- ployed, receiving an increase of wages from time to time and investing his earnings in land and stock, until 1871, at which date he married and began farming and stock-raising on a small scale for himself. He prospered steadily from the beginning, and at this writ- ing, 1893, he owns three different farms, ag- gregating 5,300 acres, 900 of which is in cultivation and yielding in accordance with the well-known productiveness of the black, waxy belt in which it lies. Mr. Graves farms largely by tenants, for whom he has miade full provision, and with whom he gets along most satisfactorily. He runs in connection with his farming operations and for neighborhood patronage, a large steam gin, which is kept busy during the ginning season. He is also
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engaged extensively in the stock business, and has been for a mimuber of years, buying, feeding and marketing, from 800 to 1,500 head of cattle annually. Hle is a stockholder in the oil mill at Roekdale, and is always ready to invest his money in any local enter. prise that promises legitimate private returns or permanent publie good. The edneational, religious and moral interests of the commu. nity find in him a particularly warm sup- porter, it being well understood that his name stands pledged at all times for the inainte- nanee of these. He and his brothers, Thomas Il. and George S., have donated the land and erected a school building in their neighbor- hood, where a good school is conducted nine months in the year. He also gave to the Metli- odist Church, of which he is a zealous men- ber, ten acres of land, on which lie ereeted sheds and other equipments necessary for holding meetings, and where meetings are held for several weeks in each year, resulting in much good to the people of that vicinity.
As stated above, Mr. Graves inarried in 1871, the lady on whom his choice fell for a companion being Miss Alice Shinault, a daughter of J. L. and Penelope W. Shinault, of Mississippi, in which State Mrs. Graves was born February 26, 1853, and there reared. Her father died in that State in 1855, and her widowed mother moved to Texas in 1871, settling in Milam county, where she died in 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Graves have had born to thein fonr children, as follows: Preston S., born October 10, 1872; Fred H., born April 8, 1884; Rufus W., born Angust 6, 1886; and Alice E., born July 18, 1891. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Church, and he affiliates in politics with the Demo- cratie party.
Mr. Graves has been remarkably successful in the last fifteen or twenty years. Ile came
ont of the war without a dollar, and having entered it before he had received even the ru- diments of an edneation, his start was made under the most adverse cirenmstances. He has succeeded by merit, by industry, economy and method.
Mr. Graves' ancestral history will be found in the sketeh of his brother, Thomas II., which appears elsewhere in this volume.
C APTAIN JAMES A. RUMSEY, a fariner of Williamson eonty, was born in Preston eonnty, West Virginia, Sep- tember 7, 1834, a son of George and Eliza- beth (Sterling) Rumsey. The paternal grand- father of our subject, James Rumsey, was born in Ireland, but came to America when a young man, loeating at Shepherdstown, Virginia. George Rmnsey was born in that city, studied medicine under Dr. MeLane, and was a physician and local Methodist Episco. pal minister for sixty years. He moved to Goshen, Indiana,, in 1834, where he was a leading politician; in 1848 removed to Ar- kansas, and in 1851 came to Williamson county, Texas, where he was the pioneer phy- sician. His death occurred in June, 1889, at the age of eighty-four years. His wife departed this life many years before that time. They were the parents of six chil- dren, viz .: W. M, deceased in Caldwell county, Texas; Joseph A., a merchant of Middleport. Ohio; Mary, deceased in Rob- ertson county, Texas, was the wife of James Riee, a Methodist minister; James A., our subject; A. M., a farmer and florist of Ans- tin; and Elizabeth, wife of Dr. John MeCarty, of Burnet county, Texas.
James A. Rumsey, the subject of this sketch, came to Texas in 1853, locating near
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
where he now lives, and the family were the first to locate in this neighborhood. He was first employed on the State capitol buildings at Austin seven months, after which he en- gaged in farming and stock-raising in this county. His father had the first and largest farm in the Salado valley, 100 acres of which was cultivated, and our subject remained on that place nntil the opening of the late war. In. 1861 he entered the first enrolled company of State troops for drill purpose, of which he was elected Captain, but in 1862 resigned that position and enlisted as a private in Company A, Thirtieth Texas Cavalry, and served the two last years of the war as Brevet Captain of that company. Mr. Rminsey was a member of the Trans- Mississippi Depart- ment, served in Arkansas and the Indian Territory, was in many hard-fonght battles, and was never absent from duty. At the close of the struggle the regiment had fallen back to Robertson county, where they dis- banded. Mr. Rumsey still resides on a por- tion of the same traet on which he first set- tled, and now owns about 500 acres, 260 acres of which is cultivated. He has four tenement houses on his place, and is engaged in general farming. Since residing in Will- iamson county, onr subject has followed car- pentering, and has also done most of the sur- veying in this part of the country for the past eighteen years. He has always taken a leading part in Democratic politics, and in 1878 was elected a member of the sixteenth Legislature. During his term in that posi- tion he was appointed one of the committee on buildings and grounds, and assisted in forming the plans for the new capitol. Ile has also held many other offices.
Mr. Rumsey was married August 5, 1855, to Miss Jane Berry, who was born in Burle- son county, Texas, October 22, 1839, a
daughter of John Berry, a native of Ken- tueky, a soldier in the Black Hawk war, who settled in this State before the Texas revolution. To this union were born ten children, eight of whom grew to years of maturity, viz .: Anna A., deceased, was the wife of John Riggs, and they had fonr chil- dren; Mary E., who was first married to William Biles, and they have one living child, and she is now the wife of Joseph Welch, of Enumclaw, Washington; Sally B., wife of John Pruitt, a farmer of Milam county ; Fanny A. the next in order of birth; Lethia A., wife of James Blackwell, a farmer of Milan county; George E., engaged in agricultural pursuits in this county; Emza, a farmer of Milam county; and John, at home. The wife and mother died in 1883, having been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In October, 1887, Mr. Rumsey married Mrs. Hnldah E. White, a native of Tennessee, but reared in Louisiana. She has one daughter by her foriner mar- riage, who is now the wife of J. J. Hair. Mrs. Rumsey is. a daughter of William Baker, a native of Tennessee. Socially, Mr. Ramsey affiliates with the Masonic order, and religiously both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church.
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R OBERT H. HICKS .- The subject of sketch is the junior member of the firin of Scarbrough & Hicks, mer- chants of Rockdale and Anstin. Mr. Ilicks is a native Texan. His parents, A. W. and F. M. Hicks, came to Texas in 1845 and settled in Lavaca connty, where Robert II. was born and reared. His boyhood was passed on the farm and ranch and was ocen- pied with labors and sports suitable to his
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age. The free, open-air life which he enjoyed gave him a vigorous development and insured him a splendid physique well calculated to withstand the strain of the active business career which he has since led. His educa- tional advantages were limited, being only such as were afforded by the poorly-taught local schools of the day. But he was a shrewd observer and possessed a bright, receptive mind, and gathered from observation a fund of practical information which has since been of great value to him in the dealings of daily life.
At the age of seventeen, when the Civil war had closed, and his family, like so many others throughout the South, was left with- out subsistence, young Hicks began his life- work in earnest, supporting not only him- self, but helping to provide for a family of younger brothers and sisters. The cattle business being the only industry that then gave much hope of substantial returns he gave his attention to this and was engaged in it for about five years. In 1875 he gave up these pursuits and located at Rockdale, then but recently started. Here he became book- keeper in the mercantile establishinent of H. P. Hale & Company. In January, 1883, af- ter the death of General Hale, lie took an in- terest in the business, the firm becoming Scarbrough & Hicks, and for ten years past he has devoted his time and attention solely to the interests of this house. Since 1889, the date of Mr. Scarbrough's removal to Ans- tin, Mr. Hicks has had personal charge of the business.
This house is well known throughout cen- tral Texas, being one of the largest and finan- cially the most solid establishments in this section of the State. The firm employs twenty clerks, uses both the cash and credit system and does an annual business of $250,000. A | to the county dates Jannary 15, 1878, at
reputation for honest dealing, for goods of the best quality at the lowest living prices, for courteous clerks able to converse with buyers in any local vernacular, backed by ample means, vigorous brains, keen business forsight, tact and good management have made the mercantile house of Scarbrongh & Hicks what it is. The firm annually handle a large amount af cotton and are leading stock- holders in every progressive enterprise.
Mr. Hicks' name always heads every list gotten up for charitable purposes. If the canse is worthy he does not seek to know its creed but donates liberally and substantially as becomes one of his position and means. He has been a Trustee of the Rockdale pub- lic schools since the date of their organization and lie has taken an interest in thein second only to that which he has taken in his own personal matters. He is an upright member in and officer of the Baptist Church, giving it the warmest moral and financial support.
In 1879 Mr. Hicks married Miss Maggio Hall, daughter of John Hall, deceased. Miss Hall established and taught successfully for five years before her marriage the first per- manent school in Rockdale. Intellectually her husband's equal, her finer qualities a foil to his more sturdy traits, the union has been one of unusual happiness that charins and cheers all who come under its benign influ- ence. Three bright, intelligent children bless their home.
A C. JOIINSON, one of the industrious and thrifty Swedish-Americans of Williamson county, Texas, is the sub- ject of this article. He resides on a farm four miles west of Taylor. His advent
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