USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 33
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 33
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 33
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 33
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 33
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 33
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fits of civilization which the present inhabi- taunts enjoy, was born in Tennessee, January 20, 1803, and has thus witnessed the varying and shifting scenes in the history of his native land for nearly a century, his mind being enriched by these experiences, and his soul enobled by participation in the uplifting and building one of the grandest States in the Union, and, incidentally, one of the great- est nations in the world.
He may justly be termed a pioneer of pioncers, for, having been born on the frontier, his life has been passed in blazing the path of civilization for others to follow. When but four years of age his parents removed from the grand old State of Tennessee, the birth- place of so many noble men and women, to the Territory of Illinois, at that time bearing but sliglit resemblance to its present popn- lous and prosperous condition, where have re- cently been gathered the nations of the earth to witness and celebrate the progress of the agcs. This little family which played a hum- ble part in paving the way for that State's present grandenr and power, by planting the seeds of civilization, made their toilsome way over bleak prairies and swollen streams to Gallatin county, settling in the midst of a lonely and dreary waste, far from home and friends. Thus passed the first twelve years of the life of our subject, who, in the re- fining influence of a cultured, though hum- ble home, and in communing with nature, laid the foundation of that noble spirit which has been the strength and delight of all who have come within its presence.
In 1815, this pioneer family, providentially sent to be the pathfinders of a country great in future possibilities, removed from their first settlement in Gallatin county. Illinois, to White county, the same territory. Here this young life moved on as before, learning
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the gospel of work, without which no soul is great or good. He was reared to farming, man's most natural vocation, where mother earth welcomes her children, and whence, primarily, comes all nourishment.
Arrived at man's estate, Mr. May was married, August 12, 1825, to Margaret Cald- well, an estimable lady of his neighborhood, who proved, through the trials of after life, a faithful and helpful companion, realizing the poet's dream of
" A perfect woman, nobly planned, To warn, to comfort, and command."
The young couple settled near Mr. May's father in White county, whenee they soon afterward removed to the vicinity of the lead mines, near Galena, Illinois, where they lived for a number of years. Indueed by the favorable reports of the Southwest, toward which a general exodus was setting in, young May started with his wife and family, Nov- ember 13, 1840, for Texas, arriving at what is now Gonzales county, that State, March 20, 1841. They settled on land in that vieinity and engaged in farming, where they resided, nnmolested, until 1842, when the Indians made one of their raids into the set- tlements, and Mr. May, with his neighbors, was obliged to retreat from the impending danger, fleeing to a more thickly populated district, stopping at what is now La Grange, in Fayette county, where they prepared de- fenees and hield their fort until peace was temporarily restored.
In 1846, Mr. May ventured west again, settling in what is now Caldwell county, where he acquired considerable land and opened up a large plantation and built an elegant home, surrounding himself with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life, intending to pass the remainder of his earthly career in the peaceful enjoyment of home and the
society of his children, all of whom were grown, married and comfortably settled near hin. Alas, that such Areadian happiness should be interrupted by strife between bro- thers of the same country! But thus it was, emphasizing, most strikingly, the mutability of human affairs, and affording a gigantic objeet lesson of the horrors attendant on the settlement of differences by war instead of arbitration. Perhaps this was the lesson which was providentially intended to be taught, nshering out the dark days of barbar- ism and bringing in the brighter days of a better civilization.
The war coming on, Mr. May naturally east his lot with his neighbors, and the up- holding of the time-honored institutions of the South, enlisting in the service of the Confederacy, and contributing liberally of his ineans to the maintenance of that cause. He had three sons and five sons-in-law, all of whom volunteered their services at the first eall of their country. Of these, one son, Milton, was killed in the battle of Milliken's Bend; Josephi was seriously wounded at the fight at Pleasant Hill, Missouri, and was sent home, an invalid for several years; Morris, alone, of all the sons, returned unhurt in battle, but with health much impaired, while the five sons-in-law filled soldiers' graves. Thus, at the elose of the war, to which Mr. May contributed so largely of his means as to leave himself ahnost impoverished, and has given that which was dearer than wealth, the precious members of his family, he found himself broken in health and spirit, and with the care of six widows, and their fatherless children, all looking to him for support.
Now was exhibited that unfailing courage and determination, snch marked elements of his character through life, and which were the direct results of his early experiences
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and consequent self-reliance. He at once set about to repair his broken fortunes and pre- pare for the support of his munerons depen- dents. The war having wronght so many changes and troubles, of which their old homes constantly reminded thein, they de- cided to forsake the old scenes and seek new fields in the West. Accordingly, in 1868, he again decided to cast his lot in the unset- tled and frontier section of the Lone Star State, and, consequently, sold his old home and removed to Williamson connty, where he re- mained fourteen years. In 1882, he again moved, this time settling in Llano county, which has since been his home, and where he is being tenderly cared for in his declining days by his son, Joseph. Thus, the greater part of this noble old man's ninety years of life has been spent in building np and develop- ing new country, making possible the bene- fits and pleasures of civilization, which his posterity, and those who have inore recently moved into the State, now enjoy.
Mr. and Mrs. A. G. May were the par- rents of fourteen children: Morris, now resi- dent of Burnet county, Texas; Milton, pre- viously mentioned, who was killed in the war; Albert G., who, after spending the best of his life as a circuit rider in the work of the Methodist Church, on the Texas frontier, now resides in Pittsburg, that State; Leon- ard is a prosperons merchant in the State of Iowa; Joseph, with whom the subject of this sketch now lives, resides on a farm in Llano county; Sarah; Julia; Elizabeth and Margaret are deceased, and also three others, who died earlier in life; Caroline lives in Williamson county, and Emeline resides in Bell county. The devoted wife and mother of this family was heart-broken by the trou- bles of the war, and, after lingering a few years, she passed away, to enjoy, in a better
world, that reward to which her noble ser- vices in this life had so richly entitled her. The descendents of this family now number more than sixty grandchildren, and 120 great-grandchildren, all of whom are active members of society, and among the best citizens of their various communities.
While Mr. May is a hero, and a veteran soldier of the war, he has not neglected the better part of his life. He professed reli- gion and joined the Methodist Church when quite a young man, and has spent nearly seventy years as a consistent and model Christian. He says the greatest satisfaction and comfort of his declining years, as it has always been, is his religion, which fact is typified iu his upright, noble career, on which his friends may justly reflect with gratification, and his country mnse with pride and reverence.
E DWARD BLAKEY BURLESON, one of the first white male children born in Bastrop county, in 1838, is a son of Jonathan and Nancy B. (Blakey) Burleson, natives of South Carolina and Kentucky. The paternal grandfather of our subject, James B. Burleson, was twice married, and was a father of the following: Sarah, who married Robert Thrasher; Joseph; General Edward, deceased in 1852, while a member of the State Senate; Volley, who' married Ezekiel Owens; Nancy, who become the wife of Joseph Rodgers; Rachel, married James Rodgers; Mary, who married Martin Taylor; Jamies; Jake, who was killed in the battle of Brushy Creek; John; Jonathan; Aaron; and Elizabeth, familiarly known as Bettie, mar- ried Charles Brooks, and resides at George-
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town. All are now deceased excepting the last mentioned, who was a daughter by the last marriage.
Jonathan Burleson, father of our subjeet, came to Texas in 1830, in company with his brother, General Edward Burleson. They located where the town of Bastrop now stands,and at that time only three or four fam- ilies lived between a settlement fifteen miles np the river to the first settlement ten miles down the river. General Edward Burleson afterwards located at the latter place, at the month of Aluth creek. In 1845 the Indians and Mexicans produced a panie in this section of the State, and General Edward Burleson was then commanding a regiment of Texas troops at Gonzales. After the fall of the Alamo he ordered Jonathan Burleson to come to this place and conduct the women and children to a place of safety. Mr. Burle- soll made the trip on foot, a distance of thirty-five miles, and was obliged to pass over the section almost covered with bands of Indians. He conveyed the families to the Trinity river, and after the battle of San Jacinto brought them to Fort Bastrop, land- ing here in the spring of 1836. After peace with the Mexicans and the independence of Texas were accomplished Jonathan Burleson was appointed by his brother General Edward, as Captain of a company of spies or scouts for the purpose of watching the Indians and Mexicans. During that time he was accom- panied by a Tonchawa Indian, who was a son af Plasado a noted Tonkawa Indian chief. The latter then made his home where our subject now resides, and was friendly with the Texans. This young Indian accompanied Mr. Burleson on many perilous undertakings. In 1837, the latter, in company with four men, was engaged in scouting three miles north of Fort Bastrop, when they were sur-
rounded by a band of Comanche braves. He ordered his men to dismount and fire, but instead of doing so they beat a hasty re- treat, and Captain Burleson, who had dis- mounted, found himself deserted by his men. HIe fired at the advancing savages, mounted his mare, Slick, and rode straight for the bank of Piney creek, where he accomplished one of the most famous leaps ever made with a horse. The bluff was about twenty feet per- pendicular, over which the Captain jumped his mare, and made good his retreat to the fort.
Mr. Burleson took part in the battle of Brushy, fought in what is now Williamson county, the whites being commanded by General Edward Burleson, and the Coman- ches under command of their warlike chiefs. The Burleson family were represented in this battle by General Edward, John, Jake, Jon- athan and Aaron. Captain Jake Burleson was in advance of the Texas army, and came upon the Indians while cooking their noon- day meal. The Captain ordered his men to dismount and fire, and after hitching their horses in a grove, the twelve men turned a deadly volley of rifle balls on the savages. The Indians proving too much for the little company of twelve men, Captain Burleson ordered the boys to mount and fall back. One of his boys, only about fourteen years of age, in his excitement mounted his horse while yet hitched to the tree. The Captain saw the condition of the boy, dismounted from his horse, cut the rope, but as he was again mounting was shot dead. The Indians ent off his right hand and foot, and took out his heart, thinking all the while that lie was General Edward Burleson. At the bat- tle of Plum creek, in Caldwell county, Gen- eral Edward Burleson, who was in command, had been following the Indians for several
.
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days, but his force of men was too small to cope with the savages, and on the day before the battle occurred he sent for Jonathan, to Bastrop, for the chief Plasado and his thirty warriors to assist him. Mr. Burleson reached his destination in the evening, and in the same night Plasado and his band of braves made the marchi on foot, a distance of thirty miles, the chief trotting along by the side of Mr. Burleson, and his hand resting on the latter's thigh. As the battle opened on the following day by General Burleson, Jonathan, and his Indian braves entered the fight, and were victorious. Jonathan Burleson was afterward a member of a company of minute men until 1845, when he retired from service, and engaged in farming and stock raising. He secured the first grant of land from the Mexican or Spanish Government, and the town of Elgin is now located on a portion of this headriglit. He afterward secured three- quarters of a league from the Republic of Texas in what is now Caldwell county, although he located on a small place near where the town of Bastrop now stands.
Mr. Burleson was first married under the laws of Mexico, in about 1833, to Miss Nancy B. Blakey,and this was the first or one of the first marriages consummated in Bastrop. Mrs. Burleson was a daughter of Thomnos and Nancy Blakey, the latter a native of Kentucky. In about 1830 her father came from Bowling Green, that State, to Brazoria, Brazoria county , Texas, where he followed farming and stock raising. His death occurred in 1832. Mr. and Mrs. Blakey had ten children, viz .: Martha, married Robert Mitchell, and both are now deceased; Sarah, married Robert Anderson, both also deceased; Thursey, deceased, was the wife of Noah Smithwiek, of California; Mahala, deceased, was three times married, first to John Ander-
son, second to Jepthia Boyce, and third to William Simmons; Nancy B., mother of our subject; John W., deceased; Edward, who was shot throagh the head at a battle of Brushy creek by Indians; Everett C., deceased; Evaline, married William II. Gar- rett, and both are uow deceased; and Lemuel J., who was killed at the battle of San Jacin- to, when only a boy. Mrs. Blakey died in 1853. After the war of 1836 and the inde- pendence of Texas was established, Mr. and Mrs. Burleson were married the second time, as their former marriage was not considered as legal as it should be. They continued to live in this section until their death, Mr. Burleson dying December 3, 1879, at the age of sixty-seven years, and his wife died June 7, 1889, aged seventy-eight years. Both were members of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church. Mr. Burle- son was also identified with the A. F. & A. M., and the R. A. M. They were the parents of eight children: Edward B., our subject; Nancy; Thomas; Jolin A .; A. H. E .; J. R., deceased; Mahala, wife of William Montgomery, of McCullochi county, Texas; and Leman, wife of Oscar Thompson, also of that county.
Edward B. Burleson, the subject of this sketch, received only a limited education, was reared to farm life, and began work for him- self at the age of twenty-one years. For two years lie farmed on rented land, the first year in Bastrop connty, and afterward on the San. Marcos river, in Caldwell county. In 1862 he purchased a farin of 500 acres in the latter county, on credit, where he moved his wife and twenty-three negroes. Ile was to pay 82,000 for the place, every dollar of which was paid by Mrs. Burleson while he was figliting for his native land in the late war, she also paying all doctor's bills and other
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expenses, and had the farm well stocked with cattle, horses, mules, etc. Mr. Burleson joined Company K, Seventeenth Texas Infantry, un- der Captain John Tabor and Colonel R. T. P. Allen, served in the Trans- Mississippi De- partment, and was afterward transferred to Company D, Twelfth Texas Cavalry, under Colonel W. H. Parsons. He participated in the battles of Mansfield, Pleasant IIill, Yellow Bayon, and was in all the engagements against Banks from Mansfield to Alexandria, Louisana. General Steel called for fifteen volunteers to go in front of General Banks' command, and to harrass thein as long as was deemed consistent. Mr. Burleson was one of the number, but not placed in command of the volunteers, and was with the scouts continually in front of and some times in General Banks' lines. He had many narrow escapes from the enemy, and on one occasion, while inside of General Banks' lines, and near a canebrake, he was attacked by the United States soldiers, and was obliged to run into the cane. He afterwards made his way to a Mr. Bradley's house, where the general's cavalry was camped, remained there with a contrade until twelve o'clock that night, when a terrible rain storm drove them to a cotten gin of Mr. Bradley, but they there discovered about twenty-five Fed- eral soldiers sleeping, and they thien returned to the house for breakfast. Mr. Burleson was chased to the cane brake a second time. He was slightly wounded, but was never cap- tured. After the close of the struggle he was engaged in farming two years, and in 1867 embarked in the mercantile business at Lockhart. The venture proved unsuccessful; he in 1869, purchased the farm where he now resides, consisting of 320 acres of Colo- rado river bottom land, located two miles west of Bastrop, a portion of his grand-I
mother Blakey's headright. Mr. Burleson lias added to his original purchase until he now owns 1,200 acres, of this landright, 500 acres of which is under a fine state of culti- vation, where he makes a specialty of raising Hereford cattle. His wife also owns 640 acres of land in Tom Green county.
February 14, 1860, our subject was nited in marriage with Miss Mattie A. Dorn, a native of Mississippi, and a daughter of Robert and Mary (Carson) Dorn. The Car- son family are related to Kit Carson, of western fame. Mr. and Mrs. Dorn came to Texas in 1849. or 1850, and engaged in farm- ing and stock-raising in Caldwell county. He died in 1869, and his wife in 1879, both having been members of the Cumber- land Presbyterian Church. They had seven children, four of whom grew to years of ma- turity, viz .: Sarah, who married Nathan Reed, and both are now deceased; Eliza R., widow of W. T. Reed; Martlia A., widow of James H. Duke: William, deceased; and Mattie A., wife of our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Burleson have had eight children, namely: William E., of Edwards county, Texas; Jolin A., also of that connty; and Robert D., Lemnel R., Brnce, Mattie M., Ula and Nannie, at home. Mr. Burleson is independent in political mat- ters, and socially, is a member of the A. F. & A. M , Gamble Lodge, No. 244, of Bas- trop Chapter, No. 195, and of the K. of H.
M ARK JONES, a pioneer and merchant of Williamson county, was born in the province of Breslau, Germany, in 1837, and received his education in the common schools of that country. De- cember 6, 1854, he came to America, landing in New York, and, having served an appren-
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ticeship in a dry-goods house, and also re- ceived a diploma from a business college, lie was engaged there one year as clerk in a jewelry store. In 1855 he located in Keokuk, Iowa; in the spring of 1856 located for a short time in La Grange, Missouri, and in the same year came overland to Texas, in com- pany with George Neely, of Pike county, Illinois. They arrived in Grimes county in February 1857. After coming to this State, Mr. Jones changed his name from Jonas to Jones, his people being still known by the former name. Ile has one brother living in Chicago. While residing in Grimes county, Mr. Jones was engaged in trading in stock, principally in horses. In 1858 he came to Williamson county, locating near where Flor- ence now is, which was at that time called Brookville. He brought with him a number of horses of his own, also a drove belonging to William Howard, of Mississippi, which he took care of for three years. In 1861 he re- trued with his horses to Grimes county.
At the opening of the late war, in 1861, although a Union man, Mr. Jones joined the Confederate army, McCowen's Battalion, and went to the city of Waco. While there the companies reorganized into Gurley's Reg- iment, known as thre Thirtieth Texas Cavalry. Mr. Jones was a member of Company D, under Captain Strayhorn, and soon after the reorganization of his regiment he secured a furlonghi to go home. Previons to leaving camp he had done some writing for the con- pany, which pleased Colonel Gurley and his regimeutal quartermaster, Captain Abney, and on his return Mr. Jones was appointed Quartermaster's Clerk. Ile filled that posi- tion until the regiment arrived at Houston, where they were ordered to dismonnt and go to Brownsville, although they did not leave their horses until arriving in Colorado county.
They then marched on foot until Bee county was reached, where they received orders to go into camp at Cypress City. While there Mr. Jones resigned his position as Quarter- master's Clerk for the regiment, and accepted the office of Clerk of the Quartermaster's Department at Ilonston, where he remained nine months. He was the only man taken from his ranks to fill a position in that de- partinent. His work was sent to Richmond, then the seat of the Confederate Government. Mr. Jones afterward joined his company and served as a private until the close of the struggle. Ile took part in the battles of Roeky and Cabin Creek. At the latter place 300 wagons and 1,200 mules were cap- tured. The company disbanded on the Bra- zos river, in Falls county, after which Mr. Jones resumed the stock business in Florence. In 1866 he sold his stock to a Mr. McCrary, and embarked in the mercantile business in Georgetown, in company with James Knight, with whom he remained two years. He next located on a farm on the Gabriel, and from 1880 to 1892 was engaged in stock-raising and farming at this place, selling his posses- sions in the latter year for $25,000. Mr. Jones owns a beautiful home and considerable other city property in Taylor and Granger, and is now engaged in the banking business in the town of Granger, Williamson county, Texas.
In 1861 he was married to Miss Marialı Pyle, a native of Vermilion county, Indiana, and a danghter of Robert and Martha (Ma- lone) Pyle. To this union were born seven children : Clara, wife of W. T. Sonl; Mattie, now Mrs. Charles Sullivan; Minnie, wife of Dr. Keown. of Waco; Jettie, Mamie, Birdie and Harrie. The wife and mother died in 1885. She was a member of the Baptist Church. In 1887 Mr. Jones married Mrs.
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Nannie Emery, nee Threadgell. They have one daughter, Adaline. Mrs. Jones is a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Mr. Jones affiliates with the A. F. & A. M., Solomon Lodge, No. 484, and the R. A. M., of this city, and with the I. O. O. F., of Georgetown.
J R. JONES .- The subject of this notice lias lived on Texas soil sixty-nine years and is therefore probably the oldest Texan in Milam county and among the oldest in the State. He is a native of Vincennes, Indiana, but comes of Southern ancestors, his father, Allen C. Jones, having been born on the Yadkin river in North Carolina, in 1785, where Jesse Jones, fatlier of Allen C. and grandfather of James R., settled towards the latter part of the last century. Jesse Jones was a Revolutionary soldier, a patriot in the times that, as the historian wrote, " tried mens' souls." After taking an honorable part in the colonial struggle for independence, he settled on a farm in North Carolina where he passed his remaining days, dying there, well advanced in years. Allen C. Jones was reared in North Carolina where he learned farming and mastered the trades of carpentering, cabinet-making and blacksmith- ing. He followed these trades iu his native State and in the States of South Carolina, Tennessee and Indiana, before his removal to Texas, in 1824. He was a man of great in- dustry and originality and like "Tubal Cain" of old was known as "an artificer" among men. On coming to Texas, in 1824, lie re- sided in Nacogdoches county, then the first stopping place of most of the early settlers. Later he moved to Montgomery county where he engaged in farming and stock-raising,
moving thence in 1845, when he settled in Goliad county, where he died in 1854. He had considerable experience, civil and mili- tary, having served under General Jackson in the war of 1812, in the Seminole war and in the war by which Texas won its indepen- dence, and having held, in Montgomery county, the offices of Justice of the Peace, County Commissioner and Commissioner of tlre Land Board. He was three times married and was the father of fourteen children. Ile first married Margaret Ann IIynes, who re- sided near Terre Haute, Indiana, by whom he had five children: Delathia, Keetion M., Andrew J., James R. and Charles C. His wife died, in 1824, and he married Jane Cranford, by whom he had six children: Martha, Teretha, Clarissa, Allen C., Rhoda and Sam HI. This wife died, about 1829, and for his third companion he married Mrs. Marias Stone, by whom he had three chil- dren: David C., George W. and Fannie. Of these fourteen sons and daughters but four are now living, the subject of this sketch be- ing the eldest of this number; James K. was born January 6, 1822. He was an in- fant when his parents moved to Texas. His childhood and youth were passed mainly in Nacogdoches and Montgomery counties and did not differ materially from that of other boys of his day. He was old enough to know something of the scenes which he saw enacted around him during the days of the Texas revolution (1835-'36) in which he took an in- cidental part as a member of the Home Guards organized to keep down Indian depredations and to quell incipient revolts on the part of Mexicans domiciled on Texas soil. Having been almost reared in the sad- dle and familiar from early youth with stock, young Jones naturally turned his attention in this direction when he began the duties of
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