USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 34
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 34
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 34
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 34
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 34
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 34
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life for himself. For several years he was engaged in the harness business in southwest Texas-principally in Goliad county. After this, about the year 1854, he settled in Leon county, some six miles north of Centerville, where he married and engaged in the settled pursuits of agriculture. In 1856 he moved to Milam county and located on Pond creek, where he purchased land and has since re- sided, He thus became one of the first set- tlers of this vicinity and has witnessed the gradual settlement and development of the country in which he has done his full share. Mr. Jones' peaceful ways give no suggestion of the exciting scenes of a military nature through which he has passed. As he sits and quietly discusses the problems of peace and gives his views on matters of practical concern, it is hard to realize that here is a man who has fought the Indians all over the frontier of Texas, who bore arms in the Mexican-Indian uprising of 1838-9, who was in the expedi- tion on the southwestern frontier under Wil- son and Somerville in 1842-3 and who served throughout the entire period of the four years' struggle during the late war, taking part in the defense of Galveston, the capture of Sabine Pass and the series of sanguinary engagements following Banks' campaign up Red river. Yet such is a fact and such are the men who wrested this splendid domain from the hands of the savages and marnading bands of Mexicans and have done so much to convert it into an empire where have flourished all the arts and industries of peace.
In November, 1848, Mr. Jones married Miss Mary B. White, daughter of Robert White, mention of whom will be found in the sketch of Colvin C. White elsewhere in this volume. This lady died in 1868 having borne her husband the following children: Charles C., who now resides in Callahan
county; Margaret Ann, the deceased wife of Joseph Hancock; Nancy Ann, the deceased wife of Pat Lester; JJuliet, the deceased wife of S. M. Blaine; Richard H., of Milam county; Mary Lodema, the deceased wife of B. L. Bozeman; and a daughter, Alice, and three sons all of whom died young.
Mr. Jones married Ann Moor, April 8, 1869, and this lady died December 3, 1882. Ile married Mrs. S. J. Giddings, March 23, 1884. He has no children by either of his last marriages.
The religious connection of the family is with the Baptist Church, Mr. Jones having held a membership in the Little River Church for abont thirty years.
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D R .- ROBERT McCULLOCH is a na- tive of what was formerly Orange, now Alamance county, North Caro- lina, where he was born November 13, 1824, on a farm where his father, Moore McCul- loch, was also born May 4, 1784. Moore McCulloch was a son of Robert McCulloch, who was a native of Belfast, Ireland, a weaver by trade, who immigrated to America about the middle of the last century in company with two brothers, and settled in Orange county, North Carolina. He served, as did also his brothers, in the Colonies' war for in- dependence, and, coming ont of that long and ardnous struggle with honor, and unin- jured by the conflict in which he had taken part, he settled down to peaceful pursuits in his adopted State, and there passed his sub- sequent life, dying there well advanced in age. Robert McCulloch married Mary Smith, a daughter of John Smith, and by this union had six children: William, Sallie, John, Jo- seph, Betsie and Moore. The youngest of
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these, Moore, who was the father of the sub- jeet of this sketch, was reared in his native connty, and there lived and died, his death occurring August 28, 1848, in the sixty- fourth year of his age. He was a planter by occupation, a man of no public record but a volunteer in the war of 1812, in which, how- ever, lie saw no active service, peace having been declared before his command, which was raised late, got into the field. Moore McCulloch married Lydia, the daughter of Thomas McCulloch, a native of Belfast, Ire- land, whose wife was Mary Cantrol, and who had the following children: Andrew, Thomas, David, Lydia, Pattie and Sallie. Moore and Lydia McCullock had the following children: Thomas; Margaret, who was married to Dan- iel Tickle; Mary, who was married to Allen Gant; Robert, the subject of this sketch; Josiah; Lydia J. E .; Ellen, who became the wife of S. C. Fox; Elizabeth, who was mar- ried to John P. Albright; and Sarah Jane, who was married to Peter Waggoner.
Robert McCulloch, with whom this article is mainly concerned, was reared on the farm where he was born, in Alamance county, North Carolina, spending his boyhood and youth in the labors, sports and diversions common to farin life in those days and re- ceiving in the intervals of these pursuits and diversions the rudiments of a common En- glish education in the schools of the neigh- borhood. He began reading medicine at the age of twenty under the preceptorship of Dr. E. F. Watson, a successful physician of Ala- mance county, with whom he spent the greater part of three years. He then gradu- ated, in 1852, from the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, and located for the practice of his profession in his native coun- ty. Two years were spent in that county and one in Lenoir county, when, in 1855, he
came to Texas and took up his residence in Milam county. Resuming the practice at once in his new home, he has followed it actively and with reasonable success since. Dr. McCulloch has resided for the last thirty- eight years in the locality where he first settled, in the eastern part of Milam county, near Maysfield. When he took np his abode in this vicinity the country was very sparsely settled, and-the circuit of his calls extended from Little river to Pond creek and from Elin creek to the Brazos river. His profes- sional duties were necessarily pursued under conditions that called into exercise the best qualities that he possessed. For the faithful discharge of his duties he has endeared him- self to the people of the locality where he lives, and there are many, especially among the older citizens, who will have no one else when overtaken by sickness. Like most other country physicians, Dr. McCulloch has always had more or less farming interests, and in addition to his professional duties has devoted considerable time to agriculture and other pursuits.
November 6, 1855, Dr. McCulloch mar- ried Miss Elizabeth C. Moss, a native of Talladega, Alabama, and a daughter of A. H. Moss, who was born in Virginia, February 22, 1800. A. H. Moss was a son of William Moss, who was also a Virginian by birth. William Moss married Charlotte Cooper, and had the following children: John; Jane, who married Henry Franklyu; Courtny, who was married to John Tardy; Mary, who was married to Dr. Willis Franklyn; Char- ity, who was married to Smith L. Yonng; William; and Elizabeth, who was married to Dr. James Hopkins.
A. H. Moss was reared a farmer, omi- grated to Alabama at the age of twenty- two, settling in Talladega conuty; moved
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thence, twelve years later, to Oktibbeha county, Mississippi, and thence in 1852 to Texas, settling in Milam county, which was his home until his death, which occurred in 1864. He married Jane B., a daughter of Jeremialı and Phoebe Franklin, and by this union had nine children: Eliza, who was married to Benjamin Rentfrow; Lou, who is unmarried; Frank, who died in Texas in 1879; Mary, who was married to James Col- , clough; Martha, who died unmarried; Eliza- heth (Mrs. McCulloch); William, who was killed in the Confederate army during the late war, at Jenkins's Ferry; Benjamin, who is deceased; and Grayson, who is a resident of this State. Mr. Moss (called by courtesy Major Moss) was a man of prominence in Milam county for a number of years after his removal here. He was extensively en- gaged in the stock business and accumulated considerable property. Being well informed on the history of the country, a fluent talker and with some taste for political life, he was often called on to address his fellow-citizens, and did so cheerfully and to the delight of his hearers.
Dr. McCulloch and his wife have had born to them two children, both sons: Marcus H., a merchant of Rosebud, Falls county; and Osmus F., a merchant of Mayshield, Milan county. The Doctor belongs to the Episco- pal Church, Mrs. McCulloch to the Methodist,
OHN B. TAYLOR, one of the promi- nent pioneer settlers of Bastrop coun- ty, was born in Morgan county, Ala- bama, November 30, 1823, a son of Levi Taylor, and Tempie (Burleson) Taylor. The mother was a danghter of John Burleson, who died in Alabama. The paternal great-
grandfather of our subject was killed in the Revolutionary war. Ilis son, William S. Tay- lor, the grand-father of our subject, was a native of Virginia, and also died in Alabama. After the death of his father he was taken by an uncle to Mobile, and settled among the Creek Indians. He was subsequently taken by his brothers to Georgia, afterward went to Tennessee, afterward moved to Ala- bama. Levi Taylor was raised principally in Tennessee, afterward moved to Alabama, and, in 1853, located in Nacogdoches county, Texas, where he died in 1860. He was a farmer by occupation, and also served as Ju ?- tice of the Peace many years. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor were the parents of ten children, viz .: Sarah R., wife of J. Cole, of Alabama; Mary, who married W. J. Blankenship; Nancy W., now Mrs. Crosland, of Nacogdo- ches county; John B., our subject; Eliza J .. wife of W. Blackburn, also of Nacogdoches county; Artie N .. now Mrs. Brewer; Effie E., wife of William Blackburn; William W., deceased, at Houston, while serving in the Confederacy; Charles, of Erath connty; and Levi, who died in the army, in Arkansas. Mrs. Taylor died in Erath county, Texas, in 1870. The parents were consistent members of the Primitive Baptist Church.
John B. Taylor, the subject of this sketch, began reading medieine at the age of twenty- one years, with Dr. Hlays, of Tuscaloosa, Ala .. bama, and two years later took a course of study with Dr. Miller. In 1848 he began the practice of his professiou at Jasper, Ala- bama, but two years afterwards located in Chickasaw county, Mississippi. In 1831, Mr. Taylor attended medical lectures at New Or- leans; and in 1852 landed at Galveston, Texas; traveled over the State for a time, and fina.ly located at Hopkinsville. He soon after began the practice of medicine in Fay-
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ette county, and in 1872 came to Smithville, Bastrop county. After locating in this place he began farming in addition to his medical practice, later engaged in general merchan- dising, but soon abandoned the practice of medicine except with his particular friends, and still continues in that way. After eight years of merchandizing, Mr. Taylor closed that branch of his business, and turned his attention entirely to farming. He has now retired from all active work. At one time he served as Postmaster of Smithville.
Mr. Taylor was married in 1860, to Miss Susan N. Burleson, a native of this connty, and a daughter of Joseph Burleson, who came to this State in 1833, and was among the first to locate in Bastrop eonnty. Indians and game of all kinds were then plentiful, and the father took part in all the Indian raids of this part of the country. To this union was born three children: Yancey D., a farmer of this connty; John, of Smithville, and Tem- pie F., wife of A. G. Fancette; a farmer and merchant of this city. Mrs. Taylor died in 1867, and in 1872, our subject married his first wife's sister, Mrs. Nancy A. Yancey, nee Burleson. Mr. Taylor affiliates with the Democratic party, and his wife is a member of the Primitive Baptist Church.
W. HENDERSON, one of Milam coun - ty's enterprising farmers, has been iden- tified with the interests of Texas for a number of years, and is justly entitled to some personal consideration in this work.
He was born in Moulton, Lawrence county, Alabama, May 25, 1833, son of J. T. and Mary (Barclay) Henderson. The father died about 1835, and the mother. having married again, moved to Texas in 1837, and settled | public position is all he ever filled, that be
near Woodville in Tyler county. There the subject of this sketch was reared to farm life, with educational advantages limited. In January, 1854, being then in his twenty-first . year, he came to Milam county, where he se- enred work on a farm of John Cullins, at $15 per month. Ile remained thus employed until September of that year, when he joined an expedition under Charles E. Travis, son of one of the heroes of the Alamo, and for twelve months ranged in the western and northwestern part of Texas. Returning then to Milam county, he was engaged in freight- ing and overseeing until the opening of the late war. IIe entered the Confederate army in 1861, and was assigned to duty in the commissary and transportation department, where he served until the close of hostilities.
In 1867 he embarked in the live stock business, which was then the principal indus- try of the State, and gave it his attention nn- til 1877, at first carrying on operations alone, after ward being a member of Cragan Beef Packing Company of New York, and still later, being with the firin of Henderson, Beall & Powers, raising and shipping cattle from 1873 to 1877.
In 1877 he closed ont his stock business, and, having made some investments from . time to time in Milam county lands, turned his attention to the improvement of these and to the mercantile business, which he en- tered at Yarrellton. Farming, ginning, mer- chandising and stock growing have since formed his business pursuits. His entire time has been absorbed with these, and he has met with the nsnal successes and re- verses incident to such interests and enter- prises. From 1887 to 1892 he was in the cattle business in Menard county, in partner- ship with Julius Range of Galveston. One
£
J. M. Darlington
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ing the office of Cattle Inspector, which he held for about fifteen years. He interests himself in both county and State politics and is a leader in these matters in the locality where he resides, being a stanch Democrat with progressive ideas.
In 1857 Mr. Henderson married Miss Mary Dobbins, of Milam county, daughter of Will- iam Dobbins, deceased, and a niece of John Cullins, the man for whom Mr. Henderson first worked when he came to this county. They had twelve children, five of whom are deceased: Walter, R. B., Catherine, Anna and Lillie. The others are J. T., William, Richard, Mary E., Jennie, Engenia and Henry C., most of whom are grown and married. The wife and mother died in June 1880. February 2, 1881, Mr. Henderson married Miss Mary Avera, a native of Mississippi, born March 19, 1855. Her father, H. R. Avera, moved to Texas in 1868, first settled in Robertson county, and from there moved to Bell county, where Mr. and Mrs. Hender- son were married. They have seven sons and one daughter, namely: Walter, Carrie, Har- die, Thomas, Earnest, Alexander, Julius and Dwite.
Mr. Henderson was made a Mason in 1861, and has been an active member of the order ever since. He takes a prominent part in everything relating to the welfare of the com- munity where he lives, being always ready to encourage every worthy purpose looking to the upbuilding of the material, moral, social and religious interests of society.
HOHN W. DARLINGTON, one of the pioneer settlers and leading farmers of Texas; was born in Virginia, February 5, 1821, a son of John Darlington, a native
of Ireland. He came to America when a young man, was a soldier in the war of 1812, in the battle of New Orleans, and was with Lewis and Clarke in their exploring expedi- tion across the Rocky mountains, which was the first expedition sent by the Government to cross to the Pacific. He was a well educated inan and followed teaching as a profession. After returning to Virginia, Mr. Darlington met and married Mrs. Hen- rietta Nnzum, a daughter of Stansburry, and Sarah ( Kinzie) Lang, of Scotch-Irish parent- age. The father was also a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Darlington had two children,-Mary, formerly of Virginia, and Jolin W., our subject. The father died in 1820, a short time before the birth of our subject.
John W. Darlington, the subject of this sketch, came to Texas January 14, 1838, landing in what is now Matagorda, but a short time afterward came to what is now Wharton county. In May, 1838, he located in Bastrop, now Travis connty, where he remained sick with the chills one year. In the spring of 1839 Mr. Darlington engaged in freighting with ox teams from Houston to Bastrop, and later went to Austin, where he worked on the first public buildings of the Republic of Texas in that city. the lumber of which the State House and Governor's mansion was made having been sawed by hand, in which Mr. Darlington assisted. The first contractor. Mr. Porter, never paid many of his men, our subject being among the number. In 1840 he worked on a farm in Travis county, in 1841-2 followed that occu- pation on the shares in the same county, and in 1842 was called ont to repel a Mexican invasion, under General Vasquez. They came to take San Antonio, and committed many depredations. The little band of which Mr.
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Darlington was a member, under Captain Tom Green, Colonel Caldwell and Gen- eral Burleson, did not reach San Antonio in time to participate in the struggle, but while in Austin, on his way to San Antonio to meet General Vasquez, his horse was stolen. Having enlisted, he had to purchase another horse, which animal he had to "work out" after his return. Angust 12, 1840, Mr. Darlington with a company of citizen soldiers, had a severe battle with the Coman- che Indians at Plnm creek, in what is now Caldwell county. The whites numbered less than 200, and the Indians about 1,000 .- The latter were armed with arrows, spears and a few guns. The Indians stood only one fire of the whites, which killed many of their number, and only two white men - were wounded. This was a running fight of twelve miles, in which many red men were sent to the happy hunting ground, and which broke the war spirit of the Comanche braves. In the noted Webster massacre of 1839, Mr. Darlington barely escaped death.
During a portion of the year 1842, Mr. Darlington was engaged in working for his second horse, but while in Anstin it was stolen from him. During that year General Wall came in with a force of Mexican soldiers with canon. The citizen soldiers marched almost in a body to Salado creel:, five miles from San Antonio, where they were organ- ized, and placed under the command of Matthew Coldwell. They there met General Wall, where a desperate battle ensned, but the Texans were victorions. They followed General Wall to Hondo creek, and this was the last raid the Mexicans ever made into this State for the purpose of fighting the Texans, Mr. Darlington then returned home, bat in the same fall engaged in farming on rented land in Rusk county. Two years
later, in 1844, be purchased his first farm in this State, but in 1845 sold his land and returned to Travis county. He was there engaged in farming and stock raising on rented land until 1849; from that time until 1873 farmed on his own land, and in the latter year purchased 520 acres four miles from where IIntto is now located, for which he paid $5 per acre. He now owns 520 acres of land, 300 acres which is under a fine state of cultivation, and the rest in pasture. On the place are good buildings, and all farm conveniences. Mr. Darlington has also given land to his children. In 1884 he rented his farm and purchased a home in Taylor, where he still resides.
During the late war Mr. Darlington served as a private in a company of rangers, commanded by Captain Graham. This com- pany was organized under the State Mili- tary law, but the troops were only fur- nished with amunition. They were stationed on the northern border of Coryell county, bnt were kept moving most of the time, Major Erath having charge of the entire command scattered along the border of the State.
October 19, 1843, Mr. Darlington was united in marriage with Miss Ellen J. Love, a daughter of Wade and Jane (Wilson) Love. The father was a native of Kentucky, and was reared to farm life. During the war of 1812 he was stationed in Canada, partici- pated in many of the battles fonght in that section, and remained on the Lakes and in the Northern army for four years. After returning home he went to South Carolina, and later moved to where Atlanta is now located, where he followed mercantile pur- snits. Hle raised a company for the protec- tion of the settlers, was a great friend of Chief MeIntosh, and assisted in the land
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trade between the Indians and whites. In 1833, Mr. Love removed to Kentucky, one year later went to Mississippi, in 1839 came overland from Salem, that State, to Travis county, Texas, and three years afterward went to Rusk county, where he was engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. and Mrs. Love were the parents of eight children, viz .: Martin A., of Llano county, Texas; Jolin W., of Gonzales county, David O., de- ceased, was a ranger in the State service. and was on the expedition to San Antonio; Mary E., widow of William. Griffin, and a resident of Rusk county, Ellen J., wife of onr subject; Alexander H. and Wesley L., of Coryell county, and Leonard R, of Fort Davis. Mr. and Mrs. Love died in Coryell county, and were buried at Gatesville. Mr. and Mrs. Darlington have had ten children, namely: Mary J., widow of John Cavenaugh; J. B .; Marthia A., wife of Lemuel Baker; Thomas J .; Maggie, wife of A. B. Kennedy ; B. F .; W. W .; H. W., deceased; W. L .; and Ella, widow of Lon Twining.
In political matters, Mr. Darlington affili- ates with the Democratic party, and socially, is a member of the A. F. & A. M. and of the Veteran Association. ' Both he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church. They have just passed the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding.
M RS. MARTHA A. REYNOLDS, is the oldest person in point of residence now living in the city of Bastrop, where she located in 1832, at the age of four years. She was left fatherless during the following year, by the tomahawks of the ernel Comanches; participated in the stam- pede of 1836, and endured the many hard-
ships and privations incident to the frontier in the early times. She was born in Pike county, Illinois, in 1829, and is a danghter of Thomas and Mary (Buchanan) Christian. The Christian family are of English descent, and located in Virginia in colonial times. The grandfather of our subject, Benjamin Christian, was born and raised in Bedford county, that State, and was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. He married a Miss Greenup, and several years later moved to Wayne county, Kentneky, where he subse- qnently died.
Thomas Christian, the father of our sub- ject, was born in Virginia, and was ten years of age when the family moved to Kentucky. His wife was a native of Wythe county, Vir- ginia, and was married in Wayne county, Kentucky, while there on a visit. Mr. and Mrs. Christian soon afterward returned to Wythe county, several years later removed to Pike county, Illinois, and in 1832 the family then consisting of six persons came to Texas. In the following spring they landed in the newly located town of Bastrop. A lot. was selected on the river bank, now occupied by the residence of widow Hutchison, and they erected the fifth house in the place. In the following season, on account of there being no eleared land there to cultivate, the family moved to the settlement known as Webber- ville, where land was secured and a crop of corn planted. The following summer the tragie death of the father occurred, a full ac- count of which may be found in Wilbarger's historical work. Mr. Christian had gone with a small company of men to locate claims, and Angust 22. on Walut creek, about six miles south of where Austin now stands, they were attacked by a band of thirty Comanche Indians. There were but five white men, two of whom, Strother and Christian, were
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immediately killed, while two, Haynie and King escaped. The fifth, a Mr. Wilbarger, brother of the historian, was scalped and left for dead, but was found alive by a relief party the following day and recovered. Mr. Christ- ian was evidently killed at the first attack, was scalped, and his body otherwise mutil- ated. During his lifetime he had sustained an excellent character, had served his country in the war of 1812, and was an active worker in the Methodist Chirel.
The remainder of the family returned to the Bastrop settlement the following year, and located a twelve-mile traet north of Piney creek, now owned by George Perkins. The following year, 1835, the widow married Cap- tain James Burleson, a noted Indian fighter, who survived but a few months. Hardly liad the family settled in their new home when they were rudely removed by the his- toric "runaway scrape " of 1836. Taking shelter at Ft. Parker, on the Brazos, they re- mained until the news of the successful ter- mination of the battle of San Jacinto reached the fort, when they returned to Bastrop. They found the town entirely destroyed. Again they began life on their little farm, but marauding bands of Mexicans and In- dians made it so unsafe that a fort was built in the town, where all the families repaired for safety. In 1837, their enemies becoming more insolent and rapacions, it was thought best to move, and again their homes were abandoned, the colony taking refuge in the settlements farther down the river, in old Washington. After a year spent there, an- other return was made, and, although the Indians were very troublesome and necessi- tated a constant watch, they succeeded in re- maining. Mrs. Christian lived in Bastrop until 1847, when she settled in the northern part of the county, on the league now partly
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