USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 36
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 36
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 36
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 36
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 36
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 36
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In 1862 Mr. Tyson was married to Mary Ann, a daughter of James Johnston, then residing in Ouachita county, Arkansas. Mrs.
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Tyson was born in Jasper county, Georgia, where she was also reared. To this union three children were born: Georgia, the wife of A. J. Elzey, of Milam county; James L., who died May 25, 1883, at the age of sixteen; and Fannie, who is the wife of Matthew Biard, of Milam county. The wife and mother died in 1869, and two years later Mr. Tyson mar- ried Miss Jane Smith, a danghter of Darling M. Smith, of Milam county, to which union eight children have been born: Clyde, who died in 1890, aged sixteen; Emma; Oscar; Randolph; Conway; Van; Bernice, who died in 1890, at the age of four; and Ennice.
Mr. Tyson was reared a Democrat, bears the name of a distinguished Democratic politician, fought four years for a cause championed by the Democratic party, and, as might be expected, is himself a Democrat of the most pronounced convictions, but has never asked or held office of any kind, politi- cal activity on his part being prompted by a desire for the success of the men and meas- ures whose causes he espouses.
SAAC M. POOL .- Milam county as now constituted was organized in 1846. That year and the following, which witnessed the triumph of the American arms in Mexico and settled forever the title to Texas soil, marked the beginning of the era of imini- gration and development of this section of the new Southwest. From 1846 to 1861, the opening of the late war, many settlers mainly from the older States of the South came to this new State and found homes for them- selves and families in the fertile valleys along its rivers and on its prairie lands. Among those who took up their residence in Milam connty in the earlier years of this period
was Isaac Pool, the father of the subject of this sketch, who moved out from Mississippi in the fall of 1851, and settled ou Jones' prairie abont ten miles from Cameron, the county seat. Isaac Pool was a native of South Carolina, where he was born in the year 1812. Ilis parents were also South Carolinians by birth, had been early settlers in Alabama, moving to Perry county, that State, about 1820. The youth and early manhood of the son were passed on the bor- der, concerning the ways of which he knew from actual experience. He married in Perry county, Alabama, abont 1830, and two years later moved to Noxubee county, Mis- sissippi, then a sparsely settled section of the State, the ice to Pontotoe county, that State, where he resided till his removal to Texas. He came to this State with some preparation for the duties which he was assume as one of the first settlers. By reason of the faithful- ness with which he discharged these duties as well as the general correctness of his life he was always found of good repute among his neighbors and after a life marked by more than ordinary activity, he died in the enjoy- ment of the esteem of those among whom he had long lived. He was an exceptional type of a man: of good natural ability, strong force of character, religions in temperament, earnest, active and industrious. He died in 1871.
His wife whose maiden name was Mary E. Smith, was a daughter of Mrs. Nancy Smith, originally from South Carolina, but an early settler of Alabama. Mrs. Pool was born in Alabama, where she was reared, and she is still living, making her home with her son Elbert W. Pool, in Milam county. Isaac and Mary E. Pool were the parents of twelve children whose names in the order of their ages, are as follows: James, who died at the
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age of forty; John, who died at the age of twenty-two; Bryant, who is a resident of Milam county; Frances, the widow of Thomas Glenn, residing in Milam county; Mary, un- married and residing in Milam county; Wil- liam, who died in Milam county, leaving a family; Isaac M., the subject of this notice; Elbert W., a farmer of Milam county; Frank, who died in Milam county, leaving a family; Nancy, the widow of Frederick Price, living in western Texas; Zachary, who died in Milam county, unmarried; and "Doc" Ghent, of Milam county.
Isaac M. Pool, with whom this notice is mainly concerned, was born in Noxubee connty, Mississippi, May 3, 1837. His early years were passed in that connty, he being a lad of fonrteen when his parents moved to Texas, settling in Milam county. His school- as tic training was restricted to a few months' attendance in the local schools. He entered the Confederate army in 1861, enlisting in Company G, Fifth Texas Cavalry, with which lie entered field service in Virginia. He had been there only a short time when he was discharged on account of sickness and returned to Texas, where, however, he again entered the service, going into the transportation department where he remained till the close of the war. His service in this department was confined to hanling supplies from the southwestern frontier of Texas to the troops in the Trans- Mississippi Department. When hostilities had ceased he returned to Milam county, where he married, shortly afterward, went to Bosque county where he resided for a year and a half. He then returned to Milam county, where he rented a small farm au'l engaged in farming. In 1869 he bought a part of the place on which he now lives, settling hore in that year. To this he has added by subsequent purchase until he owus
now 660 acres, 225 of which are in enlti- vation. Farming, stock-raising and, in later years, ginning have ocenpied his time and attention and he has met with reasonable sne- cess. He has been Justice of the Peace for four years in his precinct and somewhat active in local politics. He belongs to the Masonic order and has been a delegate to the Grand Lodge of the State. IJe has been a member for thirty-eight years of the Baptist Church, in which he occupies the positions of Deacon, Clerk and Superintendent of Sunday school.
March 9, 1865, Mr. Pool married Miss Mary E. Powell, a daughter of Green Powell and a native of North Carolina. To this nnion six children have been born: Della, the wife of William Henderson, of Cameron; Robert M., an attorney of Cameron; Frank, Alvin, Willie and Olive.
C APTAIN DIONICOUS O. HILL, late of Smithville, was born in Bastrop conn- ty, Texas, in 1843, a son of Thomas B. J. and Sarah L. S. (Oliver) Hill. The father was born in Oglethorpe county, Georgia, where he was early innred to farm labor. In 1835 he came to Texas, and, in company with his brothers, M. M. and A. W. Hill, purchased the head-right of General Edward Burleson, twelve miles east of Bastrop, on the Colorado river, paying fifty cents per acre. In the fall of 1835 Mr. Hill returned to Georgia, was married in the summer of 1840, and in the following fall came with his wife and negroes by the overland route to this State, locating on his portion of the league. He began farming on an extensive seale for for those days, and followed that ocenpation until his death, although in 1850 he removed
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to Bastrop, for the purpose of edneating his sons. The family remained there until 1857. At one tine the Indians stole some horses from his neighborhood, but they were pur- sned, a skirmish occurred on Ridgeway prai- rie, and the stock was rescned. On account of being a cripple, Mr. Ilill did not partici- pate in the war of 1846. In his political re- lations, he was a prononnced Democrat, and in 1861 was a member of the Convention of the State assembled at Austin for the pur- pose of voting, whether Texas should remain independent or cast its lot with the other States of the South. Mr. Hill's vote was registered in favor of the latter, and he con- tributed of his means to the cause to the full extent of his ability. He served as an agent for the Confederate Government in this sec- tion, and from his plantation the soldiers wives and children were supplied with pro- vision and other necessities which they were not otherwise able to procure. After the close of the struggle, like many Southern gentlemen, he was much poorer financially. Many of his negroes remained with him until the crops of 1865 were gathered, and a nuin- ber still remain at the old homestead. In 1866, after the return of his sons from the war, Mr. Hill gave them the management of the farin, and was retired from active work until his death, May 6, 1873, at the age of sixty-one years. His wife still survives, and . resides with her children, aged sixty-nine years. She has been a member of the Metho- dist Episcopal Church, South, since her girl- hood. Mr. and Mrs. Hill had two children, Thomas A. and D. O.
Thomas A Hill graduated at the Military . Institute of Marietta, Georgia, in 1861. In the same year he joined the Third Battalion. under Major Capers, of Georgia, as Lien- tenant. For a time he was assigned for duty
on General Stevenson's staff, was then trans- ferred to the Forty-Second Georgia Infantry as Captain of Company I, was sent to Vicks- burg, and was there captured and paroled. Returning to Texas, he served until the ex- change, after which he was assigned to duty as Assistant General Inspector of Cavalry, under General Gano, and was stationed prin- cipally in the Indian Nation. During the summer of 1864 Mr. Hill was sent back to his company, rejoining his command at Dal- ton, Georgia, was wounded in the battle of Resaca, and as soon as able returned to his company. Mr. Hill was captured at the bat- tle of Peach Tree Creek, and remained at Johnson's island until the close of hostilities. In the summer of 1866 he began merchandis- ing at LaGrange, Texas; from 1870 to 1873 followed farming in Fayette county; was en- gaged in business at Columbus until the Southern Pacific Company bnilt their road to Weimar, and was then engaged in mer- chandising in the latter city until 1885. He is now banking in Weimar.
Captain D. O. Hill, the subject of this sketch, received a good education in the college of Bastrop. In October, 1861, he enlisted for service in the late war, join- ing as a private Company D, Eighth Texas Cavalry, commonly known as Terry's Texas rangers, and was attached to the Army of the Tennessee, under Albert Sidney Johnston. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Murfreesborongh, Chickamauga, siege of Knoxville; was in all the battles from Resaca to Atlanta, from the latter city to Savannah, Georgia; next to Columbia, South Carolina; thence to North Carolina, where he took part in the last battle of the Confederacy at Bentonville. He was paroled at Char- lotte, North Carolina, in April, 1865. Mr. Ilill served through the entire struggle, and
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HISTORY OF TEXAS.
was never wounded or captured, and spent but little time at home on account of sick- ness. From Charlotte, North Carolina, to Oglethorpe county, Georgia, Mr. Hill rode his own horse; from there to the central part of the State had Government transportation, and from central Georgia paid his own way home, landing in this county November 18, 1865. At the time of the surrender he had but $5 in greenbacks. Since returning home from the war Mr. Hill has followed agri- cultural pursuits, now owning 750 acres of land. In 1891 he erected a beautiful resi- dence in Smithville, and since that time has made his home in this city.
December 25, 1866, he was married to Miss Nannic Aldridge, a native of Tennes- see, and a daughter of John and Eliza (Hick- erson) Aldridge. The parents came to Texas in 1852, when Mrs. Hill was quite small, and the father engaged in farming and stock- raising near Bastrop. He was the first to introduce the Durham breed of cattle in this connty. Mr. Aldridge departed this life in 1862, and his wife survived him until 1869. They were the parents of six children: Mariah, wife of Thomas J. Smith; John H., of Parker county, Texas; Nannie, wife of our subject; Walter; William; and Mattie, wife of E. D. Oliver, of Weatherford, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Hill have had three children: Susie B., the wife of G. W. Jones, Jr .; Walter A. and Thomas O. Mr. Hill is a member of the A. F. & A. M., J. Nixon Lodge, No. 421, and of Bastrop Chapter, No. 95.
S O. EIDMAN, a farmer and stock- raiser of Williamson county, Texas, was born in Europe, July 8, 1834, a son of Seamon O. and Catherine ( Kraft) Eid-
man, natives also of Germany. The parents came to America in July, 1886, locating in San Felipe, Anstin connty, Texas, where the father died three weeks later, aged fifty-four years. Ile was a merchant in the old country, could speak five different languages fluently, and was a fine scholar. Mr. Eidman served in the European war in 1812, and for services there would have been entitled to a pension all his life had he lived, the family also being deprived of the same by coming to this country. Our subject now has in his posses- sion a medal, awarded to his father for cour- age and bravery by the German Government, in 1812. Mr. and Mrs. Eidman were the parents of eight children, viz .: S. O., our subject; Lonie, who died in Austin county, Texas, during the war; Frederick G., who served in the same company as his brother, Colonel Terry's Regiment, served through the entire struggle, and died in 1877, leav- ing one child, Fred G., now attending the Southwestern University; Charles, who was accidentally shot before the war; Catherine, wife of F. A. Berner; Mollie J., wife of Jolm W. Allen, of Sealy, Texas; Lizette and Fred- erick G., twins, and the former died when a babe, in 1846. Frederick G. married Mattie English, and she departed this life just thirty days after her husband's death, in 1877. Mr. Eidman, the father of our subject was twice married, and by his first marriage he had one child, Nettie, who was married to Jacob Hill, of San Felipe, but died about twelve months after marrying. The mother of our subject died in 1866, at the age of fifty-five years, having been a member of the Lutheran Church. She was a woman of wonderful business qualifications, deeply devoted to her family, always keeping in view their best interests and welfare. Iler Christian life and sympathy extended to her entire acquaint-
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ance, and in many ways she was a model mother, a choice neighbor, a cherished friend and a valnable citizen.
S. O. Eidman assisted in the maintenance of the family after the father's death, work- ing two years at $4 per month, but was swindled ont of nearly half of his earnings, and in the meantime secured a position in a store of John Crutcher. Mr. Eidman hauled the latter's goods with ox teams from Hous- ton to San Felipe, and the Imnber for his store-house was hanled by him on a slide or sled, which he made himself, from the Brazos river to the lot npon which it was built. He then had enough money to buy another yoke of oxen, after which he went to Houston and purchased an ox wagon on time, paying $115 for the wagon without the bed. During this time Mr. Eidman also bought a home in the town and another wagon, with which he en- gaged in freighting from Houston to San Felipe, and to the neighboring towns, where Indians were not troublesome. He sneceeded in making sufficient money to edncate his younger brothers and sisters, he being the oldest one of the children, and continued that occupation nntil 1856, at which time he had 200 or 300 liead of horses, and a considerable stock of cattle. At the breaking out of the late war he owned about 1500 head of cattle, about 400 head of horses, worth from $30 to $50 a head, and five good negroes. He was exempt from service on account of holding the offices of Postmaster and Justice of the Peace of San Felipe, but toward the last of the struggle he furnished a substitute after having been in camp two weeks. During the war Mr. Eidman also furnished beeves to the soldiers, taking his pay in Confederate serip, which he still holds. The soldiers also helped themselves, free of charge, to all his horses they could get, large enough to ride.
In 1865 he began the mercantile business at San Felipe, under the firm name of S. O. Eidman & Bro., which partnership continned until the brother's death, and the stock he then sold, in order to close up the firm's busi- ness, at a public sale, he agreeing to superin- tend the store for the following twelve months. In 1879 he was compelled to again buy the stock of goods, having never sold the honse, and then conducted the business under the style of S. O. Eidman until the fall of 1891, and from that the until Jan- mary, 1891, it was run by his nephew and brother-inlaw, F. A. Berner. The store was then sold to our subject's brother-in-law and nephew. He changed his residenee to George- town, Williamson county, in September 1879, to be convenient to a good school, namely, the Sonthiwestern University, for the purpose of educating his children as well as for health and good society. He served as County Com- missioner several terms in Austin county, was Alderman in both San Felipe and George- town, was appointed by the District Court as receiver of the first Texas Furniture Factory of Georgetown, was assignee of the late firm of Rucker & Montgomery, of this city, and for the past four years has been Agricultural Reporter of Williamson county, to General Rusk, of the Agricultural Burean at Waslı- ington, D. C., and is now making monthly reports to the Hon. J. Sterling Morton, Sec- retary of Agriculture.
Mr. Eidman was married in 1870, to Miss Virginia Gregory, a daughter of Humbleton Gregory, of Fayette county, Texas. They have eight children, viz .: Charles Sidney and Katie May, pupils in the sophomore class of the Sonthwestern University; Seman O., in the preparatory class of the same institution ; Jennie, Guy Gregory and Ilugh Bryant, at- tending the public school; Kraft Hewitt; and
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Inmbleton S. Mr. and Mrs. Eidman and four of the children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Eidman has served as Steward for a long number of years, being also a member of the building committee for the new church. He has held all the offices in the K. of II., and lias served as Secretary and Financial Secre- tary of the K. & L. of HI. for over ten years. Mr. Eidman is one of the most enterprising and public-spirited citizens of Williamson county, and his life is one of progression and noble impulses.
B ENJAMIN J. GRESHAM, a mer- chant of Smithville, was born in Bas- trop county, Texas. January 26, 1860, a son of Joseph and Martha L. (Coats) . Gresham, natives of Georgia. The father came to Texas in 1838, and engaged in farm- ing at Hill's prairie, Bastrop connty. Two years later he purchased a farm five miles southeast of Webberville, on the old Walters' leagne, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until the opening of the war with Mexico in 1846. He then entered the United States service, and participated in numerous battles. His death occurred in 1862. Mrs. Gresham still survives, and makes ler home with her children. They were the parents of five children: Martha J., wife of J. M. Wilson; Antonette, now Mrs. J. N. Sandifer; Jolin W., the next in order of birth; Anna, wife of J. W. Blair; and B. J., the subject of this sketch. Mr. Gresham was one of the most prominent Masons in the State, Iraving taken all the degrees in tlrat lodge from the first to the thirty-second. Ile was also a member of the Methodist Episco- pal Church.
Benjamin J. Gresham received his educa - tion in the schools of Bastrop connty. At the age of twenty years he engaged in the mercantile business with W. II. Rivers, under the firm name of Rivers & Gresham, at Elgin. This firm continued from 1881 to 1889, although in 1887 Mr. Gresham came to this city, where they established a branch store. In 1889 they dissolved partnership, our subject taking for lris interest the store of Smithville. He continued alone until 1891, and in that year entered into partner- ship with E. H. Eagleston, under the firm trame of B. J. Gresham & Co. The firm have two stores, in one of which they carry dry goods, clothing, boots, shoes, groceries, etc., and in the other hardware, saddles, fur- niture, etc. They carry a stock amounting to $10,000, and do an annual business of about $35,000, employing three clerks during the greater portion of the year.
Mr. Gresham was married in 1883 to Miss Dora L. Davis, a dangliter of Gallant Davis, of Elgin, Texas. To this union have been born five children: Wilber, Vernon, Bassil, Sherley and Charley. Mrs. Gresham is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Onr subject affiliates with the A. F. & A. M., J. Nixon Lodge, No. 421; with Bastrop Chapter, No. 95, and the K. of P., Smitli- ville Lodge, No. 92. Mr. Gresham is one of the most enterprising young merchants of Smithville, and is highly respected for his honest and upright dealings with all.
P ETER J. GILL, one of the leading farmers and country merchants of Bastrop county, was born in Missis- sippi, October 17, 1846, a son of Robert and Sallie M. (Jolmson) Gill, natives
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of Mississippi and Tennessee, respectively. The father followed farming many years, and in 1850 located in the old town of Bas- trop, Texas, and was soon afterward elected Sheriff of the county. Ile held that office from the first election to the close of his life, in 1862, at the age of forty-seven years. During the late war he espoused the cause of the South, but did not participate in the struggle, as he was a cripple. He was a man of moderate circumstances on landing in this county, but his ventures here proved gnite successful. Mrs. Gill survived her husband only until 1866, when she too de- parted this life. They were the parents of ten children, viz .: Thomas A., of Stockton, California; Nancy, deceased, was the wife of Bailey Stroud; Louisa, now Mrs. Kirk, of California; Eliza, deceased, was the wife of Reuben Strond; Robert, of Bastrop; Joseph, a resident of the same county; l'eter J., the subject of this sketch; Albert, of California; Mary, wife of G. N. Pierce, of Bastrop, and James, a resident also of Stockton, California.
l'. J. Gill was educated in the town of Bastrop. In 1865 he joined Captain Hogan's company, Colonel Baylor's regiment of Texas Cavalry, and served for six months in the Trans- Mississippi Department, but never took part in any engagements. After the close of hostilities Mr. Gill engaged in farmi- ing and butchering in Bastrop, but two years later gave his attention entirely to the latter occupation, which he continned teu years. From 1881 to 1885 he was a dealer in stock, for the following three years re- sided in San Saba county, then remained in Bastrop until 1888, and in that year came to his present location. Ile owns part of one of the finest farms on the Colorado river in Bastrop county, which was located by his father-in-law in 1849. The place now has
1,100 acres under a fine state of cultivation. In 1890 Mr. Gill erected a good frame building on this place, where he is engaged in general merchandising, carrying a stock of $5,000, and does an annual business amounting to about $25,000. In addition to this, he also owns and conducts a publie gin, and during the year of 1892 he ginned about 700 bales, 230 bales of which was raised on his own farm. He is also largely engaged in stock-raising.
Mr. Gill was married October 27, 1875. to Miss Mary A. Moore, who was born in Bastrop county, Texas, December 27, 1855, the youngest child of Mayor A. Woods and Mary (Miller) Moore, natives of Alabama and Mississippi. The father came overland with his family and slaves to Texas, landing in Bastrop county in 1849. He immediately purchased the farm on which our subject now resides, consisting of a league of Colo- rado river bottom land. He afterward sold part of this tract until he owned a plantation of 1,750 acres for some years, Unt subse- quently added 400 acres more. On first locating in this county, Mr. Moore was en- gaged in the sawinilling business on the east side of the river, in company with a Mr. Sims. In 1850 he began the erection of the handsome and commodious residence which still ornaments the farm, and which at that time was the finest residence in the county. Mr. Moore located the trees from which the Inmber for this building was cut, and the lumber was sawed and the house erected under his own supervision. Mr. Moore con- tinned the milling industry only a few years, after which he began the improvement of his farm. Under his able management the place soon developed into what is now one of the most beautiful places in the county. He followed farming until his death, in 1887,
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although for two years after the close of the late war he followed merchandising in Bas- trop, in company with Gilespy Morgan & Co.
Mr. Moore always took an active interest in politics. While a member of the State militia during the war, in which he held the office of Major, he was elected to represent the counties of this Senatorial district in the State Senate, and, after the close of the strnggle, was twice re-elected to that position. Mr. Moore was a strict member of the Mis- sionary Baptist Church almost from his boy- hood days; was one of the best known mem- bers of that denomination throughont the State, and was noted for his charitable dona- tions to church and public buildings. He was also a member of the A. F. & A. M. and the R. A. M. Hle was one of the prime factors in securing the railroad from Taylor, via Bastrop and Smithville, giving the com- pany the right of way through his farm and $1,000 in cash for the construction of the road. By his first wife Mr. Moore had five children-Thomas K., a farmer and stock- raiser, of Bastrop county; William Worth, deceased, was for many years a wholesale grocer at Galveston; James, a member of the firm of Moore, Mckinney & Co., of that city; B. A., wife of Leigh Burleson, Attorney- at-Law, of San Saba, Texas; Mary A., wife of onr subject. Mrs. Moore died in March, 1865, at the age of thirty-eight years. In 1871 Mr. Moore was nnited in marriage with Miss Anna IInbbard, a native of this county, and a daughter of A. M. and Martha (Jones) Hubbard. To this union was born one child-A. Woods. The wife and mother died in February, 1874, and ten years later the father married Mrs. Anna Trigg, nec Miller, a sister of his first wife. Mr. Moore departed this life October 5, 1887, at the age of seventy years. Mrs. Moore still resides
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