USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 38
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 38
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 38
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 38
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 38
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 38
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Our subject was educated at the country schools in Texas, having come to the State with his family in 1838. They settled in what was Walker county, but later removed to Montgomery county. After completing his conrse in the country schools he had the additional advantage of attending the Waverly Institute in Walker county, after which he studied medicine and attended the medical department of the University of Louisiana, graduating therefrom in 1859. After grad- uating he returned to Industry, Austin county, Texas, where he practiced ten years.
At the outbreak of the war he enlisted as a private, but was elected Second Lieutenant of Company A, Twentieth Texas Volunteer Infantry, serving in that capacity until the close of the war. During that time he was in General S. P. Mosely's division. Harrison's brigade, participating in the battle of Gal- veston, Jannary 1, 1863 and in several bom- bardments afterward. Ile continued to serve until the close of the war, when he retired to his home and resumed the practice of his profession, continuing in it nutil 1870, when
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he rented a farm and engaged in agricultural pursnits. About this time he decided to abandon the practice of medicine and began reading of law. So faithful was he in his studies in this direction that, in 1873, he was licensed to practice and has continued in this profession ever since. Ife settled in George- town. in 1875, and has resided here continu- ously ever since. The office of County Judge was offered him in 1876, and he held it until 1878, when he was again elected, holding the position until 1880. At that date he re- tired from public office until 1888, when his name again came before the people as nomi- nee for the same office ou the Democratic ticket. So popular is he that he was elected withont opposition, and re-elected in 1890, with a majority of 2,414 votes over his op- ponent a Third Party man.
Judge Chessher was married, November 7, 1860, to Miss Elizabeth Bettie Daughtrey, daughter of Bryant aud Anua Daughtrey, of Austin county, Texas. Four children have been born to them, namely: Nora; Daniel S., Jr., married to Miss Laura Snider, of George- town, daughter of Captain J. W. Snider; John B., with his father in his farming in- terests; and Joe M., still at home. Both our subject and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in which he is a Trustee and Steward. He is also connected with the Blue Lodge, Chapter and Comman- dery and has filled the position of Iligh Priest of his lodge and District Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Texas, beside serving as a delegate to many State conventions. He is also a prominent mem- ber of the Knights and Ladies of Honor, of Texas.
On his mother's side our subject comes of illustrions stock. ller father, James Gaines, was a member of the committee that declared
the independence of Texas in 1836, aud, be- longed to the committee which drew np that instrument and also the first constitution of the State of Texas. Judge Chessher is well known throughout the entire county, being noted for his impartial judgment and fair de- cisions.
W. JONES, a prominent and success- ful man of Bastrop county, was born on the farm ou which he still resides, in 1864, a son of Benjamin F. and Margaret V. (Wilson) Joues. The father came to Texas with his father and brother, G. W. Joues, in an early day, and engaged in farming where our subject now resides. . Ile died April 21, 1884, leaving five children: G. W., our subject; Rachel, wife of Dr. Powell; Frankie, wife of Granville Winston, of Smith- ville; and W. D. C. and James S., at home. The mother is still living. Mr. Jones was a member of the A. F. & A. M., Gamble Lodge, and of the R. A. M., Bastrop Lodge, No. 95. G. W. Jones, the subject of this sketch, was educated at Bastrop and Tehnacana, Limestone county. At the age of twenty- one years he began work for himself, as man- ager of his father's estate, which contained 1,200 acres in cultivation. January 1, 1893, the property was divided, and Mr. Jones now has 350 acres of share under a fine state of improvement. In 1892 he embarked in the drug business, in company with O. G. De- cherd, under the firm name of C. Decherd & Co. They erected a two-story brick building. In 1890 Messrs. Joues and Powell purchased a steam cotton gin and gristmill at Smith- ville, which they still operate. Onr subject also owns an addition to the town of Smith- ville, consisting of eight acres.
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Hle was married December 15, 1885, to Miss Susie Hill, a daughter of Captain D. O. Hill. Mrs. Jones is a member of the Method- ist Church. Mr. Jones affiliates with the A. F. & A. M., J. Nixon Lodge, No. 421, with Bastrop Chapter, No. 95, and with the Krights of Pythias, Smithville Lodge, No. 92.
JOHN FAWCETT, a farmer of Bastrop county, was born in London, England, December 18, 1815, a son of Jolm and Mary (Slater) Fawcett, natives also of Eng- land. After coming to this country, the father followed the carpenter's trade at Cin- cinnati and that vicinity, and his deathi oc- cnrred in 1833. His wife survived him until 1860. They were the parents of five chil- dren, viz .: Thomas, who died in Cincinnati, at the age of twenty-five years; John, our subject; Mary A., wife of Heury Bates, of Cincinnati; Sarah, who first married a Mr. Crayon, and is now the wife of Jacob Ep- pley, of Cincinnati; and William, who came to Bastrop county, Texas, in 1850, and now makes his home among his children.
John Fawcett came with his parents to America when three years of age, landing at Baltimore, Maryland, and later went to Wheel- ing, West Virginia. In the latter city lie built a flat boat, floated down the Ohio river, and arrived at Cincinnati December 25, 1818. IIe remained under parental care until fifteen years of age, when he took a drove of horses to South Carolina, made other trips for a few years, and in the fall of 1836 brought a nmmn- ber of race horses to Texas. Mr. Fawcett took his stock to Houston and Galveston, and in 1845 came to Bastrop county. After lo- cating in this county he purchased a small tract of land, to which he has since added un-
til he now owns 3,100 acres, 500 acres of which is under a fine state of enltivation. Ilis large, two-story brick dwelling is located on the bluff, 150 feet above the valley, and this is one of the most beautiful residence sites in the State. Mr. Fawcett conducts a gin for the use of his own farm. In an early day hic built and conducted a sawmill on his timber land, and hauled lumber to Austin and San Antonio. In 1862 he assisted in organizing a cotton factory at Bastrop, but which was discontinued after the close of the war. He next, in 1865, opened a large stock of general merchandise in this city, but on account of low prices this proved unsuc- cessful, and he sold his store in 1867. Since that time Mr. Fawcett has given his time and attention entirely to his large farm. He has about twenty tenement houses on his place, and raises about 150 bales of cotton annually, also an abundance of corn. Since farming in Bastrop county, he has lost only two crops, one from overflow, and the other from drouth and grasshoppers.
Mr. Fawcett was married in 1845, to Miss Marian W., a daughter of Joseph Burleson, Sr., who came to Bastrop county, Texas, in 1832. He was too old to take much interest in the range service, but assisted the fron- tiersmen all he was able. He was a promi- nent fariner and slave owner, and his death occurred in 1849. Mr. . and Mrs. Fawcett had seven children, two now living: Joseph- ine l'., wife of Robert T. Wilkins, a farmer of Bastrop county; and Susan E., wife of Murry Burleson, the owner of the town site of Smithville, and one of its most enterpris- ing men. Mrs. Fawcett died in 1856, and in 1858 our subject married Miss Sarah E. Rhem, who was born March 29, 1840, a daughter of Dr. Wm. B. and Sarah (Drew) Rhem, natives of North Carolina. The father
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practiced medicine from early life, and was also a Baptist minister. He came to Fay- ette county, Texas, in 1854, where he gave up the practice of medicine, and devoted his time to the ministry and farming. He died in that county in 1860. Mr. and Mrs. Rhem had seven children: Sarah E., now Mrs. Faw- cett; Snsan, wife of G. Hill, of Bosque coun- ty, Texas; Caroline, wife of S. Kenady; An- nie E. was the wife of Thos. J. Hardiman, deceased; Amanda, wife of Judson Williams; Lillie, who married a Mr. Darby; and the next child died when young. Mr. and Mrs. Fawcett have had five children, namely; Jesse R., deceased at the age of eight years; John Sumpter, who died while attending Baylor University, Independence, Mareh 11, 1881, at about the age of twenty years; Al- bert G., aged thirty years, is married, and re- sides at Smithville; Minnie S., wife of T. G. Sayers, also of this city; and Clarence, aged twenty-five years, is assisting his father on the home farm. Mr. Fawcett affiliates with the Democratic party, and both he and his wife are members of the Missionary Bap- tist Church.
S HERROD F. SANDERS, the subject of this brief biographical notice, one of Milam county's representative farm- ers, is a son of Sherrod W. Sanders, a na- tive of Alabama, born in 1812, who after marriage in his native State, moved in 1853 to Texas, and settled in Milam eomty on a farm six miles north of the present town of Rockdale, where he subsequently lived and diedl. He was for many years one of this county's leading farmers and stock-growers. and left at his death what was considered at that time a very respectable fortune. Ile
led a quiet, orderly life, staying closely about his home and attending strictly to his own business, but interested himself in neighbor- hood and county affairs to that extent that his judgment dictated as proper, being always ready to help those around him who stood in need of his help and to whom he eonld render assistance as friend and neigh- bor. He was a member of the Methodist Church for many years and an Odd Fellow in good standing in the order. He had been Justice of the Peace in Alabama but never filled any public offiees in this county. His parents, William and Susan Sanders, were very early settlers in Alabama, where they died, his father being a planter of means and good standing in the locality where he lived.
The mother of the subject of this notice, Minerva Duke, like her husband, was born in Alabama, her parents who were Sonth Caro- linians by birth, having settled in Alabama in early Indian times. She and her husband were married in 1852, and the following year came to Texas. They had five children, four of which reached maturity and are now living: Sherrod F., of this sketeh; Green Terrell, a farmer of Milam county; Alabama, the wife of George E. Marshall, of Cameron, and Minerva May, the wife of Frank W. R. Hubert, of this eounty.
Sherrod F. Sanders was born in Alabama, February 16, 1853. He was reared on the old homestead in the southwest part of Milam eonnty, spending his boyhood and youth, or the greater part of it, like most other boys of that date, in the saddle, and received only sueh educational advantages as were offered by the schools of the county twenty-five years ago, which it may be added were meager enongh, In 1876 he married Miss Idella E. Cooper, a danghter of A. D. Cooper, of Milam county, and the same year settled on
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part of his father's homestead which had been set aside to him where he began farming for himself. A year later he had the misfortune to lose his wife, she dying and leaving one child, a danghter named for herself, now a grown young lady. In 1880 Mr. Sanders married again, this time to Miss Ada Flor- ence Pickens, a native of Tennessee, and a daughter of John F. and Lettie J. Pickens, who moved to Texas about 1875, and settled in Milam county. To this union five chil- dren have been born: Lettie Minerva, William F., Luella, Wallace, Imogene.
Mr. Sanders has a farm consisting of 250 acres, 150 acres of which is in cultivation and furnished with all the necessary appli- ances for successfully carrying on the same. He and his wife are members of the Metho- dist Church,of which he is Steward, and they have a pleasant home which they have sur- rounded with the needful comforts and good Christian influences.
H ON. JAMES M. MCKINNEY, Sen- ator from the Eleventh Senatorial district, composed of the counties of Milam, Falls and McLennan, is a native of Coosa county, Alabama, where lie was born October 5, 1841. His parents were Jasper and Martha (Bozeman) Mckinney, both of whom were also natives of Alabama. Jasper MeKinney was a son of Harris and Jennie (Ivy) Mckinney, and Martha Boze- man was a danghter of Nathan and Harriet Bozeman. In the sketch of W. E. Bozeman, which appears elsewhere in this volume, will be found a historical review of the Bozeman family. The MeKinneys, Ivys and Boze. mans were all early immigrants to America, coming originally from Scotland, England and Germany respectively, and belonged to
that class of sturdy, industrious, quiet, home-loving and church-building people who flocked from Enrope to these shores during the early years of the last century and whose influences have told powerfully in the history of civilization in the Western World. The progenitors of the subject of this sketch settled probably first in Virginia and the Carolinas, as the lines have been traced back to these States. The MeKin- neys and Bozemans are known from the records to have been early settlers both in Georgia and Alabama, in each of which States they were among the substantial people and, in occasional instances, conspicuous lig- ures, in the communities where they lived. The parents of James M. Mckinney were born, the father in 1821, and the mother in 1823. They were married in 1840, and twelve years later, in 1852, moved to Texas, settling in Milam county, where the mother still resides, the father dying here in 1880. The father was a plain farmer, but possessed ample means and passed his years on earth in peace and comparative ease. On liis re- moval to this State he came overland, bring- ing, in the patriarchal manner common in those days, his flocks, herds, servants and household effects, with which he immediately resmined his chosen calling, that of farining and stock-raising, in his new home. He freed his slaves, however, not long after ar- riving in the State, being opposed to the in- stitution. The office of Justice of the Peace, which he held both in Alabama and Texas, was the only elective position to which he was ever called, his time being taken almost exclusively with his own interests. In poli- ties he was a Democrat and for twenty-five years an active and earnest member of the Baptist Church. His wife was an industrious woman, devoted to her honschold affairs and
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a zealous Christian. They were the parents of eleven children, four sons and seven daughters: Mary F. is the widow of James Pool and resides at Marlin, Falls county ; Jennie is the wife of J. W. Porter, of Bnrle- son county; Hattie is the wife of John Carl- ton, of Milam county; Ann is the wife of A. M. Vandivere, of Milam connty; Nathan B. is a resident of Marlin, Falls county; Flor- ence, the wife of Rev. C. P. Lumpkin, of Hill county, now deceased; Patrick H. lives in Milam connty; Mattie is the wife of J. E. Cosby, of Abilene; Alice is the wife of J. A. Smith, of Milam county; Adoniram J. is a resident of Milam county, and Emma died in infancy.
James M. Mckinney was in his tenth year when his parents moved. to Texas. He was reared in Milam county, in the private and select schools of which he received his early education. He also attended for a few months Sonle University, at Chappel Hill, Washington county, bnt left this institution at the age of seventeen and entered the local academy at Port Sullivan, Milam connty, where he spent two years.
In August 1861, before he had entered his twentieth year, he joined the confederate army, eulisting in Company G., Captain J. S. Rogers, Fifth Texas Infantry, commanded by Colonel Archer. After a few months' service in this command Mr. Mckinney was discharged, but re-enlisted in March, 1862, becoming a member of the Seventeenth Texas Infantry, commanded by Colonel T. P. Allen and later by Colonel G. W. Jones. lle was in active service from the date of his enlistment till the surronder and took part in a number of important engagements, the chief of which were those following Banks' Red river campaign. Receiving his lischarge at Hempstead, this State, in May,
1865, he returned home, where he immedi- ately took up the pursnits of peace.
Marrying in 1866, Mr. Mckinney settled on a farm on Jones' Prairie, where he en- gaged in agriculture and stock-raising, which he has followed steadily at that place since. He is regarded as one of the most successful farmers of Milam connty, and one of the largest, owning 800 acres of land lying in one of the richest agricultural sections of the county, 325 acres of which is under enl- tivation. Mr. Mckinney has resided in the vicinity where he now lives nearly all of his life, and, having been identified with the best interests of the locality, has grown to be the most prominent and influential man in that community. He came into general notice first in 1884 when he was made the nominee of the Democratic party for the State Legislature and was elected and repre- sented Milam county in that body by suc- cessive re-elections until 1890, when he was nominated for the State Senate and was elected to represent the district composed of the counties of Milam, Robertson and Brazos. By the reapportionment Milain county was thrown with Falls and McLennan and in November, 1892, Mr. Mckinney was chosen to represent this district. He has thus seen a little more than ten years of continuons service in one branch or the other of the Legislature, during which time he has be- come familiar with the course of legislation, has formed a wide acquaintance among Texas legislators and politicians and has ac- complished much lasting good for the peo- ple whom he has been called to represent.
On all questions which have come before the bodies of which he has been a member lie has always aligued himself with the most stalwart representatives of the people, op- posing class legislation, undue corporate in-
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fluences and monopolistic tendencies. Al- though a farmer and directly interested in the passage of all measures favorable to ag- riculture he has endeavored to take a broad view of matters on which he has been called to act, giving to each interest its full pro- tection and to all measures proper eousidera- tion. For six years in the Honse he was a member of the Finance committee, and for two years he served as a member of the same in the Senate. As long as he was a member of the House he served on the committee on Revenue and Taxation and for four years he served in the saine body he was chairman of the committee on Counties and County Boundaries. In the Senate he has served as chairman of the committee on Agriculture and as a member of Judiciary No. 1, Cou- stitutional Amendments, Finance, Peniten- tiaries and Internal Improvements. In the twenty-third session of the Legislature he was a member of the Senate committees as follows: chairman of committees on State Affairs and Labor, and member of commit- tees on Internal Improvements, Town and City Corporations, Roads and Bridges, Frontier Protection. Public Printing, Agri- cultural Affairs, Insurance Statistics and History and Finance.
In the twenty-second Legislature Mr. Me- Kinney took advaneed ground on the rail- road commission bill and alien land bill, favoring rigid enactment in each'case, and gave his views freely to the public, both on the public platforin before the election and on the floor of the House after he was elected.
followers are attached to him because they believe in him. Knowing him to be honest and earnest in what he does and possessed with a reasonable capacity to intelligently serve them, they have learned to place im- plicit confidence in him and to abide cheer- fully by his action as their representative. Mr. Mckinney makes but little pretension as a publie speaker and none as a politician. When oeeasion demands he can set forth his views with clearness, and does so at all proper times, and he understands also the necessity of organization in party politics, but he never indulges in empty oratorical display and does not believe in the manipu- lation of conventions and primaries for per- sonal ends.
On the 5th day of October, 1866, Mr. McKinney married Roxy, the danghter of Major T. A. Goodwin. To Mr. and Mrs. Mckinney two children were born-Fannie and Mattie. The wife and mother died in 1874 and a year later he married Mrs. Sarah J. Chappell, widow of Robert H. Chappell and daughter of James and Harriet MeIntyre. This lady was born June 7, 1842, in Washington county, Texas, where she was reared and educated. To this union five children have been born-J. Alma; Hattie, Emma, Ethel and Carlton. The re- ligious connection of the family is with the Baptist Church, in which Mr. Mckinney has for some years been Deacon and repre- sented his congregation a number of times at important distriet and State assemblies.
Mr. MeKinney enjoys a great deal of popularity with the people of his district, but it is not that fleeting, ephemeral popn- V R. C. AVERY, a leading farmer and County Commissioner of Williamson county, Texas, was born in Bastrop larity so often elicited by what is called maguetism and which not unfrequently dis- appears as mysteriously as it comes. Ilis . county, this State, January 1, 1834. He is
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a child of the frontier. Ilis physique indi- cates the development of a vigorous con- stitution, the result of open-air exercise on both the farm and the range. His genial and hospitable nature is peculiar only to men of his latitude.
Willis Avery, the fatlier of V. R. C., was born in North Carolina, October 17, 1809. Ilis father was also named Willis Avery, and he, too, was a native of North Carolina. The latter was a mariner and made many voyages across the Atlantic, on one of which he died and was probably buried at sea. His wife was Catherine Overton, and Willis was their only child. Some time after the deatlı of her husband, Mrs. Avery married William Mccutcheon. They had two children- William and Collins Avery, the latter re- maining in Tennessee. The domestic re- lations of the family were marred by the disagreements of its heads, and when William was about six years old his mother and half- brother, Willis, emigrated to Missouri and located in Lincoln county. Mrs. Mccutcheon was married a third time, her last husband being Joseph Jennings, who was probably killed during the Texas Revolution. He bronght his family to Texas the year of the battle of San Jacinto and took np his resi- dence in Bastrop county. Mr. and Mrs. Jennings had four children, as follows: Abigail, the deceased wife of Jolin Talk; Josepli, deceased; Catherine, whose first linsband, a Mr. Whistler, was killed by the Indians, and who was subsequently married to Sylvester Lockwood; and Samuel.
Willis Avery was married in Missonri to Elzina Weeks. He was induced to come to Texas by the offer of cheap lands from those colonizing the new country, and in 1832 drove his teams through and joined Austin's colony. lle located in Bastrop county, on
the Colorado river, and engaged in the pur- suits of the farm and range. He bought a traet of land of Wilbarger, a brother of a noted Indian fighter.
When Texas called for volunteers to assist in establishing her independence, Mr. Avery responded and followed General Honston till the capture of Santa Anna and the termination of the conflict. Later on he helped swell the ranks of the minnte men for service against the Indians in those counties, and many are the battles in which he was an active participant. One of these figlits-and probably the most noted one- was the Brushy creek fight, in Williamson county, near where Taylor now stands. It was here that Jake Burleson was killed. In recognition of liis services at San Jacinto, the State issned to Mr. Avery a head-right, which he located in Williamson connty, near where his son, the subject of this sketeli, now resides, and on this tract lie spent the rest of his life and died, his death occurring July 17, 1889. He was a man of good business ability, and his accumulations enabled him to leave an estate valued at $45,000. He was a life-long Democrat, but was not an active politician. Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Avery, viz .: Nancy, the widow of William Bryant, of Williamson county; Malinda, who died at the age of thirty; V. R. C., whose name appears at the head of this article; Thomas; Willis, de- ceased; Lucinda, the wife of E. U. Kimbro; Henry; Calvin, and Harriet, who married J. T. Christian, of San Saba county.
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