USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 44
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 44
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 44
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 44
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 44
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 44
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George W. Wood, the subject of this sketch. remained at home until twenty-five years of age. and was engaged in farming at the old homestead until 1887. In that year he bought his present farm of 600 acres in the Colorado river valley, 250 acres of which is cultivated. Mr. Wood is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. Ile is also half owner in two steam-power gins, which are furnished with all modern improve- inents.
In 1877 our subject was united in marriage with Miss Molly P. Stewart, who was born in Missouri in 1862. Her father who held the rank of Colonel, was killed in the Confeder- ate army. His widow afterward married a Mr. Martin, and with her family, came to Texas in 1871. Mr. and Mrs. Stewart had five children: T. W., deceased; V. A., a farmer of Bastrop county; Robert, deceased; Bettie, wife of W. P. Burns, Justice of the Peace of Elgin, Bastrop county; and Molly, wife of our subject. By her second marriage Mrs. Stewart had one child, Fannie, wife of Arthur Fanville. Mr. and Mrs. Wood have had six children: Bulah E., Ernest M., Jessie P., Floyd E., Vera M. and Cecil. Onr snb- ject takes au active interest in everything for the advancement of his community, is iden- tified with the Democratic party, and is a member of the Knights of Honor. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church.
W ILLIAM G. MILLER, a farmer of Bastrop county, was born in Ten- nessee, July 30, 1843, a son of Will- iam G. and Elizabeth C. (Sanders) Miller, the former a native of Alabama and the latter of Tennessee. The father was a son of Thomas Miller, a native of Kentucky. The latter's
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father came from Ireland to Kentucky in an carly day. The grandmother of our subject was a Miss Woods. William G. Miller moved from Alabama to Florida, and after- ward brought his family and slaves to Texas. He was a meinber of the Legislature of both Alabama and Texas, and was a member of the convention that carried this State into seces- sion. Mr. Miller was engaged as a surveyor in this county many years, was a leader in his community, a public-spirited and enterpris- ing citizen, and was a useful man in his county. In 1862 he enlisted in the Confed- erate army, served in southeastern Texas and in the frontier department, and declined thic commission of Captain, preferring to serve as a private. His death occurred October 13, 1888, at the age of sixty-seven years and nine months. He was a consistent member of the Baptist Church through life. Mr. and Mrs. Miller had two children: Woods S., a farmer of Mills county, and William G., our subject, The wife and mother died in Ten- nessee, in 1841, and the father was again married. By the last union lic also had two children: Garland B., a merchant of this lo- cality, and Mary M., at home.
William G. Miller, the subject of this sketch, came with his parents to Texas in 1853, at the age of five years, locating in Bastrop county. Near the close of the war, at the age of fifteen years, he entered the Con- federate army, and was consigned to frontier service. He took part in the battle of Palo Alto, after which he resumed farming on his father's place. After the latter's death he conducted the farm for the family, but since 1891 he has resided on and assisted in the management of the Moore homestead, which consists of 220 acres in cultivation. In 1891, " Mr. Upchurch died of paralysis, October 17, 1892, at his home on the South Gabriel. in company with Mr. Goodman, Mr. Miller embarked in general merchandising, which | He was an honest, upright citizen, a good
The continned three years, and since that time has given his attention entirely to farming interests. He owns 120 acres of his father's estate, which consists of fine valley land.
Mr. Miller was married in September, 1889, to Miss Jennic C. Moore, who was born in the same honse where she still lives, a daughter of Levi Moore. The father came to Bastrop county, Texas, in 1851, where he spent the remainder of his life. Mr. Miller is independent in his political views, and never aspires to public office.
ENDERSON UPCHURCH, deceased, was born in Chatham connty, North Carolina, December 5, 1812, a son of of Rufus and Mary (Barbee) Upchurch. Henderson spent his boyhood days under the parental roof, and at the age of sixteen years went to Georgia, where he remained several ycars. He was then resident of Jackson, Mississippi, until the spring of 1839, was then engaged in farming in Bastrop county, Texas, until 1854, and in the spring of that year located on his present farm in William - son county. Mr. Upchurch first purchased 500 acres of wild land, which he subsequently cultivated, and the original purchase is still owned by his family. During the Mexican war he served as a member of Smith's bat- talion, was in service abont fourteen months, and afterward drew a pension. Ile was a member of the home guards during the late war. Mr. Upchurch was a Democrat in po- litical matters, and socially, a member of the Masonic fraternity. The following is taken from the Georgetown Sun;
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neiglibor, and a kind husband and father. HIe was the only survivor, except Rev. A. J. Adkinson, of Austin, of the party which helped to bury the Webster family, killed by the Indians on Brushy creek, in an early day. He was resigned to the Master's will and willing to go." ·
December 27, 1849, in Bastrop county, Texas, Mr. Upchurch was united in marriage with Mary E. Payton, who was born in Jack- son county, Alabama, May 2, 1828, a dangh- ter of Wesley and Phoebe (Hancock) Payton. The father died in Alabama, and in 1848, the remainder of the family came to Texas. The mother died in Bastrop county. Mr. and Mrs. Upchurch liad eight children, namely: Mar- tlia, wife of Albert Waggoner, of Travis county, this State; Jolin, of Williamson county; Mary, wife of William Highland, also of this county; W. G., a resident of Williamson county; Phoebe, deceased, was the wife of A. W. Hall; Eliza, who died at the age of eight years; Sarah, at home; and Cora, wife of J. D. McGill, of Williamson county.
John Upchurch, the eldest son, was born on the liome place in this county; December 23, 1886, he was united in marriage with Lizzie Wiley, and they have four children: Ruby, Bertha, Zora and Ola. Mr. Upchurch lives with his mother, and is her support in her declining years.
D R. H. T. DAY, a physician and surgeon of Liberty Hill, is a Georgian by birth, and has been a resident of Texas since 1877. He is a son of Samuel and Charity (Riggs) Day. The father was born in Tennessee, but raised in Alabama, and af- ter marriage located on a farm in Randolph
county, Georgia. He was a farmer by occu- pation, a Democrat in his political views, and a Missionary Baptist in faith, in which de- nomination he always took an active part. Mr. Day died in Randolph county, Georgia, in 1860, and his wife departed this life in 1868. They were the parents of eight chil- dren viz .: Robert M., a farmer of Limestone county, Texas; John W. was Captain of a Georgia company during the late war, was captured and died of pneumonia while a pris- oner at Johnson's island; Allen R., engaged in the milling business in San Jacinto county, Texas; Mary A., now Mrs. Godfrey Ellisor, also of that county; Susan E., deceased; Martha J., now Mrs. James M. Bell, of Limestone county; Eliza F., wife of John T. Powell, of San Jacinto county; and Henry T., the subject of this sketch.
Dr. H. T. Day was born in Randolph county, Georgia, January 25, 1846. His education was interrupted by the breaking out of the Civil war, and in 1863 he gave himself to the cause of home and native land, enlisting as a private in Company D, Twenty- second Georgia Artillery, and served until the surrender, principally at Savannah, also in the last Carolina campaign. For four years after the close of the struggle Mr. Day was engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1869 he began the study of medicine in Calhoun county, under Dr. Monroe; attended lec- tures at the Savannah Medical College during the years of 1871-2, the vacation intervals having been passed in the hospitals of Savan- nah, and graduated in the spring of the lat- ter year. The Doctor practiced for a time in Early county, Georgia, next in Bluffton, Clay county, that State, and for five years after coming to Texas followed his profession in the vicinity of Tarkington's prairie, Lib- erty county. Ile then came to Liberty Ilill,
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where he has established for himself an envi- able reputation, and has a large and growing practice. He also owns a fine stock of drugs, in interested in a publie gin, and has 300 aeres of good farming land, 100 acres culti- vated, and located six miles from this city. Dr. Day favors the principles of Democracy in politics, is a member of the Masonic fra- ternity, and of the Missionary Baptist Church.
In April, 1879, in Liberty county, Texas, the Doctor was united in marriage with Mary L. Cole. They have five children: Travis E., Annie C., Douglas, David Stafford and Goldie.
P. BURNS .- With an ambition to suc- ceed backed by an energy not subject to paralysis by any unfortunate turn of circumstances, is in a nutshell the make-up of J. P. Burns of Rice's Crossing, Williamson county, Texas, a popular and prosperous stockman and farmer.
Mr. Burns was born in this county, Feb- rnary 18, 1859. His father, B. E. Burns, caine to Texas from Cooper county, Missouri, in 1850, and made his first permanent stop in Williamson county. He engaged in farm- ing, an occupation in which he was schooled from childhood. He was a loyal Southern soldier, and died of measles at Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1863. He had become conval- escent and started home, when he suffered a relapse with the above result. Mr. Burns was born in Missouri in 1818. He married the widow of Mr. Kirkendall, and daughter of Mr. Pevcler and nee Sallie McCart. Mr. and Mrs. Pevcler had a family as follows: William, who was killed by the Indians in Young county, Texas; James; Jolm; Frances;
Lewis; Greennp; Lucinda, who married Judge Terrell; Mary, who married a Mr. Houston, of Grayson county, Texas; Martha, the wife of Colonel Barry, of Bosque county, Texas. By her first marriage Mrs. Burns is the mother of Wyatt Kirkendall; William Green- np; Sarah, who married a- Mr. Lemons; and Louisa, deccascd. By her second marriage she had Maggie, deceased; Mattic, who mar- ried James Planton; John P .; and Baxter Ewing. Mrs. Burns is still living and in good health.
The subject of our sketch was only fairly armed with an education when young. He spent much of his time caring for his moth- er's stock, and when he could be spared from home was employed for wages, getting $15 per month. In 1878 he settled down, and with his earnings invested in a drove of cat- tle, which he ranged in Williamson county. In 1880 he sold the drove and its increase for $3.000. At once he reinvested $2,500. He held his second purchase until 1885, when he sold at Caldwell, Kansas, for $8,000. He ranged them in the territory, as he also did a bunch of horses on which he failed by $1,000 to realize his ontlay. With the proceeds of his last sale of cattle Mr. Burns bought his fine 640 acre farm. Brushy creek passes through the tract north of its center and forms a large bend near the east line. At the bend the north bank of the creek is probably twenty feet high, making a fine natural break, which together with the heavy timber cover- ing the hundreds of acres south of the stream, forms an admirable shelter for the 200 head of beeves which Mr. Burns is now feeding. The soil of the entire tract is waxy and possesses all the good qualities ever attributed to that soil; 380 acres are under plow, aud, in 1892, 170 bales of cotton were grown on the farm. In 1886 Mr. Burns lost by storm sev-
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eral of his tenant honses, cansing him to make considerable outlay for their repairs. He is very fond of good horses and keeps a surplus of them of his own raising. Some of these horses are bringing quite handsome prices.
October 17, 1877, at not quite nineteen years of age, Mr. Burns married Malinda, daughter of Calvin Barker, brother of Eli Barker. Calvin Barker married Nancy Reed, they being among thie early settiers of Burle- son county. Besides Mrs. Burns the Barker children are: Jane, who married Richard Low- den; Lemon and Nathan all living. Mr. and Mrs. Burns are the parents of the following named children: Charles, aged thirteen, is at- tending school in Austin, Texas; Elmer, who died in 1882, aged eighteen months; Ephe- gine, born in 1883, died in 1885; Herbert and John.
W A. PONKEY, a fariner of Lee connty, is the son of James and Mary W. (Agey) Ponkey, of Ger- man descent. The Ponkey family located in Lynchburg, county seat of Campbell connty, Virginia, in Colonial times. The father of our subject was born and raised at that place, was married there during the latter part of 1820, and afterward, with a family of six children, moved to Ohio, where he lived fif- teen years in Gallia county. In abont 1850 he came to what was thien Burleson county, Texas, now Lee county, locating in the neigh- borhood of where our subject now resides, where he passed the remainder of his days. Mr. Ponkey was a physician by profession, and practiced medicine in Virginia and Ohio for thirty years, but did not resume that call- ing in this State. He was an active worker
in politieal matters, voted with the Demo- cratic party, often made speeches during campaigns, and at one time was a candidate for the Legislature in Ohio, but was defeated. He was an Elder in the Presbyterian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Ponkey had the following chil- dren: James A., who resides near the Po- tomac river, in Virginia; Susan and Mary, deceased; W. A., onr subject; Francis, whose residence is unknown; Peter, who died while serving as a Confederate soldier; John E., of Lee county; Amanda, wife of a Mr. Locke, of California; and Flavia, also of that State. Mrs. Ponkey died in Ohio, in 18-, and the father was afterward married in that State to Miss Maria Rogers, who departed this life a short time after her husband's death.
W. A. Ponkey, the subject of this sketch, was born in Campbell county, Virginia, Oc- tober 5, 1834. After reaching manhood the family came to Texas, where he followed agricultural pursuits until the opening of the late war. In 1861 he enlisted in the Second Texas Regiment, Company H, and took part in the battle of Shiloh. He was wounded in the left foot in that engagement, from the effects of which he was almost an invalid for several years after the close of the struggle. Mr. Ponkey now owns 179 acres of land in the Dime Box neighborhood.
He was married in Lee connty, in 1864, to Isabella Ann Cunningham, and they have had six children: James, Robert, Susan, Olivia, Frank and Augusta. Politically, Mr. Ponkey affiliates with the Democratic party, and religionsly, is a Deacon in the Presby- terian Church.
Jolin E. Ponkey, a brother of our subject, was born in Rutland, Ohio, August 20, 1846. He was reared in Lee county, Texas, where he now owns one farm of seventy acres and another of 150 acres in Dime Box neighbor-
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hood. Ile affiliates with the Democratic party, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Ponkey has vever married.
W DAVIDSON, one of the most enter- prising and successful men of Will- iainson county, was born in Frank- lin county, Tennessee, Angust 20, 1822, a sou of Louis and Mary M. (Mullins) David- son, the former a native of South Carolina, and the latter of Virginia. The Davidson family trace their ancestors to General Davidson, of Revolutionary faine, and of Irish descent. The maternal grandfather of our subject, Matthew Mullins, also a Revo- Intiouary soldier, was a farmer by occupation and his death occurred in Virginia. The Mullins are related to the Yancey family, of national reputation. Mr. and Mrs. Louis Davidson were the parents of ten children, viz .: Asberry, a Methodist minister, was a delegate to the Church Couvention at the opening of the late war, and was stationed at Memphis, Vicksburg, Jackson and New Or- leaus; John served in the Indian war, and died while in service, in Florida; Manson, who was also a minister of great power, but on account of failing health was obliged to abandon the ministry, and he died in Tennes- see about 1885; James who held the office of Sheriff many years, died while serving as Regimental Commissary during the late war; Susan, wife of Robert Lassiter, who repre- sented Coffee connty, Tennessee, in the Leg- islature; Patsey, wife of D. D. Smith; W., our subject; Nancy, wife of G. Hamilton; Betsey married W. Janes, aud after his death she came to Texas, in 1889, where she died December 22, 1892; aud Lucy married De- Green Laster, who came to Fannin connty,
Texas, at an early day, was a leading physi- cian of that day, and his death occurred in 1848.
W. Davidson, the subject of this sketch, was reared in the same house as Isham G. Harris, who served as Governor of Tenues- see. He remained at home until reaching years of maturity, when he erected and con- ducted a mill in Coffee county about eight years. While a resident of Tennessee he served as Deputy Sheriff and Constable, and followed milling and trading until 1871, when he camne to Williamson county, Texas. He immediately purchased a farin, but twelve years later sold that place and bought land in this locality, consisting of 400 acres. Mr. Davidson shortly afterward traded that tract for his present farm of 700 acres, located in Gabriel valley, near Jonah, and this is one of the most beautiful farms in the county. He has 500 acres of his place nnder a good state of cultivation, and his home is beanti- fully situated near the banks of the Sau Gabriel river. Mr. Davidson also has a fine grist mill, gin and fifty-five acres of land at Jonah. The mill is a four-story frame build- ing. When our subject came to this locality only abunt 2,500 bales of cotton were made annually in a radins of six miles, and about 10,000 bales are now annually ginned. His gin alone turns out about 2,500 bales yearly. The first court in this county was held under a tree where Jonah now stands, and the geo- graphical center of Williamson county is within one mile of this place.
Mr. Davidson was united iu marriage, in 1843, to Miss Martha L. Braudon, a dangh- ter of Lem Brandon, a Methodist minister of Tennessee. To this union were boru two children: Elizabeth, who was twice married, first to R. Wildman, aud afterward to Thomas Bruce, a prominent farmer of this county,
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and Martha, deceased at the age of seventeen years. The wife and mother died in 1847, having been a consistent member of the Methodist Church. In 1854 Mr. Davidson married Miss Catherine MeComb, a native of Alabama, and a daughter of Andrew and Mary (Jones) McComb. The father was a prominent farmer, was a fine public speaker, and took an active interest in public affairs, but never aspired to public office. Mr. and Mrs. Davidson have had five children: As- berry B., District Attorney of De Witt county. Texas; James L. S. and Sally E., at home; Mary, deceased in 1890, was the wife of Dr. Nowlan; and Andy M., wife of Walter Farley, a farmer of Williamson county. Our subject takes an active interest in the Democratic party, is a member of the Masonic Fratern- ity, and both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Church.
A T. MORRIS, a livery man of Bastrop, was born in Platte county, Missouri, June 16, 1859, a son of Jesse P. and Sarah M. (Pumphrey) Morris, natives of Illinois and Kentucky, respectively. The parents were married in Missouri. The father, a farmer by occupation, served in the war with Mexico, came to Texas in 1877, locating in Bastrop county, and was disabled from ac- tive duty in the late war on account of sick- ness, caused from exposure in the war with Mexico. He died in 1885, in his sixty-sec- ond year, and his wife departed this life in 1879. Four of their children lived to years of maturity: A. T., our subject; Mollie, wife of A. S. Dyer, of Mountain Home, Idaho; D. M., of this county; and Lucy A., also of Idaho.
A. T. Morris attended the Commercial Col-
lege of St. Joseph, Missouri, and remained with his father until twenty years of age. He then farmed on rented land one year, when he purchased 360 acres of land in Hill coun- ty, Texas, with 120 acres cultivated, and while there followed farming, milling and ginning. He next sold his farm and em- barked in the livery business in Bastrop, one year later traded his stable for 970 acres of wild land in San Saba and Brown counties, and engaged in the livery and stage line busi- ness in McDade, Bastrop connty, but that venture proved unsuccessful. Mr. Morris next traded his wild land for a cotton gin on Elm creek, sold the same in 1883, and from 1884 to 1890 was engaged in freighting. He was then elected Constable of Bastrop township, later appointed Deputy Sheriff, fill- ing that office three years. Since 1893 he has conducted liis livery, feed and sale stable, and also has a large blacksmith shop in Bas- trop.
In 1886 Mr. Morris was united in mar- riage with Miss Mary E. Hutchinson, a daugh- ter of Edward Hutchinson, a native of En- gland. The latter's mother, Jean Hutchinson, liad three children: Edward Packenliam, father of Mrs. Morris; Henry, who is sup- posed to have died in Australia; William went on a visit to his mother in England, and while returning to America died at sea; and Mabel, who died unmarried. Edward Hutch- inson, the father of Mrs. Morris, came to America in a very early day, locating in Bastrop, Texas, where he become a prominent teacher. He served for a time in the war of 1864-'65. His wife, nee Susan Highsmith, is a sister of Captain Andrew W. Highsmith, of this city. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson were the parents of one child, Mary, now the wife of our subject. The father was a relative of General Packenhamn, for whom he was named.
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His death occurred in 1865, and the mother now resides with her daughter. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have three sons: Edwin T., born February 12, 1887; Earl L., in 1889; and Jessie II., in 1892. Both Mr. and Mrs. Mor- ris are members of the Baptist Church. The former also affiliates with the A. F. & A. M., Bastrop Lodge, No. 244, and was the young- est member of his lodge for two years.
W ILLIAM OLIVER SPENCER, a successful farmer of Williamson connty, is a son of William and Rachel (Brooks) Spencer. The grandfather of our subject, Moses Spencer, was born and raised in New York, and after marriage lo- cated on a farm near Albany. His land was taken from him, however, by Van Rensselaer, who obtained a grant from the British Gov- ernment, and he lost his entire possessions. With a family consisting of a wife and one child, the father of our subject, he then emi- grated to Pendleton District, South Carolina, where he remained until after the Revolu- tionary war, in which he served as a private soldier during the entire struggle. Late in the last century the family located in Barren conuty, Kentucky, where William Spencer grew to manhood, having been born in 1771. He was married there to Lorania Snow, and they had three children, all of whom are now deceased. The wife also died. The father then moved to Illinois, locating near the In- diana line, where he married the mother of our subject, a lady of Irish birth. The fami. ly continued to reside in Illinois until 1854, when the mother died. and the children hav- ing married and left home, the father went to live with a daughter in Iowa. He died there in 1857. Mr. and Mrs. Spencer were the
parents of seven children: Betsy, deceased; William O., our subject; Jane A., John M., James B. and Rachel, deceased; and Thomas C., a resident of Livingston county, Illinois. Mr. Spencer was a farmer by ocenpation, a Whig in politics, a Baptist in religious faith, and was a prominent man in his community. He served many years as a Justice of the Peace. During the war of 1812 he lived ou the Wabash-river, and by personal request of General Harrison, then Governer of Indiana, remained at home and took charge of the mills of that section.
William Oliver Spencer, the subject of this sketch, was born in the then Territory of Illi- nois, in what is now Lawrence county, Sep- tember 2, 1810. In 1824 he moved with his parents to Fulton county, west of Illinois river, where he grew to manhood, and was there married. From 1838 to 1851 the famni- ly resided in Washington county, near Fay - ette, Arkansas. In 1847 they came on a prospecting tour to Texas, remaining in Bas- trop about one year, and in 1849 returned to Arkansas. In 1851 they sold their posses- sions in that State, and again came to Texas, remaining in Bastrop until after the wife's death. Mr. Spencer then purchased 553 acres of land at his present location, three miles above the present site of Liberty Hill, and was one of the earliest settlers in this part of the county. For several years after locating here, Liberty Hill was withont a post office. One day General Rusk, a prominent figure in early Texas history, camped a short distance from Spencer's home, with a body of rangers. He was invited to supper at the latter's honse, and after the meal Mr. Spencer stated lis desire to have a post office located in this part of the county. As General Rusk was a member of Congress and Chairman of the Post Office Committee, be sat down and be-
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