USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 50
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 50
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 50
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 50
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 50
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 50
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S. B. Purcell, the subject of this sketch, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, No- vember 9, 1839. He came with his parents to Texas in 1847, was raised in Fayette connty, and in 1860 came to Williamson county, locating in the southern part. In 1883 he moved to his present location, twenty miles northwest of Georgetown, where he has 500 acres of good land, 120 acres cultivated. In addition to general farming, Mr. Purcell is giving considerable attention to stock-raising. He is independent in political matters, and religiously, is a member of the Primitive Baptist Church.
August 14, 1861, in Williamson county, onr subject was married to Sabea C., a daughter of Freeman and Nancy (Asher) Smalley, natives of Indiana. The parents came to Texas in 1845, locating in the south- ern part of Williamson connty, where the father died in 1849, when Mrs. Purcell was only two years of age. The mother after- ward married a Mr. Juvinall, and after his death she became the wife of C. Purcell. Her death occurred in 1877. Mr. and Mrs. Por- cell have had eleveu children, viz .: Mary Anna, now Mrs. Flood Snow, of Burnet county. Texas: Alice B., wife of George Adams, also that county; Ilattie, wife of Joe Jacksor, of Williamson county; Ulysses, at
home; Joseph, deceased; Willie, deceased; and Zela, Morton, Bruer, Dora and Samnel, at home. Mr. Purcell is a successful farmer, and is held in high esteem by his many friends.
(OIIN T. HUDGINS, one of the well known and prominent men of Bastrop county, was born at Henderson, Rusk county, Texas, December 29, 1857, a son of James W. and Margaret (Warren) Hudgins. Jolin T. was educated in the public schools of Miller county, Arkansas and at the age of fifteen years was employed as clerk by N. B. Flippin, of Texarkana, where he remained eight years. From 1878 to 1883 he was suc- cessfully engaged in general merchandising for himself at Richmond, Arkansas, but in the latter year sold his store there and came di- rect to Bastrop county, Texas. March 1, 1883, Mr. Hudgins engaged in business at Old Smithville, under the firm name of J. T. Hudgins & Co., but after the new town of Smithiville was started they moved the store to this place, erecting the first large store building in the town. November 15, 1890 their building, stock and dwelling were de- stroyed by fire, the loss amounting to about $30,000. They did an annual business of $80,000. Since that time Mr. Hudgins has devoted his time and attention to agricultural pursuits, owniug a farin of 1,400 acres, 650 acres of which is cultivated. He raises about 250 bales of cotton each year, besides corn and other supplies, and twenty families are required to carry on the work of the planta- tion. Mr. Iludgins is also president of the Smithville Improvement Company, a ehar- tered institution, with a capital stock of $15,- 000. Ile has a large and handsome residence
£
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at Smithville, is one of the most enterpris- ing men of the vieinity, and is ready at all times to assist in any enterprise that will ad- vance the interests of his community.
October 10, 1884, he was married to Miss Fannie E., a daughter of James R. and Josephine Nicols. The father came to Bas- trop county, Texas, in an early day, and made a fortune by mechanical work. He was born in Virginia, and his death oceurred in 1888. Mrs. Nieols resides with her daughter, Mrs. B. F. Hudgins. She is a daughter of T. G. Garth, a member of a noted family, a lawyer by profession, a prominent politician, and a large planter and slave owner. His family consisted of ten children, of whom Mrs. Nieols was the eldest child. Mr. and Mrs. Hudgins have three children: John T., Josephine E. and Sallie B. Mr. Hudgins is a member of the Masonic fraternity, J. Nixon Lodge, No. 421, and is Master of Finances in the K. of P., Smithville Lodge, No. 92.
2.
W. HODGES, County Clerk of Will- iamson county, Texas, was born in Claiborne county, Tennessee, July 10, 1834, a son of Allen and Mary Jane (Yost) Hodges, natives also of that State. The Hodges family are descended from three brothers. They lived on the Virginia side of North Carolina. John Hodges, the grand- father of our subject, was born in North Caro- lina, but he removed to Tennessee in an early day. His wife was Sarah McCubbins, and they had seven children, viz .: Zachariah mar- ried Saralı Thomas and was a merchant of Ten- nessee, where he died; Barbara, who also died in that State, was the wife of C. Margraves; Mary, deceased near Terre Haute, Vigo
county, Indiana, was the wife of Henry Cooper; Canada, deceased near Belton, Texas; Allen, father of our subject; William, a resident of Tennessee, and Sarah, deceased in the former State, was the wife of William Hansford. The maternal grandfather of our subject, George Yost, also had seven chil- dren, as follows: George and James, for- merly prosperous merchants, residing at Kingston, Tennessee, lived to an old age, but neither ever married; Margarett and Eldridge, both still living, the latter a merchant of Kentucky; Margaret, wife of Mr. De Armond, a merchant of Kingston, Tennessee; Catherine, deceased, was the wife of Washington Wester; and Allen, deceased at the age of twenty-one years. Allen Hodges, the father of our subject, was a merchant, tanner, and a trader in stock at Tazewell, Tennessee. He contracted his last sickness while on a trip sonth with stock, and died in 1844, aged thirty-nine years. He was a devout member, as was also liis wife, of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was well known and highly respected. The mother died in 1840, aged thirty-two years. Her life was an inspiration to gen- tleness, patience and courage, and she held a sacred place in the hearts of a large circle of acquaintances. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges were the parents of three children-J. W., our subject; John, a merchant of George- town, married a Miss Carothers, and Mary, deceased in Louisville, Kentneky, in 1861, at the age of twenty-five years, was the wife of James Rice. She was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
J. W. Hodges, after reaching a suitable age, was employed as a clerk in Tazewell, Tennessee. In 1858 he emigrated to Burnet county, Texas, where he taught sehool until the opening of the late war. In February,
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1862, he enlisted in Company A, served as a private until the close of the struggle, re- mained on this side of the river, and took part in many battles and skirmishes. After the close of hostilities, Mr. Hodges purchased a farm and worked at farm labor for a time, and was then elected County Assessor and Col- lector, holding that position until removed by the Reconstruction Act. For the follow- ing five years he was engaged in farming; from 1872 to 1882 followed general mer- chandising in Georgetown; in the latter year was elected County Clerk, and re-elected in 1892. Mr. Hodges is an accomplished and pleasant officer, and his continons re-election to the same office for so long a period evinces the high esteem in which he is held by an appreciative constituency.
November 14, 1854, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Emily Rucker, a daughter of Captain John Rucker, of Grainger county, Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges have had five children, namely: John, deceased at the age of twenty-two years, was a graduate of the Louisville Med- ical College, a practicing physician in this county, was a young doctor of great promise, and had a bright future awaiting him; Benlah HI., wife of W. W. Dimmitt, a fariner of Williamson county, and they have two children-Lilburn and James H .; Cornie, who died December 23, 1891, aged twenty- one years, was a graduate of a New York school of elocution, and was a fine elocution- ist; James F., who has been assisting his father for the past four years; and Oliver, a pupil of the Sonthwestern University, who will soon begin the study of medicine. Mr. and Mrs. Hodges are members of the Methi- odist Episcopal Church, Sonth, in which the former is a Steward. He is a member of the blue lodge, chapter and commandery, and is
Treasurer of the two former, and has been a delegate to the Grand Lodge of the I. O. O. F. As an officer Mr. Hodges has no superior in the State; as a citizen he stands deservedly well and is kind and courteons to all.
E DWIN. R. ANDERSON, a carpenter and farmer by cccupation, was the first white child born in Williamson county, March 5, 1847. IIis parents were Dr. W. R. and Naney P. (Knight) Ander- son, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Ohio. The father was a son of William and Patsey Anderson, who moved to Monroe county, Indiana, in about 1818. While there they were many times quartered in blockhonses to protect them from the Indians. They were the parents of fourteen children, all of whom lived to be grown. Milton went to California in 1850; Irvin came to Texas in 1879 or 1880; and the remainder were scattered through the North- ern States, but none are now living.
W. R. Anderson, father of our subject, and a physician and surgeon by occupation, left Illinois in 1845, arriving in Ruttersville, Fayette county, Texas, in the fall of 1845, and on Brushy creek, Williamson county, the following year. He followed his profession and farming there until 1854, and in tlrat year embarked in the drug business in Georgetown. During the last ten years of his life he was retired from active business, and his death occurred in Georgetown, November 22, 1889, aged seventy-nine years. Dr. Anderson served one term as Probate Judge of his county, was a member of the Presbyterian Church for many years, and was a Union man throughout the war. Ile
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stood high as a practitioner, business man, Christian and gentleman. His wife died in 1888, aged sixty-nine years, they having lived together forty-nine years and eleven months. Dr. and Mrs. Anderson were the parents of three children, viz: Edwin R., our subject; Ilelen II., deceased in 1880, was the wife of J. M. Page, and Lucy II., wife of Mr. Shultz.
Edwin R. Anderson, the subject of this sketch, is engaged in carpentering and farm- ing, and also in the breeding of Jersey stock. He owns a ranch - near Taylor, Texas, where he has about seventy head. IIe has assisted in the erection of several buildings, and although still in the prime of life is elassed among the pioneers, having spent over forty- five years of his life in the county. Mr. Anderson was married in 1869, to Miss Elizabeth Talbert, a daughter of R. E. Tal- bert, a resident of Williamson county. She came with her parents from Louisiana in 1853, when five years of age. To this union has been born one child-Cora Bell. Mrs. Anderson is a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church. Socially, onr subject is a member of the Woodmen of the World, and politically, affiliates with the Republican party.
0 WEN HIGGINS HOLMAN, a snc- cessful farmer and respected citizen of Travis county, Texas, residing near Watters, has done as much as any other one man of his community to advance the agri- cultural interest of the vicinity, and he thns is entitled to the prominence and prosperity he now enjoys.
The Holman family is of German descent. The paternal grandparents of the subject of
this sketch, James S. and Martha W. Ilol- man, were natives of Tennessee, but settled in Texas in 1856. The grandfather followed railroading and died of yellow fever at Bryau. Ilis son, Willis M. Holman, and father of the subject of this notice, was born in Ten- nessee, July 2, 1834. In January of 1856, he was married to Miss M. D. Higgins, also a native of Tennessee, where she was born July 17, 1833: Her parents, O. W. and F. L. Iliggins, were natives of Kentucky and Virginia, respectively. Immediately after their marriage, the parents of the subject of this sketch, removed with the rest of the family to Texas, settling on land near Fisk- ville, in Travis county. Here the father of Mr. Ilolman of this notice, died March 21, 1861, leaving his family and many friends to mourn his loss. He was a man of good Eng- lish education, and in early life was a suc- cessful teacher; his later days, however, were devoted to farming, in which he was also prosperous. He was a Democrat in his poli- tical views, and a man of the strictest integ- rity and highest moral character. He was the father of three sons: James S., a mer- chant and ginner of Hutto, Williamson county, Texas; Willis D., a stockinan of that county; and Owen Higgins, whose name heads this sketch. After his father's death, Mr. Holman's mother married J. A. Cato, a native of Alabama, and they resided several years in Travis county, but later removed to Hntto, where the mother still lives, J. A. Cato having died March 10, 1893. By this union there were three children, who also re- side in Hutto: Fannie C., wife of C. R. Stephens, in the lumber business; George II., a dealer in wood and coal; and Virgie C., wife of W. A. May, a merchant.
The life of Owen Higgins Holman, al- thongh that of a young man, affords a strik-
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ing object lesson of what may be accom- plished by hard work, strict economy and good judgment. Ile was born in Travis county, about four miles from his present home, January 11, 1861. His father died when he was an infant, and his youth was passed in farm work and in attending the district school, residing with his mother until he was nineteen years of age. Ile then com- menced work by the month, receiving for his services $10 a month. Not realizing the value of money, he had at the end of that year of hard work, nothing to show for his labor. The next three years, however, he farmed on shares for Joseph B. Rogers, and when he sold his crops, Mr. Rogers, although not needing the money, borrowed the pro- ceeds and paid Mr. Holmnan ten per cent. in- terest. In this way Mr. Holman secured a start, and on accumulating a small capital, he rented land of his brother, J. S. Holman, for three years, following which he rented land for three years of W. R. Bird. Each year in- creased his accminnlations, nntil at the end of this time he was able to purchase 150 acres from his former preceptor, J. B. Rogers, for which Mr. Holman paid $3,000. In the fall of 1891, Mr. Holman bought seventy acres of his present farm, and as he was able added to it from time to time, until he now has 283 aeres of as fine land as the country affords, 210 acres of which is under an excellent state
. of cultivation. He also owns a cotton gin, worth $1,500, and has a one-third interest in 320 acres in Dallam county, Texas. Thius starting in life without a dollar a few short years ago, he has by his own industry and good management accumulated a fine prop- erty, and is to-day worth not less than $10,- 000.
In 1883, Mr. Ilohman was married to Miss Polly Ann Bird, a native of Illinois,
and a daughter of the late Thomas and Polly An (Ayers) Bird. Her parents caine to Travis county in 1866, and were active and useful members of society in their commun- ity for many years. Mr. and Mrs. Holman have two children: Owen Willis and James Bird, both intelligent boys.
Politically, Mr. Holman is a Democrat, and take a commendable interest in every- thing pertaining to the good of his country and the community in which he resides, to the advancement of which he has so largely contributed.
W T. MASSENGALE, a thrifty young farmer of Milam county, was born in Coosa county, Alabama, in 1853. Two years later his father, J. C. Massengale came to Milani county, Texas, locating near Maysfield, where he owned 300 acres at lis deatlı. He was born in Alabama, in 1830, secured a fair English education, and followed the pursuits of agriculture all his life. During the war he entered the Confederate army, was detailed as beef driver, furnishing the Trans- Mississippi troops with Western beef. His deatlı occurred during the last year of the war. The paternal grandfather of our subject had six children, two of whom are now living. Our subject's mother, nee Frances Thomas, was a daughter of Dred and Malinda Thomas. Malinda Thomas was an aunt of Senator J. M. Mc- Kinney. Mr. and Mrs. Massengale had five children,-W. T .; Malinda, wife of John l'eel; Janie, wife of Alexander Blasienz; Ida, who married J. C. Averyett; W. D. mar- ried Mary White. The mother died in 1870.
W. T. Massengale was thrown on his own resources at a tender age, on aceonnt of the
P. m. Koch
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early death of his parents. At the age of twelve years he was left to provide for a mother and younger brothers and sisters. IIc has always followed agricultural pursuits, and in 1880 became the owner of his first farm, consisting of sixty-six acres, and when he sold the place ten years later, to C. C. Cargill, its acreage was twice as great. In 1890 Mr. Massengale bought his present farm of 240 acres, eighty acres of which is cultivated to corn and cotton. In 1892, twenty-three bales were raised on the place. Ile also feeds about fifty head of beef cattle aunnally. Politically, he affiliates with the Democratic party, and takes an active in- terest in county and State affairs.
In 1880, Mr. Massengale was married to Miss Lulu Cargill, a sister of Mrs. W. H. Burnett, of this county. To this union have been born three children,-Averitt, John and Burnett. Mr. and Mrs. Massengale are members of the Little River Baptist Church.
C APT. P. M. KOLB, an old settler of Milam county and a prominent and prosperous farmer, was born in Talbot county, Georgia, June 25, 1827. His parents, William G. and Alzada (Troupe) Kolb were natives, the father of North Carolina and the mother of Virginia. They were reared how- ever in the Cherokee Purchase of Georgia, whither their families moved during their childhood. They were married in Jones county, Georgia, and after a residence of some years in Talbot, Meriwether and Coweta counties, that State, moved in 1845 to Texas and settled in what is now Freestone county, locating on Kechi near the mouth of Negro creek. There the father bought a traet of 3,000 acres of land which he opened up and
on which he engaged in farming and stock- raising. He was one of the first settlers of that locality and continued to reside there till the date of his death in 1876. He died how- ever at Palestine, whither he had gone on bus- iness. His widow survived him several years dying in Milam county in 1883. Both were well advanced in age. Peter M. Kolb, the subject of this sketch, was the fourth of their eleven children. He was a young man when his parents came to this State, his boyhood and youth having been passed in Georgia. Soon after coming to Texas he entered the ranging service, enlisting in a regiment com- manded by Colonel John HI. Conner, with which he served for about six months against the Indians in the western part of the State. He then returned to Washington county where he engaged at his trade as carpenter and gin builder, which be followed there for a number of years. Marrying in the mean time, he moved to Grimes county and in 1859 came to Milam county. On coming to this county hie purchased 150 acres of land on Brushy creek, about four miles west of where Rockdale now stands, and there he settled and engaged in farming and stock-raising. September 8, 1861, he entered the Confeder- ate army, enlisting in Company D, Harde- inan's Regiment, with which he served in the campaigns into New Mexico, taking part in the battle of Valverde, and was on the return expedition along the Gulf coast, taking part in the engagements at Mansfield, Pleasant Hill and Yellow Bayou, closing his services on the Brazos in Burleson county, where his regiment was disbanded. On being mustered into the service he was elected Third Lieu- tenant of his company, soon became its com- mander and was commissioned Captain in 1863, remaining at its head until the close of hostilities.
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When the war was over Captain Kolb re- turned home and, directing his attention to the problems of peace then eonfronting the country, purchased more land, which he opened up and branehed out in the successful pursuit of his farming enterprises. ITis present place, consisting of 750 acres, has been purchased from time to time as he has earned the means and has been improved from year to year in the same way; 500 acres of it is now under cultivation and it is well stocked and furnished with a good elass of farm buildings including a gin which is run regu- larly through the ginning season. The farm lies in the San Gabriel valley, being in one of the richest agricultural sections of the county. It is all blaek soil and yields in ac- cordance with the well-known productiveness of the " black waxy belt." Captain Kolb has given his attention for thirty-odd years ex- clusively to agrienltural and kindred pursuits in which he has met with reasonable success. He has never held any public office, having refused all offers of this nature. He has a high regard for the good opinion of his fel- low-men and endeavors by all legitimate means to win it, but he does not confound this with popular applause, to gain which so many men spend a large share of their time and effort. Captain Kolb has been a Demo- crat all his life, but National politics attraet- ing very little interest in Texas at an early day, he never cast a vote for a Presidential candidate until 1868, voting then for Seymour and Blair, the regular Democratic nominees. In 1859 he was made a Mason and has taken an active part in the order since that date. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor.
The brothers and sisters of the subject of this notice were: Sarah Ann, who was mar- ried to B. A. Parrott; Parthenia A., who was
married to George Green; Mary A., who was married to B. M. Martin; John Fletcher, who died in Shelby county, eastern Texas, 1855; William G., who enlisted in Waller's Battal- ion and died at Ilempstead during the late war; Hngh, who died in the Confederate army also; Ameriens, who married Mr. Al- exander and lives in Freestone county on hier father's old homestead; Georgie A., who was married to M. Fletcher; Martha, who was married to A. B. Bell, and Milton, who was married to George Johnson and died in 1880 in Llano county.
Captain Kolb has been twice married. In 1849 lie married Miss Charity Robinson who died two years later, leaving one child, Fannie S. March 11, 1855, he married Miss Marthia Jane Jackson, daughter of E. D. and Annie Jackson, then residents of Washington county, this State. The issue of this union has been seven children: William H., who died in infancy; Abner P., who died in early youth in 1878; Charles L., who was born in 1860; Mattie A., born in 1868; Lela V., born in 1871; Minnie A., born in 1873, and Della F., born in 1877.
C PUCKETT, a successful farmer of Travis county, was born in Vigo county, Indiana, January 21, 1831, a son of Thomas and Nancy (Tarbin) Pnekett. The family are of Irish descent, and lived in North Carolina at the time of the Revolu- tionary war, in which they took a prominent part. The father of our subject was born in that State, and when eighteen years of age took part in the war of 1812, serving in both the North and South. During the battle of New Orleans he was stationed as guard near that city. After the elose of the struggle
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he went to Indiana, was there married to the mother of our subject, then the widow Early, and lived there twenty-six years. On moving to that State the Indians were numerous and hostile, and he assisted in building the first house on the present site of Terre Hante. In 1838 the family came to Texas, although the father had come to this State the year previous on a prospecting tour, and purchased land in Cherokee county. Ile afterward located on the place where our subject resides, and the old log cabin, which he built in an early day, still stands in the field. The mother departed this life in 1859, and the father in 1868. The latter was a Democrat in political matters, and a mein- ber of the Methodist Church. He left a large property at liis deatlı. Mr. and Mrs. Puckett were the parents of eight children, viz: Irena, deceased; Hannah, deceased; L. D., of Tom Green county, Texas; C. R., de- ceased; the subject of this sketch; Miranda C. and Useba, twins, the former the widow of Alexander McRae, of Anstin; and the latter wife of Nathaniel Moore, of Lincoln county, New Mexico; and Elijah, deceased.
C. Puckett was reared to manhood in Texas, and early in life engaged in the stock business. He went with cattle to Coryell county, and was there during the late war, in which he served in the western part of the State. In 1867 he located on his present farm of 700 acres in Travis county, 300 acres of which is under a fine state of cnl- tivation.
Mr. Puckett was married in this connty, March 26, 1867, to Miranda C. Moore, who was born in Clark county, Arkansas, January 2, 1840, a daughter of Thomas W. and Mathilress (Yates) Moore. The father came to Texas at the age of sixteen years, with Austin's first colony. After the battle
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