USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 53
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 53
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 53
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 53
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 53
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 53
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S TEPHEN BOZARTH, a Justice of the Peace in Giddings, Texas, was born in Pope county, Illinois, February 27, 1826. His parents were Grarl and Mary ( Wilson) Bozarth, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. The former followed farming in that State until he was thirty years of age, when he removed to Illinois, of which State he was a pioneer. He ran the Kanawha salt works for many years until salt began to be shipped from the East, when the works ceased to pay. Then he went back to his old farm, but in 1838 he moved to New Madrid county, Missouri, and before death became one of the well known men of the locality.
The grandfather of our subject came to America with General Lafayette and later became a member of the staff of that dis- tingnished General. He died many years since, in Kentucky, when our subject's father was a small boy. After the close of the war the old gentleman returned to France, but the United States Government gave him large grants of land in Kentucky for his services during the Revolution, and he came back and settled in the then wild State with Souverns, Vometer and Linn, these being the first white families, who located there. Lim was pre- sumned to have been killed by the Indians.
In some of the histories of the State an instance is given of a case, where a Mrs. Guthrie killed six Indians with a broad ax, and this heroic woman was the sister of onr subject's father. The latter, Israel Bozarth, died in 1859, having been born in 1784. His wife was born in 1796, and died in 1880, both of them having been members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, but later, in Missouri, they joined with the Methodist Episcopal Church. They reared nine chil- dren, one other having died at the age of ten years. Onr subject is the seventh child, and three of the family are still living: W. B., in San Jacinto county, Texas, and a sister, Mary Thornbury, who lives in Miller county, Missouri.
The first business in which our subject en- gaged was that of farming, and he has fol- lowed it in connection with trading in stock. He was elected Justice of the Peace and County Commissioner soon after the war opened, and these offices exempted him for a time from service, but later he enlisted in the State troops and was in Camp Cooks, where he was discharged after a hemorrhage of the Inngs. He came to Texas in 1859, settling in Bosque county, and began farming and dealing in stock. He bought a fine lot of horses in Missouri and remained in that same county until 1869, when he came to Wash- ington, now Lee county, to engage in farming.
After coming to this county our subject settled four miles north of Giddings, where he remained until he sold his farm in 1884. He then bought another on Yegua creek, in the same county, which he still owns. He removed to the town of Giddings in the fall of 1888, remaining there four years, and then removed to the farm until 1892, when he returned to town. He filled the office of Ins-
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tice of the Peace for four years, and is now filling an appointment of George Seay, who died in September, 1892. Mr. Bozarth was Sheriff in Dunklin county, Missouri, for four years, in 1847, about forty-five years ago, having been one of the pioneers of that county, and discharged his duties efficiently. Before he left Missouri he entered the Legis- lature of that State, where he continued for two years.
In 1846 our subject was married to Miss Rebecca Stein, who died in 1870, aged forty- two years. She was a member of the Chris- tian Church. They had fourteen children, four of whom died in infancy, but the other ten grew to maturity. Jonathan, the oldest, died at the age of thirty-five years, leaving seven children: Miles, died when thirty, leav- ing two children; Mary J., afterward Mrs. C. Williams, died aged twenty years; John T., died at twenty-five; Rebecca M., died at twenty-five; Franklin P., died at thirty years, leaving two children; Elizabeth, who became Mrs. C. B. Hosey, had one child, and died at . the age of twenty-three; Samuel L., died at the age of nineteen; Sterling Price, married Sallie Bulls, and lives on a farm in Lee county; and George, died at the age of eigh- teen. As something unusual, the wife and all of the deceased children died within ten years. Jonathan was Sheriff of Llano county, when he died. He had served three terms and took sick the very day that he was elected the fourth time. He was intensely popular and had but fifty-three votes against him. He was a fine looking man, and his death was deeply deplored. Miles was Deputy-sheriff in Lee county for four years, and for two years was Constable in Giddings precinct.
The present wife of our subject was a Miss Octave Elizabeth Williams, whose parents were old settlers of Texas, to which State they
came when her father was a small boy. Mrs. Bozarth was reared in Fayette county, and was educated in Rutersville College. She tanght school in Warda for four years, and was a lady of talent and scholarship. She married Mr. Bozarth in. 1884. Both our subject and his wife are members of the Christian Church. He has belonged for a number of years to the Masonic order, in which he is a Royal Arch Mason. He now takes little interest in politics, but is still active in his Masonic duties, having filled every position in that order in Tyler. Ile is also a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., in which he has filled all the chairs and of which he has been Grand Representative three times, and every time from the same lodge, which initiated him.
Both as a citizen and as a public officer he has been faithful, energetic, prompt and ac- tive in the discharge of all duties, and has filled all his public trusts satisfactorily, and whenever he has been a candidate, he lias been re-elected. As a private citizen, our subject has managed his business until he now is in easy circumstances. He has been enterprising and public-spirited, often giving time and money to forward the interests of the county, and takes rank with the best citizens.
M RS. ALEXANDER McRAE, of Hyde Park, Austin, Texas, is a sister of C. Puckett, who is well known in Travis county. She was born in Vigo county, Indiana, February 27, 1837, and was four years old when her parents moved to Texas. Here her early childhood was passed amid the privations of pioneer life. After her mother's deatlı she kept
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house for her father, nutil he, too, passed away, when she went to live with her brother Chauncey, with whom she remained until her marriage.
She was married April 17, 1873, to Dr. Alexander McRae, a native of Mississippi. Dr. McRae was educated in one of the east- eru colleges, and after his graduation settled for the practice of his profession, about 1870, in Hornsby Bend. They had two children, Chester, who died at the age of six months, and E. T., now seventeen years of age, and the pride of his found mother. Some years passed, when husband and wife concluded it would conduce to the happiness of each to live apart.
In 1882 Mrs. McRae went to Tuscola, Illi- nois, to care for her invalid sister, Irena. This sister had married Caleb Garrett, a wealthy and influential gentleman, and was living in Tuscola, when, in 1880 she received a stroke of paralysis. Mr. Garrett died in 1887, and his wife followed him in 1890. Mrs. McRae returned to Texas in 1892, since wltich time she has been living in her new home within the charming resort in the sub- urbs of Austin, known as Hyde Park.
H ON. W. K. MAKEMSON, an attorney, and senior member of the law firm of Makemson & Roberts, of George- town, Texas, was born at Danville, Vermilion county, Illinois, February 26, 1836. His parents were Samuel L., and Martha (Knight) Makemsou, the former a native of Kentucky, and the latter of Ohio. The parents were inarried in 1834. In 1828 the father inoved from near Cynthiana, Harri- son county, Kentucky, to Vermilion county, Illinois, locating seven miles west of Danville,
on the middle fork of the Vermilion river, near the town now called Oakwood. Nov- ember 25, 1847, in company with his family, and John and Doctor Williamn Knight, and their families, he located on Brushy creek, Williamson county, Texas. While in Illi- nois, Mr. Makemson took part in the Sac war, during part of which time he was stationed at fort Dearborn, Chicago, assisting to re- build that fort. Later, be was engaged in removing the Indians from Illinois to their reservation. He was a farmer by occupation, and a pioneer who carried the respect of all who knew him. He was an earnest and de- vout member of the Methodist Episcopal Church from his boyhood days. As a Christ- ian lie was earnest, self sacrificing, and took a broad view of his personal responsibility. He died in Brushy Creek, in June, 1850. Thomas Makemson, the father of Samuel L., with six brothers, took part in the Revolu- tionary war. Two of the Malkemsous (as the name was spelled in the early days of the Republic) were killed in battle, and the re- maining five returned. Later, one of these, a captain of a vessel, was killed in siglit of fort Henry. Thomas Makemson, the grand- father of our subject, was the youngest of seven brothers. He was two years of age when they came from Ireland, settling in Maryland, but after the Revolutionary war Thomas emigrated to Kentucky. He was there married to Jane Lindsey, and they had the following children: Rebecca, Andrew, James, Samnel L., David, Eliza, Nancy and Polly Ann.
Hon. W. K. Makemson, the subject of this sketch, is among the early pioneers of this locality. Ile heard the first sermon ever preached in Williamson county, which was on Bushy creek, at Freeman Smalley's house, by Rev. Talifaro. Dr. Dane Knight, brother
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of the father, built the first school-house in the county, on Brushy creek, and the first school was taught by George W. Laymon, of Danville, Illinois, where he has many rela- tives. This gentleman, later, married the danghter of John S. Knight, settled in Bur- net connty, Texas, where he remained until his death, in 1891. He made a large farm and accumulated a great fortune. He was a cousin of Ward Laymon, who was the law partner of A. Lincoln, when the latter was nominated for President in 1860. Our sub- ject received his education from this instruc- tor. When the dark cloud of war between the States arose, he enlisted in Company A, Fifth Texas Partisan Rangers, commanded by Colonel L. M. Martin. He served under Generals Cooper, Steele and Cabell, in the Indian Department, his regiment operating mainly on the southern borders of Missouri, Arkansas and the Indian Territory. In 1864 Mr. Makemson was elected Sheriff of Williamn- son county, and left the army to enter npon the discharge of the duties of that office, which, at that time, were hazardous, owing to the lawless condition of the country. By a firm and courageous course he managed to restore order and security to life and property. Before the war he was a Union inan and op- posed to secession. When war was declared he answered the call of his State, and did his duty as a Confederate soldier. However, he did not change his political opinions, and, after the close of the struggle, acted with the Republican party, of which he is now a meill- ber. In 1865 Mr. Makemson was appointed District Attorney, by Governor Jack Hamil- ton, and served through the administration of Governor Pease. Shortly after E. J. Davis secured the Governorship, our subject, not being in sympathy .with the administration, resigned the position, since which time he
has held no public office. Although not pre- sent he was nnanimously nominated for Lieutenant Governor by the State Republican Convention that met at San Antonio, in 1890. Mr. Makemson is one of the public-spirited citizens of the county. He believes in tak- ing part in all endeavors that look to the bet- terment of the community ; is one of the direct- ors of the Georgetown and Granger Railroad, now under construction, and is one of the en- terprising citizens of the county. As a lawyer, he enjoys a large and paying practice, and ranks high at the bar. Much of his atten- tion has been devoted to criminal practice, in which he has been eminently successful. Mr. Makemson has, perhaps, been engaged in as many murder trials as any lawyer in the State.
He was married July 20, 1870, at Bastrop, Texas, to Miss Anna Smith, a danghter of Rev. William Addison Smith. They had two children, Ethel and Annie. Mrs. Makemson died Angust 10, 1880, and ten years after- ward our subject was united in marriage with Mrs. Kate Holland, nee Patrick, of Boston, Massachusetts. She is a daughter of W. A. Patrick,. who was for a number of years County Clerk, of Leon county, Texas. Mr. Makemson is a member of the old school Presbyterian Church. Socially, he affiliates with the Masonic fraternity, the I. O. O. F., of Texas, and has represented the Texas jurisdiction of the Sovereign Grand Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
R EV. JESSE J. BRUCE, Tax Collector of Williamson county, was born in Blount connty, Alabama, February 11, 1818, a son of Winston and Rebecca (Webb) Bruce, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of South Carolina.
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The father was a farmer of Tennessee, where he was raised from four years of age; was married in that State; in 1817, with his wife and one child went to Alabama; in 1847 to Arkansas; and in 1871 came on a visit to his son in Williamson county, where he died in October, 1873, aged eighty-two years. He was a member of the Baptist Church from his fifty-fifth year. Mrs. Bruce died in 1860, aged seventy-five. She has been a member of the Baptist Church for about fifty years. The lives, influence and example of these good old people are an endearing heritage to the family, the communities to which they were honored members, and to the church of their choice. Of their ten children, only two are now living. Elizabeth is the widow of Aacy. Hadge, and a resident of Round Rock.
Jesse J. was educated in the common schools of Alabama, where he followed agri- cultural pursnits until 1845. In that year, in company with his wife and three children he removed to and began the same occupation in Arkansas, but in 1865 located in Williamson county, Texas. After farming twelve years he was elected Tax Assessor of this county, holding that position two terms, one of two and the other of three years, and was then elected by the Commissioners' Court as Tax Collector. Mr. Bruce is just finishing his twelfth year in that office, and will be suc. ceeded by his son-in-law, who was elected November 8, 1892. Our subject also served. on a circuit, as supply for two years. In 1850 he was licensed to preach in the Baptist Church, of which he had been a member from his eighteenth year, and formerly served that denomination as Class Leader. Ile has al- ways been an ardent supporter of the Church, was ordained a Local Deacon in 1854, and was ordained an Elder in 1858.
Rev. Brnce was first married in 1838, to Miss Mahala Dommick, a daughter of Jacob and Catherine Dommick, natives of Sonth Carolina, where Mrs. Bruce was also born. To this union were born six children, namely : Martha F., who died in 1881, aged forty-three years. She married Nathaniel Hill, and they had six children, Minerva, Lonellen, Cora, Linn, Susan and Henry. The mother was a member of the Methodist Church from child- hood. Nancy A., the second in order of birth, died in 1878, aged forty-two years. She was the wife of Allen Kirkendall, and they had seven children, Mahala A., Milton, Jesse, (deceased), John, Granville, Elmah and Francis. Landon H., who enlisted in 1861, in Captain Wallace's Company, was wonuded in the first day's fight at Shiloh, while on a charge under General Johnston, who was also mortally wounded. Mr. Bruce lived four days after being wounded, and died at the . age of eighteeu years. He had been a mem- ber of the church since his twelfth year. Rebecca C. is the wife of Columbus Massen- gale, a farmer of Bell county, and they have one child, Jesse. Virginia was accidentally bnrned to death at the age of five years, her clothes having caught fire while she was standing before a fire-place, and she lived only fourteen hours afterward. Lonisa O., the youngest child, is the wife of James C. De Shields, a farmer of Williamson county. They have one child, Mahala. Mrs. Bruce died in the fall of 1857, aged about forty years, having been a member of the elmich from childhood. Our subject's second mar- riage occurred April 1, 1860, to Mrs. Susan Halley, a daughter of William Parker. They had four children, viz .: Julia W., wife of P. D. Byrum; Melissa, who died at the age of one year; Jackson C .; and Mary, wife of Dr. Green Robinson, of Leander, this county.
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Mr. Byrum has served as Deputy Tax Col- lector twelve years, and will succeed his father-in-law to that office. He has five cliil- dren, Jesse L., William L., Susan E., Richard D. and Daniel L. Mrs. Bruce died in 1887, aged fifty-nine years, she having also been a member of the church from girlhood. Mr. Bruce was married the third time, in Septein- ber 1889, to Miss Rebecca Kinard, a daughter of M. L. Kinard, of Union county, Arkansas.
It is almost needless to add that during his official career, our subject has managed the office well, and has an enviable reputation as an honest and efficient public servant. From his constituency only words of the highest commendation are heard. His successor, R. D. Byrum, has had a most thorough school- ing in the office, and the interest of the people in this line will receive the highest degree of consideration. Mr. Brnce has ever been a devoted Christian, was connected with the church in early life, and always takes a work- ing place in the church and the society of which he is a member.
ERRELL W. AYCOCK is one of the farmers of Milam county, Texas, who has been selected for representation in the history of his county.
Mr. Aycock is a son of Bryant F. and Sarah (Winston) Aycock, his paternal grand- parents being William Terrell Aycock and nee Mary Cotton, the foriner of Irish de- scent, the latter of English, and both early settlers of Alabama. Bryant F. Aycock was born and reared in Alabama, and was a grad- nate of the University of Alabama located at Tuscaloosa. He came to Texas early in the fifties and located at Caldwell, Burleson county, where he met and, in 1854, married Strah Winston, daughter of John L. and
Aun W. Winston, of that county, but forin- erly of Alabama, John L. Winston being a brother of Governor A. A. Winston of the latter State. Bryant F. Aycock served as the Clerk of the District Court of Burleson county, read law, was admitted to the bar, began the practice of his profession at Caid- well, and was doing a good business when the war came on. He entered the Confeder- ate armny in 1861, and the following year died in the service at Bowling Green, Ken- tucky. An honest, brave, intelligent man, good citizen, kind husband and indulgent father; a Democrat in politics, an ardent supporter of the cause of the Confederacy, a popular gentleman, and a zealous Mason, his life was one of which his posterity may be justly proud. He and his wife were the par- ents of three children: Terrell W., whose name heads this sketch; Ola, a merchant of Coleman city, Texas; and Bryant F., a farmer of Milam county. Mr. Aycock's widow is now the wife of A. D. Cooper of Milam county.
Terrell W. Aycock was born in Burleson county, Texas, February 26, 1856, but was reared chiefly in the county in which he now lives, his mother having moved here at the opening of the war, and made lier home with her parents for some years. He was educated in the University of Georgetown, this State, and after his marriage, which event occurred in 1881, he located on a farm about half way between Cameron and Rockdale, where he has since resided and devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits. His farm comprises 450 acres, eighty of which are improved and under cultivation. . What he has he has made himself, and while he is uot wealthy he owns good property, and with this start and his habits of industry and economy he is very certain to own more.
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Mr. Aycock was married in 1881 to Miss Ann Rogers, daughter of W. F. and Sarah Rogers of Milam county. They have had five children, namely: Ida, Emma, Grover (deceased), Dellie and Maggie. Mrs. Aycock belongs to the Methodist Chinrch, toward which he leans in belief and to the support of which he contributes. Politically, he is a Democrat.
UGH CASEY, a retired farmer of Will- iamson county, was born in Wayne connty, Tennessee December 11, 1833, a son of James Hill and Jane (Turn- bow) Casey. The father was born in North Carolina, October 12, 1813, and the mother in Wayne county, Tennessee, March 15, 1815. They were married in the latter county in March, 1830,where they lived on a farm until coming to Williamson county, Texas, in 1851. They located within one mile of Florence, on Salado creek, where they remained until 1886, and in that year went to Yonng connty. They still make their home in that county with their youngest son, John Wesley. The family are members of the Methodist Episco- pal Church, in which the father has been an active worker for over a half century. The influence and example of these good old peo- ple are an endearing heritage to the family, the neighbors, and the church of their choice. Mr. and Mrs Casey had nine children, one of whom died in infancy, and of the remaining eight, six are now living, five in Texas and one in Paul's Valley, Indian Territory. Both grandparents of our subject died inany years ago.
Hnghi Casey, the subject of this sketch, has been engaged as a Texas farmer for thirty years, and previous to that assisted his father
on the home farm. In 1885 he began work at the carpenter's trade, which he followed three years. He has retired from active farm life, but still owns 248 acres of farm land in Williamson county, 165 acres of which is under a fine state of cultivation, and on which can be raised anything grown in this latitude. He devotes his land alınost excln- sively to the raising of grain and cotton.
Mr. Casey was married December 15, 1853, to Miss Mary W. Hoyle, a danghter of Mrs. Leah Hoyle. Both of Mrs. Casey's parents were natives of Talladega county, Alabama, and always made their home in that county, dying there when Mrs. Casey was quite yonng. The latter was reared by a sister and brother- in-law, J. L. and Lavina Whittenburg, who bronght her with their family to Texas in 1852. Lavina was the eldest of nine chil- dren, and she and her linsband are still living on the same farm on which they settled in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Casey had one child, William Fletcher, a member of the firm of Booty, Mc Dongle & Casey, general merchants of Georgetown. He is one of the leading merchants and business men of the city, and as a salesman has no superior in the county. Mr. Fletcher was married Jannary 19, 1886, to Miss Mattie Atkinson, a daughter of J. W. Atkinson, of this county. They have one child, Mary Blanche. Mrs. Hngh Casey died September 6, 1886, at the age of fifty-three years. She was a devout and earnest Chris- tian for over forty years, and as a mother, companion, Christian, neighbor and friend; no
words can speak her praise too warmly. Mr. Casey has also been a member of the church for over forty-one years, in which he has been an officer for many years. Socially, he is a member of the Masonic order. Blne Lodge Chapter and Commandesffand has filled all the stations in the blue lodge except-
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ing the East. He takes but little interest in politics. Mr. Casey is numbered among the oldest pioneers of the county, and is familiar with the trials, hardships and deprivations incident to pioneer life. He has been looked upon as one of the most substantial and worthy citizens of the county for many years.
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OHN N. McFADIN, deceased .- The valuation of human life in any specific instance may not be determined alone from the subjective success attained in temporal affairs nor as set apart and isolated from the associations which inay either hedge or broaden the individual sphere of action. A man's life is, in the broader sense, not his alone, but becomes a very part of the com- posite life of all those who come within the ever diverging lines of his influence. Responsi- bility of more than a selfish sort canopies life and at the apex of an angle of influence each man is placed-it being his to accomp- lish either good or evil in the world to the extent of his personal potentiality in either direction. All honor thien is to be accorded to those who pass away, leaving the world better from their liaving there lived. To es- tablish a record of such a life in a connection of this order is both a privilege and a duty, and it is with a feeling of veneration that we essay the task of briefly touching upon the more salient points in the life of one wliose days were practically consecrated to the ac- complishment of kindly deeds.
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