USA > Texas > Burleson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 6
USA > Texas > Travis County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 6
USA > Texas > Bastrop County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 6
USA > Texas > Lee County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 6
USA > Texas > Williamson County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 6
USA > Texas > Milam County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson counties. Pt.2 > Part 6
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In 1887 Mr. Porter took in marriage for his second wife Mrs. Jane Houston, of Burle- son county, and danghter of Nevil A. and Christiana (Oldham) Gee. The present Mrs. Porter was born in Burleson county in 1849, and in 1870 married Charles Houston, by whom she had three children: Robert, Ina and Charles. Mr. and Mrs. Porter have had two children: Hugh Nevil and Russel Au- brey.
Mr. Porter is a member of the Methodist Church, in which he has held the position of Steward.
Mr. Porter's genealogieal history will be found in the sketch of his brother, Robert U. Porter, appearing elsewhere in this volume.
subject; Martha, wife of II. Y. Hyman, of North Carolina. The mother died in 1849.
Thomas W. Harrell began life independ- ently at the age of twenty-one years. Ile learned the carpenter's trade and followed it continuously ten years, and then began agri- cultural pursuits. In February, 1849, he came by rail and water to Grandico, Texas, later to Milain county, and thence to Walker county, where he followed carpentering about a year and a half. In the fall of 1850 he concluded to try his fortune in the State of his birth; accordingly took stage for Hous- ton and boat to Galveston, thence by boat to New Orleans, np the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to Wheeling, West Virginia, by stage to Cumberland, Maryland, and thence by rail home. In October, 1862, Mr. Harrell en- listed in Company E, Seventeenth North Caro- lina Infantry, under Col. W. F. Martin, for service in the Confederate army. They took part in the battles of New Berne, Cedar Creek, Cold Harbor, siege of Fort Fisher and in the operations about Kingston, North Carolina. It was in hearing distance of the bombardment of Fort Fisher, and par- ticipated in a number of engagements, in one of which, March 10, 1865, Mr. Har- rell received a scalp wound in the head by which he was disabled for further duty dur- ing the remainder of the war. He was taken to a hospital at Raleigh, after the Bentonville fight to Charlotte, and when sufficiently recovered started to join his com- pany, but heard of the surrender before reach - ing it and returned home.
T HOMAS W. HARRELL, a farmer of of Milam county, was born in Martin county, North Carolina, December 10, 1827. Ilis paternal grandfather, Jesse Harrell, was probably a pioneer of North Carolina. He married Miss Chance, and they had seven children, of whom Theophilus Harrell, the father of our subject, was the eldest child. The latter was born in Martin county, North Carolina, about 1797, was a farmer and mechanic by occupation, and died when the subject of this notice was in his fourth year, at the age of thirty-three years. Ile married Mary Ann, a daughter of Batson In 1870 he came to Milam county, Texas, for permanent settlement, and paid $12.50 in gold per acre for 200 acres of land. He has sinee added to his original purchase until he Weatherbee, a farmer of North Carolina. They had tive children, namely: Nancy Jane, who married Simmons Burnett both of whom are now deceased; William D., a now owns 600 acres, 290 acres of which is resident of North Carolina; Thomas W., our , under a fine state of enltivation, and where
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he raises abont fifty bales of cotton annually. Politically, Mr. Harrell affiliates with the Democratie party, and in 1886 he was elected County Commissioner of Milam county and served one term.
Our subject was married in 1852, to Lonisa T., a danghter of Benjamin and Amy (Price) Martin. Mrs. Harrell was born and reared in Martin county, North Caro- lina, where her family were early settlers, her maternal grandfather, Thomas Price, being a soldier in the war of the Revolution. To this union there were born seven children: Viola S., now the wife of R. G. Vaughn of Milam county; Della F., wife of W. D. Ty- son of Boone county, Arkansas; William T., who died in infancy; Benjamin L., living in Milam county; William Thomas, who lives in Falls county, this State; Mary Lonisa, wife of B. F. Stidham of Milam county; and Annie B., wife of D. I. Rob- erts of Milam county. The wife and mother died in November, 1872, and in 1875 Mr. Harrell married Mrs. Joanna Davis, widow of O. K. Davis and daughter of A. M. Mass- engale, and the children of this union are Emma T. and Willie May, both now de- ceased, and Jessie L., Florence A., Dora E. and Samuel M.
Mr. Harrell is a member of St. Paul's Lodge, No. 177, A. F. & A. M., of Mays- field.
W HI. COFFMAN, one of the repre- sentative citizens of Lee county, is a son of John and Elizabeth (Cobb) Coffman. The great-grandfather of onr snb- ject, Isaac Coffman, came from Germany to Lincoln county, Virginia. at the close of the Revolutionary war. The family lived in that county until 1800, and in that year moved to
Mercer county, Kentucky. Isaac Coffinan lived to a good old age, dying when our sub- ject was ten years of age. The grandfather, Henry Coffman, raised his family in Hop- kins county, as he did also his son, the father of our subject. The father was born in 1805, was married in 1830, and raised a family of eleven children, eight now living, viz .: W. Il., our subject; Sarah K., wife of Jasper Orton, of Hanson, Kentucky; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Nance, of Webster county, that State; James P., of Slanghterville, Kentucky; David II., of Webster county, Kentucky; Leah F., now Mrs. Slaton, of Hopkins county; Thomas J., a resident of Burnet county, Texas; B.C., of Temple, this State; and Medora J., now Mrs. Smith, of Lee county. The father was a farmer by occupation, a member of the Methodist Church, and his death occurred in 1884. The mother died in 1887. The Cobb family were originally from Georgia, and the grandfather of our subject, Howell Cobb, was a consin of the noted Georgia statesman of that name.
W. II. Coffman was born in Hopkins county, Kentneky, November 26, 1831. In October, 1855, he emigrated to Texas, locat- ing on his present farm of 277 acres. He is a Democrat in his political views, served as Justice of the Peace a number of years, one term as County Commissioner, and repre- sented Lee, Washington and Burleson coun- ties in the Eighteenth Legislature. Since 1858 Mr. Coffman has served as secretary of the Masonic order, Lexington Lodge, No. 138; has held the same office ten years in the A. L. of II., AAlpha Council, No. 166, is the oldest Past Commander in the State; and is also a member of the K. of HI.
In llopkin- county, Kentucky. September 23. 1855, our subject was united in marriage with Nancy C. Brown. They had seven
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children: Robert Morris, deceased; Denolas Il., widow of a Mr. Thomas and a resident of Lee county; Genoa A., wife of Ira Bomids, of Milam county; Emma C., at home; Am Elizabeth, now Mrs. Thomas, of Lee county; J. R. and William J., at home. The wife and mother died in July, 1875, and January 15, 1880, in Lee county, Mr. Coffman married Mary E. Standlee. They also have seven children: John H., Nannie B., Travis, Thomas G., Minnie A., Ellen M. and Frances Cleveland.
F M. BROWDER, a farmer of Lee county, is a son of Thomas Browder. The latter's father, Thomas Browder, lived in Hopkins conuty, Kentneky, was a soldier in the war of 1812, took part in the battle of New Orleans, with Jackson, and while returning from that engagement died suddenly when within a day's journey of home. The father of our subject was born and reared in Hopkins county, Kentucky, where he spent his entire life, with the excep- tion of one year passed in Texas. He was married in 1829 to Pernetta Jackson, and they had eleven children, namely: F. M., our subject; James, deceased; John, deceased; Sallie, deceased; Mollie, deceased; Josephi, of Hopkins county, Kentucky; Richard, of Fannin county, Texas; Rufus, of Hopkins county; Sammel, whose residence is on- known; David, deceased; and Thomas, de- ceased. The father died in 1880, and the mother in 1886. They were members of the Methodist Church.
F. M. Browder, the subject of this sketch, was born in Hopkins county. Kentucky, June 1, 1831. In November. 1856, he came to Lee county, Texas, locating on the farm where he now resides.
100 acres of which is under a fine state of enltivation. In 1861 he enlisted as a private in Company A, Seventeenth Texas Infantry, Confederate, under Colonel Allen, but did not participate in any battles, was principally on detail duty, and served west of the Missis- sippi river. At the close of the struggle he was employed by the Government in collect- ing titles. Mr. Browder has resided on his present farm continuously since coming to this State, with the exception of three years spent in Georgetown, for the purpose of edu- cating his children.
In his political views he affiliates with the Democratic party, and socially is a Royal Arch Mason, holding his membership in Lex- ingtou Lodge, No. 138, in which he has served as Worshipful Master. He is a member of the Christian Church.
Mr. Browder was married in Hopkins county, Kentucky, in 1851, to Aun Eliza Gordon, and they had one child, now de- ceased. The wife and mother died July 25, 1856. In September, 1860, in Bastrop county, Texas, our subject married Cynthia L. Wilson, a daughter of John and Martha Wilson. The parents moved from the East- ern States to Mississippi, and in 1846 came to Bastrop county, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Wilson had seven children: William, a farmer of Lee county; Caroline, now Mrs. Marley, of Bastrop county; Cynthia, the wife of our subject; Wiley, of Bastrop county; James, a farmer of Lee county; Andrew, of Bastrop county; and Jefferson. also of that county. The father. a member of the Methodist Church, died in 1881, and the mother still resides in Bastrop county. Mr. and Mrs. Browder have had six children, namely: Ed- ward M., of Dallas, Texas: Joseph D. and Rufus W .. farmers of Lee comity: Charles D., graduated at the Southwestern Univer-
f.G. Brown
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sity in the class of 1887, and now resides at Georgetown, Texas; Mary E. is now the wife of Dr. A. L. Hawkins, also of that city; and Samuel J., of Lee county. The eldest son, Ed- ward M., was educated at the Southwestern University, gradnating in the class of 1885. He then studied law with John F. Crowe, of Giddings, was admitted to the bar, and im- mediately opened an office in Dallas. He is now engaged in the practice of his profession with McCormick & Spence.
JOHN G. BROWN, of Rockdale, Milam connty, is a son of Jolm and Famie (Griffin) Brown, both natives of Ala- bama, in which State the subject of this sketch was also born. The father was born there in 1808, was reared and married there, his marriage occurring in 1834, when he was united to a daughter of one of the first settlers of the State, John Griffin. John Griffin and John Brown, the grandfathers of the subject of this review, were both natives of North Carolina, and moved, within the latter part of the last century or early in the present one, to Alabama, where for many years thereafter they resided, being exten- sive land-owners. Both died in their adopted State and left numerous descendants, who have since become scattered through the new Southwest. The Browns came originally from England, the Griffins from Ireland. Both took up their residence in this country in colonial times, settling in the southeast Atlantie sea-coast States, whence they drifted toward the Gulf as the Indians were re- moved and the country was opened to settle- ment. It is a tradition of the family that they were in the main sturdy yeomen and patriotic citizens, rendering good service in
time of war and living honorable and in- dustrious lives in time of peace. The grand- fathers of our subject were both soldiers in the Revolution. John Brown, father of John G. of this article, migrated in 1842 from Alabama to Arkansas, where he resided for abont three years, coming thence in 1845 to Texas and settling in Washington county, where, with the exception of three years, he continned to reside until his death. He was a farmer, merchant and trader, and, in the course of a somewhat long and active life, succeeded in accumulating a considerable amount of property. He went in 1869 to California, where, through some unfortunate investments, lie lost heavily. While a resi- dent of Washington comity he was for many years Deputy Sheriff of the county and filled other local positions, being a man of mnuch public spirit and devoted to the best interests of the community where he lived. He was a life-long Democrat and greatly devoted to the interests of his party. He died in Wash- ington county in 1876, aged sixty-eight years. His wife, mother of our subject, died in 1847, the year after the removal to Texas. The issue of their marriage was six children, four of whom attained maturity: Marion, John G., Thomas J. and James M., all of whom entered the Confederate army at the opening of the late war, enlisting in com- pany F, Fifth Texas Mounted Volunteers. Marion died from injuries received in the service. Each of the others was wounded. Thomas J. lost his life in 1868 in New Mexico, being killed by the Indians while on his way to California. James M. is now a resident of San Patricio county, this State, where he is engaged in fruit-growing.
John G Brown, the subject of this sketch, was born in what was then Benton, now Cal- hon, county, Alabama, July 26, 1839. He
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was thus in his sixth year when his parents wounded in this exploit by a minie ball. On account of this wound he was disabled and temporarily incapacitated for further service, spending the interim at home on a furlough. Hle soon recovered and returned to his command, with which he served until the close of the war, receiving his discharge at Houston in May, 1865. For three years following that date he worked on his father's farm in Washington county, and in 1868 started with his father for California, bnt, after reaching the Rio Grande river, decided to remain in Texas, and, returning to Washing- ton county, there engaged in the mercantile business at Sand Town. After a year's suc- cessful pursuit of this business at that place, he embarked in the liquor business at points along the line of the Honston & Texas Cen- tral Railroad, which was then building west toward Austin. He retained thesc interests until 1876, when he settled at Rockdale, where he opened a saloon, which he has since conducted. He is this one of Rock- dale's oldest business men, and, it may be added, without exaggeration, is one of her successful ones. A business in Roekdalc, averaging from 813,000 to $18,000 annually, a half interest in a business worth $6,000 in Corpus Christi, a fruit farm of 300 aeres, worth $10,000, in San Patricio county, and an interest in a farm of 300 acres in Milam county, besides other investments, show that he has not been idle during the last two dee- ades; for it must be remembered that he came out of the war without a dollar and had to struggle for several years for a bare sub- sistence for himself and family. That he has been diligent and watchful of his inter- ests it is needless to say. He has devoted himself strictly to business, has always lived within his means, has been careful of his came to Texas in 1845. After the death of his mother, the year following, he went, in 1848, to live with a Mr. Connell, of Wash- ington county, with whom he made his home for four years, after which, in 1852, he was taken into the family of a Mrs. Pearson of that county. Ile remained with this lady for about five years, during which time he seenred such limited edneational advantages as were afforded at the time, being indebted to her for the same. He was also indebted to her for excellent training in other ways and for much encouragement and kindly counsel. On this account he retains pleasant recollections of her and of his stay at her honse, and he gratefully makes this ac- knowledgment and pays her memory this public tribute. Working for her, for his father and occasionally for others, on the farm and at the stock business, his time was passed like that of most boys of his age until he reached his majority. Having married and, just as he was laying Iris plans for life, surveying his surround- ings for an opportunity to begin consecutive operations, the war came on and he subordi- nated all his personal projects to meet the more pressing antics that called him to the field of action. He entered the Confederate army carly in 1861, enlisting in Company F, Fifth Texas Monnted Vohinteers, com- manded by Colonel Tom Green. With this company he was assigned to duty on the Texas frontier and began his service in the well remembered campaign into New Mex- ico. Ile was identified with the entire cam- paign, in which was fought the battle of Val Verde. aud, returning, was in the expedition along the Gulf coast, participating in the fight at Galveston, in which he assisted in the capture of the " llarriet Lane," being :investments and conservative in all things.
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For nine years he has served as Alderman of the town of Rockdale, and it is doing no in- justice to others to say that Rockdale has never had on its board of Common Council a man more solicitous for the general welfare of the place, and more active in the support of every measure looking to that end, than Mr. Brown. His means, ability and pro- gressive spirit make of him a valuable man in a new and enterprising place like Rock- dale, and his support is always confidently relied upon in any undertaking of a public nature. He is not a partisan politician, but being a strong Democrat he generally in- terests himself in political matters to the extent of voting, and also, when occasion de- mands, is ever ready to turn out and work for the success of any man or cause whose interests he esponses.
February 15, 1861, Mr. Brown married Miss Myra Wray, then of Washington county, this State, but a native of Tennessee. Of this marriage four children have been born, of whom but two attained mature years: John T. and William M., both of whom are farmers of Milam county.
W ILLIAM E. BOZEMAN .- Few families are richer in history than the Bozeman family, and fewer of them have made any effort to gather and preserve in tangible shape for posterity a record of the deeds and achievements of their ancestors as far back as their foreign ances- try. Such record the Bozemans have, owing to the care of one Joseph Bozeman, of Meridian, Mississippi. The work was ac- complished after about a decade of hard labor, at a considerable ontlay and without
remuneration. From this little volume we learn that the family is one of the oldest and most prominent in the United States. The name originated in Europe, possibly in Hol- land, where it seems to have been Bosman.
Joseph E. and Nathan Bozeman emigrated to America with one of the Baltimores, and were among the pioneers of Maryland, but how they obtained a footing in the English county of the Calverts is not stated. Grant- ing that they first crossed the channel to England, and set ont for the New World as stated, their descendants scattered from the Baltimore colony to all points of the compass, North and South Carolina coming in for a good share of them. Samuel Bozeman was born in Bladen connty, North Carolina, in 1730. He married Ann, a danghter of Nathaniel Richardson, who was a member of the Provincial Congress held at Halifax in 1776. Nine children were born to Samnel Bozeman, the first being Joseph, who was the double great-grandfather of our subject, born in North Carolina in April, 1756. IIe was a patriot soldier and participated in the siege of Angusta, Georgia, to which State at the close of hostilities he and his brothers and sisters immigrated, settling near Savannah. His first wife was a Miss Wood, a sister of Rev. David Wood, a Baptist minister. Mrs. Bozeman died young and left only one child, Nathan, the father of the celebrated New York physician and surgeon, Dr. Bozeman. The second wife of Joseph Bozeman was Elizabeth Pendleton, of Pennsylvania, whom he married in 1797. In 1806 Joseph moved his family to Kaskaskia, Illinois, by stage, requiring from March to May to make the trip. Disease was so prevalent there that the lives of his family were in jeopardy, and he returned in the fall of the same year to Georgia on pack horses. In 1918 he moved
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his effects from Twiggs county, Georgia, to Covington county, Alabama, where he died in 1821, from the effects of a wound from a falling tree.
Mr. Bozeman was a fine mechanic, being skilled both in wood and iron, and was a gunsmith also. lle was a fine marksman, and had a great taste for the sports of hunt- ing and fishing. By occupation he was a farmer, and made it successful. Politically, he was a Democrat, and religionsly a member of the Baptist Church. Nathan Bozeman was born October 7, 1785, and November 1, 1807, married Miss Harriet Knotts, of Burke county, Georgia, near Waynesboro. Mr. Knotts was born in South Carolina in 1745, and was a colonial soldier in the war of the Revolution. In 1819 Nathan Bozeman moved to Covington county, Alabama, and six yoars later removed to Butler county, near Greenville, and finally moved, in 1838, to Coosa county, where he died ten years later, October 11, 1848. He was a man of great industry, and public-spirited to a remarkable degree. He used to say that the sound of many axes in forest and field was the sweetest music he ever heard, and always believed in all of the members of his house- hold having employment. He accumulated a good property, and won a high place in public esteem. As a valuable and honorable citizen, Nathan Bozeman will always be remembered. Ilis family consisted of eleven children, the fourth of which family was David Wood Bozeman, the father of our subject.
Bozeman was engaged as an overseer, and as his means accumulated he invested in negro property, whose labor made him rich rapidly. He bought and managed large estates and became one of the most snecessful financiers of the State of Alabama. Moneyed corpora- tions sought his assistance and counsel, and the State his services. Ile was an ardent Democrat of the States-Right stripe, and of pronounced disunion sentiments when the question union was being agitated.
In 1860 he was a delegate to the conven- tion which nominated John C. Breckenridge to the Presidency. The next year he took his seat in the Alabama Legislature, and was an active participant in the deliberations of that day. In 1855 Mr. Bozeman established himself at Wetumpka, Alabama, in the bank- ing business, and was very prosperons when the Civil war came on and swept away at one breath $56,000. His reverses might have crippled him serionsly had he not made a speculative trip to Texas in 1857 and invested largely in western lands in Milam and Tom Green counties. He had visited the State even earlier than that, being here on an exploring tour in 1851.
After the war Mr. Bozeman came to Milam county and gave his attention to farming and speculating in land. He had a strong desire for the excitement incident to a campaign in politics. He was a great reader, and when called upon for a speech always had some- thing interesting to give his hearers. He was once a candidate for the State Senate in Texas. In the latter part of his life he united with the Missionary Baptist Church. Ilis habits were always temperate and moral. In personal appearance he was tall, with black hair and eyes and olive complexion, and great firmness marked his dealings with those
The birth of David W. Bozeman took place February 16, 1814, and he received the rudiments of an education in his native State. When only eighteen years of age he married Miss Ann English Browning, a lady of fifteen. For many years of his life Mr. ' under him, and what he said he meant and
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what he required he had done. He set special value upon manual labor, but gener- ously extended financial aid whenever he was convinced of the true worth of the recipient. lle died in 1887, but his widow still survives him, enjoying apparently excellent health. Mr. Bozeman was the father of fourteen children: James II., born October 20, 1836, and died at the age of eighteen; William E., our subject; David B., born January 2, 1845; Emma A., born Jannary 2, 1848, mar- ried Alonzo Rushing, of Alabama; Nathan G., born September 5, 1853; Ilenry J., born June 3, 1855; Beauregard P., born March 19, 1862; while seven others died in child- hood.
William E. Bozeman was born in Loundes county, Alabama, March 23, 1841, and was brought up on a farm and seenred only coun- try-school advantages. At twenty years of age he enlisted as Sergeant in Company I, Captain B. F. Melton, his first colonel being John Withers, and his last one Colonel Charles Forsythe, Third Alabama Regiment of Infantry. He participated in many hard- fought battles, among them being those of Seven Pines, Gaines' Mill, Savage Station, Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg, and all of the engagements of Lee's army until the fall of 1864, when he received a flesh wound at the battle of Cedar Creek in Virginia. This con- fined him to the hospital until December, when he returned home, where he remained until March, 1865. He then set out to join the decimated ranks of Lee's army, but at Danville he heard of the surrender and with bowed head he returned to his home. The next year he left his native State and eame to Texas, stopping in Red River county until 1868, when he came to Milam county and settled in the vicinity of Baileyville, where he has since resided. Ile lives on a part of
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