USA > Texas > Tarrant County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Tarrant and Parker counties; containing a concise history of the state, with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named counties, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 34
USA > Texas > Parker County > History of Texas, together with a biographical history of Tarrant and Parker counties; containing a concise history of the state, with portraits and biographies of prominent citizens of the above named counties, and personal histories of many of the early settlers and leading families > Part 34
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74
Every male citizen twenty-one years of age, subject to none of the foregoing disqualifi- cations, who has resided in the State one year . next preceding the election and the last six months within the district or county where he offers to vote, is a qualified elector.
EXEMPTIONS FROM TAXATION.
Farm products in the hands of the pro- ducer and family supplies for home and farm use.
Household and kitchen furniture to the value of $250, including a sewing machine.
All annual pensions granted by the State. All public property.
Lands used exclusively for graveyards or grounds for burying the dead, unless held by persons or corporations for profit.
Buildings and lands attached thereto be. longing to charitable or educational institu- tions and used exclusively for charitable or educational purposes.
1
1
244
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
EXEMPTIONS FROM FORCED SALE.
A homestead worth $5,000 exclusive of im- provements, if in a town or city; if in the country, 200 acres, including improvements and crops growing thereon, except for part or all of the purchase money thereof, the taxes due thereon, or for material used in con- structing improvements thereon, and in this last case only when the work and material are contracted for in writing, with the consent of the wife given in the same manner as is required in making a sale and con- veyance of the homestead.
All household and kitchen furniture, and all provision and forage on hand for home consumption.
Any lot or lots in a cemetery for the purpose of sepulture.
All implements of husbandry, and all tools, apparatus and books belonging to any trade.
The family library and all family portraits and pictures.
Five milch cows and their calves, and two yoke of work oxen, with necessary yokes and chains.
One gun, two horses and one wagon, one carriage or buggy, and all saddles, bridles, and harness necessary for the use of the family.
Twenty head of hogs and twenty head of sheep.
All current wages for personal services.
TEXAS AT THE WORLD'S FAIR OF 1893.
Were it not for an implied inhibition in the present State constitution, made in haste to cover more ground than was probably intended, Toxns would have surprised the
world at the great Columbian Exposition at Chicago with exhibits of her vast resources and present stage of development. Possibly she would have surpassed every other State in the Union, if not every country in this wide world, as a favorable section for immi- gration, which she could have easily done had it not been for that fatal clante in her constitution and the political collisions which it occasioned between the granger and anti- granger element of the people.
A tremendous effort was made by a few of the most zealous friends of Texas to have a respectable and worthy exhibit at Chicago, despite the obstacles just mentioned, but all proved abortive except the movement inan- gurated by the two private organizations denominated the Gentlemen's World's Fair Association of Texas and the Texas Women's World's Fair Exhibit Association, all the work being devolved upon the latter, headed by the brave and executive Mrs. Benedette B. Tobin, of Austin, who was elected presi- dent of the board of managers and took charge of the Texas State building at the fair. The career of the enterprise is a long story, but remarkable from the fact that it was successfully carried through by Southern ladies. This was probably the greatest undertaking by women of the South in the history of the whole country. They suc- ceeded in obtaining subscriptions from various parties in the cities and towns throughout the State, until they raised sufficient funds to place upon the fair grounds at Chicago the best arranged State building there, at a final cost of about $28,000; and it was really a magnificent structure, even in comparison with all the other State buildings, whic' were erected under appropriations from respective general Stato treasuries. architect was J. Riely Gordon, of
.
2
7
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Antonio. Considering that the ladies did not commence work until the August pre- ceding the opening of the fair, the grand success of the enterprise seems still more remarkable.
A splendid oil painting representing a life- sized equestrian statue of General Houston, in the act of giving orders in action in the battle- field at San Jacinto, adorned the wall in the rear of the rostrum of the building.
The officers of the association were: Mrs. Benedette B. Tobin, President; Mrs. J. O. Terrell, Mrs. W. F. Ladd and Mrs. E. A. Fry, Vice Presidents; Miss Mary J. Palm, Secretary; S. J. T. Johnson, Superintendent of the State building; Board of Directors:
Mes. B. B. Tobin, J. W. Swayne, J. L. Ilenry, J. M. Boroughs, E. M. House, A. V. Doak, A. D. Hearne, C. F. Drake and Val. C. Giles; Vice Presidents at Large: Mes. John W. Stayton, R. R. Gaines, John L. Henry, George W. Tyler, George Clark, Ella Scott, Ella Stewart, E. M. Ilouse, W. W. Leake, C. F. Drake, J. B. Scruggs, Wm. II. Rice, Mollie M. Davis and Miss Hallie Halbert.
Besides the above building, a few enter- prising business men and women contributed a small exhibit, notably Mrs. Mary B. . Nickels, of Laredo, who had in the Horticul- tural building probably the grandest cactus exhibit ever made in this country.
I. G. Sandidge.
. OK. 249
TARRANT AND PARKER COUNTIES, TEXAS.
J OHN QUINCY SANDIDGE, a ven- erable citizen of Fort Worth, Texas, has been identified with the interests of this city for the past twenty years and is eminently deserving of more than a pass- ing notice on the pages of this work.
Mr. Sandidge is descended from English ancestors who were early settlers of Vir- ginia. His grandfather, James Sandidge, was born in the Old Dominion, and had a family of five sons and one daughter. Jo- seph, the oldest son, was wounded in the battle of Brandywine. Another son, Clay- born, the father of our subject, also partici- pated in the Revolutionary war, serving under General LaFayette. Clayborn Sand- idge was born in Louisa county, Virginia, about 1761 or '62; passed his life as a Vir- ginia planter, and died in February, 1843. His wife, whose maiden name was Jane Higginbotham, was a native of Georgia, and of Irish descent. They were married in 1802. Of their children, record is made as follows: Elizabeth, born August 10, 1803, died at the age of fifty years; Thomas 1
Jefferson, born June 15, 1805, is supposed to have died of yellow fever in Texas, to which State he came in 1833, and was never since heard of ; Charlotte, born August 6, 1807, is deceased; James Madison, born February 21, 1809, died in 1864; Rich- ard Shelton, born December 15, 1811, died at the age of seventy-two; Albert Gallatin, born March 2, 1814, died in 1889; John Quincy, born January 14, 1817; Andrew Jackson, born January 21, 1821, died in Tyler, Texas, in 1892. Shelton was the maiden name of James Sandidge's wife. The father of this family was for many years a resident of Elbert county, Georgia, where he owned a large plantation, and where he resided at the time of his death.
At the homestead in Elbert county the subject of our sketch was reared to man- hood. He received his education in a log- cabin school-house three miles from his home, which distance he walked night and morning, only, however, attending school at intervals, as most of this time was spent in farm work. His favorite study was mathe-
0
250
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
matics, in which he became proficient. When he was eighteen years of age he started out to make his way in the world. He did not go to work until after he had spent some months in visiting his wealthy relatives in northern Alabama and had spent all the money he had, even selling his horse and saddle. He had then either to return home or go to work. He chose the latter, and as a farm hand, at $12. 50 per month, was employed by Samuel Nuckles. A year later he went to work for John Wright. Early in the following year, 1838, Mr. Wright sent him with several negroes to build houses and open up a farm in DeSoto county, Mississippi, now Tate county, which duty he faithfully performed. That fall Mr. Wright moved his whole family to the new plantation and settled there permanently. . Young Sandidge continued the trusted em- ploye of Mr. Wright for three years, and at the end of that time, in January, 1840, was fortunate enough to secure the hand of his eldest daughter, Nancy Elvira, in marriage. She was born September 9, 1820. Her mother's maiden name was Wood. Her father was a minister as well as a planter.
After marriage Mr. Sandidge settled down to farming on his own account in De Soto county, was prosperous, became the owner of 700 acres of land, and continued there until 1874. During the war he did all he could to aid the Confederacy. At the close of the war he found his twenty slaves and all his property, save the land itself, swept away, but with renewed energy he
set about the work of rebuilding his wasted fortune. He employed many of his old slaves, the price of cotton was high, and he raised large crops and made money rap- idly. In 1874 he moved to Fort Worth, Texas, and engaged in the manufacture of brick, at the same time farming some south of town. He had been led to remove to Fort Worth, believing the railroad had reached this point, he having seen a dia- gram of roads published in Captain B. B. . Paddock's paper. The roads, however, had not been built, but the Captain's proph- ecy has come true.
Mr. Sandidge and others, seeing that real estate could have but little value with- out railroads, formed a construction com- pany to grade the Texas Pacific line from Eagle Ford to Fort Worth, the railroad company agreeing to pay the construction company within two years after the road was finished to Fort Worth, with eight per cent. interest. The construction company was composed of the following men: K. M. Vanzant, president; Zane Cetti, secretary; E. M. Daggett, J. P. Smith, J. Q. Sandidge and others, directors. They began grading at Fort Worth, and had completed all the heavy work, when, owing to a provision in the contract permitting them to do so, the railroad company informed them that they would complete the grade, and attempted to get their charter extended one year, which would expire at twelve o'clock, noon, on the 4th of July, 1876. Governor Richard Coke informed them that no extension of time
251
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
would be given, so they had to crowd the work to save their charter. They laid track around places where bridges were required, and in this way pulled into Fort Worth one hour before the expiration of the stated time! Mr. Sandidge has since contributed liberally to the building of all the other rail- roads of the city. He has also taken a deep interest in promoting the growth of the city in other ways. For many years he has been deeply interested in church matters. When he came here he found a few Baptists in the town, but with no house in which to wor- ship. That fall they held a meeting, he being a Deacon, and they engaged Rev. William M. Gough to preach for them, and also decided to build a church. The minister, with Mr. Sandidge, E. J. Beall, A. J. Chambers and James Ellis, formed the building committee. Within two years they completed and furnished a church. In course of time, after the membership grew strong, a difference arose over the choice of a pastor, and a number withdrew and organ- ized the Broadway Baptist congregation. The First Church secured the Rev. J. Mor- gan Wells for their pastor. He set about the work of erecting a new church, inore centrally located than the old, and made his first appeal to Mr. Sandidge, who gave $3,000, and later $900 more. This church is now the finest in the city.
After he had been engaged in the manu- facture of brick for several years, Mr. San- didge turned his attention to dealing in hard- ware, in company with John Manuel, and
later purchased his partner's interest, and finally sold out. Then he dealt for a time in real estate, and finally drifted into bank- ing. For three years he was President of the City National Bank. At the end of that time he retired from active business. His whole business career has been that of an honorable and upright man.
Mr. Sandidge's first marriage has already been referred to. A record of their children is as follows: Susan Irene, born October 23, 1840, died at the age of seventeen; Elbert Madison, born July 27, 1842, died in the Confederate army in 1864; James Adrian, born July 13, 1844, died at the age of seven years; Mary Jane, born December 14, 1846, married Joseph A. Lee, and died in September, 1871, leaving two sons, Robert Q. and Ransom S .; John W., born August 28, 1848, married Miss Kate Ander- son, and died, leaving two children, John W. and Irma; Nancy Elvira, born February 7, 1851, married Samuel Furman, and in 1885 died and left a daughter, Ella S .; John Q., Jr., born April 8, 1853, died when a boy; Martha Elizabeth, born March 24, 1855, and died July 24, 1865; Thomas Richard, born July 17, 1857, married Miss Nannie Thornton, and he is now teller of the City National Bank; Andrew Jackson, born July 28, 1861, died in infancy; Clay- born, born . November 21, 1862, married Nancy Maxwell, has two daugliters, Irene and Sarah, and resides in Fort Worth. The mother of this family passed away August 9, 1869, at the age of forty-nine
252
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
years. She was a member of the Baptist Church, and her's was a beautiful Christian character. In 1874 Mr. Sandidge was mar- ried to Mary Francis Brummer, a native of Virginia, and of Scotch descent. She was born in 1831. She, too, is a devoted member of the Baptist Church.
Fraternally Mr. Sandidge is a Mason.
J OHN H. WATSON, living three miles northeast from Arlington, Texas, is a prominent farmer of his vicinity and a son of an early settler of the Lone Star State.
Mr. Watson was born in northern Ala- bama, December 6, 1838, second of the six children of P. A. and Margaret (Armstrong) Watson, natives of North Carolina and Ten- nessee, respectively. They moved to the Cherokee Purchase in Alabama in 1836, where they improved a farm and resided for a number of years. In 1852 the father re- moved with his family to Texas, first settling in Fannin county, where he made one crop. The following year he came to Tarrant county and bought a tract of land in the vicinity in which his son now lives. Here he developed a large farm, had about 240 acres under cultivation, and was also engaged in stock-raising, and here he spent the rest of his life and died. He was born October 13, 1810, and died February 12, 1894. Few men in this community were better known or more highly respected than he. For many years he was a devoted member of the
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and both in religious and educational matters he took an active and leading part. He was among the first to agitate schools and churches in the pioneer community, and he donated land for church and cemetery purposes. Long be- fore his death the cemetery was thickly dotted over with mnounds, and he could tell who was buried in every grave. Among his many sterling qualities was that of peace- . maker. He had a wonderful faculty for quieting and adjusting disputes between his neighbors and keeping them out of court, and on many occasions his advice was sought, and always appreciated.
Mr. P. A. Watson was twice married. His first wife died in December, 1850, only a short time before his removal to Texas, Their children are as follows: Jane S., wife of T. L. Wheeler, died in 1876; John H., whose name heads this article; James A .; Elizabeth, deceased; Mary, deceased; and Evaline, wife of J. H. Martin, Brown county, Texas. For his second wife Mr. Watson married Miss Mary Jane Donaldson, and the children of this union are also six in number, and are as follows: Elleanor, wife of A. H. Copeland; Sally; Matty, wife of Dr. Stovall, of Dallas, Texas; P. A., at the old home- stead; and Minnie 1 .. , wife of D. M. Miller, Grand Prairie, Texas. This wife and mother passed away in 1888. She was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, as also was Mr. Watson's first wife.
John H. Watson has been engaged in farming and stock-raising all his life, and un-
253
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
til he was forty remained on the home farm with his father, excepting the time when he was absent in the Confederate service. He enlisted in 1861 in theNinth Texas Cavalry, and was first on duty in the Indian Territory and northern Arkansas. His command was afterward taken to Mississippi and dismount- ed. After the battle of Corinth and Iuka, in which they participated, they were re- mounted and continued in cavalry service until the close of the war, seeing much hard service. During the whole of the war Mr. Watson was at home only once, then being de- tailed to help bring back the horses. While in the service he received two wounds, one through the left lung and body and the other in the left leg. The first was at Murfrees- borough and he was left on the field to die, but through the kindness of the Yankees he was taken to hospital, where he recovered. A month later he and another man made their escape and were twelve days in getting through the Federal lines. At the time of the surrender he was at Canton, Mississippi, was paroled at Jackson, and from there re- turned home.
For three or four years after the war Mr. Watson was not able for hard work, on account of his wounds. In 1870 his father gave him 160 acres of land, and, by this time having sufficiently recovered, he set about its cultivation and improvement, to which he has since devoted his energies. As prosperity attended his efforts he from time to titne purchased other land, and he is now the owner of 800 acres, over half of which
is under cultivation, a portion of it being rented and the rest farmed with the aid of hired help. He raises a diversity of crops, and has been uniformly successful in his operations.
Mr. Watson was married in December, 1878, to Mrs. Maggie Sigler, a widow with two children. She is a daughter of I. L. Hutchison, a native of Tennessee, and later a resident of Texas. To her first children, both of whom are now married and settled in life, he gave a father's care and support. Their union has resulted in the birth of four children: Katy, Mary, Fanny and Harold, ranging in age from fourteen to five years, and all bright and interesting children.
Mr. and. Mrs. Watson are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He is also identified with the Masonic fraternity, and in politics is a stanch Democrat.
J ESSE JONES, a retired citizen of Fort Worth, Texas, resides in a de- lightful home on the corner of Fourth and Pecan streets, where he is surrounded with all the comforts of life, and happy in the possession of hosts of warm friends.
Mr. Jones was born in Buncombe coun- ty, North Carolina, in the year 1837, son of Josiah and Elizabeth (Robinson) Jones, the former of Welsh descent and the latter of Scotch-Irish. The name of his paternal grandfather was Ebed Jones, and his moth- er's father was Alexander Robinson. Josiah Jones and his wife are both living, he being
254
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
eighty-three and she eighty years of age. They reared eight children to maturity.
Jesse Jones grew up on a farm near where he was born, and his education was obtained in a log cabin school-house. He came to Tarrant county, Texas, in 1860, and first located at what was then known as Ashland, sixteen miles northwest of Fort Worth, where he engaged in a general merchandise business. In 1862 he enlisted in the Con- federate army, Company C, Twenty-first Texas Infantry, and as Lieutenant of his company went to the front. He was with the forces that operated in Louisiana and Texas. After the war was over he returned to his home to begin life anew, his accumu- lations having all been swept away, and again he settled down to the life of a merchant. In 1869 he located in Fort Worth. At that time all goods and provisions had to be hauled by team to Fort Worth, but prices were high, and he did a prosperous business. He continued in the mercantile business here until 1893, when he retired.
Ever since he located here Mr. Jones has been liberal in aiding all enterprises that tended to advance the growth of the city, and as evidence of their appreciation of him his fellow citizens elected him to the office of County Clerk, which position he filled for several years. He was one of the city Board of Aldermen for six years, a member of the Board of Education six years, and for four years was a Justice of the Peace. Aside from other business affairs, he has been con- nected with several building and loan asso-
ciations. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, to the advance- ment of which he has contributed largely of his time and "means, and at present is a member of its Board of Trustees.
In 1861, while a resident of Ashland, he was married to Elizabeth, daughter of Daniel Bradley, a farmer who came from Mississippi to Texas in 1860. She died in 1872, leaving the following children : Rob- ert W., who is engaged in farming; Frank D., assistant Tax Collector; and Ida and Ada. She was a most amiable woman and a devoted member of the Baptist Church. In 1882 he married his present wife. Her maiden name was Sue R. Woods, she being a daugher of Dr. M. L. Woods, a promi- nent physician who came from Tennessee to Texas and who settled in Fort Worth in 1853, after having resided for several years in various other parts of the State. Mrs. Jones had been previously married and was a widow at the time she met Mr. Jones. She is a native of Texas and is a fine type of Texas women.
3 AMES H. FIELD, a resident of Fort Worth, and one of the prominent members of the bar in northern Texas, is a lineal descendant of the famous Field family of New England.
He was born in Franklin county, Geor- gia, in 1841, son of Samuel and Martha W. (Beogwell) Field, the former a native of Massachusetts, and the latter of Virginia.
255
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Soon after his birth his parents moved to Athens, Clarke county, Georgia, where his father was engaged in mercantile business for a number of years, and where James at- tended his first school. In 1852 the family inoved to Dalton, same State, and soon after their removal to that place the father died. At Dalton James H. completed his literary course under the instructions of Revs. John W. and William Becker. Judge Samuel P. Green, now Judge of the Forty- eighth Judicial District Court of Tarrant county, was one of Mr. Field's classmates at Dalton. After finishing his studies there, Mr. Field returned to Athens and took a course in the Lumpkin Law School of that place, and in due time was admitted to the bar, at Calhoun, Gordon county, Georgia, before Judge Dawson A. Walker.
He was at Athens when the war broke out. He enlisted in the afterward famous Phillips Legion, in the Dalton Guards, Captain Thomas R. Cook, and was in the army until the conflict was over, partici- pating in many prominent engagements. He was wounded at the battle of Sharps- burg, Maryland, and, three days before the surrender of Lee he was captured at Sailor's Creek, near High Bridge.
After the war Mr. Field returned to Dal- ton, Georgia, and was soon afterward elected Solicitor for Whitfield county, which office he held until he resigned to come to Texas, in 1867. Upon his arrival in Texas he lo- cated at Dallas, where he engaged in prac- tice as a member of the firm of Record,
Field & Bower, and later as Record & Field. In 1874 he removed from Dallas to Fort Worth. Here he was for a time asso- ciated with attorney Barkdale. Later he was with the famous Frank W. Ball, the firm name being Field & Ball, and after that was a member of the firm of Field & Jennings. He has since then been associated with others. He has all his life avoided polit- ical honors, and has given his strict atten- tion to the practice of his profession, in which he has met with eminent success, and during his professional career he has accumulated a snug fortune. Personally he is a gentleman of pleasing address, modest and unassuming in manner, and always frank and genial.
Mr. Field was married in Fort Worth to Miss Mariah Andrews, daughter of A. T. Andrews, who came to this place in 1856. Mr. Andrews was a prominent and wealthy planter in Tennessee and Kentucky before coming to Texas, and after he located in Fort Worth he ran a hotel for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Field have no children.
.
J OHN F. SIMMONS, keeper of a first- class livery at Weatherford, was born June 26, 1857, in Alabama, and at the age of twelve years came to Texas with his father, locating first in Bosque county and afterward in Comanche county, where they engaged in the live-stock busi- ness. In 1872 the children were sent to Emporia, Kansas, for an education. John
1
0
256
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
spent the winter of 1872-3 in Colorado, with stock, and, returning to Kansas, attended school there.
The Indians got to ranging upon the territory so much that Mr. Simmons had to remove to the eastward. There were no fights with these savages, but they ran by, stealing a great deal of live-stock. In the spring of 1875 Mr. Simmons went to south- ern Texas and purchased more cattle, came north and moved his stock to Kansas. From 1872 to 1878 he handled cattle on the trail, and in the latter year he located a ranch in Palo Pinto county, where he re- mained until 1881, with his stock. In 1883 he moved to Parker county. "In 1880 he married, and in coming to this county he settled upon a farm and engaged in agricul- tural pursuits until 1890, when he moved into Weatherford and engaged at first in the dairy business, next in the grain trade and finally in the livery business, in which he is now prospering, as he has a good stock and understands well the need of his customers, treating them according to the principles of business and honesty.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.