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 62
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 62
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of the soldiers. At that time a furrow had not been plowed nor had an ax or hoe been used in this vicinity. Nature was undis- turbed, and not a sign of habitation was here. They camped on the present site of Fort Worth. After the arrival of the troops Mr. Farmer was employed by the Govern- ment to attend the sutler's store, and he continued thus employed for four years. He then took a homestead claim of 320 acres and devoted his energies to the devel- opment of a farm, soon bringing a hundred acres of this tract under cultivation. He also engaged in the cattle business, which he carried on until the opening of the late war, when he sent his cattle West with one of his sons, who continued the business there. About 1862 Mr. Farmer sold his homestead, taking in payment therefor negroes and . Confederate money, both of which proved worthless. Later he purchased the farm where his widow now lives. This tract comprises 240 acres, 135 of which are under cultivation, being rented on the shares, and wheat, oats and corn being the chief prod- ucts.
Although she endured many privations and hardships, Mrs. Farmer has many pleasant reminiscences of her pioneer life. At the time they settled here game of all kinds and honey and wild grapes were plenti- ful. Grapes, however, were the only fruit they had, and there were no vegetables here whatever. Ten years elapsed before she had a mess of Irish potatoes. Groceries and provisions of all kinds had to be hauled
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from Houston, and some times during the rainy season it took two or three months to make the trip.
Mr. Farmer was a man of many sterling qualities. In his makeup were found the elements of the true pioneer. He was a veteran of the Seminole war in Alabama and Florida, and his widow is a pensioner of that war. While he never aspired to official position, he took a laucable interest in pub- lic affairs, and was well known and highly respected all over the pioneer settlement, retaining the confidence and good will of all who knew him, up to the time of his death, which occurred January 14, 1892. He was especially noted for his hospitality, his good wife sharing with him in this. The latch- string of their cabin door always hung on the outside, both friend and stranger were given a hearty welcome, and the needy were never turned away empty handed. The name of " Press " Farmer is dear to all of the early settlers.
Mrs. Farmer was born and reared in east Tennessee, the date of her birth being March 15, 1827. Her father, Samuel Woody, was among the first settlers of Parker county, Texas, he having come here a few years after the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Farmer, and he remained in the coun- ty until his death, about 1877. He was a farmer and blacksmith, and was prominent in his day.
This worthy pioneer couple were the parents of fourteen children, five of whom died in infancy. A record of the others is
as follows : Susan is the wife of Thomas Young, a native of Virginia and a druggist of Lewisville, Denton county, Texas; Jacob is engaged in the cattle business in Montana; Molly is the wife of Eugene Small, of Velasco; Josephine is the wife of Dr. Higgins, of Cooke county, this State; Emma is a member of the home circle; Florence, wife of Alexander Henderson, resides on a farm in Tarrant county, Texas; Alexander died at the age of twenty-one years; William died and left a widow and eight children; and Hannah, wife of James Sutter, is deceased.
Mrs. Farmer was present at the organi- zation of the Baptist Church of Fort Worth, and also at that of Enon. Of this church she has been a consistent member for many years.
MOS M. QUAYLE, one of Tar- rant county's leading men, was born in Ontario county, New York, July 15, 1830, fourth son of Charles and Jane (King) Quayle.
Charles Quayle and his wife were natives of the Isle of Man, where they lived until after two of their children were born, and whence, about 1829, they emigrated to America, and settled in Ontario county, New York. They lived on a farm in that county until the time of death. He was born in 1800 and died in 1848, and she was born in 1796 and died in 1837. They had seven children, four of whom are now liv- ing, -one in Missouri, two in New York, and one in Texas.
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yours Truly J. J. Saphen M, 2,
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The subject of our sketch spent the first twenty-seven years of his life in his native State. His ambitious spirit then led hini to see something of the wild West. He was engaged by the Louisiana & Hontonpeck Company to go to Mexico and transact some business, and was detained there about ten months. On his return he made a visit to an older brother in Texas, expecting to go back to New York in a short time, but, as he expresses it, he has not got his visit out yet. Thus he has been a resident of Texas since 1857. Buying some land near Grape Vine, Tarrant county, he made his home on it until the outbreak of the civil war. He enlisted in 1862 in John Morgan's army, Third Kentucky Cavalry, and served until the conflict was over. When Morgan made his famous raid through Indiana and Ohio Mr. Quayle was detailed to take charge of the commissary department, and thus did not cross the Ohio with Morgan, but re- turned to his home in Texas. He was at the battle of Perryville, but his command was held in reserve, and did not participate, but covered the retreat.
After the war Mr. Quayle moved his family to a point two miles northeast of Grape Vine, where he has resided ever since, now being the owner of a fine farm of 435 acres of land; 120 acres under cultiva- tion and the rest in pasture.
Mr. Quayle was married November 29, 1860, to Miss Martha C. Morehead, who was born January 7, 1841, and who came to Texas with her father in 1852. Her father,
Judge James T. Morehead, was born in Vir- ginia, March 27, 1809, and was married three times. He had no children by his first and last wives, but by his second wife he had three, namely: Mary, wife of P. D. Hudgens, of this county; Mrs. Quayle, and Jacob, a resident of Grape Vine.
Judge Morehead has been a very promi- nent man in Tarrant county, having settled here at a very early day in the history of the county. In 1854 he was nominated for the office of Judge, and in his canvass he found only five voters in Parker county. In 1856 the number of voters had increased to 1,600. It was Judge Morehead who organ- ized Parker county that year. At this writing the Judge is in very feeble health. He has had the misfortune to lose his eyesight, and for the past three years has been unable to see anything. His intellect, however, is as. sound as ever. At the close of the war he lost much of his property and turned the rest over to his children. Since then he and his wife have resided with his daughter, Mrs. Quayle.
J AMES T. STEPHENS, M. D., is a prominent practicing physcian of Mansfield, Tarrant county, Texas, who has by his own endeavors obtained a fine education and become a successful med- ical practitioner. He has the honor of be- ing a native of the Lone Star State, his birth occurring in Shelby county, December 5, 1849. His father, a farmer and stock-
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raiser, emigrated from Tennessee to Texas in 1844, and cast his lot with the early set- tlers of Shelby county, where he made his home until 1855, when he came to Ellis county, now Johnson county, one and a half miles from Mansfield, locating land in the black belts, investing all his money in that property. He carried on opera- tions along the lines of business mentioned until 1889, when he removed to Fort Worth, where he made his home for two years, then went to Amarillo on account of the failing health of himself and wife. He is now residing at that place, engaged in stock-raising.
L. H. Stephens was married in 1846 to Miss Caroline Truitt, whose father, a few years before, emigrated from North Caro- lina to Texas. He and his son, Colonel Alfred Truitt, were both members of the Texas Legislature for several terms, and three of his sons were in the Mexican war and also served in the war of the Regula- tors and Moderators, which occurred in Shelby county, in the '40s. To Mr. and Mrs. Stephens were born the following chil- dren: John 11., a resident of Vernon, Texas, where he is engaged in the practice of law, being at the head of his profession in that part of the State: he has also served one term in the State Senate; James T., is the next youngest; Sarah, now deceased, was the wife of R. S. Mann, of Mansfield, the founder of the town, and in whose honor the place was 'named; Alice is the wife of Dr. J. W. Cartwright, a prominent physi-
cian of Amarillo and local surgeon for the Fort Worth & Denver City Railroad; Cynthia is the wife of E. W. Yeates, a hardware and machinery merchant of Fort Worth; Elizabeth is the wife of Cyrus Eak- man, County Judge of Randall county; Josephine, who married W. M. Cunning- ham, a merchant of Amarillo; and Fanny, wife of J. M. Donaldson, also connected with the mercantile interests of Ainarillo. The family is one of prominence, and its members are Christian people, some hold- ing membership with the Presbyterian and others with the Methodist Church.
The gentleman whose name heads this record spent the days of his boyhood and youth on his father's farm and acquired his literary education in Mansfield College. When it became time to make choice of a profession or occupation which he wished to make his life work, he looked about him and determined to enter the ranks of the medical fraternity. He began his studies under the direction of Drs. Hodges & Field, of Mansfield, the latter now of the firm of Burts, Field & Durringer, of Fort Worth. In 1871-2 he attended a course of lectures in the university at Louisville, Kentucky, and in the autumn of the latter year he en- tered Bellevue Hospital Medical College, of New York city, at which institution he was graduated in March, 1873. Returning to Texas he became a partner of Dr. D. G. Hodges, his former preceptor, the connec- tion continuing until the death of the latter in 1874. He has continuously engaged in
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the practice of his profession since, and has been accorded a most liberal patronage, which he well merits, for his skill and ability have made him one of the most succesful practitioners in this part of the State. He is one of the medical examiners for the Seventeenth District, and is now serving as chairman of the board.
On the 3d of March, 1875, the Doctor led to the marriage altar, in Mississippi, a Miss Sally Mathers, a daughter of George Mathers, of Pennsylvania, who emigrated to Mississippi, and died there in 1878. His wife still survives him. To Dr. and Mrs. Stephens have been born six children, but five of that number are now deceased. The only surviving member of the family is L. H. Stephens, Jr., a youth of fourteen years.
The Doctor takes some interest in civic societies and holds a membership in the blue lodge and the chapter of the Masonic fraternity. His wife is connected with the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In his political views he is a Democrat, but has never sought or desired political preferment. He has made judicious investment of his earnings, and is now the owner of a com- modious and pleasant residence in Mans- field, and also a comfortable office on Main street. . From time to time he has invested considerably in cattle and land, and is now the owner of extensive real-estate interests in Archer and Baylor counties. He, how- ever, does not superintend these enterprises, for his energies are wholly occupied by his professional duties. His success in life was
assured from the time he entered upon his professional career, not on account of out- side aid or influence, but because he pos- sesses those characteristics which insure suc- cess. He is energetic, persevering and has a resolute spirit which carries forward to to completion whatever he undertakes. Thus he has risen in the ranks of the medi- cal profession until he is acknowledged to be one of the most eminent physicians in his section of the State.
3 AMES CATE, one of the pioneers and leading citizens of Tarrant coun- ty, Texas, was born in White coun- ty, Tennessee, August 29, 1818.
His father, Robert Cate, was a native of North Carolina, while his mother, nee Isabella Carter, was born in Indiana. The Carters are of German descent; the Cates are English. Seven brothers by the name of Cate came over to this country from Eng- land at an early day and settled in the South, and their descendants are scattered over the various States. One of them was the ancestor of our subject. Robert Cate died about 1879, at the age of ninety years, his wife having died several years before. Of their seven sons only two are now living, James, and a brother who lives in Denton county, this State.
James Cate lived in Tennessee until he was twenty-two years of age, being brought up on a farm. In December, 1845, he landed in Dallas county, Texas. Previous to this,
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however, he spent three years in Missouri. After residing in Dallas county five years he came to Tarrant county and took claim, under the headright law, to 640 acres of land, twenty miles northeast of Fort Worth, and here he has since resided.
Mr. Cate was married two years after coming to Texas to Miss Elvira Mentor, a native of Illinois, and a daughter of G. W. Mentor. Mr. Mentor emigrated from Illi- nois to Texas in 1845 and settled near Mr. Cate, and it was here that our subject met and married Miss Mentor, the date of their marriage being November 8, 1847. They reared a family of twelve children, namely : David H .; Louisa J., deceased wife of Will- iam Porter; Frances, wife of R. B. Merrell; William A .; Harriet R., wife of B. R. El- liott, Fort Worth; Anna, deceased wife of R. E. Crowley; John B .; Manerva, widow of A. M. Brown; Jefferson D .; Harvy C .; R. G .; and James,-the most of them living near their father, and all doing well.
Mr. and Mrs. Cate are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Cate is identified with the Masonic fraternity.
Mr. Cate is an excellent example of the self-made man. After his marriage he and his young wife settled on their claim, where they worked hard for many years, and now in their old age they are enjoying the fruits of their toil. During the early years of their residence here the country was greatly troubled with hostile Indians, who stole the settlers' stock and even made war on the whites themselves. On more than one oc-
casion Mr. Cate went out with a party of pioneers to punish the red men for their depredations, and on one of these trip she se- cured the scalps of three savages. Many were the exciting times he witnessed and he relates these experiences in a vivid and in- teresting manner.
At the commencement of the Rebellion Mr. Cate opposed secession, being a firm believer in his Government and feeling that the difficulty could be settled by some other means than war. His oldest son served all through the war.
M. HIGHTOWER, Smithfield, Texas, is one of the respected and well - to - do farmers of Tarrant county.
Mr. Hightower was born in Tennessee, January 8, 1824, and when two years of age went with his parents to Illinois, their loca- tion being at Hillsborough, Montgomery county. There he spent his youthful days until he was fourteen, when they removed to a farm, and he continued a member of the home circle until 1844, when he married and settled down to farming on his own ac- count, having bought a tract of land in Mont- gomery county. In 1854 he sold out and started for Texas, but did not at that time continue his journey further than Missouri, where, on account of his wife's ill health, he remained four years. In 1858, she being greatly improved, they continued their jour- ney south and took up their abode in Tarrant
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county, this State. Here Mr. Hightower purchased a tract of land, and soon became extensively engaged in the cattle business. When the war came on he enlisted in the Sixth Texas Cavalry, which was consigned to the Trans-Mississippi Department. A year later his command was dismounted in Arkansas and ordered across the river to Corinth, in which battle he participated. He was also in the battle of Holly Springs, and continued in the Army of Tennessee about six months, after which he recrossed the Mississippi. Soon afterward he was de- tailed as recruiting officer, and later raised a company, of which he was Captain, and with his company entered the Tenth Texas Regi- ment and remained on duty until the close of the war. At the time of the surrender he was at Dallas, and from there returned home. During all his service he was neither wound- ed nor captured, but on one occasion had his horse killed under him. He was bitterly opposed to secession and voted against it, and, out of his company of 112, only three voted for secession. .
The war over and its results accepted, Mr. Hightower resumed life on his farm. His stock had nearly all been killed or taken during the war, and after his return home he gathered up what were left and ere long se- cured ånother start. In 1870 he went to Kansas, taking with him 600 head of cattle, and continued in the stock business there for ten years, still, however, holding his land in Tarrant county. He came back in 1880, and since that time has resided on his farm.
He owns 200 acres of choice land, forty of which are under cultivation, the rest being used for stock purposes.
Mr. Hightower's parents, Hugh and Delia (Hicks) Hightower, were natives of Tennessee, and, as above stated, moved from there to Illinois. The father was a carpenter and farmer, and was a man who was held in high esteem for his many excel- lent traits of character. He died in Iowa, at the age of seventy-four years, while on a visit to that place; his widow survives him, her home being in Illinois. Great-grandfather Hightower and a brother came to America from Scotland, their native land, their object in emigration being to secure relig- ious freedom. They settled in South Caro- lina. The Hicks family is of Irish origin. They were among the early settlers of Ten- nessee. Ten children constituted the High- tower family, and of this number the sub- ject of our sketch is the only one who came to Texas.
Mr. A. M. Hightower has been twice married. His first wife, née Sarah Grant- ham, was a daughter of German parents who lived on a farm near Hillsborough, Illinois. She bore him six children, namely: James, a farmer of Tarrant county; Daniel, a merchant of Fort Worth; Sarah, wife of A. B. Clark; Melvina, deceased, wife of T. H. Wagoner; Mary M., wife of S. P. Thrower; Katy, wife of William Meecham, a farmer of this county; and Joseph, who died when young. The mother of these children passed away in 1876. She was a consistent
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member of the Methodist Episcopal Church from her twelfth, year and was a woman whose beautiful Christian character endeared her to all who knew her. In 1878 Mr. High- tower married Miss P. V. Ridgway, daughter of C. W. Ridgway. Her father was a native of Ohio and her mother of Virginia, their mar- age occurring in the former State, and in Lebanon, Ohio, he was engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1870, when he moved to Kan- sas and settled near Dexter. Mr. Ridgway continued merchandising in Kansas for four or five years, and since then has resided on a farm. His children, nine in number, are all in Kansas except two, viz .: Zetta, wife of George Caliston, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Hightower. Mr. Hightower and his present wife have three children: Ernest, Frank, and Virginia.
He is a Master Mason and both he and his wife are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In his political views he is independent, voting for the man rather the party.
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EORGE L. MARLOW, of the firm of Marlow Brothers, proprietors of a livery, feed and sale stable on the corner of Rusk and Fourth streets, Fort Worth, was born in Decatur county, In- diana, January 9, 1858, the eldest of eight children born to James M. and Sarah (Hal- sted) Marlow, natives also of Indiana. Their children are as follows: George L., Henry, Lewis, Emaline, John, Robert, Lil-
lie, and Lizzie. All still reside near the old home but three.
George L. Marlow, the subject of this sketch, came to Texas at about the age of eighteen years, and began dealing in stock. In February, 1886, he came to Fort Worth, where he was soon afterward joined by his family, and in October of that year he em- barked in the livery business. He after- ward bought the property on the corner of Rusk and Fourth streets, continuing in the business there until October, 1891, when the property was entirely destroyed by fire, and, having only a small insurance, his loss was very heavy. In the following January Mr. Marlow built a larger and finer barn. The firm is composed of George L., William H. and Robert M. Marlow, and they now own the entire block, but, this proving in- adequate, they are arranging to enlarge the building.
In February, 1885, Mr. Marlow was united in marriage with Miss Mary E., a daughter of Nathan Anderson, a native of Virginia, but now a resident of Greensburg, Indiana. To this union have been born five children, -Alta F., Rosa E., William H., Sarah M., and Margaritte. Mr. Marlow has been a life-long Democrat.
W. JONES, ESQ., has long been identified with the interests of Tar- rant county, Texas, and has served the public most efficiently in many capaci-
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ties. A sketch of his life is therefore of in- terest in this work, and is as follows:
L. W. Jones was born in Christian county, Kentucky, June 1, 1817, and at the age of twelve years moved with his parents to Mor- gan county, Illinois. His early life was passed on the farm, and his education was obtained in private schools. When he was fifteen the death of his mother broke up the home, and after that he worked out as a farmhand, continuing thus employed un- til 1837. That year he married and settled down on rented land. He also engaged in brick-making and brick-laying, which he continued, in connection with his farming operations, until 1852, the time of his re- moval to Texas. Upon his arrival in Texas he took a homestead claim of 284 acres in Tar- rant county, where he still lives. This land was at that time all wild prairie, and there was only one family west of his place. Birdville was the county seat of Tarrant county, and was his postoffice. The surrounding country abounded in wild game,-deer, turkeys and bears. Three years later Parker county was organized and some other settlements estab- lished. In November, 1853, Mr. Jones built a cabin on his claim and moved into it, making it his home until 1856. At that time he rented his farm and moved to the village of Birdville, where he and a partner opened a shop for cabinet-work, repairing, etc. They did all kinds of work in their line, including the manufacture of coffins, and continued to do a successful business until the outbreak of the civil war, when he
returned to his farm. In 1856 he was elected Justice of the Peace for his precinct, which exempted him from service in the war. How- ever, he was for a short time in the State service, and while there was petitioned by the war widows and others to come home, as his presence in the neighborhood was a protection to the widows and children, and also his skill in repairing looms and doing like work of great value. He continued as Justice for thirty years, up to 1890. For four years after the war he was also Notary Public and Coroner, and he still acts as Notary Public. A comfortable residence has long since taken the place of the primitive cabin, seventy acres of his land are under cultivation, and he is well situated, and here expects to spend the rest of his days.
Esquire Jones is one of a family of eight, his parents being Lewis W. and Frances (Bobbitt) Jones, the former of Welsh descent, and the latter of Irish. Lewis W. Jones was born in Virginia, son of Samuel Jones, also a native of that State, and a veteran and pensioner of the Revolu- tionary war. Samuel Jones died in Illinois in 1839. He was a farmer by occupation, and in religion was a member of the Primi- tive Baptist Church. The maternal grand- father of our subject, Isom Bobbitt, was a native of South Carolina, as also was Mrs. Jones, and he moved from there to Ken- tucky and settled on a farm, where Mr. and Mrs. Jones were married. Mr. Bobbitt subsequently removed to Morgan county, Illinois, where he died. The names of the
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eight children of Lewis W. and Frances Jones are as follows: Elizabeth, wife of M. O. Woosley, of Kentucky; Delila, wife of J. Pyle, died in Illinois; Mathew W., a resident of Kansas; Henry C., who died in Texas, L. W., whose name heads this ar- ticle; Samuel B., a resident of the State of Washington; Frances W., wife of R Pyle, died in Missouri; and Nancy C., wife of John Guthrie, of Kentucky.
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