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 63
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 63
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The subject of our sketch has been twice inarried. He first wedded Miss Elizabeth M. Lingle, a native of Kentucky, their mar- riage occurring in Illinois. She died in 1859. Of the children of this union we record that William T. died, leaving a widow and three children; Benjamin F. is a black- smith and farmer of Tarrant county; Nancy A., wife of B. Murphy, died soon after her marriage; Frances C. is the wife of N. J. Moore, Kimble county, this State; Nancy J., wife of J. J. Newton, Sutton county, Texas; Mary L., wife of James Goodman, Kaufman county; Louis C., deceased; James H., a farmer and stock-raiser of Arizona; and Samuel L., in Arizona with his brother. In 1862 Mr. Jones married Mrs. Sally M. Chaney, née Hawkins, a native of Tennes- see. She had two children by her first mar- riage, both of whom Mr. Jones reared, and she and Mr. Jones have had four children: Isabell, wife of L. B. Brown, died leaving one child; Laura D., wife of J. A. Winn, Fort Worth; Steven W., engaged in farm- ing in Stephens county, Texas; and John M., at home.
Mr. Jones is a Master Mason and a mem- ber of the Christian Church, while his wife is a Methodist.
J AMES A. ERWIN, a successful farmer of Tarrant county, was born in North Carolina, February 6, 1846, the eldest of nine children born to George W. and Margaret (Henson) Erwin. The father was a son of Colonel James Erwin, a native of Germany, who served through the Revolutionary struggle. He became a noted planter and slave-owner of North Carolina. His family consisted of seven children, namely: Joseph, William, Alexan- der (who was a West Point student), Eliza- beth, Sarah, and George W. T. The last named, who was the father of our subject, moved from North Carolina in 1853, set- tiling, within the same year, in Bedford county, Tennessee, where he became a prominent farmer, and where he died in 1887. He had nine children, namely: James A., our subject; Laura T., wife of Davy G. Rankin, of middle Tennessee; William C., also of that State; M. P., de- ceased in 1882; George B., a farmer of Tennessee; Maggie, wife of P. L. Thorn- ton; Albert S., a farmer of Tennessee; Mary L. ; and Robert L. Erwin, also of Tennessee.
James A. Erwin grew to manhood in central Tennessee, and spent his boyhood days upon a farm, receiving only a lim- . ited education. From 1871 to 1881 he
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resided on and improved a farm in that State, and December 5, of the latter year, came to Texas, purchasing a farm in Tar- rant county. . In 1889 he came to his present place adjoining the city of Mansfield, nine- ty-five acres of which is under a good state of cultivation.
In 1871 Mr. Erwin was united in mar- riage to Miss Sue L. Broiles, born in Ruth- erford county, Tennessee, August 16, 1852, a daughter of. Wilson and Fanny (Hoover) Broiles, also of that State. The father, a farmer by occupation, died there in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Broiles had seven children, namely: Sally; Malinda married T. J. Rob- inson, who died in Tennessee, and she came to Texas in 1885, and now resides at Henri- etta; John M. came to this State in 1881, and now resides at Waco; Edna married E. E. Rankin, a merchant of Arlington; Dr. H. S. Broiles, ex-Mayor of Fort Worth; F. T., of Collin county, Texas; and Sue, wife of our subject. Mrs. Broiles departed this life in 1883, and her husband survived until 1885, both dying in Tennessee. The former was a Daughter of Rebekah, and both were members of the Methodist Church. Mr. and Mrs. Erwin have had eight children, as follows: Ella, wife of W. E. Butler, Clerk of the Court at Fort Worth; David E .; J. Walter; Maggie; Eddie; and W. Burton, at home; and Edna and a twin, the latter dying when young. Mr. Erwin affiliates with the Democratic party, and both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church.
S TERLING P. CLARK, one of the prosperous and enterprising young farmers of Tarrant county, Texas, resides near Fort Worth. He was born in Tarrant county, December 1, 1861, the son of an early settler here and a gallant soldier of the late war. His boyhood days were spent on the farm and his education was re- ceived chiefly at home, attending the public school only a short time. After attaining his majority he engaged in the drug business at Keller, this county, which he conducted about three years, at the end of that time trading his store for cattle and engaging in farming and stock-raising, which he still continues. With the aid of hired help, he now operates a farm of 906 acres, 200 under cultivation, and raises a diversity of crops. In the meantime he served two years as Deputy Sheriff under Captain Richardson, and he himself was brought out as a candi- date for Sheriff, but failed to secure the nomi- nation. He acts with the Democratic party.
Mr. Clark is the youngest in a family of nine children, two born in Kentucky, four in Illinois, and three in Texas, his parents being Presley H. and Jane B. (Johnson) Clark, both natives of Christian county, Kentucky. His grandfather, James Clark, was born in South Carolina, went from there to Kentucky and later to Illinois and to Texas. It was in 1856 that Presley H. Clark came with his family to the Lone Star State, and two years later his father joined him here. The latter, however, returned to Illinois, and there died. While in Illinois
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the father of our subject was engaged in merchandising at Taylorsville, but after com- ing to Texas he located land and gave his attention to farming and stock-raising. When the war came on in 1861, he entered the army as a member of the Sixth Texas Cavalry. After some hard service in the Indian Territory and Arkansas, his company was dismounted and taken to Mississippi and he was in the battle of Corinth. He continued in the Army of the Tennessee until near the close of the war, when, on account of sickness, he returned home. In all his service he was never wounded or captured. After his return home he resumed farming and stock-raising, which he continued until a short time before his death, when he sold out and made his home with his son, Sterling P. He died August 14, 1893, at the age of seventy-seven years. His widow still sur- vives, residing with the subject of our sketch. and now being seventy-five years of age. Five of their nine children died when young, the others being as follows: Sarah A., wife of D. E. Wolf, a farmer of Tarrant county; John W., who died January 2, 1883, and Mattie T., and Sterling P., unmarried.
3 OSIAH N. REED, one of the promi- nent early settlers of Tarrant county, Texas, was born in middle Tennessee, April 1, 1823, and was reared on a farm in Gibson county, west Tennessee, remaining with his parents until he was twenty-four. His education was received in private
schools. In 1847 he was married and set- tled down to farming on his own account, and, in his native State, continued farming operations until 1853. That year he came to Tarrant county, Texas, and bought 160 acres of land from the Government, paying fifty cents per acre for the same, this land being located near where he has ever since lived. He has lived on and developed four different farms, and he now owns three farms, altogether about 700 acres, of which 200 acres are under cultivation.
Soon after coming to Texas Mr. Reed engaged in the stock business in connection with his farming, raising cattle on the shares, and soon having a thousand head. About the time the war broke out a number of people gave their cattle into his charge, and he drove about 5,000 head West to the. Colorado river, where he left them in the care of a hired herder. At the close of the war he found them nearly all gone, and never realized as much as a dollar a head for them. While he himself did not take an active part in the war, he was in the em- ploy of the Government, collecting cattle for the army and branding them with the Con- federate brand.
The war over, Mr. Reed turned his at- tention from the cattle business to the rais- ing of fine horses, and still has a small band of fine horses. Of recent years, however, he has given more attention to farming, grain being his principal product. He raises no cotton. For twenty years his wheat crop has averaged about twenty bushels to the
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acre. His land is now rented to his children. During his early life here Mr. Reed was greatly annoyed by the Indians stealing his stock, and he was in many an Indian raid. On one occasion the Indians shot the horse he was riding, but did not bring him down, and all night afterward the brave steed dashed along, and finally landed Mr. Reed at a place of safety.
At the time Mr. Reed located here he was on the extreme frontier, his location be- ing nine miles northwest of Fort Worth. Two or three families had settled between him and the fort, and one man in what is now Wise county. These early pioneers endured all the privations and hardships of the frontier, and none are better versed in pioneer days and pioneer ways than is Mr. Reed.
Mr. Reed was the third born in the family of seven children of Samuel H. and Elizabeth (Park) Reed, natives of Georgia, and early settlers of Tennessee. Hugh Reed, our subject's grandfather, and his brothers, served through the Revolutionary war, the latter also serving in the Indian wars and the war of 1812. The names of the seven children above referred to are as follows: Mary, Harvey, Henry, Josiah N., Margaret, Cyntha, and Robert. Only four of this number are now living, three of them residing at the old homestead in west Ten- nessee.' The mother died in 1845 and the father in 1875.
Mr. Reed was married, in 1847, to Miss Martha Connell, daughter of William Con-
nell, of Tennessee. They had twelve chil- dren, nine of whom grew up, namely: Eliz- abeth, wife of J. II. Simmons, of Tarrant county; Matilda, wife of E. G. Barnett, Wise county; Benton, Tarrant county; Adda, wife of James Fitzgerald, Wise county; Samuel, Wise county; Azela, wife of Robert Ray, resides at the old home place; Robert, Wise county; Parks, at home; and Rosa, wife of G. W. Barnett. The de- voted wife and loving mother passed away September 18, 1894. She was a consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and her life was adorned by many Christian graces. Mr. Reed is also a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He cast his first presidential vote for James K. Polk, and has ever since been identified with the Democratic party.
Such is a brief sketch of one of the worthy pioneers of Tarrant county.
J C. BROWNFIELD, a well-to-do farmer residing in the vicinity of Smithfield, Tarrant county, Texas, is one of the early settler of his neighbor- hood.
Mr. Brownfield was born in Pennsyl- vania, near Pittsburg, November 28, 1820. He spent his early life on the farm, and ob- tained his education at Uniontown College. After completing his education he taught school in his native State. Then he went West, and spent four years in Iowa, and four years in Missouri, teaching school and -
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trading in land at both places, and from Missouri he came to Texas in 1860, and located in Dallas, where he taught school. In June, 1859, while in Missouri, he bought the tract of land, 560 acres, where he now lives, this part of the country being then all wild land.
In 1862 Mr. Brownfield entered the Confederate service as a private in Stone's Second Rangers, and was placed on duty in Louisiana. Near the first of June, while on the Mississippi river, he was taken prisoner and sent to New Orleans with about 700 other prisoners. Some time later he was taken to Fortress Monroe, thence to Peters- burg, and from there to Richmond. From Richmond he came back to Dallas. He was arrested several times and even threat- ened with death if he did not return to the army, but he never returned, and the mat- ter was finally dropped. He was at this time looked upon as a Yankee.
In 1864 Mr. Brownfield moved to his present location and settled in a cabin, there being few settlers in this locality at that time. He has since bought and sold land to some extent, but his chief attention has been given to the cultivation and improvement of his home farm, 100 acres of which he now has under a high state of cultivation. His log cabin lias long since been replaced by a commodious residence.
Mr. * Brownfield is the eldest of the eleven children of Bazil and Sarah (Collins) Brownfield, natives of Pennsylvania. Grand- father Robert Brownfield settled in southern
Pennsylvania at an early day. Some of the older Brownfields were participants in the Revolutionary war and were divided in their opinions, some of them being considered Tories and called the "King's men." Of the family of eleven children, only three are now living. Only one besides our subject came to Texas, namely, Sarah, wife of W. F. Core, and she died in Wise county. One brother and one sister are yet living in Pennsylvania.
J. C. Brownfield was married in Penn- sylvania, in 1846, to Miss Martha Schipp, daughter of David Schipp, a native of the Keystone State, and of German descent. He was a contractor in stone and brick work. Through one branch of the family she traces her ancestry back to a Mr. Brown, a Quaker, who came to America with the.
noted William Penn. Her parents had six children. The whole family moved to Missouri and settled in Grundy county, and she is the only one who came to Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Brownfield have had nine children, a record of whom is as follows : Margaret, deceased wife of William Vancleve, a farmer residing near Gonzales; Susan, deceased wife of C. Boone, of Tarrant county; Emily, wife of J. M. Edwards, a Tarrant county farmer; Virgil, engaged in farmning and stock-raising in Nolan county, Texas; Har- riet, wife of Elias Wileby; Joseplı, a cattle- man of Nolan county; William Ellis, en- gaged in the cattle business; Mattie, who died when young; and Marion, who died at the age of eighteen.
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Mr. Brownfield has always taken an in- terest in public affairs, but has never aspired to office. He votes the Prohibition ticket and is in favor of women's rights. Both he and his family are members of the Univer- salist Church.
Such, in brief, is a sketch of the life of one of Tarrant county's early settlers and most worthy citizens.
a OLONEL . RICHARD MOORE WYNNE, of Fort Worth, Texas, is universally recognized as one of the leading men of the Lone Star State, having won a prominence in the legal pro- fession which can only result from splendid ability and the highest merit. As an advo- cate he has no superiors and few equals in his profession. From his boyhood he has been a leader, whether among his school- mates, his army comrades, in business, or in social life; and his commanding talents and devotion to principles will win him still higher honors, for he is in the prime of life.
Colonel Wynne is a native of Tennessee. He was born in Haywood county, on the 2d day of June, 1844. His parents were W. B. and Sarah A. (Moore) Wynne. Soon after his birth his family moved to Rusk county, Texas, in which place his boyhood was spent on the farm of his father. In the village of Bellevue, he began his education which, though limited, has been largely sup- plemented by extensive and liberal reading and the experience of an active life.
When the war between the States be- came inevitable young Wynne, then just seventeen years of age, filled with patriotic devotion for what he believed to be right, went to the front in defense of his country and section; and, on many long and weary marches and many bloody fields of battle, proved himself the peer of the bravest of his chivalrous comrades. For meritorious con- duct on the field of battle his comrades promoted him to a Lieutenancy while he was yet a boy, and by unanimous petition he was assigned to the command of Com- pany B, in the Tenth Texas Regiment, dur- ing the Georgia campaign. At the battle of Murfreesboro he was severely wounded, be- coming disabled for some months for active service; and again at the last battle of Nashville, when Hood made his famous raid into Tennessee, he was again severely wounded. The effect of this wound was to permanently deprive him of the use of his right arm and the partial use of his right leg. At this battle he was left on the field wounded, and fell into the hands of the Fed- erals. He was confined in Northern prisons, thus disabled and helpless, until the close of the war, persistently refusing to take the oath of allegiance to the Federal Govern- ment as long as there was a Confederate flag floating. On both sides of the line in that dark and bloody conflict there were mnen who stood to their colors amid shot and shell, where the hot breath of war was spreading carnage and death, with a heroism unsurpassed in any age or by any people.
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Among the most devoted of these was young Wynne, who never missed a scout, march or battle until he was struck down and perma- nently disabled.
In the winter of 1865 he returned to his desolated home, impaired in health by rea- son of his exposure and long confinement in Northern prisons, and almost a physical wreck by reason of his wounds; but he accepted this as the fate of war, and with the same undaunted courage which he had for years displayed as a soldier he adjusted himself to the new conditions, and at once seized the broken threads of his young man- hood. The South was in a chaotic condi- tion. Desolation brooded like the pall of death over once proud and happy homes, ravaged by war and impoverished by the destruction of her property.
Young Wynne sat not down to mourn or lament. With the energy and fortitude of a dauntless manhood, he began the battle of life. He made the race for Sheriff of his county when just eligible for the position, his opponents being the Major of his regi- ment and a private soldier in his company. Winning his election he served three years, or until he was removed by the reconstruc- tion acts of Congress. Still, with a courage worthy of emulation, he embarked in agricul- tural pursuits, although still suffering from his wounds, his right arın being withered and useless. Through the day he labored on his farm, and at night read law, studying systematically and earnestly until he was deeply grounded in the principles of the
law. He was admitted to the bar in 1870, and at once entered into an active practice in the town of Henderson, where he was soon recognized as one of the most success- ful lawyers at that bar, at which somne of the most eminent men of the State practiced. His powers of oratory, together with close and systematic investigation and strong com- mon sense, have been the leading factors in this man's marked success. He challenges the respect of the court by his candor and fairness, and sways juries by his fervid elo- quence and convincing logic.
Turning from the public career to the private life of Colonel Wynne, we note that on the 23d day of January, 1867, he was married to Miss Laura B. Kelly, daughter of Hon. William C. Kelly, one of the most dis- tinguished and influential men of his sec- tion; he was a member of the Secession Con- vention of Texas, and took a conspicuous part in that body. Mrs. Wynne is a native Texan, and a woman of strong individuality and highly cultured, and of marked intellectu- ality and refinement. With the characteristic chivalry of the true Southern man, Colonel Wynne ever acknowledges his indebtedness to his wife for much of his success.
His natural fitness for leadership and his familiarity with public affairs challenged the attention of the people among whom he lived, and in 1880, unsought by him, he was elected to the State Senate of Texas, where he quickly went to the front as a legislator, and no man in that body had more influence: His uniform courtesy and liberality won him
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friends fast, who have abided with him. He was one of the five men who drafted and for- mulated the bill creating the University of Texas, and so well and wisely did they work that said bill has never been amended ex- cept in some minor details. He also be- came conspicuous in his efforts to regulate railway corporations. He advocated the three-cents-a-mile bill, which became a law, and the passage of a law creating a railroad commission, which has in later years become so prominent in Texas politics. In 1882 he made the race for Attorney General and was defeated by only a small majority. In his speech of withdrawal from the convention Colonel Wynne was most happy and cap- tured the convention, and though defeated in fact, it was conceded by all that he snatch- ed victory out of defeat, and from that day his leadership has been unquestioned. It was in 1886 that he was made permanent President of the State Convention and added to his already growing influence by his ability and tact in controlling men under excitement incident to a hot political contest.
He has for some years been often spoken of in connection with the office of Governor of his State, and many of the best citizens and most influential men of the State would give him an enthusiastic support. It is conceded by all that should he be elected to that high position, Texas would prosper and progress under his broad and liberal admin- istration,for no man is more loyal to his State and people and takes a deeper inter- est in their general welfare.
It was in 1883 that Fort Worth gained Colonel Wynne as one of its most valued citizens. He sought a wider field of useful- ness, and found it in his present home, where, at the bar, he stands among the foremost, while from the public is accorded him a large clientage. His life record is certainly one of interest, demonstrating what can be accomplished by resolution, perseverance and strict adherence to sound business principles. Reared as a farmer, trained on the field of battle, he entered upon a struggle to overcome difficulties and obstacles which would have overwhelmed many a less resolute man. He then became leader at the bar and in the political world of Texas, but through all his career has ever been such as to win and retain the respect of the best citizens of his adopted State.
3 AMES H. EASTMAN, Keller, Texas, is one of the prosperous farmers and respected citizens of Tarrant county. Mr. Eastman was born in Jackson coun- ty, Michigan, August 26, 1836, and. in that county spent the first eighteen years of his life, working on the farm and attending the common schools. Then, in 1854, he ac- companied his father to Texas. They brought with them a herd of sheep and located in Denton county, or, rather, he remained in Denton county in charge of the sheep while his father returned to Michigan. A year later, however, the father returned to Texas, and the two continued the stock business
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together until the outbreak of the civil war. In 1861 James H. enlisted on the Confeder- ate side, was consigned to the Army of Ten- nessee, and at Corinth his squadron joined Morgan's brigade. He was with Morgan until they were captured in Ohio. Mr. Eastman was first taken to Indianapolis, and soon afterward to Chicago, where he was held a prisoner twenty-two months, after which he was sent to Richmond and released, from there returning home.
At the opening of the war Mr. Eastman and his father had 3,000 sheep and 600 cattle, and upon his return, at the close of that sanguinary struggle, he found that their stock had nearly all been stolen or killed and their property confiscated, and, more than that, his father had been run out of the country. James H. was then variously em- ployed in Texas until 1866, when he joined his father, who had settled on a farm in Pettis county, Missouri. In November of the following year, 1867, he was married there, and after his marriage his father gave him forty acres of land. To this he added by purchase another forty acres. He im- proved his farm and resided on it until 1870, when he sold out and came back to Texas. That year he pre-empted 160 acres of the farm on which he has since lived, and to which he has added until it now comprises 640 acres, 125 of which are under cultivation, his crops being diversified. For a number of years Mr. Eastman has operated thresh- ing machines and finds it a paying business. On his land is an artesian well, which affords
an abundant supply of pure water for all purposes. As has already been stated, he began dealing in stock when a boy, and he has all these years been more or less inter- ested in stock-raising, now having a fine herd of cattle and a number of miules and horses. When they first came here the Eastmans were called Yankees and were not regarded with favor by many of the early settlers, but in spite of all the discouragements with which he met in the loss of property, etc., our subject finally prospered in the Lone Star State, and is to-day thoroughly identi- fied with its interests and regarded as one of its best citizens.
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