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 69
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 69
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
Mr. Young was married in 1877 to Miss Louisa E. Holt, a native of Tarrant county, Texas, and a daughter of William Holt, a native of Tennessee. He came to Texas about 1858, was a farmer by occupation, and but little is known of the history of the family. Mr. and Mrs. Holt are both now deceased, the former dying about 1862. Mr. and Mrs. Young have five children, - Mary L., James B., William, Ethel and Ruth. Mrs. Young is a member of the Christian Church. Our subject takes an
active interest in political matters, and was identified with the Democratic party, but is now independent.
J OHN T. SLATER, Crowley, Texas, is ranked with the prominent and influential farmers of Tarrant county; and as such we take pleasure in presenting a sketch of his life in this work, which is devoted to the representative men of the county.
John T. Slater was born in Macon county, Missouri, November 25, 1843. When he was nine years old death robbed him of a father's care and protection. He remained on the home place with his mother, working on the farm and attending school, until the great war between the North and the South came on. In 1862 he enlisted under Poindexter, whose forces patrolled a portion of Missouri, and had a fight on Grand river, where they were defeated. A few days after this fight, Poindexter dis- banded and set his men free, and they re- turned home. The Federal authorities, fearing the bushwhackers, called for all of Poindexter's men to come in and be paroled, and thus got them to St. Louis, where they were imprisoned six weeks. They were then taken to Alton and held six weeks longer, after which they were paroled. At this time, instead of returning home, Mr. Slater went to California, making the journey overland with a drove of mules, and remaining in the Golden State until after
OR
61.1
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
the close of the war. During the three years he was in California he was engaged in freighting.
Upon his return to Missouri Mr. Slater bought a tract of land in Monroe county and engaged in farming; and in December of the following year he was married. Soon afterward he sold out and moved to Randolph county, where he purchased a farm and lived until 1883. That year he disposed of his property there and came to Texas and settled in Tarrant county. Here he bought 465 acres of prairie land and fifty-six acres of timber. A temporary house had been built on this tract and some of the sod had been broken, and from the time he settled here he has carried on the work of improvement and development until now he has one of the best farms in his vicinity. Among the most notable improve- ments he has made is the commodious and attractive residence which he built a few years ago, and to his original land purchase he has added 300 acres more. He now has 350 acres under cultivation, a small portion of it being rented, and he and his sons culti- vating the rest. Wheat, corn and oats are his principal products. He raises some stock, cattle chiefly, and fattens for market.
Mr. Slater was the sixth born in the family of seven children of Edward and Delia (Templeman) Slater, natives of Virginia, who went to Missouri in 1840 and settled on a farm. There the father died in 1852. Grandfather Edward Slater was a native of Ireland. He emigrated to America at an
early day and settled in Virginia. The mother of our subject is still living. She was born December 11, 1811, and is now a resident of Oklahoma. She is a devoted Christian and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, as was also her husband. Of their seven children we make record as follows: James, died in 1891 ; Samuel H., was killed while in the Con- federate army; Virginia C., wife of Thomas Fedford, lives in Oklahoma; Andrew K., died when young; Betty C., wife of W. K. Christian, is deceased; John T .; and Fred- erick B., a druggist of Moberly, Missouri, is deceased.
John T. Slater married Miss Mattie Pickett, who was born in Missouri, in June, 1857, daughter of Samuel Pickett. Her father, a farmer by occupation, was born in Kentucky and died in Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Slater have three sons, all at home, - Estell T., Emmett J., and Fred B. The whole family are members of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, South, and Mr. Slater is a Steward in the church. Politi- cally he is a Democrat.
ENRY WASHINGTON WILL- IAMS, M. D., was born and reared to manhood in middle Georgia, be- ing the son of James P. Williams, who was a son of David Williams, a pioneer settler in Meriwether county, Georgia. H. W. Will- iams' mother . was Mary Jane (Gore) Will- iams, daughter of Henry Gore, who was a
20
XT
612
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
pioneer settler in the Armuchee valley, Walker county, Georgia, where he owned one of the finest farins in that county, being widely and favorably known. throughout north Georgia, and being considered one of the best farmers in the State. The Gore and Williams ancestors were all well-to-do people of Scotch origin.
Henry W. Williams was born in 1839, was educated at the home schools and finished his scholastic discipline in Armu- chee valley, near the home of his grand- father Gore, at a select school taught by Professors Scott and Stout. He later grad- uated in medicine at the New Orleans School of Medicine, and practiced the profession a few years in Georgia. The war coming on he was drawn into the trouble, enlisting in Company B, of the Fourth Georgia Bat- talion, later the Sixtieth Georgia Regiment, first under Colonel William H. Stiles. The regiment was in General A. R. Lawton's Georgia brigade when it first saw service in Virginia. It was then commanded for a time by General John B. Gordon, and later by General Clement C. Evans. H. W. Williams entered the army as a private and served in that capacity for two years, partici- pating in the many sanguinary battles fought by the brigade during that time. In 1863 he passed examination before the army med- ical board and was assigned the position of assistant surgeon of the Fifth North Caro- lina Regiment, and served in that capacity until the surrender at Appomattox. He was severely wounded at the battle af Bethsaida
Court House, Virginia, where General Dale was killed. When he became assistant sur- geon he ranked as Captain. After the war he returned to his home in central Georgia, where he conducted his farm successfully until 1873, when he came to Sherman, Texas, where he engaged in the drug busi- ness, and where he remained for ten years, accumulating a snug little fortune.
The growth of his business demanded a larger as well as a more central location, and in 1883 he transferred his business to the growing city of Fort Worth, where his business has been steadily growing ever since. He sustained a heavy loss by fire in the spring of 1894. He does the largest drug business in the State, the same being entirely wholesale. He is a calm, clear- headed, courteous business man. He has never been concerned in "booms " or wild speculations, but has devoted his time and en- ergies strictly to his business. He carries on an average about $100,000 worth of stock, employing thirty-five men. He utilizes three entire floors of a building 75 x 200 feet in dimensions. His average annual sales amount to $500,000, and in fairly good times reach $600,000, and his trade is steadily increasing. He has recently purchased the entire stock of a wholesale drug house in Dallas and re- moved all to his large house in Fort Worth.
He is broad and liberal in his views and thoroughly American. He is generous to all enterprises tending to help the city and his fellow-citizens, and is vice-president of the Farmers' and Mechanics' Bank.
1
613
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
Mr. Williams was married in 1866 to Miss Amanda E. Stoay, daughter of James A. Stoay, of Harris county, Georgia. Two sons are the result of this union: Charles S. and H. W., Jr., both of whom are in busi- ness with their father. Mrs. Williams died in 1880. She was a member of the Meth- odist Episcopal Church, South. More than a year later Mr. Williams married Miss Nora L. Harrington, daughter of A. A. Harring- ton, a business man of Sherman, Texas.
S W. HAYS, a member of the firm of Hays Brothers, merchants of Crowley, also deputy Postmaster of the town, was born in Grant county, Kentucky, August 25, 1851, a son of David and Susan (Kendall) Hays, natives of Ken- tucky. The father died several years ago, leaving a wife and children. Our subject re- mained with his widowed mother until he married and located in Texas, where he was joined by his mother and the remainder of the family in 1878. She now finds a home here with her son, J. S. Hays, and is eighty- two years of age. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hays, namely: Elizabeth, deceased; Joseph S., engaged in business with his brother; Alice, deceased; S. W., the subject of this sketch; and Susan.
S. W. Hays spent his boyhood days on a farm, attending the common schools, and remained with his parents until his marriage in 1877. In the same year he located on
an unimproved farm in Johnson county, Texas, afterward adding ninety acres to the original purchase, and now owns 260 acres, where he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. In 1887, in partnership with his brother, J. S. Hays, our subject opened a dry-goods store at this place. They carry a general stock of all that is needed by the farming community. Mr. Hays is also deputy Postmaster of Crowley. The town is located thirteen miles south of Fort Worth, on the Santa Fe Railroad, and was built at the same time as the road.
February 22, 1877, Mr. Hays was united in marriage with Matilda Griffing, born in Kentucky, March 4, 1851, a daughter of A. R. Griffing, a native also of Kentucky. He was a prominent and influential citizen, and was engaged in farming and dairying on Griffing Ferry, named in his honor, but the name was afterward changed to Alexander's Station. He was a strong Prohibitionist, a noted Mason, and an Elder in the Christian Church. He came to Texas in 1886, locat- ing in Johnson county, and his death oc- cured two weeks after his arrival. His widow still resides on the farm he had pur- chased in that county. Mr. and Mrs. Grif- fing had twelve children, of whom five are in Texas, two in Kansas, one in the Nation, one in Kentucky and two deceased, namely: Major (who was killed in the late war), Mis- souri, Mary, Sarah, Matilda, Bruce, Flora, Lute, W. R., and Carry. Our subject and wife have seven children, -Ira C., Samuel Earl, A. Ross, Louis N., Clyde G., Harley
1
614
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
H., Temple P. Mr. and Mrs. Hays are. members of the Christian Church, in which the former is an Elder. He was formerly a Democrat, but now votes with the Popu- lists. He has served as Treasurer of the Johnson County Alliance four years, and has been President of his Sub-Alliance five years.
J OHN H. CAFFEE, a farmer, resid- ing near Kennedale, Tarrant county, Texas, was born in Jackson county, Missouri, September 3, 1854. When he was two years old he was taken by his parents to Kansas. Three years later the family returned to Missouri, and in the fall of 1860 they removed to Texas, first locat- ing in Grayson county, and in 1863 coming to Tarrant county. Here the subject of our sketch was reared on a farm and was edu- cated in the common schools, remaining under the parental roof until the time of his marriage, October 7, 1874. Since 1882 he has owned and occupied the farm on which he now lives. At the time he purchased it the only improvements were a cabin and a little clearing, eight acres being under culti- vation. He now has good buildings, or- chard, etc., and cultivates seventy acres, his crops consisting of cotton, corn and a variety of vegetables and fruits, most of which he markets at Fort Worth. He raises some stock, enough for the support of his farm.
Mr. Caffee's father, Benjamin Caffee, a
native of Kentucky, went from that State at an early date to Missouri. In Jackson county, Missouri, he engaged in farming, and while there was married to Catherine Ritter, a native of Virginia, whose parents were among the early pioneers of Missouri. Mrs. Caffee died in Kansas about 1858, leaving two sons, the subject of our sketch and William A., also a farmer of Tarrant county. After his settlement in Texas, Benjamin Caffee continued his farming oper- ations, being a resident of Tarrant county up to the time of his death, March 21, 1885. During the late war he served two years, under General Price, being discharged at the end of that time on account of failing health.
The subject of our sketch has been twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Louisa Brooks, was left an orphan at an early age and was reared by Robert Ritchie. They had six children, two of whom died in infancy. The mother died July 25, 1889. She was a consistent inem- ber of the Methodist Church, and her life was adorned by many Christian graces. The four children living are as follows: Ben- jamin F., born August 16, 1875; Mabel M., December 1, 1877; Allie N., February 23, 1882; and Josephine, March 17, 1886. April 30, 1891, Mr. Caffee wedded Miss Eunice Williams, who was born in Tarrant county, Texas, June 4, 1872, daughter of L. G. and Delia Williams, the former a native of Georgia and the latter of Illinois. The Williams family came to Texas some
911
615
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
time in the '50s, and are now residents of Clay county.
Mr. Caffee has always been an ardent Democrat, but has never aspired to official position nor has he ever held office. He is a Master Mason, and he and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.
OLONEL J. P. SMITH. - The his- tory of Fort Worth would be in- complete without the life record of this gentleman. He was born in Owen county, Kentucky, September 16, 1831, and comes of an old family of that State. His grandfather, James Smith, married Betsey Sanders, in Fayette county, about 1785, the lady being a daughter of John Sanders, a native of Spottsylvania county, Virginia. His father, Hugh Sanders, married Jane Craig, and, with a large family of children and slaves, they went to Kentucky in 1782, settling in Garrard county, and, about 1784, removing to South Elkhorn, thence to McCool's bottoms, on the Ohio river, in 1795. In the same year the Smith family located there. . Both the paternal and maternal ancestors of the Colonel were farmers and stock-raisers. His father, Samuel Smith, was born in Carroll county, Kentucky, in 1798, and, in 1828, in Owen county, married Polly Bond, who was born in Scott county, Kentucky, in 1808, the daughter of Robert and Fanny (Sayles) Bond, who emigrated from the Old Domin- ion to the State of her nativity, settling first
in Scott county, then removing to Owen county. In 1838 the parents of our subject became residents of Ohio county, and there both died, near Hartford, in 1844, leaving six children, -H. G., J. P., Louis, R. T., J. H. and Samuel.
Colonel Smith was reared on a farm, and, after the death of his parents, chose W. H. Garnett, his cousin, as his guardian. He had excellent educational privileges, attend- ing the best schools of the neighborhood, then entering Franklin College, in Indiana, where he remained ten months. In Septem- ber, 1850, he became a student in Bethany College of Virginia, at which time Alexan- der Campbell was its president, and there remained three years, sharing in the first honors of the classes in mathematics and ancient languages. He was graduated in 1853, and, in July of that year, returned to his Kentucky home. His cousin had been very kind to him, allowing him to spend his entire patrimony, besides aiding him liberally with his own means, to complete his college course. In November he left his native State, and the following month visited Fort Worth, Texas, and, fascinated with its beauty and surroundings, decided to make it his future home.
In January, 1854, Colonel Smith obtained possession of the old army hospital, for the United States troops had left this place in November, 1853, for Fort Belknap, and there opened the first school held in this city. After three months he was forced to abandon that work, for his health demanded
لاتد أو العرف ى
0
616
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
outdoor exercise, and he turned his atten- tion to surveying, which he followed at in- tervals until 1860, within which time he fully regained his health. He also spent part of his time in reading law with A. Y. Fowler, of Fort Worth, and was admitted to the bar in 1860, since which time he has practiced in the State and Federal courts.
In 1861 he opposed and voted against secession, but when war was inaugurated, deeming his allegiance due first to his own people and his own State, he enlisted in the Confederate army and served until the close of the struggle. He assisted in raising a company of 120 men that was mustered in at San Antonio as Company K, Seventh Texas Cavalry, under Colonel William Steele, and served in New Mexico, Arizona and western Louisiana. He participated with his command in the principal engagements of the Army of Western Louisiana and was at the recapture of Galveston from the Fed- erals, January 1, 1863. He was severely wounded June 23, 1863, near Donaldson- ville, and also slightly wounded at the battle of Mansfield, Louisiana. In 1864 he was inade Colonel of his regiment, which he then commanded until it was disbanded in Navarro county, Texas, May 18, 1865. It at that time numbered 600 troops.
In September of the same year Colonel Smith returned to Fort Worth and resumed the practice of law and the sale of real es- tate, and has since taken an active part in everything pertaining to the upbuilding of the city and this section of the country. . In
1874 he became a partner in the banking house of Tidball, Van Zandt & Company, one of the best and most prosperous bank- ing institutions in the Southwest. In poli- tics he has always been an active Democrat, but never an office-seeker. In 1853 he be- came a Mason, and was one of the charter members of the lodge organized in Fort Worth in 1854. In 1858 he took the Royal Arch degree and served for two years as High Priest of the chapter.
Colonel Smith was married, in Tarrant county, Texas, October 16, 1867, to Mrs. Mary E. Fox, widow of Dr. F. A. Fox, of Mississippi. She was born in Carroll county, that State, February 4, 1841, and was edu- cated in the Yalobusha Female Institute, at Grenada, at which she was graduated in June, 1857. She is of English descent on the paternal side. Her father, James Young, a large planter and slave-holder of South Carolina, removed to Wilkes county, Georgia, where he died, leaving a large family. Her father, James Young, married Sarah, daughter of Robert Beasley, of Wilkinson county, Mississippi, who at one time served as sheriff and afterward as clerk of the Chancery Court of Carroll county, Missis- sippi, and died in 1890. On the maternal side Mrs. Smith is descended from Garner MeCovice, of Williamson county, Tennessee; and her grandmother, Mrs. Fanny Beasley, was a daughter of the well-known Baptist preacher. Mrs. Smith is a lady of superior ability, and, added to her fine education, she has been an extensive reader of history and
一
السعر
617
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
current literature. She is an exceptionally fine conversationalist, and her qualities of mind are only equaled by those of heart, which have endeared her to all who know her. She is a leader in social circles, and her charity and benevolence, her ready sym- pathy and kindliness, have won her the love of a large circle of friends.
She was first married, in April, 1859, to Dr. Fox, in Tarrant county, Texas, and re- turned with him to Mississippi in 1860. He died in 1866, and she then went to live with her parents in this State, continuing with them until her marriage to Colonel Smith. By the first union she had one son, Frank Leslie Fox, who was born July 7, 1862, and died in 1879, a bright young man of much promise, whose great loss was keenly felt by both his mother and the Colonel. He was in his second year in the Agricultural and Mechanical College at Bryan, Texas, when, in December, 1879, he was taken sick with typhoid fever. He was then brought home, but death claimed him. Our subject and his wife have the following children, - James Young, born October 15, 1869; J. P., born May 19, 1873; Florence, born November 14, 1875; William Beal, born November 8, 1878; and S. C., born June 15, 1885.
Both the Colonel and Mrs. Smith are earnest working members of the Christian Church, and are liberal contributors to its support and to charitable and benevolent interests. At the time of their marriage they had very little property, but with brave
young hearts they started out together on what has proved a happy married life, where love and sympathy have grown, and where the joys and sorrows, adversity and pros- perity have been shared by each, and light- ened by the other's love and care. Mr. Smith is a man of most genial and kindly disposition, temperate in all things, and throughout his life has endeavored to follow the teachings of the Man of Galilee, who taught forgiveness, charity and love. He has been ever true to his convictions of right and wrong, naught can be said against his honor and integrity, and he will leave to his children that which Solomon speaks of as rather to be chosen than great riches, -a good name.
.
RICE ARNOLD, EsQ., Benbrook, Texas, is another one of the proin- inent farmers of Tarrant county.
He was born in Howard county, Mis- souri, July 21, 1832, and was reared on a farm, receiving only limited educational ad- vantages. In 1850, at the age of eighteen, he went overland to California, where he engaged in mining, and, after an absence of two years, returned home. In 1857 he again inade the trip to California, this time taking with him a drove of cattle. He re- turned to Missouri in 1859, and in 1861 went to Colorado and entered the mines, remaining there, however, only a short time. That sanie year we find him back in Mis- souri again. In January, 1862, he enlisted in the Confederate army, becoming a mem-
.
L
618
HISTORY OF TEXAS.
ber of the First Missouri Regiment. This regiment was reorganized in Mississippi, and became the Second Missouri. He remained in the service until the close of the war, saw much hard fighting and was in a number of prominent engagements, among which were those of Farmington, Iuka, Holly Springs and Corinth. At Vicksburg he was taken prisoner, was sick at the time, and was sent to parole camp. Afterward he was in cavalry service. He entered the ariny as a private and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. The whole of his service was characterized by true bravery, and, although he was often in the thickest of the fight, he never received a wound.
The war over, Mr. Arnold returned to Missouri, and for two years was engaged in freighting, hauling both freight and passen- gers over the country from Sedalia. In 1868 he settled down to farming on the old home place in Howard county, and con- tinued to reside there until 1878, when he moved to Texas. His first location here was in Fannin county, where he made one crop. Then he came to Tarrant county and bought a tract of 111 acres, which was partly im- proved and which had a house upon it, and to this tract of land he has since added until now he has 300 acres. Fifty acres of his farm are under cultivation. He raises and markets a large amount of hay, and for a number of years has been largely interested in raising cattle. More than a year ago he was appointed a Justice of the Peace, in which office he is serving very efficiently.
Mr. Arnold's parents, John and Katie (Head) Arnold, were both born in Kentucky. John Arnold was the only son of Price Arnold, and was a mere boy when he moved with his father and family.to Missouri. His father's wagon was the first one that was driven into Howard county, Missouri. There the elder Arnold developed a farm and passed the rest of his days and died. John Arnold was reared in Missouri, was a soldier of the war of 1812, and in his declining years received a pension for service in that war. He died at the old homestead in Mis- souri in 1870. Of his family of nine chil- dren we make record as follows: Matthew,
who died in Missouri; Mark, a resident of Linn county, Missouri; Milton, deceased; William, deceased ;. Finis S., of Sedalia, Missouri; John, deceased; Price, the subject . of this article; James T., Pettis county, Missouri; and Annie, wife of George B. Cal- bert, Pettis county, Missouri. The mother of this family died in 1839, and the father was subsequently married again, by his second wife having one child, Jesse H., who is now a resident of Los Angeles, Cali- fornia.
Price Arnold was married in February, 1869, to Miss Sarah Donnohue, who was born in Clark county, Kentucky, January 29, 1840, daughter of John J. and Elizabeth (Barker) Donnohue, both natives of Ken- tucky and both deceased. After her father's death she made her home in Missouri until coming with her husband to Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Arnold had two children, both
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.