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 73
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 73
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Of Mr. Baker's ancestors, be it recorded that his father, Martin Baker, a native of North Carolina, was a son of David Baker, an Englishman, who emigrated to America at an early day and served as a colonel in the Revolutionary war. Martin Baker was a planter. He came to Texas with his son, Josiah A., and died here a few years later. His family consisted of the following named:
David, Williamn, Josiah A., Susan, Louisa, and Charles. The subject of our sketch and one sister are the only ones of the family in Texas, the latter being a resident of Clay county. Their mother died in Iowa. Her maiden name was Elizabeth Bucanan, and she was a daughter of William Bu- canan, a native of Scotland, their family being somewhat distinguished. One of her brothers was a member of Congress, and three were ministers.
Josiah A. Baker married Miss Catherine Four, who was born the same year he was, and who is still the companion of his joys and sorrows, they having had nearly half a century of happy married life. She is a daughter of Jesse Four, who died in Ken- tucky. Mrs. Baker had one brother, who came to Texas. He went to California before the war. We here state that Mr. Baker was among the first to enlist in the Confederate service when the war broke out. He joined the first regiment made up in the county, a id was mustered in at Old Greshamn South. Getting crippled there, he received a discharge and returned home, and, as soon as he was able, he re-enlisted and was placed on the frontier, where he remained on duty till the war closed.
The children of Mr. and Mrs. Baker are eight in number, all heads of families, name- ly: Dulcena, whose first husband was John Robinson, and whose present husband is Robert Sneed; George W .; William A .; Ivaan, widow of William Morrison; Leona, wife of Dan Gunn; Irazona, wife of Samuel
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McIntire; James R .; and Leetta, wife of Warren Lay.
Mr. and Mrs. Baker have been members of the Missionary Baptist Church for many years, and he is a Royal Arch Mason.
e LIZA J. MILBURN, widow of the late David Milburn, Parsons, Texas, was born in Morgan county, Illi- nois, May 13, 1831.
Her father, Jacob Hufacre, was a son of Jacob Hufacre, Sr., both of whom moved from Kentucky to Illinois at an early day, making the journey on horseback and set- tling in Morgan county, where they engaged in farining. The senior Mr. Hufacre died there at the age of eighty-five years. Mrs. Milburn is one of a family of eleven chil- dren, namely: Simpson, who died in Texas; Warren S., who came to Texas, and after- ward returned to Illinois, where he yet lives; Mrs. Milburn; Alexander, who died in Illi- nois; Josephus H .; William, a resident of Kansas; Mary, deceased wife of David Pear- son; Sarah, wife of William Fisher; Mar- garette, wife of Jonathan Anderson; Jacob, a resident of California; and Hardin T., also of California.
In Illinois, in November, 1851, Eliza J. Hufacre and David Milburn were united in marriage. He was born in Kentucky, Octo- ber 14, 1829, and was left an orphan when quite young. Many of his relatives still live in Kentucky. Mrs. Milburn, however, knows little of their family history. Mr.
Milburn was a self-made man. He started in life with nothing save his own pluck and energy, and by honest industry accumulated a competency, at his death leaving his fam- ily a fine estate.
Mr. and Mrs. Milburn were among the early emigrants to Texas, and their first set- tlement here was in Grayson county. In 1859 they went to Eastland county, where he ranged his stock for fourteen months. During that time the Indians stole his horses and some of his cattle, and virtually broke him up. He had some encounters with the red men, and at one time received an arrow wound, which disabled him for six months. At the end of the fourteen months he took the cattle he had left, -only about $500 worth, -and went to Dallas county. While they were in Dallas county he entered the Confederate service. That was in 1862. He was detailed to repair wagons, and was on duty in Arkansas. While acting in this capacity he was taken sick and was sent home on furlough. He never re- turned. In the meantime his wife had bought a farm in Tarrant county, and had moved there. They lived twelve years on the Tarrant county farm, and from there came to Parker county, where Mr. Milburn spent the residue of his life and died. His estate comprises 500 acres of land, 100 of which are under cultivation, devoted to a diversity of crops. In politics Mr. Milburn was Democratic. He never aspired to official position, but he served most accept- ably in several minor offices. For many
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years he was a member of the Baptist Church, to which Mrs. Milburn also belongs.
Their children are as follows: Francis M .; George; Mary, wife of William Boils; Albert; Ella, who died in 1879, at the age of seventeen years; Katie L., wife of William Daws, Colorado City; Annie, wife of Nathan Judd, -all these born in Texas. Their first child died in infancy, in Illinois. Mrs. Mil- burn's grandchildren number twenty-seven.
AREY N. SISK, deceased, was for many years prominently identified with the interests of Parker county,
Texas.
He was born in Kentucky, in 1845, son of Daniel Sisk, of that State. Daniel Sisk moved with his family to Texas in 1855, and the following year located his land claim where the town of Weatherford now stands. When the county seat was located here he had the town site surveyed and sold off the lots. His wife, née Louisa A. Bunnels, was a native of Lexington, Kentucky. Previous to his coming to Texas Mr. Sisk was en- gaged in merchandising, and after he settled in Weatherford he did a trading business. He remained here until the time of his death. His son, Carey N., was a small boy when the family landed in Texas. In his early life, and in fact up to the time of his death, he was engaged in the cattle business. When he was seventeen he enlisted in the Confederate service, going out as a cavalry- man and being with the forces that operated
in Arkansas and Louisiana. At the battle of Billow Bayou, Louisiana, he was struck in the breast by a ball that passed through his body and was afterward taken out of his back. As soon as he was able he returned home. He rapidly recovered and resumed his old place on the range, riding horseback and taking charge of the cattle.
In 1866 Mr. Sisk was married, and he and his young wife commenced the battle of life together. . He bought a tract of land on Spring creek, where they settled and where they resided up to the time of his death, June 26, 1880. His career was indeed a prosperous one. He superintended his farming operations, dealt largely in stock, was an excellent trader, and accumulated property fast. Besides the farm already re- ferred to, he bought another one on Spring creek, one on Patrick creek, and the one on which Mrs. Sisk now lives. This last named farm, comprising 1,400 acres, 700 acres of which are in the Brazos bottoms, he began improving, but died before he completed his work. His widow has since carried on the work of improvement, has built a commo- dious residence, and has 300 acres of land under a high state of cultivation. She rents all except what her sons cultivate.
Mrs. Elizabeth Sisk, the widow of Carey N. Sisk, was born in Smith county, Tennes- see, January 23, 1842, daughter of M. S. and Maria (Clark) Matman, of Tennessee. Mr. Matinan removed to Texas in 1858 and settled in Parker county, where he spent the rest of his life, and where he died January
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13, 1866, his wife surviving him several years. He was a farmer and trader. Mrs. Sisk is the mother of eight children, namely: Mat, at home; Daniel H .; Laura, wife of T. Waters, of Weatherford; Maggie, widow of A. Lewis, has two sons; Fanny, wife of Charles Poland, a farmer of Parker county; and William, Minnie and Nina, at home.
Mrs. Sisk is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which her husband also belonged for many years.
J OSEPH B. CARNAHAN, a wealthy and influential farmer and stock- raiser of Parker county, Texas, dates his birth in Botetourt county, Virginia, March 8, 1833.
He was the third born in the family of ten children of Willis and Frances (Chewine) Carnahan. Willis Carnahan was a native of Virginia, and moved from that State in 1848 to Kentucky, where he spent the resi- due of his life in agricultural pursuits, and died in 1873. In early life he was a mill- wright. His father had come to this coun- try from Scotland, and his mother, whose maiden name was Gipson, was the daugh- ter of a minister. A record of the ten chil- dren of Willis and Frances Carnahan is as follows: Charles, who served all through the late war and who died in Virginia; Elizabeth, deceased, was twice married, first to James Hand, and after his death to James Carbon; Joseph B .; Mary, deceased; Will- iam, deceased; Sally, wife of Eli Barclay,
Oklahoma; Robert, a farmer on Bear creek, Texas; W. J., also engaged in farming on Bear creek; Lucinda, wife of Clarence Mc- Cowan, Kentucky; and Fannie, deceased.
Until he was sixteen years of age Joseph B. Carnahan's life was spent on the farm. In 1848 he left home to attend school, but instead of entering school he secured work as a teamster, and was thus employed a few years. Next he was employed as an over- seer, and in 1858 he engaged in railroading. Railroading claimed his attention until the war broke out. In 1861 Mr. Carnahan en- tered the Confederate army as a private, and was in the service until the war closed, ever acting the part of a brave soldier and fight- ing for the cause he believed to be just and right. He was with the forces that operated in Virginia, and he participated in numerous engagements. He was captured at Five Forks, made his escape and was recaptured at the same place the same evening. He was never wounded.
Previous to the war Mr. Carnahan had gone to Kentucky, and at its close he re- turned to that State, arriving there in June, 1865. Again he engaged in railroading, and continued in that occupation, off and on, un- til 1888. It was in 1873 that he came to Texas, and his first location here was at . Granbury, Hood county. In 1876 he bought an improved farm of 248 acres, which he subsequently divided with another man. About 1887 he began purchasing other tracts of land. At this writing he owns 330 acres individually, and, in part-
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nership with his brother, W. J., has 1, 000 acres. This brother also owns another tract of 600 acres. Together they have under cultivation 800 acres, the whole of which is operated under their personal su- pervision. Nearly all their land is well fenced. They have given considerable at- tention to the stock business, in which they have met with excellent success, each year marketing large numbers of cattle and hogs. They are now deeply interested in improv- ing their breed of horses and mules. They keep a jack and two stallions, one a Clyde and the other a Percheron, both registered, and they have thirty-five brood mares. Re- cently they made a shipment of four car- loads of fat cattle. Their fine farming lands are centrally located and comprise a portion of the most fertile region of the county, the location being on Bear creek and within convenient distance of Cleburne, Fort Worth and Weatherford.
Mr. Carnahan was first married in Chris- tian county, Kentucky, in 1869, to Miss Mary C. Massy, daughter of George Massy. Her father was a Virginia farmer, who re- moved from the Old Dominion to Kentucky. During the Civil war he took an active part in secession, and at his home in Kentucky he was murdered in a inost cowardly man- ner, the murder being committed by com- inand of his former brother in the church, then an officer of Federal troops! Mrs. Carnahan died March 26, 1878, leaving three children: Robert, who was drowned in Bear creek in 1889, at the age of seven-
teen years; Joseph and William G. Feb- ruary 27, 1879, Mr. Carnahan married Miss Annie E. McConnell, daughter of H. B. McConnell, a resident of this valley. They have had three children, -Annie L., Olive W., and Helen J. The last named died February 1, 1883, at the age of eleven months.
Mr. Carnahan affiliates with the Demo- cratic party and takes a commendable in- terest in public affairs, but has never as- pired to office.
J AMES A. WATSON, a respectable farmer of Tarrant county, was born in Alabama, June 1, 1840, and in 1852 came with his parents to Texas, locat- ing in Fannin county. After raising one crop there they came, in 1854, to Tarrant county, settling near where he now lives. Purchasing 400 acres of land, the father followed agricultural pursuits, and the sub- ject of this sketch therefore grew up on a pioneer farm, and farming has all his life been his occupation.
In 1861 he answered the call to arins for his country, enlisting in the Ninth Texas Cav- alry, which was first attached to the Trans- Mississippi Department. It started for Mis- souri, but while in the Indian Nation, on the way, they had two or three engagements with the enemy, one of which was at Bird's creek ; and then it was ordered to Corinth, Mississippi, where it was dismounted and operated as infantry for about eiglit months.
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After spending some time at Corinth, until that place was evacuated, it returned to the west side of the Mississippi, but after another hard fight it fell back into Mississippi. Eight months later they were again mounted as cavalry, and under Van Dorn, below Grenada, marched to Holly Springs, where it captured a large squad of " Yanks," after which it remained in the Army of Tennessee till the close of the war. After having some skirmishes in this region it went to Dalton, Georgia, and fought through to Atlanta. Mr. Watson was never wounded or captured, and his first furlough home was at the end , of four years' service ; and he was at home at the time of Lee's surrender.
Mr. Watson is the son of Alfred and Mar- garet (Armstrong) Watson, of North Caro- lina. When a young man, Mr. Alfred Wat- son, a farmer through life, went to Alabama and was married in Tennesee. He served many years as School Trustee, and did more than any other man in the county in the cause of public education. He was a prominent local leader in religious work, as a member of the Cumberland Presby- terian Church. His wife, the mother of the subject of this sketch, died in Ala- bama in December, 1850. After that he married again after coming to Texas. He was a slave-owner, and also the possessor of a large tract of land. He died February 12, 1894, aged eighty-four years. He had six children by each marriage, namely : Jane S., who married P. L. Wheeler, and they are both deceased, leaving seven children ;
John, now a prominent farmer of Tarrant county ; James A., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, who died unmarried; Mary, who also died single ; Evaline, who became the wife of John H. Martin and now lives in Brown county, Texas ; Eleanor (first child by the second marriage), who married Hor- ace Copeland ; Sarah, yet unmarried ; Martha, who married Dr. Walter Stovall and lives at West Dallas; Patrick A., still remaining at the old homestead ; Minnie L., now Mrs. Dave Miller, and Eliza, who died young.
Mr. James A. Watson has been married three times, first to Miss Sarah Elliott, a daughter of John Elliott, a farmer who emi- grated from Missouri to Texas in 1851. The two children by this union were Mary E., who died at the age of four years, and one who died in infancy unnamed. Their mother died February 23, 1871, a consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterain Church. In 1872 Mr. Watson married Miss Louisa Bryan, a daughter of John Bryan, of North Caro- lina, who was a farmer that came to Texas before the war and died in 1868. By this marriage there were also two children, - James B., now residing at Arlington, and one that died in infancy. The mother of these children died June 1, 1875, also a mem- ber of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. In 1876 Mr. Watson wedded Mrs. Mary Wright, a daughter of James Crisman, of Pennsylvania, a mechanic who emigrated to Georgia in 1830, and thence to northern Alabama, and finally, in 1875, came to
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Texas, where he died in 1877. By this union there have been no children.
Mr. Watson is interested in the public welfare, forming his own opinions concern- ing men and events, and is a Democrat in his political sympathies. Both he and his wife belong to the Cumberland Presbyte- rian Church.
ILLIAM A. ROBINSON, a prom- inent farmer near Arlington, was born in South Carolina, February 3, 1841, and came with his parents to Texas in 1853, locating in Cherokee county, and a year afterward in Anderson county, and six years after that in Dallas county.
In 1861 he enlisted in Stone's Second Cavalry Regiment, which was assigned to the Trans-Mississippi Department and oper- ated in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. He did much hard service and suffered many and great hardships, being almost daily en- gaged in some skirmish and occasionally in a severe battle, including the resistance to Banks' raid up the Red river for over forty days; but during all his terin of service he was never wounded or captured. At the close of the war he, with his company, had fallen back to Texas, being at Hempstead at the time of the final surrender.
After the war he returned to his father's home, which by this time was at Johnson Station. In 1871 he married and settled on land which he had purchased and had upon it a small improvement, but no house, His
first purchase here comprised 120 acres, and he has added to it until now he has 320 acres; it is black prairie. Besides this he has another farm of 400 acres in cultiva- tion. In 1880 he purchased eighty acres adjoining Arlington and moved there. He has good improvements. As to live stock he raises only a sufficient number of farm ani- mals for home use. In 1885 he engaged in merchandising, which he continued two years.
Mr. Robinson is a son of Randall and Elizabeth A. (Richardson) Robinson, of South Carolina. Randall was a son of Allen Robinson, a Baptist minister of the same State, who was in the ministry for over sixty years, and died at the age of ninety- six years, in South Carolina. Randall Robinson was a merchant and Postmaster at Jolinson Station four years, but his occu- pation was mostly agriculture. His wife died in 1863, and he in 1888, both honored members of society and useful citizens. They had thirteen children, as fol- lows: Sarah A., who married John Ransom; Clarissa. C., who became the wife of J. F. Page; Martha A., who first married L. . G. Holcomb and afterward William Parks; Catherine M., now Mrs. Thomas Presly; Randall R., who died while in the army; William A., the subject of this sketch, was the next in order of birth; Nancy M., who married Silas Pace; John S., who died young; Z. T .; Waddy T .; George M .; and Benjamin F. After the death of the mother of these children Mr. Randall Robinson
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married again, by which marriage there was one child, Elizabeth.
Mr. William A. Robinson, whose name introduces this biographical sketch, married Miss Susanna S. Wyman, born in 1848, a daughter of Elisha S. and Martha (Dan- forth) Wyman, who came from Maine to Texas when this country belonged to Mex- ico, and served as a ranger and through the war for Texan independence, being in many Indian fights. He was taken prisoner by the red savages and his life saved only by the kind intercession of one of them. Later he was released. He became a stock- farmer in Hill county, which then was a part of Robertson county, which comprised many times its present area. Mr. Wyman died in 1853. Mr. Robinson's children are: Larue, Wyman, Emerson R., Bunyan, Allen E., George, Reuben, and Hampton, living, besides four who died in infancy.
In his fraternal relations Mr. Robinson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in his political sympathies is a Democrat; but as to religion he is not a member of any church; his wife, however, and the older children are members of the Baptist Church. This is an honored and highly esteemed family in the community.
J L. MOCK, one of the prosperous farmers of Tarrant county, Texas, is pleasantly located eleven miles north- west of Fort Worth.
He was born at Danville, Kentucky,
January 19. 1841, and spent his youthful days on a farm in that State. He had entered college at Danville before the late war broke out, but he dropped his studies, and in January, 1862, entered John Mor- gan's brigade. He remained with Morgan until captured in Ohio, participating in all the battles and skirmishes in which that general and his forces were engaged. While on the Ohio river young Mock was captured. He was taken to Camp Chase and later to Camp Douglas, and on the 3d of October following his capture he made his escape, all alone, and reached Canada in safety.
After the war closed he returned to his home in Kentucky, and engaged in farming and trading. He resided on a farm in that State until 1876, when he came to Texas and settled on the land he has since owned . and occupied. At the time he purchased this place it was only partially improved. He has since carried on the work of improve- ment and now has a most desirable property, -good buildings and fences and well culti- vated fields, his chief crops being wheat, oats and corn. During all his experience here he has never failed to make a crop of some kind. He raises only enough stock for the support of his farm.
Mr. Mock is a son of John J. and Ellen (Byres) Mock. Grandfather William R. Mock, a native of Virginia, removed to Kentucky at an early day and was among the first settlers of that State. The old Mock homestead at Danville, Kentucky, has been in the family for 130 years, and is
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now occupied by a brother of our subject. Mr. Mock's father carried on farming oper- ations on a large scale and was a slave- owner. He died in Kentucky in 1860 and his wife survived until 1881. They were the parents of eight children, record of whom is as follows: Betty, wife of George Huey; Henry C .; Harriet, wife of F. Nichols; Mary, wife. of A. Rash; Amanda, deceased wife of Grundy Offit; J. L., whose name heads this article; W. R., deceased; and J. D. J. L. is the only one of the family in Texas.
Soon after the close of the war Mr. Mock was married to Miss Mary S. Hide, who was born in Canada, in May, 1841. Very little is known of her people save that she is of Irish descent. They have six chil- dren, all at home, namely: Cleon, Victor, Louie, Nelly, Minnie, and Henry Clay.
Mr. Mock is a substantial Democrat and takes an active interest in public affairs, always giving his influence on the side of justice and right. In 1892 he was elected County Commissioner of Tarrant county, in which position he served so ably that he is again the nominee of his party for this office. Fraternally he is a Master Mason. Mrs. Mock is a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church.
J W. PITTILLO, Weatherford, Texas, is one of the prosperous farmers of Parker county. A brief sketch of his life is as follows:
J. W. Pittillo was born in Lincoln county, North Carolina, Angust 2, 1831. When young he went with his parents to Tennessee, and in White county, that State, he grew to manhood and received a good common-school education. About the time he reached his majority he went to Fulton county, Arkansas, and, in partnership with his brother, was engaged in farming and trading, remaining there about three years. In 1855 he came to Texas. After a stop of nine months in Fannin county, he came to his present location. That was before Par- ker county was organized. He helped in its organization, and was one of the prominent factors in locating the county seat, and, in- deed, he has ever since been prominently identified with its best interests. At an early day there were many roving bands of Indians in this part of the country, stealing stock and committing depredations of vari- ous kinds, and even killing some of the set- tlers. Mr. Pittillo was in some of the raids after them, and took part in some fierce battles with the Indians. As the country became settled the moral element began to hold sway, churches and schoolhouses sprang up, and to-day the county stands as high in morals as any other county in the State.
Soon after his arrival in Parker county, Mr. Pittillo located lands, and for twenty years he gave his attention to stock-raising exclusively, but from that time up to the present he has also carried on farming. He now has 309 acres, eighty-five of which
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are under cultivation, cotton, corn, wheat, rye, etc., being his crops.
James Pittillo, his father, a native of Virginia, a large farmer and slave owner, died in Tennessee. The mother of our sub- ject, née Sarah W. Ward, survived her husband and came to Texas, her death oc- curring in Parker county when she was about seventy years of age. Their family consisted of thirteen children, six sons and seven daughters. Five came to Texas, and all have passed away except the one whose name heads this sketch.
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