Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 120

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1128

USA > Texas > Dallas County > Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas > Part 120

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Dr. Summers was edneated first in the common schools of his native county, and at

the age of twenty-one years entered the Nash- ville College of Medieine, in the elass of 1869, and graduated in the class of 1871. He commenced practice in Franklin county, and later returned to the county of his birth, where he praetieed one season; next he went to Wittsburg, Arkansas, but after six or eight months his health failed, and he returned to Tennessee; then, in 1876, he commeneed praetiee at Barnes' IIill, Tennessee, and in February, 1886, eame to this county, locating at Garland, which was not known at that time. The Doctor was one of the first set- tlers of the place, and ereeted the first drug store in the village. He has since bonght and rebuilt a handsome residence, and also owns a fine farm of sixty acres, all under im- provement. In the fall of 1864, Dr. Som- mers entered the army under General For- rest, and was attached to Captain Walton's battery, and was with Forrest at the fall of Selma, Alabama, and in several minor skir- mishes. After the war he returned home and began the study of medicine, and after three years, from the age of seventeen to twenty-one years, he attended literary schools and also taught school.

Since coming to Texas the Doetor has been very snecessful, having the largest practice of any physician of the surrounding country . In connection with his practice he also pays great attention to the rearing of fine stoek, owning a fine turf horse and a fine trotter. These horses were bred in Tennessee, and the trotter is from a Henry Clay mare, and the pacer is sired by Keema, and from a War- rior horse.

The Doctor has been twice married, first in 1873, to Miss Lula Walker, a danghter of J. L. and Catherine L. (Harwell) Walker, natives of Tennessee. By this marriage there were three children: Alva, Homer and

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Lula, all at home. Mrs. Summers died in 1879, at the age of twenty-seven years, and in 1880 the Doctor married Lillie Walker, a sister of his first wife. They have one child, Sabra. Both Dr. and Mrs. Summers are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South and the former is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Duck Creek Lodge, No. 441. In addition to his other property Dr. Snin - mers owns a handsome drug store, which is conducted by his son, Alva.

HALEM E. SCOTT, a member of the firm of Beaver, Scott & Williams, of Garland, was born in Shelby county, Tennessee, in 1833, a son of E. G. and Cynthia (Elkin) Scott. The father moved to Illinois ni 1838, settling at Mount Vernon, where he engaged in farming; in 1858 he removed to Dallas county, Missouri; in 1868 to Oregon county, same State, and remained there until his death, which occurred in 1886, at the age of sixty-eight years. He was blind for thirty years, and for the last eighteen or twenty years of his life con- ducted a successful mercantile business at Pickneyville, Oregon county, Missouri. He was three times married, first to the mother of our subject, and by this union there were four children, viz .: W. F., deceased; Eliza- beth, deceased, wife of David Taylor, of Missouri; S. E., our subject; and Angeline, deceased. The mother died in 1836, and two years later the father married Lucy, a sister of his first wife, and to this union was born one child, Harriet, now deceased. Mrs. Scott died in 1844, and about 1847 Mr. Scott married again and had one child, Vir- ginia, now the wife of Mr. Crumb, of Kansas. During his life Mr. Scott was a strict Demo-

crat, and was actively identified with that party, but would never accept an office at the hands of his friends. IFis son, W. F. Scott, M. D., was a soldier in the war with Mexico, and served in the division that went to Santa Fé, New Mexico, and participated in several engagements with the Mexicans. He differed from his father politically dur- ing the late war, as he was First Lientenant in the United States army, and served throughout the war.

After the close of the war he returned home and commenced the study of medicine, and before his death had secured a large and Incrative practice at Elbia, Illinois, where his family now residc.

S. E. Scott received a common-school education, and at the age of twenty-one years commenced life for himself. He moved to Jonesboro, Illinois, and engaged in railroading, and was contractor and snr- veyor of the Illinois Central Railroad, under the firm name of Bennett & Seott. During this time he was also engaged in the mercan- tile business at Anna, Illinois, which he con- tinned until 1860, when he sold his interest and moved to Dallas county, Texas. During his sojourn in Illinois Mr. Scott became ac- quainted with ex- President Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, John A. Logan, and many other men of note. After arriving in this county he engaged in farming on rented land until 1860, when he bought a crop that was already under way, and in 1861 commenced clerking in a store at Dallas. He remained in the latter city from May, 1860, to October, 1861, when he moved to this locality, where he put in a crop the next year. In August, 1862, he joined Company I, Thirtieth Texas Cavalry, under Colonel E. G. Gerley and Captain Fayette Smith. He was always on detached service, and during the latter part of

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

the war was in the Commissary Department, but was never engaged in any battles. The last year of the war he received the appoint- ment of purehasing agent for the purpose of buying and forwarding cattle. Mr. Scott was never off dnty a single day from the time he entered the army until the close of the war in 1865.

At the close of the war he had no land and only one horse, and for the first eight years he farmed on rented land, and in 1873 pur- chased 200 acres in Hunt connty, paying $3 per acre for both prairie and timber land. He remained there until 1883, when he traded it for seventy-three acres in the same county, bnt sold the latter place in 1886, and came to Garland, and was the pioneer lumber merchant of this place. He continued this business three years, when he sold out and clerked one year in the store of which he now owns an interest. The present firm was formed in Jannary. 1891, and they are now doing a general mercantile business of about $25,000 annually, and carry a stock of from $5,000 to $10,000. Mr. Scott also owns one of the handsomest residences in the city.

He has been three times married, first in 1854 to Miss Lney A. Bennett, of Union connty, Illinois, and danghter of T. A. and Mary (Nelson) Bennett, natives of Virginia. The father died, and the mother afterward moved to New Orleans, where she subsequently died. Mrs. Scott received a fine education in the latter city, and after the death of her mother she came to Illinois and resided with her uncle. C. B. Waldo, in Marion county. She next lived with her nnele, W. W. Ben- nett, of Jonesboro, where she was married to Mr. Scott. They were the parents of eight children, three boys and five girls, viz .: Will- iam W., who was killed by letting a gun fall from a wagon, and, hitting on the double trce.

it discharged the load in his head; Richard A., who resides in Hunt county, Texas; Nellie, wife of G. W. Dodd, of Lone Oak township, Hunt county; Harry N., a resident of this county; Mary E., wife of Robert Nance, of Catoosa county, Georgia; Nannie B., wife of S. C. Hall; and Ida L., and Lanra, at home. The mother died in 1879, at the age of forty- four years. She was a member of the Method- ist Episcopal Church South, was prominent in church affairs, a Sunday-school teacher, a faithful wife and a kind and indulgent mother. In Jnne, 1880, Mr. Seott was mar- ried to Mrs. Veve Ware, nee Cole, and by his marriage there were three children: Thomas M., Salem W. and Hugh (deceased). Mrs. Scott died in 1888, and in 1889 Mr. Scott married Miss Mary E., a native of Virginia and a school-teacher by occupation, and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Scott for twenty-five years has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is a licensed exhorter in the church and vice-presi- dent of the Dallas Sunday-school Associa- tion. Ile is also a member of the A. F. & A. M., Duck Creek Lodge, No. 441, of which he now holds the office of Chaplain.

ILAS N. LAWLER has been identified with the interests of Texas since 1853. That year he purchased land in Will- iamson county, settled there and cultivated a crop. In 1854, his wife dying, he sold out and went to Limestone county, this State, where he remained with relatives three years. IIe then went to Denton county, bought land and improved a farm, on which he made his home for ten years. In 1869 he came to Dallas connty, and after renting land one year, bought the property on which he now

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

resides. He first purchased 160 acres at $4 per acre, and to this, in 1877, he added another tract of 160 acres, paying for it $9 an acre. His farm now comprises 320 acres and is valued at $40 an acre. It is well im- proved with good buildings, fences, etc., and one-half of it is under cultivation, bis prin- cipal products being wheat, oats, eorn and cotton. Ile also has some stock, chiefly horses and mules.

Mr. Silas N. Lawler was born in Simpson county, Kentucky, November 4, 1822, and was reared to farming pursuits. His father was extensively engaged in farming opera- tions and owned about seventy slaves. After Silas N. grew up he superintended the farm. At the time the war broke out he owned ten slaves himself. When hostilities ceased he found himself the possessor of 160 acres of land in Denton county, a few cattle and two horses. In 1863 he entered the Confederate service; was a body guard at Bonham and other places; was transferred to Baley's regi- ment, then back to Bonham, and from there to the coast of Louisiana, thenee to Bonham again, where he received a furlough to go home. Ten days later he went back to Bonham, and remained until the close of the war. He accepted the results of the war with the best of grace, returned home and resumed his farming operations.

Samuel Lawler, father of the subject of our sketch, was born in Kentucky. James Law- ler, his father, came to this country from Ireland, married a lady in Virginia, and Samnel was the only son born to them. The latter married Miss Mary Neely, daughter of David Neely, who died in Kentucky. Samuel and Mary Lawler were the parents of four daughters and eight sons. One son besides the subject of this sketch resides in Texas -- in Kimball county. The father came to Texas

to visit them, and died in 1870, at the home of Silas N.

Mr. Lawler was first married to Miss Aletha A. Rowland, daughter of Fina Z. Rowland, of Kentucky. Her father came to Texas in 1853; died in Kentucky in 1881. Their union was blessed in the birth of three children,-Samuel E., Finis E. and Silas M., Samuel E. and Silas M. each dying at about the age of nine months. The wife and inother passed away February 24, 1854. March 27, 1857, Mr. Lawler wedded Miss Mary A. Davis, daughter of Patsey Davis, who came from Virginia to Texas in 1854. Eight children were born to them, viz .: James H., Patsey L., John W., Virgil V., Mary B., Aletha A., and two infants who died unnamed.

While a resident of Denton county Mr. Lawler served as Justice of the Peace. He was formerly a Whig, but now affiliates with the Democratie party. He is a Mason, and he and his family are members of the Cum- berland Presbyterian Church.

AVID A. B. FLOYD was born in Ken- tucky, July 28, 1835. His father, John B. Floyd, was a Kentuckian by birth, and was a prominent man in that State. 1Ie served two terms in the Legislature. In 1854 the Floyd family came to Texas and settled in Dallas county, where the father purebiased a large tract of land, for which he paid 84.52 per acre. A pole shanty was on the place and eight acres of land had been broken. He at once began the work of im- provement, hauled lumber from eastern Texas and built the first two-story house in the county. Their first wheat erop averaged forty bushels per acre. After three years of

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

earnest work they had developed a good farm. The father died in 1888, at the age of sev- enty-three years, and the mother is still liv- ing, having reached her seventy-ninth year. They had a family of six children, David A. B., being the oldest. Four of their sons served in the army, and all returned home after the war.

David A. B. Floyd was nineteen years old when he landed in Texas. He subsequently returned to Kentucky, where, in 1861, he was married to Miss Martha E. Cooper, daughter of Linsey Cooper, a member of a prominent Kentucky family. While in that State, Mr. Floyd was drafted by the Federal Govern- ment; but he ran off, went to Canada, worked in the ship yards, and remained there until the war closed. Mr. Floyd is now one of the mnodel farmers of Dallas county, much taste as well as enterprise being displayed in the arrangement of his well-kept premises. He and his wife have tive children, Julia, John L., Mary B., Gip D., and Kit C. Mr. Floyd is associated with the Masonic fraternity and is a member of the Christian Church.

OHN T. SAUNDERS came to Texas in 1852 and located in Dallas county. Soon after his arrival here he purchased 320 acres of land, on which was a temporary building and forty acres under cultivation. After living there two years he sold out and bought the farm on which he now resides. Here he owns 300 acres, 125 acres under cul- tivation and all well fenced. He has im- proved his farm with good buildings, etc., and is comfortably situated. His principal crops are wheat, oats, corn and cotton, and he also raises stock.

Mr. Saunders was born in Logan county,

Kentucky, March 30, 1823; was reared on a farm and received a limited education. Thomas Saunders, his father, was a native of Virginia, and at an early day moved to Ken- tncky, remaining there till the time of his death, abont 1855. Mr. Saunders' mother, nee Mildred Minnus, was a daughter of Rob- ert Minnns, they, too, being natives of Vir- ginia. He is one of a family of eleven children, whose names are herewith given: Nancy, who married Bazil Wood; Robert S., a resi- dent of Kentucky; Elizabeth married John Wood, a Baptist minister; Matilda married Randolph Hughs; Martha, deceased; Mary, also deceased; John Thomas, the subject of this sketch; Drury, a resident of Kentucky; Susan, who married Richard Salmons; Sally, who married Dr. Cross; and David, who died in infancy. The father and mother are both dead.

Mr. Saunders lived with his parents until the time of his marriage. In November, 1843, he wedded Miss Fanny Huffhines, a daughter of John Huffhines of Kentucky. Her father came to Texas in 1853. Mr. Sanders then rented land and engaged in farming in his native State, continuing there until 1852, when he emigrated to Texas. When he came here he had a team and wagon and but very little money. He went earnestly to work and was getting along nicely when the war came on. In 1863 he enlisted in Company H, Stone's second regiment, and continued in the service till the war closed. He was en- gaged chiefly in scouting, being with the forces that operated in Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas. Returning to his farm, he has since been engaged in agricultural pursuits. In 1885 he took charge of the water tank on the Houston & Texas Central railroad, which position he still holds. Following are the names of the children

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born to him and his wife: Elizabeth, whose first and second husbands, John Routh and William Pendleton, are dead, is now the wife of a Mr. McDonald; John; Nancy, who married James Nash, has since died; Virgil, who died at the age of sixteen years; Frankie, who married William Brown; Amanda, wife of Harvey Wilson; Philip, Amos, Thomas and Emma. His wife died February 1, 1890. January 1, 1891, he wedded Mrs. Sarah Evans, whose acquaintance he had formed in Louisiana during the war, when a comrade of his was sick at her home. Her father, John Wagner, a native of Pennsylvania, has lived in Louisiana since he was seventeen, and all her relatives live in the latter State.

Politically, Mr. Saunders is a Democrat. He is a member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

HILIP W. HUFFHINES dates his birth in Kentucky, in August, 1832. On a farm in that State he was reared, and there received his education. In 1853 he was married, and that same year, in com- pany with his father's family, came to Texas and located in Dallas county. He soon bought land and improved a farm, which he sold in 1860. He then purchased the place on which he now resides. This farm consists of 150 acres, all being fenced and 100 acres under cultivation. It is devoted to general farming and stock-raising.

John Huffhines, father of the subject of our sketch, was born in Kentucky, son of Christopher Huffhines, a native North Caro- lina and a descendant of German ancestry. John Huffhines married Miss Elizabeth Wright, a native of New York, by whom he had fourteen children. All lived to be grown and married, and at this writing there are

ninety grandchildren, and great-grandchildren too numerous to mention. Nine of the sons served in the Confederate army. One was killed in battle, one died of sickness, and seven returned and are yet living. The names of this family in the order of birth are as follows: William, Christopher, George, Fanny, Mary, Philip W., John, James, Thomas, Elizabeth, Amanda, Robert, D. F. and Cinderella. Fanny is now the wife of Thomas Saunders. Mary first married D. Doty, and afterward James IIeffington. Elizabeth is the wife of W. J. Halsell. Amanda married F. B. Harris, and Cinde- rella wedded IIenry Hatcher. The father was by occupation a farmer and stock-raiser, and was an honored and useful citizen. He and his wife both lived to see their children all married and have families. His death occurred March 15, 1875, and his wife de- parted this life in 1886.

Philip Huffhines was first married in 1853, to Miss Harriet Bell. Her father, Harvey Bell, passed his life and died in Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Huffhines had two children, Sarah and John, the former dying at the age of fourteen years and the latter living only six months. The wife and mother died in April, 1860. In February, 1862, Mr. Huff- hines was joined in wedlock with Miss Mary C. Moss. Her father, Fred Moss, a native of Kentucky, came to Texas in 1845, took a headright and improved a farm. His death occurred about 1884, his wife having pre- ceded him to the other world. Following are Mr. Hnffhines' children by his second wife: Effa, Willie, Philip and Oscar.

During the late war Mr. Huffhines was not one to shrink from what he considered to be his duty. He enlisted in 1862 and served until the war closed, being with Morgan in Kentucky one year aud acting as Sergeant,

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

later being on the frontier. During his ser- vice he was never wounded or captured.

Mr. Huffhines was an active and influential member of the Grange at the time it flour- ished here. In 1881 that organization es- tablished a store at Richardson, which was snecessfully condneted three years. At the end of that time, the Grange losing power and influence on account of the Alliance, a few of the stockholders deemed it necessary to buy up the stock. Three of them accord- ingly purchased the stock, and the store has since been condneted under the firm name of Thompson, Heffington & Huffhines. They carry a $10,000 stock, and their sales aver- age $12,000 per annum. Mr. Huffhines is a Knight of Honor; has been a member of the Baptist Church for thirty-three years; and in politics has been a Democrat since Fillmore ran for President.

A fact worthy of note in the history of his father's family is that none of the nine sons ever uses tobacco or drinks intoxicating liqnor. The seven now living are all engaged in agricultural pursuits, and are occupying useful and honorable positions in life.

ILLIAM H. STARK, JR., was born in Tennessee, June 15, 1850. In 1860, in company with his father's family, he came to Texas, making the journey by teams, and settled in Collin county. In the fall of 1865 they moved to Dallas county, where he has since lived. All his education has been received in the common schools of this State. He remained under the parental roof until he was twenty-eight, and then, in February, 1878, he was married and moved upon a farm he had previously purchased. Ile now owns 212 acres of fine land, 150 of

which are under cultivation, raising wheat, oats and corn. He gives most of his atten- tion to raising corn, and feeds cattle for the market. He also rents land and cultivates cotton. At an early day before railroads were built through this section of the country, Mr. Stark was engaged in teaming in connec- tion with his farming operations. In his various undertakings he has been successful and has made money.

Mr. Stark married Miss Isabell Stratton, a daughter of Thomas Stratton. Her father came from Kentucky to Texas in 1848 and settled in Dallas county, where he lived till the fall of 1888, when he moved to Potter county, purchasing a large track of land there. He is now a resident of Amarilla; is connected with a bank there, is County Com- missioner, and is also largely interested in the stock business. Mr. and Mrs. Stark have four children: Oscar, born Jannary 24, 1882; Charles T., July 5, 1884; Robert C., Febru- ary 28, 1887; and Willie, September 29, 1889. Mr. Stark has served as School Trustee and also as a member of the Board of Overseers. He is a member of the l. O. O. F. and also of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

W. Il. Stark, Sr., father of the subject of onr sketch, was born in Torquay, Devonshire, England, October 26, 1823. He learned the printing trade and followed that while in England. In 1849 he married Miss Keziah Theker, who was born in Plymouth, England, June 1, 1822. They were married on the road in Engiand, having started from their homes for America. Arriving in New York in the month of May, 1849, Mr. Stark began work at his trade. The following December he set out for the Ducktown copper mines of Tennessee. The mines proving a failure, he bought land there, built a home and developed

Af. Milelle.

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

a farm, continuing to reside there, engaged in agricultural pursuits, until 1859, when he sold ont. The following year, as above stated, he emigrated to Texas and settled in Collin county. While in Tennessee in 1855, he had been naturalized, and in 1862 he enlisted in Throckmorton's company, Stone's regiment, and was actively engaged with the forces that operated in Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas, remaining in the service until the close of the war and coming home in 1865. That year he bought land in Dallas county, near Scyene. Selling it soon afterward, he purchased a farm in Precinct No. 2, same county, where he re- sided until 1878. That year he sold out and retired from the active labors of farm life. He is now living at Richardson, Dallas county. In 1853 Mr. Stark made a trip to England, and on his return to this conntry brought his mother and three sisters with him. The mother died in Tennessee soon after her arrival, in 1853, and the sisters all married. Mr. Stark has lived to see his children mar- ried, settled on farms and doing well. In his family were four sons, three of whom are living, namely: William H., Jr., John L., and Robert S. Frederick died in 1877, at the age of nineteen years.

OL. CHARLES S. MITCHELL, one of the early settlers of Dallas county, was born in Franklin county, Virginia, February 25, 1840, the fourth of seven chil- dren born to James and Leticia (Burwell) Mitchell, natives of Botetourt and Bedford counties, Virginia, respectively, the father born abont 1812 and the mother in 1815. They moved to Saline county, Missouri, in in 1850. By a special order of the Secre- tary of War, the family for political reasons were banished the State in 1865, and in 63

consequence removed to Houston, Texas, where the father died in 1870. The mother survived him until 1886, dying at the resi- dence of her son, Joseph, at Fort Worth. His grandfather, Samuel Mitchell, was an early pioneer of Virginia, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and later moved to Saline county, Missouri, where he subsequently died. His grandfather, John Spotswood Burwell, was also an early pioneer of Virginia, and was very prominent during the Colonial times. The Mitchells, Rectors, Severes and Burwells, were of old and prominent fami- lies, the male members being men of marked individuality and sterling worth, holding responsible positions in the Government and in society, all along the line from the Colo- niał days to the present period. They were potent factors in the Revolution, and in the birth of the Republic, in the formation of States, and in their growth and development, secured the highest honors from time to time within their gifts.

Colonel James Mitchell, the father of the subject of this memoir, was a man of high intellectuality, great force of character and strict integrity, being conscientious, almost to a fault. He was a mau of fine physique, tall and stately, and of dignified and courtly bearing: yet he was social and pleasing in his manners, winning all who approached him, by his genial nature and kind, benevolent heart. He lost everything by the war, and Was much broken in spirit at the defeat of the Confederacy, which cause he ardently espoused. But when he came to Texas as a refugee, he directed his energy and ability to repair his broken fortunes, and to the advance- ment of his adopted State. He earnestly labored to bring about reconstruction, and to sweep away the disasters which war had brought upon the people. He was the pro-

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Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 120

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog] Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company Number of Pages: 1128

Author: Lewis publishing company, Chicago, pub. [from old catalog]
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis publishing company
Number of Pages: 1128