Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 59

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 59

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ters, twins, died in infancy; John Wesley died in 1883, after reaching matnrity; Allen Broughton was killed at Canton, Mississippi, in the Confederate army; Lanrania Ann, the widow of D. W. Price, resides in Dallas county; Thomas B., a farmer by occupation, resides in Comanche county, Texas; Zacha- riah Taylor died in Louisiana, in 1882, leaving a family ; Henry Clay is a physician of Smith- field, Tarrant county, and D. W. our subject.

The latter was roared in his native county to the age of twenty years, after which he came to Texas, in company with a friend, and located in Grapevine, Tarrant county, in January, 1874. He began reading medieine under his brother, Dr. F. M. Gilbert, in that city, in 1876, and took a course of lectures in 1879-'80-'81 at the Missouri Medical Col- lege, St. Louis, graduating in March, 1881. Mr. Gilbert located and began practice near Grapevine, Tarrant county, where he con- tinned until 1884, and in that year he moved to where he now lives, near Sowers, Dallas county. He formed a partnership for one year with Dr. T. B. Dorris, and one year later with Dr. A. B. Greg, but has practiced mostly alone. The Doctor is devoted exclusively to his profession, following it assiduously and successfully. His practice embraces all branches of the profession, and extends over a considerable scope of country. On locating where he now lives he purchased a small farm, which he has in a good state of cultiva- tion, and on which he has a neat residence.

The Doctor was married in April, 1882, to Miss Marietta Boardman, a native of Dallas county, and a daughter of J. R. Boardman, an early settler of Grapevine Prairie. She died in 1885, leaving one child, Taylor Clyde. Mr. Gilbert was married a second time, in September, 1886, to Mrs. Fannie Willis Roberts, a daughter of John W. Trigg, of

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Tarrant county. The Doctor takes consider- able interest in matters relating to his lo- cality, and lends a helping hand to everything for its advancement. Ile is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and is actively identified with the affairs of that order.

ILLIAM O. HARRISON, a well- known resident of Dallas county, is a son of Jonathan Tyler and Jemima Delina (Osborne) Harrison, of English an- cestry. The first ancestor of that name who first came to America, was Terrell Harrison, a Presbyterian minister, who settled in Vir- ginia. His son, Jonathan, was born in that State, and afterward settled in Fairfield dis- trict, South Carolina, where he was a planter, and at one time was Sheriff of that district. His son, Burr Harrison, was the father of Jonathan Tyler, the father of the subject of this sketch. Jonathan Tyler Harrison was born and reared in Fairfield district, and in early life was engaged as an overseer. He worked four years as such for Governor Means, and was also overseer for his estate after the Governor's death. Mr. Harrison then moved to Anderson district, same State, where he was engaged for some years in the mercantile business, and still later was a con- tractor for railroad work, having assisted in building the BIne Ridge railroad, in 1860 He was engaged in that occupation when the war came on, and he then enlisted in the Confederate army, in the Second Rifles, which was raised in Anderson county. He entered as Third Lieutenant, and was afterward pro- moted Second Lieutenant, and was in Long- street's Corps, Jenkins' Brigade, and took part in all the battles which were fonght by his command. He served until the fall of

1864, when he resigned, on account of rheu - matism, and also received a flesh wound in the battle of the Wilderness. After the close of the war Mr. Harrison returned to his farm in Anderson district, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, March 14, 1870. Hle was a member of the Mission- ary Baptist Church throughout life. and was twice married, first to Jemima Delina Os- borne, a daughter of W. M. Osborne, of Fairfield district, South Carolina, where Mrs. Harrison was born and reared. They had the following children: William O., our sub- ject; Sallie, who died when young; Jonathan B., of Dallas county, a sketch of whom ap- pears in this work; James W., of Denton county, this State; Thomas Jefferson, of Dal- las connty; and Fannie, the wife of Sanford Wilburne, of Union district, South Carolina. The wife and mother died in Anderson dis- trict, June 8, 1858, and Mr. Harrison was afterward married to Eliza McDaniel, also of Anderson district, and they had four children : Jefferson Davis, of this county; Carrie, who became the wife of W. N. Sanders, of Dallas county, and is now deceased; Susan, the wife of P. F. Sanders, of Dallas county; Mamie, the wife of J. B. Hammel, of Tarrant county, Texas.

William O. Harrison, the subject of this sketeli, was born in Fairfield district, South Carolina, November 3, 1847, and was reared in that and Anderson district. He emigrated to Rusk county, Texas, in the winter of 1870, where he remained one year, and then went to Marion county, and two years later to Dal- las county, settling on Grapevine Prairie, near where he now lives. He bought his present farm of ninety acres in 1875, all of which was open prairie, and he has since added to this place until he now owns 166 acres, most of which is under cultivation.

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

Mr. Harrison began the mercantile business at Gibbs about three years ago, under the firm name of Harrison & Co., his partners being his brothers, Jonathan B. Harrison and T. J. Harrison, and he is also engaged in the gin business. Mr. Harrison secured the post office at Gibbs in 1887, and soon afterward became the Postmaster, which posi- tion he has since held, and is also Notary Public and general counsel for the neigh- borhood. He was married in Elbert county, Georgia, June 20, 1865, to Laura McDaniel, a daughter of Edward and Frances (White) McDaniel. of that county. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison have had the following children; Minnie, the wife of Byron L. Nix, of this county; Lena, wife of W. N. Sanders; Emma, now Mrs. C. A. Corbin; Fannie, Laura, Ed- ward T. and Birdie. Mr. and Mrs. Harrison are members of the Baptist Church. Politi- cally, Mr. Harrison is a Democrat.

W. HUFFHINES, a farmer near Rich- ardson, Dallas county, was born in this county, in 1853, the eldest of five chil- dren born to Christopher and Martha (Smith) Huffhines, natives of Kentucky. In 1852 the parents emigrated with horse teams to Dallas county, having been forty-eight days on the road. They settled on White Rock, near Richardson, where the father bought a section of partly improved land. In 1863 he enlisted in Colonel Stone's regiment, Captain Stratton's company, and died in July of the same year, near Mansfield, Lonisi- ana, of disease contracted in the service. The mother was married, in 1868, to Thomas J. Stratton, and now resides in Armstrong county, Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Huffhines had the following children: J. W., our subject;

J. F., engaged in farming and in the stock business near Amarillo, Texas; Mary, wife of W. B. Alkire, of North Dallas; Elizabetlı, wife of T. J. Gillock, of Fort Scott, Kansas; Ophelia, now Mrs. Charles Chick, of Wash- burn, this State.

The subject of this sketch was reared to farm life and educated in the schools of Dal- las county. After reaching maturity he re- ceived from his father's estate ninety acres of land, which he improved, and to which he has since added until he now owns 250 acres. In 1887 he moved to the city of Dallas, and bought and improved his residence, having been one of the first to build in this portion of East Dallas. Mr. Huffhines is identified with the Democratic party. He is a member of one of the early pioneer families of this connty, where he was born and reared, and has always taken an active part in everything for the good of the city or county. He was married in Dallas county, in 1875, to M. A. Wright, a native of Kentucky, and a dangh- ter of Merrick and Elizabeth (Pope) Wright, also natives of Kentucky. They came to Dallas county, in 1871, settling near Richard- son, but later moved near the city, where the mother died in 1889, and the father is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Huffhines have one child, Elmo. Mrs. Huffhines is a member of the Baptist Church.

RANCIS M. WHITE, an old and highly respected citizen of Lancaster, Dallas county, was born in White county, Ten- nessee, a son of Woodson P. and Nancy (Mitchell) White, natives of Virginia. The father accompanied his parents to middle Tennessee at an early day, settling in White county, where he lived and died, in 1840.

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

He was a successful farmer and merchant and a man of public note, having served his county in the State Legislature a number of terms. His father, John White, was a Revo- Intionary soldier, and an early settler of middle Tennessee. Our subject's mother, nee Nancy Mitchell, was born in Tennessee, near Knoxville, a daughter of David Mitchell, where she lived until her death. She was married to Woodson P. White, in that county, in 1810, and died there in 1871. Mr. and Mrs. White had the following children: Dyer P., who died in White county, Tennes- see, leaving a family; Elizabeth, deceased, was the wife of Martin Young; Byrd, who went to Alabama after reaching his maturity, where he died before marriage; Lonisa, living at TnInla, Menard county, Illinois, was the wife of William G. Green; Martha, who died at Sparta, White county, Tennessee, was the wife of Edward Murray; William L., deceased, a sketch of whom will be found in this work; Mary, the wife of Joel B. Cool- idge, of Lancaster, this county; Francis Marion, our subject; Maria, wife of S. D. Mitchell, living two miles west of Lancaster; and John Rufus, a farmer near Lancaster.

The subject of this sketch, Francis M. White, was born October 18, 1828, and was reared in his native county to the age of nineteen years, after which he went to Me- nard county Illinois. Two years later, in 1851, he came to Texas, and made his first permanent stop about five miles east of the present village of Lancaster, where he had friends and acquaintances. After prospecting for a time he purchased 580 acres of land of Robert Sloan, which he improved. Mr. White remained on this purchase until about 1869, when, having redneed a large part of it to cultivation, and having accumulated some means, he sold out and came to Lancaster,

and began the mercantile business. He bought out his brother's interest in an estab- lishment in the village, and the new firm became Ellis & White. In 1879, he sold out, since which time he has been engaged mainly in farming, and he now owns one of the best improved places in the vicinity of Lancaster.

Mr. White was married in May, 1853, to Martha J. Gray, a native of Montgomery county, Illinois, and a daughter of A. K. Gray, a pioneer settler of this county. The wife and mother died in June, 1867, leaving four children: Louisa, wife of M. M. Miller, of Lancaster; Florence, the wife of R. M. Clark, of Oak Cliff; Emma, now Mrs. J. A. Boyd, of Lancaster; and Wayne L., at home. Mr. White was again married, in November, 1870, to Miss Mattie T. Trigg, a native of Alabama, and a daughter of Mrs. M. B. Trigg, a resident of Amarillo, this State. Mr. and Mrs. White have four living children, viz .: Mand, Forest, Lester and Stella. Mr. White has held the nsnal number of small offices in the community where he has resided, and is a member of the Methodist Church, as was also his former wife; the present Mrs. White is a member of the Baptist Church.

OHN BRYAN .- To this person belongs the distinction of being the first male child born in Dallas. He was born January 9, 1846, and was reared as a farmer in and near Dallas, receiving his education here. In the fall of 1864, when nineteen years of age, he enlisted in the Confederate service, and remained until the close of the war. He was with the forces that operated in Louisiana, Arkansas and Texas, and was in an alinost continnous skirmish and many battles. He received no wounds, however,

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and was never captured; was mustered out in Milam county, Texas, and returned home. Here he was engaged in farming and stock- raising until 1872. That year he went into Uvalde and Llano counties, bought cattle and engaged in ranching, remaining there fifteen years. He then returned to Dallas county, and in 1889 purchased a farm and settled here; and here he expects to remain.

October 10, 1867, he was united in mar- riage with Miss Sallie Thompson, a daughter of Moses and Martha Thompson, of Tennes- see. They came to Texas in 1865 and settled on a farm in Dallas county. Here her father, Moses Thompson, died, in Erath county, Texas, January 25, 1890. To Mr. and Mrs. Bryan five children have been born, namely: William W., November 12, 1870; Robert Lee, July 21, 1873; James B .. March 21, 1877; Luella, October 12, 1882; and Burta M., May 5, 1886.

Mr. Bryan's father, John Neely Bryan, was born at Fayetteville, Lincoln county, Tennessee, December 24, 1810. He was reared in his native town, received a liberal education, and in his younger days was en- gaged in teaching. After leaving Tennes- see and while in Arkansas he studied law, and atter coming to Texas he practiced that profession. He landed in this State when it was yet a Republic, in 1839. He traveled over it considerably and finally decided on the location of Dallas. Returning to Red river, he got a man to accompany him to help guard against the Indians; came baek, planted his stakes, obtained a head- right of 640 acres, built a block-house and called the place Dallas. His first work was to get some land under cultivation. He broke soil where the courthouse new stands, planted corn and raised a crop. That year a heard of buffaloes ran through his corn and

did it great damage. 1n 1841 or '42 he laid ont a portion of the town, and soon afterward a few cabins sprang up. February 26, 1843, he married. July 26, 1846, the county of Dallas was organized. He gave to the county ninety-eight lots, besides donating the public square, the same on which the new court- house is now being built. He gave bond for deeds of these gifts, and in 1855 received his title from the Government and made deeds for same. The town grew slowly, and in 1861, when the war broke out, it was only a little trading post. Previous to the war Mr. Bryan sold his claim and relinquished all right to the town. Soon after hostilities began he joined the army, but as he was too old was mustered out of the service. Finally he went in as a substitute, remaining until the war ended. He then served one term as Justice, after which he settled on a farm and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until the time of his death. He departed this life September 14, 1877. He was a bold and fearless man, and during his early travels on the frontier met with some narrow escapes from the Indians. He made the trip to Cali- fornia, was all through New Mexico and Arizona, and after an absence of about four years decided to come home, and made the journey alone.

The mother of John Bryan was, before her marriage, Miss Margaret Beeman. IIer father, John Becman, was a native of North Carolina, and her mother, Emily Beeinan, of South Carolina. They met and were married in Illinois, and in Illinois Mrs. Bryan was born, September 29, 1825. In 1840, at the age of fourteen, she came to Texas with her parents and located at Dallas, where she was subsequently married to John Neely Bryan. Six children blessed their union, four of whom grew to maturity, viz .: John Bryan,

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whose name heads this sketch; Elizabeth F., born December 4, 1847; Edward T., June 2, 1849; and Alexander L., October 3, 1854. Edward died January 30, 1879, at the age of twenty-nine years and eight months.

John Neely Bryan was a member of the l'resbyterian Church from early manhood up to the time of his death. Ilis widow is a member of the Baptist Church. She is still hale and hearty, and has many pleasing rem- iniscences of her early pioneer life, which she relates in a vivid and charming manner.

OAHI GOOD, a resident of Farmers' Branch, Dallas county, Texas, was born in Page county, Virginia. He was reared on a farm and received an ordinary English education. Being of a mechanical turn, he took up the carpenter's trade and worked at it in Virginia, and also to some extent after he came to Texas. In 1839 he moved to Kentucky, and from there, the fol- lowing year, to Tennessee. In the latter State he was employed in overseeing negroes. While in Tennessee he was married, and when he arrived in Texas, in 1846, his fam- ily consisted of a wife and three children. He took a headright in Dallas county, under the Peters Colony, thus acquiring 640 acres of land. Hle subsequently bought an acre and a half adjoining the town site of Farmers' Branch. He also has twenty-four and one- half acres within a mile of the town, a part of his headright. He worked at his trade in the summer and made rails for his farm in the winter.

In 1863 Mr. Good was conscripted into the Confederate army, and served eight months, his services being confined to this State. Ile was a member of Captain Mc-

Camsy's company, Colonel Smith's regi- ment; received his discharge near Bonham.

Mrs. Good's parents, Elisha and Sarah Fyke, natives of Alabama, came to Texas in 1846. Iler father was a mechanie by trade, but after coming to Texas was engaged in farming. He was in the Florida war, and received wounds there that finally ended his days, his death ocenrring in July, 1860. His wife died the winter after their arrival in Texas.

Mr. Good is of German extraction, but of his ancestors he knows little. To him and his wife eleven children have been born, namely: George W., Sarah A., William L., Mary E., Martha A., Virginia, Helena, Francis M., Ruth E., and James A. and John A. (twins).

Mr. Good has a nice residence in Farmers' Braneh, where he is comfortably situated. Of late years he has sold some of his land and divided some among his children, re- taining a farm of 176 aeres and 102 acres of timber land. For four years he served as Justice of the Peace. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Mission- ary Baptist Church.

HOMAS F. KING, a contractor for gravel and composition roofing, was born in the West of Ireland in 1847, the fourth of ten children born to Martin and Mary (Gibbons) King, natives of Ireland. The parents left their native country in 1854 and came to Kentucky, where the father was a brick and stone contractor. Thomas F. was was about seven years of age when he came to this country, where he first worked a few years on the Mississippi river, commencing as deck sweeper, and later was promoted to

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mate. In 1861 he enlisted in the Rodney Guards, and served in what was known as Bonham's regiment and later numbered the Twenty-second Mississippi Infantry. He was taken a prisoner at the battle of Champion Hill, but afterward escaped and returned to steam boating on the Mississippi river, where he again worked on the river some years; then went to Montana Territory, where he served as a Government scont until 1871.

Mr. King came to Dallas in 1887, where bought a lot and built his present fine resi- dence. He contracts in all the towns of northern Texas, and has also done a great amount of roofing in the city of Dallas.

He was married in Kentucky, in 1874, to Mary Cone, a native of Ireland, and danghter of Peter Cone, a resident of Kentucky. Mr. King takes an active interest in politics, voting with the Democratic party. Socially, he is a member of the Cœur de Lion Lodge, No. 8, K. of P., and religiously, both he and his wife are members of the Catholic Church. Mr. King has witnessed the complete growth of Dallas from a small hamlet, is the second oldest roofer in the State, and has made all he possesses by his own industry.

R. COLE, a farmer and stock-raiser of Dallas county, was born in Lucas county, Ohio, in 1837, the second of seven children born to A. H. and Lydia (Rappleye) Cole, natives of New York. The parents were married in the latter State, and in 1835 emigrated to Lucas county, Ohio, where they bonght Government land. The father was a Baptist minister and also fol- lowed the occupation of farming. He re- mained in Ohio until near his death, which

occurred in 1888; the mother survived him some years, dying in Texas in 1890.

W. R. Cole, our subject, was reared and educated in his native State, and also attended the academy at Kalamazoo, Michigan, a few terms. He then engaged in farming, and in connection with'it followed surveying and had charge of laying and planning county roads and ditches. He came to Dallas county, 'l'exas, in 1875, and bought a partly improved farm, which he afterward sold. He now owns a good farm of over 200 acres, which is in a good state of cultivation, about three miles from the city of Dallas,and where he is also en- gaged in raising a good grade of stock. Mr. Cole was married in Lucas county, Ohio, in 1861, to Eliza Taylor, a native of that county and daughter of William and Mary (Corson) Taylor, natives of Pennsylvania. The parents moved to Lucas county in an early day, where the father became an extensive farmer and Inmberman. His death occurred in 1884, and his wife died some years previous. Mr. Cole lost his wife by death in 1873, and by that union there was one child, Addie, now married to G. T. Godsy, of Dallas. He was agam married, in 1875, to Eva Balderson, a native of Lorain county, Ohio, and daughter of Robert and Jane (York) Balderson, natives of England. The latter emigrated to Lorain county in 1849. Mr. Balderson still resides in that State. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have seven children: Mary, Willie, Robert, Thomas, Hattie, Clara and Bertha. The parents are both members of the First Baptist Church, and Mr. Cole is President of the Pleasant View Alliance, a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and was the first President of the Central Texas Horticultural Association, which has since merged into the State Asso- ciation. As lecturer of the Dallas County Alliance, in 1891, he earnestly advocated tlie

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Alliance "sub-treasury" plan, on account of which he was required to resign his place on the Democratic Executive Committee of that county, a matter which caused no little stir in the political circles of the State of Texas.

BOSES M. CLARK, of the firm of Curfman & Clark, Garland, was born in Cocke county, Tennessee, in 1843, the tenth child of Moses and Hannah (Robison) Clark, natives of North Carolina. The father was a farmer by occupation, and came to Tennessee prior to the birth of our subject, in 1841, and settled in Cocke county, where he engaged in farming. The paternal grandfather of Moses Clark died at the age of 104 years, and his son, the father of our sub- ject, was eighty-eight years of age at his death. He was twice married, and of his cleven children nine grew to years of ma- turity, viz: Mary P., the widow of Alex. Block, of Arkansas; George, deceased ; Rachel, widow of Louis Coats, of Tennessee; Betsie, wife of D. Lillard; Nancy, wife of Monroe Lillard; Sarah, widow of James Clark; Eliza J., wife of Royal Black; Isaac, deceased, formerly a minister of the Methodist Epis- copal Church of North Carolina, and for some time a Presiding Elder of the church. Mrs. Clark died in 1865, and Mr. Clark was afterward married to Mrs. Varina Lillard. Mr. Clark died in 1875, at the age of eighty- six years, and his last wife died about the same time.

M. M. Clark, our subject, received his education in the common school of Ten- nessee, and at the age of twenty-one years commenced life for himself. He entered the Confederate army at the age of seventeen years, joining Company C, Twenty-sixth

Tennessee Regiment, commanded by Colonel John M. Lillard, of Meigs county, and Cap- tain Ed Allen. Mr. Clark participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, where he was captured and taken to Camp Morton, aud after eight months was exchanged at Vicks- burg, Mississippi; his next battle was Mur- freesboro, Tullahoma, Chickamauga, and other engagements. His company was one of the five who captured the artillery and wagon trains of the late General Gillam, at Russellville, routing the opposing forces and running the fire over thirty miles. Mr. Clark was captured at Asheville, North Car- olina, but succeeded in making his escape. His captain was captured at the same time, and the two were confined in a house, and while the guards had their back turned they jumped through the door, and those snc- ceeded in making their escape. Mr. Clark was paroled at Kingston, Georgia, after which he went to Tennessee, but again re- turned to Georgia for four or five months. His first farming was done in 1866, in Mar- shall county, as a hired hand, but after one year he returned to Giles county, Tennessee, and remained until 1870. In that year he came to this State, locating a quarter of a mile from Garland, where he worked for two years on shares; next hie rented land until 1883, when he bought seventy-five acres of partly improved land, paying $11 per acre, to which he afterward added seventy-seven acres and twenty acres of timber land. The 152 acres are now worth from $40 to $50 per acre.

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Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 59

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