Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 72

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 72

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

his three sons were in service, and, during their absence, owing to the condition of af- fairs in Missouri, Miss Neelly loaded her household goods into the wagon with her two little girls, aged twelve and fourteen. and came to Dallas county, Texas. They were eight weeks in making the journey and encountered many obstacles on the way, their oxen dying. After the war she was joined by her husband and they made their home where Oak Cliff is now located. There Mr. Neelly died, on the 5th of February, 1877. Mrs. Neelly is still living, in this county. She was reached the advanced age of eighty-three years and retains her physical and mental vigor to a remarkable degree. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church Sonth, to which she also belongs.

Their son, G. W., was reared on the farm and was at home when the war broke ont. IIe enlisted under General Price, came South and was assigned to Company C, Tenth Mis- souri Cavalry, and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant. At Humansville, Mis- sonri, he was wounded in the right shoulder, which disabled him from active service for a year, and from the effects of which he has never fully recovered. He served till the close of the war and was dis- charged at Shreveport, June 8, 1865, after which he joined the family in 'Texas, walk- ing from Shreveport to Dallas. £ For two years he engaged in teaching school. Then he purchased a team and utensils and devoted his attention to the agricultural pursuits on his present farm.

December 21, 1871, he married Miss El- via J. Hight, a native of Texas and a dangh- ter of Robert A. and Martha A. (Jordan) Hight, who came from Tennessee to Texas in 1860. His wife died on the 6th of August,

1878, and December 28, 1881, Mr. Neelly wedded her sister, Miss Louisa P. Hight. He has three children by his first marriage and four by the latter, viz .: Martha L., wife of James Barker, Dallas county; Mollie E .; Addie E. A .; George W., Jr .; Fanny P .; Eula Lee and Laura A.

In 1872 he purchased his farm of 110 acres, which he has improved and on which he has since resided. He now owns 226 acres of land and is engaged in general farm- ing. He is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Oak Cliff Lodge, No. 705, and Dallas Chapter, No. 47; has passed all the chairs of the blue lodge, served one year as Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge and two years as District Deputy Grand-master. His political views are in harmony with Democratic prin- ciples.

VAN W. BOLTON settled in the north- eastern part of Dallas county thirty- three years ago, and hence is to be classed with the pioneers of this county.

Mr. Bolton was born in Humphreys county, Tennessee, March 8, 1833, son of William and Jane (Cooly) Bolton, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of North Carolina. His father was Captain of a com- pany in the war of 1812. He was twice mar- ried, by the first union having four children and by the second five. The children by his first wife are William T. and James, deceased; Abigail, who became the wife of C. K. Weaver; and Nancy, deceased. The names of the other children are Benjamin W., deceased; Evan W .; Henry; Elizabeth, wife of Joe Scales; and Charles M., deceased. The father died in 1840, and the mother of onr subject departed this life in 1850, aged forty-five years. Evan remained with his

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mother, making the support of her family until the time of her death, when the chil- · dren found homes with their relatives.

Mr. Bolton was united in marriage with Franeis J. Parker, March 11, 1856. Her birth occurred on the 11th of August, 1837. The year following their marriage they came to Dallas county, Texas, and settled where the family now resides. Mr. Bolton pur- chased 100 acres of land, which he has improved and on which he has a nice little home. Twelve children have been born to them, all now living except one. Their names are as follows: Permelia A., wife of J. G. Drake; James W .; William H .; Amanda J., wife of A. J. Berriman; Malana T., wife of C. J. Mayers; Mary L., wife James A. Wilson; Sarah E., wife of J. G. Hutston; Hattie B., wife of J. II. HIntston; Lucy A .; Margaret P .; and Benjamin L.

During the late war Mr Bolton served in the army, under B. Warren Stone. When the war was over he returned home and again took up his agricultural pursuits, which occupation has since claimed his atten- tion. He served as Constable of his town- ship three years, and as School Director twenty-one years.

EORGE W. JAMES was born in Jasper county, Missouri, September 24, 1846. His parents, Ilannibal and Charlotte P. (Bradfield) James, were born in Loudoun county, Virginia, the former on the 20th of March, 1810, and the latter on the 22d of June, 1815. They were married in 1841, and that same year moved to Jasper county, Missouri, where they made their home for twenty-three years, after which they moved to Dallas county, Texas. Mr. James rented land in this county two years and then

bonght a farm near Garland. They lived on it until 1889, when he and his wife, becom- ing advanced in years, they broke up house- keeping and went to live with their two sons, Joseph M. and George W., spending most of their time with George. They lived hap- pily together over fifty years and had the pleasure of eclebrating their golden wedding. Mrs. James was called to the world beyond on the 1st of April, 1891, at the age of seventy-five years, nine months and nine days. Eight children were born to them, all dying in infancy except three. Jeffer- . son T. died in the army in 1863, and only two are now living.

George W., the subject of this sketch, served eight months in the Southern army during the latter part of the war, being a member of Price's army in the Indian depart- ment. While he was not in any regular engagement, he took part in several skirmishes.

December 29, 1870, Mr. James was united in marriage with Miss M. C. Jones. She was born in McMinn county, Tennessee, December 23, 1851. Her father, Robert D. Jones, was a native of Virginia, born April 9, 1812, and her mother, nee Martha E. King, was born in Virginia in 1820, their marriage occurring in 1840. The mother departed this life in December, 1859, and the father passed away in 1881. Following are the names of their children: James W .; Ellen M., wife of B. F. MeDaniel; John T .; Joseph A .; Mary E., wife of C. S. Newton; Horace K .; Martha C., wife of G. W. James; Lucinda, wife of S. F. Hustead; Amanda, wife of James T. Murrell; Robert H .; and George W., who died at the age of sixteen years.

After his marriage Mr. James engaged in farming on his own account. He rented

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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.

land for three years and then purchased a farm of 100 acres. To this he has since added 200 acres more, now owning 300 acres on Dutch creek, located within half a mile of Garland. Here he has a fine resi- dence and barn, and everything conveniently arranged for successfully carrying on farni- ing operations, and the most of the improve- ments on this place he has made himself. He and his wife are the parents of two chil- dren: Charlotte E., born in Dallas county, November 30, 1871, and Horace H., born at the same place, September 23, 1875. Although Mr. James was deprived of early educational advantages himself he believes in giving his children a good schooling. He and his wife are members of the Missionary Baptist Church.

HOMAS F. McENNIS, vice-president and manager of the Dallas Elevator Company, is an enterprising and pro- gressive citizen, and one in whom Dallas county takes a just pride. He comes from Revolutionary stock, from ancestors who brooked no injustice, but made themselves masters of circumstances; his paternal fore- fathers took an active part in the Revolution in Ireland, and his maternal ancestors partici- pated in the American revolution. Thomas MeNeir, great-grand-uncle of Mr. McEnnis, served in the Revolutionary war with marked distinction, and his grandfather, Lieutenant George McNeir, was in Fort Henry at the time of the bombardment of that place, and defended the original star-spangled banner that furnished the subject of the immortal ode. Mr. McEnnis, although living in St. Louis during the late Civil war, was one of the most thorough Southern sympathizers;

he was a political prisoner, and was one of eleven men in St. Louis county who were registered as enemies to the Government, rather than give up their allegiance to the Confederacy, which they believed was right.

Mr. McEnnis was born in St. Louis, De- cember 17, 1839, and received his education in various schools and colleges in that city, finally entering the St. Louis University. When he left this institution he went to learn the ship chandler's business, an industry which led him into other lines; he invested in a flour mill in Illinois, and afterward, in 1875, came to Texas and engaged in the same business at Ennis; and was afterward engaged in the same business at Galveston, but dis- posed of all his milling interests to embark in the grain and flour trade in Dallas; this business he conducted for ten years, but at the end of that period accepted the vice-presi- dency and management of the Dallas Elevator Company. He was one of the most promin- ent factors in the organization of the first board of trade and was its first president. With a few other merchants he formed the Merchants' Exchange Association, which, within a few days raised the funds for build- ing the Merchants' Exchange; this edifice was erected at a cost of $45,000. Mr. Mc- Ennis was afterward president of the Ex- change. He was one of the most energetic workers in raising the money for the build- ing of the Mexican Central railroad, now the Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe railroad. He was first vice-president and one of the orginators of the Dallas Homestead & Loan Association, of which he was a charter member; this is one of the most successful associations of this character in the South, and since then has been a charter member of two other success- ful building and loan associations, and at all times has assisted the public and private en-

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terprises that would benefit the city or State.

In religion Mr. MeEnnis is a Catholic, and has assisted in building up churches, schools and orphan asylums in Dallas and other por- tions of Texas: has been treasurer of the lo- eal branch of the Catholic Knights of America in Dallas for ten years, and is State treasurer of the association.

He has three children married: Joseph E, at Houston; Mrs. Emina Alston and Mrs. Regina Spann; and has two single sons- John George and William McEnnis of this city.

ILLIAM H. LUMNEY, one of the prosperous young farmers of Dallas county, Texas, was born in this connty, September 25, 1862. His parents were among the pioneer settlers of Texas, and on the frontier farm he was reared. He started out in life with limited means, but by bonest industry and good management he has become the owner of 106 acres of fine land, all under fence, fifty acres in cultivation and the rest in pasture. This land is rolling and consists of a sandy loam.

October 15, 1884, Mr. Lumney was united in marriage with Miss Frances Potter, who was born March 29, 1862, daughter of John P. Potter. A biography of Mr. Potter will be found on another page of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Lumney have had two children : Elsie and Nanna Oda.

Mr. Linney's father, Thomas Lumney, was a man possessed of sterling qualities, and in his composition were found those elements that go to make up the true pioneer. He was married on the 25th of September, 1832, to Rachel Haught, and when, in 1845, they came from Illinois to Dallas county, Texas, their family consisted of two children. They

at first settled on a headright, and several years later had the misfortune to lose their land. Mr. Lunney died on the 27th of No- vember, 1873. After his death Mrs. Lum- ney purchased a farm of 137 acres, on which she is still living. She was born in Ohio, December 18, 1824, the daughter of Penn- sylvania-Dutch parents, Peter and Sallie (Carver) Haught. Iler parents moved from Pennsylvania to Virginia, thence to Ohio and from there to Illinois, being among the early settlers of those States. Mr. Haught died in 1843. Of her early experience here Mrs. Lumney graphically relates many interesting incidents. There was probably not another pioneer family in Texas that endured more hardships and privations than they. Bravely did she do her part in helping to make a home on the frontier. At times when her husband was away at work and she saw the Indians camping near, she would yoke up the oxen, put the children in the wagon and drive to the nearest neighbor for protection. Frequently she assisted with the work in the field. Game of all kinds was plenty, and many were the bear and deer hides she dressed. The first pigs they bought they penned in the chimney corner to keep the wolves from catching and killing them. Of their nine children, all are living except the oldest and youngest. They are as follows: Ara, wife of Fayette Bond; James; Mary E., wife of Cal. Woodward; Sarah J., wife of James Isbel; Turner; Thomas V .; William H .; Charles and Emily.

HOMAS C. BROWN, an enterprising young farmer near Pleasant Valley post office, was born in Greene county, Alabama, May 17, 1854, the second son of John G. Brown, who was born in Williams

J. Reverehow. ,

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county, Tennessee, in 1815; he went to St. Louis, Missouri, when a young man and elerked in one of the large dry-goods stores there for a number of years, went to Ala- bama and married Miss Martha E. Colvin, who was born in 1830; she now lives in Alabama, in the sixty-first year of her age. In their family were eleven children, namely : John G., deceased; Thomas C., B. F., Ten- nie, who died unmarried; Anna, the wife of John Mawhinney, and she died leaving three children; J. P., who died leaving one child; Bettie, wife of J. A. Altman; Louisa M., Mary, W. A. and N. A.

When he first came to Texas Mr. Brown had but $150; but he went hopefully and vigorously to work, first hiring ont to Mr. II. R. Newman, but he had the misfortune to receive a severe injury in a cotton gin, and the resulting doctor's bill took all his spare money. On recovery he rented a farm for three years, and by that time he had aceumulated enough to buy a farm of 163 acres, partly improved, for which he paid $2,000. He has since purchased more land, and now has an aggregate of 365 acres of good land, all in one body, well improved, with a good residence, ete. It is about six miles east of Garland. In two more years he will be ready to quit work, having enough of this world's goods to carry bim through the remainder of his life. He has been a very industrious farmer. He has plenty of fine horses and mnules for all the demands of the farm.

He married Miss Ellen P. McClain, who was born October 1, 1864, the danghter of T. J. McClain, who was born in Pennsyl- vania, in 1835, and came to Texas in 1856, stopping first for a year in Lamar county. Ile afterward moved to Dallas county, locat- ing upon a farm he had purchased. In May,

1863, he married Miss S. J. Compton, who was born in May, 1845, in Kentucky, and was ten years old when her parents moved to Texas. Mr. and Mrs. McClain had six ehil- dren, viz .: Ellen P., wife of Thomas C. Brown; C. C., wife of W. L. Myers; Belle K., wife of Dr. J. D. Morman; J. S., de- ceased; Lillian, who is the wife of J. A. Martin; and Leslie. Mr. and Mrs. Brown have four bright little children, namely: Tennie B., born Angust 10, 1880; Clinton S., August 13, 1882, and died at the age of thirteen months; Addie J., born April 8, 1885; Arthur, September 6, 1887; and Della, October 18, 1889.

ACQUE MAXIMILIEN REVER. CHON was born November 16, 1810, at Mareigny, in the province of Bur- gundy, France. His grandfather, Jacque Reverchon, was a member of the convention that founded the first republic in 1792 and occupied several positions under the first French empire, but after the fall of Napoleon I. he was banished from that country by the Bourbons and died in Switzerland in the year 1829. His father, Jean Reverehon, was a quiet gentleman that never mixed much with the polities of his country.

J. M. Reverehon, the subject of this sketch, obtained his education in the college of Cluny, but was in Paris in July, 1830, when the revolution that precipitated Charles X. from the throne broke ont and he took part in the famous three days' fighting. After the death of his mother he married Florine Pete, the danghter of a distinguished lawyer, and settled near Lyon, where he conducted a large farm, which was considered in that part of the country as a model of its species and upon

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which he spent much of his time and a large amount of money in improvements. For the valuable additions and improvements which he made on the plow used in that country he was awarded a gold medal from the French Government. In 1846 he left his family and went to Algeria to found a new colony, but this trip was not a suceess, a large amount of money was lost, his health was much im- paired and he was compelled to return to his mother country and sell his fine establishment at great sacrifiee. He took some part in the revolution of February, 1848, but the faction that finally put Napo- leon III. on the throne triumphed, and he then withdrew from politics and being dis- gusted with the new regime he emigrated to the United States, reaching this country in Deeember, 1856. He joined Monsieur Con- siderant's colony at Reunion near Dallas, Texas, but, like many others, it did not take him long to see that the partnership system inangnrated in that colony was not a wise plan, and he began doing for himself on a sınall farm that he obtained from the old Freneh company. Mr. Reverchon had for his only companion his youngest son, Julien, the balance of his family having been left in France with the understanding that they were to join them at a later period. This ex- pectation was only partially realized. Being a stranger in a strange land Mr. Reverchon found it quite difficult to obtain a foothold on the ladder of sneeess, but with courage and perseverenee he converted his little piece of wild prairie land into a good little farm, the prodnets of which pointed ont the possibilities of the State and what could be done with such land and in such a climate if one were endowed with a proper amount of persever- ance and determination. On the same place where he first settled Mr. Reverehon died in

the month of August, 1879, after a long and painful illness. Besides his son Julien, he had two daughters who reside in the State and two sons in France. His wife never came to this country, but died in her native land in 1871.

Julien Reverchon, their son, was born at Diemoz, not far from Lyon, Angust 3, 1837, and at quite an early age developed a ten- deney toward the study of natural history. He made a speciel study of botany and at the age of fourteen years he could name at sight all the wild plants growing in his neighbor- hood. He was eighteen when he eame with his father to Texas and he remained with him and helped to develop the little farm in the wilderness which is, to-day, a suburb of West Dallas. July 24, 1864, he married Marie Henry, danghter of Panl Henry and granddaughter of Captain Deshognes, who was a follower of the great Napoleon, was dec- orated with the eross of the Legion of Honor and was badly wounded in the disastrous battle of Waterloo. To Mr. and Mrs. Rev- erehon two sons were born: Michel and Maximilien; but just as they were merging into manhood they were both stricken with typhoid fever and died, in 1884. It was for- tnnate for Mr. Reverchon and his devoted wife that at this most trying time a young man, Robert Freeman, one of the best friends of the departed boys, consented to live with the heart-broken parents, and to this day has in a measure replaced the departed loved ones in their desolate hearts and home. Mr. Reverchon has never entirely abandoned the study of botany, and all his leisure hours are devoted to the collection and classification of the plants of Texas, of which he possesses an extensive collection of dried specimens, and in some of his tours to the western part of the State he discovered a number of species new

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to the scientists. He is corresponding with some of the leading botanists of the United States, and has contributed many valuable notes on the Flora of North America by Dr. Asa Gray, and his name is dedicated to an entirely new genns, which was discovered by him in the Pan-handle of Texas in 1879. Mr. Reverchon inherited from his father a large library and some papers dating from the first French revolution; and among them he is proud to show a letter from the Em- peror Napoleon I. to his great-grandfather.

W. WHITEFIELD, a venerable citi- zen of Dallas conuty, Texas, was born in Sussex county, Virginia, February 12, 1806, son of Wilkins and Mary (Sterte- vant) Whitefield, natives of the same place. His father moved to Tennessee in 1808, and there spent the residne of his days, dying at the age of sixty. His mother lived to be eighty years old. The names of their eleven chil- dren are as follows: Henry; G. W., the sub- ject of our sketch; William; Harrison; John; Thomas; James; Martha, wife of Robert Charter; Sallie, wife of Dr. McFail, and, after his death, of James Nichols; Dosia, wite of William Claget; and Virginia, wife of Dr. D. B. Cliff.

Mr. G. W. Whitefield has been twice mar- ried. In 1836, he wedded Miss Louisa King, by whom he had three children: Daniel, Vir- ginia, wife of Rev. Oliver Parker, and Sarah, deceased. His wife departed this life in 1848, at the age of twenty-five years. For his second companion Mr. Whitefield mar- ried Miss Sarah Bond, who was born in Tennessee, April 1, 1822, daughter of John and Sarah (Ilunter) Bond. Her mother died in 1822, at the age of thirty-one years, and

her father passed away in 1848, aged seventy- two. After the death of her mother her father married again. By his first wife he had seven children, Mrs. Whitefield being the youngest. The names of her brothers and sisters are Lucy, wife of George Holland; Joseph; Mary, wife of Nusum Barham; Nancy, wife of James Sonthall; John P .; Catharine, wife of William Trimble. Mr. Bond's second wife was before her mar- riage Mary Anderson. She bore him eight children, whose names are as follows: Will- iam; Angeline, wife of John Sandefer; Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Thompson; Susan, wife of William Crutcher; Myra, wife of Mr. Bingham; Martha, wife of Thomas White; Henry and George.

Mr. Whitefield came to Texas in December, 1849, making the journey by water by way of Shreveport. He first located in Harrison county, where he lived four years. Then, after a year spent in Limestone connty, he came to Dallas county and purchased 160 acres of land, located a miile northwest of where Garland now stands. He afterward made money enough to increase his landed estate to 900 acres. This, however, he has since divided among his children, with the exception of 240 acres reserved for himself and wife. Although now eighty-five years of age, to all appearance Mr. Whitefield holds a lease on life for some time to come. His wife has passed her three-score years and ten, and she, too, is full of life and vigor for one of her age. When Mr. Whitefield settled in Dallas county this conntry was sparsely inhabited. All their goods had to be hauled from Houston with ox teams. The Indian and the buffalo had left the country the year previous to his arrival here. Game of all kinds was plenty. Their meal they ground in a steel mill something on the style

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of the old-fashioned wall coffee-mill. Mr. Whitefield and his wife have lived to see all their children married except one son. The children by his last marriage are as follows: John; Thomas; Dundenah, wife of Charles Kennon; Belle, wife of William Prigmore; Eugenia, wife of L. P. Cabaniss; Walter C., twin brother of Mrs. Cabaniss; Davis, wife of John Clemenson, is deceased.

AVID W. FLORENCE dates his birth in St. Clair county, Alabama, October 28, 1848. The history of his father, John H. Florence, will be found on another page of this volume.

In 1856 David W. eame to Texas with his father and settled in Rusk county. After re- maining there four years they moved, in 1860, to Smith county, where they lived until 1866. That year they located in Van Zandt county, and after a residence of four years there came, in 1871, to Dallas county.

Mr. Florence was married while in Van Zandt county, December 29, 1866, to Miss Julia Baty, who was born on the 15th of February, 1850. Her parents, Thomas and Roxie A. (Bell) Baty, were married in 1830. Her father died in 1854, when she was fonr years old, and she also had the misfortune to lose her mother when she was quite small; so she remembers nothing of either. Following are the names of her brothers and sisters: William; Sarah, wife of William Greer; Joseph and William, who died in the war; Pollie Ann, wife of Isaac Weed; Caroline, wife of Mr. Beason; Vastie, wife of William Berton; Talitha, wife of William Wilson; Roxie A., wife of Russell Allen; Thomas, who first married a Miss Boyles and afterward a

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Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, Part 72

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