USA > Texas > Dallas County > Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas > Part 73
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Miss Darby; and Lucinda, who died when small.
When Mr. Florence settled in Dallas county he purchased 2072 acres of land, and since that time has been very successful and accumulated other property. His home farm now comprises 730 acres, 300 acres in culti- vation and the rest in pasture, all being well fenced. He also has a ranch in Taylor county of 1,360 acres, all fenced, and eighty acres under cultivation. Mr. Florence has been dealing largely in stock, but since his son has become old enough to assist him, he has turned all his cattle and horses on the ranch over to him, while he himself handles what he can conveniently on the home farm. Mr. Florence is regarded as one of the most suc- cessful farmers in Dallas county.
He and his wife have three children: J. II., born June 14, 1868; Martha, September 6, 1872, died July 15, 1873; Emet D., born November 20, 1885.
ANGDON C. MoCALLUM, farmer, was born in York county, South Carolina. Jannary 11, 1852, son of Peter McCal- Inm, who was born in Scotland in 1808, and came to America when nine years old. with his father, who settled in South Carolina. He married Miss Violet Wallace and had ten children, as follows: Duncan, Joseph, James, Augustus, Jane, wife of William Finley; Elizabeth, wife of Robert Finley; Robert, John T., Langdon C. and an infant girl. This family moved to Texas in 1873, and the next year the father bought land in Dal- las county, where the subject of this sketch now lives. He died in 1883, at the age of seventy-five years, and his wife in 1880, aged sixty-seven. July 29, 1874, Mr. L. C. Mc-
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
Callum married Miss Mollie Foote, who was born November 23, 1858, the daughter of Martin Van Buren Foote and Minerva Foote. Her mother was born in Georgia and moved to Texas in 1869, shortly after her father died; indeed, he died after all were ready to move to Texas. Mr. and Mrs. Foote's children have been: William, deceased; Mol- lie, now Mrs. McCallum; James, John and Van Buren. Their mother married the second time, wedding Wade Bolton, in 1873, and by this maraiage there is one child, named Beatrice. Mr. and Mrs. McCallum's children are: Homer, born January 27, 1877; Violet, September 18, 1880; Otto, July 4, 1882; Guy, July 18, 1884; Asa, October 25, 1886; and May, November 30, 1889.
Mr. McCallum has a farm of ninety-four acres, well improved, and he is one of the substantial farmers of the county. He be- longs to the Knights of Honor, Lodge No. 2,756, at Pleasant Valley.
ORATIO G. LEONARD, a prosperous farmer, was born in White county, Ten- nessee, October 23, 1820, and moved to Texas in 1867, a poor man, having lost every- thing during the war; but by good manage- ment, economy and persevering industry he has now a good farm of 160 acres in a good state of cultivation.
His father, Joshua Leonard, was born in 1787, in Grayson county, West Virginia, and moved to Tennessee when a young man. In 1810 he married Sarah Duff, who died July 25, 1846, at the age of fifty years, and Mr. Leonard died in Missouri, while on a visit there, also at the age of fifty years. August 4, 1844, Mr. Horatio G. Leonard married Miss Ellen Collins, daughter of William and
Elizabeth (McMahan) Collins, and born Sep- tember 5, 1835. Joshna Leonard had nine children; the living are: Horatio G. and Thomas J .; and the deceased, Obadiah; Elizabeth, who married William Jouagan; Hamilton; Dennis; Mary, who married Thomas Young; and William. Mr. and Mrs. Collins' children are: James E .; Angeline, wife of Richard Rice; Rachel, wife of John Gross; Ellen, wife of Horatio G. Leonard; Jane, wife of Archibald Cowan, and Reuben C.,-all of whom are deceased except Mrs. Leonard.
In 1862, Mr. Leonard, our subject, enlisted in the Fifth Tennessee Cavalry, and was operating as scout when he was captured and paroled. He was afterward at the battle of Chickamauga and captured again and paroled. He is a Freemason, being a member of Dutch Creek Lodge, No. 441, in which he has filled the office of Junior Warden and Tyler.
Mrs. Leonard belongs to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Their children are: Angeline, born August 1, 1849; Jane, De- cember 11, 1852; William N., Decembor 31, 1856; Susan, April 11, 1858; Joanna, Sep- tember 26, 1860; and Julia, January 1, 1863. Susan married Samuel McMurray, Joanna is the wife of Landon Allen, and Julia married John Boyd.
HOMAS SANDIFER, fariner, was born in Pike county, Mississippi, March 21, 1846, and in 1866 came with his father, Peter Sandifer, to Texas. His father born in North Carolina, in October, 1812, went to Louisiana when a young man, and in 1830 married Miss Sarah Carr, who was born in North Carolina in 1813. They raised ten children, namely: Elvira, now the wife of
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
George Lee; William, deceased; James; John, deceased; Mary, now Mrs. Patrick Lyle; Amos, deceased; Thomas, the subject of this sketch; Franklin; Sarah, wife of George Daniel, and Delia. The father died June 15, 1890, at the age of seventy-eight years, and the mother in 1881, at the age of sixty-nine. January 14, 1875, Mr. Thomas Sandifer married Miss Frances Tarrant, who was born October 20, 1853, the daughter of William Tarrant, who married Eliza Ellis and had seven children, namely: Serlida, now the wife of John Huffhines; Nancy, the wife of Amos Sandifer; Julia, the wife of Marsh Hughley: Frances, wife of Thomas Sandifer; and Louisa, the wife of Charles Webb.
When he was married and commenced life for himself, Mr. Thomas Sandifer, our subject, had no property, but went to work, and by energy, perseverance and good judgment he has acquired a nice home of 125 acres, on which he himself has made all the improve- ments. But he has suffered a misfortune withal, losing his first residence by fire. He attends faithfully to his chosen calling, agri- culture, and is an exemplary citizen. He has brought up eight children, namely: Cora, Mary, Edward, Ellen, William, James, Lucy and Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Sandifer are mem- bers of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
EE COATS .- This enterprising young farmer was born in Dallas county, Texas, January 29, 1865, son of Thomas D. and Mary A. (Paschall) Coats. His father dying when Lee was fourteen years old, and he being the oldest son at home, the care of the farm and the support of the family fell largely on him, and he remained with his
mother, conducting the farming operations for her. When he was twenty-one he mar- ried, took his bride home with him, and con- tinued to reside with his mother a year longer. Ilaving inherited eighty-nine acres of his father's estate, he built a house on it, and has since lived near his mother.
Thomas D. Coats, his father, was a native of South Carolina, born in 1826, and when quite small went with his father to Tennes- see, where he was reared. May 7, 1846, he was married in Tennessee, to Miss Mary A. Paschall, and the following fall they came to Texas and settled where Mrs. Coats now lives. Mr. Coats joined the colony, thereby obtain- ing a headright of 640 acres. He built a fine house, improved his land, and was mak- ing good progress when misfortune overtook him. Ilis house burned. He rebuilt a like structure, and had it just completed when he was taken sick and died, his death occurring January 5, 1879, at the age of fifty-three years. Mrs. Coats was born about 1829, daughter of Elisha and Rachel (McClain) Paschall. Ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Coats, seven of whom are living, namely: Nancy J., wife of Henry D. Lov- ing; James A .; Elisha D ; Isabella, wife of Mack Tyler; Lee, Sidney and Wall.
Lee Coats was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Amburn, December 3, 1885. She was born August 15, 1870, daughter of John Amburn. Her mother's maiden name was Martin. Mr. and Mrs. Amburn had a family of twelve children, as follows: Jeff, Henry, Cynthia, Lucinda, Isaac, Jacob, James, Joseph, Lizzie, Benjamin, Jane and Ira. Cynthia is now Mrs. H. J. Dawden. Lucinda was first married to Lewis Robinson, and after his death to Balis Johnson. James is deceased.
Mr. and Mrs. Coats have two children:
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
Albert, born March 1, 1888, and Lillie, Feb- rnary 3, 1890. Mrs. Coats is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically Mr. Coats affiliates with the Democratic party.
OL. GEORGE W. GIVENS, deceased, was born in Kentucky, July 28, 1826, a son of Matthew and Lucy (Chonning) Givens, of Irish ancestry and natives of Kentucky. When he was ten years old the family moved to Missouri and settled in Lewis county, and he remained on the farm with his parents until he was eighteen. At that time he volunteered as a soldier in the Mexican war, and served until the war ended. He participated in many engagements and was in the celebrated battle of Monterey. Three months he was in the hospital waiting upon the sick and wounded. When hostili- ties ceased he returned to his home in Mis- souri and engaged in farming. About this time news of the wonderful gold discovery in California was spreading over the country and attracting throngs of people to the Pacific coast. With that crowd of gold- seekers was Mr. Givens. He crossed the plains with ox teams, was six months in making the trip, passed through many hard- ships and privations and had several serious encounters with hostile Indians. He was successfully engaged in mining at Sacra- mento and Colusa for two years, after which he returned to Missouri by way of the Isthinus of Panama In the spring of 1853 he again made the trip across the plains to California, this time taking with him a drove of cattle. After his arrival there he devoted his time to trading, and remained in Califor- nia until April, 1856.
Colonel Givens was married on the 14th
of October, 1857, to Miss Sallie E. Overton, a native of Lewis county, Missouri, and a daughter of Dudley W. and Dulcenia (Nall) Overton. Her parents were natives of Ken- tucky and of Scotch-Irish descent.
They moved from Kentucky to Missouri and in the latter State lived forty years. They were among the pioneers of Missouri and Mr. Overton was a participant in the Black Hawk war. He and his wife came to Texas, and both died at the home of Mrs. Givens.
October 15, 1857, Mr. and Mrs. Givens starled for Texas with horse teams, and, owing to poor roads and few bridges, they were six weeks in making the journey. They first settled in Collin county, where they resided two years. Then they moved to Ellis county and Mr. Givens purchased a farm of 400 acres of wild land and at once began to improve it. The first year they lived in a rude clapboard house. The following sum- mer Mr. Givens built a residence. After being engaged in farming there for fourteen years they, in 1870, went to California, this time making the journey by rail. He pur- chased a farm in Napa valley, near Napa, located on it and remained there until 1873, then returning to Texas. In Dallas county he bought 500 acres of wild land, five miles sonth of Dallas, which he developed into a fine farm. He built an attractive residence, planted fruit, shade and ornamental trees, and there followed farming until he died. To him and his wife four children were born, viz .: John Dudley, of Dallas county; George Matthew and William Richard, on the old homestead; and Lucy D.
Colonel Givens was a member of the A. F. & A. M., having been made a Mason when he was twenty-one. He took great interest in agricultural matters, and by his honorable
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
and upright dealings he won the confidence and esteem of all who knew him. He was ever ready to assist the needy and relieve the suffering, and no one was ever turned from his door empty handed. His death ocenrred at Mineral Wells, Texas, August 11, 1888.
During the Civil war he served in the Commissary department, driving team, and from exposure then incurred his health became impaired. and he never fully recovered. In 1887, hoping to find restoration by change of elimate, he went to California, but to no avail.
Mrs. Givens still lives on the old home- stead, which is managed by her two younger sons.
OLOMON W. CALDWELL is another one of the venerable pioneers of Texas. He came here in 1841, when he was twenty-three years of age, working his way by driving a team for a man who was mnov- ing to this State. Here he found employ- ment as a farm hand and worked in this way until he was able to buy a piece of land. He had many difficulties to meet and overcome, as did all the early settlers. When he first camped on the little creek where he now lives, Mr. Caldwell had to go four miles for water. On one occasion, while he was gone for water and his wife was getting supper, a panther approached, attracted by the odor of the meat she was cooking. She threw it the pan of meat, and when it had eaten the mor- sel it went away satisfied. Bears were also troublesome and frequently mnade raids on their hogs. Worse to be dreaded than the wild animals were the savage Indians.
Mr. Caldwell was born in the Territory of Illinois in 1818, on the 26th day of March
Ilis father, Matthew Caldwell, was born in Union distriet, South Carolina, in 1763. He was first married in South Carolina and moved to Kentucky when that State was a Territory. There he reared a family of six children: Curtis; John; Isaac; Christian, wife of John Couch; Sallie, wife of Thomas Cowsert; and Pollie, wife of a Mr. Williams. Of the children by his father's first wife Mr. Caldwell knows nothing, having lost trace of them years ago. After the death of his wife in Kentucky, Matthew Caldwell was married, in that State, to Nancy White, who was born in North Carolina in 1785, their marriage occurring in 1803. About 1817 they moved to Illinois. By his second wife he had five children, namely: Meron, wife of John Eads; Matthew H .; George H .; Solomon W .; and Hugh C. The subject of our sketch is the fourth-born in this family and is the only survivor. His father died in 1826, at the age of sixty-three years, and his mother in 1837, aged fifty-three.
When he came to Texas Mr. Caldwell first located in Red River connty. In 1842 he was there married to Miss Leona Crown- over, who was born June 3, 1820. After twelve years of wedded life she died, in 1854, aged thirty-four years, leaving no children. Mr. Caldwell had taken a headright of 320 aeres. He sold that and moved to Dallas county in 1850. Here he pre-empted 160 acres and bought ninety-nine aeres inore, making in all 259 acres, his present farm. September 5, 1855, Mr. Caldwell was united in marriage with Miss Martha Ann Coats who was born January 1, 1837. Samuel Coats, her father, was a native of South Carolina, born in 1802, and her mother, nee Naney Jones, was born in 1800. Mr. Coats moved to Texas in 1844 and settled in Dal- las county. His death occurred in 1874, at
V
Ge lobte
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
the age of seventy-two years, and his wife died in 1872, aged seventy-two. They were the parents of eleven children, viz. : Jolin J .; Thomas D .; Fannie, wife of J. P. Lawrence; Elizabeth, wife of E. C. Browder; James A .; Nancy; Martha A. and Marion A. (twins); John W .; Sarah M .. wife of Bennett Mann- ing; Pernicia, wife of Balis Johnson. Of this numerous family only three are living- Mrs. Caldwell, Mrs. Lawrence and Mar- ion A.
Mr. and Mrs. Caldwell have had six chil- dren, namely: Nancy E., wife of W. H. Coyle; Samuel B., who married Virginia Singletery; James A., who married Mary May; John D., who married Sallie MeNeal; Mary J., deceased; and Mattie, wifeof Will- iam White. Both he and his wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Mr. Caldwell served in the Mexican war, and is now a Mexican pensioner, draw- ing $8 per month.
OLONEL GEORGE NOBLE, deceased, was born at Loudon, l'ennsylvania, and was the second of a family of seven children. His parents, Robert and Sarah A. (Scott) Noble, were natives of Franklin county, Pennsylvania, and there passed their lives. The father died in 1854 and the mother in 1889; she was a sister to the late Thomas A. Scott, president of the great Pennsylvania Railroad, who died in 1881; another brother was James D. Scott, a most worthy citizen of Chambersburgh, Pennsyl- vania, who died in 1886.
Col. Noble lived in his native village until about the year 1845, when he removed with his parents to Mercer county, Pennsylvania; there lie remained until 1854, and then went to Pittsburg and entered the service of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Ile began „his career as a brakeman on a freight train, and continned with this company as brake- man, conductor, depot and train master, and division superintendent until 1863. At this time he went West to look after some mining interests of his uncle, and until 1866 he was in California and Arizona. After his return he was appointed superintendent of the East- ern Division of the Kansas Pacific Railroad, and served acceptably in this capacity until March 1, 1874. He then resigned to accept the general superintendeney of the Texas and Pacific Railroad, which office he held until May, 1881. When he took charge of this road it measured fifty-seven miles in length; in May, 1880, it had grown to 444 miles, in May, 1881, to 800 miles, with contracts per- fected for its completion to El Paso; in Jan- uary, 1882, arrangements had been made for completing the line, 1,487 miles. Mr. Scott's health failing, he disposed of his interests, and at the same time Colonel Noble resigned his position with the road. His connection with the road began at a most inauspicious time: it was paralyzed with debt, was without credit and friends, but at the elose of seven years it was the longest line in the State of Texas.
When the strike of 1877 swept the coun- try, the Texas and Pacitie suffered its full share of loss of property and traffic. An in- eident of this great event will bear recording: Colonel Noble was absent, but returned on Saturday night. Sunday morning he was met by a committee of men, making certain de- mands; his reply was in every way charac- teristic: " No, gentlemen, I will not give yon an answer on the Sabbath day." Monday lie gave his reply to the men, and those who had the previous day been frenzied with a belief in their wrongs now threw their hats in the air and hurrahed for George Noble.
41
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
It was a fixed habit of the Colonel's to keep the Sabbath day free from business care, and eleven o'eloek of the Sabbath of the strike found him at his accustomed seat in church, listening to the truth as it was spoken by his pastor.
For nearly five years after his resignation he engaged in private business, having large interests in both mines and cattle. In 1886 he was appointed by Governor John C. Brown (then receiver) general manager of the Texas Pacific Railroad, with headquarters at Dallas.
For his first wife he married Miss Harriet Coulter, a descendant of one of the leading families of Pennsylvania. Of this nnion eight children were born, for dying in infaney: Harriet M., the wife of Malcolm A. MeDon- ald; Alice G .. the wife of F. M. Cockrell, a young merchant of Dallas; George L. and William H., both engaged in railroad busi- ness in Texas. In March, 1873, Mrs. Harriet M. Noble died, deeply mourned by her family and a wide cirele of friends. Col. Noble's second marriage occurred in 1874, to Miss Nettie P. Douglass, a daughter of Archibald A. and Maria (Parks) Douglass, natives of Pennsylvania and descendants of honored ancestors. By this second marriage one child was born, Douglass Baird, who died in in- faney.
Colonel George Noble passed to his final rest December 4, 1886. A man universally be- loved, it is needless to say that he was mourned only as those who have lived with those broad, generous purposes which have won the hearts of the multitude. The whole system of railroads that he had so long and faithfully managed put on the emblems of mourning; strong men were seen to weep, and an entire State bowed its head in woe. Never in the history of Dallas was there such a large and impressive funeral serviee. Business was sus-
pended, and each man, woman and child shared the grief of those bound by ties of kin- ship and close association. Let it be remem- bered that this sadness was for their own loss, for, verily, he had passed to his reward.
ACOB BUHRER, a resident of Dallas, Texas , was born in Switzerland. In 1872, at the age of sixteen years, he eame to this country, landing on American soil in New York and going at onee to Ritchie county, West Virginia, where he was employed at farm work. In 1880 he came to Dallas, and for two years resided on Ross avenne. Having been prudent and saving while employed in various pursuits, he was enabled in 1882 to purchase his present home- stead on Julius street. This property consists of two aeres, is within the corporate limits of Dallas and has become very valuable, although at the time he purchased it, it was considered to be far out in the country and there were no fences between his house and Ross avenne. Sinee he has settled here he has been success- fully engaged in condneting a dairy, having sixty-five eows and other farm stoek. In addition to this property, Mr. Buhrer has recently purchased a farm of 200 aeres in the eastern portion of Dallas county, upon which he intends shortly to make his home. He came to Texas with less than $5 and and without any aid save his own industry and economy has accumulated his present holdings. He speaks with pardonable pride of the result of his efforts here.
In 1877 Mr. Buhrer was united in mar- riage with Anna Hinterman, also a native of Switzerland. She came to this country in 1874. Their union has been blessed with five children, all of whom are now living
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HISTORY OF DALLAS COUNTY.
viz: Lena, Arnold, Berthia, Julia and Annie.
Mr. Buhrer is a member of the German Evangelical Lutheran Church. He is Dem- ocratie in politics, and, although not a poli- tician, takes a deep interest in public affairs and everything tending to the best interests of the country at large and the State and county of his adoption.
In reference to the parents of Mr. Buhrer, be it recorded that his father, Jacob Buhrer, Sr., was born in northern Switzerland, and in 1866 emigrated to the United States and settled in Ritchie county, West Virginia, on a farm, pursuing the vocation lie has been engaged in all his life. He still lives where he originally settled. He and his wife, who before her marriage was Miss Anna Scherer, and who is also a native of Switzerland, are the parents of four children. All are living and are as follows: Jacob, whose name heads this sketch; John, who married Lizzie Seun, lives in Dallas; Henry, who is single and a resident of Dallas; and Annie, who married Chris. Moser, a prosperous dairy farmer, of Dallas county. Mr. and Mrs. Moser have five children.
A. ROBERTS, M. D., Dallas county, was born in Cleveland county, North Carolina, February 25, 1837, a son of Thomas J. Roberts, a native of the same county. His grandfather, Colonel John M. Roberts, was a Revolutionary soldier, and a native of Virginia. R. A. Roberts received a liberal academic education at Shelby, North Carolina, and afterward entered the collegi- ate department of the Furinan University at Greenville, South Carolina, and graduated in the class of 1857, receiving the degree of A. B. He then began the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Thomas
Williams, of Shelby, North Carolina, and then took his first course of lectures in the Medical College at Charleston, South Caro- lina, in the session of 1857-'58. He continued the study of medicine under Dr. Williams in connection with his practice until the fall of 1858, when he entered the Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and after a full course and thorough examination he graduated in the class of March, 1859. Dr. Roberts then located in Marion district, South Carolina, where he had a successful practice until the fall of 1859, after which he became dissatisfied, having become afflic- ated with the Western fever, or, more prop- erly termed, the Texas fever. He came by way of Memphis, Tennessee, up the Red River to Shreveport, Louisiana, and then by private conveyance to Dallas, Texas, arriving November 1, 1859. Dallas was then a small and uninviting place, and Dr. Roberts con- cluded to locate in Cedar Hill, but there be- ing no unoconpied houses he was obliged to buy one in which to winter. When the spring opened it found two very much dis- satisfied persons, and he and his wife then started ont in a buggy to look over middle Texas, going through Ellis, Navarro and Limestone counties, down to the terminus of the Houston & Texas Central railroad, and over into Washington county. But not lik- ing any of the country, they concluded to remain at Cedar Hill for a year or two, and then return to South Carolina. Having brought some slaves with him Dr. Roberts decided to buy a farm two miles south of Cedar Hill, and a number of stock horses and cattle.
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