USA > Texas > Past history and present stage of development of Texas. Memorial and biographical history matter of the Lone Star state > Part 11
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CUNNINGHAM, Howard Dillard
Mr. H. D. Cunningham, ex-Confederate soldier and retired business man and farmer, of Pittsburg, Tex., was born in Diekson county, Tenn., April 19, 1838. His father, Willis Cunningham, was born in Lynchburg, Va., and was fifty-seven years old when he died in Diekson county, Tenn., May 7, 1857. He was a farmer, stock-raiser, and during early days was connected with the old Carroll Pig Iron Furnaces in Dickson county, and later the Tennessee Furnaces in Montgomery county, middle Tennessee. Mr. Cunningham's paternal grandfather, Jesse Cunningham, was a native of Virginia, was in the Revolutionary war; was actively associated with iron ore interests previously mentioned, and died in Dickson county at the age of seventy-three years. Mr. (11. D.) Cunningham's mother was Miss Sallie Adams, daughter of Maj. John Adams, who was in the Florida war and died in Diekson county at the age of eighty-five years. The marriage took place in 1827, and there was born of the union twelve sons and two daughters, all of whom are dead except the subject of this sketch, H. D. Cunningham. The mother died in Dickson county in November, 1866, aged sixty-six years.
Mr. Cunningham enlisted in the Confederate army at Charlotte, original county seat of Dickson county, April 26, 1861, Co. C, 11th Tenn. Reg., Capt. Green and Col. Rains. He was first connected with the Army of Tennessee and later with the Army of Virginia. He fought in the battles of Cumberland Ford, Barbourville, Ky .; Rockcastle, Walnut Hill, Murfreesboro, Sand Mountain, Resaca, New Hope Church, Dead Angle, Marietta, Peach- tree Creek, Jonesboro, Rocky Face Mountain, West Point, Ga .; Columbia, Franklin and Nashville, Tenn .; Selma, Ala., and Fort Pillow, where scarcely one of 5,000 Federals escaped slaughter. He was wounded in the right shoulder at Peachtree Creek, in the head at Jonesboro, and near the pit of both arms at Franklin. After the battle of Franklin he changed from infantry to cavalry and joined Gen. Forest and was with him at Jackson, Tenn., being at the head of a company at the time of the surrender at Crawley's Ridge, Ark. He swam the Mississippi river in pursuit of Gen. Banks. When he was wounded at Franklin, Col. Beverly Tombs took him to the home of his old com- mander in Williamson county, where he was nursed by the good wife until he was able to ride horse-back behind the daughter through picket lines and joined Gen. Forest. She discharged him within eight miles of Franklin, asking him if he could make his way. He told her that he would never be captured alive, and stopped with a Mrs. Gooch, widow of a Confederate soldier. Next day the Federals were hunting for him and, having been concealed in an attie of the house until sundown, he rode horse-back behind a Miss Case for four miles across creeks. In quest of supper, he ventured to a house nearby and noticing Federal horses hitched about, he selected the finest one and, though he was dis- covered and chased at full speed, he reached cedar timber, and by riding forty miles that night reached his old major's home at Burn's Gap. Next day he reached his mother's home, and she pleaded with him not to stop as Federals were looking for him, and he slept in the brush that night in company with W. W. Stokey. The following night he went to west Tennessee and succeeded in joining Forest's command, with whom he remained to the close of the war. Mr. Cunningham was first married to Miss Lula Boyd, of Hill county, Tex., July 15, 1878, she being a native of Water Valley, Miss. She died
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in 1882, leaving two sons, M. B., a conductor out of Fort Worth, and Howard E., in wholesale grocery business at Eldorado, Ark. Mr. Cunningham was a second time mar- ried December 27, 1888, to Miss Jennie Sledge, a native Georgian, but then of Cass county, Texas. When the war was over Mr. Cunningham found himself in Lauderdale county, Tenn., with a pistol and $35 in gold, which had for some time been "sewed up" in his clothes, and with this amount he began life anew, and being now possessed of ample competence, he seems to have been as good a business man as he was a soldier, having been "up and down" financially a number of times. In war he pledged himself and his God that he would never surrender alive, and the same kind of courage has been manifest in his business career. He was once in the stage business in Tennessee, and once suffered a heavy loss in the tobacco business at Clarksville, Tenn. He was in the photographic line in New Orleans and Wills Point, Tex., cotton buying in Ellis county, and has indulged in real estate and farming. He has been in Texas since 1877, and Pittsburg since 1880.
CARRELL, Prof. William Jackson
We are living in a very busy age. Our lines are cast in the very storm-center of modern commercial and financial strenuosity; a non- poetic age, a non-humorous age, and the most charming prose ex- tant will scarce cash at fifteen cents the barrel. The calls upon our time are many and loud. But above all this pellmell of life we cannot afford to neglect the ques- tion of education and social en- lightenment, lest we disintegrate and decay as a nation. The youth of today must be prepared to take up tomorrow the reins of govern- ment and our social and commercial responsibilities where the aged and halt leave off. In this connection it affords the writer pleasure to speak of one of the most promising and prominent young educators of the Lone Star State-one who is loyal to the principles of education and appreciates his responsibilities -in the person of Prof. William Jackson Carrell, of Cleburne, and who is at present Superintendent of Public Schools of Johnson county. Prof. Carrell was born in the Old Union Hill neighborhood of Jolinson county, Dec. 5, 1881. His father, S. L. Carrell, is a native of Tennessee, and came to this section of the state in early days, with meager resources. Today he owns a 1,300-acre ranch near Godley, this county, where he has for many years been engaged in producing stock of all kinds. His wife before marriage was Miss Mollie McKee, who was born in historie old Jefferson, East Texas. Born to this wedded couple were three sons and one daughter-all living.
Prof. Carrell is the architect of his own fortune and cau claim the proud distinction of being a self-made man-earning money working on the farm to finish the splendid
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English education possessed by him. He worked his way through Burnetta College, and afterwards graduated in the Southwest Texas State Normal, San Marcos, in class of 1908. He began teaching in the rural schools of Johnson county, covering period of three years, and by hard work and honest dealings with pupils and patrons rose rapidly in his profession. Was Principal of Midlothian High School, in Ellis county, two years, and in November, 1910, was chosen Superintendent of Johnson county schools by a handsome majority-and the duties of which office he is today discharging with fidelity and credit. Prof. Carrell stands for all things progressive; is rapidly revolutionizing the old system, and in the philosophy of teaching he ranks ahead of his time. With the same quick judgment of human nature that marked his experience as a teacher he is now able to discern precisely the qualities needed in those who aspire to educate the youth. The Carrell family is that of Presbyterian, and Democrats. Prof. Carrell is an Elk, and he and . his father are Masons. The total scholastic population of Johnson county is 9,377, and number of teachers employed is 201.
CAMPBELL, Gov. Thomas Mitchell
Gov. Campbell was born on a farmn near Rusk, Cherokee county, Texas, April 22, 1856. Attended common schools until 1873, when he entered Trinity University, Tehaucana, for term of 1873-4, at end of which time his money ran short and he returned to work on farm. In 1875 was employed in county clerk's office at Longview, Greeg county, and read law at night. Was admitted to the bar in 1878, and mastered the law at Longview with success until 1889, when he was appointed master of chancery in I. & G. N. receivership. In January, 1891, was appointed receiver of the road, and as such operated it until July, 1892, when the receiver- ship was closed. Was tendered the management of said road, and continued to direct its opera- tion until resigning May 25, 1897, to resume the practice of his profession at Palestine. In 1901 Col. Campbell announced for Governor, but with- drew following year. Was nominated for Gov- ernor by Democratic State Convention held in Dallas, Aug. 16, 1906, and elected following November. Was renominated and elected in 1908. His administration was rather stormy and was characterized with some few "wholesome reforms, probably the most notable one being the reduction of the ad valorem tax rate from 161% to 6 cents on the $100 valuation. But, unfortunately for him and his posterity, his crities advance serious claims that his administration was a blunderous failure from the standpoint of financing, from which the state treasury now seems to be suffering. Playing polities he singled out and prosecuted some few of the trust evils, but the preponderance of them were evidently given a clean bill of health. Gov. Campbell is now practicing law at his home-Palestine.
CLARK, James McAllister
Mr, James M. Clark, retired business man, capitalist and ex-Confederate soldier of Pittsburg, was born July 7, 1846, on a far in Tipton county, West Tennessee. His father, Rev. J. J. Clark, Methodist minister, educator and farmer, was born in North Carolina, his parents moving to Tipton county, Tennessee, during the thirties. He came
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to Upshur county, Texas, in 1853, and settled four miles east of Coffeyville, where he farmed, established and developed Murray Institute to an attendance of three hundred pupils aud employment of six teachers. In the rounds of his educational work he gave valuable services toward the upbuilding of the schools at Sulphur Springs, and hundreds of men and women throughout Texas today honor his memory and will recall the fact that he gave them proper equipment aud qualifications with which to battle in this life. Rev, Clark first came to Pittsburg in 1869, and died at that place in 1874, aged seventy years. He was married in Mississippi to Miss Mary E. Conley, a native of that state, and she died at Sulphur Springs, Tex., in 1868, aged sixty-six years. There was born of this uuion eight sons and two daughters, among whom are now living Jas. M. Clark, Mrs. Dr. C. B. Blocker, of Texarkana, Rev. I. W. Claik, of Grand Prairie, and who travels in behalf of the Methodist Conference, and G. B. Clark, farmer near Campbell.
Mr. James M. Clark was educated according to the rectitude of his honored father, and began his active life assisting him in teaching. In 1868 he made a trip to California, and remained eighteen months in quest of gold, which was only partially successful. He returned in the fall of 1869 and farmed for fifteen years in Camp county. He was elected tax assessor of Camp county and held that office for ten years. Then followed a period of twenty years in hardware, furniture and grocery business in Pittsburg, and in January, 1911, retired from business, leaving same in charge of his two sons under the firm name of Clark Bros, & Company. Mr. Clark was married in 1874 to Miss Willie Caton, uative of Red River county, Texas, and their living children are as follows: J. M., Jr., and G. M. Clark, who form the firm of Clark Bros. & Company, and Mrs. V. G. Skeen, of Wichita Falls. The mother died in March, 1905, aged fifty-four years. In January, 1864, at the age of seventeen, Mr. Clark enlisted in the Confederate army at Tyler-Robertsou's Com- pany, Morgan's Battalion, Parson's Cavalry Brigade. Campaigned through Arkansas and Louisiana with considerable activity, and was on Little Brazos river in Texas when the surrender came. Mr. Clark is vice-president and director in the First State Bank of Pitts- burg; owns stock in other banks, property in Pittsburg and farming interests in Camp county, He is one of the trustees and stewards in the local M. E. church, and aside from being one of the progressive men who have made Camp county what it is, he is liberal in a publie-spirited way and is kiud and charitable to the poor.
DANSBY, Dr. Robert Cosby
A gentleman that stands extraordinarily high in the estimation of all the people of Kaufman county is Dr. R. C. Dansby, who was born at Dayton, Marengo county, Alabama- between the Tombigbee and Alabama rivers-April 16, 1845. His father before him, Dr. John C. Dansby, was born in Edgefield District, South Carolina, and died at Dayton, Ala., in 1860. He was a descendant of the French Huguenot colouy that settled in the neighbor- hood of his birthplace in South Carolina in early days, and during his life was a practicing physician, plantation and slave-owner in Alabama. He was a Mason, and politically was , stroug and uucompromising in his Whig sentiments. His wife was Miss Martha Merri- wether, a native of Georgia. Six children were born to them, of which three are now living, the mother having died in 1863.
Dr. Dansby finished his education at the Alabama Military Institute, Tuscaloosa-state institution-and entered the drug business at the age of twenty years. During the latter part of the civil war he joined the 43rd Alabamna Regiment, Confederate army, at the age of sixteen, and being a delicate youth was immediately placed on detail duty, which service he continued to faithfully discharge uutil peace' was declared. After the war he spent two years in Mobile, Ala., and returned to his native county, where he engaged in the drug business at MeKinley for four years and burned out. Having lost all his means he again regained his financial footing, disposed of his interests and came to Kaufman, Texas, in 1870, where he has since been prominent in the retail drug trade. Since coming to this little city he was burued out in the drug business three different times, and the four fires in his career have caused him a loss of something like $50,000. Almost phenomenal 'as it may seem, he renewed his efforts each time with the small sum of $2.50, and today has one of the handsomest pharmacies in
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Kanfman: Dr. Dansby has been twice married, his first wife being Miss Susie E. Marshall, of Marengo county, Ala., to whom he was wedded May 12, 1897. Four daughters were born of this marriage, and the mother passed beyond the veil of this life in Kaufman, May 22, 1900. Dr. Dansby was a second time married June 16, 1910, to Mrs. Mattie B. Snow, of Kaufman. He has been a Mason since 1871, belongs to the K. of P. and worships with the Baptist church. He has always taken a warm interest in good government, as becomes the old French Huguenot stock, and has been a member of the local school board for the past twenty years, and for the past ten years has been president of same. He has made Kaufman county an exemplary citizen, and as previously stated commands the high esteem of all who know him.
DEAN, John
No state in the American Union is more proud of its history than that of Texas, and there are few, if any, states that have as much to be prond of in imperishable history, glorious achievement, matchless resources and almost boundless possibilities. For those who braved its earliest settlement and immortalized themselves on the blood-stained battlefields, fighting Indians, for Texan independence in 1833-6, and for states rights in 1861-5, our people today regard with reverential affection, and it is now the duty of fathers and mothers to plant this spirit in the breasts of their children that it may continue to bear fruit for ages to come. In this connection a little ancient history is quite appropriate. John Dean, grandfather of the subject whose name initiates this sketch, was born in Virginia, grew to manhood in Middle Tennessee, and died in Smith county, Texas, at age of eighty years. One of his sons, Caloway Dean (father of John Dean), came to San Angustine county, East Texas, in 1833-before Gen. Sam Houston had yet arrived on the field. He was with the first Texan army, under Gen. Frank M. Johnson, when the first capture of the Alamo was made in November, 1835, defeat- ing Gen. Cos and his Mexican army, and was one of the three soldiers afterwards detailed by Gen. Rnsk to follow them and see that they carried out the agreement to get out of Texas territory. And, as history relates, the Alamo was later retaken by Gen. Santa Anna. Mr. Dean later joined Houston's army, and was in the battle of San Jacinto. He took a prominent part in state affairs, helped to organize the government of the Texan Republic, and was the first distriet clerk of San Augustine county. He was a slave-owner, surveyor of land, land- owner and stock-raiser at the time of his death, which occurred in Smith county in 1893, at age of eighty-two years, having moving from San Augustine to Smith county in 1861. His wife before marriage was Miss Mary Clark, born in Middle Tennessee, but married in San Augustine, Texas. She died in 1855 after giving birth to five sons and three daughters, all of whom are dead except the subject of this sketch, John Dean, and Caloway Dean, now a farmer and stock-raiser in Clay county, Texas.
Mr. John Dean was born on a farm in San Augustine county, East Texas, April 26, 1840, when Texas was yet a Republic, and there grew to maturity. He enlisted in the Confederate army in 1861-in Co. C .. Ist Texas Legion, Capt. Jolm Broocks and Col. J. W. (""Old Whit'') . Whitfield. He experienced active service in Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, Indian Territory, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana. Georgia and Tennessee, and was for three years doing scout duty under that daring soldier and Indian fighter, Gen. Sul Ross, once Governor of Texas. Mr. Dean was in something like five hundred skirmishes and battles, and heard bullets "whiz by " continuously for one hundred days during the time they were doing their best to whip Gen. Sherman in the Georgia campaign. The war being over Mr. Dean settled in Smith county, and later in Kaufman county in 1877. He was married Dee. 18, 1868, to Miss Mattie A. Milburn, whose father, Rev. William Milburn, was a noted Texas Baptist minister, and died as a Confederate soldier in 1863. Ten children have been born to them, and at this writing there are living five married daughters and two sons, single. The family worship with the Baptist church, and reside in one of the most comfortable homes in the prosperons little city. Mr. Dean has been a farmer and stockman all his life, has been successful and is an extensive property owner. In the sunset of his life Mr. Dean can call to his support a world of friends, and he and his good wife have the satisfaction of having reared to maturity and usefulness an interesting family of children.
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DILLARD, Judge James Elizer
A biographical history of Texas minus the personality of Judge James E. Dillard, of Kaufman, would be incomplete. Indeed, the conspicnous part he played when Texas was under military rnle, during the civil war as a brave Confederate soldier, and during the stormy days of carpetbag government, were such as to commend him to the affections and patriotic love of all Texans and true Southern- ers. When the vital moment of test came in Austin, and E. J. Davis, carpetbag governor, and other state officials refused to surrender their offices in the state capitol building, it was Judge James E. Dillard and two other brave Texans (Gen. J. B. Roberson, for two years commander of Hood's brigade in the Confed- erate army and a San Jacinto soldier, and E. L. Shropshire ) that led the way into the capitol building, into the very teeth of "Negro bayo- nets," dispersed them with their pistols, ernshed in the door of the Governor's office and took charge of same, and led the other state officials by shirt collar and hair of the head, to the doors, and "booted" them out of the premises. To give a detailed account of Judge Dillard's life would require a book of antobiography, hence we will just touch upon the more salient features of this interesting and distinguished citizen, who has in the past been one of the tribunals of the great common people-always condneting himself with absolute fearlessness and in the most dignified order. Born on a farm in Houston county, Georgia, Sept. 26, 1833, his grandfather, Sampson Dillard, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and died in Sumter county, Georgia, in 1848. His father, David Dillard, was born in Bnrk county, Georgia, in 1799, and died Jan. 11, 1867, at the age of sixty-seven-two weeks after coming to Cherokee county, East Texas. His wife, and mother of Judge Dillard, was Miss Mahalia Dnrden, native to Emanuel county, Georgia, and died in Burnett county, Texas, in 1899 at the age of eighty years, her father having lived throngh the period of the Revolutionary war. Born to this nnion were four sons and three danghters, of which there are only now living Jndge Dillard and Mrs. Joseph E. Hollingsworth, of Burnett county, Texas. Jndge Dillard came to East Texas in 1851, when he was yet eighteen years of age, and the family came in 1866, and lived in Chambers and Cherokee counties until coming to Kaufman connty in 1878. It was in Cherokee county that Jndge Dillard enlisted in the Confederate army-Company K, Third Texas Cavalry- and gave brilliant account of his services in Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Indian Territory and Louisiana. In the battle of Springfield, Mo., he was wounded in the right leg, had his horse shot from under him, and both armies fought over him while lying on the battlefield. Was slightly wounded in the battle of Prairie Grove, Ark .; was in the battle of Elk Horn, and that of Chustentnalah, one of the fiercest Indian engagements on record; was at Mt. Pleasant, Yellow Bayou, and helped to fight Gen. Banks at Mansfield, La., and was with Generals Price and Van Dorn's army when it missed being in the battle of Corinth, Miss., by narrow margin of time. In 1869 Judge Dillard was elected to the state senate from Cherokee county, and the carpetbaggers stole the ballot-boxes. The carpetbag government at Austin called a special election in 1870, and sent sixty negro police into his district to intimidate Judge Dillard and his friends. He was overwhelmingly elected then, and five times thereafter with swollen majorities, and
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was one of the fearless and trusted leaders during those "days that tried men's souls," both as a citizen and as a state official. He was a member of the lower house in 1888. Judge Dillard began the practice of law in Rush county in 1858, was county judge of Cherokee county for two years; was six years county judge of Kaufman county, and district judge during 1893-4 by appointment of Gov. James S. Hogg, and was three times thereafter elected without opposition, when he voluntarily retired from the bench. During his earlier days in Cherokee county Judge Dillard owned and edited the Rusk Observer for a period of seven years, which was a powerful weapon in his fight to regulate the community against carpetbaggers and flagrantly corrupt government. James S. Hogg, later Governor, and ex-Senator Horace Chilton were printer boys in his office-hence the term of "Old Dillard's Devil." Judge Dillard was married June 15, 1873, to Miss Rosa Fallis, who was born at Rusk, Cherokee county, Texas. They have six living children, of which they are justly proud, and all are intelligent, industrious and doing well in this world of effort. Mrs. Dillard is a lady of culture, charm and intelligence, and her aid and advice have been of timely strength to the militant life of her husband. During his public career in Texas Judge Dillard has been personally acquainted with every President of the Texan Republic-especially Gen. Sam Houston-and every Governor of the state on down to the present time. Being now in his seventy-eighth year, he still takes a warm interest in all governmental affairs, is positively intolerant of corrupt public officials, and has always stood for high morals and a clean home life, of which his has been a model. Judge Dillard has been a Mason since 1855. Judge and Mrs. Dillard's children are as follows: J. C. Dillard, secretary freight bureau, Waco; Mrs. Guy D. Anderson, Wichita Falls? J. R. Dillard, with M., K. & T. railway, Denison; Mrs. T. E. Hughes, Rock Island, Ill .; G. F. and W. C. Dillard, with American Express Company, Waco.
DICKERSON, David Marion
Nowhere in all this broad land do young men find better opportunities leading to success than in East Texas, especially in that of the law. If a young man is possessed with a will and determination to succeed in life, backed with fundamental ability, the way is as clear as the skies above, the ultimate as certain as the four seasons. As one subject that demonstratively proves this conclusion we are pleased to introduce Mr. David M. Dickerson, County Attorney of Henderson county. This geutlemau was born on a farm near Poynor, in Henderson county, June 4, 1877, and was named in honor of his father, D. M. Dickerson, who was named in honor of Gen. Francis Marion, of Revolutionary war fame. The father was born in Greenville Dis- triet, South Carolina, Nov. 18, 1822. At the age of eighteen he migrated to North Mississippi and lived there three years; spent eighteen months in Arkansas and came to Anderson county, Texas in 1851; served in Confederate army three years and settled on a farm near Poynor, this county, in 1869, where he died Nov. 22, 1901. The junior Mr. Dickerson accepted the advantages of local public schools, taught in same for six years, when he matriculated in Law Department of State University, Austin, during years 1902-3-4, inclusive. Was admitted to the bar in Austin in June, 1904. The usual rebuffs and reverses common to all young lawyers were experienced and with which he became well acquainted. But with one purpose in view- success at any cost-reverses only steeled the nerves and furnished food for the mind to better solve the perplexities between the present and success. The goal was ultimately reached, at least sufficiently so to render the profession a pleasant duty rather than an irksome task, and Mr. Dickerson today commands a splendid practice and is held in the highest esteem by his brother-professionals and the judges in sitting. He was elected County Attorney in 1910; his shadow still falls to the West, and his many friends are expecting higher honors to crown his future. Mr. Dickerson was married Sept. 15, 1907, to Miss Beulah Surratt, of Athens, but who was born in Alabama. Mrs. Dickerson's father followed Gen. Forrest's flag for three years during the civil war, and under him fought many hard battles. She is also related to Mrs. Surratt, whom the Federal authorities permitted to be executed for alleged. conspiracy in the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, but in reality for her intense Southern sympathies, and for which she was known as "The Heroine of the Confederacy." Mr. Dicker- son comes of good family blood, is a man of high morals, clean home life, and has many warm
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