USA > Texas > Wise County > Pioneer history of Wise County; from red men to railroads-twenty years of intrepid history > Part 19
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CARLO BALL .- THOMAS L. BALL.
During his years of residence in Wise County the subject of this sketch stood for rugged, honest citizenship. He did not aspire to lead politically or socially, but was content to be a plain citizen, the kind that re- sponds to every demand that good citizenship imposes. The highest encomium that can be placed on a man is, not that he is learned and cultured nor accomplished, but that he is honest. This, in truth, can be said of Carlo Ball. He was born in Ken- tucky in 1834, came to Hop- kins County, Texas, in 1851, and in the fall of 1854, came to Wise County when the number of families here could be counted very nearly on one hand. He assumed his part bravely in all the fortudinous circumstances that environed CARLO BALL.
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the pioneer citizens, and through it all succeeded in rearing and educating a large family who have become an honor to their parents and county. Mr. Ball is the son of Moses Ball and wife whose photographs are reproduced in this section. They, too, were original settlers of the steadfast kind. At an carly date, Carlo Ball married Clarinda, the oldest daughter of Jackson J. Conelly, who, with his wife, eame very early to this frontier and remained until their deaths. Staunch, true friends of the country and its best interests. They also were the parents of Tip Conelly, whose life was sacrificed to the Indians in the engagement in which Tom Weatherby was killed and Clabe Cates shot in the head with an arrow. Mr. Conelly and Mr. Ball built the first flouring mill erected in Wise County, this just off the Gainsville road about 13 miles northeast of Decatur, contiguous to the old homeplace of Mr. Ball. To ob- tain the machinery Mr. Conelly made a trip to New York State and had it shipped to Louisiana, from where it was hauled over- land to Wise County. Mr. and Mrs. Conelly had several daugh- ters and one son, all of whom were married and whose names are: Mrs. Carlo Ball, Mrs. Napoleon Stone, Mrs. Joshua Shreves, Mrs. R. A. Boyd, Mrs. W. H. Cook. The son, Jose J. Conelly, married a Ball.
Mr. and Mrs. Moses Ball also reared a large family of children who are intermingled by marriage with some of the best-known citizens of Wise County. Their names are presently: Carlo Ball, Mrs. Win. Carroll, Mrs. Joseph Marlett, Mrs. Fred Elson, Mrs. Win. Dixon, Mrs. Ed Ray, Mrs. Joe Brown, Jim Ball deceased, Mrs. Dick Reeger, deceased. Carlo Ball is now a resident of the Pan Handle of Texas, but as his repre- sentative in Wise County he has left behind a son, Thomas La- fayette Ball, who stands for all those sterling qualities exhibited in the father. Thomas L. Ball was born on the old Ball place near Decatur, September 24, 1874, and was mainly educated in the public school of Decatur, which he religiously attended for a number of years, or until he had mastered the rudiments of a practical education. At about the age of 26 he taught a term of school at Flat Rock Schoolhouse, and then returned
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himself to school at Decatur. During the interim of his school sessions he did hard physical labor on the farm. By conviction and heritage he is a Republican in political belief, and in 1902 became a candidate for postmaster at Decatur. He was success- ful in being appointed and took office March 11, 1902. On February 27, 1906, he was reappointed for a second term. Beyond all question Mr. Ball has made one of the most capable
MR. MOSES BALL.
MRS. MOSES BALL.
and accommodating officers ever charged with the duties of handling the mail at Decatur, and in addition thereto he has won the gratitude of the community by being instrumental in having established the system of rural mail delivery here. He has been happily married to Miss Stanley, daughter of one of the substantial farmers of Wise County. 16
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COL. GEORGE B. PICKETT.
The biographer records a most interesting character in detail- ing the life of Col. George Bible Pickett. He touched the life of- the frontier at many points and participated in more varied experiences than fall to the lot of the majority of his human brothers. Born July 9, 1832, at Owensboro, Ky., he came with his father's family to Red River County and spent the period of his youth since 1842 there. In September, 1850, Col.
COL. G. B. PICKETT.
MRS. G. B. PICKETT.
Pickett was married to Cordelia Scarborough, a daughter of a pioneer settler in Red River County. His father, Rev. Willis M. Pickett, was a Baptist minister, and probably preached one of the first sermons in Red River County on coming there in 1842. He also organized churches and engaged in the work of the ministry over North Texas.
At the age of 21, and in August, 1854, Col. Pickett made a
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prospecting trip to Wise County. He started in company with a group of prospective settlers, of which he was the youngest member. Reaching Denton County, the country grew wild and dangerous in appearance, and all but Col. Pickett turned back. He came on, crossed Wise County, and visited Hunt's ranch in the western part. On his adventurous return, he ran amuck of a band of Indians encamped on Denton Creek, and had some perilous experiences during the night of his detention in their midst. However, he was allowed to proceed the following morning without serious consequences. Col. Pickett then moved to Wise County to live, bringing Mrs. Pickett. They bought the claim of Jim Rogers, about four miles north of Decatur, which they occupied for some time. They then moved to their present abode, which is about a mile southeast of the original homesite. Col. and Mrs. Pickett have reared a large family, the first-born being Mary, who was married to Milton W. Shoemaker, of Decatur; the next, Bettie, married to Thos. J. McMurray, of Decatur; one son, Augustus, married Maggie Fullingim; two other daughters, Elizabeth and Electra, are at home. Since his entrance into the County Col. Pickett has entered seriously into many phases of the county life. Originally he was owner of a great herd of cattle; when the war came up, he raised a full company of volunteers whose history has been given in preceding pages; his activity in behalf of quietude in the county at the close of the war won him the enmity of the elements responsible for the disquietude, and his life for a number of years was rendered vexatious and uncomfortable. He served the county two terms as County Judge and five terms as repre- sentative in the legislature, leaving his stamp upon much permanent and beneficial legislation. He was the author of the bill which authorized the organization of the ranger forces which tended in great part to subdue the Indians after their years of ravages. Some one spoke truly of him when he was described as being " a forceful public speaker, pleasing in address, pictur- esque in language, full of solid fact and anecdote, courtly and chivalrous."
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SAMUEL L. TERRELL .- C. V. TERRELL .- JOHN J. TERRELL.
The family which bears the above name has long been promi- nent in the social, political and business life of this county. Mr. Terrell, the forebear, was born in Franklin County, Mississippi, November 13, 1829, in which county he lived until he went with his parents to Pulaski County, Arkansas, when he was about six years of age. In the schools of his native county and in those of Little Rock he received proficient training in the fundamentals of an education, and afterwards taught two terms in Point Coupee Parish, Louisiana, one before his marriage and one following that event, which occurred in Pulaski County, Arkansas, in 1852, when he took to wife Miss
Emily C. Kellam.
After
closing his school in Louis- iana, Mr. Terrell returned to Arkansas, where he busied himself in closing the details of his wife's estate. In 1854 he came to Texas and settled JOHN J. TERRELL. in Upshur County on Sulphur Creek, where he conducted another school for one term. He had made a prospective trip to this frontier, which ended in his decision to locate here, and in November, 1854, he returned to Wise County, accompanied by his wife and his wife's brother, Jacob Kellam, to become a permanent settler. For one dollar per acre Mr. Terrell purchased the claim of a Mr. Comstock, in the neighborhood of Denton Creek, in the east part of the county; hercon he erected a six-
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teen-foot-square log cabin, necessity foreing the family for some time to do without either windows or door shutters to the house, such conveniences being unobtainable in the county. Upon the organization of the county in 1856, Mr. Terrell was selected as one of the first county commissioners, and was also elected justice of the peace for his precinct. At the beginning of Indian hostilities he removed with his family to Decatur, which at the time boasted of but about six families. Mr. Terrell for a number of years conducted a merchandise establishment, and when Decatur began to grow erected the first stone building built in the town. Mrs. Terrell was born in Pulaski County, Arkansas, November 20, 1832. On her father's side she is
directly descended from the family of which the famous statesman, John C. Calhoun, was also a des- cendant.
Mr. Terrell has been dead a num- ber of years, but Mrs. Terrell re- mains hale and hearty, one of the pioneer mothers descended from those tempestuous times. . She re- calls many exciting incidents and occurrences which space limits for- bid describing here. During the days of Indian troubles her home in Decatur was one of the special retreats of outsiders seeking refuge and safety. She can recall vividly having seen Indians in her own barn late at night preparing to take MRS. S. L. TERRELL. away her horses, and this in the village of Decatur. In connection with other Indian experiences she remembers making the winding-sheets for the burial of the murdered Huff women; also she it was who dressed the sealp of the savage killed by Captain Hill's company of rangers in the Keep house fight. Mr. and Mrs. Terrell reared an interesting and accomplished family of children, whose es- sential individual facts of history are as follows: L. P. Terrell,
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the oldest, was twice married; first to Carrie Scarborough ; secondly and following her death, to Emma Watson. John J. Terrell, the present land commissioner of Texas, was married to Jennie Sanders. Malinda Bell was married to Lute Renshaw; Charles Vernon Terrell, ex-state senator and present county judge, married Etta May; Jacob Preston married first Sallie Lanier, following whose death he married Sallie Phillips; Mary Elizabeth was married to Stephen A. Lillard; Fannie Ida was married to Walter Cooper; Lillie Rowena was married to Dr. D. H. Payne; Laura Emma was married to J. Foster Lillard and Will Eugene Terrell married Mae Lillard.
Charles Vernon Terrell, the third son of Mr. and Mrs. S. L. Terrell, is a native son of Wise County, having been born twelve miles cast of Decatur, May 2, 1861. His early schooling was received at Decatur, the schools best remembered by him be- ing those of Professor MeConnell, Mr. J. D. White's and Dr. John A. Embry, as well as Parson Haynes'. As a young man Judge Terrell was averse to confinement as clerk in his father's store and chose freighting and outdoor work instead, which is largely accountable for the superb physical strength and sturdi- ness of form and carriage which he presently enjoys. As a lad he loitered quite frequently about the court house, his father's residence being near at hand, and here, while listening to the legal debates and oratory of the lawyers he conceived the am- bition to become a lawyer, which led to his beginning legal studies in 1884 under the firm of Carswell & Fuller. He was also influenced in the choice of a profession by his elder brother, John J. Terrell, who, with much foresight, saw ahead the oppor- tunities for young men of trained skill and cultivated intellect. At the end of his student course Judge Terrell was granted license to practice at the bar, by Judge F. E. Piner. He was immediately placed in the race for city attorney by his friends. In 1892 he was elected county attorney and served four years, during the first year of which, or in 1893, he was married to Miss Etta May, at the time an efficient and ad- mired teacher in the public school. Her home was at Cameron, Texas. As county attorney Mr. Terrell made an enviable rec- ord, religiously devoting himself to his duties and quitting with
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an accumulation of experience, ability and reputation that ended in his being elected as the senatorial representative from the Thirty-first District, which comprised Denton, Wise and Mon- tague Counties. In the senate Judge Terrell was a close stu- dent of men and affairs as he has ever been in all the relations of life into which he has entered. He was also instrumental in achieving much beneficial legislation, and is responsible for the location of the North Texas Normal College at Denton. He served a full term in the senate and retired to private practice, but again entered the arena of politics in 1906, when he was selected as the judge of Wise County.
Judge Terrell is a sterling, sincere, straightforward type of man, loves his home, loves his country and loves his people; in fact, patriotism and loyalty are his chief characteristics. He is possessed of a strong sense of duty and is inherently firm and unalterable in whatever course or policy he thinks is right. Withal he is possessed of a cautious business sense and during the tenure of his present office Wise County will be honestly, efficiently and progressively governed.
The career of Hon. John J. Terrell, second son and second in line of birth of the children of Samuel L. and Mrs. Terrell, and present land commissioner of Texas, is regarded with pride by his fellow citizens of Wise County, who have viewed his elimb from obscurity to the lofty altitudes of state position and state- wide reputation. Th's sentiment of pride is heightened by the fact of Mr. Terrell's Wise County nativity, he having been born here January 28, 1857, in a log cabin, newly built by his father, near the eastern boundary of the county, in the vicinity of the mouth of Catlett Creek.
Mr. Terrell began life in Wise County enshrouded in the mist and cloud of frontier deprivation and isolation, an environment that has contributed to the darkening of many a talented life through the sheer denial of opportunity and outlet. Some men, however, illuminate their own path; such a man is Mr. Terrell. He began an carly, manly fight against the environing shadows,
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spreading a light about himself in which he worked straight up- ward to one of the highest and most responsible positions in the gift of a great state. Limitations of space forbid minute details of Mr. Terrell's Wise County career. He was early honored here with the positions of surveyor and district clerk, which in combination with private enterprises and real estate transactions kept him energetically employed for a number of years. Then in 1887, through Hon. R. M. Hall, land commis- sioner of Texas, he was extended an opportunity to go up higher, and accepted. Mr. Hall appointed him surveyor and classifier of state public school lands, which led subsequently to his clerk- ship in the land office at Austin and ultimately to his election as land commissioner.
Mr. Terrell married May 13, 1887, Miss Jennie Sanders, who was born near Nashville, Tennessee, August 28, 1865. Mrs. Terrell is a beautiful and accomplished woman of original pioneer stock of Tennessee, but has been a resident of Texas since the age of nine years. To Mr. and Mrs. Terrell have been born four children, three of whom are living, as follows: Oscar Otis, born at Decatur: Minnie, Myrtle and Jennie Jewell, born at Austin.
The following brief resume of Mr. Terrell's official carcer is the contribution of Hon. James T. Robison, chief clerk of the General Land Office, Austin.
"He was elected commissioner of the General Land Office of Texas, November, 1902, and assumed the duties of that very important and responsible office January 10, 1903. He was twice re-elected, the last time over active opposition, and though his third term, received in the Democratic primary over his op- ponent the largest majority ever given one Democrat over another in the history of the state. Though he is strongly urged to again ask re-election, he declines to accept further political favors. For twelve years prior to Mr. Terrell's election he had been an employe of the land office, during which time he had been promoted by every successive commissioner, serving the last four years as chief clerk. Such was Mr. Terrell's compro- hension of the purpose for which the public lands were dedicated and his knowledge of its provisions, under the guise of law, that
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he assumed the difficult and laborious task of correcting the evil through the legislature. Though failure was his first re- ward, his two years' conduct of the office, in the interest of the school fund for which the land had been set apart, instead of in the interest of those wanting to speculate upon the land, was such that his views became popular and were enacted into the law of 1905. This law put sales upon the business basis of ad- vertising the land in the broadest possible way and of selling to the one who would pay the most for it. Notwithstanding the best lands had theretofore been sold, yet under this law the land sold during the first year brought to the school fund in round numbers, $5,000,000.00 more than the same quantity of better land had theretofore brought. His land policy has come to stay. The Supreme Court of this state, in a decision in a land case (see Estes rs. Terrell, 15th Texas Court Reporter, page 445), had to say: 'The policy of selling the school lands to the highest bidder is a wise one,' The public has the most explicit confidence in Mr. Terrell's personal and official integrity. While of a modest bearing and quiet demeanor, he is fearless in his advocacy of the moral side of all public questions, and submits to the dictation of no one. The belief that truth will triumph is a part of his very nature. Though Mr. Terrell is firm in his manner, yet he is kind and generous, and every one of the eighty-five employes who have from the first until now served under him in the land office love him."
STANHOPE PASCHALL .- J. T. PASCHALL .- W. D. PASCHALL.
Stanhope Paschall was one of the very earliest arrivals in Wise County, coming in 1855 and settling on Deep Creek, one of the oldest and most prominent communities of the time. He was born in Dixon County, Tennessee, in 1824, December 28th; before leaving Tennessee, he married Miss Martha Duke. The date of his arrival in Upshur County, Texas, was 1853, from which county he came to Wise. Records of Mr. Paschall's high usefulness to the community as an artisan in wood and iron are
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left in an old day-book retained by his sons, which exhibits the thrift and energy of his nature and his meritorious transactions with the pioneer people.
Mr. Paschall has bequeathed two sons to present day Wise County life who have been instrumental in its material upbuild- ing. These are J. T. and W. D. Paschall, who, by their high characters as men have not only honored themselves and the section in which they live, but have conferred special credit upon the pioneer parents who bore them.
J. T. Paschall is an estim- able farmer of the Deep Creek section. He was born in Dixon County, Tennessee, December 13, 1849, came to Wise County with his father, and in 1875 married Josie Goodger, to which union eight children -four boys and four girls-were born.
W. D. Paschall is number- ed amongst the best known and most influential farmers and business men of Wise County. He is a native son of Wise County, having been STANHOPE PASCHALL. born on the old Deep Creek farm, December 26, 1857, the year of the establishment of the county seat and the year following the organization of the county. On January 20, 1886, Mr. Paschall married Miss Fannie Belle Stamps, and they have had five children, three of whom are living, represented in one boy and two girls, the former being 18 years of age. Mr. Paschall is comfortably located within four miles of the town of Boyd. He is one of the county's leaders in every movement that tends to affect the condition of the
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farmer. He is a fluent writer, and his contributions to the county press, touching upon local problems, evince a widespread interest. He is connected prominently with one of the large farmers' insurance organizations, and in him the farmers have deservedly reposed unlimited trust and confidence.
ANDREW J. MANN.
The old community on Deep Creek has produced some of the highest types of citizenship that ever went forth from any country or section. The community life there has seemingly tended toward the generation of strong, true qualities of manhood in all the pioneer sons who have been bred in it. A. J. Mann is a typical repre- sentative of that expe- rience, and stands forth to-day one of the capable, trusted farmers and busi- ness men of Wise County. Mr. Mann was born in Upshur County, Texas, January 5, 1851, the son of John Mann and the youngest of thirteen children. In 1858 he came to Deep Creek, Wise County, and with the excep- tion of seven years spent in Arizona and New Mexico, A. J. MANN. has been a resident of the county since that date. June 29, 1882 he was married to Della Whorton, the daughter of a citizen of Oliver Creek, and to them have been born six children. The oldest, Charlie, is married and lives in New Mexico; Frank, the next, is in school at Waco;
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the third son, Grover, is married and lives on the old farm on Deep Creek. The youngest children, Lela, Whorton and Burch, remain with their parents who presently reside at Decatur.
Mr. Mann is the trusted president of one of the county farmers' insurance companies.
LAWRENCE L. WARD .- HENRY L. WARD .- J. LAWRENCE WARD.
Henry L. and Rev. J. Lawrence Ward, the sons of Lawrence L. Ward, have attained to positions of prominence in the church and commercial realms of Texas. Their father was a native of Elbert County, Ga., born April 3, 1829, married Lucy A. Marshall, of Chambers County, Ala., and located on Deep Creek, Wise County, in the year of 1858. The wife was born December 18, 1835.
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MR. L. L. WARD.
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MRS. L. L. WARD.
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The father, Lawrence L. Ward, was one of the efficient repre- sentative citizens of his time. For a number of years he was honored with the office of Justice of the Peace of his precinct, a very responsible position in the early days of the county. Later on Mr. Ward served the county as its Chief Justice, the office of County Judge in the first years of the county organization. When Indian troubles became rife Mr. Ward aligned himself with the Deep Creek militia company, was elected its First Lieutenant, and in this capacity served many years as the defender of the county. His children had the beginnings of their education on Deep Creek under the able tutorship of Robert Walker. The children of Lawrence Ward, Sr., and wife are Mary, who married Mark Oates, of Rhome; Henry L., married Miss May Trewhitt; Laura J. and John G., who died in early youth; Wm. E., married Miss Clementine Paschall; J. F. married Miss Lizzie Whiteside; J. L., married Miss Jennie Beard; Ella, married J. D. Ballard; Lindsay died in infancy.
Henry L. Ward was born November 9, 1854, near Gilmer, Upshur County, Texas. When about three years of age he was brought to Deep Creek, Wise County, where his early boyhood was spent. Mr. Ward's ascent into the business world has been won step by step. At the age of 20 he joined Capt. George Stevens' ranger company and served for a while on the frontier, following which he went into the store of J. K. Ezell, at Aurora, as clerk. He followed general trading, principally in cattle, until 1884, when he was elected County Clerk of Wise County. His marriage followed in 1885 at Aurora. After two terms as County Clerk, Mr. Ward removed to Springtown, Parker County, ·and joined his brother, J. L. Ward, in a general mercantile busi- ness which was conducted under the name of Ward Bros. until 1901, when Mr. Ward removed to Decatur. His children are: Maud, married to Dr. J. F. Ford, of Decatur; Grady, a young man at school, and Frank, aged 10 years. As a business man and citizen Mr. Ward enjoys the confidence and esteem of all who know him, which includes most of the people of the county. He is an indefatigable worker in many good causes, being closely identified with the management of the Baptist College and of the affairs of the Baptist Church. His business
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PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
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