USA > Texas > Wise County > Pioneer history of Wise County; from red men to railroads-twenty years of intrepid history > Part 20
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judgment is safe and true, the energetic application of which has led him to the accretion of considerable material means. He is investigative, cautious and thoughtful, and represents the very highest type of citizenship, otherwise personified in religious devotion to duty in secular life and devotion to religious duty in spiritual life.
Rev. J. Lawrence Ward has recently been called to a larger field of usefulness in the Baptist Church affairs of the State, which is the corresponding secretaryship of the Texas Baptist Educational Commission, headquarters at Waco. To this responsible position he went from the place of President of Decatur Baptist College, an office he had filled with profound credit to himself and growth and success to the school. Mr. Ward's early life was spent on Deep Creek, this county. He was born there and hewed out his early career in positions under its wholesome, pure influences. When a young man he took a clerkship in a store at Aurora, in which village he was married about this time. He then served two other terms as a clerk at Rhome and Decatur, when he opened a store at Springtown, Parker County. Mr. Ward was successful in business, but retired and studied for the ministry at Baylor College. The pastorate of the Baptist Church at Decatur followed his gradua- tion, which position yielded to his acceptation of the Presidency of the College. Analogous to his brother, Henry L. Ward, he is highly regarded by the people of this section. Besides being both devout and intellectual he has evinced strong demonstrated qualities of executiveness. He has merited the great respect and friendship of the people of Wise County, and will doubtless achieve like relations in the broader field to which he has gone.
MRS. MARGARET MANN .- W. J. MANN.
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Mrs. Margaret Mann is the surviving wife of James Mann, who entered the county with Sam Woody as original prospector in 1853. At this writing Mrs. Mann is 73 years of age, 53 years of which have been spent in Wise County. She is one of the citizens who knows what a frontier life means, having indulged
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to the full in its hardships and joys. She feels that she has been one of the humble instruments in the hands of an all-wise Providence for the upbuilding and development of the County of Wise. Mrs. Mann is a native Tennessean, born there in Roan County, and removed to Texas on the date aforementioned. In coming to this territory she came with her husband via Parker County, being guided by an Indian, the interpreter of the fort at Ft. Worth. This was in April, 1854, and Mrs. Mann only remembers one family in the county at the time, this being Tom McCarroll's. Mr. Woody was at that time engaged in building his log house. Mrs. Mann is the mother of 11 children, eight of whom are living, as follows: W. J. Mann, lives in Wise County ; George Mann, Wise County; Mary Ferguson, Wise County ; Mrs. Nannie Simpson, Wise County; Mrs. Fannie Swift, Hall County; Mrs. Allie Eddins, Wise County; Robert Mann, Oklahoma; Tom Mann, Paradise.
W. J. Mann was born-in Tarrant County, Texas, March 8, 1854, and was brought to Wise County in his infancy. His father, James Mann, MRS. MARGARET MANN. settled the old Holmes place in the neighborhood of Deep Creek, so that W. J. grew up under the nurture and inspiration of that section. He recalls many tem- pestuous experiences of boyhood and young-manhood. He has been upon the trail of the Indian, rode the open in the wake of cattle, farmed and tilled in the fields. He grew strong, rugged and sensible in contact with these burly elements; also he grew into a man of pronounced strength and integrity of character. In the year of 1880 he married Miss Mattie Perkins, following whose death he later married Miss Loutie Lindsey. By both unions Mr. Mann has reared eleven children, whose names are
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as follows: Lee, the oldest, who married Miss Miranda Gibbons, and who is a popular and progressive merchant at Paradise; Lynn, assistant-postmaster at Decatur; and the following who are at home: Jim, Charlie, Allie, Bessie, Nell, Dick Coke, John Patterson Burleson, Harry Harrison and Thomas Drew. During Cleveland's first administration Mr. Mann served Wise County two terms as sheriff, and the county never had a better one in that capacity. At present he lives on his farm south of Paradise, and is one of the substantial and intelligent men of influence in all county and neighborhood affairs.
ROBERT H. WALLACE .- JOHN H. WALLACE.
Robert H. Wallace was born in Oglethorpe County, Georgia, August 16, 1818, and spent his early youth in that state and in Tennessee. In the latter state in 1848 he married Hulda M. Hardwick, and afterwards removed to Arkansas, where, in Ben- ton County he resided until 1857, when he brought his family to Wise County, their future home. Arriving in Wise County, Mr. Wallace took by pre-emption the tract of land now known as the Halsell place, on the southwest outskirts of Decatur. Here he raised a large family, the names of the children being in succession-
Arabella.
Cynthy J .- married Gum Rhoades.
John H .- born in Benton County, Arkansas, August 12, 1854. C. M. Wallace.
Emma Wallace-married Louis Calvert of Oklahoma.
Mary Wallace-married Anderson Acres.
W. F. Wallace -- married Ida Foss, Washington.
Mr. Wallace died in 1873. He is remembered as a good, strong man and citizen of his times, and as an active member of the local militia companies during the war and Indian troubles.
John H. Wallace and Mrs. Gum Rhoades are the only two children of the elder Wallace now living in Wise County. Both
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are generally well liked for the many good qualities possessed by them. Mr. Wallace for a number of years has taken a lead- ing part in the various affairs that affect his community and county. He made one of the most systematic and businesslike commissioners the county has been honored with. During his tenure of the office of commissioner, the county began the erec- tion of the beautiful courthouse at the county seat, and it was largely through Mr. Wallace's taste, direction and influence that this structure was reared as presently proportioned. To him was assigned the task of representing the county during the building of the courthouse, during which time he was persistently on duty, carefully watching that all construction and improve- ments were made in accordance with contract. Mr. Wallace now lives on his farm about four miles northwest of Decatur, but he keeps constantly in touch with the current affairs of the county and public generally. He is progressive and enterprising and enjoys the high confidence of all who know him. Doubt- less no county citizen appreciates the responsibilities of citizen- ship more than he, nor performs them more willingly. Since its organization Mr. Wallace has been the president of the Wise County Old Settlers' Association, and by his efforts and those of his associates and executive committeemen has succeeded in resur- recting the old settlers from their place of neglect and thrust- ing them forward into the appreciation of the later generations.
Mr. Wallace was a typical pioneer boy, sharing in all the joys and hardships of the time, and recalls many experiences. Among them is the recollection of the memorable night when as a guard over his father's horses he shot an Indian who was attempting to reach the stable to steal them. He was sitting inside the house at the time and fired out of an open window; the Indian jumped and yelled, but escaped in the timber, leaving stains of blood behind.
Mr. Wallace has been twice married, first in 1877 to Hopie Calvert, who died in November, 1893. On December 30, 1896, Mr. Wallace was married to Mattie E. Killough. To both unions seven children have been born. Mr. Wallace has been a citizen of Wise County since 1857.
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DR. THOMAS STEWART .- MRS. JULIA STEWART .- J. C. CARPENTER.
Mrs. Julia A. Stewart, aged 84 years, one of the oldest citizens living to represent the pioneer period, with bright and undimin- ished mind contributes a sketch of the life of her- self and husband during
DR. THOMAS STEWART.
.
MRS. JULIA A. STEWART.
the carly days of the county, which deserves to be wholly repro- (luced here, but is abridged in the interest of economy of space. The following excerpts are taken from Mrs. Stewart's contri- bution.
Dr. Thomas A. Stewart was born September 14, 1822, in In- diana County, Pennsylvania. He was an early emigrant to the state of Illinois, and in 1855 was one of the first arrivals in Wise County. Dr. Stewart married Julia A. Brady, sister of Judge W. W. Brady, of Wise County, February 8, 1842. Mrs. Stewart was born June 21, 1823. Mrs. Stewart thus describes the
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emergence of her party into Texas: "We crossed the Red River December 24, 1855. With us were W. W. Brady and our five children. When we drove out of Red River bottom we were struck with awe and admiration at the vast plains and the varied landscape, with the scattered fields of fall-sown grain green and beautiful. It seemed to us we had landed in Para- dise when we compared the country with frozen, bleak Illinois."
Parker County was the planned destination, but after crossing Wise County and observing its advantages, Dr. Stewart decided to locate here. Mrs. Stewart says: "In West Fork bottom the wild rye was knee-deep and so green and pretty."
Roving about the trackless forests, the party came upon Ben Crews, who directed them to a suitable camp on Deep Creek, and after some time spent there, a location was made on Oliver Creek, where lands were purchased and a home started. Mrs. Stewart says: "We found the largest-hearted and most generous people here in Texas we had ever met in life." Her interesting description of the character of life lived must give way to more essential facts found further on in her notes. At the beginning of Indian troubles Dr. Stewart grew discouraged and planned to return to Illinois, a move which Mrs. Stewart successfully pleaded against. Cattle were then bought and a ranch started on Sandy Creek, resulting in Dr. Stewart becoming quite wealthy, but a fortune which was afterward sacrificed to savages and thieves. The Sand Hill community then became their home for a number of years, but in 1867 the family moved to Kansas, thenee to Colorado, and from there to California and Oregon, finally back to Texas.
Dr. Stewart was a pioneer physician in Wise County. He went at the call of duty with pill-bags behind and Winchester before. He was a great hunter and it was also necessary to watch for Indians. He was a man of more than ordinary intel- ligence and enjoyed the respect and confidence of the people and was for years one of the leading physicians. Being of adventurous temperament, he had gone to California in the gold excitement of 1849. At the approach of the Civil War he enlisted as sur- geon on Colonel Sweet's staff, but later became exempt for being over the required age. He soon joined the frontier service and
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was assigned to Captain Ward's company, following which he moved his family to Buffalo Springs. After some years' service he returned to Decatur and lived until his removal to Kansas. The latter years of his life were passed in Oregon. Stricken with an incurable disease, he returned to Decatur, and in June, 1899, died in the home of his daughter, Mrs. Mary G. Shown, surrounded by friends and relatives. He lies buried in Sand Hill Cemetery. Dr. Stewart is survived by his wife, Mrs. Julia A. Stewart, and the following children: Mrs. Mary G. Shown, Jacksboro; Mrs. S. C. Cargill, Davidson, Oklahoma; Mrs. M. E. Brown, Markley, Texas; Thomas L. Stewart, California.
Mrs. Stewart closes her notes as follows: "I lived much on the frontier; have helped many that came in to find homes; I took them in and cared for their families without charge; I only asked them to do likewise for those who came to them as they came to me. I am now 84 years old. I have worked hard and have no earthly goods-nothing to elog my wings when God calls me to go up higher. Wise County pioneers, I hope to meet you all in heaven."
J. C. CARPENTER.
A man that had a broad acquaintance and many sincere friends over this section was Jesse C. Carpenter, who married Mary Stewart, daughter of Dr. Thomas and Mrs. Stewart, in Butler County, Kansas, December 26, 1867. Mr. Carpenter was a native of North Carolina, in Surrey County, in which state he was born January 16, 1841. Until the date of his death he was one of the foremost citizens of Wise County and a very active and successful cattleman and business man. On the night of August 25, 1893, he was struck and killed by lightning while engaged in unloading a train of cattle at Decatur. Writing of the fatal occurrenee and the man, some one truthfully said of him, the excerpt being reproduced from a local paper as follows: "Mr. Carpenter emigrated from North Carolina while yet a young man, and located in Wise County in 1863. His
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education was quite limited, but what he lacked in knowledge of books was amply made up in native ability. He was a live, restless business man, prompt in keeping all his promises and engagements. His purse, heart and hand were always open to his friends and those in trouble. And while the writer of this has been intimately associated with Mr. Carpenter socially and in business matters for the last thirty years, would not write
MR. J. C. CARPENTER.
MRS. J. C. CARPENTER-SHOWN.
him down as being perfect. Yet his faults were few and the noble traits in his character were such that those who knew him best were disposed to count his failings virtues. He was true to friends and his country."
A few years ago Mrs. Carpenter was married to Mr. Doc Shown, and now lives in Jacksboro, Texas. She is one of the intelligent, noble women remaining to us from that period. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are Bob and Jess, and Dottie who married W. H. Portwood.
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T. PERRIN.
Temoleon Perrin was born in Rock Castle County, Kentucky, October 16, 1852, and was brought to Texas and Wise County by his father, Win. Perrin, when he was about two years old. Mr. Perrin is quiet and unassuming by nature, but is one of the best of friends when once his friendship has been won. He is a member of one of the best known and best respected families of the pioneer days-a family that has always stood by Wise County in all her troubles and misfortunes. Mr. Perrin is a member of the executive committee of the Old Settlers' Association and has always shown a willingness to do his part in every instance. He was married in 1882 to Jennie Sensibaugh, a member of another old settler family, and five children have been born to them, the oldest being now 18. Mr. and Mrs. Perrin are comfortably located on a farm south of Decatur.
DR. WM. RENSHAW .- J. A. RENSHAW .- L. RENSHAW.
The name Renshaw is interwoven with the successive stages of development of this county, beginning in 1859, and is still in continuance. In the latter year Dr. Wm. Renshaw arrived here with his family from White County, Tennessee. He was born, however, in Illinois, in the town of Decatur, Sangamon County, March 9, 1822. He afterwards emigrated to. Warren County, Tennessee, where he read medicine under his future wife's uncle, and on December 23, 1847, he married Sarah Worthington. Dr. Renshaw then settled in White County and lived some years practicing his profession. He also served one or two terms in the Tennessee legislature. In 1853, before any settlements had been made in Wise County, Dr. Renshaw made an adventurous trip to this section, and through the assistance of the Cooke County land office, laid a locating certificate over a large and rich body of land in Catlett Creek bottom some miles cast of Decatur. In 1859 Dr. Renshaw brought out his family over- land in wagons and established a home on his land, the place
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becoming known historically later on as the Renshaw place. Dr. Renshaw remained here until about 1870, when he moved his family to Decatur, where ultimately he was interested in a drug store business. He died May 20, 1887.
Mrs. Sarah Renshaw was born in Warren County, Tennessee, October 16, 1826. She lived a long life in Decatur and vicinity, raised a large family of children and was esteemed to be one of
*+
DR. WM. RENSHAW.
MRS. DR. WM. RENSHAW
the best and most Christian-like women that ever came to the county. Throughout her life she was a devoted member of the Baptist Church and lived daily in as near accordance with its principles and teachings as she knew how. She was gathered to her final and deserved rest August 16, 1904.
No citizen contributed more to the progress, health and happi- ness of the pioneer communities than Dr. Renshaw. He was a broadly intelligent man, a splendid physician and active and
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persistent in his calling, his territory of practice extending from as far east as Denton County to Jaek County on the west. To Dr. and Mrs. Renshaw were born the following children: J. A., married Lizzie Perrin; Lucius, married Malinda Bell Terrell: Mary Emma, died young; Eva Dorinda, married John W. Hogg: Alice, married John Ray; Hattie, married R. H. Beall. All the above were born in Sparta, Tennessee. The following are Wise County children: Charles Franklin, married Rhoda Pinkstaff; Eugenia Bell, married James Wright; Sarah Josephine, married Judge W. H. Bullock; William S., married Luna Kenny; John B., married Anna Calhoun and lives in Cali- fornia. The two oldest sons of Dr. and Mrs. Renshaw, J. A. and Lucius, have elung to the old inheritance on Catlett Creek and have gradually bought up and extended their possessions until they own a considerable portion of the region, besides numerous horses and cattle. They are wide-awake, enterpris- ing, shrewd and careful business men and farmers. They also enjoy the confidence of the people, as men of the highest integ- rity, honor and character, which heightens their worth and value as citizens.
J. A. or Add Renshaw was born in Sparta, White County, Tennessee, October 21, 1848, married March 23, 1869, Lizzie Perrin, daughter of Samuel Perrin. Their children are as fol- lows: Lucius, died young; Ella. married S. Hoyl; Will, married Anna MeCaskey; Gordon, married Larue Sandusky; Ethel, at home; Edgar, married Alice Arnett: Sally, Holley, Charlie and Gladys, at home.
Lute Renshaw was born September 18, 1850, in Sparta, White County, Tennessee; married February 17, 1875, Malinda Belle Terrell, daughter of Samuel L. Terrell of Decatur. Their children are: La Fayette, married Jennie Neel, lives in Rhome; Eula, teacher in Decatur High School; Allie, Bessie, Sam, Lutie, John, Bascomb, Horace and Ralph, at home.
HENRY AND TOM JENNINGS.
Henry and Tom Jennings retain a hold upon the affections of all those in Wise County who became informed of the brave and
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gallant manner in which these two, in connection with others, defended the county during the hours when it was being at- tacked by savage Indians. There was never a fight or a chase, never a night's sentinel, but that one or both of the Jennings' were concerned therein. Both were close companions of Captain George Stevens in his many forays with the human beasts that preyed upon the people of Wise County. They were born in Lowns County, Alabama, June 22, 1830, and October 8, 1827, the first date being the birth of Tom and the latter of Henry. Tom Jen- nings married Emeline Fin- ley and to them five chil- dren were born. Henry Jen- nings married Emeline John- son in the State of Arkan- sas, and to them no chil- -- dren were born. Henry Jen- nings last year passed over the great divide to again be- MR. AND MRS. TOM JENNINGS. come a traveler in a new country, but a far happier one than his domicile on the frontier of Wise County. Tom lives quietly about six miles northwest of Decatur, still hearty and in the enjoyment of life. Both have made worthy citizens and have shed a lustre on the citi- zenship of which they were a part when their blood ran warm and active.
JOHN A. WASSON.
John A. Wasson has been a citizen of Wise County since 1859. He is 61 years of age, having been born March 14, 1846, and is one of the best preserved men in Wise County. His life has
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largely been spent in the open, which has enabled him to drink deep draughts of God's enlivening ozone and to retain vigor and strength as a consequence. Mr. Wasson's early youth was spent in Missouri and Kansas. He then came to Wise County and followed farming and cattle driving. The most of his life has been spent in stock dealing of one kind and another, though in later years he has upon numerous occasions made the town of Decatur an excellent peace officer. He was married March 20, 1867, to Mrs. Allen Bryant, of Van Zandt County, and to them was born one child, Josie by name, who on reaching womanhood married S. P. Smith, a prominent business man of Decatur. During the war Mr. Wasson was twice enlisted in the service of the Confederacy, going away the first time with Cap- ยท tain Pickett's Company. At the termination of the war he was serving in defense of the frontier in a ranger company.
R. M. COLLINS.
The subject of this sketch became well known to the pioneers and the subsequent period as its ablest writer and editor, he be- ing looked upon for many years as the leader of discussion and thought on political and allied questions. He was also gifted with Irish wit and the heavenly capacity for seeing the gleam of sunshine that accompanies every dark cloud. Mr. Collins was born in Bradley County, Tennessee, January 20, 1838; came to Wise County at a very early date, and married May 7, 1868, Miss Margaret A. Reed, at Denton, Texas. Mrs. Collins was born in Camden County, Tennessee, September 1, 1849. To them the following children were born: Effie, born in Denton, married T. E. Ponder; Richard E. Collins, joint editor and proprietor of the Wise County Messenger, Decatur; Jessie M., married E. P. . Gibson: Buck, lives at Cleburne; Frances, at home.
Mr. Collins' prolonged and tempestuous experiences in the Civil War as a member of the first company that embarked from Wise County, are described in his genuinely interesting and amusing book entitled, "Chapters from the Unwritten His- tory of the War, "excerpts from which have been made in the
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foregoing pages. His more intimate history is described by his life-long friend, Charles D. Cates, in a newpaper article con- tributed at the time of Colonel Collins' death in San Antonio, about nine years ago. The following are notes made from that article :
Mr. Collins was of poor parentage, who died when he was but a child. He was bound out under the then existing laws to John Lane, who emigrated to Texas in 1852. Mr. Lane brought Bob Collins with him and settled in Smith County, and some time afterwards died. Bob, then a young man, then came to Wise County with Pleas Bryant, who settled in the valley near Sand Hill. Mr. Collins then obtained what little educa- tion he had in the Sand Hill schools, being one year under the guidance of Mr. J. D. White, who, in the goodness of his soul and the interest of struggling young man- hood, gave him his tuition free. He then came to Do- catur and clerked for Howell & Allen, the first store of Decatur, retaining this posi- R. M. COLLINS. tion until the beginning of the war, when he entered as a private and remained throughout its duration, coming out as first lieutenant. After the war he was a merchant both at De- catur and Denton. Later on, he was a hotel and newspaper man, having been editor and proprietor of the Decatur Post and Denton Monitor. In his later years he was traveling cor- respondent for the Texas Live Stock Journal, in which capacity he took sick and died at San Antonio, December 10, 1898.
Mr. Cates said: "Collins towered away above the ordinary in
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native ability, and had not his early education been so woefully neglected, he would have been an intellectual giant. He be- longed to the Masonic, I. O. O. F., Knights of Pythias, W. O. W. and Knights of Honor fraternities, and was a member of the M. E. Church. In youth he struggled in obscurity, made a good citizen in life, and died honorable. I have trod the path of life side by side with one of the most noble men I ever knew."
THOMAS S. COGDELL.
The family of the above name left Wise County during the days of civil war strife back in the early sixties, but up to that time had been numbered with the best known and most respected citizens of the county. The old pioneers will be interested in the following essential facts of the Cogdell family history :
Thos. S. Cogdell, the forebear, was born in Sampson County. North Carolina, in March, 1809, his ancestors being originally from Ireland. The young man spent part of his youth in Tennessee, but in 1834 was living in Farmington, Tishomingo County, Mississippi, where he worked as a wood workman and blacksmith. In 1842 in the same county he married Pamelia F. Brown, after which he moved to Platte County, Missouri, where the oldest child was born; thence in 1845 or '46 to near Shelbyville, Tennessee. In 1848 Mr. Cogdell brought his family to Cass County, Texas, thence to Dallas County in 1852, and to Wise County in 1854, settling on what is now known as the Holmes place, seven or eight miles southeast of Decatur.
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