USA > Texas > Wise County > Pioneer history of Wise County; from red men to railroads-twenty years of intrepid history > Part 23
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J. P. FULLINGIM .- MRS. VIRGINIA FULLINGIM .- MRS. MARTHA WILTON .- DR. GEORGE C. WILTON. LISBY L. WADE.
Those bearing the above names are representatives of various branches of one of the best known families who were identified in various capacities with the early and later history of the county. The family of Henry Fullingim, the forebear, originated in the State of Georgia, where little is known of the antecedents or prior history of the branch. Of the mother, who was Martha Wade, and subsequent wife of Henry Fullingim, more is known. She was a member of a prominent and wealthy family of slave-holders, which lived according to the luxurious style of her class, and was largely identified with the political and social affairs of their section. Henry and Martha Fullingim were the
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parents of seventeen children, the most of whom were pioneers of Wise County. The family first moved to Alabama, then came to Red River and Hopkins County, Texas, where the father died. The children and mother then gradually emigrated to Wise County. The children in succession were: William, Peyton, Asbury, Fletcher, Mary, Frances, Martha, Edward, Archer, Antoinette, Henry, Jeanette, Raymond, twins died in youth,
DR. GEORGE WILTON.
LISBY WADE.
Cornelia and Jesse. Three of these only remain. They are: Mary, the surviving wife of Capt. J. W. Hale; Antoinette, the surviving wife of Martin Stuart, and Jesse P. Fullingim, a prom- minent citizen of Wise County.
Mrs. Martha Wilton died in 1905. She was married to H. H. Wilton, of the Dominion of Canada in 1856, and three children were born to them. These are: Dr. Henry Wilton, of Nocona, Texas; Dr. George C. Wilton, of Ryan, I. T., and Mrs. P. J. Wade, of Oak Grove community, Wise County. Aunt Martha, as she
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was familiarly known, was one of the splendid, grand old women of her time. She died, and was mourned by a large concourse of friends and relatives. Her husband died in a Federal prison at Chicago during the Civil War, where he was confined as a captured soldier of the Confederate Army. Archer Fullingim, the sixth son of Henry Fullingim, married Virginia Morris in Parker County, Texas, in 1858, lived through the early settle- ment of Wise County, and reared a large family, dying in 1883. The children of this union, named as follows, are sterling, honest and progressive citizens of the county: Jeanette, married W. P. Roberts, of Bridgeport; Alfred, married Mahalie Ball; Rowen, married Jennie Godwin, deceased; Mary, Martha, Maggie, wife of Augustus Pickett, Jarrett (Shirk), and Frances. Mrs. Archer Fullingim survives her husband. Jesse P. Fullingim, the youngest of the seventeen children of Henry Fullingim, came to Wise County with the vanguard of early immigrants. He was born in Benton County, Alabama, December 24, 1842. In 1869, following his prolonged service in the Confederate Army, he was married to Annie Donald, of Lewis- ville, Denton County, Texas. For many years his home in Wise County was seven miles north of Decatur, but he now resides in a beautiful new home just outside and north of the town of Decatur. Mr. Fullingim is referred to many times in the foregoing pages as connected with the war and Indian depredation history of the county. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. B, Fifteenth Texas Cavalry, Sweet's Regiment, Granbury's Brigade, Cleburne's Division, and served throughout the war. He was captured at Arkansas Post, detained in prison and finally trans- ferred. He lost an eye in a later battle in Tennessee. Mr. Fullingim is a leader in the business and political affairs of the county ; a zealous Methodist and a supporter of all good move- ments. Mr. and Mrs. Fullingim have three children as follows: Dr. M. D. Fullingim, of Argyle; Mrs. C. C. Chance, of Oklahoma, and Mrs. P. L. Wade, of Decatur, Texas.
Dr. George C. Wilton, the second son of H. H. and Martha Wilton, now of Ryan, I. T., is one of those successful practi- tioners of Wise County pioneer blood who triumphed over early educational difficulties and made a name and reputation
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PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
for himself. He was born in Lamar County, Texas, March 1, 1859, came to Wise County with his parents in 1860, settling five miles north of Decatur. He attributes his present position to the strong good sense and will power of his mother, who, left a widow, battled her way through countless difficulties and brought her children up strong, capable and useful. Dr. Wilton finished his defective education in Decatur in 1SS1; the next year he was elected county surveyor, holding office until 1886; in 1883 he was married to Miss F. E. Taylor. In 1889 Dr. Wilton attended a medical school in St. Louis, and in 1890 located at Ryan, where he has been a close student and success- ful practitioner of his profession. The children of Dr. and Mrs. Wilton are: Maud, one of the leading druggists of Ryan; Ona, died in infancy, and Rowan, now progressing in the Ryan High School.
Lisby L. Wade, of Ryan, Okla., is the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. P. L. Wade, of Oak Grove community, Wise County. Mrs. Wade is a daughter of Mrs. H. H. Wilton, deceased. Thus, the subject of the sketch, Lisby L. Wade, is a descendent of the truest and best of pioneer people. He was born and reared in Wise County about five miles north of Decatur. Having secured a primary education in the primary schools of his community, he entered, in 1898, the High School at Decatur, from which he graduated. He then received collegiate training in the Ft. Worth and Georgetown universities. After teaching school at various points in his native county, he moved to Oklahoma in 1906, and was elected superintendent of the High School at Ryan, a position which he discharged with such ability as to win for him a recommendation to the office of superintendent of public instruction of Jefferson County, to which place he aspired. In the election of 1907 he was chosen for this office. Mr. Wade has reached his unusually advanced position for one of his age by virtue of sheer force of character and indomitable will. Every step of his progress grew out of his own initiative and latent impulse, That he is destined to achieve for himself an enviable place in the educational and legal history of Okla- homa is the idea that his Wise County friends take pride in nurturing. Mr. Wade is now laying the ground work for sub- sequent advancement in the legal profession.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
C. D. CATES .- D. C. CATES .- R. G. CATES.
The three above named, together with their sister, Mrs. P. P. R. Collom, are the children of Charles Cates, who died in Tennessee, at the age of 45, and Narcissa Cates, familiarly known as Aunt "Ciss," a sterling inhabitant of the prolonged period of pioneer life. The children were left without a father during
CATES GROUP.
( Four Generations.) D. CLABE CATES, Mrs. BEN F. ALLEN and child B. F., Jr., Mrs. NARCISSA CATES (" Aunt Ciss "), Aged 84 at Death.
their early youth, and were forced in poverty to battle for sub- sistence among the barren hills of East Tennessee.
Charles Cates, Sr., and Narcissa were born on the French Brood river, in upper East Tennessee, in 1804 and 1808 re- spectively, and spent most of their lives in Bradley County.
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PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
The husband was active as trader and speculator, accumulating some property which was afterwards lost to him. His death followed, and the double blow fell hard on the widow and eight children, who managed too eke out a miserable existence on a farm. In the fall of 1854 the family came overland to Collin County, Texas, and the next year came on to Wise County, settling three miles south of Decatur, where the hard battle of life was renewed.
Charles D. Cates was born January 7, 1839, near Cleveland,
CHARLES D. CATES.
MRS. CHARLES D. CATES.
Bradley County, Tennessee. His father died during the sixth year of his age, and the first fifteen years of his life were en- gaged in the struggle above described. Opportunities for achieving the rudiments of an education hardly existed, and throughout his life this blessing, by virtue of the keenest ad- verse circumstances, was denied him. Arriving in Wise County in 1855 he assisted his mother in opening up a farm; he then came to Decatur on the location of that town in 1857, and
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entered the store of his brother and brother-in-law, Dave Cates and P. P. R. Collom, staying there until his brother's health failed. He then took his brother to Matagorda Bay, and find- ing no relief 'for him returned to Wise County, where his brother died. Mr. Cates then entered the firm of Bishop & Blythe for three years, at the end of which time he was appointed War Tax Collector in the Confederate service, his district extending over ten large counties, his office ranking as Colonel. This ad- venturous service, bringing him in contact with various danger- ous experiences and situations, strengthened and developed him and he retired at the end of the war, fully capable of
MR. AND MRS. P. P. R. COLLOM AND DAUGHTER OLLIE.
striking out for himself. At the end of the war he engaged in the mercantile business with J. C. Carpenter, buying goods and selling them for cattle, which were driven to New Orleans and Kansas markets. He was next associated one year each with Major Wharton and Judge W. W. Brady, after which he formed a co-partnership with Cephus W. Woods, under the firm name of Cates & Woods, conducting a general mercantile business for eight years, terminating in the death of Mr. Woods. After eight more years of mercantile life Mr. Cates grew tired and
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sold out. During the latter part of his business life he had become a trader and speculator in other lines, principally real estate and stock. He accumulated considerable property-gen- erally owned from one to five farms, and at one time owned a ranch of 12,000 acres in West Texas, stocked with 250 head of horses.
At an early date he conceived the idea of building a toll bridge across the West Fork river at old Bridgeport, which he did at a cost of $6,000.00. At one end of the bridge he put up a store and built a saw and grist mill with cotton gin attach- ments. He then laid out the town of old Bridgeport, and on having a well dug discovered the Bridgeport vein of coal. The present Wise County Coal Company was organized and char- tered, an institution in which he presently retains an interest. Mr. Cates became identified with Indian Depredation Claims in 1878. He sued the U.S. Government for about $300,000 in behalf of himself and pioneer neighbors, and after about ten years of litigation succeeded in collecting the most of this amount. On March 12, 1868, Mr. Cates was married to Rowena T. Hale, the only daughter of Capt. John W. Hale. Preparatory to his mar- riage he had bought a small home in Decatur, in which he located the same year, and in which all his children were born. Mr. and Mrs. Cates lived in this house for 39 years, enlarging the house as the family grew, Mrs. Cates was born in Red River County, September 17, 1850 at a village called Halesboro. She was brought to the frontier of Wise County when about three years of age, and has spent her life here. The living children of Mr. and Mrs. Charles D. Cates are Charles C., Jr., married Lorena Kimbrough, resides in Dallas, Texas; John H. Cates, married Opal Kenny, resides in Decatur; Cliff D. Cates, Ada N. Cates, Archie B. Cates and Mary E. Cates, of Decatur. Mr. and Mrs. Cates presently reside in a modern home on their farm, three miles north of Decatur.
The conspicuous part played by D. C. (Clabe) Cates in the ranger service of the State has been heretofore referred to. Ho was born in Bradley County, Tennessee, February 5, 1842. His carly life was greatly restricted, akin to that described as ap- pertaining to his brother, Charles D. Cates. On coming- to
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Wise County he was in later years absorbed in a manly defense of the people against the encroachments of the Indians, follow- ยท ing which he was inducted into the Confederate service, in which he fought throughout the war, his most valliant defense being to assist the First Texas Cavalry in keeping General Banks from entering Texas with large Federal forces.
Mr. Cates joined the Confederate army while on the frontier. His company was ordered to San Antonio and made a part of the First Texas Cavalry. Reorganization followed at Brownsville and Fort Rin- gold on the Mexican fron- tier, and the regiment was then sent to watch Banks, who was trying to enter Texas from the sea coast. Banks was foiled in several such attempts; he then de- parted and tried to return through Louisiana. The great battles of Mansfield and Peach Tree Hill, and others, were then fought, in all of which Banks was routed. Mr. Cates took part in all these fights and others of the great war, and re- turned home only when peace was declared. He MRS. D. C. CATES. became a pioneer merchant, farmer and land owner, and esteemed citizen. In November, 1867, he was married to Mrs. W. H. Portwood, of Hopkins County, Texas, and has reared a large and interesting family of children. Mrs. Cates, whose girlhood name was Elizabeth Lindly, was born in Dade County, Kentucky, February 16th, 1841. Her father's name was Eli Lindly, of Hopkins County, Kentucky. He came to Hopkins County, Texas, at an early (late and established a ranch and grew to be wealthy in cattle
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PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
and lands. He was also one of the early wealthy ranchmen of Wise and Jack Counties. On her mother's side Mrs. Cates is a descendant of the Crisps, in which group was numbered Senator Crisp of Missouri, and Speaker Crisp of Georgia. In her youth Mrs. Cates attended the old McKinzie Institute in East Texas, and Sylvan Academy at Dangerfield, Texas. In 1856 she was married to Capt. W. H. Portwood, who was wounded in the Civil War and died from the effects. To this union two chil- dren were born, W. H. Port- wood, a wealthy cattle- man of Baylor County, who married Dotty, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Carpenter, and Beulah Portwood, who married Clabe Lindly. Mrs. Cates came to Wise County in 1866, and in 1867 was mar- ried to D. C. Cates, and to them have been born six children, as follows: Estella J., married to Ben. F. Allen, Vernon, Texas; C. Mack Cates, of Fort Worth, married Ethel Jones, of De- catur; Charles Orville, mar- ried, wife deceased; Joseph M., a student of medicine; Ethel, wife of Dr. A. B. ROBT. G. CATES. Leeds, of Chickasha, Ok .; Piner Cates, at home. Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Cates presently reside in Decatur, where they have large property interests.
The numerous references to the name of Robert G. Cates in the foregoing pages indicate the important part played by him in the settlement of Wise County. He acted as the county's Sheriff for eleven successive years, taking a place in the 'second administration and retaining it until after the war. He was
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born in MeMinn County, Tenn., January 8th, 1836. The pov- erty and distress of his youth were akin to those described in connection with his brothers, Charles D. and D. Clabe Cates. Robert Cates being the older brother naturally bore a large share of the burdens and responsibilities of the family, both in Tennessee and Texas. From Collin County he came in advance of the family to seek out a location, and afterwards worked zealously to get the home established. He was enabled to ob- tain very little education, but his sharp conflicts with nature and men have developed him into a man of unusual shrewd- ness and strength of intellect. In his early scoutings about the county as sheriff he dared the Indians and defied the elements, and grew to be a stalwart defender of the county and prosecuter of criminals. He is a successful trader and dealer in live stock; has reared and provided comforts for a large family, and presently resides on one of the best farms in Wise County, about three miles south of Decatur. At a very early date Mr. Cates was married to Miss Elizabeth Taylor, daughter of Judge Frank Taylor, one of the early Chief Justices of Wise County. The names of their children are: Frank, mar- ried Lucy Ewing; Clabe, deceased; William, married Florence Davis, recently elected first Sheriff of Stephens County, Ok .; Perry, married Edith Evans; Joe, married Lillian Gentry, de- ceased; Bobbie, deceased; Ella, wife of Charles Davis, Wise County ; Dick, married Minnie Evans; Ed, married Eva Caver; Bob, married Anna Davis.
MAJOR S. M. GOSE AND SONS.
Struggling through adverse circumstances of the bitterest nature, and yet retaining a hold on honor, uprightness and Chris- tian virtues, is the history of the family bearing the above name. Implanted in the pioneer community at an early date, and contributing to its moral and civic elevation at every step of its hard progress through all the slow-marching years, the Gose name is ineffacably linked with all movements of benefi-
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PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
cence tending toward upraised community life and individual worth and efficiency. Out of the hardships of years, tempered and steeled by the troublous passage, has come a bright array of sons and daughters to honor the forebear, themselves so im- measurably worthy in their days of youth and action.
The paternal forebear of this family, Major S. M. Gose, was a native of Indiana, born January 27, 1824. He was of strong German extraction, and a descendant of one of the first families of Virginia, the native county in the latter State being Wythe. At an early date in his career Major Gose migrated to Sullivan County, Missouri, and started life as a farmer. On November 8, 1849, he was married in Sullivan County to Mary F. Gerking, who also was of German extraction, and a native of Kentucky, having been born near Louisville, May 30, 1836. Several years of residence in Missouri followed, and then in the year of 1859 Major Gose came to Texas, settling in Denton County, near the Wise county line. In March, 1861, he came
G
MAJOR S. M. GOSE.
MRS. S. M. GOSE.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
over into Wise, and located permanently at the county capital, Decatur. Major Gose lived through the trying period of the war here, serving the local constituency in many useful ways. He followed the trade of blacksmithing and hammered out many of the arms for the local Confederate volunteers. After awhile his native ability and integrity was recognized, and he was elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, a place of trust held by him for a period of twelve to fourteen years-off and on. It was during the tempestuous times of war that Major and Mrs. Gose led in the movement to organize a Methodist Church, a circumstance alluded to in previous pages. The home of the Goses became the rendezvous of Methodist authority and action, and its hosts may be properly styled the parents of Methodism in Decatur.
On September 26, 1871, Major Gose moved with his family to a farm four miles north of Decatur, on Catlett creek. Soon afterwards, assisted by others, he began the erection of the first real school-house built north of Decatur, which was named the Gose school-house. Many pioneer boys received the rudiments of an education here. Gose camp-grounds became known for twenty years afterwards. Major Gose died January 14, 1877, a worthy, honored and esteemed citizen. He is survived by his wife, who came to Decatur years ago, and is now the town's oldest citizen. She is known for her many pious, Christian vir- tues, and noble and gentle womanly qualities. She remains also a stalwart supporter of all the ramificatons of Methodism.
Major and Mrs. Gose reared ten sons and daughters, alluded to as follows:
Martha, married J. D. Harding, deceased; Mrs. Harding re- sides in Decatur, a worthy, Christian woman, and the mother of a large family.
Henrietta, wife of James Perrin, of near Sycamore, Wise County. Mr. Perrin is the son of the pioneer, Samuel Perrin. Born in Lincoln County, Kentucky, March 14, 1838; he settled in Wise County with his parents in 1854. During the Civil War and years of Indian troubles, he was a State ranger, located for some time at old Buffalo Springs. Finally his com- pany was absorbed into the Confederate service, and he 'e-
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PIONEER HISTORY OF WISE COUNTY.
mained guarding the frontier throughout the strife, head- quarters at Fort Belknap, Young County. He was married April 13, 1870, and has lived almost continuously in Wise County as a prosperous and enterprising farmer and stock raiser. He has a large and respected family of children.
W. D. Gose attained to prominence in the business, political and financial realms of Wise County. Familiarly known as "Dave," he became beloved by all who knew him for the ster- ling qualities he possessed. For four years, 1878 to 1882, he served Wise County as District Clerk, studied law and was ad- mitted to practice in about 1882. Retiring from practice in 1893, he had accumulated considerable means and business sa- gacity, and was elected vice-President of the First National Bank, a position held up to within a short time preceding his death, January 18, 1898. Mr. Gose married Lizzie Outler, whose lamented death preceded his by a few months, the date being September 14, 1897.
DR. J. C. GOSE.
MRS. J. C. GOSE.
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BIOGRAPHICAL.
Dr. J. C. Gose, the second son of Major and Mrs. S. M. Gose, better known to Wise County people as "Coy" Gose, resides now at Krum, Denton County, Texas, where for a number of years he has been a leading citizen and prominent and successful phy- sician. His tempestuous, adverse boyhood days were spent in Wise County. His birth occurred near Milan, Missouri, April 30, 1858. In the early subscription schools of Decatur, he re- ceived his preliminary training, which preceded several years' hard work on the farm, when he returned again to school at Decatur. Dr. Gose then began to teach school, his first one in the community where his parents lived and where he had worked on the farm-at the Gose school-house. His battle up- ward was a sturdy, incessant fight; the difficulties he overcame were numerous and discouraging, and his later success is a tes- timonial to his inherent manhood and courage. During his days as teacher he began the study of medicine, following the course attentively until he was graduated, in 1893, from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, at St. Louis. October 23, 1884, Dr. Gose was married to Annie Lee Chance, who, as his life's partner, has been a true helpmeet. One child only has been born to them, Slyan Paul, by name, who now is married and lives at Krum.
Judge John G. Gose, of Decatur, fifth of the children of Major and Mrs. S. M. Gose, has been a resident of this immediate com- munity throughout the whole of his life with the exception of six months of infancy spent in Denton County, in the extreme western part of which he was born September 29, 1860. At six months' of age he was brought by his parents to reside in De- catur; his childhood was spent in the old county capital, and since reaching mature age his activities and endeavors have been identified with the county's life at large. No man, doubtless, has a larger acquaintance in the county, and no retired or incum- bent public official is looked upon with higher approval for the course pursued in public office than Judge Gose. His life has been a struggle upward from the deprivation of pioneer boy- hood, every step of which has been won by sheer inherent ability and resource. The first twenty years of his boyhood and young manhood was spent in Decatur, and upon his
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father's farm, on Catlett Creek. Then he began life as a clerk in Decatur. This was in 1881. In 1883 he was married to Minnie Cate, formerly of Sevier County, Tennessee, a most ex- cellent and accomplished young woman, and graduate of Car- son-Newman College, Jefferson, Tennessee. Mrs. Gose is pop- ular with her acquaintances, kindly and sympathetic in her re- lations with friends, and decidedly gifted intellectually. Some time after his marriage Judge Gose began the study of law and was admitted to a long course of profitable practice in 1893. The following year he was chosen unanimously as City Attorney, and at the same time began to build up a profitable business, both as real estate and loan agent, and as an at- torney. In 1902 he made the race unopposed for County Judge, being elected and re-elected for a second term without opposition. As County Judge he made a popular and efficient officer, and as ex-officio Superin- tendent of County Instruc- tion achieved a cordiality with the teachers hardly DR. J. M. GOSE. equaled before or surpassed since. His record in these allied positions is an enviable one. Judge Gose's other public activities have been manifested in such positions as President of the Public School Board, Steward of the Methodist Church, Executive officer of the Old Settlers' Association, and in various capacities of like nature. In whatever he attempts he becomes enthusiastic to a marked degree; he is popular and well liked by his townsmen, open and generous in all his dealings, and a servitor of exceeding usefulness in many capacities. Six
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