Houses, Families, Farms, Ranches, Stories

---

Among the first Settlers in Pool Branch.  William Alexander FAIRES and Wife, Sallie Ann RAMSEY

Milli remembers:  "(Mr.) Faires Barton lived across the road from us in the 1960s and 1970s.   Faires taught me how to put out a small grass fire by beating it with limbs off a cedar tree."  

Faires Lastly BARTON (1916-2004) is a grandson of William & Sallie Faires.

William Alexander Faires was born on 2 November 1837, in Fayette, Tx. His father was William Alexander Faires Sr., and his mother was Ada McClure.   He married Sarah Ann "Sallie" Ramsey on 24 January 1866, in Fayetteville, Tx. They were the parents of at least 5 sons and 7 daughters.  He died on 29 October 1919, in Bertram, Burnet Co, Tx, at the age of 81, and was buried in Strickling Cemetery, Burnet Co, Tx.  source:  www.familysearch.org          Stricking Cemetery gravesite (find-a-grave)

Sarah Ann "Sallie" Ramsey was born in March 1849, in Texas. Her father was Martin D Ramsey, and her mother was Margaret M Dabney. Sallie died on 9 May 1938, in Burnet Co, Tx, at the age of 89, and was buried in Strickling Cemetery, Burnet Co, Tx.  Source:  www.familysearch.org 

William A. Faires received a land grant in Fayette County, Texas, nea rFIatonia in 1834, and the Faires family lived in that area until 1870 when a railroad survey caused some dissatisfaction because the railroad was to run between the house and the barn on the Faires place.  W. A. went prospecting and found a new home near Joppa on the North Gabriel in Bumet County. Here he bought land and erected a small house, later adding to the structure which is still in use in 1979.

In 1874 Faires moved his family to this place in (Joppa)  Burnet County and here Mr. and Mrs. Faircs lived the remainder of their lives. The Faires family sold the propeny in 1955.

12 Children:  Carrie Faires 1867–1932 Jennie E. Faires 1869–1967 Edward Lee Faires 1872–1953 Thaddius A Faire s 1874–1875 Minnie A Faires 1876–1965 William A. Faires 1878–1919 Alma Wilie Faires 1878–1946 Jessie Elizabeth Fairies 1880–1930  Charles Henry Faires 1883–1943  Maggie May Faires 1884–1967 Hansford "Henry" Clay Faires 1887–1966 Bessie O. Faires 1891–1927

See 1903 Pool Branch School Photo below - Maggie and Bess are in the photo

Jennie FAIRES was  the Teacher at Pool Branch School, when the first school building burned during the 1889-1890 session .

Carrie FAIRES and her husband John Kyle OLIVER, had a ranch near Joppa and Strickling,  engaged in sheep and cattle ranching. Their children were born and  raised there, eventually moving closer to town for the schools in  Lampasas.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50908967/carrie-oliver 

Memorial stone at Oak Hill Cemetery reads: 'Their lives were beauty, truth, goodness, and love." 

Source Burnet County History Vol II,  Faires bio contributed by Mrs. Bill Bryson, Bertram, Texas

Sources:  Burnet County History Vol II, and descendant, Judi Beauford.   

George and Hannah Bright ATER came to Texas from Il linois in 1853, settling on land about two miles northeast of the present town of Bertram in Burnet County. The Austin-Lampasas stage stopped at the Ater house, at which was also located the original Mahomet Post Office. 

George was the first Postmaster, and the post office remained in his home for many years. The Aters owned this homeplace until 1906 when it was sold to Virgil Cox.

George Melvin ATER, III (1816-1897)  was born March 15, 1816, in Deer Creek Township, Pickaway County, Ohio, and died November 18, 1897, near Bertram, Burnet County, Texas.

Hannah Thurston BRIGHT Ater (1822-1888)  Hannah Thurston Bright was born September 28, 1822, in Indiana, and died September 24, 1888, near Bertram.born in Indiana, died in Bertram, Burnet County

George & Hannah married November 8, 1844; They had 12 children between 1845 and 1871. 

They arrived in the Bertram area in the 1853, with several children. The rest of their children were born in Burnet Co. Texas.  George & Hannah are buried at Bear Creek Cemetery, off of TX-243

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/47398240/george-melvin-ater 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26432034/hannah-thurston-ater

4th child, Martin Luther "Lute" ATER  (1852-1933)      Ater Ranch, Joppa 1875    

Mary E. SIMPSON (1852-1941)      Link to Bear Creek Cemetery

Manin Luther "Lute" ATER, 4th child of George & Hannah, was born March 8, 1852, at Monticello, Piatt County, Illinois, and died August 31, 1933, at his home near Joppa in Burnet County. 

He was married on September 2, 1875, to Mary Elizabeth SIMPSON, who was born November 27, 1852, in Panola County, Texas, and died November 1, 1941, at her home in Burnet County. Her parents were Bartlett and Mary Simpson. 

Lute and Mary ATER moved across the Russell Gabriel from the George Ater family in 1875, settling between the Nonh and Middle Gabriels near Joppa where they remained the rest of their lives. 

They had the following 5 children, all born at Joppa:

(1)  Lenora Edna, born June 22, 1876, and died January 14, 1882 at age 5

(2) John Marshall, bornjanuary 4, 1879. and died at Bertram on April 17, 1959. He was married

first to Kate Bishop, and after her death married her sister, Laura Bishop Cruse.

(3)  Lucinda Jane (Lucy), born October 23, 1882, and died July 30, 1917.

(4)  Mary Hannah (Mae), born August 24, 1888, and died in 1967. She married George F. Price.

(5)  Will R. (Willie), born June 8, 1892, and died May 25, 1964. He was married on October 24, 1915, to Ethel Price, who was born December 27, 1895. (see PRICE family)

Source:  Burnet County History VOL II,  as Submitted by Evelyn L. Taylor, Austin, Texas

William Washington Taylor, Sr was born December 12, 1847, in Montgomery County.

W. W. TAYLOR married Mary Elizabeth FIELD on April 7, 1870, in Montgomery County. 

W. W. died of tuberculosis at his home in Burnet on February 1, 1914.

Mary Elizabeth was born Jan 1, 1851, and died Nov 28, 1937, at her home in Bertram.

Bear Creek Cemetery  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33030218/william_washington_taylor

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Taylor continued to live in Montgomery County until they moved to Joppa in Burnet County in 1883.  W. W. and his brother, Tom Taylor, went to Joppa in 1882 and bought land. They returned to Montgomery County for their families, but Tom died and W. W. took his own family, along with Tom's family, to Joppa to live.    By hard work and good management, W. W. acquired a sizeable fortune in land and stock. Two of the original tracts of land that he bought are now owned by two of his grandsons, Ellis Taylor and Dayton Reed Taylor. 

W. W. Taylor was a Baptist. He gave the land and helped to build the Joppa Baptist Church of which he was a chaner member. He assisted with the dedicatory services for the new building. Taylor moved his family to the town of Burnet in 1904, where he was one of the original stockholders and the first president of the First State Bank of Burnet.     Although he lived in Burnet, every day of the remainder of his working life he drove a team of mules hitched to a wagon to Joppa and did a full day's work on one of the several places he owned in that community.  W.W. Taylor died of tuberculosis at his home in Burnet on February 1, 1914. Mr. and Mrs. Taylor are buried in the Bear Creek Cemetery near Bertram.. They had the following nine children:

1. Virginia Agnes TAYLOR (Susie), born March 3. 1871, in Montgomery County. She was married to Ike D. White in 1883 at Joppa, and he was elected county judge of Burnet County in 1894, serving in that office until 1904 when they moved to Austin where he practiced law until his death on September 8, 1948. She died at her home in Austin on May 2, 1950. They had no children.

2. James Monroe (Buck) TAYLOR, born November 19, 1872, in Montgomery County. He graduated from Burnet High School in 1893, the University of Texas School of Law in 1902. and was elected county attorney of Burnet County where he served until 1908. In 1903 he was married to Kate Douglas Lewis. They lived in Burnet until 1908 when he was elected county attorney of Nueces County, Texas, and was later city attorney at Corpus Christi. He died in 1933 at Corpus Christi. The Taylors had one daughter, Mary Katherine.

3. "Will" William Washington TAYLOR, JR born August 7, 1874, in Montgomery County. He married Harriett Mary (Hattie) Ellis in Benram on December 16, 1900. He bought land adjacent to his father at Joppa and lived there his entire life. He died of pneumonia on January 27. 1916, and his wife died at her home in Bertram onJanuary9, 1962, both being buried in the Bear Creek Cemetery near Bertram. They had seven children: Ellis, Sedric, Ben Julian. Evelyn, Mildred, Clayton, and W. W.

4. Samuel Houston (Sam) TAYLOR, born February 26, 1876, in Montgomery County. He married Willie Etta Guthrie on April 20, 1903, and they made their home on the W. W. Taylor ranch at Joppa until 1919 when he bought a hardware store in Bertram from his brother. Tom Taylor. Sam operated the hardware store until his death on January 19, 1936. The S. H. Taylor Hardware Company is now owned and operated by a son, Guthrie Taylor. Mrs. Taylor died August 11, 1965.

They had four children: Athleene, Guthrie, Ike White, and Thomas Gail.

5. Mary Ellen (Mollie) TAYLOR, was born February 6, 1878. in Montgomery County. She graduated from Burnet High School and attended Baylor University in Waco. She married Robert S. White on February 26. 1904. He was a ginner and later became a member of the firm Taylor and White Hardware Company in Bertram. White died July 28, 1938, and Mollie died December 16. 1953, of a heart attack. They had one daughter, Billy Bob.

6. Thomas Jefferson (Tom) TAYLOR, born on June 19, 1881, in Montgomery County. He married Elizabeth Vaughan on December 18, 1904. They lived in Bertram where he owned and operated a hardware store until he sold it in 1919 to his brother, Sam. In 1919 he was made manager of the D. C. Reed Company in Bertram, in which position he became one of the better known business men of Burner County. He died of a heart attack on September 3, 1937, and Mrs. Taylor died January 23, 1973, both being buried in Bear Creek Cemetery. They had three sons: T. J., Jr., Stillman, and Dayton Reed.

7. Voiney Wright (Vol) TAYLOR, born August 21, 1884, at Joppa. He graudated from Burner High School and received his L.L.B. degree in 1911 from the University of Texas in Austin. He began his law practice in Port Lavaca, later moving to Vic toria. In 1913 he moved to Alice and was elected county attorney of Jim Wells County. He was appointed Judge of the 79th Judicial District of Texas in 1914, but resigned the judgeship in 1920 and moved to Brownsville where he was senior partner in the legal firm of Taylor, Cox, Wagner, and Adams. He married Ethel Cook on November 12, 1912; and died of a heart attack March 8, 1947. Mrs. Taylor died January 3, 1962. They had three children: Voiney Wright, Jr.. Marizell, and Josephine Wells.

8. Carrie E. TAYLOR, born at Joppa on April 15, 1889. She graduated from Burnet High School and on June 20, 1912, married Frank E. Cox of Temple, Texas. They made their home in El Paso where he was in the insurance and real estate business. She died of influenza October 8, 1918, and he died in El Paso on June 26, 1928. Their two children were Frank E., Jr., and Howard Taylor Cox.

9. Q. C. TAYLOR. born at Joppa on December 12, 1893. He graduated from Burnet High School in 1910 and from the University of Texas School of Law in 1916. He was inducted into the United States Army at Burnet on September 5, 1917, and served 14 months overseas during World War I. In 1925 he was commissioned as Captain in the Texas National Guard and was active in that organization until he retired as Brevet-Brigadier General on September 16, 1953. Civilian activities included the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite and Ben Hur Shrine, Kiwanis Club, Young Men's Business League, Austin Community Chest, Boy Scout Leader. Austin Chamber of Commerce, and American Bar Association. He was a member of the White, Wilcox, Graves, and Taylor legal firm, in which in later years he became the senior partner. He died on July 11, 1965. The Taylors had two children. Kerns B., and Doris Jean.

TAYLOR PHOTOS BELOW

Sources:  Burnet County History Volume II - Excerpts contributed by Mr. & Mrs. Raymond

D. Price, Bertram, Texas; and FamilySearch.org

The Elisha Price, Jr family arrived in Burnet County in 1887.  

Elisha PRICE Jr. (1852-1915) son of Elisha M PRICE and Abigail WALKER, was born in Angelina County, Tx,  He died 24 June 1915, in Joppa, Burnet Co, Tx, at age 62 and was buried in Bear Creek Cemetery

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/50191474/elisha_price

Mary Louisiana. HOWELL Price, (1858-1932) the daughter of Andre B. HOWELL and Mary RUTLEDGE, was born July 19, 1853, at Florence in Williamson County, Texas. 

She died March 12, 1932, in Burnet County and was buried in the Bear Creek Cemetery.

Elisha Jr married Mary on 1 Sep 1874, in Williamson Co, Tx   They were the parents of 10 children born between 1875 and 1899.  They moved from Williamson County to Burnet County before their 5th child was born.

   Elisha PRICE Jr's father, Elisha M.PRICE, was first married to Winnie Reed, and their children were: (1) Lazarus; (2) Easter (Ester); (3) Sarah; (4) John; (5) Meschech (Maca); (6) Eliza; and (7) Nancy.

After Winnie's death in 1849, Elisha (Sr) was married November 2, 1851. to Abigail Walker, the daughter of Y.G. Walker, a native of Missouri. 

Abigail was born c. 1835 in Jackson County, Missouri, and died in 1866 in Angelina County, Texas.

The 3 children of Elsha M. and Abigail PRICE were: (1) Elisha, Jr., (2) Elizabeth, and (3) Tom.

   Elisha M. Price (Sr) was an ordained Baptist preacher, and a stock farmer. With the coming of the War Between the States he enlisted in the Confederate forces and died during the war in February 1862, supposedly being buried around St. Augustine, Texas. His widow, Abigail, was then married to James Wood, and they had a son, Andrew. James and Abigail Wood both died in 1866.

   Elisha PRICE Jr. brought his brothers and sisters to Williamson County, Texas, where he was married September 1, 1874, to Mary L. HOWELL.

   With his wife, Mary, and five children Elisha, Jr came to Burnet County October 1, 1887. He had bought land from H.W. Daniels September 12, 1887 (Patent #220), the Peter Bumgardner Survey, also Patent ($''225) , E.E. Clark Survey known as Survey 1082, on the waters of the North San Gabriel, a tributary of Little River, located about 14'A miles northeast of Burnet, Tx.

A COLD WINTER  The first winter in their new home the family experienced a severe cold spell that froze their meat hogs, which had taken shelter under the house. Also their work horses and some other stock froze. The crop  the following year was made with a yoke of oxen. Elisha Price Jr learned to read at Sunday School by study ing the Bible. He and Mary were members of the Joppa Baptist Church.   In 1915 the Joppa community made a bumper crop of oats. Elisha was storing his oats in the loft of the barn when it gave way and fell on him. in 1915.

The 10 children of Elisha & Mary PRICE, Jr, the first five born at Florence in Williamson County, Texas, and the last five at Briggs in Burnet County, were:

    Charlie Nathaniel PRICE, born August 21, 1875, and died at Betram July 19, 1958. He and both his wives were buried at Bear Creek Cemetery near Bertram.

    Mattie Dallas PRICE, born March 13, 1878, died August 13, 1933, in Milam County, Texas, and was buried at Cameron. She was married March 30, 1905, to Thomas David Underwood.

    Thomas Andrew PRICE, born April 12, 1881, and died Febrary 27, 1936, at Joppa in Burnet County. He was married August 18, 1910, to Mary Elizabeth READ, who was born November 5, 1887, in Kimble County, Texas.

    George Franklin PRICE, born January 1, 1884, and died December 15, 1942. He was married August 15, 1915, at Joppa to Mary Hannah (Mae) ATER.

    William Pinkney PRICE, born December 11, 1886, and died December 16, 1949, at Bertram. He was married February 16, 1910, at Joppa to Mae Bell WILLIAMS.

    Eva Mae, born July 16, 1889, died January 22, 1917, in Temple, Texas, in childbirth. She married Clifton (Cliff) ROSE

    Chester Arthur PRICE, born November 10, 1892, and died July 13, 1964. He was married February 28, 1915, to Mattie Eaves, daughter of Joseph and Mary Eaves.

    Annie Laverne PRICE, born May 13, 1894, and died September 10, 1932, at Temple, Texas. She was married to James Hollie ROSE

    Ethel Louise PRICE, born December 27, 1895, and married October 24, 1915, to Will R. ATER. She was a member of the Joppa Baptist Church.  (See Ater family above)

    Elisha PRICE III, born June 24, 1899, and died January 7, 1972, at Austin. He was married January 18, 1920, to Emma Rose Edwards, who was born July 9, 1886, in Williamson County, Texas. Elisha served in the Navy during World War I, was a deacon, Sunday School superintendent, and Sunday School teacher in the Baptist Church. They had one son, Robert Price, who was born November 10, 1920, and married first to Margaret Baker, and later to Loreet McCoy Dickens.

Elisha PRICE, III (1899-1972)  Son of Elisha, Jr was  born in Joppa, Burnet Co, Tx.  US Navy WWI       https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9102951/elisha-price

Emma Rose EDWARDS Price (1889-1984) 

    https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/9102939/emma-rose-price

For further details about the Elisha Price family see the Price History in the Betram Library.

In 1884 A.R. SMITH 1858-1920  married "Hattie" SNOW Smith 1861-1949 in Andice, Williamson Co.

1890s photo provided by Bob  Kirkpatrick.  Bob's Grandfather, Lloyd Smith, 1888-1970, is the boy  wearing the knickerbocker suit.  Bob's Great Grandmother was Hattie  Smith, who was among the early residents who renamed Pool Branch to  Joppa, a Hebrew word meaning "beautiful place."

Historical Marker excerpt:  "Pool Branch Settlement ... In the 1880s a cotton gin and mill were located on the pool which was known as "Mill Pond". There was a store, a blacksmith shop, and one mile from the gin, Mrs. Hattie Snow Smith ran a hat shop in her home."

Bob F. remembers ...   My Aunt Belle, who grew up at Joppa, said she " rode my horse all over that country."   She loved to deer hunt with " the boys " over in Llano co in the 30's... They hunted on the old Crownover place on FM 16 . She a had a .32 special and I still have some antlers on a plaque from those days.   She was a tiny woman, loved to talk.  In her last days, she talked in an old lingo. She'd say " Atall" for at all.

Aunt Belle SMITH Gray 1886-1979  (Lloyd's sister).  She married R. Nelson GRAY 1886-1958  (Richard) no children.   Nelson Gray was an investment banker and owned 2 cotton gins at Bertram.  He was a good man . - Bob K.  Belle SMITH and her brother, Horace SMITH (1885-1945) are two of the young students in the 1903 Pool Branch School photo, in gallery below

R. Nelson GRAY served as U.S. Postmaster in Bertram for several years. 

"12 Postmasters for Texas Named",   San Antonio Light, Nov 29, 1940  WASHINGTON, NOV 29 - A/P - President Roosevelt sent to the Senate today for confirmation these Texas postmaster nominations: Bertram, R. Nelson Gray, Blanco, Glen E Greebon, Bronte, Carrie G. Williams,  .....  see photos below for remainder of article.  

Ambrose Reece SMITH – A.R. SMITH - was born April 8, 1858, in Ten nessee, and died May 24, 1920, in Burner County, Texas. He was married on February 20, 1884, at Andice, Williamson County, Texas, to Harriet Rawson Snow, who was born May 18, 1861, in Cass County, Missouri, and died February 24, 1949, in Burnet County. Both were buried in the Bear Creek Cemetery near Bertram.

A. R. Smith was the son of John Henry Smith and Parthennia Henry. Harriet Snow was the daughter of Charles Alben West Snow, who was born August 20, 1825, in Mclntosh County, Georgia, and died January 25, 1909. at Andice, Texas; and Armalda (or Amanda) Melvina Hazzard, who was born April 17, 1828, in Providence, Rhode Island, and died December 3, 1917, at Andice. Mr. and Mrs. Snow were married on November 23. 1847, in Providence, Rhode Island.
 

Reece Smith came to Texas from Tennessee and settled at Round Rock in Williamson County. In 1890 he bought land and moved to Burnet County, just northeast of the joppa community. The Smiths were very active in community and county affairs as well as the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Their home stands today (1979), a two-story house in good repair, their  grandchildren still owning the ranch. After Mr. Smith's death, his wife moved into Bertram and lived the remainder of her days there.

Reece and Hattie Smith had three children:
     1. Horace Reece. born February 4, 1885, at Hutto in Williamson County, Texas, and died March 18, 1945, near Belton, Bell County, Texas. He married Minnie Pearl Ruble on September 30, 1906, and they had one daughter, Elaine, who married Gilben Riley in 1933. They live in Bell County, Texas.
     2. Harriet Belle, born October 17, 1886, in Williamson County, Texas, and died March 6, 1978, in Burnet. She married R. Nelson Gray on November 13, 1921. There were no children.

     3. Lloyd Snow, born October 14, 1888, at Andice in Williamson County, and died at Burnet on January 18, 1971. He married Aline Dickens on December 9, 1923, and they had one daughter, Ida Rawson, who married Douglas Kirkpatrick in 1951.

Lloyd Smith and his father, Reece. were members of the Woodmen of the World Lodge and Lloyd was a 32nd degree Mason. He also served two years in the United States Navy during World War 1 on a destroyer patrolling the North Atlantic and the Panama Canal Zone. Hattie Smith and her daughter, Belle, were members of the Order of the Eastern Star.

Source: Burnet County History VOL II  Famiy Histories  PAGE 290 Submitting the above material were Ida Rawson Smith Kirkpatrick, Burnet, Texas; and Jean H. Walker, Austin, Texas 78705

A.R. SMITH PHOTOS BELOW

The first house built abt 1890 by Mr. John E Landon, was destroyed by fire around 1899.  He rebuilt. 

See Landon Photos below

John Edward Wishled LANDON was born September 19, 1851, in Lynn, Norfolk, England, and died May 21, 1932, in Burnet County, Texas.  He was the son of Francis Landon and Louisa Wishled.

Jeannie Shand SMITH, was born November 28, 1839, in Dundee, Scotland, and died November 24, 1941, in Burnet County.  She was the daughter of James Smith and Margaret Napier.

Landon and Jean were married June 29, 1887, in Burnet County

They raised four children in Burnet County, Frank, Minnie, John, and Fred

Mr. and Mrs.John LANDON are buried in the Bear Creek Cemetery near Bertram. 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93031720/john-edward-landon

John came to Canada in 1871, later going to Michigan and then on to Oregon. He came to Texas in the early 1880s and worked on the construction of the state capitol building in Austin for several months. Hearing of cheap land for sale in Burner County, he came to the county in the 1880s, first settling near Briggs.  In 1890 the move was made to the Joppa Community where he located about one and one-half miles northeast of the Joppa School building.  

The Landons were Methodists, but were also active in the Joppa Community Church and Sunday School. They moved to Burnet when their children needed further schooling; however, they continued to operate the ranch during their lifetime although they spent their later years living in Burnet.

Children:  Frank, Minnie, John, Fred.  Frank and Minnie stayed in the area through adulthood

Son "Frank" Francis James Napier LANDON, born January 1, 1891, and died February 17, 1925. He was married December 28, 1913, to Theresa Mabel PERRY, born October 23, 1893, at Corn Hill (Jarrell) in Williamson County, She was the daughter of John Perry, born October 10, 1858, in Miami, Missouri, and Augusta Belle MARRS,born April 13, 1866, at Corn Hill in Williamson County, Texas. The Perrys were married September 25, 1881. They later moved to the Joppa community in Burnet County where they lived until their deaths in 1931 and 1933 respectively. Both are buried at Bear Creek Cemetery near Bertram.   Frank & Mabel Landon memorials at Bear Creek Cemetery https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93031552/francis-james_napier-landon

Frank & Mabel Landon lived on the Landon Ranch in the Joppa Community where their children were born.  Frank died at an early age with the measles, and was greatly missed in the Joppa church and Community. Mabel moved to Burnet after his death where she reared the children. 

(1) Infant son, born and died October 17, 1914, and buried in the Strickling Cemetery.

(2) Reba Louise, born March 10, 1916. On Dec he married December 19, 1948, Wilton Ozias

Cashen, who was born July 9, 1907.

(3) Margaret Frances, born 8 November 1919. died 24 May 1966, Buried at Bear Creek Cem

She was married on October 4, 1940, to Silent Venoy Burch, who was born December 3, 1917, in Mahomet community

Minnie Louise LANDON, born March 21, 1894, and died June 22, 1948. Buried in the Burnet Cemetery. She was married on October 23, 1927, to Verten P. GIBBS.  Vert and Minnie lived in Burnet where she served for a time as Postmaster and he was in the grocery business.

Minnie & Vert are buried at Burnet City Cemetery

Source: Burnet County History Vol II as contributed by Reba LANDON Cashen, Bumet, Tx (daughter of Frank & Mabel LANDON)

According to neighbor, Milli RW: "I’ll write you my experience there in 1945 when my cousin found the “sweet flour” in the cupboard and we ate it. It was powdered sugar that my aunt had sifted for the cake icing! Never trust a younger cousin!"

1950 - 1970 -  J.V. "Pinky" Wilson Ranch

 J.V. "Pinky" Wilson  (James Vernon) 1897-1980    born in Florence, Tx 

    buried Post Mountain Cemetery, Burnet Co.     Cenotaph at The Texas State Cemetery, in Ausitn

Irma Elizabeth Edney Wilson (1906-1987)   buried Post Mountain Cemetery  

Pinky was born in 1897 in Florence, TX. He ranched there through 1950, when he purchased a ranch near Bertram, Burnet County TX, where he, wife Irma, and son Joe lived unti 1970 when they moved to Burnet, TX.

The Texas A & M "Aggie War Hymn" was written by J.V. "Pinky"  Wilson, class of 1920, while he was stationed in the trenches of France  during WWI    Link to Historical Marker located in Bertram

1970 - 1997    Mr and Mrs GREENWOOD lived at Landon Ranch at some point after Wilson

WE NEED GREENWOOD STORIES - PLEASE contact Toni if you remember the Greenwoods

According to Anna B (current occupant):   After that Mrs Greenwood and her husband bought it. Mrs Greenwood was a woman of her time. She ran this place alone for the most part. Her husband, a confidant of LBJ spent his summers in Connecticut and winters in Texas while Mrs Greenwood was one of the first prize winning cattle woman of her day.   She told us her husband would sneak his donkey in the house while he sipped whiskey at the bar. She hated that donkey! she told us adamantly, in her husky Prussian dialect.

We bought the ranch from the Greenwoods in 1997.

A neighbor recalls:  I knew Mr Greenwood. That was many years ago. I was a teenager in the 1970s.  That ranch has changed hands several times since Greenwood.. We called him "Greenie" in the 70's

He was an outspoken little man with big blue eyes... tanned face .. wore a little cloth "golfers" hat...

He was an eccentric character. I thought he was Polish or Russian who fled the holocaust. He had 2 great danes that would ride in the back of his little truck. It was said that he would not kill anything... not even a rattlesnake. 

   I had heard that he was Jewish and made good in the textile business in NYC...and that no one had ever seen his wife... it's all second hand info ... people talking... who knows. 

    Last time I remember seeing him...I was driving through a road crew working on the highway... I saw him pulled over talking to the "boss".

Family with a long Bertram / Joppa History         CRAWFORD photos are below on this page

George Robert CRAWFORD 1894-1945

Glennie HUGGINS Crawford 1896-1969

George & Glennie Crawford are buried in Bear Creek Cemetery, Bertram, Burnet County, Tx

George was the son of Neal Alexander "N.A." CRAWFORD and Mary "Mamie" George BARKER

N.A. and Mamie Crawford are buried in Bear Creek Cemetery, Bertram, Burnet County, Tx

Neal & Mamie > George Robert & Glennie > RG & Helen

Post by Kallie: 

      Neal Alexander Crawford and his wife Mamie Crawford moved to Joppa around the late 1890s to early 1900s. Neal was a farmer and their farm was east of Joppa going towards Mahomet, it is said they owned land on both sides of the road which is now County Road 215. Together they had at least 13 children possibly more. The Crawford children attended the Pool Branch School in the early 1900s before the name was changed to Joppa. You can find Neal’s son George Crawford and his daughters Rosa and Bessie Crawford in the 1903 Pool Branch School photo.  

     George Robert Crawford also grew up to be a farmer, he and his wife Glennie (Huggins) Crawford moved onto the Crawford property and raised a family of their own. Their children were Ella Faye Crawford, Glendora Crawford, Raymond R. Crawford, Mildred Lee Crawford, and RG Crawford who grew up in the Joppa and Bertram area and attended the Joppa School and Joppa Sunday School through the 1930s. 

   There is a tragic story about one of the Crawford children getting struck by lightening and passing away. It was recorded and found on this website http://genealogytrails.com/tex/hillcountry/burnet/obits.html

“CRAWFORD, Daughter of N. A. - obituary

Bertram, Tex., June 6 - The seven-year-old daughter of N. A. Crawford, living eight miles northeast of this place was killed by lightning. Six children were sitting on Mr. Crawford's farm gate, some 200 yards from the house, when a heavy peal of thunder broke forth and the children were seen to fall to the ground. Mr. Crawford, his wife and sister-in-law went at once tot the place and found all unconscious, but succeeded in reviving all but one. The other children fully recovered. (Jimplecute, Jefferson, Tex., June 9, 1906)”

Historic Marker 9038    https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=2510

     1981 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 9038.)

Bryson Stagecoach Stop (1850s)

Inscription:   John Thomas BRYSON (d. 1894) and his wife Amelia (d. 1897), prominent early settlers of the Liberty Hill community, constructed this home in the 1850s. Built on a frame of notched and fitted hewn cedar logs and featuring chimneys of native stone, the original open dog-trot construction is typical of pioneer Texas houses. The Bryson residence also served as a stop on the stagecoach route between Austin and Fort Croghan, near present Burnet. 

Historic Marker 9703 (on private property)  https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=27433

      1982 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 9703.) 

The Bryson Place (1906)

Inscription:   John Henly BRYSON (1850-1930) and his wife Milda BARTON (1852-1952) had this home constructed on their land in 1906 by local builder Marcus Langford. It is located on a site purchased in 1855 by Milda's Uncle Welborn Barton and later owned by her father Decator Barton. The Bartons and Brysons had been neighbors in South Carolina before migrating to Texas. Descendants of these pioneer Burnet County families have retained ownership of the turn-of-the-century residence.   

The Bryson and Barton Families have shared history in South Carolina & Texas

Early Liberty Hill Settlement

Source:  Cclick here   http://www.forttumbleweed.net/historyA.html

and also  http://www.forttumbleweed.net/oldwest.html

John Thomas BRYSON and Amelia EDWARDS Bryson

John was born  5 Apr 1813,   Waynesville, Haywood County, North Carolina

     Died  2 Nov 1894 (aged 81)   Liberty Hill, Williamson County, Texas

Amelia was born     1 Feb 1817  Haywood County, North Carolina

     Died 19 Jul 1897 (aged 80)  Williamson County, Texas

In 1853 John & Amelia settled near Liberty Hill in Williamson County, Texas. Their home still stands across State Highway 29 from the Liberty Hill Cemetery. The Brysons gave the land for the cemetery.    See Bryson Staagecoach Stop Historic Marker

Grave:  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11749747/john_thomas_bryson

John Thomas BRYSON and Amelia EDWARDS Bryson came to the Liberty Hill region from Greenville, South Carolina by covered wagon. Their older children walked alongside the wagon most of the journey. John and Amelia had six children when they arrived including:

Mahilda Narcissa, born August 10, 1840 in Greenville, S.C.; died May 26, 1928

Joseph Goodson, born September 12, 1841 in Greenville, S.C.; died April 29, 1902

Thomas Noble, born July 5, 1843 in Greenville, S.C.; died February 20, 1920

Mary Naomi, born December 6, 1845; died May 4, 1928

Lenora Ann, born May, 1848; died January 1, 1930

John Henley, born May 25, 1850; died December 25, 1930

Rebecca Texanna, born in Liberty Hill on February 13, 1853; died September 26, 1853

Tandy Brittain, born October 8, 1858 in Liberty Hill; died December 30, 1937

For the first few days in Old Liberty Hill, the Brysons continued to camp out of their covered wagon. Meanwhile, with the help of their two slaves, the Brysons completed a log barn using native cedar timbers from the nearby cedar brakes.

Construction on their permanent home was begun in the summer of 1851, and completed in the fall of 1852. The frame of the Texas classic dog-run home was constructed of native red cedar timbers, notched and fitted without the use of nails. The milled lumber used on the floors, walls and ceilings was hauled by oxen and wagons from the Williams Mill in the Cedar Brake settlement near present-day Bastrop. Each round trip took approximately one month to complete.

A limestone fireplace was installed at each end of the house for heating the home in the winter time. A gallery spanned the entire width of the house and a dogtrot extended through the center of the home. The dogtrot created a funnel effect drawing the cool breezes through the home. In the summertime, the Brysons kept several beds in the open dogtrot which was the coolest location in the house.

The Bryson Home, completed in 1852, served the village of Old Liberty Hill as a Stage Stop until the late 1880's.

The kitchen where the family cooking was done was a separate structure from the main part of the house as added protection against fires. A large fireplace at the east end of the kitchen was used to cook the family meals. The kitchen connected to the main structure through a covered walkway.

A few feet from the back of the house, the Bryson's constructed a cellar which was used as a haven from storms and possible Indian attacks (a major Comanche camp was located only a few miles west of the Bryson homestead. The cellar also provided cool storage canned food and potatoes.

Bryson Barton Hightower marriages

John Henly BRYSON & Milda BARTON

John, son of John T. BRYSON,  was born May 25, 1850, in South Carolina, and died December 25, 1930

Milda BARTON, bom March 12, 1852, in South Carolina, and died July 23, 1952.  Milda is the daughter of Decatur "Dick" & Katherine BARTON 

John & Milda married September 21, 1871, in Burnet County, and lived most of their married life on the

place where Milda's Uncle, Dr. Welburn BARTON, and later his brother, Decatur BARTON, lived. The place is still owned and operated by their grandchildren.

John H & Milda are buried in Liberty Hill Cemetery   

Portal to Texas History Click here  The Bryson Place  1906 House of John & Milda BRYSON

John's sister, Mary Naomi BRYSON also married a Barton, J.P. Joel Poinsett BARTON, son of Col. Wilson BARTON who is buried at South San Gabriel Cemetery 

BARTON History

Dr. Welborn BARTON and Louisa Adeline COX Barton

Historical Commission. (Marker Number 13331   https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=29349  

A graduate of the medical department of Kentucky's Transylvania University, South Carolina native 

Dr. Welborn Barton (1821-1883) came to Texas in the late 1840s. After two years of practicing medicine in Bastrop County, he returned to South Carolina to wed Louisa Adeline Cox (1835-1920). They came with other South Carolinians to Burnet County in 1854 and moved to Salado in 1865 after he served in the Confederate Army. He was a doctor, a trustee of Salado College and a mason. Louisa served as his nurse and was involved in the Amasavourian Literary Society. The parents of ten children, the Bartons were also active in the First Baptist Church.  

Louisa's interesting BIO: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/36619252/louisa_adeline_barton

More about Welborn and Louisa BARTON can be found at Central Texas Stories & Legends   http://www.centraltexasstories.com/people/welborn-barton-sr.htm

in 1854, Welburn BARTON headed a wagon train of some 100 people, which included his father, Wilson BARTON, and his brothers, Decatur, Aleck (Alex), Perry, Dave, Poinsett, and Columbus. The train left south Carolina in October 1854 and was three months on the road. The party arrived in the western section of Williamson County, Texas, and camped near the Bryson family's home.

The Brysons had arrived from Greenville District, South Carolina, earlier. In the spring of 1855 the Bartons bought land up the South Gabriel in Bumet County, and Welburn settled at what later became South Gabriel Community. Historic Marker Village of South Gabriel aka Lewiston

In 1964, he joined the Mt. Horeb Lodge ^57, R.A.M., and moved to Salado in Bell County in 1865. He also served in the Confederate Army as a surgeon.    Welborn & Louisa are buried at Salado

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11339935/welborn_barton

Stephen Decatur "Dick" BARTON,  son of Welburn & Louisa BARTON, was born June 16, 1829, in South Carolina and died May 1902. He was married Febmary 29, 1848, to Susan Katharine  HIGHTOWER, who was born May 8, 1831, and died in October 1914.  Dick and Katherine had 13  children,   Son, Aldred daughter, Milda have ties to the BRYSON Family

Dick's son,  Alfred "Al" Hightower BARTON  (1848-1921)  was a cattle driver, He left Burnct County soon after his first marriage in 1878. When his wife died he brought his baby son, Clayton "Clayte" , back to his sister, Milda Bryson, and Clayte lived more than 90 years near Bertram.

Alexander Madison (Aleck or Alex) BARTON, born June 10, 1831, in South Carolina; died April 7, 1904, in Bumet Co. He married December 12, 1850, in South Carolina to Louisa Pamelia HIGHTOWER, who was born February 27, 1836.  They arrived in Texas in 1854 by wagon (see Welburn story)

Confederate veteran. Alex served as a private in Company A, Waller's Regiment, Texas Cavalry.

Alex & "Lucy" bought land in the 1870s and moved over on the Middle Gabriel in what later became known as the Shady Grove community.  They had 12 children.  Alex and Lucy are buried at Shady Grove Cemetery https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/18540720/alexander-madison-barton

SHADY GROVE CEMETERY is the resting place for many BARTON  Descendants

 https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/6853/shady-grove-cemetery

Source of this and more Barton & Bryson History: Bunet County History VOL II,  Resesrched, written, and submitted by Mrs. Estelle Bryson. 

Historic Marker erected in 1963

Inscription:   "Built by Bryce M. Smart (1816-1880), who had a grist mill, tannery, freight line. His children rescued newborn calves abandoned on nearby Chisholm Trail.  McCormicks, 5th generation descendants, now own home. "

Excerpt from BIO.   Mr. Smart was born in Indiana on February 8, 1816. He was married to Amy Cox in Springfield, Missouri on February 14, 1836. Mr. Smart brought his family to Texas in 1852. Settling on the banks of the North San Gabriel River in Williamson County.

Accompanying the Smart family to Texas were relatives of Mr. Smart who settled in and around the area of Florence, Texas. Relatives of Amy Cox Smart were settled in the area of Lampasas, Texas on Lucy Creek.

Mr. Smart, a typical hardy pioneer, was a versatile man of varied occupations. He ran a freight line to and from Brenham, Texas, the nearest railroad, for supplies of all kinds. During the war between the States Mr. Smart operated a tannery and furnished leather to the Confederate Army. He and his sons later owned and operated a flour and grist mill in Burnet, Texas. On January 1, 1880, as Mr. Smart was preparing for the days grinding a tragedy occurred the steam boiler burst, killing Mr. Smart instantly and destroying the mill. "

Brice Miller Smart Sr ~ Mahomet Cemetery  

     https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8476193/brice-miller-smart

Amy COX Smart ~ Mahomet Cemetery

    https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8476202/amy-smart

McCormick Ranch - Charles Phillip McCormick & Maude Allen McCormick. This pioneer family settled in Williamson County in 1852 and the ranch was honored by Texas Governor Perry as one of a handful of Texas ranches in continuous operation by the same family for over 150 years.

Charles' great grandfather was the first minister of the Mahomet Christian Church (Disciple of Christ) which was established by the community in the 1854.

Charles Phillip McCormick ~ Mahomet Cemetery    

    https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44870016/charles-philip-mccormick

(son of Phillip Houston McCormick and Margaret Smart )

Margaret “Maggie” Smart McCormick ~ Mahomet Cemetery

    https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44870019/margaret-mccormick  

Texas Historical Marker Database https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=24905

We hope to add more images and family stories here

We need more info about Greenwood, Crawford, and Ray Families / Ranches.  

Bertram Depot est 1882

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=203266

When the Austin & Northwestern Railroad first laid rails through Bertram in 1882, the original Bertram depot was constructed on this site and served railroad passengers until the end of passenger service in 1937

Bertram School est 1882 

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=27427

When Bertram was founded in 1882 along the Austin & Northwestern Railroad, one of the first structures erected was a combination school, Sunday School, and Masonic Lodge hall. Rudolph Bertram, Austin Railroad executive for whom the town was named, contributed $50 for construction of the school. The frame building was enlarged as the community grew. By 1908, however, new facilities were needed for the 264 students.

Pool Branch est 1874

https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=27539

Some of the first settlers in this farming and ranching community were the William Alexander Faires family in 1874 and the Martin Luther Ater family the next year. The settlement was called "Pool Branch" for a nearby pool formed by a waterfall. In the 1880s a cotton gin and mill were located on the pool which was known as "Mill Pond". There was a store, a blacksmith shop, and one mile from the gin, Mrs. Hattie Snow Smith ran a hat shop in her home.