SMITH, John Peter

(1831-1901). John Peter Smith, known
as "the father of Fort Worth," was born on September 16, 1831, in
Owen County, Kentucky, to Samuel and Polly (Bond) Smith. When
he was seven years old, Smith and his family moved to Ohio
County, Kentucky; however, both of his parents died near Hartford
in 1844, leaving him and his five brothers as orphans. Smith chose to live under the guardianship of W. H. Garnett, a cousin. As a teen Smith received an excellent education in the public school system. During the late 1840s he entered Franklin College in Indiana, and in 1850 he began a program at Bethany College in Virginia, graduating in July 1853 with first honors in mathematics and ancient languages. After graduation Smith returned home only to leave four months later to move to Texas. By December he arrived in Fort Worth and decided to make it his home. In January 1854 Smith obtained possession of an old army hospital left abandoned by the Second United States Dragoons. In this building he began the first school in the city. Although because of ill health he maintained classes for only three months, the school house was eventually transformed into the Male and Female Academy, reportedly the first permanent educational  facility in Fort Worth. The schoolmaster quit his job in 1855 to begin employment as a surveyor and land locator. For the next five years Smith worked at this job, while he simultaneously studied law with A. Y. Fowler. District Judge Nathaniel M. Burfordqv admitted Smith to the bar in 1860. When the Civil Warqv broke out in 1861, Smith voted against secession;qv however, when Texas joined the fight, he promptly began to show his support for the Confederacy. After mustering up 120 Tarrant County men, Smith helped form Company K under the command of Col. William Steele.qv Joining the Seventh Regiment of the Texas Cavalry in Sibley's brigade,qv Smith fought with the Army of Western Louisiana in campaigns throughout New Mexico, Arizona, and Western Louisiana. He was severely wounded at Donaldsonville, Louisiana, in 1863 and slightly wounded at the battle of Mansfield, Louisiana, in 1864. In that same year Smith was promoted to colonel of his regiment, and he commanded 600 soldiers until the group disbanded in Navarro County on May 18, 1865.
Following the war he returned home to begin his career as a lawyer and to deal in real estate. Smith owned 1,000 acres of land in Tarrant County in 1865 and quickly rose to prominence in Fort Worth society. Within five years he had doubled his holdings, and by the early 1880s he had amassed city lots valued at more than $50,000 and thousands of acres of land. He was reported to be the largest landowner in Fort Worth. Smith donated much of his time and land to the development and expansion of Fort Worth. He successfully battled to have the county seat moved to his city from Birdville. As a private citizen he was instrumental in many new business ventures. He was a partner in the Fort Worth Street Railway Company, thus establishing the first public inner city transportation system. Additionally, he helped promote the first railroad into Fort Worth-the Texas and Pacific-and donated thousands of dollars to railroad expansion. In 1891 Smith was a key figure in the building of the first stockyard in Fort Worth. Nearly all of the larger cattle companies of northwest Texas were obliged to Smith for their organization, and many young cattlemen were personally indebted to him for his assistance.
Smith was elected mayor of Fort Worth in 1882 and served the first of six terms. Under his guidance, several public services were initiated, including the city's first water department. As a public official he helped establish an independent school system and also served as a trustee on the first school board. In addition to his other accomplishments, Smith was the president of the Fort Worth Gas Light and Coal Company. Several times he was urged to accept a nomination for governor of the state of Texas, but he continually refused, saying that he preferred to pursue his personal interests.  Smith donated many acres to the city for improvements, including the land for the Oakwood, Calvary, and Trinity cemeteries and several parks, churches, and hospitals, one of which still carries his name-John Peter Smith Hospital. Smith was a charter member of the Fort Worth Masonic Lodge and a member of the Christian Church. He married Mary E. Fox, the widow of a Fort Worth pioneer physician, on October 16, 1867. They had five children. Smith died on April 11, 1901, in St. Louis, Missouri, while on a promotional trip for Fort Worth. Reportedly, the cause of death was blood poisoning, which he contracted following a robbery and assault outside his hotel. He was buried at Oakwood Cemetery on Fort Worth's north side.  The citizens of the city honored him by erecting the John Peter Smith Monument, a marble bust, near St. Patrick's Cathedral in the heart of the city on land donated by Smith.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: James Cox, Historical and Biographical Record of the Cattle Industry (2 vols., St. Louis: Woodward and Tiernan Printing, 1894, 1895; rpt., with an introduction by J. Frank Dobie, New York: Antiquarian, 1959). History of Texas, Together with a Biographical History of Tarrant and Parker Counties (Chicago: Lewis, 1895). Ruby Schmidt, ed., Fort Worth and Tarrant County (Fort Worth: Texas Christian University Press, 1984). Mack H. Williams, In Old Fort Worth: The Story of a City and Its People as Published in the News-Tribune in 1976 and 1977 (1977).        byKristi Strickland

Source of information:   The Handbook of Texas Online

THOMAS, William

born 8 Mar 1818 MS? died 15 Jan 1876 Rusk Co. TX buried :
Thomas-Gaston cemetery Rusk Co. TX with his wife Anjaline TRAYLER born 6 Jun 1826.   Pike Co. IN,  died 20 Jan 1881 Rusk Co. TX.

 

William THOMAS applied for an original land grant in Texas in 1834 in the area that is now Shelby County and moved to Tarrant Co. ca,. 1851. He helped establish the Union Sabbath School 1857 Johnson Station, Tarrant Co. TX,

William THOMAS

married 1st) Margaret HARRISON (dau. of Jonas & Eleanor HARRISON)   in Shelby Co. TX ca 1841.

married 2nd) Anjaline TRAYLER 21 Dec 1858 Johnson Station, Tarrant Co. TX

Descendants of William THOMAS/Margaret HARRISON
1) Ellen THOMAS b: 05-Mar-1842 Shelby Co., TX d: 20-Feb-1905 Burial: Wolf Valley Cemetery, Brown Co., TX m. 3 May 1860
Tarrant Co.. TX Wesley Swift FORD
2) Hampton THOMAS b: 08-Aug-1844 Shelby Co., TX m. 4 Jan 1970 Nancy Ann PIMS
3) William T. THOMAS b: 19-Jun-1847 Shelby Co., TX d: 11-Dec-1862
4) Almira THOMAS b: 03-Jan-1850 Shelby Co., TX m. 08-Sep-1870 William GASTON
5) Benjamin THOMAS b: 25-Feb-1853 Shelby Co., TX m.18 Nov 1884 Martha GROVES
6) Jacob THOMAS b: 04-Aug-1857 Tarrant Co., TX d: 08-Oct-1868 Tarrant Co., TX

Descendants of William THOMAS/Anjaline TRAYLER
1) Elizabeth M. J. THOMAS (twin) b: 07-Oct-1859 Tarrant Co., TX d: 1916 Choctaw Co., OK m. her 1st cousin Theodore Washington CLIFTON b: 14-May-1856 Arlington, Tarrant Co., TX m: 27-Jan-1878 Tarrant Co., TX d: 25-Apr-1929 Choctaw Co., OK
2) William H. W. THOMAS (twin) b: 07-Oct-1859 Tarrant Co., TX
3) Armilda A. THOMAS b: 08-Oct-1861 Tarrant Co., TX
4) Margaret (Mary?) A. THOMAS b: 15-Sep-1863 Tarrant Co., TX
5) John W. THOMAS b: 26-Nov-1865 Tarrant Co. TX
6) Houston B. THOMAS b: 21-Sep-1869 TX d:
27-Oct-1871 Rusk Co., TX Burial: Thomas-Gaston Cemetery, Rusk Co., TX
7) POSSIBLE CHILD: James THOMAS - 26 May 1872 - 1 June 1872 buried Thomas-Gaston Cemetery Rusk Co. TX
Information came from Peggy Thompson

TORRY, Neal

Neal Baker Torrey was born April 22, 1825 in MS, the son of George Sicily Torrey.  He was married 3 times.  When he lived in TX, he was married to his 2nd wife, Elizabeth Kirby Colson, whome he married in Claiborne Co, MS on Sept. 19, 1854.  Two daughters were born near Ft. Worth: Texanna Torrey b. 16 Oct 1856 and Mary Jane Torrey b. Jun 1857.  By 1861 the family was living in Catahoula Parish, LA, where he remained until his death on 22 Jul 1897. 

 

Submitted by Shirley McCluer.

TRAYLOR, Washington
This obituary from an unknown paper was found pasted in the Bible of
Washington TRAYLOR & Mariah AIKMAN, now owned by a descendant living in SC.
Washington and his wife were buried in Ford Cemetery, Arlington, Tarrant Co., TX.

Washington TRAYLOR,  Blessed are those who die in the Lord. Tis a truth full of comfort to all surviving friends. The death of Bro. Washington TRAYLOR, who was born in Spartanburg District, South Carolina July the 3rd 1794 and was born again of the Spirit Indiana 1825. And who died at his residence November
27th 1864; in Tarrant Co., Texas calmly, quietly and peacefully on Sabbath.
That day of all others, he was delighted to meet his brethren and neighbors in class or prayer meeting, when there was no preaching at the Church. Bro.
TRAYLOR was what might emphatically be called an every day Christian; his piety was deep and abiding. His house was a home for the preachers and a welcome and pleasant one as many preachers can testify. Oh! how he is missed in the community where he lived. Bro. TRAYLOR greatly desired to live to see his youngest child married and settled in life. The Lord granted him his desire, truly he came to his grave in a full age like a shook of corn cometh to it's season. Bro. TRAYLOR sleeps in death: and when the great harvester of the world shall come and shall shout harvest home, we feel that our departed brother will be garnered in heaven. May the Lord bless his children and grandchildren who stil live and may they meet their departed sire in a world that's free from sin.   by James M. Jones

 

Mariah died in Arlington , Tarrant Co. TX and was the first
buried in Ford Cemetery on what was originally Traylor property.

Mariah TRAYLOR departed this life June 7th 1858. She was born in Bourbon County KY, March 11th 1799, daughter of James and Elizabeth AIKMAN; married in Indiana in 1818, Professed Religion 1822, united with teh Presbyterian Church. Removed to Arkansas, 1839 where she connected with the Methodist Church in consequence of not being convenient to the Presbyterians. Soon after she informed her friends by letter that she found religion just as good in the Methodist as in the Presbyterian Church. Removed to Texas in the fall of 1854; brought letter and again united with the Methodist Church. Since she first made a profession of religion, she has never been known to express a doubt of her acceptance with God. She has been a useful member of the church and society, a mother in Israel, strong in faith, fervent in spirit, instant in prayer, serving the Lord and doing good to her fellow beings. She died as she lived, full of faith and of the Holy Ghost. Calm and in her right mind, she bid adieu to her family and friends, gave them a parting kiss and her Seraph winged spirit ascended on high where love immortal is known. During a protracted illness of seven weeks she manifested an entire calmness and perfect resignation which astonished friends and puzzled skeptics. She left eight children, all members of the church, and a bereft husband, who still survives to fill for a time his station in life. He is a stewarrd and a class leader in our church, and a superintendant of a sabbath school. We deeply sympathize with the bereaved who mourn her loss; yet we know that our loss is her eternal gain, for she rests from her labor and her works do follows her.  W. S. SOUTH

Children of Washington TRAYLER / Mariah AIKMAN
1) Barton Aikman 29 Dec 1819 Pike Co. IN - 21 Nov 1884 Hunt Co.? TX Burial:
South Sulphur Cemetery, Hunt Co., TX m. 19 Oct 1839 Pike Co. IN Mary Ann CHEW
2) Jesse Alford TRAYLER b: 14-Dec-1821 Pike Co., IN d:
10-Feb-1905 Forrestburg, Montague Co., TX Burial: Forestburg, Montague Co., TX
m 1) 20-Sep-1843 AR? Orleana REDDICK Montague Co., TX
m.2) 12 Sep 1875 Montague Co. TX Margaret Ann CARLTON
3) Elizabeth Mariah TRAYLOR b: 10-Mar-1824 Pike Co., IN d:
17-Jun-1868 Izard Co., AR Burial: Spring Creek Cemetery, Izard Co., AR m. 21 Oct 18465 Izard Co. AR Henry BENBROOK, Sr.
4) Anjaline TRAYLOR b: 06-Jun-1826 Pike Co., IN d: 20-Jun-1881 Rusk Co., TX Burial: Thomas-Gaston Cemetery, Rusk Co., TX m.21 Dec 1858 Johnson Station, Tarrant Co. TX William THOMAS
5) Harriett Malisa TRAYLER b: 21-Apr-1829 Pike Co., IN d: 27-Apr-1886
Tarrant Co., TX Burial: Ford Cemetery, Grand Prairie, Tarrant Co., TX
m1) 15 May 1852 AR Lewis CLIFTON m2) 1863/4 M. (Micajah?) GOODWIN m.3) 1870-1872 Tarrant Co. TX John MEYERS
6) James Washington TRAYLOR b: 16-Apr-1831 d: 06-Aug-1864 MO m. 26 Feb 1857 TX Sarah E.
7) Mary Jane TRAYLOR b: 29-Sep-1833 Pike Co., IN d: 09-Mar-1835 Pike Co., IN
8) Mariah Jain TRAYLOR b: 05-May-1835 Petersburg, Pike Co., IN d: 07-Feb-1907 Tarrant Co., TX Burial: 08-Feb-1907 Hudson Cemetery, Kennedale,
Tarrant Co., TX m. 13 Sep 1865 Tarrant Co. TX Wesley Thomas MURPHY
9) Sarah Ellin TRAYLOR b: 03-May-1837 Pike Co. IN d: 30-Oct-1838 Pike Co. IN
10) Winney Stokes TRAYLOR b: 28-May-1839 Petersburg, Pike Co., IN d: 09-Apr-1918 Clarendon, Donley Co., TX Burial: Hudson Cemetery, Kennedale, Tarrant Co., TX m. 7 Feb 1861 Arlington, Tarrant Co. TX John Dickson HUDSON
11) Margaret Vernetta TRAYLOR b: 02-Aug-1843 AR? MO? d:
28-Jun-1846 AR? MO?

Information came from:  Peggy Thompsen            

TURNER, Charles

Captain Charles "Cass" Turner
March 15, 1822 - October 31, 1873
Born in Tuscaloosa, Pickens Co., Ala.
Died in Bryan Station, Tx.
Married to Amanda Levicia Adams (December 28, 1831 - March 6, 1868) on March 16, 1846 in Shelbyville, Texas.   Charles is buried at Pioneer Rest Cemetery, lot 71, Fort Worth, Texas. His and Amanda's daughter, Josephine Harvelia Turner wrote a narrative entitled, "Recollections of Josephine Harvelia Turner Ryan," in which she recounts many incidents in the life of her father. Copies of these writings are in the possession of his great granddaughters and other family members.   A copy of a reward for a runaway slave is also in the family's possession.   Charles first came toFort Worth in 1848 or 1849 but apparently did not settle at that time as he and Amanda are on the 1850 Shelby County, Texas census. By trade he was known as a 'trader and plunger.' He was one of  5 soldiers sent out from Johnson's Station, June 6, 1849 to locate a site for a fort, the location of present day Fort Worth was selected. Other men in the expedition were: Col. M. T. Johnson, Simon Farrar, Henry Daggett and either Abe Harris or a Mr. Echols, all from east Texas. Charles and John S. Hirshfield (Josephine's first husband) had stores of General Merchandise along the train route from Bremond to Kosse, Texas.

Charles served in the Confederate States Army, however, because of ill health he returned to Fort Worth and hired a substitute, one John Kinder. Charles was then appointed Commissary and Beef Commissioner. He organized a company of young men at his own expense, (The Tarrant County Hussars), outfitted them and they were sent to the Mouth of the Red River where they met Sweet's Regiment, Walker's Division. In charge of the wagon train was Charles Turner, Julian Field and Frank Adams. During its travels to the Mouth of the Red River there were Indian attacks on the men by the Comanche and Kiowa Indians. Confederate documents from the Texas State Archives, "Captain Charles Turner, Tarrant Cty. Hussars, Mtd. Inf. 10th Brig., TM. Enlisted: July 1861 at Fort Worth. Remarks: R&F 85; Co. comm.S-23-61; l muster roll."

Fort Worth Star Telegram, June 14, 1954 article concerns a plaque which was placed atGreenwood Cemetery beside an oak tree, known today as the Turner Oak.
The plaque reads:
"On this spot, Charles Turner (1822-1873) buried gold which provided financial aid to Fort Worth during the critical years of the Reconstruction Period. Charles Turner was a Captain in the Rangers, one of the first settlers of Tarrant County and among those who selected the site for the City of Fort Worth." It was on this area Charles establishd a home for his family. At the beginning of the Civil War he disobeyed a direct order that all gold should be exchanged for Confederate money. He buried what was believed to be thousands of dollars worth of gold under that oak tree with a trusted slave. Later, that gold was a stabilizing influence in young Fort Worth's economy and also freed Ft. Worth of debt owned Northern creditors.

Charles served as a Second Lt. in the Mexican War. Muster rolls received from the Texas State Library and Archives show Charles as follows: Muster roll dated June 21-Aug 31, 1847 w/ Hay's Texas Mtd. Vols. Enrolled May 20, 1847 at Rusk County for 12 months. Muster roll: 2nd Lt. Capt. Ferguson's Co., Texas Mounted Vols. age 25. Roll dated at Austin 21, 1847, muster-in date June 21, 1847. Joined for duty and enrolled May 20, 1847 at Rusk County, Texas, for a period of 12 months. Muster roll: 2nd Lt. w/ Hay's Texas Mtd. Sept-Oct., 1847 at Rusk County for 12 months. On this muster roll is a notation Charles resigned his commission at the Mouth of the Rio Grande, October 1, 1847 * Muster roll: dated May 1, 1848 at Camp Washington near Vera Cruz with the remark his commission was resigned Sept. 25, 1847.*

The following is a copy of Charles letter written from Matamoras, Mexico, Sept. 17, 1847, "Dear Sir, I have the honor to state that I have to tender the resignation of my Commission as 2nt Lt. in the lst regiment of Texas Cavalry on account of ill health. The reason stated above is the only motive which could induce me to think of leaving my regiment and the service which is required to preform. I have the honor to be, Sir, Very Respectfully, your abiding servant, Charles Turner, 2nd Lt. lst Texas Cavalry." There is also a copy of a letter from Col. Jack Hays, Commander of the Regiment which accompanied Charles letter. Charles was wounded during the Mexican War and this was the reason for his resignation.
>From Muster Rolls: Organization Charles mustered-in during Mexican War
subsequently became Company I, 1st Reg't (May's) Texas Mounted Vol.

Listed in "1840 Citizens of Texas, Volume 1, Land Grants," by Gifford
White, page 253.

War Between the States Period-at the close of the War Charles lost 150 slaves, giving them their freedom. Many begged their master to allow them to stay and some did and were paid wages for their services. Charles served in the Confederate States Army, however, because of ill health he returned to Fort Worth and hired a substitute, one John Kinder. Charles was then appointed Commissary and Beef Commissioner. He organized a company of young men at his own expense, outfitted them and they were sent to the Mouth of the Red River where they met Sweet's Regiment, Walker's Division. In charge of the wagon train was Charles Turner, Julian Field and Frank Adams. During its travels to the Mouth of the Red River there were Indian attacks on the men by the Comanche and Kiowa Indians. Civil War documents from the Texas State Archives, " Captain Charles Turner, Tarrant Cty. Hussars, Mtd. Inf. 10th Brig., TM. Enlisted: July 1861 at Fort Worth. Remarks: R&F 85; Co. comm.S-23-61; l muster roll."

Charles and Captain E. M. Daggett (his daughter, Josephine Turner Hirshfield Ryan's step-grandfather) were in business together for years in Fort Worth in the dry goods business, the firm of Turner and Daggett, housed in an old brick house which faced the 'square.' It was in this store that Cynthia Ann Parker was exhibited after being rescued by Sul Ross.

Information came from: Caron Withers 

WALLING, Vance

Arrived in Texas Nov 1840.  Land Grant of 320 acres issued on 20 Aug 1841.

Source of information:  Lone Star Junction

WATSON, Jason

was born in GA.  He was a son of Luke Watson and Mary Ann.  He married Elizabeth DARNELL in Perry Co, AL in 1827.  In the 1840 census he is living in Attala Co, MS.  Elizabeth died before 1844 and Jason married Louisa (believed to be Louisa DENT HASTY....no proof.)  By the mid 1840's, Jason is in Cape Girardeau, Co, MO where he bought and sold land.  I have been unable to find him in the 1850 census but by 1851 he is in Tarrant Co, TX.  Some of Jason's children were: Betsey, who married John MITCHELL in Cape Girardeau, MO.

Epsey died 1877 married George W. Tummins.

Both the following are believed to be daughters of Jason WATSON but still unproven.

Mary Ann married William Malcolm BEAL.

Sarah Catherine married Walter Dent BEAL.

The following son of Jason is my husbands gr. grandfather:

John J. WATSON born 1838 in MS.  He married Mary Louisa ELLIOTT about 1860.  She was a daughter of Richardson M. ELLIOTT and Jane Elizabeth RANDOL.   Mary Louisa died in 1877.  Their children were:

Frank M. born 1861

Louisa Jane born 1862, died 1936 in Mitchell Co, TX married #1 George W. SMITH, #2 James H. PARKER

Rachel Emma born 1866, died 1901 in Tarrant Co, TX, married #1William SLATON, #2 William Jennings REED. 

John G. born 1867, died after 1936

Thomas Mitchell born 1872, died after 1936

Albert Harvey born 1873, died after 1936

Sarah E. born 1875, died after 1936, married William BOLIN

John J. WATSON then married Mary Jane KETCHUM.  Their children were:

Alvin born 1879

Edgar born 1881

Linnie born 1883, married Plen ROBERTS

Gertrude born 1883, married Joe ADAMS

Mary J. born 1888, married Martin RHODES

John married a third time and had Kittie born in 1890 who married Jess SMITH

John's 4th marriage was to Rufina and they had Mattie born in 1894 who married Walter BOWLES.                       

Information came from:  Ellen Crawford 

WOODS, M. L.

Arrived in Texas 5 Nov 1839.  Land Grant of 640 acres issued on 5 Jan 1840.

Source of information:  Lone Star Junction