Biographical Sketch of Jerry L. Fryar

Is a native of Tennessee. He came to Texas in 1870, and like many other young men who came west to grow up with the country, followed various avocations, until early in 1885, when he settled down in business as the local and permanent agent for the “New Home Sewing Machine” Co. His office is situated on Post-office Row in Bonham; and he keeps a large stock of machines, organs, etc. Mr. Fryar has made himself popular by his fair dealing and gentlemanly conduct, since he has been in business in Bonham. His pleasant and agreeable address and the merits … Read more

Yoakum – Ward Cemetery, Fannin County, Texas

A cemetery transcription of the Yoakum – Ward Cemetery in Fannin County, Texas. Located on private property near the Ward Creek west of Allens Chapel between the Ward creek and the Yoakum creek. The Wards came to Texas in the late 1830’s having lived previously in Illinois and Missouri. Adam Stump Yoakum came to Texas from West Virginia circa 1847. We can find no relationship between the Wards and Yoakums other than friendship. WARD Jerimiah, b. 27 Jan. 1788, d. 1896. Nancy, 1805 – 1853. CARTER Bell, 1878 – 1909. Leo, 1908 – 1915. Son of J. M. & B. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Brainard Lindsay

The only “second-hand dealer” in Fannin County, came to Bonham and opened a large second-hand store on South Main street, in the fall of 1884. He has, in connection with his business of selling and buying second-hand goods of every description, a mattress factory, and a line of furniture. This is a new departure in the business world of Fannin, and its success is attracting some attention. Young Lindsay was born and raised in the state. At the early age of eighteen he contracted marriage with a young lady of Sherman, Texas, and moved to Bonham. Although young, the rough … Read more

Jackson Cemetery, Fannin County, Texas

This family graveyard was located on the old Morgan farm adjoining the Goss farm. This family is said to have buried their dead at night and did not mark any graves.

Page Cemetery, Fannin County, Texas

A cemetery transcription of Page Cemetery in Fannin County, Texas. This cemetery is located near Lake Crockett west of FM 100. BARTLETT Glossell, b. 23 Feb. 1925, d. 5 Oct. 1926. LITTLE L. A., b. 1853, d. 9 Jan. 1916. PAGE N. T., 182? – 1929. Ernest, 1887 – 1919. C. R., b. Apr. 1902, d. June 1903. A. J., b. 6 Apr. 1876, d. 16 Feb. 1916. Elmer, b. 11 Mar. 1907, d. 24 July 1924. THOMPSON Nellie, b. 10 Dec. 1872, d. 13 Feb. 1905. Wife of N. C. WILKERSON Joe, 1882 – 1964. Married Mary Page 1918. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. H. Ardinger

The dry goods merchant prince of Bonham, is a native of Berkely County, Virginia, and has been a merchant all his life. He left Virginia at the age of fourteen, for Elizabethtown, Ky., from this place a little later, he moved to Greensboro of the same state, and from there to Missouri. In 1869-70, he was in the wholesale dry goods business at Chicago, but was fortunate enough to sell out his interest there, just before that city was burned in 1871. In 1875, he removed to Bonham, and opened a dry goods business, with a $1 0.000 stock of … Read more

Harper Cemetery, Fannin County, Texas

This cemetery is located near the Bartley school and the land was settled by the Harper family in the early days of Fannin county. BURROWS Emmet, b. & d. 1866. Son of J. S. E. HARPER G. W., 1828 – 1865. There are also two native stone tombstones with no names or dates.

Hill Cemetery, Fannin County, Texas

Cemetery transcription of Hill Cemetery in Fannin County, Texas. This cemetery is where the first Elwood settlement was built on a farm owned by the Gibbs family for the last fifty years [written ca. 1960]. At one time a school, store, blacksmith shop, and a few houses were on this hill. A doctor lived here (perhaps F. Taylor?). Many markers are illegible and several graves have wood slabs with no names or dates. Two of the wooden slabs were said to be outlaws who were killed at Elwood. [Ed. Note: We regret that the copier listed the year only and … Read more

Darnell Cemetery, Fannin County, Texas

This Darnell family settled north of Ivanhoe near the Red river. DARNELL Rachel E., 1821 – 1897. Robert C., 1818 – 1878. BATES Henry C., 1872 – 1891. Sarah Elizabeth, 1856 – 1933. FOX Treston H., 1878 – 1948. Husband of Rose L.

Graveyard Hill, Fannin County, Texas

Graveyard Hill is on land once owned by the Jackson family. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson’s graves are supposed to be there but were not located because on the underbrush. There are several other graves with slabs of wood but no legible names or dates. All that was found is as follows: CLARK J. C., 1820 – 1875 W. N. D., no dates – slab of wood with initials only.

Biographical Sketch of O. A. Reich

Mr. Reich is an American of German decent, and not a German as his name would indicate. He. was born in North Carolina in 1828, came to Texas in 1850. He is a brick mason, and out of his trade has acquired a nice little sum in money and lands. Like most of men who have made money in Texas, he came here with a few dollars and by economy, industry and promptness, has put himself in a condition to pass his old age in ease and comfort, if not luxury. Mr. Reich is owner of the addition to Bonham, … Read more

Smith Cemetery, Fannin County, Texas

(Loc. six and ½ miles north of Windom) ASHFORD E. R., b. 24 Aug. 1833, d. 25 Sept. 1870. Philip Franklin, b. 1 May 1868, d. 8 May 1868. Son of E.R. & Mary. Mary, no dates. (stone broken) SMITH Philip, b. 17 Mar. 1796, d. 30 Dec. 1845. Ann, b. 16 May 1803, d. 28 Feb. 1866. Wife of Philip. Dorcas Ann, b. 2 Dec. 1831, d. 8 Jan. 1891. Mariah, b. 25 Nov. 1826, d. 16 May 1902. George, b. 7 Mar. 1827, d. 26 Dec. 1907. F. E., b. 6 Apr. 1841, d. 11 May 1908. Wife … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John P. Nelson

President of the Fannin College, was born in Virginia in 1860, and educated at the university of that state. He came to this state and county in 1883, just after the college of which he is` president was incorporated. He was at once chosen by the board of directors as principal and entered upon his duties as such. The two years he has had charge of this institution have proven beyond question, his thorough qualifications for the responsible position. The session of 1883-4 gave such satisfaction among his patrons as to increase the number of matriculations from 99 to 140, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of T. U. Cole

In the life of this man, up to date, is afforded an example to the youth of this country. Of course all of them cannot be bank cashiers, as is the case with him, but in whatever position in life, fate or circumstances may place them, by an observance of the traits of character which have characterized the subject of this sketch, success, in every respect, will, attend them. Mr Cole was born in 1861, raised and educated in the state. The first, and perhaps the only business he ever entered into, was the banking business. He is cashier of … Read more

Beal Cemetery, Fannin County, Texas

A cemetery transcription of the Beal Cemetery of Fannin County, Texas. The Beals settled near the Red River north and west of the Riverby store in the early 1840’s. At the Bonham courthouse is a marriage record of R. R. Beal and Jane Black date July 1, 1843. The Matilda Beal, listed below as the wife of R. R. must have died before 1843 and the Beal child who died in 1853 at the age of fifteen was her child. There are stories that the Beals had lots of trouble with Indians. BEAL Matilda, 1812 [broken]. Wife of R. R. … Read more

Browles Cemetery, Fannin County, Texas

A family named Young first owned this farm near the southwest corner of Dial where this graveyard is located. One of the Young daughters married a Browles and they continued to live on this farm so this burying plot was known as the Browles graveyard. Mrs. Marcus E. Jackson, who was buried here in 1925, was Margarette Young before her marriage and was a descendant of this Young family. It is possible that the following listings containing initials only (carved into native stone) are those of the Young family and the “D” standing for “died”. YOUNG? C. W. Y. D. … Read more

Jones Cemetery, Fannin County, Texas

This Jones family came to Texas in 1846 from North Bend, Ohio (now part of Cincinnati). They came by boat down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to New Orleans, and then up the Red river to Shreveport. From there the family traveled by wagon to the place where the graveyard is located. It took five months for this move from Ohio to Texas. The graves are located on private property one miles north of Selfs. JONES John W., 1785 – 1850. Tamazine, 1791 – 1853. One unmarked grave.

Pettigrew Cemetery, Fannin County, Texas

(Loc. seven miles north of Windom, Texas, on the land survey granted to Elizabeth Pettigrew by the Republic of Texas.) PETTIGREW J. H., b. 3 Nov. 1818, d. 16 July 1887. Prudence E., b. 10 Oct. 1824, d. 19 May 1889. Wife of J. H. H. M., b. 10 Sept. 1810, d. 15 Aug. 1841. Died from rattlesnake bite while he cleared Land on the homestead on the Pettigrew Branch. James, 1851 – 1863. Elizabeth, b. Dec. 1777, d. 26 Jan. 1854. Infant, b. & d. 1 Nov. 1855. Son of J. H. & P. E. J. T., b. 17 … Read more

Cross Cemetery, Fannin County, Texas

A cemetery transcription of the Cross Cemetery in Fannin County, Texas. The Cross family settled on the Bois d’Arc creek north of Lannius in the 1840’s. A Mr. Newton married one of the Cross daughters. There are several graves but are either not marked or the stones are completely illegible. CROSS Joseph, 1802 – 1851. Son of William. Tommie, 1831 – 1866. Thomas D., 1862 – 1881.