Biography of G. W. Harper

Mr. Harper came to Hopkins County when he was quite a young man, although he had a wife and child. He located on a tract of land where he lived all his life. He was very unfortunate in his married life, having lost three companions during his life. There were twenty-one children born to these three marriages. Out of this large number only three are living. Miss Minerva, the eldest daughter, married Lodwick Vaden, Jr., and lives upon one of the most fertile plantations on South Sulphur Creek. They have a nice, growing family of bright, intellectual children. He and … Read more

Directory of Nelta, Texas

J. M. Simms. M. D. Physician and Surgeon. Wilber J. Davis Postmaster and Dealer in General Merchandise. Chas. B. Kirkbride Blacksmith and woodwork. Bois’D’Arc Wagons a specialty. Warrick France The only Gin man in the place.

Biography of Serena Millhollin

Serena Millhollin, a daughter of Sam Lindley, known all over Hopkins County as Aunt Serena, gives a graphic account of pioneer life in Hopkins County. She says: “My father was born in the state of Kentucky, and married my mother in the state of Arkansas, and then migrated to the Republic of Mexico and stopped on North Sulphur Creek. [By reference to the first chapter in this history the reader will notice that the territory of Texas once belonged to Mexico.] about where the village of Ben Franklin is located, and remained for only one year and then moved to … Read more

Biography of Josiah Smith

Doctor Josiah Smith, deceased, was born and raised in the state of Georgia. At his majority he married Miss Nannie Morgan and moved to Hopkins County, Texas, in the year 1844 and settled on the spot where he has lived a long and useful life, and finally returned to the state of his nativity and passed into eternity. By this marriage nine children were born to them. Out of this number only two are living Zylphia, died in infancy; Buford lived to manhood and graduated from McKenzie College, enlisted in the Civil war as a Confederate soldier and died in … Read more

Biography of Robert Britton Buford

The present mayor of Eufaula, Dr. Robert Britton Buford, was for ten years engaged in the practice of dentistry here and he is now, in connection with his official duties, active in the conduct of the Indian Journal, of which paper he is editor and proprietor. A native of Texas, he was born in Sulphur Springs, on the 23d of April, 1879, a son of John C. and Elizabeth (Askew) Buford, the former a native of Texas and the latter of Georgia. On attaining manhood the father engaged in farming on his own account in Texas and he was active … Read more

Biographical Sketch of R. Lindley

R. Lindley was born in Polk County, Missouri in the year 1835. He migrated to Hopkins County with his father Jahu Lindley in 1849 and located on South Sulphur Creek where he was living when he died. Jahu Lindley had a large family but there are only two of this family living at this time: the subject of this biographical sketch and R. J. Lindley, who lives in Decatur, Wise County, at this time. R. Lindley was raised in Hopkins County. At the age of 23 years he married Miss Effie Sayle of Commerce, Hunt County, a lady of excellent … Read more

Directory of Sulphur Springs, Texas

The people whose names are listed in this directory are the substantial business men of the city, and merit the full confidence of the public. The professional men are those upon whom the people can rely with perfect safety. J. A. Stevenson Implement Company. Dealer in Moline Farm Implements, Peter Shuttler Wagons, Barb Wire and other staple hardware. Agent for McCormick Machinery, and J. I. Case Thresher. C. L. Murrie & Company. Dealers in Dry Goods, Millinery, Ladies’ Furnishings. The only up-to-date Store of this kind in the city. O. M. Pate. Dealer in Hardware, Stoves, Sash and Doors, Furniture, … Read more

Biography of R. C. Holderness

Dr. R. C. Holderness was born in the state of North Carolina in the year 1827. In the year 1850 he graduated in medicine from the University of Pennsylvania, and subsequently moved to the state of Arkansas, Calhoun County, where he began the successful practice he has always enjoyed. In the year 1863 he migrated to Hopkins County, where he has lived since in the enjoyment of a lucrative practice. The doctor married Miss Virginia Thomas, an old Carolina lady, in the state of Arkansas. They both came from the same county in North Carolina and migrated to the same … Read more

Biography of Lodwick Vaden

Lodwick (Uncle Lodwick) Vaden was born in Smith County, Tennessee, on January 29, 1817. At this time he is 8 years of age, a hale, hearty old gentleman of wonderful vitality. He married Miss Nancy E. Dowdle when he was 23 years old, in the State of Mississippi. By this union ten children came to them, whose names are as follows: Miss Mary, married Alonzo De Spain, and are located in DeLeon, Comanche County; Woodson, married Miss Martin; Miss Sallie, married Piney Welch, a prominent well to do citizen of Hopkins County. Miss Judie is yet single and resides with … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James A. Simms

James A. Simms, deceased, was born in the state of Georgia. When he arrived at his majority he married Miss Emily Jane Hansom, a daughter of a prominent slave holder and planter in the same neighborhood in which he was raised. He moved into Hopkins County in the year 1853, where he settled and raised a large and interesting family. Jonathan Simms, was his eldest child. The others were Uca C., Tom K., Amanda, J. M. Simms, Jr., Britton B., Bianca, and Kendrick,D. three of these children are living in the county. Uca C. is now Mrs. Shugart, a prosperous … Read more

Biography of G. L. Stacy

G. L. Stacy was born in Williamson County, Tennessee, in the year 1825. He married Mary Bell in his native state when he was twenty-two years of age. In the year 1857 he came to Hopkins County, and began the business of farming, and has pursued this business all his life. Mr. Stacy has five children living, three of whom live in Hopkins County. Lark, his oldest son, married Miss Neely Earnest, the stepdaughter of Dr. Stark, a Baptist preacher; Miss Ellen married Mat Baker; Miss Dollie married Eff Kimmins, and lived upon their father’s farm. Mr. Stacy has lived … Read more

Biography of J. Elias Chapman

J. Elias Chapman was born in the state of Indiana, July 15th, 1848, and came to Texas with his parents in the year 1851. His grandfather was born in the year 1793. He migrated from South Carolina to the state of Indiana and from there moved into the state of Texas in the year 1850. Elias’ grandmother was born in the year 1796. Her maiden name was Polly Gray. These old people were united in marriage in the year 1816. Elias’ grandfather was a Methodist preacher and lived for a while and preached in the state of Kentucky, where Elias’ … Read more

Biography of Warner E. Williams

Warner E. Williams. While now one of the great trunk railway systems of the country, the Missouri, Kansas & Texas Railroad was largely developed as a Kansas corporation. The main offices of the company at Kansas are at Parsons, where 2,200 of its employes reside. The different lines of the road converge and diverge from that point in six directions: To Hannibal and St. Louis, Missouri; to Kansas City, Missouri; to Junction City, Kansas; to Joplin, Missouri, to Denison, Texas; and to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. For several years the general manager of the system with headquarters at Parsons was Warner … Read more

Biography of James B. Sparks

James B. Sparks, deceased, father of W. J., John N. and A. W. Sparks and also the father of four daughters, came into Texas in the year 1851. He remained one year in the state and returned to his old home in the state of Alabama, and moved his family to the state of Texas in the fall of 1852. He settled on the county line separating Hopkins from Titus County, on the headwaters of Big Cypress Bayou. Mr. James Sparks’ brothers had moved into the state of Texas as early as the year 1836, and settled on Cypress Bayou … Read more

Biography of Rev. Joe Hooten

Joseph Hooten was born in the State of Tennessee, in the year 1824. He came to Hopkins County in the year 1848 and located in the same section where he has lived all of his long and useful life. He married Miss Manda Strother soon after he came into the county. By this union ten children were born to them, six of these are living. They all live near their parents, their eldest and youngest live at home with their aged parents and are a comfort and a joy to them in the evening of their days. Mr. Hooten is … Read more

Biography of Robert Odom

Robert Odom was born in the state of Tennessee in the year 1846, and immigrated to Hopkins County with his father in the year 1850. His father, Jesse Odom, settled nineteen miles southeast of Sulphur Springs and four miles west of Winsboro. The county was new and uninhabited; therefore Robert had not educational training. Growing up amid the wilds of the country, he was surrounded with all the environments common to a pioneer life. At the age of twenty-two years he met Miss Lucinda Lambdin, a Texas girl who was visiting friends in Mr. Odom’s section. He became attached to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Rev. P. B. Bailey

Rev. P. B. Bailey, deceased, came to Texas in the year 1845. He became a citizen of Hopkins County in the year 1850. He was the father of seven children. These are all dead now but two Mrs. Mary Loving, mother of Wilber Loving, Hopkins County’s efficient and popular sheriff, and Mrs. M. E. Minter, wife of Capt. S. A. Minter, who lives in the Pine Forest neighborhood. He was a Methodist preacher and organized the first Methodist church that was ever established in the town of Sulphur Springs. The author has heard this great preacher deliver powerful sermons. He … Read more

Biography of Stephen P. Mann

Stephen P. Mann, prominently connected with the real estate and investment business in Muskogee, where he took up his abode on the 20th of July, 1902, has also been associated with many important public projects which have contributed in substantial measure to the growth, development and improvement of the city. Mr. Mann was born in Hopkins County, Texas, September 15, 1861, his parents being John W. and Martha L. (Hubbard) Mann, both of whom were natives of Tennessee. The father was a stock-man and farmer, devoting his life to those pursuits, whereby he provided for the support of his family. … Read more

Biography of J. C. Stout

My father, Sealin Stout, was born in the state of Arkansas in the year 1818. He died in Hopkins County at the age of seventy-eight. No life in Hopkins County was more eventful or attended with more romance than was that of Sealin Stout. He has often been referred to as being prominent in many exciting incidents in this history. Sealin’s father crossed Red River on a raft built with his own hands, when Sealin was only one month old, and settled in Red River District, where Sealin grew to manhood amid the wilds of the country. In the year … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Green Weaver

Green Weaver, deceased, moved with his family into Hopkins County in the year 1845 and located in the vicinity of where Greenview Church is now situated. He is the father of two sets of children, having been twice married. His first set of children were notorious for the brilliancy of their intellect. They are all dead now. Mrs. Mary J. Moseley is the eldest child of the second marriage, Sam Houston Weaver, who is a well known, respected and esteemed citizen of the county, is his second child, and lives at this time on his father’s head-right. Sam is a … Read more