Military

Biography of Col. R. H. Taylor

Mr. Woodson is a good lawyer, a conscientious officer and a vigorous and successful prosecutor. Of this county, was born in Columbia, South Carolina, in 1825. He began the study of law in the law office of Judge Warner, and was admitted to the bar by a special act of the legislature at the age of 18 years. He moved to Fannin County in 1844, and his abilities as a ‘lawyer were soon recognized, and. he was employed upon one side or the other of every important suit; both criminal and civil, in the county. In a few years, his … Read more

Biography of C. W. T. Weldon

Of Ladonia, this county, is one of the few southern men whom the misfortunes of the war failed to place upon the roll of codfish aristocracy, notwithstanding the fact that he suffered considerable loss. After four years service in the confederate ranks, during which time he was made a federal prisoner when the siege of Fort Hudson was raised he returned to his home to find his handsome property an utter waste. His natural good sense and judgment told him that the “milk was spilled and grief was useless. He laid his shoulder to the wheel, and success attended his … Read more

Terry Rangers, Company I

J. G. Jones, Captain, Gonzales County, resigned at Shiloh, April 6th, 1862. W. H. Harris, 1st Lieutenant, Gonzales County, resigned and died in 1861. A. D. Harris, 2nd Lieutenant, Gonzales County, promoted Captain May 7, and killed, Alay 9, 1862. J. H. Paramore, 3rd, Lieutenant, Gonzales County, wounded in 1862, promoted Captain June 2nd., 1864, wounded December 30, 1864. JaMes Harris, 1st Sergeant, Gonzales County, died May, 1862. Geo. W. Littlefield, 2nd Sergeant, Gonzales County, elected Lieutenant January, 1862, promoted Captain, wounded December 27, and resigned. Chas. W. Mason, 3rd: Sergeant, Gonzales County, killed at Gonzales by William Baltzell in … Read more

Terry Rangers, Company K

John G. Walker Captain, Harris, County, wounded at Woodsonville, Ky., in 1861, elected Lieutenant Colonel January, 1862, resigned in September, 1862, died September, 1869. A. W. Morris, 1st Lieutenant, Montgomery County, wounded at Woodsonville, KY., resigned and died. Henry Thomas, 2nd Lieutenant, Harris County, resigned January, 1862. S. P. Christian, 3rd Lieutenant, Harris County, elected Captain January, 1862, promoted to Major “July, 1863, Lieutenant Colonel in 1865, wounded at Farmington, Tenn. A. W. Hottle, 1st Sergeant, Montgomery County, promoted to Major and Quartermaster; died in Harris County. No other non-commissioned officers elected. Privates. J. D. Alexander, discharged at Bowling Green, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Martin, Wiley Captain

Captain Wiley Martin was born in Georgia in 1776. He led a very active, restless life, and when very young had been a soldier, schoolteacher and clerk in a store. In 1805 he became connected with Aaron Burr in some business enterprise, and in 1812 joined the army of General Harrison and served as a scout against the Indians in the army of the northwest, culminating in the decisive battle of Tippecanoe. In 1814 he joined the army of General Jackson against the Indians and participated in the famous battle of the “Horse Shoe.” For his gallantry on this hotly … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ryon, W. M., Colonel

Mier Prisoner Colonel William M. Ryon, of Fort Bend County, one of the most gallant of the heroes known to Texas history, was born in Winchester, Kentucky, resided for several years in Alabama, and came to Texas in 1837, landing at the mouth of the Brazos, where he clerked, kept hotel, and followed various occupations for a time. In 1839 he was a member of a surveying party that laid off the town of Austin, the newly selected site for the seat of government of the Republic of Texas, and later went to Fort Bend County, and made that his … Read more

Biography of Pleasants, George W.

Austin Colonist George Washington Pleasants was born in Raleigh, North Carolina, March 30th, 1809, and came from there to Texas in 1830, and first settled at Columbia, and lived there until 1833. There was a great cholera epidemic that year at Columbia, which nearly depopulated the town. Mr. Pleasants had two sisters to die there; one, Fannie, was the wife of Kinchen Davis, and mother of Captain W. K. Davis, father of Judge J. H. P. Davis, of Richmond. Captain W. K. Davis was a Mier prisoner, as will be seen from the account elsewhere of that expedition. After the … Read more

Biography of Fields, W. I.

Who lived many years in Fort Bend County, and died there, and whose remains rest in her soil, was born in Jefferson County, Kentucky, March 2, 1834. In 1855 he went to Howard County, Indiana, and was made a Royal Arch Mason there in 1857. In 1858 Mr. Fields moved to Grayson County, Texas, arriving here in January, but first returned to Kentucky from Indiana before concluding to make Texas his home. During those days the Indians often raided Cook and Montague Counties, and Mr. Fields accompanied several expeditions against them, in which battles were fought of more or less … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Hibbered, Loron

An old settler of Fort Bend County came to Texas with his parents in February of 1837, being then ten years of age. He was born in, New York in 1827. His father, Elmer Hibbered, started to Texas in 1836 with his family, but stopped in New Orleans on account of the invasion of Texas by Santa Anna, and came on after the war was over, landing at the mouth of the Brazos River. He had two brothers, Lovell and Lucius, who came to Texas with General Sam Houston and was in the Texas army of 1836. One was a … Read more

Company H

Colonel Frank Terry, commanding, killed at Woodsonville, Kentucky. Second Lieutenant-Robert J. Calder, killed at Moss Creek, East Tennessee. Third Lieutenant W. D. Adams, died on the way home, after resigning his commission in the service. Gustave Cook, promoted to Captain from Sergeant, January, 1862; to Major December, 1862; to Lieutenant Colonel May, 1863; to Colonel May, 1865; Wounded at Farmington, Griswoldville, Bentonville and Shiloh. Robert Hodges wounded at Decatur, Alabama. E. Griffin, captured, but escaped and died in 1869. Jack Adams wounded at Washington, Georgia, in 1864. Addie Autrey killed at Shiloh, April 8th, 1861. Clem Bassett, wounded at Eagleville … Read more

Other members of Company H, from Fort Bend County

Captain John T. Holt, resigned in December, 1861. First Lieutenant Thomas S. Weston, promoted to Captain in, December, 1862. W. D. Adams, Third Lieutenant, resigned in. August, 1864, and died in April, 1865, while on his way home. G. Thompson, discharged in July, 1862. E. A. Bolmes, discharged in, February, 1862. J. H. Edmonson, Fifth Sergeant, promoted to Quartermaster Sergeant, transferred to Texas and promoted to Assistant Quartermaster, and died in Galveston, in 1868. He was a Brazoria County man, but enlisted in Fort Bend. Dave S. Terry, son of Colonel Terry, and first corporal, promoted to Captain on General … Read more

Men Of Company F, 24th Texas

Jasper Pharr, died at Arkansas Post. Henry McGaw, died at Arkansas Post. Kit Janes, died at Shreveport, La. Thomas Cary, died at Shreveport, La. Jake Roper, died at Shreveport, La. Ed. Walker, died in prison at Camp Butler, Ill. J. C. Williams, died in prison at Camp Butler, Ill. Joe and Johnston Williams, brothers, died in prison at Camp Butler, Ill. J. T. Corbett, died in prison at Camp Butler, Ill Lewis Lum, died in prison at Camp Butler, Ill. Killough, died. in prison at Camp Butler, Ill. Childress, died in prison at Camp Butler, 111. Wm. Latourny, killed at … Read more

Terry Rangers, Original Field Staff

Benjamin Franklin Terry, elected Colonel at the organizaltion, October 28th, 1861; killed at Woodsonvil1e, Kentucky (better known as Rowlett’s Station), in battle, December 17th, 1861. Thomas S. Lubbock, Harris County, elected Lieutenant Colonel October 28th, 1861; died at Nashville, Tennessee, January 9th, 1862. Thomas Harrison, Waco, Texas, elected Major at the organization, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Brigadier General, and wounded at Johnsonville, North Carolina, March 10th, 1865. Martin H. Royston, Galveston, appointed Adjutant by Colonel Terry, and subsequently appointed Captain and Major in Adjutant General’s Department. Benjamin H. Botts, Houston, Texas, appointed Assistant Quartermaster by Colonel Terry, and subsequently … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Masterson, Willim

Fort Bend County, County Judge Judge Masterson is a native Texan, born in Brazoria, Brazoria County, on the 13th of August 1871. His father, Thomas Washington Masterson, was named for a distant relative of General George Washington, Thomas Washington being the great-uncle of Thomas W. Masterson, who was also born in Texas. The grandfather of Judge Masterson on his mother’s side was Dr. John G. Chalmers (gan historic name), who was secretary of the Texas navy during the days of the Republic. The mother of Judge Masterson was Annie T. Chalmers. She waft raised by General Thomas Green, being very … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Ransom, Henry L.

Fort Bend County, Deputy Sheriff Henry Lee Ransom, the present efficient deputy under Sheriff Peareson, was born in Brenham, Texas, on the 29th of December 1870. His father was a soldier under General Lee, his grandfather having ten sons in the Confederate army. Henry came to Fort Bend County in October 1889, and was living in the county when the war broke out with Spain, and has the distinction of being the only Fort Bend County boy who served in the Philippines. He enlisted August 15th, 1899, in the company of Captain John A. Hulein, Company D, 33rd Infantry Regiment, … Read more

Terry Rangers, Company A.

(Enlisted by Lieutenant J. W. Sparks.) Thomas Harrison, Captain, Waco, Texas, elected Major at the organization. Rufus Y. King, 1stLieutenant, Burleson County, elected Captain at organization, wounded at Shiloh and resigned. W. H. Jones, Falls County, Texas, elected Lieutenant at organization, wounded in East Tennessee, January 12th, 1864, retired. M. L. Gordon, Jr., 2nd Lieutenant, Bosque County, Texas, promoted 2nd Lieutenant, wounded at Shiloh, and subsequently Captain of Wharton’sscouts. T. C. Freeman, 1st Sergeant, Bell County, Texas, wounded gat Shiloh and discharged. Dan Neel, 2nd Sergeant. Rufus Beavers, 3rd Sergeant, Coryell County, wounded at Shiloh and discharged. G. Thompson, 4th … Read more

Terry Rangers, Company B

John A. Wharton, Captain, Brazoria, County, Texas, elected Colonel of the regiment January, 1862, promoted Brigadier General, October, 1862, Major General, and transferred, wounded twice, transferred to Mississippi Department, and killed in private altercation at Houston, Texas, by Colonel Geo. W. Baylor. Geo. M. McNeil, 1st Lieutenant, Brazoria County, resigned at Oakland, Ky., in 1862. William Henry Shark, 2nd Lieutenant, Brazoria County, promoted. T. J. Bennett, 3rd Lieutenant, Brazoria County, promoted. J. C. Herndon, 1st Sergeant, Brazzoria County. William Groce, 2nd Sergeant, Austin County, Texas, elected 1st Lieutenant January 1st, 1862, resigned April, 1862. E. A. Herndon, Harris County, Texas, … Read more

Terry Rangers, Company C

M. L. Evans, Captain, Gonzales: County, died of wounds at Perryville, Ky., October 18th, 1862; acting Major at the time. A. M. Shannon, 1st Lieutenant, Karnes County, promoted to Captain October 18th, 1862; afterwards commanded efficient scouts; promoted to Colonel, commanding special scouts and secret service February 8th, 1865. James M. Dunn, 2nd Lieutenant, Karnes County, resigned and died at Decatur, Alabama, February, 1863. J. W. Baylor, Jr., 2nd Lieutenant, Karnes County, promoted to 2nd Lieutenant, in 1863, now dead. B. F. Batchelor, 1st Sergeant, Gonzales County, promoted to 1st Lieutenant, and killed at Tome, Ga., October 13th, 1862. Daniel … Read more

Terry Rangers, Company D

Steven C. Ferrill, Captain, Bastrop County, promoted Major and Lieutenant Colonel, resigned in May, 1861, amd died in Fayette County November 14th, 1868. Charles Leroy Morgan, 1st Lieutenant, Bastrop County, resigned in September, 1861, came home and commanded a regiment in the Trans-Mississippi Department. J. W. Burdett, 2nd Lieutenant, Travis. County, resigned June, 1862, and died. W. R. Doak, 3rd Lieutenant, Burleson County, present. G. M. Decherd, 1st Lieutenant, Burleson County, elected 2nd Lieutenant April, 1862, and 1st Lieutenant and Adjutant General on Harrison’s staff. R. T. Hell, 2nd Sergeant, Bastrop County, captured twice and once wounded. J. Milam Duty, … Read more

Terry Rangers, Company E.

L. N. Rayburn, Captain, Gonzales County, wounded at Shiloh in 1862, promoted to Major and resigned. W. L. Poster, 1st Lieutenant, Gonzales County, resigned in September, 1861. A. T. Storey, 2nd Lieutenant, died of wounds received at Shiloh April 8th, 1862. P. H. Coe, 3rd Lieutenant, Gonzales County, resigned in September, 1861. M. A. Hunter, 1st Sergeant, Gonzales County, wounded at Danbridge, Tenn., September, 1864. C. C. Littlefield, 3rd Sergeant, Gonzales County, elected 2nd: Lieutenant and promoted, to 1st Lieutenant. C. E. Littlefield, 4th Sergeant, Gonzales County, wounded severely at Manchester, Tenn., September, 1862, and promoted tro 2nd Lieutenant. W. … Read more