Texas

Biography of Foster, Randolph

Randolph Foster, known as Uncle Ran, was an early settler of Fort Bend County, Texas, arriving with Stephen F. Austin. Born in Mississippi, he married Lucy Hunter and established a prosperous home near the Brazos River. An avid hunter, he supported the Texas Revolution by supplying General Houston’s army with game. Foster lived to 89, retaining a remarkable memory throughout his life. He and Lucy had seven children, six of whom married. Foster is buried beside his wife in their family graveyard.

Biographical Sketch of Blakely, Mary L., Mrs.

Mrs. Mary L. Blakely, born in Fort Bend County in 1833, is the daughter of Randolph Foster. During the Runaway Scrape, she was just three years old and was carried by her mother, unaware of the turmoil surrounding them. Now residing in Richmond, Mrs. Blakely has three surviving children: Kate, Calvin, and Bassett. Kate is married to Capt. Sidney Winston, a descendant of Mrs. Jane Long, while Calvin and Bassett are married to Miss Katy Wessendorff and Miss Bonnie Dunlevy, respectively.

Land Titles Issued In Fort Bend County From 1824 To 1832.

The post provides a comprehensive list of land titles issued in Fort Bend County, Texas, between 1824 and 1832. It details numerous early landholders, including their names, the amount of land patented, and the corresponding dates of patent. Key figures such as Elijah Alleorn, Thomas Allsbury, and Gail Borden, Jr., are mentioned, highlighting the diverse origins of land ownership in the early development of the county. This record serves as a vital document for understanding the region’s historical land distribution.

Biographical Sketch of Long, Jane H., Mrs.

Jane Herbert Long, known as the Mother of Texas, was born on July 23, 1798, in Charles County, Maryland. Raised by her sister after her mother passed, she married Dr. James Long in 1815. The couple embarked on a military expedition to Texas, during which Mrs. Long displayed remarkable courage and resilience, especially when left alone with her children at Bolivar Point. Following her husband’s death in 1822, she returned to Texas, where she established a successful boarding house and farmland. Long passed away on December 30, 1880.

Biography of William M’Kerrall

William M’Kerrall was born on June 17, 1824, in Orange County, North Carolina. After attending West Point, he served as a first lieutenant in the Mexican War. Following the war, he settled in Louisiana, studied law, and practiced in Texas after 1850. M’Kerrall held judicial positions and was involved in local business ventures, including a cotton mill. In 1868, he moved to Greene County, Missouri, where he married Mary A. Danforth and established a successful farm, amassing 700 acres of land. He had four children.

Biography of Tyree Glenn Newbill

Tyree Glenn Newbill, born on May 17, 1882, in Franklin County, Virginia, was a prominent agriculturalist and stock breeder. After marrying Nancy A. Johnson in 1846, he moved to Southwest Missouri, where he significantly contributed to local agriculture. He was active in the Southwest District Agricultural and Mechanical Association, serving as president before the Civil War. Newbill supported the Confederacy and was involved in stock business in Texas, where he mysteriously disappeared in December 1864. He left behind a wife and six children.

Biography of Earl R. Ferguson

Earl R. Ferguson, born on April 30, 1876, in Shenandoah, Iowa, is a distinguished lawyer and community leader. He graduated high school in 1893, studied law under his father, and gained admission to the bar in 1900. Known for his legal acumen, Ferguson represented important cases and contributed significantly to Shenandoah’s development. He married Lucile Ann Bull in 1902 and has one son, Sterling. Active in local organizations and politics, he has served as justice of the peace and city attorney, earning respect within the community.

Biography of James Augustus Lawrence

Sarah Jane Adair, born in 1875 in Saline, was educated at Cherokee National schools and Howard Payne College. She married James Augustus Lawrence in 1899, becoming the mother of two sons, Augustus and Gilbert. James was a prominent merchant in Tahlequah, where the family resided. Sarah is descended from the Martin family of Virginia, notable for their colonial and revolutionary contributions, including Colonel Joseph Martin, a significant military figure during the American Revolution.

Biographical Sketch of John Crutchfield Barrett

John Crutchfield Barrett, born December 22, 1872, in Corsicana, Texas, was educated at Willie Halsell College and married Victoria Lipe on October 5, 1898. They had three children: Flavius, Jack, and Mary Bessie. A Presbyterian and Mason, Barrett is a member of the Deer clan, while Victoria belongs to the Wolf Clan Cherokees. His lineage includes prominent ancestors, such as his father, Flavius Josepheus Barrett, a Confederate captain and Texas legislator, and DeWitt Clinton Lipe, a notable Cherokee leader and public official.