1883 letter to Martha Ray Lindsey Texas Historical Letter from Mom Orangeville

Description: Mrs. Ray, mother of Martha Ray Lindsey was born in KY in the early 1800's and family moved to TX prior to the Civil War. She now lives in Orangeville and is writing her daughter who lives northwest of Jacktown on the west fork on a 4,0000 acre ranch. Mrs. Ray and family are near end of life and she is discussing a 1883 political debate in Bonham with the Cambellite religious sect. A part of TX history with more family letters to come. LINDSEY, JOHN C.Thomas Lindsey, the father of this subject, came to Texas in 1834, shortly before the breaking out of the war for Texan independence. His birthplace was Tennessee. He was a soldier in the struggle with Mexico, and, after peace was secured, became a permanent citizen of the Republic, and was living there when Texas became one of the sisterhood of the United States. He was married to Miss Mary D. Marshall, also a native of Tennessee, in the year 1839. There were three children in the family, one of whom died when a baby, and the other, J. P., is now a miner in the Territory of Arizona. The father lived until the year 1854. JOHN C. LINDSEY was born in Shelby County, Texas, on the 29th of March, 1840, and lived there until he was five years old, then moved to Upshur County, where he lived until he reached the age of eighteen. Educational advantages were exceedingly meagre in that unsettled county, where there were not inhabitants enough to support schools. He worked here and learned to read at home, and perused with great care all the books that he could get hold of at that time. His only schooling consisted of two terms at the high school of Gilmer, which was taught by Prof. Dutton. His father died when he was but fourteen years of age. It was while living with his grandfather that he had his first experience with cattle, driving from Upshur to Lampasas County, in 1858, the herd being the property of his grandfather, Marshall. From Lampasas County they moved to Comanche, and from there to Grayson in 1860, young Lindsey having been engaged in the care of cattle all that time. His mother had some stock, and he was employed in working these, and herds of his grandfather, up to the time of the breaking out of the war. He enlisted in 1862, in the 16th Texas Dismounted Cavalry of the Confederate army, and served until the close of hostilities, being promoted to Second Lieutenant of his company. He participated in the battles of Milliken's Bend, Jenkins Ferry, Mansfield and Pleasant Hill, and all the other engagements participated in by Waterhouse's brigade, Walker's division, to which he belonged, until disbanded at Hempstead, Texas, in 1865. He then returned to Grayson County and engaged in farming until 1872, when he again went into the cattle business, locating his range on the flats in Cooke and Grayson Counties. In 1876 he moved his cattle to Jack County, and located his present ranch on the West Fork, ten miles north of Jacksboro. Money was easily made during the few years following the war, and he accumulated wealth rapidly and invested his earnings in additional stock. When he moved to Jack County he had, all told, about 1,000 head of cattle, and the country here afforded a most magnificent range. There were few settlers, abundance of water and shelter, and unsurpassed grazing. In time, however, the range here became desirable for farming purposes, and settlers began coming in rapidly, ending ultimately in a conflict between the small landholders and the cattlemen. The former, in connection with transient residents, commenced cutting the wire fences with which the cattlemen had enclosed their ranges. In 1883 there was a regular organization, the members of which were known as the "Wire Cutters." They destroyed miles upon miles of fences, entailing thousands of dollars of loss to the cowmen. In one night they destroyed the fence which enclosed a 6,000 acre pasture belonging to MR. LINDSEY. These were not the only losses he was made to suffer, for in the winter of 1884 and 1885 fifty per cent of all cattle in the country died from the severity of the weather, and the following year they declined fifty per cent in value. His marketable stock was driven to Kansas over the regular trails, until about 1882, since which time he has always shipped by rail to Chicago, Kansas City or St. Louis, sometimes accompanying the shipments himself. When he came to Jack County the Indian raids had practically ceased in that part of the State, but while they were living in Comanche County they had enough experiences of this kind to satisfy them. The savages would frequently steal the cattle and horses, and kept up their depredations of all kinds during the whole period of their stay in Comanche County. He has seen Jack County grow from a wilderness to its present state of prosperity. On May 15, 1866, MR. LINDSEY was married to Miss Martha Ray, who was born in Kentucky, but was reared in Grayson County, Texas. Her father, Zack Ray, was a Kentuckian and a farmer, and moved from his native State to Grayson County, Texas, in 1852. He died there in 1859. Her mother was Elizabeth Miller, and was born in Kentucky. There were eight brothers and sisters in the family. Mrs. Lindsey was born May 6, 1845, and followed the fortunes of her husband to Jack County in 1877. They had nine children, seven of whom are living, as follows: Mattie, wife of W. A. Campbell, of Canyon City, Texas; John C., Jr., a cattleman of Jacksboro; Ida, Mary K.. Roy C., Ray and David. Mr. Lindsey's ranch in Jack County consists of 4,000 acres, all under fence. He has 200 acres under cultivation, and uses the balance for pasturage. The number of cattle kept on his Jack County ranch is in the neighborhood of 500. He owns other cattle in Greer County, and has been exclusively engaged in the cattle business since he came to Jack County. He has served as County Commissioner of that county. He has a beautiful home at Jacksboro, and an interesting family. His wife, who has shared all his hardships, is a lady of great refinement and sterling worth. (Source: Historical and Biographical Record of the Cattle Industry and the Cattlemen of Texas by James Cox, Published by Woodward & Tiernan Printing Co, St Louis, 1895 – Transcribed by Veneta McKinney About MeI am an old school wholesale dealer and have scoured New England, California and Georgia for material. I am also the founder of WorthPoint and would encourage all to visit our site if you want to research antique prices. I focus on repeat customers and try to ensure all are happy. 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Price: 67.5 USD

Location: Roswell, Georgia

End Time: 2024-10-07T03:00:09.000Z

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