Book

A Brief Sketch of the Settlement and Early History of Giles County, Tennessee (McCallum)
(C. Avis Catalog entry #1355)

McCallum, James. A Brief Sketch of the Settlement and Early History of Giles County, Tennessee. Pulaski Tenn.:The Pulaski citizen, 1928

p. 37-38

    SECTION TWELVE - BRADSHAW

    Odom Hightower, father of Hardy Hightower, was one of the first settlers on Bradshaw Creek, and came either the latter part of 1807 or early in 1808. He raised corn in 1808, which was the first raised on the creek. Hardy Hightower, John Kennedy, John Elliff, James McKnight, and Sam McKnight came the latter part of 1808, or early in 1809, and settled the places known by their names. Joe Jarring came in the early part of 1808, John Young, Esquire, was one of the first settlers. John Young settled the place known as the Archibald Young place. Nicholas Holly, father of Jno. Holly, came in February or March 1809.
    Those mentioned above were all here when Holly came. The first year the settlers beat most of their meal in a mortar and ground some in a little hand-mill. Hardy Hightower built the first mill on Bradshaw. Old Nicholas Holly moved from South Carolina to the State of Ohio, and from thence to Tennessee. He came by Columbia, by where Jno. C. Walker, Esquire, lives; by Dabney's and by old Robert Gordono's.
 

The Young Families of Early Giles County, Tennessee. Including Many Early Young Families of Surrounding Counties. John E. Young, Second Edition. Two Volumes
(C. Avis Catalog entry #1349)

Extract from the book (unknown pages) found posted on WikiTree.com.  Some formatting done for readability.  

 

Nathaniel Young
 

    Nathaniel Young [y1a], son of William Young, Senr and an unknown mother, was born about 1750.  His birth date is just an estimate since he was likely age 21 or older when he married, and had a son born in 1774.  Therefore, Nathaniel's birth year was in the early 1750s, or before.  He spent most of his adult life in 96 District of South Carolina Colony in what would become Spartanburg Co. in 1785, and probably in Union Co. since it was just a short ride to the east.  
 

    Nathaniel married Patty Crawford about 1773 and they lived along the James Creek branch of the Tyger River.  
 

    Nathaniel was on the British side during the Revolution.  There were only two men named Nathaniel or Nathan Young living in South Carolina Colony in these years.  Nathan was granted land in the colony in future Abbeville Co. south of Spartanburg Co. from 1767, and in 1784 for service performed in the Militia; a British sympathizer would not have been granted government land after the war.  There was a Lieutenant Nathaniel Young of the Spartanburg area named as a member of Major Zachariah Gibbs' Loyalist Regiment (English) for the last six months of 1780.  Some of the other members of this roster were Captain William Young (a Major in 1782), Captain Benjamin Wofford (he moved north after the War), Private Nicholas Holley (no doubt the ancestor of the Holley families of Giles Co., TN), George Crawford (who owned land along James Creek, the north west corner of which belonged to John A. Young [Y1], son of Nathaniel, in 1808; see below), and others known to have homes in the Tyger River-James Creek community.  
 

    A 22 May 1783 list by Continental Commander Colonel Benjamin Roebuck of the men who sided with the British and who were members of the Spartanburg Regiment shows that William Young, Benjamin Wofford, and Nicholas Holley were alive then, while Nathaniel was dead, having died in the line of duty.  In March 1787 his widow, as administrator of Nathaniel's estate, was sued in the Spartanburg Co. courts by John Langston for Nathaniel's debts.  In 1790 Patty was living two doors from Nathaniel's brother Richard, with her children.  In 1800 she was not found, so could have remarried or been living in the household of a relative.

    Sixty-six acres of James Creek-Tyger River land was sold by William Young Senr's grandson John Archibald Young [Y1] son of Nathaniel, on 23 December 1808 in which the land was described as being "at the north west corner of a tract of two hundred acres originally granted to George Crawford beginning at said corner on a hickory tree near James Creek."  This 200 acres was part of Crawford's land obtained in the 1760's after 1764.  Since at most only one generation had gone by before Nathaniel took title and passed it to John, Nathaniel must have obtained the 200 acres from George Crawford himself.  It would be very likely that Nathaniel was George Crawford's son-in-law.  The given name of "George" in the Young families of James Creek is only found in the name of Nathaniel's grandson, son of Nathaniel Young Jr [Y2]. It should be noted, though, that the new U.S. government systematically "escheated" land from those who fought on the British side during the Revolution.  Since George Crawford would have fallen into this category, his property may have been bought in government auctions by his Continental sympathizing neighbors after the war ended.  Nathaniel's relatives (Richard Young? William Young Senr?) may have bought George Crawford's escheated land in a government auction and passed it to Nathaniel's children.  Or it may have been Nathaniel's and George's land which were both escheated, and bought and then passed back to Nathaniel's heirs.  There are no records to show this, but these kind of events were common.  Since William Young Senr's will does not mention Nathaniel, Patty, or Nathaniel's children, William may have already provided land for Nathaniel before the will was written, and then there was no need to mention Nathaniel by name in the will.  It was common in wills of the pre-20th Century to not provide for the eldest children in the parents' will because the older children had already received their inheritance upon reaching adulthood and/or upon getting married.

    The 1790 census indicates that there were only six children in Patty's household, but could easily have a seventh who was old enough to have moved from his parents' home by 1790.  There are many deed records of the early 19th Century in which a William Young was a witness.  It would be expected that Nathaniel would name a son after his father, so it is here assumed that the unexplained William was Nathaniel's eldest child.  The seven children of Nathaniel and Patty were: 
1. William Young, b abt 1772 
2. John Archibald Young [Y1], b 1774 
3. Nathaniel Young [Y2], b 1777 
4. Joseph Young [Y3], b 1780-1781 
5. Thomas Young [Y4], b 29 Jul 1781 
6. dau Young 
7. dau Young

    See the Loyalist List following the Major Thomas Young Memoir for a list of those British Loyalists in this part of SC who were killed by the Colonists during the War.

    See the biography of Captain Isaac Young for possible ties to Nathaniel. 
 

Crawford family
 

    The above George Crawford is also listed as a member of those Loyalists who went to Orangeburg, SC with Lieutenant Colonel John H Cruger after the evacuation of Fort Ninety Six, and received six months pay for the latter half of 1780.  There were other Crawford men and women listed as Loyalists in SC.  In 1768 George Washington, and Captain William Crawford of SC who had accompanied Washington on the expedition against Fort Duquesne in PA ten years earlier, set out to buy up large tracts of land in the Pennsylvania Colony. Any relationship between both of these Crawford men is unknown.

    The Orange Co. VA Order Book 2, on 24 Jul 1740 (Page 211), states that Patrick Crawford made oath that he, Ann, James, George, Margaret, and Mary Crawford came from Ireland to Philadelphia, and then came to Virginia Colony.  It is not known if there is any connection between the George Crawford just mentioned and the George Crawford of Orangeburg who had land along James Creek in Spartanburg Co.  There are probate records dated 11 June 1785 in Abbeville Co. SC, in which a George Crawford's estate is involved.  In these records are named Sarah Crawford (the widow?), Richard Nalley, and Abednego Green as administrators.  Appraisers of the estate were Joseph Wofford,  Thomas Young, and two others.  A Joseph Wofford was a witness to a land purchase between Bezin Holland and wife Mary to Richard Young in Spartanburg Co. in December 1796; Benjamin Wofford lived close to Richard in 1790.  Appraiser Thomas Young may have been the brother of Richard and Nathaniel Young.

    In Feb 1833 the estate of a Joseph Crawford in Abbeville Co. paid W. A. Young $2.25.  The records named Joseph Crawford's daughter Isabella, a minor in Dec 1831.  W. A. Young could be the son of Richard Young who was Nathaniel Young's brother. (61,NY, MD, GE,JE, 1aeyz)

Joseph Young

    Joseph Young [Y3], son of Nathaniel Young and Patty Crawford, was born in 1780 or 1781 in 96 District (which became Spartanburg Co. in 1785) in South Carolina.  Since census records indicate that Joseph's birth date is very close to the 29 July 1781 birth date of his brother Thomas [Y4], they may have been twins. 

    Joseph moved to Maury Co., Tennessee with his brother Nathaniel in 1805, or soon after.  He was named with Nathaniel to serve on jury duty in March 1809 in Maury Co. (see Nathaniel's biography).  Joseph moved to Giles Co. by 1820, and bought 200 acres at Bradshaw in May 1821.  He was summoned for jury duty in Giles Co. in August 1824 and was a farmer. 

    He married Sarah "Sally" _____ by 1808.  Since he lived in Maury Co. about 1808, and there is no record of his marriage in that county, they must have married in Spartanburg Co. soon before coming to Tennessee.  Sally was born 24 January 1786 in South Carolina and died in Giles Co. on 15 July 1857.  She was buried in Center Point Cemetery at Bradshaw, about two miles from the home of Joseph's brother John Archibald Young [Y1].  

    Joseph was a devoted family man; he and his son posted bond as guardians of William A. Young [Y1b1], "orphan of John Young deceased" in November 1838.  And on 12 September 1857, he gave land and slaves to his two children.  

    On 23 December 1858 Joseph was married (by L D Harwell) to Lucy McKnight. She was born in North Carolina in 1803.  Joseph and his new wife Lucy were not found after 1860.  Because of his advanced age, Joseph had probably died in the 1860's at Bradshaw where he lived for over forty years.  Since his first wife and his brother Thomas are buried in Center Point Cemetery, Joseph was probably also, even though his grave has not been found.  His known children were:
a.      William C Young, b 1809
b.      Nancy Young, b abt 1809 (VS,1z, 10y, 15iknqzmcy)

 

Spartanburg Co., SC Names 
 

    There were two or three groups of Young families in Spartanburg Co. in the pre-1820 years.  It was just one group who moved to the Giles Co. area of TN.  Those in the northern edge of Spartanburg Co. did not move to Giles Co.; those at the east center edge of the county did.
 

Montague Memorial Memories
Compiled by Vann, Virginia Melson, 1928- ; Romine, Martha Duncan, 1939- ; Montague Cemetery Association (Montague, Texas)
Published by:  V. M. Vann, [Montague, Tex.], [1985]
(C. Avis Catalog entry #1261)

[obvious typographical errors corrected]

p. 2
Some of the earliest settlers were:
…
David Avis
…

p. 3
Some of the early places of business in the town of Montague 
…
Gilmore and Avis, general store 
…

p. 50-51
[The following contribution by Piner Avis is a rearranged version of the biography of J. D. Avis in "A History of Texas and Texans" by Frank W. Johnson published in 1914.  That explains why, of the four children of David & Mahala Avis, only James is discussed. The last paragraph has new information as to the status of the children of James & Minnie Avis and JD's death. - ca]


                AVIS FAMILY 
        By Piner Avis, Great-Grandson 

    David Avis was born, January 14, 1817, in the State of Maryland, and as a young man came to Texas, settling at Montague [County] during the early fifties. Subsequently he removed to Montague, and there, in the later fifties, established himself in a general mercantile business, in which he was engaged during the remainder of his life, his death occurring February 16, 1868, when he was fifty-two years of age. During the Indian outrages Mr. Avis built the fort at Montague of the protection of the early settlers, and his military training thus gained served him in good stead when the Civil War broke out and he became a lieutenant in a regiment of Texas volunteer infantry, with which he served until the close of the struggle. His wife, Mahala Katherine Webb (5-6-1841 - 5-5-1925), a native, of Missouri, came to Texas as a child and settled at Montague County, there being married to Mr. Avis in 1859. After his death she was again married, and her second husband was C.C. White (4-19-1832 - 9-13-1896). They are all buried in the Montague Cemetery with David Avis being one of the older graves in the Cemetery. 
    Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Avis. Of these J. David is the oldest. He is a Texan by birth and training, and was the first child born in the town of Montague, Montague County, August 13, 1861. He received his education in the public schools of Montague County, and subsequently 
attended a private school under the preceptorship of Colonel Hall; but the early death of his father made it necessary that he should contribute to the family support, and accordingly in 1876, when but fifteen years of age, he left home, built a log cabin on Salt Creek, and there engaged in cattle 
raising. The long nights were often passed in reading and study by the light of a tallow candle, and thus the youth prepared himself for the duties of after life. He also carried on farming operations, and was engaged in freighting between Denison and Sherman and to the west and had many thrilling 
experiences in the outlaw-infested country, as well as taking part in numerous encounters with the hostile Indians. In 1880 he sold his outfit to give his entire attention to cattle raising and selling in Montague County, and in 1882, on coming to Wichita County, continued in the same line of business. He still has large interests in farming lands and stock raising in various parts of the State, and in this connection was widely known. Mr. Avis entered business life in Wichita Falls in 1891, when he became the proprietor of a grocery establishment, and this he conducted successfully until 1896, when he sold his interests therein and embarked in the hardware business. The Avis Hardware Company was established in September, 1909, and this has since developed into one of the leading ventures of its kind in this part of the State. He continues as president of this concern, is vice president of the First National Bank, in which he held an interest for upwards of thirty years, and was a director in the Southern Wichita Life Insurance Company, having in addition large interests in various other enterprises. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, in which he was Past Master, Past High Priest and a Shriner, having reached the thirty-second degree of Masonry, and was connected also with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. A stalwart Democrat in his political views, he had served as county commissioner from precinct No.1 and during three terms has been a member of the city council. With his family, he attended the Presbyterian Church. 
    Mr. Avis was married March 1, 1885, at Montague, Texas, to Miss Minnie Ollie Bush, native of Virginia, who was brought to Texas as a child by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Bush, pioneers of Grayson County. Mr. Bush met his death in a runaway accident. 
    Five sons and four daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. Avis. They were:  Frank Piner Avis, James David Avis III [sic: II], Tommy Avis, Katherine Avis Weeks, Lillian Avis Bourn [sic: Baum], Albert [sic: Alva] W. (Jake) Avis, Robert Avis, Gretchen Avis McCutcheon, Ruby Avis Dunkleburg [sic: Dunkelberg]. James David Avis died in August of 1935. 

p. 173
White's in Montague Cemetery:

White,
C.C.         4-19-1832    9-13-1896 
M.C. Avis     5-6-1841         5-5-1925 

p. 135
Avis' in Montague Cemetery:

Avis,         
Annie S.    7-24-1865    5-7-1925
David    1-14-1817    2-16-1868
Tommy    10-26-1888    5-21-1890    (son of J.D. & Minnie)

p. 20
A BRIEF HlSTORY OF THE METHODIST CHURCH IN MONTAGUE, TEXAS 1873 to 1984 

According to the oldest record available, The Methodist Church of Montague, Texas, was organized sometime during the year of 1873, as evidenced by the Official Church Register of "The M.E. Church, 
South", Montague, Texas. The records shown in said register consist of the following subdivisions: 
1. REGISTER OF PASTORS (From November 1890 to December 1913) 
2. REGISTER OF MARRIAGES (From October 1897 to November 20, 1912) 
3. REGISTER OF INFANT BAPTISMS, and (From October 18, 1899 to May 25, 1913) 
4. REGISTER OF MEMBERS (From 1873 to September 13, 1913) 

As shown by the above dates, the earliest recorded history is that of 
the register of members. Only four members were united with this church 
during the year of 1873, which were the following: 
1. Frank M. Avis 
2. Jennie K. Adams 
3. Wm. J. Brown 
4. Lizzie Brown 
All of the above named members were united by Certificate. 
 

Manwaring family descent from Normans

(C. Avis Catalog entry #656)

See book "The Barontage of England" by E. Kimber and R. Johnson, 1771.

Garretts - In the Beginning - Gibson County, Indiana (Garrett and Sparks)
(C. Avis Catalog entry #647)

p. 10
Children of Presley and Elizabeth Baxter Garrett

(1)  William Garrett b. 1788 NC d. 12 Aug. 1852 Hopkins Co., TX.  Married #1- 9 Aug. 1804 Warren Co., KY. to Sally Melton dau/o Elisha and Patsy Melton.
Married #2- Feb. 1818 Giles Co., TN. to Susannah Huggins b. 1796 NC d. 19 Feb. 1883 Hopkins Co., TX.

(2)  Amos Garrett b. 1791 SC d. April 1855 Gibson Co., Indiana.  M. 12 Jan 1809 Warren Co., KY to Martha Neel b. 1792 SC d. Gibson Co. after 1850 and before 1855.  Martha was dau/o John and Hannah Neel.

(3)  Shuble Garrett b. 1793 NC d. Sept. 1864 Gibson Co. m. 17 Aug. 1811 Warren Co., KY. to Martha White b. 1793 SC d. Gibson Co. after 1878.

(4)  John H. Garrett b. ca. 1796 d. before 1844 m. 14 Jan. 1823 Lauderdale Co., Alabama to Jenny Huggins, sister of Susannah Huggins Garrett.

(5)  Sarah Garrett b. ca. 1799 m. 24 Sept. 1821 Gibson Co. to Samuel Anderson. Sarah was listed as non-resident of Indiana in 1844-46.

(6)  Elizebeth Garrett b. 1804 d. between 1838-1843 m. 8 Dec. 1820 Gibson Co. to John Auldridge b. ca. 1800 d. 3 Nov. 1873.

(7)  Rebecca Garrett b. ca. 1804 d. between 1838-1843 m. 8 Dec. 1824 to George Sharp b. 1803.  George Sharp m. #2 27 July 1843 to Martha (Patsy) Johnson Garrett, widow of John Garrett.

(8)  James Garrett b. 1806 d. 1852 Gibson Co. m. 5 Apr. 1824 to Nancy Simpson b. 1804.

(9)  Ann/Anna Garrett b. ca. 1810 d. 1844-46 m. #1 11 Jan. 1826 to Horatio Sharp m. #2 11 May 1834 to Elder Jerimiah Jackson Cash who d. ca. 1852.

(10)  Harrison Garrett b. ca. 1812 KY. d. 1857 Wabash Co., Ill. m. Gibson Co. 11 Nov. 1829 to Sarah Auldridge b. ca. 1810, still living in 1880 Wabash Co.

p. 21

William Garrett
b. NC ca. 1788
m. #1 4 Aug. 1804 Warren Co., KY. to Sally Melton (dau/o Elisha and Patsy Melton)
m. #2 February 1818 Giles Co., TN. to Susannah Huggins. 
William was in the War of 1812-14.  Served in Indiana.
Lived in NC, KY, Indiana, TN. and Alabama
d. 12 Aug. 1852 in Hopkins Co., TX.  He was 5 ft 11in tall, blue eyes and black hair.  Occ. farmer.  His widow, Susannah Huggins Garrett, died after 1879.

Children by Sally Melton:

(1)  Elizabeth Garrett b. 7 July 1805 m. 2 Jan. 1822 to I. C. Reynolds.

(2)  Presly Garrett b. ca. 1808 m. 22 Dec. 1825 Florence, Lauderdale Co., Alabama, to Elizabeth Littlejohn.

(3)  Jessie Garrett b. ca. 1811 m. Elizabeth Henderson

(4)  Elisha Garrett b. 1813 m. Agness Reynolds

(5)  Mary Garrett b. 1814 d. 12 Feb. 1883 m. _____ Duckworth.

(6)  Elijah Garrett b. 1816 m. 6 Feb. 1837 to Mary Garrett

Children by Susannah Huggins:

(1)  John Garrett b. 7 Feb. 1821 Ala. m. 16 Sept. 1841 Elizabeth Garrett

(2)  James Warren Garrett b. 1822 m. ____________

(3)  William H. Garrett b. 1827 m. Lucinda Welch

(4)  Sarah Garrett b. 1829 m. 15 Jul. 1847 Lewis Welch

(5)  Susannah Garrett b. 1831 m. 3 Apr. 1849 Richard Huggins

(6)  Martha Jane Garrett b. 1 Nov. 1834 m#1. 22 Dec. 1857 ___Herrington, m#2 ____Medders, m. #3 J. A. Clifton

(7)  Amanda Garrett b. 1837 m. #1 Thomas Welch 21 Oct. 1852 m. #2 D. W. Medders

(8)  Lucinda Garrett b. 1839 m. 22 Dec. 1857 W. W. Clifton

(9)  Jane Garrett b. _______ m. ________ Medders.


Came via:
From: Osprey7@aol.com
Date: September 23, 1998 8:29:07 PM PDT
To: cavis@flash.net
Subject: Re: Children of Presley Garrett (#1) & Wm.

 

The New Historical Encyclopedia of Texas (E. A. Davis, ed.)
(C. Avis Catalog entry #243)

p. 1158

James DAVID AVIS.  As one of the outstanding pioneer developers and ranchmen of North West Texas, Mr. James David Avis served his state and community for three score years with distinguished ability and foresight, both as to economic and industrial progress and social security and welfare. In 1885 Mr. Avis came to Wichita Falls, Texas, bought a fifty-five hundred acre ranch about nine miles out, and for a half of a century ran large herds of cattle on his ranch and took an influential part in the constructive growth of his city and Wichita County. Although he had partially retired some years before his death, he never lost his interest in ranching, or in the advancement of the rancher through improved ranching methods and better grade cattle, and was a staunch advocate of these matters. Mr. Avis was born at Montague, Texas, on the thirteenth day of August, 1861, and was a son of James Davis Avis, Sr., and Catherine Webb Avis. He was educated in the public schools of Montague, and after finishing established a drug store in Montague, and also engaged in the cattle business. He owned some thirteen hundred acres of land in Montague County, selling that, and his drug store in 1885, to come to Wichita County and establish his large ranch. For many years he ran one of the largest herds of cattle in the county, on his fifty-five hundred acre ranch, but with advancing years he sold all his land with the exception of five hundred acres, and reduced his herd to some five hundred head. Mr. Avis was married on the first day of March, 1885, to Miss Minnie Ola Bush, a native of West Virginia and daughter of Isaac Bush and Louisa King Bush, of that state, they moving to Texas and locating in Grayson County where they lived many years. Mr. and Mrs. Avis had eight children: F. Piner Avis, of Wichita Falls, who married Lena Matlock, they having one daughter, Camille Avis; James David Avis, III, who operates the ranch, and who married Allieda Neeley, they having four children, F. Piner, Helen, James David IV, and Martha Jane; Katie Lou, wife of W. F. Weeks, an attorney of Tyler, they having one daughter, Catherine Avis Weeks; Lillian Grace, wife of Harry Bourn, of Atlanta, Georgia; A. W. (Jake) Avis, of Austin, who married Gladys Robertson; Robert Avis, whose death occurred in 1931, in California; Gretchen, wife of W. N. McCutcheon who is connected with the First National Bank of Wichita Falls, they having two children, Jeane and Billy; and Ruby, wife of R. C. Dunkleburg, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, they having one child, Ralph, Jr. Mr. Avis was a thirty-third degree Mason, belonging to both York and Scottish Rites and the Shrine, was an Elk, and affiliated with various social and civic clubs and organizations. His hobby was Masonry. His church membership was in First Presbyterian Church. Since his death in August, 1935, Mrs. Avis has continued to reside at 1318 Tenth Street, their home for nearly a quarter of a century. Mr. Avis was that splendid type of citizenship who holds the admiration and esteem of all who know him, and his passing was a deeply felt loss.

A Twentieth Century History and Biographical Record of North and West Texas (Capt. B. B. Paddock, ed.)
(C. Avis Catalog entry #242)

Volume 2 p. 579

JAMES DAVID AVIS is connected with a business which has contributed largely to the welfare of the state of Texas and he is now a prominent cattleman of Wichita Falls and the owner of four thousand acres of valuable land, much of which lies in Wichita county. While developing important business interests he has also been prominent in city and county affairs, and his influence has been a valued element in promoting general progress and improvement. Mr. Avis was born in Montague county, Texas, in 1861, his parents being David and Mahala Catherine (Webb) Avis. The father, a native of Maryland, removed with his parents to Missouri in his boyhood days and there resided until he had attained early manhood. In the fifties he came to the Lone Star state, established his home in Montague and entered upon a mercantile career that brought to him a high and gratifying measure of prosperity. He was one of the pioneer residents of that part of the state and is well remembered by the early settlers. The old homestead, which is still in possession of the family, is just west of the court house at Montague and stands upon the site of the little log cabin which was the early home of the family inTexas. This location is also notable from the fact that the homestead was turned into a fort for defensive purposes against the Indians during the time that they threatened the residents of Montague, the fort consisting of a stockade eight or nine feet high built around the place. Mr.Avis departed this life at the old home in 1873, aged about fifty-two years, honored and respected by all who knew him. His widow, who was born in Missouri, is now living in Wichita Falls. She became the wife of David Avis in Montague county and after his death was married to C. C.White, who departed this life in Wichita Falls in September, 1896. Mr. White was one of the wealthiest residents of this city, having extensive mercantile and banking interests. He also made large investments in cattle and as a stockdealer became widely known. He was married to Mrs. Avis in Montague, and, with their family, they removed to Wichita Falls in 1887. Here Mr.White organized what is now the Kemp Wholesale Grocery Company and developed a business which became one of the largest and most prosperous in Northwestern Texas. He was also an officer of the Panhandle National Bank and was proprietor of a dry goods store in Wichita Falls. He was the promoter of many local industries and contributed in large measure to the substantial upbuilding and material improvement of the city, and he was widely known throughout this part of the state as a dealer in cattle. He possessed keen business discernment, marked enterprise and indefatigable industry. He carried forward to successful completion whatever he undertook. Many of the comforts and most desirable privileges of life were to be enjoyed in the home in which James David Avis was reared, but nevertheless he was instructed in those things which tend to develop a self-reliant spirit and activity in business and upon his own labors he has depended for the splendid prosperity which now crowns his life work. His Youth was spent upon the frontier with typical scenes of western life. The boundless prairies stretched away on every hand and, while excellent opportunities were thus afforded to cattle men and agriculturists, the early settlers also had to endure hardships that came through the depredations of the cowboys and red men from the adjoining Indian Territory and Western Texas. From his early youth Mr. Avis has been connected with the raising of cattle, which was then one of the most important industries of the state and has always been a source of large revenue to Texas. The land was then unclaimed by individual citizens and the cattle owners had free range where are now seen prosperous citizens and highly developed farms. Mr. Avis has continued uninterruptedly in the business of raising and selling cattle, save that for a period of six years, from 1890 until 1896, he conducted a grocery store in Wichita Falls. In the year in which the town and county were organized he became a resident of Wichita Falls and has since made it his home. He was, thus in partnership with his stepfather, C. C. White, and although then in early manhood his experiences from boyhood had been such that Mr. White in trusted him with the management of his important cattle interests. At the time of his arrival in the fall of 1882 Mr. Avis established a camp, on Holiday creek and lived throughout the winter in a tent, as few houses had as yet been built. As his financial resources have increased, he has made judicious, investment in land and is today the owner of about four-thousand acres. Of this twenty-five hundred acres is on one tract covering, the portion of the southeastern portion of Wichita county and extending into Clay county. This is largely devoted to pasturage purposes for the cattle. He also owns two separate sections near Wichita Falls on the south in the irrigated district, and these farms are devoted to general agricultural pursuits, including the 'raising of wheat and alfalfa. In public affairs Mr. Avis has always taken an active and helpful, interest and has been the champion of many measures which have fostered public stability and substantial progress. When he was but eighteen years of age he was appointed deputy sheriff of Montague county, occupying that position at a time when the duties of the office were often hazardous. He is now a member of the city council of Wichita Falls and in this capacity has charge of the plans that are now being carried out to grade and improve the streets of the city and establish good sidewalks. He was strongly urged to become a candidate, for county commissioner upon the Democratic ticket and is now serving in that position. At Montague, March 1, 1885, Mr. Avis was united in marriage to Miss Minnie Bush, and they have a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters. In his fraternal relations Mr.Avis is a Mason and has attained the Knight Templar degree. Endowed by nature with a strong character, he was so situated in his childhood that his latent powers were developed and strengthened and he became a successful businessman. Today, however, he is not more honored on account of the enviable position which he occupies in business circles than because of the upright course which he has ever followed in his dealings with his fellow men and by reason of his loyalty and progressiveness in citizenship.


 

A History of Texas and Texans (Eugene C. Barker, ed) Vol. 4 p.1957
(C. Avis Catalog entry #241)

Publisher:American Historical Society, Chicago, 1916

James David Avis

No history of Texas and the men who have contributed to its development would be complete that failed to make extended mention of J. David Avis, who, since 1875 was a participant in the wonderful changes that transformed the great Southwest from a proactically wild and uncivilized section into one of the most prodcutive and valuable stretches of the country. First as a freighter and Indian fighter, later as cattle dealer and breeder, and finally as leading business man and public official, in every capacity Mr. Avis ably discharged the duties of life, and today is recognized as having been one of the prominent and substantial men of Wichita Falls. He was a Texan by birth and training, and was the first child born in the town of Montague, Montague County, August 13, 1861, a son of David and Mahala Katherine (Webb) Avis. David Avis, the father of J. David Avis, was born in the State of Maryland, and as a young man came to Texas, settling at Montague County during the early fifties. Subsequently he removed to Montague, and there, in the later fifties, established himself in a general mercantile business, in which he was engaged during the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1868, when he was fifty-two years of age. During the Indian outrages Mr. Avis built the fort at Montague for the protection of the early settlers, and his military training thus gained served him in good stead when the Civil War broke out and he became a lieutenant in a regiment of Texas volunteer infantry, with which he served until the close of the struggle. His wife, a native of Missouri, came to Texas as a child and settled at Montague County, there being married to Mr. Avis in 1859. After his death she was again married. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Avis, and of these J. David was the oldest.

J. David Avis received his education in the public schools of Montague County, and subsequently attended a provate school under the preceptorship of Colonel Hall; but the early death of his father make ti necessary that he should contribute to the family support, and, accordingly, in 1876, when but fifteen years of age, he left home, built a log cabin on Salt Creek, and there engaged in cattle raising. The long nights were often passed in reading and study by the light of a tallow candle, and thus the youth prepared himself for the duties of after life. He also carried on farming operations, and was engaged in freighting between Denison and Sherman and to the west and had many thrilling experiences in the outlaw-infested country, as well as taking part in numerous encounters with the hostile Indians. In 1880 he sold his outfit to give his entire attention to cattle raising and selling in Montague County, and in 1882, on moving to Wichita County, continued in the same line of business. He had large interests in farming lands and stockraising in various parts of the State, and in this connection was widely know. Mr. Avis entered business life in Wichita Falls in 1891, when he became the proprietor of a grocery establishment, and this he conducted successfully until 1896, when he sold his interests therein and embarked in the hardware business. The Avis Hardware Company was established in September, 1909, and this developed into one of the leading ventures of its kind in that part of the State. He was president of this concern, vice president of the First National Bank, in which he held an interest for upwards of thirty years, director in the Southern Wichita Life Insurance Company, having in addition large interests in various other enterprises. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, in which he was Past Master, Past High Priest and a Shriner, having reached the thirty-third degree of Masonry, and was connected also with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. Noble J. David Avis, thirty-third degree I.G.H., was honored as being the third mason to have attained this high honor in North Texas. He was a pioneer of Wichita County. His picture hangs on the walls of the Montague County Courthouse as the first white child born in Montague County. Noble Avis had been active in all Masonic bodies. He was Past Master in Wichita Falls Council No. 140, Past Most Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council of Texas, and was on the Board of Directors of the Masonic Home and School. He was a charter member of the Maskat Temple and was one of the two living thirty-third degree I.G.H. Masons belonging to Maskat Temple at the time of his death. He was one of Wichita Falls' most honored and beloved citizens, and was a member of the Texas Legislature for many terms. A stalwart Democrat in his political views, he served as county commissioner from precinct No. 1 and during three terms was a member of the City Council. With his family he attended the Presbyterian church.

Mr. Avis was married March 1, 1885, at Montague, Texas to Miss Minnie Ollie Bush, a native of Virginia, who was brought to Texas as a child by her parents, Isaac and Louisa Bush, pioneers of Grayson County, Texas. She was born near Parkersburg, West Virginia, in 1865, and was named for a ship called "Minnie Ola". With her parents she migrated to Texas as a small child, locating at Farmington, Texas (near Sherman, Texas). Her parents had lost their small plantation in Virginia during the Civil War. Isaac Bush met his death in a runaway accident. Louisa Bush died at the age of ninety-one years and was the daughter of John S. and Charity King. She was born in Pennsylvania and at the age of twelve years the family moved to Virginia. One or two years after the close of the Civil War she came to Texas.

Four sons and four daughters were born to Mr. and Mrs. J. David Avis: Frank P., born December 27, 1885, at Montague, deceased, was a graduate of Wichita Falls Business College, was in business with his father, was married and had one child; J. David, Jr., deceased, born in Wichita Colunty in 1887, was a ranch owner of Wichita Fals, was married and had two children; Katheryn Lou, born in 1889 in Wichita County, who married W. F. Weeks; Lillian Grace, born in 1892 in Wichita County, who married Harry Baum; A. W. (Jake), born in 1894 at Wichita Falls, was engaged in business with his father; Charles Robert, deceased, born in 1896 at Wichita Falls; Gretchen, deceased, born in 1900 at Wichita Falls, who married William U. McCutchen; and Ruby Cornelia, born in 1902 at Wichita Falls, who married Ralph Dunkelberg.

The Story of Montague Co., TX - Its Past and Present (Fenoglio)
(C. Avis Catalog entry #468)

Fenoglio, Melvin, Montague Historical Society. Dallas, TX:  Curtis Media Corp., 1989

p. 91

A few people began moving into the area starting around 1854.  Mrs. Lydia C. Jones in a letter to a sister in Hedley, Texas, described the area.  Here are excerpts of her story:  "I was born in Marion, Illinois, in 1843 and moved to Montague County, Texas, in 1854.  We lived in Montague.  At that time there was only one store in Montague, it being owned and conducted in  a wagon bed by John Cox.  Later a hotel was put in by George Cox and a saloon by somebody named Avis.  Then John Cox built a two-room log house and ran his store in one room and lived in the other..."

Some early day settlers, in addition to those already mentioned, were John and W. A. (Uncle Bud) Morris, Thad and Joseph C. Bryant, Jeff, William T. and Talton Barnes, D. S. Hagler, W. T. Waybourn, W. D., Jeff, and David Lee Jameson, Felix J. Covey, S. F. Maines, Dr. J. E. Stinson, James M. Grigsby, G. W. Alcorn, Levi Walker, John F., W. J., and Granville T. Bone, David Barefoot, James P. Doughty, James R. Covey, David Avis, S. O. Arnold, John Scandland, John and George McFarland, Jesse T. and James T. Pollard, John Davis, John Brumley, and William W. Covey.

p. 855

WEBB FAMILY
F1083

Jacob Webb was probably born in Sullivan Co., Tn., 25 Dec., 1798.  Before 1830, he and several siblings and other residents of said county moved west to Cole Co., Mo.  Here his first wife, Eleanor, died in late 1837 or early 1838, for on 17 May, 1838, he married Elizabeth Wray.  About 1859, Jacob and Elizabeth and several other families, including his daughter Narcissa and her husband, John R. McElroy, and their children migrated to Montague Co..  They settled near Forestburg.  Jacob obtained a land patent for 160 acres on 22 May, 1873.
Children of this couple, all born in Mo. were, Mahala Katherine mar. 1859 David Avis and after his death she mar. C. C. White.  All are buried Montague cemetery.  Mary Elizabeth mar. 1861 Dory Booher; Missouri; Benjamin mar. Sarah Ann Gray and lived Limestone Co., Tx; George; Samuel; John R. 1878 mar. Nancy Blylock.  
Jacob died 16 Oct, 1875 and Elizabeth 6 April, 1902.  Both are buried Perryman Cemetery, Forestburg.

By Mrs. William (Jean) McNutt, Jr. 
 

TENNESSEANS IN THE CIVIL WAR
(C. Avis Catalog entry #289)     


Volume 2  p. 351

Confederate:   

J. R. Rudd, Pvt, G Co.  37th Infantry
Joseph Rudd, Pvt, D Co.  9th Infantry