Bio of Padgett, Thomas J. - Grady County, Oklahoma

Transcribed by:  Gene Phillips  <okarchives@comcast.net>   18 Jun 2006
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                             USGENWEB NOTICE
                     Copyright.  All rights reserved.
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THOMAS J. PADGETT. It is nearly ten years since Thomas J. Padgett, in 
partnership with James Jones, established the enterprise which later 
developed into a combined cattle and mercantile business, which was long 
classed as one of the most profitable ventures of the territory and which 
has done much to advance the substantial prosperity of Rush Springs and 
Grady county. Since 1907, the mercantile branch of the business has been 
handled by Mr. Padgett, the partnership, connection being dissolved at 
that time, and his house has become one of the largest and most complete 
in this section. He has been a progressive resident of this locality for 
fifteen years, and since coming to live in Rush Springs has shown such 
energy and sound business ability that its citizens have called upon him 
to participate in their public affairs as a member of the common council 
and in other capacities. In fact, he has a happy faculty of making all 
these affairs "move" in which he has a hand.

The birth of Thomas J. Padgett occurred in Van Zant county, Texas, on the 
3rd of May, 1861, and he represents one of the real pioneers of that 
state. His grandfather, Chester Padgett, was born in Alabama about 1804, 
and in l829, when Texas was still Mexican territory, crossed over into the 
wilds of Van Zant county, eastern Texas. There he established himself 
among the scattered settlers and continued his farming operations until 
his death in 1864. His children were as follows: Nathan, who died at 
Birmingham, Alabama, leaving a family; William J., of Van Zant county; 
Monroe, of Henderson county, Texas; Ewell and Chester, who both died in 
Van Zant county; Caroline, who married William Meeks and died in Freestone 
county, Texas, leaving a family; Sarah F., who died in Claremore, 
Oklahoma, as the wife of John Gauge, leaving children; Texas, wife of H. 
L. Robinson, also of Van Zant county, Texas; Emeline, who became the wife 
of Samuel Hunt of Smith county, Texas, and James R., who was one of the 
oldest of the children. James R. Padgett was a native of Van Zant county, 
Texas, born in 1854, was a farmer and was serving in the ranks of the 
Confederate army when he died in 1864. He married Roselpha Farmer, a 
daughter of Howland Farmer and born in Rusk county, Mississippi, where her 
father engaged in agricultural pursuits for many years prior to his 
migration to eastern Texas. She was the mother of one child by Mr. 
Padgett, their offspring being Thomas J., of this notice. The husband died 
and the widow married Robert D. Jones, the couple removing to Clay county, 
Texas, also on the frontier, where Mr. Jones also died, leaving her with a 
second son James Jones, one of the well known agriculturists of Grady 
county. Some years later Mrs. Jones married J. H.Pate, with whom she 
resides in Rush Springs. In Gainesville, Texas, on the 20th of November, 
1884, Thomas J, Padgett was joined in marriage to Mary E. Stewart, a 
daughter of Mitchell Stewart, a farmer and early settler of Texas. Mr. 
Stewart's wife was formerly a Miss McGee, and both were natives of 
Georgia. Mrs. Padgett was born in Cooke county, Texas, in 1867, and has no 
children.
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