TX BIOS: Rebecca Cobbs Selected and converted.American Memory, Library of Congress. Washington, 1994. Preceding element provides place and date of transcription only. This transcription intended to be 99.95% accurate. For more information about this text and this American Memory collection, refer to accompanying matter. U.S. Work Projects Administration, Federal Writers' Project (Folklore Project, Life Histories, 1936-39); Manuscript Division, Library of Congress.Copyright status not determined. 00011 [??] PIONEER STORIES Anne B. Hill McLennan County District #8 Folkstuff - Documents - Life Sketches no. of word 115 file no. 240 page 1 Newspaper item A. The Waco Times-Herald, Waco, Texas, Sunday, June 6, 1926. "The Old Homestead at Walker's Crossing" by Miss Kate Edmond. Rebecca Cobbs, daughter of Judge John and Mrs. Eleanor Cobbs, did not go dowerless as the bride of William Walker, but records show that the daughter of the judge of McLennan County brought slaves with her as the following shows: "Know all men by these presents that I, John Cobbs of McLennan County, State of Texas, have and in consideration of the sum of one dollar to me in hand paid the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged (and good-will to my daughter Rebecca, who intermarried with William C. Walker) have bargained and sold and by these presents do hereby grant, bargain, sell and confirm to my said daughter, Rebecca B. Walker, a certain negro woman named Mary, aged 18 years, and now in her possession. I warrant the title against all persons whatever. I warrant said negro to be sound and healthy and a slave for life. Given under my hand and seal this, the 9th day of May, 1856. (Scroll for seal) Signed-John A. Cobbs. This manuscript is now in the Texas Room, Baylor University. War taxes in Confederate days-a war tax receipt signed by M. P. Nichols, collector, district No. 40 reads: "Received of William C. Walker the sum of no dollars in specie and 55 dollars in Confederate Treasury notes being the full amount." Manuscript now in Texas Room, Baylor University. (A) NOTE: C12 2/11/41 Texas 00022 Dr. Baylis Wood Earle Dr. Baylis Wood Earle, one of the early pioneer physicians of McLennan County was born in South Carolina in 1801, son of John Baylis and Sarah (Taylor) Earle. He was reared and educated in South Carolina, and later removed to Alabama. He adopted the profession of medicine and became an eminent practitioner. From Alabama he went to Mississippi, where he lived for a time and then removed to Texas, locating in Waco, where he became very successful in his profession. He was extremely conscientious in his practice and very charitable. He died at his residence in Waco in 1859. Dr. Earle was united in marriage to Eliza Harrison. They became the parents of nine children. Dr. Earle died in 1859. 00033 Dr. Daniel R. Wallace Dr. Daniel R. Wallace was born in North Carolina in Pitt County, in 1825. Dr. Wallace attended the country schools in his early life and developed a taste for reading and the languages. He graduated with destination at Wake Forest College in 1850. After graduating he applied himself to the study of medicine, completing his medical course at the University of New York in 1854. In 1855, he removed to Texas and settled at Independence, Washington County, then a center of wealth and population. While practicing his profession there, he taught languages in Baylor University, located at that time in Independence. Here he married Miss Arabella Daniel and to them three daughters were born. He enlisted in the Confederate service on the outbreak of the war, was appointed surgeon of the Fifteenth Texas Infantry, and subsequently became division surgeon on the staff of General Maxey. After the surrender in 1865, he returned to Waco and resumed the practice of his profession. During the war he had lost all his property and his money, and he had to commence life anew. In 1874 he was appointed superintendent of the State Insane Asylum, holding this position from 1874 to 1889. In 1871 he married Mrs. S. L. Robert, a younger sister of his first wife. They had one child. After returning from his duties at the Asylum, Dr. Wallace gave his attention to special diseases. In 1883 he was commissioned to locate the East Texas Asylum. Terrell was selected for the location. Governor Ireland appointed him superintendent and this position he occupied until 1891. He was recognized throughout the state as an authority on lunacy, nervousness and all kindred diseases. He died in 1911. 00045Jno. S. McClain Jno. S. McClain, one of the oldest settlers of McLennan County was born in Adair County, Kentucky in 1827, son of Isaac and Catherine (Stapp) McLain, natives of South Carolina and Kentucky, respectively. He received his education in Pike County, Illinois. He commenced business for himself at the age of twenty, beginning as a farmer and stock-raiser in Pike County till 1856, when he came to Texas, the over land consuming six weeks. After his arrival in Texas the Indians made no attack on the white settlers but the year before they had been troublesome. In 1862 he joined Company B, Col. Gurley's regiment. Was in poor health and never participated in any battles. In 1868, he bought 320 acres, put 75 under cultivation; he was a farmer and a stock-raiser. In 1888 he sold his cattle and devoted himself to farming. Mr. McLain was married in 1853 to Miss Eleanor Mchannah. They had nine children. He and his wife were Baptists. Jno. S. McClain died in 1898. 00056Cullen F. Thomas - Living Cullen F. Thomas, attorney-at-law, is still living, a resident of Dallas at present. He was born in Tennessee in 1869 in Gibson County, son of Charles Crawford and Elizabeth (Cowan) Thomas. He receivedhis early education in Rutherford, Tennessee. In 1885 he received the appointment from his Congressional district to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. He acquitted himself with credit in this institution but was not attracted by a naval career and resigned. He came to Texas in 1888 and became principal of the public schools of Valley Mills. Desirous of becoming a lawyer, he entered the law department of the University of Texas, from which he was graduated with high honors. He sought Waco as a location for the practice of his profession, meeting with an unusually favorable reception at the hands of her people. He is at present living in Dallas. He enjoys much celebrity as an orator. 00067Dr. Gregor C. McGregor Dr. G. C. McGregor was born in Cumberland County, North Carolina; son of Malcolm and Mary (Carmichael) McGregor. He was educated in Franklin Institute, Robeson County, North Carolina and commenced the study of medicine in 1846. He entered the medical department of the University of New York, from which he was graduated in 1851. He moved to Texas in 1852 and settled at first in Austin, at that time a frontier. His practice was no confined to his own county but extended to many others. For 31 years he practiced medicine. The town of McGregor was named in his honor. He came to Waco to live in 1873. Connected with many enterprises as official or as stock holder. Died in 1884. 00078Marcus D. Herring Marcus D. Herring was born in Holmes County, Mississippi in 1828, and was reared on a farm. He attended the Judson Institute, Middleton, Mississippi, and from there in 1845, he went to Centenary College, Jackson, East Feliciana Parish Louisiana. Returning home, he taught school, studied law and was admitted to the bar. Selecting Shreveport as his residence at first, he endured the hardships of a young lawyer endeavoring to get clients. In 1850 he moved to Shelbyville, Texas, where be practiced law till 1853, from there going to Austin. In 1854, he moved to Waco, forming partnerships at various times; Herring and Farmer; Herring and Anderson; Coke, Herring and Anderson; Herring and Kelly. When the Civil War began, he enlisted as private in one of the first volunteer companies for the Confederate service and was soon made Captain. He served three years and nine months in the field. At the close of the war, he returned to Waco and resumed the practice of law. He was eminently successful as a lawyer; his practice extending to all parts of the state. He distinguished himself especially in land litigation, and as a criminal lawyer. Mr. Earring was married in Waco to Miss Alice Douglas of Sumner County, Texas. They had four children. Mr. Herring in a prominent member of the I.O.O.F. He has gone through the Chairs of the Grand Lodge in Texas. In 1875 he was elected Representative to the Soverign Grand Lodge. As an advocate he is able, magnetic and convincing, a bright ornament to the bar. He died in 1897. 00089Captain Shapley P. Ross Captain Ross was one of the early pioneers of Texas and was identified with its best interests up to the time of his death. He was born six miles from Louisville, Kentucky, in 1811, son of Shapley and Mary (Prince) Ross. Captain Ross's father dying when Shapley was only eleven or twelve, the property was divided among the heirs, all of them married except himself. He remained for awhile on the old homestead. At the age of 16 he visited the Galena lead mines. Always loved horses and early in life engaged in trading in cattle and horses. He married in 1830 and lived for a while in Iowa, then in Missouri. In 1834 he and some other families settled on the Indian reservation at Des Moines River, Iowa. These were the Fox and Sioux tribes under the leadership of the noted Black Hawk. They constructed houses and began farming and the community became known as the "Ross Settlement." From here he came to Texas in 1839, taking the oath of allegiance to the Republic of Texas, and thus became entitled to a head right of 640 acres of land. He had frequent fights with the Indians. On one occasion the Indians raided the settlement by night and stole all their horses, but a man came into the settlement next day with several mules. These the pioneers mounted and hastened after the redskins, who were over taken on Buggy Creek where a bloody and desperate fight took place, a hand-to-hand conflict with knives. The whites won, the property was restored. In 1845 he sold his land on which the town of Cameron now stands for a two-horse wagon and a yoke of oxen. He raised a company of volunteers for protection on the frontier, was elected captain and rendered efficient service. 000910 In 1849, Captain Ross moved to Waco. The company that owned the league of land offered to give him four lots and the ferry privilege, and to sell him 80 acres at [$ 1.00?] per acre. He accepted. In 1855 Captain Ross was appointed Indian agent and was given charge of the various tribes on reservations in the state. The people of Texas owe him a debt of gratitude for his services. He was married in Missouri in 1830 to Miss Catherine Fulkerson. They had nine children. Shapley P. Ross died in 1889. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/ Thanks to the Library of Congress http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/wpaintro/txcat.html ***********************************************************************