Freestone County, Texas
Biographies




Biography of J. B. Chamblee
    (16 Sep 1824-17 Feb 1920, buried at Rehoboth Cemetery in unmarked grave)

Book - Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, 
Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas.  Lewis Publishing Company, 
Chicago, 1893.  p. 422-423.

"
   J. B. Chamblee, a prosperous and intelligent farmer of Fairfield, Freestone
county, Texas, was born in Pendleton district, South Carolina, in 1825. His 
father, Lewis Chamblee, emigrated to that State from North Carolina, where he
was born in 1785. He was an orphan boy, and grew to maturity on a farm. He married
at this place Mary Buriss, and became the father of ten children. He became a
large and wealthy planter, working 100 slaves, and did military service in the 
war of 1812. His father was a British immigrant named Isaac Chamblee, who served
through the Revolutionary war, and his son Lewis died in 1855, and his family
were: Jane married A. Gilmore, and both are deceased; John, deceased; Jacob;
Malida married Strickland, and both are deceased; Elizabeth married H. Brooks,
and both are deceased; Marina married Pleasant Morehead, both deceased, and 
three others are also deceased, and our subject.
   The latter remained with his father until he had attained his majority. At 
this time he became a farmer on his own account, and upon the death of his father 
he managed the settlement of the estate to the full satisfaction of all the heirs.
In 1862 he enlisted in the Second Alabama Cavalry, and had for his Colonels at 
different times, Hunter, Earls and Carpenter. His service was in Florida, then he
went to Holly Springs, Mississippi, next on the Atlanta campaign, then to Nashville,
then to North Carolina, and from there to Georgia, where his command surrendered
to Sherman.
    After the war Mr. Chamblee returned home and began rebuilding his fortunes,
having nothing left but a three-year-old colt. Things seemed to move very slowly
in the old State, and having a brother-in-law in Texas, our subject concluded to
try his fortune here. In 1870 he landed in Freestone county, bought land and 
prepared to make him a home, but just then another misfortune assailed him. In
1871 his wife died, to whom he had been married in 1847. She was Elizabeth, the
daughter of John Cockerell, of Alabama, and her children were: William A., who
died; Laura, the wife of Pink Bennett; Marietta, wife of Addison Cockerell,
deceased; Annie, wife of M. M. Mosteller; Tempy, wife [of] J. W. Weaver; Alice,
wife of Monroe Driver; Ophelia, wife of Joseph Burnett, deceased; J. L. and seven
others deceased.
   Mr. Chamblee owns 159 acres of timber in the county, and since his bereavement
he has resided with his children until within the last two years, when, October 
8, 1890, he married Mrs. Julia Ann Talley, the widow of Coleman Talley, born in 
Tennessee in 1826. ..." [See biogrpahy of Coleman Talley]