Freestone County, Texas Biographies Biography of Captain Peter M. Kolb (Jun. 25, 1827-Dec. 30, 1904, buried San Andres Cemetery in Milam Co., Texas) History of Texas, Together with a Biographical History of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson Counties. (Chicago, IL: Lewis, 1893), pp. 783-784. Capt. P. M. Kolb, an old settler of Milam county and a prominent and prosperous farmer, was born in Talbot county, Georgia, June 25, 1827. His parents, William G. and Alzada (Troupe) Kolb were natives, the father of North Carolina and the mother of Virginia. They were reared however in the Cherokee Purchase of Georgia, whither their families moved during their childhood. They were married in Jones county, Georgia, and after a residence of some years in Talbot, Meriwether and Coweta counties, that State, moved in 1845 to Texas, and settled in what is now Freestone county, locating on Kechi near the mouth of Negro creek. There the father bought a tract of 3,000 acres of land which he opened up and on which he engaged in farming and stock-raising. He was one of the first settlers of that locality and continued to reside there till the date of his death in 1876. He died however at Palestine, whither he had gone on business. His widow survived him several years dying in Milam county in 1883. Both were well advanced in age. Peter M. Kolb, the subject of this sketch, was the fourth of their eleven children. He was a young man when his parents came to this State, his boyhood and youth having been passed in Georgia. Soon after coming to Texas he entered the ranging service, enlisting in a regiment commanded by Colonel John H. Conner, with which he served for about six months against the Indians in the western part of the State. He then returned to Washington county where he engaged at his trade as carpenter and gin builder, which he followed there for a number of years. Marrying in the mean time, he moved to Grimes county and in 1859 came to Milam county. On coming to this county he purchased 150 acres of land on Brushy creek, about four miles west of where Rockdale now stands, and there he settled and engaged in farming and stock-raising. September 8, 1861, he entered the Confederate army, enlisting in Company D, Hardeman's Regiment, with which he served in the campaigns into New Mexico, taking part in the battle of Valverde, and was on the return expedition along the Gulf coast, taking part in the engagements at Mansfield, Pleasant Hill and Yellow Bayou, closing his services on the Brazos in Burleson county, where his regiment was disbanded. On being mustered into the service he was elected Third Lieutenant of his company, soon became its commander and was commissioned Captain in 1863, remaining at its head until the close of hostilities. When the war was over Captain Kolb returned home and, directing his attention to the problems of peace then confronting the county, purchased more land, which he opened up and branched out in the successful pursuit of his farming enterprises. His present place, consisting of 750 acres, has been purchased from time to time as he has earned the means and has been improved from year to year in the same way; 500 acres of it is now under cultivation and it is well stocked and furnished with a good class of farm buildings including a gin which is run regularly through the ginning season. The farm lies in the San Gabriel valley, being in one of the richest agricultural sections of the county. It is all black soil and yields in accordance with the well-known productiveness of the "black waxy belt." Captain Kolb has given his attention for thirty-odd years exclusively to agricultural and kindred pursuits in which he has met with reasonable success. He has never held any public office, having refused all offers of this nature. He has a high regard for the good opinion of his fellow-men and endeavors by all legitimate means to win it, but he does not confound this with popular applause, to gain which so many men spend a large share of their time and effort. Captain Kolb has been a Democrat all his life, but National politics attracting very little interest in Texas at an early day, he never case a vote for a Presidential candidate until 1868, voting then for Seymour and Blair, the regular Democratic nominees. In 1859 he was made a Mason and has taken an active part in the order since that date. He is also a member of the Knights of Honor. The brothers and sisters of the subject of this notice were: Sarah Ann Kolb, who was married to B. A. Parrott; Parthenia A. Kolb, who was married to George Green; Mary A. Kolb, who was married to B. M. Martin; John Fletcher Kolb, who died in Shelby county, eastern Texas, 1855; William G. Kolb, who enlisted in Waller's Battalion and died at Hempstead during the late war; Hugh Kolb, who died in the Confederate army also; Americus Kolb, who married Mr. Alexander and lives in Freestone county on her father's old homestead; Georgie A. Kolb, who was married to M. Fletcher; Martha Kolb, who was married to A. B. Bell, and Milton Kolb, who was married to George Johnson and died in 1880 in Llano county. Captain Kolb has been twice married. In 1849 he married Miss Charity Robinson who died two years later, leaving one child, Fannie S. Kolb. On March 11, 1855, he married Miss Martha Jane Jackson, daughter of E. D. and Annie Jackson, then residents of Washington county, this State. The issue of this union has been seven children: William H. Kolb, who died in infancy; Abner P. Kolb, who died in early youth in 1878; Charles L. Kolb, who was born in 1860; Mattie A. Kolb, born in 1868; Lela V. Kolb, born in 1871; Minnie A. Kolb, born in 1873, and Della F. Kolb, born in 1877. ========================================================= Rockdale Messenger newspaper of Milam Co., TX - 1905 Capt. P.M. Kolb, an old and prominent citizen of Milam county, died of pneumonia last Friday at his home near Rockdale and was buried at the San Andres Cemetery. He was a Mason. He leaves a wife, sons and daughters. He was born on June 25,1827 in Talbot County, GA. Soon after coming to Texas, he entered the ranger service, enlisting in a regiment commanded by Col. John H. Conner, with whom he served 6 months against the Indians in the western part of the state. He returned to Washington county where he engaged in his trade, carpenter and gin builder. He then moved to Grimes County and in 1859, he moved to Milam County where he bought 150 acres on Bushy Creek, about 4 miles form Rockdale. On Sept. 8, 1861 he entered the Confederate Army, enlisting in Col. D, Hardeman's regiment and served in the campaigns into New Mexico, taking part in the battle of Val Varde and was on the return expedition along the gulf coast, taking part in engagements at Mansfield, Pleasant Hill and Yellow Bayou, closing his service on the Brazos in Burleson county, where he was commissioned captain in 1863. After the war, Capt. Kolb returned home. The farm now consisted of 750 acres, 500 in cultivation. He was married twice. In 1849. He married Miss Charity Robinson, who died 2 years later, leaving one child, Fannie Kolb. On March 11, 1855, he married Miss Martha Jane Jackson. They had seven children: William H. Kolb, who died in infancy; Abner Kolb, who died in early youth in 1878; Charles L. Kolb, who was born in 1871; Minnie A Kolb, who was born in 1873, and Della F. Kolb, who was born in 1877.