Freestone County, Texas
Biographies




Biography of John James Stubbs
   (8 Jan 1847-31 Aug 1936, buried in Wortham cemetery) 
   
   
Book - Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, 
Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas.  Lewis Publishing Company, 
Chicago, 1893.  p. 430-431.

"
   John J. Stubbs, a merchant, farmer and stock raiser of Wortham, Freestone 
county, was born in Mississippi in 1847, the eldest child of P. L. [Peter Leonard] 
and Caroline (Dunagan) Stubbs, natives of South Carolina. Our subject came to 
this State with his father when only three years of age, and received his 
education at the little town of Fairfield, Freestone county. At the age of 
eighteen years he joined Captain Oliver's company, Bradford's regiment, and was 
stationed for a short time at Galveston Island. He commenced life independent of 
his father at the age of twenty-two years, first farming on rented land two years, 
but at the age of twenty-four years purchased a farm in this county. In 1874, in 
company with his father, Mr. Stubbs embarked in the grocery and dry-goods business
in this city, and now carries a stock of $8,000, doing an annual business of from
$35,000 to $40,000. He employs two salesmen besides himself and brother, Hiram.
In addition to this, our subject also owns 4,500 acres of land, with 1,300 acres
cultivated, has about 600 head of cattle of different classes, and is extremely
engaged in the raising of mules and horses, jacks and jennets. He is one of the
principal stockmen in this section of the country.
   Mr. Stubbs has twice been married, first in 1868 to Miss Amanda Robertson, of
this county, and a daughter of William M. Robertson, a native of Tennessee. To
this union was born five children, only two of whom now survive - Mary and 
Margaret, twins. The former is the wife of Charles E. Jones, of Houston, Texas, 
and latter of George M. Barnes, of Ennis. The mother died in 1875, at the age of
twenty-eight years, and in 1879 our subject married Miss Mary E. [Ellen] Van Hook, 
a daughter of Solomon and Anna E. (Sallard) Van Hook, natives of North Carolina, 
and of German nativity. Mr. and Mrs. Stubbs have four children: Minnie, Lee, 
George D. and Nellie Ruth. The parents are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church, in which the father is a deacon. He is also senior warden of the A.F. & 
A. M., Longbotham Lodge, No. 428, and a member of the K. of H.  In his political
views he is a Democrat, and was appointed by Governor Richard Coke Cattle 
Inspector, which position he held eight years. Mr. Stubbs is the architect of his
own fortune, commencing life as he did with comparatively little, and has amassed
considerable property, in addition to the $10,000 which his present wife had at 
the time of marriage. He does the largest retail mercantile business in the city;
is one of the best business men to be found in the county, is a leading member
in society and the church, and takes an active interest in Sunday-school work.
"