Llano County, TX - Biographies: Abraham A. Masters

************************************************
Copyright. All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/tx/llano/llantoc.htm
************************************************
Submitted by: ddoiron@gt.rr.com (D. Allan Doiron)
August 22, 2006


             ABRAHAM ANDREW MASTERS  1834-1876

Abraham Andrew Masters was born 29 January 1834, Mexico, near what is
now Crockett, Houston County, Texas. He was the third child of ten born
to Jacob and Eliza Catherine Wagley Masters, Jr. and the first child
born in Texas. The Masters family had moved to Texas from Lincoln Co.
NC. in the early 1830's. From Crockett, the Masters' moved to Perry,
TX near Waco, in Falls County, then on to McLennan Co. in 1856 where
Jacob settled about 17 miles south of Waco, operated a Stage Station
where people eat their noon meal, horses were tended before continuing
on to Belton or Waco, and the town of Mastersville grew up around the
station as Jacob invited others, including his brother Henry, to locate
there. Jacob and Eliza Wagley Masters, Jr. were buried in the Moore
Cemetery in McLennan County which has been renamed, Bruceville-Moore
Cemetery.

Just before his 24th birthday Abe married Martha Ann Mixon on 7 January
1858 at Mastersville, McLennan Co. TX.  Martha, about 18 at the time,
was the daughter of Simeon P. and Margaret Campbell Mixon.  A short
2 years later a baby boy was born, to Abe and Martha they named, John
Andrew, and Martha died in child birth, 2 Jan 1860, at the young age of 20.

Abe served in the Civil War with the Confederate States of America in
Louisiana and Texas. Leaving his young 2 year old son, John Andrew, home
with his Masters grandparents, he enlisted January 4, 1862 at Millican, TX,
which was about 12 miles southeast of Bryan.  His enlistment as a private
was for the duration of the war. He served with Company B, 15th Regiment
of the Texas Infantry, CSA [Spreight's] and had attained the rank of 3
Sergeant. Brother Henry & brother-in-law, Ed Long, also served in the
same Regiment.

After returning home from the war, Abe married Marthana (Martha Anne)
Hinshaw on 22 March 1866, with a license obtained in McLennan Co. but
the marriage was executed in Falls Co. Before moving to Llano County they
lived nearby the Mixon family in McLennan Co.  The 1870 census shows them
with 10 year old John Andrew on rented property with $500 of personal
property. Abe's second wife, Martha, was born 18 Feb 1847 near Tyler in
Smith County, TX to Jesse & Nancy Miller Hinshaw. There were 12 children
born to Abe and Martha Hinshaw Masters 8 of whom survived to adulthood.

On 24 Nov 1874, in Coryell Co, Abraham applied for 160 acres of land under
the Homestead Act. Stating that he had occupied and improved the same as a
homestead for a period of three consecutive years, beginning in September
of 1871.  Signing the affidavit with him as witnesses were Thomas Fletcher
and, brother-in-law, Joseph Hinshaw.  Coryell County was part of the Milam
Land District at the time and was considered owned by the settler who lived
and cultivated it, as a homestead.

The 1880 census of Llano County lists Abraham and Martha as 46 and 33 years
of age. Abe was a farmer living in precinct 3 and had the following children:
Nancy B. 9 yrs; Eliza 7 yrs; Jacob E. 5 yrs; Henry Lee 2 yrs; and Thomas
3 months. (John Andrew at 20 yrs of age had already left home.).  Living
next to them were Martha's widowed mother Nancy Hinshaw, who was in the
household of Martha's sister, Emeline and husband, Marion Walker and two
children, John, 3 yrs and James Walker who was 11 months. Jesse Hinshaw,
a wagon maker, died abt. 1878 at Aiken in Bell County. Today; Aiken is at
the bottom of Belton Lake.

Abraham Andrew Masters died 5 March 1896 and Marthana died 14 April 1909.
Both are buried in the Water Creek Cemetery.

Children:
William Travis, 1868-1869 McLennan County.
Nancy Belle Dona, 1871-1949 Llano, married Jerry Crock Walker
Eliza Jane, 1872-1937, San Angelo, married John Hiram Turner
Jacob Edward, 1874-1929 Llano county, never married
George Washington, 1876-1877
Henry Lee, 1878-1960, Llano, married Elberta Lillian 'Bertie' Walker
Thomas Lornza, May 1880-Sept 1880 Llano County
Titus Calvin, 1881-1935 Cherokee Co., married Ruth Leverett & Daisy Newman
B. Jackson 'Jack', 1883-1921 Rusk Co., never married
Rachel Florence, 1884-1971 California, married Charles Fredrick Harter
Rose Etta, 1887-1890 Llano Co.
Minnie Laura, 1891-1980 Fredricksburg, married Uriel Ratliff


This biography was originally written by a long time Masters family researcher
and descendant, Maxine Page Powell. I have corrected some early mistakes and
added material.
D. Allan Doiron