COL. THOMAS B. ERWIN AND FAMILY, Smith County, TX ************************************************************* Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by: Doris Peirce - ginlu@home.com 7 June 2001 *************************************************************** COL. THOMAS B. ERWIN AND FAMILY "Some Biographies of Old Settlers." Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas Chapter XXXVIII - Pages 185 - 188 Col. Thos. B. Erwin was born in 1782 and died in Tyler, Texas, in 1868, living to a good old age, beloved and honored for his good qualities of head and heart. He emigrated from the State of Alabama to Texas. He built the first (log) house in Lafayette, Alabama, out of hickory logs, in honor of Andrew Jackson, distinctly declaring his politics by following the fortunes of the hero of New Orleans. He landed in Smith county in 1850, and settled on Rabbit Creek, and opened up a large plantation and commenced the cultivation of the virgin soil fo Smith county, and made farming a complete success. Col. Erwin, at the age of twenty, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and after his return home was made a colonel of militia, which position he held up to the time of his moving to Texas. He and Col. L.B. Snoddy (his son-in-law) blazed the first road to Garden Valley, that is now a public thoroughfare for travel. Col. Erwin soon settled in Tyler with his intelligent family, and built a handsome residence, now standing on West Erwin street, which was known by all the old settlers and the most superb residence at the time of its completion in the small village of Tyler. In keeping up with the spirit of improvement, he erected two brick buildings on the South side of the square (Willis's drug store), besides other improvements in the town. Col. Erwin was highly esteemed for his sterling worth and financial abilities, as he was successful in all enterprises he undertook, thereby accumulating a large fortune for this country, at the time of his death. He was a large, tall, robust man, well built, and the estimate placed on him from appearance, indicates the character of the man. He was full of energy and made the main business of his life farming, and in his favorite pursuit of agriculture, everything prospered around him. But he made other large investments with equal good results. Col. Erwin was a large slave owner, butr it was a notable fact that he was humane and kind to his slaves and they were well cared for in the way of good food and clothing. Even his manner and voice indicated the fact of his being a thorough business man, but he always had the faculty of being a gentleman and made every one his friend. The writer well remembers the hospitality of Col. Erwin and his excellent wife at their pleasant home. Every guest was made to feel at home under its roof. His domestic relations were of the most pleasant nature, and the old settler remembers well the many happy occasions of the gathering of the young people at the Erwin home. He was the friend of the struggling young man and always had an encouraging word for the young boy or girl. Tyler's prosperity was advanced by his money being put in improvements and the town grew wonderfully, assuming a business center. One of the principal streets of the city bears his honored name that he helped so much to beautify. Col. Erwin bore an honorable name through life, and at his death many regrets and pangs were felt among the people, sympathizing deeply with his bereaved family. It was his constant aim to educate his children and start them out in life. Gus Erwin married Miss Hudson, and they had several children. Gus was a leading merchant in Tyler in the early fifties. All of the family are dead. Captain John M. Jessup married Mary and they have several children. Capt. and Mrs. Jessup are both dead. Thomas G. Erwin married Miss Arthur, and they had two children. Tom and his wife are dead. Tom was a good business man. Clay Erwin married Miss Sallie McDaniel. Clay is dead and the family reside in this city. Several children are grown and married. Frank Erwin married Miss Laura Hoskins, of Kenrucky, and the family reside in this city, having two daughters. Frank is the only member of Col. Erwin's family living. Henry Bullard married Emma, and they had several children. Mrs. Bullard is dead. Mr. Bullard is a business man of Bullard, Texas. Hal C. McFarland married Rissa and had several children. Mrs. McFarland is dead. Mr. McFarland resides a few miles west of Tyler, and is a good farmer. I have spent many happy hours at the Erwin homestead. It was the old Southern style of hospitality, and gay throngs of happy young people were made to enjoy life. It was a handsome family; a noble family; a Southern family.