Everett E. Lott, Smith County, TX ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Leroy Butler, Jr, leroybutler@hotmail.com 16 May 2001 ***************************************************************** Everett E. Lott, "Some Biographies of Old Settlers." Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas Chapter - Pages 132-139, Smith county made an early and favorable impression throughout the state and took a leading part in the councils of state. She occupied an advanced position in the early construction of framing wholesome laws and wielded a good influence in shaping the early advantages that culminated in the greatness she now enjoys. A good citizenship makes a good community -- an educated people gives tone and influence, and brainy and talented men and women give a community position and controlling influence abroad. Smith county was wonderfully blessed in this respect, in the early settlement of this immediate territory. She possessed within her borders men of broad statesmanship, and none carried about him a greater influence in the legislative halls of Texas than Col. Everett E. Lott. Col. Everett E. Lott was born in the State of Mississippi on the 24th day of February, 1820. In 1840, he married Miss Mary E. Lott of the same state, a strong-minded young woman of accomplishments and domestic habits, who died in Smith county in 1852. In 1855 he again married Miss Anna Cook, a most intelligent lady, who resides in Louisville, Texas. Col. Lott's career in Texas was a most remarkable and successful one. Having spent his boyhood in the state of Mississippi during the flush times of that great state, he was peculiarly suited for an early settler in the new Republic of Texas. It was in East Texas he began his political career, and occupied so many positions of honor and trust, a fact well worth the mention that he never sought an office he failed to get. He was a people's man, and possessed a personality that endeared him to all classes of people. In 1849, he moved to Texas and settled in Harrison county. In 1842, he was elected to the Texas congress up to the year 1845. When first elected he did not arrive to the legal age to hold the office until just a few days before he was sworn in. He entered the Texas congress at a stormy and gloomy period of the Republic of Texas and took an active part in the deliberations of that assembly of bold and able men, as the records of that body will show. He represented the counties of Harrison, Upshur and Panola. It was in 1844 that the celebrated "Cherokee Land Bill" was passed, Col. Lott taking a lead part in carrying out that measure. It opened up a large territory that had been reserved for Indians, the present boundary of Smith county lying in the very center of this fertile part of Texas. In this heated contest to open up this territory, Col. Lott was a leader in the great debates of that congress. In 1845 he moved to this Indian Reservation, now the county of Smith. He was on the commission that laid out the county lines and that located the city of Tyler in 1846. He took a strong part in the annexation of Texas to the United States. Col. Lott was a farmer and greatly devoted to this independence and great calling but he was soon brought from retirement; he took his seat in the Second Texas Legislature, comprising the old district of Nacogdoches and remained a member of the lower and upper house, until he tendered his resignation in 1861 to accept a Lieutenant Colonel's position in the Confederate Army in Hubbard's Regiment. Col. Lott was like John C. Calhoun-not a lawyer-but a statesman. He was a peer of Houston, Rusk, Henderson, Bowdon, Ochiltree, Chilton, Hubbard and others on the stump-as a speaker he was forcible, fluent and captivating. In the early day the power of Col. Lott was felt and the attractive genius of the man was magnetic. Raised under the thrilling eloquence of S.S. Prentiss, he imbibed to some extent the sublime sentence of speech that characterizes that great Mississippian. Col. Lott refused to become a candidate for governor, although his name had been prominently brought forward from different parts of the state. His domestic relations in the family circle were most happy, and the hospitality of his household was well known throughout the state. It was the old-time hospitality that made pleasant reflection to visitors, and the social features of the early settler was characterized by a friendly appearance of heartfelt pleasure. Col. Lott was of fine physique-over six foot tall and straight as an arrow, with dark piercing eyes. He made a good and favorable impression at all times. A ready debater, a fluent speaker, with captivating manner, he left his impress on the minds and hearts of all who heard him. He threw away the governors office, by declining the Democratic nomination in 1861, and went into the Confederate Army, accepting the position of Lieutenant Colonel to defend the rights of the land of his birth. On January 17th, 1864, at his home in Starrville, Texas, Col. Lott breathed his last, surrounded by his bereaved family and sympathizing friends. Col. Lott was a member of the Methodist Church and died in the faith of that great denomination. He was a bright member of the Masonic order who paid the last brotherly tribute at his grave. Many resolutions of respect were made in public assemblies and in lodge rooms of condolence at his death. No man ever had more friends in Smith county than he did. It was through his influence that the Supreme Court was located at Tyler. While a public servant in Austin he was watchful of Smith county's interest. A little incident of log-rolling about the location of the Supreme Court and the politician in Col. Lott when the interest of his people were at stake. Tyler and Rusk were the competing points for the location of a branch of this court, and Lott was on the lookout for a point to gain. Cherokee county was represented by an honest farmer who had a pet measure before the house of a local nature that called for his earnest solicitation. Lott understood the nature of the bill and framed one on opposite lines and made the broad proposition, after reading his bill to Cherokee's representative: If you will vote for my measure, I am willing to give Rusk the branch of the Supreme Court. "Hang the Supreme Court, Rusk has more courts now than she needs", replied the granger member. The conference lasted for some time; Lott changed his mind about his own measure and pooled issues with the Cherokee member, making him a fast friend to Tyler, turning his back on his own county town. Col. Lott of course, won his case, coming out several lengths ahead. Col. Lott had five children-William M., Mary E., Arthur L., Elisha E., and John A. William M. Lott married Miss Pittman of Starrville, Texas, and had one child-Miss Blanch. He was an excellent man and his wife was a woman of noble traits of character. William has been dead for a number of years. Miss Mary E. Lott married Jesse S. Butler (son of Booker) at Starrville, Texas (both are dead). They had three children-Jesse L., Fannie L. and William (Sam) Everett, Jesse L. married L.C. Harrison, a prominent merchant of Pryor Creek, Indian Territory. William Everett, who is now the popular county clerk of Tarrent county, married Miss Erwin, of Mansfield, Texas. Arthur L. Lott married Miss Manning, of Farmersville, La., and they have two children - John M. and Miss Willie. Elisha E. Lott died at Arlington, Texas, at the age of twenty-one years. He was a promising young man. John A. Lott married at Arlington, Texas, in 1880, Miss Lucy Hollman, of Iuka, Miss. They have two children, Lucile Cleveland and Elisha Everett. These branches of the Lott family stand well in the communities in which they live, intellectually and socially, keeping abreast with the advancement of the age and are worthy of the ancestral tree of their brilliant father and grandfather. The family of John A. Lott reside in Tyler, and a short mention here would not be out of place. His father, Col. Lott, has a state reputation as an legislator, orator, citizen and politician and the old-timer kindly remembers his knightly appearance and friendly manners. John A. is the popular county clerk of Smith county and his many good qualities the people know and justly appreciate. Mrs. Lucy Lott is an educated accomplished woman, with cultivation and popular manners, which gives home so many charms. Mr. and Mrs. Lott are both electioneers and in a canvass in Smith county, both pulling together invariable sweep the field. Miss Lucile Cleveland is a pretty young girl as well as a charming one. She is now in the junior class in point of years; she is attractive and intelligent. Elisha Everett is the younger and making the household feel the connecting links by the usual pranks of the average boy. Both children are bright minded and have an inviting future in the coming years. As to John A. Lott, everybody likes him for his sterling work and moral integrity. He likes everybody and all likes him. He is an accommodating man, and when he does a favor he impresses the conviction that it is freely done. I believe it is part of his nature to help those who claim to need it. In the public meeting held in Tyler to adopt suitable resolutions on the death of Col. Lott, I noticed the names of Gov. O. M. Roberts, Capt. R. B. Long, Stanley M. Warner, Hon. B. T. Selman, and J. M. McFarland. The committee appointed to draft resolutions at his death for St. John's Lodge No. 53, A.F. & A.M. were: Dr. Henry McBride, Dr. J. H. McCorkle and L. A. Read. Col. Lott when a young man, (not quiet 21), was elected to the Congress of the Republic of Texas, being the youngest member of that great body of statesmen. He electrified the early pioneer by his pleading eloquence and drew the rough settler to him by his peculiar oratory. His magnetism was most wonderful.