ROBERT T. McFARLAND, Smith County, Texas ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Susie McFarland Lemin susl@ccms.net May 18, 2001 ********************************************************* ROBERT T. McFARLAND AND FAMILY. "Some Biographis of Old Settlers." Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I by Sid S. Johnson, 1900 Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas Chapter LXI pages 256 - 261 Robert T. McFarland, Sr., was the father of the McFarland family in smith county. He was born in South Carolina,in 1802, and died in Marion county, Teas, in 1865, while on his way to Hot Soring, Arkansas, in search of health. He was accompanied by his wife and sone J. M. McFarland, who brought his remains back to Smith county and buried them at Starrville, Texas He moved to Georgia where he marrid Miss Elizabeth Mullins. To them were born five children, all boys--John I.,J. M., W. J., H. C. and J. N. Only two are now living--W. J. and H. C. McFarland, who reside in this county. His first wife died in the state of Alabama, where he had moved to from the state of Georgia. In 1848, he married Miss Francis Starr, a daughter of Rev. Henry Starr and a niece of Rev. Joshua Starr, two noted Methodist preachers of East Texas. The elder Robt. T. McFarland moved to Smith county in 1855, bringing a number of slaves, and located near Starrville,Texas. he was an extensive farmer, and engaged largely in saw and grist mill enterprises, doing and immense traffic in these lines. he was a sterling, puching, business man; took the lead in building up his community. Was a strict member of the Baptist Church and lived up to the faith and order of that denomination; was a county comminissioneer for a number of years, looking closely after the interests of the people and county. By his second marriage he had threechildren--Maretta, Pobert t., Jr., and Erie: the last two are living. John I. mcFarland married, in 1855. Miss Mary Martin, the accomplished daughter of Wm. Martin, who lived near Starrville. They had three children--Oscar, Lizzie and Iva. Oscar is a leading mechant of Tyler, being the junior member of the firm of Brown & McFarland. He married Miss Belle Fielder, a young woman of accomplishement, of one of the most influential families in Smith county. Lizzie died several years ago. Iva married Will Wiely, son of Co. C. C. Wiley, an early settler of Tyler. Will Wiley was killed in Houston, Texas, his horse running away with his buggy. His wife returned to tyler and lived here for a number of years until her second marriage, with Frank Cain, a mechant of Wiley, Tex. Mrs. J. I. McFarland died in 1868 and the father married the second time Miss Nellie Rice. They had two children--J. E. and Mollie. J. E. McFarland is a pominent newspaper man. Miss Mollie married a Mr. Woodall, a merchant at Nacogdoches, Texas. J. I. McFarland died in 1871 and his wife a year later. Julius M. McFarland was a good business man and lived in Tyler a number of years. Julius never married. He was at one time district clerk of Smith county, making and efficient and popular official. At the time of his death he was in the drug business with B. K. Smith. Old timers have a kindly rememberance of him as a pleasant genial gentleman. W. J. McFarland is a leading farmer in Smith conty, living six miles west of Tyler on a good farm. He has been married twice. His first wife, Miss Rebecca Black, one of the charming daughters of Col. Shimmy Black, an early settler and a prominant farmer and citizen. They had no children of their own, but raised and educated a number of orphan children, doing a good Christian part by them. Mrs. Rebecca McFarland was a member of the Methodist Church. Having lived a consistant Christian life, she died happily in the faith she so zealously and devoutly kept. W. J. McFarlnd's second marriage was with Miss Willet E. Adams, a woman of noble qualities of mind and heart, and one of the daughters of W. W. Adams, one of Smith county's best farmers and an intelligent citizen of Pleasant Retreat neighborhood. By his last marriage he has one daughter, Rebecca, a pretty little girl of five years old. W. J. McFarland was county commissioner for several years, and is at this writing, the Democratic nominee for that office. He was ever watchful of the county's interest, making an efficient and prompt offical. As superintendent of the county poor farm, he scored a good success, making that institutioin a paying one under his management. Being a practical farmer, with intelligence and good judgment, everthing moved like clock work. Every department had his watchful attention. he is a progressive man in business, sinsible and practical' he succeeds in what he undertakes. H. C. McFarland married the pretty and accomplished Miss Rissa Erwin, on of the daughers of Col.. Thos. B. Erwin a leading Smith county citizen. She died in tyler a number of years ago. Rissa was a sweet girl and made a noble woman. They had four children--Bettie, Julius, Fannie and Myrtle. Bettie married Walter Beaird; Julius married Miss Florence Boring; Fannie married James Ellis; Myrtle married Walter McFearson. They all live in Smith county, and are farming, making a good citizenship, residing in the Pleasant Retreat commnity. H. C. McFarland makes his home with his son, Julius and devotes his time to farming. He is a good business farmer, an intelligent entertaining man, enjoying the confidence and repect of the people. He served in the Confederat army, and made a good record. J. N. McFarland died during the war while returning home on a sick furlough. He died in Upshur county and his remains were buried in the family burial ground at Starrville, Texas. He was an accomplished, promising young man. W. J., J., N., and H. C. McFarland (three brothers), belonged to company D. 15th Texas Infantry, Confederate Army. They each performed their duty as loyal Southern soldiers. Robert T. McFarlnd, Jr., lives at Chandler, Texas and is a farmer. He married Miss Alice Chandler, daughter of A. F. Chandler. They have six children--two boys and four girls. Misses Laura and Maude are both married the other children are at home with their parents at Chandler. Erie McFarland married Lum Yarbourgh. He was a son of Col. Harvey Yarbrough, an old timer and prominent citizen. Lum died several years ago, leaving two small chldren, the family making their hom at W. J. McFarland's until a year ago, removing to Chandler where they are farming. The McFarlands have been prominent people in the history of Smith county, in church, business and social life. They are of that old stock of Suthern people that help make the chivalry of the Southland. Some of the younger generations are entitled to special mention. Oscar McFarland is one of Tyler's leading merchants and business men. His is the junior member of the mecantile firm Brown & McFarland, who are doing an immenant buisness as general mechants. Oscar is a fine business man, accmmodating and pleasant in his dealings, making him a deserving and popular man. He is strictly honest, deals with his customers with open frankness and candor, and the people have learned to bank on what he says. Oscar has a son, Robert Brightwell, a lad of much promise, a student in the public schools. The elder McFarland was a generous, open handed citizen and a worthy sire of the different branch of this family, andthey inherit many of his excellent traits of character.