THOMAS, RICHARD AND ELIJAH MEADOWS, Smith County, TX ***************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Pat M. Stevens IV - stevensp@erols.com 19 May 2001 ***************************************************************** THOMAS, RICHARD AND ELIJAH MEADOWS "Some Biographies of Old Settlers." Historical, Personal and Reminiscent. Volume I By Sid S. Johnson, 1900: Sid S. Johnson, Publisher, Tyler, Texas Chapter LXVI - Pages 278-279 The Meadows brothers, Thomas, Richard and Elijah, who were known to the older settler, where (sic) strictly good men. They were practical, intelligent farmers. Tom and Lige raised large families. The Meadows had a good standing as reliable men in their transactions, and highly respected. They made good crops, had plenty to live on, and were liberal supporters of any good enterprise to help their communities. They were thrifty, and made money and spent it. The Meadows came from Alabama to Texas in the forties. Thomas Meadow married twice. His first wife was a daughter of Col. Jas. C. Hill. His second wife was a daughter of Bennet Spear, who removed to Smith county in 1846. S. C. Messer, a prominent farmer, married Miss Mary, one of the daughters of Thomas Meadows. She is dead. Thomas Meadows was born in 1815 and died in Smith county in 1863. I have no further data about the brothers than herein mentioned. I knew them well, and I never knew any more honest men in their dealings; more devoted in their friendship; more truthful in what they said. If a disagreement arose, it could be settled with or without a fight, the selection to be determined by those who were opposing them. They were typical frontier men, composing all the elements necessary for the advanced lines of civilization. They were brave as a lion; gentle as a lamb; but when aroused could confront danger, and even pass the danger line.