CONFEDERATE BIOGRAPHY: N. R. ROYALL - Smith County, TX

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Submitted by Doris Peirce - ginlu@charter.net 
26 January 2002 
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TEXANS WHO WORE THE GRAY by Sid S. Johnson 
N. R. ROYALL.

Nathaniel Royster Royall, of Palestine, was born in Polk county, 
Georgia, Oct. 10, 1846.  His parents, who were natives of Virginia, 
removed to Georgia in 1844, and ten years later the family home 
was changed to Henderson county, Texas, where the subject of this 
sketch was reared on his father's plantation.  He received the 
best educational advantages that the community offered.  His 
first business experience was as clerk in a store in Athens.  In 
January 1873 he removed to Palestine and began business under the 
firm name of Royall & Murchison, conducting a large general 
mercantile and cotton business for nearly a quarter of a century.  
In 1896 he disposed of these interests and opened a private bank 
which soon ranked as one of the substantial institutions of the 
state.  Its patronage and business steadily enlarged until in 
1904 it was nationalized under the name of the Royall National 
Bank with Mr. Royall as president and his son, Tucker Royall, as 
cashier.  Mr. Royall served the latter two years in the war between 
the states, enlisting when a mere boy in Col. Hardeman's regiment 
of Texas troops, C. S. A.  He was one of the youngest soldiers in 
his brigade.  He occupied a number of positions of responsibility 
and honor in Texas, and for thirty two years contributed an 
important part in the upbuilding of Palestine and his section of 
the state.  He was not merely a successful man; he was just and 
good one as well, and left to his children a stainless name for 
honor and integrity.  He was married at Athens, Texas, Feb. 14, 1872, 
to Annie, daughter of William Richardson formerly of South Carolina, 
and had three daughters: Margaret, wife of C.W. Fish, of Laredo; 
Lucy, wife of John W. Wright, of Tyler; Bessie, wife of Hampson 
Gary, of Tyler; and one son, Tucker Royall, who married Fannie 
May Douglas of Palestine.  Mr. Royall died suddenly of apoplexy 
May 9, 1905.  On the afternoon of interment all business was 
suspended in Palestine, and ministers of all denominations jointly
 officiated at the funeral.  The Senate of Texas passed resolutions 
and adjourned out of respect to his memory, and the State Bankers' 
Convention in session a few weeks later at Dallas had memorial e
xercises and heard speeches on his character and services.