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Narrative Sketches
of our
Civil War Veterans

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The following are small sketches of our Civil War Veterans from various sources: some are submitted by descendants; others are compiled from pension files; still others are from the library files and files of Burnet's Adam R. Johnson Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC). If you have info about a Burnet County Civil War Veteran, please share with us.

Send info to JoAnn Myers via e-mail
 
or in care of the Herman Brown Free Library, 100 Washington St, Burnet TX 78611.

  1. MAGILL, William Harrison - Born in Maddison County, Kentucky, January 3, 1813, a son of Samuel P. and Nancy (Shackleford) Magill, who came to Texas and settled in what is now Bastrop County. In the Headright Certificate issued to William H. Magill for one-third of a league of land by the Board of Land Commissioners for Bastrop County in 1838 it is stated that he came to Texas in 1835. Mr. Magill was Second Sergeant in Captain Jesse Billingsley's Company of Mina Volunteers at San Jacinto and on May 2l, 1838 he was issued Donation Certificate No. 126 for 640 acres of land for having participated in the battle. His Bounty Certificate, for land for his services immediately prior to and after the battle are not of record in the General Land Office. He received Bounty Certificate No. 396 for 320 acres of land for his services from July 1 to December 1, 1836. In 1838 Mr. Magill was married to Rebecca Pensana in Bastrop County, May 27, 1838. Mrs. Magill was born in Bellville, St. Clair County, Illinois, March 2, 1816. She died in Bastrop County, Texas, but the date of her birth has not been ascertained. Mr. Magill was married to Elizabeth Alice Hedrick in Wayne County, Kentucky, December 21, 1854. The Magill's moved to Burnet County and there William H. Magill commanded the company of Home Guards in the Confederate Army.   Source: Mike Magill, <BezLer@aol.com>, Feb 2002
  2. MAYES, Lorenzo M. was born in MO. November 1838. (Source: 1880 Federal Census, Llano Co., TX ED98, 486 p14). He married Joanna A. SHEPPARD February 03, 1859 in Travis Co., TX. They had 8 children. He died in The Confederate House, Austin, Travis Co., Texas October 08, 1929. (Source: Application For Mortuary Warrant, State of Texas, File # H2000 & 11833.) He is buried in the Texas State Cemetery, Confederate Section, Austin, Travis Co., Texas. Lorenzo served in Duff's Texas Partisan Rangers, 33d Texas Cavalry, 14th Texas Battalion. He stated on his Pension Application that his time of service "was from the date of the organization of the Company in Davis County until the close of the war, about 3 years". Lorenzo received a gunshot wound in the chest shortly after the war began. Later in life his right lung would collapse and he would become partially paralyzed on his right side. When he applied for pension he resided in Burnet Co., TX.  Source: Confederate Pension Application #11833-2000  Submitted by: B.W. Robbins,<wildcat3@pdq.net> May 2002
  3. MOTLEY, John Thornton - Born in Caroline County, Virginia, 5 Jan 1839. He was a distinguished student at Hanover Academy, entering the University of Virginia, where he studied until 1861. He enlisted as a private in the Confederate Army, serving in Co. F, 30th Virginia Infantry until his parole at Appomatox at the end of the hostilities. He came to Burnet after the war, where he organized and taught in early schools. He married Sarah Abigail Lamb 5 Jan 1869 and the couple had two sons and seven daughters. Professor Motley elected as Surveyor in 1873 and 1874. He helped organize a Baptist Church in Burnet and was appointed to several school board positions. He was a master Mason and a member of Valley Lodge # 175. He died at the age of 73 22 March 1912 and was buried in the Odd Fellows Cemetery in Burnet. R. J. Richey wrote a long tribute to his friend in the Burnet Bulletin issue of 20 June 1912. [ CSA Marker photo.]  Sources: Burnet Bulletin, Burnet County Cemetery Records, 1852-1982. and Burnet UDC files. (JM, 2004)
  4. NORRED, James Oliver - Brother-in-law to Leander and John M. Coon, James enlisted as a private on 8 June 1861 with the Burnet Guards, Texas Cavalry Company, 27th Brigade, Brig Gen E.S.C. Robertson Commanding, serving under Capt. Wm. H. Magill. On Feb 20, 1862 he enlisted in Burnet County but was mustered the same day as a private in Llano County with 1st Headquarters, Front. Austin Company, Company E, Front. Regt. under Col. James M. Norris, Commanding, Texas State Troops stationed at Llano 21 Feb 1862; and Camp McMillin on 1 May 1862 serving under Capt. N.D. McMillin. On 2 Apr 1862 he was involved in a running gun fight with Indians. On 20 Dec 1862 in San Saba County he enlisted as private. under Captain Wm. G. O'Brien, Co. K, Mounted Volunteers, Front. Regt., Col. J.E. McCord commanding., Texas State Troops. He was at Camp San Saba for 3 years. He appeared for muster with his horse, horse equip., clothing, large rifle and navy six-shooter in good order. He was also known as a Texas Partisan Ranger. He was born 6 Oct 1832, Canton, Madison County, Mississippi; married Margaret Amanda Coon on 30 Aug 1860 in Burnet County. He died 19 Dec 1908, and is buried at Hairston Creek Cemetery.  Sources: Texas State Archives; death certificate #10282. Submitted by: Gerald D. Watkins < gdwatkins @ mail . utexas . edu >, Aug 2000.
  5. PANGLE, James A. - Born 28 April 1838 in Jefferson County, Tennessee, son of George Pangle and Elizabeth Langdon; died 16 April 1915 in Burnet.  Enlisted 15 Nov 1861 in the CSA; served in Co. H, 5th Tenn. Cavalry, Ashley's Brigade.  He came to Texas in 1882 and had lived in Burnet County for about 10 years when he applied for his pension in 1913, at age 76.  Tombstone Photo.  Source:  Adam R. Johnson UDC Chapter 2498 files; Texas Death Certificate.  (JM, May 2009)
  6. POGUE, R. H. -   Confederate gravestone marker, 21 April 2007.
  7. PRINCE, Henry Franklin - Born 17 Aug 1836; d. 22 July 1891 in Burnet; buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery.  Married Margaret J. ____ 13 Dec 1854 in White County Arkansas.  Served in Co. B, Johnson's Co., Pleasant's Regiment, 37th Arkansas Infantry.  Tombstone Photo.  Source:   Adam R. Johnson UDC Chapter 2498 files.  (JM, May 2009)
  8. PROCTOR, George Washington - son of Nicholas P. Proctor,  George W Proctor might have lived in or close to Burnet co, but the only thing I have that mentions this is his service information from the National Archives.  It would also appear that he is the Geo Proctor listed on the Confederate Indigent families list for Burnet co, though I do not have complete information on that.  He appears on the Company Muster Roll for Capt. C. C. Arnett's Company, Allens Regiment, Texas Infantry as 4 Sergt, age 22, from 5 April to 30 June, 1862.  This company subsequently became Company G, 17th Regiment, Texas Infantry.  The 17th (also known as Allens) Regiment, Texas Infantry, completed its organization by the election of field officers June 9, 1862.  It was composed of ten companies which had been organized on various dates during March, April, and May, 1862.  George Proctor enrolled in the company on 25 March 1862 in Burnet County by C. C. Arnett.  He mustered into service 5 April 1862 at Camp Terry by R. J. P. Allen.  At that time a notation states "Has received no pay."  George later applied for but was denied a Confederate Pension while living in Bell County Texas in 1924 for having too much property.  Wife, Catey/Katie Carolina Johnson,  obituary here.  Source:  National Archives, Washington DC.  Submitted by Kim Proctor- Fairchild <kim8524@netscape.com>, Nov 2005.  
  9. RASBURY, A. P.  - Full name Allen Polk Rasbury. He filed for a Confederate pension March 25, 1907 in Runnels Co., Texas. He stated he was 65 years old and had been engaged in freighting until recently. He enlisted in Co. K, 7th Georgia Infantry from March 8 1861 and was discharged at the close of the war. Affidavits were made by C. N. Witcher of Lampasas and M. B. Rasbury of Ft. Worth. M. B. said he is my brother and both were born in Georgia. Fulton County, Georgia, Civil War, They Were Here - Georgia Gen. Records. Allen R.Rasbury, Private. Index File, Georgia Archives, Atlanta Allen P. Rasbury, Co. K, 7th Reg., Georgia Volunteers, Private under Capt. John M. Lendon. He was born in Polk Co., Georgia, 17 years old at enrollment. He was 5' 5" tall, fair complexion, light hair. Enlisted August 3, 1861 and discharged July 16, 1862. A. P. Rasbury, originally filed under Allen R., Co. C, 64th Georgia Infantry. (Allen R. is his cousin) Allen Rasbury, Co D, 36, Villipigue's Infantry., Private. A. P. Rasbury, Co. C, 64th Georgia Infantry, Private and Sargeant. [not listed in Burnet County Cemetery Book]  Source:  Submitted by Bonnie Reach, <bereach@peoplescom.net>, May 2002.
  10. RAY, Richard P. - born 8 June 1850 in Overton County, Tennessee to Houston and Mary Ray.  He joined the Confederacy shortly after his 13th birthday, serving under Capt. Jake Bennett in Company A, 10th Kentucky Cavalry.  This unit was part of General Adam R. Johnson's Partisan Rangers.  He remained with Company A, performing battle and scouting duties until the close of the war.    He married first in 1866, at age 16 and had 5 children with Betty Kenard before divorcing in 1875.  He came to Burnet county in 1876 with his second wife, Ruth Ann Sullivan, their infant son John and two daughters from his previous marriage.  They lived in the Shady Grove community in Burnet County where he homesteaded 160 acres on the San Gabriel River.  He was a Justice of the Peace in Burnet County and 87 years old in 1938 when he applied for a pension as a Confederate Soldier, and stated he received $100 per year for his duties as JP.   Richard P. Ray died 11 Feb 1945 and was buried in Bear Creek Cemetery.   [Photo of R. P. Ray]   Source:  Dot Creasey, Aug 2006.
  11. RICKETSON, Aaron - born January 19, 1842, in Coffee County, Georgia to Allen and Luraney Sears Ricketson, served in the Civil War between 1863-65 as a private in Company K, 63 Regiment Georgia Infantry. He came to Texas after the war and served as a Texas Ranger with Company I Frontier Forces in 1870 and 1871. After Aaron married Sarah Ann Harwell in 1873, they made their home in Wolf Crossing community at Harwell Point about a mile from her family. They first lived in a log house, but Aaron later built, with lumber he hauled from Austin by ox wagons, the first plank house in the area. Their principle source of livelihood was ranching, farming, and their gravel pit, which became the train stop for the community. Aaron died November 16, 1916, and he and his wife, Sarah Ann Harwell Ricketson, are buried on the old home place, between Marble Falls and Kingsland, Texas. Submitted by <JHopper494@aol.com>, April 2000.
  12. RICKETSON, Hiram - son of Allen and Luraney Sears Ricketson was born April 21, 1836, in Ware County, Georgia. He served in the Confederate Army in the First Battalion of Georgia Sharpshooters between 1862-1865. After the war, Hiram and his wife Amelia Wright moved their family from Coffee County Georgia (formerly Ware County) to Burnet County, Texas before the 1870 Census. Their land was west of Marble Falls on the Colorado River, not far from Wolf's Crossing. Hiram's family later moved to Llano County near Oxford. He died February 22, 1918 and is buried in the Oxford Cemetery.   Source:  Submitted by JHopper494@aol.com, April 2000.
  13. ROSS, A. - Applied for a Confederate Pension 16 Aug 1899. In his application, he stated he was 72 years old and resided in Trinity County, Texas; had been at Nogallos, Texas for 19 years. He was a farmer with personal property listed as one horse worth $20, 4 cattle valued at $80 and 2 hogs worth $5. He enlisted in McCampbells Co E, 8th Texas Infantry, serving from 1863 to June 1865. Affidavits from T.B. Ross and A.A. Ross (sons) dated 24 December 1900 in Burnet County swore they knew A. Ross and that he was unable to support himself. Another affidavit signed by A.F. Cowan on 18 Dec 1900 in Burnet County certified that he knew A. Ross as a soldier and served with him in the same company for about 2 years. His pension was approved 22 March 1901. Ross died in 1909 and is buried in Bear Creek Cemetery.  Sources:   Pension file from Texas State Archives. (JM, Dec 1999.) More info can be found at the following links: (1) Photo of A.A. Ross and wife Clarissa ; (2) Descendant Chart; (3) Letter dated 29 April 1865
  14. ROSS, John A. - Enlisted in Spring of 1864 and served in Company C, Capt Easly's Company, Mann's Regiment. He served about a year until his company was disbanded at Galveston. On his pension application dated 19 March 1910, Ross stated he was 69 years old and his birthplace was Perry County, Alabama. At the time of his pension, he had resided in Burnet County for 35 years and worked as a carpenter. John Ross was married 6 Sept 1887 in Burnet to Fannie, who was born in Lincoln Co. Kentucky. She drew a widow's pension after her husband's death on 7 April 1917 in Burnet in the home of his son, W.A. Ross, of uremia. He was buried in the Old City Cemetery in Burnet. Fannie died 15 Aug 1918 of cancer in the home of her son, Will Ross and is also buried in the Old City Cemetery. Source:  Pension file from Texas State Archives. (JM, Dec 1999)
  15. SHELL, George W. - Born in Caldwell County, N.C. in 1838, he enlisted 26 July 1861 and served with Co. I, 26th North Carolina Infantry. He was a private and was captured 14 October 1863 at Bristow Station. Upon taking the oath of allegiance, he was released 14 May 1865 at Point Lookout, Maryland. Mr. Shell applied for a pension based on his Confederate Service on 27 Jan 1914; at that time he stated he had been a resident of Texas for 17 years and had resided in Burnet County since 1896 with a post office box at Briggs. His previous occupation was carpenter and was married to M.C. Shell. He died in 1915 at the age of 77 years, 3 months, and 3 days; his wife died in 1929 at the age of 78 years, 3 months, 2 days. Both are buried in Mahomet Cemetery. Sources: Pension file from Texas State Archives and Burnet County Cemetery Records, 1852-1982. (JM, Dec 99)
  16. SHIPP, William P. - Born 30 Dec 1832; died 24 Nov 1922; buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery.  Served as Private, Co. I, 25th Regiment, Alabama Infantry. He married Sarah A. in Georgia in May 1856.  Tombstone photo.  Source:  UDC , Adam R. Johnson Chapter  files and obituary of wife.  (JM May 2009).
  17. SMART, John White - Born in Wright County, Missouri, near Springfield, 2 April 1838 and died in Burnet in 1903.  He was a member of Company "A" of Sim's Battalion, Capt. Rapp Beard's Regiment of Texas Cavalry from November 1864 to the close of the war, enlisting in Marlin, Falls County, Texas.  Prior to entering the CSA, he ran a tan yard for his father and Tom Reddin and did government work, making shoes for the Confederacy.  During his active service, he was captured in Williamson County, Tennessee.   According to family history, John White Smart was a Mason, and was captured by a Mason, so he was given good treatment during captivity, and was exchanged.  He married Susanna Canby.  See CSA  grave marker and photo here.  Source:  Handout from family at Confederate Grave Marker Dedication, 25 April 2009, Odd Fellow's Cemetery. (JM, May 2009)
  18. SPITLER, William Marion - Born in New Albany, Floyd County, Indiana on 2 October 1833.  He served as Sergeant and 1st Sgt, Company G., 21st Cavalry, 1st Texas Lancers, 1st Regiment, Carter's Brigade.  He was wounded accidentally in the left hand in May 1863.  He was appointed Tax Collector by the Confederate States for Bastrop County, and eventually received 1117 acres in Burnet County by virtue of Confederate Scrip #339, issued 12 Aug 1881.  See photo and more info about Wm. Spitler here.  Tombstone Photo.  Source:  Sue Wright, <housewright2 [at] msn.com>, June 2006, from Widow's Application for pension #21454.
  19. STEWART, Benjamin Hansford - Born in Overton County, Tennessee 22 April 1843, coming to Texas in 1861 with his family. He enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1862, serving 12 months. He married Hattie M. Allison on June 30, 1963, who was from Oceola, Missouri. He was sheriff of Burnet County in 1878. He was self educated and taught school at Gum Springs. He later moved to Florence where he worked in a wood shop. He finally settled near Bertram in 1868 where he raised a large family of 4 sons and 6 daughters. He died March 24, 1934. Photo of Benjamin Stewart. Source: Burnet Bulletin, Feb 1936.
  20. STEWART, Christopher Columbus - Born in Overton County Tennessee in 1838, he came to Texas in 1851 with his family from Arkansas, where they had lived since 1850. He married first Charlotte Williams, who died before 1874. He married second Mariah W. Johnson on 1 January 1874 in Burnet. He enlisted in Company G, 17th Texas Infantry, at Camp Terry, Travis County, in the Spring of 1862, serving until the end of the war. On his pension application he stated he "got home in June 1865." He owned a share of a small grocery business in Briggs, whose stock was described as "staple and fancy groceries". He wrote an inventory of his "worldly goods" on the store's letterhead, which included "1 small residence, on 1 acre of land cost me $450.00". He was 74 years old when he applied for a Confederate pension, which was approved in 1912. He died in March 1915. His wife, Mariah, applied for a widow's pension in April 1915, which she drew until her death in June 1935. Both are buried at Mahomet. Sources: Pension file from Texas State Archives, Burnet County History, Vol II, p. 304, and Burnet County Cemetery Records, 1852-1982. (JM, April 2000)
  21. STEWART, W.M. - was 79 years old when he applied for his pension in 1902. He stated on the application that he had resided in Burnet County for 22 years, but had a Lampasas post office address. He was a farmer, but due to old age, bad eyes, and rheumatism was unable to work. He enlisted in Company H, Capt Mike Quinn, Flournay's regiment in Colorado County Texas in the Spring of 1862 and served until the end of the war. In 1902 his only personal property were two ponies valued at $30 each and two cows and calves, valued at $40. A Mr. J.S. Knight swore under oath that he was well acquainted with W.M. Stewart and that he was unable to support himself by manual labor of any kind. He died in 1905. His wife, Elizabeth, attempted to obtain a widow's pension in 1905, but was rejected because she stated she owned $100 in personal property and $800 in real estate. She applied for a widow's pension again in 1909 and was approved. Elizabeth was born in Pike County, Alabama and was 75 when she made her second application in 1909. She stated on her application she married William Stewart on 24 January 1851 in Colorado County, Texas. She died 26 Feb 1925 at the home of her son, J.W. Stewart, in Mills County, and was buried in the Lampasas Cemetery. Sources:  William's Pension file and Elizabeth's Pension File from Texas State Archives. (JM, March and April 2000)
  22. THOMPSON, William Riley - was born in Jackson Co., Alabama, 23 Sept 1831, the son of James Malcolm Thompson and Mahala W. Broyles. He served in I Company, 10th Regiment Texas Cavalry, enlisting 31 Oct 1861. He was surrendered at Citronelle, Alabama, 4 May 1865 and paroled at Meridian, MS, 9 May 1865. He received a state veteran's pension as did his widow. He died 11/14/1919 in Spicewood. Submitted by Debbie Thompson Dietrick, ggrand-daughter <debdietrick @ ispchannel . com>.  More info found in UDC file as follows: Thompson married Sophronia Caroline Taylor 5 Cct 1858 in Cherokee Co. Texas. His two brothers and father all joined the CSA in 1861 and William Riley Thompson was the only one to come home in 1865. He served as a private in the walking, or "dismounted" cavalry, and was wounded three times. He came to Burnet after the war, purchasing 200 acres of land for $800 at four percent interest. According to family stories, William was the one who suggested the name of Spicewood for the community. There were a few spicewood trees growing at Rink Springs, which is now Krause Springs. William knew those trees were rare in this area, so he took the name from them. He and his wife were members of the Rockvale Methodist Church. William drew an annual pension of $30 from the State of Texas. [See Photo of William Riley Thompson and wife Sophronia Caroline. ] [Photo of William Riley Thompson at about age 25]   Sources:  Pension File and Burnet UDC files, and The Picayune, 7 Jan 1991, "Confederate Soldier Honored in Spicewood Ceremony". (JM, Sept 2000, updated Oct 2000) [Tombstone Photo]
  23.  TUCKER, G. W. - Biography by Esther Pogue here.  Confederate gravestone marker, 21 April 2007.
 

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