John J. Pemberton located his league and labor on the Neches River. In 1850, 8 children were living with him. He was born in Tennessee and his wife in Kentucky; three of this oldest child; J. A. Tisdale and Roland P. were born in Tennessee, may J. in Texas in 1837 and Wm. J. in 1840; James C. in 1845, Elbrody C. in 1847 and Moses L. in 1849. He was an active member of the Methodist church as he was named as trustee in some of the earlier deeds to Methodist churches in Tyler County. W. W. Arnett in his interesting reminiscences of 1845, says that he made a trip for his brother from Town Bluff to Grigsby's Bluff and had this to say about him;

"You see, this brother of mine - told me and his son to go to Brother Pembertons the first night and he would direct us how to proceed next day.

Brother Pemberton and family received us very cordially and next morning told us that the first house on the road was 27 miles and as there was but the one road we could not get lost, and that a man lived there by the name of Goard headed Brown - that some people called him whispering Brown; that he talked very very low, and if we did not get close to him, we could not hear him talk. Brother Pemberton looked so good and religious I did not think of a joke.

So late in the evening we drove up to an old pine log cabin. The pine trees were very tall and thick, and the rain was gently falling, the wind moaning in the pine tops, everything looked the very picture of loneliness. Oh how melancholy I was. I hailed and out of the cabin stepped a man bareheaded, long beard and shaggy brows, and I said good evening Sir and h replied good evening sir in a tone of voice that to be appreciated would have to be heard. I am positive he could have been heard a half mile or more:

It seems that "Brother Pemberton" was joking when he called him "Whispering Brown".

The End