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Andrew Jackson Parton was born
in Whitley County, Kentucky in 1817. The Partons had good
neighbors who had moved from Montgomery County, Va. This
is how Andrew J. Parton met his wife, Catherine Sowder,
the daughter of Jacob Sowder and Anna Prillaman Sowder.
She was one of 16 children of the Sowder family.
Andrew Jackson Parton and
Catherine Sowder Parton had eight children before they
decided to leave Kentucky to find a new life they had
heard about after the forming of the Texas Republic. The
Partons along with their married daughter, China, who had
married before they left for Texas with in-laws headed out
and believed entered Texas through Grayson County,
Texas. Searching the area for a place to settle, they
stopped in Tarrant County, Johnson County, then to Travis
County, and Williamson County, before moving along to
find their own land to settle in Johnson County,
now Somervell County, Texas around 1876 or 1877. County
records show that the Partons bought land from the John L.
Marshall survey along Rock Creek. After settling on their
new land, the Partons and family became members of the
Rock Creek Baptist Church where the Rev J.N. Frizzell was
pastor.
The eight children born
in Kentucky were :
(1.)China Parton b. 1836 had
married Joseph Owens in Claiborne County, Tennessee on
Jan. 30, 1853. They liked it in the Williamson County
area, so they stayed there and raised their family. Both
are buried in New Hope Cemetery at Cedar Park. There were
six children born of this marriage.
(2.) America Parton b. 1838
married David R. Teeters, believed in Tarrant County and
settled in Somervell County. David R. Teeters, with
father-in-law Andrew J. Parton and brother-in-law Joseph
B. Trammell helped to organize the Alliance Gin and Mill
on Rock Creek in 1889. There were eight children born of
this marriage.
(3.) Rachel Parton b. 1840,
first married Thomas R. Montgomery, Mar. 12, 1857 in
Johnson County, now Somervell County. There were three
children born of this marriage. Thomas R. Montgomery is
buried in White Church Cemetery in Somervell County. After
the passing of Thomas R. Montgomery, Rachel again married
the Rev. John Nathaniel Frizzell about 1881. there were
two more children born of this marriage. After the death
of second husband, Rachel moved a little farther west with
her children and died in 1906 and is buried in Blanco,
Texas Cemetery.
(4.) Emanuel W. Parton b. 1842
married Nancy Jane Evans ( Born in Bond County, Illinois
in 1846, daughter of Cornelius E. Evans and Elizabeth Ann
"Betsy" Bruce) in Grayson County on May 6, 1863 after
serving his time in the army. On Jan. 4, 1862, he joined
the Confederate Army, Company K, 22nd Texas Calvary at
Sherman, Texas. He mustered in at Ft. Washita, C.N. Indian
Territory on Jan. 31, 1862. The descriptive roll describes
him as 20 yrs old, 5' 8". Born in Kentucky. Has red hair,
grey eyes, with fair complexion. The value of his horse
was $90.00 and his rigging was $20.00. Service records
show he was last paid on April 30, 1863 and placed on
detached duty in Texas. After marring, he and new wife
came back to Somervell County to start their family. They
later moved on to Hamilton County around Cow House Creek
near Pottsville. Some descendants live around there today
and some in the Walnut Springs area. There were seven
children born of this marriage. Emanuel (Manuel) died in
Jan.19, 1900 and is buried in Pottsville Cemetery. Nancy
Evans Parton moved on to Eastland County where she had a
daughter living. Records show Nancy applied for a
Confederate widow's pension which was approved. Nancy's
mother ( Betsy) had moved with her to Eastland County
after the passing of her husband in 1851 and had married
again to a Mr. Wooten. No info on what happened to Mr.
Wooten because "Betsy" Wooten lived several years with her
daughter, Nancy. Betsy passed away in June 1904 and is
buried in Merriman Cemetery, Eastland County. Nancy Jane
Evans Parton passed away in Jan. 1930 at age of nearly
84 and is buried beside her mother in Merriman Cemetery,
Eastland County.
(5.) Nancy Parton b. 1844
first married James W. Tabor, believed to be in Travis
County. Not sure if he died or they just parted, but she
was married again in 1870 to Godfrey Provost in Travis
County. Have no record of children of these marriages.
(6.) William Parton b. 1846
Died about 1859 or 1860....Very young ..
(7.) John Parton b. Jan. 28,
1850 married Ellen York ( Born Dec. 19, 1852 in Yorktown,
Texas) in Travis County in 1868. They lived in Travis
County a short time before moving to Somervell County to
start their family. There were eleven children born of
this marriage, most of born in Somervell County. John and
his family then decided to move on to Brown County where
they divorced with Ellen Parton never marrying again. John
married again to Jenny Carter. She had two children from
previous marriage. John died Jan. 24, 1924 and is buried
in Greenleaf Cemetery in Brownwood, Texas. Ellen York
Parton passed away Mar. 1, 1908 and is buried in Greenleaf
Cemetery in Brownwood, Texas.
(8.) Sarah Elizabeth Parton b.
Mar. 23, 1852 married Joseph B. Trammel in Somervell
County in 1875. Uncertain the number of children born of
this marriage. Sarah Parton Trammel died in Dallas County.
Apr. 19, 1923, where her children were living. Joseph
Trammel died in Dallas County also in 1928. Both were
brought back to Somervell County and buried at Rock Creek
Cemetery.
The next children were born in
Texas :
(9.) W.J. b. 1854 in Texas --
No info at all on W.J. ??
(10.) Sylvester Parton b. Aug.
27, 1858 in Texas, first married Elizabeth (Unknown) and
not sure how many children were born of this marriage.
Believed to be just one. Elizabeth passed away and
Emanuel and Nancy Parton cared for the child until
Sylvester married again. Sylvester married Sarah Catherine
Early. I believe there were more children but not sure how
many. Sylvester died Nov. 19, 1925 in Dallas County. Don't
know where he is buried.
(11.) Daniel James Parton b.
???? No info, died maybe as an infant ?
(12.) Andrew Jackson Parton,
Jr. b. ???? No info, died maybe as an infant ?
There is an amusing story
that has been told for several generations about some man
coming to the Parton's door late one evening not feeling
very well and need care. The Partons took him in and
nursed him while he was trying to recover. He had told the
Partons that he was trying to get to his family, but it
still too far and he did not think he could make it before
he passed away. For the trouble of the Partons taking him
in and caring for him, he left them his wagon and all
contents. he told them of a lot of gold he was carrying
and he wanted tem to have it for taking in a total
stranger and caring for him. The stranger did pass away
and there was untold amount of gold bars he had hidden in
his wagon. Andrew Jackson Parton had also become very sick
and was in bed when he heard relatives fighting about who
was going to get what, so he got out of bed and took the
wagon and left with a rifle and stated that anyone who
followed would not get home alive. He was way after dark
getting home and had to be carried back into the house and
put to bed. The family was afraid he would pass away
before he could tell them where he had hidden the gold, so
they, one at a time tried to get him to tell the hiding
place. He finally gave in to tell them but made them
promise to never fight over the gold and destroy the
family. He gave as was told, mixed up directions and it it
believed to have never been found. Supposed to have been
in Rock Creek in a hole of water.
Oh well, I
just love the story anyway ! Who knows, it might be true
!
.LaVelle Chasteen
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