William A Petty using information from Vera Apperson English
James Petty Apperson, born April 15, 1829, in Henry County, Tenn., was the 3d child of Peter and Elizabeth Petty Apperson. He was taken by his parents to live near Springfield, Green County, Mo., in 1831, where he grew up and received a public school education. He was a friendly person and we can be sure he took part in the usual church, social and civic activities of the community. His family was active in the Baptist Church and his Grandfather, Rev. Ralph Petty at the time was a very prominent Baptist Minister in Kentucky.
James Petty Apperson loved his adopted State of Texas. As told before, Peter Apperson procured land grants, bought out head-rights and land from other settlers until he owned several thousand acres of land and my Grandfather was very helpful to him in management of the large estate. Petty Apperson had his good times and fun too. He liked to dance! After he changed from the Baptist to membership in the Methodist Church he was very opposed to it. His special dancing partner after she arrived in Texas from Illinois in 1848 was Mary Catherine Gray, born November 24,1831 at Butler, Ill., the daughter of Andrew Kincade and Elizabeth Overtreet Gray. The first Gray in America was Alexander who came from Ireland in 1736 and settled in that part of Virginia now in North Carolina.
Text: p. 79
Text: p. 80Title: The Apperson Family in America
Author: Vera Apperson English
Publication: self-published, 1977
Text: p. 79
Title: The Apperson Family in America
Author: Vera Apperson English
Publication: self-published, 1977
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Danni,
Have some info that may match with what you are looking for. I am related to Peter Apperson (1784-1853), older brother to Francis Apperson and son of William Apperson of Surry Co., NC.I've heard Francis called "Doc" and that the brothers all left TN Jan 21,1816 for MO to purchase land near Pisgah, MO. I know that my great grandfather James Petty Apperson left the home of his father Peter Apperson in Greene County, Missouri at the age of 16 on foot with 4 Negroes and an Irishman for Texas to purchase land after the admission of Texas to the US. Ended up settling by Waxahachie Creek south of Dallas, just one mile below Waxahachie. Peter eventually owned several thousands acres and ws considered to be one of the wealthiest, if not the wealthiest man in Navarro County (Now Ellis Co.)
I've got more information on family and decendents that I'm willing to share. email me with any info or requests you have
Posted by Brad Robbins
CENSUS RECORDS:
......1900 Census: Oak CLiff Town, Dallas County, Texas, 7 Justice Precinct District 145: Household 318: Page 241:
Address: 222 Lancaster Avenue
Apperson, James A., age 71, April 1829, TN, NC, KY, Married 50 Years
Apperson, Mary C., age 68, Nov. 1831, IL, VA, KY, Married 50 Years, 9 Children, 6 Living
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------JAMES PETTY APPERSON; APPERSON TO TEXAS
When Texas won her independence from Mexico, the roads were filled by travelers going to Texas induced by tales of glowing opportunities there.
Following the admission of Texas in to the United States in 1845, Peter Apperson decided the family's opportunity was not in Missouri but in Texas. Inspired by his son, James Petty, Peter sent the 16 year old boy, with an overseer and slaves, south to Texas to buy land and build a new home for the family.
In James Petty Apperson's own account to the Waxahachic newspaper, the "Enterprise", in 1888---"When a beardless boy of sixteen, I started for Texas, leaving my father's home in Greene County, Missouri, afoot, with my gun on my shoulder, in company with four Negroes and an Irishman by the name of Michael thomas Flaherty. We started on the 29th day of October, 1845. We had a long, tedious trip, as we were moving by ox wagon. We arrived at Coffee's Bend on Red River about the 1st of December. A few miles from the river, we came to the prairie. It seemed that we were at sea, without compass or rudder, not a house to be seen until we got to Whit Rock Creek, just north of Dallas. We arrived at Cedar Srpings on the Trinity River about the 8th of December in the midst of a snowstorm. here we met with Louis Hickey and old man Stephenson, who were moving with those families. Here we also met W. J. Stokes and James Pullen, then belonging to the Ranger Service (Texas Rangers)."
"Our oxen had commenced dying, in consequence of which we dispatched Patrick P. Smith to Chambers Creek (now Midlothian), for more oxen. Before he returned, the snow had disappeared, revealing the finest carpet of green grass that I had ever seen...."
"When Patrick Smith got back with a recruit of oxen, we took up the line of march and, as the melting snow had left the roads in a very bad shape, that day we only got to Five Mile Creek; the next day to Ten Mile Creek, then Red Oak; the next day to Waxahachie Creek, camping on the south side of the creek, one mile below your beautiful little city by the same name."
Apparently, Peter and his party considered settling closer to the city of Dallas near the area of the present Fair Grounds. They observed, however, that the trees seemed to be only scrawny oak and that the land was poor and probably not suited for heavy farming. So they pressed on for about thirty miles to where they found suitable land and a good spring of water near Waxahachie Creek. Here they settled and built the Apperson Farm. Eventually, Peter Apperson owned several thousand acres and was considered to be one of the wealthiest, if not the wealthiest man in Navarro, latter Ellis County.
Coffe's Bend; This may have been Coffee's Station, sometimes called Lower Station. It was the last of the Red River trading posts established by Holland Coffee. originally built in 1837 on a north-south Indian trail on the south bank of the Red River in what was later Grayson County, the village of Preston grew up around the station. The station was north of present day Sherman and is now covered by Lake Texoma. "New Handbook of Texas."
http://www.geocities.com/dannimonn/notes9.html
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Minutes of the Ellis County Commissioners' Court 1850 - 1853Monday and Tuesday, Nov. 18 and 19, 1850
Court held at courthouse in Waxahachie. Ordered: Charles H. Barker, Malcomb Johnson, David P. Fearis and Emory W. Rogers to mark best way for a road toward Taos in Navarro County as far as county line. Joseph Boren, Silas M. Durrett, James E. Patton, Jonathan E. Prince, and James P. Apperson to mark best way for a road from Waxahachie to Corsicana as far as Chamber's Creek. The road from Dallas to Waxahachie and on to Chamber's Creek designated a county road, divided into two precincts:
No. 1: beginning on Grove Creek at crossing of old Dallas Road, north with road to Dallas County line, west on line 2 miles above township line; south on line to point on divide between north fork of Waxahachie and Grove Creeks, down Creek to beginning. Road hands living within bounds: John Billingsley, William T. Patton, Robert Bell (overseer), John Nugent, George C. Parks, James J. Clayton, Henderson Hurst, Andrew Downing, Josiah P. Woolsey, Jonathan Billingsley, John Chapman, Isaac Hurst, John Hurst, William Hurst, Samuel Patton and Joel S. Davis.
No. 2: beginning at southwest corner of Pct. 1, north to Daniel Heater's, south to divide between fork of Waxahachie and Onion Creek, down divide east to point opposite David P. Ferris, then straight line to old Dallas road crossing on Grove Creek, up creek with south line of Pct. 1 to beginning. Hands living within bounds: Jonathan E. Prince (overseer), Robert Mayfield, Jasper Marchbanks, William Weaver, Emory W. Rogers, Edward Turpen, Thomas Stevens, Wm. T. Briggs, Harold Marchbanks, John Gilmore, John W. Berry, B. F. Hawkins, G. L. Hickey, Chas. H. Barker, Norman Whittenburg, George Cunningham, M. T. Flaherty, David P. Fearis, Robert M. Berry, John Mathews, Peter Apperson, James P. Apperson.
No. 3: to include all settlers living on waters of Chambers and Onion Creek within five miles of Dallas Road: Mr. Lacy, Wm Smith, N. B. Brooks, Mr. Hammack, E. H. Tarrant, William Young, Joel Mitchell, Alexander McCulloch, James Jackson, Seth A. Taylor and Edmond Carter; Guy Stokes overseer.
Ordered: Joseph Whittenberg's report on building of courthouse approved.Regular Term of Court, Monday, Nov. 15, 1852.
Ordered approved: James Markey's claim for 640 acres due him as a Peters Colonist (He had settled prior to July 1, 1848 but received no certificate). Report for road from Waxahachie toward Waco, precincts as follows:No. 1: to begin at Mr. Kinzy's south to county line, with line southwest to Acquilla Creek, N. 30 west to Iceland fork of Chambers Creek, down to head of Hog Creek, down it to crossing of Turner's precinct line and with that line to beginning. Hands living within bounds: Elias McKey (overseer), G. W. DeVere, Charles Davis, John P. Randal, Wm. H., Burns, J. M. Sanford, Joel Mitchell, Thos. Davis.
Pct 2: To begin at mouth of Iceland ford, cross Chambers Creek to head of Greathouse Branch; on straight line to mound on south fork of Waxahachie; north to its north fork; down creek to point opposite NW corner of P. Apperson's field, on straight line to Hinds' on Chambers Creek, south to Hog Creek, up it to mouth and straight line to beginning. Hands living within bounds: N. P. Sims (overseer); E. M. Brock, Josiah Millshire, P. C. Sims, A. C. Low, Lewis D. Low, J. P. Apperson.Pct. 3: to begin at N. W. corner Pct. 2 on north fork of Onion Creek, along west line of Waxahachie to Franklin Street, east to town's lower boundary, down north fork of Waxahachie to forks, then to crossing of Tarrant's Mill road on Onion Creek and up creek to beginning. Hands:
P. Apperson, Clint Sweatt, Edward Sweatt, Quincy Sweatt, Wesley Young, Harvey W. Young, Alexander Sweatt, Calvin Marchbanks, Russell Marchbanks, John J. Gilmore, John W. Berry, Jessey L. Herring, William Young, Wm. C. Sweatt (overseer)
Jonathan E. Prince, J. H. Boyd, Daniel Weaver, Jourden Powers and James Laughlin appoiont4ed to mark route for road from Waxahachie to Birdsville in Tarrant County as far as county line.
Court adjourned.He is listed as being born in Missouri by his daugther Eula May Apperson Browning in the 1920 Census.
1880 Census Place: Precinct 5, Dallas, Texas
Source: FHL Film 1255299 National Archives Film T9-1299 Page 285C
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
J. P. APPERSON Self M W 51 TN
Occ: Farmer Fa: NC Mo: KY
Mary C. APPERSON Wife F M W 48 IL
Occ: Keeping House Fa: VA Mo: TN
A. P. APPERSON Son M W 18 TX
Occ: At Home Fa: TN Mo: IL
Minnie APPERSON Dau F W 15 TX
Occ: At Home Fa: TN Mo: IL
T. M. L. APPERSON Son M S W 12 TX
Occ: At Home Fa: TN Mo: IL
E. May APPERSON Dau F S W 8 TX
Fa: TN Mo: IL
N. S. WATTS Other M W 19 TX
Occ: Laborer Fa: IL Mo: TN
William A Petty
Title: The Apperson Family in America
Author: Vera Apperson English
Publication: self-published, 1977
Text: p. 79Title: The Apperson Family in America
Author: Vera Apperson English
Publication: self-published, 1977
Archive record, Wm A Petty
William A Petty
William A Petty
William A Petty
death also 1925
William A Petty
He is not in the 1880 Census with the family
could be same individual as RIN 10602
CENSUS RECORDS:
......1900 Census: Ellis County, Texas: Household 172, Family 174 : Page 41:
Nowlin, Peyton, age 73, Aug. 1826, AR, Widow, Farmer, Owns Home
Nowlin, Emma, Sr., age 8, Jan. 1892, TX
Roberts, William C., age 21, AR,Sept. 1878, Boarder, Married One Year, Farm Labor
Roberts, Carrie, age 17, AL, Feb. 1883, Boarder, Married One Year, Housekeeper, No Children
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------------1880 Census Place: District 44, Waxahachie, Ellis, Texas
Source: FHL Film 1255301 National Archives Film T9-1301 Page 358D
Relation Sex Marr Race Age Birthplace
Peyton NOWLIN Self M M W 53 AR
Occ: Grand Lecturer Masonic Fa: KY Mo: TN
Harriet NOWLIN Wife F M W 52 TN
Occ: Keeping House Fa: NC Mo: KY
Lizzie NOWLIN Dau F S W 30 MO
Fa: AR Mo: TN
Peyton NOWLIN Son M S W 25 MO
Fa: AR Mo: TN
Estelle NOWLIN Dau F S W 15 TX
Fa: AR Mo: TN
William NOWLIN Son M S W 14 TX
Occ: At Home Fa: AR Mo: TN
Albert NOWLIN Son M S W 12 TX
Occ: At Home Fa: AR Mo: TN
William A Petty
I had the 30th of Nov. as birth date
Harriett Isabelle Apperson, second daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Petty Apperson, was born Nov. 27, 1827, near Paris, Henry County, Tenn, In 183l, she went with the rest of the family to live near Springfield, Greene County, Mo., where she grew up. It is said she was fun loving and a very beautiful young lady. She and her sister, Louisa Jane, had fun going to parties and dances about the neighborhood with their cousin, James Milton Apperson, called Milton, who lived nearby. After the three married they lived within visiting distance until Milton moved to California, Mo. Mr. Spaulding, Waxahachie, Texas, who gave us data on the Nowlin family said that Aunt Harriet was a fine looking, handsome woman during her mature years and that her daughter Stell resembled her. The writer reembers Cousin Stell and knows she was a lovely person.
On September 23, 1845, prior to her eighteenth birthday, Harriett Apperson married Peyton Nowlin, a young man who had gone to Greene County from Arkansas, where he was born August 18, 1826. It is believed he was a son of U.S. Senator Peyton Nowlin of Arkansas and Lucy Townsend, born in Scotland. Following their marriage, Harriett Apperson and Peyton Nowlin settled on a farm near Springfield, where the first five of their eight children were born.
Text: p. 76Title: The Apperson Family in America
Author: Vera Apperson English
Publication: self-published, 1977
William A Petty
William A Petty
Lives with sister Sarah in 1880 Census
William A Petty
Civil War for Tazewell Thomas Ward. listed as Thomas Tazwell: Company E, 16th Missouri Calvary, USA
Taswell T. Ward (First_Last)
Regiment Name 16 Missouri Calvary
Side: Union
Company E
Soldier's rank _in Pvt
Soldier's rank_Out Pvt.
Alternate Name: Tazewell T./Ward
Notes
Film # M390 roll 51 Source: Civil War Soldiers and sailors System (National Park Service)1880 Census:
Nov 1832 I had as birth date