Wood County, 1850-1900 Page: 60
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tached with weight poles. The Baileys quickly became
a part of the community. They joined the Caney Creek
Baptist Church in 1857, and were baptized by the
Reverend Ben Elder.
In 1846, before coming to Texas, Bailey had sold
the first bale of cotton to be sold in Atlanta, Georgia.
At that time, Atlanta was called Marthasville, and
consisted of three log business houses. The cotton sold
for 5e a pound.
During the 1881 Atlanta Exposition, the city in-
vited Bailey to attend at the city's expense. He was in-
troduced as the man who started the wheels of com-
merce rolling in Atlanta.
John Bailey served in the Confederate Army two
years, attached to the Wells Battalion, and was
stationed in the Choctaw Nation near Fort Smith,
Arkansas.
The Bailey's nearest neighbors were Quince and
Tom McWright, Harvey Taylor, Billy Wright, Tobe
Long, and Lige Thomas. Captain Henry Stout lived 5
miles west on Stout Creek. "Widow" Carver lived 8
miles north. The Baileys were the parents of 13
children.
THOMAS CALVIN BAIN, born in Kentucky,
came to Wood County in the 1850's. He married
Samantha Angeline Waskom in 1865. In 1870, Bain
was a saddler and ran a stagecoach line known as C.
Bain & Company Stagecoach Line. It served the south-
western part of the state as far as Fort Concho, Mason,
Menard, and San Antonio. Calvin died in 1872, but the
stagecoach was in operation as late as 1878.
Source: Mrs. Griffin L. Hardin
ELIJAH BAKER, born 1810, and his wife, Mary,
born 1813, in Tennessee, came to Wood County several
years prior to the Civil War. In 1860 their post office
was Holly Springs. The Bakers lived for a number of
years in Alabama before coming to Wood County. Four
of their six children were born there.
Their first child, Rachel, born 1833, married
Wesley Shoemaker in Tennessee. They moved to Wood
County prior to 1860 and settled in the Forest Hill
Community. Their children were J. W. (Bud), married
Jennie Frazier; Thomas, James Lindsey and Amanda,who married John Cain; Mary, married Felix Amason,
and Betty married Henry Williams.George C., eldest son of Elijah and Mary, married
(1) Nancy --; (2) Neelie Smart. He enlisted in Com-
pany Nine of the Twelfth Brigade, formed in Wood
County July 1861, under the command of Captain W.
R. Thorne of Holly Springs.
Children of George C. and Nancy Baker were Joe,
married Carrie Walton; Tom, married Mary
Reinhardt, and Sally, married Walter Davis.
John, second sone of Elijah and Mary, did not
marry. He also served in the Confederate Army. After
his return home he lived in the Shady Grove and Stout
Communities. John was known as the money lender of
his community. He is said to have carried a plentiful
supply of gold money in his saddlebag.
Elizabeth, born 1838 in Alabama, married John
M. Roberts of the Lone Star Community. They later
moved to the Peter Gunstream place. Their children
are listed under the John M. Roberts family.
The children of Felix and Mary Shoemaker
Amason were Cordia, Clevie and Lee. Children of J. W.
(Bud) and Jennie Frazier Shoemaker were Rachael,
Amy, Nellie, Myrtle, J. W. (Jumbo), Bruce and
Grogan.
Children of Henry and Betty Shoemaker Williams
were Claire, Ila and Roger. Children of John and
Amanda Shoemaker Cain were Milo, Bury, Buford,
Lillie and Leslie.
Two other children of Elijah and Mary Baker were
Joseph Powell and Amanda, who died early in life.
Submitted by Ona Wood
JOHN MADISON BALLARD, and his family
arrived in Wood County at the beginning of the 1880's.
He was a son of Whorton F. and Sarah Ann Sharp
Ballard, born near Cedar Creek, Coweta County,
Georgia 3 August 1852. On 20 April 1879 he married
Laura Weston McKoy in Campbell County, Georgia.
In the fall of 1880, the Ballard family came by
train to Pittsburg, Texas, then by wagon to the At-
taway place near the Maple Springs Community in
Wood County. James M. Ballard was a farmer. He
rented land in Camp, Hopkins and Wood Counties for
many years before buying land southeast of Winnsboro
in Wood County, where he remained until his death.
James M. and Laura W. Ballard were the parents
of ten children:
Sarah Salena, born in Georgia, 1880
William Franklin, born in Wood County, 1881
James Thomas, born in Camp County, 1882Robert Leonidas, born in Wood County, 1884
Aaron Cornelius, born in Wood County, 188660
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Wood County, 1850-1900 (Book)
This text gives an overview of Wood County, Texas from roughly 1850 to 1900. It includes historical sketches of various aspects of life in the county as well as anecdotes. Genealogical information and documentation are also included for pioneer families in the area.
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Wood County Historical Society. Wood County, 1850-1900, book, 1976; Quitman, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth91051/m1/68/: accessed April 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .