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William P. Baxter, farmer and stockman, was born on February 19,
1809, in Manchester, England, and died on October 20, 1895. He is
buried in the Matagorda Cemetery. In 1832 he married Esther Wightman
Yeamans, daughter of Asa Yeamans and Jerusha Wightman Yeamans.
Esther was born June 22, 1813, in New York state and died December
7, 1901, and is also buried in the Matagorda Cemetery. She had six
brothers: Joseph, Erastus, Elias, Daniel, Caleb and Horace, and one
sister, Mary.
Baxter received land grant #103 for one-third league of land granted
on June 7, 1838. In 1931 he had received several lots in Matagorda.
Baxter sold a league of land situated at the mouth of Caney Creek to
John Duncan on January 20, 1837. William fought in the Texas
Revolution and received his discharge from the army. Henry Baxter, a brother of William P., died December 31, 1853, and William was made an administrator of that estate. William had one sister, Elizabeth, who married James Hughson on September 8, 1846. William and Esther had twelve children:
1. Caroline S., born 1834, married on April 10, 1852, to Levi
Miller.
Historic Matagorda County, Volume I, p 49 |
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Five Generations Matagorda, Texas, December 13, 1906. The above photograph is an unbroken chain of five generations in one family, viz Mrs. Esther Baxter, aged 92 years on June 23, 1906, her daughter, Mrs. Dennis Franz, 65 years October 12, 1906, and her daughter Mrs. W. C. Williams, 45 years, February 19, 1906, her son, Mr. George Williams, 26 years, October 11, 1906, and his baby daughter, Alma, who is 7 months old. All were born and reared in Matagorda county except the eldest of the group, who was born in the city of New York, June 23, 1813. She, with her parents, came to Texas in 1828 with one of Austin's colonies and landed i what is now known as the town of Matagorda, there being only one house here at that time. The subject of this sketch was married to Rev. William Baxter on Caney, November 19, 1832. To this union were born twelve children, of whom there are five living. There are eighty grandchildren, ninety-seven great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren. At the age of 82 years she was bereft of her husband, who had passed the age of three score years and ten, he being in his eighty-sixth year at the time of his death, October 30, 1895. The grandparents of Grandmother Baxter, Benjamin Wightman and wife, were the first people laid to rest in the burying ground now called the Matagorda cemetery. In their earlier days she and her husband possessed considerable property, but it has all been swept away and she now passes her time in visiting her children and grandchildren. The general health of this lady is very good indeed for one of her advanced age. For the last few years her memory seems to be failing, but at times she wakes up, as it were, and makes some very interesting talks of the past. She knows her children and grandchildren when they visit her and loves to talk to them. She sits with folded hands meekly awaiting the end, which she says she realizes is not far off, still she would like to live as long as possible that she may do all the good she can.
Houston Post, January 22, 1906 |
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Matagorda, Texas, June 15.—Mr. George Williams and wife of Bay City have the sympathy of this entire community in the death of their babe and only child, who departed this life Wednesday after a lingering illness. This is Mr. Williams’ boyhood home and he as many friends here, as well as relatives. The readers of The Post will remember seeing the photographs of this child as the fifth descendant of the unbroken chain of five generations, which was reproduced in The Post during the month of January.
Houston Post,
June 16, 1906 |
