The Henry W. Kingsbery Story by Mrs. W. L. Woodward

Henry Williams Kingsbery was born in Carrollton, Georgia, Feb. 24, 1847. At the age of 15 he enlisted in the Confederate Army and served in John Beal’s Battalion until the war was over, and General Lee’s surrender at Appomatax, in 1865.

He came to Texas in 1876, and spent the winter in Medina and Frio Counties gathering a herd of cattle which he drove up the trail to Abilene, Kansas, being the nearest rail road town. This was in the spring of 1877. Later he made other trips over the Historic Trails to other markets in Kansas. His experience at the heels of a restless herd through Indian County, beset by storms, blizzards, and flooding streams, made each up the long trail a hazardous adventure. He told many thrilling stories to we children around the fireside, of his early life in Texas, Merle Kingsbury (Kingsbery) Woodward wrote in the story of her father. He came to Coleman County in 1882, and established his own ranch in the cedar breaks of Home Creek.

In 1892 Father was elected Sheriff and tax collector of Coleman County. He sold his ranch to Mr. Pfluger and moved to Coleman. Mr. Pfluger came in from a Lutheran settlement near Florence, Texas. He owned and managed this ranch for many years. His son Paul still owns and keeps the fine old Ranch down on Home Creek.

Father married the year of his election to Kallie Lane, of Georgetown, Texas. They lived the two years of his office in Coleman, and at the expiration of this term at Mother’s request, they moved back to the country and bought out Mr. Leedy’s 1800 acre ranch and became a stock farmer. He rented his farm, and devoted his time to raising of cattle and “Good Horses”, when horses were horses, and mules were mules, and appreciated as such. He prided himself on being responsible for some of the finest stock in the County, for he bred only the best. Never did he look more “the Southern Gentleman”, than when he was driving a team of high stepping, spirited horses to his carriage or when he was astride a truly good saddle horse. He also bred work horses and the mule teams, always demanded …(illegible) prices.

There was a good five room white house on the ranch, and an orchard of fine peach and pear trees. Mother’s brother O. C. Lane was a partner in Father’s business.

Father was very civic minded, and always interested in helping his fellow man, though some times undeserving. He considered it his duty to help those who needed it, the deserving, being encouraged and helped financially and other wise. He was a bank director, and a member of the Methodist church, serving on the Official Board of the latter, as well as promoting the first glass factory in Santa Anna, besides his activities in oil and gas.

Through the efforts of Fred Turner, and Capt. J. A. Robertson of Galveston, Texas, drilling was started in Coleman County and the first gas well was on our ranch. The Santa Anna Gas Co. was organized, the town was piped and a main line laid to the well. Gas was ignited first at a great celebration, in the fall of 1913. I remember I shot a Roman Candle into the escaping gas that was ignited that night, and in a few days many people in town were cooking with gas.

Later farm homes as well were enjoying the commodity.

Our mother died in 1899 and was buried in the family plot in La Grange, Georgia, since the family was there at the time of her death. In 1901 Father married Miss Cora Berry, of Granbury, who died in the town of Santa Anna in 1948. During her life time the ranch home was remodeled and enlarged.

My brother Howard married Mabel Woodward, Santa Anna, and their oldest son was named for my father. Henry Williams is a graduate of Texas A&M and is a chemist for Port Neches Butane Co. and lived in Beaumont, Texas. His second son [Jack] also is a graduate of A&M and is now owner of a ranch near Batesville, Texas, and lives there, co-owner of a large herd of Fine Brahma cattle.

The youngest of Howard’s boys is Tom, a graduate of Texas Tech., Lubbock, Texas, and is living at home operating a cattle ranch with his father, who also is busily engaged serving as Vice-Chairman on the committee of Production-Market-Association at College Station - Bryan, Texas.

My brother Carroll married Marguerite Barnes, daughter of J. D. Barnes, Santa Anna. They have three children and live on the old home place. The old house, a land mark of many years standing, with its repair and remodeling, was torn down in 1950, and a modern ranch home replacing it sits on the original site. His son Maurice is a Junior in Texas Tech, and is majoring in Animal Husbandry, as did his cousins, Tom and Jack. Carroll’s oldest daughter [Carolyn] married Jesse T. Garrett, who is associated in stock raising, having interest in a herd of good Polled Herefords, with his father-in-law on the ranch. Kay the youngest child is a student in Santa Anna grade school.