Descriptive Summary
Whitsett, Samuel J. (Samuel Jefferson), 1852-1901
Samuel J. Whitsett Family Papers
1841, 1870-1906
Materials are in English.
Col 921
0.4 linear feet (1 box)
Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library at the Alamo, San Antonio, Texas
Native Texan Samuel Jefferson Whitsett (1852-1901) joined his father in raising sheep and cattle on the family ranch in DeWitt County after the Civil War. Whitsett eventually owned land and ranched in Atascosa County before relocating to Floresville in Wilson County.
The collection contains correspondence, financial documents, records related to cattle and other livestock, land records, and other items associated with the business activities of Samuel J. Whitsett and family members.
Biographical Note
Samuel Jefferson Whitsett was born in Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas, in 1852, the oldest of six children born to Richard Guilford Whitsett (1828-1883) and Jane T. Hill. A native of North Carolina, Richard Whitsett was a teacher and farmer in Alabama before coming to Texas with his wife in 1850. Settling in Washington-on-the-Brazos, Richard secured a teaching position and began raising sheep and cattle. He later acquired land and ranched in DeWitt County, expanding his operation after serving in the Confederate army during the Civil War. When his schooling was complete, Samuel Whitsett joined his father in raising livestock; he eventually owned land and ranched in Atascosa County and later relocated to Floresville in Wilson County. The town of Whitsett in Live Oak County is named for Samuel’s brother Taylor Whitsett (1865-circa 1915), who was also a stockman and rancher.
Samuel Whitsett married Rhoda Frances Pullen (1855-1939) in Gonzales County on 1873 December 27. The couple had three children: Emmett Lyons (1876-1953), Ola (1877-1933), and Ada (1879-1966). Samuel Whitsett died on 1901 March 23 and was buried in the Floresville City Cemetery.
References
Stoddard, Julia.
Gonzales County, Texas, Marriage Records, vol. 2. St. Louis, Missouri: Frances T. Ingmire, 1985.
Whitsett, ---. “The Whitsetts: Teaching First, Then Ranching!”
Stirpes: Texas State Genealogical Society Quarterly 39:1 (March 1999):11-15.
Scope and Content Note
The collection contains correspondence, financial documents, records related to cattle and other livestock, land records, and other items associated with the business activities of Samuel J. Whitsett and family members. Most letters refer to land or livestock transactions. Other papers related to livestock include several bills of sale and receipts. Land records include deeds to property in several Texas counties. A memorandum book contains entries on land, livestock, and financial matters.
Organization of Collection
This collection is organized into five series.
- Series 1: Correspondence
- Series 2: Financial records
- Series 3: Livestock records
- Series 4: Land records
- Series 5: Miscellaneous papers
Access Restrictions
No restrictions. The collection is open for research.
Usage Restrictions
Please be advised that the library does not hold the copyright to most of the material in its archival collections. It is the responsibility of the researcher to secure those rights when needed. Permission to reproduce does not constitute permission to publish. The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming to the laws of copyright, literary property rights, and libel.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Samuel J. Whitsett Family Papers, 1841, 1870-1906, Col 921, Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library, San Antonio, Texas.
Acquisition Information
The donor of the collection and the date of acquisition are unknown.
Processing Information
Processed by Warren Stricker, 1999 January.
Finding aid edited and encoded by Caitlin Donnelly, 2011 November.
Index Terms
Personal Names
Whitsett, Samuel J.
Subjects
Cattle trade--Texas--Records and correspondence.
Land titles--Registration and transfer--Texas.
Ranchers--Texas.
Genres/Formats
Family papers.
Correspondence.
Deeds.
Financial records.
Property records.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series 1: Correspondence, 1877-1906, undated
1
1
1877-1884
1
2
1885-1887
1
3
1888-1906, undated
Series 2: Financial records, 1874-1903
1
Bills and receipts, 1874-1903
1
4
General, 1874-1900
1
Tax receipts, 1875-1903
1
5
Atascosa County, Texas, 1884-1899
1
6
Bexar County, Texas, 1895
1
7
Caldwell County, Texas, 1889, 1899
1
8
DeWitt County, Texas, 1875-1883
1
9
Gonzales County, Texas, 1879-1884
1
10
Guadalupe County, Texas, Fritz and W. Schlueter, 1876-1903
1
11
Live Oak County, Texas, 1885-1900
1
12
City of Luling, Texas, 1889, 1898, 1900
1
13
General Land Office, 1881-1901
1
14
Cattle Raisers’ Association of Texas, 1894-1900
1
15
Promissory notes, 1874-1894
1
16
Miscellaneous financial records, 1878-1881
Series 3: Livestock records, 1873-1899
1
17-18
Bills of sale, 1873-1899
1
19
Receipts, 1873-1899
1
20
Legal documents, 1878-1887, undated
1
21
Certificates, 1875, 1895
Series 4: Land records, 1841, 1870-1887
1
Deeds, 1841, 1870-1887
1
22
D. O. Warren to J. S. Bell, Montgomery County, Texas, 1841 October 26.
1
Frances M. Pullen to Jessie J. Pullen, Mollie E. Bell, Sarah I. Pullen, Fannie R. Pullen and Bird S. Pullen, Comanche County, Texas, 1870 June 21.
1
A. T. Hassell, Martha J. Hassell, J. M. Wheat and Amanda S. Wheat to Francis Cochran, Gonzales and De Witt Counties, Texas, circa 1870.
1
23
H. S. Parker to R. G. Whitsett, Gonzales County, Texas, 1871 November 2.
1
Jesse W. Johnson and H. A. Lancaster to J. J. Pullen, Bird S. Pullen, Sam J. Whitsett, Fannie Whitsett, W. S. Terry, Sallie J. Terry, James Bell and Mary E. Bell, Comanche County, Texas, 1876 October 10.
1
Sam J. Whitsett and Fannie Whitsett to I. W. Holmes, Comanche County, Texas, 1877 June 30.
1
R. G. Whitsett and Jane Y. Whitsett to Sam J. Whitsett, De Witt and Gonzales Counties, Texas, 1877 November 9.
1
24
J. J. Pullen to Sam J. Whitsett, Comanche County, Texas, 1878 May 13.
1
Sam J. Whitsett and Fannie Whitsett to William C. Burks, Comanche County, Texas, 1878 May 23.
1
Friedrich Kuebel to George H. Schmitt, Comal County, Texas, 1880 December 14.
1
George C. Gordon to A. H. Lasater, Atascosa County, Texas, 1881 September 17.
1
25
S. T. Hassell to Sam J. Whitsett, Gonzales and De Witt Counties, Texas, 1887 February 24.
1
R. F. Smith and S. L. Smith to Sam J. Whitsett, Gonzales and De Witt Counties, Texas, 1887 February 28.
1
Jesse S. Hassell to Sam J. Whitsett, Gonzales and De Witt Counties, Texas, 1887 April 26.
1
W. H. Cundiff to Sam J. Whitsett, De Witt County, Texas, 1887.
1
26
Miscellaneous land records, 1878-1881
1
27
Survey field notes, 1875, undated
Series 5: Miscellaneous papers, 1874-1887
1
28
Memorandum book: financial, land, and cattle records
1
29
General legal documents, 1874-1886
1
30
Registry receipts, 1883, 1887
1
31
Printed material
1
32
Envelopes