A Guide to the Samuel J. Whitsett Family Papers, 1841, 1870-1906

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.

Restrictions

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.

Administrative Information

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.

Detailed Description of the Collection