Cause of Death:<CAUS> Cancer of the liver at age 68
[fratesseeligson.FTW]
[Brøderbund WFT Vol. 5, Ed. 1, Tree #1913, Date of Import: May 19, 1999]
Milton Garrett York, Sr. was born in San Augustine County, Texas,
September 5, 1843, during the time that Texas was an independent
country. A marker was dedicated in his honor, Monday, December 8, 1985.
That marker is located on the Southwest corner of the Lee County
Courthouse property. Some of the relatives present during the dedication
were Dr. C. L. York, grandson, Mrs. Miriam York (wife of grandson),
Milton York Tate, Jr. and James Hallam Tate, great grandsons.
It is say that he fought in the Civil War (Confederate Army) as a private
in the 5th Calvary of Texas, CPT G. W. Campbell's Company, 5th Regiment,
Texas Mounted Volunteers.
He served a Lee County Commissioner during the organization of Lee
County. and served one term in the House of Representatives, Twenty
Second Legislature.
BIOGRAPHY OF MILTON G. YORK, SR.
The first of his family know, as tradition has it, handed down from
father to son, as follows: The first Yorks known was that Aaron and Levi
York's father and mother, after their marriage and while young, crossed
the Appalachian Mountains from North Carolina to North East Tennessee, on
their ponies with all their earthly possessions. When their sons, Aaron
and Levi York were about grown they decided they wanted to go to Texas.
In the early 1830's they left their home in Tennessee for Texas, supplied
eith provisions and some funds for travel.
Their journey had been uneventful until they stopped in Mississippi to
work some to replenish their supplies; while working they contracted
malaria, becomming very sick, after sever weeks, Grandfather Aaron York
thoroughly recovered, but his brother Levi was still too weak to continue
the journey. Aaron York became restless over the delay and decided to
leave his brother to come on when able. Aaron York's next stop was in
San Augustine County, Texas.
When Levi York left Mississippi, he went into Arkansas and settled in
Hempstead County. Aaron York preempted a tract of land in San Augustine
County and improved it, making it his home. He found a wife in Jasper
County, marrying Ruth Lucas. To this union were born three boys, Robert,
William and Milton Garret, the youngest, who became my father.
Milton's mother died when he was a baby and his father died when he was
nearly thirteen years old. His brothers went to their mother's people in
Jasper County,. Later they went with their mother's people to Washington
County, Texas, into the part that is now in Lee County.
My Father, Milton G. was sent to live with his Uncle Levi York in
Hemstead County, Arkansas. When he was thirteen, his uncle obtained a
Star mail route from his town of Fulton to other points, putting him on a
little mule to carry the mail. He had been influenced by some one to go
to school and get an education. A night school was being taught in
Fulton on the Red River. He decided to enter this night school. He
carried the mail nearly three years. He became greatly interested in the
school, applied himself zealously for three years, and for those frontier
times, was considered well educated. Just afgter he was sixteen; his
uncle Levi decided to move to Texas, going to Kaufman County, where he
located. Milton decided to return to his old home, which he did and
clerked in a store in San Augustine for six months, but he was so anxious
to see his brothers, he decided to join them and his mother's people in
Washington County. He had not been with them but a short while, when the
people of the settlement learned of his education and he was persuaded to
teach school; he soon consented, next they needed a school house. The
people gathered in and a log house was built and he was installed as
teacher, teaching several months until he decided on his eightee