General Notes

[basham.ged]
Sarah "Sallie" and Joe came to Texas in a wagon train, leaving Alabama O
ct ober 9, 1866, and arrived at the cabin in the forks of Chambers and Tu
rk ey Creeks on December 12, 1866.
FOR MY CHILDREN - Sallie Almeida (Fenley) Prestridge
October 22, 1866, we left Tomkinsville, Choctaw County, Alabama for Te
xa s, a big crowd of us . . . .B.B.Prestridge and family, Fannie and Joh
nn ie Barbour, W.A. Prestridge and family, J.B. Prestridge and fami l
y, S. A. Bryant and wife (Tipper), Doc Ward and family, and Mrs. Ward's br
othe rs -- John and Joe Blackwell.
We had a tough trip of it, seven weeks on the road, and in Louisia
na , Mr s. Ward's little girl, Willie, died and was buried there - awful s
ad times .
We landed in Johnson County at Uncle Archie Spears, December 8, 186
6. My J oseph and Brother Alex Bryant bought the little place in the fo
rk s of t he creeks and we moved into it on December 13, 1866.  Tipper cry
ed and d id not want to unload their wagon, such a sorry looking pla
ce to live i n, but I was delighted to get to any stopping place with my p
recious ba by and went ahead helping get supper, singing, and I have alwa
ys been gl ad that we came to Grand Old Texas.
Sallie Alemida Prestridge
Tuesday, February 8, 1927-
The year of 1885 was a very sad time for Grandma Sallie.  She lost to d
ea th her oldest child, Joe Russell in October  29,  and a week later, Gra
nd pa was transporting a bale of cotton to the gin, when a rope broke a
nd t he heavy  sacks of cotton rolled down on the mules, causing them to r
un-aw ay.  Grandpa fell down on the tongue and one of the mules kicked h
im in t he head.  The Doctor operated and put a "piece of Silver" in his h
ea d.  He lived about a week, and knew the family; but infection s
et in a nd he died on November 13.
Copied from the Friday, August 19, 1927 issue of THE ALVARADO BULLETIN
Death Comes to a Pioneer Resident
With the dawn of a new day on Wednesday the earthly life of one of th
is co mmunity's most venerable and beloved residents came to an end when M
rs. S. A. Prestridge passed away at the home of son, W.E.
Prestridge, two miles east of Alvarado.  Mrs. Prestridge had been in dec
li ning health for some time, and her death was not unexpected at this tim
e.
The deceased was born on May 18, 1844 at Mount Sterling, Alabama, the da
ug hter of John and Elizabeth (Bessie) Morris Fenley.  On October 25, 186
5, s he was married to Joseph B. Prestridge, of Tompkinsville, Alabama, a
nd t he young couple came to Texas, Johnson County, arriving here on Dece
mb er 8, 1866.  Here Mr. Prestridge passed away on November 13, 1885, a
nd Mr s. Prestridge has made her home in this immediate vicinity for a lo
ng peri od of almost 61 years, thus taking her place as
one of our oldest and most honored pioneer residents.
Mrs. Prestridge was one of the most saintly and loveable characters th
at h as ever been our pleasure to know.
Since early life she has been a member of the Baptist Church, and he
re w as a life spent in real christian work devoted loyalty to her Mast
er and f or the happiness and welfare of her loved ones and friends.
She was know to hundreds of people and to her last days she was immen
se ly interested in their welfare and in the current progress of even
ts in h er home community and state.
Mrs. Prestridge has had her part in wholesome influences for good citize
ns hip, and also in helping to bring this community from its crude pione
er da ys up to its present state of modern environment, she has done her w
ork no bly and unselfishly.  Thus we honor her memory and pay full tribu
te to h er splendid quality of fine christian character.
At the Bulletin's press time on Thursday forenoon, it was announced th
at t he funeral services will be held at the Baptist Church of this cit
y, wi th the Rev. Ross Holland in charge of the service, at four o'clock
Thursday afternoon, and interment was to be made in the fami