CAPT JOHNS DYSART DEAD
Passed Away Last Saturday at
His Home Near Anna.
SEVENTY-SIX YEARS OF AGE
Democrat
January 21, 1904
Funeral Took Place Sunday
Afternoon at 2 o'clock. Burial at Coffman.
Capt. Johns Dysart
died last Saturday at 12:30 o'clock, at his home, one and a half miles west of
Anna. His death had been expected for several days. About six weeks ago, while
driving to McKinney, his team took fright, ran away and threw him out, causing
severe injuries, and he remained in the Sanitarium here for quite awhile. Last
week he was taken home, and had almost recovered from his injuries, though was
not able to walk, when a complication of diseases set up which caused his death.
Capt. Dysart was
born in Rockcastle County, Kentucky, Dec. 19 1826, and was therefore seventy-six
years and twenty-seven days of age.
In 1849 he went out
to California, and in 1856 came to Texas, and has lived for forty-six years at
him home near Anna.
He was married to
Miss Mary E. Simmons of Missouri, Feb. 16, 1853, which lacked just one month of
being fifty years ago. Their union was blessed with thirteen children, ten
living, and three dead. All of those living were with him when the end came
today.
Capt. Dysart was a
gallant ex-Confederate soldier, serving in the civil war for four years. He was
an honored member of J. W. Throckmorton Camp U. C. V. of this city.
The burial of Capt
Johnston Dysart took place Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Coffman
graveyard, three miles northwest of Melissa under the auspices of the Van
Alstyne Masonic lodge, assisted by other Masons from McKinney and Melissa
lodges. The Masonic ceremonies followed services conducted by Eld. R. C. Horn, a
life-long friend of the deceased. Capt. J. L. Greer of this city also made a few
remarks on the high character of his deceased friend and neighbor. Among those
attending from McKinney were Capt J. S. Dowell, Hon. Jno. Church, who read the
Masonic burial service, Capt. J. H. Jenkins, Capt. T. F. Mangum, T. S. Jackson,
Walter B. Wilson, Capt E. R. Stiff, J. B. Rogers, J. L. Todd, County Clerk W. M.
Shirley, J. W. Jackson, Glen Stiff and wife, Miss Jesse Stiff, Mrs. Bunnell,
Clint Stiff and wife, S. O. Scott and daughter, Miss Willie Mae who is a
grand-daughter of the deceased.
The funeral was one
of the largest ever seen in the county, many being present from Van Alstyne,
Anna Melissa, McKinney, and all the surrounding country.
PIONEER IS GONE
Courier
January 26, 1904
Sketch of the Late Johnston
Dysart of Collin County.
Johnston Dysart, one
of the oldest settlers of Collin county, died at his home two and a half miles
west of Anna, on Jan. 16, after an illness of forty-six days, the beginning of
which was caused by injuries received in a runaway in McKinney on Nov. 30, 1903,
and later a complication of diseases setting up.
Johnston Dysart, one
of the wealthiest farmers in Texas, was born in Rock Castle county, Kentucky,
Dec. 19, 1826. When 12 years of age he was taken by his parents to Missouri, in
which state he resided sixteen years. In 1849 he made his first trip to
California with the goldseekers, which was followed by two other trips,
occupying four years of his time.
During the Kansas
war he served under Col. Richardson of St. Joseph, Mo., and took part in the
battle of Lecompton and one or two others. After the Kansas war he came to Texas
and enlisted in the Confederate army in 1861 in the Sixth Texas Cavalry as First
Lieutenant under Col. Ross, and served in Arkansas, Tennessee and Mississippi.
He resigned his commission, however, returning home, and assisted in raising
another regiment, with which he went to Louisiana, serving as quartermaster, but
about two months before the close of the war he was taken sick and discharged.
On Feb. 16, 1853, he
was married to Miss Mary E. Simmons, daughter of Humphrey Simmons of Kentucky,
who was representative from Bullitt county in the state legislature.
Thirteen children
were born to Mr. And Mrs. Dysart, ten of whom survive him. At the close of the
war Mr. Dysart found himself deprived of all property, excepting one team. With
this he went to work and for a long time followed teaming as a vocation, and
then bought a farm on credit. As he got together $25, he paid that amount on
account, and so on, until he had cleared his land of all indebtedness. He
continued to thrive and at his death owned his home farm of 2,000 acres and two
others of 500 and 600, and was altogether prosperous.
Mr. Dysart was a
Free Mason and a member of the Christian church, of strong religious tendencies
and quite prominent in church work. He was a fair type of the first settlers,
having an open, frank and honest nature, generous and pleasing ways, lived well
and believed in letting others live. He had plenty and kept even with the world,
but was not eaten up with the lust of Mammon, and therefore avoided that which
in others is an unseeming scramble for wealth. He was a man of remarkably good
commonsense.
He had much
experience on the frontier and added largely to his store of knowledge by
observation. He led an active life up to the day of his injury, and was
thoroughly honest and generous to a fault. Few men did more toward the early
settlement of Texas than he. He was the common friend and general adviser of all
in quest of homes, and his house was always open to friends and strangers alike.
In his death Texas
has lost one of her noblest sons and Collin county a good citizen.
Surname Index
Recommended Citation:
"Capt. Johns Dysart Dead,
EARLY SETTLERS OF COLLIN COUNTY." Collin County, Texas History
and Genealogy Webpage by Genealogy Friends of Plano Libraries, Inc., <http://www.geocities/genfriendsghl>
[Accessed Fri February 13, 2004 ].
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