Family history of James Harvey Hurt

My grandfather, James Harvey Hurt, was born in Spartanburg County, South Carolina in 1815. He farmed for a living and was a political leader in his community after reaching years of maturity.

He was married to Miss Lucinda Selman of Spartanburg county in the year 1836 by the Rev. John G. Laridrum, a Baptist minister. Four sons and three daughters were born in this union, namely: Elizabeth Angeline, who married Samuel N. Endsley, who died at the Battle of Pea Ridge, Arkansas in the Civil War. She married John J. Casey in June 1866. Joseph Landrum Hurt married Julia Ann Endsley of Georgia and he was killed in Mansfield, Louisiana battle, and he is buried on that field, William R. Hurt died when quite young. James Wilson Hurt was born 11 February 1843; married Florence E. Pool, 13 February 1873. Nancy Jane Hurt, born in Georgia, married William W. Porterfield. He was killed by a railroad train at Chico, Texas 1896. Allie M. Hurt, born in Georgia, married James Monroe Short in 1875. John Belton Hurt, native of Georgia, married Isabelle Miller in 1878. Grandfather Hurt moved to Georgia sometime before the Civil war and settled in Campbell County near Villa Rica and was a Justice of the Peace for a number of years.

He farmed for a living and was prominent in the affairs of his comm munity. In 1868 he moved to Miller County, Arkansas and farmed one year near Bright Star, Arkansas. After one year, he then moved to Cass County, Texas and purchased a f arm north of Rock Springs Church where he lived many years after retiring from farming. He and his wife moved to their daughter’s, Mrs. J. J. Casey, near Queen City, Texas and spent their declining years there until his death in December 1889. Grandmother Hurt lived until 1904.

My father, James Wilson Kurt, was born where the thriving city of Spartanburg, South Carolina now stands. He attended school about six months of his life. At the age of 18, he volunteered and joined the Georgia Sharpshooters Regiment in the Confederate Army. He served under Joseph E, Johnston about three years and then transferred to General John B. Hood’s regiment, He was in several engagements, especially - Lookout Mountain, Chickamauga - where he was captured by the _ _ Yankees and carried to Camp Chase at Cincinnati, Ohio where he remained a prisoner of war until June 1865 and then paroled.

He then made his way home to Georgia and farmed there until 1868 when he and his father’s family migrated to Arkansas, going by boat from Mobile, Alabama around the Gulf to New Orleans and there up the Mississippi River, up Red river to Shreveport, then by Caddo Lake to Jefferson, Texas. With his father, he farmed one year in Miller County, Arkansas and then moved to Cass County, Texas at the age of 30 he married Miss Florence Evalela Pool, daughter of Frederic and Francis Pool. Her father died when mother was quite small and her mother (nee Francis Chamblee) was married to Andrew Jackson Newton.

Father and mother married 13 February 1873 at what is now the Hutchins house at Bloomburg, Cass County, Texas by the Rev. Nelson Porterfield, a pioneer minister of that day.

Four sons and four daughters were born of this marriage: Cora Alice, who died in infancy.

Scott Hurt, son, died at age one year. Flora Angeline Hurt, daughter, now deceased Robert Spurgeon Hurt, son. James Frederic Hurt, son, deceased. Sallie Lena Hurt, daughter. Homer Selman Hurt, son, deceased. Delta Mae Hurt, daughter. My parents, immediately after marriage, settled on the old house place, which was then in the woods, built a log cabin and began life in earnest. He joined the Salem Baptist Church sometime after he came to Texas. He was a Mason at Olive Branch Lodge at Bright Star, Miller County, Arkansas in the early 1870’s, exact date of service unknown because of records being destroyed by fire.

Father was very active during “carpet bagger” days in ousting black rule and establishing white supremacy in the section where he lives. He was one of the custodians of Cullen Baker’s remains, after his death to deliver Baker to the military authority at Jefferson, Texas.

He was very prominent in political circles in his county, acted as chairman of Democratic party for several years.

He was elected to the Texas Legislature in November 1900 by a large majority over his independent appointment, W. E. Boyd of Queen City, Texas. He had the honor of serving in that body with Pat M. Neff, John N. Garner and Tom Connally. He was re-elected in 1902 without opposition and served his people ably. After retiring from office, he farmed several years until his death 10 July 1917.

Another place stated: Serving two terms from 1901 1905 in the Legislature.

He was buried with Masonic honors at Macedonia Cemetery, Miller County, Arkansas.