Submitted by: Cathy Millburn
GABRIEL S. SPRINGFIELD
Gabriel S. Springfield, b 1816 in South Carolina, d
after 1870 in Limestone County, Texas ‑ came to Texas in the 1840's with his
brother, James Madison Springfield, b 1817 in South Carolina. Another brother,
Andrew Jackson Springfield, settled in Robertson County with his family, but
some of his descendants also came to Falls County.
In 1850, Gabriel S. Springfield married in Limestone
County, Texas to Martha J. Rogers, b 1832 in Alabama ‑ a daughter of Larkin and
Mary (Aycock) Rogers ‑ pioneer settlers on Blue Ridge when it was Limestone
County, and later became Stranger, Falls County, Texas.
Gabriel was a planter and lived in Limestone County ‑
although his family was always associated with Falls County residents. Martha J.
(Rogers) Springfield's family were of the Cumberland Presbyterian faith, and
her father was a Charter Member of that Church at Stranger.
Gabriel and Martha Springfield were the parents of
eight surviving children:
James H. Springfield, b 1852 in Limestone County,
Texas.
Nancy A. Springfield, b 1854 in Limestone County,
Texas.
Josephine Springfield, b 1856 in Limestone County,
Texas.
Holly V. Springfield, b 1861 in Limestone County,
Texas.
Lucy Springfield, b 1863 in Limestone County, Texas.
Ruben S. Springfield, b May 10, 1865 in Limestone
County, Texas, d October 17, 1945 and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin,
Texas ‑ married ca 1885 to Sarah Elizabeth Erskine (called "Lizzie"), b in Falls
County, Texas, with her birth date variously given as "April 14, 1868," "April
25, 1869," and "April 25, 1865." She died June 21, 1958, and was buried by her
husband in Calvary Cemetery ‑ was a daughter of William Richards Erskine and his
second wife, Sarah Frances (Garrett) Hearon Erskine ‑ a niece of Thomas
McKissick Garrett, who was the father of William R. Erskine's first wife. When
"Lizzie's" mother died, her young sister, Mary, b 1869, was kept in their
father's home, while "Lizzie" was taken to be reared by her father's childless
brother, James David Erskine, in Limestone County, The sister, Mary Erskine,
died before 1870. Ruben S. and Sarah Elizabeth (Erskine) Springfield were
members of the Fairview Cumberland Presbyterian Church, which was organized by
Stranger and Coit families. They had three known children, although no children
were surviving when "Lizzie" died in 1958; and she was survived only by
grandchildren and great grandchildren ‑ none residents of Falls County. The
three identified children were William T. Springfield, b October 16,1886, d May
13, 1927 ‑ was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin ‑ married ca 1909 to Dolly
(maiden name unknown), b 1893 in Missouri, and had a daughter, Eunice
Springfield, b 1910; Jesse R. Springfield, b February 1888 no further
information; and James G. Springfield, b August 1893 ‑ no further information.
Ruben S. and Sarah Elizabeth Springfield lived in Falls County during their
married life, near the Odds Community, where he was a farmer.
Ella Springfield, b 1868 in Limestone County, Texas ‑
no further information.
Copyright Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of
these Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls County
Historical Commission, page 425 column 2 and page 427 column 1.
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.