  Sarah E. Darwin 1852 - 1937 Lon H. Darwin 1837 - 1933   Lon H. Darwin 1837 - 1933 Private Co. G 8th Tennessee Infantry CSA   Veteran of Civil War and Grayson County Dies at Farm Home (Special to The Democrat) WHITEWRIGHT - At his farm home southwest of Whitewright, where he had resided continuously since his marriage in 1881, L.H. Darwin, almost 96 years old, died late Sunday evening. He was a Confederate veteran and one of the oldest citizens of the Whitewright community. Funeral services were held Monday at 2:30 p.m. at the Kentuckytown Baptist Church, conducted by the pastor, the Rev. J.A. Henderson, assisted by the Rev. E.C. Chumbley. Interment was in Vittitoe cemetery. Surviving Mr. Darwin are his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas Darwin, to whom he was married 52 years ago and who was born at the farm home where her husband died; two daughters, Mrs. Looney Robbins, Greenville, and Mrs. Sallie McFarland, Whitewright, and two sons, Percy and Lonnie Darwin of Whitewright. Mr. Darwin was born in Jackson county, Tennessee, Feb. 11, 1837, and would have celebrated his ninety-sixth birthday next month. It was his ambition to live to be 100 years old. He attributed his longevity to living out of doors, taking plenty of exercise and leaving off foods that did not agree with him. Until recently, Mr. Darwin Mr. Darwin fought in the civil war under Gen. Joseph E. Johnson, and was wounded in the battle of Jonesboro. After the war he worked his way to Texas, making part of the trip down the Mississippi river on a raft. He was accompanied from Shreveport by a young man named Andy Thomas who had come west with Davy Crockett and through him Mr. Darwin came into possession of one of Crockett's long guns. On Jan. 27, 1881, Mr. Darwin married Miss Elizabeth Thomas, settling on the farm where she was born and the two had resided there continuously since. He was a member of the Baptist church. Mr. Darwin came to Grayson county when Kentuckytown was the principal trading point; before Whitewright was founded and when there were no railroads; when Indian raids were plentiful and when hard work was the thing that counted. He often recalled the hardships of those early days, particularly the winter of 1867, when cattle died by the thousands.  Vittitoe Cemetery Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson County TXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |