Our Hart family heritage has its known roots in the early history of Virginia back into the early 1700s. Caleb Hart was born there about 1805, probably in Halifax County. As a family historian for over 25 years, the author has found certain ancestors that stand out in his mind as ones he would like to have personally met and talked with. One of those is Caleb Hart.
Consider that during his lifetime, our Caleb was part of the mass emigration away from the eastern seaboard of Colonial American history and settling the "interior." Born in 1805, he was married on 21 September 1825 to Sarah Lawson in Person County, North Carolina. We don't know at present, what the family connections were across the Virginia - North Carolina border which resulted in this marriage, but we can speculate that it is an interesting story. By the U. S. Census of 1830, Caleb had moved, as part of the larger Hart family exodus out of Virginia [see Early Hart Family history], into Lincoln County, Kentucky.
Along with the rest of the Hart family, Caleb moved out to Chariton County, Missouri in the 1830s. Before moving, his first two children, one believed to have been named Polk and Mary Anne, were born before 1831. Then, Elizabeth Jane Hart was born in February 1831. U. S. Census records later in life indicate she was born in Kentucky. Records of the descendants of Harriet Henrietta Hart, the next sibling, indicate she was born 12 February 1832 in Howard County, Missouri. This county is across the Missouri River from Chariton County [Ed. Note: Chariton County was formed from Howard County in November 1820]. Whether the family settled there very briefly, or Elizabeth was born on the journey to Chariton County, we don't know.
Our Timothy James Hart was believed to have been born in Chariton County, Missouri on 14 March 1834. Younger sister, Cordelia Frances, was born on 17 February 1836 and Henry T. was born in 1839. Both in Chariton County. Between 1840 and 1842, Sarah passed away. Whether from complications with the birth of Henry, we don't know. At the present, the family has no knowledge of where Sarah is buried, but presumably she is buried in Chariton County, Missouri.
Caleb then married Hannah Gross on 19 May 1842. To them, Sarah Margaret Hart was born. Again, whether from complications with the birth of Sarah, or something else, Hannah passed away. Caleb then married Sarah Olive on 15 December 1845. Very soon after marrying Sarah, Caleb joined the Peters Colony and emigrated to the state of Texas.
From the book, "Collin County, Pioneering Families of North Texas," written by Capt. Roy F. Hall and Helen Gibbard Hall (Quanah, Texas, Nortex Press, 1975), p. 7, we find this written about the Peters Colony:
"... The third class were those who were granted land here by the Peters Colony.
In August, 1841, President Lamar, of the Republic of Texas, entered into a contract with
W. S. Peters and others of Louisville, Kentucky, and Cincinnati, Ohio, to settle at least
600 families on vacant lands in north Texas. This company, called the Texas Emigration and
Land Company, secured a great section of territory covering several north Texas counties
as they now exist, along Red River and south to Ellis County, west to Wise and including
all of present Collin."
"The company promised each settler a cabin, musket and ball, and each married person
could take up 640 acres, a single person, 320. By the end of 1845 Peters Colony had
brought 341 families. Peters' contract was ended in 1848, but he was responsible for the
rapid settlement of the east and south part of the county. Most of the early settlers of
Collin County came from the states of Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee and Alabama, and all
of them, of course had to come overland for at least part of the way in wagons and on
horseback, for there were no railroads in this part of the nation at that time. ..."
From the book, "The Peters Colony of Texas," written by Seymour V. Connor, (Austin, Texas, Von Boeckmann-Jones Company, 1959), p. 273, we find more written specifically about Caleb Hart as part of the Peters Colony:
"Caleb Hart migrated to the colony as a family man prior to July 1, 1848. He was
issued a land certificate by Thomas William Ward in 1850 and patented 640 acres in Collin
County (Fannin Third Class No. 978). He is listed on the census of 1850 (Collin County,
family No. 120) as a 45-year-old farmer, born in Virginia, with nine children. Apparently
the family came to Texas from Missouri."
From the book, "A History of Collin County, Texas," written by J. Lee and Lillian J. Stambaugh (Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lund Press, Inc., August 1958), p. 97, we find the following written specifically about Caleb Hart:
"The first Presbyterian church in Collin County was organized by Caleb Hart in
his home, two miles north of Cottage Hill, in 1846. He also permitted the Methodists to
hold services in his home once a month."
"In 1852 Rev. W. B. Wear came to Collin County and laid the foundation for the Walnut Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church. ... Charter members were
J. B. and Mary Jamison; Caleb, Sarah, and Henrietta Hart; Silas and Elizabeth Yarnell; W.
B., Eliza T., George M., Margaret E., W. B., Jr., and Rhoda E. Wear; and Nancy
Skaggs."
and on p. 168-169:
"Caleb Hart and family came to Texas from Illinois in 1846 and settled on the
north side of Haw Branch, two miles north of Cottage Hill. His old homestead later became
the William Shumate farm and is now owned by Dalton Gilbert and his wife, who is a
granddaughter of William Shumate.
Hart built the first grist mill in that part of the country and also operated a general
merchandise store in the community. To many pioneers Haw Branch was known as Hart's Creek.
Caleb and Sarah Hart were the parents of three sons and five daughters: Tim, Polk, Squire, Elizabeth (Mrs. Alex Joy), Harriett
(Mrs. Jesse Franklin), Frances (Mrs. Percy [sic] Hart). Parthenia Susan (Mrs. G. W.
Harrison), and Margaret (Mrs. Will Hart). After the death of Will Hart, Margaret married
Charles Million, father of H. T. Million, who later lived in McKinney. In 1917 Polk was a
preacher and lived in Waco.
Caleb Hart is perhaps best known because of his religious activity. In 1846 a Cumberland
Presbyterian Church was organized in his home where he also permitted the Methodists to
hold services once a month. He, his wife, and one daughter were among the charter members
of the Walnut Grove Presbyterian Church which was organized about 1852."
During this period of time, we have this brief excerpt from a Hart Family History written on 25 October 1958. It is not proven who put it together, but it was most likely written by James Ruben Hart, a grandson of Timothy James Hart":
"Tim Hart’s father went to California. (northern California) –
got snowed in with no money; citizens of his home county (probably in Virginia) sent him
money to get him home. [told to Dow by his father.]"
With everything else we know of Caleb Hart, the author is dubious about the authenticity of this story. At least applying it to Caleb Hart. Perhaps there was some confusion within the family about another grandfather. Having said that, it clearly states "Tim Hart's father," so it is recorded here.
During the family's stay in Collin County, Caleb and Sarah had Parthenia Susan, born 30 March 1847, Squire Caleb, born between 1847 and 1849, and "C." Hart, a daughter born about February 1850. By the U. S. Census in 1860, Caleb and Sarah were living in Parker County, Texas. We find Parthenia Susan, Squire Caleb, and "C.," still all under age, listed in Parker County in the household of a C. Sullivan [sp?], age 30 from Tennessee in Veal Station [nr. Weatherford]. Who is this? What is his connection to the family? Perhaps a parishoner of Caleb's?
At the end of his life, Caleb is believed to have still been faithfully serving as a circuit-rider preacher. According to a family story passed down through either Grady Fox or Blanch Hart, Caleb became ill and passed away while out travelling as a circuit-rider preacher. Although knowing he was ill, he didn't realize perhaps how ill and left on his rounds anyway. He grew worse and passed away at the home of one of his parishioners and is buried there somewhere in Parker County. According to family history received from Ann Bowman, Caleb "d. between 17 Oct 1863 and tax time 1864, presumed killed by Indians, only his hat found, Denton Co., Texas." Which version, if either, is correct, is unknown.
What a remarkable life! From his birth in the home of his ancestors in Virginia, through his travels across North Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri and finally settling in Texas, he lived a full life. Perhaps he even threw a brief sojourn out to California to join the '49er gold rush for good measure. The author wishes Caleb or someone in his family had taken a little time to write down what would surely have been the fascinating story of his life.
Anybody inspired to begin writing a few paragraphs about your own life's story, before it is too late? Good! Remember, don't worry about whether your life is "exciting" enough to capture the interest of anyone reading today. Think of the period of history you have lived through and imagine someone reading your personal account of it one or two or three hundred years from now!
Author: Roger L. Roberson, Jr. • Last updated: 11 January 2003