Submitted
by
Barbara (Caddell) Fox
Mart Daily Herald
Monday June 11, 1923
Veteran M. T. Durham Answers Last Summons
Death Claims Another Hero of the Sixties. Survived by 92 Children and
Grandchildren.
Following an illness of several
weeks duration, Confederate Veteran M. T. Durham, age 80, died at 4:15 p.m.
Sunday, June 10, 1923, at the family residence South Pearl Street, Mart, Texas.
This hero of many battles made a
game fight against his last enemy, but the infirmities of age were against him,
and like a clock run down, life went out. Like a tired child, he went to
sleep, secure to Christian’s faith and surrounded by his loved ones who had
ministered every need.
Funeral services were held at two
o’clock Monday afternoon, at the Mart Baptist church, of which deceased was an
honored and faithful member, conducted by Rev. W. H. Sims. The pastor was
assisted in the service by Rev. Isaac Willingham, of Marlin, an old friend of
the family, whose father was a comrade in arms of deceased, during the war of
the Sixties.
Following the impressive funeral
services, interment was made in Criswell cemetery, the old family burying
ground, below Odds, in Limestone county. Six of the noble grandsons
served as active pall bearers: Jack Durham, Ellsbury Criswell, Marcus
Criswell, Herman Matthews, Homer McDaniel and Mark Berry.
Honorary Pall Bearers
The following were named honorary
pall bearers by the family: W. C. Easter, J. I. Campbell, S. H. Chandler,
R. J. Taylor, C. W. Vaught, R. H. Townsend, J. M. Childs, J. M. Linebarger, W.
M. Graves, I. H. Couey, N. B. Douglass, W. G. Holley, J. T. Suttle, J. F.
Butler, T. D. Nettles, Fred Moore, Joe Allen, A. L. Crawford, J. W. Mann, R. C.
Burleson, W. L. McKinney, Otis Green and J. L. Spencer of Mart. S. C.
Foster of Groesbeck. T. I. Camp of Thornton. A. J. Eaves and J. H.
Coleman of Marlin. J. H. Shipp, R. R. Erskine, J. A. McKinley, R. S.
Springfield and R. A. McAlister of Odds. Mr. Bradshaw of Otto and W. B.
Baker of Kirk.
M. T. Durham was born in Georgia,
Feb. 4, 1843. When a small boy his parents moved to Calhoun county, Ala.,
where he grew up. When sixteen years of age was converted, joined the
Baptist church and has ever since held to “the Faith once delivered to the
Saints.” An autobiography of his war record says:
“In 1862 I volunteered in the
Confederate army and was mustered into service in March 1862, in Co. B., 30th
Ala. Regiment, which went from Jacksonville, Ala., mobilized at Yalediga, Ala.,
was then ordered to Tennessee near Cumberland Gap. Was with Brag in his
raid at Frankfort, Ky.; in battle of Chattanooga, Tenn. on Lookout Mountain;
was wounded in Battle at Missionary Ridge. The next battle was at Port
Gibson, Miss. and then Champion Hill. Next Big Black River; next siege of
Vicksburgs, Miss. We were them transferred back to Tennessee. In
all the battles fought by General Joe Johnston. In the battles of New
Hope Church and Itasca River, Lost Mountain, Kenesaw Mountain and at Mariette,
Ga. and from there under the command of Hood to Atlanta, Ga. Was seriously
wounded at Jones-Borough, and there fell into the hands of the enemy. Was
a prisoner seven days after the battle when the Federals fell back to
Atlanta. Was badly wounded and taken to Macon, Ga., to the hospital where
stayed thirty days. Was given a sixty day furlough and at the
expiration of the furlough, met our command at Cornith, Miss. The army
was transferred to the North and South Carolinas in the battles of
Averysborough and battle of Bentonville. Surrendered at Raleigh, N. C.”
Mr. Durham was married to Miss
Arminda Jane Hopkins in 1863, who died in 1911. To them was born twelve
children, two of whom died in infancy.
Citizen of Three Counties
He moved to Texas in 1869 and
settled at first between Mart and Riesel, with “a wife, two children and a
Mexican dollar,” as he often expressed it. Houston was railway terminal
for this section at that time. He later moved to Falls county, then to
the western side of Limestone county, accumulating considerable amount of land,
where he lived for about 20 years.
Since marrying Mrs. Susie B. Fox on
Dec. 11, 1912, he has lived in Mart.
Enjoying the companionship of his
faithful wife, the visits of his splendid children, the fellowship of his
church and the friendship of a large circle of neighbors and comrades. He
led the simple, peaceful life during the long term of years following the war,
having a good name and an honorable career as an important part of the heritage
to his children.
Was Head of Large Family
Small of stature, but of indomitable
will and the soul of honor, M. T. Durham blessed the world with a large family
of noble sons and daughters.
In addition to his wife he is
survived by a sister, Mrs. N. J. Freeman, of Dallas, Texas; five
sons--Lafayatte Durham of Arlington, Texas; W. J. Durham of Mart; Jno. P.
Durham, Mart route 6; A. G. Durham of Dallas, and five daughters, Mrs. Ida
Berry and Mrs. Katie Criswell of Marlin; Mrs. Clara McDaniel of Mart, route 2;
Mrs. S. J. Boyd of Dallas and Mrs. W. A. Matthews, Renner, Texas.
In addition to these the following
step children morn his loss:
L. G. Fox, Lawton, Okla.; J. A.
Fox, Dallas, and H. L. Fox, Fort Worth.
Two children died in their infancy,
and during the life of deceased, there were 16 grandchildren and 6 great-grand
children to die. There are now living 55 grandchildren and 27 great
grandchildren making his total progeny 116.
This record is unusual, and all the
living ones are honored as worthy citizens of the various communities in which
they live.
The bereaved family has the
sympathy of their many friends in the loss of this loved one--a good man who
has gone to his reward.