Sam Lanham
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Lanham is an unusual name. Are you related to Benjamin Garfield Lanham, (1820-1902), who was in Company K of Bourland's Border Regiment?
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Since I have published a 1,046-page book about the Bourland Regiment, I'd very much like to correspond with you. ..Below is a biographocal sketch of B.G. Lanham.
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Do you have a photograph of B.G. Lanham?
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Patti, prochette@Juno.com
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Benjamin Garfield Lanham, (1820-1902), a farmer and stock raiser living in precinct No
3, Dallas County, Texas, was born in Franklin County, Missouri, 14 January 1820. He
was the fifth born in the family of eight children of Sylvester and Jane (Estes) Lanham,
natives of Kentucky and Virginia and respectively. Mr. Lanham moved to Missouri when
that state was yet a Territory and located in what was afterward Franklin County. He
served in the Winnebago campaign for a short time. In 1814, he joined the American
Army for the war with Great Britain, but peace being declared soon afterward, he saw no
active service During Mr. Lanham's residence in Franklin County, the earthquake
occurred in New Madrid and other points in southeastern Missouri, and was so serious in
Franklin County that many chimneys were felled to the ground. From Missouri he moved
to Morgan County, Illinois. This was about 1828. After living there Sven years he went
to Adams County, where he remained about the same length of time. As the county settled
up he moved from place to place, ever seeking the frontier. Next he located on the Pratt
purchase in Missouri, then in Andrew County, next to Nodaway County, same State,
where he lived until 1853. That year he harnessed his team and started across the country
for Texas, arriving in Dallas County and taking up his adobe at the place, where his son,
B.G. Lanham, now lives. In making this trip they were seven weeks on the trail. Arriving
here 24 December 1853, he and his son immediately purchased a farm of 600 acres.
education opportunities were limited in youth, but in later life he has made up for these
deficiencies by observation and reading, and keeping himself well posted on general
topics. He landed in Texas with more money than most of the early settlers, having
$1600.00 in cash.
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Eight acres of the soil had been broken and a little log house had been built, these bring
the only improvements on the place. Although game was plentiful the senior Mr. Lanbani
( original owner) found himself too old to enjoy the pleasures of the chase. He died at the
place in 1863, at the age of seventy-two. His wife lived until 1868, when she died at the
age of 71. Of the eight children born to them all lived to be grown. Their names are as
follows: Margaret Lanham, wife of Isaac Elam, died, leaving a family in this county.
Curtis H. Lanham, resides in Rockwall County, Texas. Lucy Lanham, wife of Jacob
Sheppard, of Nodaway County, Missouri. Clary Lanham, wife of Andy Sheppard, of the
Washington. Druzilla Lanham, wife of J.K.Allen, is deceased. Hiram Lanham, deceased.
Julia A. Lanham, wife of Jonathan Cook is deceased.
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B.G. Lanham's educational opportunities were limited in youth, but in later life he made
up for these deficiencies by observation and reading. He landed in Texas with more
money than most earlier settlers,, having $1600.00 in cash. For the 600 acres already
alluded to they paid $1000.00. A few years afterwards the title failed to be good and after
having a suit he was compelled to give up half of the land. Mr. Lanham joined the
Confederate Army and served in the trans- Mississippi department. He was on the
frontier all the time with the exception of three months spent on the coast. At the close of
the war he returned home, and like many others found himself a financial wreak, having
not as much stock as before the war. He remained only with his land. He is now engaged
in stock raising, but not as much stock as before the war.. He started specializing in horse
breeding. Mr. Lanham has been married twice married. When he was twenty-five he
wedded Miss Emma T. Clark, of Andrew County, Missouri, daughter of Samuel and
Nancy Clark. Two children were born to them: Julia A. Lanham ( born 18 July 1850),
wife of William Glover of this county, and Hiram Lanham ( born 15 May 1852), of
Coleman County , Texas.
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His first wife died in 1856 and was buried west of the house on a little hill. He married
Mary Ann Beaman ( 5 Feb. 1855 in Dallas), daughter of Samuel and Polly (Smeleer)
Beaman, natives of Illinois who came here at an earlier date. This union blessed by the
birth of eight children, two of whom died when small. Jacob S. Lanham resides in this
county, Samuel S. Lanham, of Clay County, Texas. Sarah J. Lanham, wife of Alexander
Dickey, of Johnson County, Texas. Catherine Lanham wife of Brance Furggerson, of
this county, William Lanham, at home with his parents.
Author: Sandi Gorin, Dallas County, Texas
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Emma T. died soon after moving to Dallas, and was buried west of the house on a little hill, 3 February 1854. B.G. married No. 2, MARY ANN BEEMAN, 5 Febraury 1855 in Dallas. Mary Ann, a daughter of Samuel and Mary Smeleer Beeman was born in Missouri, 8 December 1828.
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John Neely Bryan, the first settler on the site of the present City of Dallas arrived at Dallas November 1841, and in 1843 married Margaret Beeman, a sister of Samuel Beeman.
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Benjamin Garfield and Mary Ann Beeman had two children that died young, and two daughters and four sons: Jacob S., Sammuel Sylvester, Sarah Jane, Benjamin Franklin,
Mary Catherine and William Jackson Lanham.
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Patti, prochette@Juno.com