|
a.
|
Note: Marriage record was located in family tree grs cd #5 titled "marriage records in
Ar, Ms, Mo, Tx". Record NO 532..., Williams Cnty, Tx.. JOHN C. STAPP LOCATED ON 1980 CENSUS CD - ED 159/PAGE 505. BEN ON SAME PAGE. See World Family Tree, Vol 3 for family
History of Ben Stapp Ben traveled with his father Joshua from Tenn Thur Indiana, Illinois, Misouri, Arkansas and finally settled in Andice, County of "Williamson, Texas where he married and raised his family In 1854, Ben purchased 123 acres of land at $1.00 per acre and build his first log house on this property. He cleared the Timber and began to farm. They raised some wheat and corn which they ground into flour. Wild Turkeys and geese would sometimes settle on their wheat fields at night in the by the thousands. The farmers put out poison to keep them from eating their crops.
When the civil war broke out all four of Joshua's sons enlisted, however Ben began making boots for the military and was able to stay home. On November 11th on an unknown year Ben gave the school district a 49 yard square lot of land where the first school house was build in andice, Texas. It was build of logs with a fire place and log seats.
In 1870 Ben build the first house in the town "out of lumber" which was in use until 1925. He hauled the lumber from Lockhart, Texas in a wagon pulled by a ox. Ben was also the first to have a team of horses in the town. This occurred in 1874. On February 22, 1904, Ben deeded to his daughter, Mattie Adams, 135 acres who eventually sold the land to C. M. Stapp, (father of Margie Stapp), with C. M. Stapp later getting another 135 acres from Ben's wife on June 30,1923,
On February 1, 1878, Ben bought the property of Dotson Skaggs for $1500.00. He had to haul water 4 miles across the prairie until a spring was found that still flows today. The first water well was drilled in 1880. Ben lived on this land until his death in 1916.
The present town of Andice, Texas is build partly on the land owned by Ben Stapp as well as the existing school house..
|
