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Note: 1834 - 1894
Grandson of William Fariss.
Son of Thomas Israel Fariss.
Brother of Lafayette Fariss.
Father of Ira Jones Fariss, Thomas, Theodore, Eck, Lafayette, Lyda.
Grandfather of Robert Ernest Fariss.
His mother Emily Martin Fariss died at age 23 when he was only 4months and 20 days old.
He is on the 1850 Talladega Census as age 16, living with his father.LaFayette is married and living with his 17-year old wife at hisin-law's home. The middle brother Thomas W. had died in 1847.
William Holmes Fariss is the ONLY Fariss to move to Texas fromTalladega County, Alabama (in 1853 at age 19). His brother LafayetteFariss may have visited in Giddings in December 1859, where Lafayettemay have dictated to Amelia Scott Jones Fariss from memory all that hehad been told of Fariss family history by his father Thomas IsraelFariss. It is apparent that Amelia wrote down everything that he toldher, and the records were passed on to her daughter Lyda Fariss Wilsonand then to Charlie Steven Wilson. These three generations had aserious interest in preserving Fariss family history.
He and Amelia were married November 16, 1853, according to "A Historyof Lee County Texas," 1974, Lee County Historical Survey Committee, page279, and "they established their home at Old Evergreen," which isnorthwest of Giddings.
But later his farm may have been located where Gus Fariss says thatI. J. Fariss was born: at Bull Frog on Raab's Creek in the SerbinCommunity, seven miles southwest of Giddings.
His father Thomas Israel Fariss wrote to him in 1854, 1856, 1859, and1860 from Mardisville, Talladega County, Alabama. Obviously, from theseletters, he and Amelia suffered hard times in early marriage. Like notmaking a crop, having no money, not having enough to eat, andconsidering moving back to Alabama. The same Alabama where his fatheris writing that everyone is leaving this place; everyone is going toTexas now; the drought is killing our crops too.
There was a historically severe drouth in Texas in 1856. Cropsfailed and cattle died. The letters show that the drouth extended intoAlabama also. A bad dry condition continued into 1860. William andAmelia were having a very bad time, and having food to eat was a bigproblem. During this period, they were befriended by the family of IraGriffin Killough, a farmer who lived nearby. Killough probably providedfood for them.
In gratitude in 1859, William and Amelia named their third son IraKillough Fariss. Thus began the family tradition that led to seven boysnamed Ira Fariss.
W. H. Fariss served in The War Between the States in Company I, 5thTexas Cavalry which seems to be the 5th Regiment of Texas MountedVolunteers, 2nd Regiment of Sibley's Brigade. Ira Griffin Killough wasthe Captain of this unit. Gus Fariss told Bob Fariss that his ownGrandpa Fariss went to war with, stayed together with, and came homefrom the war with a certain Grandpa Hoting and Grandpa Fisher. Hotingand Fisher were only family friends, says Augusta.
Amelia had four little boys to care for. The three War Wives andchildren all spent the night together every night: one night atHoting's, the next night at Fisher's, and the next night at the Farissfarm. They stayed closely together, feared an Indian attack, and didhave some trouble from the Indians.
To go to one of the houses, they had to cross a creek on afoot-bridge: a log across the creek. After a rain, it was a veryfrightening experience to cross a swollen stream with a baby in yourarms.
Amelia Scott Jones Fariss told Gus Fariss that once, when theIndians were bothering them, the settlers went into the Indian camp andcaptured two Indian girls. The girls stayed at Grandma Fariss' forabout a year. When the Indian girls were told that they had to go backto the Indians, the girls cried and did not want to go. They wanted tostay with Grandma Fariss. They liked the kind treatment and respectthat they had been given.
A Bible page, probably Aunt Lide's, says that Amelia was baptizedAugust 1872, and that William Holmes was baptized September 1872.
His grand-daughter Emily Fariss Joekel said that "he was one ofthree citizens who started the financial base in Lee County for theGrange Stores in Giddings and Lexington" in 1878. According to herbrother Gus Fariss, the Grange Stores were organized by William HolmesFariss, Tom Williard, Shell Williard, Horace Milton, and Mrs. HenryMerchant (mother-in-law of W.H. Fariss' daughter Mary Adella Fariss) in1875. According to the 1949 75th Anniversary "History of Lee County"by High School Principal Bess A. Black, the first five Directors wereRobert Robinson, J. P. Black Sr., G. Willard, W. H. Fariss, and V. B.Shearn.
On page 63 of "A History of Lee County Texas," 1974, we find thisdescription:
"An organization sweeping the country in the 1870's was The Grange.This fraternal society, dedicated to protect farmers' rights,providing recreation and fellowship, was granted a charter in the newlyformed Lee County in 1875. The first Directors were Robert Robinson, J.P. Black Sr., T. G. Willard, W. H. Fariss, and V. B. Shearn. Themembership consisted of the first American families in Lee andneighboring counties. The rituals of initiation and installation, itsSaturday evening barbecues, and picnics were attended by people from allover the county and as far away as Brenham.
"Meetings were held on Saturday because this was the day farmers cameto town to trade. At noon, bountiful dinner baskets brought by memberswere spread on a long table down the center of the hall. Coffee wasmade outside on wood fires under the shade of trees.
"Out of this union grew a stockholders corporation called the GrangeStore, where anything from a toothpick to a sack of coal could bebought; anything from a four-wheel buggy to a set of dishes.
"The first business managers were Tom Adkins, John W. Collier, and I.J. Fariss. W. H. 'Uncle Bud' Cherry and W. S. Willard sampled andbought the farmer's cotton. LaFayette Fariss, Herman Biar, Will Tate,and Elmer Heck were employes. Miss Annie Stockton and Miss SydoniaPeters sold yard goods. Miss Jennie Collier was one of the first ladybookkeepers in town.
"Members of the Grange established the Giddings Cemetery. In lateryears when the Grange was dissolved, the Ladies of Giddings organizedand chartered the Giddings Cemetery Association, when a caretaker wasemployed and additional acreage was obtained.
This story came from his grandson Gus: John W. Collier, father ofErnest Collier, came to the Fariss farm one day to tell WHF of a Grangemeeting the next day. Grandma Fariss was sick in bed, having just hada baby. So WHF washed and ironed his own "stiff-bosomed white shirt,"the only time he ever washed one in his entire life. William HolmesFariss was "a fancy dresser."
The crash of prices on Wall Street in 1929 was the beginning of theend for the Grange Store. The prices of all commodities dropped,especially cotton, the staple crop of Lee County. The store hadextended too much credit, and people had no money with which to pay.The store struggled along until 1938 when it finally closed the doorsof a business that had been an institution in Lee County for decades.
William Holmes Fariss was Master of the J. D. Giddings Lodge 280 A.F.& A.M. in 1883.
Augusta Zie Fariss reports in 1995 that William Holmes Fariss died athome during an appendectomy operation. He was seriously ill and therewas no time to take him to Austin; the doctor said that in any case thetrip would rupture his appendix. His abdomen was greatly swollen. Theincision was made with a kitchen knife. He screamed. He developedperitonitis.
The inventory of his estate in 1894 shows 70 acres of land located"in the Lee County part of the Jesse Barden League."
Here are the valuable historical letters from Mardisville, TalladegaCounty, Alabama:
January 26, 1854 Dear Son: I received your last letter informingme that you were maried. I am glad that you are. You must now in thefirst place be kind to your wife in health and in sicknes and I have nodoubt but she will be kind to you. You must expect to see some hardtimes in this life, but you must not look at it that way. Work hard andon't go in debt. I will help you. Mr. Rufus Minit be there inFebruary and I will send you some mony by him. That must do until Icome out this fall. I am making no crop. Lafayette has hired Ted outand I am running my wagon. I am selling my things off as fast as I can,and will start the first of October if all is well. We made a shortcrop of cotton but a fine crop of corn. Minit and myself will movetogether this fall. My health is not good. Lafayette, Mary and Thomasare well at this time. There is nothing new at this time more than thepeople have all left this town. Estel Roberts, Mrs. Henry and JamesMillar have all moved away. There is few left here. Birt Jarard andGady and Sam Smote left. Wodruf and Butter is comming to Texas. Startsin a few days. Clint Duncan and De Herf left for Texas a few days ago.James Millar and 2 children for Texas the first of this month. I sendyou and wife my best respects and well wishes. Lafayette and Marylikewise. Nothing more at present, but remain your affectunate untildethe. Thomas I. Fariss N.B. You must rite whareyour wife was rased, in what State and something of her whare abouts.There ware a grate many Jones in Virginia. It may be that I know them.
October 16, 1856 Dear Children, William and Amelia and to my Mr.Fariss, Yours of the 7th of September came to hand a few days ago. Iought to have rote sooner, but for the measles. We have 8 cases out of11 in family, and all bad. They are all better today. We would havegot our cotton out before this time if all had ben well. We will makeabout 12 bags. We will get don next week. As quick as I get it tomarket I will send you som money. Don't sell your property until youhere from me again. I have not rented land yet. Mr. Smoote has boughtthe land we worked this year, and it is hard to rent land that is worthrenting. Lafayette has got land of Cunningham Wilson and going to moveas quick as we finish our crop. If I can't get land I may hire Jo andRachel out and come to Texas in the spring to see you. I will send youa draft as quick as I get mony for my cotton. Don't make any effort tomove until you here from me again. Rite when you receive this. Don'tsell your wife's land even if you should come here for you might backout. You can make out with just one half of a crop. We thought to make25 bales of cotton when we planted. We planted 50 acres of the Estilland that was fresh. The draught cut it short. We will make what cornand ____ enuf to do us. Nothing more but yur affect.Farther, Thos. I. Fariss September 30, 1859 Dear Children: It has been some time since Irote but little to rite at this time. This leaves us all well at thistime. We have a good crop of corn and cotton and wheat. Lafayettewill come in December to see the country. You will receive by thisletter a check for $25 that I send to Amelia to buy for herself and twoboys some winter clothes. William must wate a while, and I will helphim. I have som money but I must enter 80 acres of land that liesjoining me that will make my land worth 2500 Dollars. I am goin todayto Wm. Bradford to cary the money to enter the land. Neighbors arewell. We are picking cotton. Jo and Ted picked yesterday 250 apiece.I send by this male my likeness of David O. Waugh's taking. Don't getout of heart. I will help you after a while. Mity glad to here you allare helthy. Nothing more at present, but remain Youraffectionate Farther until dethe, Thomas I. Fariss
August 9, 1860 Dear Son: I received your letter dated 26th ofJune. Was very glad to hear that you and family were all well but ammighty sorry to hear that your crop is a failure. The drought has cutcrops short here. I will make enough corn to do me. I have 40 acresand I think will make 5 or 6 hundred bushels, half a crop. I have oldcorn and bacon to do until the March cotton. Sorry half of a crop. Iplanted 30 acres. I think I will make 8 or 10 bags. I want you tolet me know what you are going to do, if you can make out to make a cropor not. If you and your family were here, I have plenty for us all,meat and bread, labor and mules to plough it. I here send you a checkfor $25, all the money I have at this time. If you are going to try tomake a crop, rite me and I will send you money to buy corn and meat andyour groceries. I am well. LaFayette and the children are well. Aword to Amelia to take care of my 3 grandsons. I am trying to makemoney to scholar them. Nothing more, but remain your affectunatefarther, Thomas I. Fariss
LaFayette's wife Mary is not mentioned in the 1856, 1859, 1860letters. Was there a divorce ? LaFayette married his second wifeHepesa Truss in 1869, and his third wife Frances Ariadne Edwards in1876.
On the tombstone of W. H. Fariss :
"Though parted now
We soon shall meet,
To part no more,
At Jesus' feet."
Seven persons are buried on one Giddings lot:
William Holmes Fariss Milton S. Merchant
Amelia Scott Jones Fariss Mary Adelia Fariss Merchant
William T. Wilson Infant son of Sam and RubyFariss
Lyda Fariss Wilson
The two burials on the adjacent 8-place plot are Andrew Mack Farissand his wife Clara Koch Fariss.
The body of the stillborn son of Sam and Ruby Fariss was sent toGiddings, with the intent that the infant be buried on the cemetery lotowned by his grandparents, Fate and Bert Fariss. But by a mistake ofpersons in Giddings, perhaps the preacher or the funeral home, the babywas mistakenly buried on the William Holmes Fariss lot.
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