12 for ’26 Locating George Wilson Lancaster at the Portal for Texas History Newspaper Collection

George W. Lancaster (1839-1919) lived in Kaufman County, Rockwall County, Dallas County, Erath County, and Johnson counties during his lifetime. His grandson, George Warren Lancaster lived in Erath County at the same time and it was sometimes confusing as to which person the G.W. Lancaster is referring to. However, he has also been found as “Grandpa” Lancaster, Geo. W. Lancaster, and George W. Lancaster. Many of the early dated articles refer to the towns of Lancaster in other states. There is even a town called that in Texas.

What I Learned
I did not find many articles; all are from Erath County. I learned he had a letter waiting for him in 1893, and I speculated that it could have been from the Arizona Territory court where his wife filed for divorce. He sold land to the Baptist preacher, R. L. Smallwood, with whom he also spent time. He made visits to Howell Springs in his later years. He died on 14 January 1919 and was buried at Greens Creek Cemetery. One death notice clarified his relationship with W.C. Lancaster, his son.

Early newspapers of Rockwall County had no articles about him. I have located multiple deeds of him buying and selling land but the papers are silent about it. He went to Arizona Territory and got federal land in Maricopa County. The papers list him getting a cash sale and mention when his wife, Mattie J. Lancaster, filed for divorce.[1]

I am grateful for any newspaper article that gives a little bit more information about my ancestors.

Results, Transcriptions, and Comments
“Letter List,” Stephenville Empire, 3 Feb 1893, p. 1, col. 5.
“Geo. W. Lancaster” is on a list of letters remaining in the Stephenville post office for the week ending January 28, 1893.
COMMENT: This could be a letter from the Arizona court about the divorce that his wife filed on 27 Dec 1892. He never answered the complaint. Did he ignore it, or did he never receive the subpoena to testify? The Arizona court records do not say.

“Shady Grove,” The Dublin Progress, 31 Mar 1893, p. 1, col. 3.
“Mr. Lancaster has rented his farm and is going to move to Dublin.”
COMMENT: No idea who this might be. Shady Grove is not a known location.

“Miscellaneous Advertisements,” The Dublin Progress, 7 Jul 1905, p. 5, col. 5.
“For Sale---174-acre farm on Alarm Creek six miles southwest from Stephenville, ninety acres in cultivation, balance timber and grass. Good four room house and outhouses. Two good wells and windmill, peaches, blackberries and grapes and some young apples. A bargain. Apply on place or address G. W. Lancaster, route 6, Dublin.”
COMMENT: On 21 July 1905, G.W. Lancaster sold 100 acres to R.L. Smallwood. From the land description, it is not clear if this is the same land, as there is no mention of Alarm Creek, but it is 6 miles southwest of Stephenville.[2] If it is the same property, then he still had 74 acres. I do not know when he purchased this property. I revisited the deed indexes at FamilySearch. He purchased 100 acres from I Pipes on 20 September 1890. He was taxed on 100 acres between 1895 and 1899. In 1902, he was taxed on 140 acres.

“Realty Transfers,” The Dublin Progress, 13 Oct 1905, p. 1, col. 3.
“G.W. Lancaster to R. L. Smallwood, 100 acres A Rice survey, $2950.”
COMMENT: looking again at the deed, the transaction happened on 21 Jul 1905 but wasn’t filed in the recorder’s office until 5 Oct 1905, hence being in print on 13 Oct 1905.

“Hickey,” The Dublin Progress, 16 Mar 1913, p. 6, col. 3.
“Elder R.L. Smallwood, accompanied by Grandpa Lancaster, filled his appointment at Highland last Sunday.”
“Carey Lancaster and family and Morris Pittman and family attended church at Greens Creek Sunday.”
COMMENT: R.L. Smallwood seemed to play a role in the Lancaster’s life. He married George’s grandson, George Warren Lancaster and Lela Loveless in 1913, grandson, William F Lancaster to Hattie Ellis in 1914, and granddaughter Josephine Hazel Lancaster to William Hutson Loveless in 1915. He was a Baptist minister at the Oak Grove Baptist Church. Oak Grove area used to be known as Alarm Creek.[3] Carey Lancaster is G.W.’s son, William C. Lancaster.

“Hickey,” The Dublin Progress, 13 Nov 1914, p. 7, col. 1.
“R. L. Smallwood and Grandpa Lancaster went to Highland last Sunday.”

“Howell Springs,” The Dublin Progress, 21 Apr 1916, p. 6, col. 5.
“Grandpa Lancaster of Hickey spent Sunday at Will Crawford’s.”

“Howell Springs Public School,” The Tribune, 21 Apr 1916, p. 10, col. 3.
“Grandpa Lancaster of Hickey was here to spend Sunday at Will Crawford’s.”
“An Endorsement for W. A. Miller,” The Tribune, 14 Jul 1916, p. 5, col. 2.
COMMENT: G.W. Lancaster was among those who endorsed W.A. Miller, a candidate for commissioner of precinct number one of Erath County. Other Lancasters and R.L. Smallwood were listed, too.

“Youngs Prairie,” The Dublin Progress and Telephone, 2 Mar 1917, p. 11, col. 6.
Several from this community attended the funeral of Grandpa Lancaster at Liveoak Cemetery.
COMMENT: So, this grandpa Lancaster is not G.W. Lancaster, who did not die until 1919 and is buried in Upper Greens Creek Cemetery.

“Hickey,” The Dublin Progress and Telephone, 17 Jan 1919, p. 3, col. 4.
“Grandpa Lancaster died Tuesday at 3:15, was buried at Greens Creek Wednesday.”
COMMENT: This is G.W. Lancaster, father of W.C. Lancaster. W.C. Lancaster was the informant for his death certificate.

The Stephenville Tribune, 17 Jan 1919, p. 4, col. 1.
Grandpa Lancaster, father of W.C. Lancaster of Hickey, died Tuesday morning. He had a complication of troubles. His death was very sudden.
COMMENT: Here is clarification that he was the father of W.C. Lancaster.

 

 

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[1] “Cash Patents Received,” Tucson Citizen, 2 Aug 1890, p. 4, col. 3. For divorce filing, see “Local News,” Arizona Weekly Citizen (Tucson, Arizona Terr.), 23 Dec 1893, p. 4, col. 1.

[2] Erath Co, Texas, deeds, v. 88, p. 584-85, G.W. Lancaster to R. L. Smallwood, 1905.

[3] “Pioneer Erath Minister Dead,” Stephenville Empire-Tribune, 24 Jun 1938, p. 6, col. 3.

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