From Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA, currently out of print.
Joseph Prigmore, Jr. was born 22 January 1807 in Barren County. Kentucky, died 19 November 1862 in Dallas County, Texas; married 17 May 1827 Mahala Dixon Prigmore born circa 1810, Ohio, died January 1886, Colorado. She died enroute to Washington Territory with son, Isaiah.
Joseph Prigmore, Jr. moved from Kentucky to Missouri with his parents when about fourteen years old, circa 1821. He was the third child of ten children born to his parents: Benjamin born 2 January 1761, Bedford County, Pennsylvania, died 3 January 1843, Pettis County, Missouri, and Mary Downing born circa 1782, Maryland, died circa 1854. Benjamin was a fireman in Bedford County. On 28 October 1801 he was an ensign in 16th Regiment of the Cornstalk Militia of Kentucky. Benjamin and Mary first settled in Green County, Kentucky, later moved to Barren County, Kentucky. In 1818 they moved to Missouri Territory. By 1821 they settled on the South Fork of Blackwater Creek, Pettis County, Missouri and lived the remainder of their lives.
In 1844, Joseph Jr. moved his family to Texas and settled in Peters Colony prior to July 1, 1845. He was issued land certificate by Ward in 1850 patented 479 acres in Dallas County (Nacogdoches-Third Class #2163). This land is now west of Audelia Road and south of Church Road. He was living on company survey, listed on census of Dallas County 1850 – Household #415, as 43 year old farmer. He served on the first Dallas County Grand Jury.
Life was hard when they arrived in Texas. They had no money, their only possessions were six mules, two yoke of steers, and two cows. Indians stole the mules and killed one of the cows. After a few years, productiveness of Texas soil made living easier. When the Gold Rush started in 1849, Joseph Jr. took off for California and was gone about 18 months. He returned to Texas, sold his headright, bought a herd of cattle and started for California again, this time taking the family except Benjamin J. This was in 1855, but by winter of 1859-60 he returned. Joseph made money in California, returning with about $20,000 in gold; however, due to poor management of loans and being paid back in Confederate money, he lost most of what he made. He recovered his losses, for at death he left his widow, Mahala Prigmore, in comfortable circumstances. They had six children born in Missouri and three born in Texas: Mary, Benjamin J., Sarah, William, Jackson, J.oseph, Elizabeth, Isaiah and Jane.
1) Mary Prigmore born 17 April 1828, Missouri, married John McCullough. 2) Benjamin J. Prigmore born 1 August 1830, Missouri, married Nancy Lucinda Jackson, born 12 September 1833, Tennessee. 3) Sarah Prigmore born circa 1834, Missouri, married William Whitfield and lived in lower California. Their children were: John born 1850; Thomas born 1853; David born 1857; Walter born 1858, twin; Eugenia born 1S58, twin; Bell born 1862, Laura born 1863. 4) William Prigmore born in Missouri. 5) Jackson Prigmore born 1842, Missouri, accidentally shot and killed himself. 6) Joseph Prigmore, Jr. born in Missouri, died in a Union Prison, Springfield, Illinois. 7) Elizabeth Prigmore, twin, born 1846, Dallas County, Texas. 8) Isaiah Prigmore, twin, born 1846, Dallas County, Texas. Started for Washington Territory in 1887 and was never heard from again. 9) Jane Prigmore born 1848, Dallas County, Texas.
Sources:
- History of the Prigmore Family complied in 1908 by Miles Franklin Prigmore.
- The World Book Encyclopedia, 1961.
- Dr. June Welch’s book on Prigmore family.
- Bible records of a descendant in California.
- Two sisters, descendants of Daniel Prigmore, the late Irene Wertenberger of Amarillo and Ardyth Bagwell of Claude, Texas.
By Sibyl Moore Skipworth, Great-great-granddaughter, Dallas
