From Proud Heritage, Vol 1 by DCPA, not currently in print.
Augustus Frazier “Gus” Poovey was born October 21, 1853 in York County, South Carolina. Gus was too young to serve during the Civil War, so it was his job to protect the family horses from the Yankee soldiers who would ride through the communities in an effort to exchange their tired and sick horses.
Gus would hide out with the family’s horses for a week at a time when he was only eight years old. He came to Texas with his mother, Lucretia, and sisters after the war had ended. They came to Jefferson, Texas by river boat in the summer of 1871 where they were met by Lucretia’s sons Duncan and Robert Poovey.
“On the trip to Jefferson, Lucretia was quite shaken when a river boat slave slipped overboard and was eaten by an alligator. She was scared for weeks.” Ruth Poovey Poore.
Several wagon loads were required to move the family to a rural area near Henderson. Gus stayed here with his family for while. Then Gus decided it was time to saddle up his horse a take off for a visit with his McCallum cousins at a place called Pleasant Valley. Here he stayed with his uncle, Peter McCallum, who helped him get a start at farming and doing some carpenter work.
While living with his uncle, Gus met and married Mary Ann Newman. Mary Ann was the daughter of Harmon and Emeline McDaniel Newman. Harmon Newman was one of the earliest pioneers to settle at Pleasant Valley. Gus and Mary Ann were wed in the home of Harmon and Emeline Newman on November 18, 1874.
Several of those on the guest list included Peter and Violet Ann Wallace McCallum; Thomas Jackson and Sarah Compton McClain, along with Langdon C. McCallum and his new bride Mary Elizabeth (Mollie) Foote. Minister Oliver Parker of the Pleasant Valley Methodist Episcopal Church conducted the ceremony.
Prior to their marriage, Gus had erected a little log cabin close to Mary Ann’s parents. Their first two children, Senorah and Carah Bell Poovey, were born in this modest little cabin.
Gus and Mary Ann built a house at the old Liberty community sometime around 1878. They lived here until all the children were grown and married. Then they built another house just a short distance away.
This grand old house has a porch that completely encircles the front and sides. And now after 120 years, that old house still sits near the intersection of present day Yeager and Liberty Grove Road. It was in this same house that they celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary back in 1924. (Note: story writen in 1998. Neither the house nor Yeager Road exist in 2005.)
Parents of Gus Poovey were David and Christian Lucretia McCallum Poovey. David Poovey was born November 15, 1815 at Burk County, North Carolina. Parents of David Poovey were Mathias and Polly Herman Poovey. Mathias was born around 1785 in Germany.
Parents of Lucretia McCallum Poovey were Duncan and Catherine McNeil McCallum. Duncan was born April 22, 1784 at Perthshire, Scotland, and Catherine was born March 15, 1789 in Perthshire, Scotland. Lucretia, born February 15, 1815 was also a native of Perthshire, Scotland.
Lucretia became a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church at Pine Grove (Henderson, Texas) during 1871. And according to her obituary, she remained faithful until her death which occurred September 8, 1900. She is buried at Pine Grove Cemetery. See biography on W. A. J. McCallum for more details.
Augustus Frazier and Mary Ann Newman Poovey had ten children. They were namely, Senorah who married Frank Garrison, then Hedge Clark; Carah Belle who married Pard Pelton; Duncan Frazier who married Sumpter Pendergras (Uncle Dunk and Aunt Sump); infant George Lafette; infant Perley; Ida Ethel who married William Conley Scoggins; David Alexander who married Irene Adams; William H; who married Lillian Mae Cameron; Nolan Evert who married Bessie Elma Knight, and Ruthie Lucretia Poovey who married Bryant H. Poore.
Augustus Frazier and Mary Ann Poovey were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Pleasant Valley. Their names are recorded on the earliest records of that church. Mary Ann lived until November 17, 1928, and Gus lived until May 12, 1938. Both are buried in Pleasant Valley’s pioneer cemetery. According to their grandson, A T Poovey, “They left a legacy of love and honor.”
By Jim Foster
