From Proud Heritage, Volume I by DCPA, not currently in print.
Silas Neely Lawler came to Texas in 1853, buying a farm in Williamson County, which he farmed one year. In 1854 he sold this land and moved to Limestone County to be with his dying wife’s parents. Aletha A., who died 24 February 1854, was a daughter of Finis E. Rowland, who also came to Texas in 1853.
Silas and Aletha, soon after their marriage in Simpson County, Kentucky, lived with the Rowlands, at which time Silas was a school teacher. Silas remained in Limestone County for three years and then moved to Denton County where he joined two of his brothers, James W. and Newton Vandyke. Silas married, on 27 March 1857, Mary A. Davis, sister of Caroline M. Davis, who married Newton V. Lawler in Kentucky. The three Lawler brothers entered the Confederate Service from Denton County. Silas saw service as a bodyguard at Bonham and service on the coast of Louisiana. At the end of the war, his slaves were freed and he returned to 160 acres, a few cattle, and two horses. He served as a Justice of the Peace in Denton County.
Silas Neely Lawler was born in Simpson County, Kentucky, on 4 November 1822, one of eight sons and four daughters born to Samuel and Mary Neely Lawler. Samuel was the only son of James and Nancy Lee Lawler, who married in Mercer County, Kentucky on 12 July 1790. James Lawler came to this country from Ireland just before the Revolution. James and Nancy were also the parents of Sally Lawler, who married Samuel Peters in Mercer County on 25 July 1808, and Mary (Polly) Lawler, who married Samuel Wilson in Logan County on 15 January 1819. Samuel and Mary Wilson were the parents of Mary C. Wilson who married George Huffhines in Simpson County before coming to Texas in 1853.
In 1869, Silas moved to Dallas County, farmed one year on a rented farm, and then purchased with his brother, Newton V., 160 acres at $4.25 an acre. This deed from Robert Fisher and wife Mary E. was filed 9 November 1869. Newton and Caroline sold their interest to Silas on 31 May 1870.
In 1870, Samuel Lawler, Silas’ father, came to Texas to visit his three sons and died at the home of Silas. His body was placed in a tin container, covered with alcohol, and taken to Simpson County for burial beside his wife. As there were no railroads to Texas at the time, part if not all of the trip must have been by wagon. Their tombstones in the Robey Cemetery read, “Samuel Lawler 17 June 1793 – 25 February 1870 and Mary Lawler, wife of S. Lawler 28 July 1800 – 12 August 1868.”
In a letter from Richardson Texas, dated August 29th, 1871, Silas wrote one of his brothers in Kentucky, “Cotton not half crop … the lightest boles I ever raised … don ‘t think I will be able to gather more than one third bale per acre … If my property there can be cashed for $1500 I will take that for it … I can get the land that we talked about when you were here …” (This letter suggests that Richardson, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1973, is at least two years older than thought.) He did not buy this land, his next purchase being 160 acres from S. P. Emerson on 17 December 1879, for which he paid $8.00 per acre. On the 320 acres he owned, Silas raised wheat, oats, corn and cotton. Most of the livestock were horses and mules. His farm was located on what it now Buckingham Road, midway between Audelia and Plano Roads.
In politics, he was at one time a Whig, but later affiliated with the Democratic party. He was a Mason. His family were members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, attending the Duck Creek Church in their early residence here.
By his first wife Silas had three sons, Samuel E., Finis E., and Silas Micajah. Two died at about 9 months. Finis E., born 14 November 1851, died 17 October 1923, was a preacher, living in various places. He married Nellie Stallcup 31 March 1892. Their son, Eugene Stallcup Lawler, born August 1893, became a school teacher in Dallas, but later moved to Florida and taught there. Nell Aletha, born in July 1895 in Colorado taught school in the Dallas Public Schools for many years.
Silas and Mary A. Davis Lawler had eight children, one dying unnamed. Caroline, born in January 1870, the first to be born in Dallas County, died as an infant. All burials, if dates are given, have been in the Big Springs Cemetery, unless otherwise noted. The six to reach maturity were: 1) James H. Lawler born 16 March 1859, died 14 July 1938; married 22 November 1885 Lucy Edmonia “Eddie” Prigmore born 1864, died 16 August 1947. She was a daughter of Benjamin J. and Nancy Lucinda Jackson Prigmore. Jim Lawler was a successful farmer who was instrumental in founding the Lawler School in the early 1890s and one of the first trustees. It was destroyed by a tornado on 3 April 1924. Their four children were: a) Oliver Eugene born 4 October 1886, died 11 Decem ber 1970; married 29 December 1909 Ethel “Curly” Pierce born 1 February 1894, died 27 October 1978. Both buried Restland. They had no children. b) Benjamin “Ben” Silas Lawler born 1889, died 16 November 1946, served in World War I, was a Mason, died unmarried in the home of his mother between Garland and Richardson. After his death, “Eddie” lived with her son, Gene. c) Nell Lawler born 1892, died 1967; married Joe McCallum born 1888, died 1963. d) Archie E. Lawler born 1 July 1894, died 15 April 1951; married Ora Ethel born 16 March 1896, died 1 April 1970. They had no children. 2) Patty L. Lawler born in June 1861, married on 14 December 1878 George Thomas Whitfield who was born in March 1854. 3) John W. Lawler, born June 1863, died 21 January 1943; died unmarried near Garland. In his younger days, he was a bartender in Dallas, but turned his attention to farming. His land, north of Belt Line between Plano and Jupiter Roads, was in 1943 the Avery Sauls place. 4) Virgil V. Lawler born in January 1867, married on 20 October 1908 Lou Ella Mayes. Moved shortly after his marriage to his farm in New Mexico, but in 1943 lived near Addison. 5) Mary Belle Lawler born 4 September 1871, died 1 January 1936; married 27 May 1894 Robert S. “Bob” Huffhines born 3 February 1869, died 9 January 1943. He was born in Simpson County, Kentucky. Their only child, Neely, born on 28 December 1895 served in World War I. He and his wife, Jackie, still lived on a part of the Huffhines farm on Plano Road north of Belt Line, it having been in the family over 80 years. Jackie was for years a sponsor of the Richardson Volunteer Fire Department. 6) Aletha Ann Lawler born in October 1872; married 9 November 1904 D. Young Neely. They moved to Southern California.
After 47 years in Texas, Silas Lawler died of cancer in his home on 2 December 1900 and was buried in Big Spring Cemetery. His wife, Mary, born on 27 June 1827 in Kentucky, died on 28 March 1906 and was buried beside her husband.
By Everts E. Jackson, Dallas
