Bonaparte Farmer

Bonaparte Farmer brought his family to Burleson County, Texas from Caroline County, Virginia in the 1854 wagon train. He was born about 1793 in Virginia, married Phoebe Brown on July 18, 1827, in Caroline County, VA, and they had four sons: Thomas Farmer was born May 19, 1828; Reuben G. Farmer was born about 1831; Andrew J. Farmer was born in October 1836; and Joseph W. Farmer was born in May 1839. Bonaparte and his sons were shoe makers in Virginia and continued to be Cobblers in Texas. Bonaparte, Phoebe, Thomas, Reuben, and Andrew joined the Dove Baptist Church in Caldwell, Burleson County, Texas in June 1856.

Reuben G. Farmer died in 1860. Andrew J. Farmer, Thomas Farmer, and William A. Farmer were Privates in Company A, 17^th Texas Infantry, CSA, and they fought at Milliken’s Bend; Mansfield, Louisiana; Pleasant Hill; and in several skirmishes. J. W. Farmer was a Private in Company G, 2^nd Texas Infantry, CSA, and was wounded at Shiloh.

Bonaparte Farmer was on the Dove Baptist Church’s Finance Committee in November 1872 and was the church Sexton in January 1859. Mrs. Phoebe Brown Farmer died in October 1874 and Mr. Bonaparte Farmer died in February 1875. They probably were buried in Caldwell’s Old City Cemetery but their graves are not marked.

Thomas Farmer married Mrs. Mary E. Smoot on September 25, 1855 in Burleson County, TX, and they had two children. One child died in infancy. Their daughter Alma Farmer was born August 16, 1860, and married Mr. G.E. James on August 11, 1881 in Caldwell. Thomas Farmer was a Deacon, Trustee, and Treasurer of Dove Baptist Church. He died June 27, 1905, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. G.E. (Alma) James. Thomas was also buried in Caldwell’s Old City Cemetery in a now unmarked grave.

Andrew J. Farmer married Miss. Mary W. Farqua on September 5, 1860, in Caldwell. He was a retail grocer in Caldwell in August 1870 and in Davilla, Milam County, Texas. Andrew and Mary’s children are: William T., Mattie, Fredrick, and Henry J. Farmer. Andrew was living in Waco, McLennan County, Texas in 1907.

Joseph W. Farmer was a saddle maker in August 1870 in Caldwell. Joseph had married Miss Emma Parkhill June 8, 1865. Emma died in the 1870s and Joseph married Miss Lucy C. Burton on November 17, 1881. On June 11, 1900, he was a tinner living on Buck Street in Caldwell with eight of his children. Joseph had twelve children: Ruben, a son; Lee, a son; Albert, a son; Lena, a daughter who married Mr. W.C. Carroll; Clyde, a son born in August 1881; Guy, a son born in January 1884; Jennie A., a daughter born in May 1887; James, a son born in July 1889; Mamie, a daughter born in February 1891; Elner, a daughter born in November 1892; Willie, a son born in August 1894; and Kate, a daughter born in July 1897. His twelve children and a large number of friends and neighbors were present when Joseph Farmer died in November 1907. He also was buried in Caldwell’s Old City Cemetery in a now unmarked grave.