Front page of The Caldwell News
Friday, January 22, 1932
Pioneer Citizen And Confederate Veteran Dies
Colonel J. J. Pressly of Cooks Point for 57 Years Passes Away
Colonel J. J. Pressley, aged, 86, Confederate veteran, and a resident of Burleson County (sic) for 57 years, more than half a century, died at his home at Cooks Point at an early hour Wednesday morning. Mr. Pressley had been in declining health for about a year. Three weeks ago he became confined to his bed and gradually grew worse until the end came.
Mr. Pressley was a native of Alabama. He served in the War between the States. He was wounded at Atlanta. He came to Texas in 1873, Burleson County in 1875 and located at Cooks Point where he spent the remainder of his life. In 1876 he married Miss Mary C. Sherrill. To them nine children were born. All survive him. Mrs. Mary C. Pressley, died several years ago. Later, Mr. Pressley married again.
He followed farming practically all his life and was well known in the county. For a number of years he bore a wide reputation as a Fiddler, and competed in numerous fiddling contests and captured prizes. He served as Cooks Point correspondent for Caldwell papers way back when the local paper was under the management of the late J. A. Hudson, and Rust and Joiner. He was always interested in local, state and national politics and always kept informed and took stands.
Burial was made yesterday in the Draper cemetery.
He is survived by the following children: Mesdames M. E. Mitchell, Y. C. Watson and H. A. Cawley of Bryan, Cliff Simmons of Cooks Point and Messrs. J. D. Pressley of Cooks Point, W. B. Pressley of Bryan, J. E. and M. C. Pressley of Houston and H. H. Pressley of Hearne. He is also survived by his third wife and 16 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.
Julius J. died in Burleson Co, TX of organic heart lesion and hypertension. According to his death certificate he is buried at the Draper Cemetary (Moseley Cemetery) Cooks Point, Burleson Co, TX and was buried on 1/21/1932. His gravestone reads:
J.J. PRESSLEY
CO E, 38 AL INF
C.S.A.
Bryan Weekly Eagle
June 30, 1927
Confederate Veterans are Royally Entertained By Lions' Club Here
Members of Hood's and Green's Brigades were elaborately entertained Tuesday at noon by members of the Bryan Lions Club. A splendid menu, furnished by ladies of the Episcopal church, and singing of old-time songs were high lights of the entertainment. Members of the brigades and visitors were called upon by Miss Katie Daffan for addresses. Each person eulogized the Bryan club and the hospitality of the city. Sam E. Eberstadt had charge of the program. Mrs. H. C. Wright sang "Way Down Upon the S'wanee River."
The election of three new members was announced as follows: A. F. Ainsworth, pastor of the First Christian Church; Rev. D. B. Gregory, pastor of the Presbyterian church of A. and M. College, and Dr. H. L. Durham, superintendent of Bryan public schools. The new members were given an enthusiastic reception. Dr. Durham formerly belonged to the Lions club at Greenville, and Reverend Mr. Gregory formerly was president of the Lions Club of Durant, Okla.
M. M. Erskine, was unanimously re-elected treasurer of the club.
It was the last meeting to be presided over by President F. D. Fuller, and he made an eloquent farewell address.
The following were present: F. D. Fuller, Mrs. Forrest H. Farley, Pres., Tex. Div. U. D. O., W. E. Selman, Thos. Gordon Watts, John H. Roberts, Arcadia, Katie Daffan, Mrs. J. P. Berry, Mrs. Ellen Berry, M. R.? Phillips, James Briggs, W. B. Free, F. H. Goree Jr., P. K. Goree, Co. H. 5th Tex. Reg., Hood's Brigade, Mrs. P. K. Goree, Sr., W. T. Carrington, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Dallas, W. B. Williams, Mrs. R. E. Powell, J. J. Pressley, John Landers, R. L. Midkiff, Bedias, Tex., J. W. Brosig, Navasota, D. E. Millen, Bryan U. C. V., Mrs. Albert Buchanan, Gen. R. D. Chapman, Houston, Tex., Mrs. Wm. Edgeworth, Muse, 1st Vice-President U. D. C., Glen Rose, Tex., Geo. H. Watkins, Austin, Tex., Eleanor Jane Watkins, Austin, Tex., Mrs. Henry Clay Wright, Austin, Texas, H. C. Wright, Austin, Texas, A. G. Bryan, Houston, Texas, Mrs. A. Y. Bryan, Houston, Texas, Austin Bryan, Houston, Texas, J. K. P. Hanna, Calvert, L. H. Barry, Navasota, S. W. Lindsay, R. V. Woods, W. E. Davis, Bassett Lowell, Carmen Lavender, H. B. Lavender, J. G. McDonald, Mrs. J. Wallace Brosig, Navasota, Grimes Co., Mrs. B. B. Knolle, Vice-President Texas U. D. C., Houston, Mrs. F. I. Nevill, Houston, Miss Miami Barry, Navasota, A. H. Polley, Austin, Texas, R. E. Lovejoy, J. H. Sheffield, Mrs. F. D. Fuller, Mrs. Ebbie Garvin, Mrs. L. G. Wood, Jno. L. Ashford, J. Coulter Smith, Mrs. L. C. Lichenstein, General J. C. Foster, Mrs. J. C. Foster, R. C. Franks, Ross M. Sherwood, Willard Chambers, Tom G. Suber, J. H. Bolton, C. M. Halsell, Harry S. Edge, G. L. Crawford, R. V. Armstrong, H. H. Young, W. E. Neeley, Al F. Ainsworth, J. E. Mathis, W. D. Oney, F. S. Garrett, C. G. Carroll, D. B. Gregory, J. O. Bradfield, Co. C 1st Texas, W. H. Browning, Mrs. C. C. Cameron, Dallas, J. E. Hensarling?, Harry Durham, M. M. Erskine, Bob Irvine, S. E. Eberstadt, Mrs. Roy Danforth, two negro soldiers.
Bryan Weekly Eagle,
Thursday, June 16, 1927:
Capt. Pressley Named Colonel On Staff of Commander Foster
Captain J. J. Presley of Cook's Point, Burleson county, has been appointed Colonel on the staff of General J. C. Foster of Houston, commander-in-chief of the United Confederate Veterans. Captain Pressley is in town today a visitor to his son, W. B. Pressley, and getting the dates of Hood's Brigade meeting. Colonel Pressley is a regular attendant at these meetings.
Bryan Weekly Eagle,
Thursday, April 7, 1927
Names of Living Veterans To Be Enrolled In Memory Book At Stone Mountain In Georgia
The plan being undertaken by all Southern States is to enroll the name of all living veterans in a Book of Memory to be preserved for all time to come in Memorial Hall at Stone Mountain, Ga. A gold star will be placed opposite the name of each veteran enrolled and a triple plated gold medal will be presented to each. These medals, are sold for $5 each and as mentioned above, are presented to the veterans by the various purchasers as a token of honor for the valiant service rendered to the South. The proceeds of this sale goes to the monument being built on Stone Mounstain (sic) as an enduring memorial to all the Confederate soldiers, the living as well as those who have passed on before.
Hollins N. Randolph president of the Stone Mountain Memorial, has made a special trip to Texas at this time to assist in decorating every Confederate veteran in Texas. President Hollins in a telegram to The Eagle this morning from Austin, said:
"Won't you enroll or endeavor to have it done, all veterans in your county on the living Confederate Veteran Enrollment of the Stops Mountain Monument. The veterans meet next week at Tampa, Florida, in what might be almost their last reunion. I have come to Texas for the purpose of completing enrollment, and hope to accomplish this while they are in session at Tampa. The same thing is being done in all the other Southern States. But few of these old heroes remain and we want to honor those surviving. Won't you help us. Your quota equals the number of veterans living in your county.”
Upon investigation we find that there are but four living veterans in Brazos county as follows: W. E. Saunders, J. J. Pressley, Evander Gandy, J. M. Miller and W. H. Gustavus. If anyone should happen to know of others The Eagle would be glad to have their address.
Bryan Weekly Eagle,
Wednesday, January 5, 1927
Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Pressley celebrated Christmas Day with a family reunion, with a total present of 33, including family and friends.
Mr. Pressley is 81 years of age, and has been on the farm for more than 50 years. After the delicious dinner, he sought his fiddle and played a number of old-time songs, much to the delight of all.
The following were present:
J. D. Pressley, Caldwell; Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Pressley and family of Houston; Mr. and Mrs. M. C. Pressley of Houston; Mr. and Mrs. W. B. Pressley and family of Bryan; Mr. and Mrs. Hiebert of Houston; Mrs. Cliff Simmons and family of Marlin; Mrs. C. M. Mitchell and family of Bryan; Mrs. C. M. Mitchell Jr., and son of Bryan; Mr. and Mrs. Y. C. Watson and family of Bryan; Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Watson of Bryan.
Bryan Weekly Eagle,
Thursday, May 31, 1923
THEY FIDDLED ALONG TO OLD TIME TUNES
Lovers of old-time "fiddling" enjoyed a rare treat last Saturday afternoon when J. J. Presley of Cook's Point, Jim Floyd of Rock Prairie and K. Kelly of Coleview vied with each other at the chamber of commerce rooms in the rendition of those old-time "classics," such as "Billy in the Low Ground," "Turkey in the Straw" and "Arkansas Traveler." It made George P. Edge and County Agent C. L. Beason and others present think sorrowfully of those by-gone days when "fiddling was fiddling and dancing was dancing.
Bryan Daily Eagle and Pilot,
Tuesday, March 12, 1912
TWO APPRECIATED CALLERS
The Eagle office was given a call this morning by Mr. J. J. Pressley of Cooks Point, Burleson county and Mr. Sam Sherrill of this city, but ___ lately to Bryan from Cook's Point. Both these gentlemen are well known throughout this section and are recognized as two of the best violinists in the state. Both have taken part in old fiddlers' contests in Caldwell, Brenham, Waco, and many other places, and never fail to win the big end of the prizes.
They have been playing for the past week in the afternoons at the new Princess Theatre and have delighted the large crowds present with their melodies.
They brought their violins with them to The Eagle office this morning and favored us with several selections, during which all work was suspended and the entire force gathered in the front office to listen to the music. Passersby on the sidewalk were also attracted and came in and before the concert ended we had a fair-sized audience present.
Both gentlemen are old Confederate soldiers, and the crosses of honor upon their breasts bespeak the fact that they have known the glories of war. They have heard the cannon's roar, the neighing of the chargers and the shouting of the captains. On a hundred fields they have faced their foes, fighting for home and country -- their beloved Southland.
God bless the old heroes, and may the sweet strains of their music continue to charm and delight their friends, until that glorious morn, when with harps attuned, they shall join God's orchestra in the celestial city.
Brazos Pilot,
April, 18, 1907
An Old Violin From Thursday's Daily.
J. J. Pressley and Sam Sherrill were here today from Cooks Point, and Mr. Sherrill had with him his fine old violin which is 252 years old. It is very valuable and Mr. Sherrill has refused $500 for it. Mr. Pressley won first prize in the "Old Fiddler's Contest held" here several years ago, and he and Mr. Sherrill and Luther Taylor entertained a number of the old timers very pleasantly for a while this morning on the old violin.
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