The L. D. Byrd Family

By Anna Byrd Wiseman

William and Elizabeth Byrd came to Texas from Salem, Alabama, in 1837, bringing a few belongings in a wagon, and some cattle which L. D. Byrd helped to drive over the long trek. They waded the Mississippi as they pushed westward.

They settled in Lone Star, Cherokee County, on a farm, where Mr. Byrd died in 1886, being followed in death by Mrs. Byrd in 1887. L. D. Byrd, eldest of their five children, married Mattie E. Brown in 1879, and moved to his father's farm. They had six children—Homer, Spurgeon, Cecil, Leah C, Herman and Anna.

In 1894, L. D. Byrd sold the farm and the family moved to Jacksonville, where he bought a livery stable and a farm, which he operated, along with selling horses. He bought a home on Myrtle Drive, which is known as the A. K. Dixon home. Later, he bought a large two-story home at the corner of North Main and Cherokee streets.

The Byrd family members all were Baptists, and after moving into town, joined the Central Baptist Chruch, the children joining during a revival conducted by Dr. George Truitt. L. D. Byrd and all five of his sons were Masons. Mr. Byrd died in 1933, after a lingering illness, and Mrs. Byrd followed him in death in 1939.

A number of years after he moved into town, L. D. Byrd bought a farm southwest of Jacksonville and part of it now is under Lake Jacksonville. After selling the big home, Mr. Byrd built a smaller house at the corner of North Jackson and Cherokee streets, where he and Mrs. Byrd lived for the remainder of their lives.

Two of the Byrd children still are living—Leah C. Byrd of Denver, Colorado, and Mrs. Anna Byrd Wiseman of Jacksonville.

One of the first automobiles brought to Jacksonville, a Studebaker, was owned by L. D. Byrd.

L. D. & Mattie (Brown) Byrd, who came to Jacksonville in 1894.

L. D. Byrd old home at the corner of North Main and Cherokee streets was a showplace in Jacksonville at the turn of the century.

One of the early automobiles in Jacksonville was this Studebaker, here being admired by the proud owners, Mr. and Mrs. L. D. Byrd.