First Generation
1. Mastin USSERY
was born on 23 Oct 1818 in Giles Co., TN. He died on 6 Sep 1883 in
Luling, Caldwell County, TX.
Mastin farmed in Tennessee
for a number of years, residing there until1851. In that year,
accompanied by his wife
and three children, he
started for Texas. Sailing down the Cumberland, Tennessee, and
Mississippi Rivers to New
Orleans, he there embarked
on a steamer for Galveston where he arrived in the month of December.
Changing boats
at that place, he continued
his journey to Powder Horn, now called Indianola, and from there went
with ox teams to
Victoria, where he spent
a few months. The following May he went to Saluria Island on which
he remained about six months. In the fall of 1852 he made another
move, going across the country with his family to Guadalupe county
where he soon decided
to locate. Buying 552 acres of the San Marcos River bottomlands,
he at once began the
improvement of his property.
Almost the first thing he did was to build two log houses, one for himself
and family,
the other for his slaves.
The country roundabout was then in its virgin wilderness, deer, wild
turkeys and game of all
kinds being abundant and
easy prey for the hunter. There were no railways in that part
of the country and in
consequence, all cotton
produced had to be hauled with teams to either Port Lavaca or to San
Antonio. Improving a
large tract of land,
Mastin remained in that county until 1870. Buying in that year
500 acres of land in Caldwell Co,
he arrived with his family
and for sometime operated both farms. A man of great ability,
possessing sound judgment,
he met with most satisfactory
results in his agricultural labors, and from time to time added to his
landed possessions,
becoming owner of
nearly 2000 acres of land. He continued farming during his active
life, residing on the home
farm, about 2-1/2 miles
from Luling, until his death in September 1883.
Mastin married Sarah
Jane MARTIN daughter of John MARTIN and Annie MILLIGAN on 16 Jul
1844 in Giles Co., TN. Sarah was born on 18 Oct 1828 in Macon, Bibb
Co., GA. She died on 30 May 1910 in Caldwell Co., TX. She was buried
in Ussery Cemetery, Luling, Caldwell Co., TX.
State of TX, Caldwell
Cty.: Be it remembered that on the 2nd dau of August 1886 there was
begun and holden a
regular term of the Cty.
Ct. for said Cty. for civil criminal and probate business office. Presesent
Hon. Leo ROGAN
Cty. Judge presiding,
A. F. FIELD, sheriff and W.C. CARPENTER, clerk when he following probate
business was
In matter of the application
of Mrs. S. J. USSERY, asking to be appointed administratrix of the estate
of her dec'd.
husband Maston USSERY
come the said Mrs. S. J. USSERY by her atty. and presented to the ct.
said application for
its consideration, and
said application being duly considered by the ct. and it appearing to
the satisfaction of the ct.
that legal notice of the
filing of said application had been given and that there was no objection
urged against said
appointment it is therefore
ordered and adjudged by he Cty. that the said Mrs. S. J. USSERY be and
she is hereby
appointed administratrix
of said estate and that letters of adm. issue to her upon her filing
in this count a bond with
good security in the sum
of $1400 to be approved by this ct. and taking the oath of office as
required by law. It is
further ordered by the
ct. that A. J. CONNOLLY, D. M. DAY & W. P. DUNLAP be and they arae
hereby appointed
2 M i. Abner
Martin USSERY was born on 3 Mar 1861 in Caldwell Co., TX. He died
on 7 Sep 1928 in Luling, Caldwell County, TX. He was buried in Highsmith
Cemetery, Guadalupe Co., TX.
Abner married
Elizabeth Manila KETCHUM "Betty" daughter of Chester
Van Buren KETCHUM and Susan Anne Hancock EUSTACE and granddaughter of
Caldwell County pioneer Peter R. Ketchum. Elizabeth was born on 11 Nov
1867 in Caldwell County, TX. She died on 8 Aug 1959. She was buried
in Highsmith Cemetery, Guadalupe Co., TX.