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From the historical files of June E. Tuck, who does not validate or dispute any historical facts in the article.
Past History and Present Stage of Development of Texas
Published by The Forrister History Company
Regan Printing House, Chicago, Ill.
I. G. Forrister, Publisher
(No date given.)
T. B. Gaskins was born in Madison County, West Tennessee, January 14, 1854 - his parents moving to Texas when he was an infant and settling on a farm in Upshur county, thirteen miles east of Gilmer. In December, 1869, his father purchased a farm six miles southeast of Como, in Hopkins County, and the subject of this sketch, therefore, grew up on the farm. His father was of English descent, a native of North Carolina, from whence he migrated to West Tennessee. He spent four full years in the Civil War as a Confederate soldier, was in the fiercest of the fight and died in Hopkins County, Texas, in 1871. His mother was, before her marriage, Miss Pauline Dearmore; born in Virginia, and came to Tennessee when a mere girl. Being the mother of two daughters and four sons, she died at Como in 1886. The primary subject of sketch, Mr. T. B. Gaskins, first located in Como in October, 1870, when there were but three log cabins and one small grocery store - he having since minutely witnessed its growth to its present 1,500 population, two banks, large and handsome mercantile establishments, industries, etc. Under the firm name of Gaskins and Robinson, his father aided in giving Como its second store in 1871. With the exception of engaging in the hotel business at Commerce for two years, Mr. Gaskins has conducted the leading hotel of Como since 1884 - his being headquarters for the traveling public. He also owns two hundred acres of valuable farm land south of Como, and is gradually bringing it into a high state of cultivation. Mr. Gaskins was married February 14, 1875, to Miss Mary Ellen Walker, of Hopkins County, by whom he had three sons and one daughter. His first wife having departed this life he was a second time married to Mrs. B. D. Pyland, and two sons, E. J. and Horace, have also come into the home. Mr. Gaskins is a deacon in the Missionary Baptist church, and a man of stanch convictions and unshakable integrity.
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