1945 :: 100-year-old Confederate Veteran dies in Milam County

Death Comes to 100-Years-Old William Persky, Oldest Citizen of Milam County and Last of the County's Confederate Veterans; Funeral Sunday

William Persky, 100, oldest citizen of Milam county and the last Confederate veteran of the county, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. E.J. Rinn, at Sharp on Friday night. . . .

Mr. Persky celebrated his 100th anniversary last November 21st. He was born in Germany in 1844 but at the age of six came with his family to America. They settled in Austin county, where he grew to manhood and followed the farming industry. His wife, who was Miss Theresa Rundge, also of Austin county, died fifty years ago.

Mr. Persky moved to Bell county in 1901 and remained there until nineteen years ago when he came to Sharp to make his home with his daughter. For the past few years Mr. Persky had been a semi-invalid due to his age and bad eyesight. . . . The Rockdale Reporter and Messenger (Rockdale, Tex.), Vol. 73, No. 3, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 15, 1945 Page: 1 of 8

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According to Matchless Milam: History of Milam County Texas -- A Texas Sesquicentennial Edition -- compiled and edited by Milam County Heritage Preservation Society in 1984 - Milam County (Tex.) . . . On June 12, 1982, a Texas Historical Marker honoring William Carl Persky was unveiled at his gravesite in the Sharp Cemetery in Milam County. . . . the text on the marker reads as follows . . .

Texas Historical Marker

A native of Germany, William Persky migrated to the United States with his family at the age of eight. He enlisted in the confederate army during the civil war and served time as a prisoner of war. A farmer, Persky lived in Austin and Bell counties before moving to this area in 1925. He lived to be 100, and at the time of his death in 1945 was the oldest resident and the last confederate veteran of Milam County. [see Historical Markers of Milam County, Texas]

1936 :: Steamboat Washington Historical Marker

Sunday, November 8, at 2 p.m. This is the date and time for the celebration to be given for the unveiling of the historical Centennial marker known as Steamboat Landing Marker in Milam County. The event will be held at Lamkin Park, two miles southwest of Cameron at the highway bridge on Little river, according to Hon. T.S. Henderson of Cameron, who is in charge of arrangements.

Among those who will be present on this occasion, according to Henderson, is John Hobson of Buckholts. Mr. Hobson is the only survivor of those who witnessed the landing of the Steamboat Washington in 1851.

J.W. McCown Jr. of Houston, grandson of J.W. McCown, consignee of the cargo of merchandise brought by the steamboat, will also be present, as will Basil M. Hatfield of Ft. Worth, grandson of Basil M. Hatfield, captain of the steamboat Washington. . . . Rockdale Reporter and Messenger, October 29, 1936

1865 :: Milam County Guards

Company E "Milam County Guards", 4th Texas Cavalry. This company was organized at Cameron, Texas September 9, 1861 and mustered into Confederate service for the war at San Antonio, Texas September 24, 1861. It was discharged in Burleson County, Texas May 22, 1865. Commanded by Captains Charles Buckholts and Joseph H. Long.


Milam County, Texas in the Civil War

1926 :: Stephen Mayfield of Buckholts

Mrs. Sarah Barker of Newtonia sends her check for $1.50 for subscription to The Times to be sent to her brother, Stephen Mayfield, Buckholts, Texas. Mrs. Barker and her brother once lived in Neosho but he left for Texas in 1872. He is now 79 years old and blind. Mrs. Barker is past 80 and is perhaps the oldest resident of the county. The Neosho Times (Neosho, Missouri), April 29, 1926