JOSEPH G. MATLOCK (Texas and Texans)

In his native county, amidst environments and associations of ideal order, Mt. Matlock has the status of the country gentleman of the best possible American type, the while his gigantic plantation, modern in its facilities and equipped with the best of improvements is one of the model places of the Lone Star State, a demesne that invariable attracts the admiring attention of all who visit it and one that can scarce fail to beget objective covetousness on the part of those appreciative of the most independent and idyllic conditions under which man may "live and move and have his being."

Joseph Graham was born at Crockett, the judicial center of Houston Co., Texas on the 16th of October, 1860, and in this county he has maintained his home during the long intervening years, which have been marked by definite and worthy achievement on his part. He is the only survivor of the five children of William R. and Mary A. (King) Matlock, both of whom were born in Perry County, Ala. (William R. born Clarke Co., Ala. JNA) and both of whom were representatives of patrician old families of the fair Southland. Of the other four children two died in infancy; Willie King, the one daughter who attained to years of maturity, became the wife of Judge E. Winfree and passed the closing years of her life at Crockett, and Thomas died at the age of 59 years. The lineage of the Matlock family is traced back to staunch scotch-Irish origin and the ancestral record is one of distinction and honor. The original American progenitors came to this country prior to the War of the Revolution and established a home in the South, where the name became one of prominence in connection with civic and industrial development and progress. Thomas Henry Matlock, grandfather of him whose name initiates this review, took a specially active part in the various conflicts with the Creek Indians in Tennessee and Alabama, and his residence and other buildings were on two occasions destroyed by fire. He first lived in Tennessee, then in Alabama (Clarke Co.) and moved to Texas in the early fifties.

Note: The above Thomas Henry was the son of William Matlock, Sr. who moved from Roane County, Tn. to Indiana. Thomas fought in the War of 1812 from Ala. (Territory). There is a long section on William R. who fought in the Civil War. Also very flowery.

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