1. Family

Duncan/Mather Family Photos

Vintage to modern-day photos of the Duncan and Mather side of our family. I've tried to be as thorough in my captioning as I can, but some names and sides of families were not given. More information will be added when made available, and any help along those lines would be greatly appreciated.
Read More
  • THE OLD MATHER HOMEPLACE - LIBERTY HILL, TEXAS
Painting by Lynda Duncan Meinke

    THE OLD MATHER HOMEPLACE - LIBERTY HILL, TEXAS Painting by Lynda Duncan Meinke

  • SAMUEL E MATHER (1812–1878)
Masonic photo taken in 1852

Samuel E. Mather, state legislator and prominent businessman, was born on October 8, 1812, in Northumberland (formerly Northumbria-upon-Tyne), England, son of Andrew Mather. Samuel married Sarah Parker Smith on August 28, 1846, in San Augustine, Texas, and they moved to Williamson County and settled on the North San Gabriel River in 1849. He built a gristmill on the river, where the town Gabriel Mills was soon developed in the mid-1850s. A major flood in 1854 destroyed his mill, but Samuel was undeterred, and by 1856 he had rebuilt, adding a church and school to the area. In 1858 he was the postmaster for Gabriel Mills. Samuel Mather was a Mason (Past Grand Master) and a founding member of the Mount Horeb Lodge No. 137, A.F. & A.M., in Mahomet, Burnet County, Texas. Mather served as a Texas state representative in the Ninth Legislature from 1861 to 1862. 

Samuel Mather died in Hays County in the vicinity of the future community of Kyle on May 17, 1878, and was buried there two days later. 

[The above captioning derived from The Handbook of Texas Online.]

    SAMUEL E MATHER (1812–1878) Masonic photo taken in 1852 Samuel E. Mather, state legislator and prominent businessman, was born on October 8, 1812, in Northumberland (formerly Northumbria-upon-Tyne), England, son of Andrew Mather. Samuel married Sarah Parker Smith on August 28, 1846, in San Augustine, Texas, and they moved to Williamson County and settled on the North San Gabriel River in 1849. He built a gristmill on the river, where the town Gabriel Mills was soon developed in the mid-1850s. A major flood in 1854 destroyed his mill, but Samuel was undeterred, and by 1856 he had rebuilt, adding a church and school to the area. In 1858 he was the postmaster for Gabriel Mills. Samuel Mather was a Mason (Past Grand Master) and a founding member of the Mount Horeb Lodge No. 137, A.F. & A.M., in Mahomet, Burnet County, Texas. Mather served as a Texas state representative in the Ninth Legislature from 1861 to 1862. Samuel Mather died in Hays County in the vicinity of the future community of Kyle on May 17, 1878, and was buried there two days later. [The above captioning derived from The Handbook of Texas Online.]

  • SAMUEL E MATHER (1812-1878)
This photo hangs in the Masonic headquarters in Waco, as Samuel was a Grand Master at one time.

    SAMUEL E MATHER (1812-1878) This photo hangs in the Masonic headquarters in Waco, as Samuel was a Grand Master at one time.

  • SAMUEL E AND THOMAS MATHER

    SAMUEL E AND THOMAS MATHER

  • JESSE J DODSON (1815 - 1890) 
Jesse was a Private First Class in the Confederacy, and also served in the Texas State Troops. This is a tintype photo.

    JESSE J DODSON (1815 - 1890) Jesse was a Private First Class in the Confederacy, and also served in the Texas State Troops. This is a tintype photo.

  • JESSE JOHN DODSON (1854-1894)
Son of Jesse J. Dodson, the first child of his second marriage (to Disa Mae "Dicy" Findley).

    JESSE JOHN DODSON (1854-1894) Son of Jesse J. Dodson, the first child of his second marriage (to Disa Mae "Dicy" Findley).

  • JESSE HINTON MORRIS AND WIFE NANCY WINIFRED (STARR) -- 2-14-1861

    JESSE HINTON MORRIS AND WIFE NANCY WINIFRED (STARR) -- 2-14-1861

  • Calvin Madison Head as an infant

    Calvin Madison Head as an infant

  • SUSAN D DODSON
Daughter of Jesse J. Dodson's 2nd marriage

    SUSAN D DODSON Daughter of Jesse J. Dodson's 2nd marriage

  • JOHN FRANKLIN DUNCAN (1856-1883)

Due to the quality of this photo, I thought it might be off of a gravestone, but John's doesn't have a photo on it. Probably just a Xerox copy of a Xerox copy.

    JOHN FRANKLIN DUNCAN (1856-1883) Due to the quality of this photo, I thought it might be off of a gravestone, but John's doesn't have a photo on it. Probably just a Xerox copy of a Xerox copy.

  • CARDELIA CAROLINE EPLEY (1862-1936)
This is Mrs John Franklin Duncan

    CARDELIA CAROLINE EPLEY (1862-1936) This is Mrs John Franklin Duncan

  • JESSE JOHN DODSON AND FAMILY - c.1890

L to R: 
Jesse Lee Dodson (1879-1948)
Mary Elizabeth Dodson (1882-1947)
Benjamin Franklin Dodson (1884-1941)
Jesse John Dodson (1854-1894)
Wiley Elbert Dodson (1887-1950)
Mary Jane Judkins Dodson (1859-1899)

It should be noted here that this Benjamin Franklin Dodson is not our direct ancestor [or mine, anyway], the Benjamin Franklin Dodson (1846-1927) who married Easter Isabell Curtis. This Benjamin Franklin is his nephew. Isn't genealogy fun?

    JESSE JOHN DODSON AND FAMILY - c.1890 L to R: Jesse Lee Dodson (1879-1948) Mary Elizabeth Dodson (1882-1947) Benjamin Franklin Dodson (1884-1941) Jesse John Dodson (1854-1894) Wiley Elbert Dodson (1887-1950) Mary Jane Judkins Dodson (1859-1899) It should be noted here that this Benjamin Franklin Dodson is not our direct ancestor [or mine, anyway], the Benjamin Franklin Dodson (1846-1927) who married Easter Isabell Curtis. This Benjamin Franklin is his nephew. Isn't genealogy fun?

  • JOSEPHINE DODSON AT AGE 16 - 1890

    JOSEPHINE DODSON AT AGE 16 - 1890

  • JOSEPH A AND ELLA CURTIS AND SON OLAN -- 1895

    JOSEPH A AND ELLA CURTIS AND SON OLAN -- 1895

  • ADDIE MARIE DUNCAN
John Franklin Duncan's daughter

    ADDIE MARIE DUNCAN John Franklin Duncan's daughter

  • SELMA (LEUBNER) AND BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DODSON

Here we have Benjamin Franklin Dodson all grown up, and we can see there is no resemblance to old Ben Dodson.

    SELMA (LEUBNER) AND BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DODSON Here we have Benjamin Franklin Dodson all grown up, and we can see there is no resemblance to old Ben Dodson.

  • BETTIE ELIZABETH (BUMGARDNER) AND ELIJAH BULLION
This is a tintype photo taken in the late 1800s of the brother of Mariah Bullion (Thomas Jefferson Duncan's wife) and his wife.

    BETTIE ELIZABETH (BUMGARDNER) AND ELIJAH BULLION This is a tintype photo taken in the late 1800s of the brother of Mariah Bullion (Thomas Jefferson Duncan's wife) and his wife.

  • THOMAS JEFFERSON DUNCAN, SR

    THOMAS JEFFERSON DUNCAN, SR

  • MARIAH BULLEN DUNCAN (Mrs Thomas Jefferson Duncan, Sr)

    MARIAH BULLEN DUNCAN (Mrs Thomas Jefferson Duncan, Sr)

  • WILLIAM PINCKNEY DODSON
An uncle of Benjamin Franklin Dodson, who served with Ben in the Texas State Troops in 1864. He looks like someone on an old polar expedition in this shot.

    WILLIAM PINCKNEY DODSON An uncle of Benjamin Franklin Dodson, who served with Ben in the Texas State Troops in 1864. He looks like someone on an old polar expedition in this shot.

  • TOM STARR - c. 1883

This is the man who brought Cherokee blood into our family. He and his father, James, and his grandfather, Caleb, were leaders within the Cherokee Nation, and were involved with the Cherokee Treaties of 1816 and1819, as well as the final Removal Treaty of December 1835. Tom's son, Samuel, married Myra Maybelle Shirley, whom everyone knows as the infamous Belle Starr. One of Tom's descendants (I'm not sure just who yet) was the father of Rachel Starr, who married Joseph Henry Curtis, becoming the parents of Easter Isabell Curtis who then married Benjamin Franklin Dodson. You can take it from there.

    TOM STARR - c. 1883 This is the man who brought Cherokee blood into our family. He and his father, James, and his grandfather, Caleb, were leaders within the Cherokee Nation, and were involved with the Cherokee Treaties of 1816 and1819, as well as the final Removal Treaty of December 1835. Tom's son, Samuel, married Myra Maybelle Shirley, whom everyone knows as the infamous Belle Starr. One of Tom's descendants (I'm not sure just who yet) was the father of Rachel Starr, who married Joseph Henry Curtis, becoming the parents of Easter Isabell Curtis who then married Benjamin Franklin Dodson. You can take it from there.

  • NANCY BOULTINGHOUSE CARROLL MARCUS

The mother of Mary Ellender Victoria Carroll, who became Andrew Mather's wife. She was also known as "Grandma Marcus" by family members.

    NANCY BOULTINGHOUSE CARROLL MARCUS The mother of Mary Ellender Victoria Carroll, who became Andrew Mather's wife. She was also known as "Grandma Marcus" by family members.

  • SARAH JANE CARROLL AND EBENEZER SMITH
Sarah Jane Carroll was the oldest daughter of Nancy Boultinghouse and Daniel Carrol. Daniel was Nancy's first husband, who was murdered in Arkansas in 1851.

    SARAH JANE CARROLL AND EBENEZER SMITH Sarah Jane Carroll was the oldest daughter of Nancy Boultinghouse and Daniel Carrol. Daniel was Nancy's first husband, who was murdered in Arkansas in 1851.

  • THOMAS JEFFERSON DUNCAN, JR
Miss Kemp's Studio, Goldthwaite, Texas

    THOMAS JEFFERSON DUNCAN, JR Miss Kemp's Studio, Goldthwaite, Texas

  • WILLIAM PINCKNEY DODSON (1825-1898)
He could go out for the part of the preacher in the original version of Moby Dick.

    WILLIAM PINCKNEY DODSON (1825-1898) He could go out for the part of the preacher in the original version of Moby Dick.

  • RACHEL GREEN DUNN DODSON  (Mrs William Pinckney Dodson) 1825-1907

    RACHEL GREEN DUNN DODSON (Mrs William Pinckney Dodson) 1825-1907

  • JOHN FREEMAN AND ALICE HASSELTINE CUMMINGS DODSON
One of William Pinckney Dodson's sons and his wife

    JOHN FREEMAN AND ALICE HASSELTINE CUMMINGS DODSON One of William Pinckney Dodson's sons and his wife

  • Dr THOMAS JEFFERSON DODSON
Another son of William Pinckney and Rachel Green Dunn Dodson

    Dr THOMAS JEFFERSON DODSON Another son of William Pinckney and Rachel Green Dunn Dodson

  • LILLIE MAY DODSON

    LILLIE MAY DODSON

  • DODSON FAMILY PORTRAIT
And another son of William Pinckney Dodson. This is Jesse Pinckney and Emma Campsey Dodson, with son Carl and daughters Alma, Lilly May, and Jessie Arta

    DODSON FAMILY PORTRAIT And another son of William Pinckney Dodson. This is Jesse Pinckney and Emma Campsey Dodson, with son Carl and daughters Alma, Lilly May, and Jessie Arta

  • 1894 c  - Calvin Madison and Beulah Miles Head

    1894 c - Calvin Madison and Beulah Miles Head

  • 1897 - Calvin Madison and Beulah Miles Head, Lela and Faira

    1897 - Calvin Madison and Beulah Miles Head, Lela and Faira

  • WINNEY JANE DUNCAN JONES
This is Thomas Jefferson Duncan's sister

    WINNEY JANE DUNCAN JONES This is Thomas Jefferson Duncan's sister

  • HATTIE LAWRENCE (OR MARY HELEN LINDSEY)
I apologize for the ambiguity here, but that's what's on the back of the photo. It was  handed down to Novene Jo and she didn't know, either.

    HATTIE LAWRENCE (OR MARY HELEN LINDSEY) I apologize for the ambiguity here, but that's what's on the back of the photo. It was handed down to Novene Jo and she didn't know, either.

  • HAYDEN DARLING "HADE" DUNCAN

    HAYDEN DARLING "HADE" DUNCAN

  • JOSEPH HENRY AND RACHEL STARR CURTIS

    JOSEPH HENRY AND RACHEL STARR CURTIS

  • THOMAS JEFFERSON DUNCAN, JR (1858-1936)

If you're thinking you've seen this picture before, you're not alone. Take a look at his daddy's photo a couple of photos back. Boy, the acorn sure didn't fall far from the tree, did it? Looks to me like it was probably the same photographer, too.

    THOMAS JEFFERSON DUNCAN, JR (1858-1936) If you're thinking you've seen this picture before, you're not alone. Take a look at his daddy's photo a couple of photos back. Boy, the acorn sure didn't fall far from the tree, did it? Looks to me like it was probably the same photographer, too.

  • JAMES WILSON "SHARK" DUNCAN - In his 20s

    JAMES WILSON "SHARK" DUNCAN - In his 20s

  • BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DODSON

    BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DODSON

  • EASTER ISABELL CURTIS DODSON (Mrs Benjamin Franklin Dodson)

    EASTER ISABELL CURTIS DODSON (Mrs Benjamin Franklin Dodson)

  • UNKNOWN FAMILY HOMESTEAD
Possibly Esther Isabell Curtis Dodson seated

    UNKNOWN FAMILY HOMESTEAD Possibly Esther Isabell Curtis Dodson seated

  • UNKNOWN FAMILY HOMESTEAD
With everyone dressed up and a photo hanging on the fence, it's believed this is a photo of a funereal occasion.

    UNKNOWN FAMILY HOMESTEAD With everyone dressed up and a photo hanging on the fence, it's believed this is a photo of a funereal occasion.

  • FRANK AND RACHEL HOWARD

We're pretty sure that this is Rachel Ellen Dodson Snipes (the eldest daughter of Ben and Esther Dodson, previously married to one Thomas O Snipes until he went and got himself hanged over a fence-cutting matter) and her husband, Frank "Cap" Howard, a lawman with the Indian Police. He and a US Marshall traveled down to Monterrey, Mexico, on a manhunt and, for some unexplained reason, Rachel accompanied them. (She may have been pregnant at the time, as she appears to be here.) Frank and the marshal went off in search of their man one day and were never seen or heard from again. After a while Rachel decided that Frank was most likely dead, so she bought a donkey, loaded it with her belongings and young child, Clarence, and walked out of Mexico on foot all the way back to Central Texas. Considering that both Mexico and Texas were both filled with bandits, Indians, and other unsavory types at this time (late 1880s), that was a true testament to the courage and determination of this woman. I can't imagine the amount of pain and hardship both she and little Clarence had to endure on this epic journey. No one is sure who the man in the white shirt is. He might be the US Marshal, but that's not for certain.

    FRANK AND RACHEL HOWARD We're pretty sure that this is Rachel Ellen Dodson Snipes (the eldest daughter of Ben and Esther Dodson, previously married to one Thomas O Snipes until he went and got himself hanged over a fence-cutting matter) and her husband, Frank "Cap" Howard, a lawman with the Indian Police. He and a US Marshall traveled down to Monterrey, Mexico, on a manhunt and, for some unexplained reason, Rachel accompanied them. (She may have been pregnant at the time, as she appears to be here.) Frank and the marshal went off in search of their man one day and were never seen or heard from again. After a while Rachel decided that Frank was most likely dead, so she bought a donkey, loaded it with her belongings and young child, Clarence, and walked out of Mexico on foot all the way back to Central Texas. Considering that both Mexico and Texas were both filled with bandits, Indians, and other unsavory types at this time (late 1880s), that was a true testament to the courage and determination of this woman. I can't imagine the amount of pain and hardship both she and little Clarence had to endure on this epic journey. No one is sure who the man in the white shirt is. He might be the US Marshal, but that's not for certain.

  • UNKNOWN DUNCAN FAMILY - 1892
I don't know who these folks are, but I like the way this photo is torn for some reason.

    UNKNOWN DUNCAN FAMILY - 1892 I don't know who these folks are, but I like the way this photo is torn for some reason.

  • Photo Sharing
  • About SmugMug
  • Browse Photos
  • Prints & Gifts
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Contact
  • Owner Log In
© 2023 SmugMug, Inc.