How The Seiglers Came To Texas
Here are two versions of this story, both from Collin County Families. Except for a few spelling corrections I've left these as I found them.
SEIGLER FAMILY
It is believed that David Seigler, the immigrant, whose descendants came to Collin County in 1866, came from the duchy of Wurtenberg in Southern Germany and settled in South Carolina about 1750. The family name was originally spelled Zeigler or Zigler in German, but most of the descendants changed the spelling to Seagler or Seigler after coming to the English colony of America. This family owned the land in the Lexington district of South Carolina between the Broad and Saulda Rivers called "The Dutch Fork".
Tradition, records of land grants, the United States Census and information in the family Bible tell the story of the Seigler family. Adam Seigler was born in South Carolina about 1765. His four sons, Michael, James, William and Adam, inherited his farm at his death in 1836. Michael Jordon Seigler, his wife Martha Rebecca Burkett, and their six children sold their part of his father's estate to move and buy land near the town of Starkville in Oktibbeha County, Mississippi. The other brothers continued to live on their South Carolina farms.
Martha Rebecca's parents, the Thomas Burketts, owned a farm in Lexington District near the Seiglers when Martha and Michael Jordon married. After migrating to Mississippi, the Michael Seigler family was blessed with seven other children. When the War Between the States was over, the people and the land of Oktibbeha County, Mississippi still suffered from defeat in many ways.
The Seiglers had lost their son Thomas and two sons-in-law in the War. The Union Army had confiscated most of the Seigler's farm equipment and livestock and Lincoln had freed their slaves.
It seemed there must be a better life somewhere out further west for the Seigler children and grandchildren. The family had heard of rich farm land that could be purchased cheaply in Collin County, Texas. Perhaps with hard work, they could find a good life again. In the summer of 1866, several families near Starkville tried to sell their farms and organize a wagon train for the trip to Collin County.
Michael Seigler and two other men went ahead of the group to Vicksburg to buy the equipment for this wonderful dream of the future. They planned to meet the others at the Mississippi River in a few days. Before they arrived at the rendezvous, the group heard of many people dying of cholera. Unfortunately, their meeting was a funeral. Michael Seigler died of this dreaded disease and was buried at Vicksburg. The group had to burn the campsite and clothes of their leader because they could not take the chance of others developing cholera.
They discovered that most of their greenbacks for the trip to Texas had also been lost in the fire. The wagon train could not return to Starkville since the families had either sold or even given away their homes and land in their rush to leave for Texas. Therefore, they continued the slow and sad journey to Collin County with a son-in-law Sam R. Hamilton in command of the group.
The Farmersville community felt the power of Hamilton's leadership in theorganization of all civic and chruch affairs as he began his new life in Collin County. He became the Grand Master of Texas Masons and wrote a book on the history of this organization. He also wrote of the family's many hardships and troubles during those early days of settlement. Their determination, courage, Christian life and hard work made them successful in obtaining land to farm for their survival.
The memorial services at Farmersville Bethlehem Church and Cemetery this year, 1983, on the first Sunday in June will be a continuation of the annual gathering of this Seigler family's descendants. In 1900, several descendants of the Seigler family moved to Clay County; they also have a reunion on the fourth Sunday in June each year at Joy, Texas.
The oldest son, John Adam Seigler (1835-1919), became a Baptist preacher and married Mollie Phillips. Their children were: John Adam who married Dora Price, Valrie Seigler Dearen, Mattie Seigler Gilbreth, and Eddie Seigler who married Eula Gilbreth.
The oldest daughter, Mary Cathrine Seigler (1837-1916), first married Joseph Newson. He was killed in the Civil War. She married Sam R. Hamilton. Her children were: Sue Newson Battle Dunn, Joe Newson, Paul Hamilton who married Kate Morton and secondly Melvena Latta, and Eva who married Will Bradford.
Caroline Seigler (1842-1880) married Tom Hartness. After his death, she married Alfred Murray. Her children were: Tommy Hartness, William P. Murray (b. 1870), Clarence Murray (b. 1872), J.R. Murray (b. 1868), Nelia Murray (b. 1874), Cordelia Murray Bolton (b. 1877), and Elisha Murray (b. 1879).
James Patrick (Jim) Seigler (1846-1900) was married first to Millie Ward and secondly to Teenie Moore. His children were: George W. Seigler (m. Jo Ida Kerby), Alfred Seigler (m. Maud Sharp), Oliver (M. Dessie Leatherwood), Lillie (m. Dr. George Parkhill), Jim (M. Neilia Carroll), and Mary Seigler (m. Joe Shinn).
Martha Sealy Siegler (1848-1924) and Francis (Fanny) (1848-1942) were twins and married brothers, Jess and Henry Rollins. Jess died and Sealey Rollins married Alfred Dunn of McKinney. Her children were: Minnie Rollins, Lee Dunn (m. Leslie Sweeney), Beulah Dunn, Keen Dunn, and Zula Dunn who married Henry Pool of Nevada, Texas. Frances and Henry Rollins' two girls were Nora who married Henry Mansfield and Cora who married Frank Kerby. The Mansfield's children were: Rollins, Etta Mansfield Baker, Norbert Mansfield and Edna Mansfield Lylis. The eight Kerby children were: Nessie Kerby Tennison, Henry Edward, Newton Frank Kerby, Dorcas Kerby, McLarry Dodson, Melton (Shine) Kerby, Ludia Kerby Backus, William, and George Kerby.
Dave Seigler (1851-1925) married Lucress Hudges and later Betty Goff. His children were: Edgar, Lula Seigler Mendenhall, Albert Seigler, Lorene Seigler Hood, and Dave Seigler.
Mike Seigler (1853-1935) married Mary Moore. Their children were: Finis who married Mary Battle, Finny and Virgie who married Brad Baker. Mike Siegler's grandchildren were Modine Baker, Loraine Siegler Anderson, and Pauline Seigler Johnson. Mike and Henrietta Siegler (1853-1932) were twins. She married Nelson Staats. Their children were: James (n. Jennie Howard), Catherine (m. Perry Heffner and secondly Ben Hicks), Thomas (M. Liz McDonald), Nannie (m. Joe Bains), Henry (m. Willie Morgan), and Charles (m. Cora Lee White).
The Seiglers' youngest daughter, Jane Bell (1858-1936), married W.B. Honaker. Their four girls were: Beulah (m. Will Herron), Myrtle (m. Dr. J.F. McNew and after his death Judge Will Carter), Vivian (m. J. Claude Stewart), and Willie (m. Bob Holsonbake).
The thirteenth child of the early Seigler family of Collin County was Robert and his children were Julia and Robert Seigler Jr.
It is said that we can not live in the past but there are times when it is good for us to look back to our forefathers for some assurances, some comforts, and some inspiration because from them we may learn humility and gain pride in our heritage. We aer standing on their shoulders. We are tremendously obligated to those who have gone before us and made possible what we are today. They did so much with so little.
by Mrs. Martha Woodward
From Collin County Families
SEIGLER, MICHAEL JORDAN AND MARTHA REBECCA BURKETT
Michael Jordan Seigler, b. 1813 in lexington, SC, married in 1833 Martha Rebecca Burkett, b. 1816, in Lexington, SC. Michael Seigler d. 1866 at Vicksburg, MS. Martha Burkett d. 1884 or 1886 in Collin Co., TX and is buried in Bethlehem Cem. His father was Adam Seigler and her father was Thomas Burkett. Children:
John Adam, b. 1835, Lexington, SC, m. Mary Phillips, d. 1919, Clay Co., Tx;
Mary Catherine, b. 1837, Lexington, SC, m. (1) Joseph Newsom, (2) Sam Hamilton, d. 1916, Farmersville, TX;
Thomas, b. 1839, Lexington, SC, Single, died in Civil War, MS;
Caroline, b. 1842, Lexington, SC, m. (1) Tommy Hartness (2) James Murrey, d. 1880, Farmersville, TX;
Harriett, b. 1844, Lexington, SC, died young;
Jim Patrick, b. 1846, Lexington, SC, m. (1) Mollie Wood (2) Tennie Moore, d. 1909 Collin Co., TX;
Martha Sealy, b. 1848, Starkville, MS, m. (1) Jess Rollins (2) Alfred Dunn, d. 1924, McKinney, TX;
Frances Louise (Fan), b. 1848, MS, m. Henry Rollins, d. 1942, Farmersville, TX;
Michael, b. 1851, MS, m. Mabry Moore, d. 1935, Bethlehem Cemetery.
Hennrietta, b. 1851, MS, m. Nelson W. Staats, d. 1932, Clay Co., TX;
Dave, b. 1854, MS, m. Tucrus Hodges, d. 1925, Clay Co., TX;
Jane Bell, b. 1858, Starkville, MS, m. W.B. Honaker; d. 1936, Farmersville, TX; Robert, b. 1859, d. 1950, in OK.
Mike Seigler and family, and Sam N. Hamilton and wife and two step children, Joe and Sue Newsom, Mrs. Hartness and two children, and Henry Rollins and Alfred Murray, emigrated from Oktibbeha County, Missisippi, on August 12, 1866.
Mike Seigler and wife and Jim Seigler went through in advance. (Jim Seigler returning on RR), and there waited for the rest, who went overland.
Mike Seigler camped over on west side of the river opposite Vicksburg. The cholera broke out in Vicksburg, and those going overland (Sam R. Hamilton and others), learned of it when about thirty miles from Vicksburg; but as Mr. Seigler and family were awaiting, they had no alternative, but kept on to Vicksburg.
In passing through the city, they met many hearses carrying corpses of the dead; and when they reached the ferry, Mr. Murray (who had just come across) informed them that Mr. Mike Seigler's corpse was on the other bank, just ready to be brought across.
There they were in a strange place, with the cholera raging, their headman and leader dead, and they had started for Texas.
They crosssed and as they drove out Mr. Seigler's corpse drove in, and was carried by Mr. Murray, over to the cemetery, east of Vicksburg and there buried.
They drove out to the camp, burned all the contents of the tent in which Mr. Seigler died, and it is quite likely some money was burned, as Mr. Seigler must have had a part of his greenback on his person, and they drove on westward along the pike or dam.
It rained on them, causing their wagons to bog up on a levy. They secured one room in a negro house about 1/4 mile to the north, across a watery swag, and carried the women and children on their backs across the lowest part, spent the night in the cabin before the fire to dry themselves. The next day, they went out to Price's farm, rested, sold off and gave away much of ehtir surplus to the negroes, and took a lefthand road, via Richmond, LA, Bayou Bluff, etc., to Mason Hills, and on to Texas.*
Written by Sam R. Hamilton in Hitchcock's New and Complete Analysis of the Holy Bible, New York, A. J. Johnson and so, 11 Great Jones Street, (near Broadway), W. D. Cummings 64 Grant Street, Pittsburg, Pa., 1876.
by Odie Hall
From Collin County Families
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