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Thomas Applewhite fought in the War of 1812. He was about 21 or 22 years of age at the time. (The grave of Thomas Applewhite in LaVemia, has a metal marker that shows Thomas being a vet eran of the War of 1812, and the marker also has an anchor symbol on it. This probably indicates Naval Service. He was a 1st Sergeant in the War of 1812. Thomas married Rachel Mixon and they had eight children. Eli born June 16, 1817 (norecord of death); Stephen, born March 29, 1819 (norecord of death); Penelope, born April 27, 1821 (died July 4, 1834 at age 13); Susan,born Sept. 25, 1823 (no record of death); John, born Jan. 14, 1826 (no record of death); Jesse, born March 27, 1830 (no record of death); Seth, born Feb. 24, 1828 (no record of death); and Eliza, born May 30, 1833 (no record of death). Stephen, John and Jesse Applewhite, the sons of Thomas and Rachel (Mixon) Applewhite,came to Texas circa. 1853. Stephen was married to Eliza Thompson of Missis sippi. Jesse was married to Mary Knox of Mississippi. In 1853, John and Jesse were purchasing property in the Applewhite Reser voir area. In 1854, Stephen Applewhite purchased one third of a league of land in the same area. Jesse and Mary settled in Oak Island, Texas. The Applewhite utilizing slaves brought with them to Texas. They continued to buy and sell slaves once established in Texas. The origin of the Applewhite family was in England. At least 10 gen erations of the Applewhite family have been on Ameri can soil since 1665, when Henry Applewhite arrived in Jamestown, Virginia. Early family members were politically influential as re vealed by their involvement in the House of Burgesses and the American Revolu tion. Thomas and Rachel were living in Mississippi at the time of Rachel's death, July 20, 1837. Five years later on Jan. 26, 1842, Tho mas married Elizabeth Oglesby. (Elizabeth was born in 1820 in Mississippi and died April 5, 1898, in LaVemnia.) Thomas and Elizabeth had ten children, four of whom died before age five. James was born Jan. 19, 1849, in Louisiana and died in San Antonio, Nov. 14, 1914. There is no record of death for the other four chil dren: Catherine born Sept. 13, 1851 in Louisiana; Henry Clay, born April 4, 1853; Juliana, born March 10, 1855; and Calvin, born June 2, 1857. The latter four children were all born in LaVernia. Isaac Tho mas was born Dec. 1, 1860 and died Oct. 16, 1939. Thomas and Elizabeth arrived in Texas with six slaves, but it is said they released their slaves after arriving here. The census record of 1860 lists Tho mas as a farmer. Next week, Part III of the Thomas Applewhite Story. This column, sponsored by the Texas Through Time Living History Foundation, is part of a continuing effort to pre serve the heritage of South Texas. Contribu tions from readers are a valuable part of this ef fort. Send letters to Texas Through Time, do Wil son County News, P. O. Box 115, Floresville, Tx 78114. Or call Teresa Benns if you have oral information you wish to share. Remains of old well on the Applewhite property. Courtesy Photo. Old well has been reconstructed using rocks from the original structure. The well now sits serenely in the parking lot of the Finch Funeral Chapel which is built on the Applewhite property. WCN file photo.
Newspaper Details
Wilson County News
Floresville, Texas, US
Wed, Nov 10, 1993
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
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USA 02 May 2026
Other Publications Near Floresville, Texas
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