ALEXANDER B. BOREN
ALEXANDER B. BOREN. The Boren family was established in the republic of Mexico
in pioneer times in its development and the representatives of the name have
been identified with the agricultural and stock-raising interests of this
portion of the continent, the subject of this review being now a leading stock
farmer of Montague county. He was born in Lamar county, Texas, February 2,
1845, and throughout the period of his youth assisted in farm labor. His
educational privileges were limited but in the school of experience he has
received many valuable lessons. He spent his youth in the home of his parents,
James and Eda (Bags) Boren, the former a native of Kentucky and
the latter of Arkansas, where they were married. The paternal grandfather,
William Boren, of Kentucky, became a pioneer in the republic of Mexico
in 1833 and was granted by the government a league and labor of land, which he
located in what is now Lamar and Collin counties of Texas. He improved farms
in both counties, making his first settlement in Lamar county, but later
establishing his home in Collin county, where he died at a ripe old age. He
owned a large and valuable farm and was regarded as one of the leading
agriculturists and substantial citizens of the community. He prospered in his
undertakings, although in early days he underwent all the deprivations and
hardships incident to life on the frontier. He was wise, however, in
establishing the home for his family in a fertile region in Texas, where the
new and growing country offered excellent business opportunities. He was well
known and was highly respected for his integrity and honor, which were ever
above reproach, so that he left to his children the priceless heritage of an
untarnished name as well as gratifying financial success. He had seven
children: James, Israel, John, Richard, Mack, Henry and Miriam,
the wife of Wilson Daniels, both deceased.
James Boren was born in Kentucky and spent some time in Arkansas, where he was
married. He afterward came to Texas when his father settled in this part of
the country in 1833 and his attention was also directed to farming interests
in Lamar county. He did not improve the opportunity, however, of securing a
large tract of land but contented himself with a smaller farm, which he
cultivated throughout his remaining days. His death occurred, however, when he
was in middle life, in 1848. His wife survived him and married again, becoming
the wife of Hugh Woody, a prominent pioneer farmer, whose worth in the
community was widely acknowledged. He lives in Collin county. His wife, the
mother of our subject, passed away in 1863. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Woody
was blessed with one son, John Woody, who is now a resident of
Oklahoma, while by her former marriage Mrs. Woody had four children:
William, who served in the Confederate army and afterward engaged in
farming near the present home of our subject; Isom, who was killed at
Millikan's Bend while serving in the Confederate army; Alexander B., of
this review; Matilda, who became Mrs. Lisonby and had one child,
while after the death of her first husband she married a Mr. Wilkison
and had six children. The mother, Mrs. Woody, was a devoted and loyal member
of the Christian church, interested in its work and the extension of its
influence.
Alexander B. Boren was only three years old at the time of his father's death,
after which he was reared by his paternal grandfather, spending his youth
largely in farm labor. He received in that home good moral instruction but had
no opportunity for the acquirement of an education, as there were no schools
in the neighborhood, the homes of the settlers being so widely scattered as to
make public education an impractical matter. However, experience and
observation have taught him many valuable lessons in and in business life he
has gained much valuable knowledge. He remained with his grandfather until
sixteen years of age, when he enlisted for service of Company I under
Captain Wordan with Fitzhugh's cavalry. The regiment was sent to
Arkansas and he participated in the cotton plant fight. There he became
convinced that he did not want any more military service and because of his
youth he was able to get his discharge. Later, however, he joined the state
militia and was detailed to the commissary department, being assigned to the
duty of driving beef cattle for the army and in that capacity he served until
the close of war.
In May, 1865, Mr. Boren was married, at which time his possessions consisted
of a horse, saddle bridle and about three dollars in money. His grandfather
Borne, however, gave him twenty-five acres of land, whereon he built a log
cabin and started out life with the earnest determination of establishing a
good home and securing a competence. He began raising hogs and was meeting
with fair success when, in 1868, he was accidentally shot in the leg and this
caused the amputation of the member. For two years he was in very precarious
health, never worked, and he thus lost everything he had save his courage.
Finally, however, he recovered from his injuries and resumed the active work
of the farm, continuing to reside there until 1871, when he traded his little
home for the claim upon which he now lives. It was then an unimproved tract of
land of one hundred and sixty acres. He had some difficulty about the claim
but finally recorded it as a homestead and secured a good title to it. With
characteristic energy he made the improvements, placed stock upon the farm and
continued the work of cultivating the soil. Just prior to his arrival here the
Indians had been very hostile and the Red River valley was the scene of much
distress and trouble to the few settlers. Mr. Boren, however, kept a close
lookout for the approach of the Indians and although he saw many raiding
parties of red men running stock from interior counties and crossing the river
he was not molested, his only loss being one horse. In 1872 Mr. Broadus
assigned him a herd of cattle to raise on shares to run for five years, at the
end of which time his share of the herd was four hundred and sixty head. He
found, however, that he owed Mr. Broadus seven hundred and fifty dollars, but
Mr. Broadus did not force him to make the payment and at the end of another
year and half, so prosperous had he had been, Mr. Broadus owed Mr. Boren five
thousand dollars for cattle which he had bought from him. Thus he got a start
in the cattle business which assured him a successful future. He has ever been
grateful to Mr. Broadus for his leniency in money matters in those early days
and his memory is enshrined deep in the heart of Mr. Boren, who believes that
no better man has ever lived in Texas on Texas soil. He continued his farming
operations and added to his land as fast as possible until he had over
seventeen hundred acres. He has given each of his nine children a farm and a
start in the cattle business and he still owns his homestead place of four
hundred and eighty acres, of which one hundred and forty acres is under a high
state of cultivation. He yet owns a good bunch of cattle and flock of sheep,
also good hogs, mules and horses and he has a park containing native deer. He
has given his undivided attention to the cultivation of the soil and the
raising of stock and his efforts have been attended with success.
Mr. Boren was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Wilkinson, who was
born in Iowa, September 4, 1846. She has shared with her husband in the
hardships and trials of frontier life and been an able assistant to him. She
is a daughter of Noah H. and Sarah (Van Winkle) Wilkinson, both
of whom were natives of Ohio, whence they emigrated to Iowa and afterward came
to the Republic of Texas, settling in Grayson county, where Mr. Wilkinson
secured from the government a claim of six hundred and forty acres of improved
land. He was a prominent and well known farmer, highly respected by all who
knew him and both he and his wife continued their residence upon the old
homestead where they located in pioneer days when Texas was an independent
republic. They were devoted members of the Methodist church. In the family of
this worthy couple were a daughter and a son: Mary E., now Mrs. Boren; and
M. B., of Oklahoma. Mr. and Mrs. Boren have become the parents of ten
children: Alice, who married J. Mars and died, leaving one
child; Isom, who died in childhood; Ruhamer, the wife of G.
R. Presly; Belzora, the wife of W. Ketchum; Sadie, who married
R. Southworth; Alonzo, who follows farming; May, the wife of
C. Peveler; Samuel, an agriculturist; and Nellie, the wife of
E. Gayden.
Mr. Boren exercises the right of franchise in support of the men and measures
of the Democracy and keeps well informed on issues of the day but has never
sought or desired office, preferring to give his undivided attention to his
business interests, which have been carefully managed and have therefore
brought to him a gratifying measure of prosperity. Although handicapped by his
crippled condition he has displayed an energy and resolution of purpose that
are indeed commendable and throughout his life has won not only success but
also an honored name.
B. B. Paddock, History and Biographical Record of North and West
Texas, Vol. I (Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1906), pp. 503-505.
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