By J. Kevin McCulloch
22 October 2000
All Rights Reserved
Among the pioneer settlers of Hood County, Texas were at least five of the eight children of Nathan and Usley or Ursula (Burleson) Self of Newton County, Arkansas. According to undocumented sources, Nathan was born around 1791 in Montgomery County, North Carolina. He married Usley Burleson on 1 October 1816 in Rutherford County, Tennessee. Usley was born around 1798 in Anson County, North Carolina to David F. and Ursula (Weatherford) Burleson. Nathan is believed to have died in Arkansas in 1851. It is not known when or where Usley died.
The children of Nathan and Usley Self are believed to have traveled with the Holts and other families when they left Arkansas for Texas sometime after 1850. Upon arrival in Texas, they first settled in Erath County where they lived for a few years before re-locating to the old Bethel Community of Hood County. The eight known children of Nathan and Usley (Burleson) Self were as follows:
Isaac married a woman by the name of Polly S. around 1846 and had two girls listed in the 1850 Newton County, Arkansas census. It is not known if Isaac came to Texas or remained in Arkansas.
II. Pleasant Dewberry Self (ca. 1826 -?)
Pleasant Dewberry Self married Mary A. McCoy (ca. 1829-?) and had five children by the time the 1860 Erath County, Texas census was taken.
David S. Self married Vina Frances M. Sparks (27 August 1843-23 March 1901) between 1860 and 1862. He was in Erath County by 1860 and is presumed to have moved with the rest of his family when they left Arkansas. David and Frances were living in Hood County by 1871. They had four children. By nature, David was a quite man who kept to himself rather than socialize with his neighbors. David ran a stock ranch, which was located about 16 miles north-west of Granbury where he had about 700 native horses and between 50 to 100 head of cattle. When the horses were about two years old, he would send them to market in Abilene, Kansas by taking them on a trail drive. These drives were long arduous journeys that required additional men to drive the 300 or so head to market. David branded his livestock with the name "SELF" on each animal’s left shoulder. This brand was difficult for crooks to change. In a history book of Hood County, David and his brother, Spencer Marion Self are referred to as some of the oldest residents of Hood County who were both well respected and influential in their day. David and Vina are buried in marked graves in the Martin Cemetery near Lipan in Hood County, Texas.
Nathan B. Self married Larrinda Ellen Martin (30 March 1864-1 February 1930) on 27 January 1881. Larrinda was the daughter of William Harvey Martin, a preacher in the Primitive Baptist Church in the Bethel Community since 1873. Nathan and Larrinda are believed to have had fourteen children. Nathan was interviewed about his life and experiences in Hood County on 1 March 1937 as part of the Federal Writers’ Project of 1936-1940. In his brief interview, Nathan spoke of the cattle business in Hood County after the Civil War. He said that men would brand anything that didn’t already have a brand on it until everything had been branded. Needless to say, this led to lawlessness and frequent lynchings. Nathan also spoke a little about the trouble his father had had with Indians. He told of how the Indians would drive his father’s horses off and how they had a dog that would bark at Indians therefore serving as the family’s burglar alarm. Nathan is buried in the Martin Cemetery in a marked grave.
Henry A. Self married Mary E. Latimer (15 April 1872-20 September 1899) on 26 December 1886. They had at least two sons. It is believed that Henry’s second wife was Charity Martin. Mary is buried in the Martin Cemetery in a marked grave.
Spencer M. Self died as a young child and was buried in the Martin Cemetery in a marked grave.
Pleasant D. Self married Mary F. McCoy (May 1876-?) around 1892. They had at least one daughter. P.D. was born on his father’s ranch in Hood County. He grew up in the Bethel Community and received his education in the old Bethel Church/School. Growing up around horses and cattle, P.D. learned early how to work with them. He loved doing this. However, after the turn of the century, P.D. saw that his father’s livestock business was becoming less profitable, so P.D. developed an interest in raising hogs. He was about 30 years old at the time. P.D. later owned his own hog farm in Fairland in Burnet County. When the hogs were ready for market, he would transport them to Fort Worth where they would be sold.
Letitia was born in Arkansas and moved with her family to Texas around 1856, first settling in Erath county for a few years before finally settling in Hood county where she remained for the rest of her life. Letitia married James Simpson Holt between 1860 and 1860. Letitia was James’ second wife; together they had seven children. Letitia is buried next to James in a marked grave in the Martin Cemetery.
Elizabeth and Pricilla Self were found living with their parents in the 1850 Newton County, Arkansas census. However, nothing more is known about them. It is presumed that they accompanied their siblings into Texas.
See Elizabeth Self above.
Spencer Marion Self was born in Arkansas, in either Carroll or Newton County. It is not known when Spencer moved from Arkansas to Texas. He may not have moved directly to Texas like most of his siblings but instead may have gone to Alabama for a few years. Spencer did settle in Hood County by 1880 where he is listed on the census living in Precinct Two. He married Lucinda Hicks "Lutitia" Weldon (4 March 1852-7 January 1931) around 1868. They had eight children. Spencer is buried in a marked grave in the Martin Cemetery and Lutitia’s grave is also marked in the Evergreen Cemetery in Lipan.
Noting has been found on Pauline.