Biographical Encyclopedia of Texas Page: 67 of 372

                                
ENCYCLOPEDIA.

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a mass-meeting of all the citizens of the Colony President Andrew Johnson.
add by argument and resolutions made vehement      In politics Colonel MAcCov was a WAidg until the
opposition  to annexation, maintaining that the dissolution of that organization when he eo)-operinterest
of the people demanded the absolute inde- ated with the Democracy, "and in all the political
pendance of the " Three Forks of the Trinity": campaigns since the war lie lias been a recognized
that annexation would only increase the burdens leader in the Democratic ranks, wielding a power
without corresponding benefits and that Texas if and an influence in all questions of State as well
untrammelled by any alliance would in the course as local polity.
of time become an independent republic, of such    lie was married in 1.851 to Miss CoraM. IMcDerporportions
as to challenge the admiration of the mott a very estimable lady, native of Tennessee,
world.                                           aind daughter of Joseph B. McDermott, one of the
Here he displayed the wisdom and sagacity of a pioneers of Dallas county, from Pennsylvania.
statesman and leader. Who can doubt that Texas,
with her climate, her varieties of soil and produc-                  -.
tion, the extent of her territory, and her commer- s
cial facilities, might have been an independent
nationality, equal if not superior to any of ancient      BEIiLL, GENERAL WILLIAMT LEWIS, was
or modern origin, looming perhaps eventually into         b born in Danville, Virginia, Januar'y I st
empire.   However, Texas was annexed and war                , 1827, consequently is now 53 years of age.
between the United States and Mexico'was declared         He entered the Militarv Academy at
and Colonel McCoy seeing the futility of opposi- West Point in July, 1846, and graduated with the
tion, assisted in forwarding troops to the scene of rank of lieutenant in 1850. Upon entering the
action. He was instrumental in organizing the United States service, he was assigned to duty at
company coinmuanded by Captain Dagley and his Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. After serving for a
old friend Charles Hensle as First Lieutenant. time here, he was ordered to, report for duty at
In June 1.846 Dallas county was organized and lie Fort Gibson, Arkansas. Thence he was sent to
was elected its first District Clerk. Tllis position Fort Arbuckle, in the Indian Territory, and was
he held until December ot the same year when at shortly thereafter sent back to Fort Gibson, but
the earnest solicitation of Judge Ochiltrie he re- after a brief stoppage, was sent to Fort Smith.
signed and devoted himself to the practice of his Here he remained until the difficulty with the
profession, which he has follovved with unvarying Mormons and the United States government, when
and remarkable success for a period of twenty-nine he was sent to Fort Cobb, in the Indian Territory,
years, From 1856 to 1859 lie was District Attorney but was soon returned to Fort Smith, where he
for the 16tli Judicial District, the responsibilities remained until the. breaking out of the present war.
of which important office, he faithfully and effec-  While on duty at Fort Smith, on the 22d of July,
tlively discharged. In 1861 when civil war had 1856, General Cabell was married to Miss Harriet
raised its horrid front Governor Clark recognized Rector a beautiful and accomplished daughter of
his determined character and administrative ability Major Rector. When the present struggle between
by appointing him  quartermaster of the regiments the North and South commenced, he resig.ned his
commanded by Colonels, Young, Simms, Lock and comnmission in the old army, having attained 'the
Parsons.  When these commands were mustered rank of captain, and hastened on to Mlontgomery,
into the Confederate service he was retained by then the Confederate seat of government. His serGovernor
Clark in the military-service of the State, vices were promptly accepted, and upon the secesand
assigned to duty as mustering officer for the sion of Virginia, in April, 1861, he was ordered to
regiments of Colonels Nat M. Beuford and T. C. Rielhmond to provide sustenance, arms, accoutreHarope.
He was Provost Marshall, of Dallas ments,