Gabriel S. Springfield, b 1816 in South Carolina, d
after 1870 in Limestone County, Texas ‑ came to Texas in the 1840's with
his brother, James Madison Springfield, b 1817 in South Carolina. Another
brother, Andrew Jackson Springfield, settled in Robertson County with his
family, but some of his descendants also came to Falls County.
In 1850, Gabriel S. Springfield married in Limestone
County, Texas to Martha J. Rogers, b 1832 in Alabama ‑ a daughter of
Larkin and Mary (Aycock) Rogers ‑ pioneer settlers on Blue Ridge when it
was Limestone County, and later became Stranger, Falls County, Texas.
Gabriel was a planter and lived in Limestone County ‑
although his family was always associated with Falls County residents. Martha
J. (Rogers) Springfield's family were of the Cumberland Presbyterian faith,
and her father was a Charter Member of that Church at Stranger.
Gabriel and Martha Springfield were the parents of
eight surviving children:
James H. Springfield, b 1852 in Limestone County,
Texas.
Nancy A. Springfield, b 1854 in Limestone County,
Texas.
Josephine Springfield, b 1856 in Limestone County,
Texas.
Holly V. Springfield, b 1861 in Limestone County,
Texas.
Lucy Springfield, b 1863 in Limestone County, Texas.
Ruben S. Springfield, b May 10, 1865 in Limestone
County, Texas, d October 17, 1945 and buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin,
Texas ‑ married ca 1885 to Sarah Elizabeth Erskine (called
"Lizzie"), b in Falls County, Texas, with her birth date variously
given as "April 14, 1868," "April 25, 1869," and
"April 25, 1865." She died June 21, 1958, and was buried by her
husband in Calvary Cemetery ‑ was a daughter of William Richards Erskine
and his second wife, Sarah Frances (Garrett) Hearon Erskine ‑ a niece of
Thomas McKissick Garrett, who was the father of William R. Erskine's first
wife. When "Lizzie's" mother died, her young sister, Mary, b 1869,
was kept in their father's home, while "Lizzie" was taken to be
reared by her father's childless brother, James David Erskine, in Limestone
County, The sister, Mary Erskine, died before 1870. Ruben S. and Sarah
Elizabeth (Erskine) Springfield were members of the Fairview Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, which was organized by Stranger and Coit families. They
had three known children, although no children were surviving when
"Lizzie" died in 1958; and she was survived only by grandchildren and
great grandchildren ‑ none residents of Falls County. The three
identified children were William T. Springfield, b October 16,1886, d May 13,
1927 ‑ was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Marlin ‑ married ca 1909
to Dolly (maiden name unknown), b 1893 in Missouri, and had a daughter, Eunice
Springfield, b 1910; Jesse R. Springfield, b February 1888 no further
information; and James G. Springfield, b August 1893 ‑ no further
information. Ruben S. and Sarah Elizabeth Springfield lived in Falls County
during their married life, near the Odds Community, where he was a farmer.
Ella Springfield, b 1868 in Limestone County, Texas ‑
no further information.
Copyright
Permission granted to Theresa Carhart for printing the biographies of these
Falls County Families to this Web page.
"Families of Falls County", Compiled and Edited by the Falls
County Historical Commission, page 425 column 2 and page 427 column 1.
Member of Falls County Historical Commission.