Beyond our Elusive William Daniel

He began farming in Lauderdale Co., Mississippi (A Memorial and Biographical History of Navarro, Henderson, Anderson, Limestone, Freestone and Leon Counties, Texas, p. 898) about 1834. After his father died, he sold his land to his brother-in-law, Thomas Wells, and moved on. (White, Mary Ellen New, The First Hundred Years of the Pine Springs Community of Lauderdale County, Mississippi, information provided by John Kerley) He moved to Limestone County in 1850 (a Memorial..., p. 898 & 899) or in the spring of 1851 (obituary). Later he moved to Benhur. They were Methodists.

Prior to the Civil War he began teaming, carrying goods between Limestone Co. and Houston. After the war began, he worked for the government carrying goods between Limestone Co. and San Antonio. He lost almost everything during the war except for a small piece of land. He began raising stock, and obtain 652 acres of land, 800 sheep, and cattle (A Memorial..., p. 899)

His widow applied for a pension for his service in the Civil War, but it was rejected. His name is shown as Joseph Washington Kerley.

He was on the 1880 census with a wife and nine children. (Peggy Strothers)

In 1866 he was assessed $1 in taxes by the U. S. Government for ownership of a carriage. He resided in Limestone County, Texas.

His obituary is found in the Groesbeck Journal, Mar. 31, 1904 (found on film at the library in Groesbeck). It follows:
Obituary
J. W. Kerley
Groesbeck Journal
Mar. 31, 1904
MEXIA
Never in the history of Mexia has there been such gloom cast over its people than now. Two of the oldest citizens gone to their reward. Friday evening the sad news reached Mexia that J. W. Kerley of Benhur was dead. Mr. Kerley came to Limestone county in the spring of 1851 and lived in, and near Mexia until eight years ago when he moved to Benhur where he has since made his home. He was buried at Hornhill Cemetery Saturday evening at 3 o'clock. His wife, ten children and three sisters survive him. His sisters are Mesdames Linley of Wortham, Wells of Shiloh, and Gage of Benhur who lived with her brother. Mr. Kerley and his wife raised twelve children and both lived to see them all grown and married. Six boys and six girls. There were nine of them at his bedside when he died; five sons and four daughters. One son that lives in Palestine could not leave home on account of sickness in his family. We can truthfully say "A good man has gone to his reward."

Census:
1860, SPRINGFIELD P O, LIMESTONE, TEXAS, Series: M653 Roll: 1300 Page: 344A
473/414, J. W. Kerley, 35, m, farmer, 1900, 2900, SC
Sarah " , 70, f, SC
Margaret, 25, f, SC

1870 EUTAW P O, LIMESTONE, TEXAS, Series: M593 Roll: 1596 Page: 211B
826/952, Kerley, Joseph W., 41, m, w, planter, SC, male citizen
----, Martha F., 25, f, w, keeping house, MS
----, David, 9, m, w, at home, TX, att. school
----, Joseph W. J., 6, m, w, at home, TX
----, Matilda, 4, f, w, at home, TX
----, Jesse, 3, m, w, at home, TX
----, Ella, 2, f, w, at home, TX
----, Bettie, 8/12, f, w, at home, TX, born in Jan
Allisin Decalb, m, w, at home, TX, att. school
----, Lawson, m, w, at home, TX, att. school
Curly May, 22, f, w, keeping house, TX

1880 Census-familysearch.org

Name Relation Marital StatusGender Race Age Birthplace Occupation Father's Birthplace Mother's Birthplace
Joseph W. KERLEY Self M Male W 57 SC Farmer TN SC
Mary F. KERLEY Wife M Female W 40 SC TN SC
David M. KERLEY Son Male W 17 SC TN SC
Joseph W. KERLEY Son Male W 15 SC TN SC
Matilday KERLEY Dau Female W 14 SC TN SC
Jessey A. KERLEY Son S Male W 12 SC TN SC
Eller KERLEY Dau S Female W 11 SC TN SC
Betsey KERLEY Dau S Female W 8 SC TN SC
George KERLEY Son S Male W 7 SC TN SC
Alva KERLEY Son S Male W 5 SC TN SC
John KERLEY Son S Male W 3 SC TN SC
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Source Information:
Census Place District 96, Limestone, Texas
Family History Library Film 1255317
NA Film Number T9-1317
Page Number 409C

familysearch.org, accessed 1 Nov 2002