EGGLESTON DICK TOWNES, Sr.

EGGLESTON DICK TOWNES

Eggleston Dick (E.D.) Townes was born on June 5, 1817, in Amelia County, Virginia. At the age of 16 or 17 he was accepted to and attended the University of Alabama and graduated in 1835. He studied law at the University of Alabama and was admitted to the state bar at Tuscumbia, Alabama. On February 11, 1845, he married Martha Cousins Betts in Huntsville, Alabama. In 1850 Townes was a successful attorney in Franklin County, Alabama. In 1851 he was elected chancellor of the Northern Chancery Division of Alabama and held that position until his resignation in 1852.

On November 16, 1853 he paid William Gamble and George Gamble $3300 for 689 acres of land a few miles east of what would later become the town of Manor, TX. (Travis County Deed Record book F, page 369) The name of the area had been changed from Webber’s Prairie to Webberville only a couple of months earlier.

Area marked in red shows James Manor's land. Area marked in blue shows where the town of Manor would be located in 1872. Area marked in yellow shows land purchased by E.D. Townes in 1853.

Here he continued his law practice, and the family would remain in Travis County for the remainder of his life. In addition to daughters who came to Texas with them the Townes had four more children after their arrival in Texas.

In an 1856 newspaper ad, E.D. Townes offered “two good Blacksmiths” for hire.

When the Baptists in the community decided to form a new church in 1857, among the original members were James and Phoebe Manor and E.D. and Martha Townes. The church met in a log building about three miles southeast of what would become the town of Manor. E.D. Townes was recognized as one of two deacons and he also served as Sunday School Superintendent.

In 1858 Parson’s Female Seminary was organized and E.D. Townes was one of four trustees each donating $500 to help pay for the school. He soon became President of the school for girls.

By 1860 Townes was considered to be one of the wealthiest men in Travis County and he listed his profession as planter in the census that year. The 1860 U.S. Census showed a total of 69 slaves, ranging in age from 1 to 60 years of age, on his plantation. It also showed him to have a real estate valued at $20,000 and personal estate valued at $30,000.

He served in the Texas Legislature as a Senator from November 7, 1859 to March 16, 1861 representing Bastrop, Burnet and Travis Counties.

He served again in the House of Representatives from November 4, 1861 to November 2, 1863 representing Travis County.

On September 23, 1863 he wrote his Last Will and Testament and no more than two months later he volunteered for service in the Confederate Army where he was given the rank of major and served in the Fourth Texas State Cavalry Battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Charles W. Tait. On December 24, 1863, Townes left his regiment due to an undisclosed illness and returned to his family in Manor, Texas. He was unable to recover from that illness and, at the age of 47, died at his home on August 31, 1864. Records of his military service show "Present" in November and "Absent" in December.

NOVEMBER DECEMBER

Some sources say he was the first person buried in what would later become the Manor Cemetery while others say he was the second. The area was not officially designated as a cemetery until James Manor donated the land "for church and cemetery purposes" in 1871.

After his death, when an inventory and appraisal of his estate was completed, it was determined that he owned a total of 5232 acres of land. In November 1865, 200 acres of land, including the Homestead, along with 5 milk cows, 1 mule, 20 hogs, and $50 worth of husbandry implements were set apart for Martha Townes, widow of E.D. Townes. Unfortunately, it was also determined that his estate was insolvent and some of the remainder of his property and possessions were court-ordered to be sold in order to pay his legal debts.

In October, 1870 R.H. Leigh, Executor of the Estate of E.D. Townes filed a report in Travis County Probate Court which said, in part; “I would respectfully submit that the assets of said estate are insufficient to pay all the debts, and that the amount in my hand collected is sufficient to pay forty percent of said indebtedness. And I respectfully ask for an order to pay said forty percent of the indebtedness.”

In response to his request, the court said, in part; “And it appearing to the Court that there is sufficient amount in his hands to pay a forty cents on the dollar upon all the claims legally presented within one year from the probate of the will of said dec'd. It is therefore ordered by the Court that the said R.H. Leigh, the Executor of the Estate, pay to each claimant according to the list reported by said Executor in his said report, the sum of forty cents on the dollar as a pro rata, and take receipts for the same…”

Martha Cousins (Betts) Townes died April 24, 1894 and is buried in Manor Cemetery next to her husband.