DILLARD, JAMES ELDRAGE (1830-1913). James Eldrage Dillard, lawyer and judge, the son of David and Mahala (Durden) Dillard, was born in Houston County, Georgia, on September 26, 1830. He traveled to Texas in 1848 and lived in Liberty County, where he was a farmer and stockman. In 1853 he resettled in Cherokee County and studied law with the firm of Donnelly and Anderson. He began his own law practice in Rusk. From 1853 to 1857 Dillard was active in expelling Indians from white settlements. At the outset of the Civil Warqv he enlisted in the Confederacy as a private in Company K of the Third Texas Cavalry. He received severe wounds in the battle of Oak Hill but recovered and was promoted for his bravery. Later he served in the Fourth Texas Cavalry under Col. Walter P. Lane.
After the war Dillard resumed his law practice. He was elected county judge in Kaufman County and subsequently district judge in Ellis County. In 1870 voters elected him to the state Senate. Dillard's opposition to Reconstructionqv won him enemies. He was twice expelled from the Senate for making speeches against the bribery and corruption in the legislature, but his constituency sent him back each time. He served his district in the Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth legislatures. During the turbulent term of Governor Edmund J. Davis, Dillard took an active part in opposing the "Carpetbag Constitution." By the end of the Coke-Davis controversy, he was a recognized leader in the destruction of misrule and the establishment of a Democratic state government. On January 19, 1874, Dillard and two others, armed with pistols, subdued the guards, stormed into the state capitol, and broke down the door of the governor's office. They removed state officials who refused to leave voluntarily. Dillard was often mentioned as a possible candidate for governor but instead chose to return to the practice of law.
He married Sarah Rosa Fallis Prather, a widow, on June 15, 1873, in Cherokee County. They had six children. In 1878 Dillard moved his family to Kaufman County, where he opened a successful law office. In 1882 voters elected him county judge and in 1893 district judge. He retired from office in 1906 but continued to practice law until his death, on December 8, 1913.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: T. R. Fehrenbach, Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans (New York: Macmillan, 1968). Edna Davis Hawkins, et al., History of Ellis County, Texas (Waco: Texian, 1972). Kaufman Sun, March 20, 27, 1884. Kaufman County Historical Commission, History of Kaufman County (Dallas: Taylor, 1978).
Randell Tarin from The Handbook of Texas.
JAMES E. DILLARD'S OBITUARY (Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX, December 9, 1913)
DILLARD, J. E.
Prominent Texas Pioneer Dies at Kaufman Home
Kaufman, Tex. , Dec. 8. - J. E. Dillard, former District Judge of the Fortieth District, died here today at the age of 79 years. Judge Dillard was well known throughout Texas , having served in the Texas Legislature, and was a Confederate veteran. His widow and six children survive. The children are J. C. Dillard, W. C. Dillard and G. F. Dillard of Waco, J. R. Dillard of Denison, Mrs. T. E. Hughes of Rock Island, Ill., and Mrs. Guy D. Anderson of Wichita Falls. The funeral services will be conducted by the Masons, of which order Judge Dillard was a member, at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning. Burial will be in the Kaufman Cemetery.
Judge Dillard was born in Houston County, Georgia, on Sept. 26, 1833. He came to Texas in 1851, locating in Cherokee County. He subsequently became editor of the Rusk Observer at Rusk, and was County Judge of Cherokee County for two years. He removed to Kaufman County in 1878 and here served as County Judge for six years. From the County Judgeship, he went to the district bench, serving that court for fourteen years. In addition to his work as a jurist, he served in the Legislature as a Senator from Cherokee County for several years and as Senator from Kaufman County for two terms.
During his long residence in Texas, he established a wide acquaintance throughout the State and was personally acquainted with every President of the Republic of Texas after his arrival here, as well as all the Governors who followed after Texas became a State.
In the Confederate Army, he was a member of Company K, Third Texas Cavalry, participating in many engagements. He was twice wounded during his service as a soldier of the South.
Submitted by Find A Grave Contributor, Sherry (47010546)
After the war Dillard resumed his law practice. He was elected county judge in Kaufman County and subsequently district judge in Ellis County. In 1870 voters elected him to the state Senate. Dillard's opposition to Reconstructionqv won him enemies. He was twice expelled from the Senate for making speeches against the bribery and corruption in the legislature, but his constituency sent him back each time. He served his district in the Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth legislatures. During the turbulent term of Governor Edmund J. Davis, Dillard took an active part in opposing the "Carpetbag Constitution." By the end of the Coke-Davis controversy, he was a recognized leader in the destruction of misrule and the establishment of a Democratic state government. On January 19, 1874, Dillard and two others, armed with pistols, subdued the guards, stormed into the state capitol, and broke down the door of the governor's office. They removed state officials who refused to leave voluntarily. Dillard was often mentioned as a possible candidate for governor but instead chose to return to the practice of law.
He married Sarah Rosa Fallis Prather, a widow, on June 15, 1873, in Cherokee County. They had six children. In 1878 Dillard moved his family to Kaufman County, where he opened a successful law office. In 1882 voters elected him county judge and in 1893 district judge. He retired from office in 1906 but continued to practice law until his death, on December 8, 1913.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: T. R. Fehrenbach, Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans (New York: Macmillan, 1968). Edna Davis Hawkins, et al., History of Ellis County, Texas (Waco: Texian, 1972). Kaufman Sun, March 20, 27, 1884. Kaufman County Historical Commission, History of Kaufman County (Dallas: Taylor, 1978).
Randell Tarin from The Handbook of Texas.
JAMES E. DILLARD'S OBITUARY (Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX, December 9, 1913)
DILLARD, J. E.
Prominent Texas Pioneer Dies at Kaufman Home
Kaufman, Tex. , Dec. 8. - J. E. Dillard, former District Judge of the Fortieth District, died here today at the age of 79 years. Judge Dillard was well known throughout Texas , having served in the Texas Legislature, and was a Confederate veteran. His widow and six children survive. The children are J. C. Dillard, W. C. Dillard and G. F. Dillard of Waco, J. R. Dillard of Denison, Mrs. T. E. Hughes of Rock Island, Ill., and Mrs. Guy D. Anderson of Wichita Falls. The funeral services will be conducted by the Masons, of which order Judge Dillard was a member, at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning. Burial will be in the Kaufman Cemetery.
Judge Dillard was born in Houston County, Georgia, on Sept. 26, 1833. He came to Texas in 1851, locating in Cherokee County. He subsequently became editor of the Rusk Observer at Rusk, and was County Judge of Cherokee County for two years. He removed to Kaufman County in 1878 and here served as County Judge for six years. From the County Judgeship, he went to the district bench, serving that court for fourteen years. In addition to his work as a jurist, he served in the Legislature as a Senator from Cherokee County for several years and as Senator from Kaufman County for two terms.
During his long residence in Texas, he established a wide acquaintance throughout the State and was personally acquainted with every President of the Republic of Texas after his arrival here, as well as all the Governors who followed after Texas became a State.
In the Confederate Army, he was a member of Company K, Third Texas Cavalry, participating in many engagements. He was twice wounded during his service as a soldier of the South.
Submitted by Find A Grave Contributor, Sherry (47010546)
DILLARD, JAMES ELDRAGE (1830-1913). James Eldrage Dillard, lawyer and judge, the son of David and Mahala (Durden) Dillard, was born in Houston County, Georgia, on September 26, 1830. He traveled to Texas in 1848 and lived in Liberty County, where he was a farmer and stockman. In 1853 he resettled in Cherokee County and studied law with the firm of Donnelly and Anderson. He began his own law practice in Rusk. From 1853 to 1857 Dillard was active in expelling Indians from white settlements. At the outset of the Civil Warqv he enlisted in the Confederacy as a private in Company K of the Third Texas Cavalry. He received severe wounds in the battle of Oak Hill but recovered and was promoted for his bravery. Later he served in the Fourth Texas Cavalry under Col. Walter P. Lane.
After the war Dillard resumed his law practice. He was elected county judge in Kaufman County and subsequently district judge in Ellis County. In 1870 voters elected him to the state Senate. Dillard's opposition to Reconstructionqv won him enemies. He was twice expelled from the Senate for making speeches against the bribery and corruption in the legislature, but his constituency sent him back each time. He served his district in the Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth legislatures. During the turbulent term of Governor Edmund J. Davis, Dillard took an active part in opposing the "Carpetbag Constitution." By the end of the Coke-Davis controversy, he was a recognized leader in the destruction of misrule and the establishment of a Democratic state government. On January 19, 1874, Dillard and two others, armed with pistols, subdued the guards, stormed into the state capitol, and broke down the door of the governor's office. They removed state officials who refused to leave voluntarily. Dillard was often mentioned as a possible candidate for governor but instead chose to return to the practice of law.
He married Sarah Rosa Fallis Prather, a widow, on June 15, 1873, in Cherokee County. They had six children. In 1878 Dillard moved his family to Kaufman County, where he opened a successful law office. In 1882 voters elected him county judge and in 1893 district judge. He retired from office in 1906 but continued to practice law until his death, on December 8, 1913.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: T. R. Fehrenbach, Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans (New York: Macmillan, 1968). Edna Davis Hawkins, et al., History of Ellis County, Texas (Waco: Texian, 1972). Kaufman Sun, March 20, 27, 1884. Kaufman County Historical Commission, History of Kaufman County (Dallas: Taylor, 1978).
Randell Tarin from The Handbook of Texas.
JAMES E. DILLARD'S OBITUARY (Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX, December 9, 1913)
DILLARD, J. E.
Prominent Texas Pioneer Dies at Kaufman Home
Kaufman, Tex. , Dec. 8. - J. E. Dillard, former District Judge of the Fortieth District, died here today at the age of 79 years. Judge Dillard was well known throughout Texas , having served in the Texas Legislature, and was a Confederate veteran. His widow and six children survive. The children are J. C. Dillard, W. C. Dillard and G. F. Dillard of Waco, J. R. Dillard of Denison, Mrs. T. E. Hughes of Rock Island, Ill., and Mrs. Guy D. Anderson of Wichita Falls. The funeral services will be conducted by the Masons, of which order Judge Dillard was a member, at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning. Burial will be in the Kaufman Cemetery.
Judge Dillard was born in Houston County, Georgia, on Sept. 26, 1833. He came to Texas in 1851, locating in Cherokee County. He subsequently became editor of the Rusk Observer at Rusk, and was County Judge of Cherokee County for two years. He removed to Kaufman County in 1878 and here served as County Judge for six years. From the County Judgeship, he went to the district bench, serving that court for fourteen years. In addition to his work as a jurist, he served in the Legislature as a Senator from Cherokee County for several years and as Senator from Kaufman County for two terms.
During his long residence in Texas, he established a wide acquaintance throughout the State and was personally acquainted with every President of the Republic of Texas after his arrival here, as well as all the Governors who followed after Texas became a State.
In the Confederate Army, he was a member of Company K, Third Texas Cavalry, participating in many engagements. He was twice wounded during his service as a soldier of the South.
Submitted by Find A Grave Contributor, Sherry (47010546)
After the war Dillard resumed his law practice. He was elected county judge in Kaufman County and subsequently district judge in Ellis County. In 1870 voters elected him to the state Senate. Dillard's opposition to Reconstructionqv won him enemies. He was twice expelled from the Senate for making speeches against the bribery and corruption in the legislature, but his constituency sent him back each time. He served his district in the Twelfth, Thirteenth, and Fourteenth legislatures. During the turbulent term of Governor Edmund J. Davis, Dillard took an active part in opposing the "Carpetbag Constitution." By the end of the Coke-Davis controversy, he was a recognized leader in the destruction of misrule and the establishment of a Democratic state government. On January 19, 1874, Dillard and two others, armed with pistols, subdued the guards, stormed into the state capitol, and broke down the door of the governor's office. They removed state officials who refused to leave voluntarily. Dillard was often mentioned as a possible candidate for governor but instead chose to return to the practice of law.
He married Sarah Rosa Fallis Prather, a widow, on June 15, 1873, in Cherokee County. They had six children. In 1878 Dillard moved his family to Kaufman County, where he opened a successful law office. In 1882 voters elected him county judge and in 1893 district judge. He retired from office in 1906 but continued to practice law until his death, on December 8, 1913.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: T. R. Fehrenbach, Lone Star: A History of Texas and the Texans (New York: Macmillan, 1968). Edna Davis Hawkins, et al., History of Ellis County, Texas (Waco: Texian, 1972). Kaufman Sun, March 20, 27, 1884. Kaufman County Historical Commission, History of Kaufman County (Dallas: Taylor, 1978).
Randell Tarin from The Handbook of Texas.
JAMES E. DILLARD'S OBITUARY (Dallas Morning News, Dallas, TX, December 9, 1913)
DILLARD, J. E.
Prominent Texas Pioneer Dies at Kaufman Home
Kaufman, Tex. , Dec. 8. - J. E. Dillard, former District Judge of the Fortieth District, died here today at the age of 79 years. Judge Dillard was well known throughout Texas , having served in the Texas Legislature, and was a Confederate veteran. His widow and six children survive. The children are J. C. Dillard, W. C. Dillard and G. F. Dillard of Waco, J. R. Dillard of Denison, Mrs. T. E. Hughes of Rock Island, Ill., and Mrs. Guy D. Anderson of Wichita Falls. The funeral services will be conducted by the Masons, of which order Judge Dillard was a member, at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning. Burial will be in the Kaufman Cemetery.
Judge Dillard was born in Houston County, Georgia, on Sept. 26, 1833. He came to Texas in 1851, locating in Cherokee County. He subsequently became editor of the Rusk Observer at Rusk, and was County Judge of Cherokee County for two years. He removed to Kaufman County in 1878 and here served as County Judge for six years. From the County Judgeship, he went to the district bench, serving that court for fourteen years. In addition to his work as a jurist, he served in the Legislature as a Senator from Cherokee County for several years and as Senator from Kaufman County for two terms.
During his long residence in Texas, he established a wide acquaintance throughout the State and was personally acquainted with every President of the Republic of Texas after his arrival here, as well as all the Governors who followed after Texas became a State.
In the Confederate Army, he was a member of Company K, Third Texas Cavalry, participating in many engagements. He was twice wounded during his service as a soldier of the South.
Submitted by Find A Grave Contributor, Sherry (47010546)
Inscription
LIEUT
JAMES E DILLARD
CO C
3 TEXAS CAV
CSA
1832
1913
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