State Legislator, Member of Gainesville's First City Council Delegate to the 1866 State Constitutional Convention, and Judge of the 16th Judicial District. One of Gainesville's Largest Landowners in his day, Judge Lindsay helped bring the railroad to town, donated land for churches and schools, and developed numerous businesses, resulting in his legacy as a significant civic leader.
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LINDSAY, Judge JAMES M.
This energetic gentleman, who, at the age of seventy-eight years, with vigorous step and active mind, still attends to the details of his vast interests and keeps himself in knowledge and sympathy abreast of the new generation, among whom he survives, like a monarch of the forest among the younger growths that surround it, is one of the oldest surviving settlers of Gainesville. During more than fifty-five years he has been identified with the professional and financial interests of the community, and has shared the wonderful progress which has been made in this phenomenal city, mostly under his own eyes.
Judge Lindsay was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, December 31, 1835, and is a son of Rev. Lewis and Jane R. (McFarland) Lindsay. His father was also a Tennesseean, born in Sumner county, and spent almost his entire life in educational work and as a preacher of the Missionary Baptist faith. His death occurred in 1877, in Wilson county, and there his wife, also a native of the Big Bend State, passed away. Judge Lindsay was reared in the country, and the greater part of his primary education was secured in schools at which his father taught. After some preparation, he entered the noted Cumberland Law School, at Lebanon, Tennessee, from which he was graduated in 1857, and several weeks thereafter bid farewell to his parents, mounted his horse, and started on his long journey across the country, through Arkansas and into Texas. He arrived in Gainesville in the fall of 1858, and here opened a law office in a little frame house situated near Cooke county's first court house. Gainesville at that time had possibly two or three hundred inhabitants and was a typical pioneer community, situated on the northern frontier of Texas. To the north the wild Indians of the Nation wandered the wilderness, and the proximity of the town to the Indian Territory placed life and property in jeopardy for many years, especially during the period of the Civil War and continuing up to 1873 or 1874, Judge Lindsay stating that to his knowledge fully one hundred persons were sacrificed to Indian warfare in the vicinity of Gainesville during those early days, the trouble coming principally from the Comanche and Kiowa tribes, camped to the northwest. Gainesville during those days was a station on the old mail line of stages that the government had established on the southern route from St. Louis to San Francisco.
In this little frontier community, Judge Lindsay soon attracted attention, not alone by his legal knowledge, but because of the prominent part he at once took in public matters. He was rapidly forging to the front when he was interrupted in his practice by the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Fitzhugh's Regiment, Walker's Division, in the Trans-Mississippi Department, and fought valiantly as a private in a number of sanguinary engagements, including that at Mansfield, where the Banks expedition was effectually checked. At the battle of Pleasant Hill, on the following day, he was captured by the enemy, but after a few days was exchanged, and continued to serve with his regiment until the close of the war in 1865, the greater part of his service being in Arkansas and Louisiana.
On his return to the pursuits of peace, Judge Lindsay again entered actively into the life of Gainesville. He resumed his activities in public life, in which he had been prominent as the youngest member of the Texas Legislature in 1861, and as representative of his constituency had participated in the momentous deliberations which attended the problems of secession and the obligations following in the train of the war. In 1866 he was sent as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, presided over by Gov. Jack Hamilton, the appointee of President Johnson, and this body submitted a constitution to the people that was ratified by them. During the next year there followed the wholesale deposition from office, enforced by federal military, of Governor Throckmorton, all the state and legislative officials, and, in many cases, the county officials, these arbitrary proceedings being the beginning of the trying period of reconstruction. In 1874, Judge Lindsay's ability and ripe judgment having proved him worthy of conspicuous honors, the governor appointed him judge of the district court of the district which then embraced Cooke, Grayson, Wise, Montague and other counties to the west, district judgeships at that time being filled by appointment. The first district court in Clay county was organized by Judge Lindsay April 5, 1874, and after serving on the bench for about three years, he resumed his private practice and devoted his energies thereto continuously until he left the law to engage in financial and business enterprises.
In 1882, with associates, Judge Lindsay organized the Gainesville National Bank, with a capital of $100,000, and continued as president of that institution until 1902, when it was succeeded by the Lindsay National Bank, capitalized at $200,000, which now has a surplus of $100,000. As president of this institution, the Judge occupies an important place in Texas banking circles, and under his wise directing counsel the bank has enjoyed a full measure of prosperity. With other enterprises of a financial nature, the Lindsay National has been a co-operating and supporting factor with the agricultural interests of Cooke county, which gives to the world each year about $800,000 worth of cotton and $1,000,000 worth of wheat, besides many lesser products. Judge Lindsay was for many years interested in stock raising and buying and selling land, but at this time has no ranch interests, having recently disposed of something more than 2,500 acres. He "is the owner of the well-known and popular Lindsay Hotel in Gainesville, is president of the Gainesville Gas Company, and in many other ways is identified with the important activities of his city. As president of the school board ever since its creation, he has led in the movements of educational progress and is largely responsible for the fine school system which the people of Gainesville consider one of the chief advantages of this progressive city. He supports Democratic candidates and principles, but has not cared of late years to enter actively into the struggles of the public arena. Judge Lindsay's fraternal connection is with the Elks, and in religious belief he clings to the faith of the Missionary Baptist Church.
Judge Lindsay was married in Gainesville, to Miss Tennie Bonner, who was born and reared in Texas, whence her parents had come at an early day from Wilson county, Tennessee. Two children have been born to this union: Lewis, who is a resident of Gainesville; and Jennie T., who is now the widow of W. S. Embrey of Gainesville. (A History of Texas and Texans, Volume 3, Francis White Johnson, 1914 sd)
~
LINDSAY, Judge JAMES M.
This energetic gentleman, who, at the age of seventy-eight years, with vigorous step and active mind, still attends to the details of his vast interests and keeps himself in knowledge and sympathy abreast of the new generation, among whom he survives, like a monarch of the forest among the younger growths that surround it, is one of the oldest surviving settlers of Gainesville. During more than fifty-five years he has been identified with the professional and financial interests of the community, and has shared the wonderful progress which has been made in this phenomenal city, mostly under his own eyes.
Judge Lindsay was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, December 31, 1835, and is a son of Rev. Lewis and Jane R. (McFarland) Lindsay. His father was also a Tennesseean, born in Sumner county, and spent almost his entire life in educational work and as a preacher of the Missionary Baptist faith. His death occurred in 1877, in Wilson county, and there his wife, also a native of the Big Bend State, passed away. Judge Lindsay was reared in the country, and the greater part of his primary education was secured in schools at which his father taught. After some preparation, he entered the noted Cumberland Law School, at Lebanon, Tennessee, from which he was graduated in 1857, and several weeks thereafter bid farewell to his parents, mounted his horse, and started on his long journey across the country, through Arkansas and into Texas. He arrived in Gainesville in the fall of 1858, and here opened a law office in a little frame house situated near Cooke county's first court house. Gainesville at that time had possibly two or three hundred inhabitants and was a typical pioneer community, situated on the northern frontier of Texas. To the north the wild Indians of the Nation wandered the wilderness, and the proximity of the town to the Indian Territory placed life and property in jeopardy for many years, especially during the period of the Civil War and continuing up to 1873 or 1874, Judge Lindsay stating that to his knowledge fully one hundred persons were sacrificed to Indian warfare in the vicinity of Gainesville during those early days, the trouble coming principally from the Comanche and Kiowa tribes, camped to the northwest. Gainesville during those days was a station on the old mail line of stages that the government had established on the southern route from St. Louis to San Francisco.
In this little frontier community, Judge Lindsay soon attracted attention, not alone by his legal knowledge, but because of the prominent part he at once took in public matters. He was rapidly forging to the front when he was interrupted in his practice by the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Fitzhugh's Regiment, Walker's Division, in the Trans-Mississippi Department, and fought valiantly as a private in a number of sanguinary engagements, including that at Mansfield, where the Banks expedition was effectually checked. At the battle of Pleasant Hill, on the following day, he was captured by the enemy, but after a few days was exchanged, and continued to serve with his regiment until the close of the war in 1865, the greater part of his service being in Arkansas and Louisiana.
On his return to the pursuits of peace, Judge Lindsay again entered actively into the life of Gainesville. He resumed his activities in public life, in which he had been prominent as the youngest member of the Texas Legislature in 1861, and as representative of his constituency had participated in the momentous deliberations which attended the problems of secession and the obligations following in the train of the war. In 1866 he was sent as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, presided over by Gov. Jack Hamilton, the appointee of President Johnson, and this body submitted a constitution to the people that was ratified by them. During the next year there followed the wholesale deposition from office, enforced by federal military, of Governor Throckmorton, all the state and legislative officials, and, in many cases, the county officials, these arbitrary proceedings being the beginning of the trying period of reconstruction. In 1874, Judge Lindsay's ability and ripe judgment having proved him worthy of conspicuous honors, the governor appointed him judge of the district court of the district which then embraced Cooke, Grayson, Wise, Montague and other counties to the west, district judgeships at that time being filled by appointment. The first district court in Clay county was organized by Judge Lindsay April 5, 1874, and after serving on the bench for about three years, he resumed his private practice and devoted his energies thereto continuously until he left the law to engage in financial and business enterprises.
In 1882, with associates, Judge Lindsay organized the Gainesville National Bank, with a capital of $100,000, and continued as president of that institution until 1902, when it was succeeded by the Lindsay National Bank, capitalized at $200,000, which now has a surplus of $100,000. As president of this institution, the Judge occupies an important place in Texas banking circles, and under his wise directing counsel the bank has enjoyed a full measure of prosperity. With other enterprises of a financial nature, the Lindsay National has been a co-operating and supporting factor with the agricultural interests of Cooke county, which gives to the world each year about $800,000 worth of cotton and $1,000,000 worth of wheat, besides many lesser products. Judge Lindsay was for many years interested in stock raising and buying and selling land, but at this time has no ranch interests, having recently disposed of something more than 2,500 acres. He "is the owner of the well-known and popular Lindsay Hotel in Gainesville, is president of the Gainesville Gas Company, and in many other ways is identified with the important activities of his city. As president of the school board ever since its creation, he has led in the movements of educational progress and is largely responsible for the fine school system which the people of Gainesville consider one of the chief advantages of this progressive city. He supports Democratic candidates and principles, but has not cared of late years to enter actively into the struggles of the public arena. Judge Lindsay's fraternal connection is with the Elks, and in religious belief he clings to the faith of the Missionary Baptist Church.
Judge Lindsay was married in Gainesville, to Miss Tennie Bonner, who was born and reared in Texas, whence her parents had come at an early day from Wilson county, Tennessee. Two children have been born to this union: Lewis, who is a resident of Gainesville; and Jennie T., who is now the widow of W. S. Embrey of Gainesville. (A History of Texas and Texans, Volume 3, Francis White Johnson, 1914 sd)
State Legislator, Member of Gainesville's First City Council Delegate to the 1866 State Constitutional Convention, and Judge of the 16th Judicial District. One of Gainesville's Largest Landowners in his day, Judge Lindsay helped bring the railroad to town, donated land for churches and schools, and developed numerous businesses, resulting in his legacy as a significant civic leader.
~
LINDSAY, Judge JAMES M.
This energetic gentleman, who, at the age of seventy-eight years, with vigorous step and active mind, still attends to the details of his vast interests and keeps himself in knowledge and sympathy abreast of the new generation, among whom he survives, like a monarch of the forest among the younger growths that surround it, is one of the oldest surviving settlers of Gainesville. During more than fifty-five years he has been identified with the professional and financial interests of the community, and has shared the wonderful progress which has been made in this phenomenal city, mostly under his own eyes.
Judge Lindsay was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, December 31, 1835, and is a son of Rev. Lewis and Jane R. (McFarland) Lindsay. His father was also a Tennesseean, born in Sumner county, and spent almost his entire life in educational work and as a preacher of the Missionary Baptist faith. His death occurred in 1877, in Wilson county, and there his wife, also a native of the Big Bend State, passed away. Judge Lindsay was reared in the country, and the greater part of his primary education was secured in schools at which his father taught. After some preparation, he entered the noted Cumberland Law School, at Lebanon, Tennessee, from which he was graduated in 1857, and several weeks thereafter bid farewell to his parents, mounted his horse, and started on his long journey across the country, through Arkansas and into Texas. He arrived in Gainesville in the fall of 1858, and here opened a law office in a little frame house situated near Cooke county's first court house. Gainesville at that time had possibly two or three hundred inhabitants and was a typical pioneer community, situated on the northern frontier of Texas. To the north the wild Indians of the Nation wandered the wilderness, and the proximity of the town to the Indian Territory placed life and property in jeopardy for many years, especially during the period of the Civil War and continuing up to 1873 or 1874, Judge Lindsay stating that to his knowledge fully one hundred persons were sacrificed to Indian warfare in the vicinity of Gainesville during those early days, the trouble coming principally from the Comanche and Kiowa tribes, camped to the northwest. Gainesville during those days was a station on the old mail line of stages that the government had established on the southern route from St. Louis to San Francisco.
In this little frontier community, Judge Lindsay soon attracted attention, not alone by his legal knowledge, but because of the prominent part he at once took in public matters. He was rapidly forging to the front when he was interrupted in his practice by the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Fitzhugh's Regiment, Walker's Division, in the Trans-Mississippi Department, and fought valiantly as a private in a number of sanguinary engagements, including that at Mansfield, where the Banks expedition was effectually checked. At the battle of Pleasant Hill, on the following day, he was captured by the enemy, but after a few days was exchanged, and continued to serve with his regiment until the close of the war in 1865, the greater part of his service being in Arkansas and Louisiana.
On his return to the pursuits of peace, Judge Lindsay again entered actively into the life of Gainesville. He resumed his activities in public life, in which he had been prominent as the youngest member of the Texas Legislature in 1861, and as representative of his constituency had participated in the momentous deliberations which attended the problems of secession and the obligations following in the train of the war. In 1866 he was sent as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, presided over by Gov. Jack Hamilton, the appointee of President Johnson, and this body submitted a constitution to the people that was ratified by them. During the next year there followed the wholesale deposition from office, enforced by federal military, of Governor Throckmorton, all the state and legislative officials, and, in many cases, the county officials, these arbitrary proceedings being the beginning of the trying period of reconstruction. In 1874, Judge Lindsay's ability and ripe judgment having proved him worthy of conspicuous honors, the governor appointed him judge of the district court of the district which then embraced Cooke, Grayson, Wise, Montague and other counties to the west, district judgeships at that time being filled by appointment. The first district court in Clay county was organized by Judge Lindsay April 5, 1874, and after serving on the bench for about three years, he resumed his private practice and devoted his energies thereto continuously until he left the law to engage in financial and business enterprises.
In 1882, with associates, Judge Lindsay organized the Gainesville National Bank, with a capital of $100,000, and continued as president of that institution until 1902, when it was succeeded by the Lindsay National Bank, capitalized at $200,000, which now has a surplus of $100,000. As president of this institution, the Judge occupies an important place in Texas banking circles, and under his wise directing counsel the bank has enjoyed a full measure of prosperity. With other enterprises of a financial nature, the Lindsay National has been a co-operating and supporting factor with the agricultural interests of Cooke county, which gives to the world each year about $800,000 worth of cotton and $1,000,000 worth of wheat, besides many lesser products. Judge Lindsay was for many years interested in stock raising and buying and selling land, but at this time has no ranch interests, having recently disposed of something more than 2,500 acres. He "is the owner of the well-known and popular Lindsay Hotel in Gainesville, is president of the Gainesville Gas Company, and in many other ways is identified with the important activities of his city. As president of the school board ever since its creation, he has led in the movements of educational progress and is largely responsible for the fine school system which the people of Gainesville consider one of the chief advantages of this progressive city. He supports Democratic candidates and principles, but has not cared of late years to enter actively into the struggles of the public arena. Judge Lindsay's fraternal connection is with the Elks, and in religious belief he clings to the faith of the Missionary Baptist Church.
Judge Lindsay was married in Gainesville, to Miss Tennie Bonner, who was born and reared in Texas, whence her parents had come at an early day from Wilson county, Tennessee. Two children have been born to this union: Lewis, who is a resident of Gainesville; and Jennie T., who is now the widow of W. S. Embrey of Gainesville. (A History of Texas and Texans, Volume 3, Francis White Johnson, 1914 sd)
~
LINDSAY, Judge JAMES M.
This energetic gentleman, who, at the age of seventy-eight years, with vigorous step and active mind, still attends to the details of his vast interests and keeps himself in knowledge and sympathy abreast of the new generation, among whom he survives, like a monarch of the forest among the younger growths that surround it, is one of the oldest surviving settlers of Gainesville. During more than fifty-five years he has been identified with the professional and financial interests of the community, and has shared the wonderful progress which has been made in this phenomenal city, mostly under his own eyes.
Judge Lindsay was born in Wilson county, Tennessee, December 31, 1835, and is a son of Rev. Lewis and Jane R. (McFarland) Lindsay. His father was also a Tennesseean, born in Sumner county, and spent almost his entire life in educational work and as a preacher of the Missionary Baptist faith. His death occurred in 1877, in Wilson county, and there his wife, also a native of the Big Bend State, passed away. Judge Lindsay was reared in the country, and the greater part of his primary education was secured in schools at which his father taught. After some preparation, he entered the noted Cumberland Law School, at Lebanon, Tennessee, from which he was graduated in 1857, and several weeks thereafter bid farewell to his parents, mounted his horse, and started on his long journey across the country, through Arkansas and into Texas. He arrived in Gainesville in the fall of 1858, and here opened a law office in a little frame house situated near Cooke county's first court house. Gainesville at that time had possibly two or three hundred inhabitants and was a typical pioneer community, situated on the northern frontier of Texas. To the north the wild Indians of the Nation wandered the wilderness, and the proximity of the town to the Indian Territory placed life and property in jeopardy for many years, especially during the period of the Civil War and continuing up to 1873 or 1874, Judge Lindsay stating that to his knowledge fully one hundred persons were sacrificed to Indian warfare in the vicinity of Gainesville during those early days, the trouble coming principally from the Comanche and Kiowa tribes, camped to the northwest. Gainesville during those days was a station on the old mail line of stages that the government had established on the southern route from St. Louis to San Francisco.
In this little frontier community, Judge Lindsay soon attracted attention, not alone by his legal knowledge, but because of the prominent part he at once took in public matters. He was rapidly forging to the front when he was interrupted in his practice by the outbreak of hostilities between the north and the south. In 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Fitzhugh's Regiment, Walker's Division, in the Trans-Mississippi Department, and fought valiantly as a private in a number of sanguinary engagements, including that at Mansfield, where the Banks expedition was effectually checked. At the battle of Pleasant Hill, on the following day, he was captured by the enemy, but after a few days was exchanged, and continued to serve with his regiment until the close of the war in 1865, the greater part of his service being in Arkansas and Louisiana.
On his return to the pursuits of peace, Judge Lindsay again entered actively into the life of Gainesville. He resumed his activities in public life, in which he had been prominent as the youngest member of the Texas Legislature in 1861, and as representative of his constituency had participated in the momentous deliberations which attended the problems of secession and the obligations following in the train of the war. In 1866 he was sent as a delegate to the Constitutional Convention, presided over by Gov. Jack Hamilton, the appointee of President Johnson, and this body submitted a constitution to the people that was ratified by them. During the next year there followed the wholesale deposition from office, enforced by federal military, of Governor Throckmorton, all the state and legislative officials, and, in many cases, the county officials, these arbitrary proceedings being the beginning of the trying period of reconstruction. In 1874, Judge Lindsay's ability and ripe judgment having proved him worthy of conspicuous honors, the governor appointed him judge of the district court of the district which then embraced Cooke, Grayson, Wise, Montague and other counties to the west, district judgeships at that time being filled by appointment. The first district court in Clay county was organized by Judge Lindsay April 5, 1874, and after serving on the bench for about three years, he resumed his private practice and devoted his energies thereto continuously until he left the law to engage in financial and business enterprises.
In 1882, with associates, Judge Lindsay organized the Gainesville National Bank, with a capital of $100,000, and continued as president of that institution until 1902, when it was succeeded by the Lindsay National Bank, capitalized at $200,000, which now has a surplus of $100,000. As president of this institution, the Judge occupies an important place in Texas banking circles, and under his wise directing counsel the bank has enjoyed a full measure of prosperity. With other enterprises of a financial nature, the Lindsay National has been a co-operating and supporting factor with the agricultural interests of Cooke county, which gives to the world each year about $800,000 worth of cotton and $1,000,000 worth of wheat, besides many lesser products. Judge Lindsay was for many years interested in stock raising and buying and selling land, but at this time has no ranch interests, having recently disposed of something more than 2,500 acres. He "is the owner of the well-known and popular Lindsay Hotel in Gainesville, is president of the Gainesville Gas Company, and in many other ways is identified with the important activities of his city. As president of the school board ever since its creation, he has led in the movements of educational progress and is largely responsible for the fine school system which the people of Gainesville consider one of the chief advantages of this progressive city. He supports Democratic candidates and principles, but has not cared of late years to enter actively into the struggles of the public arena. Judge Lindsay's fraternal connection is with the Elks, and in religious belief he clings to the faith of the Missionary Baptist Church.
Judge Lindsay was married in Gainesville, to Miss Tennie Bonner, who was born and reared in Texas, whence her parents had come at an early day from Wilson county, Tennessee. Two children have been born to this union: Lewis, who is a resident of Gainesville; and Jennie T., who is now the widow of W. S. Embrey of Gainesville. (A History of Texas and Texans, Volume 3, Francis White Johnson, 1914 sd)
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