DYSART FAMILY
THE DYSART FAMILY
Biography.
The origin of the Dysart Family goes as far back as 874 at the time of the Danish Invasion. Samuel and Frances Anderson Dysart had a home near Londonderry, Ireland, which he called Brook Hall. The children were James, Elizabeth, Margaret, Nancy, Fanny, Sarah and Jane. James later came to America working his way to the Holston Valley in Virginia. In 1770 he joined James Knox in the exploration of Tennessee and Kentucky and the two are called by historians, “Long Hunters.” He was married in 1775 to Nancy Beattie. He served in the Revolutionary war and was badly wounded at the Battle of King’s Mountain. After the war he served Virginia in the Legislature. He had three sons and three daughters. His home is still standing in Glade Springs, Virginia and he called it Brook Hall.
Johnston Dysart, fifth generation Dysart, was the son of Samuel Dysart, was taken by his family to Missouri when he was 12 years old. He served in both the Kansas War and the Civil War. He was married February 16, 1853 to Mary E. Simmons, daughter of Humphery Simmons, an early settler of Kentucky. Thirteen children were born to them, Samuel H., Frances T., Emma, William C., Louis F., Florence, Lulu M., James L., Lallah R., Jack, Maggie, Verna, and Thornton. At the close of the war he found himself deprived of all his property, except one team and with this he went to work rebuilding his life, farming and teaching. After a number of years of hard work he owned 800 acres of land and a cotton gin.
William Christopher Dysart was born on Old Telephone Road in a house built in 1853 on one of the highest points in Collin County. The home was always one of much activity since the household consisted of the parents, thirteen children, several slaves, a dairy maid, and always one or two visitors. W. C. and the other children attended school at Mantua, and attended church services at the Christian Church there.... up until that time [the family] had been Presbyterians. When William Christopher was older he was sent to school in Bonham and alter attended A&M where he was a member of the first graduating class but did not stay to graduate. He married Kitty Miller Renfro at Claude, Texas. Their first son was named Blan Powell for Dr. B. P. Powell, an uncle who was head of the Oklahoma Medical Society. Later twin sons were named Leland Thornton and Lester.
William C. went into business in Bowie and later in Sherman selling farm implements. He returned to his land on Telephone Road and in 1906 built Brook Hall, a beautiful home overlooking the valleys and hills. The home is still occupied by the Dysart Family, Leland and Alice. William was for many years a progressive farmer, delving to find better and more productive ways of farming for Collin County. He died in 1953 and his wife, Kitty, in 1944. Both are buried in the Melissa Cemetery.
Biography.
The origin of the Dysart Family goes as far back as 874 at the time of the Danish Invasion. Samuel and Frances Anderson Dysart had a home near Londonderry, Ireland, which he called Brook Hall. The children were James, Elizabeth, Margaret, Nancy, Fanny, Sarah and Jane. James later came to America working his way to the Holston Valley in Virginia. In 1770 he joined James Knox in the exploration of Tennessee and Kentucky and the two are called by historians, “Long Hunters.” He was married in 1775 to Nancy Beattie. He served in the Revolutionary war and was badly wounded at the Battle of King’s Mountain. After the war he served Virginia in the Legislature. He had three sons and three daughters. His home is still standing in Glade Springs, Virginia and he called it Brook Hall.
Johnston Dysart, fifth generation Dysart, was the son of Samuel Dysart, was taken by his family to Missouri when he was 12 years old. He served in both the Kansas War and the Civil War. He was married February 16, 1853 to Mary E. Simmons, daughter of Humphery Simmons, an early settler of Kentucky. Thirteen children were born to them, Samuel H., Frances T., Emma, William C., Louis F., Florence, Lulu M., James L., Lallah R., Jack, Maggie, Verna, and Thornton. At the close of the war he found himself deprived of all his property, except one team and with this he went to work rebuilding his life, farming and teaching. After a number of years of hard work he owned 800 acres of land and a cotton gin.
William Christopher Dysart was born on Old Telephone Road in a house built in 1853 on one of the highest points in Collin County. The home was always one of much activity since the household consisted of the parents, thirteen children, several slaves, a dairy maid, and always one or two visitors. W. C. and the other children attended school at Mantua, and attended church services at the Christian Church there.... up until that time [the family] had been Presbyterians. When William Christopher was older he was sent to school in Bonham and alter attended A&M where he was a member of the first graduating class but did not stay to graduate. He married Kitty Miller Renfro at Claude, Texas. Their first son was named Blan Powell for Dr. B. P. Powell, an uncle who was head of the Oklahoma Medical Society. Later twin sons were named Leland Thornton and Lester.
William C. went into business in Bowie and later in Sherman selling farm implements. He returned to his land on Telephone Road and in 1906 built Brook Hall, a beautiful home overlooking the valleys and hills. The home is still occupied by the Dysart Family, Leland and Alice. William was for many years a progressive farmer, delving to find better and more productive ways of farming for Collin County. He died in 1953 and his wife, Kitty, in 1944. Both are buried in the Melissa Cemetery.