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James T.
Rosrorough |
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His widow long survived him and was summoned to eternal rest in 1892, at a venerable age, both having been zealous communicants of the Baptist church, and the Captain having paid unequivocal allegiance to the Democratic party. Captain James T. Rosborough passed the days of his chiddhood and youth on the old pioneer plantation, and he retains most vivid memories of the conditions and influences of the early days in the history of northeastern Texas, which section of the state has represented his home during virtually his entire life. After due preliminary discipline in the local schools he went to Hillsboro, North Carolina, where, in January, 1859, he entered Hillsboro Military Academy, in which institution he was a student at the inception of the Civil war. Captain Rosborough was eighteen years of age at
the time when the great conflict between the north and the south began,
and he promptly manifested his youthful loyalty by tendering his services
in defense of the cause of the Confederacy. He enlisted as a private in
Company D, Sixth North Carolina Infantry, and with his gallant command he
participated in the first battle of Bull Run, in July, 1861. Shortly
afterward he was assigned to duty on the staff of General William D.
Pender and promoted to the rank of captain. He continued in active service
as a staff officer of this rank in General Lee's Army of Northern
Virginia, until the final surrender, and his record was one of faithful
and gallant service, and of participation in many important engagements
marking the progress of the long,
weary conflict. He manifests his continued interest in the old comrades of
his youth by retaining membership in the United Confederate Veterans'
Association. After the close of the war
Captain Rosborough returned to his home in Texas and shortly afterward he
initiated his independent career as a planter, in Bowie county. He has
continued to be identified with the great basic industry of agriculture in
this county during the long intervening years, which have been marked by
large and worthy achievements on his part and through the medium of his
well ordered efforts he has gained a substantial competency, the while he
has contributed his quota to the general development and civic progress of
this section of the state. His finely improved plantation is one of the best in eastern Texas, is eligibly situated about twelve miles northeast of Texarkana, and comprises about 2,200 acres, of which he maintains fully one thousand acres under effective cultivation each season. The beautiful old plantation home was made a center of gracious and cordial hospitality, in full consonance with the fine old southern regime, and with a most popular hostess in the person of Mrs. Rosborough. The attractive family home in the city of Texarkana has gained and maintained the same high reputation for generous hospitality and is a popular rendezvous for the hosts of friends of Mr. and Mrs. Rosborough and their children. Since 1876 the family have passed the greater part of their time in Texarkana, and here the children were accorded excellent educational advantages. Captain Rosborough still gives his personal supervision to his extensive landed estate and is one of the leading representatives of the agricultural and live-stock industries in Bowie county. He is essentially progressive, liberal and public-spirited in his civic attitude, and while he has had no desire for the honors of public office he has wielded much influence in connection with affairs of general community interest and is a stalwart in the local camp of the Democratic party. Both he and his wife are communicants of the Protestant Episcopal church and are numbered among the most zealous and liberal members of the parish of St. James' church, in their home city. In the year 1865, on August 16th, was solemnized the marriage of Captain Rosborough to Miss Martha Parish, who was born in the state of Vermont and who is a representative of an old and honored New England family. Captain and Mrs. Rosborough have eight children, concerning whom the following brief record is entered, in conclusion of this sketch:
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