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Elias and his young family accompanied her parents, the Rosses, to the lands and opportunities in Texas. They settled in Texas on property bordering in Milam and Bell Counties. Also accompanying Elias B. was his younger brother John F. (Forrest?) McAninch. Elias B. and Sarah settled their family and farmed near the town of Davilla in Milam County. Also in the area were their cousins, the Rosses, Laughlins, and McAninches. |
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Texas was virgin land. Although new towns and communities were beginning to spring up, there were still troubles with Indian raids, besides the other hardships the families had to face in order to survive. Through hard work and perseverance of the people, Texas was being settled. |
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Troubled times, though, were brewing in the nation over states' rights. When Texas voted to secede from the Union, Elias B., then 33, followed his adopted state and enlisted in the Confederacy "for the (duration) of the war" on March 22, 1862 at Milam County, Texas. Elias was recruited by Lt. John Smith into J.C. Rogers' Company G (the Milam County Greys) of the 5th Texas Volunteer Infantry Regiment. The 5th Texas Infantry was part of the distinguished Texas Hood's Brigade and was part of the Army of Northern Virginia. The 5th Texas Infantry participated in the engagements at Eltham's Landing, Seven Pines, Gaines' Farm, Malvern Hill, Manassas No. 2 [Bull Run] and Freeman's Ford. They were also at the battles of Boonsborough Gap and Sharpsburg [Antietam] in Maryland, Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, Chickamauga and the Siege of Knoxville in Tennessee, and The Wilderness Campaign and Spottsylvania in Virginia. At the battle of Manassas No. 2, the Texas 5th distinguished itself as point brigade and suffered severe casualties and wounded. During the battle, Elias B. was listed among the wounded. |
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Elias B. had been sent to the hospital at Bristol, Virginia, by February 24, 1864, and returned to duty before June, 1864. Again on November 22, 1864, Elias was admitted to Howard's Grove General Hospital at Richmond, Virginia, and returned to duty on December 8, 1864. Elias B. McAninch was "paroled" at Appomattox on April 12, 1865. During his enlistment he was given a furlough from January 31, 1863, through February 28, 1863. He also received a bounty of $100 for his duty in the army. |
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When the war was over, Elias returned home to his family and friends in Texas. His war wounds and the living conditions during the war took a heavy toll on the health of Elias B. Earlier, when Elias had enlisted in the Confederate Army, his son, William David, left school to take care of the family. The 1870 census shows that Elias lived near his son. Sometime before the 1880 census, William David was caring for his parents at his home. |
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Sarah Ross McAninch died in 1882 and is buried in the Laughlin Cemetery in Milam County, Texas. Elias Brown McAninch died about 1890 and is buried "over the river near Llano, Texas", apparently in an unmarked grave. |
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Elias B. and Sarah Ross McAninch were typical of the earlier settlers in the state of Texas. They had visions of the opportunities in Texas and worked hard all their lives. They were people of strong religious and character principles. What a heritage they have given to their descendants! |
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[note: added names "Bull Run" and "Antietam" for clarity /Frank] |
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[Watch for more of Kathy's great biographies in future issues!] |
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McAninch Family History NL, Vol. III, No. 1, February 1995, pg. 5 page 1995-04 |
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[original contents (except as noted); change font for online presentation (May 2003)] |