“Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County,” published:  
Chicago;  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.

LAURA LIVELY,  a resident of Dallas county, Texas, and the widow of the late Patrick 
Henry Lively, was born in Shelbyville, Tennessee.  Her parents were James T. and 
Lucinda Turpin, the latter born in Trolinger.  Her father was a farmer in Tennessee.  He 
came to Dallas county, Texas, in 1868, settled in Precinct No. 1, and is still engaged in 
agricultural pursuits here.  He has had seven children, four of whom are now living:  
Laura, the subject of this sketch;  Fannie, who married K. Hall, of Dallas, and has three 
children;  R.A., who married Julia Law, of Dallas, and has one child;  and Mittie, who 
married Stephen Law, also of Dallas.

Patrick Henry Lively was born in Virginia, July 20, 1824, son of Matthew Lively.  When 
he was six months old his parents moved to Warren county, Kentucky, his mother dying 
on the journey.  He grew up on his father’s plantation, remained there, engaged in raising 
tobacco and other farm products until 1854, when he came to Texas.  Here he settled in 
what is now called Precinct No. 1, in the neighborhood of Cochran’s Chapel, Dallas 
county, in 1855.  Before coming to the State he had married Mary A. Smith, of Kentucky, 
by whom he had six children, viz.: Eugene M., who married Lizzie Jenkins, and lives in 
Denton county, Texas;  Fayette R., who married and lives in Bowie, Montague county, 
Texas;  Maggie B., who wedded J.M. Cochran, of Dallas county, died, leaving three 
children;  George R., deceased;  Nannie, who married S.S. Noel, of Dallas county, and 
has five children; and Hiram M., who married Minnie Pledger and lives in Dallas county.  
For his second wife Mr. Lively married, in 1867, Mary J. Strait, of Dallas county.  From 
this union there was no issue.  In 1875 he was married to the subject of this sketch, and 
by her had two children, one of whom died in infancy; the other, John T., born in 1876, is 
now living on the home farm.

During the late war Mr. Lively was engaged in the commissary department of the 
Confederate States, and also furnished stock to the army.  Having been drafted to go to 
the front, he furnished a substitute, being obliged to do so as he was at that time a 
widower with children needing his care.  He was during his life in Dallas county a stock 
breeder and a dealer in fine cattle, and a frequent exhibitor of such at the county fairs, and 
a successful competitor for prizes.  He died September 25, 1888, on the homestead farm, 
leaving a large estate.  The farm, then consisting of 500 acres, has since been divided 
among his heirs, his widow retaining the homestead, which she manages, assisted by her 
son, John.

When Mr. Lively came to Texas he owned 100 acres of land in Kentucky, which he had 
purchased with his earnings.  This gave him means for making a start here.  At that time 
he found Dallas county almost a wilderness and but sparsely settled.  There were but few 
houses in the city of Dallas and but two stores, one of which was kept by Captain Jack 
Smith.  A hotel, the Crutchfield House, was located on the northwest corner of what is 
now the courthouse square.  Mr. Lively was a prominent man of his time in Dallas 
county.  Although a man of quiet and reserved habits, he took an eager interest in public 
affairs, and assisted every enterprise that was projected for the good of the county and 
State.  In matters of religion he inclined to the Campbellite faith, his widow being an 
Episcopalian.  He was a Democrat, but on local issues independent. 

Submitted by L.Pingel