D.M. Herod
D.M. Herod Family History
The Herods of this area came from North Carolina with settlement stops in Tennessee and Mississippi before entering Texas in 1849. Three Herod brothers made the journey to Texas that year and `camped’ at Porter Springs just west of Crockett. The three were relatives of the Porters and Whites in Porter Springs. One of the brothers, Dr. James Herod purchased land and settled in the area of Mexia, Texas. Grapeland was the choice area for the settlement of the other two brothers. Joseph (Joe) Herod purchased land and settled about two miles northwest of the present site of Grapeland. Daniel McCarty Herod purchased 1107 acres for $1,107.00 about 21/2 miles northwest of Grapeland’s present site. Four Herods were registered in Captain R. S. Pridgen’s `Elkhart Horse Cavalry Company’ on June 22, 1861 at Dalys, Texas. W. L. Herod, W. W. Herod, James Herod and T. J. Herod were among those Civil War soldiers. Daniel McCarty Herod was married to Mary White, Their children were William, who died of measles in the Civil War; Tom (married Rafe Parker); Mary (married Ace Pelham); Jerdie (married Jack Fulton); and Daniel Mc- Carty (nicknamed `Tucker’, married Louella Virginia Murchison). To the marriage of `Tucker’ Herod and Virginia Murchison Herod were born 10 children. They were: Eunice (married Robert Caskey); Laura (married Harvey Collins); Jerdie (married Sim Finch); Vergie (married Newton Streetman); Willie (married Sam Musick); Lewis (married Ura Walling); Perry Lee (Ped) (married Emma Leola Musick); Nora (married Peter Bridges); Lura, who died at age 16, and Barton, who died as a young man. Perry Lee ‘Ped’ Herod and Emma Leola Musick Herod were married in 1912 and lived their entire lifetime in the Grapeland area. Ped was born February 15, 1889 and passed away November 27, 1960. Leola was born June 24, 1891 and passed away August 14, 1967. Their two sons, Perry Leland (Penny) and Pickney Herman, live in Grapeland. The daughter, Mrs. C.H. (Viola) Wilson, resides in Palestine. There are seven grandchildren including only one name bearer, Dan P. Herod, son of Mr. and Mrs. P. H. Herod. There are seven great-grandchildren.