George was my 2nd Great-Granduncle.

He was the youngest son and child born to John Wesley Bowling and Drucilla R. WILSON Brashears.

He was married to Martha Elizabeth CRENSHAW on 22 Dec 1863 in Parker County, Texas, USA.

Together they had ten children: Lenora Adaline "Addie" Brashears Ashburn, Martha Evaline (died at 14 from influenza), Eliza Angeline (died at 11 from influenza), John Alfred, William Lafayette, Drucilla Rebecca Madeline "Meddia" Brashears Pope, Martin Leslie, Infant son (1885), Infant daughter (1885), and Ethel Clementin "Clemmie" Brashears Ingram.

George was a Baptist Minister.

In 1872, George and Martha moved to the Staff Community, near McGough Springs, Eastland County, Texas, and settled on the Leon River about 7 miles from Eastland, on the south side of present-day Lake Leon. About 80 acres of his original homestead is now covered by Lake Leon. McGough Springs was the first post office and was considered the county seat, until political maneuvering declared the county seat to be Eastland. George later wrote of the conditions on the frontier: "Six families (settled) at or near McGaugh Spring, one settlement at Flannagan's, consisting of a cow ranch and one family; another on South Palo Pinto Creek of two or more families; there, with two families on the sabanna; three at Ellison's Spring, and three or four at Desdemona, made up the entire population when I came here." He went on: "This was fine stock country. Game was plentiful--such as bear, wolf, deer, turkey, buffalo, a few panther, wildcat, catamount, fox, opossum, skunk, and Indian. There were wild horses here at that time and any number of cattle. This was a fine hog country, and there was always a heavy mast. Hogs were plentiful."

George entered the ministry when he was 30 years old and became a Baptist preacher. He was pastor of the Baptist Church at Ellison Springs at two different times. He was also pastor of Staff and Providence Baptist Churches. (Providence Church had been founded by his brother, William C.R. Brashears). Brashears also participated in the last Indian fight at Ciso, Eastland County, Texas, on 25 Nov 1874. For years after, he always carried his cap and ball pistol on his hip when he went to round up his cows for milking. Once, a twig from a tree pulled back the hammer and the pistol fired. Rev. Brashears thought it was an Indian attack. He wheeled his horse around and headed home, losing his hat. When he discovered what caused the incident, it was a "no-no" for anyone to mention it later.

When oil was discovered near Desdemona, none of the Brashear clan had oil on their property. However, they made a profit by selling water to the nearby pump station. In 1954, John Brashear made a deal with Ray Hoff to drill on the Brashear estate. They struck gas at 1400-1500 feet, but there was no market for gas at that time, so the well was plugged.

In addition to his own children, Rev. Brashear raised a boy: Jack D. Wester born 16 Aug 1899 in Strawn, Texas, died 8 Oct 1963; married 22 May 1926 to Rosenell Gray, born 9 Jan 1901, died Feb 1994. He was a school teacher in the Rule, TX school system for 30 years and pastor of Pinkerton Baptist Church between Rule and Haskell from 1948 to 1955. He had been pastor of the First Baptist Church in Normangee for 8-1/2 years when he died at the age of 64. He was survived by three sons, Rev. Donald Gray Wester, James Patrick Wester and Michael O'Ran Wester.

Information on this family came from a book written by Charles Brashears.