Pickens Butler Bookman

b. 18 June 1857, d. 29 April 1927
  • Pickens Butler Bookman was born on 18 June 1857 in Prairie Plains, Grimes County, Texas.
  • He married Ellen Pegues Smith, daughter of James Tillman Smith and Ellen Pegues, on 27 July 1910 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas.
  • Pickens Butler Bookman died on 29 April 1927 at age 69 in Navasota, Grimes County, Texas.
  • His wife Ellen Pegues Smith became a widow at his death.
  • He was interred at Oakland Cemetery, Navasota, Grimes County, Texas.
  • The following appeared in the Navasota Examiner: P. B. Bookman, one of Navasota's foremost citizens, prominently active in its biggest interests, a large property owner and one who had endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact, died at his home on Holland street at 11:30 a. m. Friday morning, April 29, 1927. Weakened by prolonged suffering and ill health occasioned by a fall at his home on February 3rd, he finally gave up the hard fight for his life and peacefully passed on.
         Pickens Butler Bookman was the son of the late Jesse and Martha Lucinda Bookman, well known citizens of Grimes County, and was born at Prairie Plaines, Grimes County, Texas on June 18, 1857. His age at the time of his death was 69 years, 10 months and 11 days. A native of Grimes County, Texas, with the exception of three years at college and of occasional short trips for recreation, he spent entire life within the county and his life is an open book to the people living therein.
         He was educated at the Cumberland Presbyterian School, Trinity University, then located at Tehuacana and now at Waxahachie. His father Jesse Bookman, was one of the incorporators of that institution. At about the age of 23, his father suddenly passed away and Pickens, as he was called, under the guidance of a wonderful mother assumed the responsibility of the management of the estate. That he met this responsibility faithfully and satisfactorily in spite of the then adverse conditions of the country, was attested by his remarkable success and he soon became known as a successful business man and a leader in his community and a man whose motives were of the highest order.
         In 1904 he moved to Navasota where he entered the hardware business under the firm name of Bookman and Craig. Later he disposed of his interest and confined his business activity more to loans and investments. He was a charter member of the First National Bank of Navasota and was a director in that bank for years. Later he sold his interest and became connected with the Citizens National Bank of Navasota in which organization he was serving a vice-president at the time of his death. He was a large owner of Navasota property and had varied interests there and elsewhere in the state.
         On April 29, 1897 he was married to Miss Annie Brosig, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Brosig. She died December 22, 1903. On July 27, 1910, he was married to Miss Ellen Pegues Smith of Fort Worth, daughter of the late Captain Tillman Smith. By this marriage he had one child, Miss Ellen Bookman. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and one sister, Mrs. W. S. Craig, all of Navasota.
         Early in life he joined the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and was ordained an elder. He assisted the church of his choice in many quiet ways and was very charitably inclined in many directions but always shunned publicity.
         In business, he was open and honest in all his transactions. Deception was no part of his nature. He never spoke ill of any man and while he was a man of positive convections he was willing to give every problem the benefit of any doubt offered. He had an unusually strong mentality and a keen discernment of the character of men and logically analyzed complicated business problems before him almost intuitively. He was persevering and painstaking in all his efforts and n o matter how small the proposition submitted his mind would pass on it just as scrutizingly as if it were a large one. He never shirked responsibilities. He always tried to live a God-fearing Christian life and valued his reputation as sincere Christian gentleman far above ant worldly success of the material things in life. To his close friends he was a most loveable character, well balance, sympathetic and responsible. He will be missed from the business circles of Navasota, but the example he has set for the good of others will live on forever. The world has paid him his last tribute but the example set of sterling integrity and honesty of purpose is still before us.
  • Last Edited: 6 Jul 2015

Family: Ellen Pegues Smith b. 3 March 1870, d. 1 October 1944