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From the Buffalo Express October 24, 2006
Taken from "The Flo News" written by Norma Moore
Samuel A. Castles known as S. A. Castles was
born in Alabama and lived in Mississippi and S. A. came to our Corinth, Slioam,
Flo community on a wagon train with all possessions with many other families to
reach their destination of owning farmlands, they had purchased on the Texas
frontier State. S.A. with the caravan left Clark Co., MS the spring of 1858 and
arrived in our Flo Community that fall of 1858. At this time this being
the Kids Mill Community.
The first of Flo along with the Parkers, Boykins, Kidds,
Prices, Shoemakers, Parrishs, Grahams, Pates, Slatters, Yarboroughs, Lambrights,
Lathrops, Haskens, and Yerbys are credited as the tough unique Pioneers that led
the way for our Flo Settlement to be established, into the Promising, redeemed
home land it has been all through over years, the S. A. Castles bringing a
Legency of connected loyal, law abiding citizens and homesteaders who embrace
God, family and community as a neighbor home front, their standard of life being
you live by God's rule, be hard working and busy of personal gain and be
one of the service to your neighbors and your community of whoever and whatever
needs to be done.
The Castles lifestyle has provided an acclaimed and
respectability from one generation to another. S. A. Castle a young man,
who was taught Christian values by his parents William and Nancy (Garland)
Castles and his grandfather John and other Castles ancestors. S. A.
surrendering his life to God and his ministry, serving in the first Kidds Mill
established Methodist Church, S. A. being a role model servant helped in
building a Christian foundation and a Missionary Ministry in spreading the
Gospel and in the foundation of many other churches of our Leon County.
S. A.'s family history traced back to Ireland in the northern
part near Drumbeg and the Castles being among other families who rebelled
against the English due to the Christian homeland values thrown in to harsh
battles and the Castles brothers James, John, Lorenzo and Thomas so involved of
this rebellion, holding Irishman meetings on the farmland, being determined to
fight and win their cause of worship, property and living qualities of life.
The Castles suffered much loss. James was killed, John,
Thomas and Lorenzo escaped. Yet their homeland was destroyed and the
Englishmen's hate for them was so intense. They were on guard for their
lives. John was sent on a ship for the English cause. He escaped the
ship on the coast of South Carolina and Thomas later left Ireland when he could
escape, he also settling in Alabama and Lorenzo staying in Ireland marrying and
raising a family, had a fair living of farming and raising some livestock.
Yet he losing respect of the Englishmen his success of life
was limited. As his children grew up the came to Alabama and lived near
their Aunts and Uncles who had prepared a homeland for them so they could have a
betterment of life in our America. His son William and his wife Darcus
(Campbell) Castles came to Texas settling in the Liberty Centerville
communities. He and Darcus were proud parents of seven children.
After he lost Darcus he married Nancy Garland. William
and his son S. A. Castles both served as brave soldiers of the Confederacy, S.
A. was a very young teenager. They served in the Texas Co. D. 26th
Regiments Calvary with Colonel De Bray. S. A. returned to the Flo and
Siloam homeland and led a long productive life. With his honorable
background of his Christian family and honor for our freedom of Christianity,
family values, speech and ownership of farmland.
S. A. with strong belief of these values was an outstanding
gentleman in building over Flo Kidds Mill, Liberty and Siloam as most
respectable successful communities. S. A. was a dedicated member of the
Kidds Mill Methodist Church and was a faithful servant in the building worship
services and in winning souls.
S. A. met his wife Arrelia Shoemaker at the Methodist Church.
He, J. W. Boykin, the Shoemakers family, Emaline Parker, Pearl Yarborough, Wiley
Graham, Ella Boykin, John Allen Moore and Lacey Slatter had all attended church
on Sunday. They and Brother H. B. Price and his family shared fellowship
and a meal together.
S. A. and Arrelia enjoyed each others company, they started
dating fell in love and were married and made their home in Siloam and Flo
Community. They farmed, ranched and established a homeland that remained
in the Castles name for over a hundred years.
That has been a heritage of the S. A. Castles from one
generation to another. His ancestors today, carrying on with the same
dedication of the Christian family and community values a S. A. and Arrelia,
setting a traditional Legacy since 1858. S. A. and Arrelia, as special
leaders of the Christian foundation. Most important Siloam Church
establishment, the Corinth Methodist Church, the Flo Center Point Church and
others of Leon County, a school, business and etc. |