After the marriage of Lewis and Mary Deaver, they removed to Tennessee, where for many years, the father followed farming, continuing his residence in the Big Bend state until 1877, when he came to Texas, locating in Bell county, where he died in 1894, at the age of 84 years. His wife passed away in 1869. During the civil war he served for two years in the Confederate army with the cavalry troops of the Army of the Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Deaver had a family of ten children, all of whom except one reached years of maturity, while four sons and a daughter are yet living.

With the duties and labors of farm life William C. Deaver early became familiar, aiding his father in the labors of the home farm. At the early age of 15, when a mere boy, he went forth as a soldier in defense of the south, becoming a member of a Tennessee battery, and was with Wheeler's cavalry. At the close of the war, with his command, he surrendered at Augusta, Georgia, and then returned to his home. Although a boy in years he had the courage and loyalty of the old soldier and it was often the case that the bravest deeds were performed by the younger members of the wearers of the gray or the blue. When hostilities were over Mr. Deaver went to his home in Tennessee and later removed to Arkansas, whence in 1876 he came to Texas, settling first in Bell county, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits until his removal to Smith. He afterward went to Bosque county, and in 1880 to Limestone county [should be Somervell county], locating in Mitchell Bend, eight miles north of Glen Rose, where he lived for three years. [See Note following story.] In 1882 he came to his present farm, and he is to-day the owner of 280 acres of rich land in the Brazos valley, of which 160 acres is under a high state of cultivation. He has devoted his entire life to agricultural pursuits, and the neat and thrifty appearance of the place indicates his careful supervision and numbers him among the practical and progressive farmers of the community.

Mr. Deaver was married June 6, 1877, to Miss Mary C. Sims, a native of Tennessee and a daughter of James M. Sims, who belonged to one of the old families of Lincoln county, Tennessee. In 1868 he removed to Walker county, Texas, and thence to Bell county. Mr. and Mrs. Deaver are the parents of an interesting family of nine children, namely:

The parents are members of the Missionary Baptist church, and Mr. Deaver belongs to Granbury Lodge, F.&A.M. His political support is given the Democracy.

History of Texas, 1896, Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Co.

By Vircy B. Macatee 08/29/1999

Actually Mitchell Bend by the road is about 14 miles from Glen Rose. It is possible that they had to travel during that time when they went by horseback or wagon and would just cut across the Bend and ford the river. So by that means, it is possible that they were 8 miles from Glen Rose. However, I have never heard of them living anywhere other than on the Deaver Place which is what I am referring to in Hood County.

Mitchell Bend is cut by the Hood-Somervell County Line. In all probability when he moved in 1882 to Brazos Valley that was when he moved to Mitchell Bend. The Deavers lived about one mile north of the Hood-Somervell County Line in Hood County.

There are quiet a few of the Deaver family buried in the Mitchell Bend Cemetery which is on the Hood-Somervell County Lines. True there is just a very small corner probably not more than 100 sq. ft in Somervell County; nevertheless, technically it is on the line.