History of the Lemmon Family
(Retyped by Stephen Rawlins from Julia Rawlins family history files, May, 1997.)
James Lemmon was a messenger boy to George Washington during the American Revolution. He was the son to Robert Lemmon who was born in County Tyrene, Ireland in 1730. Robert Lemmon with brother John and James emigrated to America in 1750, settling in Baltimore, Maryland. They remained there for a number of years agitating the question in favor of America liberty and when wars came they were in the front lines and the heat of battle. Robert Lemmon and his brothers entered the army during the French and Indian War, and served under General Edward Braddock and his Aide de Camp, George Washington. They were in the Battle of Fort Duquesne on July 9th, 1755, on the occasion of defeat and mortal wounding of General Braddock. At the outbreak of the American Revolution the three brothers again entered the services of their country - this time as captains in the Maryland and Virginia lines. Captain James Lemmon was killed in the battle of Brandywine. Captain John Lemmon survived and upon the termination of hostilities moved with his family to Green County, Kentucky where he settled on and improved a fine farm upon the banks of the Green River -- known far and wide as "Lemmon's Bend." He reared a large family, the greater portion of whom subsequently became pioneers in the new states and territories. His great-grandson, Major Alexander C. Lemmon, settled in Dallas, Texas in 1869 and it is for him that Lemmon Avenue in Dallas is named. After serving in the French and Indian War, Robert Lemmon was married to Eleanor Davis -- born in Wales and of the Jefferson Davis lines. In 1786 they moved to Kentucky and settled at Elk Creek, in Shelby County, and he died there after 1800.
James Lemmon, son of Robert, was born in 1765 near Hagerstown, Maryland. He served as a messenger boy during the American Revolution when a lad of twelve years -- it being safer for boys to carry the messages than men. He carried messages from the camp of General George Washington to that of Captain Robert Lemmon (his father) and others. He lived in Washington's camp in Valley Forge and affectionately called him "Uncle George." Toward the end of the war James entered the Continental Army as a private and served until the end of the war. In 1800 James Lemmon married Sarah Carr and lived in Bowling Green, Ky. It was during his residence here that he volunteered for military service in the War of 1812. After her death in 1815 he moved his family of children to Indiana where he married Amy Rawlins. About 1834 they were lured by free land into Illinois where they settled in Green County — living neighbors to Roderick Rawlins. In 1844 Roderick Rawlins moved his entire family from Illinois to Texas and settled in Peters' Colony on a land-grant located partly on Ten Mile Creek in what is now known as the southern part of Dallas County. Needing some help in getting his large family to Texas, Roderick Rawlins brought along young Robert Allen Lemmon (son of James Lemmon) and also Charles Wise, neighbors and also friends of his own son "Alec." These two boys were so delighted with Texas that they selected 640 acres of land lying next to the Rawlins grand and walked back to Illinois to bring their parents. When they reached the Mississippi River they fashioned a raft from drift wood — tying the wood together with stout vines and attempted to paddle directly across, but when they reached the other side they were fifteen miles down stream and had to walk back to their destination. Robert Allen Lemmon returned with his father, James Lemmon, his mother Amy Rawlins Lemmon and his younger brother Jackson Lemmon in August 1845.
James Lemmon, a citizen of the Republic of Texas, died on July 4th, 1858 at his home three miles below Lancaster on the Dallas Ellis County line. He was buried 93 years ago in Edgewood Cemetery, Lancaster, Texas near the spot where the Rawlins caravan camped the night in arrived in Peter's Colony in 1844.