LAYNE, BENJAMIN PRATHER (1842~1914) Benjamin Prather Layne, Confederate veteran, was born May 30, 1842, in East Tennessee, but later moved to Hillsboro, Tennessee. When the Civil War broke out he joined Company A of Turney's First Tennessee Infantry and served continuously until the surrender of his regiment with General Robert E. Lee.
Early in life he married Miss Louise Patton and had four children: a son R. E. of Browley, California, and three daughters Mrs. T. J. Savage of Chicago, Illinois, Mrs. R. F. Searcy of Birmingham, Alabama, and Mrs. R. L. Layhe of Forney, Texas. In 1887 after the death of his first wife, Mr. Layne married Miss Currey Sharpe Pannell and had three more children: W. W. Layne of Dallas, Texas, Mrs. Lena Ivy of Austin, Texas, and Mr. Baltai Layne of Austin.
Mr. Layne came to Austin with Governor Oscar Colquitt's administration and served as a watchman at the State Capitol, where he was stricken by a stroke on December 28, 1914.
In accordance with his wish, he was buried in the Texas State Cemetery on December 29, 1914.
Layne was a member of the John Bell Hood Camp of Confederate Veterans and a Mason.
Bibliography - Obituary, Austin Daily Statesman, 12/29/1914 page 8 column 5. Austin American, 12/29/1914 page 6 column 6. |