Exum Philip Whitfield

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Exum Philip Whitfield, right there in Colorado County. Now settle in, because this man packed a whole lot of living into one life. Born April 22, 1818, and still going strong until September 17, 1887, Whitfield was the kind of figure a town like Columbus tends to build itself around.

Merchant, physician, farmer, business leader. Starting in 1858 and running all the way through 1887, he was woven into the fabric of that community so deep you'd have had a hard time separating the man from the place. Now if that weren't enough, he also served as president of the Columbus Tap Railway, holding that post from 1861 all the way through 1866.

Think about what those years meant. That was the Civil War era, and Whitfield didn't sit it out. He served two Confederate enlistments during the conflict in the 1860s, then came back and kept right on presidin' over that railway.

The man had layers. On the personal side, he married first a woman named M. Manerva Thompson, who passed away in 1853.

He later married Sara Jane Palmer. Between his marriages, Exum Philip Whitfield had twelve children. Twelve.

Merchant, doctor, farmer, railway president, soldier, father of twelve. Columbus, Texas knew exactly who it had in this man.

What the marker says

(April 22, 1818-September 17, 1887) Columbus business leader, merchant, physician, farmer, 1858-87. President, 1861-66, Columbus Tap Railway. Served two Confederate enlistments during the Civil War, 1860s. Married (1st) M. Manerva Thompson (d. 1853); (2nd) Sara Jane Palmer. Had 12 children.