USA > Texas > A Twentieth century history of southwest Texas, Volume I > Part 62
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for his skill and strategy would have been killed. He recalls on one occasion while with Bowlin's regiment in Montague county that he went out alone bee hunting, was discovered and chased by a bunch of Indians, they surrounding and running him to a high bluff, over which he leaped into a dry bed of sand unhurt. One Indian, with less fear than the rest, attempted to follow him, but was shot and killed by Mr. Maltsberger as soon as he jumped, and by hiding for nearly a day he managed to escape from the rest of them. He also recalls to mind several other instances where he was equally close pushed, his entire experience during the war being one of danger, and he has two arrow wounds on his arm. He also had four brothers in that struggle, but they remaining in Missouri joined the Union army.
After the war had closed Mr. Maltsberger came to San Antonio, his fortune having been swept away by the ravages of the conflict, and at the time of his arrival here he had but seven dollars and a half. He had all his life, however, been a highly energetic and resourceful man, and within four years after coming to this city he had over seven thousand dollars in the bank and other valuable property. For a short time after his arrival in San Antonio he camped out along the ditch in the northern part of the town, but soon had erected a pleasant home and was making money. During the most of the time since then he has resided in San Antonio, but for a few years lived on his ranch in LaSalle county, where he was one of the most successful stockmen, while in later years he has handled a great deal of city property, on which he is exceptionally well posted. About 1889 he retired from the active cares of a business life to a great extent, keeping just enough business matters on hand to partially occupy his time. One of his sons. J. T. Maltsberger, is one of the wealthiest and most successful stockmen in Southwestern Texas, owning a beautiful ranch of thirteen thousand acres in LaSalle county.
Mr. Maltsberger was first married to Roxana Allen, a native of Tennessee, and who died in 1885, leaving eight children: Mrs. Mary A. Jones, A. P. Maltsberger, Mrs. Belle Scott, Mrs. Mattie Jones, J. T. Maltsberger, Mrs. Dove Warren, V. G. Maltsberger and Mrs. Dora Congdon. Mr. Maltsberger subsequently married Minnie Clark, a native of Woodstock, Illinois. He is well known to the general public of San Antonio, and although taking a citizen's active part in its affairs, he has never desired the honors of public office. He is a life-long Democrat in his political affiliations.
JACOB KOELBLEN. The irrigated gardens of Jacob Koelblen are one of the attractions of San Antonio, and a striking illustration of the pos- sibilities of soil culture by use of artesian water. Born in Alsace-Lor- raine, then a French province. Mr. Koelblen was thoroughly trained as a gardener in the fertile and beautiful land of his nativity. When he came to America in 1871, he first located at New Orleans, where he remained until he removed to San Antonio in 1875. With the exception of a short time spent in Chicago that city has been his permanent home, and as he has never abandoned the occupation of his youth he has achieved the highest success as a gardener.
Mr. Koelblen's gardens cover about two and a half acres of land and are located at his home on Probandt street, lying between that thor-
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oughfare and the tracks of the San Antonio & Aransas Pass Railroad. As seen from the railway they are one of the most attractive sights of the city. Through long years of industrious and painstaking care they have reached the highest stage of productiveness, the crops including potatoes, tomatoes, onions, beans, peas, lettuce, peppers and other vege- tables. The produce brings the highest price in the market, and is eagerly sought for by householders who desire the best which the market affords. The Koelblen gardens are irrigated by one of the finest artesian wells in Southwest Texas, being more than eleven hundred feet deep and furnishing an ample and constant supply of the purest water for the gardens, the stock and the fish ponds. A greenhouse is also maintained for the propagation of flowers, so that besides being attractive and inter- esting, the gardens are an important industry of San Antonio.
Mrs. Koelblen was formerly Miss Agnes Muller, and, although a native of Alsace, came to this country with her parents when an infant, was reared in the United States, and is therefore in all but birth an American. Her husband is also thoroughly Americanized, and is an enthusiastic supporter of the institutions of the country, through whose broad opportunities, added to his personal ability, he has achieved so large a measure of success.
JOHN STAPPENBECK, assessor of San Antonio, his native city, was born in 1856, a son of Charles and Louisa (Schnetz) Stappenbeck. His parents were natives of Prussia and United States respectively, and about 1854 the father came to Texas, locating in San Antonio, where he re- mained during the residue of his days. Reared in this city, John Stappen- beck was educated here, spending most of his school days at the German- English school on South Alamo street. His life has mostly been spent in clerical and accounting occupations and for more than twenty years he was connected with the county clerk's office in Bexar county courthouse. In 1903 he was elected city assessor, entering upon the duties of the office at the beginning of Mayor Campbell's administration, although he was not on the Campbell ticket, being on the ticket on which Dr. Fred Terrell was named for mayor. Mr. Stappenbeck was one of three candidates elected on that ticket, and in May, 1905, he was re-elected for a second term of two years with the Bryan-Callaghan administration. He was a faithful and efficient officeholder, giving conscientious care to the mani- fold duties devolving upon him as assessor, and his service has been largely satisfactory to his constituents and his fellow citizens at large. His long years of service in public life have given him a very wide ac- quaintance throughout the city and county and he is popular in political and business circles.
Mr. Stappenbeck was married in San Antonio to Miss Caroline Kuhl- man and they have twelve children, one of whom died at the age of twenty-one years ; namely, Mrs. Lizzie Wright.
FRANK A. GUTZEIT, a gardener of San Antonio, was born in the province of Alsace, France, September 3, 1833. His parents were well- to-do French people and he acquired a good education, spending most of his time in school until he attained his majority. Attracted by the busi- ness opportunities and advantages of the new world, he left Alsace in 1854 and came to Texas, locating in Medina county, which had become
Vol. I. 30
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the place of residence of the well known Alsatian colony at Castroville. Mr. Gutzeit established a farm and stock ranch at the head of the San Miguel river, being a pioneer and one of the first to settle in that vicinity. Big Foot Wallace, the noted Indian fighter, was his neighbor there and the settlers were frequently harassed by the Indians, who in those days stole their stock and committed other depredations, often rendering life insecure.
Mr. Gutzeit lived in Medina county until 1868, when he removed to San Antonio. During the war between the states, while not in sympathy with the issues which brought on secession, he, however, joined Captain Mondell's company of volunteers for service on the frontier in Texas and although this was recognized as a Confederate force it was more for home protection than for actual service in the war for the supremacy of the Confederacy. Big Foot Wallace was a lieutenant in this company and among other expeditions they made one trip to Brownsville at the mouth of the Rio Grande river.
Upon locating in San Antonio in 1868, Mr. Gutzeit purchased a place at the head of the San Antonio river for gardening and fruit raising pur- poses, but later located on a beautiful place of seven acres in the first ward, fronting on Lover's Lane. This home was widely known for its lovely flowers and shrubbery. Through education and experience he became highly proficient as a horticulturist and botanist and his knowledge of these branches of science is of the highest order. There is hardly a plant or tree that he is not familiar with and he adorned his place with many fine specimens of flowers, trees and plants, rendering it one of the most attractive and beautiful of the fine places around San Antonio, and in May, 1906, he presented this attractive place to his nine children. Hav- ing acquired a comfortable fortune, Mr. Gutzeit is not now actively en- gaged in gardening and fruit raising.
Mr. Gutzeit's wife, who died at San Antonio, June 23, 1900, was, prior to her marriage, Miss Olgatha Ketterer, a native of Alsace, who arrived in Texas when eighteen years of age. Of their family nine chil- dren are living, all of whom have received good educations in the schools of San Antonio. These are: Mrs. Clementina Hupertz ; Mrs. Virginia Ducks; Joseph Gutzeit ; Mrs. Anna Tahosim ; Louis, Frank and Edmund Gutzeit; and Miss Emma Gutzeit. The last named is a well known teacher in the public schools of San Antonio. The sons are all in the plumbing business and Louis Gutzeit is plumbing inspector for San An- tonio city.
HENRY T. SATCHER, engaged in the dairy business at San Antonio, was born at Troy, Pike county, Alabama, but was reared in Bullock county that state. His parents were James William and Sarah (Douglas) Satcher. The mother, who is still living, is a native of North Carolina, while the father, who died at San Antonio, August 13, 1903, was born in Georgia but before coming to Texas spent most of his life in Alabama, where he figured prominently in connection with public affairs. He was tax assessor and tax collector in Pike county, while for several years he was postmaster at Union Springs, Alabama. He came with his family to Texas in 1890, settling at San Antonio, where he engaged in the dairy business.
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During his boyhood days Henry T. Satcher accompanied the family to San Antonio and here attained his majority. When he had reached the proper age he became connected with his father in the dairy business and later continued in the same line of trade but more extensively on his own account, and in this field of business activity has met with signal success. In 1900 he removed to his present location, the splendid Satcher dairy farm, constituting about three hundred and fifty acres of fine land on the Asylum road near the city limits on the south. He has a very fine herd of milk cows, mostly Jerseys of high grade and his dairy, conducted on modern principles, with the best facilities and equipment, is one of the leading enterprises of this county, a prominent local industry. Mr. Satcher is a thorough business man and has since starting out in life on his own account been uniformly successful.
In this city was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Satcher and Miss Emma E. Voeste, a native of Missouri, and they have four children, Thelma, Henry Voeste, Doris and Elsie.
MODESTO TORRES has spent his entire life in San Antonio and is there- fore familiar with the development and progress that has here been car- ried on, as well as with the dangers and exciting experiences of the early settlers on the frontier when the Indians were still to be found in large numbers in this part of the state. He is a native son of San Antonio, his birth having occurred May 12, 1845. His parents, Felipe and Carmel (Trevino) Torres, were both natives of Mexico, whence they removed to San Antonio at an early day and were numbered among its first settlers, the father having arrived here in the '30s. He was a prominent stock- man, and in the '50s and '6os was engaged in freighting in western and southwestern Texas, operating several outfits between San Antonio and the gulf and San Antonio and El Paso. His death occurred in San An- tonio October 22, 1870.
Mr. Torres was reared in his home city and acquired his education in St. Mary's College. He, with his three brothers, was engaged in the freighting business with their father and in this way he became familiar with all the experiences and excitements of frontier life. Prior to the war the freighting trains to El Paso were composed of the old-fashioned Mexican carretas hauled by oxen, there being usually from fifteen to twenty carretas on each trip, each one being drawn by six oxen. The journey to El Paso and return required three months for it was a slow and tedious method of conveyance, the journey being fraught with many dangers and hardships, for the Indians were constantly committing depre- dations on the frontier. At each stopping place the outfit was circled around to form a corral and protection, and guards were placed on duty day and night.
On the 5th of September, 1862, Mr. Torres enlisted for service in the Confederate army, becoming a member of Company B, Thirty-third Texas Cavalry, this being one of Colonel Duff's companies which formed a part of the forces commanded by General Hamilton P. Bee, under whom Mr. Torres served throughout the war, his entire service being in Texas. Near the close of the war, while at Brownsville, the forces were ordered to New Orleans, but while on their way to that city hostilities were de- clared at an end.
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Returning from the war Mr. Torres again resumed his residence in San Antonio and has here lived continuously to the present time. He has accumulated valuable real estate interests in this city and is now giv- ing his attention merely to his invested interests. He is public-spirited and is interested in every movement which tends to advance the welfare of his city or state, and was formerly quite active in political circles, having served as deputy sheriff and he has also filled other offices of honor and trust.
Mr. Torres has been three times married, his first union being with Miss Jesusa Villareal, the child of this marriage being Modesto V. For his second wife Mr. Torres wedded Ellen Bothwell, who died leaving one son and one daughter, Edward Torres and Mary Torres. The present wife of our subject bore the maiden name of Mary S. Dykes, and this union has been blessed with one son Roy. The family are prominent in the social circles of San Antonio and Mr. Torres is familiar with its history from the time of its very earliest development and upbuilding until it has grown into one of the most important business centers of the southwest.
WILLIAM DOBROWOLSKI. The history of mankind is replete with illustrations of the fact that it is only under the pressure of adversity and the stimulus of opposition that the best and strongest in men is brought out and developed. Perhaps the history of no people so forcibly im- presses one with this truth as the annals of our own republic, for in this land where effort and ability are unhampered by caste or class young men are continually working their way to the front, attaining success, prominence and honor and if anything can inspire the youth of our country to persistent, honorable and laudable endeavor it should be the life record of such men as he of whom we write, for Mr. Dobrowolski has arisen from comparative obscurity to rank with the lead- ing business men of San Antonio, where he is well known as a real estate promotor and capitalist.
Born in San Antonio in 1862, he is a son of Charles and Ottilia (Kotula) Dobrowolski, who were natives of Prussian Poland and came to the United States in 1855 as passengers on a sailing vessel which was more than a month in completing that voyage to the new world. Their destination was Texas and they landed at Indianola, whence they made their way to San Antonio with ox teams.
William Dobrowolski lost his parents in early childhood and thus be- ing left an orphan is a self-made man in the truest and best sense of the term. He started to work when very young and first received only his board in return for his service, but soon afterward was paid a small wage and with this money helped to care for his two brothers and a sister. Notwithstanding the struggles, hardships and difficulties of his early boyhood, he managed to secure a fair education, which was obtained principally as a student in St. Mary's College in San Antonio. He was scrupulously economical, saving every cent that he possibly could and when his capital amounted to one hundred dollars he invested it in San Antonio real estate. This was the foundation of his fortune. Although he has speculated largely in property there has been no such element as luck in his ventures, for he has made his purchases after careful consid
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eration and investigation of realty values and possibilities for a rise in market prices. His real estate interests represent the bulk of his re- sources, although he is largely connected with various lines of local business and his wise counsel and sound judgment have been important elements in the successful conduct of a number of leading industrial and commercial concerns in San Antonio. For several years he was engaged in the grocery business as a member of the firm of Ed Kotula & Company on Military Plaza. That business was discontinued in 1893. He had, however, been operating to a greater or less extent in real estate from 1886 and since his retirement from the grocery trade he has devoted his attention largely to the promotion of real estate interests. He does little commission or agency business but buys and sells property on his own account and is quite extensively engaged in building and improving property to sell on the installment plan, whereby he has transformed many unsightly vacancies into fine residence districts. In these ways he has acquired valuable property interests in San Antonio and Southwest- ern Texas. He has also been connected with various other business con- cerns of the city, making investment in corporate or individual business enterprises and at the present time is financially interested in a soap manufactory, in the ice business and other lines. He is also a member of the firm and secretary of the Zizik Undertaking Company, a flourish- ing local institution. In 1902 he turned his attention to the onion- growing industry, in which he became extensively interested at Eagle Pass, Texas, and has become one of the best known operators in this line, his investment being one of the largest in the country in this new industry. The year 1906 represents his fourth season as a large shipper of onions to the northern and eastern markets and his efforts have been attended with increasing success each year. He has, however, been compelled to overcome many difficulties in connection therewith, also the risk and worry incidental to the establishment of a new business on a large scale with extensive capital involved.
Onion Growing.
In connection with a partner. Mr. Dolch, he owns and operates what is known as the Pioneer Rio Grande Irrigation Farm at Eagle Pass, this farm consisting of about twenty-five hundred acres and valued now at one hundred thousand dollars. They were the pioneers in the onion-growing business at Eagle Pass and during the year 1907 thev expect to ship 50 car loads of onions. This farm is a model of its kind. being perfectly irrigated by the best machinery that has been placed upon the market for this purpose. It is reported that the onion business of the district will now amount to seventy-five thousand dollars annually. for various farmers have turned their attention to the production of that vegetable in Eagle Pass country since Mr. Dobrowolski and his partner have demonstrated that it can be successfully followed.
A man of resourceful business ability who quickly recognizes and utilizes an opportunity, Mr. Dobrowolski is a prominent member of and treasurer of the Southern Texas Truck Growers' Association, an organi- zation that is of great benefit to the truck growers of this section of the state, particularly in getting favorable freight rates.
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Mr. Dobrowolski has been married twice, first in Chicago in 1883, but his wife died in San Antonio in 1889. She bore the maiden name of Pauline Kiolbassa and was a daughter of the Hon. Peter Kiolbassa, who was for many years prominent in public life in Chicago, where he served as collector of customs, city treasurer and commissioner of public works and also represented his district in the state legislature. His death occurred in Chicago in June, 1905. In 1893, Mr. Dobrowolski was mar- ried to his present wife at San Antonio. She bore the maiden name of Miss Annie Proll and by this marriage there are two children, Ottilia and William Edward.
Mr. Dobrowolski belongs to several local fraternal organizations and is one of the prominent and influential residents of the city. It is the enterprise and character of the citizen that enriches the common- wealth and from individual enterprise has sprung all the splendor and importance of the great southwest. The greatest merchants have devel- oped from the humblest origins and from clerkships have risen men who have built great business concerns. Among those who have achieved prominence as men of marked ability and substantial worth in San An- tonio is the subject of this review, William Dobrowolski, who today occu- pies a most prominent position as a capitalist, real estate dealer and pro- moter of various industries which have had direct and important bearing upon the commercial growth and prosperity of this part of the state.
G. H. MOODY, a physician of San Antonio and proprietor of the Moody Sanitarium for nervous and mental diseases, is accorded a posi- tion of prominence not only by the public but by the medical fraternity as well, as is indicated by the fact that he has been honored with the presidency of the Bexar County Medical Society, being the present incumbent in' that office. He was born at Mexia, Limestone county, Texas, the son of J. I. Moody, also a native of this state, which fact indi- cates the early connection of the family with Texas, the grandparents of Dr. Moody having settled here in pioneer times. He acquired his liter- ary education in Southwestern University at Georgetown, Texas, and spent two years in medical study at the University of Louisville, Ken- tucky, subsequent to which time he entered the medical department of Tulane University at New Orleans, Louisiana, where he was graduated with the class of 1896.
Dr. Moody located for practice in Mexia, his native town, where he remained until appointed assistant superintendent of the state asylum for the insane at Austin and after severing his connection with that posi- tion he received the appointment to first assistant superintendent of the Southwestern Texas Hospital for the Insane at San Antonio, in which position he remained for four years.
Almost from the beginning of his active professional career Dr. Moody has made a special study and investigation of nervous and mental diseases and has achieved distinction as a neurologist. He pursued a post-graduate course in general medicine at New Orleans in 1899; a post-graduate course in mental and nervous diseases in New York Post- Graduate Medical School in 1900, and a further course along the same line in Algemeine Krankhaus at Vienna, Austria, in 1903, and became
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familiar with the methods of treatment of the most advanced specialists in mental and nervous diseases of the old world.
On the Ist of November, 1903, Dr. Moody established the Moody sanitarium and hospital for nervous and mental diseases at San Antonio, purchasing for that purpose the well known Barnard homestead in the northern part of the city, a beautiful building with splendid location on an eminence commanding a fine view of the city and of the country for miles around. He here has seven acres of land improved and adorned with shrubbery and shade trees and in addition to the main building there is an annex, the sanitarium altogether having a capacity of seventy beds. The equipment throughout is of the best and most modern kind, and assistant physicians, nurses and attendants are all skilled in the work which devolves upon them. The healthful and inspiring location of this sanitarium is of itself of great therapeutical value to the treatment of the diseases of which Dr. Moody makes a specialty. Everything about the place is conducive to quiet and repose and to life-giving out- door exercise. Beside the spacious grounds in connection with the sani- tarium, Brackenridge Park, consisting of two hundred acres of natural wildwood, is only a block away, affording excellent opportunity for recreation to the patients. A part of the government's open reservation fronts the sanitarium on the Brackenridge avenue side, insuring always an unobstructed breeze from the south, as the nearest buildings of Fort Sam Houston are a quarter of a mile distant and the intervening space will always remain open. The dietary and sanitary features are of the best. Dr. T. L. Moody, brother of our subject, is assistant physician of the establishment.
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